A grave yard conversation
On a particular stormy, rainy night a man dropped from the shadows towards the graveyard. He had several ways to enter the graveyard but he always went through the front gate. It was respectful he thought to these that have gone into the great beyond. He places roses upon his parent's grave as he does every time he comes here. But today there is a new grave to visit. He places a rose blended of pink, red, and white on the site. The body that the grave has been prepared for has not yet been brought. The body of the old man will be buried here at noon tomorrow but the man with the roses always is laying the tradition he has with his parents and will be visiting this grave every time he comes here as well. He pulls his scalloped cape around him as he feels the chill from the storm. He then bows his head for a few seconds then reaches up to remove the pointed cowl from his head.
He begins to speak, "I wish it was me that was going to be buried here, old man. I know this is what you wanted. If it was I here instead of you I don't know if you would survive burying your child. Whether you believe it or not you were as much my father as my own Dad was. You might not have taken me to the movies or a vacation at Disney World like most parents. But you did give me something that a lot of people don't have in this world and that is love. We never spoke it to each other, that "love" word I mentioned, but there is no doubt in my heart that you did. You gave me reason to keep going. You see you were my salvation from the darkness in the world. It sounds strange I know but you did. If it wasn't for you there is no telling what would have become of me"
Bending down and placing a hand on the gravesite, "Tomorrow they will lay you here to rest. Right now you are being "viewed" by friends and family but I needed to come here to remember why I fight this fight"
Standing up and placing the cowl back on his head he called out, "You might as well drop down now"
Dropping down from a tree to the side of him, a woman wearing a cat suit casually walked over to him. She placed her arm in his and leaned her head on his shoulder. They stood there for a long time in comfortable silence.
Then she spoke, "You really ought to be at the viewing. You have a lot of people there"
"Yes, and if I am correct Tim is running interference to prevent them to look for me"
"No, he just told them the truth and they understood"
"I had to come here first, Selina"
"I know and it's ok. Your little brother is asking for you though. Its bad enough he lost his father this week. He doesn't want to lose you either, Dick"
"Bruce wanted nothing else but to save anyone from going through what he did as a child and now his own child is going to go through it as well"
Pulling her cowl back and cupping his chin, "True, but he would rather it be him and not either of his sons. And I am thankful that at least you are here because no one can tell Thomas about his dad like you can"
"Give me another minute", and she walked off.
"Bruce, I don't know if I can do this better than you or, hell, even as well as you could but I do know I going to do the best I can. Your city is now my city and I will protect it with my life if it comes to it. I wished I would have said this more to you but I love you. And one more favor, Tell Alfred the same and let him know that I still don't visit his grave. He'll like knowing that", and the new Batman walked off.
On a particular stormy, rainy night a man dropped from the shadows towards the graveyard. He had several ways to enter the graveyard but he always went through the front gate. It was respectful he thought to these that have gone into the great beyond. He places roses upon his parent's grave as he does every time he comes here. But today there is a new grave to visit. He places a rose blended of pink, red, and white on the site. The body that the grave has been prepared for has not yet been brought. The body of the old man will be buried here at noon tomorrow but the man with the roses always is laying the tradition he has with his parents and will be visiting this grave every time he comes here as well. He pulls his scalloped cape around him as he feels the chill from the storm. He then bows his head for a few seconds then reaches up to remove the pointed cowl from his head.
He begins to speak, "I wish it was me that was going to be buried here, old man. I know this is what you wanted. If it was I here instead of you I don't know if you would survive burying your child. Whether you believe it or not you were as much my father as my own Dad was. You might not have taken me to the movies or a vacation at Disney World like most parents. But you did give me something that a lot of people don't have in this world and that is love. We never spoke it to each other, that "love" word I mentioned, but there is no doubt in my heart that you did. You gave me reason to keep going. You see you were my salvation from the darkness in the world. It sounds strange I know but you did. If it wasn't for you there is no telling what would have become of me"
Bending down and placing a hand on the gravesite, "Tomorrow they will lay you here to rest. Right now you are being "viewed" by friends and family but I needed to come here to remember why I fight this fight"
Standing up and placing the cowl back on his head he called out, "You might as well drop down now"
Dropping down from a tree to the side of him, a woman wearing a cat suit casually walked over to him. She placed her arm in his and leaned her head on his shoulder. They stood there for a long time in comfortable silence.
Then she spoke, "You really ought to be at the viewing. You have a lot of people there"
"Yes, and if I am correct Tim is running interference to prevent them to look for me"
"No, he just told them the truth and they understood"
"I had to come here first, Selina"
"I know and it's ok. Your little brother is asking for you though. Its bad enough he lost his father this week. He doesn't want to lose you either, Dick"
"Bruce wanted nothing else but to save anyone from going through what he did as a child and now his own child is going to go through it as well"
Pulling her cowl back and cupping his chin, "True, but he would rather it be him and not either of his sons. And I am thankful that at least you are here because no one can tell Thomas about his dad like you can"
"Give me another minute", and she walked off.
"Bruce, I don't know if I can do this better than you or, hell, even as well as you could but I do know I going to do the best I can. Your city is now my city and I will protect it with my life if it comes to it. I wished I would have said this more to you but I love you. And one more favor, Tell Alfred the same and let him know that I still don't visit his grave. He'll like knowing that", and the new Batman walked off.