Chapter 9

"What did the doctor say?" Alfred asked.

"She said my leg is fully healed. She was impressed at the short amount of time."

"Rather, the pills I gave you were impressive."

"Yeah, Thanks." Terry said with a satisfied smile.

His broken leg has fully recovered in just three months. three months earlier than what the doctor had predicted. The pills that Alfred gave him were to increase a person's healing factor for a short amount of time. A wonder drug that Bruce Wayne developed because of the injuries that he acquired while being batman. He unironically wanted to call it the batpill but Alfred heavily rebuked him for it.

"Does Barbara have any news of deathstroke"

"He's still out of the country."

Deathstroke was last scene in San Francisco before he flew out of the country then was reported to be in the middle east. Now he's in the continent of Africa.

"Be patient, young McGinnis. He'll eventually come back to Gotham. There will always be mercenary work for him here."

"I am. I know I am still not ready."

"Good" Alfred put his hand on his shoulder ", now go make me some tea and fix the tiles on the roof." He tapped his shoulder twice and left to the living room.

Alfred has a tendency to be cheeky. Terry is used to it by now as he just shrugged and smiled.

Terry has gotten used to his routine for the past few months. Working out his body except for his right leg. Attend class. Then his job as Alfred's personal attendant. Then his weapons training with Alfred.

Guns. Throwing knives. Bombs. Bow and arrow. Mostly were long range because it doesn't put much stress on the legs which he couldn't use yet but now, Terry is expecting to learn about melee weapons.

"How's his training coming along, Alfred?"

"Barbara. He's doing great. His marksmanship is already decent."

"Oh?"

"Yes. Also, his leg has fully healed. Have Ted come here."

Ted Grant. Wildcat.

"I already did. I heard the news first from his mother earlier."

Fresh off the target range, Terry was coming over to where they were. He was wiping his sweat with a towel as his upper body muscles were pulsating.

"Hey." He greeted them.

"I heard from Alfred you're doing great."

"Thanks." Terry replied.

"Now that you're leg is healed, your workload is going to double."

"Wildcat is coming over?"

"Yes. He's not only your master but he'll also be your first guest. Alfred dealt with all of Bruce's guests as his butler back then but you're the butler this time."

"Must be nice being loaded." He looked at Alfred with a smug grin. Alfred just smiled thinly.

"He's a bit messy. So, you have to deal with that. Plus, I'll be coming over from time to time too." Barbara said. Right now, she's using the hologram tech to appear before them virtually.

"Why?"

"You'll need a variety of sparring partners. Namely, Wildcat and me. Plus, I don't know how much I've grown stronger. I want to know by having a go with my former master." Barbara said with a playful smile.

"Oh. I have to go now. Bye." Suddenly remembering something, she said goodbye. Her hologram suddenly disappeared.

"Now then, Terrence." Alfred in workout clothes said. "Let's see if you're right leg really has fully healed. His muscles that were always hidden under his suit can now be visibly seen as it is accented by his tight fitting long-sleeved shirt. A physique that does not belong to a typical old man. He made a mischievous smile that Terry was not sure if it came from him or a demon suddenly possesed Alfred.

He gripped the hilt of a wooden sword that he was using as a crane earlier.

Terry gulped.

----

"Damn old man doesn't know how to hold back!" Terry shouted in his room as he was removing his clothes. His leg that was just healed feels like it was broken again. Because the muscles of that leg atrophied, his reaction speed was still slow and it made an easy target for Alfred.

'You need those muscles to recover fast.

If you want to dodge something as fast as a bullet, you'll need to develop your instincts and muscle memory.

The pain will make you remember it faster.'

Terry clenched his teeth and cursed as he remembered his words. The fact that Alfred was holding back will be known to him as he goes further with his training.

Thus, his hellish training began. Wildcat finally arrived in Gotham. Terry learned that him and Deathstroke are of the same age. Both of them were in their seventies. Their age didn't matter as they were as strong as they were two decades ago. It had something to do with their origins. Wildcat was gifted by a supernatural being with abilities such as his strength, agility, and most importantly, his regenerative ability. Thus slowing his age.

