Chapter 8 - Inheritance (2)

The finest inheritance you can give is to allow those who follow you to make their own way, completely free of obligation, debt, direction, or devotion to the path you chose.

The worst inheritance you can give is to put them on the path that you trod, not where you reached it but at its start, to force them down it, to shoulder them with every burden you bore.

The nightmare of all who have others follow them is to show them the path, to warn them of the danger, to give them all the freedom to choose their way, only for them to walk the same road you did.

…I have lived the nightmare, and I fear I will live it again.

(Wayne Manor - Gotham City - 15th May 2010)

"Thank you, yes I understand, your discretion is appreciated." Bruce stood motionless as he took the call. His eyes glanced at the documents he had just received, still absorbing the information as he hung up. "Well that was the last of the labs, they confirmed it along with the other 12, combined with my tests it appears Damian is my son,"

"He is the spitting image of you at that age, Master Wayne, it really is quite unnerving actually," Alfred replied. The butler was not surprised at the confirmation of what he himself had known since he laid eyes on the boy. "Not to be indelicate, but what do you intend to do with the lad? Furthermore, do you really believe Talia?"

"About the war? I do, I've reached out to several contacts. It's real. Ra's is winning, but barely, they'll come to terms soon. The conflict is needless and serves neither of them." Bruce answered, crossing his arms before glancing at Alfred who gave him a look with a raised eyebrow that caused him to sigh. "With regards to leaving Damian with me, I don't know. It could be as simple as what she said about him needing protection but…"

"But it is Talia and nothing involving her is ever simple." Alfred took in a deep breath before standing up, an action which took more effort each day, to place a hand on Bruce's shoulder. "We must face the possibility that she sent him here merely to learn your skills and seize both your public and private resources for the League and her father."

"I know, he's dangerous," Bruce admitted the feeling in his stomach was sinking even deeper as he looked at the photo of Damian, his mind conjuring up everything that he knew the League was capable of. "However, whatever the case is, the boy doesn't deserve to be turned into a weapon or tool of a gang of criminals."

"So I take it we are adding another pupil to our ranks?" His eyes were already assessing his charge as only he could.

"I am teaching Xialing to survive, nothing more. I'll teach Damian the same," Bruce responded, his tone and body language told Alfred he was honest or at least believed his words "I have no desire to allow them or anyone to put on those uniforms again. I'm not even going to let them go in the cave"

"You might want to tell both of them that. They are in there currently sparring," Alfred's comment took a moment to sink in as he stepped back from Bruce knowing what the man would do.

"WHAT?!" Bruce turned around to glare at Alfred who was unfazed by Bruce's snarl. "How the hell did they get in?!"

"Miss Xialing, as she has previously proven, is very adept at getting into places she should not and as for Master Damian, while he appears to have had league training which is no surprise, he is also your son," Alfred's statement came with a slight smile that caused Bruce to open his mouth but stopped and just let out a growl before turning around and striding away.

Alfred trailed behind him as Bruce moved to one of the many secret entryways dotted around the manor, many of which led to the cave or else escape routes from the building. As they descended into the cave Alfred observed Bruce who hadn't been this agitated since Master Greyson had stumbled onto the cave. However, the former ward's discovery had been an accident and only occurred after he had lived in the manor for nearly half a year, Damian had known his father for barely a week and had been in the manor less than a day and was already inside. Bruce's son was proving every bit as troublesome as his father had at 10, although Bruce's difficulty had manifested as brooding, intense study, getting into places he shouldn't and dangerous acts.

'So actually, they were acting exactly the same' Alfred's reflection caused him to smirk a little as the secret elevator finally stopped opening up to reveal the cave.

It took seconds for Bruce and Alfred to spot where the two young intruders had gotten to, as it was the only area of the cave that had the lights on and Bruce wasted no time heading straight to it. The area in question was the cave's training area, it was quite extensive and like many areas of the cave actually had quite a few sub-layers to it beyond the surface area that Bruce had added over the years. The main training area was a large open space that looked very strange. It was a mix of a Western gym, a Japanese dojo and a high-tech sparring circle with large mechanical posts just inside its edge. There were also a number of weights, exercise devices, Wing-Chun Dummies, stands of weapons and a host of other equipment for training dotted around as well.

It was the sparring circle that was currently in use as both of the young interlopers were inside of it and for some reason had decided to fight each other with seemingly no hesitation. Damian was standing proudly commanding the centre of the ring, in his right hand was a blunted training Katana whilst his left hand was free. Xialing however controlled the rest of the circle; she was prowling around the outer edges of the circle, looking much like a cat waiting to pounce, eyes narrowed and focused. Alfred's barrow furrowed as he saw that she was armed with a rope dart, an unusual weapon of choice and in most fighter's opinion a largely impractical weapon that was more for show than real use.

