A/N Part of this is from the screenplay The Batman by Tom Mankiewicz. Those familiar with his work will know the part I'm talking about. Also this takes place a day before the episode Welcome to the Hellmouth.

Chapter 2

Darkness comes to the Hellmouth

It had been a full week, since Xander had his blowout with Bruce. He didn't know whether Bruce was mad at him or just busy, because Bruce hadn't spoke to him since that night. School was about to start in another few day's and just like Alfred promised, Bruce had signed the papers saying that he could move out on his own. Alfred had also told him that he had taken the liberty of purchasing a mansion for him as well in Sunnydale.

As Xander packed the last of his clothes into his suitcase, he suddenly heard someone knocking on his door. Before he could tell whoever it was to come in, the door opened and Alfred walked into the room with a large box in his hands.

"Hello, Master Alexander." Alfred greeted as he walked up to him.

"Hey, Al." Xander greeted back with a raised eyebrow. "What's up with the box?"

"Oh," Alfred started with a genuine smile. "this is a going away present for you." he said as he handed him the big black box. "But, you must promise me that you want open it until you...get into trouble." the older man said with a smile at Xander's confused look.

"Okay." Xander said as he gave Alfred a suspicious look. 'And damn this box is heavy.' Xander thought to himself as he layed the box on his bed. "Oh and Alfred where's Bruce?"

"I'm afraid Master Bruce has urgent business to attend too." Alfred informed him as he looked out of the window. Following his line of vision, Xander saw the batsignal light up the nightsky.

"Oh." was all Xander could manage to say. He had said some hurtful things to Bruce and he wanted to tell him that he was sorry. Sensing his downcast mood, Alfred patted him on the hand.

"Don't worry, Master Alexander, Master Bruce knows that you didn't mean what you said to him. Trust me he would never hold a grudge against you." Alfred informed him with an almost paternal speech. "Now come along, I'll take you to the airport so you can board the private jet." Alfred told him as he grabbed Xander's luggage and walked to the door.

"Alfred." Xander called out to the older man, making him stop at the door. "Thanks for everything." Xander told him. All these years Alfred had been like a father to him. Giving him advice and keeping him level headed, especially when Bruce wasn't around.

"You're quite, welcome." Alfred said with a smile as he readjusted the suitcases. "Now come along, the jet is waiting." with that, Xander grabbed the heavy black box, Alfred had given him, off of his bed and followed behind the older man.

The next day

Sunnydale CA, Wayne Manor

Night

Xander wasn't a bit surprised when tons of tabloid and news reporters, were on the grounds of his new home, when he first arrived in Sunnydale. What did surprise him however was the property itself. It was a beautiful, sprawling suburban estate. Classic wrought-iron gates protected a winding driveway which snaked its way up through a neatly manicured lawn. Alfred even had everything set up for him, when he got there. All he had to do was unpack the things he had brought with him.

Happy that it was night time, and that the reporters were gone, he decided to take a walk. He knew that Sunnydale was a dangerous place, especially at night, but he was fully confident that he could protect himself. But just as a safety precaution, he widdled a stake and carried a small cross with him.

As he took his walk, the first thing he noticed was how small Sunnydale was compared to Gotham. Everything just looked so homely and quaint. He had to hide a sad smile though as he saw people playing with their children and having a good time. Even though Xander couldn't remember much of his past, he remembered a red headed little girl and a brunette boy. He remembered them laughing and always having a good time.

Suddenly the rumble of thunder snapped him out of his reverie. It started with just a few sprinkles and then it came down in thick sheets of rain. Xander watched fascinated as people scurried to avoid the rain. Even though he hiked up the collar of his raincoat, he loved the rain. Strangely the way the water hit his skin seemed to sooth him. Listening to the steady drumbeat the rain seemed to be producing, something seemed wrong.

Observing his surroundings, like Bruce had taught him, Xander looked down the block, across the street. His eyes fell on a couple with a young daughter, of whom, looked over nervously at a tough-looking biker on a huge Harley-Davidson, that rolled up parallel to them on the street. Suddenly the biker hopped the curb in front of the family, pulling a gun, he herded them back into a dark alleyway.

