Hey again, chapter 2 here, i dont own the characters, and this chapter is really just moving the story on... while helping to set up the landscape of whats coming up...
Six months later
My wounds had mostly healed and the cave had mostly been rebuilt by my own two hands, but something still felt off.
I knew what it was, how couldn't I?
I heard his footsteps coming down the stairs and quickly looked up at the time on the screen, damn. I slowly turned the chair and thought about forcing a smile, then thought better of it, why insult the man when he would see right through me, especially this man.
"If I remember correctly Master Timothy, we agreed you would go to bed after patrol." Came the stern yet fatherly voice of he Mansion's oldest resident.
"I know Alfred, I'm just finishing off some paperwork, nothing heavy. I promise." I said, and for the first time that night I actually heard how tired I was.
"Well no matter, the sun has risen on another glorious school day, and if I do say so myself it is a damn good thing you graduated before the summer." the butler replied.
"Was that a joke Alfred?"
"Did it amuse you master Timothy?" He replied in the oh so proper voice, he knew it did and I cracked a smile.
"Not at all Mr Pennyworth, but I will give you an A for effort." I said in my best impersonation of an English Gentleman that I could muster after being up for twenty one hours straight.
I was reward with a small smile and a fatherly hand on the shoulder.
"Come now Master Tim, there is breakfast to be prepared and eaten before you go to bed, and discussions to be had, and I refuse to eat breakfast alone."
That was another change in the routine that Dick had began before his passing. At least one meal a day, and if possible two, would be taken as a family, whomever that might consist of. Lately it was just me and Alfred, but that was fine, he had always been excellent company.
As I stood he patted me on the back and told me to get changed from my costume and I happily obliged while he went upstairs to prepare ingredients for what would probably pass as a three course banquet in most families, but not in ours.
As I unfastened the cape and cowl I had been wearing the last six months as Robin I lowered them to the bench in the changing area and looked in the mirror. I wasn't tired, I was exhausted. But it was becoming worth it. At long last.
I quickly peeled off the rest of my gear, and laid it down on the bench next to the cape and cowl, and sighed before I grabbed a towel and headed for the showers.
The water sprang to life as I hung my towel on the hook outside and I stepped right in and let the water find its way over my tired and aching muscles, God this felt good, just what I needed.
As I stood there under the spray of water, my mind started to wa`nder to the changes brought on by the last nine months months. The death of Bruce at the hands of the New God Darkseid, the Battle for the Cowl where an insane Jason Todd nearly won the Cowl, nearly killed me, and nearly killed Spoiler, Oracle, Huntress, Black Canary, Catwoman and the rest of Gotham, thats after he killed Dick.
Yeah, I remember waking up from being stabbed in the chest and seeing Dick's body lying on a table beside me with Leslie and Alfred covered in blood after trying to bring him back.
I also remember the power in the cave going out and when it came back up Dick was gone and so was the car.
It was then I realised that as long as he was here we would be ok.
Then I remembered the invasion by the Red Lanterns. How they had faked Lois Lane's death so they could get a damn ring on Superman, and then used him to get a ring on Wonder Woman.
I could remember watching the pair of them tear through the JLA, the JSA, the Titans, the Teen Titans, and pretty much the entire Green Lantern Corps.
Then I remember lying there on the ground beside Power Girl wondering if this was the end when I heard the engines of the Batwing.
Those of us conscious watched as a mere mortal strode up to two of the most powerful people on the planet and simply tossed a cell phone at Superman with Lois on the other end of the call.
I remembered what happened next but I didn't want to.
Running into the ER on the Watchtower to see Dick dead on the table.
I remembered the funeral and watching Dick's coffin being shot off into the sun.
I remembered how Bruce always said in the end we would all probably fall. But we went on anyway because we had too.
I stepped out of the shower and towelled off and got dressed in civvies and headed up to the manor.
There Alfred had breakfast all prepared as well as a "to do list" one for Tim Drake, heir of the Wayne Empire, and one for Robin, Lone Wonder to handle in his usual eloquent way.
A hospital opening in Bruce's name. Check, not a problem, it would be a fun way to spend an hour and get to tour the latest facilities that would treat the city.
A children's hospice opening next door in Dick's name, anything for Dick.
A visit to Wayne Towers to meet with Lucious Fox about the recession, woop dee do, check.
Then the other list.
