Hey Everyone!

I am so so so sorry for the two year delay on this story. A lot of things have happened in my life, both good and bad, and I had to focus on those thing. I'm gonna try not to make the next chapter have such a delay on it. But anyways your not here for my long winded apology, your here for Chapter 5! Some quick housekeeping things before we get started:

- As happy as I am to have Young Justice back and as well done as I think season 3 was, I'm going to continue to treat this story as its own continuity. The timeline of my story is just too different from the current YJ canon to make any sense so I'm treating this as its own thing. Everything before season 2 still happened and is a part of these characters histories, but season 3 and any future seasons probably won't be.

- As always, while the focus of the story is Dick Grayson, there are a few other narrators sprinkled around, particularly Jason Todd

-Here is a quick cheat sheet for the characters who aren't in the Young Justice cartoon or haven't appeared in the story so far:

1. Derek Powers (Aka Blight): A ruthless business owner who competes for the ownership of Wayne Enterprises (I took him from the Batman Beyond Cartoon and Re-purposed him for here)

2. Lyle Bolten (Aka Lock-Up): Former Chief of Security at Arkham Asylum That was known for his cruel treatment of Patients.

There are a few more but I'm gonna let you read them to meet them.

-To returning readers, thank you all so much for sticking with this story. its means the world to me that people enjoyed it enough that they wanted to keep on reading.

-To new readers, welcome! I hope you enjoy!

and with all that out of the way, here is chapter 5!


Medical Bay, Watchtower [August 15, 2019, 12:30]

Dick Grayson's eyes fluttered open as he was greeted with a blinding white room. He blinked several times, his eyes adjusting to the brightness, and he scanned his area for a moment. He was in a small, empty room with a window view of the vast emptiness of space. The Watchtower. His body instinctively squirmed in his hospice bed and he winced as he looked down at his right arm and left leg.

Casts.

An acrobat's worst nightmare.

"I knew the first thing you'd do was glare at those when you woke up." He looked over and saw Tim Drake in a chair next to his bed, giving him a tired but bright smile.

"How long was I out?" Dick asked groggily.

"Almost 4 days. We were beginning to wonder if…" Tim's voice faltered.

Dick's eyes widened as he realized the number of days. "I have to go help." He stood up quickly. Immediately the numbness of his body was replaced with pain. He grimaced but he limped out of bed and reached for his torn and bloody suit on the table. "The crisis…" Tim got between him and the costume and lightly pushed him back.

"The crisis is over. Darkseid retreated. We won." Dick paused to let the good news sink in as he tried collecting his scrambled thoughts, piecing together what he could.

"Dick…" Tim paused choosing his next words carefully. "…What's the last thing you remember?"

Dick put his hand on his head and closed his eyes. "Darkseid killed Conner." The weight of the words rolling off his tongue hit him. He paused, remembering something and his head shot straight up as he grabbed Tim by the shoulder. "Barbara! Where is she? Is she alright?"

Tim helped him find his footing, but his expression turned grim. "Easy, she's resting now. Dr. Mid-nite finished her surgery a few days ago. She's been in and out."

Dick breathed a heavy sigh of relief that Barbara was alive, but his demeanor changed once he saw Tim's face. "Mid-nite saved her life, but the Joker shot her in the spine. It's looking like she may never walk again." Dick could only look out the window, staring at the stars as they danced in space.

"Her legs." He said.

Tim looked at him quizzically. "That's what she said when I found her." Dick explained. "She said she couldn't feel her legs." There was a final silence before Dick looked up at Tim again. "And Bruce? How's he doing?"

Tim's eyes widened a little and his face turned ghost white. He was hiding something. "Dick, maybe you better sit down." Dick knew what this meant.

"No, no not him. Tim, no." Tim tried to calm Dick down by putting his hand on his shoulder.

"Bruce took the plane and flew it into the boom tube in Metropolis. He gave us a chance."

Dick could barely hear him as his body began to shake and his knee's buckled. "Bruce." He wheezed.

"Dick!" Tim cried. Dick fell to the floor, shock pouring over his entire body. "Stay with me Dick, we just got you back." As Tim ran to get help, Dick stared at the floor, finally piecing his memories together. Bruce told him he was proud of him, then he flew off in the plane to die. And as he laid on the floor, too shocked to even cry over the man who raised him, his eyes glazed over and he fell under again.

"He's not gone." He muttered. "He's not."


Holding Cells, Wayne Manor [January 11, 2020, 5:30]

Jason Todd

"Should we risk moving him?" Wondergirl asked.

"No." Red Robin said adjusting the sling on his shoulder. He's lucky I only broke his arm. "He would just break out of wherever we sent him. The best thing we can do for now is hold him until Batman gets here."

"The best thing we can do is let him out so I can take another shot at him!" Tomcat snapped.

"But if we let him out, he could escape." Stargirl reasoned.

"You weren't there Courtney!" Kid Flash protested. "This asshole froze me and tazed Tom! He knocked out Max, and beat Red Robin to a pulp!" It's worth the risk!"

Despite the fact that I was stripped of my weapons, handcuffed to a chair, and locked in a force-field guarded cell, I was enjoying this. "All this attention for little ol' me?" I mocked them. "How flattering!"

They all looked at me through the force field and glared. "You don't get to say anything after what you just did!" Supergirl pushed though the others to get eye to eye with me. "I swear if you say one more word, I'm feeding your next meal through a straw!"

