A/N: 2022.05.26

Okay, got this out pretty quickly! Glad for it! Full disclosure: this was going to be a part of the last chapter but it just keep getting bigger and here is the result.

Enjoy!

Chapter 11

That evening, the team, Bruce, Max, Diana, Sally, and Helena were in the dining room of the Manor, and, a few minutes after arriving, Dick and Selina walked in. Behind them were two individuals only Basem and Hayate had seen before.

But everyone else quickly deduced who they were.

Alfred, Ghost-Wing, did have some facial features that were similar to Dick. But his skin tone was a few shades darker than Dick's but a bit lighter than Max's, due to the lineage of Bea, Dick's first wife. Alfred stood up about 6'2", his dark brown hair was cut low, and he possessed an Olympic-level physique. Kailyn's skin tone was a bit darker than Max's with a physique equivalent Alfred's, showing her training, though she was not quite as shapely as Max. Her height evened out at 5'6" and she had a feline quality to her in her stance and walk. Max admitted to herself how much she liked how Kailyn had her hair styled in a short-length, natural afro.

"Evening all," Dick greeted.

"Hey, hey," Selina waved, receiving greetings in return.

"Well! I guess introductions aren't needed but I'll do it anyway." Dick introduced everyone else then motioned toward Kailyn, "This is Kailyn, Jaguar."

"Hello," Kailyn waved.

"And Alfred, Ghost-Wing."

Alfred looked at the others who weren't costumed crime fighters. "We just… declare secret identities in front of civilians, now?"

Max jerked her head back. "'Civilians'? Uhh, I took down Spellbinder once!"

"Max!" Terry chuckled.

"'Tis a good story," Hayate admitted.

"I told you their wives know everything," Dick reminded Alfred. "Don't act like I didn't tell you that. Even if I hadn't, trust me. Our secrets are probably safest with the people in this room."

Alfred rolled his eyes.

Kailyn just stared at Bruce, then swallowed, nervously. "He's… the original, right?"

"Yeah," Selina confirmed.

Kailyn looked at Alfred. "You might breakup with me for this."

"Huh?" Alfred asked.

Kailyn walked up to Bruce and offered her hand to him, "It's… it-it-it's really an honor, Mr. Wayne. I'm… Kailyn Hodges."

Bruce shook her hand, "A pleasure, Ms. Hodges."

Kailyn nodded. "The… pleasure's mine, sir." She released the handshake then looked at Diana. "And… and-and you're… the Wonder Woman!"

"The same," Diana smiled. She offered her hand. "Nice to meet you."

Kailyn shook Diana's hand. "S-Same." She released the handshake and stared at her hand. "I just shook hands with Batman and Wonder Woman. I'm never washing this hand again."

"Kay, seriously?!" Alfred chided.

"What?! This is new for me, too! I didn't know I'd be starstruck! But c'mon! They're legends!"

"Oh, give me a break!"

"Everyone," Bruce said, "please, have a seat." Everyone sat down. "Before anything else, Terry, I want a report of your encounter with the Scourge last night."

"Sure thing," Terry nodded.

Terry, Basem, Hayate, and Michelle spent the next few minutes detailing the account of last night. Though Alfred and Kailyn merely observed, they were impressed at how good of details they gave and how easily they summed it all up.

"Is it weird I wanna meet Switchblade?" Max asked.

"Not really," Basem answered. "He's actually kinda funny. If he wasn't a bad guy, I think we could be friends."

"Hey!" Michelle shouted. "I'm the bad-turned-good friend around here! Only one!"

Hayate patted her hand, "You're the rarest of gems."

Michelle smiled, blushing a bit.

"Anything else about these people?" Bruce asked.

"Nope," Terry answered. "Except Bane's Scourge soldiers, the regular ones, are well trained."

"And silent," Basem added. "Val said none of them are talking."

"We've met dedicated soldiers before."

"Captain Bancroft also said the soldiers came from varying counties of origin," Hayate added. "Making their origins even more difficult to discern."

"Except for the ones we know came from Bane's old prison," Terry added.

"Yes."

"Pena Duro," Bruce remembered.

"Right," Terry agreed. "As for the others… who knows." He sighed. "Can't remotely narrow down where Bane got 'em from."

"I'm working on that," Dick informed.

Bruce sat back and exhaled, worriedly.

"What's with the face, Bruce?" Max asked.

Bruce rubbed his face then lowered his hands, "Bane. He seems… stronger than ever. Smarter. More focused. Now? He's assembled a powerful group. An army." He looked at Terry, "The odds…"

"I'll handle it," Terry reassured. "We'll handle it. We got this. We can do this. We'll stop them."

"Can't I just set 'em all on fire?" Michelle asked, pointedly.

"Why is that your only advice?" Basem asked.

"I burn things. That's, literally, all I do."

