Chapter 22: This Can't Be Real
It was a dark and moonless night in Gotham, a storm was brewing threatening to rain and thunder down. Similarly it was dark in the Gotham National Bank, all was quiet on the inside and not sound could be heard. That was until a large explosion went off near the east side of the building, which now had a huge circular hole in it. As debri and dust filled the air Two-Face and his goons walked through guns cocked and ready to blow. Then with a quick signal Two-Face let his goons loose on the riches of the bank. They all went nuts as they raided the safety deposit boxes and registers as well as many other places where they keep money in banks.
"Alright boys hurry it up and take anything you can get your hands on. No need to test our luck here, I'm sure it will be only minutes before the police or worse the Bat shows up." Two-Face urged as he flipped his scratched coin in his hand.
"I'm afraid luck must not be on your side then, Two Face."
Everyone turned to see Batman standing behind Two Face, only they couldn't see his face due to the light behind him, showing only his intimidating stature.
"Good thing I make my own luck!" Two Face said as he pulled out his guns and began shooting at the dark knight.
With expert skill Batman dodged the bullets and glided behind the super villain. He immediately gave the scared man a powerful punch to the back knocking him to the floor. All the henchmen stood helpless and frozen, enraging their boss.
"Come on you morons shoot the damn bat!" Two Face bellowed from his place on the ground.
Snapped out of their fear the henchmen readied themselves to shoot, only to have a large explosion shock them once more and blow some of them off their feet. Disoriented few noticed a cheeky little laugh echoing from the shadows as they tried to get back on their feet. Taking full advantage of this Robin revealed himself and went about taking out the goons so his mentor could take on Two Face alone.
"So you brought the brat huh." Two Face commented snarkily as he got back on his feet and dusted himself off.
"No, I brought my partner." Batman made quite clear, hating when people used derogatory words to refer to his son.
"Yeah whatever, either way one of you is gonna pay for interrupting my job!" Two Face yelled as he then went for a punch at Batman.
Batman however dodged and gave Two Face a swift kick to the face. The disfigured mobster yelled in pain and then once again went for the dark knight. For several minutes the two fought with their fists, all the while Robin took care of the goons behind them, doing his best to keep them from reaching his father. Eventually the one on one combat came to a standstill with Batman and a Two Face facing each other tensely and breathing heavily.
"Just make this easier on yourself Dent, turn yourself in. Stop breaking out and face the Justice you know you deserve." Batman advised the once just man.
"We both know Batman, I believe in only one kind of justice, and I think it's time you faced it as well." Two Face said as he pulled out his coin and flipped it in the air.
The coin landed quickly and Two Face revealed the bright shiny looking head side of the coin.
"Looks like fate smiled kindly on you today Batman."
"I see that, now drop your weapons and surrender." Batman said unamused as he started to approach Two Face.
"Oh I'm not finished yet, I'm sure your little brat has justice to face. Why don't we look and see." Two Face said menacingly with a wicked smile.
"He's a child, now put that coinâ" Batman started to grower angrily.
However Two Face threw the coin up anyways and caught it as he normally did. Only much to the dark knights horror the villain revealed the scratched face of his double sided coin.
"Looks like the son will pay for the sins of the father today." Two Face said coldly as he raised his gun.
"No don't you dareâ" Batman said warningly, but was too late as the gun went off.
Robin was just standing there, having just finished off all the goons when a piercing pain went through his back. Immediately the small hero collapsed, not making a sound as the shock prevented him from screaming. In that moment Batman saw red and ran at Two Face full speed, his eyes devoid of any mercy.
The caped crusader couldn't remember a thing except blood and anger and his fists connecting with flesh. Within minutes he came somewhat back to consciousness breathing heavily as he saw Two Face beat to a bloody pulp on the floor. But then Batman remembered what made him angry and ran to his collapsed son. Within seconds he was by his side gathering the tiny boy into his arms, praying desperately he was alright.
"Robin! Robin, are you ok? Talk to me!" Batman yelled desperately as he saw bleeding hole in his sons chest.
Robin coughed painfully and weakly opened his little eyes.
"Daddy it hurtsâand I feel so cold." Robin said as he sporadically coughed and convulsed.
"Breath Robin breath, just hold on we'll get you to the League hospital soon, I promise!" Batman begged as he tried to hold his child tightly to his chest.
"It's getting so darkâdaddy I'm scared." The poor bleeding boy cried.
