Author's Notes: Seems it'll be over soon, but it might not. By the way, excited about the video game 'Watch Dogs.'
Disclaimer: All the characters belong to DC and I only use them for entertainment purposes. I own nothing. If I did the reboot wouldn't exist. Like other details.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Summary: Post-apocalyptic world. Six long years ago the world fell apart at the hands of Leviathan. Now, the Bats must decide if past events and strained relationships are to be put aside to end the Empire, while trying to remain alive. Pre-reboot.
Eventual Pairings: Dick/Jason and Dick/Tim with Dick being the center of the triangle; hints of Tim/Conner, one sided Tim/Stephanie, and one sided Dick/Barbara, Minor Bruce/Selina and Bruce/Talia.
Warning(s): Violence, Foul language, and Angst.
Tuesday April 1st, 2014 Words: 6,697.
War of the Bats
By Robin Wingster
Chapter XXV.- Watchdogs.
-~15:34hrs. Somewhere North.
Donna was not happy. Not. One. Bit.
That, of course had nothing— and incidentally everything—to do with Dick.
"Sure you don't need a break or something?" He asked below her, and she spared him a glance, arching one of her eyebrows at his insistence. Even from their position Donna was sure he saw her. "Nobody's questioning your strength here, Donna," he backtracked.
"Just my stamina, huh?" She asked with mischief. It was hard staying angry when he was nearby. "I told you, Wonder boy, I'm fine. If your skinny-behind gets to be too heavy for me, trust me, you'll be the first to know."
"Hey, it's the gentlemanly thing to do."
"Uh-huh, why am I doing the carrying again?"
"'Cause you're the strongest and I'm not insecure about admitting it." He told her with a big smile.
Donna grinned back.
"And don't you forget it." She chirped proudly, and rejoiced on the grin of the tired acrobat. They've been flying for the better part of two hours, and even if she wasn't getting tired yet, the darkening of the sky left her wary in this new world. The land that she glanced from the above was not the same; cities ruined by the wicked. Donna felt very insecure of where she stood.
"Donna, can you lower us on that big market?"
She squinted her eyes, inspecting the aforementioned place.
"Yeah, hang on."
They descended lazily, landing on the back entrance. Dick was watching everything around them, no doubt ready to take on anything, and Donna felt for him.
She was angry at him—she was angry at herself; at what they were.
"C'mon, there might be some clothes worth our while."
The amazon followed his lead through the broken window –she guessed it'd be because of the door creaking open–getting inside the dusty place.
Both children surveyed the market, making sure to stay within an arms touch, while searching for something to wear. They were far enough from the facility that had her, and now they really couldn't keep ignoring that she needed to change into something decent and clean and not smelly.
"Donna," a hand over her shoulder startled her, making her look back into a lighter shade of blue.
"I'm okay, really." Waking up had really disconcerted her, she wasn't about to deny it, and her muscles had felt stiff and sore –atrophied— but she was an amazon, so it didn't took much from her to be top notch; however, Dick was reluctant about it, and had also been hesitant to cross the room that had guarded her body but then, when they easily crossed the place he'd seemed… lost. Like something had happened that he hadn't taken into consideration, and for someone who grew up to be like Batman much more than he liked to admit it, it was scary. She was worried; was something supposed to happen? Then the Leader of the Titans quickly took over, and Dick lead her through a path he'd prepared so she followed; amazed with his meticulousness and resolve of getting her out. She even flew him over the next point, insisting it would be faster than his grapple, and after convincing him she wasn't in pain, he agreed, and then they kept until they were out.
If they weren't escaping, she would've gladly press the matter of his break in character (Dick knew Donna never minded in lending an ear to him, and wasn't that ironic?).
"… right, well, let's go,"
"On your feet." They walked and kept walking; nobody was there to avoid, yet they kept to themselves in a synch that had never been forgotten. The whole place was giving her the creeps, there was hardly much left.
Unconsciously, her left hand grabbed hold of the long sticky-lock that hung on the left side of her face, intending of pushing it away behind her ear —
Oh. Right.
