Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

The Wayne Legacy: Knightmare

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 11:

Wayne Manor

Kara stared at her brother and his new friend, as Diana had called John Blake, in a bit of disbelief. What the hell was Bruce doing with friends, much less a cop?

“Hey, Kara, Eliza is ready to check you… out.” Tommy said, his voice trailing off as he took in John Blake.

“Tommy, you remember Officer Blake, right?” Diana asked.

“Or course, I’m just a bit surprised to see him here. It’s good to see you, Officer Blake.” Tommy lied poorly.

“Bruce and John hit it off so well at the party that John has agreed to teach Bruce self-defense. Bruce has never been very good at fighting. Alfred tried to teach him as a child, but I beat him so often he finally gave up and I had to protect him from bullies.” Diana explained, a hint of glee in her tone.

Tommy nodded, not really listening to her explanation, thrown at seeing the man here.

“Well, I need to see Eliza so we should let you two get back to it.” Kara decided and walked out quickly, pulling Tommy along, her sore feet no longer bothering her.

An hour later, Tommy had reluctantly left to rest and prepare for his workday tomorrow and Kara marched right up to Bruce’s room as soon as the front door closed. Diana was waiting for her outside of the room.

“I wasn’t crazy about it either, but it could be worse.” Diana told her.

“I, for one, love this.” Dig piped in, stepping out from his room. “This almost makes up for Tatsu being dropped into my life. Please Diana, tell us of this new development.”

Diana slightly scowled at the man. “When Bruce saved his life, Officer Blake got a good look at him and later, at Sam’s party, recognized him by his eyes.”

Kara’s eyebrows rose in disbelief. “His eyes? He saw Bruce’s eyes in the dark, after being shot, and recognized him at a party a few nights later? Was Bruce wearing his mask?”

Diana shrugged her shoulders. “John is very perceptive. I wasn’t crazy about this either but what’s done is done. We are lucky he can keep a secret. We can trust him, as much as we can trust anyone with the knowledge of Bruce’s nighttime activities. I’ve talked to Jim, and he isn’t worried. The three are going to meet tomorrow night and discuss the Crane case.”

“What Crane case? Is there even a case to be made?” Kara asked.

“Two nights ago, a homeless man’s body was found near Arkham by Bruce and Blake. Bruce found traces of a gas that was used to kill the man.”

Kara took that in and then closed her eyes, trying to relax. “Okay, but why is Blake here?”

Diana smiled knowingly, amused at Kara’s protestations. “John noticed Bruce’s skill at the docks and wanted Bruce to train him in different forms of martial arts. Honestly, Bunny, I don’t see the problem with Bruce having a new friend. It would be good for him to bond with someone who can also watch his back legally on the streets. I’ve spent some time with him today and believe we can trust him.”

“Does he know your secret?” Kara asked.

“Of course not.” Diana replied. “As you saw, Bruce has set up a training area in his room and thought it would be a good place to show John a few things he picked up on his world travels.”

Kara shook her head, a headache coming on quickly. “So, he is going to be here, all the time? This isn’t a good idea, Diana.”

“Why not?” the older sister asked.

Kara opened her mouth, not sure how to answer that. “Because… people will notice a cop suddenly showing up at the manor all the time! That’s a good reason… right?”

Diana waved it away, growing more sure of her observations. “As I said, he and Bruce hit it off. There is no reason they can’t be friends. If Bruce is seen hanging out with a cop in public, it can only help his image.”

Kara growled. “Whatever. Have you done anything with your old room yet?”

“I’m having it built into a workshop like you asked.” Diana replied. “The equipment will all be here by tomorrow. I thought you would want to set it up yourself, but you can bring someone in if you prefer.”

“You were right, I want to do it myself, but I want this done tonight. I’ll use my workshop in the basement.” Kara told her.

“Done? You want what done tonight?” Diana asked, confused at the shift in the conversation, but Kara was already moving back into Bruce’s room.

She stopped once again when Blake looked at her as she entered.

“You are really sweaty. It’s like glistening rain drops on marble… damn it!” Turning to her brother, she demanded, “Bruce, give me the damn helmet.”

Bruce kept a straight face. “I left it at the mansion. You told me you didn’t want any of that here…”

“Stop lying to me, Bruce!” She said more loudly than necessary. “You wouldn’t go anywhere without it. So give… me… the… helmet.”

“Isn’t it more like a cowl?” Blake asked.

Kara pointed a finger at him. “Quiet you… must really exercise a lot. Why are you shirtless? I mean, can’t you wear a muscle shirt or tank top… something? That’s not important. You… you had better not tell anyone about him… or my sister will ruin you! My Diggle will beat you up! Wow, you… are in really good shape… damn it, Kara! That isn’t important. I didn’t say that, got it? Don’t get a big head over it.”

Blake just smiled at her, something she hated because she really liked it. “I swear, Kara, I would never tell his secret. He saved my life and I think what he is doing is needed. It’s a good thing.”

Kara’s eyes widened.

“Oh, no… you shouldn’t have said that.” Bruce said quietly to his new friend.

“You think it’s good that he is dressing in a Halloween costume and risking his life every night instead of letting the police do what they are paid to do? I would think as a police officer you would have a more law-abiding opinion!” Kara was almost yelling by the end of her tirade.