"It's ok baby bird I'm right here, just hold on a little bit longer we'll make it all better." Batman pleaded barely able to keep his Batman persona up as he ran into the streets of Gotham where it started to pour.
Within seconds the two were wet and Robin was fading fast, eventually the two were on top of a building where Batman was trying to call the Justice League.
"Daddy I..I can't see your face." Dick started to cry weakly.
"Here I'll take off my mask, now look into my eyes and just breathe. You'll be better very soon." Bruce cried desperately as he ripped off his mask and gently took off his son's.
"Daddy I can't feel anything anymore.." Dick said as he barely could make words or keep his eye open.
"No no no, don't close your eyes! Look at me just look at me, you're gonna be alright." Bruce pleaded as tears leaked from his eyes.
"DaddyâIâIâlove you." Dick managed to say with a weak smile.
"I love you too little bird." Bruce sobbed.
Within seconds of that Dick closed his eyes and went limp in his fathers arms.
"No no no noooooo!" Bruce screamed as he held his nowâ.dead son in his arms.
Everything seemed so unreal, the rain falling in him, the cold body in his arms, and the intense pain and grief he felt. Everything felt like a blue and before he knew it he opened his teary eyes to gray daylight, surrounded by all the Justice League dressed in black and crying with him, and laying before him a headstone marked "Dick John Grayson-Wayne" next to both his father and mother and Bruce's parents. Bruce looked at that grave in despair, now all the light in his life was gone and all his loved ones he couldn't protect were dead.
"Bruce we should go, everyone's going back to the manor." Superman, holding a crying Conner in his arms, said as he put a free hand on Bruce's shoulder.
"Leave me alone." Bruce said lowly and deeply.
"Ok, just don't stay out too long, you shouldn't be alone." Superman said as he tried to comfort his grieving son at the same time.
All the protégés felt the same, each one crying over the loss of their sweet little brother. The mentors did their best comfort them but knew this was going to take a while to heal. It started to rain again forcing everyone to go inside, but Bruce stayed and walked towards the grave. He then kneeled in pure grief and sobbed like he never had before bent over the grave of his precious little bird whom he didn't know how to live without. The whole world seemed to grieve as the rain poured and poured, reflecting the feelings of everyone who ever loved the boy wonder who would now never walk the earth again.
20 years later
Saigon
It was a late and dark night in Saigon, Vietnam and unbeknownst to the locals the League of Shadows was meeting at a nearby temple. Like silent wind they made their way undetected to their designated meeting place, ready to execute whatever orders they might receive from Ra's Al Ghul. By midnight sharp the majority of the league had arrived and standing before them was a hardly aged Ra's Al Ghul.
"My fellow comrades tonight we gather to discuss plans for our next great conquest. For centuries we have worked to bring pure justice into this world by any means necessary. As of today we begin a new chapter in that mission, today we will take over the country of Vietnam. For years through foreign rule or their own this country has remained a cesspit of crime and dubatchery. But today we begin the end of that disease, we shall do as no others have before, and at last bring justice to this glorious country!"
Everyone cheered and war cried, ready to further the mission of the league and bring about their justice. However before any other words could be said the members began to slowly disappear. They quickly took note of this and prepared themselves, looking around for any signs of the enemy. The attack then became more noticeable as a red flash ran about taking each one of them prisoner, arrows wrapped lassos around them, and a golden lasso took out each of them one by one.
"So they decided to interfere, did they, well then Justice League come out now! There's no need for sneak attacks, we are more than prepared to face you." Ra's Al Ghul said with a sinister smile.
"Very well then!" A voice called from above.
Everyone looked up and saw a man in a red cape flying down to them, only it wasn't Clark, it was the new Superman, Conner, now 27. He had a suit on, similar to his father's, only his was black and red. Then out came Flash only this time it was Wally West, now 27, his suit was very similar to his uncles only more yellow detailing. Following them was Red Arrow, now 30, who wore a red and black tunic with tight black pants, his red hair spiked with a red domino mask to cover his eyes. Then came out Wonder Woman who looked as she always had as she readied her lasso. Lastly came out Batman, who was 49 years old, looking still strong but aged.
"So how are we splitting this up, 80 for me, 50 for you, and 30 for Roy?" Flashed asked cockily.
"You can take the 30, I'll handle the 80 Baby Flash." Red Arrow responded as he readied an arrow.
"Hey I'm the real Flash now, you know my uncle retired. And besides the point, you think you can take that many one with little bow. I willâ" Flash started to stay defensively before Conner interrupted.
