I don't have a skin like you do / To keep it all in like you do / I don't have a soul like you / The only one I have / Is the one I stole from you
Stay awake with me / You know I can't just let you be / Stay awake with me / Take your hand and come and find me - Stay Awake with Me - London Grammar
"I stayed because a little boy would have been abandoned with strangers if I had left. Bruce would have been a pawn for anyone trying to use his legacy for their own purposes, and he would have only known the love of a memory. I wanted to give him more, but my arms weren't as strong as Thomas', nor as soft as Martha's. I could only offer what I knew - a warm kitchen, sound advice, and support with any goal he sets out to achieve."
Late Morning - Welcomes, Traditions, and Family
Stories have epilogues that promise new beginnings after their original tales have ended...
"The path starts that way, past Venus and Sol. Travel as fast as you can, it'll strengthen the time dilation. You'll know you're there when the talisman pulls you towards its intended host. When you're finished, follow the path back home. It may take longer returning, but you'll be okay."
In the stillness of the manor, every sound was amplified. A random drop of water hit the bottom of a clean kitchen sink. The squeaks of bats roosting in the cave. An ever-present tapping of a clock.
Yet the sounds earlier that day had imprinted themselves into those walls; an energy so strong, it transcended universes. It reverberated through the fabric of scientific reason, and merged into matter. Halls that knew mostly sadness now held the memory of brighter times -
whispers of laughter...
voices young and old...
gasps of desire...
words of love.
A goddess sent him; she had thrown him between a star and a planet to help him on his way. The guest revisited that grand foyer, but only felt these things as ghosts from a past that never happened. It hopped swiftly after traveling far in time, but short of distance.
Shifting across space-time was easy for the Familiar, and usually he liked finding the variations in each universe. But he consciously stayed away from this one. He could feel how empty it was. The moment his paws hit the manor's lawn, he wanted to leave. He delivered his divine package, kicked a dog in the snout, and departed.
Hippomenes could not stand the thought of existing in a world where such love did not exist. He had witnessed a celebration, and it made him feel… hopeful. If his mission was to help his wonderful Queen's daughter and his mistress' dark friend, then that is what he would do.
Especially if it meant he would have a chance to speak with his Zatanna. Only once. To say one thing.
In Our Universe...Wayne Manor...Bruce and Diana's Bedroom
Diana and Bruce laid across from each other, face to face, resting from their lovemaking. He idly caressed her skin, letting his finger trail over her bracelets. He flicked at one to hear it chime. She continually glance into his eyes, then looked away. Bruce noticed a twinkle in her aquamarine gaze. This peeked his curiosity.
"What are you thinking, Princess?"
Diana hummed contently. "Of all the things that we've seen, everything we've done… this feels like the most amazing thing ever."
He reached over and moved a lock of hair from her face. "You're happy."
"I'm very happy. You?" Diana asked. Bruce closed his eyes, drew in a breath, and let it go slowly. He nodded.
She flashed a toothy grin. "We broke the bed."
He answered back with his own crooked smile. "We nearly demolished it. Going to have to get a new one."
"We should do that when we move into that bigger room Alfred mentioned. That is, if you don't mind…"
"This is your house, too. If you want to move into my parents' old room, we will."
"Are you sure? That won't upset you?"
"It is only a room. No ghosts haunt that place. If we need it, we'll take it."
"And what will we do with this one? I like it, it's special."
Bruce closed his eyes, then opened them again. "Nursery?" Diana gasped in surprise. "When you're ready," he said, quickly.
She reached over to touch his cheek. "You really want children?"
"Only with you."
"Can I think about it? Getting married is a huge step already. Can we take our time on this one?" She smiled. "For real?"
"Of course." Bruce looked away as Diana leaned over to kiss him. He tapped down a twinge of disappointment. His feelings must have been obvious; she put her forehead to his and stared deep in his eyes.
"I promise you, my love. We will have children. Something we can share." His quirky smile answered back, then he returned her kiss.
Bruce broke the touch abruptly. Standing from the bed, he indicated Diana should sit up.
"What's wrong?" Diana asked. She reached out towards him. "What are you doing?"
"Something I didn't get a chance to do." Slowly, he went down to one knee. He took her hand and touched it to his forehead.
"Bruce," Diana began cautiously. "You aren't about to perform a Hiketeia, are you?"
He snorted under his breath. "I've already bound myself to you forever. No need to go overboard." He gazed into her eyes. "All of this happened so out-of-order, figured I'd fit this in somehow."
"So, you're going to propose? Give a long-winded speech about how we met, fell in love, all my wonderful qualities, and how I make you feel before you pop the question?"
"Oh, so you want me to give a report on how a half-dressed woman flew into battle and saved my ass, how I totally screwed up the romance thing, that you're perfect in every way and completely turned my world upside down, before I realize I already married you? Great way of making me reexamine my life."
"So if that's not the reason you're kneeling in front of me, then why are you?"
Bruce rubbed her fingers against his cheek, then kissed her knuckles. He considered one of those fingers, and covertly measured its circumference. Three and a half inches. That's about a size 8. We can have the ring sized down if it's too big.
He looked into her eyes again. "Thank you."
"'Thank you'? For what?"
"For everything. For never giving up on me, and for taking a chance. For calling me out on all my bullshit, and thinking I'm worth it anyways."
"Bruce…"
"For fighting back and knocking some sense into me. For the best date ever, then coming back here. For...ah...letting me be your first."
"And only... for as long as we both shall live."
"Wow," he breathed. She ran her fingers through his hair. He cleared his throat from the emotions that threatened to take over. "And as much as I hate to admit it, thank you for coming out and helping me last night. You were the deciding factor that won us that battle. I couldn't have done it without you."
"Did Batman admit he needed my help?"
"I'm trying to show you gratitude. Don't make me regret it."
"Oh, I'll make you thank me over and over. Please, continue."
"Damn...time to wrap this up." He smirked at her tap on his head. "But most of all, thank you for answering my vow. It really wasn't my intention to trap you, I just wanted to find out what I needed to do to win you. When you showed me a way, I took the chance. It would have been awkward, but I would have waited for your answer. You could have easily refused me."
Diana touched his chin. "I will accept your thanks on one condition." She took his hand and guided him to sit beside her. "You will never, ever supplicate yourself to me again. Do you hear me?" She wound her arms around his waist. "I accept you as my equal, nothing less. You give me all this credit, but have you forgotten what you've done for me?"
"I've given you the hardest time. You didn't need anything from me, you were fine on your own."
"That's the best part, isn't it? I chose you. That didn't mean you were mine, just because I wanted you. You accepted me, too. And when I was at a low, when I lost my powers and didn't know what to do, you stepped up and offered your help, despite my need to do it on my own."
