The True Fear of Bruce Wayne

Chapter 11: Messenger

Bruce's training had gotten quite intense. He had to face hallucinations of his fears, but he was able to conquer them too easy. Although the training pushed him and made him better they did not reveal his true fears. Azrael knew Bruce's mind was holding something back.

This was the last session for Bruce's training. But he didn't know that. Azrael had seen him grow, and although he was a good enough hero as it was, he saw that there was still one factor holding Bruce back.

Azrael stood there in the middle of the training circle staring at the sky. "I once had a family. A life. But that all ended when I held back," he said to Bruce,"I held back because of my fears. It cost me my future, and it will cost you yours if you do not figure out what is tieing you down. You must figure out the true fear of Bruce Wayne. The real reason that Scarecrow defeated you." That made Bruce think. Scarecrow had defeated him because of weakness.

But what was that weakness? Bruce thought hard. Maybe this weakness wasn't as much a weakness, as a nature. Human nature. The weakness to have fear, to have courage towards that fear. Maybe this weakness, this "fear" was actually a strength, waiting to be uncovered. Maybe he had not been human enough. Shutting out his friends, Alfred, Tim, and Barbara caused him to trully have a fear. To be isolated.

Bruce, realising what he needed to do, looked at Azrael. Azrael then said, "You have completed your training Wayne. You figured out that the way to get past fear is to embrace that fear is human nature, but you can't let it control you. With that, it is your decision wether or not to return to your beloved Gotham."

Bruce looked at him, looked around, and with instense confidence said, "When do I leave?" The Dark Knight was coming back.