However, as flung the weapon forward and then twisted her body causing the projectile's directions to change suddenly he had to admit she was looking more natural than he had seen her before. Her attack caused Damian to raise his sword in defence only to quickly pivot to block Dart's new line of attack, he was seamless in transition flicking his sword down to deflect the dart. Xialing however took the opportunity to close the distance rushing forward shortening the rope with one hand and flicking it forward again as a cover for the flying kick she unleashed. Both failed to make contact with Damian, his sword as if magnetic flicked up again to deflect the dart with blinding speed as he then pivoted on one foot out of the way of the flying girl.

It was as Xialing landed, stumbling a little to turn her aggressive attack into a roll to regain balance that Alfred realised that they had stopped in their approach. They were just at the edge of the training area and if the children had not been distracted they would have clearly seen both men watching them. He turned and although Bruce's face had not softened he saw that his former charge's eyes had narrowed as he analysed and examined the fight, evaluating every footfall, block, strike and movement. Although he rarely spoke of it Alfred knew that Bruce had a deep love, more of an obsession in fact with combat and martial arts, he had lived and breathed it since he was a boy of eight. It was also that love that Alfred knew he was more hesitant of than anything else, Bruce for all his grandeur and restraint was a man who dealt in violence and some part of him relished in it, loved it. It was that love of violence that he spent every waking moment when in the suit to control, to temper with focus and commitment to the promise he had made.

"AHHH! You'll pay for that!" Damian's words were caused as Xialing finally managed to land a blow, having managed to wrap her rope around his sword and pull him off balance to allow her a kick to his side.

Her strike however resulted in Damian dropping his restraint both hands going to the hilt of his sword, he went on the offence unleashing a baggage of strikes that forced Xialing back. The girl to her credit managed to use her own weapon to parry every swing but little else, she was fast losing control of the fight. Damian allowed her no room, pressing his advantage as he lunged forward, flicking his sword casually upwards to the right deflecting her dart behind her. His sword now raised Damian brought it down straight at her head the speed and angle meant she had no chance to avoid or clock it.

CLANG

Both of the children blinked as the sword that had been careening towards Xialing's head was suddenly knocked from Damian's hand and sliding away from them on the floor. Xialing's rope dart had also been torn from her hands, the speed of its departure caused her look around to search for it. Bruce's large imposing figure approaching gave an answer to what had happened as he caught the Batarangs that he had thrown, one in each hand. Alfred had long since ceased trying to figure out where Bruce hid the projectiles on his person and just assumed he always had them on him somehow.

"WHAT. ARE. YOU. DOING? This area is not a playground!" Bruce's snarl caused even Damian, who had only projected an air of arrogance and authority since his arrival to freeze, whilst Xialing just looked mortified. "One of you, explain, now !"

"I was merely taking stock of my future inheritance when this… interloper attacked me," Damian was the first to reply straightening up to his full height that didn't even reach the bottom of Bruce's chest

Bruce's narrowed eyes moved to Xialing, the girl also strengthening herself up, he didn't say a word but was clearly giving her permission to speak.

"He broke in here, I told him it was off limits, he…. insulted me." Xialing eyes met Bruce's as she spoke before she suddenly looked away shame darting across her young features "This conflict was my fault, I lost my temper so I tried to grab him to make him leave which is when the fight broke out. I am sorry I broke the rules."

Bruce was silent for a few moments as his eyes darted between the two children examining them he then turned his head and saw the scuff marks and the cracked displays of some of the cases of the trophy wing. He quickly pieced together the events and it lined up with what Xialing was saying, the fight hadn't started in the training area the two had just stumbled into it. Judging by bruises on Damian's knuckles and elbows he was the one largely responsible for the cracked cases.

" Xialing ," Bruce's voice was firm and hard it caused the young girl to hold her breath ready for a reprimand. "Your footwork is appalling, that kick was overly aggressive and your acrobatics are in dire need of work. We'll begin working on your rope dart form tomorrow, you'll also be enrolling in the Gotham Academy's Gymnastics and Ballet programs as Cassandra Cain as both extra training and cover for your new skills. Understood?"

"Yes sir," Xialing replied blinking again in surprise as she gave him a quick nod.

"Good. Alfred, take Xialing upstairs, treat any wounds she might have, and make arrangements with the Academy."

Bruce half turned to the butler who just gave a crisp nod of his head and gestured for the young girl to follow him, leaving father and son alone. The cave became silent again as Bruce's eyes locked onto the display cases that held his suit and those of his former apprentices, lingering on the dark red of the Robin suit. He turned back to Damian had returned to his self-important nature a look on his face that screamed of arrogance and privilege, he knew who Damian was trying to imitate but he lacked the presence Ra's had and so instead of projecting authority he just looked….. sad.

"What do you want, Damian? What do you desire from life?" Bruce's voice was calm and measured accompanied by a sigh that caught the young boy off guard,

"I want my inheritance and to be worthy of it," Damian responded with pride but the edge of his tone and his quickness in response told Bruce he had practised the line before "I will wear both the mantles of my father and grandfather, I will be both Ba-"

"Your grandfather is a madman, his mantle is one of blood and death." Bruce's statement cut off Damian who just blinked in surprise as if he had never experienced being interpreted before which Bruce reflected was a possibility given his upbringing

"My grandfather is a great man," Damian shot back, he squared off against his father, the act being largely defeated by their sheer size difference.