"Why wouldn't I? That's what you do for someone you love. I would have given you everything if it would have helped."
"That's why I answered your vow. You would have done that if you were the poorest man in the world. I didn't need money, I needed something more. And you gave it to me." Her hand rested on his chest, over his heart. He laid hand over hers.
She pressed her cheek to his. "And I accept this as an answer to your challenge," she murmured in his ear. "You shared something with me that I never knew. Your gratitude. You gave me your heart and put your trust in my hands. I will handle both gently."
"And will you share this with anyone?"
"No, this is ours. I will only say that you met the challenge. It's none of their business what your answer was." She smiled at his sigh of relief. "And, we don't need Dick and Barbara arguing who's your favorite. I know who it is," she said. A cocky tone entered her voice.
"You mean...you don't mind that Alfred's my favorite?" He grinned at her incredulous gasp. He reared at her pinch on the arm.
"Why you…" She paused. "Okay, that means Alfred's first, I'm second...the others can jockey for third…"
"I like them all in their own ways. You, however, are in a class all your own."
Diana flashed a bright grin. "I'm Batman's favorite, I'm Batman's favorite!' she sang.
"Don't tell them that, they might think there's something going on between us," he whispered.
"I'll cover you, don't you worry. No one will know." She turned, pretending to ignore him. His fingers traveled up her back. She twisted and attacked, pushing him back on the bed.
"Good covering," he purred. She kissed him on the nose. Then she regarded him more intensely...
"Bruce? I'm hungry." Diana grinned as he rolled his eyes.
"Speaking about 'covering'..." Bruce sat up and walked over to his bureau. There laid a tray covered with a cloth. In their passion, Diana hadn't noticed it before. With a flourish, Bruce revealed a tea set and a pitcher of ice water. He uncovered various dishes, revealing berries, pastries and cookies, and even a bit of chocolate. And was that a honey pot?
Diana's eyes widened in surprise. "How did you…"
"How did I know you were going to be hungry?" He bowed as if he revealed a magician's secret. "I deployed an investigator's main tactic. 'Stake out the mark, find the pattern.' It took a few times to notice considering we haven't been doing this for very long." He motioned between their naked bodies. She blushed. "But I realized it after our awesome session on the medical table. You were famished."
Bruce took a strawberry from a bowl on the tray, dipped it in honey, and placed it to her lips. Reluctantly, she took a bite. Her eyes asked the question.
"Sex makes you hungry," he revealed. "The more rigorous, the more ravenous. I asked Alfred to put this in here before we made it upstairs, so we won't have to leave. Glad he was quick. He would have gotten an eyeful."
Diana gaped. She glanced away, then back at him. He lifted the strawberry to her lips again. She frowned.
"Oh...give me that." Diana snatched the strawberry, and nibbled it in embarrassment. He sat down beside her, smirk firmly planted on his lips. He watched her finish the fruit, then dipped another strawberry in honey, and held that one up for her, too.
She wanted to wipe that smug look off his face…
She eyed the honey pot in interest.
Tim's Room
A boy slept fitfully, winding his body around his blankets in his unconsciousness. For years, his dreams had been filled with a madman's whisperings. Nightmares haunted his nights until he forced himself to wake up. After a while, he refused to go to sleep. Eventually, he neglected to eat. Then he became confused - was he living a horrific dream, or dreaming of a terrible life?
Those thoughts no longer haunted him as Tim wrapped himself in his sheets. The sickly green fog was gone. This was the first night he's been able to sleep in his own bed with a semblance of peace, and his mind reveled in its freedom. Though it wasn't stressless. A dream plagued him, over and over again.
"No! I don't wanna wear those...no stars on my butt...I'll look silly…"
Tim called out in his slumber. His mind's eye shied away of a looming pair of yellow and red star-spangled shortpants. The pattern expanded to his cape, then the rest of his uniform. He looked like a squash with a rash of red stars. He swiped blindly at the offending garments. His arm waved in the air above his bed.
"You don't have to wear those if you don't want to," a soft, female voice said. It sounded like Barbara, but this woman stood tall and walked easily. Dream Tim found himself on a beach. His feet were bare, and water lapped over his toes. He glanced at her balefully.
"Barbara, how come you're walking? Did you get better?"
"You see me as Barbara walking?" She looked down at her strong legs. "Interesting. I guess that's how you choose to see me."
"I wish you could walk again," Dream Tim said. Sleeping Tim whispered his wish out loud. Dream Babs shrugged.
"We both wish a lot of things. We knew what could happen when we made these choices. We're reaping the consequences."
"But I was cured. Why can't we do that for you?"
"Who says you can't? You're a smart kid, can't you help?"
"I've tried!" Dream Tim gestured vaguely. Sleeping Tim pointed towards his work table. "I've been tinkering with some ideas for all kinds of stuff."
Barbara kneeled down closer to his height. She put her arms on her knees and propped her hand under her chin. "Like what?"
Tim waved excitedly. "Like how to send electrical pulses past the part of your spine that was injured, so your legs can get the signal to walk."
Dream Barbara nodded, impressed. "That's a great place to start. What else do you have over there."
Dream Tim put his hands in his pockets and toed the wet sand. Sleeping Tim curled into a fetal ball and clutched his pillow. "I had a device that could mimic Bruce's voice perfectly. And it worked!"
"Why would you need something like that?"
"I wanted to get into the display case that held my uniform, but Bruce sealed it with a voice-imprinted lock. I got the mimicker to sound like him, but I didn't know the magic words. Diana did, though. She used it and got it open."
Dream Barbara laughed. "Let me guess. She didn't give it back to you."
"No," both Tims grunted. "She gave it to Alfred."
"Smart move." Tim wasn't sure, but he thought he felt her ruffle his hair.
"I want it back," he said with a bratty whine.
"Why don't you build another one?"
"Don't wanna. I want that one."
"Well, you should concentrate on your studies first. We'll figure out a way to get your gadget back."
"Yes!" Tim yawned in his sleep. "I just hope they stay quiet. They make too much noise. They'll wake me up."
"Who?"
"Who do you think? And now that she lives here, they'll be at it every night."
"I hope so, for their sake," Barbara said, smiling.
Tim rolled his eyes, then looked at Barbara closer. There was something about her that was different, but he couldn't put his finger on it. Did she brighten her hair to a strawberry blond? Was she wearing contacts to lighten her eyes? And she stuffed her bra. Her blouse looked...fuller.
Before he could ask at her what was in her shirt, Barbara pulled him into a hug. He leaned into her embrace and breathed deep. Her perfume smelled like apple blossoms and sea breeze. And there was an undercurrent of powder…
"I'll get that taken care of for you. You'll get the sleep you deserve." Barbara ruffled his hair again. "And do something for me?"
"What?" Sleeping Tim tensed up in worry.
