Birds of a Feather Series
Learning to Fly
A/N – Got this one out much quicker than I expected! I was just so excited to write this one.
Note: Forgot to add the timeline last chapter. Also forgot to mention that the previous chapter included the BTAS episode Cat Scratch Fever. Give that one a watch for more context if you haven't already seen it :)
Warning: Illusions to suicide/attempted suicide. Its vague and not really attempted suicide. You'll see what I mean when you get to it. Still, please be careful if this topic is triggering for you.
Chapter 7 – A Gilded Cage
Gotham City, New Jersey – January 4th 1993
Bruce's POV
When Bruce woke up, his first thought was why did Alfred leave the window open? The room was freezing cold and even under his heavy covers and heated blanket, he still woke up shivering. Deciding to brave the cold, he poked his head out from under the covers and squinted at the window. Ow, why is my head pounding? Did I get hit with one of Ivy's pollens last night? Maybe Scarecrow's toxins?
The window was shut with the curtains drown shut. Strange. Alfred normally opens them first thing in the morning, despite Bruce's consistent complaints. 'I won't have you sleeping the day away, Master Bruce.'
Rolling onto his other side, Bruce checked the clock on the nightstand. It took him a few moments to truly register the time.
5:44pm
What…?
A full-body shiver struck him as he pushed back the covers, attempting to stand. He yelped in surprise as he fell back against the bed after a wave of dizziness hit him. Yes, he must have got hit with something last night. He'd go down to the cave and run a few tests. Once he knew what it was, he could put together a cure and be ready for the night's patrol.
He rose to his feet, slower this time, and managed to stagger to the door. However, a wave of nausea gave him pause. Breathing deeply through it, well as deeply as he could with an apparent runny nose. When did that happen…?
When the queasiness died down to a background sensation, he eased the door open and meandered out into the hall. The manor was quiet, unusual since the boys should be home. He made it to the stairs, down to the ground floor and still hadn't seen anyone. As he wondered into the loungeroom, expecting to see the twins playing a video game or watching a movie, the only one to greet him was Ace. The German Shepherd, who had been fast asleep in the corner on one of several dog beds scattered around the manor, blinked soft brown eyes open and immediately raced over for a pat.
They had taken the dog to the vet the day after they brought him home. Despite being skinny and having a few bruises and cuts, the dog was given a clean bill of health. Bruce had assumed Ace was an adult but had been surprised to lean the dog was only around seven to nine months old. He hadn't anticipated that they would wind up with a puppy if he had ever agreed to the boys getting a pet, but he couldn't deny that Ace had already grown on him too. That being said, the fact the dog was untrained and not yet house broken had been keeping the boys very busy.
Ace whined plaintively at being ignored so Bruce went to lean down and give the dog a scratch behind the ear. However, another dizzy spell hit him. Clutching the sofa to prevent himself from falling, Bruce wondered again where his family were.
What happened last night?
He knew he and the boys had gone on patrol as usual. They'd been expecting a fairly relaxed night now that the holiday season was over. They'd started off dealing with the usual crimes; a few attempted robberies, one carjacking, two assaults. Had anything happened after that…?
He couldn't remember.
Concern began to build as the deafening quite of the manor remained undisturbed, except for the quiet panting of Ace. "C'mon boy. Let's check the cave."
It was a bit early to be preparing for patrol but maybe the others were running some tests, trying to figure out what happened to Bruce? Strange that they brought me up here instead of leaving me in the medbay.
He slowly made his way to the ground floor office, Ace happily prancing along at his side. Setting the right numbers on the clock, he unsteadily made his way down the dimly lit steps. Ace bounded along ahead.
"Ace? How'd you get in here?"
Relief nearly felled him at hearing Dick's voice. Two other voices immediately joined his, one happily greeting the excitable pup while the other lightly scolded him for nearly knocking over something. Everyone is here. They're okay.
He made the last few steps on shaky legs, the light headedness and nausea returning. The group of three turned to him as soon as he stepped out onto the main platform. "Dad? What are you doing here?" Harry asked, brows furrowed in concern.
"Master Bruce, I must insist you head back upstairs and get some rest." Alfred chided, stepping closer with arms outstretched just in case Bruce really did fall.
"No, no I need to run some tests. I must have run into Ivy or Joker or Scarecrow or…" He argued. He would be fine once he figured out what he'd been hit with and could subsequently whip up a cure.
His family didn't seem to be on the same page, if the two slightly amused-slightly concerned and one mostly exasperated looks the trio exchanged were any indicator. "Bruce, you weren't poisoned. You're just sick." Dick revealed.
"What…?" Bruce frowned. No, that wasn't right, surely? He and the boys had dealt with a few odd crimes and then they ran into….ran into…..
No one. They didn't see any of their usual rogues. The majority were locked up in Arkham right now, only The Joker and Penguin were currently MIA. He remembered feeling somewhat unwell last night but he pushed through anyway until they were heading back to the car and….blank.
Seeing the growing realisation on his face as the memories finally surfaced through the fever fog, Alfred explained. "You have a fever and the flu, Master Bruce. The boys managed to get you back to the Batmobile and the three of us put you straight to bed once you got home. And bed is where you shall be returning. I don't want to see you up and about until that fever has broken."
Bruce tried to argue but it was at that moment the nausea finally won out. As soon as he was able to straighten up again, he groaned in defeat. "Okay, bed it is."
…LtF…
Gotham City, New Jersey – January 5th 1993
Bruce's POV
Bruce woke up to the sounds of plucking guitar strings. Tilting his head to the side, he smiled tiredly as he spotted Harry sprawled out in a chair beside his bed, absentmindedly strumming his guitar as he stared at the ceiling. One the bedside table, a few pill bottles and a tray of still steaming soup and orange juice awaited him. At the foot of the bed, Ace was curled up in a ball, feigning sleep despite the fact Bruce could see two caramel eyes gazing longingly at the food.
"You've been practicing a lot lately. I know you can play better than that." Bruce teased, startling Harry back to the present. Ace's ears twitched but he remained in his spot.
"Dad!" Harry jolted, eyeing Bruce in relief. "You look better. How do you feel?"
"A lot better, just tired." He confessed. It was true, the hot and cold flushes seemed to have passed and his stomach no longer felt like a rolling mess. The soup even looked appetizing. He still felt like his head weighed twice its normal amount though and the thought of trying to stand was far more daunting than it should be. Still…
"Good." Harry replied, turning to the table to carefully retrieve the tray and hand it over. "Alfred says you're still on bedrest till tomorrow at least."
Bruce shook his head as he picked up the spoon. "No, I can get up. I still have some work calls to make."
"Lucius has those covered."
Bruce huffed. "I need to run those fingerprint scans and DNA tests from that murder case the other night."
"Already done, results should be ready by tonight." Harry returned, staring back with a challenging grin.
"The oil in the Batmobile needs to be changed."
"Dick's doing that now."
"What about replenishing the stock of batarangs…."
"I did that earlier."
"Okay, but…"
"Dad!" Harry finally snapped, placing the guitar at his side and fixing Bruce with a stern look that would make Alfred proud. "We have everything covered and yes, before you say it, we aren't going on patrol tonight without you. Dick and I will fix up anything else in the cave that needs sorting out and Alfred, as usual, has everything else under control. You don't need to do anything but finish your food, take your meds and get some more sleep."