"Guys what are we 8 years old, we all will get whoever we get. Now let's hurry this up, M'gann has an ultrasound tomorrow morning and she will kill me if I don't wake up in time for it!" Superman made quite clear.
"If you three are done squabbling, it's time to execute the plan! To your positions now!" Batman ordered.
Immediately the team of five took on the League of Shadows who came at them ferociously. All except Batman whom the warriors refused to fight for they knew only one of them was allowed to fight the dark knight.
"At last we meet again my old pupil, time has been kind to you. You barely look any older than I do." Ra's Al Ghul commented as he took off his cape and prepared to fight.
"I don't believe this is the time for playing catch up Ghul, perhaps when you're behind bars." Batman said as he prepared to strike.
The two then engaged in hand to hand combat, ignoring all the fighting around them to purely focus on each other. To say the two were evenly matched as they tried to get blows on one another was an understatement. Each strike was quickly met with another and neither could really get the jump on the other.
"You have become stronger Batman, I can detect an increase in your power. The kind of increase that can only be received when we at last detach ourselves from what holds us back." Ra's Al Ghul commented with a knowing smirk.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Batman said stoically.
"I mean the loss of that little sidekick of yours all those years ago. Robin wasn't it?"
"Don't you dare talk about my son!" Batman bellowed with rage.
"And why not, I was the reason he died after all." Ra's Al Ghul added.
"What are you talking about Ghul!" Batman said as he began to punch even harder.
"While Two-Face was the one who did the dead, it was us who paid him to rob that bank and shoot that little brat should you arrive. We knew it would provide you with the fire, the power, necessary to make you do what it really takes to bring Justice into this world."
"You killed my son, I'm going to kill you!" Batman ferally bellowed as he saw nothing but red and truly came for the mercenary.
For five minutes the man helplessly tried to defend himself from the furious dark knight, who was determined to kill him. Eventually after pound after pound upon the man, Batman had him pinned to the ground and his strong hands around his neck.
"Do it Bruce, it is you and only you who can defeat me. Dull out the unfulfilled justice that must be brought about." Ra's Al Ghul rasped out, ready to see the Batman break his one rule.
The caped crusader wanted to kill him, make the mercenary suffer for the loss he had created. But as he looked into Ghul eyes all he could see was his son telling him to forgive and not take revenge. His son would be so mortified if he did so, and broke the rule that he kept since day one. So relaxing his hands the dark knight let go of Ghuls neck and looked down in despair.
"Huh how disappointing, not even with your son dead could you do what has to be done. Oh well, goodbye then Bruce, tell your child hello for me." Ra's Al Ghul said as one would say to an undisciplined child, as he then stabbed Bruce in the stomach.
Batman froze in shock as the knife went through the cracks in his armor and then was pulled out, making blood gush from the wound. He tried to get up but the blood loss already made the old hero collapse to the floor. This immediately caught Wonder Woman's attention as she fought off the mercenaries attacking her.
"Batman!" Wonder Woman cried out as she clanked her bracelets together and sent the men attacking her flying away.
The Amazonian ran as fast as she could to the bleeding caped crusader, falling to her knees beside his body.
"It's going to be ok Batman, I'll find a way to stop the bleeding, just breathe slowly." Wonder Woman tried to instruct as calmly as possible.
Meanwhile Ra's Al Ghul went up to a group of mercenaries and whispered orders into their ears.
"Fall into the shadows there's nothing here for us anymore."
Immediately following his orders the mercenaries spread the word making each of them draw into the dark places without detection. This left Red Arrow, Superman, and Flash confused, till they saw Wonder Woman kneeling besides a comatose Batman. This made the three run as fast as possible to their sides as they kneeled over their uncle's body.
"Uncle Bruce, talk to me, let us know you're ok!" Wally begged.
"Uncle Bruce, please just one word!" Conner chimed in.
"Don't you dare die on us you bastard! I swear I'll kill you!" Roy yelled, not about to lose another comrade and on his watch.
"Bruce please respond!" Diana begged.
"I don't think I have much longer, but I have some things to say." Bruce managed to bloodily cough out.
"What is it?" Wally asked as tears leaked from his eyes.
"Thank youâthank you for being myâfamilyâI never said itâbut Iâlove youâallâand.I'll make sureâto tell Dickâhi for you allâgood byeâI'll see you again somedaâ." Bruce heaven out before his body went limp and cold.
All four of the Justice League members cried as they lost a teammate, a friend, and a loved one in that moment, their hearts broken for the lord of the one and only Batman.
