I am not D.C. (yet.) Soundtrack is Take A Little Hand by Yoko Kanno and Gabriela Robin, explanations provided after the chapter. I think I'm enjoying making Wayne into a mastermind.
Ro was a bit surprised when she woke up in her room. (Technically, it was Richard's old room, but she supposed he wouldn't mind.) She knew she'd fallen asleep in the car last night, and she was still in the Batgirl suit. First things first; she shut off the alarm. Zee'd wandered off somewhere again, probably hammering out the final details with Stone. She headed to the shower first, then dressed.
00
"Did Max take Dana home?" she asked Wayne, who was reading something off his computer.
"Yes, she did. I already called the school. You have the day off, and Terry can manage by himself tonight. Zeta's on the porch."
"Didn't I tell you to stop being nice?" Ro teased, giving Wayne a quick peck on the cheek. She had a hunch the sudden generosity had something to do with today being Zee's last day in Gotham. His last day with her, she corrected glumly.
"Go on, shoo."
00
"Wow," Ro remarked. Zee had insisted on showing her his favorite part of the grounds. They stood on a cliff overlooking the rest of the estate and the ocean. He'd always liked heights, almost as much as Wayne did.
"You can see almost everything from up here, and there's a seabird colony about two miles away."
"I don't have your hearing, Tin Man," she replied.
A breeze went by and she shivered. She'd lost her nice red fleece a while ago. The hand-me-downs were okay- a velour pair of leggings and an old baggy sweater, but fall was winding down quickly.
"Let's go inside. I don't want you to catch anything."
He channeled some extra heat and draped an arm around her shoulder. She leaned in, appreciating the warmth.
"Ro.. you're welcome to come visit me at Anteaus. I'm planning to come back to Gotham, eventually, if you want me to."
She elbowed him. "Of course I'd want you to come back. But we could live anywhere."
"We?"
"We, Tin Man. Wherever you go, I'll be right behind you."
Maybe the Brain Trust had been right, Zee thought. Oddly, Ro's effect on technology (if she had one) only seemed to work on him. Ever since Knossos, he'd found it harder to think logically where she was concerned. No, it'd started when IU7 had hurt Ro, or maybe before that.
"I mean.. you are an adolescent human, and I have no right to expect you to put normal biological urges aside for that long."
"Zee, I can take care of myself. The 'we should see other people' speech isn't gonna work on me."
Considering how the whole Batman thing had nearly killed off Terry's social life, she doubted she'd have any time to fool around.
00
"Still mad," Dana said when Max approached her at lunch.
"Honestly, you have every right to be," Max replied. "I never meant to keep secrets from you.."
"You just thought Terry'd get around to telling me?"
Max nodded.
"Ro all right? That soph she hangs with told me she didn't come to school today."
"Yeah..about that. Zee's leaving Gotham with Stone tomorrow morning. We'll all be at the airport around eight to see them off. You're welcome to come."
"Is it because of me? Did Wayne kick them out?" Dana asked.
"Oh, no, Ro's staying. Zee's been planning to go with Stone to Anteaus Clinic."
"I think I've heard of the clinic. Isn't it owned by Poseidon, that Japanese company? The one that makes..oh."
"High-end, ridiculously expensive, high-performance prosthetics. Yup."
Dana'd heard of Poseidon before. Her uncle managed an account for them in Hong Kong.
"He needs a new leg or something?" she asked, trying to figure out Zee's plan.
Max snickered. "He wants a new everything."
00
"Hey, Zee," Ro called.
Zee looked up from the line of dominoes. Two parallel lines up and down the stairs- it was going to make an impressive cascade. Ro had that 'I have a question' note in her voice. She was busily forming dominoes into a circle.
"Yes?"
"Why did you chose a male prosthetic body? Now that I think about it, you've mainly used male forms."
"Oh, that," he replied, shrugging. "Habit. There aren't many women leading terrorist groups, and the agents and Max always referred to me as male. Besides, you like men, right?"
"Er, just forget it, okay? I think we're done with the stair cascade. Let's let it rip."
The following argument between Ro and Terry lasted till dinner, when the discussion then turned to Jo's newly announced mission, and Wally West's illness. He'd caught a case of pnuemonia, but was expected to recover quickly. Zee was glad to hear it. Flash and his family had been very helpful back in Keystone.
