The night seemed to have completely taken over in Gotham City. It was a long one for all of who knew the caped crusader and what had happened to him. The entire Justice League had to bear the heavy weight of yet another fallen hero. J'onn J'onzz was the first to perish in this battle with Darkseid and now Batman was the last after this war had come to an end. Hal Jordan, a.k.a. Green Lantern, was standing on the dry surface of Mars with his head full of memories with his fallen friends. He was standing on top of the grave they had created for the Martian of Mars. Hal stood inside a large pyramid and stared down at a glass coffin big enough to fit the tall J'onn J'onzz. Even though he was protected from the atmosphere of the red planet he could still feel the dry air all around him. The air made his mouth dry and in need of some ice cold water. Hal reached into his pocket and pulled out an Oreo cookie then placed it on top of the coffin. He flew out into space and looked back to his home planet Earth where his other friend's grave was. No matter how he felt about the passing of Batman he still could not return to Earth. It had been a long time since he had returned home and an even longer time since he had taken the Green Lantern ring off from his finger. As badly as he wanted to he could not go see the grave of his friend for it would become too real for him. Calling Batman a friend of his was a bit of a stretch for Hal but he still felt a sadness knowing he was gone. He remembered each time he and Batman would argue and bicker every time they were in the same space as one another. He couldn't help but crack a smile as he remembered when he was called pompous and arrogant by, quite possibly, the cockiest son of a bitch he had ever known, besides himself.
Diana Prince, a.k.a. Wonder Woman, was standing on the fresh beach of Themyscira island. The soft sand covered her bare feet as she looked on to the ocean. The cool breeze brushed against her skin and tugged at her silky gown as she held her arms across her chest. It was a cold night to accompany the mood of all who were aware of this tragedy. Before joining the Justice League she was a hardened warrior and she could recall how she felt like the steel of her sword; never bending or breaking no matter what struck it. Now years after that long time when she was alone she has experienced a great many things like friendship and love. Her love for the thrill of battle had now been placed in something else. Now she has grown to love peace and the fellow people that inhabit this world. There was no sword or spear that punctured her skin but she still felt a sharp pain in her chest as if she had been stabbed with such a weapon. Now more than ever she cursed the thought of war and what it brings. A tear slid down her cheek as she felt the weight of her heavy heart for her fallen friends.
Clark Kent, a.k.a. Superman, was floating just outside of Earth's atmosphere. He allowed the zero gravity to carry him through the darkness of space. Normally this was peaceful for him, instead of rushing through space faster than light like he usually did, but this time was different. He could not feel the peace that he was searching for even in the silence of space. His best friend had died and he could not escape the feeling he had from when he carried the charred body of Bruce Wayne in his arms. Superman always believed in the abilities of humans. Of course to them he had abilities they could only dream of but to him the people of Earth were always more than they appear to be. No matter the feats he was able to do he still always strived to be like them because it takes more than super speed, strength, or powers to be spectacular. Humans have proven this to the Kryptonian time and time again. Batman, a man with no powers like the ones of the Man of Steel, stared a god in the eyes and fearlessly struck a deathly blow. In a place where there are super beings, such as himself, and all-powerful gods, like Darkseid, Superman still finds it incredible that humans can find the strength and courage to do such things. It makes him proud to know that he was raised on a planet full of beings with so much potential to do spectacular things.
"Rest in peace my friend," Superman whispers.
Alfred Pennyworth was standing before the grave of his Master Bruce along with Damien Wayne by his side, Bruce's only son. The two of them stared at the headstones of Martha and Thomas Wayne that were now joined by their only son Bruce. Damien's face stayed hardened for he did not want show any sign of weakness. He was short kid around the age of eleven and bore the good facial features of his father as well as his short black hair. Alfred quietly let the tears slide down his cheeks. He remembered watching Bruce run through the halls of the mansion before Martha and Thomas passed away. Young Bruce would still smile joyfully back then. The two of them were joined by Richard John "Dick" Grayson, a.k.a. Nightwing. The first boy wonder had come to pay his respects to his mentor. He was a tall young man around the age of twenty-five with a gymnasts build. His long hair was combed to the side to show off his good looking and clean shaven face.
