Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

The Wayne Legacy: Knightmare

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 24:

Wayne Manor

Diana and Steve entered the manor thirty minutes before Kara would be arriving home with Dig. The two had spent the evening two blocks away from the bar in a Mercedes where Diana could hear everything going on inside and still give Kara the illusion of being out with her friends.

As Steve retired to their room to watch the world news, Diana entered the sitting room and found Hippolyta standing in front of a large, painted portrait of the Wayne family before her parents were murdered. Hippolyta had a drink in hand, but she remained motionless, staring at the painting as if transfixed by it.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Diana asked in greeting. “Father had an artist from France flown over to paint it. It was the last family portrait we had done before they were killed. Bruce and I were eleven and Kara was four.”

Hippolyta nodded. “It is lovely. The artist was truly gifted, but your family is breathtaking.”

The woman turned and had a seat in one of the tall and very old chairs that adorned the sitting room. “Would you tell me about them, the couple that turned you into the amazing woman you are today?”

Diana sat across from her, looking thoughtful. “What would you like to know?”

Hippolyta smiled gently with a hint of sadness behind it. “Whatever comes to mind.”

Diana laughed lightly. “My mother was the most loving woman one could ever know. She cared for everyone. She funded and volunteered at orphanages, free health clinics, abuse centers, homeless shelters… almost every homeless shelter in Gotham City was started or revitalized by my mother.

“But no matter how much care she showed the world, the most important thing about her was how much she loved us. No matter how frustrated, worried, or sad I became, she would hold me until I felt better. I would lay my head on her chest and cry about so many things.

“I would cry when Kara was sick or when my strength grew greater, and I had difficulty holding simple things again. No matter what, when I was sad, she would hold me in her arms and tell me she wouldn’t let me go until the sadness had lessened. That it may never go away but eventually it would be bearable.”

“A wise woman.” Hippolyta replied sincerely.

Diana nodded, her expression one of warmth, but a deep sadness as well. “She would take me to see Eliza every Saturday to make sure I was doing ok and afterward we’d go shopping. Then we would visit a charity of some sort and help out. Sometimes we served lunch or dinner. Other times, we just visited with people who needed help.

“I saw her hug so many strangers, people who had been on the street for weeks would break down in her arms. She was more than a wise woman… she was the most compassionate woman I will ever know. The way she loved us, the way she loved Kara, it takes my breath away even today to think about it.”

Hippolyta sat still, taking in the words, the reverent description of this incredible woman she owed so much, seeing first-hand the amazing love and reverence Diana had for the woman.

“My father… I loved my mother with my whole heart, but I wanted to be my father. I idolized everything about him, except his mustache.” Diana said, a mischievous gleam in her eyes.

Hippolyta laughed. “It would not have been a good look for you.”

Diana smirked in good-natured agreement. “As far as I am concerned, my father was the greatest man who ever lived. He was a healer and a warrior, a servant and a leader. There was nothing he could not do. I loved the times in the summer when he would take us to work with him. Bruce became bored quickly, but I never did. Wherever he walked, people stopped what they were doing and watched him.

“They smiled at him, they straightened their posture, and I could tell by their eyes, they wanted him to recognize them, to acknowledge them and when he did, it was as if their entire day had been made.

“He was a strong king. He had loyal subjects and he ruled fairly but he ruled absolutely… everyone knew it. No one challenged my father, not even the kings of the criminal underworld.”

“Knowing your stubborn nature, I would wager the two of you clashed often.” Hippolyta guessed.

To her surprise, Diana shook her head. “He was the only one I didn’t clash with. He encouraged me to express disapproval and question things I did not understand or agree with. He would explain to me why he made the decisions he made, let me understand, so I could learn to think as he did.

“As I said before, I wanted to be my father. I had no interest in arguing with him.”

Hippolyta nodded, satisfied with that answer. “It is no mystery you beat Cronus. You were not raised an Amazon, but he taught you to think and act like one. The Fates were wise sending you to him.

“The murderer that took them from you. What happened to him?”