Meet with Superman regarding the new Justice League. Great, I thought with sarcasm.
Decide on who be allowed back into Gotham. I sighed, and looked at Alfred.
"Come on Alfred, I have the crime rate back down to where it was when Bruce left, why do I need help?" I said damn well knowing the answer.
"Because Master Timothy, Bruce had, you, Master Dick, Miss Cassandra, Miss Kyle, Miss Gordon, and Mister Kent whenever he needed it. You have allowed no one back into Gotham and you have run yourself ragged while doing so. When was the last time you actually coordinated with another person who was not I when it came to your crime fighting, and don't mention Jim Gordon." He said as he brought over a few serving dishes covered with food for the two of us.
"Fine I will pick a few people, would that make you happy?" I said in a defeated voice.
"Indeed it will Master Timothy, but you are still meeting with Mr Kent regarding the new Justice League." Alfred said as he brought over a pot of herbal tea.
"How do you know that Alfred?" I said whilst pouring a cup of tea, one for Alfred and one for myself.
"Because he will be travelling with you all day doing an article for your Daily Planet."
I was defeated. I smiled and conceded and ate my food before carrying the plates to the sink and thanking Alfred for the meal.
On my way upstairs for three hours of sleep I had to wonder how Alfred coped with the loss in his life. He had lost the Waynes, all be it years ago, that had to take a toll. Then he lost the love of his life in Leslie, when she betrayed the man he loved like a son. Then he had to deal with the pain of another dead man coming back to life in Jason, before he lost Bruce and Dick in the space of a year.
How did he cope? I wondered if I would ever know.
**
I drifted in and out of sleep for the better part of an hour before eventually drifting off. When I woke I was surprised to find I was no longer alone. Sitting on the edge of the bed using my cell phone was a brunette woman, who from behind look remarkably stunning. God I really needed to get out more.
Leaving the batarang under my pillow I lay back down and cuddled into the ridiculously comfortable bed and wondered, when was the last time I got a full mornings sleep?
"I don't keep information on my phone Selina." I said with a sigh as I began to really get comfy.
"How did you? I mean, its pitch black in here." She replied turning around so I could see her face.
"Perfume, its a dead give away. That and have you looked at yourself lately. Who else in Gotham cleans up as well as you do?" I said teasing.
"Meow bird wonder. But can you blame a girl for trying?" She said with a smile. "I just wanna know what all of us other exiled heroes and heroines wanna know. Whose getting back in?"
I thought about it for a minute then thought this could be useful.
"Whose on the list?"
"You don't know?" She replied in a deadpan tone.
"The list kitty, before I have your claws trimmed." I said while letting a hint of mischief into my voice.
What Selina did next surprised me, but didn't shock me. She slid up the bed and lay down beside me on top of the covers and looked into my face, which even in the pitch black she could apparently see, suppose I wasn't the only one who could see in the dark.
"Well, there are a few who would like to know," she said while tracing the line of my jaw with an outstretched finger, "namely Supes, who has played it your way up to this date, but he is meant to be meeting you later and sent me in as a scout." She said in a playful manor.
"The list kitty, lets get going before I have to get up." I said again, hiding any frustration from my voice, for now anyway.
"Your no fun." She replied and rolled to face away from me. I knew she was playing but I had to enjoy some part of the day. I reached over and grabbed her wrists and flipped her onto her back and climbed on top of her, pinning her to the bed.
"List kitty, or do I need the handcuffs."
"That's my boy, now you are getting into the spirit." I saw the mischief in her eyes and remembered this woman could have been my step mother if Bruce hadn't died. But I knew she was still grieving, I knew she had been keeping close tabs on me. I was her only tie left to Bruce.
I leaned in close and whispered in her ear and flipped off the bed and headed for the en suite.
"List Selina. Last chance"
"Alright buns of steel wonder," she teased, we both knew I was wearing shorts and a vest but we both needed the humour, and finally as I splashed water on my face she began.
"Batwoman, Spoiler, The Question, Batgirl, Oracle, Misfit, Huntress, Black Canary, Superman, The Flashes,"
"Flashes?" I said in between splashing water on my face.
"All three and Kid Flash."
"This is a hell of a list Kitty." I said coming out of the en suite and sitting down at her feet on the bed.
