A/N:Hi all! I meant to only post this fanfic once all the chapters were written. However, NaNoWriMo has hit and now I'm working on that project. I'm only about two chapters away from finishing this fanfic and I wanted to get this out before Justice league. I will be posting the first two chapters this week and then after that I will post a chapter a week. I will admit this chapter is a bit slow. SPOILER ALERT: The real 'fun' starts in chapter two. But this Chapter is still important otherwise it wouldn't be chapter one ha ha. Anyway I sincerely hope that you enjoy this. Please Review if you do and please review even if you don't. Criticism though sometimes difficult builds great writers. Also I'm letting you know now that I have yet to see Wonder Woman (I know, I know I'm freakin terrible), but I have done some research.

Also to those writing for NaNoWriMo good luck! And if you're on the website I am Falcon89 please add me! I'll add back.

Alright let's begin!

Chapter One

Annie stood resolutely at the top of the porch steps. Her golden retriever Jameson slumbered loudly on the porch swing behind her. She watched as Bruce Wayne pulled up the drive in a black SUV that matched both his luxurious lifestyle and his secretive nature.

Overhead tumultuous cries of angry ravens reflected the range of negative emotions that she desperately fought to keep below the surface. She was meeting with the businessman only as a favor to Diana. She owed the woman many of those and normally she was happy to comply. Today however, she couldn't manage one good reason for granting this request. And yet, she had done it anyway.

She knew why he was here. She made Diana give every detail of this insane plan to save the world. As it turned out…the plan was nearly nonexistent. 'Find metahumans and defeat the danger'. Okay, that would make sense if they knew what was coming, not just that there was something coming. All of this made Bruce and Diana sound about as sane as Lex Luther.

Lex Luther. Fear ran its icy fingers down her spine as she fought against the ruthless memories of years long past. She was no coward but, she knew how to pick her battles. This would be one that she'd stay as far away from as she could. Luther was safe in his cell so, it wasn't like she really had much motivation to fight in someone else's war. Yeah, she'd definitely stay off the radar for this one. Instead, a vacation was in her near future. She hadn't booked it yet. But tonight, she would. Fiji awaited her return.

Bruce stopped and parked his car midway up the drive. Strange. She thought but the reasons were quickly revealed with frightening clarity. Bruce left his car and headed towards one of the paddocks with the pace of a man on a mission. But this paddock wasn't just any paddock. It was Nico's paddock. He was stupid. No, just ignorant to the danger. At one-point Nicodemus had been the gentlest of stallions but now he was the deadliest of rage monsters.

Despite all the hell that was about to be rained down, Annie stood where she was and watched. She wasn't even sure why.

She watched Bruce move slowly towards the fence. The thoroughbred raised his head and watched quietly with ears pricked forward in interest. Right then, Annie felt hope. Maybe he was turning a new leaf. Maybe her dear Nico had returned to her. Bullshit. But even as she thought it she was running. Stupidly, mindlessly running towards the heartbreak like a moth might fly into the fire. A very stupid moth and an equally idiotic human.

Before she could stop herself, she was at the fence. Nico wheeled around to face her. He instantly morphed back into his demonic self. The scars on his neck and shoulder danced madly above tensing muscle. His ears lay flat and his sclera nearly became the entirety of his eyes. She knew that he was going to charge the fence. But damn it all, she couldn't find her legs. She couldn't run. All she could do was stare at her dirty, ebony stallion as he launched into his furious attack.

She let out a cry and squeezed her eyes shut. Somewhere in her subconscious mind she knew that the fence was there. But fear told her that the fence wouldn't hold up. The impact of the collision left her breathless. She would have thrown up her first prayer, ever, if she hadn't heard the zap of the electric fence warning off her angry beast. It took her a moment, but she realized that she was still on her feet, crushed against a broad chest, her ragged breathing mixed with Bruce's.

Her fear soaked mind had made her think that the collision had been worse than she had thought. Bruce had simply grabbed her to keep her safe. The very thought of being a pathetic damsel in distress so disgusted her that she shoved away from him so hard that she nearly knocked herself off balance.

