Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

The Wayne Legacy: Rise

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 04:

Wayne Tower

Diana was settled in her office, hoping today was much less stressful than the day before.

The night had not been as bad as she had suspected after Kara had so thoroughly rejected Bruce. She found her sister in her room with a stiff drink in her hand staring at one of the last pictures taken of their family. Bruce was holding a five-year-old Kara with Diana standing beside him, Martha on Bruce’s right and Thomas on Diana’s left.

Kara had smiled when Diana entered and immediately said she was “moving her drinking day”, waving her hand towards the bourbon and extra glass for Diana to join her. Considering Bruce’s return had blindsided them, they both needed a drink, or in Diana’s case, several.

Diana’s only concern was ensuring Kara stuck to her health imposed limits. They had agreed to regulate her alcohol use to two drinks maximum on Sundays only, provided she was feeling well from her Saturday treatment. She decided the change of day could slide given the circumstances.

But to her pleasant surprise, Kara had not been an emotional wreck last night. After her second drink, she relaxed and began talking excitedly about the new contract with the U.S. Government.

Diana had broken her little sister’s mood slightly, mentioning that, with Kara’s new status as the official brain of the U.S. Military, she would be receiving new security guards in numbers that rivaled the President’s.

This new deal had always been a goal of Diana’s for multiple reasons, not just for the additional power Wayne Enterprises now held but for Kara herself. Diana knew Kara had always been, and always would be, a target.

In the past, some companies would have wanted her out of the way for her intelligence alone, like Lex Luthor. Others would want to take her for ransom. Still others, including foreign enemies, may have known of the top secret projects Kara had already made for the military and wanted them stopped.

Now, Kara could do what she loved and, while her enemies may be greater, her security would be absolute. Wherever she went, not only her security team would be involved but military units, FBI and possibly CIA if Kara had to go overseas for some reason.

Wayne Tower would be considered a no-fly zone, as well as the surrounding areas of the city in a five mile radius surrounding the Tower, granting security authorization to use any means necessary should there be an attack from the sky.

There would also be additional security measures added around Wayne Manor and the grounds. The same no-fly zone protocols would be implemented including a new defensive infrastructure to be built to adequately protect the manor.

Getting into bed with the government as Steve put it, definitely had its advantages. Kara was safer and Wayne Enterprises truly was the most powerful company in the world. That meant Diana was the most powerful person in the world, and she was not done yet.

Steve was an added bonus she had not expected. He had arrived late last night, bag in hand after Diana had called and let him know of Kara’s reaction to Bruce’s return. Diana asked him to move in with her, and he had agreed immediately. After three years of a long-distance relationship, they could finally be together on a full-time basis.

He would also be working closely with Kara, meaning her greatest love would be protected by the man she loved.

The plans she had formed when she began working with Lucius while in college were now coming to fruition.

She had once dreamed of running Wayne Enterprises with Bruce, but that dream changed. His disappearance and subsequent return, rambling about their teenage adventures as street vigilantes disturbed her. Diana had grown out of that phase at fifteen when she realized they were doing no good. Bruce continued to go out, sometimes alone, sometimes with Selina Kyle, using it as an outlet for his anger.

Because he still believed that he could make a true change in this city with his fists, Diana would not bring him back into the fold. Just because his last name was Wayne earned him no place in his family’s company. He would have to earn his way back, but it was obvious to her he had no interests in anything beyond his self-proclaimed mission… not even his family.

He had his money, Alfred always had a special spot in his heart for Bruce, so she was sure Alfred had returned it to him.

Perhaps it was because Alfred had seen Bruce the night of their parents’ murder that he was more indulgent with him. He never spoke to Bruce about his ill-advised relationship with Selina Kyle, nor did he try to stop him from picking fights with the worst of the Narrows after Diana had refused to go out with him anymore.

Diana’s musings were interrupted when Cathy Perkins walked into her office.

Diana had found Cathy in a shelter she had been visiting, a young nineteen-year-old girl who had run away from an abusive relationship with nothing but the clothes on her back.