Somewhere Beyond this Word
As bright sunlight shines over Bruce's closed eyes, the old man began to wake up. Rubbing his head he looked around and found himself in a world of mist and golden clouds with streaks of pale colors in them.
"Where am I, is thisâheaven?" Bruce wondered curiously as he stood back up on his feet, noticing he still had his Batman costume on, except his mask was off.
For a moment all was quiet, serene, and peaceful, making Bruce breath a sigh of relief as his soul at last felt at peace. Then he heard a distant but high pitched laughter, which made his ears perk and his heart pound. Bruce looked around frantically for the source of the noise, desperate to know if it was what he thought it was. Not too much longer did Bruce see what he wanted to see, his little five year old son Dick running around gleefully chasing a golden butterfly. For a moment he was speechless, unable to utter a single syllable, till he at last gathered his wits and yelled.
"Dick!" Bruce called out joyfully.
Immediately the little boy stopped in his tracks and turned right towards him. With a happy cry the tiny boy ran to his daddy who held out his open arms to him.
"Daddy!" Dick squealed as he was wrapped in a warm and tight embrace.
For a moment Bruce just held his baby boy, tears streaming down his face as his nose was overwhelmed by the wonderful scent of his long gone child. His arms and heart feeling whole once more as he held Dick to his chest. After a few minutes the two broke away just enough to finally see each others faces.
"I missed you daddy!" Dick said with pure joy and love.
"I missed you too baby, more than you could ever know." Bruce said as happy tears continued to stream down his face.
"Daddy you look soâold." Dick said with the innocent child frankness only a little child could as he gently stroked the wrinkles on Bruce's face and the few silver streaks he had in his ebony hair.
"It's been a few years, baby bird, so daddy got old I'm afraid." Bruce said as he chuckled for the first time in 20 years and wiped the tears of joy and laughter from his face.
"Daddy what took you so long?" Dick asked with teary eyes.
"I don't know baby, but it's ok I'm here now." Bruce said as his heart broke with guilt.
"Why did you let me die daddy?" Dick sobbed.
The world around them started to grow dark, but Bruce didn't even notice.
"Dickie I didn't mean to let it happen..IâI" Bruce tried to explain but the guilt and shame overpowered him.
"It's your fault Bruce." Dick said in a low whispery voice.
In that moment everything went silent and cold, and all was still in the now black and white cloudy place. Then without warning the ground where Bruce kneeled fell out from under him sending him plummeting into an abyss.
"Dick I'm sorryâ.." Bruce cried out as he fell and closed his eyes to prepare for the impact.
Only instead he woke up in his bed in a cold sweat, breathing heavily as he sat up. Freaking out he got up and ran to bathroom and looked in the mirror. Immediately he felt relief as he looked in the glass to see his younger 29 year old shirtless self, meaning it was all just a nightmare. However his heart then froze with fear again, making him practically run to his sons room. He needed to know one crucial fact, one that would decide the rest of his life. Within minutes the billionaire found himself at Dick's door and fearfully started to turn the nob. In pure silence he pushed the door only to feel an even bigger wave of relief wash over him as he saw his precious little boy sleeping peacefully in his bed.
Bruce then walked quietly over to the bed that cradled his precious son and kneeled down next to it. He couldn't help but smile as he saw the sweet child lightly breath and clutch to his beloved stuffed elephant. Without even realizing it Bruce instinctively stroked the little boys soft ebony hair. As Bruce watched Dick he couldnt help but be reminded of the realness of his dream, his baby died. He died and he couldn't save him, the last bit of sunshine left in his life taken and he couldn't bring it back. This left Bruce with a fear he couldn't just put away, so he did something he knew would make Alfred mad in the morning.
In the gentlest and quietest way Bruce gathered his baby bird into his arms, cradling him close to his bare chest. At first Dick started to stir a little but quickly felt the safe and calming presence of his daddy as well as caught his scent. This not only comforted the child but made him snuggle in deeper into his fathers chest which promised warmth, safety, and the lullaby of Bruce's heartbeat. Feeling comforted and complete Bruce carried Dick to his room and held him to his chest as he got under his covers. Before he closed his eyes once more the loving father placed a kiss on his sons head and whispered I love you into his sons ear.
Now at last at peace Bruce fell back asleep as his baby boy latched into him and the knowledge his baby was safe with him eased his conscience. As he slept dreams filled Bruce's head, dreams of a growing family and watching his boy grow up to become the person he always knew he'd be.