"Clean up this room. It looks like a pig sty."
"Yes, ma'am." He leaned back to look into Barbara's eyes. Light eyes. Infinite eyes.
Barbara... but not Barbara...
She kissed him on the cheek, and Tim felt himself falling into oblivion. The last thing he remembered was watching her walk away. She had changed her clothes. Coral robes swirled around her as she walked along a beach…
"So pretty," Tim murmured. He cuddled into his pillow and slept the slumber of the innocent.
Guest Room
Hippolyta stretched luxuriously as she sat on the mattress. She was glad Alfred had set her up in Diana's old room. Having spent so much time with her daughter and new friends, it felt like she belonged there. She could still smell the perfume she sprayed on each woman.
She regarded the various clothes left in the closet. All of those were Diana's dresses, so she knew they would fit. Yet in all the preparations, one small detail had been forgotten. Instead of calling upon Alfred to bring her night-clothes, Hippolyta simply slipped out of her dress and crawled into bed naked.
The cool sheets and soft mattress felt heavenly. She almost didn't want to sleep, or she would miss out on the sensation of the fluffy pillow at her cheek. Hippolyta stretched to take over as much space as possible, even turning over a few times to get a better position.
Can't sleep? Need help?
"No, 'Dite. I'm fine. I just want to enjoy this bed. I feels so nice."
I should have let you stay with me for a while. My clouds are better.
"No offense, Your Sweetness, but I was glad to return to Gaia. I had no place in the heavens. I want to look up at the stars, not walk on them."
You'd be surprised at what one such as yourself could do among the stars. You've been touched by the divine. That marks you as one of ours.
"Like Diana?"
Yes, though in a different way. You began as a mortal. There is still that part of you that is ruled by the rise and fall of the sun. Perhaps, one day, you will see other suns as well. Such is the destiny for those who have the divine spirit within them.
"Diana has told me about these suns. I would like to see them." Hippolyta laid in companionable silence. She imagined the wonders that lived beyond their world. A few of those inhabitants were her daughter's friends. A Martian, a Thanagarian, a Kryptonian...
So. Are you going to tell them?
"Tell them what?"
The implications of my story. My marriage with Anchises.
"I feel no need to complicate their lives with that."
Why not? A few of your Amazons have that arrangement.
"Only because those unions nearly dissolved into a pit fight, and they couldn't go through with it. They simply separated and that was the result of that time apart. They've worked it out amicably, and now their families are bigger."
They should know their options. It could help them resolve another sacred circle.
"I don't think Bruce would agree with that. His world says only two in a marriage. He's already very possessive of Diana. He wouldn't be willing to share."
Possessive - as in owning her?
"No, as in his heart would break should she decide to follow that tradition."
But you know I was still married to Hephaestus when I wed Anchises, and he married again later in life, too. For that short time, I had two husbands and Anchises had two wives. One immortal, one mortal. That was my choice, as the goddess.
"Diana took Bruce's name, binding her to his world. She is trying to balance the two. Bombarding their marriage with that option would find all your works falling apart."
Your laws follow Hera's binding to Zeus. He raped her and she was shamed in front of the gods. He used that to force her into marrying him. He thought it was an honor making her the goddess of marriage and family. The irony hurt her even more.
Now she's tortured with his infidelities, and she grew bitter and jealous. So she wouldn't be alone in her torment, she ordered you Amazons to the same fate of marriage without end. Maybe by introducing my story to them, they can share a marriage's burden.
"I will do no such thing," Hippolyta barked. She could feel Aphrodite's annoyance. Reminding herself that this was more than a friend, she closed her eyes and sighed.
"'Golden line, always protective.' That's what you called me. I will not introduce an idea that will cause them pain. I don't know of whom you speak, but this third person will have to find his own union and stay out of theirs."
Ah, but his involvement has already been foreseen. You even heard his name in the vision Apollo gave you. He already plays a large part of their lives. Their union is already strong.
Hippolyta thought back to the vision. She didn't want to...it loomed over her like a dark cloud. Her heart beat faster, and her breath quickened to short, gasping pants. He heard Bruce's voice as if he were yelling at her.
Diana! Please stay with me...hang on...hurry up Clark! Get us there! Keep your eyes open Princess...no no no...you promised you'd fight...you said you'd do it for me...don't go...Diana, please God no...I just got you...Diana, don't leave me...
Hippolyta nearly jumped out of the bed. She sat up abruptly, the sheets falling away from her body. She had to warn them… to tell them… but to tell them what?
Sshh… I've revealed too much. It was not time for you to know this. Me and my big mouth. I thought I would have been able to get more worship out of them, it certainly would have been lively! But no, you are right. They will not marry, but they will be together. That union will be a different sort.
"What sort? What are you talking about 'Dite?"
Nothing. Forget I even mentioned it. Go to sleep.
"But, 'Dite…"
Go to sleep, Hippolyta. Forget all that I told you about husbands, Hera, and Kal-El. They are of no concern to you now. Just dream. Remember your sister with her son. Relive the day you held your daughter for the first time. Recall falling out of the sky and into this new family.
Sleep.
Hippolyta suddenly yawned widely, rubbing her eye at the same time. She leaned back into the pillows and pulled the blanket up to her chin. Within a few breaths, she was asleep.
The line between her brow disappeared as she dreamed. A smile curled at her lips as she remembered. All thoughts of polygamist marriages were forgotten.
Meanwhile... in Center City Gotham
Batman observed the city with sharp, lens-covered eyes. He stood at the top of a building and blended into the darkness. Perched among a row of statues, he looked down at one of the more prosperous streets of Gotham. A group of workers exited the side of a restaurant, gossiping on the bigwigs they served that night. Iceberg Lounge. Hmmm... Bruce never liked that place.
He rested his hand against a headless gargoyle. "What happened to this statue? Did a battle take it out?"
"I don't know," Oracle sounded in his ear. "It's been that way for a while. Archives wants to get it fixed, but we don't know who the original artist was. These are unique to other gargoyles in the city."
"That's a shame. Brother shouldn't be without a head. He's looking down on a cool part of the city."
"Oooh, that sounds important. The city's deprived of a gargoyle's head. I'll log that into the patrol record. 'B wants to fix sculpture. Priority Alpha rating.'"
"Stow it, O," Batman growled.
"Watch it, B. I know how your suit works. I can make you do things you don't want to."
"Computer," a Batvoice rumbled through the comm. The computer beeped. "Prepare to eject passenger from Batmobile... "
"Oh, shit," Barbara muttered. "Sorry, B! Order properly logged into patrol record. I'll research it later at the library."
"Good." The pause held all the curses they really wanted to hurl at each other. "You know how many times that order was almost given about me?"
