The Dark Knight & The Boy Wonder

[Batman (Bruce Wayne)]

The Dark Knight & The Boy Wonder


Story By: Batman and Hal
Heroes: Batman, Robin I
Villains: Tony Zucco

Plot: When a young man's family is murdered the police are unable to provide enough evidence to convict the killer. Bruce Wayne takes on a bold initiative and adopts the boy as his own son. Batman is determined to convict Tony Zucco while struggling with the responsibilities of Bruce Wayne's obligation to an emotionally distressed son.



Jim: “You know more than anyone what he’s going through--…”

Bruce: “-Did the find him?”

Jim: “…--Who?”

Bruce: “The man who is responsible for killing them.”

Jim: “Truthfully, we don’t have sufficient evidence to prove anyone has done it, it could’ve been an accident...Don’t worry about the case, Mr. Wayne, the boy needs someone who understands what its like to…”

Bruce: “Commissioner, it’s not going to be that easy. You need to find the killer; you’ll make it at least easier for him to sleep at night.” He insisted with a firm tone.

Jim: “I understand that and we’ll do the best we can. Focus your attention on the boy. Thank you, Mr. Wayne…and good luck. If he says anything new about the case, anything, give my office a call.”

Bruce’s dark gaze stared out the window of the living room as the 1942 Ford Limousine drove up the stretch of highway. Commissioner Gordon began walking leaving the living room to step out of the front door. Bruce lowered his head and stiffened his chin. A sensation of a dagger staked through his chest burdened him. A sweat of guilty rushed over him as a blanket of judgment slammed down on him with those two sets of eyes. A gaze of anger crunched together and softened towards the 6 foot tall portrait of his mother and father. <c>

His hands tucked neatly into a pair of khaki tan pants, is elbows tucked against his frame indicating the insecurity and weakness he felt. He had let them down, his cowardice caused their deaths. Their killer hid behind the barrel of a gun and didn’t stop there, after killing them he ran away and wasn’t caught until years later. Years of torment wondering if the man was still at large, if he was still in Gotham, wondering how many victims he had claimed. He had done a lot to his soul He sought to understand what made the criminal mind tick, to bring solace, justification, or reason to those events. It took many things to help Bruce recover…<c>

Many great men and women; Zatara and Ra’s were the dominant figures, they weren’t fathers to Bruce, rather they were mentors that gave Bruce insight into the world. A search for vengeance and a need for justice helped shape him into the Batman and forsake his life as Bruce Wayne in order to inspire good within the citizens of Gotham. Bruce could never be John Grayson, but that’s not what Dick Grayson needs…He doesn’t need a man trying to be his father; he needs a mentor – and perhaps Bruce Wayne could be that mentor, a goal for the young man to strive for.

[Azrael]

The next few days came in a massive clump of time that was punctuated only by moments that he understood what was going on. He caught talk about how sorry people were for his loss, talk about where he was to go and how the circus would be more than happy to take him in as, after all, they were all essentially family anyway, and then there was talk about some many named Bruce Wayne that wanted to take him in. Dick knew he was shuffled around a few places by way of a few different cars over the days, and when he could finally realize things again, the large mansion was to the right of him. None of it made a full connection to his mind and he more or less looked, on the outside, like an empty shell that had once been a person.

On the inside, Dick was a swirl of emotion and it was the severity of how badly he felt inside which overwhelmed his ability to show anything overtly. The images of his parents lying on the hard floor of the circus tent, the pools of blood slowly creeping along the ground beneath their bodies whose faces would never smile again, never tell him that he did good or how to improve in the act and personally, never be there anymore when he woke up each morning flowed through his mind over and over again.  They mashed with the happier memories, no thought of his parents, either when they were alive or lay there dead, finishing before the other interrupted.  

It was during a moment of minor clarity that Dick realized he wasn't at the orphanage where he had been kept anymore.  The window of the limo reflected the light of the sun back into the vehicle, lighting up the otherwise dark interior and gleaming a bit off the skin of his cheek and the leather seat covers.  A man dressed in black came around to the door after shutting off the engine, the blue eyes of the teenager flicking up to get a look at the man even though he barely saw him.   When the door opened, he stepped out with his bag and gave a half-hearted nod before starting slowly towards the house.

[Batman (Bruce Wayne)]

James Gordon approached Dick, two uniform cops followed behind him, their muscular features displayed confidence as their gazes looked around the premise in case something were to happen. James smiled at Dick and spoke. "If you can think of any new details....Feel free to give my office a call, son. We'll check on you every now and again, just to make sure." Alfred stood behind Dick offering a hopeful smile to the law enforcement team as Jim left. Alfred would begin to speak to Dick, explaining various things to do at Wayne Manor, a basket ball court, outdoor and indoor pool, such a vast array of activities that could keep the boy and perhaps even his friends entertained.