She ignored the lump on her throat, trying to untangle some knots to pass-off the action, suddenly self-conscious.
"Here," her eyes went to her right, where Dick was holding some type of shirt way too big for her, "there's some vodka too, it'll do to clean you up. All that's left is some nice clothes for you to change," he said, placing the objects on her hands to go back to the mountain of random items over the floors.
Donna smiled, thanking him and placing the things on the backpack they found some aisles back.
"I think this will do nicely," The amazon princess said jovially, holding a pair of pants, "don't think I'm the only one needing some beauty time, Boy Wonder."
At the end they found more than her friend thought they would, and went out in a hurry (Donna thought Dick could sense her uneasiness –World's Greatest Detective in her book), flying for another half an hour or so before they took shelter on some deserted cave.
He helped her with her wounds –small as they were— and she returned the favor. The smell clinging to her skin wasn't that much better, what with the alcohol mixed with Hera knew what—but it was definitely an improvement, and Dick managed to cut her long hair to her regular length, and rid of most of her knots. Clean (or as clean as they would get anyhow), they ate some cans her friend had on his bag (which tasted heavenly on her opinion) not losing more time to be back on the road.
"Don't you think burning them was a little over the top?" She really thought it hadn't been necessary to incinerate their clothes and stuff they left behind.
"Think of it as a favor to what's left of humanity. Good start as any to a better place."
She frowned, deciding it was best to not push her luck. Still… "Dick, are you sure this is the right way?" Donna was no stranger to Gotham, but since she woke up, some memories were fuzzy, and made her feel strange, she wanted to ask Dick about it too; it couldn't be just her.
"Yeah, I think so." He told her with some hesitation and they shared a look that answered her unvoiced question: he was having fuzzy memories too.
'That can't be good.'
"Okay, by the way, what's the plan when we get there?" Memories or not, she kinda understood their situation from their previous talk, and if they were going to Batman's city they needed a plan— were they even going to go to the Batman himself?
"It'll depend."
"On what?"
Dick levelled her another stern gaze that fitted his grown face better.
"On what we find there."
-~16:10hrs. Primary Base underneath Gotham's Arkham Asylum.
"We have an upcoming breach coming from East Point."
"Who's dumb enough to do that?" Steph asked approaching him with a cautious step, leaving the rest of Damian's team back. The girls had definitely taken a liking to her (and an unsurprising awe at Cass), Tim noted.
His jaw clenched; Bruce was still talking with Damian about some mission that held a small possibility of news about the girl's Lantern. The task, while smooth, had been unsuccessful, that much he knew, and the Batman had just come back himself today too, giving him specific instructions to not interrupt them.
"Oh-uh..." Steph muttered behind him, her naked eyes fixed on the object fast approaching the radar:
Superman.
"What? Who's coming?" Milagro probed, her curiosity betraying her tone but not enough to make them move closer to them.
"Um, Cass?" Stephanie replied instead, sending the girls a placating nod to keep them from adding anything to the conversation, something he greatly appreciated. "She in her room?"
"Just got back some hours ago, should be sleeping." It had been roughly more than five hours since his sister arrived from her undisclosed location, no doubt she was exhausted. 'Of all the times.'
"Right, I'll go call her, you might want to take this to the Boss though."
A glare "Obviously."
"ETA?"
"Less than two minutes, he'll reach Blüdhaven in a little more than one." Then he turned back to the young girls still standing now finished with typing the last commands, Steph long gone. They had less than two minutes –at the most—until the Man of Steel arrived. They needed to get ready. "Stay here, and don't move anything, I'll be right back."
"Is there something we can—?"
"No. I'll be right back!" Tim interrupted Lian, feeling bad about it and running towards the Meeting Room (it was good they placed it within walking distance from their Main Computer). He bypassed knocking, valuing time over the matter, and faced the pair of scowling men with a stoic expression of his own. "Code K.L." Tim said before Damian could butt in, effectively shutting him right away. "ETA in a minute and a half and counting."