"Oh hello Master Grayson," said Alfred while wiping the tears, ever so politely as always.
"Hey Alf," said Dick with forced smirk. "Damien." The boy didn't even acknowledge him. He had grown used to this a long time ago. The two of them never got along to begin with. Barbara Gordon, a.k.a. Batgirl, walked up beside Dick to join them. Barbara Gordon was the daughter of James Gordon, the police commissioner of the Gotham Police Department. She was a beautiful woman with wavy red hair barely reaching the bottom of her neck and she was the same age as her boyfriend Dick. She only reached to the middle of Dick's arm but, although short, her body was very fit and athletic.
"Miss Gordon," said Alfred, "always a pleasure to see you."
"Hi Alfred, I've missed you," she said as she softly held his arm for a moment.
"Did you two have any trouble getting here?" Barbara shook her head then reached for Dick's hand and held it tightly. She leaned her head on his shoulder as she stared at the grave stone. The two of them couldn't believe that this day had come. After the many years fighting crime alongside Batman they had never thought that this day would come. The Dark Knight was gone.
They all returned to Wayne Manor where Tim Drake, a.k.a. Red Robin, was waiting for them there. Tim was around the age of eighteen with the build of a runner and had short spikey black hair. He was outside waiting for their return but he didn't think that Dick and Barb would be there as well. It was a nice surprise for him since he hadn't seen them in a while. He hugged Barbara and Alfred but, like Dick, was ignored by Damien as he just walked inside. Tim couldn't bear to go see Bruce's grave like the others. It was too much for him and he knew if he did then it would become too real. Tim gave an especially long hug to Dick. He knew what Bruce meant to Dick and vice versa. Like the other two Robin's, these two shared a special relationship with Batman. He was their father figure when they needed it most, even though there were especially hard times, he still held a special place in all their hearts.
Alfred offered to cook some dinner for them but none of them desired it so they all made their way into the Batcave. It was the first place Damien went to once he was inside the house. The others found him on the computer examining some current cases. Barb found a table full of batarangs and stood their examining them until she caught a glimpse of the large Joker card. Immediately her grief turned into anger as it triggered the worse memory hidden in her brain. As a reflex she placed her hand over the bullet wound in her abdomen.
Dick and Tim were staring at their old Robin suits in the glass cases. Dick smirked as he stared at the tiny suit he wore when he was a child. Tim touched the glass covering his suit with his fingertips as he felt the nostalgia.
"Have you heard from Jason?" asked Dick, almost disappointedly. Jason Todd was the second Robin with the darkest past any Robin has had. Like Barbara, he too had animosity toward the supervillain Joker. He was murdered by the clown prince of crime, along with his mother, but thanks to R'as Al Ghul and the League of Shadows he was revived using the Lazarus Pit; a pool of green liquid that is able to bring the dead back to life, but at great costs.
"No," replied Tim. "You know how he is. I'm sure we'll see him soon." Simultaneously, the two of them looked over to the Batsuit in the glass case. The same thought crossed both of their minds. How will Gotham be without Batman? "How long before you think the criminals in this city start to think its open season?"
"Not long." Alfred had walked up beside Damien but once again the boy was silent.
"Master Damien, don't you think you should eat something?" he asked.
"I'm fine," said the boy without taking his eyes away from the screen.
"I'm afraid I must insist-"
"I don't need any damn food!" snapped the boy. Everyone turned to Damien on the computer and Alfred simply stared at him with sorrow in his eyes. Dick walked up beside Alfred with the others behind them.
"Damien maybe you should go rest," he said. Hearing Dick's voice in his ears angered the young son of Batman. He slowly turned the chair around to face the others, his eyes aimed toward Dick.
"Crime never sleeps," he said angrily. "Just because he's gone doesn't mean this city is cleansed of the low life's that terrorize it. All of you have to go back to what you do and so do I. Go back to Blüdhaven, Grayson. That's where you belong." He turned the chair back around and continued typing into the computer until he turned his head to the left. "If you ever tell me what to do again, I'll break that pretty face of yours." Dick was accustomed to this kind of behavior from Damien. The boy never liked him so he always did his best not to provoke the kid, since it seemed he didn't inherit his father's unnatural patience.