Bruce wanted to protest more. He didn't like leaving Gotham unguarded for even one night. However, his limbs still felt like lead and despite feeling better than before, his head still felt like it was stuffed with cotton. A whole night in bed would probably be best but he wasn't one to cope well with staying still. He looked back to his ward and smiled slightly, an idea coming to mind. "Know any songs yet?"
"What? I…yeah, I do." The green-eyed boy stumbled, taken aback by the abrupt change of topic.
Bruce chuckled. "Why don't you play one for me?" He tapped the spot next to him, inviting Harry to lay down next to him. Ace, however, took the motion as an invitation to crawl up to his side for cuddles and beg for food. Bruce rolled his eyes but pulled the happily panting pup in close anyway, keeping the wondering nose away from his soup.
Harry hesitated. "I haven't played for anyone yet. I'm still a little rusty…"
Bruce smiled encouragingly. "You'll be great, far better than I could ever hope to be."
Harry mulled it over for a few more moments before carefully crawling onto the king-size bed and settling back against the mound of pillows. He fiddled with the guitar strings some more while he decided on what to play. A few minutes passed while Bruce ate and then Harry seemed to come up with an idea. Grinning, he started to play, singing along to the song as he went.
Bruce wanted to roll his eyes as soon as he realised what song Harry had chosen. Take Me Home, Country Roads by John Denver. Of course. He knows I hate country music. Still, he said nothing as he nestled back down into the sheets, empty tray now relocated to the nightstand. Harry looked so proud of himself as he made it through the song without any errors, quickly moving onto the next, The Gambler by Kenny Rogers, unprompted. Bruce felt his own proud grin resting on his face as he joined in singing along to the upbeat tune.
Okay, so maybe he didn't hate country music as much as he let on, not that a certain Kansas-raised friend of his would ever find out.
…LtF…
Gotham City, New Jersey – February 17th 1993
Bruce's POV
To say today had been awful wouldn't even come close to truly capturing just how much he wanted it to be over.
He woke up late and had to rush through getting ready for work. Ace had torn up the newspaper so he hadn't even been able to check the news, something he would really come to regret later. Harry had forgotten one of his schoolbooks and only realised just two blocks from the school, so they had to turn back and get it, which meant he was late for work. There he felt everyone watching him all morning with poorly concealed judgemental stares until he finally asked Lucius what was going on. Apparently, Vicki Vale put out an article in the Gazette claiming he had been involved in an affair with the mayor's wife, which he most certainly HAD NOT been. The accompanying photo was taken three days ago at the Vreeland's Valentine's Day Ball. He had shared a dance with Mrs Hill but that was as far as things went. To top it off, the afternoon's board meeting had been a disaster, one he had no desire to revisit.
When he got home things were no better. Alfred, Dick and Harry were trying to be subtle about planning a birthday surprise for Bruce. He had no interest in celebrating his birthday but apparently this year the boys had been insistent. He might have overlooked the issue any other day, gone along with it to make the kids happy, but right now it only added to his thunderous mood. Finally, he got the notification that the Mad Hatter was now loose in Gotham.
Patrol started out okay. They hadn't found anything new about the Mad Hatter yet but tonight seemed to have brought out a lot of the gangs and thugs. He found himself not short on criminals to work out the days frustrations on and was starting to feel a little better. Of course, that was when he hit the breaking point.
He had told Robin and Swift to stay put. Told them he would handle the mugger. Instead, they did exactly what he told them not to do! He could only watch on in horror as the trigger was pulled, bullet flying from the chamber straight towards Swift. He heard the frightened screams of the couple backed up against the wall and in his mind the sound overlapped with two screams decades old. Pearls scattered on the blood-soaked pavement, two bodies far too still, far too small…..
Wait, no. That wasn't right…
"Batman! Move!"
He jolted back to awareness just in time to avoid the next gunshot. Robin flew past him, dealing a quick blow to the mugger's arm, sending the weapon flying. Batman jumped into the fray, grabbing the stunned man, barely more than a teen now that he got a closer look, and threw him into the alley wall. Before he could even say a word, Batman started throwing punches.
All he could see was that gun. The bullets. The bodies. The pearls. Swift…
"Batman, stop!"
It couldn't have happened. Not again. That's why he did this, to make sure it didn't happen again!
Footsteps running past.
Punch.
"Batman!"
Why now? Why was it always around his birthday?
Punch.
"S-Stop, p-please…!"
He was cursed. It was all his fault. First his parents, now Harry…
Punch.
"Batman, you got him! It's over!"
Punch.
"You're going to kill him!"
Batman paused, blinking against the sea of red. He let go of the thug, the man slumping to the floor, unconscious. He vaguely registered that the couple they rescued had disappeared. Robin stepped closer, carefully checking the man's pulse before sighing in relief. Batman didn't wait to see what he did next. He didn't want to turn. Didn't want to see. He had to though. This was his mistake, his failure. He had to face it.
He didn't see a growing puddle of red. Didn't see a body; too small, too fragile. Instead he saw Swift's hand pressed to his side, resting against the alley wall, mouth agape as he watched Robin tending to the man laid out on the floor.
Alive. Swift was okay.
His son was alive.
"B? You back with us?" Swift called, voice strained and cautious.
The elder of the group felt like a marionette with his strings cut. He could finally move, finally think beyond fear, rage, grief, grief, grief…
Racing to his son's side, he gently moved away the hand to see the injury beneath. Swift winced and tried to free his arm. "I'm fine B. The bullet only clipped me. Just a flesh wound, see?" Swift was right, the wound would need to be disinfected and stitched but it wasn't life-threatening.
As the remainder of the residual fear finally drained away, the anger surged forward with a vengeance. "What the HELL were you thinking?"
Swift blinked, caught of guard by his mentor's sudden change of mood. "I…"
"I told you, both of you, to stay put! You disobeyed a simple order and could have gotten yourself killed!" He continued, ignoring Swift's attempt to speak.
"If you can't follow SIMPLE INSTRUCTIONS, how am I supposed to have you out here as my backup? You're going back to the cave to have that treated, then you are both benched until I decide if I can trust you out in the field again!"
"What? That's not fair! We had to step in! You didn't…" Swift protested but Batman wasn't hearing it. Too close, too close…
"No, I said you're benched!"
"But…"
"That means YOU"RE BENCHED! How much clearer do I need to make it? I would have thought you'd be able to follow directions easily enough. Did you disobey your parents this much too or…?"
"Batman, that's enough." The stern British voice in his ears cut through the fog. Alfred. How?
Robin. He must have been talking with Alfred on the comms, probably seeking first-aid advice for the gunman. Batman looked over his shoulder to check and saw Robin still where he had left him, glaring back with a fierce frown. Turning back to Swift, he found the pre-teen staring of down the alley, breathing much harder than he had been a few seconds ago.
"Robin, paramedics are on route, ETA 3 minutes. Get Swift to the Batmobile and come back to the cave. I'll get that wound fixed up in no time. Batman, I suggest you take a walk to cool down. We'll see you when you're ready to have a civil conversation." Alfred ordered. No one protested. Robin helped his brother to the car, neither sparing their guardian so much as a glance.
Batman watched numbly as the sleek, black car took off down the street, trying to process the past 10 minutes. I didn't just say that, did I?
Had he really just thrown the boys' dead parents back in their faces'? Had he really yelled at them over what just happened? Yes, they hadn't followed his instructions, but they usually were pretty good at following orders unless they felt there was a good reason not to. Instead of letting them explain, he lost it. I'm better than this. I usually have much better control of my emotions than that.
Yes, it had been a terrible day, but he knew that wasn't the real reason that disaster just took place.