"Yeah, I saw that in past logs." She cleared her throat. "'R ran his mouth again. Nearly launched him out of the car.' 'R thinks he can command a patrol. Will launch him on his way.' 'N's acting full of himself. Let's see if he really has wings.'"
Batman gave a nervous laugh. "Yeah, good ol' B. That was his favorite threat."
"This says here that he launched you into Gotham Bay after you brought up the uniform changing incident again."
"I was only making observations. I guess I made too many." A snort sounded over the airways. "He met me on the shore, let me use his cape to dry off."
"There's some other interesting things in these logs. We should go through these over coffee someday."
"A trip down memory lane would be fun. Reminisce about old days." The silence held a promise that they would actually follow through this time.
"Hey, B."
"Yeah?"
"How does it feel to be back in Gotham. Does it feel like a step backwards?"
Batman stood up straight. His cape flapped lightly in the wind as he turned in place. He spotted all the rooftops he had run over in his youth. Some had been renovated, others not so much. Wayne Tower loomed in the distance. Tall, beckoning...welcoming.
"No, it feels like coming home."
Oracle gave a small laugh. "It's great having you here. You should come back more often."
Batman thumbed his gauntlets. "I think I will."
"Great! You can stay with me if you'd like. Catch one of my shows." Both figures jumped at the added voice on the comm. They had forgotten Zatanna was there.
"I've never seen one of your shows," Oracle said. "Can I get tickets?"
"Better than that. I'll pull you on stage as a 'surprised magical guest'."
"Neat! I'll wear a sparkly dress and everything. So, are you in place?"
"Yep. Looking for him in the sky. You sure you don't want me to give you a boost, B? You'll get airborne faster."
"No. You won't always be there, so I have to use real world conditions. I'm moving into position. Stand by."
Batman patted the unfortunate statue on its headless shoulder, then ran across the rooftop. A few buildings later, he came upon the place where Gotham PD had the standoff with the undead puppets. He'd hidden in an alcove on the other side while throwing batarangs as distractions.
He wanted to get another look of the area from the air, see if there were any clues left from that night of fighting. But to get there, he needed to catch some serious altitude. There was the option of climbing to a higher building and glide in, but he had an idea to test out.
Batman checked his gauntlet chronometer. He glanced over to the elevated train track that ran through the block. It should be through in a few seconds…
The Gotham Metro barreled through, right on time. He resisted the urge to jump on and surf it. The train roared past, creating a gust of wind in its wake. Batman watched a plastic bag floating on the wind. Observed...waited…
By the time the sixth train car past, the bag had been blown into the air and twirled in a small circle. Batman jumped off the building, spread his cape wide, and caught the wind. The gust blew him back, but it only slowed his fall.
"Engage heel rudders!" He felt the pieces extend from his boots, and he fought to straighten his posture midair. "Come on. Come on." The last car of the train passed by, sparks flaring up along the tracks. A final gust of air…
"Yes!" That last push was all he needed to ride the wind higher into the air. He resisted the urge to holler into the void. Batman doesn't yell, but no one would know he was grinning from ear to ear.
"I see you, I see you!" Zatanna yelled into the comm. Her excitement projected the elation he felt. "You're so high up. Damn. You look scary."
"One doesn't usually see large, black bats flying through Gotham's air. Criminals know exactly who it is," Oracle said. "I activated your lens recorders, B. We'll record the terrain. You concentrate on staying in the air."
"This is hard. How do birds do it?" Batman groaned.
"You just need to strengthen your wing muscles. Pull ups and push ups."
"I'll just fling myself across a trapeze a few times a day," Batman said facetiously.
"Strap me to a swing and I'll catch ya," Oracle said. She watched the video feed on the monitor. "Bank east, B. Stay over the crime scene. You said you found pin transmitters in a perimeter?"
"Yeah. R programmed the map into the computer. Access that." Suddenly, Batman saw an overlay projected from his lenses. He could see a rough circle of red dots where he and Robin had tagged each transmitter the night before.
Was that only last night? It felt like a lifetime ago.
"I want to try something," Batman said "Pull up one of those pin frequencies R discovered."
"What for?" Oracle asked.
"I want to see if we picked them all up."
"Got it," she acknowledged. "I have the first frequency loaded. Set to send."
"Give it a ping. Post any answers to the perimeter map."
"Pinging pins in three… two… one…" A small chime graced the air.
Batman blinked at all the red dots that appeared on the map. "Oh my god."
"You want me to do another one?"
"Yes. Do that one in blue." Ping in a higher note. More points. "Another frequency. In green." Ping in a lower note. "The next in yellow." Ping. "Light them all up." Gotham's skyline lit up like Christmas. "Are you seeing this?"
"Yeah," she gasped.
"I'm not. What do you see?" Zatanna said.
"These things are all over the place. There's no way we can pick these up."
"We need to destroy them, or we'll have another incident like last night," Oracle said. "What should we do, B?"
Batman nearly dropped his arms in surprise. He was being asked for guidance. The thought caused his heart to race. He thought wearing the cowl would make him feel strong. Now, it made him feel responsible for way too many people.
The flying Bat shoved the doubt away. Protect Gotham. That was the point, or why go through all this trouble? A horizon of colorful dots threatened the city. But how to take them out...
Batman wondered what his mentor would do. After a minute, he still had no idea. He definitely wouldn't call upon the Justice League for help, though he bet Superman would be able to scoop them up quickly, Green Lantern would levitate the green ones, and Flash would make it a race to see how fast he could get the red ones.
"Zee," Batman said. "What experience do you have with technology?"
"Um, I know how to program my DVR."
"That's...good," he answered. That idea didn't work. Think...think… what would the REAL Batman do?
Then a light lit up in Dick's mind. Why think like him? Hippolyta said to make this reign my own. He had to think differently, not by the way he was trained. Technology wasn't going to work here. What else could he do?
Bruce distrusted magic. Didn't mean Dick couldn't use it.
"Zee, if we sent the frequency tones to your comm unit, could you send a magic blast through those to take them out?" Batman asked.
"I'm not sure, I don't think I've tried anything like that. Though music is a form of magic to those who know how to use it."
"We're going to try that. O, sound the pings as long tones."
It was like Oracle had hit a number of tuning forks at the same time. The harmonizing sound was almost pleasing. Batman listened longer. A very nice chord, indeed. He wanted to listen more, enjoy it. It was almost...hypnotizing.
"NO!" A blast nearly deafened Batman.
"Ack! What the Hell, Zee! You nearly blew out my eardrums!"
"Sorry B. When the tones came through, I could feel what they were doing. If I hadn't been looking for it, I would have been taken over, too."
"What was that?" Oracle asked. "I'm still feeling a bit foggy."
"Something about that tone nearly put us under," Batman said. "But Zee's quick thinking took care of that. Give another ping. One at a time." He observed as each colored light still had points, but not as many. They were scattered, only a few pinpricks of light on the horizon.