"Hmm," Hayate grinned. "Not all."

Michelle smiled at him.

"The main goal is to find out where they are and what they want," Terry advised. "We do that, we shut 'em down."

"It'd be helpful if we could get a lead," Max pondered.

"It'd be helpful if I could just set 'em all on fire," Michelle mumbled.

"Yes, Shell," Basem said, irritably, "we heard you!"

Dick chuckled a bit. "I'm still circulating the picture around, carefully, to get your more details. The moment I hear something, I'll let you all know."

"Thanks, Dick," Terry nodded, appreciatively.

"I still think I should just set 'em all on fire," Michelle grumbled.

"OH MY GOD, MICHELLE!" Basem shouted. "WE GET IT!"

Michelle jerked her head back. "You don't gotta be so rude."

Basem growled.

Alfred rubbed his temple, "With this crew, Bane's gonna break all of your backs."

"Said the guy who was pinned down by gunfire before we saved his ass," Michelle pointed out.

Alfred glared at her.

"Since we're clearly not easing into this, thank you, Al…" Dick exhaled. "Let's go ahead and deal with that particular elephant in the room."

"There's nothing to deal with," Alfred retorted. "I only came here to get some info on Bane and this group. We don't need their help."

"Okay, Al," Kailyn said, a slight edge in her voice, "I get we know all about Switchblade and we wanna bring him down, but… last night? We got owned. If they hadn't been there… Childs might've killed us."

"We didn't need them. We would've figured it out!"

"I got shot! I never get shot!"

"You were grazed," Alfred corrected.

"'Grazed' is getting shot," Kailyn fired back.

"Do you have some kind of issue with us?" Sally asked Alfred.

Alfred looked at Sally, confusedly.

"If you're staring at me because of the 'us', it's because if you have a problem with any one person here… it's a problem with all of us."

"You're Basem's wife, right?" Kailyn asked.

"One and only."

Kailyn smiled a bit. She looked at Alfred then at everyone else, "Okay, look… maybe we… come across as…"

"Jackasses?" Michelle asked with a haughty smile.

Kailyn paused. "I was gonna say rude, but fair. But we have history with Switchblade. He killed a friend of ours."

"A personal mission of revenge, I get," Terry replied. "But now he's got Bane backing him. I don't know how dangerous Switchblade was before… he's way worse now."

"Starting to get that."

"So, why are we here then?" Alfred asked, pointedly. "You seem to have all kinds of information on Childs. Why do you need us?"

"Al, will you relax?" Dick asked. "What is your problem?"

"What's my problem?! My problem?! Let's start with the fact that we're sitting in the house of the man who treated you like crap for decades!"

Dick glared at him. "And I told you those hatchets are buried."

"Almost six feet," Bruce pointed out. "At least, they will be."

"Not funny, Dad," Helena chided.

"And do not use me as an excuse to treat Terry like shit," Dick reprimanded Alfred. "He's the Batman you're dealing with. Not Bruce. You don't know him."

"And we have just as much experience as him!" Alfred argued. "Why do we have to 'follow his lead'?"

Terry rubbed his temple and sighed, irritably.

"Because he calls the shots, kiddo," Selina informed.

"You're actually buying into this, Grandma?" Alfred asked.

"Terry's a great Batman. More importantly, he's a good man." Selina smirked a bit. "And he's got a bad boy edge to him. I like that."

"He's mine, Selina," Max joked. "And you're married."

"Oh but I ain't that old, sweetheart!"

Max, Terry, Basem, Sally, and Michelle laughed.

"Hey!" Dick shouted, offendedly.

"Oh, relax!" Selina said to Dick. "You know I love you! And please! Like I could compete with Max!" She looked at Max, "Hm. Maybe I should give her one of my old suits."

"Oh, please, yes!" Max smiled, brightly.

"And this is the other problem!" Alfred shouted, angrily, getting everyone's attention.

"Al…" Kailyn said, worriedly.

"Everyone's sitting around and making jokes! This is supposed to be such a dangerous situation! Someone should start acting like it!"

"In his defense, I say that all the time," Bruce noted.

"And, like him, we don't listen to you," Terry replied.

"That's why I like you, Terry," Dick smiled.

"That can't be your only issue," Basem said to Alfred.

Alfred folded his arms. "We have better things to do. Except follow the word of just another hero. Some guy who's never even left this city."

"That's not true at all," Max said, straightforwardly.

"Saved the whole JLU once, but whatever," Terry mumbled.

Alfred scoffed. "Fine. You're so great, right? Then why are we even here? Let's just leave and let you handle this alone. Isn't that how the great Batman does things?"

"God, you sound like such a baby!" Michelle cried out.

"Let's just leave, Kay. In fact, all of you should leave." Alfred glared at Terry, "He can handle it alone, right? That's Batman's speed. His methodology. Handle it all alone." He grunted. "Leave this city to the supposed 'greatest' hero of all time."