I couldn't help but wink at her. "I'd eat any meal through a straw if it got me dinner with you."

Supergirls face went from crimson to bright red in a second. She stormed even closer and pressed her fist on the force field keeping me in my cell. Using her knuckles, she applied pressure on the shield and it began to fritz. "Maybe we should let him out…" She seethed. "…then I can use him for target practice for my heat vision."

I shrugged, amused. "Little kinkier than I'm used to on the first date, but hey, I'm flexible."

Her rage boiled over and using all her power, she smashed the force field open and hovered over to the chair. Wondergirl and Kid Flash grabbed her before she could get any closer.

"Kara, stop!" She said. "We need to put the cell back up before…." "Before what, Cassie?" Kara snarled. "He's looking for a fight, I'll give it to him!"

"Oh, no fight here, Supergirl." I grinned, holding up the handcuffs that once wrapped around my hands. "I just needed a way through the force field, which you so graciously provided."

They all looked at me with their eyes wide, and charged to restrain me. This time though, I wasn't interested in fighting. They did take my guns, my bombs, even my jacket containing most of my equipment. But when little miss kryptonian x-rayed me for deadly devices, she failed to notice my leadlined boots that was storing a mother box inside. The force field would have prevented me for opening any portals with it since it was built by Mister Miracle, but fortunately that wasn't a problem thanks to Supergirl. Immediately I reached for the box and pressed the button on it, opening a boom tube to Metropolis in front of me. As each of the team members lunged at me, they were engulfed into the portal and beamed away. I closed the tube as the last one went through and smiled to myself. They maybe one of the most powerful rosters the teams ever had, but they're definitely not the most efficient yet.

It'll take them at least a minute to figure out what happened. Maybe another five to get back here with a speedster and kryptonian. By then I'll be long gone. I left the cell and ran to the mission room I fought Red Robin in. I turned on the computer and hacked his password in 30 seconds. I looked through all his files until I found the ones I was looking for.

"Bingo." I grinned to myself. I downloaded all the files into my hard drive, grabbed my confiscated gear and pressed the button on my mother box. The portal opened to my safehouse and I walked through. This little demonstration wasn't just about showing Tim I was better than him. It was about taking the first step. The first step to showing the league, the team… to showing Dick how wrong their approach to crime is.

They're all wrong. You can't stop crime. But it can be controlled. And me and my new "friends" are going to prove it.


Chinatown, Gotham City [January 18, 2020, 19:30]

Dick Grayson

"You were warned months ago, Akahara." I said slamming the Yakuza leader onto the restaurant table.

The few of his goons I didn't knock out tried raising their guns to stop me, but Robin got in the middle of us, and swiped their legs. One of them tried to reach for a knife but Robin slapped it from his hand. I almost flinched to see what he would do next, but he simply knocked them all out and flipped onto the table next to us, batarang drawn. I quietly let out a sigh of relief and then looked back at the leader menacingly.

"Gotham is not for sale. If you and the Yakuza come back again, we will hurt more than your pride next time. I grabbed him by the collar and pulled him close to my face. "Much more." I hissed.

Akahara whimpered, only nodding in response. I heard the sirens in the distance and I dropped Akahara.

"Remember…Batman and Robin will be watching." I gave him one more look before Robin and I ran out the back and grappled into the night. As we soared into the air, Alfred's voice came on the receiver in my cowl.

"Master Grayson, I don't mean to interrupt, but you are late to the Gala benefit."

I sighed. I wasn't looking forward to this, even if I was the one who arranged it. The benefit was actually Barbara's idea. She felt it would be the best way to introduce Dick Grayson as the new CEO of Wayne Enterprises. It's not a position I wanted. But Bruce never adopted Tim since his dads alive, so that leaves me as Bruce's heir until Damian turns 18. Still, filling in for Bruce as Batman has been hard enough, but I've never been good at the billionaire playboy thing.

"Copy that, Alfie." I replied back. "Meet us in two minutes behind the alley at Dixon Docks."

"Already on my way sir."

I turned off the comm and Damian and I descended to the building above the alley. We sat on the roof in silence. Things were still tense between us since we blew up on one another. I chose my next words carefully.

"Back in the restaurant, you didn't wail on those guys as hard as usual."

He looked shock for a moment, and then tried playing it off with a yawn. "They were boring me, I didn't see the point fighting them long."

I nodded, but I couldn't help but smile a little. "Damian." I said. He studied me, bracing himself for another lecture. "I'm proud of you kid." For a brief second, I could tell how much it meant for him to hear it, but he got all proud the next second.

"Tch whatever Grayson. Didn't you just break your 'no names in the field' rule?' ".

I kept the smile on my face until I saw Alfred's town car park into the alley and the sun roof open. "That's our cue." I told him. We glided down the alley and slipped into the car through the sun roof. As I landed in the leather seat I noticed a pressed and pristinely kept suit and tie waiting for me in the back.

"Your attire for the evening, sir." Alfred said from the driver's seat.

"Thanks Alfred. Is the tie…?" "Yes, Master Richard, the tie is blue as requested."

I smiled. I grabbed the suit and began to change. It seemed weird stopping patrol so early for a gala. It definitely wasn't a normal move for us Bat-guys. Then again though, things have been pretty quiet since the Scarecrows murder last week. After all these months, it seems like were finally making a dent in crime. The gangs are finally listening to the warnings, Arkham is finally getting its inmates back under control, and with the Team garrisoned at the manor, there's been a little extra protection some nights. And since Barbara and I have started talking again, she's been a big help. She's been hacking phone records, internet searches, even government files to help me track down all the cartels and put them away. She's made the search easier and the transition to being Batman easier. She's also my date tonight, which simultaneously makes me wish I could hide from this benefit under my cape and pick her up from that chair and dance with her in that ballroom all night.