"Make a note in the log, O. Analyze those tones, especially how they work together. Seems this will be an ongoing investigation."
"Acknowledge, B. I'm going to put a few observations in as well. We recorded the entire incident through your lenses. We'll see if we can find out more."
"Good. Zee, I'm going to land where you are. My arms are starting to get tired."
"Follow this. psiwehtt'olliw" A dot of light appeared in front of Batman's face. It danced in circles, then darted away. It bobbed in midair, waiting for him.
A few twists and turns, and the realization that the light was making him do zig-zags, Batman landed in the alley that saw their puppet battle the night before. He deactivated the cape's wings and stretched to get the stiffness out of his arms.
"That thing would have made me spin around a skyscraper if I let it," Batman growled.
"Sorry," Zee said. She held out her hand, the light landed in her palm. "Willow likes to play. She and Bugs can go at it for hours. It's the funniest thing to watch a rabbit chase her."
"Willow?"
"Will-o'-the-wisp," Zatanna said. "She followed Bugs back from one of his jaunts through a parallel universe. They like each other."
"Right." Batman looked around the area. "Did you find anything left from last night?"
"Oh, did I!" Zatanna tucked the light point into her hat. Willow sparkled, then dimmed. "There was some major magic going on here. I can feel it."
"Like what?"
"Bad juju, that's for sure. Death magic. The kind that would make oblivion a blessing."
"Zombie puppets. That's what we faced last night."
"The worst spells. Someone willing to use them has no scruples at all." She put her hands out, palms down, and stepped in a circle. "But there's something else, too. Hard to explain."
"Chimera came out here, that's how we got so many scales. Diana spoke to her, then she attacked her with fire."
"Interesting." Batman waited for an explanation. Zatanna continued. "While a magical creature, Chimera follows the same patterns as regular animals. It has the three heads that make up its body - the lion, the goat, and the serpent.
"So many scales tell me that the serpent was shedding its skin. Snakes do that as they grow. Some cultures use that as a sign of rebirth. Knowing Chimera, I'm sure she would be glad to get rid of anything she wore while in Tartarus."
"Rebirth, huh?" Batman put a finger to his chin. Anagenesis. "Do you mind if we use you as a resource for this? The Arcane is a bit beyond our expertise."
"Zatanna Zatara, sorceress extraordinaire, at your service!" She tipped her hat to him. Willow twinkled a greeting. Then it flew out and hovered over a corner of the alley. It danced in excited circles.
"What do you have there, Willow?" Zatanna ran after the point of light. Batman followed slower. "Oh… oh, my goodness…"
"What's wrong?" Batman ran over to Zatanna's kneeling form. She held what looked like a bundle of yellow grass in her hand. "Weeds?"
"Not weeds. Something rare. Rarer than Chimera scales." She held it up for him to see. He shook his head in confusion.
"A tuft from Chimera's mane." Zatanna whispered in awe. "The serpent is actually the most vulnerable part of the Chimera. Easy to grab. If you can get close to her mouth and live…"
"Diana pet it like it was an oversized house cat," Batman said. Zatanna's eyes widened. Her hand started to shake. He put a hand on her shoulder.
"Are you okay, Zee? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Zatanna absently stroked the Chimera fur. With each caress, she could feel static run along her skin. She held it in her palm, and wrapped her fingers around it. She closed her eyes and concentrated.
A light flashed behind her eyelids. An image burned in her mind. She'd seen it once before… when she was being driven crazy by the magical imbalance caused by Hades' capture.
A three-faced mask. Hecate. The head turned to the right. The Smiling One.
This time, the head turned to the left. A lion's head, a snarl on its open mouth. Teeth sharp and deadly threatened to devour her.
Dead eyes stared back.
"Zee? Zee! Zatanna!"
Zatanna snapped out of the trance with a gasp. Batman held her shoulder, the worry conveyed plainly through the cowl. She wrapped her arms around her body, shaking from a sudden cold. Her breath came in panicked gasps, and her knees started to buckle.
A cape found its way around her, and warm arms held her close.
"It's okay, Zee. You're okay. I got you." Batman rubbed her back in comforting circles. "What just happened? What did you see?"
Zatanna held on to the Chimera tuft, but didn't concentrate on it. She couldn't, not so soon. But she would, after consulting some experts on ancient magic and mystical creatures.
"What did you see, Zee?" Batman repeated.
"I don't know."
Wayne Manor, Alfred's Room
Alfred wandered down the hallway with a cup of tea and reveled at the manor's silence. While the clamor of guests was a welcome change, he needed a chance to recharge at the end of the day. Just him, yarrow tea, and quiet. He took a sip to celebrate his break.
"No! I don't wanna wear those...no stars on my butt...I'll look silly…"
Alfred paused by Tim's room, grinning as he heard the boy talk in his sleep. He reached into his pocket and inspected the dastardly pair of short pants. Suppressing his laugh, he vowed to keep these hidden, right beside that voice mimicker the young genius had invented.
This boy was going to prove useful in his mission.
Except for the unconscious murmurings of a sleeping sidekick, there were no other sounds. Alfred stood still to really listen...absolutely no noise. He threw a thought of thankfulness to his adopted niece. Zatanna's dampening spell masked any business coming out of the master bedroom. The old man really didn't need to be woken up by those two again.
Having a sorceress on his team was a good resource to have as well. Along with an expert tactical officer and a young, fresh warrior, things were shaping up nicely.
He was still awaiting information on how Batman and Wonder Woman fit in this picture.
Alfred settled in his favorite chair. Sipping his tea, he donned a pair of glasses and opened a photo album. These were his favorite memories, those he collected through the years. He bypassed the first few pages of his childhood home, his parents and siblings, even his formal photo from his graduation from the Royal Military. Though, he did laugh at how gawky he looked at the time.
He skipped many images of women who held places in his heart, though he stopped at a particularly lovely young woman in a pencil skirt and jacket. Her curly hair was fashioned in the style of the day. His finger touched the image of her lips, remembering her kiss.
With a sigh, Alfred navigated to a particular photograph that was his favorite. He took out his phone and plugged it into the computer on his desk, and pressed a button. The rhythmic sound of a printer filled the room. Returning to the album, he inspected the image that he held close to his heart. He remembered the day he took that picture.
A few decades ago…
"Oh, you can expect to receive my best during my stay here. That'll include getting my shining personality."
"Oh joy," Thomas droned.
Alfred grinned at Thomas' reaction. No matter what, he simply couldn't keep up with his caustic humor. But then, Thomas put Alfred through the ringer a few times with his reckless curiosity.
They still couldn't figure out how they were friends.
Both men paused in their conversation when they heard shuffling steps approach the library.
