This is a sentimental kind portion of the story. Sorry, but it is
the only feasible way I could end it. However, I promise when I get back
from summer vacation, after my little sabbatical that last 2 stories
(that's right I decided to make this a four parter instead. I am too damn
wordy.) will be much much better. Anyway, here is the second to last
chapter.
************************
Xavier opened his eyes in the real world. His body and his chair had been tossed across the room and he awoke to find the colorfully garbed Robin and his former pupil Cyclops attending to him.
"Your mentor has quite a powerful mind," said Xavier shaking his head of the cobwebs.
"We noticed," said Drake checking the Professor for any wounds or bruises. "Is he in there? Is he ok?"
Professor Xavier paused and considered. "Honestly, I don't know. We'll just have to see."
Catwoman raised her hand and swept the blood away with her fist. Talia was a skilled fighter and Catwoman, while trained and experienced, could not match her. For a while, it looked like the purple-garbed anti- hero was going to lose, until Batgirl entered the fight. She was easily as skilled as Talia, but with her injuries she was unable to defeat her single handedly. Enter Catwoman, whose relative lack of injuries and sheer determination to put as much hurt on that Demonspawn wench compensated for Batgirl's injuries. As it was however, they were only holding even.
Wolverine jumped back, looking for an opening. The old guy was good. Wolverine believed that the only reason he hadn't taken out this guy was cause of the centuries of experience. Al Ghul wasn't better, he was just better prepared. Besides, Wolverine had scored some hits on the old guy. Sure they were not major hits, but they were hits.
Wolverine was also convinced that he would have put this guy away if it weren't for the mini-Bat pansy. The kid was more trouble than he was worth. But Wolverine had to hand it to him for his dedication. The kid was beaten up bad, but he still brought it, even though 'it' was not nearly good enough.
Wolverine saw an opening, and went for it. Claws outstretched, he moved towards the hole, but was promptly blocked by the megalomaniac's sword. "Enough of this," said the century old man. Pushing a button at the base of the sword that was in contact with Wolverine's claws, an electric current was activated running the length of the sword, which passed through Wolverine's adamantium into his body. The charge threw the mutant across the room. With the Wolverine incapacitated, it was easy to defeat a weakened Nightwing and take him hostage just as the Titans, Alfred, and the majority of the X-Men arrived on the scene.
"I have had enough. Step away from my daughter," commanded Ra's. Catwoman and Batgirl had no choice but to comply. "Talia, grab the Detective. We are going to leave."
"If you think we are going to let you go with Batman, you gotta be insane," said BC, as she stared down Talia.
"Oh, you will," said Al Ghul. "I have the Titans' leader and one of the foremost members of the Detective's family held hostage. You will let me go, or else he dies. And you know that I can destroy the Titans and Black Canary. I have the means."
"But you don't have plans to destroy the X-Men," said Cyclops stepping forward. "We will stop you, and then where would you be?"
Ra's Al Ghul regarded the leader of the X-Men coldly. "My boy, you do not get to be my age without knowing how to take calculated risks. I am confident that you can be dispatched. If you think you can take me, feel free to try."
"That will not be necessary Ra's," spoke a voice of broken glass. "I think it would be best if you deal with me. Directly."
All heads in the room swung in the direction of the voice, where a battered but determined Batman stood, facing the Demonhead. A smile washed over the faces of the entire Batclan, as well as the majority of the Titans and the X-Men. "Told you kid," said BC to Damage. "Guy is too stubborn to stay down." Xavier had a deep look of concentration on his face, as he was intrigued to see what exactly would occur in this exchange, and what entity he had help to bring out.
Al Ghul turned and let go of Nightwing, pushing him towards the Titans. The Titans scrambled around him, but Nightwing hopped up to his feet ready to charge. "At ease Nightwing," commanded Batman, not taking his eyes off Al Ghul.
"Congratulations Ra's, you succeeded," said Batman. The Demonhead smiled, and the others gasped. "There are no more masks, no more Batman or Bruce Wayne. Only me.
"For years, heroes and villains have stuggled with the question of 'Who's the Batman?' So did most of my family, and so did I. What was I supposed to be? What was my mission? What am I supposed to do? How do I know if I am doing what I am supposed to be doing? I don't suppose that this is different from many people. We all search for purpose and hope that we are doing things 'the right way,' but we can never tell, except for a few rare occasions.
