Chapter 28
Wayne Manor
In the Batcave, Dante, carrying Little Dante, enters via Vergil’s gateway.
“Will he be okay? Fighting Vergil on his own?”
“Vergil fighting Vergil? Yeah, I mean, only Vergil can win.”
“I know but-“
“Don’t fret, my little punk-ass angel, your uncle will be fine. Oh. Um, I don’t think this is Gotham.”
“Hey, I know this place. I met Barbara in here. This is definitely Gotham.”
“Who?”
Dante sets Little Dante down to stand on his own. The Nephilim’s transparent wings depart from him, softly fading away in this hidden place.
“The girl in the wheelchair. She saw me die, I think I died in here.”
“Stop it, don’t talk like that.”
“Sorry.”
"Hoooo man, this place is legit! Look at all this Batman stuff! Batarangs on the table, bats flying around above our heads… this is the Batcave, isn’t it! Hey, our first father-son expedition and we discover the actual Batcave together!”
He darts around, super excitedly as the Nephilim chuckles.
“I thought our trip to Heaven was our first expedition together.”
“I’ve heard so many cool things about this place from Nightwing! Look at this computer! It’s like the one in Titans Tower! Wow, this totally makes up for that depressing night when Batman brought you to my shop all messed up. I wonder what’s up the stairs!”
He heads up a massive set of impressively carved stairs.
“Wait for me,” Little Dante follows, somewhat slowly, as all the little robins fly in, barely avoiding Vergil’s demonic gateway shutting on them.
“No worries, I wouldn’t go exploring without you. Oh hey, it’s a trap door.” Dante presses his palms against a rocky wall. It swirls open, leading to a library.
“It’s badass, but I dunno, maybe we shouldn’t.”
“Right? Check out this fancy den over here. Reminds me of my childhood home.”
“Me too.”
The flock flies through the opened doorway, past them, into this regal space. The alarms go off!
“INTRUDER ALERT!”
The flock flies past Alfred, who's come running.
“Woah! A flock of robins tripped the alarms? How strange, but I suppose it could be worse.”
He’s quite dismayed when he enters the library, all to see Dante standing between Wayne Manor and the Batcave.
“Sup.”
“Oh my!”
“Don’t freak out. I swear I didn’t mean to, I’m not a threat, I swear.”
Alfred recognizes Little Dante behind him and realizes who this gruff invader is…
“The Legendary Devil Hunter? How did you get in here?”
“Demonic powers. Soooo, is that the Batcave down there, or what?”
“Oh dear. Well, I see you revived your son. This is most relieving. However, you really shouldn’t be here.”
Both Dantes enter the huge office, the trap door revolving shut behind them, shifting a grandfather clock in it’s place.
“Yeah, I guess it’s supposed to be a secret. Hey, if it makes you feel any better. I have no idea who you are, or what this place is.”
“Well, I suppose that does help for now. Do stay where you are, and don’t touch anything. Pretend you’re at a museum, if you will.”
“Sounds good,” Dante says, about to touch something he shouldn’t on a shelf. “Oh hey, he has The Divine Comedy too.”
Little Dante blocks him with his arm.
“Were you listening? He said don’t touch anything.”
“Oh right.”
“Keep a close eye on your father for me, please, while I turn off the alarms.”
Displeased, Alfred leaves them.
“So, you were in the Batcave with this girl you mentioned.”
“Barbara.”
“Right, Barbara. You were in the Batcave with Barbara, Batman, that guy, and Red Hood?”
“I only remember Barbara. That guy must be Alfred.”
The alarms go silent.
“Looks like you left an impression on him.” He notices a paperweight on a desk, one he can’t help but pick up and examine. “Hmm, Wayne Enterprises.”
“Stop,” the Nephilim says, trying to take it from him, but he’s still too weak. The alarms made his head spin and Dante’s already got a theory. He holds it high and takes a seat on the desk.
