A/N Don't own the characters so don't sue me!

Many thanks to Lady Isis for the beta and also to DaisyJane for her beta and input on this chapter. Both are the real Wonder Woman of writing. I kind of feel like the Flash sometimes, how they help poor little me out from tough situations I put myself in! :)

This is a re-write/edit of my first ever Batman story. Been almost five months since I first posted it, was nervous about posting it because of my horrible grammar and spelling. Since then I've written 16 additional stories. All about my favorite DC couple! I've chatted with some very funny and intelligent people since then.

This story is dedicated to DaisyJane, Lady Isis and Hepburn. Three of the most intelligent, witty and carrying people anyone could ever meet.

Enough for sappy stuff. Read and enjoy all!

Batman's Gift.

Chapter 1: The Offer.

Bruce Wayne looked at his watch - his last appointment of the day would be arriving soon, and Bruce was mentally figuring out when he should be back to at the manor. He calculated before eight o'clock.

The intercom on Bruce's large desk beeped, his secretary said, "Mr. Olympic is here, Mr. Wayne."

He pressed a button. "Please send him in right away."

Suez Olympic was an industrialist from Greece whom Wayne Enterprises has been corresponding with for the past few months about a Wind Generating farm off the coast. The proposal looked all in order but there were some finer points that need to be hammered out, hence this meeting

The door to his office opened, and a man with long gray hair in a pony tail walked in. His long gray beard was trimmed and straight. He was wearing a black designer suit. The man was in excellent shape with a body similar to Bruce's, which surprised him somewhat. He looked like a body builder.

Bruce stood up and offered the man his hand "Mr Olympic. Bruce Wayne."

The older man smiled and shook his hand, Bruce was surprised at his grip. He motioned for Mr. Olympic to sit down so they could start.

Bruce was about to speak but the man interrupted him. "My apologies, but before we get to business, I have a few things I would like to discuss with you. Is that okay?" Suez looked into his eyes waiting for his response.

Bruce was a bit intrigued, what could Suez wanted to talk about? He nodded his head for the man to speak his mind.

Suez took a deep breath then said, "Mr. Wayne, may I call you Bruce?"

"Sure," Bruce replied. Suez smiled at Bruce then continued "Well Bruce, I'm not really here about a business deal, I have to say something that needs only be heard by our ears only. Is this room secure?"

The weird turn of events had Bruce frowning - what was he up to? The part of Bruce that normally only came out at night started to work overtime. Bruce looked at the man again, but his body language wasn't giving him any threating vibes. "This room is very secure." He knew it was, he didn't like people knowing anything about his business practices, or anything that might be said about his nocturnal activities either.

Suez nodded his head. "I'm not here to extort you, so please allow me to speak my mind before you interrupt."

Bruce nodded.

"I've been keeping an eye on you for many years, your nightly mission to keep Gotham safe hasn't gone unnoticed. Right, Batman?" Suez stared right into Bruce's eyes, challenging him.

Bruce's mind was ablaze. What does this man know? What is his angle? All his years of hiding his emotions gave Suez the impression of calm, but his mind was a whirlwind of thoughts.

Suez continued to look directly into Bruce's eyes. "I'm here to offer you a special gift. It will help you continue your mission to keep Gotham safe and secure. Now I know you must be trying to figure out what my motives are, but there are none." Suez looked at Bruce and waited for him to respond.

Bruce allowed an easy, slightly mocking smile to cross his face. "I am not Batman, as flattering as the idea is. I think you are mistaken, Mr. Olympic."

Suez chuckled. "Don't kid a kidder, Bruce, I know you are Batman. As I said I'm not here to extort anything from you. Are you not interested in what I have to offer?" he raised his brow at him.

Bruce grabbed a pen from his desk and played around with it in his hand, eyes narrowed. "For argument's sake let's say I was Batman. What is this gift you're offering?"

Suez moved in a little closer to Bruce and almost whispered. "A little meta power." He sat back into his chair and smiled back at the shocked look on Bruce face.