"I have led a fortunate life. I have done things that some would consider extraordinary, but I never took much pride in it, I never took much solace in it. Partly because I only did what was necessary, and it was not born out of any noble desire. By being all these different people, the CEO, the Bat, the Family Man I was able to eliminate doubt that I was not doing the right thing with my life. But I was not whole. I was segmented. Merely a sum of parts. No more.
"Now I am whole, a complete integration of the best aspects of my masks, and something more. I know what I want out of my life and more importantly I know what I don't want. I don't want to fear failure anymore. I do not wish to rage against death and pain. I accept it. While I understand that I will continue to do everything in my power to prevent it I will no longer let it dominate my life. I will no longer let it isolate me from those who I care about most.
"So what am I? What have you helped create? I am a man, dedicated to serving the right in any capacity I can. I am part of a family, whom I care for and would protect with every breath in body, even as I reconcile to the fact that they are their own people and do not need protecting anymore. I am the son of my parents, all four of them, who while christened in pain and sorrow, was reborn and molded by their memory and their example. I am a CEO of one of the largest companies in the world, but a company that always helps those around them. I am also the Batman, scourge of the underworld and unyielding enemy of injustice. I am all these things not because I have to be or because I choose to be, but because I am. I am one man, filling all of these roles, not several people stuck in one body. And in the end, when I become unable to be the Batman, I will be able to walk away, because I am not defined by that one role.
"But don't worry Ra's. This is much more emotional than I really am, probably caused by the trauma and having an overly sentimental telepath inserting himself into my mind. You are not going to find a 'kindler, gentler' Detective. I have been to the edge and back, and I will fight to protect what I have gained. And I will fight so that those in Gotham and elsewhere can have the chance to do as I have done. I will fight harder than I ever have before. You are partially the cause of this awakening I suppose you would call it, so I will grant you a mercy. You may walk out of this place, alive and well with your daughter. But hear me well Ra's. Come near me and mine again, and I will destroy you. And no Lazarus Pit, no force in heaven or in hell will stop me from ending. There will be no courtship, no taunts, and no long discussions. Stay away and behave yourself Al Ghul, or face the consequences."
Ra's Al Ghul stared at the Detective for a long time and beckoned his daughter to his side. "Consider well what you say Detective. Refuse me like this and there will be no turning back. You will no longer be a possible heir. You will be an enemy, and I will use every resource to eliminate you."
Batman narrowed his eyes. "You are free to try of course. My duty to you would be ended once I have let you walk free today. But I am not the same foe you have fought in the past. I am different, different in a way you can't understand. You come after me, you will be destroyed. I will end you myself."
"We shall meet again Detective," said Ra's turning away, pulling his daughter begrudgingly behind him. "And when we do, your throat will be underneath my boot."
As Al Ghul walked away Wolverine snicker. "Way to go Chuck. You castrated the Batpansy. I just hope he doesn't ask us to participate in a sing along." Batman cocked his head slightly to the right, spun around and cold cocked the Canadian, the force of the blow sending him across the room. Wolverine wiped blood from the side of his mouth and stared at Batman, who narrowed his eyes at the X-Man.
"Maybe you didn't quite castrate him Chuck," mused the Canadian. "But lets see him try that when I am ready for it."
"Enough Logan," said Xavier rolling up to Batman sizing him up. "Congratulations Bruce. Most people go their entire lives without figuring out who they are."
"I had help," said Batman shaking Xavier's hand. "I don't say this too much, but thank you. I could not have done it without you. Although I have to know one thing. One of the things you said in there, about Green Lantern. How did you know about that?"
Xavier smiled and said, "It wasn't that hard. Anything you knew, I knew at that moment. It was simply a matter of sorting through your memories to find an appropriate one that would get you to come out. Your memory of the Green Lantern and your oath, plus your associations with the man made me know that it would work. You think that the current Green Lantern, while he has the talent to be a fine hero, is more than a little immature and not as tested as you. Your ego wouldn't let you ignore your problem if it thought that he would deal with it. So I essentially shamed you into making a decision. Not something most psychologists would do, but I was desperate."
Batman nodded. "Well it worked. If you would not mind..."
Xavier nodded. "Of course."
Batman walked over to where Nightwing, Robin, Batgirl, and Alfred were standing. They seemed a little tentative as Batman approached. "Are you alright," inquired the Detective looking over their variety of their wounds.
Nightwing, as designated speaker step forward. "Yes, nothing that will not heal. More importantly are you alright?"
