"I don't know how much any of you catch the news after fallouts like this, but I have it documented right here. Over two-hundred dead, over a thousand injured, over a million in projected damages to property. Don't know if any of you were aware, but that psychopath probably coordinated with some other thugs all over Gotham, because over a hundred and fifty banks were nearly wiped clean in the ensuing chaos. This may be one of the worst disasters we've ever encountered, and our scale was pretty insane already."

Gathered before Maggie Sawyer as she gave these reports ten years ago were five of the Batman Family's core six. All were dressed in costume, with the open laptop sitting next to Nightwing and displaying a green, polygonal face serving as Oracle's means of communication.

"You have to understand what I'm trying to tell you right now. Every one of you has done incredible things for this city. Its populace are deeply in debt to you and your mentor… but this last attack was just the last straw."

"You know full well we had nothing to do with it," Robin said. "Are you going to try and punish us for someone else's attack?"

"It wasn't just an attack, kid," Sawyer said. "We haven't had casualties and destruction like this since No Man's Land, and that was an act of nature. This was one psychopath distributing dangerous tech all up and down our streets. We can't have a disaster like this again."

"So what are you proposing then?" Nightwing asked.

"Well, between all of the people dead and all of the people that now see this as a permanent stain on your symbols, I think it's time you all hung up your capes."

Reactions strongly mixed. "And if we don't?" Robin asked.

"Then the Gotham City Police Department will exercise the legal reaction we have been ignoring for years," Sawyer said. "Vigilantism is a crime, every one of you knows it. For as long as it has been prudent to defend you, we have."

"We were never doing this because it was prudent for you," Red Robin said. "We've never taken orders from the police, Batman faced more than his share of corrupt cops and officials over the years."

"If we go from costumed massacres to corrupt cops, it'll be a definite improvement," Sawyer said. "I know every one of you hate it, I know some of you are thinking of fighting it. But we're past the days of Gordon and we're past the days of Batman. If you make the police your enemy, we will engage."

Silence overtook the room for a few minutes before Sawyer resumed, "I told you I hate this, and I do… And if it would be of any interest, we wanted to offer you a form of conciliation." Sawyer paused for replies, but none came. "We know your dedication to our city. We know you would do anything to protect it. We're considering putting together a task force for extreme situations. You'd work alongside the police, dress in our issued uniforms, report back to us, and help handle situations that get out of hand."

"You want us to be your lapdogs," Robin retorted.

"I have a concern about that," Batgirl said. "Supposing we'd say yes, it's not like you could just sign the signal anymore."

"You're right," Sawyer said. "I'd also need your identities. That information would be classified, no one outside the department would ever know. But if we're going to work together we just can't afford any more secrets."

"This is bull!" Robin said. "You can't make us do anything!"

"You all have three choices from here," Sawyer said. "Throw out those costumes, tell us who you are and keep fighting for your city. Throw out those costumes and go about your lives, pretending you never wore them. Or keep dressing up, and see how far it gets you. Get back to me in a week, and I better not see any of you in costume before that."

…

The six gathered in Tim and Stephanie's living room, as they often did when discussing matters that concerned them all at once. As was to be expected, tensions were high all around. "I'm not trying to be pesky about this, I just want it on the floor right now- I'm retiring," Stephanie said to no one's surprise. "We have a son now, and it's time I started acting like it. I made a promise to my mom I wouldn't be like my dad, making him wonder when or if I was coming home."

"… I don't especially like it, but I should probably do the same," Tim said.

"It's probably for the best on you guys' part," Dick said. "You have a family to look after now. I am seriously thinking about that task force Sawyer mentioned though, maybe it's time to just take it as a natural evolution. Like you said, I really don't like it, but it's at least something."

"I can help provide intel," Barbara said. "Help with any cyber-crime going on and keep tabs on the GCPD, make sure they're playing by their own rules and keep out the corrupt cops we were talking about."

"Fighting is so much of what I know," Cassandra said. "I want to be home with Sadie, I want to stop, but have been at it so long. I do not know if I know how to let go."

A few hushed remarks were exchanged as Damian looked over them all from an armchair in the corner, the scowl on his face growing deeper and deeper. Finally, exacerbated by their talk, he said, "This is the most pathetic conversation I've ever sat in on."

