When voices came from his dad's bedroom, Carl assumed it was him and Michonne talking about what happened. The more he listened to the conversation, however, the more he realized the woman wasn't Michonne.
Her voice is different, he thought as he crept over to his bedroom door. Lower, throatier.
Just like Fenix's.
That was ridiculous, of course. Fenix wouldn't come here to talk to his dad. Why would she? She didn't even know him. Besides that, the conversation between her and his dad suggested they were quite familiar with each other.
She even scolded his dad without him getting pissed off about it. Well, not like he would be if it was anybody else who had done it, he amended silently. Daryl could say stuff like that but that was because he could knock his dad on his ass if he got belligerent or was being too bull-headed.
Who is she? he wondered as he opened the door a little wider and peeked out into the dim hallway. Why is she here?
And where had his Dad met her?
Shock waves raced down his spine a second later when she said, "He called on Red Robin a few weeks before the incident with Bud to express his concerns about my relationship with Negan."
Red Robin. His pulse kicked, and his fingers twitched on the door he held. That's what she said. Red Robin. Only Fenix would call him Red Robin, he decided as he inched out into the hallway to get a better look at her.
Her back was to him so he couldn't see more than a swatch of green and long, dark hair curling down her back. Her feet and legs were bare. Still, despite the lack of body armor, he could tell it was her.
It was Fenix.
She was there in his house.
Unmasked.
Excitement kicked off the lingering lethargy and exhaustion hounding him since he woke up from his nap. Part of him wanted to push into his dad's room and demand how exactly it was they knew each other. Why has he never mentioned meeting a woman named Fenix?
Did his dad even know she was Fenix? It was possible, given how she was there out of armor that he didn't have any clue about who she was. Does he know she works for Batman?
Something told him his dad didn't have a clue that there were heroes out there keeping watch. Even now, with everything going on, Batman still patrols Gotham, Superman watches over the entire planet, and Green Arrow is busy trying to keep the West coast safe with the help of Flash and Green Lantern.
He found himself wondering how many of the other League and Titan members were in Virginia. He knew Robin was patrolling the area. As well as Red Robin. Who else was helping keep things under control?
And why didn't they come to our aid last night?
The last bothered him the most. Had any of the Justice League or Teen Titans showed up then Glenn and Abraham would still be alive. Why didn't they come? Was it possible they were so busy fighting other threats that they couldn't? Or was it that they felt as Fenix and that they got what they deserved for what happened at Negan's outpost?
His musings got cut short when a soft cry sounded from the end of the hall. Judith was awake and likely wanted her diaper changed. Carl went to take care of her but froze when a soft chuff came from his dad's bedroom.
Is that Krypto? Nah, he decided with a shake of his head. It couldn't be. Her coming here with a dog as well-known as Krypto would just make who she was a little too obvious. Still, he didn't want to get caught out here in the hall. His dad would have his hide if he found out he was eavesdropping on his conversation.
He ducked back into his bedroom just as the dog exited his dad's bedroom and trotted towards Judith's. He certainly looked like Krypto. Even the red scarf he wore was similar to the one that the super dog wore.
He was about to open his door and call out to the big dog, but there was a rustling of silk before she told his dad, "We can talk about what to do next later."
"Fine," Dad grumbled. "And after that, we can head to Hilltop to have a talk with Jesus."
"That angsty little Jedi has a lot of explaining to do."
Geez, even Jesus knows her? Carl thought as she padded towards Judith's room. Who else knew her and didn't bother to say anything?
He caught a glimpse of her face as she passed his door and almost gasped. The woman who walked by his door was the same one who showed up after Negan left.
But... A frown puckered his brow. She sounds just like Fenix.
The woman greeting his sister couldn't be Fenix. There was no way a woman trained by Batman would have left them to Negan. Even if they deserved punishment for all those men killed, she'd still have stopped that asshole from killing Glenn and Abraham.
So, if she wasn't Fenix, as he assumed, then who else could she be? And how does she know my dad? That, more than anything was what he wanted to know.
I guess the only way to find out is to go and ask her. Carl opened his door and checked to make sure his father wasn't about before he crept down the hall. He peeked into the room just as she picked up Judith and gave her a cuddle.
"It's okay, angel," she told her as she carried her over to the changing table. "We'll get you out of that wet diaper."
Carl watched as she tickled and cooed, powdered and smoothed, and tidily fastened the fresh diaper. Judith happily babbled throughout the entire process. It wasn't that much a surprise. His sister tended to trust everyone. Soon as Judith was dressed in clean clothes, she picked her up and turned towards the door.
Carl stifled his gasp. He wasn't wrong, he realized. It was her. She was Fenix. A plethora of thoughts and emotions shot through him as she continued crooning nonsense to his sister.
Some would say she wasn't real.
Fenix was just a figment of some writer's imagination.
An image drawn by some artist to go along with the idea some writer had for a new female superhero.
Only, she was not something created in the mind of some writer or artist. No, she was flesh, blood, and bone. A real and tangible entity he could reach out and touch if he chose too.
