Making a statement.

Sunrise was not for another few hours, he could have done this the next night when the moon was full and at its zenith. But he needed to make a statement NOW while the night was still set. It was not hard for him to find the storage bay where the rest of Bruce Wayne’s arsenal was kept. Gordon had given him a list, but it was unnecessary. On the outside it looked like the loading bay on the back wall of a shop, the building had been listed as abandoned for years save for the property owner, Bruce Wayne. Pulling a small device from his belt, Damien heard the chime it gave off as the loading bay door slide up and fold over the roof. Even after five years, the machine was in pristine condition, fully charged and ready to move. The engine rev up practically scared off all the rats in the alley.

*

Gotham port…

The werewolves guarding the den heard the roar of an engine long before the batmobile came into view. Even though it had the ability to run as silent as a peddle bike, Damien wanted to make a statement. Fire belching from exhausts and the rocket engine roaring, the sleek black war vehicle charge through the front gates, causing the two massive wolves guarding the den to duck out of the way of the batmobile.

Circling the dock works and causing a royal ruckus with the vehicle he was driving, Damien looked out the tinted windows to find the entire pack had come out of their home, curious to find the vehicle doing figure eights in the promenade before coming to a stop, facing the factory building the wolves had claimed as their home. Looking out, he found the three biggest wolves exit to face the intruder to their home, the Wolf King and his two consorts. His father. Opening the canopy of the batmobile, Damien stepped out wearing his full costume, his cloak billowing in the night breeze as he stood atop the batmobile and looked around him, finding he had gathered quite a crowd from his little show, even recognizing the trio of wolves he bumped into earlier in his investigation looking up at him and back to their alpha in confusion.

“Wolf King!” Damien called out, stepping off the vehicle, he marched his way up to the trio of wolves that towered over him by at least a meter. Looking up at his father’s lupin face, Bruce remained stoic but knew exactly what Damien was doing and why he was here. “So… YOU are the new Batman in Gotham, who are…”

“I am here to give you all a warning.” Damien cut off his father, immediately taking charge of the conversation in a way that bristled some of the other wolves’ present. “I am investigating the string of murders in the city, I WILL find the culprit and I WILL bring them to justice, I have only one command; stay out of my way!” Eyeing the trio of wolves from earlier, their confusion was obvious, but he was pleased with the results. They knew now that he wasn’t Bruce Wayne, and that he was not to be trifled with.

Giving his two consorts a look, the red and white Wolf Queens nodded, and the Wolf King returned his gaze back on Damien. “So be it… Batman, we shall leave you to your investigation.”

Quickly turning on his heel and letting his cape flutter, Damien returned to the batmobile and sat back into the control seat, the canopy closing over him with a hydraulic hiss, sealing the pod air tight just as the rocket engine roared to life and the vehicle spun with wheels kicking up gravel, forcing the rest of the wolves to back away and give the batmobile room to fly off down the road with a streak of flame. Watching the batmobile disappear from sight, Bruce and his two queens returned to the interior of their home. Although the factory looked run down outside, inside the building was clean and well furnished like some cozy hostel. Sitting himself down on the rug covered floor in front of a fireplace, Pamela and Harley took either side of him and pressed up close.

“You look distraught my love.” Swooned Aloe Vera, nuzzling into his shoulder while gently hugging his arm as if to comfort him.

“Never thought I’d have to pass up the mantle one day… I’m not used to dealing with things outside of my control.”

“Well he certainly has your sense of intimidation pudding!” giggled Harley, swooning. “And he’s certainly grown up big and strappin, wonder if he’s been taught the birds and the bees yet.”

Licking Bruce’s cheek affectionately when he gave her a concerning look, Harley rolled her eyes and scoffed. “I’m only kidding Bruce, you know not many measures up to you.”

“You know what he does, don’t you Bruce. Whatever killed those people, it wasn’t a werewolf and it wasn’t from any of the other tribes either.”

“No… Even when I arrived to investigate myself, the claw marks, the hair samples, and scents… They don’t match up.”

“You think one of Langstrum’s experiments survived? The Snake and Spider did after all.”

“If it is… I can’t do anything about it anymore, Bastet was right; I can’t be the Wolf King AND Batman at the same time anymore, someone else has to take that mantle, I just wish…”

“You wanted one of the other Robins to take up the mantle, didn’t you?” Asked Harley, her voice calm and analytical. “You’ve groomed Dick the longest to take your place if anything terrible happened, why not ask him?”

“Because he has a future! He has the Titans, he has Starfire, he has people I did not have in my life to rely on and keep me human. Being Batman means abandoning everything for a cause, I won’t do that to him… Hey!” Feeling his two Queens scruff up his mane of hair and push him down onto his back, he was a little overwhelmed when they began to take turns kissing his snout and straddle his waist. “So, the big bad wolf is still a big softy deep inside!” Laughed Harley, regaining her thick Brooklyn accent.

“What do you think Pam? I think Brucie poo needs some early morning cuddles to help him through the blues.”

“I agree Harley, our king DOES look like he needs some extra attention… And perhaps a walk later.”

“Oh ha ha…”