Gotham City was a place that Thomas and Martha Wayne believed in, a place that they were trying to save. Thomas Wayne had built Wayne Tower in hope that it could become the unofficial center of Gotham City. He had built a free subway system so that those that could not afford buses, taxis, or other transportation fees, could get around the city free. However tonight it was about their family. Thomas, Martha and little Bruce were all going out to see a movie; it was their normal routine for the week of Father's Day. While they were trying to fit in, the Wayne family was never out on the town and not dressed up. Martha was wearing her new pearls; Bruce had begged and begged until Martha had decided to do it. Along with her auburn hair lying on shoulders, she was wearing a beautiful red gown. Thomas was in one of his fine suits and little Bruce was in just a smaller version of that suit. He was riding on his Dad's shoulders, humming a random song as his father led them down the street.

Tonight, they were going to take a cab, instead of riding in a limo like they normally did. After all, tonight they were not the Wayne family; they were trying to be a normal family like the rest of Gotham City. Unfortunately, for them, their faces were easily recognized. As they traveled they ended up in an alleyway. Bruce noticed that it got darker and the walls of the buildings seemed to be closing in around him and his family. His father put him down on the floor and told him to stand behind him, as someone approached them. He was someone that many would have referred to as Gotham's scum, and while they were normally not armed, this one was.

"Give me your wallet and the lady's pearls and no one will get hurt." The man said, holding a gun straight at Thomas's chest. Thomas tried to move his hand towards his wallet, and handed it to the man. He jerked the wallet out of his hand and continued to point the gun at Martha. "I said the lady's pearls too," he scowled and he reached over to Martha's neck and pulled the pearls of her neck.

"Don't touch her!"

One gunshot, one scream, and another gunshot followed.

Bruce stood in front of his parents' bodies; the man stared at the bodies before running off into the distance. Bruce stared at the bodies, tears prickling his eyes, before they streamed down his face. He was in shock, eight years old and his parents had been murdered in front of his own eyes. Bruce wanted nothing more than to crawl into a little ball and cry.

It didn't take long for the Gotham City Police Department to show up, Bruce was pulled away from his parents' body and down to the department. He was told that Alfred would be there soon, but they needed information about the killer. Bruce could hardly speak, biting his lip and fighting his tears the whole time. The cops weren't exactly nice, except for this one man: Jim Gordon. He was one of the newer additions of the station, and he treated Bruce like an actual child with gentility rather than scorn.

"Bruce… I promise you we're going to catch him and give you justice."

He kept his promise it only took them twelve years. Joe Chill was brought to trial and given a life in prison, and Bruce Wayne was there when his parents' death was brought to justice. Bruce wanted nothing more than that, to see his parents' death get justice. It wasn't enough though, Bruce Wayne was not happy with just seeing him behind bars. He needed more than that, he needed true justice, he needed to know that it wouldn't happen again. Gotham City was his home, his city, and he needed to protect it. Bruce Wayne, billionaire playboy, could not do this he needed a second life. He needed to be the hero of Gotham, to raise this city from the darkness.

It took time, training, and patience to become this hero. He had to wait, plan, and get the pieces of the puzzle together for this hero. By the time of his twenty-third birthday, Bruce Wayne was ready to be that hero. He was ready to become the person that Gotham City needed.

He was ready to become Batman.