"Start Protocol Watchdogs." Batman commanded loud enough for everyone on his way out, heading towards the Main exit with them in tow.
"He'll reach Blüdhaven first." Damian said, and he nodded, already on the steps and putting-on his cowl. Stephanie and Cassandra were there; geared-up and waiting for the following orders from their General.
"Take every measurement to protect the Asylum and do not initiate personal contact." Batman finished, making his way through the three girls that didn't know anything about what was going on, but parted away from him like the Red Sea.
"I'll assist with recognizance on Protocol Watchdogs then, Master Bruce. Do be careful." Alfred appeared behind Black Bat and Batgirl, taking his seat on the Computer. Red Robin nodded, going to the exit himself but pausing just a second after Black Bat disappeared too; Batman had by now gone to the City.
"Night-Robin," Because this wasn't any criminal, it was Clark, and the girls weren't ready yet.
"West will support Pennyworth and be of secondary assistance, Red Robin."
"What?" Iris asked behind them, and his brother silenced her with a glare that she sheepishly acknowledged. " . Ya know it'dbeeasierifyoujustusedournames."
"Just passed Blüdhaven, young Masters," Alfred relayed with a grim expression, "He's here."
-~16:12hrs. Upper East District, Gotham City.
"BRUCE!" Superman hollered through the skies almost at the center of the city making her cover her ears in discomfort.
Milagro hadn't seen the man in so many years that she almost forgot how he looked like, even in that strange gear, but upon her helmet's visor (Batman's toys were the best) was able to catch the anger in his face up above, and the madness in his breathing patterns. It was their first time out in the city, and they were confused at the strange orders from Batman concerning the Asylum, but who were they to put their two cents?
A hand from behind her pulled her back to her hiding spot beneath the Asylum's many tombs. All this time they've been underneath without knowing any better.
'Don't.' Night-Robin signaled before securing a batarang in his belt (Milagro frowned; she thought he only had Wing-Dings).
'What are we doing?' She asked after sharing a look with their other two squad mates behind her. This was not an exercise; this was a real enemy on their turf that could really kill them.
'We wait.' He answered, while she tried to recall 'Protocol Watchdogs' with all her might (she was sure he went through it with them, but there were so many it was hard to tell). 'Come.' And he made them follow his lead through the Island's Cemetery with painfully slow steps.
"I KNOW YOU'RE IN HERE! COME OUT AND WE'LL SETTLE THIS!"
He was beyond mad; a point in the sky that screamed everywhere. Among their teaching she remembered he had excellent eyes (infrared), and amazing ears (no doubt their careful step), so it was odd how he couldn't hear or see them moving (maybe Protocol Watchdogs answered that for her, it was just at the tip of her tongue!)
Out of nowhere the man batted something away in the sky.
"There you are!"
This time, she heard the sharp sound of metal cutting through air before she watched the Man of Steel destroying a second Batarang and flying towards the direction of a skyscraper in an unbelievable speed.
The upper part of the building was left with a large hole after he flew through it, and his rampant yelling continued with promises of death against the Batman while calling him a coward.
Night-Robin led them through a secluded tunnel, apparently taking advantage of the debris falling from the building to mask their hurried steps, and once again they were trailing after him over the sewers.
'What was that?' She asked when they reached some ladders; they could hear a semblance of destruction behind.
'Protocol Watchdogs.' He signaled with an irritated motion of his hands.
'I think it's safe to say we don't remember that one.' Speedy interjected with a repentant gaze. Iris nodded her head somberly which only got them a meaner glare from their Leader.
'First we lure him without giving our position. Now follow.' They climbed the stairs carefully, and ended up beneath the bridge that connected the Asylum to the City. Superman was nearby, but not by much (it was of little consequence since he could fly really fast everywhere). She watched Night-Robin glimpsing at the enemy, taking his grappling hook and imbedding it underneath the bridge with uncanny precision. With the line secure he turner at them extending his hand when they saw Superman fly elsewhere with those violent yells.
