Chapter 1: A Broken Family
Once Wayne Manor was full of light. It started with Dick, and Bruce realized it slowly bled through the cracks in his dark lifestyle. Slowly he found himself smiling, and eventually, he realized he liked having the light there. With every Robin, with every Batgirl, with every child that entered into his life new light would fill the darkness.
But Dick was tired of living in a shadow. He needed to make his own mark on the world.
Jason was reckless, and Bruce had always realized somewhere deep down that he would turn away from a heroic life.
Tim's torture had been too much, eventually pushing him away from the heroic life also.
Damian had wanted nothing more than leadership. Just like his grandfather. Just like his mother. And he was willing to kill for it.
They had all left; left Bruce with nothing but the dark.
Bruce hadn't realized how much he missed the light, always making things seem not so bad. Enter Terry. The kid was a peice of work worthy of Damian. Cocky, arrogant, snarky, smug, and overconfident; sometimes Bruce wondered if he could handle another moment of the kid. But he reminded Bruce of all his children, which was possibly the reason he kept him around.
He had Dick's refusal to be overshadowed.
He had Jason's loyal yet reckless urges.
He had Tim's easy going nature.
He had Damian's natural leadership.
Dick stared over the city he had called his for so long. It was going to be hard to leave it. But he was 42 years old; things would go on. Maybe he'd pass it on to his daughter. He sighed, tugging on his gloves. Or maybe he wouldn't bring anyone else into it.
He didn't want to become Bruce. It was something that he'd worked against. Bruce had lost everything, given into a darkness Dick didn't want to become a part of.
"Nice city." Dick whirled to face a red masked figure, who was surveying the city like it was his.
The effects of the Lazarus Pit had slowed Jason's aging process, meaning the man was only 29, going on thirty.
"Don't get any ideas."
"Twenty-seven years and you still don't trust me."
Jason had for the most part left the 'hero' lifestyle, including his own system of justice. But there were times that Dick wondered if Jason missed the life.
"Out for a spin?" Asked Dick finally, scanning the city once more.
"Guess I kinda...miss it."
Dick nodded. "Seen 'Batman' around?"
A shake of the head. "No more Gotham."
Silence.
"Are you going to pass it on to What's-her-name?" Jason asked.
Dick was silent for a moment. "Pulling another person into it? I guess I just want her childhood to be normal."
"Just don't hide her from it."
Damian frowned, crossing his arms firmly. At first glance the emotions etched in his face would give him away to be at least thirty, but when you looked harder you could see the fact that he was in his early twenties, at best.
"Damian?" A dark brown haired woman emerged from the shadows. "A-"
"I want to return to Gotham Mother."
She paused, looks of confusion crossing her face. "I thought-"
"That's where my empire is; correct?"
"Yes." She stated firmly, readjusting her control over the situation. "It is."
"Then I shall return to it." Damian swept out of the room, frowning as he considered the decision he had made.
Ooo-Shiny here.
Random Plot Bunny that wouldn't leave. I think that the Bruce in Batman Beyond is to distant, so I'm forcing the Bats together once more.
Is it any good?