Diana’s face turned red in surprised anger, and she unconsciously clenched her fists. “I had warned him, if he left prison for any reason, I would find him and kill him. He made a deal with the District Attorney’s Office to testify against another man earning his release. Afterward, I waited, gave him time to feel comfortable, then I kept my promise. I placed a tourniquet on his arm and cut his hand off with the sword that was given to me at birth, then took him to a remote cabin where no one would hear him scream.

“I tortured him, took him apart piece by piece, literally made him curse the day he was born. I then burned the body, crushed the bones into dust and spread him out over a landfill.”

Hippolyta nearly applauded but refrained. “You did warn him.”

“I knew you would understand. My father would have expected no less and my mother…” Diana closed her eyes briefly, pain in heart even after all the time that had passed. “My mother is still dead. Nothing I did, nothing I could do to that monster would change that. I would say I did it for justice, but it would be a lie. I did it for revenge, to quench my thirst for the blood of the man who destroyed our world.”

Hippolyta sipped her drink and sat in silence with Diana, neither talking but not feeling uncomfortable.

“How is Kara?” Hippolyta finally asked.

Diana’s face fell. “She had a bit too much to drink tonight and will likely wake up in the middle of the night since she can’t take a sedative with alcohol. She was sad but there was a man there, a friend of the family, who gave her perspective. This was the first time her heart was broken, and I pray it is the last time.”

“Time heals all.” Hippolyta agreed.

Diana was thoughtful, daring to ask something she had been wondering about. “Did the person you loved leave you? Was your heart broken?”

Hippolyta was silent for a moment then sighed.

In a resigned voice, she told Diana the truth. “She died for me.”

Diana said nothing, waiting to hear if Hippolyta would say more but it didn’t appear she was going to.

“I am sorry for your loss.” Diana genuinely offered.

“It was a thousand years ago but feels like it was yesterday.” Hippolyta said quietly. “I still find it difficult to speak of. One day I will tell you her story, but I am afraid I cannot tonight.”

Diana nodded, not wanting to push and instead changed the subject. “You have not left the manor since we took you shopping. Why do you stay inside?”

“I am afraid your healer, Eliza, will jab me with more needles.” Hippolyta told her in a teasing manner, then became serious. “I am still becoming used to the idea of… being here. I have everything I want in this great house… I have you. Going into the world…”

“It’s frightening.” Diana replied when she hesitated.

Hippolyta said nothing.

Coming to a decision, Diana said, “Tomorrow, you will come out with me to the track. I will show you vehicles that can move much faster than a horse. Monday, you will come to the Tower. If you are to be my new antiquities manager, you will fulfil your job and work on the Tower as well.”

Hippolyta raised an eyebrow. “I’m not certain that is a good idea.”

“You wish to be a part of my life.” Diana reminded her. “The Muses went to great lengths to give you an identity and a place to belong in this world. You gave up your home and immortality to be with me, to know me. To truly know me, you must see all of my life, not only what is within these walls. Don’t you agree?”

Hippolyta didn’t respond immediately, seeming to consider Diana’s arguments. “As you say. I wish for you to get to know me as well so spending more time with you would please me.”

“Good. It’s settled.” Diana replied happily. “Maybe we can convince Kara to come with us to the racetrack tomorrow. It would do her good to get her mind on other things.”

“I would love that. I would enjoy spending time with her, too.” Hippolyta agreed. “Now, since I am to take my position seriously, some of the art and antiques around the manor are atrocious and most are not genuine. I will need access to the authentic items in your vault to determine what can be placed where, what pieces must go to auction and what pieces are needed to be acquired.”

Diana nearly groaned. “If I gave you a budget, how likely is it you would abide by it?”

“Not very likely.” Hippolyta told her.

Diana sighed, not surprised. Tilting her head, her eyes seemed to lose focus, then she stood.

“Kara has arrived.” She informed the woman. “I must attend to her. Good night, Hippolyta. It was a real pleasure speaking to you. If it means anything… I am glad you are here.”

Hippolyta smiled brightly. “It means everything. I am glad too, my love… Diana. Rest well.”

---

Wayne Tower

The past week had been eventful for Kara, yet at the same time, surprisingly restful.