Blake raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t you helping him? I know he isn’t smart enough to build the tech on that suit.”

“Oh, that had to hurt.” Diana commented to Bruce with a big smile from her spot on his bed. Dig snickered as well.

“Shut up, Diana.” Bruce responded, causing her and Dig to break out laughing, while Kara continued to fume.

“Look, Kara, he’s kicked me in the gut at least twenty times in the last twenty minutes. He can take a joke… but he isn’t smart enough to make that suit. Given what I’ve learned about you, only you could make some of the stuff he showed me. It’s amazing work. You’re really smart, huh?” Blake defended himself to Kara. “So you must be cool with this because you are helping him, right?”

“I’m trying to keep him safe!” Kara was outright yelling at this point. “Don’t look at me like that, I have a boyfriend!”

“How am I looking at you?!” Blake yelled back, exasperated. “You’ve been yelling at me for the past two minutes because I support something that you obviously do as well! And you have told me you have a boyfriend every time you see me! Multiple times! Is that your standard greeting for everybody? I’ve never asked if you did or not, and I have no idea how you think I’m looking at you!”

“I do not support this and don’t change the subject!” Kara exclaimed. “Bruce, give me your damn helmet!”

Bruce pulled the black box from under his bed. He opened it while Kara and Blake stared at each other, eyes locked in a staring match that neither was willing to lose, Blake with his arms crossed and Kara with her hands on her hips.

She broke the staring match when Bruce handed her the helmet.

“What are you planning to do with this?” He asked his baby sister carefully.

“You aren’t going back out until your eyes are completely covered. You don’t need any more sparring partners, especially those with badges.” Kara told him.

“So, you are putting some sort of cloth over my eyes? Will it affect my vision?” Bruce asked, blatantly ignoring her last remark.

Kara shook her head. “No, your vision will be clear as day. I’ve had an idea for the helmet since I first built it. I’m going to add infrared, night vision and ultraviolet capabilities to some new lenses I made last Sunday. They will be voice activated but can pick up a low whisper. The ultraviolet setting will be amazing. You can see color not visible to the human eye and find things like fingerprints much easier.

“The lenses can also scan an opponent, performing an instant facial recognition as well as automatically hack into medical record databanks to determine weak points in an opponent during a fight. It should be pretty sweet.

“None of this tech is available on the market, so it will be a good field test. Then again, it may never be available on the market, but was fun to build.”

Blake laughed, his abs rippling quite noticeably with the movement. “You don’t support this, but you’ve built him the most advanced technical warfare combat suit in the world.”

Kara pointed a finger in his face but wasn’t sure what to say. After a minute of pointing in silence she shouted, “I’m just keeping him safe, Robin Jonathan Blake!”

Blake looked surprised.

“That’s right, I know your full name. I looked you up for curiosity’s sake and nothing else. I find it suspicious that you don’t have a Facebook or Instagram account, but I wasn’t looking to stalk you online. Don’t be so full of yourself.” Kara told him.

“I don’t go by Robin, and I never said you were stalking me.” He responded, trying hard to keep up with the conversation and failing. “I don’t spend my time posting pictures of everything I do in my life, and I don’t care to see other peoples’ lives. The whole social media thing is a waste of time.”

“Oh, so you are one of those people who are too good for social media.”

“I have a feeling no matter what I say, you are going to yell at me.” Blake said, giving up on the argument.

“No problem. I don’t care enough to yell.” She said, despite having yelled at him for the last few minutes. “I’ll stop calling you Robin when you start talking sense into him. Until then, it’s Batman and Robin. Two reckless vigilantes who deserve each other!”

Kara stormed off, leaving a quiet room. Steve walked in having heard most of the exchange from the hallway.

“That was funny as hell. I haven’t heard Kara that worked up in my life.” He told the room with a big smile.

Blake turned to Bruce. “I don’t think your sister likes me very much.”

Bruce brushed it off, realizing, as Diana did, that it was the exact opposite. “At least she isn’t stuttering around you anymore.”

“I’m going to go check on her.” Diana stood up, a gleam in her eyes. “John, this was fun. I can’t wait for many more encounters between the two of you. You should ask her to make you your own special batsuit!”

“Good night, Diana.” Bruce told her.

Steve was still laughing as he excused himself, closing the door behind him.

Dig was left in the room with the remaining two men. He walked to the shelf by the far wall and found a pair of sparring gloves.

“There is no way I’m not getting in on this. C’mon, Jarhead. Let’s see what you got.”

---

Wayne Tower

The next morning, Diana, Sam and Kara sat in Diana’s office as Sam outlined proposed changes in the Nebraska agriculture units that could save three million dollars and increase production in the next quarter.

“So, what do you think, Kara?” Sam asked her, wanting to see how much the blonde would actually become involved in business issues not directly related to projects she cared about.

Kara blinked and looked at Sam. “I’m glad he is friends with Bruce. I got to spend a bit of time around him and realize just how much of a cocky asshole he is. Thank God, Tommy isn’t like that. He thinks just because he was some super soldier, action hero, badass cop, that he can say whatever he wants like his opinion is right and he can just look at someone with those gorgeous eyes and they are supposed to agree with everything he says. What an asshole. That’s what I think.”

Sam looked over at Diana, both eyebrows raised. The CEO shook her head sadly.

