Yes, but...

“I’m sorry for your loss. I knew he meant a lot more to you than just a mentor,” said Superman over the giant screen.

Dick and Babs had made it back to the Batcave within the hour. There was a hidden garage a block away from the Clocktower. Nightwing retrieved a Batmobile quickly then floored the pedal. They got back to the cave within the hour and immediately hailed Watchtower.

“I shouldn’t have…” said Barbara.

“I’m going to stop you right there. No one could have predicted how far gone Diana was. I doubt even she realize what she was capable of until whatever happen happened.”

“I **** her hands, Superman.”

“Barbara, you did a splendid job today. You had an important piece of information and you delivered it to us.”

“With all due respect, Superman. There was a million other subtle way I could’ve done it.”

“And if you’ve done it that way Bruce would still be dead and we would be too,” said Nightwing.

“What do you even…”

“You delivered the message to Bruce securely, yes?”

“Yes.”

“Then how did Wonder Woman get to him before he got to Superman?”

There was an uncomfortable pause in the room.

“No… unless… my God. She was already on her way to him.”

“When Ivy destroyed the footage, Bruce was the only one left who would’ve figure it out on his own,” said Nightwing.

“Your information forces it to happen in the hallway, instead of his room. And that alerted the entire Watchtower,” said Clark finally. “You didn’t kill him, Barbara. You gave us early warning and you saved all of us.”

“But that would mean Wonder Woman and the others…” said Barbara.

“Conspired to **** Bruce just for a chance to protect Charlie’s secret,” said Dick.

“Enough,” said Superman. “That’s a concern we’ll address tomorrow. You kids need to rest. Take a quick, dirty account of Bruce’s equipment and lock down Wayne Manor.”

“Superman…”

“I know you want to get out there and fix the situation, Barbara. Trust me, so do I. Bruce is… was… my best friend. Wally, Kara, Karen, and Diana. They're all families to me. But part of the job is knowing when to rest up and heal. I’ll make it an order if I have to.”

“Fine. You’ve made your point.”

“Good. I’ll be by as soon as I can finish up on the Watchtower. Call me immediately if you need anything. Superman out.”

“You didn’t tell him.”

“Oh shush, you. He had enough on his mind as it is.”

“Babs…”

“Ahem, excuse my intrusion, Miss Gordon, Master Grayson,” said Alfred, seemingly appearing out of nowhere.

“I’ve noticed that your injuries are a little beyond my capacity. Therefore, I have taken the liberty of summoning a team of physician from Gotham General. In case it is needed, Master Thomas’s old operating theatre is being prepared as we speak.”

Alfred was, as always, a ball of contradiction. Despite the polite words, he sounded as if his own flesh and blood was maimed.

“Alfred, you needn’t…”

“Nonsense, Ms. Gordon. It’s what Master Bruce would have wanted.”

“Furthermore, per his last wishes, we shan’t report his **** until the crisis is averted. This will allow us direct control of his estate and resources until they can be safely and legally distributed among yourselves and Master Damien.”

“Alfred…” said Dick.

“It would also please Master Bruce if Master Grayson would consider taking up his old mantle. He had, on occasion, spoken to me of this wish and expressed your readiness…”

“Alfred, I’m sorry,” said Dick. “I’m sorry I couldn’t save him.”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there for him,” said Babs. “He was betrayed in cold blood and we couldn’t even…”

The trio sat in silence. No words were exchanged, yet more than words were exchanged between them. Shared pain was ever more profound than petty words. The cave was silent save for the familiar squeak and flap of bats

Alfred’s earpiece vibrated.

“Hello,” he said. “Alright, we’ll be right up. Thank you.”

“They’re here, Miss Gordon,” said Alfred, readying a wheelchair as Dick loaded her onto it.

“You guys go on up ahead. I’ll do some quick accounting then catch up,” said Dick.

Babs smiled at him softly.

There wasn’t much to be done, really. Dick Grayson had spent decades under Batman, first as Robin then as Nightwing. He knew where all the equipment are and he knew all the secrets of the Batcave, but there was nothing like the comfort of routine in these trying times.

Dick went through rows of Batmobiles, Batwings, and Batsubs. He went through rows of utility belts, accessories, and suit upgrade modules. Then he went through dozens of air gap hard drives and check their files.

Curiously, Dick Grayson never checked the suit displays and avoided that area altogether.

“What are you hiding?” asked a feminine voice in the shadow.

“Whoa… there, Diana. I didn’t see you at all.”

Wonder Woman made a sarcastic smile.

“Not very chatty today, huh? Look, I get it. You’re here to…”

Diana cut him off mid-sentence and tied the Lasso around him.

“The Lasso compels you speak the truth. What are you hiding?”

“Noth… I put out an SOS to Superman.”

“How long do I have?”

“Plen… I don’t… No more than five minutes.”

“Why are you avoiding the suit area?”

“I don’t know. Maybe I don’t want to think about the responsibility of being Batman? Maybe I’m struggling with the urge to avenge Bruce? I thought it’d be pretty obvious,”

Wonder Woman stared at him blankly. She was fully committed to this course of action and she wasn’t going to betray any of her emotions.

“There’s a Kryptonite suit and a piece of gold Kryptonite.”

“Where is the gold Kryptonite?”

“Nggg…. Ngggghghh… in the secret compartment behind Suit display number seven.”

A loud crash could be heard as part of ceiling collapse in and made way for Superman. Clark floated in like the heroic savior that he was.

“Superman, Wonder Woman’s right there…”

But the space Dick pointed to was empty. The secret compartment was ripped open and hollowed out. The briefcase carrying the deadliest kryptonite variant was nowhere to be seen.