Sam had finally hired an executive assistant. Her name was Vanessa Kapatelis, the daughter of Julia Kapatelis, a friend of Diana’s who was the curator of the Gotham Museum of Natural History. Diana had suggested the girl to Sam as a favor to Julia and Sam had fallen in love with the young woman.

Kara had begun to feel better. She had not spoken to Tommy but knew Diana had confirmed he made it safely to Star City.

The loss of him stung. Kara had not realized how much she relied on the conversations the two had during the day, both text and voice calls. She had expected him to come over at night only to remember that he lived in another city. It was almost as if he died, and she had to keep reminding herself over and over that he was gone.

John Blake and Bruce had continued training and Bruce continued to go out in the city at night, looking for trouble. Despite Blake’s regular appearances at the manor, she maintained her distance, though she wasn’t quite sure why.

She had made no headway in the Helios project, but construction had begun on the Stryker Island facility, the military aeronautics center in Gotham, the tire plant in Central City and the multiple updates were being made to the newly purchased shipyards. There were many more large plants due to begin construction as soon as a city could be decided on.

Kara recently learned that, in addition to building her a state-of-the-art research facility that would easily rival S.T.A.R. Labs in the near future, Diana planned on turning the land Arkham Asylum still resided on into a satellite manufacturing facility as soon as the Government turned the land over to her, presumably in the next four weeks or less.

She was also buying property all over Arkham City for pennies on the dollar with a plan to turn the area into housing for employees. Arkham Asylum and the area called Arkham City that surrounded it would be gone soon, along with the buildings and the name.

Despite all that was going on around her, Kara’s most pressing matter at the moment was Diana and Bruce’s birthday tomorrow.

Kara had a job to do, something she had always done the day before Diana’s birthday, every year since she was three-years-old. The only year she had missed was the year their parents died.

“Dig, I need to find Diana’s birthday present.” She told the man who had been seated comfortably and quietly in her office as she had read project updates at her desk.

He snapped his head up. “I assumed you would order something. Where would you like to go?”

Kara stood up and straightened her skirt.

“Outside in the Tower Plaza will be a good place to start. If I can’t find her gift there, then I will go block by block. We won’t stop until I find it.”

Dig was confused but before he could ask more questions, Kara was on her way to the elevator and he was alerting the Plaza guards, including the plain clothes guards to be ready. The snipers on the Tower roof began using infrared to cover the buildings surrounding Wayne Tower and report any warm life form squatted by a window.

Once Kara was in the grassy area of the Plaza, she took her shoes off and smiled. It was a sunny day and she looked to the sky, enjoying the breeze and warmth on her skin.

She wiggled her toes in the grass and began walking slowly, keeping her eyes on the ground.

“What are we doing?” Dig finally asked, not happy to be out in the open in a confined area but enjoying the smile on her face.

“I am looking for Diana’s birthday present. I was three the first time I gave her this, it’s one of my earliest memories.

“Mom had been walking with me around the manor grounds on a beautiful day, just like this. I knew Diana and Bruce were having a birthday the next day. I knew that meant my birthday was soon and that meant lots of presents.

“Anyway, I saw something sparkling in the sun and raced towards it. Of course, I fell before I got there but I was too enraptured by the beautiful trinket I had found to worry about being hurt.”

“You found a diamond? A fake diamond?” Dig guessed.

Kara shook her head. “It was a quarter. Mom told me it was pirate treasure. I became so excited. I decided if it was treasure, it must make someone rich so I washed it as best I could and put it in this box Mommy… Mom gave me. I drew this childish map to where I found it and gave it to Diana for her birthday.”

Dig smiled at the idea. Even at three, Kara found a treasure and couldn’t wait to give it to her beloved sister. “You found a treasure and gave it to Diana… along with a map to where she could find more.”

Kara smiled, nodding. “I guess Mom reminded me of it the next year and I did the same. The year after, they had just died and… my birthday was celebrated but no one else’s was. I didn’t have a party, we just celebrated in the manor. I was determined to make up for it when I turned six and told Alfred I needed to find Diana the perfect gift. He reminded me of the pirate treasure and told me the story again.

“Since that day, every year, I search for a quarter for Diana’s birthday the day before. I then draw a map to where it was found. Diana keeps it in a treasure box in her room. She takes the one I gave her the previous year, puts it in the vault, and keeps the current one under her bed.”