"Ra's Al Ghul is one of the greatest men I have ever met. I owe him a great deal. That doesn't change the fact that he is insane" Bruce just looked at his son, his eyes burrowing into the green eyes of the Al Ghul's "A fact enforced by the belief he has clearly imparted that my mantle can be inherited. You can't inherit it. "

"I am your son" Damian glared at the looming figure of Bruce Wayne who did not react at all to the glint in the eyes of his son.

The glint in his eyes was combined with a slight tinge of shock however it was clear in that moment looking past the boy's glare that there was something deeper than just anger at denial of his supposed inheritance. Bruce knew the league well and Ra's Al Ghul better, judging by the scars on his body and calluses on his hands Damian had been pushed hard, probably trained since he could walk, pushed to be the best. However, Bruce knew that would have been combined with reinforcement of his supposed destiny every day of life, of the titles that were supposed to be his and that this was likely the first time that was being called into doubt. There was something more though just at the edge of the boy's eye, something that stayed Bruce for the moment, causing the looming figure to recede slightly although he didn't actually move.

"You don't understand what I am, what all this truly is, why you can't inherit this" Bruce gestured to the cave around him his hand subconsciously ending at the display case that held his suit, the dark sentinel of the cave's observing the interaction "What sacrifices are required, what commitment it takes, what… What it means to become something more."

Bruce trailed off as he looked not at his son but at the suit, its lifeless eyes burrowing into more deeply than any living one could do.

"I am willing and more than able," Damian spoke proudly straightening his back his voice losing its slight waver as he took his father's words as a challenge rather than a warning

"Not with the form I just saw, you are overly aggressive, have no restraint, and you went for harm and blood rather than precision and victory" Bruce's eyes went back to Damian judging what was before him he watched as Damian opened to bite back but was stopped as he spoke again, "When you are with me, you will follow my rules. You will do what I say when I say it, and if you don't then you're gone. If you can do that, we start training tomorrow; physically, mentally and most importantly socially."

"Socially?" Confusion entered Damian's voice for the first time as he raised an eyebrow at the word.

"You need to experience the real world if you want to be my son, if you want to be a Wayne. "

Bruce turned on his heels walking away from his son, his mind already coming up with ideas for Damian's public persona and hopefully to show the boy there was more to life than Ra's Al Ghul's insanity.

"Because Waynes… socialise."

(Grand Prix De Monaco - Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo, Monaco - May 26th 2010)

The Hotel De Paris was a hive of activity as it always was when the Grand Prix was held, it afforded the best view of the race without being in the stands and its luxury amenities meant it was the natural place for the owners to gather. Bruce cast his gaze around the room and saw the usual crowd that always attended events like this, the rich, the powerful and the famous. He took a few minutes to examine everyone and saw nothing out of place or cause for concern. August D'Angelo, CEO of Roxxon was present with a woman who wasn't his wife, no surprise there. Warren Worthington, the fifth richest man in the world, had also appeared with his son and wife. Interesting. He doesn't own a team, so why come here? Nina Da Costa's loud voice drew his focus as she quickly tried to cover her shout at her children with a smile to the room before glaring at her son.

Even though he owned his own team and the event had been on his schedule for months he would have largely skipped the event had it not been for the two opportunities it afforded. The first was that Tony Stark was going to be present, he had just named Virginia Potts as the new CEO of Stark Industries, so he needed to see both how bad Tony's condition had gotten and assess the woman who would inherit claim to his Arc reactor technology. However, Tony was fashionably late as always, so he was currently focusing on his other reasons for being present, namely training Damian and Xialing's social skills.

Xialing's persona as Cassandra Cain still needed a lot of work; she was doing a good job of looking bored and pretending to be vain and vapid. However, she was still awkward when talking to people that she was supposed to get along with or at least in public pretend to get along with. Bruce wasn't too surprised she had been raised in a mountain stronghold by a terrorist organisation so her social skills weren't great. The whole pretending to like vain rich idiots was something he had also struggled with as well when he first started, exposure was key and eventually, she would get there.

Damian though was as close to socially inept as one could get. Where Xialing merely struggled with high society she at least knew how to somewhat act like a normal person, Damian clearly did not. He stared at people with cold calculating eyes, spoke to everyone like he was an adult who viewed everyone beneath him and couldn't seem to resist belittling someone. The first two weren't ideal but they could work on them and possibly make it as a foundation of a rich spoiled privileged brat persona however it was the belittling that was the issue. Damian was smart, he already knew that, but he had been trained to be observant too and it turned out he couldn't resist showing it off by making scathing deductions and analyses of people that no ten-year-old boy could make.

" This is pointless" Damian muttered as he moved back to his father's side after his very brief stint talking to some of the children near his own age. " I should be training, not wasting my time with…. this, "

" This is your training. Furthermore, some normal human interaction will do you some good," Bruce replied to his son glancing up at him becoming more impressed that his father had replied seemingly without moving his lips. " Tell me, what have you observed so far? What do you see?"

