Batman Returns

Bruce Wayne had arrived back at Wayne Manor, after a week away in Metropolis. He was eager to get back in the swing of things; his dealings for the Wayne Foundation were important, but his true mission was to protect Gotham City as Batman.

“Welcome back, Master Bruce,” said Alfred, meeting him in the foyer.

“Thank you Alfred, it’s good to see you. Where’s Dick? I wanted to congratulate him on his week, I read all about it in the paper I picked up at the airport.”

He held up a copy of the Gotham Gazette, the headline reading “Batman Who?” The byline read “Robin and Batgirl pick up the slack while Batman bunks off.”

“Ah yes, though I don’t care much for the headline, Master Dick did indeed have an incredibly productive week. I’ve hardly seen him at all,” said Alfred.

“Yes, he did, though I’m not sure why the Gazette needed to frame it as Batman shirking his responsibilities,” said Bruce. “They’re usually above that kind of yellow journalism. No matter, controversy sells papers I suppose. I’m guessing Dick’s down in the Batcave, eager to get back at it.”

He walked to the study, ready to slide down the Batpole, when he saw a letter addressed to him next to the Shakespeare bust. He opened the envelope.

“Bruce,

I’ve left Wayne Manor, and I’m ending our partnership as Batman and Robin. I’m tired of living in your shadow, and I’ll never reach my full potential as a crime fighter if I keep letting you stifle me. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, but it’s time I became my own man.

-Dick.”

Bruce felt like he’d been punched in the gut. He knew Dick’s time as Robin would inevitably end some day, but for it to end so suddenly, and so harshly? His blood ran cold.

“Everything alright, sir?” said Alfred. Bruce silently handed him the letter.

“It doesn’t make sense!” Bruce said. “It doesn’t… make sense…" Alarm bells started going off in Bruce’s head. “Alfred, the Dick we know would never end our partnership like this. There must be some explanation.”

Just then, the Red Phone blared on the desk. “Looks like the explanation will have to wait.” Bruce answered the phone. “Commissioner.”

“Batman, I’m glad you’re back," said Gordon. "We have an emergency, it seems the Riddler is up to his old tricks. We’ve just received two riddles with his calling card.”

“Let’s hear them, Commissioner.”

“Why is a raven like a writing desk?”

Bruce smirked. “A riddle intended to have no answer, from Lewis Carrol’s Alice in Wonderland. However, my personal favorite answer would be ‘because Poe wrote on both,’ alluding to his famous poem ‘The Raven.’”

“Brilliant, Batman. Here’s the other one. What appears once in a minute, once in a second, but never in an hour?”

“Simple, Commissioner, the letter “N.” said Batman. “This seems almost too easy for the Riddler, going by his usual modus operandi, I’d surmise he plans on robbing the Edgar Allen Poe exhibit from the Gotham Literary Museum on N-Street in one hour; those original manuscripts are indeed priceless However, due to the ease of the riddles, I also suspect a trap. I’ll be cautious.”

Bruce said goodbye to Alfred, and minutes later, he was in the Batmobile on his way to the museum. He pondered Robin’s letter in his mind, over and over. Could their partnership really be over, just like that? He arrived at the museum, and **** himself to focus on the task at hand.

Soon, the entire museum was shut down, to protect civilians from getting hurt. Batman investigated the area, and found no traps. He waited hidden in an alcove that had a vantage point of the Poe exhibit, as Riddler’s hour countdown drew near. The hour passed, and nothing. Five minutes more, and nothing. Was this part of the trap? Batman knew exactly how the Riddler’s mind worked, and every hint pointed to this exact crime, yet it seemed somehow, he was wrong.

A short while later, Batman entered the Commissioner's office.

“It seems those riddles were a ruse, Commissioner,” Batman said. “Nothing happened at the exhibit, and I’m afraid I have no other leads. We'll have to wait for Riddler's next move."

"You won't have to wait long," said a voice. Batman turned, and saw the Riddler, in handcuffs, being brought into the room by -

"Robin!" said Batman, surprised. Robin was in a different costume, all black, with a blue bird emblem across his chest and shoulders.

"Not Robin anymore, Batman. Call me Nightwing. I caught the Riddler making his real robbery, trying to steal the Raven Amethyst. The clues all pointed there, if you looked past the surface level of the riddles."

The Riddler grinned at Batman. "I guess you're not so smart without your Boy-Wonder, eh Batman?"

"That's enough outta you!" said Chief O'Hara, scowling at Riddler.

"Well done, Nightwing!" said Gordon. He turned to Batman. "You must be very proud, Batman, Robin's grown into his own hero."

Batman smiled politely. "Yes, I am. Nightwing, could I speak with you for a moment?" Batman wanted to get to the bottom of Dick's sudden departure.

Nightwing gave Batman an icy stare. "I've got nothing to say to you, Batman, other than don't expect to be Gotham's number one crime fighter any longer." He pushed Riddler towards Chief O'Hara. "He's all yours," Nightwing said, before walking out of the room, leaving Batman stunned.

Later that night, Nightwing returned to the Siren's lair.

"Ahh, there's my star," the Siren purred. "I was just reading about your exploits." The Siren's newspaper had the front-page headline, "Batman Bamboozled." Her servant at the newspaper made sure to emphasize how incompetent Batman must be to fail at catching Riddler.

"Batman must feel humiliated!" The Siren said with a grin. Nightwing took Siren into his arms and began kissing her neck, he was eager to make love to his mistress. She put her hand on his lips.

"Ah ah ah, not yet. Tell me, what was the look on Batman's face like?"

"Pure shock. He's confused and hurt, he doesn't know why I'd do this to him," Nightwing said.

"And how does that make you feel? To betray your former friend and mentor?"

"He means nothing to me now, all that matters is your happiness."

"How right you are," said Siren, as she ran her hand through Nightwing's hair. "Batman will soon be at rock-bottom, but now I have to decide what to do with Batgirl. Do we destroy her now, or toy with her emotions a bit longer to make her all the more devastated when she finds out it's me you love, not her?"

"Whatever you desire, Siren." Nightwing slid his hands onto Siren's ass, and again began kissing her neck and shoulder.

"My my, you have no patience this evening!" said Siren, as she enjoyed Nightwing's advances. "And it seems neither do I; I've waited long enough, it's time to end Batgirl." She pushed Nightwing away. "Call her, have her meet you here. I promise we'll show her a good time!"