His birthday was two days away, the anniversary of his parents' deaths only five days off.
Seeing Swift, Harry, his son, be shot at in an alley like that had just been one push too many towards the edge.
Batman sighed, leaning against the wall. Maybe Alfred was right. A walk might help clear his head and help him figure out what he was going to do to fix this. Maybe he could go along with whatever birthday plans the boys had made? That's if they would even want to celebrate your birthday now. Maybe he would buy them that game they had been asking for instead? It wasn't exactly age appropriate but then again, they faced real violence on the street every night. A video game was nothing to the real thing. Maybe…
No, that wasn't good enough. He'd screwed up! Majorly screwed up! How do you apologise for saying something so cruel? He tried to draw on his own memories of his parents growing up for advice as he walked away from the alley but quickly drew a blank.
My parents would never have gone that far. They were good parents, far better at this than I am. What I would give to be able to talk to them now…
Something heavy slammed into his back, sending him to the ground. Seconds later, a needle jabbed into his neck. "I thought I heard you over here Batman! You made this much easier than I was expecting! I thought I'd have to lure you into a trap to get you right where I wanted you."
Mad Hatter.
He tried to fight past the effects of the sedative, but he just didn't have the energy for it today. Darkness descended on him quickly…
"Nighty night Batman! Pleasant dreams…."
…LtF…
Gotham City, New Jersey – February 18th 1993
Bruce's POV
Bruce woke up gasping for breath. Gunfire. Blood. Someone was hurt. A needle. Darkness….
'Nighty night…'
"Good morning, Master Bruce. Rise and shine sir." Alfred greeted, wandering into his room with a tray of coffee and breakfast.
"I'm lucky to be awake at all." Bruce mused, hand pressed to his head as he thought back to last night. "I fell into that trap like an amateur."
"Trap sir?" Alfred asked, setting the tray down as Bruce rose, stretching. Huh, I would have expected to feel some pain after last night…
"How'd I get back here? Robin?" He asked, putting on his robe over his light blue pyjamas. Robin….yes, he must have brought me back because Sw….because someone else was hurt….weren't they? Who….?
Swift! That's right! He was hurt, shot. How did I forget?
"Robin sir? A young lady? I thought you and Miss Selina were….." Alfred paused, shifting uneasily. "Pardon me sir, none of my business."
Bruce frowned. Selina? Alfred thought we were….what? That wasn't important now! Harry's hurt and Dick…what did he mean he doesn't recognise Robin's name?
"If this is a joke Alfred, it's not funny." Bruce stressed, feeling uneasy. "Where's Swift? Is he alright?"
Alfred didn't fess up to the joke or apologise like Bruce was expecting. If anything, the elderly man just seemed even more baffled. "A joke sir? I assure you sir if this is a joke, then it is surely on me. I've merely prepared breakfast. As for this…'Swift'... I'm afraid I don't know who you are referring to? Is that a nickname for one of your golf friends? I haven't heard any word of anyone being hurt."
Alfred tapped the pot of coffee pointedly while Bruce stared at his oldest companion in deep concern. What's going on with Alfred? Is he feeling okay? Going senile? Did something else happen last night? "Perhaps a cup of coffee will help clear the cobwebs sir?" I can only hope….
After getting dressed in a light blue button up and tan slacks, Bruce set off down the halls towards the boys' rooms. Dick wasn't hurt last night, I'm fairly certain, but Harry….Alfred's acting very strange. Had he patched Harry up last night? If he hadn't that wound could already be severely infected…
He reached Harry's door, pausing as the rest of the night slowly came back to him. Right, what I said to the boys last night….They're probably still mad but this can't wait…
He pushed the door open. "Harry? Are you okay? Did Alfred sti…" He broke off mid-sentence, staring in bewilderment at the room. Instead of Harry's usually dark and cluttered blue and green bedroom, the space before him was light and airy, all the furniture and drapes in shades of pink, white and yellow. There was no bed, nightstands, or bookshelves. Instead the room was filled with sewing equipment, stacks of various coloured yarn and a table with half-finished projects. What the hell?
Had he taken a wrong turn? No, that didn't make sense either. There was no room like this in the manor. Closing the door, he tried Dick's room but that was no better. The room was bare except for a simple bed and empty nightstand. A guest room, not even a frequently used one.
Something was wrong, seriously wrong. He took off for the ground floor office. I need to reach the cave. Whatever was in that needle is making me hallucinate. That must be it.
He walked in, spotting Alfred dusting the display cases off to the side. Still unnerved by their earlier conversation, Bruce ignored him and went straight for the clock. The now ticking clock…
It didn't budge. "What…?"
"A problem, sir?" Alfred asked.
Bruce honestly considered not answering. He was almost afraid of what he'd hear. "It's not here."
"What's not here sir?" Alfred frowned, perplexed, as he stopped dusting to face Bruce fully.
"You know what I'm talking about! The entrance to the Batcave! Why's it sealed up?" Bruce snapped, almost hysterical. The boys are missing, Alfred has definitely lost it, the manors been rearranged and now I can't reach the cave? What on Earth happened last night?
"Batcave? I'm sorry…I don't…" Alfred stammered, looking like he thought it was Bruce who had lost his mind. Bruce huffed. Then it hit him. This is payback, isn't it? Alfred and the boys had put this together as some kind of prank as punishment for my attitude last night. It was an impressive effort; he'd give them that. Even more so that Alfred had gone along with it. He must have been pretty angry if he was willing to rearrange entire rooms just to mess with me. It worked though. They really had me going for a second there.
"That's right Alfred. The Batcave." He played along, emphasising every word. I've figured it out guys. You can drop it now. "It's a big hole in the ground, with a car in it that's all black. Remember?"
"Son? You sound upset. Is something the matter?"
That voice! That voice he would recognise anywhere, even if it had been over two decades since he'd heard it. A voice he knew by all logical reason he would never hear in person again….
He felt his heart race a mile a minute as he turned, and there they were. His parents, grey haired and more wrinkled than he had ever seen them before and yet, there was no doubt in his mind it was them. "No! No, it isn't possible!" he mumbled, backing away. Whatever drug I was given, its far more potent than I have ever felt before. That's the only explanation. This is some horrid, cruel, drug-induced delusion…
And yet, the figures didn't warp into some twisted monsters, or vanish, or fall dead to the floor before with bullets in their heads. They stood there, concerned faces watching him cautiously. "It can't be you!" He mumbled, distressed. I need to get away. Find Alfred, the real Alfred and the boys. Find Leslie. Anywhere else. "It can't be."
Shoving past his not-father and not-mother, he sprinted down the hall.
Away from the ghosts.
Away from this nightmare.
…LtF…
The rush of running water and shock of cold to the face helped calm him down, marginally. He continued to splash water on his face as he tried to come up with a game plan here. If this was a hallucination, possibly caused by some kind of drug, then he should come out of it eventually. Either that or his family or the Justice League would find him and rescue him. It didn't seem like he was coming out of it on his own just yet.
If this wasn't some kind of delusion though….had he wound up in some alternate reality perhaps? It seemed far-fetched, even by his paranoid standards. And yet, it made sense. He didn't feel asleep. This was unlike any dream, hallucination or delusion he had experienced before. Everything felt so unnervingly real. If it was, then he needed to know more about where he was. Or if these were perhaps shapeshifters of some kind, he needed to know what their plan was.
For now, he would play along while he searched for any signs of his family. His real family.
Even if that was going to be extremely difficult.
