Fowl tongue, have my words

Frankenstein, Wuthering Heights, and Gargoyles

"I will burn this city to the ground."

"You won't get a chance." His chest heaved through the pain, turning to face a corrupted man who had lost sight of his aspirations. Aspirations Bruce had once respected him for. The scurry and squeak of bats fleeing to the cave's roof echoed in the large cavern. The hard shell of his cowl dropped against the floor, smearing the drops of blood that decorated the floor below him. A faint smile as he raised his head.

He raised his arm, curling it into a fist, "Gotham is their city now." The quiet beep from his gauntlet's interface was the only noise preceding the chaos of explosions. Years worth of souvenirs, of history, encased by rock and metal, collapsing the Wayne mansion that resided above. They spent their last moments fighting while fire rained from above.

—————

"If you're watching this, I'm dead. This is a Code Black. This message was automatically triggered when I destroyed the cave and everything it contained." It was warm for once in Gotham. Ash and smoldering fire choked the air as the four vigilantes searched for him. She held a gauntlet they all knew very well gingerly. "I know what's coming won't be easy." Oh, how they searched for him, using skills imparted and ingrained. Finding drops of blood and whipping their heads towards a limp exposed arm. "There!" He cried, pointing towards a large chunk of debris, rebar twisted and curled around like thorns. "But then, nothing we do is easy. "They heaved the concrete, uncaring of where it landed as their gaze met his. But he wasn't looking back.

They held each other back as they refused the notion. Dropping to their knees as they rested their hands on his body. "I've prepared for it as best as I can." Disbelief and shock. Horror was far behind them. I know you have to. A gentle hand closed his eyes, "I'm sorry it's come to this."

"We both know it won't take long for Gotham's criminals to realize the Batman is gone. And you can't count on the GCPD. Haven't trusted us since Jim died. I'm leaving you the Belfrey as a base of operations. Some of the technology is outdated, but it has the gear you need, and all my files."

How the city cried with them, "Many of you know Bruce from Gotham's celebrity pages. A handsome, charming billionaire. And he was that. But he was more than a headline. He was my nephew. He was a friend, a mentor, and a benefactor to those of us gathered here today. And to those of you he didn't know as we did, I want to tell you this: Bruce was Gotham. He loved the city more than he loved anything. He was a protector of the city. He worked tirelessly behind the scenes to bring justice and equality. There's nothing he wouldn't do – no project he wouldn't champion if he thought Gotham would benefit. And I think in remembering that...we remember Bruce as he truly was." And the heart that grieved the most stepped into the rain, grief running through his veins as he placed his hands on the coffin before him—a son.

"You've always had my back when I needed you. I know you'll keep Gotham safe. Good luck. And Goodbye."

'How's Alfred?" Jason lingered at the grave, his feet sinking into the mud slightly.

"What you'd expect...took him three years to agree to a vacation, and Bruce turned up dead?" Dick shook his head as he softened his tone," He asked for some time."

"He knows none of us were there either, right?" Tim's voice was quiet, hinted with anxiety.

"What about you? You let Jacob Kane give the eulogy." Barbara reached her hand out as Dick's eyes watched the drizzle of rain ripple in the puddles. There was an unsaid sort of disbelief of this turn of events.