Chapter 14:

The blackness swallowed him whole, and he stumbled. Void surrounded him so much so that he had to cough to assure himself that he was, in fact, capable of breathing. His heart hammered in his chest, and he was sure it would implode if he didn't have something else to focus on soon enough. He tried humming, but it sounded so eerily loud and out of place he stopped, counting numbers in a whisper instead. "One thousand, two thousand, three thousand," he exhaled, while the void turned into a dusky grey fog. "four thousand, five thousand, six thousand, seve- seven thousand," Two pin pricks of light began to glow, one to his far right, the other to his far left. Bruce watched as they seemed to get brighter and nearer.

Then he heard his father's voice. "Come along Bruce!" he shook his head, the voice faded, moving away from him towards one of the pools of light that continued to grow in size. The glow came from a sole lamppost, a dumpster just beyond it into a dark alley. Shadows cast themselves over the ground, taking the shape of a couple, a string of pearls shining brightly from around the lady's neck.

"Bruce, hurry up!" Bruce spun to face the other direction, frozen at the voice, this time from his mother. Only it wasn't the lady standing near the lamppost with the captivating pearl necklace. This Martha Wayne stood hand in hand with her husband as before, only they were at the Manor and about to head into the gardens, picnic basket tucked neatly under an arm. Now both sets of parents were encouraging him to join them. Two fathers, two mothers, the same words, cajoling him, laughter behind each syllable rolling off their tongue. The heel of his hands pressed against his ears and he squeezed his eyes shut in an attempt to block out the two sights. His knees crashed against the ground, breaths coming out in sharp gasps.

"Eight thousand..."

Cracking open his eyelids, he looked again towards the alley. His parents were still there smiling, looking at him, unaware of the third shadow that was forming ahead of them. Fear shot through Bruce. It would happen again. It would happen again and he'd be powerless to stop it. He could just run to the gardens and play catch with his Father on the other end. He didn't have to watch this. Despite the thoughts running through his mind, he found himself taking agonised steps towards the darkening alley. Gravel crunching under a heavy boot caused Thomas and Martha Wayne to turn around to its source. From behind them Bruce saw the cold, dead piece of metal held in the grip of a man with equally dead eyes, saw the finger come down on the trigger and watched as the hammer swung. As the pearls from his mother's necklace were strewn through the air, nearly translucent in the light, all Bruce could hear was his own screaming.

"Interesting."

The scene vaporised and Bruce was aware of a voice coming from above him. One hand clutching his throat, he stared up into the gleaming eyes of a face with a cruel smirk plastered across it. "Neron," he rasped out. The demon's smile merely grew wider.

"You truly are interesting, Batman. We on this side of eternity have been watching the effects of that paltry sorceress's spell, and have rather been entertained."

"I don't recall agreeing to being the plaything of your kind."

"Oh you didn't have to, the choice was made for you. Besides, we've not done anything more than let the spell run its course. This is all rather like, what is it they have on earth these days, reality television?"

"So why come to me now? Isn't this interfering?"

"I happen to be part of that ancient spell. It was part of a bet, though I can't really recall what it was now. Desires and weaknesses are so closely intertwined for you humans, and know how much I love giving offers that can't be refused," the demon's eyes flared green in amusement, his coiffed blonde hair flowing past broad shoulders swathed in a deep green cape. "I've never seen someone make it to this stage before, though I admit your metaphorical choices manifest in such dramatic ways," Neron continued, "Oh yes, this void you chose to fall into is entirely your doing, within of course, the confines of the spell. As they say, it's all in your head."

"Thanks for the info. Now what do I do to break it," Bruce said, reminded all the more of his distaste for the supernatural. "This evening's entertainment is over."

"It is indeed, Batman," the words fluid as honey seemed to stick in Bruce's ears like crude oil, and he bristled in unmasked annoyance. Neron continued, "You chose your weakness. Most would not. I merely made an appearance to tell you how much we've enjoyed the show, and when everything is over, we'd just like to let you know how welcome you are here."

"Cute," Bruce said. An instant later he blacked out, the sound of cackling echoing through his mind.

