(A/N) New Chapter!

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Adjustments, Part 1

A stunned silence filled the room, and it was deafening. A similar expression of shock was seen on all of their faces, even Alfred, and Bruce too. His voice had a faraway quality, as if he couldn't believe what he was saying. Alfred looked around the room, gauging their reactions to this news, when Dick started to laugh, very loudly, almost hysterically. Everyone in the room turned to him. "Hee, hee, good one, Bruce! Now what did you really call us here for?"

Once again silence pervaded the room, and Dick looked at the others. "Come on! You don't really think that he's finally going to quit do you?"

Barbara looked at Bruce, noting his overall tiredness, but most of all, his eyes. "I think he is Dick."

"But you can't! We need you!"

"No. You don't."

"What do you expect us to do? Without Batman, this city will just revert back to what it was."

"And if I continue to be Batman, then the legend will fall."

"What are you talking about? You are the perfect Batman, you…you have dedicated your life to this! Nobody can replace you!"

The entire room was watching this exchange, their eyes darting back and forth as they watched the confrontation.

"And that, Dick, is where you are wrong."

"What?" His shocked voice echoed across the room.

"Mentally, I'm fine, tired but fine. Physically, however, I'm no longer capable of being Batman." Bruce stood up, and they realized that he seemed to have a little trouble doing so. "And that is why I have called you here today. I hold you under no obligation; however, Gotham still needs Batman."

The room was silent again, but eventually, all eyes turned to Dick. He looked at them all nervously. "What?"

Tim laughed, "Come on Dick, we all know that you're the only one who can do it."

"That's not true, I mean, anyone in here can do it!"

Helena said, "Babs and I can't really do it, because, you know, we would be a Batwoman, not a Batman."

"It could work!"

"Maybe someday, but not yet, besides, we all know that Tim can't do it yet. He's still too young, no offense Tim."

"None taken."

"And I daresay that I can't become Batman either, Master Richard." Alfred said calmly.

Bruce spoke up again, and they all fell silent. "Please understand, you are under no obligation to become Batman. Believe me, I know it's not exactly what you all might want to commit too."

Bruce walked out of the room, "I'll let you talk it over, I'll be...moving about the manor."

Alfred looked at the guests and went to the kitchen, saying that he needed to start preparing for dinner.

Dick sank farther back into the couch, when Bruce and Alfred were gone. "Well, I guess we all knew this day was coming." They all looked at the case that Alfred had gotten for Bruce, and Tim shifted uncomfortably. "Well? Can someone open it? I'm dying here!"

Barbara smiled, "Okay Tim, since you're dying of curiosity…" She knelt in front of the case. There wasn't a locking mechanism, which surprised them, but when it opened, a hologram of Bruce appeared. "To whomever is seeing this, by now I have officially retired as the Batman. As I have previously said I can no longer be Batman. If you are seeing this, then some of you are at least considering taking up the mantle. I know that we have all seen our fair share of horrors, however, this is footage that I have recorded that shows some of what I have been through these past few months."

The hologram of Bruce was replaced with images of Bruce fighting Bane, alongside the Justice League. They cringed as they saw him capturing Joker, and they gasped as they watched him struggle against simple muggers. The hologram of Bruce returned. "Should someone take up the mantle of the Batman; that is what I will be asking you to endure." The hologram blipped out, and they all stared at the empty space for a while. Finally Tim broke the silence, "He had been acting strangely lately, but then, he does have those times every so often…"

"We know Tim. Don't worry." Barbara said, hugging the distraught boy.

Helena cleared her throat. "Look, we can all agree that it isn't anybody's fault, and we can certainly understand why Bruce can no longer be Batman. What we need to focus on, is who is going to take his place."

Dick shifted uncomfortably in his seat, and everyone looked at him. He took a moment to gather his thoughts. "As you have all so graciously pointed out, I guess I am the one to inherit the title, but I'll do it my own way." He looked around the room again and smiled, "Besides, I can hardly be as gloomy as Bruce is all the time!"

Barbara smiled. "And here I was thinking we were going to have to drag you kicking and screaming."

Dick made his exit, and went to find Bruce. He walked through the manor, and looked out the windows. At this time the sun should be setting, but a storm was on the forecast, and the sky was dark. When he looked to his right, he saw the pictures of the Wayne family staring down at him. He rounded the corner, and saw Bruce standing, looking at one of the pictures. He walked up next to him and saw the picture, and the ones next to it. One was of Bruce, with Alfred and his parents, another, was of when Bruce had just came back, standing with Alfred. Yet another showed him with Dick, but the one Bruce was pondering at that moment was of Tim, Alfred, and himself, all laughing at some joke. Bruce was staring at it wistfully, as If remembering something that could never be again. Bruce glanced at him, but didn't say anything, leaving Dick to break the silence. "You know Bruce, when I was coming over here, I was thinking about what you said about Batman being a symbol? But then I thought, "well, there is never going to be another Bruce Wayne, you know that, right?"

"I suppose…"

"Another thing, as I just said to the others, I'm not you. I'm going to go about this my own way."