Dig shook his head, loving the idea that the Wayne billionaires, most likely on the cusp of trillionaires and perhaps secretly already were, had such small traditions that meant so much to them.

He knew Diana bought a new porcelain doll every year from somewhere around the world for Kara’s doll room. Apparently, Diana ordered one from a new country every year and would tell Kara all about the place. It was Kara’s way of traveling when she hadn’t been able to because of her health.

“What about Bruce?” He asked.

“Socks.” Kara answered quickly.

Dig laughed loudly. “So we need to buy socks?”

Kara shook her head. “When I was little, I took a pair of Dad’s socks and wrapped them for Bruce. As I grew, I stole a pair of Alfred’s every year.”

“So you need to steal a pair of socks from Alfred?”

Kara shook her head. “No, it’s taken care of. If you are ever wondering what happened to your socks with cows on them, don’t. They will be Bruce’s tomorrow. I’ll buy you a new pair, I promise.”

Dig shook his head, greatly amused. “They are bulls, not cows and have you ever considered just buying socks?”

“Where would be the fun in that?” Kara winked at him and laughed. “The area by the large tree with the concrete table would be a good place to look. People sit there all the time.”

It took four hours for Kara to find a quarter near a drain one block away. She had found six nickels, three dimes and more pennies than she could handle but no quarters until they hit the streets. The day had Dig on edge the entire time they had been out in the open but the relief and joy on her face made the anxiety worth it.

He watched her wash and scrub the quarter in the kitchen sink at the manor with the first carefree smile on her face since she had left the pool hall after talking to John Blake.

He knew at that moment she would be okay and that was all that mattered to him. It didn’t matter if security had been on red alert all afternoon. It didn’t matter that despite their best efforts, a sniper or a shooter on the street could have taken a shot. Sometimes, she needed to be a normal girl and it was part of his job to make sure that happened.

---

Wayne Manor

When Kara brought Diana breakfast in bed the next morning, Steve rolled over and asked where his was. She promptly told him the toaster was in the kitchen and to make himself scarce. Steve grumbled but did as he was told, with Kara taking his spot, nibbling off a slice of toast she had laid on Diana’s tray.

“Good morning, beloved.” A still sleepy Diana said contentedly, smiling up at her sister.

“Happy birthday, Didi.” Kara told her, kissing her on top of the head. “So, what shall we do today?”

“What is wrong with what we do every year?” Diana asked.

Kara looked at her in disbelief. “Spa day at the manor sounds nice but we have many more people than just Alfred this year. Steve is finally here full time, Bruce is back, Dig is here. Who else… oh yeah, the former Queen of the Amazons has moved in too. Alfred gave everyone but the cook the day off and we still have a full house.”

“No.” Diana shook her head, groaning, pulling a pillow over her face. “It’s my birthday and I want it to be the two of us. We are going to do the same thing as last year. We are going to make a fort with pillows and sheets then hide out all day, only emerging for massages and pedicures. As queen for the day, this is my decree.”

Her muffled voice and antics tickled Kara who smiled fondly. “As much as I love that, don’t you also love having so many people here?”

“I know you love it so that is enough for me.” Diana told her, moving her pillow to the side and sitting up.

The two sisters enjoyed their ritual birthday morning, relaxing in the comfort of sharing the breakfast Kara had brought up. When they finished, Diana placed the tray on the floor by the bed and curled back into the blankets with Kara snuggling close to her.

“You will never guess what I found.” Kara said, a mischievous grin indicating that the yearly ritual has begun.

Diana raised an eyebrow, playing along. “What could my brave little sister have found in her adventures?”

Kara reached into her pajama pocket and pulled out a shiny quarter and a slip of paper. “I found pirate treasure. I want you to have it so you can be rich. I drew a map to where you can find more.”

Diana took the quarter from Kara’s fingers and held it before her. A tear slid down her cheek when she thought back to what seemed so long ago… a three-year-old, excited Kara handing Diana a quarter she had found and polished, believing she had found a fortune in pirate treasure and giving it to her big sister.