"I see -"

Damian began observing the unusual number of young people attending he was guessing his arrival on the scene as Bruce Wayne's newly uncovered sole heir meant that these people saw a new way to ingratiate themselves with his father. It was pitiful really, that they had brought their pampered naive offspring to try and strike up friendships to either get close now or as a potential path in the future. However, he stopped himself as he noticed that his father's attention suddenly shifted to the entrance where a red-haired lady had appeared, Damian's eyes narrowed as something was off about the woman.

"Mr. Stark, how was your flight?" Natasha Romanoff or Natalie Rushman as she was currently posing greeted Tony and Pepper who had arrived fashionably late to the event.

"It was excellent, thank you. Boy, it's nice to see you," Tony's last comment wasn't made to the very curvaceous Agent Romanoff but to the glass of bourbon a waiter had just offered him. "So what's the plan?"

"We have one photographer from the ACM, please if you don't mind" Bruce smirked a little as Romanoff took the drink off of Tony swiftly and positioned him and Pepper quickly for a photo before moving them swiftly along towards a table like an expert assistant. "You also have a 9:30 dinner, a meeting with the Osborn investors tomorrow at 10 and nothing else until your flight at 7 PM as per your request."

"Perfect, I'll be at dinner at 11, cancel the Osborn lot." Tony smiled moving past the table that had been allocated for him towards the best seat in the house that overlooked the track. "Is this us?"

"It can be," Natasha responded with a polite smile her brain already processing the options on how to obtain the table to keep up her cover and her proximity to Tony.

"Actually it can't, as it's mine," Bruce moved forward Damian scrambled slightly surprised at his father's sudden movement, whilst Xialing played her cover perfectly waltzing over her face glued to her phone her expression bored. "They always save me the best seat, however, I am more than happy to share if it allows me to speak with my new business partner. You are looking lovely today Miss Potts."

"It's nice to see you to Mr Wayne," Pepper responded with the polite respectfulness that she was famous for, her eye's turned to Damian and Xialing who appeared next to Bruce "And who are these charming companions?"

"Oh yes, this is my ward, Cassandra Cain." Bruce gestured to Xialing who played her role perfectly glancing up from her phone only briefly before he then gestured to Damian whose eyes just narrowed and focused on Romanoff "And this is my son, Damian."

" Son?! " Tony spluttered out his drink his eyes widening as he looked at the boy.

Tony wasn't actually surprised that the guy had a kid, he had always suspected that given the his reputation he had a host of children, what surprised him was it being official. Yes, as he looked at the unusually serious ten-year-old who seemed to be unhealthily staring at his new assistant, there was no denying the little munchkin was Bruce's. Wayne Jr. was like a clone, only with a slightly narrower face and green eyes instead of a sharp square jawline and crystal blue eyes. Looking at the boy caused his stomach to twist slightly as he glanced at Pepper and wondered for a moment about how, if he only had more time, whether his kid would take after him or her.

"Indeed. I am Damian, heir to the Wayne name and fortune," Damian spoke his sharp green eyes moving from the undercover Romanoff to Tony.

" Okay?" Tony responded, glancing at Pepper who just shrugged at the boy's strange response both missing Bruce's quick bat glare directed at his son before quickly plastering a smile on his face "You know what, Bruce? Thanks but we are swamped, we'll get something pencilled in. Natalie works something out. And Pepper, a drink?"

"Yes, please," Pepper quickly took the chance and left with Tony to the bar, only for their escape to lead them to Justin Hammer who was in an interview with Christine Everheart-Vale.

" Damian, go stand with Alfred," Bruce's voice was barely a whisper but his tone left no room for argument as Damian glared at his father before sulking off to go stand with the butler in the corner of the room. " Cassandra, stay with him until this is over. Keep him from doing anything stupid."

Xialing gave a subtle nod and then casually walked away taking a slightly long route to end up next to Damian who looked like a snake caught in a trap, his mood only worsening when Xialing arrived next to him. Bruce kept a smile on his face his eyes tracking Damian and Xialing even when he wasn't looking at them, his mind racing with how to settle Damian quicker, evidently he was worse than he initially believed. However, it made sense though, the League worshipped the Al Ghuls and Damian was incredibly skilled for his age, he was a prodigy so constant difference combined with skill would naturally make anyone arrogant and prideful.

Although the League did pride themselves on their stealth and ability to blend in, it was clear Damian either hadn't reached that stage of training yet or had neglected it. He was starting to suspect that part of the reason Talia had dropped the boy on him was so that he could impart those skills as it was clear his earlier training wasn't working. Damian's face suddenly changed to one of complementation as Alfred leaned down and started to whisper something to the boy, the two engaged in an exchange of whispers that ended with Alfred returning to his perfectly poised standing position and Damian just deeper in thought.

" So, a son and a ward?" Natasha moved next to him playing her part as Tony's assistant flawlessly her eyes glancing at the children.