Like I did that day she saved me from those men in suits.
The second a booted foot came down on his right shoulder he knew help had arrived. He just hadn't counted on who the person coming to his rescue was.
Or that she wouldn't come alone.
...
The figure launched high into the air, their shadow in the shape of a bat as it splashed across the ground. Excitement streaked through him as he imagined all the possibilities for who his mystery rescuer could be.
Batman, Red Robin, Robin, Batgirl, Batwoman, Black Bat...
The woman who landed in front of him was like something outta the glossy pages of one of his comics.
Only, a comic character she wasn't.
Nor was she some fangirl playacting at being her favorite DC superhero. For one thing, her skills were far and above superior to most cosplayers. Second, her suit wasn't made from plastic tubing, duct tape, and cardboard like all those other cosplayers suits would be.
No, if the fan sites he used to research the Batsuit were correct, then her suit was a custom-made one of the same materials that Batman's was.
The black material molded to her small frame, sheathing her upper arms, torso, shoulders, back, and legs. That suit would protect her from the worst these men would try to do.
Not that they could do much.
The black utility belt she wore low on her hips contained dozens of devices and gadgets that would help her stop the assholes.
The symbol emblazoned upon her chest plate in crimson and gold piping told him who she was.
Fenix, he thought as her cape billowed behind her like a pair of wings. It's Fenix.
And wherever she was? Nightwing or Red Robin was never far behind. Carl slowly moved into a sitting position, a small smile tugging at his lips as he saw the men exchange looks. Yeah, know you're in trouble now, huh, assholes?
Not that their leader seemed ready to order them to fall back.
"So," the dark-skinned man sneered. "Looks like Fenix has finally decided to show up."
"Whenever the monsters are terrorizing the innocent is when I show up," Fenix replied in a low, throaty rasp. "You know that, Askalov."
"What I know is you're outnumbered."
"Am I?" One dark brow lifted. "Or is your arrogance leading you to believe that I am outnumbered?"
"There's no Batman, Red Robin, Red Hood or Nightwing here to help you. The odds," he said, lips spread wide as he swept his arms behind him, "are clearly in our favor."
A soft growl was followed by a white blur as a mammoth-sized dog joined the fray. The dark-skinned man yelped as the white dog lunged at him, snapping his massive jaws and stomping his baseball-sized feet with enough force to kick up dirt and dust.
"Protect the boy, Krypto." Fenix indicated him with a nod of her head. "I'll handle Askalov and the others."
"Interfering mongrel..." The man swung the pipe in his hand, but Krypto caught it between his teeth and yanked it away. "Shit!"
"Protect the boy," Fenix again commanded as she took hold of the pipe. "He's in your care. Let nothing happen to him."
Krypto obeyed her command after snarling one last time at the man, who wisely backed away. He moved to where Carl sat, his chocolate eyes focused on the men standing less than ten feet away.
Carl could only stare at the dog in open-mouth amazement. He can't be... he thought. There was no way that this Krypto was the same Krypto as in the comics. However, the red scarf around his neck with the big S outlined in gold on the back, and the leather collar with the gold dog tag all indicated that it was. Does that mean Superman or Superboy could also be nearby?
He sure hoped so.
The fur along the dog's back and tail stood completely on end when the dark-skinned man made a threatening gesture at him. His razor-sharp teeth showed beneath his slightly curled lip and his muscles quivered beneath his glossy white coat. He was a guardian given orders to protect. Carl knew he would do so with every fiber of his body.
"That mutt isn't enough to help you," the man sneered as he turned back to Fenix. "You've lost. Accept it."
"One of me is still more than enough to take out you and your baboons, Askalov."
A soft Ttch interrupted whatever the dark-skinned man was about to say. A soft voice then sneered, "And you tell me how I need to share."
Carl's swung his gaze to where a masked teen perched on a low tree branch. His eyes popped wide when he saw the boy. He was only a year or so younger than him, with short-cropped hair a glossy shade of black, and deep blue eyes.
He was in that weird sort of gangly stage where his limbs were out of proportion with the rest of his body. His face, what could be seen of it around the green half-mask he wore, was a bit thin, his nose straight and tilted just slightly at the tip.
His mouth smiled easily, coolly.
His suit was similar to Fenix's. Only, his colors were yellow, red and black. His gauntlets, gloves, and boots were a neon green. Clipped to his gold utility belt was a cylindrical shaped item that would extend into a full-sized bo-staff.
Robin, he thought as excitement chased away his pain. The Boy Wonder is here.
"Why, if it ain't little Robin." One of the men growled as the others laughed and jeered. "Past your bedtime, ain't it, kid?"
"Past time for your beating." Robin dropped down beside Fenix. "Isn't it?"
Robin's sudden appearance served to momentarily distract the scarred man. Carl half expected him to give the order to retreat.
"The odds are still in our favor," he said. "Not yours."
"Twenty of you against Fenix and myself?" Robin snorted a laugh. "You need more help."
Askalov's smile vanished beneath the weight of Robin's cool confidence. "Get them!" he snarled at his men. "Now!"
