Chapter 12: Dick Learns The Truth
Commissioner Loeb had unfortunately succumbed to his injuries and passed away while being treated at Gotham General. Once the news of this was delivered, all the cops in the room felt a heavy weight of grief on their shoulders. Jim Gordon felt the most weight out of them all and just stayed silent in mourning. Harvey Dent then came into the room to get word on Loeb's condition. "Jim, I just heard about the fire down at the docks. How's Loeb doing?", Harvey asked. "He's dead. He just passed away. He died saving me.", Gordon said. "Oh, Jesus! I'm so sorry, Jim.", Harvey said putting his hand on Jim's shoulder. "This isn't right. He shouldn't have gone out like this. Being burnt to death by a flying maniac.", one cop said. "He was a good commissioner and a good cop.", another cop said. "He was a good commissioner and a good cop, and we will mourn him by doing what he would have wanted. Keep Gotham safe from the likes of the scum that killed him. There's a cop killer out there with an army of arsonists at his side. I want you guys to comb the city and find these bastards. That's an order!", Gordon said. "Yes, Captain.", all the cops said in unison and left the room. Batman then appeared out of nowhere and said, "I'm sorry about Loeb, Jim. He shouldn't have been killed like he was.". "Thanks, but it doesn't really matter now.", Gordon said. "I take it you two haven't met yet?", Gordon asked Harvey and Batman. "No, but I was hoping to sooner or later. Gordon here has spoken very highly of you, but I personally am still not sure.", Harvey said to Batman. "Given time, Dent, I hope you'll see I'm trying to make Gotham a safer place just like you are.", Batman said. "We can talk about that later. Right now, what are we going to do about Lynns?", Harvey asked. "I'll have all my officers search every corner of the city. A guy flying around in a jetpack and using a flamethrower can't be too hard to find.", Gordon said. "Just keep me posted.", Harvey said and then left. "Me too. I want to make Lynns pay for what he did just as much as you do.", Batman said. "Will do. Talk to you later.", Gordon said and then left. Batman then left himself to go back to the Batmobile and drive home. Meanwhile, Alfred and Dick were watching TV in the living room while having some of Alfred's cherry pie for dessert. "I hope you like the pie, sir.", Alfred said. "It's delicious, Al. You really are quite the cook.", Dick said. "Well, a butler's life involves perfecting several crafts such as cooking, but thank you for saying that, sir.", Alfred said. They saw on the news the debacle that had gone down earlier involving Batman and Firefly that ended up taking the life of Commissioner Loeb. "Wow! That looks intense. That Batman dude really has a thing for fighting bad guys, doesn't he?", Dick said. "Indeed, he does.", Alfred agreed. Alfred's phone began to ring which made him set down his plate and answer it. It was Bruce who was calling asking Alfred to come down to the cave as he was just about to come home. "Excuse me, Master Dick. There's a matter I must attend to. Sorry to just up and leave you like this.", Alfred said. "No, it's okay. I was actually just about to go upstairs and go to bed anyway. I'm really tired.", Dick said. "Very well. Goodnight, sir.", Alfred said. Dick said goodnight back and made his way up the stairs. Or at least he stopped until he was out of Alfred's view because he was curious to see where he was going at this hour. He had noticed several weird things occur during the time he's been here such as either Bruce or Alfred disappearing for long periods of time by saying so many things just come up. It was especially coincidental the fact that every time he heard this Batman was out patrolling the city was when Bruce was nowhere to be found in the house. He saw Alfred walk towards an old grandfather clock from the top of the staircase and stop in front of it. After turning the hands so that they matched 10:47 pm which is exactly when Bruce's parents were killed so many years ago, the clock shifted and revealed a door which Alfred walked through. Being a professional acrobat, Dick did all kinds of gymnastics to make it downstairs and stop the clock door from closing so he can follow Alfred down to where he was going. Dick was determined to learn what was really going on and what Bruce Wayne's secret was. Alfred made his way down to the Batcave and was waiting for Batman to come home. Dick snuck down still undetected and hid behind a rock. The Batmobile then came roaring in and stopped right in front of the butler. Batman got out and removed his cowl showing Dick that his suspicions were right and