Once she'd regained her balance, she shot a look over at Nico hoping to find him okay. She'd only just installed the damn fence. And, this had only been because her stable hands had threatened to quit on her. She'd never seen it in action though and it broke her heart to cause Nico more pain. She knew that she'd soon have to make a decision on him, but she couldn't bear to think about it now.

Instead she focused on what she could do and turned her attention from the bucking, angry horse to Bruce. "I didn't need rescuing!" She shouted as she turned to face Bruce. "The paddock is lined on the inside with electric fencing." Really? Could she sound any less intelligent? It had been said. She had to live with it now.

The right corner of Bruce's mouth twitched upwards, but he quickly fought it back into a firm line. However, he couldn't hide the amused twinkle from lighting his hazel eyes. "Hmmm…by the sound of your screams... I'm sure you'd forgotten about it…. unless you were being dramatic."

He was right. She had forgotten about the blasted fence. But she wasn't going to admit that to him. Even though the word stung she was sure that Bruce knew that she wasn't being dramatic either; he was just trying to get under her skin. So, she didn't bother to argue that one either. She had reacted as she had, no use trying to will it away or acknowledge it. Not while he stood there smug, and sure as shit not when she knew what he was here for. She would move on and regain some of her dignity in the process. At least, she hoped that she could. This whole mess would leave her embarrassed for a long time. Before she could get down to the task of reminding him that they had business; his face took on a fiercely angry set that made her take an involuntary step back.

"What the hell are you doing to that horse?"

His question was a fair one as he only had the information in front of him. And yet, she felt herself both sickened and deeply offended by it. Nico was her baby. She'd never dream of hurting him intentionally. Again, he had no way of knowing that.

She tried to keep her feelings from her response, but the wounds were too deep to hide. "Let's not agitate him any further. I'll explain inside." It hadn't been her intent to let him through the door. She had fully intended to not play the welcoming host and to make the meeting as brief and painless as possible. But now all she wanted was to be inside where she couldn't see her suffering horse.

Annie had taken Bruce by surprise. From her photograph he had dismissed her as a frail, wraith of a woman; who couldn't possibly offer anything to the job at hand. But as he stood watching her retreating back, he couldn't help but think that the photo had been wrong. Her skin was fair but not translucent. Her eyes, an odd but fascinating mixture of blues, greens and copper tones, burned right through the soul of him. She was hardly weak. He could sense that, beneath her lanky frame hid athleticism untold. Or maybe, he was just desperate to figure her out. He hated not knowing things. But Diana was unwilling to give him the information he needed, and he wasn't prepared to pass up any soul that could help fight in the impending war.

Still, those eyes. What is it about those eyes? He couldn't explain it but within that uncanny mixture of color he could see a fire that he desperately wanted to see unleashed. That, was what bothered him most of all.

Bruce shook his head and smiled at himself. He was starting to think like a raving lunatic. Maybe Alfred was right. Maybe he needed some sleep. Years of sleep. Nothing he could do for that now.

He tossed one final look in the horse's direction and pushed down unsettling memories before following Annie into the house.

The patio boards creaked ominously under his feet. The paint was horribly chipped on the railing as well as the siding of the house. The door too looked like it needed to be replaced, it most likely wouldn't last the winter. But he could see why she had yet to fix the wrecked door. It fit the character of this house nicely. The house itself was ancient but it could probably tell stories if it could speak. Bruce had an appreciation for old homes, but it wasn't going to stop him from using this old place to his advantage. Winning Annie over would be easy. A woman like her would appreciate the money to whip this place into shape.

"Beer?" Annie offered as they entered the kitchen from the foyer.

"Please."

The kitchen with its crumbling fifties motif lifted his spirits still more. He had her in the bag. Diana must have seriously misunderstood his persuasive skills. Annie Trevelyan would be the easiest of his recruitments.

He took the beer graciously and followed her into an even more chaotic den. All of the furniture sure shared the character of the house. He sat down in an overstuffed recliner across from the couch, which Annie had immediately occupied; lounging freely with her beer in hand.

