Chapter Nineteen
Bane stared at Dick for a moment, taking in the sight of his opponent. Bane was no dummy; he had enough cunning and intelligence to make him a worthy adversary. He also had been clever enough to deduce Batman's true identity as Bruce Wayne. He wasn't one to take lightly. Dick hoped his return to Gotham City, as the new Batman would throw Bane's confidence in the fact that he knew who the Batman was.
Dick could feel the villain's penetrating gaze, scrutinizing him. He wondered what he would do next and if he had called Batman's bluff. The thing was, Batman never bluffed.
Bane began to laugh, "A clever trick, Dick Grayson, you almost fooled me into thinking you were the Batman."
"Who says I'm Dick Grayson?" Batman demanded.
"Bruce Wayne still lies in a hospital bed, who would take his place besides his ward?"
"I say you're bluffing Bane, you know nothing about me."
"Fool. I am not one to bluff!" Bane roared.
"Neither am I!" Batman removed two Bat-a-Rangs from his utility belt and prepared to strike.
Bane sprinted forward smashing his fist into the wall just as Batman ducked, saving his face from being crushed by the mercenary's fist. He somersaulted over Bane and struck, smashing his fist into Bane as he blocked the blow, grabbing Batman's fist and throwing him across the street. Batman managed to land on his feet and sprinted back as Bane ran over and smashed a wide blow into his midsection.
Bane suddenly felt burning heat of Starbolts collide with his back and he whirled around to face her. She suddenly barreled into him like a missile, he stumbled and swung his enormous fist, making contact with her stomach, knocking the wind out of her and sending her back into the wall on the other side of the street. Beast Boy transformed into a T-Rex, roaring loudly, he stomped forward.
Bane dodged kicked Beast Boy hard as the green changeling tried to attack, the blow dazed him for a moment as he suddenly swung around and struck the Venom powered villain with his tail. The mercenary flew back and hit the wall as Cyborg leapt high and landed in the fray.
"Come on, big man, show me what you've got! Show me what you've got!" he said, raining blow after blow upon Bane. Bane blocked with his elbow and grabbed Cyborg by his arm. Cyborg slammed his head into Bane; he looked up as the villain stared down at him completely unfazed by the blow. Cyborg pushed against Bane, trying to find the advantage. Both refused to give in as they tried to overpower each other. Bane suddenly grabbed Cyborg's arm with both hands, and swinging him around over his head, he hurled him away into a fallen Beast Boy.
Bane looked up to see Raven's enormous form towering over him. She saw his eyes go wide for a moment as the parted her cloak and Batman rushed out from inside it. He charged forward, smashing his fist into Bane's face as he struck his enemy with deadly blows that would maim or paralyze ordinary men. The viscous mercenary blocked blows with trained precision and grabbing Batman by his cape, swung him around his shoulders and hurled him into a wall.
Batman smashed into the wall and landed on his feet, removing his cloak, he quickly gathered up some loose debris and wrapped the cloth around it as if it were a pouch. Springing forward, he lashed out, striking Bane with the load of bricks, concentrated, precise hits that met their mark. Bane grunted in pain and staggered back.
Crunch! Smash! Whump! Batman heard the impact of the crushed bricks as he struck a wide, sweeping blow left-to-right across Bane's face. He brought the load of bricks smashing back again; crushing Bane's nose as he let go of one end sending crushed rocks flying into his opponent's eyes. Bane brushed the debris away as Batman leapt back to avoid a blow. Bane ran forward and leapt high, preparing to smash Batman with a flying kick, which looked rather odd, considering the fact that Bane was rather bulky.
Bane looked to his right in time to see the Batbot slam into him. Batman managed to catch a glimpse of Tim Drake in the pilot's seat. Good work, this should keep him busy for now. The Batbot kicked and punched Bane as he locked hands with him. Bane pressed down on the Batbot as Tim wrestled with the throttles controlling the robot's movements. He strained beneath the protective glass, attempting to turn the tide in their last stand, this last fight to bring Bane down from his high perch in the criminal underworld.
Bane suddenly pushed down on the Batbot with inhuman strength and Robin felt pain surge through his body as he was slammed into the ground. Bane raised his fist to flatten the Batbot's cockpit into a flat tin can. Starfire rose up and sent a stream of Starbolts shooting into the back of his head, causing Bane to scream in agony.
He whirled around to face Starfire as she shot toward him like a rocket, knocking him off his feet and sending him sprawling into the middle of the road. She ran forward, leaping up, she came smashing down on his midsection feet first and launched a stream of Starbolts into his face.
He blindly reached out and grabbed her wrist and prepared to send her flying backward. Starfire's eyes glowed a fiery emerald green as she suddenly lifted him off the ground and flung him behind her back. Keeping a firm grip on his arm, she grabbed him and swung him into the concrete, leaving an enormous crater in the spot where he lay.