"I thought I heard your voice, Thomas," a soft, female voice said. A petite woman in a blue robe shuffled into the library. She yawned, rubbed her eyes, and ran her fingers through disheveled dark hair. "What are you two talking about so intensely?"
"Hey, Babe! I didn't know you were up." Thomas walked over to Martha and brought her into his arms, conveniently ignoring her scowl. "I was just giving Alfred an interview. He's taking the butler position. We were discussing some of his experiences that'll contribute to his job."
"An interview? You actually want to stay in this house with that night owl?" She motioned towards her son.
"I'm accustomed to all types of noises in the night. I'm glad it's an actual cry and not an emergency. He's not too bad. Just squirmy." Alfred emphasized his opinion by readjusting Bruce in his arms. The baby turned at his mother's voice and reached out to her.
"Let me in on this." Martha took Bruce from Alfred's arms. "Can you change diapers?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"How do you feel about baby drool?"
"The lubricant of the world."
"When he becomes mobile, would you be able to help me keep up with him?"
"Not only that, but I will watch every movement and know what this little bugger is up to all the time."
"You're hired. See, my dear? That wasn't hard."
"The lady has spoken," Thomas declared. "Looks like you're our new butler."
"Splendid. Looks like I'm also your keeper, Master Bruce."
"Do I get to be called 'Master Thomas'?"
"Absolutely not. We all know who the real master of the manor is, right Master Bruce? You cry, we jump." The baby giggled at the sing-song tone in Alfred's voice. "I can call you all types of things, Thomas, but I'll stick with 'Mister Wayne'. Or do you prefer 'Doctor'?"
"'Mister Wayne' will do. My patients call me 'Doc'. I want to leave work at the hospital."
"Very good, sir. You should separate your work and your life. These two deserve your attention." Thomas wound his arms around his wife and son, giving them a warm squeeze and kissing them both on the foreheads. Alfred tapped down a sudden surge of envy.
Martha looked over to the grandfather clock. "It's early, you must have just come in from your shift. Have you rested yet?"
Thomas, reminded of his long night, inhaled a prestigious yawn. Bruce's tiny yawn echoed after. "I've been home for a while. Alfred already had some tea ready when I got in. I grabbed Bruce before he could wake you up. We've been talking ever since."
"Then you should go upstairs and get out of those hospital scrubs. I want to make us breakfast before you go to bed."
"I'll do that for you, Mrs. Wayne," Alfred said. "Let that be my first official duty as your butler. I'm catching on to the rhythm of this household, so I can have that ready before Thomas gets home. It'll ease me into the role...I mean, job."
"Thank you for deciding to stay with us, Alfred," Martha said sincerely. "I didn't like the thought of you going back out there into that danger. I know how much your oath means to you, but it's best if you let everything calm down."
"I asked Thomas this, I wanted to make sure you were okay with it, too - are you sure you want me here? I was involved in many unsavory plots, and many haven't forgotten what I did. They'll be looking for me. I don't want to lead that mess to your door step."
Martha took a determined step forward. She perched Bruce on one hip and planted her fist on the other. Both adult men raised eyebrows at her aggressive stance. The baby echoed the scowl on his mother's brow.
"Do you know the history of this manor, Mr. Pennyworth? These walls, and the caverns below us, have sheltered those running from danger for generations. They've never turned away those who need legitimate help, and they never will. We'll do our best to hide you." She turned her head to the side in consideration. "We should get you a chauffeur's uniform. The driving cap will shield your face when you drive us into town. And grow a mustache. That might throw them off as well."
"You seem well versed in subterfuge, Mrs. Wayne. How is that?"
"I grew up among Gotham's elite families. I watched how my parents navigated all the plotting and scheming that kept them in power. There were some underhanded things going on, and I learned a few tricks. Look up the Kane family if you want to know more."
"I'll do that, ma'am," Alfred said sincerely. He leaned towards Thomas. "You married well," he whispered.
"Damn straight I did," Thomas answered. Martha relaxed her stance and bounced Bruce on her hip. The boy squealed in glee, then wiggled for more.
"Bruce, calm down, honey. Mommy's still tired from last night. We seriously need to get you on a better sleeping schedule."
"I'm sorry, Babe. He's on my schedule. I can switch over to the day shift if that'll make it easier on you. The hospital is offering me a position on the 8th floor..."
"No, darling. You're better suited for the night. They need you when the police bring in all that riff-raff to the emergency room. No one else can handle them like you. Besides, you'd get bored treating regular patients. They don't fight back."
"There's something about the night that brings out all the weirdos! It can get exciting. You'd be surprised what I see come through the emergency room…"
"You always have a story to tell from the hospital. What happened last night?"
"We actually had a birth! A woman staggered in and began screaming for help. I ran over expecting to see blood all over her. Instead, she grabbed me and said she was in labor. I tried calling for a wheelchair, but she said she had to push. I picked her up, took her to an examination bed, and got her into a hospital gown. The baby was already crowning!"
"Oh dear! I'm surprised she could even walk," Martha gasped.
"Someone must have dropped her off. Damn them for leaving her behind," Alfred growled.
"Even worse, it was the baby's father," Thomas said. "I didn't have time to be angry, I just took my place, let her do her thing, and caught the baby when she pushed her out."
"Her? It was a girl?" Martha asked.
"Yeah! The mom was happy about that, said she preferred them over boys. I'm glad obstetrics got there, I couldn't attend her and handle my other patients at the same time."
"That was definitely an exciting night," Alfred said.
"That it was. I was even able to name the baby."
"Really? Why would she let you do that?"
"She said I was a good man, wanted to give me the honor. I named her Selena, after a great-aunt."
"Does she know who you are? Your name?"
"Nah, she simply called me Doc, like everyone else. Figured my great-aunt wouldn't mind. She was a bit dotty, though. Family history says she had a weird obsession with cats since she didn't have any kids."
"Your great-aunt was too busy to have children," Martha said. "You should learn more about her, though you'll have to read between the lines. The papers then made her sound crazy. I think she was brilliant!"
"Well, for now, I want to relax and wind down from the night," Thomas said. "After seeing Selena born, I wanted to come home and see my baby." He reached out for Bruce. The boy wound his arms tighter around his mother's neck.
"Ack! Bruce, loosen up. Daddy only wants to hold you… let go… Thomas, you're going to have to get him. He's squeezing too tight."
"Let me, Mrs. Wayne. This will take less force, more finesse." Alfred stepped up to the struggling mother and bent down to look in the infant's face. Bruce ducked farther in his mother's hair. "Master Bruce, may I come in?" His sing-song voice caused the boy to turn his head.
"Come out, come out, wherever you are!" Alfred reached over and tickled the baby. Bruce's bright blue eyes widened. "There you are, you silly little boy - Martha, shift your hair out of the way. I got you, you can't get away - Martha, get ready! I'm going to get you - Thomas, on the count of three."