Eyes narrowing, Xander's jaw started to twitch. He didn't know what to do. Before he could continue his mental debate a gunshot rung out. His decision made for him Xander exploded across the street heading for the alleyway. As Xander arrived the young girl burst out screaming and ran past him. Xander hesitated for a moment and then ran inside the alley.

The father layed sprawled in the alley, being cradled by his wife. Blood just started to ooze from the side of his head, as Xander quickly approached them.

"I...think he'll be all right." the woman said nervously as she looked up at him. "Our daughter's run to call an ambulance." As soon as the words left her mouth they all heard the revving of a motorcycle.

Xander looked off down the alley, eyes flashing with anger. The Biker grinned at him from the far end of the alley, put his Harley in gear, and rolled off through the pouring rain. With clenched fists Xander, takes off in pursuit.

The biker hovered by the side of an apartment building, still grinning at Xander through the rain. He rolled forward slowly, almost as if enticing Xander to follow him, then he disappeared again.

Still running Xander arrived at the rear of the building, which faced on a vacant dirt lot. He edged forward through the mud, turning the corner, suddenly coming face to face with the Biker, still grinning,as he switched off his Harley. Muscles bulged through his wet T-shirt as he dismounted.

"Congratulations, man." the biker said with a wide smile. "You caught me. Matter of fact..." The roar of engines was then heard! With a sneer Xander turned to see two more bikers, rolling into position behind him. Xander was hopelessly trapped."...you caught all of us..." The other two Bikers then dismounted their bikes and closed in.

The first Biker drew his gun, while the other Biker looked Xander up and down critically, squinting at him through the rain.

"That's my raincoat you're wearing." the second biker informed Xander. "Take it off." He said as he snapped his arm forward and a switchblade appeared in his hand. He flicked it at Xander who stood his ground, slicing a button off the front of his raincoat. "Pick up the button, Wimpy. Then lick it clean and hand me my coat."

Xander stared icily, then slowly bent down to retrieve the button from the mud. Suddenly the first bikers foot flashed up, headed straight at Xander's face! In a lightning-quick move, Xander grabbed the swinging leg with both hands, rose up, then swung him off the ground in a circle, sending him to crash into the motorcycles as his gun went flying.

The second biker, switchblade in hand, rushed Xander, as the third goon unhooked chains from his belt. Xander sidestepped, as the knife slashed through his raincoat, sending it billowing out behind him like a cape. The third biker whistled the chains past Xander's ear, as he snatched them, karate-kicks the biker in the stomach, simultaneously belting the other thug across the side of the head with the chains, knocking him unconscious. Enraged the third man lunged at Xander from behind. Sensing the attack coming Xander spun, grabbing his arm, twisting the knife away, catching it in his other hand as he tripped him, sending him sprawling in the mud. Xander then straddled him, with the knife in hand. The biker blinked in fear, as his head was pressed into the mud next to the button.

"Your turn to pick up the button, jackass... " Xander said lowly. Scared shitless the bikers arm slowly started forward as Xander stepped on it. "With your mouth." he said causing the older man too shut his eyes in humiliation as the sound of a siren was heard.

Five minutes later

A paramedic van was parked at the mouth of the alley, as umbrella-holding onlookers watch. A gurney with the wounded man was then wheeled out, as his wife and daughter followed. Xander then appeared at the edge of the crowd, collar still up, hat adjusted low over his face, as he watched the scene unfold. The Paramedics then suddenly stopped, one leaned down, examined the man, then covered his face with the sheet. The now widow of the man that died turned away in silence, as her daughter clung to her.Xander watched, his eyes filled with tears and then turned and walked off.

Wayne Manor

Xander entered the empty living room, with a numb expression on his face. With tears freely falling from his eyes he pitched forward and started to vomit. For maybe minutes or for what Xander thought hours, he just sat there on the floor rocking back and forth.

'I failed. I failed that family, just like I failed my parents.' he thought to himself over and over. The guilt he felt, when he saw the look on that little girls face, was almost heartbreaking. He imagined that he looked just like that when he lost his parents.

Pausing, lost in thought, Xander thought about something Alfred had told him. Then, moving as if by instinct, he headed for the stairs leading to his bedroom. Once he got there he closed the door and immediately went to the black box that Alfred had given him.