Diana always trusted her impressions about people and was instantly drawn to her. She had gotten Cathy a place to live, put her through college and given her a job. After observing her work rate and ethics for several months, Diana promoted the young woman to be her executive assistant, someone Diana knew she could trust implicitly.

“Diana, the press has been calling all morning, wanting to know if a press conference will be held regarding your brother’s return to Gotham. Myndi is fielding calls but can only hold them off for so long. She wants to know what to do.” Cathy told her, speaking of Myndi Myers, the head of Wayne Enterprises’ Public Relations department.

Diana groaned, wondering if she could retract the press release from the night before and make Bruce disappear.

“When is Silver scheduled to arrive?” Diana asked.

Cathy looked down at her tablet. “She is bringing brunch in an hour.”

The woman nodded, glad to see her best friend hadn’t canceled. She really needed a friend to speak to right now and Silver was the only one she really had. Kara was furious with Bruce and Alfred forgave him as always. She needed a third party not so emotionally involved.

“There’s no reason to hold a press conference. Have Myndi tell the press there will be no statement beyond what was released last night.” Diana said, then changed the subject. “Has Kara made it in yet?”

Cathy nodded, but she hesitated before answering. “She came straight to her office wearing a nice dress, promptly changed into blue jeans and a t-shirt and told Terry she was heading to the ballistics lab and would be there all afternoon. She didn’t even say good morning.”

Diana groaned, knowing Kara had been putting on an act at breakfast and was still upset over Bruce’s return. Kara always said good morning to her assistant, Terrance Berg. If she was spending the day in the ballistics lab, working on firearms all day, she was definitely not okay.

Diana had been surprised by Kara’s reaction and had not lied to Bruce. She had truly stayed out of it, only giving Kara the information she knew and let her sister digest it for herself. The anger Kara showed shocked her as much as she was sure it did Bruce.

“Do you want her to call you?” Cathy asked.

Diana shook her head, deciding to give her sister some time. “No, I want her left alone for now. Tell Terry to watch her closely and if her behavior continues to be… strange, to let me know immediately.”

After Cathy left, Diana turned her seat toward the wall behind her. “Athena, bring up the executive board room with sound.”

The complex and highly secured computer program called Athena, that ran the major systems at Wayne Tower, immediately brought up the room filled with Wayne Enterprises’ lawyers and U.S. Military lawyers busy at work on the initial contract.

She was pleasantly surprised to see General Lane was there as well as his daughter Lucy, who was no doubt here for a learning experience.

Once this initial contract was signed, the construction of the new facilities would begin, and Wayne Tower and her sister would be under government protection. Diana would also have near complete control over the U.S. Defense Department. The ability to defend the country from enemies of a conventional, unconventional or cyber-attack would be in her hands.

Diana sent a text to Lucius, a quick message that read, ‘It’s happening’ .

Lucius replied back in a seconds. ‘I knew you could do it . Your Dad would be so proud of his daughters .’

Diana smiled and continued to watch and listen to the lawyers hammer out details to her liking on the initial contract. Either the government would follow through quickly on the long term contract or owe Wayne Enterprises billions. It was inevitable though, that the contract would pass through the House and Senate. Too many congressman and senators owed their reelections to Diana to risk her anger.

A message from Cathy told Diana that Silver was here.

Her platinum blonde friend walked in with two bags of food and placed them on coffee table Diana used when she wanted to entertain informally in her office.

“Good morning, Queen Diana. How goes things in your kingdom?” she asked playfully, a smile on her face.

“I prefer to call it an Empire and I am the Empress.” Diana replied, getting up to hug her friend in welcome as they both settled in on the couch and got comfortable. “Things are going well. What I told you would happen has happened.”

Silver’s mouth dropped open. “Jesus, Diana, how much did they give you?”

“All of it. Everything we wanted. Kara is ecstatic. Also Steve came as part of the deal.” Diana told her, smiling like a pleased cat.

“No!” Silver exclaimed in glee. “How?”

“He’s been appointed as Military Liaison Officer, or at least one of them. I asked him to move into the manor with me and he agreed.” Diana replied.

