Chapter 19: Shocking Confession

(Later, at Batcave...)

We cut back to the Batcave, the Batmobile pulls in. With the hatch opening Batman hops out instantly pulling his mask off at instant… To his surprise Lucius was there talking to Alfred.

"Lucius?" Bruce asked.

"Sorry if this is a bad time Bruce. But I wanted to tell you in person when you and Alfred informed me of your suspension of Edward I been by his lab and…found something off." Lucius said.

"Anything that confirms it?" Bruce asked.

"Possibly. But no guarantee." Lucius said.

Fox showed them blueprints of somewhat an electronic chair.

"He's making an electric chair?" Bruce asked.

"Not an ordinary one. It's a lie detecting an electric chair. I never authorized a project like this. I didn't confront him about it case your suspension was a fact." Lucius said.

"Better Batman confronts him with it then. I'll make Nygma talk." Bruce said.

"Who's this?" a voice came.

The three men turn, seeing Dick coming down the stairs.

"Hello?" Lucius asked.

"Lucius, this is Dick Grayson." Bruce said.

"Oh yes, the young man you told me about." Lucius said.

Lucius and shake hands nodding to each other.

"Bruce told me about you." Dick said.

"He mentioned you too. And you have my condolences for your loss." Lucius said.

"Thank you." Dick said.

"I take it since you're down here you know-" Lucius said.

"Yes he knows of our mission. Cause he was snooping." Bruce said.

"Jokes on you left your door unlocked." Dick said.

"That's regrettably my fault." Alfred said.

"You know Mr. Fox Alfred says you make his suits and gadgets…I thought…" Dick said.

"Forget it." Bruce said.

"Oh, come on!" Dick said.

"I said forget it!" Bruce called.

"Master Bruce if I may protest…you're up against two criminals instead of one. You could use a partner." Alfred said.

"Batman doesn't need a partner." Bruce said.

"Bruce, I get it. I planned on taking on Two-Face alone." Dick said.

That caught the men's attention.

"After your training I planned on sneaking out hunting and killing Two-Face myself! But seeing him and Riddler together I need a partner too. I'll do anything to make Two-Face pay." Dick said.

"He can pay in many ways Dick. Many besides death." Bruce said.

"Like what?" Dick asked.

"Arkham or Blackgate. Death would be too kind even if he was rotten to the core." Bruce said.

"Why are you protecting that bastard?!" Dick said.

"I'm protecting you!" Bruce called.

Bruce's shout echoed through the cave silencing everyone.

"Dick listen to me. You don't want this life. I thought I did too but after seeing Selina kill Max Shrek that was my wake up call that I shouldn't have killed. The Joker and any others criminals that died because of me. Seeing her do the same…was what hit me the most. I failed to save Selina. I see you kill Harvey…I'll fail you too. If we just kill our enemies we become like them. Jack Napier killed causing me to kill many. I can't do it again." Bruce explained.

"That's your choice not mine!" Dick called.

"Exactly why I'll NEVER let you be part of this!" Bruce said.

Dick went silent and then he stormed upstairs angry.

Bruce faced down feeling bad but how else could he get Dick to listen? He had to talk to Chase about it and to get ahead of Selina he felt he had to tell her who he is too.

And that was his plan as he paid another visit to Gotham General.

Bruce paced around as he started from the top.

"Ever since my parents died…I have had a darker path that…changed everything." Bruce said.

"It's okay Bruce just one detail at a time." Chase said.

Bruce took a breath, nervous as he was when he tried to tell Vicki Vale the truth.

"The thing is Chase…in the darkness of my parents murder…I raced into a storm…in open rage…that's when I fell…" Bruce said.

"Fell into what?" Chase asked.

"Into a cave…the first thing I saw…was a light. A light that blinded me more than the darkness and then…they came." Bruce said.

"They?" Chase asked.

"When I feared as a child. Bats." Bruce said.

Chase frowns.

"I was surrounded by a sword of bats on the night of my parents' wake. At first I was scared…till…I embraced them." Bruce said.

Chase had a feeling where he was going.

"I trained for years, trained my brains and my strength by old friends of my father, Lucius Fox, the Great Zatara, and Dr. Lesley Tonkins by their guidance and embracing my fears…I became…" Bruce said.

Silence...

"Batman." Bruce said.

Chase's eyes blinked. The new man in her life was really two men under her nose.

"You're…Batman? The BATMAN?" Chase was shocked.

"There's more. The woman you met wasn't Vicki Vale. Her name is Selina Kyle. The Catwoman. She knows my identity and that's why she was there." Bruce said.

"The cat burglar that murdered Max Shrek? But what's her beef with you?" Chase asked.

"We… had a history. But she made her choice when I offered her a chance. Didn't take it now she's wanted in Gotham and Metropolis." Bruce said.

"But why are you telling me all this? Don't get me wrong I'm glad you did but why?" Chase asked.

"Because it's better you heard it from me and not her. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner but Selina would have put you in danger if she told you." Bruce said.

Chase smiled, putting her hand on Bruce and kissed him softly.

But suddenly they were interrupted…by the door opening…entering…

To Be Continued…