Batman: The Crusaders

Chapter 1

Bruce Wayne's Pov
It was early December, Alfred was trying to get me out of the house to the annual Gotham Christmas Ball. I had protested and protested but Alfred insisted. I had agreed.

I looked in the mirror at myself. I was wearing a dark blue blazer and pants with brown dress shoes. I had a white button down shirt under it with a red tie. I fixed my hair one last time.

I exited my house to the driveway to see Alfred waiting in the small limo. I hopped in the back and he started the car. We drove into town to where the ball was being held.

"No date Mr. Wayne?" Alfred asked.

"No," I said shaking my head.

"Last time you had a date," Alfred said.

"I was sixteen," I replied, "that was a long time ago. People actually cared about me then...only because I was rich, I still am."

"Well," Alfred said, "people might care about you and they might think they don't depend on you...people really don't know just how important Bruce Wayne is. You know that, Bruce, don't you?"

"Yes," I replied. "I've come to that conclusion many years ago."

"You're our protector," Alfred said, "you keep this city in place...you're the glue. Don't ever doubt yourself...please."

"I won't," I said smirking.

After a couple minutes we came upon the building. He stopped the car and we said our goodbyes. I opened the car door closing my jacket, walking towards the entrance. Behind me, I could hear Alfred driving off. I entered the building and suddenly music flooded into my ears.

The room the ball was being held in was huge and nice. It had red and green decorations, setting a Christmas mood. Tables were sat against the wall and a dance floor in the middle. A large speaker was sitting on a stage, playing music. On one end of the room there was a trapeze. Yes a trapeze. Also acrobats were doing tricks on the trapeze. I guess this is what I've been missing all of these years. The acrobats were wearing tight red shirts with green tights and somehow the colors were very corresponding.

"Bruce!" I heard a voice say.

I turned around to see officer (and commissioner) James (or Jim) Gordon approaching me with a girl walking beside him.

"How have you been Bruce?" Jim asked.

"Alright," I replied.

"You remember my daughter Barbara don't you?" Jim asked patting the girl's shoulder that was standing beside him.

"It's been a very long time," I said turning my attention to her. "How are you?"

"I'm good," Barbara replied shaking my hand.

Jim Gordon was chubby, short, and bald. He was a great guy and fun to be around. Barbara looked different. She was taller than him thought she was wearing heals and couldn't be more than 5'6. She had dirty blonde hair and blue eyes. She was wearing a red dress and red heels. She had red lipstick to go    along with her outfit. I had to admit...she was very pretty.

"Well I'm going to go mingle," Jim said, "Barb, you should tell him how you just graduated college."

"Dad..." Barbara retorted.

Jim walked off to a group of people standing around.

"Do you want to dance?" I asked.

"Sure," she replied.

We made our way to the dance floor. She placed her hand on my shoulder and her other hand grabbed mine. I put my other hand on her back. We started dancing to the rhythm of the music.

"College graduate?" I asked. "Where did you attend college?"

"Harvard," she replied.

"Wow," I said. "What was your major?"

"Criminology," she replied.

"Are you wanting to be a cop?" I asked.

"My father wants me to," she replied, "he persuading me in majoring in criminology but...I changed my mind halfway through. I decided why not? But I don't have to be a cop...I could a detective. I've been practicing."

"What have you been practicing?" I asked.

"Trying to find out who Batman is," she said. "I'm just so fascinated by Batman. I have to know who he is and I feel like I'm getting close to figuring out who he is."

"What do you mean you're close to figuring out who he is?" I asked, my heart pounding in my chest.

"I've come down to a couple of people it could be," she said, "but I'm sure it's this one guy."

"Who would that be?" I asked.

"It's my secret," she replied, "I'm getting the credit if it ends up being true."

"And if it isn't?" I asked.

"Trust me," she said, "it's true."

I gulped.

"Goodbye Bruce," she said, "I'm going to go find my father. It was nice seeing you."

She turned around and strutted off.

She had to be wrong. She couldn't have known it was me. She wouldn't be talking to me or she would have told me, one of the two. Nobody could ever find out the true identity of Batman, I kept it a good secret.

Suddenly, the sound a wire snapping echoed throughout the room. The music stopped and everyone turn to face the acrobats. One hung from the trapeze while the rest were falling to the ground, a great height. Women screamed and men yelled as the acrobats fell to the ground. People formed a circle around the acrobats. Jim Gordon cut to the ground and knelt down beside them. They had passed away. The acrobat hanging from the trapeze looked down on us. Though he was very high up, I could tell from his movement and facial features that he was crying. The acrobat swung to the ladder and climbed down as fast as he could. He walked towards the dead acrobats.

"They were a family," Jim said. "I sorry."

"It's alright," the acrobat said, wiping tears from his face.

An ambulance was called and took the bodies away. The acrobat who lived stood outside, answering questions. Jim Gordon brought me to him.

"We were wondering," Jim said into my ear, "if he could live with you for a while...help him back on his feet."

"Sure," I replied looking at the boy.

"What's your name son?" I asked.  

"Dick Grayson," he replied.