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thereifling · 5 years

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Batman and the JL: One For a Night

Summary: Batman is injured protecting Gotham alone and the JL ring him up for a meeting he’s missed.

Batman walked, half dragged, himself from the batmobile. A gash curved along his inner thigh opening further with each step; a stream of blood followed behind his path towards the medical bay. Bruce inwardly groaned thinking about the cleanup, there would be no help from his butler tonight. Alfred had left for England two days ago for a funeral of a previous friend. Bruce told him to take a well needed vacation while he was there, so his faithful butler was not to be expected for another week or two.

Alfred, the cat, rubbed up against Bruce’s leg begging for food. He groaned again having forgotten to feed the animals before patrol. Batcow gave a long moan of protest.

“Shut up.” Bruce harrumphed finally reaching the med bay. He ungracefully collapsed onto the bed after having taken the complex first aid kit from the counter. Alfred the cat leapt up and began to rub against his blood-soaked arm, compliments to a piece of metal sticking out of his back. Swatting the fur ball away, he opened the kit and took from the alcohol swabs. Bruce unceremoniously dumped his cape and cowl across the floor, being very gentle with his top armor. Alfred jumped down from the table, as Bruce cleaned his leg wound, and began to knead his cape.

“Don’t do that.” He threw the cotton swab at the cat, really wishing Damian were here. Alfred the human, before he got the funeral call, had made arrangements for a camping trip for Dick and Damian. It was supposed to be some brother/male bonding time or something. Around the same time, Jim had decided, more so Barbara demanded, that they needed a vacation. Tim had gone off with the Titans last night, so Bruce was pretty much alone in defending Gotham. Batwoman hadn’t left, but Batwing was off in Africa for something Batman Inc. related.

“Hrnn…” Bruce grit his teeth finally having made his way to the metal piece in his back. A fresh flow of blood coursed down his posterior as he pulled the last of it out. It was almost dangerously deep, but if he was carful he’d be-

An alert flashed across the batcomputer. The screen flipped to an image at Gotham Harbor’s loading docks. Bruce limped to the monitor. He had been surveilling the area for the past week after getting intel that Bane was likely to show up. Sure enough there he was, barking orders to workers carrying crates onto a cargo ship. Bruce couldn’t miss this opportunity. He quickly wrapped up his back and leg then hobbled to the suits for a replacement. Settling back into the batmobile, engine started, his JL com buzzed. Bruce sighed, but answered the call.

“This is Batman, go ahead.”

“Hey Bruce, this is Clark.” His overly lighthearted voice sung over the feed.

“What is it?” Bruce growled pulling the car out of the cave and back into the night.

“I just wanted to let you know that it’s twenty past midnight up here.” He could hear Clark’s fidgeting from his voice alone. Bruce pursed his lips, annoyed.

“I’m aware. Your point?”

“Well, the members meeting was scheduled for midnight. Seeing as you’re late I assumed you forgot? I mean with Alfred gone you might have forg-”

“I’m busy Superman. Batman out.”

“Bru-” Batman cut off the com before the Kryptonian could finish. He could skip a founders meeting. It was most likely to recap the past years successes and failures, or to determine when they should have another meeting for new member initiations. They could talk about whatever they pleased, because he REALLY couldn’t leave Gotham right now. He would just listen to it later anyway from the bug placed there.

The founder’s meeting sounded amazing right now. His previous wounds freshly opened with a dislocated shoulder and a couple cracked ribs to the list, he was in no condition to fight someone like Bane. The monstrous man shoved him into another steel crate and Batman swore he could hear an additional rib crack. Throwing a smoke pellet in his face, Batman jumped atop a stack of crates and reached for his grapple gun. Before he could swing to higher grand, a hand yanked his leg and swung him back onto the ground barely giving him time to dodge Bane’s elbow for his face. Batman threw several kicks to the brute which, as it failed to every time, had no effect. Bane began to cackle catching his leg again and tossing him across the yard. Bane’s henchmen, the ones not loading cargo, began to snigger at the sight of his defeat. Batman clenched his jaw in agitation. His vision was beginning to blur. Discreetly collecting several bomb batarangs and smoke pellets he stood trying his best not to appear off balance. Bane was laughing again, cracking his large knuckles. Batman stood his ground as Bane made his way over, the first to attack usually is at a disadvantage. The large brute was running towards him now. The Dark Knight gripped the hidden weapons tighter in anticipation. He only had one shot.