“Hang on, hang on. Check this out, my boy, Wayne Enterprises donates a lot of money to Devil May Cry. He’s mega rich and could totally afford to renovate an entire cave under his house, like the one downstairs. Like the Batcave! Million dollar question, do you think Bruce Wayne and Batman are the same person?”
Alfred returns.
“Alright, here’s the plan. I’m going to blindfold the two of you-oh.” He realizes Dante’s juggling a Wayne Enterprises paperweight. “I see you’ve… found a plaque, Mr. Devil Hunter.”
“Yeah no, sorry, I wasn’t thinking.” He sets it back down on the desk. “No, I didn’t see it, I swear.”
“My goodness, is he always this unruly?” Alfred asks Little Dante, who seems to be fighting a throbbing headache, with his fingers pressed against his forehead.
“Okay okay, I may have figured out who Batman is, but I mean, I could be wrong. Maybe whoever lives here, also gets money from Bruce Wayne for his Devil Hunting business.”
“Oh bugger,” huffs Alfred. Dante hops off the desk.
“Heeeeey, it’s all good. Let’s change the subject. Forget everything I just said. New topic. So, Mr. Butler, you don’t happen to know where all those stowaway birds went, do ya?”
“They flew past me. I can only guess they’re lofting somewhere in the manor now. Are they your pets, Mr. Devil Hunter?”
“Just Devil Hunter is good.”
The phone on the desk rings. The Devil Hunter impulsively answers, pounding his fist on the desk so that the receiver flips over Alfred’s head, and lands perfectly in the stylish demon slayer’s palm.
“Devil May Cry!”
“Give me that!” Alfred snatches the receiver from him. “One moment please, gentlemen. Try not to touch anything else, I implore you.” In a vain effort to preserve what’s left of Batman’s secrets, he surpasses his normal, “Wayne Manor,” phone greeting for a mere, “Hello,” leaving the caller confused.
“Alfred? Is everything alright?” asks Bruce on the other line. “I received a signal that there’s been a break-in at the manor.”
“Yes indeed, there has been a bit of an intrusion. The Devil Hunter and his son are here. They’re not currently posing any threat, but…” he glares at Dante, who puts his hands up in surrender, trying to look innocent. “I regret to tell you that, they know.”
“Oh no. I’ll be right there!”
“Very good, sir.”
They hang up.
“Does Batman know where Red Hood is?” Little Dante asks adamantly. Alfred perks up.
“Have you come to see him? He grieves for you terribly and would love to see you, I’m sure.”
“Yeah, I’ve been looking for him. Please, we’re friends.”
“I know. He will be overjoyed to see that you’re alright, but I’m afraid I do need the two of you to stay in this room and wait for Batman. A discussion needs to be had about the knowledge you’ve gained. It’s a very private matter, this operation.”
Dante cooly exhales, lounging on a comfy upholstered loveseat.
Sigh, “That makes sense. Whoa, hey, is it snowing out?”
“Indeed, it is. Shall I fetch us some tea? It’s due to frost in a few hours.”
“That’s weird, it’s warm back in Jump City.”
“Really? Even in the winter? I’ve visited Jump City in November and I remember it being quite dreary.”
Dante sits up!
“November? When I left the shop, it was May! How long ago did Batman come to Devil May Cry?”
“That was back in May.”
“What?!”
“Shit, is that how long it’s been since I’ve seen Jason then?” asks Little Dante.
“That’s how long it’s been since he’s seen you. He’s gone to Devil May Cry multiple times, that I’m aware of, with Nightwing, hoping to see you again.”
“Oh damn,” Dante says, their extended absence now seeming especially problematic.
Before another word can be said, Batman enters.
“My, that certainly was fast,” Alfred remarks.
“How did you two get inside the Batcave?” he immediately demands. Dante stands respectfully.