00
"How far have you gotten on the homework?" Zee asked.
Ro sighed and shut the tablet down. "Far enough. We don't have school 'til next Monday."
"Did Wayne tell you that Katherine Kane is going to be in Gotham on Friday?"
Ro frowned, trying to remember the name.
"Oh. I guess he didn't know. Strange."
"Maybe they don't get along," Ro guessed.
"It's possible," Zee agreed. "That branch of the family isn't closely related to Wayne, so they may have lost touch."
"I'm gonna get changed and then..do you think you could read to me?"
"Which book?"
"The Princess Bride," Ro decided, checking the shelves.
He extended his hand and grabbed the indicated volume.
00
Ro fell asleep about three chapters in, sprawled across Zee. He managed to move her, slightly, but she wrapped an arm around him and put her head on his chest. He tousled her hair affectionately. He preferred to not be touched (maintaining 'solidity' strained the camouflage function), but where Ro was concerned, he didn't mind. He disliked the idea of separating as much as she did, but it had to be done.
00
"Beautiful, isn't it?"
Zee snapped out of his trance. Wayne leaned on his cane and surveyed the view. Sunrise over the ocean was an amazing sight.
"Yes. I think I'd like to live by the ocean, or at least a lake," Zee conceded. He was surprised that Wayne sought him out. Usually, they avoided each other.
"Have you given any more thought to the future?"
Zee shrugged. He still liked the idea of going into med-tech, and he hoped Ro would still be his friend.
"I've looked at the specs you gave Stone. While there'll be some reduction in your strength and speed, you'll still be stronger and faster than any normal human. I'd like to make you a job offer."
"I doubt Terry would want or need any artificial limb. And you'd be unlikely to survive a procedure like that."
Wayne smiled grimly. "I don't need a med-tech. I assume you read the files on Batman Incorporated."
Zee nodded. He'd read just about everything he could find in the mansion or on the network. Batman Incorporated had been an attempt to organize local heroes under Batman's mantle and enable information sharing. The network was still viable, but many of the original recruits were dead.
Lady Nox of England (originally Squire), Batwing, Blackbat and Azreal were still in business, although the original Batwing and Azreal had retired. Terry had no interest in reviving Batman Inc- in fact he hadn't known about it until he'd met Lady Nox.
"One of the operatives was a woman named Renee Montoya, the second Question. I think it's time for a third. She could be persuaded to train you, and eventually, you'd take over as the Question. Hopefully, the Justice League would let you in under that I.D."
"Why?"
"Terry needs allies. The Justice League is Superman's club now. I want to change that."
Zee raised an eyebrow. "I thought you were friends with Superman. So far, I've been able to stay out of his way."
Superman had spent too many years dealing with all the mechanical weirdness Luthor or Brainiac (or both) could throw at him. As far as Zee could tell, Superman's policy toward artificial life-forms was to hit first, ask questions never.
"When I was in the Justice League, Diana, Superman and I all kept each other in check, with Flash acting as our conscience, J'onn as our mediator, and John and Shayera as tie-breakers. Vic Sage, the original Question, helped rein us in as well- he wasn't afraid to call anyone out when he thought we were going too far."
"And you want me to do that for Terry," Zee replied, following Wayne's reasoning.
"I think you and Rosalie are the only ones who can. You're the only ones who have the skills to keep up with him and his complete trust."
"You're forgetting something- I am not a hero."
"I heard something like that from Terry once. And you're both wrong."
00
"And you'll call?" Ro asked, leaning on Zee's shoulder.
"As often as I can," Zee promised. "And when I can't, I'll email you."
"Sure I can't come?"
"It'd be boring. I'll be working or studying most of the day. I'll miss you too."
"Think it's worth it?" Ro asked.
"It's the only chance we have."
"End of the line," Terry announced. Max, Dana and Blood (and Jo) were supposed to meet them at the airport. He hoped Max hadn't let the kid drive again. Jo drove on the left, had a lead foot, and thought all the other cars needed to get out of her way.
"I'll go and warm the plane up," Stone said tactfully. "Should take about a half hour. Ro, Terry, take care out there."
Terry hoped he hadn't been the only one who bought a present. Shopping for Zee was almost impossible. He could buy anything he wanted, and he didn't eat or wear clothes.