The act had hit her hard then. Kara was a small child, weak from being in poor health often, but she always had a smile on her face. She had found something magical, and her first thought was to give it to Diana. Even at her young age, it blinded Diana with love and caused her to cry.

She had every quarter Kara had given her on her birthdays but that first one, along with the poorly drawn crude map from Kara’s room to the front garden, meant more to her than any treasure in the world.

“Thank you, Bunny. I shall treasure it always.” Diana told her, wrapping her arms around her little sister. “This year… so much has happened.”

“You got engaged!” Kara squealed.

“I did. We went through hell and near-death experiences, but I finally got what I wanted most in life… you, healthy, not having to live under the threat of germs and unseen viruses all the time.” Diana said, her eyes tearing again, but this time they were tears of joy. “We traveled, we laughed, we drank beer and ate more pizza than even I should be allowed to ingest.”

“Bruce is back!” Kara added.

Diana’s smile dimmed. “Yes, he is. To be honest, I’m still not sure what that will mean for our lives.”

Kara understood what she meant. The wounds were still fresh from the revelations of the sibling meeting and Diana and Bruce’s pointed and, at times, heated conversations.

“You love each other still. That’s what matters, right?” The younger sister offered.

Diana smiled wider and nodded, determined to remain positive. “You are right.”

“And you got to meet Hippolyta?” Kara reminded her. “Who is now living with us. How cool is that? This is going to be the first birthday she has had with you in twenty-nine years.”

Diana smiled dimmed once again. “I hope this birthday is less eventful than the day I was born. I would be quite upset if a Titan burst out of the ground under the manor. She is another element in our lives I am still not sure of.”

Kara poked Diana in the ribs, causing her to squeal. “You always said the two of us together were the only sure things in life. We have to take chances, right, Didi?”

Diana nodded and swung herself out of bed. “Since you have declined to build a fort for me, I suppose we should greet everyone for breakfast. I am not changing out of my pajamas nor are you. That is unquestionable.”

At breakfast, Diana was disappointed to see Bruce and Dig had changed for the day, Alfred refused to wear pajamas as he did every year. Hippolyta wore one of the new dresses Diana had bought for her to go out around the tower and museums, not casual wear for the manor. Perhaps Kara could have a discussion with her on what to wear in certain places at certain times.

After breakfast, Kara had given Bruce a box containing a pair of socks with bulls on them.

“So, who did you steal from this year?” Bruce asked his sister jokingly. “These don’t appear Alfred’s style. Steve or Dig, right?”

Kara snorted. “Steve doesn’t own dress socks. How do you know I didn’t buy them?”

“Because you are history’s richest kleptomaniac. I love that about you.” Brue replied, laughing.

Kara hugged her brother. “I love you, Bruce.”

“I love you too, Bunny.”

As the day went on, Alfred accepted numerous deliveries… all birthday gifts for Diana.

She received artwork, marble busts, rare coins, golden pens and expensive jewelry. The givers ranged from the British Prime Minister, the king of Markovia, multiple Sheikhs, CEOs, politicians and a silver frame of Diana shaking hands with the President in the Pentagon from the President himself. She took the photo out and threw in it the trash, handing the nice frame to Alfred while explaining to Hippolyta that she couldn’t stand the man and had plans for him to be replaced in the next election.

Birthday wishes and flower arrangements were given by five-star Generals and Admirals from the U.S. and military leaders around the world. The French Prime Minister sent her a diamond necklace, expressing his excitement of her upcoming trip to Paris.

The gift that meant the most to her besides Kara’s, was her present from Alfred. He had given her a photo of a then seven-year-old Diana, holding an infant Kara in her arms. The pink-framed photo had been a mainstay on her father’s desk until he was killed, and Alfred had held on to it all these years. Diana stared at the photo, her mind overrun with memories, tears in her eyes and a smile on her face. When Diana thanked him, he told her he felt it was time to return it to the CEO’s desk in Wayne Tower where it belonged.

Steve had given Diana a six pack of the cheap beer the two had drank in Pensacola on their first date. He had been unable to see her on the first birthday they were together, so had it delivered. Diana had loved it and on his birthday every year she gave him a six pack of German Ale from one of the breweries she owned in Germany.