Both men tickled Bruce. The boy scrunched his eyes closed as he struggled and giggled, his mouth open wide in glee. He loosened his grip around his mother's neck…
"One… Two… Three!" Thomas lifted the boy as Alfred grasped him around the waist. Bruce squealed in surprise as his new caretaker brought him into his arms. Thomas looped his arm around Martha's shoulder and helped her back away. The mother readjusted her hair that barely made it out of Bruce's grasp.
"Mamamama!" Bruce leaned back towards his mother, arms reaching toward her, his little fingers opening and closing in want. "Mamaaamama!"
"My goodness. It took two grown men to get a baby to let go of me," Martha droned. "He deserves the title 'Master'." She rubbed her neck in emphasis.
"Master Bruce, you should let your Mommy and Da have some time together. You can help me make breakfast."
"Mamama!"
"Maybe I should take him…" Martha said doubtfully.
"Nonsense, Mrs. Wayne. He'll be fine. Go, spend time with your husband. We can find something to do to pass the time."
"You're a gem, you know that?"
"I try." Alfred watched as Thomas wound his arm around Martha's waist and pulled her away from the room. She leaned her head on his shoulder and let him lead. She placed her hand on the small of his back.
"Mamama...Dadada," Bruce muttered in his small, baby voice.
"Oh, now you call for your Da!" Alfred tapped the boy on the nose. "Your Da has other things on his mind. You leave him alone." The butler received a baby glare for his troubles. "Don't you look at me like that, Master Bruce. I'm bigger than you."
Bruce pouted at Alfred's disciplinary tone. He tapped the baby on the chin. "Put that lip back in, little one. I didn't mean it. Hey, you want to see something neat?" Alfred took a small camera out of his pocket. "Look at this! It takes pictures."
Alfred turned the lens towards him. Bruce reached for this interesting shiny thing. A light click confirmed the picture had been taken, right before a little hand got hold of it. Alfred snatched it back before it could find its way into a baby's mouth.
"That's not for eating, Master Bruce. Are you hungry? Can you eat bananas yet?" Baby answered with a prestigious yawn, then laid his head on Alfred's shoulder. The new butler rubbed his back comfortingly. Swaying back and forth, he took a moment to enjoy the feeling of the small, warm body in his arms.
"We're going to be good friends, Master Bruce. I can teach you all kinds of stuff!" Alfred ducked his head down to catch Bruce's attention. "Let's start now. Can you say 'banana'?" Bruce stared at Alfred's mouth, brow scrunched in observation. "Say 'banana'."
"Nanana," a little baby voice echoed.
"That's it. You learn fast. Can you say your name? Say 'Bruce'." Baby answered by blowing a wet raspberry. "Ick. That's not how you say that." Bruce answered with a gummy grin. Two small teeth peaked from behind his bottom lip.
Alfred caressed Bruce's feather soft cheek. He observed how this boy was the perfect melding of his parents - Thomas' dark hair, Martha's sapphire eyes, her infectious smile, a shadow of his father's physique…
No where physically did Alfred see himself, yet he felt a strong bond with this child. He'd been there when Bruce cried his first breath, and held him while Martha rested. The new parents floundered for a name when they found out they had a son, and Alfred stepped up to make a suggestion.
"He's a big boy! He's going to be a bruiser. You should name him something strong, like Bruce."
Alfred let Bruce touch his face, the boy's fingers squeezing his nose tightly. Another baby had touched him like that - a sweet little girl. He still remembered her light coos as she drank her bottle. How her eyes closed as he held her. How light she felt when she sighed her last breath.
Alfred buried his face in Bruce's soft body, breathing in his powdery scent. He fought against the guilt. It had been necessary. She was the daughter of a brute… a savage. His plans on dominating the world would have worked, if given the chance. As a servant and protector, Alfred had to stop him. Even if it meant sacrificing an innocent.
Alfred berated himself. Until then, all his marks had been adults, guilty of all sorts of atrocities. He had no problem dealing out justice to them. But children...they didn't ask to be included in that demented world. They had no choice.
His orders - take out the entire family. And he obeyed.
Alfred shook his head to dissipate the thought. Orders were orders, but he no longer used that as a crutch. He chose to follow through, so he would search out the ways to atone. He had fled from that household. He ran into this one.
He held his redemption in his arms.
"I promise you, Master Bruce. I will stay here for as long as I'm allowed to, and I will watch over you, your Momma, and your Da. I won't do to them what I've done to others. I'll be a good person...for once."
Bruce watched Alfred's mouth move as he spoke. His brow furrowed as he listened to him talk. He didn't understand the words, but he knew what the tears running down the man's cheeks meant. The tone of his voice held an emotion even an infant could empathize with.
Bruce laid his head on Alfred's shoulder, then sucked on his little thumb. That's what made him feel better, so maybe it would help this grown up. Apparently it did, because the man hugged him closer and grunted a laugh.
"Thank you, Master Bruce. I appreciate your trust."
Alfred snuggled the boy firmly in his arms, then took out his camera again. He sat in the windowsill once more. Bruce peeked out from under the new butler's chin, glancing at the rising sun. Alfred looked out as well, held the camera away from his body, and snapped a picture. He let his arm drop to his lap, and continued to stare at the dawn.
Alfred hummed a tune. He didn't know the words, but he remembered the melody. It echoed through his dreams periodically, comforting him through his dark nights while on the run. Bruce yawned again, content with this lullaby, his eyes drifting shut.
Alfred's fingers tapped a vague rhythm on the baby's back, and he unconsciously rocked back and forth. He figured he'd stay a few months, two years tops. There were other agents out there. They could take care of everything just fine.
Except for that damned American. Agent Trevor was too cocky for his own good. He loved to tell stories of those he met before teaming up with his British ally, trying to make the younger agent jealous. He even spoke about a dark-haired beauty that saved his life. She wore this get up that the women in the red-light districts wouldn't wear, but she was super strong! And he claimed she could fly...
Alfred snorted in derision. Fly, indeed.
He wanted to take another picture, but he took the last shot on the camera's film. He had to get it developed so he could turn in proof of his last assignment completion. Then he would wait for word for when he could return to the field. It would take a while, but he was patient.
It was one of his best qualities.
Alfred's Room
Alfred stared at the black and white photograph. He remembered the feel of the sun on his face, the trickle of tears down his cheek. He realized after developing the picture that he hadn't wiped them off. He could see the wet trail left on his skin.
He remembered how Bruce's black, downy hair tickled his chin. The baby hadn't fidgeted when a wet drop fell on his head. He stared out the window as the baby slept. They stayed that way until Bruce whimpered to be changed.
Yep, that's when he knew he was fully entrenched into the Wayne household.