The men advanced as one solid human wall before splitting off, moving to flank the heroes on all sides. Against ordinary people, it would be a superb intimidation tactic. Against two people personally trained by Batman?
It was kid's stuff.
They charged as one unit. Back to back, Fenix and Robin took on their attackers, lashing out with boots and fists.
Each was a flurry of lightning-fast strikes and acrobatic-like dodges.
Not a move was wasted.
They fought in perfect sync, always knowing where the other was and anticipating the other's move long before they made it.
Carl thought them the greatest of teams, second only to one other duo: Batman and the original Robin.
Fenix spun the pipe that Krypto confiscated and dealt the dark-skinned man a crushing blow to the side of his head. He dropped to the ground without making a sound.
Carl couldn't help it, he tossed his arms up and whooped a soft cheer. His exhilaration turned into a groan as his body reminded him of the abuse it suffered at the hands of the man called Timo.
Krypto whimpered and pawed at his arm. He obliged the dog's request for attention, feeling that silky fur sliding against his rough palm and curling over the back of his fingers.
The superdog's solid warmth and self-serving brand of comfort were a balm against the burning ache in the middle of his chest. He shouldn't have been out here. He should have stayed home as Dad told him. He just wanted to prove he could do more than watch Judith. Anger bubbled but was rejected.
There was no time now to give into anger. Later, he promised himself as Krypto rest his furry head on his shoulder. He could be angry about what happened later.
For now, he was just thankful that Robin and Fenix arrived when they did. He didn't want to think about what might have happened had they not showed up when they had. His aching ribs were enough of a reminder about what might have happened had Fenix and Robin not shown up.
...
He hadn't told his dad about what happened while he was out on that run. There hadn't been time what with Maggie getting sick and all. His dad would have enough of a conniption about him being out there, alone, and after dark.
I wasn't alone, though, he thought as Judith giggled. She was there.
With Robin.
And Krypto.
He really hadn't thought his dad would believe him. That was the main reason he hadn't told him about what happened. There were a lotta people who didn't believe that heroes like "Batman" was real.
To a lotta people, Batman was just some comic book superhero created to give a bunch of people with a bit of entertainment and fun. They'd laugh at anybody who said he was a flesh and blood man.
Especially a dumb kid like me.
He knew Batman was real, though.
Same as Fenix was real.
Why is she with an asshole like Negan? he wondered as she started singing softly. He's everything she has spent her career fighting.
By her own admission, though, she had feelings for the asshole. And she's not sorry for them.
A soft chuff interrupted his musings. Carl's startled gaze swung downwards to find that Krypto had come to sit beside him. He stretched out a shaky hand towards the white dog but froze when Fenix — or Raya Kean, he wasn't sure which name to call her by — spoke.
"You don't need to lurk in the doorway, Carl. I promise that I don't bite."
He glanced at her, saw her standing there with a happily cooing Judith in her arms and a warm smile curving her lips. He opened his mouth to say something, anything, but only two words came out.
"You're her."
"Her?" One brow lifted. "Her who?"
"Fenix."
"I am, am I?" Dimples flashed in her cheeks as she smiled. "And why is it that you think I am Fenix?"
"You sound just like her."
"Sounding like someone means nothing." She brushed her fingertips over Judith's curls. "You are starting to sound like your father."
Carl swallowed a curse. She had a point. Many people did tend to sound alike. However, not all of them used particular names when talking about a team member.
"You used Red Robin's codename when you were talking with my dad."
"Maybe I am friends with Red Robin," she countered. "I am from Goth..."
"Aha!" He cut in triumphantly. "There's also that!"
"There's also what?"
"You're from Gotham."
"I am from Gotham," she agreed with a slight nod of her head. "That doesn't mean I am Fenix."
He waved towards Krypto who yipped and stomped his front paws to signal his displeasure at not getting any attention. "What about Krypto?"
"What about him?"
Her parroting questions back at him was wearing on his patience. He tamped his frustration down, recognizing the move for what it was: a stall tactic.
"Krypto wouldn't be with you unless Superman told him to watch over you."
"Well, you're right about Krypto." She rest her cheek against Judith's curls. "Superman did ask Krypto to stay and watch over me and my family."
"Because you have a son who is one-fourth Kryptonian."
"I do have a son, yes." Her eyes crinkled at the corners. "He's the same age as you, in fact."
"And his name is Kai-El."
"His name is Christopher, actually."
"Christopher Kent," he gritted. "Son of Conner Kent."
Krypto whoofed and stamped his feet again but he ignored the big dog as he waited for her to confirm or deny his statement.
"Yes," she finally admitted. "Christopher is the son of Conner Kent."
"You're her," he repeated his earlier statement, firmer this time. "You're Fenix."
He figured she'd again deny it. Or tell him to mind his business. However, she surprised him when she smiled.
"You're right." She shifted Judith to her hip and slowly walked towards him. "I am Fenix. However," she paused in front of him. "As the woman who is going to make you and your sister breakfast... I'd prefer it if you called me Raya."
A/N: Hello, all! Hope this finds you well!