Damien was left to himself in the cave while the others made their way back into the mansion. All of them were sitting in the spacious living room with the fireplace already ablaze. Dick stood by the window while Barbara and Tim were sitting on the couch. Alfred had made his way into the room with a silver platter in his hand holding some drinks for the group. Barbara and Tim took one happily but Dick only stared at the platter when Alfred stood beside him.
"Got anything stronger?" he asked with a smirk.
"Would you like me to pour a glass of bourbon, Master Grayson?"
"Nah it's okay Alf; I'm fine." Alfred started to walk back into the kitchen. "Alfred wait," said Dick to which Alfred turned back around. "What're we gonna do about the kid?" The butler calmly placed the platter down on a table while the others turned to them as well.
"I'm perfectly capable of taking care of the boy," he said politely, "however out there is another matter entirely," he gestured to the outside. "I'm afraid I can't actually take the limo and follow young Master Damien all over Gotham while he's jumping across rooftops. I am also afraid that I cannot simply ground the boy to keep him inside. He is his father's son. I'm just relieved Master Bruce taught him the difference between vengeance and justice before he-," he paused and cleared his throat, "passed." Dick pondered on what he could do. He wasn't sure if he could just leave Blüdhaven and if he did would this just upset Damien even more? Before he could answer Tim stood up.
"I can take care of him," he said. All three of them looked to him.
"No," said Dick, "you have to go back to the Teen Titans. You can't stay here in Gotham."
"They're a team not an entire city, Dick. You have Blüdhaven and you can't just leave that place, and neither can Barbara. You two live in and protect your city. I can stay here to watch over Damien." Barbara stood up in front of Tim.
"Are you sure?" she asked. "One of us can stay here with Damien while you stay with the Titans. It's no issue, Tim."
"It's fine. You two go on back home." She hugged him again and Dick shook his hand.
"You call either of us if you ever need anything." He turned back to Alfred. "You too, Alf."
"Much appreciated sir but I believe Master Drake and I can handle it," he smiled. "You two must come back soon. It's always a delight to have you all back here again. Perhaps someday Master Todd may join us as well." Dick raised his brow even thinking of Jason coming back here to catch up.
"We'll be back for dinner sometime soon, Alfred," said Barbara with a smile.
"I'll give you two a lift back home."
"We can take a cab Alf it's no problem."
"Nonsense Master Grayson. You two are family," he said with a grin.
Alfred took Dick and Barb back home while Tim was left in the mansion wondering what to say to Damien. He was as aware of the kid's short fuse even though he was hardly ever on the receiving ends of Damien's burst of anger as much as Dick was. The kid really hated his guts. Tim finally managed to walk back down into the Batcave to find the boy still sitting in front of the computer. He was reading the big cases that Bruce had left open.
"Damien," said Tim. The boy turned around to face him and despite all the training he received from Bruce on how to read people, he still found it difficult to read this young boy. Another thing he inherited from his father was the emotionless façade that clouded his face. It was either that or a look of rage that inhabited his face.
"Did they send you down here to get me back to my room?"
"Actually no. I came here to talk to you."
"What about?" Tim stood across the room from him leaning against the table full of their weapons.
"I'm gonna be staying here with you and Alfred for a while."
"Are you kidding me?" he said, obviously annoyed at the idea already. "Was this Grayson's idea? Is he that stupid to think I need a babysitter?"
"No it wasn't his idea. Look, Batman wasn't alone out there all the time. He had us and then he had you watching his back out there. I know you can handle yourself in a fight but it's hard when you're on your own; trust me I know. I'm staying here and I'm just telling you we'll have an easier time out there if we work together and watch each other's back. Like you said crime doesn't sleep and it's not going to now that Batman is gone so why don't we fight it together. What do you say?" Damien stared at him long and hard. Tim thought it was a good sign that he didn't continue to fight and was actually pondering about what he had just heard.
"You're not calling me your sidekick," he said finally. Tim smirked in disbelief.
"Trust me; I hate that word as much as you do."