She rose into the air and swinging Bane around in a circle, she sent him flying into the corner of a nearby building, smashing out bricks and windows as he hit the ground. Raven moved her hand and used her power to wrench a light post from the cement sidewalk.
Raven used her powers to send the twisted metal hurtling at Bane's monstrous form as he climbed to his feet. Raven grasped him in her aura and sent him flying across the street. Cyborg activated his Sonic Cannon and sent a stream of laser fire straight at Bane.
Batman charged forward, leaping feet first, he slammed into Bane, using his grappling hook to swing across the street. He swung around 180 degrees and brought himself around to smash into Bane from behind. He somersaulted backward and landed on his feet. He removed a pair of flash/bang grenades from his utility belt and threw it straight into Bane's eyes.
The mercenary howled in surprise and rage as he swatted blindly at the bright light. He shook his head, swinging his fist at Batman with reckless abandon. He quick uppercut and a hefty kick sent Batman flying through the air.
He managed to grab a pole and swing around as Bane attacked him. Batman's feet landed a solid blow into Bane's stomach, knocking the wind out of him.
Batgirl revved up the Bat Cycle and pushing the accelerator, she drove toward Bane as fast she could push the gas. The vehicle headed for him as he turned around to face it. He raised his fist and prepared to crack Batgirl's skull in two. At the last second she raised her grapple gun and fired it into a nearby building and swung off the cycle, leaving it empty.
The empty motorcycle crashed into Bane, bursting into flames as he howled in pain, twitching, he glared up furiously at her as she somersaulted down and landed safely on the other end of the alley.
"Dude! She ran over him with a motorcycle and he didn't even get a scratch!" Beast Boy exclaimed.
Bane cracked his neck and looked at them. "It will take much more than that to defeat Bane!" he said in a low, ominous tone. He narrowed his eyes and hurtled himself at Batman. He ran forward and punched at Batman with a lightening quick blow, Azrael managed to step forward and used his sword to block the blow as Bane's momentum plowed into him like a freight train.
Batman watched as Bane blocked Azrael's slashing blows as the mercenary grabbed Azrael's skull and head butted him. Gripping the vigilante's arm, he flung him aside like piece of trash and stepped forward. Stooping down, he grasped Azrael's sword and brandished it.
Batman stepped back and removed a retractable sword from his utility belt. He pushed a button and activated it. He rushed at Bane, swinging high and bringing the blade slashing down on Bane's sword. The sound of steel rang through the streets as the two combatants began their epic duel.
Batman slashed down and hacked at Bane's blade, the mercenary glared at him through slits for eyes. He glowered at him through dark pupils. The hate on his face dark and foul, smeared with evil and darkness. A feeling that would only be sated with the demise of the Batman.
Swords clashed again, Bane thrust his weapon, striking hard to the left. Batman managed to block his blows. He brought the blade up in an arc and attacked with a quick uppercut, Bane then slashed again, bringing his weapon sweeping straight across, nearly hacking off his opponent's head. Batman used his gauntlet to block the sharp edge, entangling the sword, forcing his opponent to remain entwined with him.
Batman shoved him back, knocking Bane to the ground and sending the sword flying from his hands. Bane leaped to his feet, knocking him off his feet. Starfire ran forward, smashing her fist into his face. She brought her feet up and somersaulted backwards, delivering a smashing kick in Bane's face.
Bane roared in agony and lurched backwards. Robin had climbed out of the Batbot and unsheathed his Bo Staff. Twirling it, he looked at the mercenary. "It's over, Bane!"
"Foolish little boy," Bane sneered. "You cannot defeat Bane!" He brought his fist together and brought them smashing down on the asphalt, leaving a large crack in the concrete. Robin jumped back, dodging the hole in the road and charged forward. He brought his Bo Staff crashing down on Bane's midsection.
Batman pushed himself up from his knees and rose to his feet, he crept toward the Batbot and opened the cockpit. He hoisted himself up inside and grasped the controls. He shut the cockpit door and activated the robot. The lights on the panel flickered to life as he placed his hands on the controls that manipulated the Batbot's arms.
The Batbot suddenly lurched up from the ground, rising to its feet. The Titans looked over as the gigantic robot moved slowly toward Bane. The mercenary looked up at the titanic weapon. Smirking, he cracked his knuckles and smiled cockily. "Not even a machine can stop the mighty Bane!"
Batman moved the Batbot from a slow walked into a fast run as Bane moved to engage him. Blow for blow, kick for kick, there was no giving in Batman, no yielding in Bane. The mercenary grabbed the robot buy its wrist and threw it back into a wall. The machine smashed into the building, leaving a cloud of dust in its wake.