Silver arrived at three that afternoon, wearing pajamas and demanding to know where her pillow fort was. On being told it hadn’t been built yet, she coerced Kara into helping pull Diana away to build a one using nearly every pillow Alfred could find within easy reach in the manor.

The guys decided to entertain themselves with a game of poker while the girls set up a laptop to watch a movie inside their newly built fortress.

Before it started, Kara went downstairs to make large bowls of popcorn and Diana sought out Hippolyta to invite her into the covered fort.

“I would love to join your stronghold.” Hippolyta said, delighted to have been included. “I suppose I will have to wear clothing similar to yours?”

“Have you found anything more comfortable?” Diana asked. “And don’t say nude!”

Hippolyta chuckled and walked to her dresser. Rather than pulling out pajamas, she pulled out a small wooden box and walked over to Diana handing it to her.

“Do you have time for a story?” Hippolyta asked her daughter. “I promise it will be quick.”

Diana shrugged and agreed.

“I was the Queen of the Amazons because I was the first created.” Hippolyta explained. “When I walked out of the water onto the shores of Themyscira, I had no idea what I was, no idea about the world. We were born as we are now. We never experienced being children. We were given basic knowledge by the gods, the knowledge of all languages but not much else.”

“Athena and Aphrodite greeted me, taught me, so that I could teach the others who would come after me. One of the early lessons I learned was how to make a knife. A knife was an important tool to have. It could be used as a tool to build, a tool to hunt and as a weapon to attack or defend. It was small and easy to carry but also had to be stronger than anything you might encounter.”

Hippolyta opened the box. Inside was a simple knife with a bone handle. The blade was a rough granite and had no shine while the bone had been bleached but years had worn the handle to nearly black.

“This was the first knife I made. I carved it out of flint. I wrapped a fabric around the bottom and used it to kill a wild boar. I took a rib from that beast and made a handle for it.

“This knife has been my constant companion for three thousand years. It has been with me through countless battles, fed me many meals, taken many lives. I have had thousands of weapons in my life but this one has always been my most precious. Now, it is yours.”

Diana’s breath caught in her throat, looking at the blade with new eyes. What wonders it had seen, what stories it could tell. This was crafted three thousand years ago by the woman who gave her life. A part of her wanted to turn the gift down as it was too much… too personal.

Diana had not expected such a touching gesture from her birth mother. In truth, she had expected nothing and wondered if birthdays were even celebrated on Themyscira. She had never expected something so meaningful, and she knew her mother and father would want her to take the gift offered.

Tears filled Diana’s eyes as she took the knife from the box.

“Thank you.” She whispered, meeting Hippolyta’s eyes.

Hippolyta’s smile lit up the room, relieved that Diana had accepted the gift.

“May I hug you?” she asked tentatively.

Diana nodded and brought the woman into her arms. Though the pressure did little to Diana, Hippolyta held her tighter than she had held anyone in her long existence.

Diana finally pulled back and wiped her eyes. “Pajamas, Kara’s room, movie. Five minutes, okay?”

“Pajamas, I understand.” Hippolyta assured her and changed as soon as Diana left the room.

Later that night, after the movie had ended and everyone had returned to their bedrooms, even Silver staying the night in her usual room, Kara walked out, to say good night to Bruce. The guys had been busy playing poker, even Jim Gordon had stopped by to join in the revelry, at least according to Diana and her constant monitoring of the house.

When she stepped out of her room, she heard grunts across from her. She wondered if Bruce and Dig were training, something they often did.

Opening the door quietly, she stood in the door frame and watched her brother and John Blake sparring.

Instead of leaving them to their training, Kara took the time to really watch them this time. She remembered Alfred teaching Bruce and Diana how to fight when she was very young. She had been fascinated and would stay a distance away, doing her best to copy her big sister’s moves, punching and kicking the air.

Diana never allowed her to learn to fight. Diana worried Kara would skin her knee or cut her hands and reminded her that she fought so Kara wouldn’t have to. Looking back on it, she was amazed Diana let her shoot real guns.

Bruce was talking to Blake while they fought, instructing, encouraging and taking advantage of Blake’s mistakes.

