Chapter 38

Logan was left to his own thoughts once his great grandson had left. He felt his heart wrench despite the fact he had expected this reaction. What had he wanted from the man who had become the Batman? Even at such a young age he had seen it in Bruce's eye. Recognized the driving force of a man possessed to make the world right. To protect those who did not have the power to protect themselves.

Over the years Logan had kept a close eye on the Gotham Knight. As soon as the first reports began to trickle in it became abundantly clear to him who it was. As he fought through his own trials, lost those he loved, and gained friends and enemies along the way somehow he always knew. Somehow, Logan found he wasn't all that surprised Bruce had gone down the road he had. It was in his blood. He was a fighter. A warrior. A protector.

A Dark Knight.

Logan's head jerked around when he heard the door slide open. He had no doubt in his mind he was probably trapped in the Batcave. Family or not, he doubted Bruce would allow him to just walk out of the place at will. Down the stairs descended Alfred with a covered platter balanced in his hand. Logan straightened up when he caught scent of the food. When the butler took notice of him he stopped altogether.

"Hey. Lost some hair while I was gone." Logan greeted the butler. Alfred did not say a word before he slowly walked down the rest of the way. Keeping a wary eye on the Canadian as he set the platter down on a spare table.

"It's been quite a while since you and I last met, Master Patch. Or do you go by a different name now?" Alfred asked his tone crisp. Logan snorted as he got up and came over to the old man. Alfred took off the top of the lid revealing a bowl of soup, a salad, and a steak. Logan was surprised by the food but he nodded his head to the other man in thanks.

"You really despise me, don't ya? For leaving Bruce when I did?" Logan stated bluntly. Alfred went rigid at the question but the Canadian caught the way the butler's eyes flickered with anger.

"It's not my place to say, sir, but it was despicable. You could have at least explained to Master Bruce why you meant to leave. To suddenly disappear in the middle of the night without sending word left a negative impression on him." Alfred answered stiffly. Logan actually had to hold back from laughing at the man's words. To do so would have probably earned him getting hit with the broom.

"Yeah, I'm sure it did. There's not much I can say to make you like me. You never did to begin with. Oh, don't give me that look, Alfred. I don't like me either. You're hardly the first person to give me a strange look like an aardvark just started meowing." Logan grunted. He sat down at the table and began eating the steak first. He ignored the distasteful wrinkle of Alfred's mustache at his table manners. Well, when a man was hungry he ate.

"I can see you've changed very little yourself, sir."

"Other than the fact I had a needle shoved into my brain, yeah, I'm peachy. Believe me." Logan answered sarcastically. He chuckled when the butler gave a tired sigh. Alfred had always treated him as if he were a messy dog. Probably due to the fact that he did tend to make a mess, but hardly on purpose.

"Tell me, Logan, due you truly care for Master Bruce? Or are you here to ask a favor of him?"

"You want the truth? Originally, I just came here to check in on him. I heard some shit was going down with Sabretooth and I wanted to make sure Bruce was okay." Logan grunted in reply.

"The Cajun just tagged along with me. I tried to get him to stay or at least accept a job somewhere else, but he insisted on coming with me. So I let Rims follow and figured I lose him once we got into the city. But then all that shit with Strange went down. Next thing I know I'm rolling on the floor coughing up blood and then there's Bruce glaring down at me." Logan answered bluntly. Alfred winced at his choice of words but the feral man could care less.

"When can I see Rims, by the way?"

"Master LeBeau is currently recovering upstairs in the living room. He's been talking to me off and on all day. I tried to keep him interested in other activities, but he insisted on discussing our culinary skills."

"Must have been enlightening."

"He did mention a few recipes I've never tried before."

"That's Rims for you. I think if he ever gave up being a thief he could always open his own restaurant. Call it Cajun Cuisine, or if he went the casino route Remy's Remedy. Knowing him he'd have both and would be running a franchise within less than a week." Logan chuckled. His heart wrenched at the thought of his Cajun. He probably had to wait at least a whole other day before he could see him.

"I take it he's alright?"

"Recovering from a hangover, sir, but other than that his physical health is excellent. As to his mental health that remains to be seen at the moment."

Logan closed his eyes with a tired sigh. He really should have just told the Cajun to remain at home. He had done him no favors by dragging him out into the middle of this warzone. With Hugo Strange on the loose and this secret sponsor of his he could hardly say they were safe. As he sat there trying to gather his thoughts he felt a sharp pain in the back of his head.

Logan growled, baring his teeth as rubbed his head. Again, that sharp pain as a face surfaced in his mind's eye. For a second he was positive he was looking at Professor Xavier. Then the features shifted ever so slightly. At first he was dumbfounded, then hot rage began to pour through his veins. He let out a low growl as the memory of the soft hand stroking his cheek returned. Clenching his fists he stood up suddenly surprising Alfred who had been looking at him confused.