“Mind if I come in?!” Out of nowhere a large green truck smashed into the brawler crushing him against a stack of crates. The truck turned into several boxing gloves, flying through all the henchmen. Batman inwardly groaned and swore that one day he WAS going to kill him. “Heya spooky.” Hal Jordan landed next to the caped crusader with a wry smirk.

“What are you doing here?” Batman growled. He hated it when Justice League members came to Gotham, with the occasional exception of Clark.

“Well Bats, I came to take you back with me.” A glow protruded from his ring and soon the unconscious criminals were bound. “You don’t get to hold out on us like that. So, I’m taking you back myself.” Bruce usually didn’t get headaches not due to injuries. With a swish of his cape, Batman turned to leave.

“I’m busy, as I’m sure Superman informed you.” He stated. Hal began to follow.

“Oh yeah, big blue tried to stop me, but you’re still coming.” Before Batman could do anything, Hal grabbed his arm. “J’onn, two to beam up.” A moment later they were standing on the zeta platform of the Watchtower. Batman clenched his jaw, mustering all his self-control not to smash the Lantern into a wall. “This way you big douchebag.” Hal called over his shoulder hovering towards the conference room. Bruce grit his teeth, but since he was here and he didn’t want anymore leaguers in Gotham, he may as well appease them this once. He took one step, but abruptly stopped as his vision dangerously swam. He lightly shook his head, trying to clear it and headed towards the meeting.

The meeting finally started. After some commotion at Batman’s late arrival, Clark began the report. As Bruce sat there he tried his best not to slouch. The reopened wounds were soaking up his back and leg and his chest hurt. His left shoulder wouldn’t stop throbbing from the dislocation, and he tried his best not to move it. Bruce could take pain, but when it began to interfere with his concentration, like his spinning head, he wouldn’t last long. This meeting was absolutely unnecessary! Clark was spewing a lot of things Bruce had told them all individually on a daily basis. He was getting really irritated at this waste of time and began to rapidly tap his finger on the table. Wally had once told him that that relieved tension, but he was wrong. Bruce stopped and clenched his fist. His back was really soaked now, and he was sure it had gone through the suit. His cape, due to weight, acted as some sort of pressure, but not enough. He didn’t have time to clean or stitch the wounds when the alert for Bane arose, and now his Kevlar socks were damp in his boots.

“So, if we just watch out and be more considerate for property damage we can focus our finances elsewhere like fuel and developing more Javelins.” Clark finished his segment. “Any questions before I pass it on to Batman?” Flash’s hand shot up. “Yes Wally?” Clark beamed.

“Yeah so, I was wondering if maybe we could up the cafeteria? Y’know like add more variety to the menu and maybe develop something like a replicater in Star Trek to my wrist so I could eat whenever I want! I mean, that’d be so cool and then I could do stuff for like, forever! I mean a guy’s gotta eat. Oh, and may-”

“Enough!” All eyes turned towards the Dark Knight. Clark could almost hear his teeth cracking with his clenched jaw. Batman erected himself almost shaking in fury. “This is meaningless. Unlike the rest of you I actually have WORK to do.”

“Yeah, we know Bats.” Hal waved a dismissive. “Gotham never rests or something like that.”

“Bruce, I’m sure the rest can take care of it for one night.” Diana reasoned.

“That’s IF they were there.” Batman countered. Clark raised an eyebrow in confusion. Bruce sighed in exasperation. “They are all, even the commissioner, out of town so it IS only me out there.” Well yes, Batwoman was as well, and he inwardly pleaded that Harper wasn’t doing anything stupid.