A woman as put together and as beautiful as she didn't belong in this place. But, as he watched her sink into the taupe sofa, he also sensed that there was no place that she would rather call home. This house was a wreck heading towards city mandated condemning if something wasn't done quickly; but, Annie seemed happy to rule over this place. That troubled him slightly, but only slightly, this was still an easy win. He knew it. He'd be out of here with her in 20 or so minutes.

"So, what's wrong with that horse?" The question wasn't meant to prod her, or upset her in anyway. That's the last thing he dreamed of doing during a business deal. But he was honestly curious. Unfortunately, upset her is exactly what he did.

He watched her odd blue eyes darken as she slowly sat up. She took a long pull from her beer before setting it down on the coffee table. She seemed to think better of this however because after a moment of hesitation she took it right back, clutching it tightly as if it were a life line, to where? he wasn't sure. She no longer looked like the regal mistress of this home, but a wounded animal lost and searching for one.

For her benefit he set down his own beer, leaving it untouched on the coffee table and leaning forward to offer his fullest attention. He found it odd how sincerely he cared about the situation but what was troubling was that he wasn't sure that it was the history of the horse that he cared for the most.

"Ah, Nicodemus, yeah." She said as she fingered the rim of the bottle. She didn't look at him. He got the feeling that, looking at him now would reveal the shame that was so heavily engraved in her features. He hadn't seen it before now, but he was sure that it had been there the whole time. It only made him want to know more. His curiosity often led him down dangerous alleys, but he was sure that this time it would help her at little expense to himself.

"Ten years ago, tomorrow, his dam died after a particularly difficult labor. There was nothing we could do for her. But I was fresh out of vet school, so it was particularly devastating to me. That was during the time when I thought that I could save everyone. I was such a stupid kid." She shook her head and laughed a little to herself. Bruce remained silent. "The mare's owners wanted nothing to do with the foal after that. So, I took him and raised him myself and for 9 and a half years he was the kindest, most loving of stallions. He was designed for the track, but with me he was a star eventer—I'm mean I never intended us to go far and we never did but we were good."

Bruce smiled and nodded. In his current state Nicodemus didn't have much muscle mass and a grass belly to boot, but he did have the look of athleticism like his owner. He probably had little endurance but with time and work he could be brought back to snuff.

"He was sweet too. Sweeter than any stallion I've ever met, and he had patience to spare—especially for one little girl. Evelyn Craig—Evie." She met his eyes than, hers shone with tears and her voice dropped just slightly as she spoke the girl's name. An uncomfortable sense of dread came over him instantly and he fought to keep it from view by staying as still as possible but not stiff.

If Annie had noticed any of his discomfort she didn't let on because after only a moment of pause to gather herself, she pressed on with her story. "Evie had talent riding and a way with horses that no other kid that I've taught had ever possessed. "She was hardly nine and I could already see an Olympic future for her. After some cajoling, I convinced her parents to let me enter her in the local show. It wasn't anything major, just a jumping event. She was 3 years younger than the second youngest kid in the competition though. That was kind of a source of pride for everyone."

For a moment the warmest smile shone through the darkened façade, but it was quickly wiped away with a sharp exhale and Bruce knew than that the source of the pain was about to be revealed. He kept his forward position, but took up his beer. He needed something to occupy his hands so that he didn't commit the crime of taking her hands. He was sure that it wouldn't go over well with her. In fact, he would bet his last dollar that any form of comfort would elicit nothing short of a bloody beating from her, so he checked himself hard and kept a respectful distance.

After a moment she gathered herself up. She sat as straight as she could, but she couldn't seem to keep her shoulders from slouching. The weight of this burden must be difficult to shoulder. He knew a little something about heavy burdens, but he also had learned how to carry his. Eventually she would learn to do the same, he was sure.