“Kara, what is going on? Did you meet some guy you are attracted to, and it is making you feel guilty since you have a boyfriend? So now you are finding reasons to demonize him and force the attraction away?” Given how perceptive Sam was, she had quickly surmised the issue but softened her questions so as not to upset the young blonde.

Kara looked at Sam in shock. “No! That’s a very strange… and entirely accurate thing to say, but of course not.”

“I see.” Sam was absolutely certain now she was right. “It must be the cop you were blushing around at my party, right?”

Diana nodded while Kara looked at Sam with wide, disbelieving eyes.

“I think the plan is amazing, Sam.” Diana said, jumping into the conversation to take the spotlight off her flummoxed little sister. “We should institute the changes immediately. You can inform the division managers yourself. I’ll sit in on the call but stay out of it. You’ve more than earned the right to take the lead on this and start taking a more visible role in the company.”

“Thanks, Diana.” Sam said with a small smile. Turning back to Kara, she asked, “So, what is his name?”

“I am not attracted to him!”

“I understand.” Sam said calmly, then looked to Diana as she gathered her notes and tablet. “I’ll have the call set up for four this afternoon. I’ll be interviewing potential EAs until then. Terrance has scheduled four of his favorite applicants and Cathy has scheduled four of hers. I have twenty minutes for each interview. Not a lot of time to get to know someone.”

“You will know when you meet the right one.” Diana assured her. “And if you make a mistake you can always fire them and hire someone else.”

Once the sisters were left alone, Diana told Kara they needed to talk. Kara knew this was coming and dropped her head.

“This is about this weekend?” Kara guessed.

Diana nodded. “Kara, I have given you a lot more freedom since your health has improved. I have been lenient about you staying over your allotted hours, the lack of eight hours rest a night, your increased exercise regimen, and varied diet.”

“And I appreciate it.” Kara assured her.

“That being said, I believe now that the newness has worn off, we should revisit these items and get you back on a more responsible schedule. You have always done better with structure, haven’t you?”

“I suppose.” Kara said, noncommittally.

Diana saw the disappointed look in Kara’s eyes. “Kara, I’m not doing this to hurt you, but we both know you feel better when I am guiding you. This weekend was an example. You didn’t do well, did you?”

“Neither did you though, right?” Kara retorted.

Diana nodded, remaining calm, understanding why Kara was pushing back. “Exactly. Neither of us did well. I guess what I’m trying to say is we have not handled these changes well. We are both trying too much, too soon.

“Sweetie, I want you to one day be completely independent. I want to see a day when you get on the jet some afternoon and fly to some random location just because you want to. But that day is not near.”

Diana hoped Kara realized the change in her health status was just as new to Diana as it was to her, and both needed to learn to navigate it. This weekend had been hard on both, and Diana had no desire to experience those feelings again if she could help it.

“I’m not trying to hold you back, Bunny, I just want us to take a more objective look at how to go about this responsibly. Do you understand? We will travel, I promise you, but for now, we will be together when we do.”

Kara nodded, understanding where Diana was coming from.

“Tonight we will organize your diet, exercise regimen and work hours. I’m trying to do better in these areas myself just as you asked me to do.” Diana told her, with a gentle smile. “Perhaps in six months, we can begin experimenting with you traveling on your own. Maybe one of us could go to Metropolis and then try a bit farther every few months to see what we can handle but nothing more strenuous until we are both comfortable. We will discuss future trips together, try to go to those places you’ve always wanted to go. Do you feel any of this is unreasonable?”

“I really scared you. I didn’t mean to.” Kara told her, sounding a bit despondent.

Diana placed a finger under her chin and lifted her head gently. “None of that. You were very brave for trying and you completed your goals. But the both of us have relied on each other for a long time and that isn’t going to change overnight. If we’re honest though, neither of us want it to, do we?”

Kara shook her head. “What about your honeymoon though? No offense, but I don’t actually want to be there when all that is going on.”

Diana chuckled, having already thought of this. “We have decided on Hawaii. You will be there as well, only in a different hotel, though still nearby. If you wish to bring a friend or two, feel free. Steve and I will be on our own tours while you do whatever you convince Dig to let you do. My only requirement is we are on the same island.”

“I understand.” Kara said sincerely, feeling relieved that she would be close to Diana, but given the freedom to do her own things.

“I’m glad. You know I want what’s best for you, right? One day you will be an amazingly independent woman, Kara, but we have time. You won’t be twenty-two for another couple months. You are still so young.” Diana remarked, smiling and reaching out to caress her cheek fondly.

Kara did understand. She had gotten a bit carried away and suffered for it with such anxiety she had not felt in a very long time. She had to admit, Diana still knew what was best for her. Her sister was trying to give her more freedom than before and Kara pushed farther than she should have.

Given how Diana had always protected her, this led her thoughts into a different subject.

“Why didn’t you say anything last night, Didi?” She asked.

Diana was confused. “Say anything about what?”

“He yelled at me, and you didn’t stop him.” Kara said. She wasn’t complaining, more genuinely curious. Diana never allowed Bruce or Alfred to yell at her and certainly no one else.

Diana smirked. “Kara, you verbally assaulted the man. He was trying to defend himself under your onslaught.”

“He was encouraging Bruce.” She argued.

Diana snorted. “And what have you been doing? Setting Bat schedules for him, giving him some lenses you crafted with lord knows what kind of technology inside to help him.”