Cyborg stepped forward and fired up the heat seeking missiles on his shoulders. "Hey tough guy, let's see how you handle this!" He pushed a button and fired the deadly artillery. The sound of the impact shook the buildings and shattered windows as Bane was knocked off his feet.
Batman managed to step back as the missiles found their intended target. Bane fell to his knees, placing his hands on the ground and panted heavily. It was in that moment that they knew it was all or nothing, him or then, this was their last and final assault. Either Bane would fall or they would die trying.
Batgirl exchanged a look with Robin and Starfire. "I think I have an idea."
"You think? This had better be good!" Robin hissed. "This is our last shot!"
"Once, when the Joker stole Bane's technology, he used it to reek havoc on Gotham City. I discovered that the only way to take down Bane is to—" Her words were suddenly interrupted as Bane began climbing to his feet.
Beast Boy transformed into an enormous green bear and moved toward Bane. Huge paws hacked and slashed as his enemy tried to ward him off. The Batbot moved to strike him, and the blow connected with Bane's jaw. Nails ripped into flesh as Beast Boy's teeth bit into the thug's shoulder. Bane uttered a cry of rage and agony as he wrenched the green shape shifter off his back and threw him aside. He landed near the other Titans and sat up groggily.
"Is there any way to beat this guy?" he asked Batgirl.
Cyborg ran over to the others. "Come on, we need some way to disarm him."
"There is, when I went up against the Joker when he was using Bane's machine to pump Venom into his system, I found the only way to defeat him was to remove the fuel pumps from his body."
"Can you get close enough to him to do that?" Beast Boy asked.
"I can try," Batgirl said, "but it might be too dangerous."
"We need to tell Batman about your plan," Cyborg said.
"You better hurry dude," Beast Boy said. "He's coming back!" Bane turned around and moved to attack them. His footsteps rang like thunder as the charged into the six teens.
Raven rose up into the air, and chanted, "Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos!" summoning her powers she grabbed him and threw him into the wall. He struggled to break her hold as Cyborg and Beast Boy surged forward.
"T-Rex Takedown!" Cyborg shouted as Beast Boy morphed into a T-Rex as Cyborg fired his Sonic Cannon. Beast Boy roared as Cyborg launched more missiles. Flipping off the changeling's back, he grabbed his friend by his tail and flinging him around, his mouth opened wide and snapped at Bane.
His jaws missed him by inches as they moved aside. Starfire attacked flinging herself at Bane she smashed her fist into his face. She rained down a hailstorm of Starbolts as Robin and Batgirl leaped into the fray, Batgirl swung him around and flung him at Bane.
Robin unsheathed his Bo Staff and smashed it into Bane's face. Cyborg fired his Sonic Cannon and Beast Boy transformed into a tiger and slashed at Bane.
Batman saw what they were doing and realized what their plan was. They were trying to disarm Bane. He remembered what Bruce had done the first time he fought Bane. He realized that he could defeat him if he could remove the fuel pump from his back.
He charged the Batbot forward and grabbed the back of Bane's fuel pump and yanked it out as hard as he could. The villain screamed and fell to his knees in surprise and shock.
Cyborg launched a cable onto Bane's head and pushed a button, sending and electric pulse through the wire and into Bane's body. Shrieking in pain, he writhed on the ground and slipped into an unconscious heap.
Batman opened the cockpit and leaped out. He dialed Captain Yin's number and spoke into the communicator.
"Captain Yin, we got him."
The next day Dick Grayson woke up in his bedroom in Wayne Manor. He opened his eyes and blinked away sleep as he yawned and stretched his arms above his head, pulling the kinks out of his shoulders. He rolled over on his side and turned on the light.
"Good morning Sir," Alfred said. Looking up, Dick saw his faithful butler standing in the doorway.
"You know what today is don't you Sir," Alfred stated, not asked.
"It's my last day in Gotham before I return to Jump City," Dick replied. "I guess I better start packing."
"Lucius wants to see you at Wayne Industries/Enterprises. He says he wants to give you something before you leave," Alfred said in a formal voice. A small smile slipped across his face. "That's not the only thing you have to do before you leave, Master Dick."
"If you're talking about Bruce, Alfred, I'm not sure if I'm ready to talk." Dick looked over at the elderly gentleman as he walked in and pulled the curtain back, revealing the morning light and a distant, foggy Gotham City.
"You can't avoid him forever, you must talk to Master Bruce before you leave," Alfred Pennyworth's voice was unusually stern. Dick Grayson looked up at him. The young man smiled at his surrogate grandfather.
"You're one of the few people who could talk straight with me and not receive a serious tongue-lashing."