Bruce sat forward in his chair and said, "How can you give anyone a little meta power?" He couldn't figure out where this was all leading to.

"I have my ways," Suez said unhelpfully. "The gift would make you a little stronger, a little tougher with a little of this and that added in," Suez said as he waved his hand around, but he could see the Dark Knight wasn't buying into his offer. Suez took a deep breath and pulled out a feather from his inside jacket pocket and laid it on the desk.

The feather was golden in color and sparkled in the sun's rays. Bruce was about to pick it up but Suez stopped him. "This is a just a 24 hour sample of what you can have permanently, once you touch it the clock starts ticking. Think about this before you decide to use it. I will contact you in two days to see if you are interested in having them for good."

With that Suez stood up and slowly left the office to leave Bruce alone. Bruce sat at his chair and examined the feather. Maybe it was poisoned? Maybe he was telling the truth. Bruce thought about how Suez had acted - he hadn't detected any deception or malice. Was this a gift for him? For years he had fought to keep Gotham somewhat safe. But it seemed like the criminals were getting better. If this gift was the real deal then what would happen to Gotham? Batman having meta powers might attract more criminal metas to the city.

But he had fought off meta powered villains before. This would give him the leg up for a while maybe. Bruce was in deep thought when his secretary buzzed him about leaving for the night. A little over an hour had passed since Suez offered him this feather. Bruce was close to a decision.

What kind of powers would it offer? Would I be a strong as Superman? As fast as the Flash? Twenty-four hours isn't much time and he said it was just a sample. So Bruce grabbed the feather and watched as it slowly disappeared in his hand. For a few seconds he could feel a tingle sensation rush through his whole body. Then he felt nothing, which surprised him. Absolutely nothing.

His old knee and shoulder pains and aches had vanished, he felt almost euphoric. Life didn't seem so hard or tough. He was actually smiling because of how great he felt. Bruce got up and looked out his large office window at Gotham. When he focused on a window across the street. He noticed how crisp and clear he could see into the office windows. He could read the message on the painting that hung on the wall. It was an advertisement for the company that rented the office space. Bruce could almost read the small print on it.

This could give me an advantage on patrol, he thought with a smile. Grabbing his briefcase he left for home.

Alfred was waiting as usual when Bruce walked into the Manor. "Good evening, Master Bruce, are you hungry for dinner?" Alfred stood straight and tall.

Bruce looked at Alfred and smiled "You know what, Alfred, I am famished, is dinner ready?"

Alfred was shocked for a moment before it vanished, Bruce was smiling. "Dinner will be served in five minutes, would you like to freshen up first?"

Bruce smiled "Sounds good, Alfred." Bruce made his way to the main floor bathroom to wash up.

The dinner was excellent and Bruce gorged himself on it. Alfred was a little surprised, never he had seen Bruce eat so much. He was lucky if Bruce even finished his first plate, but he had consumed three plates full of food.

"Alfred, you outdid yourself tonight, best dinner I've had in ages. I have a little business to finish up," Bruce smiled and moved away from the dining table.

Alfred nodded his head. "I will just clean up, do you need anything else, sir?"

Bruce was almost out of the room "No Alfred every... everything is actually perfect."

Alfred shook his head and thought, Most perplexing how Master Bruce is acting tonight before he started on the clean up.

Bruce grabbed some workout clothes to test out his new meta powers, and headed to his personal gym. When he took off his shirt he noticed that his body, normally littered with scars, was without one at all. He stared at himself in the large mirror on the wall. For a few minutes Bruce just stared at the mirror examining his body. He put on a t-shirt and some joggers. In the gym Bruce normally pressed 300 pounds, but tonight 300 pounds felt like nothing at all. Leaving the gym he proceeded to the Batcave.