He grabbed a tea towel hanging by the sink and dried his face, nearly jumping as a hand landed on his shoulder. "You ok, son?"
He turned slowly, seeing his not-father standing before him. The older man still looked very concerned, holding up a penlight and beginning to check Bruce's eyes. He stammered for a response. What excuse would I give? "I'm…I'm alright. Just partied a little too hard last night, that's all."
"You'll be able to get to the office today, won't you? There's that stockholder's meeting, you know?" Seemingly satisfied, the former doctor put away the light.
"Sure." Bruce tried not to grimace. That was the last thing he needed right now. His would-be father's frown deepened, and Bruce quickly tried to reassure him nothing was wrong. "I'm fine, really."
"Well, good. Glad you'll be there." The doppelganger eventually replied after a few more moments of scrutiny. "Your mother and I have an appointment too this morning." He added, mimicking a golf swing with a big grin. "On the golf course." He chuckled as he walked away, leaving Bruce feeling more lost than ever.
…LtF…
"This should be just the thing for your meeting, Master Bruce." Alfred; no, not Alfred, said. He draped the brown suit jacket over the back of the chair and made his way across the room in search of something else.
Bruce was still reeling from the conversation in the kitchen. It had been so….normal. A conversation he could so easily have seen himself having with his father. Hell, it wasn't that different from the conversations he shared with his Alfred. No sinister hidden meanings, no unrealistic conversation topics…..
Alfred was nearly at the door and Bruce suddenly realised he needed to reach out to someone. He felt like he was going crazy here, unsure what to think. There was one thing he knew though. Alfred was someone he trusted. He always had been. If anyone can help me, hallucination, alternate reality or not, it was Alfred.
He caught up to the butler, gently grasping his arm. "Alfred, will you do me a favour? It's an odd favour. Would you tell me…about my life?"
As he predicted, the poor guy looked like he was just a few wrong words away from having Bruce admitted to the psych ward. "Just humour me, please." Bruce pleaded. He wasn't sure what he was going to hear but he needed to know what his life, this life, looked like.
Alfred sighed but conceded. "Very well, Master Bruce. Since your father retired, you've been head of Wayne Enterprises. Though, Lucius Fox really runs the business." Alfred suddenly looked stricken, quickly amending, "Not that you aren't capable, of course."
Bruce frowned, feeling uneasy. That was the kind of playful jab he was used to from Alfred. The kind of gentle mocking he had received from his father figure every day for years now. Seeing Alfred react like he had just slapped the President made his chest feel tight. "That's alright Alfred. Go on, please."
Alfred relaxed slightly, reaching into another cupboard to pull out some more clothing. "And, um, unless plans have changed since last night, you're to marry Miss Selina Kyle. You proposed to her last week."
It was Bruce's turn to feel slightly stricken. Marry? Selina? When….how…? He could admit that at one point he had harboured feelings for Selina. However, that had ended as quick as it started. Selina loved Batman but had never seen Bruce Wayne as more than a friend. It had been a painful truth to realise but a needed one nonetheless. He couldn't be with someone who only loved one side of him. And that was excluding the other issue. They both stood on opposite sides of the law. As long as she chose to remain a thief, there was no chance they could be together.
To hear it was Selina Kyle of all people he was set to marry was…..Well, unexpected to say the least. It just felt wrong. Like it should be someone else. Who…?
No, he was not going there. All this had just confirmed what he already knew. Everything was different than he remembered. "No, it's wrong. It's all wrong."
Alfred frowned, quickly offering a placating pat on the shoulder. "Well, sir, it's a leisurely existence, I admit. But there are worse lives."
…LtF…
Bruce sat at his desk at WE, tapping his pen absentmindedly as he took in all the similarities, and differences, he remembers. Same décor, same street view, same desk. However, instead of the photos he usually kept, there were different ones. Instead of the one of him and his parents having a picnic in the park when he was six; the one of he, Ace and the twins Alfred took at Christmas; the one of himself, Alfred and the boys just a few months after he brought them home; he saw a photo of himself and his parents after he graduated high school; one of him and Selina on a beach vacation; and one of himself and Oliver at a baseball game.
I don't remember any of that and yet, here's the proof….
The door clicked open. Expecting the secretary, still Jody, he was surprised to instead see his apparent fiancé. "Selina?"
The blonde-haired woman was dressed in a stylish pink dress, hair done up and styled to carry a sophisticated yet bold look, makeup on point to be complimentary without being too wild. It was Selina and yet, it wasn't. "Your mother called darling. Said you could use some cheering up. Who better for the job than the woman you're marrying next week." She reached out to cup his cheek with an admiring smile, a smile most men would probably do anything for, and yet…
He looked away with a scowl, unable to meet Selina's soft, green gaze. Wrong, wrong, wrong! Selina was sharp, calculating eyes; a wicked, seductive smile; deception and sincerity rolled into one. She wasn't gentle smiles, loving eyes and sweet words. "Bruce? You really are upset. What's wrong?" Stop, just stop!
He honestly couldn't pinpoint why he said what he did next. Maybe it was simply a case of 'this isn't real so who cares what you say to who?' maybe it was because, as different as this Selina was, she was someone he knew to a degree. Not as Bruce Wayne but as Batman. A part of his identity that felt like it was trapped in limbo. A part of him that felt so real and yet so far detached in that moment. She wasn't who he really wanted to talk to. That nameless, shapeless being in the back of his mind was someone he couldn't bring himself to acknowledge, not now. No, she wasn't the right one, but she was here. "I feel as if…I'm someone else. It's crazy but I know I'm…"
"Batman!"
Bruce felt like he'd just been punched in the gut. Selina knew! He wasn't going crazy! He….
He turned and followed his fiancé's surprised gaze out the window and felt his heart plummet, like the plunge of a rollercoaster after cresting the hill. It was Batman, swinging past on a grapple line.
No, it's not possible. How….?
He didn't register fleeing the office, didn't acknowledge the people he barged past to get to the elevator, didn't answer Selina as she ran after him calling his name in a panic. He was stunned as he made it outside the building, watching Batman take down some jewellery thieves. He hardly registered Selina's presence as she finally caught up to him. The only thought running through his mind was who? Who was it under the cowl? Who had taken his identity? His life mission?
Where were Robin and Swift?
He waited for the Boy Wonders to show. To get the first glimpse of his wards in this strange new world. The first sign of proof that they were okay. However, they didn't show, and Bruce felt that fear from this morning returning. Where were they?
Batman took down the first two robbers and had now cornered the final one. Bruce waited to hear him speak. Who's voice would he hear?
"Isn't he fantastic?" Selina asked and for the first time since she arrived in the office, he recognised the Selina he knew. That admiring tone she took when talking about Batman was all too familiar. It was strangely reassuring to hear. Besides, he could admit she had a point. "Actually…yeah?"
"Who-Who is he?" he asked as the caped crusader grappled away. He doubted Selina could answer that question for him, not in the way he wanted, but he had to try.
"They call him Batman." She replied, still watching the scene in awe.
"No, I mean who is he?" He tried again.
"No one knows. He just appeared in Gotham a few weeks ago." Bruce sighed, looking back towards the police cars as they arrested the crooks. He knew she would say something like that and yet he still felt disappointed. At least he did learn something new though. This Batman had only been around for a few weeks. He wasn't sure if it would matter much in the long run, but any bits of knowledge could be useful.