"I will be fine," said Batman. Looking a little longer at their faces, Batman began to see the problem. "I am fine. Better than I have been in a long time. I know that I have not been the most forthcoming when it comes to my feelings, and I will not begin to be. Its not in my nature. But you are all my family, and you do mean a lot to me. I want you all to know that."
They all looked a little stunned, and Nightwing asked "Does this mean you are going to start wearing Cardigans and sing 'Won't you be my neighbor?'" Batman turned and shot the Look at his former squire. Nightwing put on a goofy grin and said, "Guess not. There he is! All that gooey stuff was creeping us out. But thanks big guy. It means a lot."
The entire Batclan nodded, except for Batgirl who walked forward and hugged her teacher. Bruce looked at Alfred, his first teacher and second father and nodded. Alfred felt pride well up inside of him, as his son finally became the man that he was meant to be. He had taken ownership of his life and his being. He was going to not only do the right thing for his world, but for himself.
Batman nodded, and seeing Catwoman in the shadows, excused himself and walked to her. "Catwoman, I wanted to thank you," said Batman to the feline fatale. "You helped save my family, and I am grateful to you for that."
"No problem Bats," said Catwoman, preening before the Bat, putting on an air of indifference. "I just wanted to take a shot at that Talia chick...It was interesting, and I am always up for an adventure. You know that."
"That is not why you did this," replied the Detective. "You and I both know that. I know you know who you are behind the mask, and now you know who I am. The question is where do we go from here."
Heat flushed Catwoman's cheeks, and replied, "Look, if there is a problem about your identity I swear..."
"That's not the issue, and you know it," said Bruce staring into Catwoman's eyes. "We have ignored what was between us for years. I am not willing to continue to do that. I won't continue to do that. Now is not the time and place for us to discuss this, but we will soon. I won't force you, but I hope you will be ready to talk as well. Cause I don't want to waste any more time. I'll see you back in Gotham."
Catwoman stared speechless as Batman, the love of her life walked away, and she dared to hope that maybe, just possibly her wildest dreams were coming true.
Batman walked over to the X-Men, where they were congregated behind their leader, next to the Titans. Batman cleared his throat and said, "I wanted to thank all of you before the X-Men disappear. Being on the other side of this experience recently, I know that they will be returning shortly without much notice. You have provided needed aid to my family, and we would not have been able to get through this without you. Thank you for your aid."
Before Xavier could issue a reply, Cyclops an acceptance, or Wolverine a challenge, the team faded away, sent back to their own world.
"Now that was just cool," whispered Arsenal.
Xavier opened his eyes in the real world. His body and his chair had been tossed across the room and he awoke to find the colorfully garbed Robin and his former pupil Cyclops attending to him.
"Your mentor has quite a powerful mind," said Xavier shaking his head of the cobwebs.
"We noticed," said Drake checking the Professor for any wounds or bruises. "Is he in there? Is he ok?"
Professor Xavier paused and considered. "Honestly, I don't know. We'll just have to see."
Catwoman raised her hand and swept the blood away with her fist. Talia was a skilled fighter and Catwoman, while trained and experienced, could not match her. For a while, it looked like the purple-garbed anti- hero was going to lose, until Batgirl entered the fight. She was easily as skilled as Talia, but with her injuries she was unable to defeat her single handedly. Enter Catwoman, whose relative lack of injuries and sheer determination to put as much hurt on that Demonspawn wench compensated for Batgirl's injuries. As it was however, they were only holding even.
Wolverine jumped back, looking for an opening. The old guy was good. Wolverine believed that the only reason he hadn't taken out this guy was cause of the centuries of experience. Al Ghul wasn't better, he was just better prepared. Besides, Wolverine had scored some hits on the old guy. Sure they were not major hits, but they were hits.
Wolverine was also convinced that he would have put this guy away if it weren't for the mini-Bat pansy. The kid was more trouble than he was worth. But Wolverine had to hand it to him for his dedication. The kid was beaten up bad, but he still brought it, even though 'it' was not nearly good enough.
Wolverine saw an opening, and went for it. Claws outstretched, he moved towards the hole, but was promptly blocked by the megalomaniac's sword. "Enough of this," said the century old man. Pushing a button at the base of the sword that was in contact with Wolverine's claws, an electric current was activated running the length of the sword, which passed through Wolverine's adamantium into his body. The charge threw the mutant across the room. With the Wolverine incapacitated, it was easy to defeat a weakened Nightwing and take him hostage just as the Titans, Alfred, and the majority of the X-Men arrived on the scene.
"I have had enough. Step away from my daughter," commanded Ra's. Catwoman and Batgirl had no choice but to comply. "Talia, grab the Detective. We are going to leave."