"This is just the beginning, we have the original Green Lantern from the JSA asking for a meeting with you about JSA movement in Gotham, Power Girl wants a word when your free. Red Arrow wants to be allowed in Gotham, and both sets of Titans want to know if they can speak to you at some point. That's not all of it, but the Green Lantern Corps are happy leaving you to Gotham, they get they aren't on your Christmas Card list right now."
"Nothing from Wonder Woman or Donna or Wonder Girl?" I asked while inspecting the stitching on Selina's boots.
"You have me lying on your bed wearing a very light summer dress and a smile and you wanna know about the Amazons, shoulda figured." She said teasing. "They are giving you a wide berth like the Lanterns."
I picked up the phone and called down to Alfred and he answered with remarkable speed.
"Alfred when's my first appointment?"
"In three hours sir, the hospital and hospice decided to run as just one event so not to overtax you, and Mr Fox has moved back your meeting till tomorrow."
"Tell you what, I will call Luscious. Meet me in the cave in ten." I said placing the phone back on the receiver.
Without asking Selina tossed my cell phone over to me and I dialled the number.
"Mr Fox." I said in a happy voice, "Lets just skip the meeting and you give me the low-down."
"Good to hear from you Mr Drake." He began, surprised but upbeat.
"Its Tim, Mr Fox, and its Mr Fox, for me, so please lets move on." I said keeping the massive smile plastered on my face, to which Selina seemed to find funny, as she lay on my bed and giggled.
"Ok Tim, the low-down, as you put it is this. To keep the profit at its current level we need to cut about ten thousand from the work force across the world, and a further five thousand in Gotham." He said in a sombre tone.
"What if we don't fire anyone but put up their salaries like we do each year?" I replied as Selina's eyes widened.
"Uh Tim, we would be the only major company in the world not to make cuts if we did that..."
"I know Luscious, so hit me with it." I said getting a bit more serious.
"The company would make a profit of around $100 million, down one hundred and eighty percent and the shareholders would probably have a fit." The elder man replied.
"Whose got the majority of the shares?" I asked with a grin.
"Well you and Mr Pennyworth have eighty percent..." Luscious began again.
"Great get it done. Press conference whenever you want, make the announcement and make it stick, and if we have any money left over buy over Regular Motors." I said with a grin.
"Uh are you sure about this Mr Drake?" He began again shocked.
"Year sure, and toss $10 million of my private stash to the Gotham Animal refuge while you are at it and reduce rent in our rented accommodations. Have fun Luscious and see you at the Charity Golf shindig next week." I said with a smile as I hung up the phone and turned back to Selina.
"Right Miss Kyle, to the Batcave." I said with a wink and a smile.
**
In moments Selina and I were joined by Alfred and I had pulled up a picture of everyone wanting back into Gotham on the main screen.
"So, lets begin." I began as Selina sat in the chair to my left and Alfred in the chair to my right.
"Incase you haven't already guessed, your back in Selina, as a matter of fact bring your things to the Manor, your moving in." I said while letting my hands fly over the keyboard. "Alfred prepare Selina a room in the family wing. I think she has earned it after all this time." I continued as Selina's jaw silently hit the floor.
"I quite agree Master Timothy, is there anything else?" He said as if I had just told him a trivial bit of news.
"Excuse me, but I'm 'in' ?" Selina said in a voice that was mixed with shock and awe.
"Yes you are in, and your in the inner circle as well, your officially in, I will modify your suits and upgrade your kit, your in the family now Selina welcome aboard." I said with a grin.
I waited for a reply but none came and when I looked over Selina just looked back and smiled and gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze before she mouthed a silent thank you to me, and then to Alfred.
"So Master Timothy, am I still needed?" Alfred asked.
"Of course you are Alfred, you and Selina get to help me pick whose in." I said nonchalantly.
"In sir?"
Then I began.
**
Meanwhile on a distant planet.
Deep within a cave a light sprung to life.
But unlike most light it was dull and seemed to consume any light it could reach.
It felt rage from the furthest corners of the galaxy.
It felt greed from within the people that populated it.
It felt fear from the people who were unprotected.
It felt hope from those who believed help would come.
It felt compassion from those who would give aid.
It felt love from the hearts of the many.
It felt the willpower that flowed through the righteous, and it chose death.
A black light shot out from the cave and tore through space. It craved the greatest hero of them all, with him as its herald it would be unstoppable.
