Bruce had a build slightly larger than Terry's had been when he had first worn, or rather, stolen, the Batsuit. The difference between himself and Terry was, he liked using nothing but his own abilities to do his job as Batman, especially since the time he had no longer been able to do it that way.
That is why, when he showed up at the Justice League headquarters, he didn't wear Terry's suit. Instead, he opted for his original, with utility belt and cape.
Bruce knew that this was now the fourth headquarters to be built for the League. The first Bruce had not only had built, but had also destroyed by using as a kamikaze plane, only surviving because Superman had been near by.
The second had been much larger than the first, to accommodate all the hero's of the world. That headquarters had also had a large energy ray, that the US Government had decided the Justice League should not have, based on the unreliability of some of the hero's. It had been destroyed, and later taken down, shut off for good.
That was when a headquarters had been built on Earth. At this point, Bruce was having a much harder time, as Superman put it, embezzling, his money into building these headquarters. The people did feel more secure, when their hero's were among them, rather than hovering above them.
The latest headquarters had been built after Bruce had left the League, even after he had stopped being Batman. There had been and alien invasion, one that could have been stopped with the space station that had been shut down. By this time, Earth had come to trust the League, and several different countries had provided the funds for another headquarters in space.
There were twice as many rooms as members, training facility's, and a top notch medical bay. All in all, it wasn't too shabby.
"Batman?"
Of course, Superman had to be the first to notice him. He also seemed very confused, Bruce assumed he hadn't been watching the news, or newspapers for that matter. He knew the story of 'James Wayne' was a big one.
"Superman."
There was a hint of recognition on Superman's features. "Bruce?"
"I take it you don't watch much news." Bruce said. He didn't act like anything was out of the ordinary, he was enjoying Superman's confusion.
"I've been in deep space for the last few weeks. What's going on Bruce?"
"You don't need the details. All you need to know is that my youth has been revived, and McGinnis and I will be taking shifts for the job of Batman. Also, to explain why a young Bruce Wayne is going to be seen in public, a cover story about my 'illegitimate grandson' has been made. When I am mentioned, it will now be as James Wayne, or Jimmy even."
"You do seem young enough to be a Jimmy."
Bruce glared.
"And did I not tell you that you were going to outlive us all? You're still too stubborn to die." Superman had seen Bruce rarely since his departure from the League, but some fifteen years ago, Superman had decided to enlist Terry into the League, and while in the cave, had asked Bruce how he was.
After looking over that man that was basically his own age, but had physically aged less than half as much as Bruce had, Bruce had commented that he could 'use some of that Kryptonian DNA'. Superman had said that Bruce would last longer than everyone. It was safe to say, Bruce had not believed him.
"Can it already, I only came to the headquarters to familiarize myself with it in case I am eventually called here because of an attack or meeting." Bruce didn't hate Clark, but after all the times Superman had nearly lost it, he couldn't bring himself to completely trust him, and he felt uncomfortable with people he didn't trust. So he turned and walked away, deciding to get a closer look at the controls in the space station.
Clark wasn't stupid, and he left Bruce alone. Their relationship had never been more than that of Team Mates.
"Says Bats, what's with the new wardrobe?"
Bruce looked up and saw Aquagirl, Green Lantern, and War Hawk all enter. He had read all their bios when Terry had decided to work with the League.
War Hawk was the one that has spoken, Bruce knew because Green Lantern had a smaller voice, with a slight accent because of his Asian origins, and the voice had not been female.
"Long story short: I'm the original Batman, the one you work with is taking the day off. And I suggest you don't argue with me Rex, I know your parents told you of supernatural occurrences, which is enough of an explanation for my new found youth.
That had caught War Hawk off guard, Bruce knew.
"Wayne?"
"Yes?"
"You know if anyone else talked to me that way-"
"You would take your mother's approach and bash their heads in, I know." Bruce was very well aware of Shayera's personal philosophies about how to deal with something she didn't like. While Rex could be kind and understanding as John had been, he had to be to forgive what Shayera had done, Rex had also gotten his mother's temper.
"I recall reading about you," said the Asian Green Lantern, Bruce believed his name was Kai-ro, "You funded the building of the first three Justice League Headquarters."
"Wow," The young blond girl, Aqua girl, was impressed, "you must be loaded."
"You could say that." Bruce knew that when a 'new' member came into the group, the seniors wanted to get to know about them, through various means. He also knew that later they would be keeping an eye on him as they went into combat, either to watch out for him, or to criticize him later.
The identities of all superheroes had never been put into the computer data-base, for obvious reasons. The only people in the League now that knew his secret were Clark, Terry, Diana, Virgil, and Rex. And at least he in turn knew all of their identities.
Actually, Superman didn't have an alter-ego anymore. He had, eventually, married Louis Lane. But, like Bruce, Louis had been human. While Clark had remained young, Louis had aged, and eventually died. Clark didn't last long after that, as far as his friends and co-workers knew, he had dissapered. That was when he had become Superman full-time.
Bruce was just about to go into the files on recent cases, when an alarm went off, and a map came onto the screen of downtown Metropolis.
"Trouble," Rex said, "let's move."
Finally, Bruce had been waiting for this, to see what he could still do. Never before had he looked forward to a fight like this, even if he didn't show it. He didn't care how young he was now, he wasn't about to act like Terry had on his first few missions. But, that didn't mean he wasn't about to enjoy going out to help day the day, which was strange to him still, working in the daylight, but still, it was worth it.
After all…
He was darkness…
He was the night…
He… was Batman.