Alfred chuckled, "Indeed, but I do hope what I have said reaches you, Master Dick. After all, you are very much like Master Bruce: You are a very stubborn young man." They both laughed, reminiscing over the old times when Dick lived in Gotham City.
"You'd better get to the kitchen to eat breakfast Sir, Lucius Fox is waiting for you at Wayne Industries/Enterprises."
He left the room as Dick dressed himself and made his way out to the kitchen.
"Good morning Dick," a voice stopped him and he turned to look at the source. Bruce Wayne was sitting in his wheelchair looking at him cautiously.
"I better go eat now," Dick said, moving away hastily. "I'm sure you have a lot to do today."
"I can tell when you're trying to avoid me, Dick," Bruce looked at him. "You might as well say it."
"Say what, Bruce?" Dick said; his patience was beginning to ebb slightly at his mentor's words. Why didn't he just come out and say what he wanted to say?
"That you don't want to talk to me because of our last argument about Jean Paul Valley."
"What? That he's my replacement as Batman? I'll admit, that made me very angry."
"That's an understatement, you stormed out of this room the same way when you first left the Manor." Bruce gave a sigh and ran his fingers through his hair. "I was going to tell you later, but when we started to argue, things escalated…I didn't intend for it to come out the way it did, I wanted for you to be able to go back to your own city and not worry about mine."
"When you first told me that I was being replaced, I guess I felt…betrayed, after all, you asked me to come back and become Batman. I felt it was something I should do. I probably would have done it even if you hadn't asked me to. I guess I just wanted to make you proud of me and I felt…rejected when you ordered me to return to Jump City."
"I never rejected you, Dick."
"Then why did you order me to stop being Robin after my encounter with the Joker?"
"I didn't want you to get hurt."
"It was too late for that, he shot me, remember? And I chose to become Robin, I could have refused your offer, but I didn't. This was my choice, and it's the life I wanted."
"I know, and perhaps I regret showing you the Batcave, my alter ego, maybe I should have let you have a normal life."
"Like being the son of a billionaire is having a "normal life." With or without Robin, my life would never be what anyone would call normal."
"I just wanted to say that…I'm sorry for everything that came between us. I've always tried to have your best interests in mind, I guess it wasn't enough."
"Well, I accept your apology," Dick said, smiling slightly.
"You've made me very proud…Striking out on your own, forming and leading your own team, for someone who has been taught to work alone, you've adjusted very well to working with others. I couldn't have done better myself."
"Thanks you, getting a compliment from you is like getting blood from a turnip."
"You haven't lost your sense of humor, I'll give you that."
"My friends say I need to lighten up and that I'm too serious. They also say I'm too obsessive over cases."
"Oh really?" Bruce laughed. "Well just because you've gained some of my traits doesn't mean you have to brood like me. You need to relax, leave the brooding, obsessive behavior to me."
"Alright then, I need to go get breakfast now," Dick said, turning towards the door. Bruce placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I'll join you," Bruce said, grinning. He moved his wheelchair towards the door.
"Let me get that," Dick opened the door for him.
"What are you, my butler?"
"Very funny."
The two walked into the kitchen, surprising Victor, Kory, Gar, Raven and Alfred. "Oh, good morning, Master Bruce, Master Dick. I'll get breakfast for you right away."
"Did everyone sleep well?" Dick asked.
"We rested very well last night," Kory replied. "And you?"
"Yes, I slept fine."
"Your theatrics made quite an impression, Master Dick," Alfred said, handing him the newspaper. Dick took it from him and read the headline: TEEN TITANS AND BATMAN BRING DOWN BANE.
"I guess we did, huh?"
"Why do you act so surprised? We do this all the time," Vic laughed.
"I know I shouldn't act like this, but I am impressed this time. Batman hasn't been on the front page for three weeks."
"Oh come on, dude, surely Batman must be on the headlines all the time," Gar said.
"No, no, Dick Grayson's return to Gotham made headlines two months ago, remember?" The others burst out laughing. Alfred served them pancakes and hash browns. Dick chewed his food thoughtfully.
"So what are you going to do today?" Raven asked.
"Well, I have to pay a visit to Wayne Industries/Enterprises. Lucius Fox wanted to see me. Then I'm going to start packing."
"Packing, are we going home?" Vic asked.
"We'll leave in two days, that should be plenty of time for us to load everything into the T Car." Dick pushed his plate aside as Alfred gathered them up. Walking over to the coat rack, he grabbed a suit coat and put it on.
"I'll be back later guys, don't get too bored while I'm gone!" He laughed.
"Take the Rolls if you'd like, just bring it back with a full tank!" Alfred shouted to him as he headed out the door. Dick could hear his friends howling with laughter as he drove away. His mission was over. It was time for him to go home.