"Alfred, I need to use your phone for a minute." Logan said stiffly. When the butler opened his mouth to deny him the Canadian forced himself to soften his tone. Doing his best to hold back the worst of his temper.

"Please, Alfred. It's important. Bruce's life could depend on it." Logan said gravely. Alfred frowned, clearly not trusting him. Then after a moment reached into his coat pocket and handed over his own surprisingly modern cell phone.

"Make it quick then." Alfred said calmly. Logan nodded his head as he flipped the phone open. Suddenly not caring as he dialed a number. Putting the phone to his ear he only had to wait a few seconds before a familiar voice answered.

"Who the hell is this?" A man's voice demanded over the phone.

"You're mother in law. I need a favor." Logan growled into the phone. Over the line he heard Nick Fury mutter a few expletives under his breath.

"Better not be anything ridiculous, Wolverine. I don't have time for this bullshit. I'm retired, and so is the team. You know that."

"Fury, I don't give a shit if you're on your deathbed. You've fed me a lot of crap over the years and I ain't putting up with it. And what I'm about to ask you is hardly gonna make you get off your ass."

"What do you need me to do?"

"Put me through to Flyboy. You know who I'm talking about." Logan growled into the phone. He heard Fury give a sharp gasp over the phone. His tone lowering automatically as if he feared being overheard.

"Are you insane? People all over the world see him as a god! The United Kingdoms even erected a statue of him in front of the government building."

"I don't give a crap who is. Put me through!"

"Alright. It's your head, not mine. I hope you know what you're doing, you crazy bastard." Fury answered.

There was a click and several beeps. Logan waiting tapping his finger on the table as he waited. Alfred frowned watching him closely. If this worked he would manage to ensure Bruce's safety. It took a few minutes but finally he heard a voice speak up.

"Hey, is anyone else seeing this? The satellite just went on the fritz for no reason." A young man's voice said. It sounded distant as if he were in the background.

"Hey bub, put Superman on the line." Logan said into the phone. He heard his voice boom and echo in the background. It took him a minute to realize Fury must have hacked into their intercom system. Well, that was one way to get their attention.

"Who is this?! How did you-"

"I don't know who the hell I'm talking to, but you either you get that mother fucker's ass talking to me right now or I pay a visit to a farm in Kansas. Your choice, bub." Logan growled. He heard an abrupt silence and then the quiet mutterings. A whole team then, was it? Alfred had gone completely pale gazing at the Canadian as if he had lost his mind.

"This is Superman speaking. What is it you want?" Superman's voice cut in. His tone was angry. Logan smirked glad to hear he had the hero angry.

"Might want to hurry up and get to Gotham, flyboy."

"Who is this?!"

"Your mother. Lex Luthor is about to pull a big one. So either you stop him, or I do. And I can promise you, bub…" Logan said unsheathing his claws. He raised them to his face staring at the bright blue eyes glaring back at him. They were hardened sapphires ready to do battle. Sparking with a berserk rage hidden just beneath their depths.

"If I stop him I'll rip him into so many pieces no one will ever be able to put him back together again. I don't like it when someone goes around rooting in my head. So if you show up and I've already started carving, don't start whining I didn't give you proper warning. And you can only bring Batman. I see any of your other friends there, I can't guarantee their safety." Logan said. Before Superman could say anything he snapped the phone shut and handed it over to Alfred.

"Sir, are you insane?!" Alfred demanded. Logan shrugged his shoulders as if he had just not pissed off the strongest being on Earth.

"Probably." Logan answered. Then reaching out faster than the eye could see he hit Alfred upside the temple. He caught the old man as he went out cold. Picking Alfred up he gently set him down on the bed he had been laying down on. He checked the butler's pockets and found a small disc. It probably allowed him to pass through Bruce's traps unscathed. Turning his head to look up the stairs Logan took a deep breath. He could go up there, tell the Cajun what he was about to do.

"Sorry, Rims. I'll explain later." Logan said softly.

He wasted no time in getting dressed. As soon as he pulled his mask on he let the animal come out. The beast filled every part of his being. It scented the air and recognized the faint scent of its mate. For a moment he was drawn upstairs, but a bigger pressing concern made him move away from the familiarity. One similar to his own drew him in the opposite direction. This scent was fresh and familiar to his own. Kin, then. And this kin was in grave danger.

Snorting Wolverine shook his head like a wet dog. He moved towards a line of vehicles he saw set off to the side. It didn't take him more than a moment until he managed to free a bike. It was sleek and black, heavily armored to protect it. Above he heard someone moving about. Without waiting he mounted the bike and revved the engine. Taking off into the night after the only person left to him.

You're a Dark Knight, but I'm the original.