Silver huffed. “I bet it wasn’t a hard decision for him. You are so lucky. You get a Top Gun pilot with a body to kill for and as for me, I am telling myself every day that Evan is what I want in a man. Ugh…”

Diana raised an eyebrow. “Is everything not going well in Evan Gregory territory?”

Gregory was a potential senator Diana had introduced to Silver at a political fundraiser. He was a handsome man with a bright future, and she thought her friend was enjoying the relationship.

Silver took a sandwich from the bag. “He’s a politician, Diana. He is worried about image. I want to go dance, he wants to stay in. I want to go sailing on the weekend, he wants to go to church to show the religious right that he is one of them… even though he never stepped foot in a church before his campaign began. I’ve told him not to worry so much. We’ve gotten less qualified candidates elected but he is insistent on doing this his way. He definitely isn’t a hot fighter pilot.

“So, speaking of hot, when were you going to tell me Bruce was back?”

Diana took a bite of her sandwich to avoid answering for a moment. Once she had swallowed and saw Silver’s accusing eyes still on her, she took a deep breath and answered, “I planned to tell you this morning. I had to put out a press release last night in case anyone saw him, but I knew you aren’t one for press releases late at night. Plus I had too much to deal with. I spent most of the evening with Kara, making sure she was okay.”

“Why wouldn’t she be? Isn’t she happy?” Silver asked, clearly puzzled.

“She told him she wanted nothing to do with him and told him not to move back into the manor, to find somewhere else to live.”

Silver’s eyes were wide, and she leaned back. “Holy, shit! Your little shadow showed some backbone.”

Diana scowled at the woman, but before she could rebuke her friend harshly, Silver threw her hands in the air. “Sorry! I meant that as a compliment. Good for her. You have to admit, she does have a tendency to not think for herself. She thinks what you want her to think… wait, did you tell her not to have anything to do with Bruce?”

Diana took a deep breath and calmed down. Silver’s bluntness was one of the things she had always appreciated about her, along with her loyalty. To Diana, loyalty meant everything. Loyalty was why Silver was her best friend and Rachel Dawes was working a dead end job in the basement of LuthorCorp barely making above minimum wage.

“I did not. Kara is coming into her own, Silver. She is making decisions for herself. I did not influence her one way or the other, but I am proud she made her own feelings clear. She has grown and you know it.”

Silver nodded her head. “Yeah, Little Bit is growing up, I admit. It’s just strange, okay? You know I love her, Diana but she has relied on you for a lot, including her opinion on things.”

Diana brushed the comment aside. She had heard it many times and didn’t feel it was true. People could never understand the depth of Kara and Diana’s relationship. Alfred was the one who was closest to understanding, or at least he knew enough not to disregard Diana’s directions in regard to Kara while growing up.

“Forget I said anything. I know what she means to you.” Silver said, obviously not wanting to cause an argument. “For now, focus on you taking over the world, and having your hot booty call in your bed every night. I’m sure Alfred is thrilled with you having a live-in lover you are not married to.

“Now, I have an event coming up in Star City. Moira Queen is hosting a charity ball and it’s going to be fabulous because I am charging her an incredible amount of money to make it so. I’ve gotten a great location, great caterers, a great open bar, everything you need to enjoy yourself. It’s going to be red carpet so it will be a chance to see the Wayne sisters both dressed to the nines and turn heads.”

Diana groaned. “I told you, Moira Queen gives me a bad feeling.”

“Most people at these events give you a bad feeling but you still have to go. Metropolis and Gotham events are getting old. Spread yourself out, Diana. The world knows you but you’re about to become even more powerful. The event is next weekend, so I’ll save you and Little Bit a space.”

Diana rolled her eyes but let the subject drop, knowing she was going to go to support Silver and her friend did have a point about the positive exposure for her and Kara.

The two ate in silence for a while but Diana could tell there was something else on Silver’s mind. After they finished, Diana felt there was no need to beat around the bush.

“Say it.” She stated, leaning back into the comfortable couch cushions, preparing to hear what her friend was hesitant to mention.

