Author's Note: Hello, thanks for reading and if you're a returning reader hello again and I hope you remember Alex (if not have a read of New Beginnings), I've made some changes to the Injustice comic (as I think you're allowed to do seeing as it is a fanfic). Hope you enjoy!
Gotham bustled with life, horns sounded as people dodged through traffic. Shouts went up from business men coming out of the financial district. The skyscrapers towered into the sky, and for once you could see the blue. Steam grates whistled into the street, sending streams of mist into the faces of the street vendors. I sighed in the back of the car, it was good to be home. The car rolled to a stop outside one of the shopping malls in downtown Gotham.
"Is here ok Miss?" Alfred turned in the drivers seat and asked me.
I nodded and grabbed my hand bag from the seat next to me, "Yes, thanks Alfred. I'll see you later on."
"My pleasure Miss, have a good time." He smiled at me.
I closed the car door and waved as it pulled away from the curb. I smiled to myself as I looked around my city, my wonderful little mentally twisted city. I took my cell phone out of my bag as it buzzed, "Hey, where are you? Ok I'll meet you there." I walked into the mall and headed towards the coffee shop at the back.
"Hello Miss Wayne," "Hi Miss Alexandra," "What a pleasure to see you Miss Wayne."
I smiled at all of the greetings, see the reason why I was getting all of the extremely over friendly and overly wanting hellos was because my name is Alex Wayne, my Dad is Bruce Wayne and my little obnoxious brother is Damian Wayne. But of course that's just part of who we are, my father being the world's greatest detective, Batman, my little brother has taken the worn mantle of Robin and myself having given up Batgirl a number of years ago was now Blade. But I wasn't here to be Blade, I was here as Alex today to meet up with an old friend of mine. As I walked through the crowd of people I spotted her blonde head sitting at table in the coffee shop. I picked up my pace and then before she even looked up I was sitting opposite her, "Hi Kara!" I beamed a smile at her.
Kara jumped and wiped her face, "Oh God, Alex I didn't hear you."
I narrowed my eyebrows, "Hang on, Supergirl didn't hear me?" I whispered to her, but then noticed her face, it was red from crying, "Oh Jeez Kara what's wrong? What happened?" I reached out and took her hand.
"It's," She sniffed and fresh tears began to flow down her cheeks,"It's Lois."
"What happened? She isn't hurt is she?" I asked.
Kara looked up at me, her blue eyes brimming with tears, "She's dead."
I put my hand to my mouth to hide a gasp, my blood went cold, "She's dead? How?"
"Kal, Kal-El," Kara said, but she broke down crying again.
"What did Clark do?" I asked quietly.
"He didn't know, he was drugged by that maniac," Kara said, trying to hold back the next bought of tears, "He thought she was Doomsday, he freaked out and sent her into Space. He killed her Alex."
A million thoughts ran through my head. This is Clark Kent, Kal-El, Superman for god sakes. He is as straight collar as they come, a boy scout. He would never kill anyone, I actually saw him at the Watchtower one day contemplating whether or not he should kill a fly, and he didn't, Billy did later on with a little zap of lightening. He must have been totally out of control to do something like that. "Who did it Kara?"
"The Joker, that evil son of a bitch, he did it just for a laugh," Kara sniffed, "And what's worse is that Lois was pregnant, they just found out. Kal was gonna be a dad, I was gonna have a little niece or nephew." She began to cry again.
I shifted my chair over and pulled her into a hug, "Hush Kara, it's gonna be ok. I'm going to call Dick and get him to come and get us ok?" I felt her nod against my neck. I fished my cell phone out with one hand and hit speed dial one. "Dick?"
"Ok, give me a chance to say hello first, how was Starling City?" His voice came over the line, it gave me a little warmth back.
"I'll fill you in later, can you pick up my location and come and get Kara and me please?" I asked him.
"Eh, sure ok, I'm in the loft, I'll be five minutes." He hung up.
"Lets go Kara, I'm taking you back to the Manor." I helped her up and left a twenty for the coffees.
Dick helped me get Kara into the sitting room, Alfred came over to see what was going on. "Is everything alright Miss Alexandra?" But once he saw the look on Kara's face he answered his own question, "I'll go make some tea."
I smiled at him in thanks, "Kara I just have to talk to Dick, will you be ok there for a minute?" Kara nodded and I took Dick's hand as I walked out.