The whole came to a stop at that moment as the realization of those words overcame them all.

Basem glared at Alfred. "Oh, mon Dieu! You have got to be kidding. Has that been your issue since you got here? Really?!"

Alfred held his silence.

"Dammit, Al…" Dick threw his head back.

"Every time I think you can't outdo yourself, kiddo…" Selina shook her head.

"It's not just that!" Alfred looked at Basem and Hayate, "Look at you two!"

"Whatever's about to come out of your mouth next," Michelle said, menacingly, "tread lightly, dude."

Alfred ignored her, keeping his attention on Basem and Hayate, "You two were once the most focused, best fighters I knew. Now look at you! Cracking jokes! Making light of important, even deadly situations! Having casual conversations during missions!"

"When was I not like that?!" Basem asked.

"It's gotten worse! And Hayate used to never be like that!"

"I barely said anything," Hayate countered, exasperatedly.

"You used to say nothing!" Alfred contested. "Now, you're as bad as them! Light banter?! That was never you! Now, you seem so talkative!"

Michelle shrugged, whispering, "He is impressive with his tongue, let me tell ya!"

"Oh, my God, Shell!" Max laughed, quietly, as Sally giggled softly.

"And reading me the riot act over?!" Alfred continued, focusing on Hayate. "For a girlfriend? Really? Since when do you feel the need to defend a girlfriend? Let alone have one! Especially one who used to be a criminal!"

"Since I felt your disrespect was at a record-high," Hayate replied. "A condition that doesn't seemed to have changed."

"You tried to talk down to Michelle and you still have all your extremities?" Selina looked at Michelle, "Gettin' soft on us, girlie?"

"You wish, old lady!" Michelle smirked. "Terry gave the order to back down. Wasn't easy."

Selina laughed.

"My point is that his influence is even worse!" Alfred yelled, pointing at Terry. "And how long before he becomes just like his predecessor and ruins every life in this room!"

Dick slapped his hands over his face and Selina rolled her eyes. Michelle dug her fingernails into her palms, threatening to break the skin; anything to keep from hitting Alfred. Basem and Hayate just regarded Alfred with disappointed glares.

Helena was quietly seething in place, something Diana had noticed for the past few minutes. In particular because Helena's seething in the past few seconds had become more audible.

"Helena?" Diana asked.

Helena let out a hard exhale as she glowered at Alfred. "You seem to have a lot to say about everyone here. Especially about Batman. And Terry. A guy you don't even know."

"Kitten…" Selina said, nervously.

"A lot of problems you just spouted off. But they all come back to Batman and to Terry. So, what's the deal? You think you should be wearing that uniform? From what I can tell, your ego wouldn't fit the mask!"

"Oh, crap…" Terry whispered, nervously.

Michelle just sat back with a smile.

"Why do you care so much?" Alfred asked. "Mad you're not Batwoman?"

"First off, watch your tone!" Helena fired back. "You don't know me. Next, no, I'm not. We don't all have the inferiority complex that you have, little boy!"

"Oh, damn!" Max, Sally, and Michelle said, simultaneously, while Michelle added a laugh.

"Whoa…" Kailyn's eyes widened.

Helena stood up, angrily, "If you've got a problem with him," she pointed at Terry then pointed at herself, "take it up with me! Because I refuse to sit here and let you ridicule my…"

"Helena, Helena," Basem interrupted. "Before you… justifiably… rip his head off, let me give it a shot."

Helena stared at Basem, nodded, and sat back down, still glaring at Alfred.

Basem turned his attention to Alfred. "Get this straight: Batman… Terry… is a brother to me. Now and always. In the extremely unlikely event I move back to Paris, I'll always keep a line open," he pointed at Terry, "to help him when he needs it."

Terry smiled, as did Max and Sally.

"Of course…" Basem smiled at Sally, "I have amazing reasons to stay right where I'm at."

"To be clear," Sally stared at Basem, lovingly, "I'd follow you anywhere."

Basem looked back at Alfred. "But I made a commitment to this city before I met the love of my life and had my sons. All that did was confirm being in Gotham was the right decision and this is the place I needed to be. And I'm not going anywhere."

"Nor am I," Hayate added, bravely.

"Try and make me," Michelle agreed, dangerously.

Terry couldn't stop smiling nor stop the feeling of appreciation welling up within him. Bruce felt the same.

"Yeah, Batman was arrogant." Basem looked at Bruce, "No offense."

"Why would I be offended at the truth?" Bruce asked.