“We could help.” One look at Batman and Clark knew the answer. “But Diana is right Bruce, Gotham won’t fall apart in one hour of your absence. There’s still the G.C.P.D. It’s not just Gordon.” He took his seat at the table. “It’s important that we have these meetings, I thought you would be the chief advocate.” Clark slightly chuckled. He stopped catching Batman’s gaze.

Bruce’s head was really spinning now, he really needed to get back. He wasn’t set on saving Gotham anymore, he knew he couldn’t at this moment. No, Bruce would rather collapse, because he was going to, at home as an alternative to in front of the League. He could still monitor from the cave.

“Uh Batman?”

“So now he’s ignoring us.” Hal chided. Bruce snapped back to reality. He hadn’t even noticed that he had phased out. He really needed to leave. A chill suddenly ran through his sweat soaked body. When did that happen? Bruce inwardly sighed. Fever did NOT need to be added to his list of problems.

“I’m leaving.” Batman stated greeted by several sighs from other Leaguers. “I’ll have Cyborg send me the rest.” He began to stand. Suddenly the room was whirling out of control. He grasped the table for control and faintly heard the clatter of his chair. People were calling his name, but he was more focused on staying up. His knee met the floor and a pain from his wound shot up making him release a soft moan. Clark was by his side now grabbing his dislocated arm. He hissed at the pain that caused white specks to flash in Bruce’s vision. He flinched trying to release himself from the hold, but that only drained his energy more. He was falling now and found himself flat on his back. Everything was growing more distant and the faces above him were a blur. Strong arms gently pulled him up, but that still hurt. He gripped his ribs to settle the pain, but his arm wouldn’t budge. Bruce could feel himself slipping away, the darkness pulling him in like a wave. He tried swimming out, but he was too weak. Bruce was swept under and knew no more.

Everything hurt. His whole body ached. Bruce tried to open his eyes but found it rather difficult. His eyelids wouldn’t budge, and he was half tempted to go under again. He groaned in frustration and suddenly heard the squeak of a chair, realizing that he had moaned aloud.

“Bruce?” He tried to figure out the voice, but his mind was too clouded. “Bruce? Wake up Bruce.” His eyelids fluttered and soon he could vaguely make out the blurry room. It was white, and a face loomed over him. He squinted harder until it came into focus revealing Clark. The boy scout beamed down at him. “Welcome to the land of the living.” He chuckled. Bruce did not join in. He turned his head to get an idea of where he was and could vaguely make out the Watchtower’s med bay. Glancing further down an IV line was strapped to his arm.

“What happened?” He questioned turning back to Clark. The Kryptonian frowned.

“You don’t remember?” Bruce stared hard into the wall beyond then grimaced.

“I fainted.” In a meeting, in front of the team.

“It was a little more than that.” Concern laced Clark’s voice. “Bruce, you fainted from blood loss. On top of that you had a broken rib, two cracked, a dislocated shoulder, and a mild concussion.” He sat back in the chair. “Why didn’t you tell anyone?”

“I didn’t have time to check myself.” Bruce hissed, trying to sit up. He was now dressed in some loose T-shirt and grey sweatpants, which were quite comfortable.

“Bruce, this isn’t something to joke about. You could have died.” What’s new, Bruce inwardly thought. He turned back to Clark.

“I need to get back to Gotham.” And he began to untangle himself from the sheets. Clark pushed him back in.

“I’ve got that covered.” His lips twitched upward. “I caught Robin and Nightwing in the middle of fishing who were all too eager to head back. Damian said that it was a mundane experience. The only adequate time was when he flew the boat home, at least that’s what he said. My point is, Gotham’s safe.” Bruce did ease back at that. He trusted those two and Barbara was due back today as well. “So, for once, without any of Alfred’s special concoctions, rest?” It was almost a plea. Bruce sighed. He had a feeling J’onn had added a concoction of his own as drowsiness began to consume him.

“Fine.” Bruce mumbled, closing his eyes.

“And Bruce.” Clark stood, turning to leave. “Remember you have friends outside of Gotham as well. You can count on us.”

“I know.”

THE END

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