An: gods, my muse seem to be coming back slowly. anyway interesting stuff here sorta.

Bruce notices something is very different about the Atlantean prince the following few weeks. In fact, it had come to his attention almost a week later that the youth was doing more than just studying. He was paying attention to Bruce's businesses and associates.

Mind, that his citizen test was the following month and then it would take only two weeks to have it legalized which would make it yet almost another year that the teen has been away from the sea.

In either case, he found this highly suspicious and told Alfred to keep an eye on him. He was also surprised, yet a little pleased that the boys were starting to get along again in some way.

He still doesn't trust Wally completely around Kaldur even if the teen seems to have forgive the red-haired boy. Another thing he found interesting even more so was Kaldur's continuing persistence in keeping in touch with Megan's pet, Conner- another he also didn't trust- as well as Oliver's pets, Artemis and Roy.

He seemed particularly attached to Roy at that.

Even watching the feed from his cameras revealed little to nothing about his strange prince's habits.

Exactly what was Kaldur up to and why did he seem to be gathering these particular people to him? Even Dick and Wally- as well as Megan- seem to have been drawn into these little groups that happen every so often.

Leaning back, Bruce considers something before calling Oliver first.

"Hey, Bruce." Oliver sounded cheerful for a man that took a bit of a tumble in the stocks. What was it? 3 points? " What do I owe this pleasure?"

"Nothing much, Oliver, just wondering about something."

"Shoot."

"Your pets have been spending quite sometime at my place." He sounds reasonable enough, "I was just wondering if they are enjoying themselves is all."

Oliver took a moment but laughs softly, "They have been and they've been far more helpful as of late than usual."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, they've taken it upon themselves to help me with some minor work. Even Artemis has taken an interest in some unimportant fishing company somewhere in the Artic region." Oliver chuckles, "It's cute to see them try and help. Even if I'm going to sell that property."

"Sell it?"

"Yes. It's not catching as much as it used to. It's a pity though, it was a good company. Employed a lot of the locals there." He strokes his beard for a moment, "But because of that and some minor mismanagement it's going under."

"I see.." Bruce wonders for a bit about the things Kaldur had been looking at. Old business records- particularly those close to the waterline. "Well, I'm sorry for that. Those people will need to find new employment somewhere."

"Yes. But by the way, Bruce?"

"Hm?"

"What do you say of another arrangement? I have heard rumors that you will allow your pet to become a citizen. I was thinking that they couldn't be true." Oliver was fishing now.

"Oh they're quite true." Bruce smiles a bit to himself, "I've decided he's more useful to me as a citizen then not. "

"I see...well that kind of sucks." Oliver laughs a bit, "I thought Artemis might be interested in breeding with him. They would make fine children wouldn't they?"

"Ollie, you're my friend, but I will mention it in passing to Dinah that you're trying to breed Artemis again." Dinah loved that girl like a daughter, Bruce knows she'd kill Oliver over that.

"Hey, hey, now, I was just inquiring on her behalf is all. I wouldn't do that."

"My apologizes then, I thought you would do something stupid and illegal like forcing them to breed." Bruce says brightly, "At any rate, I must let you go. I have an appointment coming in."

"Do we always have to meet here?" Artemis grumbles glancing with some apprehension towards the cave entrance that was filled with bugs and other things she didn't care much for. "I mean really?"

"This is the only place that doesn't have cameras." Dick told her for the third time. "Anyway, what did everyone find out?"

They were all there, mostly because Kaldur had assembled this little strange group in the first place. It had only been because he found a strange discrepency in some of the expenses of an old factory that had been closed long ago. It hadn't been the only one. They were small, almost an after thought in the amounts that didn't seem to make much sense but was easily made over four times it's own amount.

So he had started inquiring to Roy and Artemis about their masters' holdings as well.

It came back just as interesting as he suspect it would be. What cinched it was Megan's findings.

Though Kaldur still wasn't entirely trustful of either Wally or Conner, he let it go in favor of getting to the bottom of this. Someone has been secretly stealing small-almost miniscule- amounts of money from these various companies. He had a feeling it might be more than just them.

He can't be sure though.

"Virgil and Richie told me that their master, John Stewart, has lost some small investments as well." Conner said kicking a rock over to the opening. "Rocket's found something similar as well."

Megan nods slowly, "Zatanna told me some of the things her father has invested in has gone under but it's so small that no one thought about it much." She worries her lower lip, "My friend Karen says the same thing. So it is safe to say it isn't just us."

"Question is why though." Wally rubs the back of his head for a moment before eating something from the chip bag he was holding.

"Do you always need to eat so much?" Artemis looks at him disdainfully. "You eat like a pig!"

"Hey, I have a high metabolism. I need to eat!" Wally glares at her.

Roy and Kaldur shared a look of exasperation while Megan and Dick tried to calm the two down.

"Regardless, what do we do with this?" Roy folds his arms a little watching them all. "You don't think whoever is doing this will politely back down and say 'sorry' do you?"

"No, I do not." Kaldur mutters, "I was hoping it was not true, but I see that we must tread carefully here."

"Why's that?" Conner favors him a look, "Do you know something you're not telling us?"

Dick, along with the others, turn their eyes towards Kaldur for a moment. "Do you know who this is?"

"I..have a feeling but I wish to be certain before we make any sudden movements." Kaldur says carefully, "We do not wish to catch their attention before we are ready. Whoever these thieves are, they do not know that we have caught on to their trail. We need to gather more evidence and find who is responsible before giving them over to the proper authorities."

"And if that doesn't work?" Roy asks wanting to know. "What if they get off with a slap on the wrist? Or worse, no one believes us and they get off anyway?"

Kaldur breathes out slowly, "We need to make sure they do not. Our lives are good now because of the people that care for us. We should look out for their best interest as well."

"We should head back up." Dick says finally. "Kal, can I talk to you fro a bit?"

Nodding as the others left them, Kaldur glances at Dick. "What is it?"

"Seriously, what's really going on?" Dick watches him. "You were never interested before. So what gives?"

Kaldur purses his lips but turns his eyes away, "I..am merely doing as dictated in my culture to do."

"Which is?"

"Looking out for my ...partner's interest and protect what is his."

Dick's brows rose, "Partner?"

Kaldur colors slightly- thankful that his skintone reveals little to nothing. "My...husband. As this language would say."

"Husband?" Dick's voice went higher than necessary, "What do you mean husband?"

"I..unintentionally have married us both according to the customs of my people." He answers sounding extremely embarrassed. "So, as far as they are concerned, we are a..mated pair."

"But he's a guy!"

"It matters not." Kaldur mutters turning to go. "I-We should catch up with the others, Dick." He was literally 'fleeing' from the boy who was still staring at his back in disbelief.

Bruce Wayne...was married? To a pet?

"Man, this will be front page news if the rest of Gotham got a hold of it."

"You need to do something."

"What do you think I should do?" There was a sarcastic edge to it, "Scream 'here I am' to him?"

"No. But the word is he intends to stay on the surface- if land dwellers' words are worth anything at all."

"They are and it seems he is intending citizenship."

"We need him down here. He is a liability. We cannot have him out of our reach."

"And you propose what?"

"Bait."