Not everything is perfect though.

Last week, Tim told me Jason resurfaced, beat the crap out of him, Max, Tom and Bart, and escaped with a mother box. So many things about that sentence spelled trouble. First of all, mother boxes are tech that only inhabitants from New Genesis and Apokolips are supposed to have access to. Where did Jason get one from? The other thing was, while Jason is the biggest grudge holder I know, he's not vain enough to risk such a big move like that just to take a shot at Tim and the Team. He had to have done something while he was in there. So far, the Team hasn't found anything. No bombs around the house, no viruses in the computer, which worries me even more. Damian and I have been asking around Gotham to see if anyone's seen Jason since he showed up at the manor, but he's been underground since. The team has even taken to searching Gotham and they can't find him either. Another crazy I have to lock up I guess. I just wish this one wasn't a constant reminder of how much Bruce and I screwed up. I just hope I find him before the Team does because while I'm more interested in getting him the help he needs, they're more interested in pounding him into the ground for what he did.

"How late are we?" I asked Alfred as I changed into the suit.

"Not terribly sir. Miss Gordon has been keeping the press at bay, Mr. and Mrs. Queen are coming with Mr. Hawke to help you present the R&D merging and Mr. Fox has already prepared your notes for your speech."

Everything about that all sounded fine except one thing. "You said the press was there, does that mean-"

"Yes Richard, the Daily Planet sent its two best reporters to the event."

Immediately, my stomach became a nesting ground for butterflies. He and I have had a date for this conversation for a while, but that didn't make me eager to have it. He was one of the biggest voices telling me not to be Batman and I can't help but wonder if that's why he came tonight. Hopefully Lois will keep him calm.

The car pulled up to the penthouse and Damian snorted. "I don't understand why I have to go to this just because you do." "It's called because I said so squirt." I said adjusting my tie.

"Besides, You're the heir to all this someday. Don't you at least want to see how this works?"

He just rolled his eyes. "Wayne Enterprises is just a means to an end. A tool in our utility belts to fight crime."

"Maybe." I said to him putting my hand on his shoulder. "But no matter how you see it, this is your dad's legacy. And his dads before him. If you have kid's someday it's going to be there's. So, help me make sure it's something to be proud of."

Damian looked away, but he nodded. As we left the car, we were greeted by a blinding white that would make an atom bomb light seem like total darkness. Reporters from just about everywhere all crowded the red carpet like a pack of wolverines to fresh meat. Cat Grant, Vicki Vale, Susan Woodburn, Mason Bridge, all of them flocked to us and bombarded us with questions.

"Mr. Grayson, how do you plan to move forward with the company?"

"Mr. Grayson, what else did Bruce leave to you in his will?"

"Do you plan to relinquish the company to Damian Wayne?"

"Will Wayne Manor be rebuilt?"

I would've probably drowned in all the trivia if Lucius Fox hadn't swooped in to save us. "Alright everyone, settle down. Mr. Grayson will be giving a speech inside, he will answer your questions then."

He led me and Damian off the carpet and into the lobby. "Thanks Lucius." I took a breath as we shook hands.

With the exception of Alfred and the Commissioner, Lucius Fox has done more than just about anybody to contribute to Bruce's war on crime. He helps design the tech we use, customizes our cars, all while juggling being the President of Wayne Enterprises. He even took the savings my parents made in the circus and converted into a pretty sizable trust fund for me.

"A pleasure as always, Mr. Grayson." He returned my gesture. "Walk with me."

Damian and I followed him to the penthouse's elevator. "I Have to admit Dick, I never expected this. You've always been so adamant about staying away from the company. What changed?"

I smiled for a second. "I guess my family finally helped me see how important it was to preserve all this."

Lucius returned my smile. "Well I'm pleased to hear it. Bruce always had big plans for if you ever decided to step up as the company's leader." Damian snorted and I subtly jabbed his arm with my elbow.

"I just hope I can live up to all of it." I simply said.

Lucius gave me one more smile as if to reassure me, and we finally reached the elevator to the penthouse. Barbara and the Commissioner were waiting for us, and I admit, my heart skipped a beat when I saw her. She was dressed in a purple dress and her hair lightly touched her shoulders. She didn't go crazy with the lipstick or the make-up, but she never needed to. She was... well beautiful doesn't quite cover it. I pinched myself for a second to play it cool as we came over.

"Ms. Gordon." I took her hand and kissed it.

She rolled her eyes at the cliché, but she smiled back. "Mr. Grayson."

I grinned at her and shook Her dad's hand. "Commissioner, how are you sir?"

"I'm well Dick. Good to see you again." His handshake was warm but his one eyebrow was raised.

Jim Gordon and I have always had an…interesting relationship. I think he's always wanted to like me, but the part of him that's Barbara's father never completely could. I guess if I was him, the idea of my daughter being whisked away by a handsome circus boy probably wouldn't totally sit right with me either. As for the new Batman, well, he's not quite adjusted yet. He can tell I'm not Bruce, but I think we have a long way to go before we reach anything close to that level.

Barbara saw Damian pouting next to me and couldn't help but smirk. "Hey Damian."