Studying her sister’s expression, Kara said, “You think I shouldn’t make him any more gadgets, do you? You think I am encouraging him.”

Diana pulled Kara closer to her on the sofa and wrapped her long arms around the blonde. “Kara, we are doing the best we can with what he is giving us. It’s either help guide him or cut him out of our lives. Since it is obvious that isn’t an option because no matter how stupid he is, we love him, this is the best we can do.”

“What if he is caught? What are we going to do? Everyone will know I made the suit and the equipment.” Kara stated truthfully.

Diana agreed. “I’ve given this quite a bit of thought. The new Director of ARGUS will do as we want. If the worst is to ever happen, I will simply have ARGUS claim him as an agent, have the case declared a matter of National Security, and place a gag order on anyone involved. Even if we don’t do that, who is going to say anything to us? The world is reliant on us, Kara.

“You have not given Bruce any true weapons. You are not providing him with missiles, or guns or any top-secret military weapons of any kind. With Gordon knowing about him, we will be able to act quickly if he is ever discovered by police and put a stop to any fallout. There are several ways we can cover for him. Actually, I am more concerned about him being killed but…”

“But?” Kara prodded when Diana hesitated.

“You should have seen him on Themyscira, Kara.” Diana said, a hint of pride seeping into her words. “His reflexes are faster than any human I have ever seen. His skill is amazing. Bruce would be very hard for anyone to kill. I grudgingly admit, while I still wish he would quit, he does know what he is doing.”

Kara shook her head. “Gotham doesn’t need this though! You said it yourself, the Gotham PD sent a message to organized crime. We have the lowest crime rates in the country.”

Diana sighed, shaking her head. “That’s not entirely accurate. While we have the lowest reported crime rates in the country, Gotham will always be a target for criminals. Because of our prime location and shipping yards, Gotham is a major thoroughfare and starting point for many crimes, like human trafficking and drug smuggling. Criminals simply cannot do business without going through Gotham or Metropolis and they are using both.”

Kara could understand that to a point. “What does Bruce do that the police can’t do?”

“He can find criminals the police can’t legally get to, find evidence to secretly pass to Jim and if that doesn’t work, he can beat people, burn down the operations, sometimes literally, and disrupt well-oiled machines.” Diana told her. “I don’t like it, but with Jim’s guidance and Bruce’s knowledge of the criminal underworld, Gotham could be even safer. Plus, there are areas like Arkham City and the Narrows that still need cleaning up. Someone like him could speed the process along and make police more efficient in where they focus their efforts. He’s already making a difference with the information he’s getting to Jim.”

Kara listened thoughtfully, finally letting out a breath. “He told me the only time he doesn’t have nightmares is when he has helped somebody. I guess we all deserve to sleep without nightmares.

“Speaking of nightmares, Steve told me you had a pretty big one Saturday. Are you okay?”

Diana rolled her eyes. “Steve shouldn’t worry you with those things. Never worry about me, Bunny. It’s my job to worry about you.

“Now, please try to pay attention to Sam the next time she is saving our company money instead of dreaming about a hot guy you like to argue with.”

“Diana! I would never.” Kara looked mortified.

Diana gave her a knowing look. “Don’t lie to me, Bunny. I know everything about you. I know how you think and what you feel. You care deeply for Tommy, but do you love him?”

Kara stiffened in Diana’s arms and was silent for several moments, before quietly admitting, “I don’t know how to answer that.”

“That’s okay.” Diana reassured her. “Keep something in mind though. Don’t lead him on for long if you decide you don’t.”

Kara sighed, still speaking softly. “Diana, he changed his whole life for me. He moved, bought a grocery store, cut himself off from his father, all to be with me.”

“Yes, he did,” Diana agreed, “And that put a lot of pressure on you, didn’t it?”

Kara nodded slowly, finally acknowledging what she’d been so hesitant to admit.

“He made those decisions on his own, Kara, and for the most part, he has made good decisions, changed his life for the better.” Diana admitted. “But when you step back and look at the whole picture, you don’t owe him anything, Sweetie. Just because you were the catalyst for his decisions, doesn’t mean you have to love him.”

“I care a lot about him, Diana.” Kara said, her eyes tearing up.

“I know you do.”

“He is really good to me. He worked hard to keep up with me this weekend and he has been so patient. He makes me feel special.”

“I know he does.” Diana easily agreed. “But that doesn’t mean you love him. He loves you. He has learned a lot being with you, but it is still your heart on the line, and you must be true to yourself. The two of you will always be good friends regardless of what you decide.”

“You think so?”

“I know it. Take your time, Kara. If it is right, you will know.”

“And if it isn’t?”

“You will know that too. You will have hard decisions to make but I am here for you. I will always be here for you… you know that, don’t you?”

“I do.” Kara affirmed, laughing softly, wiping away the lone tear that managed to escape her eye.

Diana kissed her on the forehead. “Good. I’m going to take care of you just like I always have. When you have problems of the heart, come to me. You’ve never kept secrets from me before, so don’t start now.”

Kara laughed. “I have secrets from you. You don’t know everything about me, Diana.”

“Ryan Choi?” Diana asked, eyebrow raised.

Kara’s eyes widened. “You knew about that?!”

