AN: Like Unspoken, Unwritten but not Unrealized, the whole Batclan is here, including Selina and Adalanta. This delves into the origin of Addys' magic, and drags the League into some problems after Wally disappears. Hopefully part one of a trilogy (Underhill, Catskill, Anduril).
Much though he loved having Jason home, Bruce was getting suspicious about his partner/paramour, Adalanta Kyle, alias Shadowcat. Addy had not done anything, per say, but her ability to rein in Jason was odd on its' own- for all that he loved her, Jason wasn't always extremely gentle- her too perfect background were a concern as well. Hence, he was brooding. Her attitude to date indicated she would share what she needed, and what she could tell him, but- there was always a 'but', wasn't there?
Addy slipped out of Jasons' bed, hyperaware of her movements, before wrapping herself in a robe and gliding down the staires, summoning her cat so it lay just beneath her skin, intent on finding Bruce Bruce. "You have questions, I think? Given Jasons' mutual attachment to me, and your mutual attachment to Selina, there are a few things you need to know." Settling herself on a stool she summoned by mumbling "Yggdrasil." Addy Kyle stared expectantly at her presumed future father-in-law, eyes glittering with a strange light.
Bruce gave in. "Where do you get you powers from?" Addy pursed her lips and answered easily "How about I give you the basic rundown of the Kyle family before I explain me specifically?" At Bruces' nod, the young woman began her lecture. "Many generations ago, a woman from Egypt made it to Scotland, the western coast, to be accurate. That woman had the Blessing of Sekhmet, a cat goddess, and the bloodthirsty first Sentinel of Ra. A few generations later, and Shion Alfatras, an Unseelie from the land Under the Hill, sired a child on that unnamed womans' granddaughter." Sighing, Addy continued "Sion retreated to Faerie, but his mark, as well as that of Sekhmets' Blessed One, have remained in the family for centuries. Our very names are dictated by it." At Bruces' cocked eyebrow, she elaborated "Forefather Shion was a high ranking Unseelie Fey with the ability to direct water. In the beginning, it mainly manifested as water magic, but as more blood was added to the line- especially that Norse druid convert- our abilities evolved. The Blessing of Sekhmet is Matrilineally passed shapeshifting, so you get family members like Selina, latent Meta abilities expressed as a fixation for the one thing she can't have." Cobalt eyes focused on usually warm emerald-gold. "Why can you do both?" Swallowing, Addy replied "My parents were distant cousins of the right conditions. I wasn't born latent, I was born with full powers just before Selina was born. I became so difficult to handle that my grandfathers opened a Gate to the Unseelie Court, and threw me on Shions' mercy. Because time works differently there, when Shion tossed me through a Gate at thirteen, I landed next to Jason the day he climbed out of the Lazarus Pit. I was trained by Ra's, and I haven't much looked back on my heritage, because I mastered my powers to escape beatings." She waited for Bruces' verdict, knowing he hated metahumans.
"Why?" Her eyes- when had she closed them?- flew open. "Patrol as Shadowcat, you mean?" At his slight nod, cleared her throat and said quietly "It's pretty hard ta mistake a pretty girl for a full size lion panther who fights beside tha Red Hawk and Blackbat." The unintentional slips in pronounciation could have meant she was just tired, but Bruce was sure it was nerves. In the time she and Jason had been around the family and the Manor, if she was tired, she framed her words more precisely, as if to communicate more clearly so she could rest sooner.
Bruce brooded for a minute, turning over this new information, watching Addy work to retain her composure. He steepled his fingers and finally pronounced "Jason's a good man, whatever he thinks. Much as I don't like him killing, I'm proud of everything he's done, including choosing you, Adalanta. You're smart, polite, you adore him and can hand most people except the biggest criminals or the heads of the JLA their asses on a bad day to begin with. On a good day, I'm sure you could not only take down Diana, but working with Jason, Cassandra, or one of my other children, could efficiently tag team Superman and the Joker." While he delivered his speech in more or less of a monotone, she still looked at him suspiciously. Sighing, he continued bluntly "The only powers I've ever seen you use was your shapeshifting, and you work with the limitations until there is lethal danger to others." Although still suspicious of his praise, she rose, murmuring "a bheith imithe." And the seat that had arisen from the floor sank back down.
A silhouette along the wall entered deeper into the Cave, silently striding forward to yank Addy into his arms. She spun, surprised, into his chest. The wall of muscle rippled under her cheek as he lifted her against him, saying to his father "Thanks. Maybe she'll sleep now." A slim fist struck his shoulder, even as Bruces' lips twitched.
Following the lovebirds upstairs, Bruce slipped in beside Selina on the master bed, content to listen to her breath-safe, in his arms- knowing he would get an explanation about the Blessing of Sekhmet when the time was right.
Down the hall, though neither knew it, Jason mirrored Bruce, as Addy mirrored Selina, Jason content to stroke her hair, Addy asleep the moment her head hit the pillow.
They didn't think any more of it. Bruce was busy with the Rimbor business, Selina was trying to keep Gotham and the younger Bats going, and Jason and Addy were tracking an item vital to Selinas' future health.
Then the Reach invaded. Kid Flash (Wallace Rudolph West) ceased. The world as they knew it had gone to hell and returned to Earth.