" Yes, and not a topic of discussion," Bruce replied smiling as he moved unprofessionally close to the woman, however, Nat didn't react knowing it was nothing but an act and it allowed them to speak easier. " Tony's condition has worsened, he's wearing makeup and has lost weight. I'm guessing you're monitoring him. How bad is he?"

" Bad, I cloned his blood screener so we get a read-out whenever he checks. His blood toxicity is at 52%," Nat responded, she didn't like sharing information with Bruce but Fury had green-lit sharing this data as if Tony died Bruce might be the only one to keep Arc technology on a leash "Our medical team says if he reaches 60% or above…"

"He'll likely suffer massive organ failure, not ideal." Bruce finished the medical assessment as Nat watched as his face stayed the same but his eyes narrowed as his mind analysed the situation. " Hmm, I would suggest Lithium Dioxide, not a cure but it should slow down the degradation,"

"Lithium Dioxide?" Nat would have raised an eyebrow if they hadn't been in public. " Isn't that highly toxic?"

"Under normal circumstances, yes, but with Palladium poisoning the chemical reaction should do more good than harm," Bruce replied. He lifted his glass to Justin Hammer who had cornered Tony and Pepper at a table with Christine Everhart-Vale on his arm. " You should go, a good assistant would save him from that idiot."

Nat gave him a quick sideways glance before straightening up slightly and then power-walking over to Tony and Pepper, quickly extracting them from the situation. Bruce moved quickly as well knowing that with Tony gone Justin Hammer would try and catch him to show off to Christine that he was pals with the world's richest men. Bruce largely observed the room as he went through the usual motions of speaking to the rich and powerful, the only difference this time was anyone who had a child brought that fact up and tried to organise time spent between their own youngster and either Damian or Xialing. He politely declined the more aggressive parents and gave tactful non-committal answers to the rest and the ones he couldn't afford to alienate.

After a while, Bruce's attention was diverted to Pepper Potts who was strangely seated alone at the second-best table in the restaurant with Tony nowhere in sight and Natasha lingering close by. He quickly glanced at his table and saw that Alfred was standing by it expertly directing the food and drink service whilst Xialing's Cassandra persona sat bored at the table. Damian surprised him, he was still observing the room however it was more muted than before and he had a bored expression or an attempt at one, he was trying to copy the expressions he was seeing on the faces of the other rich children.

He put that to one side for the moment and moved over to speak with Pepper, preparing for a number of ways this could go as recalled their last encounter. In his decades as Batman, he discovered that the recurring major downside of his public persona was that he spent a lot of time cleaning up relationships with women. Largely he mitigated this by only targeting his so-called charms on the vapid and vain fortune seekers or women with whom having a bad interaction wouldn't affect his business relations, not his proudest act but necessary for the mission. However, he was now in the rare position of having to convince someone he had dealt with solely as idiot playboy Bruce that the real Bruce was the savvy businessman other CEOs feared.

"Miss Potts," Bruce's appearance caused her to jump slightly, she had been so distracted looking around for Tony that a herd of Rhinos could have walked up without her noticing. "I just wanted to congratulate you on your new position. It must all be a bit billy for you?"

Bruce gave her his best charming but non-flirting smile as he dipped slightly into a bit of light Gotham slang to disarm her. He had looked into Pepper Potts and probably knew her better than Tony did, one thing that had been a pleasant surprise to discover was that she was actually from Gotham originally, although that had soured slightly on learning where she grew up in Gotham. She had lived in Gotham until she was about 19 when she was accepted by NYU and from what he could tell had never set foot back in the city since then, not that he could blame her.

She was what Gothamites called an Allyer, as she was born and raised in Gotham's Northside, specifically Park Row or as the locals used to call it Crime Alley. Her parents had been small business owners running a bar in the slightly better part of the neighbourhood which wasn't saying much, her father had died of natural causes a few years ago and she had moved her mother to Florida years ago. Like every native of Crime Alley he had met outside of Gotham, Pepper Potts had left Gotham and never went back, Allyers came in two types: those that got stuck in Gotham and those that left it far behind.

"It has left me a bit dusted," Pepper responded with her own Gotham upbringing slipping in both with the use of slang and her accent coming out a little, she blinked and fought a grimace as she realised what she did. "I mean it's been exhausting but well worth it, and I look forward to potentially working together if the need arises."

Bruce kept up his charming smile as he took a seat at the table before Pepper could object or come up with an excuse. She was as skilful as ever dodging any mention that he was a shareholder in what was now her company and was subtly but clearly marking out her position in their new relationship. She was a fellow CEO, not a partner or subordinate, and Stark Industries was a separate company that Bruce just happened to own a piece of.

"Well I do hope our companies have cause to work together the Expo has remained me of all the good work I did with Howard," Bruce mixed in some genuine nostalgia and remorse as he mentioned Tony's father "We had so many plans, a lot of unrealised dreams"

"Like the Arc Reactor?" Pepper asked, her eyes narrowing at Bruce's apparent sympathy,clearly believing his words were an attempt to win her over so he could claim the valuable technology.