“Of course. As I said, I know everything about you, Kara. I had that boy tested withing an inch of his life after you left that weekend.” Diana laughed at the horrified look on Kara’s face. Deciding to cut her sister some slack, she said, “Why don’t we walk to the deli, see Tommy, and buy some sandwiches for lunch? Tatsu has been standing motionless at my door all day. She needs to stretch her legs.”

The sisters, John and Tatsu walked out of the tower and down the street rather than taking a car. Diana felt safer with Kara walking near her, knowing she could stop any sniper bullet if necessary and claim she had been wearing a vest. Dig had a security protocol he activated every day he and Kara took a stroll to Tommy’s.

It was one block into the three block walk that Dig placed an arm around Kara and pulled her closer, causing both Diana and Kara to tense.

“What is it, Dig?” Diana asked, straining to remain calm and appear unaffected.

“My six o’clock. Blond woman, approximately five foot ten, incredibly muscular, wearing a burgundy, knee length dress and knee high, black boots. No bag on her. I saw her yesterday outside the Tower. Now she is following us and staying in eye contact. I’ve got two snipers with beads on her. Van is on its way.” Dig reported calmly.

Diana did not turn to look at the blonde, instead making eye contact with Tatsu who broke from the group and doubled back on the other side of the street.

A white, windowless van pulled up on the street beside them and the backdoor suddenly opened. Dig picked Kara up and placed her in the back, jumping in with her as two Wayne Security employees closed the door behind them.

Once she knew her sister was safe, Diana turned and made eye contact with the woman. The wide-eyed blonde began walking quickly in the other direction.

Diana kept pace, closing in but maintaining a human speed. The blonde glanced over her shoulder once more and seeing Diana was catching up, took off at a run, speeding around a corner and sprinting away from Wayne Tower into a nearby parking garage. Diana instructed security who had rushed to the scene to surround the garage but not alert the public, keeping their firearms holstered.

None of them were happy, or surprised, when Diana walked into the garage.

It was on level two that she found the impressively built blonde on her knees with Soultaker digging into her throat, Tatsu ready to rip her throat with a flick of her wrist.

“She is surprisingly fast for one so large.” Tatsu complimented her fallen foe. “Her only weapon was a dagger in her boot. Should I end this, and we continue on to lunch?”

Diana knelt next to the woman who appeared angry at being taken down by a diminutive adversary with greater skills. Diana knelt down, reaching out to the woman, gently stroking her cheek to calm her.

“Retract your blade, Tatsu. If my suspicions are correct, she is no threat to us.” Diana instructed, never taking her eyes from the blonde. “I can guess where you are from. What is your name?”

“Phillipus.” The blonde said, rubbing her throat where Soultaker had left a thin bleeding line.

“There are only two reasons why you would be here. You were either told to protect Kara, so your Queen wouldn’t lose me, or you were told to take her to draw me back to your home.”

Phillipus’s eyes grew wide as she vigorously shook her head. “Your mother would do nothing to harm her or take her away from you, Princess. I know of your complicated relationship, but she is a good and noble woman. She does not wish to anger you. She simply wishes to protect the one you love so much.”

“Because it is the same as protecting me.” Diana said, feeling a headache coming on. “Well, as you can see and have experienced, we are quite safe. How did you get here?”

“Zeus sent us.” The Amazon replied.

“Us?”

The woman said nothing, and Diana sighed.

“Where are your sisters?”

“Camping outside your kingdom.” The woman told her. “I bought clothes for us with gold. We watch the tall building during the day and patrol the outside of your kingdom at night.

“My kingdom… Wayne Manor? You are in the woods outside the manor walls.” Diana shook her head.

“How can you signal that you wish to go home?” Diana asked, wondering how easy it would be to get to Themyscira and equally how easy it would be for Amazons to invade Gotham City.

“Hermes checks with us every morning to determine all is well and returns to the island to inform our Queen. If needed, Zeus can bring us back. He has a vested interest in your safety as well as your mother.” Phillipus replied.

Diana wasn’t sure how she felt about that. The Greek god of messengers was visiting the Amazons every day in her world. Diana had wondered how bound the Amazons were to Themyscira and the gods were to Olympus. Kara had determined that, while Olympus and Tartarus likely existed in a pocket dimension, Themyscira existed on this plane, otherwise, Bruce and Diana wouldn’t have been able to pinpoint its location by the stars. If the Amazons needed Zeus to send them, it was unlikely he could drop thousands of them in the middle of Gotham. However, the gods were powerful and the last thing this world needed were many like her… beings that were overpowered yet lacking her restraint.

Diana smiled at the woman, she could detect no malice in the blonde so there was no reason for her to be rude. She did believe these people had her best interest at heart, even if she wished they just left her alone.

“Phillipus, I thank you and your sisters for your dedication, but my sister is well protected. If the ones who protect her noticed women like you following her, or discovered you camped out near the manor, women who have no identification in this world, there would be trouble. You would be considered hostile. Your identities would be investigated and that would led to questions. Questions are something I do not like. Your presence could do more harm than benefit, no matter how noble your intentions. Please return to Themyscira and thank your Queen but explain the dangers of your presence.”

“We will return and pass your message to our Queen.” Phillipus replied, getting to her feet. “I hope one day you can travel to us or perhaps have the Queen in your home. I realize you don’t know her, but she is a great woman who loves you very much. Giving you away after you were born and spending twenty‑eight years in prison, not knowing if you lived, tortured her worse than anything Cronus could do to her.”

