"We need to talk about Batman." Wonder Woman said to the founders (minus Batman). "Why? What's up with Bats?" Flash asked all of this within a few seconds. Age had not slowed him down. "I don't know. But something happened during the battle today. After he took down Bane he looked ready to drop. He was breathing heavier and he looked like he was shaking. Plus he hasn't really spoken to anyone since his birthday. From what I've heard he hasn't even been into Wayne Enterprises in nearly a week. He's focused entirely on 'the mission'." They all knew what 'the mission' was. It was what drove Batman. And a few weeks ago they found out that it was what drove Batman's family out. They had turned up at the Manor and found Bruce drinking in his study. Drinking heavily. In his drunken stupor they had discovered what had happened to him. 5 years ago Barbara Gordon (a.k.a. Batgirl) had been shot in the spine by the Joker and was paralyzed. The Joker then proceeded to kidnap Tim Drake (a.k.a. Robin) while he was on patrol and torture him for weeks. They found out why the Joker had disappeared. They found out everything. They had all noticed at the time. How Batman seemed angrier, more brutal. It seemed that he cared for no one and strove only to complete the mission. It wasn't long after they both recovered enough that Tim and Barbara had tried to continue to help in any way but Bruce locked them out of the cave and took away their uniforms. Tim moved out and went to live with Dick and Barbara, who were engaged to be married. They tried inviting him to the ceremony but received no reply. A few years after Commissioner James "Jim" Gordon had passed away peacefully. By this point Alfred was already bedridden and incapable of assisting Batman any longer. He passed away the following week. Lucius Fox had also died about a year afterwards, leaving Batman well and truly alone. No friends. No family. No allies. He had lost all ties with the world except for the League. Even then they had noticed that he was taking less and less League missions so that he could remain in Gotham. He was beginning to cut ties with them. "You're right, Diana. Everyday I keep expecting him to resign from the League. I just wish that I knew why." Superman said. They heard chuckling and turned to see Green Lantern laughing softly to himself. "You really don't know what's wrong with him?" He said, "It's simple. He's getting old. He knows it and he doesn't like it. Doesn't want to accept it. Because once he admits it then he knows he'll have to stop or someone will try to make him stop. Think about it. He has lost contact or is losing contact with everyone who would attempt to stop from being Batman because of his age. He doesn't want to be stopped." The other members looked at Green Lantern in wonder. "How can you possibly know that?" Superman asked. Green Lantern ran his hand through his short grey hair and said, "Some of us are actually capable of growing old. No offense, guys, but you really don't understand. Most of you are immortal or near immortal and Flash, you're still in your prime. You have probably got another twenty or thirty years to go before you start to think like this. But Batman and me? We're thinking about it now. Although he is older than me by a few years. But even I don't truly understand because I don't have to rely on my body as much as he does. I just have to focus on my mind. He has to focus and control both. You just can't understand what that's like because it won't happen to you or won't happen to you for hundreds of years," He paused and looked at Flash and added, "Or decades in your case hotshot." They all sat in silent thought and considered Green Lantern's words. He was right.