Opening it up his eye's widened and the chant 'Oh shit, oh shit.' popped into his head, as he saw that it was the Batsuit inside (including the cape and cowl). Placing the box on the bed he took out the rubber suit and found that all kinds of gadgets were under it. There were Batarangs, gas pellets, and all kinds of weapons. But one in particular caught his eye though. It was a small black cellphone looking object. Flipping up the top, the screen on it was filled with static for a few minutes until Alfred Pennyworth's smiling face appeared on screen.

"Hello, Master Alexander." Alfred greeted cheerfully. "I see that you've gotten into trouble already."

"Yeah." Xander said with a downcast expression as he sat on his bed.

"Are you alright, young sir?" the old butler asked. "You look terrible."

"You really know how to make me feel better." Xander replied with a forced smile.

"Seriously, sir. You look rather ill."

"It's just that..." he stopped himself before he told him what happened earlier. "How does Bruce deal with this?" he asked, changing the subject some.

"One day at a time my, boy. One day at a time" Alfred said with a sigh. "I guess you're wondering why I packed a batsuit for you?"

"The thought did cross my mind." Xander said as he eyed said suit.

"As we discussed before you left, Sunnydale is much like Gotham is as far as crime goes. In Sunnydale more than three people die each night."

"Yeah, I know." Xander muttered. 'All I did was to make sure that only one died tonight.' he thought bitterly to himself. 'If only I had been there a moment sooner.'

"Nevertheless..." Alfred interrupted. "Sunnydale doesn't have anyone to protect it. Master Bruce told me years ago that he wanted to come too Sunnydale to help with the crime situation, but with people like Two Face and the Joker, you can imagine that he can't leave Gotham. And as twisted as this might sound, I believe that it was your destiny to...leave Sunnydale and come with us."

"What do you mean?" Xander asked as he sat back in his bed.

"I mean that isn't it a little ironic, that you would live and be taught by me and Master Bruce, only to come back to your place of birth years later? I saw the same fire in you as a boy, that I saw in Master Bruce, when he lost his parents. That look of cold rage, was almost overwhelming. That's why I helped to surpress that anger and to help mold you by keeping your mind focused on other things."

"Like sending me off to learn different styles of combat, acrobatics, and you teaching me mystery solving?" Xander asked getting his point.

"Exactly. Even though Master Bruce didn't want you to fall in his footsteps, he still inadvertantly taught you some of the skills that he had learned over the years. That's why, you should be Batman. The creatures of Sunnydale have nothing to fear and that gives them the power to feel that they can do whatever they please. Sunnydale needs a symbol. Something to tell them, that they themselves should fear the night."

"Like, Batman." Xander concluded, only for Alfred to give him a smile. "But I don't think I'm ready for this. What does Bruce have to say about this anyhow?"

"Actually, he knows nothing about it." Alfred informed him. "As for being ready I have full confidence in your abilities. But keep in mind that this isn't a game. What you do and decide could affect many lives for the good or the bad. It could even get you or others hurt or...worse. But if you feel that you're not ready yet, then please don't put on that suit."

"I understand." Xander said seriously.

"Good, now get some sleep." Alfred told him, in a fatherly tone. "Oh and before I forget. If you change your mind, as to whether you want to become a dark knight, there's a warehouse, under your name on it in downtown Sunnydale. I took the liberty of purchasing it for you, and it houses some...special toys for use as your time as Batman."

"Okay." Xander said giving him a look. Till this day he still didn't know how Alfred seemed to plan things ahead of time. One of these days he was going to sit down and have a talk with him about that.

"Well then, Goodnight Master Alexander."

"Goodnight, Alfred...and thanks." he said as he clicked off the monitor/cellphone. Getting up out of his bed, Xander dropped the cellphone and stared at his batsuit. He knew what Alfred had told him was pure fact, and thats what made his decision an easy one. He was going to become the Batman. "I have to practice though." he muttered to himself as he picked up a batarang.

He knew he was going to be tired when he got to school in the morning, but he could put up with it for what he had to do at night. Little did he know but another stalker of the night, had also arrived in Sunnydale that day.

TBC...

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