They recognized his order, and Speedy was the first to grab the hand, and up they were. Milagro took care of keeping watch while Night-Robin left Speedy underneath the bridge; Iris controlling her feet in an impressive show of patience.
He returned to them without a moment to lose, and Iris was the next to hold to him, leaving the Hispanic alone. On her turn, he gestured at his belt, enough indication for her to hold his waist, securing herself on her own so he could drop a Batarang half-way to their destination on the water below them.
Remembering or not, she would follow if it meant a chance at defeating Superman.
Black Bat tumbled her way into another building keeping her momentum, aware the alien was hot on her heels. She wasn't afraid; she'd defeated a stronger kryptonian when she was nothing but a girl. Orders were orders, and there was no personal contact until Night-Robin did his part of the deal. Her communicator emitted a specific vibration from Agent A., and that was her cue. Quickly, she made her way taking care of staying in the shadows of the buildings that were mostly covered in lead, then she sent another batarang that twisted in the air to distract the man. She got her window when another device coming from her left followed her own (Red Robin's), and she leaped towards her next destination point, already on the ends of the Coventry District (1) keeping up as fast as she could with the man. There was no sign of The Riddler's goons to deter or give her away.
Batgirl's signal vibrated her own rhythm on her glove, and she reached Robinson Park (2) in a new personal record, heading towards the Reservoir just in time to avoid making Red Robin a target—the kryptonian had lost some of his speed, she noted, but not enough to risk her brother for much. With a precise flick of her wrist, she sent another one that exploded nearby the man, almost hitting him and making sure he saw part of her cape hiding in between the thick branches around the lake.
He flew there and the Batman's daughter was reassured he caught the black material when he crashed against the tree she'd hid not ten seconds ago, taking almost a dozen or so on his attack with him. She pressed against the cold walls of the greenhouse, perfectly aware of the man who was doing a lot of damage (only meters from her) to the area to find a body.
"BRU—ackk!"
A strong vine had caught the man mid-rant, squeezing the air out of his lungs with deadly force, giving the kryptonian pause for his troubles when he tried to break the thick plant to have another four ensuring capture.
It had begun.
She sent her signal, sure Agent A. would take care of it, and ran back into the Coventry, towards The Bowery for the next one: Johnathan Crane.
Superman snarled, forcing his muscles to break the plant's vicious hold. He'd never felt comfortable with the protective suit—gloves weren't easy; too slippery and easy to break.
Just like the ensemble.
The constraint of the lianas was doing enough damage as it was.
This couldn't be Bruce—it was, what's her name, Ivy? Why was she of all people doing this to him? More importantly, why was the woman loose when Batman still had Gotham to protect?
Yelling with might, Clark was able to free both arms just enough to rip the tendrils against his chest. He'd automatically wanted to use his laser beams, but stopped himself right on time. He had to get by, so he flew around the new sprouts of green that came from the ground, intent of flying away to find Bruce. Ivy was not his problem.
Another persistent vine (this one with spikes) got hold of his ankle, tugging him downwards with surprising strength that made him crash against a pond; the slam against the water knocking his senses momentarily until he freed himself from the grasp of the pesky green. He was barely getting out of the water when something else grabbed him on the same foot, pulling him deeper into the water.
He kicked again, just about restraining himself to use his eyes to get the offender off. Clark had a very good set of lungs, but he couldn't hold on forever.
Water entering through his suit alerted him of the vicious set of teeth ripping at the cloth that covered his leg. Now able to recognize Croc trying to rip at his skin, Clark grabbed the monster's shoulder blade, tearing him away from himself to finally swim back to the surface, coughing some water that managed to get to his helmet on all fours.
Apparently the Meta wasn't done with him yet, 'cause he felt the scaly grip on his arm trying to sprain his muscles apart with a grow nearby him ear.
"Finally got enough of hiding away!"
"Get off!" Clark yelled at the insult, the feel of more vines squeezing him.