According to the data about deathstroke in the batcave's computer, he was a result of having survived hellish experiments that granted him his strength, agility and his healing factor.

Wildcat is a great teacher for Terry if he wanted to go toe to toe with deathstroke. Their many similarities will make Terry get used to fight someone like him.

The fact that Bruce Wayne got to that level with his own will, without the help of enhancements like the former two and that you can still consider him a normal human being is really impressive.

Surprisingly, Unlike Alfred, Ted Grant wasn't as strict as a teacher. He didn't hold back but he continuously gave positive comments and constructive criticism. Alfred was very militaristic.

Although rowdy and messy, Terry was already used to this type of behavior and felt very familiar with it.

Because of that, his relationship with Ted developed faster than with his boss and teacher, Alfred.

A strict father and a laid back uncle is how you can describe them.

Barbara Gordon, who was making her time to come train under Wildcat thrice a week was someone he also can't defeat yet. Terry felt like sparring with her is her way of making fun of him. It's like her presence is solely there to undermine him and pressure him. To show their difference in skill. As someone who was competitive and petty, it made him try harder and his progress became faster.

"Why did he decide to become Batman?" Terry asked Alfred. Both of them were in front of the collective bat suits.

"He wanted to end the systematic corruption within Gotham that caused the death of his parents in the first place. He couldn't do that as Bruce Wayne and so he became Batman.

"So, why bats?" Terry asked Alfred.

"He used to fear bats. He knew that fear is a powerful weapon. He wanted to share what he dreaded to whoever crosses him as he brought them to justice."

"How come this one has red eyes?" Terry was staring at a batsuit inside its case.

"It's something Bruce developed while he was working with cyborg. That's why the eyes are red."

"He couldn't make them white like the previous ones?"

"It was cyborg's idea. To credit himself as a co-creator."

"This was what he used against Darkseid, right?"

"Yes. A suit that increases his strength twenty times in exchange for his lifeforce. With this suit, he can go toe to toe with superman without the use of kryptonite. No one but him could use it. Even now. Dick Grayson almost died trying it on."

"Hey. I think the paint is wearing off."

Alfred opened the case and put his hand on the suit.

"That's not paint. That's vinyl wrap." He removed the wrap and revealed the red bat symbol across the chest. "He thought what cyborg did was too much and eye-catching and so he covered it with black vinyl wrap. He left the eyes red in consideration of cyborg."

"I actually like how it looks. I think it looks better in red."

"I think so too." Alfred said as they both continued to stare at it.

Alfred tapped Terry's shoulder. "Very clever. Break time is over." He said as he smiled.

"...Damn it." Terry bit his lips.

He was distracting Alfred to extend his break. He knew Alfred likes to talk about Bruce. Unfortunately he ran out of questions and Alfred caught on.

"Nice try, kid." Wildcat chuckled as he passed by him. He was actually watching his little prank on old Alfred with interest.

Their training continued on until six in the evening.

Terry had difficulty walking. His training didn't get easier as days go by. It only got tougher. Each day was the next level and so his body didn't ever got used to a workout.. He drinks the wonder pill that Alfred gave him everyday so that his body can recuperate.

He walked up to Alfred.

"Hey, can I borrow the suit that I used before?"

"The prototype? Why?"

"Just some self training with it. I'm not exactly going to go up to deathstroke with my bare body aren't I."

"...okay. Do you remember all the functions?" Alfred was suspicious but he still gave permission.

"Yes. Thanks!" Terry said as he grabbeed the suit from a drawer. An all black suit with white eyes on the mask.

He then waved goodbye to both Ted Grant and Alfred.

"You do know what he's going to do, right?" Ted wanted to confirm something with Alfred.

Alfred closed his eyes before giving a simple reply. "Yes."

Terry didn't say it out loud but both of the men felt it.

He was going to try being a vigilante.

"Welp. I understand. I used to do it to sometimes even before I got blessed with this gift. At least he'll use his skills this time for something that will benefit others."

Wildcat just waved it off casually and went upstairs.

Alfred stayed and stared at the batsuits for a while.