He walked up to the Batmobile and grabbed the rear end, the heaviest part of vehicle. With grunted he lifted the back end of the car off the ground. He was amazed at how strong he was. He leaped for one end to almost the other end of the Batcave, calculating the distance he jumped to be almost 300 feet. Batman suited up and thought guess I better try out these powers tonight, 24 hours isn't that long.

That nights patrol was very successful, Batman stopped several muggings and one armed robbery. He heard the muggers, three blocks away while they planned how they were going to mug the people across the street from them.

Once back at the Batcave Alfred was awaiting for him as usual with a towel, snack and drink. Batman exited the Bat Mobile and jumped the 60 feet distance to Alfred. Alfred was shocked "My God. What has happened to you, Master Bruce?"

Bruce smiled a full toothy grim at his long time friend and father figure "Do I have a story to tell you."

Bruce told Alfred everything. When he was done Alfred looked at him for a few moments. "Master Bruce, from what I've seen so far, this could be a miracle. I've never seen you so.. happy and relaxed in.. a very long time."

Bruce laughed off his comment. "I feel like, its hard to explain because I've never felt so alive in all my life. I know this power is making me feel this way and most likely there is a price to pay for it. But if Suez does offer it to me its very tempting to accept it. I don't feel tired like I normally do after a patrol, I'm hungry but not tired. Must be the meta powers, using up more of my energy."

Alfred nodded his head then said, "Perhaps, Master Bruce. But if eating more is the only drawback I will happily offer my cooking services."

Bruce smiled at Alfred. "Alfred, have I ever told you I love you like a father?"

Shocked at Bruce's revelation Alfred stood a little more straighter then normal. Bruce could almost see a tear in Alfred eye before he pulled a Batman and forced it back.

"Master Bruce, you are my charge and I will, to the best of my efforts and abilities, help you. But thank you for saying that."

Bruce grinned. "So can I get something more to eat?"

Alfred smiled. "Give me five minutes and I will have something ready. In the mean time you could maybe change out of your suit and I should be done by then." Alfred turned and walked back up into the Manor.

For the next fourteen hours Bruce felt like nothing he ever felt before. He did need a short power nap at the office to recharge his batteries. But he knew when the powers left him because the old pain and stiffness of his knee and shoulder returned. Bruce went to a mirror to see if the scars were back, to his surprise they were still gone.

Tonight was a Justice League meeting and he was back to his normal self. He was in deep thought when Alfred entered the Batcave and walked down to speak with him. He was so wrapped up in his own thoughts that when Alfred coughed to announce himself Bruce nearly jumped out of his seat.

"My apologies for the interruption, Master Bruce, but shouldn't you have already left for the meeting?"

Bruce looked at the large computer display, and nodded. "You're right, Alfred." Batman stood and walked to the Justice League transport pad.

Batman was late, everyone else was seated when he entered the room. He walked to his regular seat and sat down. Diana was to his right and quietly said, "Didn't think you were coming, normally you're the first one here."

Bruce glanced at Diana for a moment and shrugged his shoulders. He was so deep in thought that Superman had to yell at him to get his attention. "Batman, you there?"

He snapped out of his trance and said "What?"

Superman was a little annoyed that Batman wasn't paying attention, normally he would be. "I said that we have to replace the Javelin 5 since it was destroyed last week on a mission."

Batman looked up to the standing Superman "Sure, will look into it when I get back to the Batcave." Superman looked at Batman for a moment longer and started talking about some other important league business.

Just as Superman was ending the meeting Batman was out the door even before Flash could stand up.

Shayera walked up to Diana. "Batman was quieter then normal tonight, guess something is bothering him."

Diana turned her attention to Shayera "Yes I've never seen him so wrapped up in his own thoughts. Hopefully its just a case." Both Diana and Shayera had a little look of worry on there faces.

Forty eight hours later he was in the Batcave getting ready to start his nightly patrol. He was at his computer working on some last minute details.

He felt like someone was watching him and turned his seat around. There stood Suez in a Greek Chiton, a golden eagle rested on his left shoulder. He got up and walked over it Suez.

