Son of the Bat

Chapter 1

First Chapter Story! Whoop, Whoop! Love YJ! But, *sniffle*, I don't own it. This is pretty. . . Yeah. A teensy bit of cursing. Not bad words. And only in the first paragraph. I love Robin. So, I should probably let you read the story now. Review! I love hearing what people think!

Batman was the symbol of justice, of unadulterated strength. Not pure, because nobody, nothing in the whole, damned world was pure. But the closest any mortal man could get to righteousness. A self-righteous man, will escape the depths of hell. If anyone could, it was Bruce. Robin had never been more certain of anything before. Surely, if Ra's Al Ghul, the Demon, could escape the Reaper, so could the Batman. So could Bruce. 

But as he watched as a rogue member of the League of Assassins thrust his katana upwards through the chest of the Dark Knight, he felt his certainty crumble. The Justice League had been battling the Light, specifically Talia Al Ghul and the members of the League of Assassins. If he'd been any less of a realist, he would have described the following moments as the world slowing down. The Earth didn't stop spinning. But everyone on that desert plain (Nanda Parbat) stopped moving, regardless of alliances. 

Batman- Bruce- his father, went absolutely limp. He felt his own heart stop as Bruce's did, in a final synchronization with his father, his partner. He had been held up only by the blade, falling (oh, falling, just like his parents did, just like his family, everyone he'd ever loved) when it was removed. 

The assassins, the shadows, swarmed the killer just as the League attempted to circle Batman's body. Talia and Robin were left behind. He met his mother-figure/attempted murderess's eyes. The shocking green look held a message. He had to agree.

"Move." 

Talia said it with practiced authority, sounding ridgid. But Dick knew better, she was suppressing emotions, probably grieving for her beloved. She steered Dick towards the swarm. Robin forced an expression of calm on his face, and could almost picture Talia doing the same. But she was permitted to show fury.

"Pontmercy!" she snarled. "How dare you? Don't kill him. I have more painful things planned. Death is too easy."

But Robin wasn't listening. He was staring at his father. Cold. On the ground. Dead. He felt himself begin to tremble. Not from the intense grief, but rage. The daughter of the demon looked over, obviously expecting him to join in, but it was all he could do to keep himself from lunging over to Pontmercy and kill him. To not cross that line. 

Wonder Woman took a step toward him, obviously meaning to comfort him, but Talia beat her to it. He didn't want comfort, he wanted his father to be alive! Diana didn't understand, she could never understand. Talia put a hand on his shoulder. Then another. Soon he was being embraced, but both of them still faced forward. He was still shaking.

"Stay away from him!" Superman cried. But the Boy Scout couldn't stop what had started.

"Ibn al Xu'ffasch," Talia murmured in his ear, in flawless Arabic. "It is time. Take your place, accept your mantle. We can bring him back. Together."

Ronin stiffened, almost imperceptibly, he saw the Justice League's concerned looks. He stepped forward, towards his mentor, and knelt down. He was wounded as well. Nothing comparable to a bad night in Gotham, a moderate concussion, a couple cracked ribs, some broken, a twisted wrist and ankle, recently relocated shoulder, and a couple sword grazes. The only stab wound was on his left thigh and only a couple inches deep. He ignored the ripping, fiery pain, the way Batman would have.

 He lifted his mentor's arm and carefully wrapped it around his shoulders. He stood up shakily, desperately trying to control his rapid heartbeat and ragged breathing. Batman was heavy, pure muscle, and the Kevlar ballgown of a cape didn't help matters. He stumbled as he took a step forward. The Justice League made no attempt to help him, and no attempt to stop him, watching the Boy Wonder as though he was a caged animal, who wasn't performing the show he had been trained for, who was incapable of performing it. Utterly still, they watched him. None of his 'aunts' or 'uncles' even stepped forward. Neither did his team. Kaldur had a slightly protective look on his face, Miss Martian looked lost. Wally glanced around nervously, and Superboy just looked confused. Only Artemis could empathize. The League, his 'Aunts' and 'Uncles' looked disappointed, scared. 

Batman was their leader, and now, he was dead. 

Pure exhaustion threatened to take hold, but he fought it off as valiantly as he'd done grief. Batman wasn't dead, or at least he wouldn't be for very much longer. The Lazarus Pits were near. He felt his knee give out, under the weight of the Bat. He was shaking, but not for emotion. Suddenly, he felt pressure - not all, but some - be relieved. He raised his head, expecting 'Uncle Clark' or his 'brother' Roy, or Wally, or even Kaldur'ahm, to have taken Batman's other arm. It was Talia. He nodded, for gratitude, and as a response to earlier. They would bring him back. Together. 

Oliver, Green Arrow, for all his 'idiocy' and pushover act, understood the League of Assasisins. "Robin, if you leave, we won't be able to find you. Save you. You can't bring him back, it's not natural. It's not right. Please, don't take another step. Don't become one of them. We can help you. We can save you."

Not natural? Not right? Oliver had been revived before! He was bringing back the Batman, hope, to the world. He opened his eyes, struggling to keep them open. If he turned his back on them now, Batman might never forgive him. If he didn't, there would be more lost than a broken alliance.

He stepped towards the home of Ra's al Ghul. Towards the Lazarus Pit. Towards his father's life.

 "I don't need saving."