"Hehehe! You can't run anymore Man of Steel!" Croc announced with too many teeth, ripping at his back with his sharp nails seconds before he was receiving a punch in the face for the treatment. Glowering at the lizard Clark stepped into the plants, furious at the attack.
"I'll deal with you later, now tell me where is Bruce?!" Was the city they've been so wary off really out of control from Batman? It was hard to believe, but so was the deformed creature grinning madly at him, surrounded by vines that seemed to dance like companions instead of enemies.
"The Bat is no concern of yours,~" A bell rang out then and there, the old composition bouncing wall against wall, then another rang in tune with it, and another, and another, and suddenly, there was a cacophony of the damn clocks timing again and again. If he'd been on his senses, then he would've paid special attention on the time.
"I don't need you to tell me, I'll find him myself!" He growled out, intent of flying away when the sound of wheels caught his attention. It was south…
'The Batmobile!' Superman flew right past Croc and Ivy, rounding some buildings and stopping short when bullets were fired his way. Blocking the attacks, he glimpsed around, finding more than twenty men and women alike firing their guns away at him on top of military tanks.
"The Penguin says 'Hello', Superman!" Some of them hollowed, catcalling away. Furious, Superman punched one of the tanks breaking the engine off, but no sooner than that collapsed against the side of a flower-store on the opposite direction, feeling the stab of the missile that had him in-between the burning building for an answer. Gathering himself from the crumbling store, he went against his attackers, screaming in rage and killing them off one by one.
The criminals were relentless, shooting away their rifles and firing their tanks at him; what was going on? He was on the end of his rope—his patience almost gone in the carnage when he spotted him half a block away: Batman.
Roaring and consumed in adrenaline, he charged against the Gothamite, slamming him into concrete floor and hearing the cracking of ribs in satisfaction. The criminals were still hot on him—them—and, Bruce grunted, looking down at him from the grip he had on his neck.
"This has been a long time coming you bastard," Clark snarled, squeezing his neck some more and shielding the body of the Dark Knight with his larger one from the attacks behind them, "you're going to answer to everything you've done."
"And you're more stupid than we thought." Batman grinned at him, stopping the struggle against his grip, like he wasn't being choked to death. Clark had less than a minute to process the comment when the earth opened in two, and an enormous plant swallowed him whole, freeing the Bat. He struggled to keep himself from going further than the jaws trying to chew him, very aware of the acid burning at the material on the soles of his feet and strips on his back. He ripped apart the plant, enjoying the guttural sound of its death, yet felt the air punched out of his lungs the moment he was free.
A fist against his jaw followed the one in his gut, and he fell to his side. Vision blurry, he made out the form of Bane denting the floor with his leg when he rolled away to evade the kick.
"So the Man of Steel isn't that worthless!" Bane taunted him with his filthy accent, going for him again. Superman met him hand-in-hand intent to break the Criminal's in half. Bane, even filled with his venom shouldn't be this strong. Both men stood their ground, Superman asserting his dominance little by little, only to gasp in pain when another pair of arms secured his own from behind, stretching his limbs painfully and breaking the material of his helmet with sharp claws.
"I told you, you couldn't run anymore," Croc said behind him, applying more pressure to his hold.
He doubled over as much as the scaly arms allowed him when Bane punched his side viciously, earning a gasp for their troubles, and a chuckle from the Luchador.
"Almost too easy, ¿eh?"
"Yess—ack!" Clark head-butted the animal behind him then used his laser beams against the one in front of him. Aware of the damage done to his headgear, he tossed it away, gathering some air and blowing it towards both Metas in justified rage. They started to freeze, but then he so did he. Flabbergasted at the ice keeping him in place, he turned his head seeing a tranquil Freeze aiming at him.
"What—?"
"Superman; can't say we're surprised to see you." The man casually conversed with him.
"He does look surprised though," Batman strolled at Freeze's side, nonchalantly leaning against the older man. The scene was too weird for him to process, only the frown on the Ice man's blue face speaking of the disgust at the action.