that his new benefactor was the Batman. "I saw what happened on the news and I heard about the commissioner. I'm so sorry, Master Bruce.", Alfred said. "I'm just angry I didn't stop Lynns before he killed Loeb.", Bruce said. "Now, Master Bruce, you must understand that Batman can't save everyone.", Alfred said. "But why can't he? I started all this to make it so no one in this city gets hurt or even killed under my watch. Lately, it seems like the exact opposite has happened. At the circus with Dick's parents and now this.", Bruce said. "With all due respect, Bruce, your war against crime in Gotham is still war, and there are meant to be casualties in war. I know you're trying to be more than a man in this crusade of yours, but you are still just a man.", Alfred said. Dick was leaning in to get a better look too far to the point the he lost his balance and fell on his stomach. His presence was made known to Bruce and Alfred who saw Dick on the ground and knew he'd been busted. Bruce, Dick, and Alfred stayed silent for a while as no one was sure what to say next. "Hi.", Dick said as he wasn't sure what else to say. "Master Dick, I thought you said you were going to bed?", Alfred asked sounding flabbergasted. "I was, but I needed a drink of water and got lost.", Dick badly lied. "Don't be angry with him, Alfred. I had a feeling he'd find out sooner or later.", Bruce said. "I still can't believe it, Bruce. You're Batman? You were there when my parents were killed at the circus. You tried to save them.", Dick said. "Yes, I tried, but I failed. Just like I failed to save the commissioner tonight.", Bruce said solemnly. "But I saw the news footage of what happened at the docks. I know you did your best to try to save him. You tried to put him out with that cape thing of yours. Just like I know you did your best to save my parents.", Dick said. "So, you don't blame for failing to save them? I know I should have made sure Zucco was down for good first, but I didn't and then he opened fire on them.", Bruce said. "No, I don't blame you for that. I blame the crime and scum of this city. I assume that's why you started doing this, right? Because you lost your parents to crime like I lost mine?", Dick said. "Yes, but now I'm starting to wonder if I'm actually doing any good. The bad guys in this city are changing, evolving, into something worse. First it was Freeze, and now this Firefly and his gang of building burners. I guess I just wasn't ready to deal with these kinds of criminals.", Bruce said. "Well, I think you're doing good. I've heard about how bad this city was before I first got here, and I also heard how things seemed like they were getting better when Batman showed up and took matters into his own hands. Now, I know that's the guy who took me in when I lost the people I loved and wanted to look out for me. You're a real hero.", Dick said. "Thanks, but I'm not looking for praise and I sure don't feel like a hero because of tonight's incident.", Batman said. "Well, I agree with what Alfred said. I'm sure there'll be casualties in your war on crime. And I'm sure you can't do it on your own.", Dick said. "But I'm not entirely on my own. I have Alfred here to help and Lucius is the one who gives me my suit and gear.", Bruce said. "But you're alone out in the field. I honestly think I can help with that.", Dick said. "What do you mean by that?", Batman asked. "I've been trained to fight quite a bit. I think maybe I can help...", Dick was saying before he was cut off by Bruce. "Dick, I know what you're suggesting and I'm afraid I can't allow that.", Bruce said. "Why not? You said it yourself when we first met that we're the same.", Dick said. "Yes, we're the same. But that doesn't mean I want you to share every aspect of myself. I would never want to put anyone else through the life I chose. You can still stay here as long as you'd like, but I don't want you involved with Batman." he said. "But Bruce, I can...", Dick was saying before he got cut off again. "That's the final word.", Bruce said sternly and then went back up to the manor. "Alfred, you can convince him that he needs my help, can't you? I've seen how bad this city is and I want to make a difference too.", Dick said. "I'm afraid when Master Bruce's mind is made up, there's no changing it. And I'm afraid he's right. You can do better than force yourself down the same path he has.", Alfred said and then left too. Dick stood there for while feeling disappointed and rejected. "Well, if I can't convince them to let me join Batman, then maybe there's someone else who can help me change their minds.", Dick said as he thought about paying a visit to Lucius Fox real soon.