“Say what?” Silver asked innocently.

“Whatever is on your mind. Out with it. Is it about Bruce? He is screwed up, Silver. He isn’t good for anybody, much less rekindling an old crush.” Diana told her.

Silver shook her head. “Not going there, Diana. I’m not sure I can ever forgive him for what he did to you two and I am not sure how you haven’t killed him yet, now that you know he isn’t dead.

“No, it’s… I went to visit Miss Gertrude this morning before I came over.”

Diana tensed. Gertrude Dawes was always a sore subject with her.

The woman had been a faithful servant and loving as well, always kind to her, Bruce and their friends and paid special attention to Kara, even during Kara’s challenging years where her experiments and inventions led to much destruction around Wayne Manor. Yet Diana had not spoken to her since her falling out with Rachel.

“Why?”

“Because she has always been sweet to us and I want to make sure she is okay.” Silver replied sincerely. “She asks how you are a lot. I stop by once every couple weeks just to visit.”

“Then why are you telling me about this visit?” Diana asked, knowing there was more to this.

Silver sighed. “She mentioned Rachel came to visit her yesterday. She asked me… to talk to you.”

Diana stiffened at what Silver was implying. “I hope you told her you wouldn’t be doing that, or it would do no good.”

Silver leaned back and took a deep breath. “Diana…”

“Do not go there, Silver!”

Silver looked sharply at her. “Don’t take that tone with me, Diana. I have backed you since we were kids. I have never said anything about your quirks, your anger issues, or your obsession with your little sister. Let’s face it, the public and your employees may love you and your sister worships you, but I am the only real friend you have, the only one who has had your back without owing you a thing.”

Diana clenched her fists but held her tongue. What Silver said was true. People did like the persona she put on and Kara, Steve and Alfred loved her, but Silver was the only one she considered a friend… the only one who would challenge her when she thought Diana may be wrong, the only one willing to give her a different view of any issue without anything to gain.

Ultimately, Diana trusted Silver. The two had been close since the first grade and quickly became partners in crime. While she didn’t know Diana’s secret, she knew practically everything else about her and wasn’t intimidated by her.

Forcing herself to relax, Diana stood up and walked to her window, taking in the view, not meeting Silver’s eyes.

“So, talk.” Diana said shortly. “It won’t change anything.”

“It should.” Silver told her. “I get it, Rachel screwed your family over and suffered for it. But that deal was happening whether she was involved or not. It wasn’t her idea, it was her bosses’. She has been punished. I’m not saying give her a job but maybe it’s time to pull her off the banned list across the nation.”

“She supported her boss. She never argued against his release and then she tried to justify it to our family.” Diana countered heatedly. “We brought her into our circle, had her back growing up. When someone picked on her because she was a maid’s daughter, we made sure it stopped. Who paid for her to even go to that damn school? My parents! Who got her into the best law school in the country, one that she never could have gotten a scholarship to? My family, Silver!

“If she would have argued against it at least I could’ve forgiven her, but she didn’t. ‘Sometimes things have to be done for the greater good.’ Do you remember that? She sat in our home and said that, preached to me about the greater good.”

Silver sighed. “Look at me, Diana.”

Diana reluctantly turned around and to Silver’s credit, she did not flinch at the look that had cowed powerful men.

“Again, I’m not saying forgive her. I was pissed off too. While my Mom was screwing her multiple lovers in Europe, Martha helped me buy my first training bra. Your parents did more for me than my own.” Silver reminded her friend. “Yeah, Rachel screwed up and that ended our friendship, but her mother loves her, and Miss Gertrude was always good to us, good to you and very good to Kara.

“Rachel is living in a slum in Metropolis, working a dead end, low paying job for Lex Luthor. I’m just saying maybe you should consider lifting the ban. Let her make it on her own. It would make Miss Gertrude happy.”

Diana turned around once again, looking out the window, saying nothing.

“It’s not like Chill got away. He got what he deserved, didn’t he?” Silver asked quietly.