It was easy to see the difference between the two and their fighting styles.

Blake was a bull. Kara had seen videos of martial arts taught to Marines, more of a style of combat fighting than an actual art. His movements were short, brutal, trying to damage with every move, his feet planted firmly in the ground, only moving to dodge an attack.

Bruce fought with grace. Despite the power Kara knew Bruce had, he was almost dancing, his feet never staying in one place too long, circling his opponent, keeping him off guard then striking like a cobra, so fast it was a blur, but packed enough power to knock Blake down.

The two finally stopped when Bruce leveled a kick at his head, his foot stopping an inch from Blakes’s unprotected nose.

“Damn it!” Blake yelled, frustrated.

“You will get it. You’re already a lot better.” Bruce encouraged him. “We just have to break you from those bad habits from the streets and the Marines. Remain calm. Even while the adrenalin is running through your veins, stay in the moment while looking objectively outside yourself.”

“That makes no sense.” Blake complained.

“It will.” Bruce promised. “I should have finished that last kick. It would serve you right for taking all my money in poker on my birthday.”

Blake smirked, clasping hands with Bruce. “That is some consolation at least.”

Kara slipped out into the hall and waited for Blake to come out.

When he stepped into the hall, she took a deep breath, momentarily taken back as usual by his muscular form, but she was better prepared this time and easily shook off her attraction.

“He is always going to kick your ass.” Kara said to him. “Do you know why?”

“I’m guessing it’s because I didn’t spend six years wandering the world learning from exotic kung fu masters.” Blake replied.

Kara smiled at his cheekiness. “That’s part of it, but Bruce was a better fighter than you when he was maybe thirteen or fourteen. I used to watch him and Diana all the time while Alfred taught them to fight. Do you know what else Bruce did while he was learning to fight?”

Blake shrugged, not having a clue.

“He learned to dance.” Kara told him. “Ballroom dancing mostly. All of us learned. I’ve watched his feet and he fights like he dances. Every step has a purpose, nothing is random or uncontrolled. He has a rhythm he picked up in his childhood that you’ve never had the chance to learn.”

Blake began walking down the hall. “Not much ballroom dancing where I was from. Besides… the last and only time we danced, you said I was a natural.”

“I lied.” Kara said, keeping pace beside him.

“Thanks.” He muttered.

“I can teach you!” Kara said, stopping to see if he would stop as well.

Blake turned around slowly. “You want to teach me how to dance?”

Kara nodded. “You come here to train with Bruce. Work with me before you do. I can teach you to dance to help your footwork. It’s easier to learn footwork when dancing than getting beat up.”

Blake raised an eyebrow. “You want to teach me how to ballroom dance?”

Kara shrugged. “If you can’t do it, I understand.”

Blake shook his head. “I can dance. Of course I… can’t dance. At all.”

“So, learn something new.” Kara said, a smile tugging at her lips at the pout on his face.

Blake raised an eyebrow. “You are going to teach me to dance just so I can beat your brother. I recognize that look. You want something. What do you get out of this? You don’t want your Cheville back, do you?”

Kara took a breath and closed her eyes, coming right out and saying it. “I need an escort.”

Blake raised an eyebrow. “Like a male escort?”

Kara opened her eyes and looked incredulously at the man, and he laughed, holding up his hands. “I’m joking. What do you mean by escort?”

“I… I don’t want a date, but I don’t want to settle for my brother as a dance partner at Diana’s wedding. I need… I want… someone to escort me. To be my dance partner. You would look adequate in a tux. You said you weren’t dating, that you didn’t want to date. I don’t want to date either, so it would make sense for us to go together since you are already going to be there. You would be my escort.”

“Are you sure? It kinda sounds like you are asking me to be your date to your sister’s wedding.” John teased her.

“No!” Kara huffed. “Just an escort. There is a difference.”

“You want me to dress in a tux, hang by your side and be your dance partner all night long. It kind of sounds like a date.” Blake pointed out.