"Do mind keeping your filthy limbs to yourself."
"Hehehe, chilly seeing the Batman like this." Batman grinned back slowly reverting himself to another figure, realization dawning his at the strange behavior from the man. "My acting skills are top notch, look at his face."
"Fool." Freeze answered, resuming on his task to ice the rest of him. Clenching his teeth, Clark retaliated with a beam from his eyes, removing the offenders and using his vision to melt the ice from one of his legs. More vines tried to reach behind him, so he punched through the solid ice, ripping more of his uniform to evade another hold. The sky proved to be of no escape for him, because he felt flames envelop him, the figure of Firefly laughing behind. Blind against the attack, he faltered on his place in the air, enough to keep the ongoing assault until something exploded and sent him pummeling against the floor.
Croc was on him again, finishing with what was left of his uniform. He attached himself to his back, refusing to let him go, and sinking his teeth on his back. Clark hit his back against the earth, getting rid of the vermin long enough to fall on his side when a sucker punch nailed him to the ground. Tumbling to his feet he'd yet to get a hold of the situation when another array of bullets went right through him.
"Howdy, Supey!" Harley greeted him with that annoying high-voice, holding the end of a joke-pistol (probably the one who sucker punched him) and some criminals with face-paint marking both sides differently that held the rifles.
"Harley, don't lower yourself talking to filths like him." Ivy finally made her appearance, the woman as beautiful as ever. "We're on a schedule, and I've yet to thank him for my babies."
"Ohhhh, you naughty man!"
He charged at the women, tired of this madness, but the harlequin had let out a laugh accompanied with the sound of marbles that exploded around him. An atrocious mane of green elevated itself from the ground, both Criminals on the top, and now with its Mistress present, the plants confronting him were vicious on their attacks. Two-Faces' help firing away from the ground.
Superman tried to fend them off, cutting green after green with his eyes, and breaking them apart with his bare hands; this was inexplicable, and then Bane had him on his knees on another chokehold, slamming him like he was nothing against the concrete, and Croc was with him, sinking his claws on the big S of his chest, all the way to his skin. Only a scratch but then Freeze shot him again, the hold the animal had on him gone, and yet he felt dizziness overwhelming his senses and cold spreading from his legs.
"Be good for something and still once and for all." Freeze told him condescending from a distance.
His head aching, he forced himself away from the ice, backpedalling when the sound of Bats screeching appeared out of nowhere and the awful creatures swarmed in frenzy around him, biting and scratching at his skin, followed by the Dark Knight himself.
"Bruce-!" He growled, making sure to slam against him this time; sick of the trickery. Batman head-butted him, jabbing at his chin and then at his sternum with an impressive force. Both men fell to the ground, the sky darker with thunders aiming their way and a heavy rain falling on them. Superman didn't care, even if his bones felt chilling and his limbs weak; head throbbing he rubbed his eyes when he digressed there was no further sign of Batman—no sight of anything. Like a fool, he tumbled his way in the blackness, breathing hectic and all too nauseous to keep himself from throwing-up pathetically on all fours.
"Bruuuuce—!" Clark wheezed, sweating—no, it was the rain—and cleaning his mouth from the filthy taste. From a distance he thought he saw two glaring whites, so he headed towards them, ignoring his ailments to get to the Bat who hid himself further. "Bruu—" coughing his insides out, he doubled again; his face was on fire, and he'd barely had enough force to keep himself awake, but why? What was…?
No. He couldn't fall—he'd informed Canary that he wanted a meeting with the Leviathan Lords tonight, once she got the other three in oneplace, and he captured the Bat to ensure he wouldn't intervene again.
On the background he heard something, but he'd closed his eyes against the torment of the dark without noticing, just so conscious. There was the constant gravelly voices of Leviathan against his ears, reminding him of his failures and projecting his future on his eyes that kept him from gathering his courage. Thunders clashed closer, and then Batman was looming above him, taller than ever and young like just the last time they've met.