Damian rolled his eyes. "Babs." He scoffed. Barbara playfully but firmly punched him in the arm. "That's Barbara to you, you little gremlin."

Damian looked away, half embarrassed to admit that kind of hurt. We all crowded into the glass elevator and shot up to the top of the penthouse. I looked out the window and stared out in the distance. Bruce's city. My city now I suppose. My reflection casted a shadow in the glass. I won't fail Gotham. I felt Barbara lace her fingers through mine and I squeezed them affectionately.

The elevator gently came to a stop at the top floor and the doors opened to the ballroom of the penthouse. There are giant parties, and then there are swinging parties. But one thing I will say about Bruce is for all of his dislike for his identity outside of Batman, he always did his damndest to throw giant, swinging parties to hide it. All though I guess I should correct myself. Alfred always threw giant, swinging parties. The top of the penthouse was decorated up to the roof, A background orchestra serenaded the bustling partygoers and the banquet tables were stacked high with just about every food you could imagine. I scanned the guests, reminding myself how high profile this event was. Important figures from just about everywhere in Gotham (and then some) littered themselves around the ballroom.

Unfortunately, that meant all the important people, and in Gotham, most of the important people are some kind of criminal, whether they want you to know it or not.

I caught a whiff of fish before seeing Oswald Cobblepott at the one of the dining tables, inhaling crab cakes and serenading his disgusted escort for the evening about how he almost killed Batman.

At the table next to him, Pino and Umberto, the brothers running the Maroni crime family, sat across from Sofia Falcone, recently crowned queen of her late father's mafia empire. Both parties stared each other down like two bucks ready to lock horns, eyeing each other's hips.

Mallory Moxon, the newest head of the Moxon mob, was whispering sweet nothings into the president of the Gotham banks ear at a table in the corner. Unsurprising, given the state of their finances these days.

On the other side of the room, Mayor Hady, who Bruce could never quite nail for corruption, motioned for Jim Gordon to join him.

"I better go see what he wants." Jim sighed. "Thank you for inviting me tonight Dick. Always a pleasure."

"Of course, sir." I said before he walked away. Barbara and I watched him uncomfortably shake Hady's hand while I determined if my next question was okay to ask.

"Does your dad know about what the clock tower is being used for?" I whispered to her.

She pursed her lips and tried to have an answer as silent as my question.

"He knows I help the league now. It didn't really seem to faze him now that he knows who I…was before the chair."

I nodded gingerly. Barbara couldn't hide Batgirl from Jim after she got paralyzed. Oh, she could've come up with some story. She was certainly smart enough for that. But I don't think she wanted to lie to him anymore. He took it as well as any parent I suppose. He didn't exactly have a Batman to blame for it, and even if he did, I think he knew it was her choice. Still, I can't imagine what he must've gone through. Makes me wish I could've been there for him like Bruce would have been.

"Excuse me kid, but I think you're at the wrong party, the circus left town months ago." I spun around and was greeted by Oliver Queen who wrapped me in a bear hug.

His wife, Dinah, immediately went over to Babs and hugged her in a similar fashion.

They immediately started catching up, but Damian looked around, not-so-subtly hiding the fact that he was searching for someone. "Where is…?" He began before being tapped on the shoulder by Conner Hawke, who flashed a grin.

"Miss me, Damian?" He teased tousling his hair.

"tch, don't be ridiculous Hawke, I simply can't stand these high society dinners."

"Let's raid the buffet then huh? We can keep an eye on fish-face and the mob goon squad."

Damien snorted, but that didn't stop him from following Conner over to the banquet table. I chuckled a little before being released from the hug by Oliver.

"You look good in those ears by the way kid." He whispered to me. "Every media outlet in Star City has been covering The Batman. Your stealing all my press."

"Hey, you got to keep up old man. How's Roy?"

Pride flashed through Ollie's Eyes. "His retirement is going good. He's raising Lian right."

I couldn't help but feel good about that. Roys past as a clone has haunted him for so long, but now that he's hung up being a hero and become a full-time dad, he seems to be doing much better. Which is good for Lian since her mom practically took what's left of the league of shadows and is leading them. Its' not ideal, but she's trying to reform them to work as a vigilante force as opposed to a terrorist group so I suppose it's the best we can do for now.

Oliver's gaze suddenly shifted a little. As if he was suddenly remembering something. I didn't have to be psychic to understand.

"I know he's here, Ollie." I said, trying to sound as whelmed as I could.

"And I'm pretty sure I know what he's going to say about me in the suit."

"I wouldn't be so sure." A voice that almost whistled midwestern values called.

We both turned around and walking from across the room was Clark Kent, his gigantic arm locked with the arm of Lois Lane, his wife. Super hearing, I reasoned. Figures. I kept my composure and smiled at him, walking over to shake his hand. Have to make sure to keep up the idea that we don't know each other in person.

"Mr. Kent." I shook his hand. His grip was gentle, but firm with a strength that could lift a mountain.

"Mr. Grayson" I moved past him immediately, and turn to Lois, keeping to playboy roots. I threw on my best smile and kissed her hand.

"You've grown up Dick. Quite the man." She smiled.

Sometimes I forget how long Lois has known Bruce and I. They used to date when I was just getting started as Robin. "And you were always quite the lady too, Lois." I flirted back.

She flashed a grin and moved toward Oliver, Dinah and Barbara, chatting it up with them. I motioned to Clark to the Penthouse Balcony. As we walked over, I greeted various people in Gotham, shaking hands and practicing the lines Bruce taught me since I was 9 years old.