Kara’s face turned red. “Look, if you don’t want to, just say it. I’m trying to be nice here. I’m putting my feet at risk. I’ll teach you to dance so maybe you don’t always get your ass kicked by my brother and you will escort me to my sister’s wedding so I don’t look like a loser in the society pages. Anyone else I ask would do it just to kiss my family’s ass… or meet Diana… or try to use me for status. I’ve been the consolation prize before, and it sucks. You don’t want anything from me, and you don’t want to sleep with my sister, so you are perfect.

“Do we have a deal?”

“I suppose I will never have another chance to learn to dance and I am going to the wedding anyway. My footwork could use some work.” Blake held back a smile and reached his hand out. “You have yourself a male escort, Miss Wayne.”

“You are not a male escort!” Kara exclaimed.

“I wasn’t before you just made me one. You said I’m an escort, and I am a male the last I checked.”

“John Blake…”

“I’m joking. Seriously, it will be fun. I can’t wait. So we begin in two nights?”

Kara nodded. “It’s a date… deal… it’s a deal. I’ll have some dancing shoes ready for you. Dress comfortably. Learning to dance isn’t easy.”

Blake nearly laughed at that statement but something in her eyes gave him pause. He had a feeling his feet may hurt more from her teaching him to dance than his body hurt from fighting her brother.

“Good night, Kara.”

“Good night, John.”

“Hey, Kara?”

“Yeah?”

“You are no one’s consolation prize. Sooner you accept that, the better off you’ll be.”

Kara stood in the hallway and watched him walk away. She hadn’t heard Bruce come out of his room.

“So you have a date for Diana’s wedding. Good for you.”

Kara closed her eyes, not bothering to turn around. “Don’t start, Bruce. Follow me.”

Kara marched at a brisk pace to the garage, Bruce easily keeping up but wondering what the hell was going on.

Once they reached the garage, Bruce followed Kara to the back where a vehicle was covered in a tarp.

“I thought about waiting until Christmas to tell you about this, but I could use your input. Just an extra birthday gift for you.”

Kara pulled the tarp off and below it was the frame of a car as well as an engine. The transmission sat on the floor under it.

“A car in pieces?” Bruce asked.

“I didn’t have time to strip it, so I had two bodywork guys who help me out every so often take the panels off. The rest I will have to do myself so it may take a while. I’m going to need your help as well.

“This was Blake’s old Mustang. I’ve stripped the serial and vin numbers and wiped every trace of this car off any public records.”

Bruce began to get very excited. “Kara, what are you going to do?”

“I’m rebuilding and boosting this engine, reenforcing the frame, adding armored plating and bulletproof glass. It’s going to have radar and sonar, also a night vision windshield if needed. The back will have flares if you are being chased and need a fast getaway. The paint job will be black matte, stealth paint essentially, easy to disappear in the dark. The transmission will have a stealth mode and sound suppressors to allow you to drive up to a location quickly but in silence. I also want you to have a remote-control activator so the car will come to you when you call it.”

“That’s a lot better than my bike.” Bruce was stunned, though inwardly as excited as a kid at Christmas. “Damn, Kara. None of this can be traced back to you?”

“Anything can be traced if you are caught.” Kara admitted, then said, “I’m counting on you not getting caught. This isn’t a vehicle for cruising around in. This is a vehicle to get you where you need to go quickly and safely while you are dressed in your work clothes. It’s going to take a few months. I have a lot of stuff going on, but since I find myself single, I also have some extra time.

“Happy Birthday, Batman.”

Though it didn’t look like much now. Bruce could see the end result in his mind. He knew everything his sister had described would be done, no question about that. It would be a car like no other ever created.

“Thank you, Kara.” He took her in his arms, hugging her close.

Kara hugged him back. “I just don’t like you driving that bike all the time. Bikes aren’t safe. Anyway… you are welcome. I love you, Bruce. I better get to sleep before Diana comes after me.”

Bruce watched his sister walk away and smiled fondly.

Days like today were what he had missed most. Simple things like birthdays, getting a pair of stolen socks from his little sister, relaxing for a day without a care in the world. These were the days he had longed for, the ones that got him though his darkest times during his travels around the world and time with the League.

Bruce went to bed that night with a smile on his face, the first birthday he had celebrated in many years.

In the heart of Gotham, in a small apartment, John Blake fell asleep with a smile as well.