Here's the end of the first arc, of three. Don't hate me. (By the way, if you didn't get the end of the last chapter look up 'Batman sings Justice League Unlimited'. You're welcome.)
Chapter Sixteen - Heir
Dick sat in the chair of the Bat-Computer, shirtless. he scratched the stubble on the side of his jaw as he watched the screen. Alfred stood next to him, he'd just finished wrapping up Dick's hand and fixing up the stitches on the cut on his forehead and some parts of his chest. He looked up at the screen, "Do you need anything for the pain, Master Dick?"
"No." The answer was cold and monotone. His eyes never left the screen. Ace laid at his feet, the hound hadn't left his side for hours. He might not have been moving, but his eyes darted all around the room, checking every sound, his spine was tense. Ace stayed ready to pounce at any moment.
The members of the League left Dick to be alone, going back to their respective cities. The Titans never left, they stood over by the Med Bay in the Batcave. Cyborg looked over at the members of the team, they all had the same look of concern on their face. Raven specifically. Cyborg leaned over, "Maybe you should talk to him." he whispered in suggestion.
"And say what?" she shot a glance that was rarely used on Cyborg.
"Miss Rachel," Alfred's calm voice called as he approached the team, he had a needle filled with some kind of orange liquid. She looked up at him. Alfred gave her a disarming smile, "This should bring your abilities back, though I would recommend taking it easy." She nodded her consent as she injected the shot into her arm. It wasn't immediate, she didn't feel any different, but slowly her body began to repair itself.
Beast Boy huffed, "How come I didn't get that power."
Starfire looked over at Dick, "Perhaps we should go over to speak with him." she suggested.
"He's on edge." Raven noted, "It wouldn't end well."
"Is it possible we could take him off of the edge?" She offered a weak smile to the rest of them. Everyone viewed the Tamerian as the cheerleader of the group, but the members of the team knew better. She was like the younger sister, she might get confused every now and then, but she always wanted everyone to feel as glorious as she did. They were her only friends. Her family.
Raven looked down to the ground, thinking. Cyborg gently nudged her, she looked over at him. He had a sad smile, "C'mon Rae. We have to try, at least."
Raven sighed and nodded. Starfire took the lead, Cyborg and Beast Boy behind her, and Raven dragging her feet in the back.
"Hello Richard." Starfire held both her hands together as she spoke to him slowly.
"Hi Star." He grumbled, not looking away from the computer, "How are you all feeling?" A bit of emotion popped in his voice, he still showed a bit of concern for his friends.
Starfire smiled brightly, glad to see he wasn't too far gone, "I am doing glorious!" she jumped excitedly.
"I'm fine, man." Cyborg dismissed.
"I've been better," Beast Boy commented, Cyborg smacked the back of his head, "But I'm feeling great after that angel of a British man patched me up."
"His name is Alfred," Raven commented quietly.
Her voice drew him out of his stoic trance. Dick turned in the chair and looked at her, a small smile flashed across his face when he saw her, before it disappeared into the thin pressed line it had been before, "Your powers are back." he observed.
Raven nodded, "Alfred gave me the cure." He was facing her way, he saw all his scars in the light for the first time. She'd felt them, of course, but to see them was something out of a nightmare. New ones, older ones, fresh wounds, bruises. His body was like the pages of a story, it wasn't a pleasant one. Raven looked away.
Dick frowned, turning back to the computer. He had seven images up on the screen.
"The escaped patients, Master Dick?" Alfred questioned as he approached with a large square white box. He set the box down on a table, "I ordered out. Master Dick has told me that you enjoy this... 'meal'?" He gagged as he opened the large pepperoni pizza. Alfred would hesitate to even call this food, but he was so very tired. It was easier this way.
Beast Boy and Starfire went over to grab something to eat, but Cyborg and Raven stayed behind - watching Dick as he studied the characters on the large screen.
Dick nodded, "They're all still at large." he confirmed. "Two-Face, Killer Croc, Bane, Mister Freeze, Riddler, Harley Quinn and..." he paused, swallowing, "The Joker."
"So what's the plan?" Cyborg asked, "Find Batman and take these fools down - dynamic duo style?" he hoped that was the plan with a smile.
"No," Dick said firmly, "I don't have a clue where to start looking. Diana's out there, but I won't sit on my ass and wait for Bruce to come save the day." he explained he walked over to the display cases and looked at the Batman suit, he frowned, "Batman is a symbol - not a single man."
Alfred widened his eyes, "Sir... so soon? Do you think you're ready?"
Dick looked over at his oldest friend, "I have to be." he stated, "Do it."
Raven looked between the two, her and Cyborg were thoroughly confused. Alfred shook his head, he'd already seen one man he loved lost to this mission and now he'll watch another. The old butler pressed a button on the computer, "Bat-Computer," he stated, "Activate Protocol Heir to the Cowl." he instructed.
"Password?" a feminine voice asked from the computer's speakers.
Alfred closed his eyes and sighed heavily, "Flying Grayson."
"Heir to the Cowl - Activated. Funds - transferred. Authority - transferred. Welcome, Dick Grayson." the voice spoke.
Alfred turned to face him, "It's done, Master Dick. You are now the Batman."
Dick nodded, he never wanted it. But this city needs a Batman, what he wants doesn't matter. He'll do whatever it takes to protect his city.
"That was so bad-ass," Beast Boy whispered to nobody in particular.
Cyborg smiled, "Alright let's go whop some ass." He announced proudly.