"Can I tell you a secret?" Bruce leaned in giving a genuine chuckle that caused Pepper to frown as her usually sharp instincts just told her he was being honest. "I have little interest in the Arc Reactor beyond its potential danger to the world. It was supposed to be a stepping stone to something much bigger, not an end goal itself."

"A stepping stone? To where?" Pepper glanced at the bathrooms where Tony had gone. Worry creeped onto her face which she tried to hide from Bruce.

"A brighter future," Bruce replied honestly, however, his smile faltered as he saw Pepper suddenly frown as she focused on something behind him.

"Oh my god, really?" Bruce heard Pepper sigh as he turned around and saw on the TV screen Tony Stark in a racing suit smiling at a camera.

"What's the point of owning a top-notch racecar if you don't get to drive it!" Tony flashed a devilish playboy smile at the cameras before turning around and jumping into the car.

"Well looks like you've got enough on your plate at the moment," Bruce looked back from the TV to Pepper giving her his best awkward smile. "We can pick this up later."

Bruce moved off swiftly letting Pepper twist around to call Nat over to her to demand if she knew about this, which the secret agent clearly didn't and quickly scrambled to find out more info. Bruce for his part moved back to his own table where he was greeted by a quick glance but very knowing glance from Xialing. Damian stood up and followed his father onto the balcony that overlooked the race track where the first group of cars sped by as the race started in earnest father and son both spotting and following Stark's car as it flew past.

" Foolish and idiotic," Damian's whispered voice was full of venom as he observed the race shaking his head at it all " Why does he engage in such pointless and stupid waste of time?"

"Because he is dying, and dying men want to feel alive," Bruce responded to his son's venom with stoic calm as he turned his head back down the track to where Tony would reappear shortly "He's scared and doesn't…. know….. His uniform is wrong."

Damian's moved forward his smaller frame and height meant he had to lean over the balcony to observe the area his father could easily see. He scanned the area and quickly saw what his father was seeing, there was a man in a high-vis jacket and first responder uniform walking beside the track. The man was out of place, for one he was heading in the wrong direction of the response point that the other emergency personnel were at in case of an accident and he moved differently to everyone else. Suddenly he jumped over the barricade onto the track one of the racecars barely missing him, his appearance caused several shouts and murmurs from the crowd and officials.

" STARK!"

The man suddenly threw his helmet away as his other hand slammed against his chest causing a bright light to appear there. The man's uniform ripped away as a makeshift suit of armour crackled with energy underneath, the man then flicked his hands out to his side and long strange metal whips appeared also glowing brightly. Several racecars rounded the bend unable to stop in time at the man's appearance, he wasted no time as he flicked his whips forward slicing through the cars and causing them to explode.

BOOM!

CRACK!

" STARK!" The man shouted again before rushing forward as Stark's car appeared around the corner, whips moving again to bisect the vehicle.

"Alfred! Get the car take Cassandra and Da-" Bruce had turned from the scene of the fight as Tony scrambled from his car, he stopped himself as he turned to see Damian was gone. " Dammit, take Cassandra and get to safety. "

"Yes, sir," Alfred moved swiftly stopping Xialing from being able to protest as he whisked her off to safety.

Bruce's eyes followed Pepper and Happy as they rushed out of the room with Happy carrying a metal red and gold suitcase attached to his arm. Bruce ignored them as he turned his attention back over to the fight on the track, then his eyes scanned the area for his son. It didn't take long for him to spot the boy. Damian was currently racing down the side of the track having discarded his suit jacket as he headed towards the fight. Bruce's face formed a snarl as he glanced over his shoulder and then to the area around him, there were no cameras and everyone was observing the fight, allowing him to leap off the balcony unobserved.

Bruce grunted as he landed. Leaping off anything wearing just a tailored suit was uncomfortable, and even for him wasn't the best idea. He ignored the pain though and chased after his son, keeping his eyes out for cameras or onlookers as he rushed forward. Fortunately every eye was focused on the battle raging on the racetrack, a battle which had just escalated with Happy ramming a car into Tony's attacker. Pepper had thrown him the metal case which Tony had used to don an emergency suit. Bolts of energy were streaking across the area now as Tony engaged in a superpowered grudge match with his attacker, and stray shots were slamming into the track, stands and nearby buildings. The danger was now evident and the crowd and non-security personnel were starting to flee the area which only added to the chaos.

However, Bruce's world focused on not being spotted and getting to Damian before he did something stupid. The smoke and ash from the ongoing battle provided the perfect cover for him as he tracked his son, his long strides and experience running through a battlezone allowed him to catch up with Damian quickly. Bruce slid underneath a collapsed part of the stand without missing a beat and managed to grab Damian before the boy could jump over the barrier and rush the last few yards to the fight.

" What are you doing?! " Bruce roared the bat surging to life as he held the boy by the scruff of the neck wheeling them both backwards before Damian's appearance was caught on camera. " We don- "

"HELP! OH GOD HELP!" The cry for help caused Bruce's head to snap in the direction of another collapsed stand and let go of Damian. "PLEASE WE'RE TRAPPED!"