Diana turned to her slowly, a questioning but suspicious look on her face.

Silver raised her hand before Diana could say anything. “I told you… I know you, Diana. There is no way he is living the American dream in Witness Protection. You would never allow that. I don’t know what you did, and I don’t want to know, but I know you did something. It’s just who you are. It’s one of the many things I love about you.”

After a moment of studying her friend intently, Diana asked, “If I said I would think about it, would that make you happy and clear your conscience over Miss Gertrude?”

Silver raised an eyebrow. “Would you really think about it?”

Diana threw her hands up. “Why do you give a damn, Silver? You haven’t mentioned Rachel in years.”

The blonde took a deep breath, and it was only then Diana noticed a deep sadness in her eyes. “Miss Gertrude has pancreatic cancer. It’s stage four. She has maybe a few months to live. I don’t want her dying, knowing her daughter is going to be destitute and alone with no hope for a future because she screwed up.”

Diana was shaken by this revelation. “How does she have cancer and I don’t know about it?”

“You have had a lot on your mind.” Silver replied understandingly. “Work, Kara, work, Steve and Kara, work… Kara. You can’t be expected to know everything.”

“Does Alfred know?” Diana asked, wondering if he kept something this big from her.

Silver shook her head. “She doesn’t want anyone to know, not you, not Kara and not Alfred. She just told Rachel yesterday. She said Rachel is quitting her job and finding a job in Gotham, even if its waiting tables or living on the street. That’s why she asked me to talk to you. She doesn’t… Diana, I’m asking you and you know I would never ask under normal circumstances, but this has nothing to do with forgiving Rachel, or ever being her friend. It has to do with doing right by a woman who took care of us.”

Diana moved back to the couch and sat, closing her eyes while Silver remained quiet, letting her friend process through information she had not been prepared to hear.

After a couple of silent minutes, Diana finally responded. “I won’t let her in my District Attorney’s office, and I will be damned if she defends criminals in my city. So what would you suggest I do with her? Have you thought of this?”

“There has to be something she can do, Diana.” Silver contended.

“Find something for her if you want, Silver. She can work in property law, tax law, let Evan give her a job on his campaign but she will not be involved in our criminal justice system in any manner.” Diana told her. “If… if Miss Gertrude dies… when she dies, Rachel can do what she wants on the condition she gets out of my city and works anywhere else. That’s the most I will do.”

Silver smiled and nodded. “That’s more than I expected. It’s the right decision, Diana. Plus, you know it’s what your parents would have done.”

Diana snorted. “I’m not so sure about that. My mother may have forgiven her but my father…”

“Would have let it go eventually. Finch killed himself, the judge never stepped foot in a courtroom again, and Chill is… I don’t want to know. You are doing the right thing, Diana. She was our friend for most of our lives too. She lost her way, forgot about the oaths of loyalty we made to each other, but her mother doesn’t deserve to suffer for it.” Reaching over, she took Diana’s hand and squeezed affectionately. “Thank you.”

Diana nodded, feeling sick but knowing Silver had a point. “Tell Miss Gertrude… who is her oncologist?”

“She decided not to be treated with chemotherapy. The doctors agreed it was too late. She just wants to live out the rest of her life comfortably and at peace.” Silver replied.

Diana sighed and stood up. “Yes, well, you can contact Rachel yourself and make the conditions clear. I don’t want to think about it or her anymore.

“Come. Congratulate Kara and tell her she will be attending a charity event in Star City and it’s all your fault. Fair warning, she is firing guns all day.”

Silver chuckled as she followed Diana to the elevator. “Little Bit loves me. She’ll probably meet a Prince Charming who sweeps her off her feet at this ball and you will both be thanking me later.”

Diana rolled her eyes at her friend’s cheekiness. “I haven’t found anyone worth her time and if I do, I highly doubt it will be in Star City.”

“Guess we’ll see.” Silver said, laughing at her friend’s expression.

---

Wayne Enterprises Executive Suites – Penthouse

Downtown Gotham

Bruce was trying to clear his mind by setting up some exercise equipment he had delivered that morning but was finding it difficult.

