Legends of the Batman #7

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Legends of the Batman #7
Fun and Games

Written and Edited by Daniel Dyer

Timothy Drake’s a bright young boy. Always trying to get to the bottom of one mystery or another. He’s cursed with a curious mind, which is what brings him to the grounds of Wayne Manor this very morning, tailing Dick Grayson.

Dick’s looking around the grounds of his new home, seemingly unaware that he’s being followed. As Dick turns the corner on the outside of the mansion, Tim follows but to his surprise doesn’t see Dick anywhere. “Where...?”

As Tim searches the area, Dick drops down from a nearby tree, landing on the kid’s back. “Gotcha!” Dick flips Tim on his back and pins him to the ground. “Why were ya followin’ me?”

“Wanted to say ‘hi’?”

Dick gives Tim a questioning look. “Hey, you’re the kid from... that day.”

“Yeah... I have the picture, if you want it... to remember them by.”

Dick gets off Tim and helps him up. “Forget about it. Keep it. Now, why were you really following me?”

“Trying to figure out why Gotham’s most illegible bachelor would take in...”

“A carny?” Dick questions.

“Well, you could put it that way...”

“Who knows?”

“Maybe he sees a bit of himself in you, young sir.” The two kids turn and see Alfred. “Now, come along Master Dick, time to get ready?”

Tim’s curiosity gets the better of Tim again. “Ready? For what?”

“Bruce’s taking me to the Gotham Knights game,” Dick explains as he walks after Alfred. “See ya around, kid.”

Walking into the Manor, Dick and Alfred hear the tail end of a phone conversation of Bruce’s.

“I understand. Good-bye, Mr. Tyler.” Bruce hangs up the phone as he sees Alfred and Dick.

“Still no luck, sir?”

“I’ll just have to try a different tactic, Alfred.” Bruce then turns towards Dick. “You ready for the game?”

“Oh yeah.”

***

[Spider-Man Beyond]

"Harleen, what’s going on?” Crane asked from the cell that once kept the Joker. She doesn’t answer, noticing a blank look in her eyes.

“Forget it, Dr. Crane. She’s one of the Joker’s lackeys now.” Jeremiah tells Jonathan as he sits against a wall.

“That’s not my Harleen. He’s controlling her somehow.” Jonathan Crane looks around. “We need a way out of here. You’re the director here, there must be some weakness we can exploit.”

“Not likely. And even if we could get out of this cell, the Joker’s already began releasing the inmates. There’s no way we could get past all them. The inmates have truly taken over the asylum.”

***

[Spider-Man Beyond]

"And the laaand of the freeee.” The national anthem finishes as Bruce and Dick sit down high above the crowd in Bruce Wayne’s private box. Dick’s sporting his Gotham Knight’s shirt and cap.

“Nice view, eh, Dick?”

“Wow. It’s great. Never been to a live game before,” Dick answers.

“Well, you have now, and look.” Bruce points out to the scoreboard, where Dick’s face is on the monitor and below it, it reads “Welcome, Dick Grayson, of the Flying Graysons. Your parents are flying higher than ever, watching over you.”

Dick turns to Bruce. “You...?” Dick questions.

Bruce nods and without saying a word Dick hugs him. Knowing he’s making a difference, this time on a personal level, brings a smile to the billionaires face.

***

[Spider-Man Beyond]

"The money has been wired to my account? Excellent. A pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Freeman,” Harvey states as he hangs up Harvey doesn’t see himself as a bad guy. Far from it. He truly wants to make this city, the world, a better place. Yet, he has made a few shady deals. The most recent is helping a mercenary make off with a murderer. Now, he must ask himself, how did this deal make the world a better place?

Suddenly his police scanner comes to life. “Any and all available units... skkkt... Arkham Asylum. The inmates... skktt... taking over! It’s presumed... skkkt... hostages!”

“Oh, my God!”

***

[Spider-Man Beyond]

The Gotham Knights take home the win and Bruce leads Dick out onto the field.

“Where are we going?”

“I have someone I’d like you to meet,” Bruce tells Dick as they approach one of the Knights.

“Miles Conner!! Wow, I’m a big fan!”

Miles shakes Dick’s hand. “Pleasure to meet you, son. Bruce tells me, we have a bit in common.”

Dick knows what Mr. Conner’s referring to and frowns, but then pushes it aside.

“It never quite goes away, Dick.” Seeing a questioning look in Dick’s eyes. “The pain. It will become more bearable with time, but never goes away.

“Thank you,” Dick says softly.

“So... you wanna hit a few in a real baseball diamond?” Miles asks, handing Dick a signed baseball bat. “This is yours, if you want it.”

Dick takes the bat and goes to home plate, awaiting the pitch.

As Miles pitches to Dick, Bruce stands back and smiles.

***

[Spider-Man Beyond]

"Heh haha ho,” the Joker laughs as he swivels in the chair the sits behind Dr. Arkham’s desk. “Jervis, you really did a number on the guards and my new ‘toy’.” Joker is addressing a short, red-haired little man in a green suit, a striped bow-tie, and a rather large green top hat with a 10/6 card on it.

“Hatter. Mad Hatter, my good jester. For now, I’ll take my leave. I have other persuits. Other endeavors. Ta-ta.” Jervis Tetch says as he leaves.

“And they call me a loon.”

***

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Bruce and Dick return to Wayne Manor after dark, laughing and joking. They seem almost like brothers. Brothers who’ve just found each other. Alfred sees this and wishes he didn’t have such horrible news.

“Master Bruce, sir. There’s an urgent matter that needs your attention.”

"Oh... Dick, if you’ll excuse me.”

“...of course.” As Dick hurries up the stairs he has to wonder why Bruce suddenly sounded so formal. Almost as if he was playing a role in a play, quickly becoming “in-character”.

“What is it, Alfred?”

“Disaster. It’s the asylum, sir.”

“Arkham?” Bruce asks.

“The inmates have taken over. The faculty are kept hostage.”

Without another word, Bruce hurries past Alfred and into the study, and opens the entrance to the cave. The Batman is needed.

Continued...