SON OF BATMAN

"The Batman has had enough. He should rest," Damian declared, his voice calm but resolute. "As for Bruce Wayne… when necessary, I'll take on that role for now."

Damian stood on the upper level of the Batcave, his gaze locked on the Batman suit displayed within a tall glass case. The suit stood as a silent sentinel, a reminder of the legacy he now bore on his shoulders. Damian's back was turned to the Justice League and Dick Grayson, who remained below, watching him with a mixture of concern and uncertainty. The weight of his words hung in the air, heavy and final.

A tense silence engulfed the cave, broken only by the soft hum of machinery and the distant drip of water echoing through the cavernous space. It was Dick Grayson who finally broke it. He took a step forward, looking up at Damian with a furrowed brow.

"Are you sure, Damian?" Dick called up to him, his voice carrying a note of worry.

Damian continued to stare at the suit, his reflection merging with the dark cowl behind the glass. He didn't respond immediately, as if weighing Dick's words against the gravity of what was to come.

"I understand where you're coming from," Dick continued, his tone a mix of concern and skepticism. "But the idea of Batman... it's more than just a man in a suit. It's a symbol, a deterrent. Without Batman, Gotham's underworld could spiral out of control. The criminals... they need to believe he's still out there, watching, waiting."

Damian remained silent, still facing the suit.

The Justice League exchanged uneasy glances but remained silent.

The Flash, ever the optimist, shifted his weight from foot to foot, his eyes darting between the faces of his fellow heroes. He opened his mouth as if to speak, then thought better of it, recognizing that this was Damian's moment.

The Justice League, despite their power and influence, were mere observers in this delicate passing of the torch. They knew that this was not their place to speak; the question of what to do with Batman's legacy was deeply personal, and no one was more qualified to make that decision than Damian and Dick. They felt that anything they could offer would pale in comparison to the perspectives of Bruce Wayne's son and his first protégé.

'Is this truly the end of Batman?', Wonder Woman thought, her hand unconsciously tightening on her lasso.

Alfred Pennyworth, standing slightly apart from the group, also chose to remain silent, though he was more than qualified to join the discussion. He had been Bruce's confidant and surrogate father for decades, and if anyone understood the weight of the Batman legacy, it was him. But Alfred, with his deep well of wisdom, knew that this was a moment for the younger generation to navigate on their own. His eyes, filled with sorrow, rested on Damian, silently offering his support.

Dick continued, his voice filled with a mix of conviction and urgency. "Batman has been a symbol of fear for nearly twenty years, Damian. It's not just about one man in a suit; it's about what that symbol represents. It's the fear that keeps the underworld in check, that makes the criminals think twice before they act. The legend of Batman is what holds the darkness back. Without it, Gotham could descend into chaos."

For a moment, it seemed like Dick's words might reach him. Damian's gaze remained fixed on the Batman suit, as if in deep contemplation. Then, with a slow, deliberate movement, he turned away from the glass case and began to walk back toward the stairs.

As he descended, his footsteps echoing softly in the cavernous space, he finally spoke, his voice calm but carrying an edge of finality. "As we find ourselves faced with a threat that could extinguish all life on this planet," he began, his tone steely, "you're worried about some petty criminals, Grayson?"

As Damian reached the bottom of the stairs, he paused, facing Dick Grayson and the Justice League. His expression was cold, but the hint of sorrow still lingered in his eyes, a reminder of the loss they had all endured.

"Besides," Damian continued, his voice cutting through the heavy silence, "if you ask me, after 20 years of Batman, Gotham is still a cesspit."

The bluntness of his statement hung in the air like a cold wind, cutting through any remaining argument.

Everyone present, and especially Dick Grayson, were speechless. The stark truth of Damian's words was hard to refute. After all, even after all of Batman's efforts throughout the years, Gotham had remained a breeding ground for crime and corruption.

