Disclaimer: Batman does not belong to me. It belongs to DC Comics

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Chapter Fifteen (Goodbye):

Batman, Nightwing, Shadow, Robin, Batgirl and The Oracle sat around a living room. Everyone had their cowls off except Oracle, who hadn't donned her Batgirl costume since her paralysis.

Tim, that is, Robin, thought Shadow the coolest Robin. "So you faked your own death," he said in awe, "then came back to Gotham for vengeance!"

"Yeah." Jason answered.

"Came back to Gotham for vengeance, huh?" The Oracle grinned.

"That sounds a tiny bit familiar…" Dick laughed.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Bruce murmured.

"Oh don't give me that!" Dick stopped laughing as he deepened his voice, "I am vengeance, I am Batman!"

Everyone burst out laughing except Bruce and Jason. Jason flushed. "I guess you and I have more in common then, old man." He offered his hand, which Bruce shook. "Sorry for trying to kill you."

"It's okay." Bruce stood up. "So have you decided what part of Gotham you were going to patrol?"

"Actually…" Jason started uncertainly looking at every intent face in the room. "I wasn't planning on staying."

"Why?" Tim and Dick jumped in.

"Well…" Jason started. "Even though I've let my anger go… I don't think I'm ready to work under Bruce again… y'know?"

"Well you can work with me!" Dick exclaimed. "It'll be just like you wanted it back then!"

The Oracle shushed him, for she, Bruce, and Jason all knew that this was a sensitive subject and that Bruce was not yet fully forgiven.

Jason grinned. "I think I'll pass…" His grin died as he saw Dick's fallen face. "I definitely need more training. I kinda rushed into it to try to kill Bruce."

The others smiled weakly. Bruce stepped in. "You know you always have a place here."

"I know." Shadow replied.

"And a place at Bludhaven!" Dick stepped in. "It'll be just like in old times!"

"Thanks." Shadow said. "But I think this is goodbye."

He walked up to Batgirl and offered a hand, which she shook uncertainly not because she didn't trust her, but she really didn't have the best idea of who he was and how deep his history with Batman was. "Good luck, Cassandra."

"Thank you." She replied politely

He walked up to Tim. "Don't let Bruce get to you. Like he got to me in any case." He smiled as he put his hand on the new Robin's shoulder. "Stay cool, Boy Wonder."

He moved on to Nightwing, to which he held up a hand. Nightwing pushed the hand away and hugged him fiercly. "Brother." He said.

"I love you too, Dick." Jason patted him on the back. When they broke off, Jason turned to Bruce and slowly walked up to him.

"Bruce." He said.

"Jason." Bruce answered.

Shadow held up his hand. Bruce shook it firmly, but he was pulled into a hug, too. "Until next time." Jason smiled. "Maybe next time I won't try to kill you." He smiled weakly as he saw The Oracle. He hugged her, too.

"Bye, Babs." He said. "I'll miss you, too."

"Bye, Jason." Tears poured out of her eyes. "Come back to us soon."

He got up and put a firm look on his face. He pulled on his mask. "Bye everyone." With that, he leaped out of the window and disappeared into the concrete jungle.

"Goodbye, Gotham City."

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Ah, finally completed… Let's have a party.