Alfred had joined the family later in life, older than Bruce was when he picked up the cape and cowl. Then, he had all the energy in the world, and plenty of time for more adventures. Staying at the Manor was a chance to rest and regroup. Chores and diapers… those were simple compared to what he usually did. He could still watch the world while attending to those.
He never got the call, and he never left. Life became predictable, comfortable. Then one night, Alfred drove the family to the movies. He parked out front and stayed in the car with a magazine. He didn't feel like seeing that particular film. Let the family have some fun together without his gripping.
With two gun shots, Alfred's world changed. Martha and Thomas were gone. Bruce was all that was left.
Alfred blinked when a drop landed on the photo. He quickly wiped it away, thankful that it was covered in protective plastic. He swiped at his cheek, berating himself for his sentimentality. He was a soldier, a protector, a servant...
He sighed. He knew he should have revealed this to Bruce sooner, and it's possible he already knew. They played a cat-and-mouse game when it came to personal information, and it kept them on their toes. Feelings were shared in coded messages, and appreciation was told in subtle ways.
But when Bruce and Diana bantered over his new royal title, Alfred felt a twinge of jealousy. Bruce acknowledged his standing as Prince of Themyscira while holding onto his Wayne heritage. And when Hippolyta listed Dick's lineage, she called him "Richard Grayson Wayne" and included the title "Heart-Son of Bruce". Each of Bruce's adopted sons took on the Wayne name. It made caring for them easier, opened doors for them.
Yet there was a designation not included in any of those titles.
There was a piece of paper tucked away in Alfred's personal effects, one he held close. He fought for that document, the only other copy held in the county records. Perhaps he could have Tim "accidentally" find it as he secretly filed Bruce and Diana's marriage certificate. The boy was curious. Simply plant the idea that he should look around.
Then he could feign surprise, and have a celebration over that. Lord knows the reason for it wasn't a cause for happiness.
Some wondered why a butler would stay so long for a child that wasn't even his, and their gossip was brutal and cruel. Alfred didn't care; he had done worse than they could ever imagine. He fought for what was rightfully his. Thomas and Martha had spoken to him about it, only as a precaution. They never thought it would be invoked.
Then his best friends were murdered. Relatives no one knew countered their decisions. They wanted the boy. No, he corrected. They wanted his inheritance.
Alfred took it to arbitration. He spoke to lawyers, to judges, even to the police officer who found Bruce cowering over his parents' bodies. They all held sympathies for the man, but the other side didn't want to meet him. He was only a butler. They actually tried to dismiss him, as if they already claimed the Wayne heritage for their own.
One day, he sat across the opposing party's lawyers; they deemed it beneath them to converse with this underling. They spoke as if Bruce was already theirs, they just had to sweep this annoying servant aside. Alfred lost his cool.
He is mine! His parents wanted ME to care for him, not these strangers. READ THE GOD DAMNED WILL! I'm not going anywhere.
And when that didn't work, Alfred brought out skills that made him among the best in his agency. He traveled at night, and introduced himself to the opposing party, far off relatives of Martha's. He gave them an education on who he was and what he could do. It hadn't been subtle, nor was there room for misunderstanding. Custody demands were withdrawn, estate issues tabled.
He won...
A piece of paper. Tucked away in secrecy. He sheltered Bruce from the proceedings as best he could, which meant the boy knew nothing about them. He still grieved. He didn't need to know he was almost legally kidnapped.
Don't complicate the boy's life. He had an honored name, his heritage said he would do important things. Alfred was only his butler, service was all he could offer. Except…
Bruce's full Amazon title should have been "His Royal Highness Bruce Wayne-Pennyworth, Son of Martha and Thomas, Heart-Son of Alfred, Prince of Themyscira, and Blessed Husband to the future Queen of the Amazons."
Did Bruce know? He had forced Alfred into the Father-of-the-Groom position at the dinner table. He stood by his adopted son's side as his bride stepped down the stairs. They entrusted him to keep their union intact.
And the words Bruce whispered to him when he revealed his marriage were in no ways subtle at all.
"I love you, Father."
Alfred's heart had surged painfully. How he wanted to hear those words for so long.
Raising his head proudly, the adoptive father pushed his jealousy away. It didn't matter if no one else knew his standing, it was enough that he did. And possibly Bruce. Through him, Alfred had a son, a daughter-in-law, three grandsons, a sister-in-arms, a granddaughter of sorts, and a niece.
He gained the family he thought he'd never have. A blessing from his queen? He knew the one in England didn't care about him at all. But the one that gave him his Mission...she was a queen, too, in her own way... she said he'd get his wish, but not in ways he could have imagined.
Alfred reached over and took a photo from the printer. It had been the first one he'd taken that weekend, one that he promised to treasure. He remember how Martha had stared lovingly into Thomas' eyes, and Diana did the same to Bruce. Alfred had originally thought Bruce's parents were a part of his Mission, but they were murdered.
Alfred thought he had been released from that assignment. Then Bruce became Batman. He figured that his son's Mission was what he was supposed to support, and he did that with undying patience. Then Diana showed up. A dark haired woman that could fly? Hmmm...
Nah, couldn't be. A coincidence.
Then Bruce, Diana, and others formed the Justice League. A gathering of warriors. He noticed a pattern but conveniently ignored it. Not his mission.
Then Hippolyta arrived. She motioned Hestia's Blessing and delivered a message. He was honor bound to reply. She recognized him for what he was.
The conversation wasn't over. It was only postponed. But he was ready for it... this time.
The battle ground was set. A virtual board had its pieces in play. Keep your eyes on those larger figures, they're dangerous.
The Dark Knight of Gotham, but definitely the King. Wonder Woman and Princess of Themyscira, a Queen even more powerful as the King. Immortal Monarch - a holy woman...a bishop that stood by the queen.
Alfred counted himself as a bishop to the king.
The Knights were there, too. Ready to aid and protect the larger pieces. Unfortunately, one had already been sacrificed in battle. Another was injured, but returned in a wheeled chariot. Still strong.
The Rooks had been established. The first was obvious, Wayne Manor. Alfred had thought the second was the Watchtower, but that was only a satellite. The second had to be firmer ground. Nothing could be more stable than Themyscira.
The pawns were lined up. A powerful army. An infantry. A League.
Pawns had a way of moving diagonally and taking the enemy by surprise.
Alfred reached for his yarrow tea and took a sip. He stared at the pictures in his lap. Alfred and Bruce; Bruce and Diana.
"Check. Your move."
To be continued… in Home, Hearts, and Heroes, Chapter 32.
Take your time, if I'm lying to you / I know you'll find that you believe me - Take My Hand - Dido
A/N Keep you eye out on my Profile Page. I will be posting previews and updates as I write the next story. And yes... the story goes on...