Damian's thoughts raced, though his expression remained impassive. 'Yeah,' He thought 'Gotham is still a cesspool of criminal decay and corruption after 20 years of Batman. But not for lack of trying. Father gave everything he had to this city. His mind, his body, even his soul. He struck fear into the hearts of criminals, and inspired hope in the innocent. Yet, despite all his efforts, he wasn't able to change anything. He bled, sweat, and died for this city. Were there improvements? Sure, but nevertheless, Gotham remained broken. I'm sure that he too could see it. That his ways were not working, but he was scared, afraid that should he take that last step he would never be able to go back. So he persevered. But I am not him. I will finish what he started. I will clean up this city'

Damian pressed on, his tone sharpening. "We cannot afford to waste our efforts, time, and resources on trying to keep a dead legend alive. The world is changing fast. The threats we face are far greater than what Gotham's underworld can muster. The Batman served his purpose, but that time is over."

Damian paused for a moment, his gaze still fixed on Dick Grayson. "Besides," he began, his tone steady but resolute, "As insignificant as these criminals are, it's not like we're gonna completely ignore them." He allowed a brief pause, letting the weight of his words settle. "I will take care of them."

Dick Grayson was taken aback, not knowing what Damian meant with that but Damian did not let him question him any further as he turned to face the rest of the Justice League and addressed them.

"Now that we're done with this small issue," he said, his voice sharp with purpose, "let's get back to the real problem—Darkseid."

Damian's gaze swept over them with an air of cold appraisal. "Father did a great job bringing you all together," he began, his voice carrying a subtle edge. "But I would guess that just you all… aren't enough to face Darkseid."

Wonder Woman, her expression somber, nodded in agreement. "No," she said, her voice steady but tinged with the gravity of the situation. "Not even close."

Damian raised an eyebrow, his expression as indifferent as it had been since his arrival. "Oh?!" he muttered, his gaze shifting to Superman. "Not even with The Superman?" His tone was laced with sarcasm, cutting through the tension like a knife. "And after all the trouble all of you went through to bring him back to life?"

Superman's eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of annoyance crossing his features. The air in the cave seemed to crackle with tension, but before Superman could respond, Wonder Woman stepped forward, her voice firm but calm. "Damian, Darkseid is no ordinary foe. His power rivals that of the gods. Even with all of us united, we are still not enough to face him head-on."

She took a step closer, her tone growing more urgent. "On top of that, he won't be alone. Darkseid has powerful high-level officers around him, beings who are as dangerous as Steppenwolf, if not more so. Not to mention his endless armada of soldiers, ready to conquer or destroy anything in their path."

It hadn't been long since the Justice League had gone to great lengths to bring Superman back from the dead—a plan that had been spearheaded by Batman himself.

After facing the unstoppable Doomsday, a creature created by Lex Luthor's manipulation of Kryptonian technology, Superman sacrificed himself in the brutal battle that followed. Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman fought side by side in a desperate struggle to stop the monster from annihilating Metropolis. Despite their combined efforts, Superman was ultimately forced to give his life to stop Doomsday, dealing the killing blow but perishing in the process. His death had left the world mourning, with a void that no one could fill.

But When Steppenwolf threatened to conquer Earth, Batman was the one to propose the idea of bringing Superman back. Knowing they needed the Kryptonian to stand any chance against the invasion, Batman pushed for the use of the mysterious Mother Boxes, the ancient, powerful devices capable of altering life and death. The plan had worked, and Superman had returned. With his help, the Justice League defeated Steppenwolf and temporarily stalled Darkseid's full invasion.

The irony of the situation wasn't lost on anyone present—the man who had orchestrated Superman's return was now gone, leaving behind a son who seemed to doubt the very hero his father had worked so hard to bring back.

Cyborg, who had been silently absorbing the conversation, spoke up next, his mechanical eye flickering with data as he processed the situation. "Diana is right. We didn't have much direct contact with Apokolips or Darkseid, but what we saw through that portal gave me more than enough information."