"He's back!" the red glow behind his eyelids told Bruce he'd regret it deeply if he were to open them. He tried anyway, squinting into the ridiculously bright light. Faces swam in into focus, letting him see Wonder Woman, the Flash and Dick Grayson looking intently at him.

"Stop looking at me like that." Glare in place he aimed it at each of them in succession. Wally laughed. Not the reaction he was going for.

"Oh Bats, you really are back!" Now the speedster looked like he was about to hug him. He did not just come out of a psyche targeting spell and demons faced both internal and external to be subject to this.

"West..." his voice was still raspy, but the baritone was back in place, sounding odd after so many days in a high boyish pitch. Flash's grin faltered slightly. Before he could sound out an apology however, Bruce's lips twitched and he said, "Good to see you too." He thought about fighting the hug that he was pulled into, but it was mercifully short, Flash zooming back to his seat in all of three seconds. So the man had some sense of self-preservation after all.

Diana and Dick were smiling at him from where they sat at the other side of the bed. Eyelids somehow heavy again, Bruce looked at them from half shut eyes, and before closing them, sighed out a quiet acknowledgement:

"Thank you."

"Great to have you back. Really."

Oh Clark, ever the big blue ball of cheese, what would the League do without you, Bruce thought to himself as he fended off yet another hug. This was getting too much, they knew he wasn't the touchy feely type, yet John had got close to one of his macho man-hugs and J'onn's handshake had lasted an inordinate amount of time. Shayera had settled for hugging John instead of him, before both got it into their heads that he was indeed, still dating Vixen, which had resulted in a few minutes of awkwardness to the bemusement of all the company present.

Diana had of course, thrown herself on him, almost in tears, and only released her arms from the back of his neck after many repetitions of 'Princess' in increasing tones of embarrassed annoyance. It didn't stop her from planting a kiss on his cheek though. For a fleeting moment he had thought of returning the gesture, a behavioural incongruity he attached to the after effects of the spell. Thankfully (or not), this was stopped as Zatanna walked past the doorway in the corridor, and he was reminded of all the tricky dances he had and was doing with various... acquaintances. What happened during the Thanagarian invasion was a necessity, an emergency, nothing more. Why had Diana not let go of his hand yet?

For his part, Bruce still felt rather dazed. If he had known he had to hallucinate to the point where the lowest point in his life was in effect relived, yet again, he might have broken the spell ages ago. Of course, the state he was in didn't seem to permit that line of reasoning. It had taken not one, but two of those close to him to help him see that. Sure, Dick didn't know he was comforting an emotionally broken Bruce, but his words had meant more than he had known at the time. Trust Dick to take Bruce's own words said to him so many years ago and build on it like that. Trust Dick to - where was Dick?

Leaning against a wall, and looking horribly out of place even with the eye mask over his eyes, stood his ex-sidekick. No, ex-partner.

"Ready Nightwing?" he nodded to the young man. Diana squeezed his hand one more time before leaving to join the rest of the original Leaguers on their way out of the private teleportation rooms. Both he and Dick made their way to the portals. The Watchtower interior disappeared around them and was replaced with the tall grass surrounding Wayne Manor. As they made their way through the bracken to one of many concealed entrances to the cave, Bruce couldn't help notice something. "What are you so happy about?" he quizzed Dick.

"What, apart from you being back all in one healthy psychological piece? You hurt my feelings Bruce, talking like that. It's as if you don't think I care." Dick's face softened a little, "I do, you know."

"Is this where I admit I'm a stone cold, self righteous git? This is mushy even for you," Bruce said.

"Yes that would make my day, how did you know? But to answer your question, I now know why you keep hanging out in the Watchtower these days." Even in the dark, Bruce could imagine Dick waggling his eyebrows.

"Why, you..."

"How do you do it Bruce? Man, if Selina ever finds out, she's going to be so mad." Oh yes, the man was definitely grinning now. Bruce considered a number of comebacks, from apathetic silence to threatening to tell Barbara all the embarrassing details of the previous Wonder Boy's childhood. However, a smile was tugging away at his own mouth, and as the light of the Batcave shone dimly round the corner ahead, he could only say one word.

"Hush."

-fin-