"Bruce, you ok?" Selina's voice cut through his thoughts. He looked to her, and a thought suddenly struck him. It was a long shot but…
"Selina, does the name Catwoman ring a bell?" He doubted she would tell him if it did. Luckily for him, he doubted his version of Selina was good at hiding her reactions.
"Catwoman? Bruce, you're beginning to worry me. What's this all about?" She was telling the truth. The longer he stood there, the more disconnected he felt from everything. Up until now he had thought that it was obvious this couldn't be real. His parents, Alfred, the manor. He could write those off as extremely vivid hallucinations, a dream, something. But all this? Selina, WE, Batman? And he still hadn't woken up.
Maybe that was because there was nothing to wake up to….
"I'm losing my mind, that's what." He gently pushed her arm off him, walking away so he could be left to his spiralling thoughts. Batman is real…
He's just not me.
What is real anymore?
…LtF…
"I couldn't go to a psychiatrist. You're the only doctor I trust, Leslie. It's like I'm living someone else's life."
Bruce sat in front of his long-time family friend's desk, head in his hands as he spoke. "I don't know anything about me anymore." He confessed, looking up with a pleading gaze. "Help me, Leslie. Please."
The grey-haired lady spoke with a sigh. "Even though I'm not a psychiatrist, Bruce, your problem seems clear. You've led the sort of life where everything has been handed to you, even Wayne Enterprises."
Bruce rubbed his chin musingly. That was true, wasn't it?
Leslie stood and walked to the window when he remained silent. "You don't feel you've accomplished anything. It's all been laid out for you; so your subconscious created a life more satisfying for you. You're identified with someone who's every deed has great value."
Bruce listened on thoughtfully. Could that really be it? Could all those years worth of memories really just be some sort of wish fulfilment fantasy? But why would I long for a life without my parents? Why would I imagine a world filled with pain, loneliness and regrets? A life where he was…"Batman."
Leslie stood in front him, sympathetic smile on full display. "It's called disassociation, Bruce. Once you find pride in your own existence, these delusions will vanish."
It made sense, didn't it? Everyone he met thought he was crazy today, even if they didn't say it. And really, what was more believable? A world where he was a crime-fighting vigilante, dressing up as a bat each night? A world where he was a member of a group consisting of aliens and Atlanteans and metahumans? Or was it a world where he was a CEO, soon to be husband, going through an early mid-life crisis?
Leslie's words made so much sense and yet…
Maniacal laughter. "Come on Batsy! Keep this up and people will think you're as insane as I am!"
"He killed our parents. We're going to make him pay."
"You know Batman, we make a pretty good team. I bet there are other heroes out there we could…"
Crouched on a gargoyle atop the Gotham Cathedral. At his side, hiding under the cape to escape the rain, he could just make out to heads of black hair….
"You don't understand Alfred! I have to do this. Not just for them, but to make sure no other kid winds up like me…"
"Mother, father; I know I made a promise to you, and I intend to keep it. I'm not going to let Gotham burn but maybe, maybe I can be happy at the same time? I'm all they have now and, besides Alfred, they're all I have too. I promise you; I'm going to do this right. I'll try to be happy, for you."
It all felt so real…"Then all these years of training and discipline…what happened to my parents…" The boys….
Laughter filled the room as Harry grinned up at him with an easy smile. "Thanks Dad."
"What about….about the kids?" He croaked, heart racing as he waited for what felt like the guillotine to drop. Could that have been fake too? No, it couldn't be…
"A delusion." Leslie reiterated, tone softening more than he thought possible. "Bruce, does Selina want children?"
That gave Bruce pause. In all honesty, he had no idea if being a mother is something she would want. He couldn't picture the cunning, crafty cat burglar ever having children other than her cats. She just didn't strike him as someone who would want to take time off to carry and raise children. As for this Selina, the real Selina, would she want that? Somehow that image still didn't fit. Or maybe it's just that you don't want that with her?
"Do you want kids?" Leslie continued, seemingly having seen the answer to the last questions on his face. As for this one…did he want kids? He felt like years ago the answer would have been a resounding no. But now?
Before Dick could reply with another snarky comment, Bruce lunged forward, snatching both children in headlocks before they could make a dash for the door. "Who exactly were you calling old again?"
Harry struggled in the hold for a few seconds before managing to break free, swinging round to tackle Bruce. "Run Dick! Save yourself!"
The blue-eyed twin needed no further prompting, making a break for the salvation of the hallway while Harry made to roll off the bed into a crouch and run after his brother. Bruce was quicker though and managed to pin the 12-year-old down with a wicked grin. "Take it back." He ordered in faux-seriousness.
Harry glared back defiantly. "Never Old Man!"
"Then I'll just have to make you."
Harry quickly shot forward, slipping out of the loose grip Bruce had on his wrists and leapt over him, flying out into the hallway as Bruce swiftly followed, laughing at the commotion. As he went in search of the two troublemakers, he couldn't help but think it really was a perfect morning.
Yes, yes he did.
Leslie patted his knee after she pulled up a stool in front of him to take a seat. "You want to be a father and yet you feel Selina doesn't share your dream. These boys you've made up, you rescued them from a rough situation. It was an act that gave you purpose, a solution for your desire to have a more meaningful and impactful life. The boys were adopted as well; perhaps a subconscious way for you to avoid that difference in relationship goals you have with Selina. I would suggest you talk with her about this. If you want kids and she doesn't, it could complicate things down the line."
Bruce slumped back in the chair, looking out at the Gotham skyline. As he watched, he spotted a silhouette leaping from rooftop to rooftop in the distance. Batman….
As painful as what Leslie told him was, too much of it lined up. Surely if this was some drug-induced delusion or a vivid dream he would have awoken long before now. Surely shapeshifters wouldn't make sense either. There were too many people who would have had to be replaced, too many changes that would have had to be made to makes things look real.
Besides, why wouldn't they copy Harry and Dick as well? Wouldn't the goal be to not make him suspicious that something was wrong?
Yes, the truth hurt but it was also freeing in a way. He could finally let go.
"Then, the nightmare's over."
…LtF…
Bruce found his father retrieving a book from his nightstand. For the first time since he woke up this morning, he took the moment to just look. To take in every grey hair, every wrinkle, every laugh line. He knew now this was probably nothing new, nothing special. He'd seen his father most likely nearly every day since he was a child. Still, this felt special. He walked up to him, pulling the surprised man into a hug as he gave a heartfelt "Dad!" His father chuckled in warmly as he returned the embrace.
"Dad, will you and Mum join me and Selina at the opera tonight?" Bruce still couldn't shake his misgivings about Selina. He knew it wasn't fair to hold against her something that had only happened in his delusion though. He still didn't really have the feelings for her he should but then again, surely if he had proposed to her, they must have had something special? He didn't remember it now, but he was sure his memories would come back in time. For now, he'd give things a chance. Well, just as long as she was okay with putting off the wedding for now….
"You certainly seem like your old self again Bruce." His father smiled, hands resting on Bruce's shoulders. He tried, really tried, to remember what Leslie told him as he took in his dad's caring eyes. He still felt that wave of ill-ease wash over him though. My old self…
"I've never felt better in my life, sir." Bruce replied awkwardly with a thumbs up. It's fine, I just need to give it time. I'll figure out a way to make my life feel more my own, more accomplished, and everything will go back to normal…
"I'll check with your mother." Thomas said, heading for the door with a wave.
Bruce ventured out into the hall after him, turning the opposite way and heading for his office. He found Alfred inside, dusting the grandfather clock. Bruce chuckled, remembering their earlier conversation about the clock. He walked up to the balding man, placing a hearty hand on his shoulder. "Have you found that entrance to the Batcave yet Alfred?"