She bowed to Diana and walked off. Diana informed security it had been a false alarm and to return to their posts. She then contacted Diggle to take Kara to the deli where she and Tatsu would meet them. She then called Barbara.

“I took out cameras as soon as Katana took her down.” Oracle told her, familiar with the routine. “Cameras are wiped, no one saw anything, and I am not asking questions. I don’t care and I don’t want to know.”

“Thank you as always, Barbara.” Diana said, hanging up and turning to her bodyguard.

“Excellent job to you as well.” Diana told Tatsu. “I’m sure that you have questions.”

Tatsu sheathed Soultaker and looked up at Diana. “Violet has six pairs of shoes, a closet full of new clothes, a large bed to call her own, a laptop, a game system and most importantly, food whenever she wants it. She also has a teacher, helping her learn mathematics and writing. My only question is why John Diggle doesn’t like me?”

Diana smiled, shaking her head. She had been right. Tatsu was perfect for the job.

At the deli, a white van stopped in front of the store. The back opened and Dig stepped out first, scanning the area then took Kara’s hand and assisted her to the pavement.

Kara’s eyes were wide, and she was still a bit out of breath and in disbelief at what had just happened.

“I just got kidnapped off the street by my own people.” She finally said, taking it in.

“Yep, now let’s go inside and wait for Diana.” Dig tried to gently push Kara toward the door, but Kara showed a bit of resistance and turned on Dig.

“You are telling me that whenever we take a walk, there is a van nearby that can pick me up and have me in the back in seconds? Basically kidnap me off the streets.” Kara was looking at him, still slightly out of breath.

Dig nodded. “It’s one of several protocols I have in place.”

Kara began bouncing up and down, obviously excited. “Can we do it again?! That was awesome! Please?”

Dig closed his eyes. He had created a monster.

---

Former Falconè Mansion, later that night

Jim Gordon, John Blake and Bruce sat around a table in what Bruce was beginning to call his Batcave. He liked Kara’s name for it… or the shortened version of her preferred name.

Though he kept his suit with him at all times, his unlicensed bike was here, as well as his work bench where he made many of the tools he had used in the League. Kara’s gadgets were great but the simplest things like bat‑shaped, sharp objects meant to be thrown were often just as important and effective.

Jim and Blake had arrived from the secret entrance that led to the highway, the one Falconè had installed, and Bruce had beefed up. It was hidden well, a barely noticeable trail in the woods large enough for a car, that led to the highway. Jim and Blake had passed it several times before finding the cutoff in the dark, Jim arriving in his car and Blake driving his black mustang.

Now the three were catching up.

“Blake, how was your patrol tonight?” Bruce asked.

“I didn’t have to kill anyone, I didn’t get shot and I didn’t find any dead bodies. All in all, I would say it has been my best shift since I started.”

“There has been a potential break.” Gordon told the men. “Rachel asked to review the files of four men who had been in the prison for seven to ten years in maximum security. She found death certificates inside the files. She asked Crane why the certificates had not been filed with the state since they remained active cases. Crane claimed former employees that were on staff before he arrived were incompetent.

“Rachel noted that, despite the different dates of death, what appeared to be the same blue ink and same writing style was used. According to her, he was rather agitated she found them. Rachel took the files regardless to have the ink and hand writing analyzed. If the ink is less than two‑years‑old, we can open an acknowledged investigation into him and have him suspended while it goes on.”

“Is it a good idea to give him a warning before iron clad evidence is determined? He could disappear.” Bruce pointed out.

“That was why the idea of a secret investigation was most appealing. The dead body the other night changed things.” Jim told them. “He is likely branching out now and killing outside the asylum. This may be because of Rachel’s presence in Arkham. He can’t afford to hide any patients’ deaths right now.”

Blake shook his head. “Then why doesn’t he just quit until she is gone?”

Bruce had the same thought. Crane was obviously killing in the basement of Arkham. It was the only place that had no cameras and security guards didn’t go.

Nothing was in that room any longer. All the services that used to be there had been moved to other buildings built years after the asylum opened. He had been all over the grounds. Though Rachel wasn’t there at night, she was keeping an eye on prisoner counts.

Now Crane had moved on to killing homeless but why?

The answer was as simple as it was chilling.

“He can’t stop. He is addicted.” Bruce explained his theory. “He lives to cause fear. My GC analysis of the nasal tissue showed signs of a poisonous gas.”

Gordon shouldn’t have been surprised but asked anyway. “How do you know this? Forensics hasn’t gotten their results back yet and the autopsy hasn’t been done.”

Bruce grinned at the look on the Commissioner’s face. “I wasn’t able to identify all the compounds but there were a few I could: dopamine, carbogen, corticotropin and yohimbine. Psilocybin mushroom properties were also present. I can’t identify the others. My GC machine is quite new and very accurate so those ingredients must be very rare and hard to acquire.

“We need to check his recent deliveries. If your autopsy and chemical analysis can’t pick up the chemicals I can’t identify, I suggest you give a sample to Eliza Danvers. If anyone can identify the remaining properties, she could. I would give it to her but if you did, the chain of custody would be followed and be admissible in court.”