Dick turned to me, "Ok what the hell is going on? I've never seen Kara like this." I filled him in a few seconds, and that stunned him into silence, which for Dick Grayson, that is a huge deal. "My god," He said finally. "So where's Joker now?"
"He's in Gotham PD, Damian said that Dad's interviewing him now," I said and crossed my arms.
"Good, but you know that he isn't going to give us much, he's just gonna be all laughs and cackles," Dick told me. "Come here, you look freaked." He pulled me into a hug and kissed my head. I rested my cheek again his chest and sighed, zoning in on his heartbeat. "I missed you when you were gone."
"Dick I was gone five days," I smiled and wrapped my arms around his waist.
I felt Dick smirk against my head, "Well still, having to keep an eye on Damian all on my own was tough, and it was cold in my loft alone."
"Poor thing," I gave a small laugh, "I had to go, Wayne Industries needed to make that deal with Queen Consolidated and Dad was busy so Oliver asked me to come instead, nice to have a company that understands." Dick kissed my head, but I tilted my head up and kissed him. I heard an annoyingly familiar noise to my left. I broke away from Dick's lips, "What do you want you leering little creep?"
"Tt, relax sister. Continue lip locking with Grayson if that's what you wish. I just have some news from Father that might interest you." My brother said, leaning against the grandfather clock.
"What?" I sighed looking at him.
"Well if you must know," He looked at his hand, "Superman has done the impossible." I gave him a look, "He's killed the Joker."
I stared at him in shock, the Joker is dead? The thing about my family is that we have a strict no killing policy, I generally agree to it, for the most part. But the Joker, he is a different ball game, there is a special circle in hell reserved for him. The graveyards he's filled and the friends he's crippled, there are things that I wouldn't hesitate to do to that man with my katanas. But I restrain myself, tipping over the edge like that would be too easy. My brother on the other hand, he is a different ball game. When he came here three years ago as a blood thirsty ten year old it took the whole family to train it out of him, but there was still that streak in him that I never fully trusted, especially when I came to the Joker.
"But Dad would never let him," I began.
"Our father didn't have a choice, what can he do against Superman?" Damian raised an eyebrow.
I walked over to him and put my finger to my lips, "Shut up, Kara is in the sitting room." But the sudden violent shaking of the house and the slamming of the front door meant our dear Supergirl had heard everything. "Shit! She's on her way to Superman!" I swore and ran into the hallway.
"You aren't going to catch her babe," Dick said to me.
"Not unless you're suddenly The Flash," Damian rolled his eyes.
I sighed, "Head down to the cave and suit up. Dad is going to need us."
I tried to ring Kara but there was no answer, not even on her radio. There was no way I could track her, so all I had to do was to hope she was ok. I sat on the chair at the massive super-computer, every news channel was showing the same thing, "Breaking: Superman kills the Joker", each person that was interviewed in Gotham was so happy that the Joker was gone for good, and part of me agreed, I felt slightly safer. Dick and Damian were behind me training, Dick needed to keep Damian occupied until Dad came back. But as soon as I finished my thought I heard a familiar rumble at the back of the cave, the headlights of the Batmobile shone and the engine roared into the cave. I got up out of the seat and waited. The doors opened and the caped and cowled figure of my father emerged. Just his presence alone some times would be slightly unnerving, unless you knew him like we did, over six foot three and 240 pounds of power, I was dwarfed by him at my small five foot five, even Damian was gaining on me, I took after our mother apparently.
"Whats the 411?" I asked him as he walked up towards the computer.
He looked up at me, "I couldn't stop him Alex, he moved to quick."
I walked over to him and put my hand on his arm, "Dad, I know your feelings about killing, but that was the Joker. What he did to Barbara and Jason, not to mention all the people he's killed and all the memorials I've seen for the masses of burials. Maybe Superman did us a favour?" I knew I said something wrong as soon as I finished it.
"Joker was insane, but if he stayed in Arkham out of harms way and away from people, then no one would have to die. You know my rule Alex, no one gets killed. Ever." He walked past me.
"But Dad, he killed Lois and she was pregnant, just for a laugh. You must see why Superman is acting like this." I followed him over to the computer. But I never got his answer, because we looked at the screen.