When we made it to the terrace, I took care to shut the soundproof glass door. Clark simply looked out at the skyline of Gotham, staying silent. After this continued for a few more uncomfortable minutes I decided to speak.

"Find any good kryptonian daycares for Jon yet?" I asked, shifting my hands to my pockets. Clark turned and smiled. "With Grandparents like Ma and Pa, he doesn't need one, fortunately. If anyone knows how to deal with a 4-year-old with superpowers, It's them. They've been helping us with him a lot lately. Kara's been trying but she doesn't have the patience for him yet. She's a lot like…."

Clark paused taking off his glasses for a moment. For the first time since I've known him, His giant, powerful shoulders sagged. This was beyond his "Mild manner reporter schtick." He still hadn't recovered from what happened that night, or who he lost. "I'm sorry I couldn't save him Clark."

He turned to me, his shoulders standing up straighter. "It's not that, Dick. It's not that at all."

He paused, searching for his words.

"I spent so many months ignoring Kon-El after you, Wally and Kaldhur found him. All I can think about was the time I lost." I rested my hand on his shoulder.

"He knew you loved him Clark. He wouldn't have made the sacrifice he did if he didn't." Clark was looking at me now, but his eyes seemed so far away.

"You know, it was Bruce who told me I should be in his life." He said. "I didn't listen to him at first, but he was right. I would've had even less time if I didn't eventually open up." Clark's eyes focused back on me and I felt a little bit of a chill run down my spine. "He was my best friend, Dick. We didn't agree on everything, but barring Pa, he was the man I respected the most on this planet. And the idea of someone trying to fill that role, to be Batman…. I was angry when I told you to not to wear the cowl. I reacted too quickly, but I only did because…" His steely demeanor melted and I didn't see Superman. I only saw Clark Kent. "Because I miss him."

I shifted my position and I looked out at the skyline. "I miss him too." I simply said. "And I would never do something to dishonor him." My gaze shifted from the towering buildings to the bricks, and concrete of the street. "But you have to understand Clark, this is Gotham. It's a city that lives and breathes legends. Nightwing wasn't going to ever be enough. The city needs Batman and Robin. Always."

He stepped forward to where I was looking down and smiled. "I've heard crime has dropped since those two were back in town." He held out his hand. "They can expect Superman to be showing up sometime soon for a visit. If they'll still have him."

I stood still for a beat and grinned, shaking his hand. "He's always welcome here. And Batman may be paying a visit to Metropolis for advice on how to do this every so often."

The tension was whisked away by the cold January night, when a buzzing noise came from Clark's watch. With the push of a button, a holo screen appeared and Wonder Woman's face appeared. "Wonder Woman to Superman: Numerous reports of uprisings on Apokolips have shown up. Green Beetle and Blue Beetle are calling an emergency council meeting to deal with the situation. Requesting full league response."

Clark looked at me and I nodded. "Acknowledged, Diana. On my way." He shut the communicator and took off his glasses once again.

"Do you need Damian and I there? I know we're not league, but-"

"No." He smiled. "Oliver and Dinah will come. Tonight, is about Bruce and what he left behind. And I'm certain now his legacy is in the right hands." He began to float off the ground and unbuttoned his suit, revealing the symbol we all recognized as hope.

"Well, don't' be stranger a Superman. maybe after all this Apokolips business is over, we can speak again soon?" He floated higher and higher as he loosened the tie on his suit.

"I look forward to that…" With one final pause he beamed at me with what felt like pride. "…Batman."

I watched his red streak zig-zag across the sky, and I smirked to myself a little bit. There were a lot of ways I saw that conversation going. That wasn't one of them. But It did take one more weight off my shoulders. I walked back into the penthouse and saw people gathering around the podium we set up in the main room.

I saw Barbara talking to Lois and Damian saying goodbye to Conner Hawke as he followed his parents to the elevator. Lucius walked over to me in a mild panic.

"Dick, I'm afraid Mr. Queen had to step out. He said you'd understand. However, that means that your-"

"I can handle the presentation, Lucius" I responded calmly. Barbara wheeled over to me after Lois left to join the press. She locked her arms with mine and gave me the smile that melted my 10- year old heart when I met her.

"Come on, Hunk Wonder." She said softly "It's show-time." I smiled and made my way up to the podium. Each step I took made what I was about to do even more real. But that doesn't mean it didn't make me even more determined. As the yelling reporters came to a dull roar, I put my hands on the podium and paused as Lucius introduced me.

"Thank you, Lucius." I beamed as he stepped down the stage. "And I'd like to thank all of you, for coming tonight. This event is about many things, but most of all, it's about honoring a man." A hologram of Bruce appeared on the stage. "A man who used his birthright to make the city he loved a better place. A man who invested in Gotham and its institutions. In its people." I left the podium and slowly walked over to the hologram.

I paused for a moment and gave a sad smile. "A man who helped a frightened young circus boy through a loss that no child should ever have to go through." I looked back at the crowd, all their voices completely silent now. Barbara, her father and Alfred all looked at me supportively. Even Damian was paying attention, albeit scoffing the whole time.

"And tonight, in honor of this man, Wayne Enterprises is committing all the resources at its disposal to work toward a brighter future." I snapped my fingers and a holographic image of a specific area of the city appeared next to Bruce. "For many years, Park Row has been a hub of poverty and criminal activity, earning its reputation as "Crime Alley". It's been a haven for the corrupted, a place where its acceptable to prey on the innocent."