“What about your scary sister?” Blake asked.

Gordon laughed. “Diana isn’t really into chemistry.”

“I was talking about Kara.” Blake corrected. “She is a genius, right? Shouldn’t she know all about this stuff? Maybe she could boost your machine?”

Bruce barely held in a smile. “Kara could identify it if I gave her time. She would need a night or two to brush up on biochemical pharmacology but would be an expert in no time. She has never been interested in subjects relating to medicine, but she doesn’t need to be involved. Investigating is our job. If we need expert analysis, we need to go to Eliza.”

“I’m sorry, did you say Kara was the scary one?” Gordon asked Blake, not sure he’d heard him right.

The man shrugged. “If the shoe fits. She has gone from acting afraid of me to yelling at me every chance she gets.”

Bruce shook his head. “She is just nervous around you. Trust me, Kara is the least scary person you will ever meet… unless she has a gun in her hand. You would not believe how good a shot she is. She is also very skilled with drones… and she can easily fly every plane she’s ever built if her eyesight wasn’t an issue. Steve tells me she is ruthless in the simulators… so maybe a little scary.”

Blake was obviously perplexed. “Why is she nervous around me then? I’m honestly scared to say anything around her. Now she has me nervous.”

Bruce looked knowingly at Gordon who snickered. “You don’t have a lot of experience with women, do you?”

“I grew up on the streets. I wasn’t an angel, no matter how many Catholic boys homes I lived in.” Blake retorted. “I admit I’ve been out of the game and in the desert for a while, but I have plenty of experience. What the hell does that have to do with anything?”

Bruce decided to clear the air. “She has a crush on you. My sister has lived a… sheltered life. She doesn’t always know how to act around guys that she is… that she likes.”

“She likes me?” Blake snorted in disbelief. “No way. Girls like her aren’t into street rats.”

Gordon waved that off. “Don’t be too sure of that. Bruce dated a street rat in high school.”

Bruce closed his eyes.

“Seriously? Who?”

“Selina Kyle.” Gordon informed him not bothering to hide his amusement at Bruce’s frustration.

“Really? That girl was legendary in the orphanages. I heard all kinds of stories about her as a kid. They said there wasn’t a lock that could keep her out. She could fly across rooftops, outrun cops and beat up guys ten times bigger than her. You and her were a thing?” Blake asked.

“We knew each other.” Bruce admitted.

“Drove Diana crazy.” Gordon pointed out with a grin.

“Doesn’t matter.” Blake said. “Kara is constantly telling me she has a boyfriend. Merlyn is the type of guy I would expect her to be with. He looks like he belongs in that world, has nice manners, nice clothes, comes from money right? They seem to get along good.”

Bruce nodded. “They do, but it doesn’t change what I said. She gets nervous around guys she has a crush on. You don’t know much about my family, do you, Blake?”

“Just what I’ve heard around the station. Mostly that Diana Wayne runs the world, makes Gotham better and Kara Wayne is a genius like Einstein or someone of that caliber.” Blake said, intrigued with Bruce’s assertions whether he believed them or not. “Of course I knew about your… parents and all.”

“My family is complicated. Kara didn’t get out much growing up. She didn’t go to high school, she went to college when she was fourteen and immediately placed in advanced graduate classes with kids ten years or more older than her and was smarter than all her professors. She has been unwell for most of her life and Diana… anyway, she never developed normal social skills.”

Bruce realized he’d said more than he probably should have, so he changed the subject. “Let’s move on. Jim, have you or Harvey found anything suspicious in Crane’s background pre college?”

“Nope, I know he was bullied in high school. I spoke to a retired officer in Spencerville, Idaho who told me he had been beaten several times, but no charges were ever filed. There was suspicion that his mother and father abused him, but no one ever stepped in, and he never reported it. His parents are dead now so we will never know.” Jim told them.

Bruce nodded, deciding on a course of action for the evening. “I’m going to follow him after he leaves work, figure out if he is setting up anymore kill spots. A gas weapon must be used in a concentrated dose to be lethal so quickly. He is spraying it directly into a victim’s face. That’s why he needs them strapped down. That kind of death, those hallucinogens, a person is going to make a lot of noise.”

Gordon agreed. “Blake, I’ve told your captain to keep you in your own car, no partner and that I want you to keep patrolling Arkham City making more contacts. Talk to the locals, get a feel for the area and if you see anything suspicious, call for back up before engaging.”

“Ten-four, Commissioner. You gonna be following Crane home every night?” he asked Bruce.

Bruce was quiet and Blake got the message. “If I see him driving anywhere besides his apartment, I’ll keep an eye on him, Bruce. You don’t have to do this alone.”

Gordon chimed in his agreement.

“He’s right. Once the autopsy is done, I’ll ask Eliza to see if she can recreate a formula then develop an antidote for it.” Gordon told the men. “You going out tonight, Bruce?”

Bruce nodded.

“Come on, Blake. I don’t know about you, but I need a beer.” Gordon said, standing.

Blake stood as well. “I should go home and get some rest. You need any backup tonight, give me a call.”

Bruce nodded and opened the door at the end of the cave, allowing the two men to leave the way they came.

Once everything was secured, he prepared to suit up. He had not said anything to Alfred, wanting the man to rest. He would go out tonight, be at the manor by six as Kara was waking up and have breakfast with the family then pass out until they returned from work.