"A war head has landed in Metropolis, it has wiped out the city. Army and Air Force are searching for survivors but the likelihood of anyone surviving that blast is low. The radiation is too high to enter unprotected so the President has ordered everyone to stay away from the blast zone that will be manned by the army. We have lost a great city, one that was a shining beacon in this country, we mourn the loss of all the wonderful people in that city…" The news anchor broke down crying. I was on the verge of tears too. Dick and I had friends in Metropolis, ones that we went to college with, they were gone now and there was nothing we could do.
Dad but a hand on my shoulder, "Do you see why now?" He asked me.
I looked up at him and nodded, "Yes." He gave a look of approval and went over to the computer. I sighed and brushed away the tears then walked over to Dick and Damian.
"What did you get wrong?" Dick asked as Damian was picking himself off the floor.
"Legs," Damian answered.
"Legs," Dick agreed, "You've been going for the kill shots - which I'm trying not to be offended by - but remember if you can't get to your opponents core, they have sticky outty bits too that you can get."
"Like this," I leg swiped Dick and he fell back on his ass.
"Ouch," He moaned as he stood up, Damian snorted a laugh.
"Just trying to demonstrate to my little brother." I retorted.
As Dick stood up Damian moved and out of the corner of my eye I saw an escrima stick flying towards Dick's head. He was about to reach for it but a gust of wind almost blew me backwards and there right before us was Superman with the stick in his hand. "That wasn't very nice Damian," He turned to look down at my brother.
"It's ok Superman, I knew it was coming, tries it all the time," Dick said, taking back the escrima stick.
Damian stood up looking at little freaked at Superman's sudden arrival, "You can't just appear like that! A little bit of warning!"
"Where's your father?" Superman asked me.
"Brooding by the computer," I told him.
"You're father is the master of brooding, but even he needs practice," Superman mumbled.
Dick nodded, "Yeah he teaches night classes if you're interested."
Superman turned to us, "Do you mind giving us a minute?" He looked at me and Dick.
I nodded, "Sure, come on Damian." I grabbed his arm before he could retaliate. I gave Dick a look, he nodded.
"Stop dragging me!" Damian protested.
"Shut it, we're going up," I said to him and began to climb. Dad wasn't the only one that knew this cave. As kids Dick and I spent years exploring. We knew every little square inch, and I wanted to know what Clark was talking to Dad about. We all settled into position and listened.
"Damian isn't used to people just appearing like that," Dad spoke, not looking at Superman.
"Where were you?" Superman asked, "My parents were taken. Where were you?"
"I was doing what needs to be done," Dad answered and rose from his seat.
"My parents. You of all people…" Superman put his hand on Dad's shoulder, I tensed in my hiding spot, he better not hurt Dad.
"You have to stop what you're doing." Dad said calmly.
Superman's expression turned, "I have to stop what? Stop saving lives? Stop bringing dictators to justice?"
Dad looked up at him, "You're scaring them." I winced, don't anger him Dad, I wanted to shout. But I was a little late.
Superman reached forward and grabbed him and tore off his cowl, "Good! They should be scared to press the button, scared to pull the trigger. They should be scared to hurt each other. You taught me that." He pointed to Dad.
"Clark, I…." Dad began.
Superman cut him off, "You'd do exactly what I've done if you were me Bruce, if you could do what I could do."
Dad shook his head, "You killed a man."
"I did!" He nodded in agreement, "And every time you let that madman live, how many more do you condemn? Did you even feel responsible? Did you even feel guilty?"
I felt Dick reach over and take my hand and rub his thumb over it, I gave him a look, I agreed with Superman. There were times that I wanted to just end Joker myself, but what Dad taught me always stopped me.
"Every time," Dad nodded, his head down, "But we don't get to choose who lives or dies."
"One death, to save millions. One death," Superman held his finger up to Dad.
"It always starts with one," Dad looked Superman in the eye. "That's how justification works. But once you justify something once, you do it again and a again. It becomes easier, right and wrong blur." Dad turned back to the computer.
Superman looked at the cowl in his hand and then back to Dad, "You loved him didn't you?"
Dad whipped around, "What?"
"You're not sitting in the dark morning Metropolis are you? You're morning him." Superman tensed his jaw. "You're angry at me for taking him away from you." He threw the cowl back at Dad, and he put it back on, "That's it hide away behind your mask. You loved having him around, your constant nemesis. The two of you played a game and people died."