Basem chuckled a bit but looked back at Alfred, "But you don't know or understand half of the reasons why. Hell, I don't even think he did. But, now, here are the facts." He pointed at Terry, again, "This Batman is different! Me, Hayate, Shell… we aren't Batman's sidekicks. We're Batman's partners. He doesn't have us here to meet a quota. We are all here to protect this city. To fight the enemies that dare cross those city limits. To have his back. Because we want to be here. Because we want to have his back. He doesn't force us, make us, or make us feel like we're less than him or anything like that. He's Batman. We're his team. It's our city. And our fight. From now on."

Everyone sat in silence for a few seconds as they absorbed Basem's words.

Michelle blinked. "Son of a bitch, I totally get why Sal married you now!"

"I keep telling you!" Sally smiled.

Basem chuckled.

Alfred huffed. "Whatever."

"Keep acting," Dick smiled. "I know you're impressed."

"I know I am," Kailyn admitted.

Alfred glared at her.

"What? That was a good speech." Kailyn looked at Terry, "Maybe he's not so bad." She motioned toward Max, "I mean… any guy who gets to marry her has to have something going for him!"

"I'm kinda starting to like her, at least," Max admitted with a smile.

"Ditto," Michelle agreed.

"Let me make this point clear, Al," Dick said, "you're on Terry's turf. No matter your feelings toward that mantle, what stories you've heard from me or about Bruce throughout the years, you don't know this Batman. You don't know Terry. And you're not going to pretend he's the enemy simply because you want to be better than him. Get over it. This is his city and his rules."

Alfred just glared at Dick and exhaled.

"But to be fair," Terry spoke up, getting Alfred's attention, "if you're better than me, schway! I… actually don't care. All that matters to me is Bane, right now. Even with that, I'm running off as little as info as possible. After all… we still don't even know how Bane got back to looking like he did when he first met Bruce."

"You'll get something, Terry," Selina reassured. "You've got this."

"Thanks. In the meantime, we need to focus on finding them."

Basem looked at Alfred, "Any ideas?"

Alfred held his scowl but relented with an exhale. "Switchblade likes the basics of life. Fast cars, faster women."

Michelle sighed, contently. "Those were the days…"

"You get one more before I dump a bucket of ice on your head!" Basem warned.

"Alright, alright, shutting up! God!"

"We've all said our piece…" Selina declared, "and, Al, seriously, get over it. This is Bane you're dealing with. Put your ego in a bag and throw it off the yacht."

Alfred scoffed.

"But there's one thing I don't think I've heard yet." Selina looked at Terry, "What do you think Bane's up to?"

"I mean, I don't have anything concrete. Just some ideas."

"Never stopped Batman before. Don't be humble, that's not in the job description."

Bruce groaned while Selina smiled.

Diana smirked. "She's not wrong."

"Diana, you really are the greatest," Selina complimented.

"Suddenly, you two are friends?" Bruce asked.

"We are the only two actual members of the Bruce Wayne Ex-Wives Club," Selina reminded.

"It's very exclusive," Diana joked.

Diana and Selina giggled while Bruce groaned.

Terry chuckled then sat back, thinking for a moment. "I'm not sure yet what Bane's up to. My idea's… kinda typical. Because… taking what he's done, nothing about it is typical. No thefts, no attacks that weren't to get our attention. He's been trying to get our attention. Maybe even hold it. Maybe… keep us distracted."

"Okay, but for what?" Michelle asked.

"You wouldn't believe how scared I am to get an answer to that question."

Later in the night, Terry and Helena were in the Cave and standing in front of the display cases, focusing solely on Bruce's last caped suit again. Max and Sally had gone home, Dick and Selina went back to their hotel, Bruce and Diana went to bed, and Basem, Hayate, Michelle, Alfred, and Kailyn were getting ready to head out to continue the search for Bane.

Terry looked at Helena and smiled.

Helena noticed his gazed and smiled back, "What?"

"Thanks, big sis."

Helena laughed. "I couldn't help myself. I didn't like his attitude. You did nothing to deserve that, Terry. You're a great hero. You're not going to hurt anyone. You're not going to repeat Dad's mistakes. And Al's problem isn't with you. So, he better check himself before he finds himself getting his ass kicked. I don't care if he is Mr. Grayson's grandson!"

Terry chuckled.

Helena shifted on her feet a bit. "I… hope I didn't overstep."

"What do you mean?"

"You don't need anyone to defend you, Terry. At the very least, Max always has your back. You certainly don't need your sister of three years to jump in and fight your battles for you."

"Actually…" Terry said, "it was pretty cool to have my big sister have my back."

Helena's smile grew as wide as possible.

Terry stared the display case again, "And… really… maybe others fighting a couple of battles with me ain't such a bad idea."

"Never. You just don't need anyone defending you."

"I don't mind that, either. Not as much as people think."

"Just say the word, baby bro," Helena smiled. "I'll do it anytime. Every time."

A/N: Hopefully, Chapter 12 will be out this coming weekend. No promises but I sincerely hope I can get it done. See you all soon! Take care!