I looked at the hologram for a moment and then enlarged the area on the street where Bruce's new life began. Where Batman was born. "But this place…this dark landscape ... it can be a place that spawns hope. With time and an investment, Park Row can evolve to become Gotham's most economically rewarding area and more importantly, an example of how far our city has come to make the lives of our citizens better." I touched the hologram and stretched it with my hands, producing a building that towered over the broken down and decrepit ones. "In a joint merging with Queen Industries, Wayne Enterprises is committing to building its newest R&D building in the heart of Park Row. A campus where its staff can live will soon follow, and with Queen industries building a communication's building not far, this area of the city can be brought into the modern era and escape its cruel past. I said before that Bruce Wayne invested in Gotham's institutions. Tonight, I'm asking you all to do the same."

I looked out at the crowd and saw some of the wealthier business owners' eyes widen for a bit. The Maroni's looked like they were going to shoot me right there. "Tonight, I'm asking you to live up to the example this good man left behind. Invest in Park Row. Bring your businesses to the area. Help us make it the place of hope it can be. Should you choose to do so, I am personally committing my time and resources to help making the transition for you as easy as possible. Follow Wayne Enterprises into the future. Follow us to that better tomorrow."

As the holograms shut off, the audience gradually began to clap. Even some of the city's criminals began clapping to keep up appearances. I walked down the stage, shaking the hands of several business owners, giving them all pleasant smiles. Lucius immediately followed me around, making elevator pitches to the people I spoke with.

"Fantastic presentation, Mr. Grayson." A cool, salesman-like voice called behind me.

I turned around and immediately had to fight the impulse to knock out the man in front of me and handcuff him for the police. Standing with in front of me with his hands outstretched was Derek Powers, former member of the Wayne Enterprises board of directors.

And when I say former member, I really mean "Former jackass who tried to buy up the majority of the company so he could use the R&D division to develop illegal and inhumane weapons that would make even the blood thirstiest warlords' shudder". He began the takeover not long after Bruce died. And if I hadn't buried my head in the sand when it came to the company for so long I might've noticed sooner then I did that he was developing a deadly gas that exposed the user to a degenerative virus. I managed to stop the first shipment of it back in December right before I took the Batman mantle, but there was a…complication. Powers got exposed to the gas and fled the scene. We couldn't make the case stick in court, but we had enough evidence that he was kicked off the board. I heard rumors he survived the virus, but he was reclusive as far as I knew. Yet here he was, same $5,000 suit, same snow-white hair, and same shark leer.

"Mr. Powers." I said shaking his hand, keeping my tone measured. "I seem to remember Lucius informing you that you were let go from the board."

Powers rolled with the verbal jab and his mouth morphed to produce a maliciously pleasant smile. "I'm here as an investor actually." He said, keeping our hands locked in the shake. "I'm starting my own company, and the Park Row spaces seem like a wonderful opportunity." When he finally let go, his gaze studied the space on the stage where the hologram was. "After all, Gotham may still have need of me. That's the idea you proposed right? That we should all do our part."

Yea all the not power-hungry people in the room should do their part I thought, but I politely excused myself.

"Well, my date is waiting for me Mr. Powers. Please enjoy the evening. Try the crab cakes." I turned my back to him "Maybe you'll choke on a few." I muttered.

If he heard me, he played it as if he didn't "See you soon Mr. Grayson." he called after me.

God, I hope that wasn't true. Then again, if Powers really does have the means to buy a section of Park Row, I should probably keep an eye on him. If I'm really going to make Crime Alley a better place, then the last thing it needs is his influence, no matter what the capacity. But it's a problem for another time I guess.

I finally made it to Barbara, and matched her grin. "How'd I do?" I whispered, leaning down to her.

She gave me a playful simper. "Not bad for a trapeze artist."

I chuckled a little and felt myself look over at the space where Bruce's hologram was. Melancholy briefly washed over, but I knew it was time to let him go. Time to honor what he died fighting for.

"Hey." Barbara's words tethered me to reality as she gently touched my hand. "He'd be proud of you Dick."

I looked at her and smiled again. "I know Babs. But no matter what he would think, I need to start focusing on the people I have in my life over the one people I had." I squeezed her hand the way she did mine in the elevator. "Because the people I have are pretty special."

For one glorious moment, we stayed there smiling at each other. I wanted to tell her so many things. How much she meant to me. How essential she was in helping me get adjusted as Batman.

How I've loved her since I was 10 years old.

But instead of any of those things, my gaze left her for only a second and my mouth dropped wide open. From behind Barbara, a woman with auburn hair and a long black strolled into the ball-room, her eyes trained on me. She didn't even feign a smile. Her look was hollow, and focused, as if I was she intended to murder me instead of have a conversation. She sauntered over to us, and I stood up trying to feel taller than I was.

"Dick?" Barbara's eyes followed my head as I rose. "What's wrong?"

I didn't have time answer her as the women came up, stopping at Barbara's wheels, but barely acknowledging her.

"Hello, Dick." She said in a breathy voice. I fought the urge to gulp.

"Andrea." I managed.