"Father?" Damian's confused whisper was barely audible as Bruce rushed in the opposite direction from the raging fight, the boy twisting to look at the fight and then to where his father had gone.

"OH GOD! CLAIRE DON'T MOVE! SOMEBODY HELP!" The woman's voice was coming from a pile of beams and wood that had once been a stand for the race but was now rubble. "PLEASE SOMEBOD-"

The woman stopped as suddenly the rubble that was crushing her lifted away, replaced by a dark shadow silhouetted by the bright midday sun. She glanced up and saw a massive board figure had lifted what seemed an inhuman weight from her, she couldn't make out his face or features but at that moment she didn't care.

"Ma'am, can you move?" Bruce asked, opting for his regular voice as he glanced and saw that a small girl about 9 or 10 was pinned by a beam a little distance from the woman.

"Yes, but my daughter Claire! " The woman's panic returned as she tried to move towards her daughter only for another smaller figure suddenly to appear and slide into the makeshift hole.

" Come on," The woman could only blink as Damian sighed annoyed that he had to do something so beneath him as rescue a weakly-

" THANK YOU! THANK YOU!" Damian froze as the girl's mother had managed to leave the rubble scrambling to take her daughter from his hands before he could register that she was there.

However, that was not what caused him to freeze it was that upon finding her daughter largely unharmed she had thrown her arms around him in a hug. Bruce had dropped the rubble that he had carefully and expertly lifted turning to drag Damian away and crucify him for his act. Upon, seeing the sight of Damian frozen as the woman hugged him any criticism or anger in him died as he saw the unsteady look appear on Damian's face. The boy was in pure shock and couldn't figure out the feeling in his chest nor why the woman had responded like she had.

"We've got to go," Bruce moved forward carefully to keep his features out of sight from the woman who had released Damian and was refocusing on her child.

Damian just stared at the woman and daughter before blinking and giving a brief nod as the two rose and quickly retreated away. Whilst Damian was lost in his own head, Bruce was still carefully observing the world around them and didn't miss the fact that the super-powered fight had ended. Tony stood victorious although his armour was severely damaged and he as holding in his hand what was very clearly an ARC reactor that he had pulled from his opponent.

" YOU LOSE STARK!" Stark's attack spat blood as he roared with laughter even though he was being dragged away by heavily armed policemen. " YOU LOSE!"

As Brue retreated away from the scene he couldn't help but feel a chill go up his spine, as the man's words reflected his assessment of what just occurred. Tony was out of time in more ways than one and the world was becoming more dangerous.

(Fury's Office - Triskelion, Washington DC- May 27th 2010)

Fury looked at the flood of images ranging from blog posts on the internet to headlines from the world's top news agencies, they all said the same thing;

Can Iron Man still protect us?

It was a question that was just building on others that Fury had already been asking himself about the man and was no closer to answering. Tony was a major problem in more ways than just being responsible for creating a new very dangerous technology which appeared to be out in the world now. SHIELD had spent decades keeping the world safe largely by making sure people like Iron Man stayed under the radar or part of a controlled narrative. Fury himself had spent years on such projects and assignments, hell Peggy had had a whole section of SHIELD created to cover up the mess Gotham created seemingly daily, ensuring the monsters it created stayed myths and stories to the rest of the world. But Tony Stark had blown that all apart in one simple line I am Iron Man, and this was the mess it created.

"Are we sure don't want to pull Coulson and Barton into this fully, instead of just support?" Barbara's voice caused Fury to refocus on the woman who providing her advice on the mess they were in. "We could also bring in Agent Grayson, he specialises in these kinds of assignments."

"No, we have a potential 0-8-4 situation in New Mexico that I might need Coulson and Barton on. As for Grayson I have him shadowing General Ross, there is a potential development in the Banner case." Fury replied his eye briefly shifting to the report that Grayson had sent that wasn't painting a great scene developing there. "Besides, Agent Romanoff has the situation handled for now. What of Stark's assailant?"

" His name is Ivan Antonovich Vanko, "

Despite years of tradecraft skills and experience with his soon appearance both Barbara and Fury jumped at Batman's dark voice sounding out from the corner of the room. Both turned as the shadows seemingly appeared to grow as if to create the dark portal that the figure of the Batman appeared from. Even after all these years Fury still had to consciously fight the urge to shift or react to the shiver that went down his spine when seeing the dark, broad imposing figure of Batman. Barbara for her part didn't react at all beyond a quick assessing glance at the armour that she noted was more bulky and partly-mechanised than the last time she had seen it.

"I am going to leave you two alone," Barbara announced already moving her wheelchair to leave having no desire to be near Bruce after he interfered in her life, she however did briefly stop in front of him before leaving, lowering her voice to a whisper. " For old times, I letting you know Dick is beyond angry, you better know what you doing with those kids."

Bruce said nothing as he watched his former student leave the room, he repressed a sigh knowing he overstepped when he offered her boyfriend, now fiance, his support for Gotham's DA. Sam Young had jumped at the chance and had easily won his position as Gotham's new DA and the man was even surprising him with how effective he was being. However, he pushed that to one side for the moment as he focused on Fury.

