Part 1: Pain and Memories
He made a rookie's mistake, letting his anger get the better of him. Had he not told Robin the same thing? Assess the situation, don't go in blind, but his mind had been elsewhere and, he was angry. Angry with himself for allowing everything he had worked for, had trained for had been turned against him so easily. Thoughts of another time invaded his mind as he fought to keep his equilibrium to return home. It was the argument, playing out its destructive din. It had been three years. He had hoped that by now, Robin would have come back, but both men were stubborn and prideful, a dangerous combination for emotional destruction. Something that blinded Batman to the truth, that Dick Grayson was no longer his little Robin Red Breast. And because of it, Batman had allowed his own emotions to cloud his judgment, to allow the darkness to stream forth in a torrent, a darkness that he had kept at bay for many years. And that allowed others to control the situation.
The images continued to play like a child's forgotten toy. Bruce should have seen it coming, but he didn't want to let go of the young boy who had worked his way into his heart. The boy who had left for college came back different, older, independent, a man in his own right. Through various channels Bruce had kept track of Robin's exploits, proud with each passing day that Dick Grayson was truly making a name for himself, but sad at the same time. It meant he no longer needed him. At Hudson University, away from the city and away from Batman, he was building his own life, and his own reputation as a crime fighter. It was as it should be, but Batman was too stubborn to see it. He only saw the mistakes and that's what hurt him the most.
All Batman could see was the young child that became his sidekick, not the partner he had originally envisioned. Maybe it was because Robin still had not developed that edge that should have sent fear into the criminal element. Batman felt he was too cocky and laid back for his own good. Or was it because he wanted Robin to be more like him, and yet didn't he try to protect him from becoming just that? Obsessed with revenge and filled with an all-consuming anger? And so they argued, and not just any argument, it turned ugly where they nearly came to blows. The next thing he knew, Dick had moved out completely, taking everything that he ever owned, leaving everything that Bruce had ever given him. Bruce also found out that Dick had left the University not re-enrolling in the program he started and disappearing without a trace. The final blow came when Bruce found Dick had not taken his Robin costume. It had broken not only Batman's heart, but Alfred's as well. The house became as dark as the Batcave, and nothing more than a mausoleum, as Dick had put it once.
So Bruce and Alfred moved out, closing up the house. He dare not sell it because of what was underneath, but kept his options open. They moved to the penthouse suite on the top floor of Wayne Enterprises, but it wasn't the same. They tried to set up shop, but the Board of Trustees questioned his decisions about the extra equipment, which threatened to expose his secret identity. A year later, they were back at stately Wayne Manor, dusting off the old equipment and replacing some of it with the latest technology. It felt like coming home, but there was still one piece missing.
As his thoughts returned to the present, he became more aware of the wounds he received despite his bullet proof costume, Batman put the batmobile on autopilot and directed it to return to the batcave at best possible speed. He knew he was losing a lot of blood and he needed Alfred desperately.
"Alfred," Batman pressed a button that automatically connected to the batcave. "Alfred, I need you."
"Master Bruce?"
"Get your medical kit ready, though I think I'm going to need more than that."
"What do you mean, sir?"
"I can feel my temperature rising."
"Do you think you will need a doctor?" Alfred asked.
"I don't think a doctor can help. I think I'm going to need help from other quarters."
"Other quarters? What do you mean, sir? Help from whom?"
At that moment, static broke the line . . . " . . . can find him. It's been . . . a long . . . time . . ."
"Master Bruce, I did not catch the person's name. Repeat, sir."
"Call Commissioner Gordon," Bruce stated. "Give him a message . . . " Bruce did his best to give Alfred the message.
'Commissioner Gordon . . . but,' Alfred thought to himself. Bruce must be delirious. What did he say, find a what? Suddenly he sensed someone was behind him. He turned to see a man with gray shoulder length hair, wearing a brown fedora and carrying a brown leather satchel.
"Master . . . sir," Alfred stated. "He's, he's here."
"He's . . . there?"
"Yes, but . . . I do not know how . . ."
"Don't try to figure it out, Alfred. Just . . . just . . . " Bruce slipped into darkness allowing the batmobile to take him home.
Continues With Part 2: Caine Comes to Gotham City.