Andrea Beaumont was…probably one of the most complicated people in Bruce's life. She was his first real love, the women who almost drove him away from becoming Batman. I know they must have been happy together because Bruce always refused to talk about her. But her father was involved with the Valestra gang, a mafia organization that rivaled even the Falcone's and Maroni's back in its hey-day. When he couldn't pay them back a loan, She and her father fled the city, leaving a hole in Bruce's life that, barring maybe the presence of Selina Kyle, I don't think he ever truly filled again. He tried to find her for a while, but eventually gave up, deciding she didn't want to be found.

A few later, right around the time I got started as Robin, she returned to Gotham and eradicated the remaining members of the Valestra Family. Chucky Sol, Buzz Bronski, even Sal Valestra himself. Using a costume that overpowered even the Bat-suit in its levels of unsettling, she adopted the name "The Phantasm" and killed them all. We later found out that she came back because while they were in hiding, the gang tracked them down and killed her father. She and Bruce eventually came to blows, but she disappeared during an explosion, breaking his heart for a second time.

I heard rumors a few years ago in Bludhaven of a contract killer calling themselves "The Phantasm", but Bruce and I chased it for weeks with no lead. But just like Derek Powers, here she was. Andrea studied, me the way a jackal studies its next victim. I almost expected her to pull a knife but instead, she held her out her arm for me to take. "May I?" She motioned to the ballroom dance floor.

I stared at her hand like it was a poison claw, but my mind began racing. I had to get her away from Barbara. Whatever she was planning, I had to get her away from all of them. And to figure it out, I needed to play her game. I locked arms with her and we made our way to the dance floor.

I stole a glance to look back at Barbara apologetically, she looked confused, but she seemed to understand I was definitely not doing this because I wanted to. We made it to the middle of the floor and I began to slow dance with Andrea. We danced in silence as my mind raced to ask her million questions, but tried to organize them all from important to least important.

"Pretty girl." She finally said. I made sure my gaze didn't meet Barbara's again. "Shame what happened to her, though. Hopefully your more understanding of flaws than your mentor was."

My shock morphed to anger. Insulting two of the people I care about most? To hell with shock.

"What are you doing here?" I asked shortly.

"Is that really all you want to ask?" She said defensively.

"There's nothing else to ask. I'm not Bruce."

"Your trying to be." My head tilted slightly, but I tried to hide any expression that made me look startled. "I've seen the news" She responded to my silence. "You're not fooling anyone, Dick. Bruce was a lot of things as Batman, but he didn't move like an acrobat. And he was less restrained, and more comfortable."

It really bothered me how much she knew about us. Alfred always used to tell me Andrea was intuitive when it came to Bruce. She knew almost everything about who he was, and maybe more miraculously she almost knew everything about who Batman was.

"So, the rumors are true then." She murmured softly. "He's really gone."

I didn't look at her for a moment. Saying it was still hard. "Yes. He's dead."

Andrea silently danced with me for a moment, taking in the news.

"And do you really think you running around in his costume is going to fill the void he left?" she hissed, as we continued to dance. "You're not saving his legacy. You're damaging it."

"You have no right to talk about damaging legacies." I countered as I spun her around. "The Last time you were in Gotham, your murder spree got pinned on him."

"And I left him evidence to prove he wasn't the murderer." She snapped back.

"You justify it however you want, but you almost got him killed. The GCPD had a shoot to kill order on him."

She opened her mouth to retort, but she stopped moving on the dance floor, as if she got some kind of cue. "You're a child in a man's uniform with all his ego and half his understanding of the world." She finally said.

"And you're a woman with an ideology so warped that she can't see what her actions do to the people around her. What's your point?"

"You'll have to wait and see, I suppose." I saw the gears in her head turn, and then a realization constructed itself in my head. The Phantasm's preferred weapon is a small scythe attached to her glove.

"It was you. You're the one who killed the Scarecrow."

She gave me a coy smile "Son of the world's greatest detective indeed." She said bitterly. "Although you were young when you last saw the Phantasm. I suppose my handiwork isn't as embedded into your brain then it was in Bruce's."

She distanced herself from me and began to walk away. I grabbed her arm before she could leave though, "Andrea…." I paused, trying to form all my questions into one. "…Why did you come back?"

Andrea shook her hand out of my grip. She matched my interrogating eyes with daggers of her own. "I wanted to confirm what I already knew I suppose. You're not him. And you'll need to be for what's coming."

My eyes widened. "Andrea, what the hell are you…?"

The deafening roar of an explosion drowned out my question. I turned away from her to see fire in the sky outside of the penthouse. All the party guests, did a collective double take, some rushing to the windows, and others ducking down, thinking the explosion was sourced in the building. I looked back to Andrea, but she had already disappeared into the crowd. I looked out the window and saw the origin of the explosion. In the distance, not far from the Wayne Penthouse, was the new S.T.A.R labs building. And Its middle floor was on fire.

I raced through the crowd to get to Barbara, who gave me a grim look. "Make sure your dad gets out okay, then meet us in the bunker." I said, trying not to look as shaken as I felt.

I turned to Damian, who was running up to me with a grin on his face. "Finally, some action."

I turned to Alfred who was escorting guests out the doors. "Alfred, once everyone is out safely, meet us downstairs. Damian, we're suiting up."