"I thought she was ready for this competition and she was skill wise. But she hardly had the maturity. I didn't see it right away, but Evie desperately wanted to win. And that was my fault. I didn't push hard enough. I never properly engrained in her mind that safety came before winning and that's the most important lesson that any riding instructor can impart on their pupil." Her hands shook than and she had to set the bottle back down on the table to hide that fact. For her sake, Bruce pretended not to notice. "She was the last to go. I thought she would place respectably and I was ready to congratulate her for a third or maybe…maybe a second. But I couldn't possibly see how they could safely make up the time they needed for a victory.

She saw what I wouldn't have allowed though, and she went for it. Nico is as agile as they come but no horse could make a jump after such a sharp turn. Most horses would have refused. But, Nico was the kind of horse that trusted his rider and would try to jump the moon if it was asked of him. So, it was no surprise but all the horror in the world when Nico obeyed. Seconds later Evie was crushed beneath Nico. For her part she survived for four hours, but we all knew that she wouldn't make it. The injuries were too severe there wasn't an organ that wasn't bleeding or bruised or a bone that wasn't broken. That isn't an exaggeration."

It took downing the rest of her beer, getting another one and draining half of that one before she spoke again. Bruce held his respectful silence throughout. "Aside from a few minor lacerations Nico wasn't injured. I'm fairly sure that, that information is what did in Mr. Craig. The night following the funeral, I woke up and saw the barn was lit. I was sure that I turned out the lights after doing a final check on the horses. But there was always a chance that I didn't—or the live in stable hands were throwing another rager behind my back. Actually, I was sure that that's what it was. So, I ran out there ready to rip the kids a new one maybe even fire a few of them. But a party is far from what I saw in the barn. I heard the squeals of the horses before I knew what was happening and that only spurred me on.

When I got inside Nico was in the aisle, the floor around him was flooded in red. Mr. Craig was standing above him with a butcher knife that was dripping with what seemed like an impossible amount of blood. Normally my veterinary senses would kick in and I would rush forward. But I just stood there, like a dumbass and stared for a full three seconds before I finally woke up to the situation, disable Mr. Craig, ordered the stable hands who had rushed in at the noise to get my kit and tended to Nico. But Nico had already lost consciousness before any of that. The last thing he saw as he lay there scared, confused and hurt, was me standing there like an idiot. He lost consciousness knowing that everyone he knew and trusted had let him down."

"He couldn't have remembered that." Bruce butt in before he could stop himself. But he knew just as she would know that it was a lie. Horses were smart. Most animals remember the hands that beat them. Annie hadn't beaten him, but she hadn't immediately gone to the poor horse's rescue. Not her fault of course. Anyone unfamiliar with how to handle panic would have hesitated too at the sight of a loved one being killed. He had as a kid.

Before he could take it back. Annie shook her head, anger replaced the anguish and for a moment he thought that she was going to throw the bottle at him. "Horses aren't just dumb animals. They remember. They know. And they hold grudges." She ground out furiously, casting him in a dark glare that gave him pause.

After that brief hesitation and to placate the raging vet, he through his hands up in the air in surrender and nodded. "I'm sorry, Dr. Trevelyan. That was an extremely poor choice of words on my part." He was careful to use her professional name, a show of respect and esteem that would hopefully ease her anger.

She seemed to accept his apology as sincere because she relaxed into the sofa and fixed her blues on him. Once again, the anger was extinguished by sadness that threatened to touch him again. He wouldn't let it. "I've halfway decided to euthanize him. I can't reach him. I thought nobody could—but then there's you. You are the first person he's let near his fence. You wouldn't be interested in giving him a home, would you?"

Despite his best defenses the hope in her voice inexplicably cut him. He wasn't going to play games with himself though, he knew it was because he would have to take that hope and crush it. He hated doing that to good people.

He shook his head. "I don't have time for a horse. I wouldn't even know what to do with one." Of course, the last bit was a lie. He just didn't want to get into it.

As feared, Annie's face fell as all the hope she had for saving her baby was taken from her as ruthlessly as if he had stabbed her in the chest and taken her life. He wanted to fix that, but he just didn't know how without invoking her wrath.

