Chapter 1
Another night after a tough patrol. He was starting to get up there in age, and fighting super villains at night wasn't helping him stay young. Plus he was a man fighting super humans at times. Tonight it was Killer Croc. He had been preparing for a fight with Batman. Of course no matter how much you prepare, the Dark Knight is always going to he one step ahead of you. It took a toll on Bruce but he came out on top. But because of he faced Croc just a few minutes into his patrol, he had to call it a night early and get home. He was in no condition to continue on. He had to stick up the wounds from the brutal fight he barley one.
"You're home rather early master Bruce." Alfred said as he entered the cave. "Yeah, well Croc had something planned for me. I had to get back here and stitch myself up." Bruce said sewing up his wound. "Just another rough night i suppose. One of many you've faced." Alfred said looking at all the other scars that covered Bruce's body. "Honestly sir, i'd much rather you find a girl and settle down." Alfred pleaded. "Batman can't afford to let a woman distract him from his mission to save Gotham. Plus we've already seen what happens to the people i let get close to me." Bruce said. "Well none of them have the ability to defend themselves like Miss Prince does." Alfred claimed.
"Now your trying to hook me up with a immortal Warrior Princess?" Bruce asked. "I'm trying to hook you up with anybody at this point." Alfred replied. "But allow me to say this. I have noticed Miss Prince to show interest in you sir. And after all these years i have come to see a certain look in your eyes you give to people you care about. I once saw you give her a look i had never seen from you." Alfred said as he walked off.
Alfred was right. Bruce was crazy for Diana. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on. "But does she actually like me? In a romantic way? We're close friends but how could she see me as something more. I barley made it out of a fight with someone she could beat without a problem." Bruce wondered to himself. "Croc isn't even the worst enemy i have ever encountered. Not even close, yet he almost got me. Am i getting slow in my old age?" He wondered. The years have taken a toll. Fighting bad guys, training 4 kids. One of them being murdered by your arch nemesis and coming back to life with a vengeance against you. Another one being paralyzed by the same psycho. It all has put it's fair strain on Bruce. Any lesser man would crack from all that's happened to Bruce. But Bruce was obviously not a lesser man. He was far from that. But in the end, he was only human.
Bruce had sometimes wondered if there was a way to enhance himself. Give himself special abilities. Not so much certain human powers, but just a small enhancement in his speed, strength, and stamina. Enough to give him an extra edge on all his enemies. He had looked into certain drugs he could create to do so, but he was too afraid of the risk. For all he knows it would turn him into something bad. Possibly a monster of some sorts. Just like when Kirk Langstrom accidentally turned himself in the Man-Bat.
He figured that now was a perfect opportunity to get a good nights sleep, something he didn't get to do a lot. Gotham can take care of itself tonight. He couldn't go back out, and he deserved some rest.
The next day Bruce had to report to the Watch Tower for a meeting with the founding members of the league. He was right on time as always. Never late, never early, always right on time. John, Shiera, Diana, J'onn, and Clark had already showed up. "Right on time as usual no surprise." Clark said as Bruce walked in. "Now all we're doing is waiting on Wally, as usual." Clark said. A few minutes later the Flash dashed into the room.
"Wally, how is it the fastest man on the planet can never show up on time?" Clark asked. "I actually have an answer." Wally said. "Is it a good one?" Clark asked. "No." Wally replied. "Keep it to yourself." Clark said.
Bruce sat next to Diana on the far side of the briefing table. Clark was on the other side talking about something. Bruce wasn't listening. Diana noticed this. "Are you okay." She asked. "I'm fine. Why?" He asked. "Well you don't seem to be listening to Clark. Plus you're bleeding." She said. "Bruce looked at his arm and saw the stitches in his arm had opened. "Oh, Bruce you seem to have a problem there, we can take a break if you need to go to the medic." Clark said. "No need. I got this." Bruce said as he pulled out a knife.
He cut open his suit and grabbed a needle out of his belt. He began sticking his wound back up. The other members of the league all gave him a disgusted look as they bolted out of the room. Diana just looked at him curious. "Is there logical reason you had to do that here?" She asked. "It's always a good idea to show your coworkers how tough you are. Plus it's always fun to see Wally pass out." He said as he looked down at the floor. Wally couldn't stand to see blood so he feinted when he saw Bruce stitch himself.
"How did you get that bad of a cut?" She asked. "Killer Croc. He planned something big for me last night. I barley made it out." Bruce said as he finished restitching his wound. "Killer Croc. Good job." She said. "Don't antagonize me Princess." Bruce said. "I wasn't. He's not an easy foe to beat especially for someone without..." Diana cringed as she realized she was about to unintentionally insult Bruce.
"Someone without powers." Bruce said finishing her sentence for her. "You know we don't judge you just because you don't have abilities like us. We all admire you even more for what you can do without anything special helping you." She said. "Oh please, all my enemies that i struggle to bring down, are people you could beat with a broken arm." Bruce said. "Bruce, where is this coming from?" She asked. He let out a long sigh. "Croc almost killed me yesterday. A angry mutant almost ended my life. I'm slowing down and starting to get sloppy. I'm not slipping Diana. I've slipped." He said. "You're not slipping, you just had an off day." she said.
Bruce shook his head and walked off. Diana followed him. "Bruce!" she called out. Bruce stopped and turned around. "Yes, your highness?" He asked. "Bruce what is up with you?" She asked. "My problem is that if i don't somehow get my shit together, i'm gonna end up getting killed my some weaselly gunsle. Some cowardly insignificant gonif could end my legacy and everything I've stood for." He said. "It's just one bad night!" she said loudly trying to get it through to him that he shouldn't be going crazy over it. "It starts with one bad night, and then before you know it, you're at my funeral." Bruce said. Diana let out a sigh not sure what to say. Bruce took off and went back home.
A couple hours went by and Diana just had something eating away at her. She was worried about Bruce. She was worried that he was going crazy. It was gnawing at her that something wasn't right. She headed to Bruce's mansion and knocked on the front door. Alfred answered it. "Ah, Miss Prince it's always nice to see you." Alfred greeted her as he let her in. "Hey Alfred, is Bruce around?" She asked. "He is in the cave." Alfred answered. "Have you noticed anything weird about him lately?" She asked. "He did something that got me a little worried, even though it's probably nothing." Alfred said. "What did he do?" She asked nervously. Alfred sighed. "He finished writing out his last will and testament." Alfred said. Those words hit Diana pretty hard. She headed to the cave to see what was going on with Bruce.