"You have something to say then?" Tim asked.

"I can't believe I'm even hearing all this. All of you worked for my father for years. My father who handled corrupted cops, costumed punks, magic, monsters, cultists and all other manner of undesirable for his entire adult life. He taught all of you to do the same, and here you are, discussing how you're going to abandon his legacy. What the hell is wrong with all of you?"

"Damian, Bruce is gone," Dick said. "He's gone and nothing out there is getting any easier—"

"So you just want to give up? Or let someone else do a bunch of the lifting for you? My father kept you from being forgotten about in some orphanage, Grayson. He gave you a chance to be something greater than yourself. And if he's dead, than it's our mission to carry on his work, no matter who tells us otherwise."

Tim was about to shout at him, but one of Stephanie's hands held his shoulder, as if ordering him to restrain himself. This gave Barbara enough time to say, "We all grieve in our own way, Damian."

"Grieve?" He said. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"I was the one who wrote the notes Prometheus was reciting from. I know that you're in a lot of pain, and you really don't know how to deal with it."

"You're insane," Damian said. "I was raised by killers. I've killed people before myself. I just refuse to see all of my father's work undone."

"Are you sure that's it?" Barbara asked. "Because I think it might be something else you just won't talk about. Something no one ever taught you to talk about." Damian just stared, saying nothing. "I had a step-mother named Sarah, you know. She was killed by The Joker during that time after Gotham got hit by that earthquake. For years I thought I hated her because I couldn't stand the thought of someone other than my mom being with my dad. But she cared about him a lot, and she cared about me too. I know what it's like to have never called her 'mom', and I know for a fact you've never called Bruce 'dad'."

"I repeat, what the hell are you on about?"

"You miss your father, Damian. You miss him horribly. He was the first person in your life to treat you like an actual person. You've always struggled with who to be, and now that Bruce is gone, you're not sure how to be anything."

The room went dead silent as everyone contemplated her words. It was Cassandra who finally spoke when she said, "I remember the feeling."

"No you don't," Damian snapped. "My father came in and saved you from your legacy… all of your legacies!" Now he was starting to shout. "You're his recruits. I'm his son! Maybe you can just walk away from his life's work, but I can't. I thought we were all in this for life, but clearly this is all mine to handle. I don't give a damn, you can all do whatever you want."

"Barbara just bore her heart to you, you insufferable brat," Tim said. "There really is nothing inside you, is there?"

"Tim, calm down," Stephanie said. "Like Barbara said—"

"Yeah, I'm just really not so sure," Tim said. "What have you ever brought any of us besides a huge pain in the ass, Damian? Maybe you're a hell of a fighter, but even after you learn your father is dead, what are you? Just the same old, as always, quite literally, son of a bitch."

Everyone clenched as he made that statement. A fight was surely about to break out in the Drakes' living room, someone had to be ready to pull back the two of them.

But nothing came. Damian only looked down as he pushed up from his chair. "My mother was a bitch, Drake. And it's one more reason I can't leave my father's work undone. If everyone in Gotham is going to be gunning after me, I clearly have no place here anymore."

"You don't have to face this alone, Damian," Barbara said. "We've all lost so much. We can help you get through this."

"… No. No you can't."

After Bruce's death, Damian had been left in Alfred's care at Wayne Manor. Within a week of the discussion and claiming a chunk of his inheritance with Alfred's help, he disappeared. When asked about the matter, Alfred had simply said, "Master Bruce had much to sort out after the loss of his mother and father. I am too tired to chase Damian to and fro. I couldn't have stopped him, and hopefully he will be better when he returns to us."

The uniforms were either hidden or surrendered to the police. Tim and Stephanie resumed time at home with Oscar. Barbara, Dick and Cassandra offered occasional service to the Gotham Police. Damian returned to the city briefly for a few holidays a year, gathered uncomfortably with his adoptive family.

…

"Yeah, this is Damian. I don't check my voicemail, so don't bother. I'll call you back when I get the chance."

Beep.

"Damian, it's Babs. I wanted to see if you were going to come home for Easter. Sarah, Dick and I are going to Tim and Stephanie's for dinner that day. I can hardly believe it, but the two of them are actually starting to act like brothers again. I really hope you can join us. I'd really like to believe we can all finally be a family again."