digi-gal-rox: first chapter loaded! yea! hope yaz lyke it!
CHAPTER 1
He stared out the window, as several police cars sped past. He hung his head slightly, part of him wishing he was out there... flying. But he had given up that role, long ago, to protect his family. Not long later, along with his brother, they had discovered that everything that was once in the cave was long gone. Everything was destroyed, old costumes disappeared with everything else. The signal no longer shining in the night sky, and crime was once again, rising. But he had to do something. He couldn't stand here any longer, watching. He turned around slightly, seeing his wife peacefully asleep. Grabbing his duffle bag, he turned around and left without another word. Though he did keep a promise, there were some promises he couldn't keep.
"We will find Batman's killers!" Commissioner James Gordon bellowed, as more questions were fired at him.
"Commissioner! What about the other knights? Do you believe that they will come out?!" Lois Lane shouted, pushing her way to the front.
"Believe what you want to believe, the Gotham Police will do whatever they can to protect Gotham from now on."
"Commissioner! Commissioner!" reporters started to push their way to the front entrance, as James began to leave. Clark Kent stopped, turning around slightly, noticing a familiar face, walking away. Narrowing his eyes slightly, he couldn't help but fear that the knights might indeed return after all.
"Hey Smallville!" Lois called out, "You coming or what?" turning around slightly, Clark nodded and followed his partner into the building.
Dick Grayson sighed heavily, slumping down his desk. Right now, he would be at the station, but since Batman's death and Bruce Wayne's supposed disappearance... everything had been left to him. The empire that the Wayne family had long since built. Well almost everything. The estate had been left to good old Alfred.
"Mr. Grayson, your wife is here to see you."
"Send her in." he responded soto-ly. A few seconds later, came in a calm looking red-head, with a smile plasted on her face, that only he could tell she was stressed. He stood up and hugged her tightly. "Hey."
"Dick..." she murmured, tightening her grip on him. "He's gone. Alfred's gone. And so is everything else." Dick's eyes widened. With his free hand, he turned on the T.V, and there live at an empty land of Wayne Manor, stood Summer Gleason, reporting live, with wind, smoke and flames in the background.
"... so this is his way of... death?" Tim Drake murmured, as several Gothamites paid their respects. Barbara nodded slightly, as Dick approached her, holding onto her tightly.
"He didn't want the world to discover his secret... so he thought of this plan, in case anything happened."
"And what does the world think?"
"He was a lonely drunk who lost everything." Dick spoke, "Or so, that's what it said in Alfred's letter." Barbara's eyes fell, as their daughter placed a flower on the empty coffin.
"How's Mary holding up?" Tim finally asked, after a moment of silence.
"She's strong." Dick commented.
"Just like her father." Barbara murmured. Dick looked at her curiously, before returning his gaze to the crowd.
"What now?" Tim asked, slowly.
"We continue with our lives." Dick narrowed his eyes slightly. "We continue with our lives."
"Commissioner," Dick called out softly. The aging man turned around slightly.
"Dick!"
"Not that it's really any of my business, but is there any progress in the Batman case?"
"We'll talk in private later, son." James said quietly. Dick stared at him for a moment before nodding. "So, what is my daughter cooking tonight?"
"Her specialty, she claims." Dick gave an awkward smile, "Spaghetti with salad." James chuckled.
"Tell her I'll see you around... 7.30." before Dick could respond, James had already left, accompanied by a heard of officers. Narrowing his eyes slightly, Dick clenched his fist, before stroding up the stairs, of the precinct. If he was lucky, he could get some profiles on likely suspects.
"Grandpa!" Mary Grayson squeeled as James Gordon came in. Popping her head out of the kitchen, Barbara gave a smile.
"Hi, daddy."
"Hey, sweety." he gave a small wave before his daughter disappeared into the kitchen again. "Come on squirt." he exclaimed, picking up the excited seven year old. "Show me your new game Uncle Tim bought you." the young girl jumped out of her grandfather's arms and disappeared around the corner.
"So, is Dick around?" James called out to his daughter.
"He said he had a meeting, he'll be here shortly." Barbara called back, before appearing again, with a glass of wine at hand. "Wine?"
"Damn," he muttered, kneeling down. The blood stains still could be seen, now almost dried up. Sneeking out his camera phone he took quick pictures again before the police appeared.
"Hey! What are you doing here!" Harvey Bullock exclaimed.
"Just paying my respects, Detective." Dick said humbly, hiding his phone. Unconvinced, Bullock dragged him out of the crime scene.
"This is still a crime scene, Mr. Grayson." the detective snarled, emphasising on the Mr. Grayson, "I don't want to see you around here again." Dick gave a small salute before walking off. The murder seemed to clean, for any normal killer. He stopped, observing his surroundings. Something was definately up. And he had to find out what.
"There's not much I can say Dick," James sighed, rubbing his temples, "The chief seems prepared to go to the extreme to find his killer." Dick nodded slightly, taking another gulp of his beer.
"Do you think any of them will come out?"
"No," James shook his head slightly. "I don't think so." he paused, "But part of me wishes that they will. I always feel somewhat safer when they're around. But I guess under their mask, they have their own lives as well. Wanting to live it." Dick nodded somberly.
"I guess so."
"You boys having fun out here?" Barbara pocked her head to the back yard, where both men were standing.
"Where's Mary?" Dick asked, turning around slightly.
"Bed," she shrugged, stepping out to join them. "So what are you boys talking about?" James chuckled, shaking his head slightly.
"Nothing to worry about, honey." James smiled, "Dinner was wonderful tonight though." she hugged her father tightly.
"All the best for you boys." she joked. Dick smiled, leaning against the wall.
"I keep wondering to myself though, how were you able to find such a wonderful house in such a wonderful area, away from the city and all." James mused, breathing the clean air.
"You have to ask Barbara that," Dick responded, "She had a lot of free time on her hands. And I mean a lot of free time." Barbara frowned, making a face at her husband.
"It wasn't that hard. All I did was call in a favour with Nicky, and within seconds she found several houses for us, but she did recomend this neighbourhood. 'Said everything was wonderful."
"She's right." Dick smiled, kissing his wife on the cheek.
"Dick... where were you tonight?" Barbara asked, tossing some pillows aside. Sighing heavily, Dick climbed into bed.
"Babs... I already said I had somethings to take of at the office."
"Dick..." Barbara looked at him earnestly. "Promise me you won't do anything stupid, O.K?" He looked at her before pulling her closer to him.
"I promise."
digi-gal-rox: seeing that this idea is still fresh in my mind, so i think i'll be focusing on this story at the moment. i seem to be on a role here. look out for the next chapter! don't forget to review!