Barbara moved to find her dad, while Alfred continued helping Lucius keep people calm and venting them out of the room. Damian and I meanwhile, headed to the elevator to get down to the Bat-bunker. I don't know what's happening at S.T.A.R Labs. I don't even know for sure if Andrea is involved. I did know one thing. We were definitely not calling it an early night after all…


Crime Alley, Gotham City [January 18, 2020, 21:08]

Jason Todd

It's been almost ten minutes since the bomb went off and I still can't believe that worked. Well, scratch that. I believe it worked, but I can't believe it didn't get the Leagues attention. Considering what was inside that lab, you'd think they'd have a member guarding it 24/7. Whatever distraction he conjured up for them must've really spooked them. I waited for the others outside the warehouse and rubbed my hands together as the January night stuck cold daggers into my body. One thing I do miss about running with the cape crowd? Polarized costumes. Although I'll say this the one hero I always admired Black Canary because anyone who can wear just fishnets and a jacket and still kick ass like she does in this weather has an iron will.

"Are you going to stand their all-night boy or are you going to let me in?" A very unpleasant voice barked at the entrance of the alley.

I only laughed at his intensity, which was the only alternative I could think of to shooting him in the head. "What I do is none of your business Powers, I don't work for you." I gave him a snarky grin. "But then again who does these days?"

Derek Powers eyes twitched. Without, his knowledge, his eyes turned green and he wagged a finger at me. "Listen carefully, your ingrate." His face began shedding his fake skin, and revealing his true form, a glowing skeleton. "Don't think I haven't forgotten what you and that Nightwing boy did to me a few weeks ago. As soon as our alliance is over, and I have risen back to power and crushed Wayne Enterprises, both of you will suffer the Indignities that I have suffered tenfold."

As every word left his mouth, more of his skin began to deteriorate, allowing for him to finally notice. His eyes widened and I smiled. "Careful, Powers." I said turning away from him to open the door. "All that envy will turn you green." I could feel his skin shed even more as a glowing green crackle begin to form in his fist.

After Powers had his accident with the gas a few weeks ago, his doctors tried a new radiation treatment to cure the virus. And it worked…while also leaving him looking like a glowing, green skeleton. His doctors have been able to keep his appearance in check with synthetic skin, but if he gets angry or emotional, his powers react and the skin can shed. Which seemed like right now, as he started charging up a radiation energy bolt.

I reached for my gun, preparing to finally put him down once and for all, but both of us we're interrupted when a smoky presence entered the alley.

"That's enough." The Phantasms voice shook with enough force to make the street tremble. She stalked towards the door of the warehouse, and Powers let the green energy in his fist fizzle out. "As Powers said, you may continue this contest of egos once our partnerships have concluded, but not before. We cannot afford division so close to our goal."

Powers released the energy ball and I holstered my gun. "How'd you get back her so fast Andrea? Weren't you in like an intricate dress?" I swear I she was smiling under that mask, but she kept her posture stoic as she opened the door to the warehouse. The three of us walked inside and made our way to a round table in the center of the room, where two people already had taken their seats. Behind it, several monitors showed the security monitors of key points in city.

"You're late." The bigger man at the table glared. "Actually, Lock-up…" The other man said, with his chair swiveled to face the monitors. "Ms. Beaumont and Mr. Powers are on time."

He swiveled around and I admit it's still creepy every-time I see him. Thomas Wayne Jr. Or as most of the superhero community knows him: Owlman.

He's from an earth where the Wayne's had two children, him and Bruce. But on his earth, he had all three of them killed so he could use the Wayne fortune to build a criminal Empire. He was one of the shot-callers of a group called the Crime Syndicate (a nasty evil Justice League on his earth). But during the crisis, when Darkseid played bumper cars with the Universe, he ended up destroying Earth Three, Thomas's home planet. He managed to survive by inventing a trans dimensional teleporter, but not before he made off with three Mother Boxes from his universes New Genesis. He's been hiding in Gotham since, bankrolled by some kind of organization that no one seems to know anything about, no matter how many scumbags arms I've broken to find out. But whoever they are, they have an army, and that army is going to be helpful for the next phase.

"It's Mr. Todd who showed up late." He stared at me coldly, breaking me out of my daydream. They all looked at me with calculating eyes.

"I got held up." I said defensively. "It wasn't easy getting what we needed." I said digging into my jacket. "But you did acquire it, yes?" Owlman's hollow voice cut through me. I pulled out the gun-like machine and put it on the desk. "One Phantom Zone projector from the Fortress of Solitude."

I replied, satisfied with myself. The Fortress is Superman's own personal Batcave. But between the Crisis and his new kid, he hasn't exactly had the time to hang out there. Which suits me fine, because thanks to the Motherbox, I was able to slip in and out without any trace I was there.

"Perfect." Owlman said, but he didn't sound overly pleased. "Then everyone knows their objective for the evening. My "Talons" should be finishing our business at S.T.A.R Labs within the hour. Once they've completed the mission, Powers will stay behind here and use the tech to build our…insurance. The rest of you know your targets. Hit them all."

Owlman moved from the round table, to the monitors watching Batman and Robin appear on the S.T.A.R Labs. "By the time Dawn hits, the city will be ours. All the pieces are in place. And the only thing that matters is acting now."

He looked back at all of us and we all nodded and took it as a sign to get started. Andrea vanished into the shadows as Lock-up prepared his weapons for his mission. As for me I fired up one of Owlmans three mother boxes and opened a portal into the Justice League Watchtower. And as I took my first step, I smiled again. It was time to show Dick that I meant what I said. Crime can be controlled through order. And by the end of the night, Owlman and I will have created a new order in Gotham.


And thats a wrap on Chapter 5! Thank you so much for reading and if you have any questions, comments or criticisms, please leave a review! I read all of them and I'm always looking to improve.

Thanks again!