This is an AU story where the Bat Family and the League are separate.
Disclaimer: I do no own anything in this story except my own oc all other characters and places are the property of DC Comics
It was an unnaturally cold day in Gotham for the middle of August. Bruce Wayne was looking out at the sprawling metropolis that was the city he had sworn to defend since he was eight years old. He looked at his watch. It was getting on 8'o'clock and he had just finished an excruciatingly long board meeting on the newest combined project between Star Labs and Wayne Tech. Bruce was waiting for his guest before he could head home to his wife and begin the second meeting he that day.
The clock struck 8:02 and sure enough fashionably late as always, in strode Oliver Queen the CEO of Queen industries and its affiliate Star Labs.
'Bruce. How you been?' he questioned as he grasped Bruce's hand firmly.
Bruce replied politely and both men sat down to discuss some basic details concerning the joint project.
Fifteen minutes later they both shook hands and left. Bruce made sure to press the U.S.B key firmly into Queen's hand during the last handshake. Although the League never dared to step foot in Gotham, the Dark Knight knew that the government favored Justice League had a great number of resources at their disposal so he took extra precautions when he was in public.
As Bruce was driven home by his chauffeur he began to reflect on the case that was ahead. He knew this case would be difficult but he was looking forward to see his adopted family again. He reached the house twenty minutes later. As soon as went inside he made his way towards the sitting room where he knew his wife and daughter would be. As he entered the sitting room he saw Selina holding his 7 month old daughter Helena in her arms.
He immediately went over to them and placed a quick kiss on his wife's lips and took his daughter into his arms. He cooed at his daughter who giggled at his affection.
'So how was your day?' Bruce questioned.
'Interesting, Damien got annoyed at around half four due to the fact that you were supposed to train him earlier, so I offered to do it due to the fact that you have never been able to beat me and I wanted to lose some of this baby weight.'
'How did he take it?'
'He felt offended until I showed him the phone I had lifted off him 5 minutes earlier without him even realising.'
'I guess that showed him' he smirked. 'So is the family here yet' he asked more solemnly.
'Yeah they're waiting in the cave for you'.
'I don't suppose there is any chance that you'll wait here with Helena until the meeting is over.'
'Not a chance' she smirked as she took Helena out of his arms.
They proceeded to make idle conversation until they reached the grandfather clock. Bruce swung it open and they took the elevator down to the cave. When they reached the cave they saw that the entire family was already gathered. There was Batwoman (Kate Kane), Black Bat (Cassandra Cain), Red Hood (Jason Todd), Red Robin (Tim Drake), Batgirl (Barbara Gordon), Spoiler (Stephanie Brown), Robin (Damien Wayne) and of course Nightwing (Dick Grayson).
'I'm glad to see that you're all here" Bruce said as he addressed them. 'I have a very big case that is going to require the help of each and every one of you'.
He walked over to the large computer that was sitting in the middle of the cave. He brought up the holographic display and it showed a picture of various men and women most of whom have some sort of connection to organised crime.
'As you are all well aware of, for the pat number of years I have begun to suspect an increase in the co-operation between different mob families throughout the U.S. However due to the resurgent number of super villains and the formation and decimation of the Light, I have not been fully focusing on it.
However four nights ago I busted a major drug gang and their supplier. While I was combing the leader's office for evidence I found a recording that not only confirmed my suspicions but suggests that many of these organisations are not only co-operating with each other but working together under one person'.
He then walked over to the monitor and brought up a sound file.
'The voice on the other end was scrambled but after several painstaking hours Nightwing managed to unscramble it'.
The Dark Knight hit play and immediately a female voice boomed from the speakers.
"'Look I'm not asking you to deviate from your current organisation I'm asking you to just to import items other than drugs into the city. If you do not comply I have one or two options to choose from. I can have your operation permanently removed from that cess-pool you call a city or Ii can make you a very rich man and ensure you never have to deal with the law again. I trust you will take this into consideration."'
The recording ended with that last statement. Everyone in the room bar Batman and Nightwing stood their shocked as they all recognized that voice.
'Batman' began Batgirl. "Was that who I think it was?"
'Yes' the Dark Knight replied. He brought up an image of a middle aged black-haired woman. 'This, as you all know is Abigail Stanley who is in pole position to become the first female president of the United States of America and now our primary suspect as leader of this consolidate of major criminal organisations spanning across the country'.
'So were going to take her down?' questioned Hood.
'No, she's positioned herself masterly so we need to take out her support structures first in order to reach her. You will find all the information I have collected on her so far in the case file I have created on the server.
The first thing we need to do is target her connections to the various mobs. Now on her campaign team there are eight "political advisers" who, under intense review warrant investigation. These people are who I suspect are the representatives of eight different major crime families. Now each of these families are based in the U.S so what I want you to do is to go to each city and find proof of a connection between these people and the crime families.
Now these people are going to be in their respective cities for the next ten days before permanently joining the campaign trail. You have until then to find your evidence because after that it will be almost impossible to prosecute.
I have already given this information to Green Arrow and he has assured me that he will deal with it in Star City.
Now here's where I want you to go. Batwoman I'm sending you to Coast City, Batgirl you're going to Central City, Red Robin to Metropolis, Spoiler shall be travelling Fawcett City, Black Bat and Red Hood shall journey to New York'.
'I opted to send you two to New York due to the fact that there is no prominent member of the League there and you will be able to work faster.' He said as Black Bat and Red Hood were about to object.
'Finally Robin and I will stay here in Gotham while Nightwing stays in Blüdhaven. Selina will provide you with the intelligence you need from here. You all should be leaving by tomorrow and I will assist you if you want in regards to your cover stories'.
'So what are you not telling us?' Red Robin asked just before everyone stated to leave.
'What makes you say that?' Bruce replied.
'One, you put all that together in a couple of days which even for you is impressive, secondly lately you seem to be more brutal and efficient in dealing with criminals for the last four months.'
Everyone in the room looked questioningly at Bruce except Selina who offered him a reassuring smile. He turned back to his extended family and began to explain.
'As you all know when I started this quest I made a vow that no child shall ever suffer the loss of their parents like I did and that includes my own child. Also I took on protégés in order to help expand my crusade and to replace me if I fall.
So I tested myself to see if I would still be able to continue to be Batman and the results surprise me to say the least. My reaction times have dropped by almost .1% and although it may not seem a lot it signifies my bodies decline and I couldn't put my daughter through that if I fell in the line of fire. So after this case I'm going to be passing on the mantle of Batman'.
The entire family stood their shocked at the revelation as they began to comprehend the fact that Bruce Wayne will no longer be Batman.
'So whose going to replace you, father?' Damien questioned although everyone in the room knew the answer to that question.
'Nightwing' was the reply he got for the question.
After that many people began to question Bruce and Dick about the subject and it wasn't until an hour later that the meeting finally ended. Kate, Jason and Cassandra went on patrol while Barbara went home. Tim disappeared of upstairs with his girlfriend Stephanie and Selina went up to put Helena to bed.
There was just Dick and Bruce in the cave now. There was a comfortable silence between them until Bruce excused himself upstairs. That just left Nightwing standing in the cave looking around at everything that was soon to be his. His eyes landed on the cowl and symbol he would soon adorn and he still wondered how he felt about that thought.
I know the first chapter didn't have a lot of Nightwing in it but this is very important for later chapters.
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