"Well, about that, I expected it, but you have to give the impression of being the same person. You can't be so different from me that everyone knows immediately that you aren't the original."

"I can do that."

Bruce turned to Dick, regarding him, and then he looked outside. "Come on, Alfred has probably finished supper and we don't want him to come after us do we?"

Dick grinned, "Remember that time when I ordered out?"

"I thought Alfred was going to kill the poor delivery man."

They shared a laugh, a quiet one, but it was needed. As they walked to join the others, Dick watched Bruce. The transformation that seemed to be coming over him was stunning. Outwardly he would appear the same to those who didn't know him, but Dick could see how defeated he was. It was a scary thing to see, and Dick was glad when they arrived at the table. He sat next to Barbara and Tim, while Bruce sat next to Helena and Alfred. They ate in silence, but when everybody was finished Bruce, spoke up. "I know that you did not expect to come here and hear me to make such an announcement, however, let me take this time for me to also tell you that I am truly proud of all of you." Everyone had to smile, as he seemed so uncomfortable with saying this. Bruce was never one for emotions, or giving such heartfelt approval. He excused himself from the table, saying, "Dinner was good as usual Alfred. Dick if you would, we have a matter of the utmost importance to deal with." Dick got up, followed him down to the cave, and was surprised when Bruce put on his costume. Bruce noticed him staring, and explained, "We're going to meet the Commissioner. After all you can't expect him to just accept a new Batman out of nowhere do you?"

Bruce pointed to a box. In it was a Batman costume similar to his own, but fitted for Dick. "Put on that costume, and then let's go."

They went to the Batplane, and took off. The plane hovered above the GCPD headquarters, and they jumped down, leaving the plane to continue on a fixed route. Batman moved to the signal and turned it on, a few minutes later an irritated Gordon was on the roof. "How many times do I have to tell you, only I turn on the signal!" Gordon's tirade was cut short when he saw that not one, but two Batmen were waiting for him. "Oh…sorry I thought it was one of the newbies trying to get himself killed! Batman?"

Batman stepped forward, and Dick stood uncomfortably in the background, he hadn't really been prepared for this. He watched with a kind of awe as Bruce got out a thermos and poured the Commissioner some coffee, and they shared a drink. He watched the ease that Batman had with the man, and it never ceased to amaze him how well these two got along, but he decided that they had let him squirm long enough. "So Commish, bet you're wondering why there's two of us right?"

"I have to admit, I was wondering."

Batman spoke, his voice having a very quiet quality. "Jim, this is my replacement, you knew him as the first Robin."

Gordon studied the other Batman, "Well, you've come a long way haven't you?"

"I suppose I have."

"You'll excuse us a moment? I'm going to need to talk with your…" he looked at Bruce, "What would you call yourselves exactly? Oh well, I guess it doesn't really matter…"

Bruce motioned Dick away and, taking his cue, Dick melted away into the night.

You could never be sure with any of Batman's crew, but when Gordon thought they were alone he looked at Batman. "Okay, spill."

Batman looked at Gordon, amused. They stared at each other in silence for a long time, quietly sipping their coffee, when Gordon sighed, exasperated. "Look, this is pointless, I'm relatively sure that stubborn as we both are, we could wait the entire night, so let's just not do it and say we did, eh?"

Batman laughed, "You have a point there Jim. So, what do you want me to 'spill'?"

Now it was Gordon's turn to be quiet. "Why? Why are you letting someone replace you?"

"I think you know that."

Gordon ran a hand through his graying hair. "Yeah, I guess I do."

"I'm just not strong enough to do it anymore."

"It takes a toll doesn't it?" Gordon and Batman moved to the edge of the roof, looking out on the city. "I think we've done a good thing, all these years."

"I think so too. I just wish that I could keep on doing it."

"Do you think the kid can?"

"Yes, he's truly my successor."

"Can I assume that you've made sure he can sneak away when I'm in the middle of a sentence?"

Bruce smirked. "Well I have taught him almost everything I know."

"Great…"

"So, do you approve of the new Batman?"

"Yes, I just hope he doesn't have to be him for very long."

"So do I Jim." Batman turned away from Gordon for a moment, and opened up a line to Dick. "Batman, you may continue your patrol, or call it a night." He turned back to Gordon. "I'll be seeing you Jim."

"I'm sure you will, Bruce."

Batman froze, and slowly turned to Gordon. He opened his mouth but no sound came out.

"Hah! Finally caught you by surprise!"

"How…?"

"Well, I am a detective too, Bruce."

Gordon began to walk away. "So, let's meet up for coffee sometime." He turned to Bruce, only slightly surprised to see him still there. He walked over and shook his hand. "I am glad to have worked with you, we're making this city great," and with that Gordon walked away, leaving Bruce alone with his thoughts as he made his way back to the cave.

When Bruce arrived at the cave, he looked around. No one was there. Dick was probably staying the night, but Helena and Barbara had probably gone home. He moved around the cave and finally spoke to the darkness.

"What do I do now?"

(A/N)

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