Bruce stared dully at the letters on his desk when he arrived home. Most of them where invitations to some event that was coming up. He looked up when he felt Alfred put a cup of chamomile tea next to him. He didn't want it but took it anyway. The invitations would have to be organized and responses would have to be written.

"Alfred."

"Yes, Master Bruce."

"Make sure to send an apology to these people."

"You won't be going again sir?" Alfred inquired with a worried tone in his voice.

"No."

"I really think you should go to at least one. It is not good for your health to stay around no one but the bats."

"You are probably right."

"Then you will go to one?"

"Sorry."

Bruce got up from his desk and timidly made his way out of the room paying particular care not to meet Alfred's eyes.

"I have a Justice League meeting to attend to."

When Bruce entered the hallway Alfred breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thank goodness." He said to himself. "At least he will be out amongst other people."

He had begun to get more and more alarmed by Bruce's behavior and the thought of him being around Superman put him a little at ease. After all, the man had super senses. He never got an explanation for being shut out of the cave but somehow he hadn't expected one.

Still, Alfred was no fool and he knew depression when he saw it. It practically wrecked off of his charge. He had expected it to wear off in a week or two but still it lingered on encasing the house with its gloom.

Talk of Batman's weakness had also not escaped his notice and he very firmly considered calling the league to tell them to look over him for he was not allowed to do so himself. Bruce had been depressed before but never to this extreme. He had cried himself silly when his parents died but he was seen in public and he did converse with others.

He did nothing now.

With those thoughts in mind Alfred made up his mind and walked briskly to the phone. He called the Justice League and asked for Superman.

"Alfred?"

"Superman"

"Will Bruce not be coming to the meeting?"

"He will but I have called for another matter, one concerning his well-being."

"What's wrong?" He asked the worry evident in his voice.

"I need you to look him over for me. I have heard he is having trouble with his arms but he will not allow me to look at him."

"He won't let you treat him?"

"No, he will not. He has locked me out of the cave."

"He locked you out of the cave!"

"I appreciate your need to clarify everything I say but I'm sure your super hearing can understand me just fine."

"Sorry, it was just a shock. Don't worry; Diana and I were already on it. We noticed something off about him and were going to ask him about it tonight while doing some diagnostics from afar."

Alfred sighed with relief on the other end.

"Thank you."

"Think nothing of it Alfred, just trying to help a friend."

Clark turned to Diana, who was standing next to him with Martian, and looked at her with slight shock.

"He locked Alfred out of the cave."

"Well, I think his problem, whatever it is, went up on my important business list."

"I quiet agree."

The three waited around for Batman to appear so they could put their plan in action.

"Okay, I bet he shows up late but Clark if he does don't mention anything to anyone and they will just keep talking."

"Glad to see I'm the only one who likes to go according to schedule."

"They just all expect you to tell them when the schedule occurs and oh there he is. Let's go."


Bruce stumbled in the Justice League hall before the meeting was to start so as not to draw much attention to himself as his last visits had. He honestly didn't understand why he bothered going to the meetings anymore but it was kind of like eating. You knew you had to so you did, nothing else drove him but this fact.

He also had needed to escape Alfred and the meeting was all too convenient. He leaned up against the wall and waited for the familiar voice of Superman to call the meeting in place. However, he wasn't expecting that same voice to approach him in an entirely different manner.

"Hey, Batman how is it going?"

Clark asked him from a surprisingly close distance. He tensed up under his cloak at the close proximity of the other man and sent a glare in Superman's direction.

"Oh, come off it Bruce all he did was make a casual greeting."

Diana chipped in who was unaffected by the glare. He felt his blood bristle at the confrontation and a sudden urge to drive them away.

"None of your business."

"What I can't ask my friend a question."

"We aren't friends."

Diana rolled her eyes.

"Right I know the title is a touchy thing for you. Well not my friend, as a fellow team member we've noticed you have a difficult injury to cure on your arms. So we wish to give you medical attention at our home base because our treatment can be better than the doctor's treatment."

For a moment Superman and Wonder Woman felt confused at the obvious baffled expression on the Dark Knight's face before it morphed into a crude, angry expression.

"Like hell I will. I can take care of myself."

He shoved through the gap between them and began marching towards the exit but Superman flew in front of him to block him.

"Hey we ju-"

"Get the fuck out of my way!"

His voice echoed off the walls of the room and the three of them began to feel sorry they didn't wait till the four of them were the only ones present. The entire League had Batman's attention but he didn't seem too concerned with that.

However, as Bruce felt his heart beat quicken and his head rush with adrenaline he couldn't stop the slow panic from creeping over him. He knew coming to the League was a bad idea but he was just a fool. He almost shook with fright the minute his mind comprehended what Clark reveled he knew to him.

It was apparent they hadn't figured everything out but at this rate it was only a matter of time. He felt like a mouse already caught in the paws of a cat but held by the tail so he was deluded into thinking he could escape. Doomed, but instincts causing him to panic to the bitter end.

"My gosh, we are only-"

"Getting in my way."

"Whoa guys, chill. What's going on over here?" Flash said as he zoomed between the four.

