Damian: Shadow of the Bat

A Date with Destiny Part IV

Arc & Writer's Finale

Writer's note-

This will be my final issue of this book; I hope it's been as much fun to read as it has been to write. However due to several personal and creative reasons I have decided to step down and let a new creative team take over, so the best of luck to RoninReviews & IvanKrolo who will be co-writing in the very near future. George Jones

Gotham City

I stand atop the old GCPD building; its exterior is crumbling and broken like my heart. Only its strong foundations keep her up. I stand in silence and contemplate what has happened, my date with destiny and my encounter with the one who claims to be the offspring of Joe Chill. This world sickens me to the core, I hate her and every single bastard that walks this Earth and yet I stay to protect her. I fight the struggle that can never be won, I fight knowing I will not win. I am alone in this torture, only Alfred, my feline friend offers me friendship. Gordon wants me detained, when will that bitch learn that we are on the same side?

From the clouds, soft, delicate pieces of snow begin to fall.

The date is 25TH of December, a date people used to celebrate. There hasn't been a Christmas in 25years. People no longer believe in God, even though I have met the devil.

The pistol that sits under my armpit holstered feels good, its weight is perfect. It's my way to stop him; The Reaper. Dr Destiny is still at large. The Reaper is now a more urgent matter and time is of the essence, I will need to put him down fast, therefore I shall let him come to me.

"Brother-I Online"

I_Online

"Broadcast the following message to every radio, television and communication frequency remaining in this city: This is the Batman speaking, Reaper, Destiny I am waiting for you. You can find me at the co-ordinates 03,12,32,12. I will be waiting"

Two Hours Later

Batman patrols the empty and crumbling GCPD building waiting for his opponents to arrive. Damian strides into the old office of James Gordon, a whole section of the south wall is completely gone. The room is covered in a blanket of snow and the cold wind violently rushes in and blasts against Damian's chin.

Batman peers out through the hole in the wall, a blockade of GCPD vehicles, five cars deep surrounded the building. Police lights, illuminated the darkness of the night, the police noticed the message and had engaged Batman in a stand off.

"Damned fools" Damian muttered to himself.

Batman turns and steps towards Jim's old locker and opens it up, Batman's eye open in pure shock as he finds Dr. Destiny standing in the decrepit locker.

"Boo!" The doctor squeals as he sprays Batman in the face with a fear toxin from a wrist held device

"Bastard" Mutters Damian as he stumbles backwards, hallucinations of his dead family start to appear all around him. Batman lurched toward grabbing the Doctor on the shoulders. With a strong heave he pulled his enemy to the floor, Destiny lifted his wrist and sprayed Batman in the face again. But this time Damian snapped his opponent's wrist like a chicken bone.

"Taste of your own shit" Batman growled and he sprayed the toxin into the doctor's face until the device was empty. Destiny began to squirm and shake in pure panic on the floor from the hallucinations. Damian showed no mercy and began to punch his face into the floor until he was merely punching crushed bone into the concrete ground.

"Sweet Dreams" Batman said as he rose to his feet above the dead body.

A sharp pain shot down Batman's back as from behind the Reaper buried both his blades into his back. Damian lurched forward, pulling the blades from his back as what appeared to be gallons of blood began to flow down his body.

Batman reached for his pistol as he turned his body around. The Reaper raised his arms to strike as Batman fired two shots, both hitting his enemy in the upper right arm. The Reaper leapt out of the room in a hail of gunfire from Batman. Damian ran, stumbling after the Reaper and into the corridor. Batman could now see no sign of his opponent.

"Show yourself!" Batman screamed into the darkness

Damian started walking down the corridor with his gun held ready. He got to the end of the corridor and still no glimpse of the Reaper. Batman began to stumble down the old staircase that started at the end of the corridor. Damian took five steps down before the old staircase collapsed from bellow; Batman fell 10 feet to the hard floor in a whirlwind of broken wood and debris. Damian rolled onto his back, gasping for breath. A huge bolt of pain raced down his leg as the Reaper buried his blades into his right thigh. Batman rolled to the side, pulling his thigh free. Damian rose to feet as the Reaper plunged the blades square into his chest.

"The final blow" The Reaper proclaimed triumphantly

Batman grabbed the Reapers shoulders and pulled him closer, burying the blades deeper and deeper into him until they were face to face. Batman raised his pistol and placed it against the Reaper's head. Batman's enemy tried to pull himself free but the blades were buried too deep. Damian pulled the trigger, spraying the contents of the Reaper's head against his own face.

"Game over"

As the Reaper's body slumped lifelessly, Batman pulled his body backwards heaving the blades from his chest. Two waterfalls of blood began to pour from Damian's torso, creating a river of thick, crimson liquid all around his feet.

"That f *king hurt" Batman said as he stamped on the Reaper's chest, caving in the ribcage of the dead body

Batman turned his head as he heard the rustling of feet nearby. Damian immersed himself into the shadows as the door in the room was blasted off its hinges. In seconds the room was full of an army of armed SWAT but the Bat was nowhere to be seen.

Later

Batman stumbled into his headquarters medical bay. Pulling off his cowl, he hauled his body over to the operation table. Damian rolled on the table and onto his back; he began to pull off his gloves, gauntlets and ripped open his top. No medical pedicures were necessary, now his healing factor would show its worth. Damian blacked out.

Hours later

Damian opened his eyes slowly. His body felt normal, he raised his head and looked down at his body. The wounds had healed with no signs that they had ever occurred. Damian sat up and ran his hand over his baldhead. Alfred was rolled up asleep in between his legs. Damian rubbed his hand over Alfred's soft fur as he purred; the cat slowly sat up from his sleep and looked deep into its master's eyes. Damian lowered his face and Alfred proceeded to lick it all over. The cat and the bat, then cuddled in a warm embrace.

"Love you…" Damian whispered "…Just keep it our secret"

The cat purred and flipped its tail

New creative team next issue