"We already identified him. I know what's in both the official and unofficial SHIELD record about his father Anton Vanko. However, we have little on Ivan himself" Fury turned his attention fully to Batman as the man moved to stand right in front of his desk "So what do you know that's not in either?"

" With regards to Anton, largely it's what's in the record. Howard and I worked with him on the original ARC Reactor project, brilliant mind, out of all of us he understood the physics the best. We was the one that theorised that the technology could be miniaturized" Bruce remembered the long complex theories and papers that Anton would spend days working on that even Lucius struggled with at times "However, we discovered in the mid-70s that Anton was secretly working for Levethain, the soviet version of SHIELD, trading the technology for money. Howard had Peggy send him back to the USSR. He worked for Levethain for about a year before he realised he couldn't deliver what he promised and ended up in Siberia"

"What about his son, Ivan? What do you know about him?" Fury pressed, his eye narrowing at the information on Anton which wasn't anything they didn't already know. "Our records on him are very piecemeal."

" Ivan holds multiple degrees in the fields of physics and mechanical sciences and was a wonder child. According to my source, Ivan worked briefly for Leviathan in an attempt to rebuild his family's reputation, he was one of their top weapon designers so it's not surprising that you couldn't find anything on him."

Bruce accompanied his statement by withdrawing a folder from inside the folds of his cape and placing it on the table.

"If he was so promising how did he end up in jail for 15 years and then dumped in Siberia with his father?" Fury picked up the file and fought back the grimace that Bruce's intelligence gathering was still somehow better than the entirety of SHIELD's.

"Gorbachev's democratization of the Union crippled Levithan, left it without funds and lacking purpose, hardlines inside the organisation tried to push back and supported the 1991 coup attempt." Bruce was motionless as he gave his findings to Fury, his eyes however glancing at the other files on the director's desk "Ivan merely picked the wrong side and found himself on the outside in the new Russia. Not one for any ideology he tried to use his connections from the now-dismantled Levithan to become an arms dealer. Didn't work he was caught in 93 trying to sell weapons-grade plutonium to Pakistan."

"He's apparently dead," Fury's statement as he closed the file caused the usually stoic Bruce to frown as he hadn't been aware of it "We've kept it quiet, there was a riot at the prison he was in and he died in an explosion caused by it. We had agents on the way to pick him up, the body was burned beyond recognition and we don't have any dental records to compare it to."

" I'll look into it, " Bruce replied already formulating plans and routes to investigate " However, that's not why I came, Tony possessing the technology was manageable but now it's out in the world and with Tony dying this could spiral out of control."

"I know, the medical team ran tests and they agree that Lithium Dioxide will work to abate his symptoms," Fury reached down to a draw next to him and removed a thick file that he placed on the table for Bruce to read "I've got something that also might solve his health issue and keep him on the board."

Bruce picked up the file and quickly flipping through it saw what Fury's plan was, it was all of Howard's old notes on the original Arc Reactor project and then his follow-up research when the project had stalled. Bruce was surprised at how long Howard had kept up with the project, he knew Howard had kept going when it stalled but according to the notes he had kept going right up to the day he died. Bruce knew what Fury was planning he wanted to see if Stark could solve the final piece of the puzzle that he, Howard, Anton and Lucius had failed at, creating the theorised element that would make it all work.

" How much are you going to give him?" Bruce asked his eyes connecting with Fury's remaining one as he closed the file and placed it on the desk.

"All of Howard's property that he left to SHIELD, notes, research, even the old film reels." Fury watched as Bruce tensed and knew what the man was worried about "I've removed anything Batman-related, I promise nothing that I provide Stark will link you to Batman. Although, Bruce Wayne is going to be in it"

"That's fine let me know if it works," Bruce turned to leave but paused for a second before turning his head to speak to Fury again, " You didn't have to send him off on a mission to avoid me, I am capable of dealing with it,"

Fury frowned for a second before his own eye saw the half-open file on the Banner case that was still on his desk that he had sent Agent Grayson on. The spymaster just sighed as he leaned back in his chair, Grayson had been nothing but professional at work but anyone who knew him knew something was causing his blood to boil. It didn't take a genius to figure out that the moment he had heard about Bruce's newest wards that his mood had soured, if anything could set Dick Grayson off it was the very idea Bruce might be starting up again.

"I won't deny that was part of it, but Grayson is the best person to observe," Fury addressed Bruce who still had his back to him and looked ready to leave at any moment "He needs to cool off a little before comforting this. I am giving you the benefit of the doubt just…. Just be careful, I'm not Peggy, and I won't stay out of it if children are in danger."

Bruce turned his head away from Fury and started walking back into the shadows that seemed to grow to allow him to leave he paused a second just before leaving.

" They already are in danger."

Fury closed his one good eye before releasing a deep breath and opening it again finding the room now empty but still had dread in the pit of his stomach that everything was about to get complicated.