He and Alfred had come back to the midtown penthouse the prior evening when they left the manor. Bruce was in too much shock to think about finding a place to live but he knew he couldn’t stay here. It would be too difficult to get in and out during the course of his mission.

He began pounding on the heavy bag, Kara’s words weighing heavily on him.

Had she meant it? Did Diana really have nothing to do with it? Diana had told him she wanted to know everything but as soon as Kara told him she had no interest, suddenly Diana didn’t as well.

Had he lost his sisters? Did they really want nothing to do with him?

He knew he would have no part in the company, nor had he ever cared to, but he dreamed of moving back into Wayne Manor, being a family once again, a team geared toward one mission.

But Steve Trevor’s words were in his mind as well. He may bring nothing but pain into their lives.

Diana made it clear she wanted nothing to do with his mission and Kara wanted nothing to do with him. Was that for the best? He needed them but perhaps he was only seeing them as tools he wanted for his mission… especially Kara.

Perhaps it was best they want nothing to do with him.

But God it hurt. His little Bunny had grown up in the time he had been gone. He had no doubt, Diana still heavily influenced her life, but she was a woman. She had faced death, gone out into the world, and now led Wayne Enterprises Research and Development Division creating innovative products that were unparalleled in scope and vision.

She wasn’t the nerdy tomboy he had left… she was a force of her own.

Hearing the slight movement behind him, he turned and swung, as quick as a snake strike, but his target dodged his blow easily.

“Talia, what the hell are you doing here?” Bruce asked, greatly surprised to see her here.

“I came to see you, Beloved.” His former lover replied with a smirk. “Since you are here and not moving into your family home, I suppose the reunion you left me for was not a happy one.”

Bruce brushed past her and moved towards the kitchen to grab a bottle of water. He didn’t bother asking Talia how she got into the penthouse. No place could keep her out.

“I defeated your father, and my oath was released. I told you I was leaving. You have no business here.” Bruce told her emphatically.

Talia had a seat on the couch and crossed her legs on the coffee table. By her manner, you would think she had lived here forever, not that he expected less from the raven haired beauty.

“You only left the League. Do I mean so little to you that I am not allowed to visit?” Talia asked, eyebrow raised.

Bruce took a seat in his ottoman chair. He took her in, her mannerisms, the look in her eyes, her posture, everything. Bruce knew everything about this woman.

“Do you know why Father was so eager to train you?” She asked rhetorically. “He saw you leading the League in destroying Gotham City. He had last checked on the city ten years before you showed up on our doorstep and it was rife with corruption from the darkest corners to the highest towers.

“However, six years ago, your sister began changing that. It is now a safe city for the most part. I think if she weren’t a woman, he would have wanted her to replace him.”

Bruce snorted. “Good luck getting the most powerful woman in the world to disappear and become an assassin. Ra’s is powerful but he isn’t more powerful than she is. Despite his arrogance, he knows it to be true.

“As far as this city, there is still crime even if the corruption has greatly declined.”

Talia waved it off. “Every city has crime, Bruce. You are naïve to think differently. You have your own demons to exorcize here before you join us again, where you belong, by my side, ruling the League of Shadows. It is your destiny, and you know it in your heart and soul. I hope this doesn’t take long, I miss you in my bed.”

Bruce smiled and shook his head. “I’m not you and I never will be. I will never be an assassin.”

Talia smirked. “Yet you knew we were murderers as you called us… and you never once tried to stop us. Instead you trained with us, learned as much as we could teach you, turned into what you believed you needed to be… but you never once tried to stop us.

“You are a killer by association, Bruce. You change your morals to suit this self-determined code you have built to justify your actions. Regardless of what you tell yourself, if you go down this path you have set, you will end up every bit the killer you accuse us of being with your holier than thou attitude.”

She cocked her head to the side and asked knowingly, “Tell me, if you find someone in Gotham planning a murder, would you stop them?”

“You know I would.” Bruce said quietly, falling neatly in her trap.

“Then you are a hypocrite.” She stated, all emotion erased from her face as she made her point.

