Chapter 6

Days later, Bruce Wayne sulked in the dank Batcave underneath his manor. Two long days passed as he refused to leave the cave, ignoring his routine scour of the city; on top of that, Bruce had failed in showing up at work and various meetings.

Walking soundlessly, Alfred tiptoed down the shadowy staircase, holding a gold-inlayed lunch tray. He could tell something was seriously bothering his master but after this period of silence and solitude, the frustrated butler thought it was finally time for his moping to cease.

"I thought some food might be in order Sir," the butler firstly stated, setting the tray on a nearby table.

Bruce said nothing as he reclined in his black leather chair, his foot tapping erratically. Minutes passed and as Alfred refused to leave, he stared at him wordlessly. Bruce finally gave in and broke his silence. "I can't believe it. Had I acted faster, had I known better… if I'd done something else, that poor kid might still be alive," Bruce muttered, his tone mixed with disappointment and anger.

"Master Bruce, look at what you do for a living. You are quite possibly the city's savior. Ever since you were a little boy, you've had a drive that I have never seen any other man possess. You're Batman and even Batman can't win them all. You do this city justice and no one even asks you to. You're appreciated more than you know," Alfred countered in a long wind, standing straight and tall, proud of the young man before him.

"If I can't win them all Alfred, then what am I doing? I'm not a savior. That kid is dead – I blame myself, I couldn't save him," he detailed and sighed, pinching his eyes shut. "Listen, there's something you should know… for the past couple nights, I've been thinking about taking a break, quitting."

"What did you say?" Alfred's voice perked in disbelief.

"You heard me Alfred. I've been thinking about," he paused for a long moment, glancing around his dark lair. Standing up, he analyzed everything in his sight, from the computer hub to the costume chamber and simply the dank cavern surrounding them. "No, I can't do this anymore. You know what, it's over, seal it up," he stated, pushing his chair into the computer desk in anger and contempt.

"Excuse me Sir?" Alfred replied startled as the chair rolled and fell as it bombarded into the black marble desk.

"Seal up the Batcave. As of this moment, Batman's dead," Bruce declared heatedly, retreating up the long stairway, heading for his study.

"Master Bruce, stop right this instant," Alfred demanded as Bruce sighed irritably, taking a seat on the gothic staircase.

"What do you wanna say to me Alfred - that I shouldn't quit? Well, I've already thought of the consequences. A young orphan boy is dead," his voice boomed across the cave disturbing the bats above.

"Why is that your fault? One child didn't make it," Alfred combated heatedly, walking towards the staircase for a better look at Bruce. "This city needs you. Sir, do you remember your first year of operation in this city? Remember how hectic things were? Oh, I remember it quite well," he fumed in remembrance. "I've never nursed more injuries on one person in my whole career. And you Sir, you've never been covered with more bruises and scratches. I even remember when you were a spoiled child, falling into this cave's crevice for the first time."

As Bruce began to speak, Alfred continued cutting him off.

"Not so fast young man, you've had your chance to speak," he interrupted as Bruce conceded, hanging his head as Alfred continued. "And you want to quit now because a madman blew up a tower in downtown and took the life of a poor young man. But if you quit, think of how many more will be killed? Bad things happen, it's not your fault."

"When you first started, you virtually had no allies until you met Jim Gordon. Now many good cops aid you in your war on crime. And this has certainly been a busy month for Batman indeed. The criminals you previously captured will be on the loose again if the cape and cowl disappear from Gotham's streets and alleys. Now, are you going to look me in the eye and tell me you are quitting? Look at me," he demanded, his hands resting on his hips in defiance.

"Alfred, you're right," Bruce said with a slight chuckle. Wiping his face with his sleeve, he stood and stretched, descending the staircase to reside beside Alfred. "Who am I kidding? I'm more Batman than Bruce Wayne. As Batman, I'm myself; as Bruce, I masquerade, hiding my true identity. Thank you Alfred, I suppose I'll never be able to give up this mantle of the bat," he replied to Alfred's long-winded speech, his voice strong and settled.

"That's the spirit Sir," he briskly replied, clapping his hands together in triumph. "But to keep your alter ego, we must find a way to repair the Batmobile. And you have haven't been to Wayne Enterprises in a while. I've told Lucius Fox that you went out of town for a few days."

"Bruce Wayne needs a vacation but like you said Alfred, this city needs Batman. And I believe more so than they need some rich playboy."

He laughed, saying, "That may be Sir but even millionaire playboys have their responsibilities. By the way, how is Batman going to get around without his car," Alfred inquired, the question being on his mind for days.

"I'm sure this cave has a few extra toys laying around."

"Very good Sir," the butler understood, treading up the lengthy, shadowy staircase leaving his master alone to think.

Bruce was relieved that Alfred convinced him to not permanently hang up his cape and cowl. After all, he hadn't even considered quitting since his earliest days as the Dark Knight. But tonight, he proved to himself once and for all, that he'd probably always carry the mantle of the bat, in some shape or form.

That night high above the city stood Batman, out on his nightly patrol. As he stood menacingly on a gothic structure, he blended in quite nicely with the scenery.

All at once, a brightly lit beam loomed through the sky - the Bat-signal. As he noticed it, he felt good in his suit again, knowing there was no other mantle he'd rather wear.

Knowing that someone was waiting for him at police headquarters, he shot a grapple line out towards the sky with great precision. A moment later he swung down towards police headquarters and as he landed with a graceful touchdown, Commissioner Gordon greeted him.

"You did great with finding the Joker but where the hell have you been? We flashed the signal last night and you never showed."

"Nice to see you too Jim," Batman muttered sarcastically.

"Well never mind. Look, two nights ago at Starlite Chemical Labs, the Riddler stole two hundred thousand dollars worth of chemicals and in the process, took three very good cops hostage."

"Is he still targeting Mayor Hill?" the Dark Knight queried.

"Well, considering the fact that this city is using temporary fill-ins for its council members, then yeah, probably. We've still got him under close watch."

"What would Nigma want with chemicals? I wonder if he's trying to poison Mayor Hill." Batman pondered aloud, stalking the graveled roof of the headquarters.

"I don't know, I just don't know. But there is this rumor going around that the Riddler has taken over a small-time mob. It's the Vanelli Crime Family. You know the one Batman. After Two-Face killed his old man, the son of the racket, Charles Vanelli, took over. Well, a few nights ago, he and a few of his entourage were found dead at a nearby landfill. We have a pretty good idea that Nigma was behind it. It doesn't fit his usual M.O. though. This guy is… for lack of a better term, definitely a whack job."

Immediately, Harvey Bullock ran out to the roof in a flash to join the two men.

"Hi Bats," he acknowledged in a hurry, breathing rashly. "Um Jim, we've just received word of Catwoman breaking into Goth-Corp. But nothing yet on what she was doing there."

"Damn it Harvey, how long ago was the break-in?" the Commissioner questioned, folding his arms firmly over his overcoat.

"Roughly about an hour ago," Bullock stated, lighting a cigar, stilling heaving from his run.

"Catwoman… well if there was any criminal intent, she's long gone by now," the Dark Knight grimly stated. "Nevertheless, I'll see what I can dig up at Goth-Corp," he finished as he leapt off the building and out of sight.