"Great Hera Bruce, what the hell is so hard about receiving medical attention when you need it!"

"Diana, calm down."

Martian put his hand on her shoulder as she seemed all but ready to throw out her lasso while Batman seemed equally ready to throw out a batarang.

"Maybe I shouldn't get involved but, you've gotten medical help from us plenty of times. What makes this time different." Green lantern asked.

"Oh gosh it isn't cancer is it?" Clark asked in horror. "I heard the rumors from Gotham saying it was your wrists or something but if it's something like that."

Bruce glare which had dimmed earlier turned into an ugly scowl.

"You stalked me in my city."

Clark, however, was quick on his feet.

"I went there to settle some business from Metropolis. The visit had nothing to do with you. But talk has been about in that city and I couldn't have missed the rumor."

"You should have come out about it earlier if it was this serious. How do you expect to hold your best with talk like this?"

Hawkgirl bluntly stated. Batman's brows rippled together, his mouth slightly opened, and he moved around Flash to continue towards the door.

Martin's eyes widened as he felt Batman's anger evaporate only to be replaced with fear but mostly feelings of shame and helplessness. The group seemed to be so frustrated with Batman's behavior that they were going to let him go. But the further away he got from them the more dread seemed to sink into Martin's breast.

Surly the injury was something he could handle? Or was it simply a matter of human pride? He floated over to Bruce and stopped him by putting a hand on his shoulder while sending the most calming vibe possible.

This startled Bruce and on instinct he turned and flew a punch in the alien's direction. He realized his mistake halfway through and tried to stop his attack but Martian acted first. He grabbed Bruce's wrist to stop the attack causing Bruce to hiss in pain.

As the pain fogged Bruce's vision for two seconds Martian was bombarded with images of his habit and sensed the wounds through the armor that separated his hand from his wrist. He let go like he had been burned because the feelings coming off Bruce from the vision had done just that. He regained his composer quickly. Batman hide his wrist under his cloak all too conscious of what had just passed between them.

"You just went into my mind." He accused.

"Your mind was completely open."

"You can't just look in my mind whenever you feel like it!"

"I didn't look in your mind. You projected the image."

"You invaded my privacy. That's what you did."

"You were the one that almost punched the guy in the face." Flash stated from the sidelines reminding them of the other's presence. Bruce ignored the comment but his face turned stoic.

"Are you going to tell everyone else?"

"Not everyone, that would be unnecessary. I would appreciate it if you stayed here for a while longer."

"Is that even a choice?"

He snapped letting the bitterness sink into his voice. The group all stared uneasily sensing the tension in the room and waited for Martian to speak.

"Excuse me but could everyone but Clark and Diana leave the room please."

Clark and Diana sent each other worried looks while the rest of the gang walked worriedly or annoyed out of the room and closed the door.

"Contrary to your belief I will give you a choice. We can discuss this with them or your family members. It is up to you."

A fleeting look of horror passed over Bruce's eyes at the thought of Alfred or Richard finding out about his pathetic actions. Alfred would never speak to him again and Dick would never look at him the same. He kept his head down as he walked to the League table and sat down.

He slipped off his cowl because he felt stupid addressing the issue in the very symbol of his strength. The three followed close behind him and took a seat next to or across from him. Diana stared at Bruce in silent shook. She had never seen him look so defeated. His strength had left him and he held himself so little above the ground.

"There is no easy way to branch or explain what I am about to tell you. It may also sound like a lie or misunderstanding when you first hear it."

"Trust me John, we will believe you."

"I know. The rumors you have heard about his arms and wrists being sore or a weak point were true. But, he gave himself the injuries."

The two looked confused.

"What do you mean?"

Bruce kept his head turned away from them towards the floor.

"To put it bluntly, he has been cutting himself with a knife on his arms and wrist. I caught a glance of this when I touched his wrist."

The pair felt shock settle over their faces as they looked from Martian to Bruce who had yet to speak otherwise or look at them. Clark eye's searched over his friend and to his disbelief he knew that all he had been noticing added up to Martian's claim. Diana was the first to recover.

"How long? Has it been for two months? That was when Clark and I noticed something."

"I do not know."

"More importantly shouldn't we get these injuries looked at and wrapped up?"

"You think I'm stupid enough not to take care of myself" Bruce snapped. "If I didn't take care of them they'd get infected and never heal. I know how to treat my own cuts and I've done it more then you have."

"Know how to take care of yourself?! Look at what you're doing to yourself!"

"I've seen it well enough but have you?"

"I'm sure some of our medical tools could heal them faster them normal. I believe this is a good idea. You yourself hinted that you want them to heal and not get infected."

Bruce's face once again cashed out on his emotions and he stared off away from them.

"I have no choice."


Good job Diana and Clark for sticking to it!^^ Now my poor Bruce can start to be taken care of. I didn't do much of what the trio were thinking towards the end because they were in shock and I'll write more on how they feel about this revelation in the next chapter. Hope you liked it.

BTW ~ depression(which Bruce has in this story) should never be taken lightly because you cannot wake out easily without help as it is a mental condition also cutting is very serious and should be helped immediately. It does occur in adults but most of the time is not caught as often as in teens.