"Uh, I'm afraid not, sir." Alfred replied, looking uncertain.
"Good, cause if you had we'd both be nuts." Bruce replied in a secretive whisper before following it up with a wink. He definitely did not feel a twinge of disappointment at Alfred's answer…
"It's nice to see you in good humour again, Master Bruce" Alfred replied primly, hiding his relief behind professional politeness. Bruce resolutely ignored the sting at that. What did you expect, Alfred to fire back with a snarky joke? A good-natured insult? He's the family butler, not your….
No, not going there. That wasn't real.
"Why shouldn't I be?" He replied jovially instead. "My life is a dream, Alfred. The best dream anyone ever had."
"I'll just prepare your suit for the opera tonight." Alfred informed him with a genial nod.
"You do that Alfred." He replied.
Spotting a newspaper on the desk, he picked it up with a flourish. He couldn't remember when the last time he sat down to read the newspaper was…
Ace normally gets to them first…
Flicking open the paper perhaps a tad rougher then necessary, he went to read the headline and…
Huh?
The headline was illegible. As he turned the page, every word was in fact a jumbled, indistinguishable mess. The only things that made sense were the pictures. The front page had shown a photo of Batman, no surprise there. However, page two showed a circus tent and a group of trapeze artists. A very familiar group of trapeze artists…
Alfred who had been walking behind him on his way out, paused to see what had caught his attention. Tutting sadly at the page he was looking at, Bruce almost expected him to say something about what a bizarre misprint this was. Instead his words felt like a bucket of ice water being dropped on his head. "Ah, yes. Horrible business that was. I'm quite surprised that circus decided to come back the last two years."
"Wh-what do you mean?" What do you mean you can read this gibberish? What do you mean 'horrible business'? What happened to…
Alfred stared back at him in surprise, like he honestly couldn't comprehend how Bruce had to ask. "The murder of that circus family. It was all over the news three years ago. The parents were killed when some thug sabotaged the equipment right before a show. They fell to their deaths from the trapeze. Worst yet, their sons' saw the whole thing. Not to mention all the families in the crowd…" Alfred shook his head in sorrow.
Bruce's heart was racing in his chest. Harry and Dick weren't just people he made up. They were real, they had to be. But then…."What happened to the boys?"
Alfred, if possible, looked even more crestfallen. "Killed just a week later. They were apparently the only one's who saw who tampered with the equipment. GCPD put them in witness protection but…" Alfred sighed, placing the paper back down. "Some believe the gang behind the attack had an in with the police. Nothing was ever confirmed but…"
Bruce couldn't do anything but stare at Alfred in horror. No, no that wasn't what happened! He took the boys in, kept them safe, trained them to know how to defend themselves. Zucco was still on the loose, but they would find him….
Alfred seemed to have noticed his growing distress. He scooped up the paper, placing a comforting hand on Bruce's shoulder. "Yes, as I said it was horrible business. The circus holds a memorial performance each year in Gotham in the Graysons' honour. I always felt it was perhaps in poor taste but then again, what would I know of it? I never met the family myself."
Bruce was barely listening. How did this happen….? There was no way, simply no way, he would have allowed this…
Harry and Dick finally looked up from the video game after Harry paused it. The green-eyed twin picked up the days copy of the Gotham Gazette with a grin. "Sorry B, our horoscope says it's not our lucky day. Wouldn't want to jeopardise the stakeout, you know."
There in the bed, soundly sleeping, were both of the twins. This in and of itself wasn't too surprising. What was a shock was the German Shepherd, freshly bathed and brushed, curled up at their feet.
The audience cheered as the last remaining Flying Graysons' finished their performance; their reluctant assistant slinking away in the background, and Bruce clapped along; feeling lighter than he had in years.
He couldn't have been more proud of his sons.
Bruce sprang to his feet, ignoring Alfred's baffled question. He ran to the bookshelf. The paper…the words….The words were illegible! He had to check the books…
"You're kidding right? Spooky has sidekicks? Mr dark and brooding actually chose to mentor kids?"
He pulled a book at random. Flipping to any page, he tried to read it. Nothing…..He tossed it, shaking.
"Aww, come on Bruce! We thought you liked bats?" Dick teased, waving the camera around with a knowing grin.
"Master Bruce?" Alfred called, more than a little concerned now. Bruce ignored him. Not real. He tried another book. Nothing again.
Another.
Illegible.
Another.
Blank.
"Yes!" Dick replied, putting down his bottle of orange juice. "This is amazing! I've never seen a meerkat in person before. And did you see the two monkeys chasing each other through the ropes course?"
Harry laughed, having finished off his ham and cheese sandwich. "Yeah, it was hilarious. I just couldn't get over how many kinds of birds there are! Birds are so cool! I mean, imagine being able to fly wherever you want, whenever you want? I wish I could fly."
Bruce shoved the entire row of books to the floor with a shout. Collapsing to his knees and cradling his head, he shook. What was going on? This couldn't be real. But what if it wasn't? His parents, they were dead. His boys, they were dead. One way or another, he lost. But which was real? "Ahhh! Nothing makes sense!"
The door to the office banged open. There his parents, not his parents, stood watching him in fear. "Bruce?" His mother called, worried. They raced to his side, his father reaching out for him. "No!" Yes! "You're a lie!" Please don't go! "It's all a lie!"
He scrambled up and bolted from the room. Need to get away! Need to find…
He found a room playing the news on the TV. It was a broadcast about… "Batman!" He snarled, snatching up one of the ornamental statues off a nearby pedestal. "Always Batman!" He threw the statue through the TV, shattering the screen.
His parents ran in behind him. "Stop it son! Calm down!" His, not, father shouted. The Thomas lookalike grabbed him by the shoulders and Bruce struggled to get free. No! Let me go! I need to find them! Need to find Batman! "He's behind all this! I know it! And I'm going to find out why!"
He broke free from the older man's grip, running past a distraught Martha. "You're not well son!" Thomas shouted, trying to run after him. Bruce was faster though. He ignored his mother's pleading cry as he ran for the front door. "Bruce!"
…LtF…
It was well past dark when he left but Gotham was a city that catered to the night. It wasn't hard to find a store where he could buy flares, rope and a climbing hook. Running into the police wasn't part of his impromptu plan but whether or not he was the real Batman, he still carried years worth of memories on martial arts and parkour. He gave the officers the slip, ignoring any guilt he felt at learning his parents had contacted the police out of fear for his safety. If this reality is real, I'll make it up to them later. But not until I know the truth…
He made it to the bell tower overlooking the Gotham Cemetery. "Here I am! I've been waiting for you! You did this to me!" He bellowed to the wind. Come one, show yourself!
There!
Through the storm clouds and lightning, he saw him. Batman landed before him with a soft thump, eyes narrowed. Finally, this can all be over with…
He lunged, attempting to tackle the imposter and rip off the cowl. The masked man deflected the attack, sending him flying. Bruce landed with practiced ease, swinging around and throwing a punch. Batman grunted in pain and then it was on. The pair traded blows in the cramped space, evenly matched. Bruce cursed under his breath. All he needed to do was get the cowl off….
"You're not well, Mr Wayne." Batman mocked. Bruce froze. That voice! That was my voice…"You need professional help."
"Liar!" Bruce shouted. "You know what's going on! This is a dream and you're the one responsible!"
"A dream? Why do you think that?" Batman demanded, annoyed.