"You know that's not true," Dad looked at Superman.
My heart suddenly dropped when I saw Clark's expression, he's face went dark and a wave of rage passed over him and his eyes went red, "Then why didn't you stop him? Why did you let him do this to me Bruce!?" He roared. Sending the bats around the cave into a frenzy. "You can't possibly understand what he took. He stole the life Lois and I would have had together. Our child. And more, there was going to be someone else like me in the world, not just for me, but for Kara too. Another Kryptonian, someone who would make us feel less alone. And I would have loved thats child more than anything. I already did." He walked over to Dad and squared up to him, "Look at you. You're sitting in the dark, ignoring Dick, Damian and Alex. How many friends did they loose in Metropolis? Have you consoled them? Have you held them? You're parents died and left you Bruce. What's your excuse for not being a father?" Superman said to Dad with venom in his voice.
"Arrgghh!" Dad yelled and punched Superman across the face. I winced, I could hear his hand crack from here. My blood was cold, I wanted to run down to Dad and hug him, yeah he wasn't the best father in the world, but who was? He could be cold and harsh but he loved us. He was there when I was a scared little kid and he would sit in my bed with me and read me a story as I would rest my head on his chest. He would stay with me until I fell asleep. Now I was older I wasn't afraid of the dark anymore but I knew that Dad was still there, we all did.
"Show me your hand," Superman said.
"No," Dad moved away from Superman.
"Don't be you. Show me your hand," He insisted. Dad put his hand down on the table, "Hairline fracture, should heal in about 6 weeks, if you can avoid punching people."
I jumped in my spot as the alarm went off in the cave, the alert for the League. "What's that?" Superman asked.
"You're not wearing your communicator?" Dad asked sitting down at the computer.
"No. I didn't want us to be interrupted." Superman answered.
"Trouble in the Pacific Ocean, it's Atlantis. Several Justice League members are on scene." Dad said as he zoned in on the problem.
"I should go," Superman turned around.
"Wait," Dad turned in his seat, "You can't put yourself above us, Clark. You're right, I'm not saying I'd act differently if I had your abilities. I'm not saying I wouldn't try to impose peace, but you…."
"What?" Superman looked back.
"You're better than I am," Dad told him.
Superman's expression softened, "Bruce, come with me."
"I can't Clark, I'm sorry." Dad turned back to the computer and Superman swung away his cape billowing around his feet.
As he was leaving Alfred was coming with tea, "Not staying for tea and sandwiches Master Kent?"
Superman put his hand on Alfred's shoulder, "I'm afraid not Alfred, and you don't have to call me 'master'."
Alfred looked up at the Kryptonian, "Good, let's remember that."
As soon as Superman was gone and the cave was sealed again, I jumped down from my perch, ignoring Damian and Dick. I ran past Alfred and wrapped my arms around Dad's neck. "You ok old man?" I said, my voice muffled by his cowl.
Dad stopped typing and reached up and put his hand in my arms, "I'm fine Alex, you all shouldn't have been listening."
"Dad, we weren't about to leave you alone with Clark, not after what he did." I straightened up, "And for what it's worth you're a pretty good Dad."
"Easy Alex, you might make him cry," Dick said as he walked over and put his arm around me.
Dad stood up, "I have to go and try and make the League see sense. From looking at the read outs here Diana and Clark are going to start a war with Arthur."
"What do you need us to do?" I asked.
"Stay here and keep an eye on everything. Clark is hurting but if I can talk to him again he might see sense." Dad said and walked towards the cars.
"Why just Superman?" Dick asked.
"Over the last few years I've watched the League, made up plans incase one of them went rogue. Everyone has their weaknesses, Hal and yellow," Damian snorted from the other side of the cave, "Barry and anything below absolute zero, Victor and a virus, Clark and kryptonite. These heroes have been raised as people first and hero second, like you all have. But the one member of the League that is not of that category is the one that could push us into war, Wonderwoman. She's been born and raised as a warrior, a princess, and a diplomat. She has been trained to kill without mercy, and only holds herself back because she feels that is the right thing to do, until now. Now she is of the opinion that getting the world under control at any cost is the only way forward. And she has no kryptonite." Dad turned on his heel and got into the plane, letting the engines roar.
As the plane left, Damian spoke up, "He has no kryptonite either."
I glared at my brother, "He does Damian, the three of us."