“Vergil’s sword, the Yamato, he used it to open a rift for us. We didn’t know when we entered, where exactly we’d be going. Finding the Batcave wasn’t on purpose.”
Batman turns his attention to the Nephilim.
“It’s good to see you’ve recovered.”
“He’s looking for Master Todd.”
“I see. He stayed here at the manor for a few months. I wanted him to stay longer but I couldn’t convince him not to go. I’m not sure where in town he’s staying now, he refuses to tell us, but I know he’s still in Gotham. He purchased an old church from the city so he could renovate it. I don’t fully understand the significance but he said it was for you. When I need to talk to him, that’s where I go. He shows up a few times a week.”
“Can you take me there?” Little Dante requests.
“Yes, but I need you to give me your word that you’ll never teleport yourselves into the Batcave ever again. No one can know about the connection between Wayne Manor and Batman. Do you understand? You can’t tell anyone, not even your brother, Devil Hunter.”
“I understand,” says Dante, who nods at Little Dante. “Batman, you brought him to me. The least I can do is keep your identity private. It doesn’t leave this room, you have my word.”
“Same. The truth is, I already knew. Jason told me.”
“I see,” Batman sighs, unsurprised that Jason spilled the beans. Alfred then asks…
“If I may, Dante Junior, and I hope you don’t take this the wrong way, but I can’t let you walk out of here without offering you a pair of socks and shoes. I am confident that something from Master Grayson’s wardrobe will fit you. Please, may I take you to his room?”
“Okay, but the jacket and the pants stay.” He goes to his new father and hugs him, receiving a bear hug in return. “Thank you for saving me.”
“Thank you for letting me. Love you, kiddo.”
“I love you too!”
Alfred escorts Little Dante out of the library and leads him through the manor.
“Batman needs a moment to brief your father on the protocols of knowing his identity. I thought I’d spare you any more stress. I know you’ve been through a lot. I’m sure your father will pass this information onto you in due time.”
“Heh, thanks, Alfred.”
They enter Dick’s room, where Alfred puts together the rest of an outfit for him.
“Do take a seat. Are you sure I can’t get you anything to eat or drink?”
“I am kinda thirsty to be honest.”
“I thought so. Here, try on these garments while I fetch you some water and, what else would you like?”
“That tea sounds kinda good.”
“Very good.”
A few short minutes pass while Alfred is gone. When he returns, the Nephilim now wears, under his new jacket, one of Dick’s white, razorback tanks, and a few more unseen but much needed items. Sitting on the bed, he looks comfortable.
“Didn’t realize I was going commando this whole time. Glad we fixed that. And socks with no holes? Luxurious. This is way better.”
“I take it the shoes fit then?” Alfred asks, watching him accept the floral tea. He observes him enjoy it, watches it calm him.
“They fit real good, yeah. This is nice. They still talking down there?”
“They’re almost done. I took it upon myself to bring you some aspirin as well, if you want it.”
“Headache meds? I forgot they existed.”
He accepts the pills with the water, then holds his forehead after he drinks. With a slight groan, he pauses. He’s tired.
“Master Todd has told me in great detail, the effort you made to keep him safe in Limbo City. You’ve been operating under debilitating circumstances for a long time.”
“Wish I could have done better.” He reclines on the navy blue silk duvet, the stone pendant on his necklace catching a bit of light and warming his chest, his head and shoulders sinking into the pillows. “Don’t lemme pass out.”
Alfred cocks his brow then finds a feather duster in a cabinet. He can’t help but dust and make the room as immaculate as possible.
“He’s elusive, the Red Hood. He carries a communicator that he’s rigged to call us, but we can’t seem to track him. We’ve tried for years. When he allows me to spend any substantial amount of time with him, I find myself trying to comfort him. You left such an impression on him, he speaks so lovingly of you.”
No response. Alfred turns around. The room is filled with glowing-green robins perched on the shelves, the window ledge, the headboard of the bed, all over the place… and Dante’s fallen asleep.