"I suspected it from the start. I knew I was right when I tried to read the newspaper." Bruce explained. "The print didn't make sense."
"Yes?" Batman prompted, moving closer.
"That's because reading is a function of the right side of the brain while dreams come from the left side. It's impossible to read something in a dream." Bruce concluded as all the clues finally fell into place.
"Granting that's true. How is that my fault?" Batman growled, advancing on him with a glare.
That one gave him slight pause. Truth is, he didn't know exactly how he knew. He just did. Batman was him, or at least he was supposed to be. It made sense that his doppelganger had to be the one who did this.
"I can't explain it but you're the key to this. I knew you'd be here." Bruce eventually replied. "This tower is part of my nightly patrol." Yes, my patrol…
"Man, this place is so creepy at night…."
He grabbed the fake Batman in an iron grip. "Now tell me, what's going on?"
Down below, the police had arrived. He could hear them calling out to him, begging him to surrender, but he paid them no mind. Batman escaped his grip, and the fight was back on. They traded blows, nearly falling down the bell tower at one point. Then Batman had him against the ledge, trying to push him over. Bruce managed to flip them and, seeing his chance, he ripped off the cowl; revealing longish blonde hair and a Cheshire Cat grin. "The Mad Hatter?"
"Congratulations are in order, I suppose." The villain replied bitterly. "And you're right, this is a dream. A very special dream." The Batman costume was gone, and The Mad Hatter was back in his usual garb. Bruce just stared at him as the full reality of that reveal sunk in.
"Then you know everything about me?" This was bad, very bad. If his identity was compromised it put everyone in danger; Alfred, the boys, Lucius, Leslie, Jim…
The Hatter just grinned, replying in a singsong voice. "I do! But I'm only part of your dream." He turned to Bruce as he continued to explain. "The mind-control apparatus reveals nothing to the real world. Its purpose is to create an ideal world for you." He finished, booping Bruce on the nose.
He grunted, knocking the gloved hand away. "Then you're not the real Mad Hatter."
"No, just a figment of your imagination. But that doesn't mean I'm not real in this dream world." The fake Hatter declared smugly.
Bruce scowled, done with this game. This was all just a stupid dream. The last two days of feeling lost, confused, crazy had all been for nothing! He grabbed the blonde man by the lapels of his dark blue coat. "Make it stop! Bring me back!" He shoved the criminal to the ground with a glare.
Tetch looked back at him with a mocking pout. "I'm crushed! You don't like the fantasy world I created for you?"
"It's not real!" Bruce shouted, furious.
"Ah, are you the dreamer? Or merely part of someone's dream?" Hatter countered, back on his feet and wiggling his finger at Bruce like he was scolding an unruly child. He cackled, "That's just the question Tweedledee put to Alice in Through the Looking…"
"This isn't some silly storybook!" Bruce shouted, fists clenched. Wake up Bruce! Come on, wake up!
"Ah, but it is! It's a beautiful story! You have love, wealth, a family, all you ever wanted. Your own private wonderland!" Tetch declared, arms spread wide like he were presenting a grand gift. And to him it is…
"No! I won't live a lie! No matter how attractive you make it!" Bruce shouted, nearly ready to rip out his hair in frustration. I need to get back. Harry, Dick, Alfred. They need me!
"It's a moot point, my friend. There's no way out of this." The costumed man retorted with a mocking head tilt.
"Tell me how to wake up or I'll…" Bruce snarled, advancing on the top hatted man with fists ready to start flying.
The Mad Hatter only chuckled. "You can't hurt a dream, my good fellow, and you can't wake up." He finished more sternly. "Stop fighting it."
They both paused, looking to the stairs as the sound of approaching officers drew nearer.
"You see?" The former scientists prompted. "In a moment the police will be here. Do you want to spend the rest of your dreamlife in Arkham?"
He could hear the officers banging on the hatch. It wouldn't take them long to break through the old, rotting wood. Feeling helpless, Bruce wondered to the edge. Looking down at the ground so far below an idea struck him. It was crazy, but maybe just crazy enough to work.
For years he would have given almost anything to have his parents back. There were few things he wouldn't have done to go back to that night and save them from that alley. As he grew older though, the reality of making such a choice became far clearer to him. The 'Flashpoint' incident just solidified the fact that messing with time would only end badly. The idea; already an abstract, distant thought as it were, fled his mind completely.
Now he was faced with that seemingly impossible dream; no vigilantism and endless injuries, a normal career he could fully focus his efforts on, marriage to someone who loved him, a chance at a normal life with his family….
Except its not all your family, is it?
It was almost the perfect dream. But as the saying went; a gilded cage is still just a cage.
He wouldn't live in a fantasy.
"You're wrong. There is a way out." He marched back from the edge, preparing for the only play he had left.
For the first time, Mad Hatter looked nervous. "N-N-Now, wait just a minute! You don't want to do anything foolish!"
He stopped, facing the edge for a running start. His pulse hastened in his chest.
"This isn't an ordinary dream." Tetch warned, standing at his side. "What if you're wrong?"
What if he was? What if there were people coming to rescue him, people that could get him out of the machine safely if he just waited? What if his plan really did backfire? I can't orphan the boys, not again….
And yet, this was all in his mind, wasn't it? What if this was just his own paranoia trying to trick him? Or what if the machine was programmed to try and keep him in here? What if this was the only out and he was too afraid to take the risk and try? He couldn't abandon his family out of fear either.
Decision made, he turned to the fake Mad Hatter with a glare. "Then I'll see you in your nightmares."
He ran for the edge, ignoring the cries from the police behind him. He jumped, plummeting towards the Earth below and…
…LtF…
Gotham City, New Jersey – February 18th 1993
Bruce's POV
Bruce startled awake and it was only thanks to years of training that he managed to remain mostly still. He kept his eyes closed, not wanting to alert anyone that he was awake until he had a better idea of the situation.
"…can't take the risk!"
"Well, we can't just leave him here either!"
"Maybe we try interrogating The Mad Hatter again?"
"All he did was rhyme something about 'perfect dreams' and 'personal wonderlands' last time. What makes you think he'll want to talk now?"
Robin and Swift.
Bruce slumped back against the medical table in overwhelming relief. They were alive. They were okay.
He was home.
The Dark Knight sat up, taking the helmet off his head and placing it aside. He looked to his right and saw the young heroes arguing by the control panel. Behind them, tied up and seated against the wall was The Mad Hatter and his men. "Batman! You're awake!" Robin shouted and soon as he saw him. Swift beamed as he all but collapsed against the controls.
"No! Its impossible! No one's will is strong enough to escape my dream machine!" The scientist screamed in something almost akin to despair. Batman ignored him as he stormed over, almost shaking in rage. He wanted to go to his kids, hold them close and just relish in the feeling of being home. However, all the emotional torment and grief of the seemingly last two days simply couldn't be ignored. He needed answers. Now.
He pulled the bound man towards him, voice shaking with wrath as he growled out the only question that needed to be asked. "Why? Why did you do it?"
The Mad Hatter, if possible, seemed to only grow more distressed as he cried, "You, of all people, have the gall to ask me that?" The vigilante even noticed tears start to pour from Tetch's eyes. "You ruined my life! I was willing to give you whatever life you wanted! Just to keep you out of mine!"
The man broke down into a sobbing mess and Batman could just hear Robin calling in the GCPD under the noise. When he looked to his left, he saw Swift watching him with a thoughtful gaze.