He was determined to make this work. A part of him wanted to go out every night, haunt Crane’s every step. He wouldn’t though. He wouldn’t lose himself completely to Batman if it meant he got to keep Kara and Diana. He never thought Kara would meet him as far as she had, and he wasn’t going to screw up this tentative truce they now had.

He hadn’t made any progress on the Russians or the Triad and those would be his targets tonight, simple surveillance only.

Before he could suit up, his door alert activated… someone was at his front door. It couldn’t be Diana or Kara. They never knocked or announced themselves.

He checked the door camera and saw Selina Kyle. He immediately forgot his plans to go out.

Selina was there and, even if it was her image in a less than high definition camera, the sight took him back to years ago.

A few minutes later, Bruce reluctantly opened the door.

Selina Kyle was in front of him for the first time in six years.

She wore a tight black dress, just off her shoulders, ending mid-thigh. It was tight and revealing, her usual style but much more elegant than anything he had ever seen her in. She appeared to be a high society seductress, not the girl who preferred the black denim, leather and spandex she wore as a teen. Her long, dark hair was now short, a bob cut, no doubt easier to handle for her rumored criminal exploits.

It was a drastic change, but it also fit her. Her features had also changed. She had always been svelte as a teen, having softer features but now appeared more defined and chiseled.

Before Bruce could open his mouth, Selina slapped him… hard.

He rubbed his jaw and sighed. “You aren’t the first to do that. Still deserved. Would you like to come in?”

Selina pushed him aside and walked into the sitting room. She took in the broken furniture and slash marks in the wall, curtains cut in half and rips in the floors, reminders of Tatsu’s assault, and continued on into the living room.

Bruce followed her. Once she was near the sofa, he asked her if she wanted a drink. She nodded and when he brought her one, she poured it over his head.

“I’m detecting hostility.”

“Brilliant deduction.” Selina replied sarcastically. “Did you know I was pregnant when you left?”

Bruce’s eyes widened. “You were?”

“No, but I could have been!” She screamed. “You wouldn’t have known because you dropped out of the world without a word to me! I would have come with you! I understood why you left your devil sister but all I ever did was support you, helped you become the person you said you wanted to be! I loved you! Where the hell did you get off leaving me behind?!”

Bruce took a shuddering breath, not having registered most of what she just screamed at him, his brain still not firing correctly in the wake of her first question. “Just to be clear, you weren’t pregnant, right?”

Selina rolled her eyes and made her way to the bar, pouring a drink and actually drinking this one.

“So, let me guess. You gave away all your worldly treasures, traveled the world, lived on the streets and hung out with criminals, all in an effort to get rid of your inner rich boy, am I right?”

“You look as if you are doing well.” Bruce said, ignoring the accuracy of her statement.

Selina slapped him again. “Don’t change the subject. I don’t plan to be in Gotham long. Your damn sister somehow led the FBI to my doorstep a few days after I was here last. I planned to go to Metropolis, but I couldn’t stay away. I hate that I gave a damn enough to see you. Tell me why, Bruce?”

“I…”

Selina held up a hand. “It doesn’t matter. I don’t want to know why. I just came here to tell you to your face that I hate you and you are dead to me. You’ve been dead to me for years!”

Bruce nodded. “I understand…”

“You understand?!” She shrieked. “That’s all you have to say?!”

“I understand. What I did was wrong, but you were right. You were always right. I was always going to be Bruce Wayne. Selina…”

Selina tried to slap him again, but Bruce caught her arm. “The first two are free. You have to work for any more.”

Selina used a leg sweep to send him to the ground. Bruce locked her leg, sending her to the ground as well. She jumped on top of him and began swinging.

The next morning, Bruce woke up on the floor with Selina on top of him, a single sheet covering them both.

He took a look at her and closed his eyes, wondering what the hell they had been thinking. They had barely spoken. She had yelled at him, they had taken each other to the ground, she had thrown blows and he had blocked them and then…

His phone buzzed. He reached over to where his pants were on the floor and pulled it out of his pocket. Bruce cringed when he saw the caller ID.

“Good morning.”

“Why aren’t you home?” Kara asked.

“I am running late. I was out last night and needed to finish some things up here.”

“Try again, Bruce. I just checked the location history of your suit, and it has been at your crime house all night. It hasn’t moved so what are you doing? Why aren’t you here?”

Bruce tried to think of something to say that wouldn’t be a complete lie.

Unfortunately no lie was needed.

“Is that your sister?” Selina asked sarcastically. “Hi, Diana. Go to hell already.”

Bruce said nothing, closing his eyes in dismay.

“Was that who I think it was? Tell me that wasn’t Selina Kyle, Bruce.” Kara demanded.

“I’m afraid I can’t tell you that, Kara. I really wish I could.”

“Oh, that’s Kara?” Selina opened her eyes again, raising her voice just enough that she knew Kara would hear her. “I’m not sure what you did to those diamonds to track me but good sport. No hard feelings. I’ve always liked you, sweetie.”

By Kara’s silence, Bruce decided she was not happy with the compliment.

“Is there any way we could keep this to ourselves?” Bruce asked his little sister.

Instead of answering, he flinched at the sound of Kara’s loud voice echoing in the manor.

“Diana! Bruce is with the thieving slut!”