Dick looked back at him, "No. You're going to take the Titans and go back to Jump City." He ordered, looking back to the case and opening it up.
"What?" Cyborg deadpanned. Beast Boy dropped his pizza. Starfire's eyes lit up in fear. Raven just frowned.
"Gotham is the big leagues and you guys aren't ready for it." He informed. He pushed his boots off and pulled the pants off from his Nightwing suit. He pulled the Bat-suit off the case, first pulling on the padded pants, then slipping on the boots over his wet socks.
"C'mon man you can't mean that - we're your friends." Beast Boy reasoned, walking closer to Dick.
Dick pulled a black long sleeve shirt on over his head, holding his arms out in T position as Alfred strapped the torso of the Bat-suit onto him, "You're right, Beast Boy. You guys are the first real friends I had outside of Gotham. Everyone of you are very special to me," Alfred stepped back as he finished, "Thank you, Alfred." he nodded, turning back to the team, "Which is why you can't stay."
"So you are doing the kicking of out on us?" Starfire narrowed her eyes, her hands on her hips.
Dick sighed, "You can stay for a few days - until Christmas." he took a deep breath in as he locked the gauntlets onto his hands, "Then I want all of you out of my house."
Cyborg looked at him in disbelief, "So that's it?" he got no response, "The end of the Titans?"
"I'm leaving them in your hands." He stated, walking back over to the Bat-Computer, "Depending on how the next six months go, I'll see what the League thinks about adding you onto the team." he explained.
Cyborg looked baffled at the man he was proud to call his brother, "Robin, man, don't-"
"Enough!" Dick whipped around and looked at them, "That's not my name, nor who I am." he growled, turning back around, "This is how it has to be." he added, softer, "Everyone out. I need to think." he ordered.
Cyborg shook his head, "Congratulations, man. You turned out just like him." he turned around and looked at the team, "C'mon Titans. We're leaving in the morning." He left the cave with Starfire and Beast Boy, the latter of the two looking back one last time, sadly.
Raven just stood there, expressionless.
Alfred looked at her, then turned to give the two some time alone, "I'll show you where you can rest your heads for the night." he declared to the remained of the Titans.
The door closed with an echo, leaving the Bat and the Bird standing there in the silence. He turned to look at her, "You're still here."
"I am." She nodded, "Should I have left?"
Dick huffed out a long breath, he was so tired, "Rae - please don't make this any harder than it has to be." he pleaded, he couldn't deal with this too, not on top of everything else.
She crossed her arms and glared at him, "A few hours ago you told me you loved me."
Dick didn't respond, just meeting her cold glare with one of his own.
"What changed?" she wondered.
"Nothing."
"So you're gonna push us all away?" she asked, "Push me away?"
"It's for the best, Raven." The way he said her name sounded so wrong, cold, just all wrong.
"For who? You? Me? Bruce's stupid crusade?"
"Everyone." He snapped, taking a step closer, but she didn't bat an eye, "It's safer if all of you stay away."
Raven's eyes flared in anger, "You're joking, right?" she scoffed, "We're all some of the most powerful beings on the planet and you're just some guy in a costume, but we're the ones that are in danger here?" she chuckled, shaking her head, "Gimme a break."
Dick didn't flinch or back down, "You almost died." She couldn't tell if his voice was sad or just monotone, "All of you almost died. I might be just a man, but none of you know how to deal with this city. The villians in this city aren't like Jinx or Gizmo or Mammoth." he shook his head.
"You could teach us. You've done it before, oh fearless leader." The last part was oozing with sarcasm.
"Why do you have to fight me on this?" He asked, his voice sounded desperate.
"Because..." her voice trailed off before coming back with an anger, "Because I want you, Grayson. Because being with you, feels right. The rest of them might leave, go back to Jump, but I'm not going anywhere." she deadpanned, "Because I love you, asshole." she added, softer this time.
Dick closed his eyes, his heart broke with every word they exchanged, "It's over, Raven." he turned his back to her, pulling the cowl over his head, "I never loved you."
Raven widened her eyes, before her glare returned, "I don't believe you." the Batman didn't respond to her, "You're a coward." and with that, she turned to leave.
Every bone in his body screamed at him to go after her, but he didn't move. He looked up at the computer until he heard the door slam with her exit. Batman fell to his knees, he pulled cowl off of himself - he could hardly breathe. Ace nuzzled his body into Dick's, he chuckled sadly as he hugged his dog. He felt... alone.
But it was better that way. His heart hardened, turning to stone as he stood back to his feet, looking into the massive screen, he was going to take down the Arkham escapees. Then, he'd do the one thing Bruce should've done a long time ago - kill Ra's al Ghul. Kill him for what he did.
He pulled the cowl over his head, taking a deep breath in as he began walking toward the Batmobile. He pressed the comms system on the side of the cowl. "Babs? You still there?" he asked. She was part of the Bat-Family, the Titans might not be able to handle this city, but Barbra was though as nails after everything she'd been through. She could handle it, she could handle anything.
"Dick?" she asked softly, "How are you doing? I saw the HTC protocol was activated.
"I'll need your help," he ignored her concern, "It's going to be a long night."
Barbra sighed, "I'm here for you Batman."
There we go, end of the first arc. I know, it sucks, but these characters aren't perfect. Anyway, hope you guys enjoyed it at least, sorry about the shortness. Might take a bit of a break, finals and such. Won't be too long, though. Review if you wouldn't mind