…LtF…
Batman, Robin and Swift watched from a neighbouring rooftop as Detective Montoya and Detective Bullock marched Jervis Tetch to the police car. As the sirens faded away into the distance, Batman searched for the words he knew needed to be said. The events of his dream where so pronounced in his memories but that didn't mean he couldn't remember what had led him into that situation in the first place.
"Are you alright?"
Batman turned, surprised to hear Swift speak first. The actual words registered a second later. "I-Yes, I'm alright." Not really but he wasn't going to burden his wards with that. "Are you? You were shot…" last night? Or had it been longer?
Swift shrugged it off with a blasé grin. "Yeah, it was a flesh wound B. Honestly, I'm fine. A few stitches and I was as good as new."
That was one less thing to worry about then. He would still check in with Alfred though to make sure Harry really wasn't downplaying the severity of the injury when he got back, just to be sure.
There was more silence as they began to head home, Batman following the younger two as they made their way towards where they had parked the Batmobile. The tension, not as pressing as before, was still simmering beneath the surface though and he couldn't stand it any longer. "I'm sorry."
The boys froze mid-step, turning to face him with carefully neutral faces. "You're sorry?" Robin pressed.
Batman sighed. He'd never been the best at apologising before, but he needed to make the effort now. "Yes, I'm sorry for what I said to you….the other night. I should never have brought your parents into it and I shouldn't have yelled like that. I was just…."
"We know, B." Swift cut in, tone gentler this time.
"You know?" He echoed, confused.
"Alfred." Robin said as if that explained it all. Truth was, it really did. Of course Alfred heard the whole thing and must have figured out what happened. The option to leave it at that and move on was there and he was tempted to take it. However, he wasn't going to leave things left unsaid.
"What happened?"
Robin looked bemused for a second before catching on. "Ah, there was a second gunman. You didn't see him when you went to confront the other guy, so we jumped in to help."
And well, that did make sense. He hadn't noticed the other guy. He could have been hurt, or worse, if the boys hadn't been watching his back. Which is exactly what I told them to do from day one…
Maybe Green Lantern had a point. He really was an asshole sometimes.
"You did the right thing, but you understand why I was upset too? I thought you had been killed Swift! I thought…"
"We know Batman and we're sorry too." Robin assured him.
"I should still do something to apologise. How about…"
"B, you don't need to do anything. We forgive you." Robin waved him off with an easy grin, even as he stressed the words.
He smiled in reply, feeling his heart swell. He really didn't deserve such willing forgiveness from the boys and yet they gave it so easily. They might not want any further apologies, but he could think of one way to make sure his point really got across he doubted they'd protest. "How about we stop for ice-cream on the way home?"
"…Well, I mean if you really feel the need to apologise I guess we can go along with it this time." Swift replied with a genuine smile.
A/N – I had been dying to get to this part! Perchance to Dream was one of my favourite episodes of BTAS. I loved the premise so much though I do wish we could have seen more of what a world without Bruce looked like. For example, what happened to Dick in that world? Hence, this chapter! I honestly considered holding off on this one till much later in the story, when we had more members of the Batfamily, but I decided that narratively it fit well here. Bruce has been a guardian to the boys for two years now and I wanted him to have that moment where he could truly see what his life would be like without them. Here he had to choose his parents, or his kids. It's a horrible lose-lose situation but I think we can agree he made the right call in the end.
I might revisit this concept in a future one-shot series, once this main series is done.
Anyway, the polls on Bruce and Dick's pairings will be closing in a week. Get your say in now if you haven't already!
Until next time, everyone! Sweet dreams :)
Timeline:
19th February 1964 – Bruce Wayne is born.
22nd February 1972 – Thomas and Martha Wayne are killed.
31st July 1980 – Harry and Dick are born.
31st October 1981 – Lily and James Potter are killed.
1st November 1981 – Twins are sent to live with the Dursleys'.
November 1981 – Twins are left at an orphanage.
23rd December 1981 – Twins are found by Mary Grayson on the Haly's Circus train. She and John agree to raise the twins as their own.
18th June 1990 – The Graysons are killed by Tony Zucco during their performance.
19th June 1990 – Harry and Dick go to live with Bruce Wayne.
20th June 1990 – The Graysons funeral. Harry and Dick first encounter Batman whilst trying to find Zucco.
21st June 1990 – Alfred catches the boys trying to sneak out. They explore the manner, finding the Batcave.
22nd June 1990 – Bruce catches the boys attempting to sneak out. They are grounded.
23rd June 1990 – The boys nearly make it to The Narrows before Batman finds them.
24th June 1990 – The boys confront two of Zucco's men. Batman saves them and takes them to the Batcave. He reveals his true identity and offers to train the boys, explaining the rules and expectations of them if they wish to work with him.
25th June 1990 – Bruce calls Jim, telling him he wants to keep the twins. The paperwork to take them in is started.
26th June 1990 – Bruce takes the boys into the city to redecorate their rooms and buy new clothes.
27th June 1990 – Jim visits the manor to tell Bruce Zucco was planning on skipping town. He goes out that night to try and catch Zucco but fails to catch him. Zucco escapes and he tells the boys, making them more determined to become vigilantes.
29th June 1990 – Episode: The Gray Ghost
30th June 1990 – The guardianship papers are finalised.
1st July 1990 – The boys are enrolled at Gotham Academy.
11th July 1990 – Episode: Mad as a Hatter
25th July 1990 – Episode: Be A Clown
28th July 1990 – Bruce reflects during a quiet moment on the new editions to his life. He makes a promise to his parents to try and be a good parent to the boys.
31st July 1990 – Harry and Dick's 10th birthday. They visit their parent's graves for the first time since the funeral, go to a carnival and receive photos albums of their parents from Bruce.
3rd August 1990 – Harry has a particularly bad nightmare about his parents. He goes to Bruce for comfort.
14th March 1991 – Harry and Dick get into a fight at school.
5th April 1991 – Bruce and the boys attend a charity gala.
28th June 1991 – Harry and Dick get into a fight over calling Bruce Dad. Bruce and Alfred talk to them about the issue.
18th July 1991 – Dumbledore finds out Harry and Dick's Hogwarts letters were never delivered.
2nd September 1991 – Dumbledore holds a meeting with a newly restored Order of the Phoenix. He reveals that the Dursleys' abandoned the twins at an orphanage, now they just need to find which one.
7th September 1991 – Remus and Kingsley investigate Bayview orphanage. Remus discovers that several children, including Harry and Dick, went missing from the orphanage. He suspects someone was buying the children from the orphanage's owners. The question now is, who?
16th July 1992 – Harry and Dick's final test before becoming Batman's sidekicks. Dick reveals his vigilante moniker as Robin and Harry picks his to be Swift.
23rd-24th July 1992 – Episode: The Underdwellers
31st July 1992 – Bruce takes the twins to the zoo for their birthday.
28th-30th August 1992 - Episode: Prophecy of Doom
31st August 1992 – Gotham Gazette confirms the names of Gotham's newest vigilantes.
3rd September 1992 – Swift stops a mugging in The Bowery.
15th September 1992 – The Wayne's attend a charity gala in Starling City. Harry and Dick meet Oliver Queen.
16th September 1992 – Swift and Robin meet Speedy and stop Count Vertigo.
19th-21st December 1992 – Episode: Cat Scratch Fever. The Waynes' adopt Ace, the German Shepherd.
4th-5th January 1993 – Bruce is sick. Alfred and the boys take care of him.
17th-18th February 1993 – Episode: Perchance to Dream