Daughters of the Moon

By Icha

Disclaimer: Wonder Woman, Catwoman, Hippolyta, Wildcat, Blue Beetle, Aquaman, Batman and, Martian Manhunter belong to DC Comics. I stole Mythos Café from Lana Lang's the Tallon Café (the Smallville TV series). Spoilers including JLA#90, Catwoman#32, Hush, Identity Crisis, DC Countdown, the OMAC project, etc.

Special thanks to Athena-Phoenix for beta reading. And Djinn, for the 'Batjerk'. I wrote this before I read your fanfic, but I figured out that you (or other writers) mentioned it first, so I should acknowledge that.

The story takes place during the OMAC project of the current continuity. I have only read issue #1 so far, thus this story only includes Wonder Woman found out that Blue Beetle was missing in action.

Chapter 1. Gotham's Heaven

Spring in Gotham was as cold as ever. But this afternoon the sun shone brightly through Gotham's greyish sky.

Diana of Themiscyra finished her talk and greeted the children of Gotham's Heaven, the biggest orphanage in Gotham. Their bright eyes and cheerful smiles confirmed her decision to spend some time there despite her tight schedules, giving a presentation about the wilderness in Gotham County. She remembered the amazed look on the children's faces as she explained about the endangered foxes that sometimes still wander around the county. And the rare birds that often spoke to her about their lives. And, not to mention the bats! Kids love the bats, Diana realized. She was not surprised, though. The legendary Batman had – of course – inspired thousands of children in Gotham. She was sure that when she described various species of bats in Gotham, the children were actually thinking of the Batman. And how cool it must be to have him here in the orphanage, telling stories about bats, than a Themysciran Amazon.

I wonder how they'd react if they knew that Batman and the generous billionaire Bruce Wayne who supports their orphanage is the same man. Would they be scared? Amazed?

Bruce. Diana had been pondering about the man ever since she decided to go to Gotham City for the talk. Yes, Gotham was under Batman's protection – all meta-humans knew that. But not all of them knew that Batman – as Bruce Wayne – also protected the orphaned. And Bruce would not like it if an Amazonian Ambassador suddenly appeared in Gotham, his city, even for charity purposes. So, Diana decided to contact him the previous night.

Bruce – or rather the Batman – just nodded in agreement when she contacted him in the Batcave. He did mutter something like "Don't give them too much candy."

"No, Bruce." Diana could not help smiling. "I don't believe in candy. I do, however, believe in a good education."

And a good education was what she gave the children that afternoon. Yet, despite her passion to the children (she has a natural bound with children - thanks to Hestia and Artemis who bestowed the gifts upon her), she still found herself wondering about Bruce. Would she ever find herself and Bruce teaching orphans together someday? She would enjoy that, and Bruce undoubtedly would be a good presenter. As scary as the Batman he was, Bruce Wayne would not maintain the same stoic expression while talking to children.

"Miss Diana?"

A spectacled boy with an intelligent look in his eyes touched her arm. Diana recognized him immediately. The boy was particularly interested in her lecture about Gotham's marine life. Not much marine life there in the black Gotham Bay, but Diana occasionally heard whales singing from afar. She then, with the help of Aquaman, found that the whales were swimming en route on their journey to the south for food, and back to the north for mating. Bruce further confirmed their findings. He even showed Diana his own records of the whale songs, from that particular pod. Humpbacks whales.

"Yes, Bobby?" Arthur would like this boy.

"You said that we humans should learn from the animals. That they are actually, in many ways, better than humans." Bobby spoke in a clear manner. The twelve-years old boy liked to be accurate.

"Yes, indeed I said so."

"Is that because you can talk to them, or what? You can talk to them, right?"

"A part of it is true, Bobby. And yes – I do talk to them." Diana began packing her laptop. "But even 'ordinary' boys like you can observe them. Animals only fight for food and territory they need for their survival. They are not greedy as we humans often are. We fight not for our basic needs, but for ego and power. Although I understand that the human mind is far more complex than animal minds, I sometimes wonder if our minds actually us dictate – instead of us controlling them."

Looking at the 'huh?' look of the boy, Diana stopped and smiled. "Well, forget about the mind-talk. Too complicated for you now. Just..." she bent over the boy, "... observe them, and learn."

"Will you come again sometimes? It's been very nice to have you here." Bobby's brown eyes gleamed with hope.

"I'll try, my friend." Diana touched Bobby's head slowly. "It's been very nice for me, too." This was true. Her work in the Embassy, recent serial murders that affected many heroes, and Blue Beetle missing had all made her tired. At times like this, she would rather be in her Wonder Woman Foundation, working with women they had been trying to empower. Or joining the New York joined team preparing the upcoming Environmental Day and establishing the new committee for AIDS Day. Or like this, with the innocent children.

As Bobby left, Diana turned to Jonah, his her loyal embassy staff who assisted her that afternoon. She was not sure yet what to do next: go home to New York or wander around Gotham for a while. She was not worried about Jonah, though; he had a return plane ticket to New York, leaving in two hours. He had to leave soon. She could leave her laptop with him and stroll around Gotham until dinner.

As she turned, she spotted a woman in the corner of the room. The woman had arrived two minutes after her class began, and now had remained in the room. The woman was of average height with a slender, curvaceous body. Her face, however, was hidden in the shadow of her purple hat. She wore a matching purple long coat, a pair of purple suede stilettos and a gold necklace. With a big cat pendant, Diana noted.

The woman seemed to notice that Diana had finally caught her eye. She approached in a very feline manner. Getting closer, she took off her hat, revealing short thick raven hair, a pretty face, and a pair of emerald eyes.

"Nice talk you gave here just now." Her voice was seductive, but also powerful. A woman with high self-esteem and confidence.

"Thank you, Miss Kyle." From her composure and appearance, Diana had already noticed the woman as Selina Kyle, a.k.a. the Catwoman. "I didn't expect to see you at my talk."

"Well, let's say that we have... common interests." If Selina was surprised that Diana recognized her, she did not show it. "However, your presentation failed to mention a particular species. Cats, to be precise." She spun her hat on one finger. "Don't undermine their presence in Gotham."

Diana's azure eyes sparkled with increased interest. "I did talk about the bobcat, Lynx rufus, during the lecture, Miss Kyle. I'm sure you noticed. In fact, bobcats are common to this area."

"Right. But that's not Felis catus – domestic cats. I'm talking about common cats that wander around this city without any owners. Wild house-cats." Selina's emerald eyes shone. "They are so interesting, you should not miss them."

"Ah, but that would be beyond the scope of my lecture today. It was really about the wildlife. Not the wild domestic animals." Diana turned aside to Jonah, asking him to wait. "Besides, I think you are a better lecturer on that subject."

"I see." So she knows who I am. Selina nodded, then made to leave.

"Wait, Miss Kyle." Diana gave her laptop to Jonah. "Since I'm not a Gothamite, I wonder if you can recommend a nice café nearby? And perhaps..." Diana thought for a moment, "...if you have time, would you have a latte with me?"

This time Selina couldn't hide her surprise. Knowing that Diana knew her secret identity was to be expected; Diana was a core member of the Justice League. She was able to access information about any meta-humans, caped or masked ordinary human fighters, heroes, and villains. Including a reformed thief. But having latte together?

"There's a new café two blocks away from here. I've been wanting to try it myself." Selina replied, after stifling her reaction. "A good place to start." Time to know the enemy.

"That sounds good." Diana smiled. "Care to wait for a moment?" She then spoke briefly with Jonah, said farewell to the head of the orphanage, and strolled into the afternoon Gotham sun with Selina.