"Zeus."

The old man smiled. "The great detective figured it out."

Bruce turned his attention to the eagle for a moment "No I figured it out just before you left my office, the golden eagle feather tipped me off to who you were. Now I've asked myself this question for the past forty eight hours, without an answer - why would a deity that I don't worship want to offer me powers I could only dream of?"

Zeus pulled a piece of meat from the small sag that was tied around his waist and feed the grand eagle. "Like my son Heracles you have been on a mission of redemption. His was because of what my wife made him do. Yours so that no eight year old boy has to feel what you went through."

Bruce was a little taken back by this revelation, Zeus knew a lot about him.

"After my son finished his twelve tasks I gave him a seat as an Olympian god. You have been on this mission of yours for almost fourteen or so years now. I am offering you what you experienced two days ago - permanently."

Bruce looked at the man as he pulled his cowl from his face. "And what price do I have to pay for this gifts of yours? Magic always has a price." Bruce looked at Zeus harshly.

"You have paid that price almost in full, Bruce. By being the Batman you have saved a lot of people from harm. You asked for nothing in return. There are only two things that I ask for in return for these gifts. The first is that you continue to protect Gotham and the second is that you cannot return the gifts."

"What are these gifts anyway? I felt the strength, hearing, sight and euphoria that your gift gave me."

Zeus looked hard at Bruce for a moment. "Great strength is one part of the gift; you will be hundreds of times stronger then you normally are. Your body will be more durable then it used to be, knives and small arms fire will only cause minor scrapes or wounds, which will heal with in an hour or so, depending on the injury."

Zeus then smiled at him. "Your intelligence hasn't been increased, you're already one of the most intelligent humans on the planet, but your mind can process information about three times faster then it used to. Your sight has also been increased so you can see at distance far greater then before, the same with your hearing. And you also will be immortal."

Zeus frowned. "The euphoria feeling isn't part of the gift. It was just you enjoying life without aches and pains or worries."

Bruce processed what Zeus told him. "What if I don't want one of the gifts you offered?"

"Its a package deal, either you take it all or nothing." Zeus's eagle shifted on his shoulder.

"Why the immortal part? I don't want to live forever." Bruce face soured.

"Even immortals can die, Bruce, you're not invincible." Zeus pulled a feather from the eagle. It did not move a muscle as the feather was removed.

"I can not stand here all night going in circles with you, Bruce, I know how your mind works. You either take the gift or you don't. This feather will last for one hour before it disappears forever. If you haven't accepted my gift then so be it."

Zeus walked over to the large computer console and placed the feather down on it.

"I'm making this offer because you intrigue me, Bruce, your heart and mind are like those of past heroes and legends. I've seen my share of heroes and you're right up there with the best of them. Make your choice and live with it either way you choose."

With that Zeus flashed in a sparkle of light and disappeared, leaving Bruce alone in the Cave.

He slowly walked over to the computer desk, and looked at the feather. His mind was working over time. The pros and cons of this gift, the pros were slowly defeating the cons. He continued to stare at the feather. For almost forty minutes, he was about to touch the feather when Alfred appeared next to him.

"Master Bruce, is that what I think it is?" Alfred looked at the feather in awe.

Bruce was still holding his hand out towards it. "Yes it is, Alfred."

"May I say something before you decide what you are about to do?"

Bruce pulled his hand away from the feather and looked at his long time friend and father figure. "You can say whatever you like, Alfred."

"Master Bruce, I've seen what the power did to you. All I can say is that you were for once in your life, were the happiest I ever saw you be. All I ever wanted for you was your happiness." With that Alfred turned and walked back up to the manor, leaving his employer and once charge to make the choice himself.

Bruce watched as Alfred ascended the stairs, he smiled up at the retreating Alfred. For the next ten minutes he debated with himself and for once he listened to that small part of him that wanted to be more than just Batman or Bruce Wayne. He took off his glove, reached for the feather, and hoped for the best.