Bruce Wayne stood in the middle of the field, long after everyone else had departed. It was raining hard, but he didn't seem to care. Alfred had come by to offer his master an umbrella but Bruce refused to take it. At the moment he didn't really want to block out the sky or impede his view of what was before him. Another grave, another person he loved that left him far too soon. He didn't say anything at the wake or the service. For the first time in a very long time, Mr. Wayne was at a loss for words and unable to say a single thing. Bruce never thought this might happen. He assumed the Bat would be enough to keep everyone safe. He was wrong, and Rachel Dawe paid for it with her life. "You deserved better." he whispered.
"Yes, she did." a voice replied.
Bruce turned to see a young, sharply dressed man close to his own age walking up to the newly created grave. He assumed everyone had left after the service. "Can I help you?"
"I came to show my respects to the deceased." the man replied. He stopped two feet short of the hole where the coffin was lowered.
"You're a little late." Bruce snapped, offended his alone time was being intruded.
"It's never too late." the man said as he knelt down and tossed two roses into the hole and on top of the coffin.
"How did you know Rachel?"
"We were acquaintances on a professional level. We helped each other out in our particular fields and gained a mutual respect for one another. It was really nothing more than that. She was quite a remarkable person."
"Yes, she was."
"So where do you plan to go from here, Mr. Wayne?"
"How did..." Bruce seemed to be confused.
"Rachel talked about you a great deal." the man said with a sly grin. "If there was one man standing after everyone had left after the service, chances are it would be you."
"I don't understand what you mean by my plans."
"Are you going to let this suck you down into an abyss of depression, or are you going to dedicate your life to making a difference and pick up the torch that Rachel dropped when she was taken from us?"
"How do you suggest I do that?" Bruce asked, somewhat curious to what the answer might be.
"You have the resources. I'm sure you'll think of something."
"Maybe the city doesn't need anymore heroes."
"That kind of talk is nonsense. People always need heroes."
"I used to think like that."
"I know, and if you could do me a favor... I'd like you to pass this message along to the Batman too: the city still needs him. Rachel Dawe would not have wanted her death to result in either of you sitting on the sidelines and doing nothing about it. Don't let her death be in vain."
Bruce looked down at the ground and knew he was right. "I'll see what I can do."
"I'm glad to hear that." The man said as he walked closer. "Because the one thing that evil cannot defeat is the resolution of good men. Never forget that and things will never get too dark."
"Thank you, Mister..."
"Kent, Clark Kent."