"If you think we are going to let you go with Batman, you gotta be insane," said BC, as she stared down Talia.
"Oh, you will," said Al Ghul. "I have the Titans' leader and one of the foremost members of the Detective's family held hostage. You will let me go, or else he dies. And you know that I can destroy the Titans and Black Canary. I have the means."
"But you don't have plans to destroy the X-Men," said Cyclops stepping forward. "We will stop you, and then where would you be?"
Ra's Al Ghul regarded the leader of the X-Men coldly. "My boy, you do not get to be my age without knowing how to take calculated risks. I am confident that you can be dispatched. If you think you can take me, feel free to try."
"That will not be necessary Ra's," spoke a voice of broken glass. "I think it would be best if you deal with me. Directly."
All heads in the room swung in the direction of the voice, where a battered but determined Batman stood, facing the Demonhead. A smile washed over the faces of the entire Batclan, as well as the majority of the Titans and the X-Men. "Told you kid," said BC to Damage. "Guy is too stubborn to stay down." Xavier had a deep look of concentration on his face, as he was intrigued to see what exactly would occur in this exchange, and what entity he had help to bring out.
Al Ghul turned and let go of Nightwing, pushing him towards the Titans. The Titans scrambled around him, but Nightwing hopped up to his feet ready to charge. "At ease Nightwing," commanded Batman, not taking his eyes off Al Ghul.
"Congratulations Ra's, you succeeded," said Batman. The Demonhead smiled, and the others gasped. "There are no more masks, no more Batman or Bruce Wayne. Only me.
"For years, heroes and villains have stuggled with the question of 'Who's the Batman?' So did most of my family, and so did I. What was I supposed to be? What was my mission? What am I supposed to do? How do I know if I am doing what I am supposed to be doing? I don't suppose that this is different from many people. We all search for purpose and hope that we are doing things 'the right way,' but we can never tell, except for a few rare occasions.
"I have led a fortunate life. I have done things that some would consider extraordinary, but I never took much pride in it, I never took much solace in it. Partly because I only did what was necessary, and it was not born out of any noble desire. By being all these different people, the CEO, the Bat, the Family Man I was able to eliminate doubt that I was not doing the right thing with my life. But I was not whole. I was segmented. Merely a sum of parts. No more.
"Now I am whole, a complete integration of the best aspects of my masks, and something more. I know what I want out of my life and more importantly I know what I don't want. I don't want to fear failure anymore. I do not wish to rage against death and pain. I accept it. While I understand that I will continue to do everything in my power to prevent it I will no longer let it dominate my life. I will no longer let it isolate me from those who I care about most.
"So what am I? What have you helped create? I am a man, dedicated to serving the right in any capacity I can. I am part of a family, whom I care for and would protect with every breath in body, even as I reconcile to the fact that they are their own people and do not need protecting anymore. I am the son of my parents, all four of them, who while christened in pain and sorrow, was reborn and molded by their memory and their example. I am a CEO of one of the largest companies in the world, but a company that always helps those around them. I am also the Batman, scourge of the underworld and unyielding enemy of injustice. I am all these things not because I have to be or because I choose to be, but because I am. I am one man, filling all of these roles, not several people stuck in one body. And in the end, when I become unable to be the Batman, I will be able to walk away, because I am not defined by that one role.
"But don't worry Ra's. This is much more emotional than I really am, probably caused by the trauma and having an overly sentimental telepath inserting himself into my mind. You are not going to find a 'kindler, gentler' Detective. I have been to the edge and back, and I will fight to protect what I have gained. And I will fight so that those in Gotham and elsewhere can have the chance to do as I have done. I will fight harder than I ever have before. You are partially the cause of this awakening I suppose you would call it, so I will grant you a mercy. You may walk out of this place, alive and well with your daughter. But hear me well Ra's. Come near me and mine again, and I will destroy you. And no Lazarus Pit, no force in heaven or in hell will stop me from ending. There will be no courtship, no taunts, and no long discussions. Stay away and behave yourself Al Ghul, or face the consequences."
Ra's Al Ghul stared at the Detective for a long time and beckoned his daughter to his side. "Consider well what you say Detective. Refuse me like this and there will be no turning back. You will no longer be a possible heir. You will be an enemy, and I will use every resource to eliminate you."
Batman narrowed his eyes. "You are free to try of course. My duty to you would be ended once I have let you walk free today. But I am not the same foe you have fought in the past. I am different, different in a way you can't understand. You come after me, you will be destroyed. I will end you myself."
