His Father
By Serena Kenobi
Author's note: My first JLU fic. Hope you like!! Reviews are appreciated. Flames will be ignored.
Disclaimer: Me no own any DC characters. You no sue me. (Hides from lawyers)
Prologue
The Knight was prowling. He crouched high atop a tower in his beloved city of Gotham, just waiting. Waiting for someone to be in trouble, waiting for his moment to strike. He was the epitome of stealth, the very essence of darkness. He was the Dark Knight of Gotham. He was Batman.
He protected Gotham and its inhabitants, watched over them. But very few actually knew the Dark Knight, and even fewer really knewhim. Only a small number of people knew the man Bruce Wayne and Batman all in one. Even most of the Justice League didn't really know him. The founding members, Martian Manhunter, Superman, Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, and Wonder Woman were the special people who knew the man behind the mask.
And Diana was the only woman to have ever fully captured Batman's seemingly unreachable heart.
Batman's heart tugged at the thought of the Amazonian princess. For all the time he had known her, he had admired her bravery, strength, and perseverance, but it wasn't until a few months ago when he realized how much he was in love with her. Imagine! Batman, truly in love with someone. He had tried to fool himself, tried to stay away from her, tried to hide his emotions, but finally, she had broken him. And he loved her for it.
Breaking away from his thoughts, he looked down at the Iceberg lounge and noticed a dark limo pulling up to the front. Out from the Lounge walked a well-dressed young man escorting a beautiful blonde on his arm. He led her into the limo and slammed the door after him. The limo pulled away and screamed out into the streets.
It was he. Jonas Estarci, the young crime lord from New York City. Apparently, he had good connections with the mob and had arranged a number of operations with them. It was rumored that he was now leading some sections of the mob.
Batman took off into the night to follow the limo. He soared through the air, hanging onto his grappling line, but he had only made it a few blocks when he heard a noise from below. He swooped down and crept to the side of an apartment building. Listening carefully, he discerned a small noise. He then leaped down into the dark alley and made his way to a dumpster, then reached out and pushed the lid open.
Inside lay a crying baby.
Batman's eyes widened. As he looked, he noticed the baby had no identification or anything to suggest to whom he belonged. Batman picked up the baby – it was a boy – and sighed. "What am I going to do with a baby?" He could take it to an orphanage, but who knew how the baby would be treated? Bring it – him – into foster care? Have somebody adopt him?
"Batman?"
Batman nearly cursed aloud as a familiar voice rang out in his ear. "What?" He asked in his low, gruff voice.
Diana wasn't fazed. "J'onn wants us back on the Watchtower ASAP. Something about a new alien invasion…" She trailed off. "Is that a… baby?"
"Yes."
"Hang on, I'm almost at your position."
As if on cue, Wonder Woman soared down to the alley, and Batman glanced at her, then back to the baby, which had fallen asleep in his arms. Diana let out a gasp.
"Oh, he's so beautiful. It is a he, isn't he?"
Batman nodded. "I found him in the dumpster. He has no identification. I'm guessing early pregnancy – the mother took off."
"Are you going to give him up for adoption or to an orphanage?" She asked.
"I'm not sure."
Diana smiled down at the baby. "Hello, little one," she crooned, smoothing a hand over the baby's fuzzy head. "You are a handsome one, aren't you?"
Batman's heart began to beat faster as he watched her talk softly to the baby. "What do you suggest we do with him?" He finally questioned.
Diana's blue eyes looked into his, and they were watery. "I want to keep him, but with what we do…"
Batman looked down at the baby, an idea forming in his mind. "I already adopted Dick and Tim," he murmured, more to himself. "But they're grown up now."
"You're not actually… do you mean to say…" Diana stammered.
"Would you consider taking care of him, Diana?"
Diana looked down. "I'd have to ask for time away, but I'm sure J'onn could manage. I'd love to." She took the baby from him and kissed his forehead.
"Diana. This is a big commitment. You don't have to decide just yet."
Diana smiled. "I know. But I think I already have."
"He's a fine, healthy baby boy," J'onn's low voice said as he stood over a small crib. "I could always run a DNA test on the baby, just to see who his real parents are, if you want to get in touch with them."
Diana and Bruce exchanged glances.
"I don't see why not," Diana said. "Since they don't want the baby, it's not like they would take him back. Bruce?"
"It's up to you," was the short reply.
J'onn nodded. "Very well. Give me a few seconds." He tapped on the screen in front of him. After around thirty seconds, two names popped up on the blank screen.
"Oh my," J'onn said, stunned.
Diana and Bruce looked over his shoulder, and Bruce's mouth tightened, but his dark eyes were positively shocked.
"Mother: Harleen Quinzel. Father: Jack James." Two pictures accompanied the names, one of a woman with blonde hair, the other of a man with black hair and a tight smile.
Bruce's fists clenched. "So," he began, his voice filled with rage and dark emotion, "we are in possession of the unwanted son of Harley Quinn… and the Joker himself."
That was the first chapter... prologue anyway. Let me know what you think! I'm going to be jumping ahead in the future soon.
- Serena Kenobi