He paused, the weight of the numbers and analysis heavy in his voice. "From the brief glimpse I got, I could see that Darkseid wasn't alone. At least four or five high-ranking commanders stood by him, each of them likely at least as dangerous as Steppenwolf. And behind them, the army… it stretched as far as the eye could see. Fully armed, fully trained, and fully loyal to him. We're talking about an invasion force that could overrun Earth in days."

Cyborg continued, his tone growing more urgent. "And it's not just the sheer number of troops that concerns me. Their technology… it's way beyond anything we've ever seen. Apokolips isn't some primitive warlord society; they have weapons that are far more advanced than ours. Weapons that could decimate our defenses in moments."

He let that sink in, the reality of the situation becoming even more dire. "If that portal had stayed open, they could have poured through by the thousands. We wouldn't have stood a chance. And the worst part? That was just a fraction of his total forces. Darkseid's army is vast—potentially in the millions, if not more. With their advanced technology, they could overwhelm us in a matter of days."

Flash, unable to contain himself any longer, interjected, "Oh, we're definitely not enough." His attempt at lightening the mood fell flat, the gravity of the situation too heavy for even his usual optimism to lift.

Aquaman, his face grim, chided him, "No shit, Sherlock." The sarcasm in his voice was tinged with a hint of fear, a rare emotion for the rightful King of Atlantis.

Damian absorbed Cyborg's analysis, the enormity of the threat becoming clearer with every word. His expression remained stoic, but there was a sharpness in his eyes, an understanding of the dire situation they faced.

Wonder Woman picked up where Cyborg left off, her voice steady but filled with the gravity of the situation. "Damian, this isn't just a threat to Gotham or even just to us. This is a global crisis. Darkseid's reach extends beyond anything anyone on this planet has ever encountered. If we are to stand any chance against him, we must unite the world—Atlanteans, Amazons, and men alike. We cannot fight this war alone."

Hearing her words, Damian couldn't help but smirk. "Unite?" He scoffed, a hint of sarcasm curling his lips. "Well, I'm not sure about Atlanteans or Amazons, but uniting humans?" His smirk deepened. "Good luck with that."

"Be that as it may," Superman interjected, "We still have to try."

Damian turned his gaze to Superman, studying him for a few seconds with an unreadable expression. Finally, he replied, his tone indifferent, "We'll see how would that go when we get there."

Shifting his focus, Damian's eyes locked onto Cyborg. "From what you said earlier, it's clear this planet is… let's say, a bit backward compared to others. Primitive, even. Our technology is far behind, and our inhabitants are, well, weak. So tell me," he continued, his voice now carrying a sharper edge, "why would someone like Darkseid cast his gaze on this little blue planet of ours?"

Cyborg met Damian's gaze, the light from his cybernetic eye flickering as he processed the question. After a brief pause, he answered, his tone serious. "That, We do not know. Not yet at least."

"And we won't know just by thinking about it" Aquaman interjected, his frustration evident in the way he clenched his trident. "How should we proceed moving forward?"

Damian remained silent for a moment, letting Aquaman's question hang in the air. His eyes narrowed in thought, considering the options before them. Finally, he spoke, his tone steady and calm.

"For now… we do nothing."

The response drew puzzled looks from the assembled heroes. The cave seemed to grow even quieter, if that were possible, as they all struggled to process Damian's unexpected suggestion.

Damian, sensing their confusion, continued before anyone could object.

"The world is changing," he said, his voice carrying a quiet intensity. "For the past few years, I've traveled around the world. I saw the change. Felt it."

His gaze shifted to Superman, who stood silent but attentive. "Ever since a certain group of aliens descended on Earth, searching for another alien and nearly wiping out humanity in the process, things haven't been the same."

Superman's eyes narrowed slightly, his jaw clenching at the thinly veiled accusation. The air in the cave seemed to grow thicker, the tension palpable.

The jab was unmistakable, and though Damian's expression remained as cold and indifferent as ever, the atmosphere in the room shifted. The other members of the Justice League exchanged wary glances, their bodies tensing imperceptibly as if preparing for a conflict.

A collective thought crossed the minds of everyone present: 'Why does Damian keep provoking Superman?'