When the door opened Bruce came to greet Dick, offering a small smile he offered his hand to Dick. "Hey there, Alfred can show you to your room where you can unpack things. If you have any questions don't be afraid to ask. I promise you, I'll do what I can to make this place feel like home for you. Is there anything you need right now?"

[Azrael]

The almost empty eyes of the teen met those of the elder man, the former pausing for a moment to look at Gordon before giving a slight shrug of his shoulders and following the other man into the mansion.  The voice of the man that had driven him here started up, but like everything that had been said to him it was drowned out by the weight of his own sorrow that shunned him into a state that didn't really register anything.  When the door was opened for him and in front of him stood the one who had offered to take in Dick, a man he had never met and whose status was just words to a face, the teenager turned his head up a bit to look at him although with the same distance, thousand yard stare, he gave everything these days.

Dick followed Alfred as he led him inside to his, apparently, new bedroom and home. The door was shut behind him as there was something about letting him settle in. Looking about the room, it was bigger than anything he had ever stayed in before with fine furnishings and everything. He walked around a bit, but didn’t really take in any details as he let his suitcase drop to the side of the bed before he sat back on the edge. Then, sitting there on the edge of the bed, Dick said the first words he had since that terrible night of loss, “Mom… dad…I…I love you…” and dam of built up emotion broken and he began to cry. The tears that poured from his eyes quickly reddened his cheeks and he did nothing to stem the tide or hold them back for they were not tears of sadness, anguish, or pain… but of the cold, but yet lifting acceptance of truth.


At least two hours ticked by, give or take some time, but eventually the door of his room opened and the teen stepped out, but there was a change to him.  The slouch to his shoulders was gone as were the distant look to his eyes.  Now, despite the clear signs of fatigue, he was finally present to the world around him.  Blinking his eyes a few times tgo clear the sleepiness from his  mind as he started down the hallway in front of his room, Dick took in the sights.  He had never seen anything as large that was someone's personal home.  A museum, maybe, the big top of course but that was only a large tent.  This... was just one hallway and it, by what he was used to when it came to halls, was an eyebrow raiser to say the least.

[Batman (Bruce Wayne)]

Bruce noticed the distance in Dick as he simply seemed unaware, distant to everything. There was a time Bruce could relate, he understood completely. Alfred would return to the bottom of the stairs and sighed. "The Young man is most distraught. I don't think I've seen anyone so..." "Distant?" Bruce interjected crossing his arms in front of his chest. "Mm...Yes. Other than when you were a young man yourself. Perhaps Some chocolate milk would do-..." Bruce stepped towards the closet beneath the stairs. "We need to find out who killed his parents. Keep an eye on him while I search the Circus grounds...I'll get some answers."

It would be hours of Batman sneaking around the Haley's circus, but no success in retrieving any solid information only a couple of leads. Returning to the Batcave he would be greeted by Alfred. "How's the boy, Alfred?"

Alfred: "Nothing new to report on, I'm afraid. He's been in his room all day despite my best efforts to lure him into either of our pools or the basket ball court. Tennis does not seem to be his thing, I can't imagine weight lifting in the gym is anything of importance. And your search I presume was most successful?"

"No. A few leads, no one would come out and say it but, I'm left to believe that Tony Zucco, a mob boss was somehow connected to the murder of John Grayson and Mary Grayson." Batman approached the computer and brought up the man's police profile. "He's deeply connected to one of the mob's crime families. I've had him on my list for a while, just haven't gotten around to taking him down yet. Perhaps I could've stopped John and Mary--..."

Alfred: "--Sir, now is not the time for you to be getting hard on yourself. Batman is only one person and he cannot be everywhere at one time! And no matter what you think, neither can Bruce Wayne. Now...I've just spent all day trying to pull that boy back together and give you time to do whatever it is that *you* think will help Master Grayson sleep but, the facts still remain he is without his parents."

Batman: "What do you want me to do?!"

Alfred: "Speak to him, spend more time with him then 30 seconds."

Batman exhaled and nodded. "Alright." Bruce and Alfred would be exiting the cave by the time Dick was coming down the stairs, stepping into the living room from an elevator shaft Bruce would rub the back of his neck. "I wonder what he knows? He may have some lead to help solve the case." Bruce came to spot Dick coming down the stairs and smiled. "Heya...um...Can we talk, for a bit? I-uh...Lets have a seat." Bruce waved for Dick to follow him into the living room. "Richard, I wanted to talk to you about your parents murder. I know it may be painful for you but, I would like to know what happened. Can you tell me, from your words?"