Thankfully she gave him an out. She recollected herself for what seemed like the millionth time today, but this time she didn't do as complete of a job. Her gaze had hardened, and her mouth twisted in an angry smile that he didn't care to see again.

"That's right you wouldn't have time. You're too busy chasing phantasms in a bat suit."

His surprise dulled the sharpness of her words to him. Instead of being spurned he laughed heartily. "Diana told you about me," he responded feeling as if he had been in some way betrayed, "but she couldn't be bothered to give me a cookie crumb about you."

"She couldn't. I'm no cookie."
"Yeah, you're more like a piece of bad fruit."

Regret took hold of Bruce a little bit too late. If he hadn't been too caught up by Diana's slight, he would have tempered his words a little better. He needed to make up ground. But by the look on Annie's face there wasn't a snow man's chance in July that he'd repair the damage.

Annie's expression went from sour, to oddly blank, before going back to the anger she couldn't hold back. She tried to nonchalantly shrug but the anger and quite possibly a touch of hurt shone too brightly in her eyes for that to work the way she wanted.

"You're right. I'm fucking rotten." She said with an edge that he was sure was meant to slice deeper than the words actually were, but she wasn't finished. Oh no, anger doesn't burn that brightly for one quip. "Let me save you some more time. You're here because there's some perceived danger—information you got from a mad man. Personally, I think you and Diana are idiots for playing his game. The thing is, Diana is the only one whose participation surprises me. You on the other hand are as obsessed as he is—except for you it's redemption and for Luthor it's for power. He's like Hannibal Lecter, he gets off on messing with people's heads. The only difference is he probably doesn't eat his victims. Probably. Either way I won't be sucked into his game. Because, as obsessed as the two of you are, I'm going to end up killed. And I won't have that. Sorry. Not sorry. Finish your beer and leave."

Annie stood then and walked towards the kitchen. It was Bruce's impression that she didn't like yelling at people. He wouldn't continue to overstay his welcome. He finished his beer took the bottle into the kitchen and dropped it in the recycling bin he had noticed earlier. He watched as Annie stared out the window. He didn't need to follow her gaze to know that she was watching the stallion.

"I'll take Nicodemus." He didn't know why he offered. He wanted to believe that it was because it might be the last line he had to rope her in with, but he was sure it wouldn't be that easy.

She turned around, hands balled tightly into fists. "No."

"I know you don't want to euthanize him. And you did try to offer him to me earlier."

"I changed my mind. I'm not sending him to a place where his suffering will be prolonged."

"He doesn't hate me. I cou—" he realized all too late the implications of his words. The toll they took on her was instantly devastating. Girls and their horses. No matter what you never ever said that their bond didn't exist. They were the ones to admit it and bring it up always. To break that rule would be to forfeit your life. He fought to string together the right set of words that would prevent another fight. Maybe just maybe he would accept a punch to the face and get out as soon as he could.

The rage that he saw building behind her suddenly and frighteningly stoic face never came though. Instead her lower lip jutted outwards and rage was washed out by unshed tears. She quickly turned to face the sink. "I'll draw up the paperwork. You can pick him up tomorrow." She said quietly as she continued to stare out the window.

Bruce couldn't see it and there were no traces of it in her voice, but he knew that those unshed tears were now coming down in floods. He had beaten her down brutally without meaning to. He honestly felt bad for doing so and he'd make the remaining duration of his stay as painless as possible.

"Thank you, Dr. Trevelyan. I will see you in the morning." He said before he hurried out the front door and to his car. He didn't look at Nico. He'd have a good 9 years or more to that. He needed to get out of here before the failure sunk in on him. There was nothing worse than failure. Despite his best efforts, though, long before he shut the car door the stark realization had hit him. He failed to acquire Annie and instead he now had a horse so screwed up that he wasn't even sure that he could fix the wayward animal. Another failure. Worst still he knew he wouldn't take another crack at Annie. He'd leave her be. Some people were just left to the relative peace of their own misery.

Thanks for reading! I hope you liked it!