"We shall meet again Detective," said Ra's turning away, pulling his daughter begrudgingly behind him. "And when we do, your throat will be underneath my boot."
As Al Ghul walked away Wolverine snicker. "Way to go Chuck. You castrated the Batpansy. I just hope he doesn't ask us to participate in a sing along." Batman cocked his head slightly to the right, spun around and cold cocked the Canadian, the force of the blow sending him across the room. Wolverine wiped blood from the side of his mouth and stared at Batman, who narrowed his eyes at the X-Man.
"Maybe you didn't quite castrate him Chuck," mused the Canadian. "But lets see him try that when I am ready for it."
"Enough Logan," said Xavier rolling up to Batman sizing him up. "Congratulations Bruce. Most people go their entire lives without figuring out who they are."
"I had help," said Batman shaking Xavier's hand. "I don't say this too much, but thank you. I could not have done it without you. Although I have to know one thing. One of the things you said in there, about Green Lantern. How did you know about that?"
Xavier smiled and said, "It wasn't that hard. Anything you knew, I knew at that moment. It was simply a matter of sorting through your memories to find an appropriate one that would get you to come out. Your memory of the Green Lantern and your oath, plus your associations with the man made me know that it would work. You think that the current Green Lantern, while he has the talent to be a fine hero, is more than a little immature and not as tested as you. Your ego wouldn't let you ignore your problem if it thought that he would deal with it. So I essentially shamed you into making a decision. Not something most psychologists would do, but I was desperate."
Batman nodded. "Well it worked. If you would not mind..."
Xavier nodded. "Of course."
Batman walked over to where Nightwing, Robin, Batgirl, and Alfred were standing. They seemed a little tentative as Batman approached. "Are you alright," inquired the Detective looking over their variety of their wounds.
Nightwing, as designated speaker step forward. "Yes, nothing that will not heal. More importantly are you alright?"
"I will be fine," said Batman. Looking a little longer at their faces, Batman began to see the problem. "I am fine. Better than I have been in a long time. I know that I have not been the most forthcoming when it comes to my feelings, and I will not begin to be. Its not in my nature. But you are all my family, and you do mean a lot to me. I want you all to know that."
They all looked a little stunned, and Nightwing asked "Does this mean you are going to start wearing Cardigans and sing 'Won't you be my neighbor?'" Batman turned and shot the Look at his former squire. Nightwing put on a goofy grin and said, "Guess not. There he is! All that gooey stuff was creeping us out. But thanks big guy. It means a lot."
The entire Batclan nodded, except for Batgirl who walked forward and hugged her teacher. Bruce looked at Alfred, his first teacher and second father and nodded. Alfred felt pride well up inside of him, as his son finally became the man that he was meant to be. He had taken ownership of his life and his being. He was going to not only do the right thing for his world, but for himself.
Batman nodded, and seeing Catwoman in the shadows, excused himself and walked to her. "Catwoman, I wanted to thank you," said Batman to the feline fatale. "You helped save my family, and I am grateful to you for that."
"No problem Bats," said Catwoman, preening before the Bat, putting on an air of indifference. "I just wanted to take a shot at that Talia chick...It was interesting, and I am always up for an adventure. You know that."
"That is not why you did this," replied the Detective. "You and I both know that. I know you know who you are behind the mask, and now you know who I am. The question is where do we go from here."
Heat flushed Catwoman's cheeks, and replied, "Look, if there is a problem about your identity I swear..."
"That's not the issue, and you know it," said Bruce staring into Catwoman's eyes. "We have ignored what was between us for years. I am not willing to continue to do that. I won't continue to do that. Now is not the time and place for us to discuss this, but we will soon. I won't force you, but I hope you will be ready to talk as well. Cause I don't want to waste any more time. I'll see you back in Gotham."
Catwoman stared speechless as Batman, the love of her life walked away, and she dared to hope that maybe, just possibly her wildest dreams were coming true.
Batman walked over to the X-Men, where they were congregated behind their leader, next to the Titans. Batman cleared his throat and said, "I wanted to thank all of you before the X-Men disappear. Being on the other side of this experience recently, I know that they will be returning shortly without much notice. You have provided needed aid to my family, and we would not have been able to get through this without you. Thank you for your aid."
Before Xavier could issue a reply, Cyclops an acceptance, or Wolverine a challenge, the team faded away, sent back to their own world.
"Now that was just cool," whispered Arsenal.