digi-gal-rox: like the previous chapter, italics is the present time.

Chapter 2 - I kept my promise, Don't keep your distance

"I swear, that no kid will suffer the same fate..." he growled narrowing his eyes slightly.
"Master Bruce..."
"Not now Alfred, I have work to do,"
"But Master Dick wants to see you. The poor young master..."
"Tell him I'm at a meeting. I'll get that guy to pay for what he did, that's a promise."
"Master Bruce..."

Panting heavily, he studied his surroundings. Sighing heavily, he realised he wasn't at Gotham, he wasn't at the manor, but at his apartment at Bludhaven. A few weeks had passed, and it seemed that the press had given up on him, under the impression he had no idea that the Bruce Wayne was the legendary Dark Knight, Batman.
"Bruce..." he growled softly, clenching his fist. "Why were you so careless?" For a moment, he thought he saw a familiar figure stand in front of him. Shaking his head slightly, the figure was gone. Quickly jumpping out of his bed, he made his way to the window. Was he seeing things? "No one out there..." He could feel tears burning in his eyes. "Damn it Bruce, why did you have to die!" he yelled, slamming his fist on the wall. "Why?!" Breathing heavily he eyed his Nightwing suit, sprawled on the floor. Should he head back? He didn't know anymore. He slumpped to the floor eyeing the suit. Maybe he should 'retire'. "No!" he shook his head slightly, "Bludhaven needs him... Bludhaven needs me..." but right now, Gotham needed him.

"I don't know what to do anymore," she mumbled, starring at the screen. "We've been up all night, and there's still plenty more of them. The police are still out there..."
"You should rest,"
"I can't. I need to be ready."
"Ms. Gordon..."
"I guess that's why I sent Tim away. I didn't want him to go through this..." sighing heavily, Alfred placed a hand on her stiff shoulders.
"I'm sure everything will be fine. Ms. Gordon. Gotham can survive without Batgirl for a few hours." Barbara smiled at him, softly.
"It's... It's just so painful to accept that he's actually gone. The world knowing his secret..." she paused for a moment, eyeing the screen. "I swear to God, that I'll do what ever it takes to protect Gotham."
"Ms. Gordon..." Alfred looked at her sadly, "You should know better than making promises."
"I feel like it's my duty to do so." she said, crumbling up. Alfred hugged the young woman tightly. "He gave so much to the city..."

"What's this?"
"You could say it's a gift from me."
"A gift?"
"I've been told that you tapped into our frequencies, searching for trouble. Well, now you don't have to. You've got this. When ever there's trouble, the light will go on."
"And you'll feel me in?"
"Naturally."
"Thanks... Captain."
"It's Commissioner now, Batman."
"Commissioner?"
"Yeah, just recieved the news, my self."
"Congratulations." he started to make his way to the edge.
"What do you fight for, Batman?" he asked, "What do you fight for?" Batman didn't respond. "Could you... could you do this for my daughter? I want her to grow up in a clean and brighter city..." Batman considered.
"For your daughter."

"He always... He always seemed so..." Diana hugged her self tightly, "How could this have happened?!"
"There are still somethings that we cannot explain," J'onn said quietly. John hugged Vixen tightly, as she broke down.
"There has to be something we can do." Shayera said quietly, gripping onto her mace tightly.
"I know," Superman said slowly, "But Batgirl rejected our help. This is something the family has to do on their own. We should let them..." he paused, "We can't interferr. He wouldn't want us to." Flash looked to the side uneasily.
"It's hard to believe that it happened," he said quietly, "And knowing them, they wouldn't want to be up here." Superman nodded.
"I know,"

Promises. He had made too many promises. And now... now he couldn't keep them. The angry teen slammed his fist on the wall. Why did this have to happen? Why did she have to send him here? He wanted to be there. He wanted to help!
"Damn it Bruce, why did you have to die?!" he mumbled, tears forming in his eyes. "You didn't have to die. There are people who still need you. Gotham still needs you. We need you..." Robin slowly removed his cape and mask, eyeing it regrettfully. "Even though I stole the suit, you still brought me to the world of crime. You trained me... but you didn't have to do this. Sacrifise everything for us. That's for us to do to you. You have me... you have her... you gave him so much, and now all you did is through it away." tears fell from his eyes. "Bruce..."

"He may have taken your father's life, Tim but this is now, is this the life you want to lead?"
"You promised me I could. You said if I followed the rules..." was that a smile?
"I don't want anything to happen to you. Batgirl has more experience than you..."
"And what about this Dick guy? What about him?"
"Tim, just promise me that you'll follow the rule, and I promise that I'll do what ever it takes to put him away."
"Bruce..."
"Promise me Tim. Leave this guy to me."
"I promise..."
"I promise to."

"-promise me one thing, protect this city. Protect your home. Protect each other." slowly he pressed the button, before sighing heavily. They would soon be back from their patrol. He had to hide this well, till it was time. He wasn't that sort of man that left something for them. But he knew they would struggle. He had to send them a message.
"Come on, why not!" a teenager cried out, running after his two older comrades, each of them far apart from each other, aparently still not talking.
"Let us handle this on our own," the older man muttered, ignoring his mentor. He chuckled.
"Come on!"
"Go away Tim," the woman narrowed her eyes, grabbing her bag before leaving. Sighing, Tim smiled weakly at his guardian who cocked his head to the side with a smile.
"You're smiling!"
"Ah, kids."

digi-gal-rox: well, that's it for now! pls review!