Talia stood up and walked to his bedroom. She opened the closet and saw his suit hanging on a mannequin. “Our first project together. I suppose your little sister won’t be upgrading it as you hoped? Only League tools for you. The tools of murderers that we gave you. We gave you everything… I gave you everything and you gladly took it. I pledged myself to you and I expect the same in return. Do not forget that, Bruce.”

Bruce moved her aside and closed the closed door.

“I’m not coming back.” He told her once again. “I won’t allow you near my sisters, you won’t be coming over for family dinners.”

“Neither will you, apparently, seeing you are here and not at your family home.” Talia said and laughed. Bruce was angered at her words, mostly because she was right.

“Is there anything else?” Bruce asked between clenched teeth. “I am sure your father is missing you at home.”

Talia smiled at his faux concern. “My father has used the Lazarus Pit one too many times. He is becoming weaker each time and I will kill him soon, take the place that is rightfully mine and you will join me.

“Since you are determined to fight your demons here for now, there is a human smuggling ring, led by the Bratva in Gotham, one not even your sister’s police force has discovered. The Triad is trying to quietly establish a heroin trade here as well. I would pay special attention to what is coming in and going out at the docks.

“Enjoy yourself, Lover.”

Talia moved towards the door as if to leave but turned back before she walked out. “You belong to me and always will. I don’t share. If you become romantically involved with Selina Kyle, I will kill her painfully and it will be on your head.”

Bruce turned red and his fists clenched. “You touch my family or friends, and I will break my code you find so hypocritical, Talia. I belong to no one. Don’t let me see you again.”

Talia shook her head and smirked. “I will see you soon, Beloved. Release your demons and I will be waiting for you.”

“I’m serious, Talia.” Bruce exclaimed. “Whatever delusions you have about us are just that. I am here to make my home safe and my sisters…”

Talia laughed sharply. “Your sisters? If you were to take my father’s place, you would have access to the only thing your sisters could want and cannot buy.”

Bruce felt a cold pressure in his stomach. To say he hadn’t contemplated what she was implying would have been a lie.

He had considered using the waters of the Lazarus Pit to heal Kara many times but decided he couldn’t allow it. He knew it had extended Talia’s lifetime, retained her youth and vitality, but the risks were too great. Once someone entered the Lazarus Pit, there was no way to know who would be coming out. He wouldn’t do that to his little sister.

“That’s not going to happen.” He said, his voice cracking slightly.

The woman shook her head. “And that is why you will never get your family back, Bruce. From what you have told me about Diana, she is ruthless and protects Kara above all. How do you think she will feel when she finds out that you have access to something that could cure Kara, make her healthier than most people on Earth? My guess is she would never forgive you. You would be dead to her… if you aren’t already.”

Bruce stepped up to the woman. “I won’t let my sister near that pit. There is no reason for Diana to find out about its existence.”

Talia smiled, her eyes gleaming in obvious satisfaction. “You can take out the Triad, take out the Bratva, make criminals fear the night, then you will take your place by my side. If you don’t, I will tell her myself. It won’t matter that you are her brother. She will turn on you and you will return to the only person who loves you unconditionally.

“Take care of yourself, Beloved. I’ll be around. I’ve wanted to take in the sights of Gotham since we first met.”

Talia walked out, leaving a fuming Bruce alone. She was not supposed to be here. He had beaten the Demon in combat and earned his release.

Talia knew he would not be with the League forever, knew when he left it would be the end of them.

But she was now here… in Gotham… claiming him as if nothing had changed except their location.

Bruce’s mood turned darker than before as he returned to the heavy bag, pounding it until the chain it hung from snapped.

If Talia told Diana about the Lazarus Pit, his sister would never understand the dangers or care. Her obsession with Kara had always been her one weakness and she would give anything to own that pit, taking any life that stood in her way.

His plans were falling apart, and he had only been back a few days. Perhaps he never should have let his sisters know he was back, fought evil from the shadows.

It was too late though, and Bruce knew Talia was right.

Diana would never forgive him.