"Johanna, could you take care of the cameras?" Wayne asked.
Jo's eyes slid sideways to Dana.
"Someone let the beans out of the bag, eh?" she asked dryly, setting down the potted plant she carried.
"I should have known 'Josephine March' wasn't your real name," Dana muttered.
"Could you spare the poor girl your usual antics?" Blood suggested.
Jo stuck her tongue out and snapped her fingers. The cameras made spitting noises and shot sparks.
"Pity. I was looking forward to trying out the acid spraying spell," she remarked.
"Is it just me or is this part of the airport unusually deserted?" Terry asked.
Blood smirked. "The staff is otherwise occupied."
He'd made the coffee dispensers malfunction, effectively paralyzing the airport as the staff frantically searched for their precious beans.
"So, uh, gifts," Jo chirped. "This is from me and Great-uncle Alec. He sends his regards."
They'd met Alec Holland in Houma, Louisiana. He'd helped them get away from the NSA and guided them through his home swamps.
"Is that a cypress?"
"Mm-hm. Even got Spanish moss, and it'll always stay small."
"Thank you," Zee said gravely.
Wayne pulled out a box and a board. "Here you go."
Zee pried open the lid and looked inside. The chess pieces, made of carnelian and white onyx, gleamed.
"I can't accept this," he demurred. "This must be worth.."
"It's one less thing sitting around collecting dust. I haven't had any good opponents for a long time."
"Uh, I got you books," Terry said, offering the bag. "Kidnapped, Treasure Island, Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland- you know, the good stuff."
Max sighed. "Looks like we ran into the same problem, Ter. Hey, can't go wrong with Lord of Light, right? I threw a few other books in, just for kicks."
Dana shoved her bag forward. "Music player, earbuds, speakers, and a gift certificate. I would've loaded it up, but I didn't know what you like."
"He doesn't either," Ro teased. "Zee, don't open my presents til you get there, okay?"
"Why?"
"I don't want you to lose them."
Hers were, well, stupid. A necklace with the greek symbol for zeta, a felt keychain she'd stitched while recovering, and a kaleidiscope.
"Cufflinks and a few books of poetry," Blood said,offering a box. "I wish you well, Zeta."
"I should leave," Zee said, hearing the engines start to rev.
Terry hugged him. "Good luck, Zee."
He leaned closer and whispered, "Don't get caught in the net, 'cause Ro will go in there to get you and I'll be right behind her."
Zee chuckled. "I know. Be kind to her, please."
Max came up for a hug next.
"Good luck, Tin Man," she said, smiling.
"Take care of Ro and Terry for me."
"I'll try."
He pulled Ro into a hug. "Thank you for everything, Ro. I promise I'll come back."
"If you don't, I'll go to Seattle and drag you back," she muttered, tucking her head under his chin.
"I know. Take care of yourself. This isn't good-bye, Ro, remember that."
He broke the embrace, grabbed the gifts and crossed the tarmac as fast as he could. If he looked back, he knew he'd break his resolve.
00
"Said all you needed to say?" Stone asked.
"Yes, I think so."
"Good. Tower, this is Victor Stone, with Flies Anyway. I'm set for takeoff."
"Roger that, Flies Anyway. You're good to go."
Zee watched Gotham gradually fall away and recede. However dangerous and gritty it was, it was the closest thing he'd ever had to a home.
First of all, Zee does prefer male forms in cannon. This was never satisfactorily explained, although in Zeta, Max did refer to him as male, and he might've just rolled with it from there. Secondly, there was no episode set in Metropolis. It's extremely unlikely that a scientist of Dr. Selig's caliber would have no connection with a city that large or that Luthor didn't hire any of Selig's coworkers. Therefore, Zee may have been deliberately avoiding the city.
I know Question died in JLU, but we're just going to assume he faked his death. If he was undergoing cancer treatment at the time Darkseid attacked, he would have been too weak to help out in any way but 'dying' and hoping his 'sacrifice' made the League fight harder against Apokalypse. I'm including Batman INC. just because I like the concept, and as a shortcut to drag Cass into the mess.
And, yes, Jo's 'Uncle Alec' is none other than the Swamp Thing. Also, Lord of Light is a personal favorite of mine.