Chapter Text
Bruce readies his gears for the final showdown. He needs to stop Black Mask before he pulls the trigger. Bruce arms himself with every possible techs.
"Be safe, Master Bruce.", says Alfred.
"I will."
He leaves the Batcave quickly and heads straight to Sionis Industries. He walks in stealthily avoiding noise. He takes down the guards quickly one by one. He reaches for the main control room. He was sure he would find Black Mask. To his surprise there was no one. He started looking around. Suddendly, he was hit in the back by a thug. Bruce was unaffected. He disarms him and knocks him down. Bruce picks up the man by throat.
"Where is he?", Bruce asks deeply and grittily.
The thugreplies, "He-he...i-is headed for the circus."
"Why?"
"To kill Falcone's kids!"
Bruce knocks him unconscious. He expresses disgust. He should have known Black Mask would be planning to attack in a big occassion. Bruce contacts Gordon.
"Detective! Do you copy?"
"We're on our way!", Gordon replies.
"Tell your units to go to the circus. Black Mask is headed there. He is going to kill the Falcone kids!"
"Alright."
Gordon pauses for a while and commands his units to turn to the circus. With Loeb under arrest Gordon is in charge of commanding the units.
Bruce leaves the industry and heads for the circus. But before any of them could reach. Black Mask and his men had arrived. Black Mask looks around. People are scared seeing creepy looking men in guns.
"Look around! Find them!", he commands his men.
He turns at Garfield and says, "You! You burn them!"
The circus turns into a chaos. Black Mask's men look around firing and shooting bullets. Black Mask enters the main circus tent and fires aimlessly. The Flying Graysons, a renowned circus family are performing among them. John Grayson and Mary Grayson takes few shot. The young teenage Dick Grayson watches as Black Masks murders his parents. He looks at his parentsl lifeless body as they lie on the ground. Black Mask looks around but yet he could not find either of Falcones children. The GCPD arrives in few moments. A mass shooting takes place between Black Masks men and the GCPD. Garfield finds out Mario and Sofia Falcone. Before either could pull a trigger. Garfield burns them both. He look at their burnt bodies and laughs maniacally.
Bruce arrives at the scene a while. The GCPD has cleared the area. The shooting continues. Bruce finds out Black Mask.
"Stop it!", he says.
"Oh. So you're the Bat-Man, huh?", asks Black Mask, "You can't stop me!", he continues. "Vengenance is on it's way!"
Bruce gets imapatient. He disarms him quickly. They both engage in a duel. Punches and kicks thrown to each other. Finally, Bruce was able to knock him down. Black Mask's tears off. Bruce looks at his face. It seemed familiar. He recalls the profile of the Sionis Family that Alfred showed him.
"Who are you?", he asks.
"I am the one that seeks vengenance", he replies.
"Roman Sionis...", he says. "Why are you doing this?", he asks.
"I'm not Roman Sionis. He died years back. Falcone killed him. This city killed him. I am here to pay back!"
"Why all these gang wars then?"
"Because, I want to be the king!", he exclaims maniacally. "I am the one they would fear!"
Bruce looks at him for a while leaves him be. Gordon arrives few moments later and arrests him. Bruce checks around to see if there are civilians. He finds out the Grayson kid sitting next to the lifeless bodies of his parents. Bruce is triggered. He is reminded of his past. He leaves the circus silently.
Bruce gets back to his Batcave. He reports the incident to Alfred.
"There is no hope in this city!", Bruce exclaims.
Alfred tells him, "I know you saw your past in that kid. This is a bad city. Not everyone follows the good path."
"What do you mean, Alfred?", ask Bruce.
"When you lost your parents. You wanted to make this city a better place. Rather make the world a better place. I don't know what you did at Nanda Parbat but I do know. You picked the right path. Your parents will be proud."
Bruce closes his eyes as it started to fill with tears.
Alfred takes a deep breath and says, "That kid might not choose the correct path."
Bruce looks at Alfred in a confused face.
"Take him in...", he says. "Take his responsiblity. Start small and make this world a better place."
The next day is a changed day. The sun shines bright. People in the city are shocked and traumatised by the incident last night. People mourn for the loved ones they have lost. People are walking the streets in fear. Bruce visits the home of Dr. Leslie Thompkins. She was the one that took in Bruce and counseled him when he lost his parents. This time Bruce visited her to greet Dick Grayson.
"I can see why you are here, Mr. Wayne...", says Leslie.
Bruce stops her and corrects her, "Please. Call me Bruce."
They both talk to each other about Dick for a while.
Finally Bruce tells her, "I want to take guardianship of him."
Leslie did not hesitate. She knew Bruce could take care of him because he has suffered the same past as Dick.
Meanwhile in the GCPD, Gordon has been promoted to lieutenant. He took an oath to free this city and he is determined to. The underworld is still active. Penguin recruits Black Mask's men including Garfield. He promises them wealth and luxury. Only Heroes can take down the evil. Heroes know what it takes. The city needs heroes. The world...needs heroes!