"You killed my son," Bruce broke the heavy tempest with darkness in his voice, making him shudder, "it's only fit I kill you."
Clarks eyes widened in panic. Crazy he looked around him, where all of Batman's allies held him against the mud; the youngest one (a mere child) playing with a green knife made out of stone and sitting on top of his waist.
"Tt. Pathetic. Allow me, Father."
"No! You—you don't kill!"
"Supes' got a point—that just means I'll do the honors," the oldest—Jason—said, twirling his gun that glowed a speck of green at the arm he had trapped with his boot, "doesn't mean I won't take my time."
"No fair! I'm allowed to show him my gratitude for keeping me a guest!" The blonde girl exclaimed behind him (face bruised and tender without her cowl on), twisting her feet against his ankle and earning a grunt of pain from him. Then she took out a batarang that shared the same green and he panicked in realization:
Kryptonite.
"Connor would want me to return the favor." Tim answered back; his boo-staff a painful reminder against his other ankle, and making that point particularly sensitive—kryptonite too, no doubt.
"Me too." Muttered the creepy daughter of the Bat, her glowing-green claws skinning his wrist.
Unable to take it anymore, Clark trashed against his prosecutors, yelling at the laughing and reproachful voices that mixed as one: Canary, Ollie, Diana, Leviathans... This was not supposed to be this way—
"We'll do it." The voices in the background quelled, making way towards him with sure steps the dead weren't supposed to take.
"You—you can't!"
"Like Bats said, it's only fitting." Flash crooned, resting his arm against Red Arrow, who trembled on his spot sending him a murdering glare and raising his bow and flashing arrow.
"It is." The arrow was released, imbedding itself on his shoulder-blade; his limb useless against Jason's grip.
Clark yelled.
-~19:20hrs. Hidden facility inside the D'Angelo Sewage Treatment Plant.
"How long you think he'll stay like that?" Milagro whispered on her right.
"I'm not sure." Lian whispered back to her, glaring at the man who trashed wildly in his weakened unconscious state. "But it won't be enough. He deserves to suffer more."
"I never thought it'd be like this." Iris added on her other side; her own glare fixed on the strange restraints that supported Superman. She hummer her agreement, in all her years Lian hadn't ever thought defeating her father's killer like this. "Itwould'vebeenbetterifhe'dtoldus."
"You were supposed to figure it out, yourselves." The strained voice of Night-Robin made them yelp in fright.
"How?" She asked, being the one that broke from the scare first. The past hours had really taken a toll on all of them; Batman and his crew would never seize to amaze her. All of them had been incredible, and the villains… who would've thought they were free to roam over their City? Never in a million years—
"I've left my gauntlet unattended one too many times."
Lian's mouth gaped openly at the implication. He had wanted them to hack his terminal?
"You gotta be kidding." Milagro answered, only to receive a severe glare from Night-Robin.
"Even far from our location West attempted to break through the security of my computer; he would've probably been far more successful if one of you had aided him with the gauntlet in hand." That was true—Jai had contacted them more than once with that idea, but the three had dismissed him, not wanting to anger their leader (though Irey had been reluctant to disagree with her brother). Then she watched him cross his arms, returning his masked gaze to their prisoner. "No matter now, the operation was effective, despite your shortcomings."
"There were villains from Arkham on the loose! Of course we were surprised—again, a heads-up on the whole Asylum situation would've been great!" Milagro returned indignantly in a strange loss of patience against their leader. She was far more composed, and she'd been the only one who hadn't gaped uselessly during most of the spectacle.
"Why did they help anyway?" Iris interrupted the upcoming fight with creased eyebrows. "I thought they wanted all of you dead." Lian had also been wondering the same thing, and apparently so did Milagro, who now waited patiently for the answer. He regarded them with a guarded expression, probably debating on letting them know or not.
"That will be enough, you can return to the Conference Room now." Batman materialized behind Night-Robin, yet he was the only who didn't squealed embarrassingly at the sudden appearance.
"…yes, Father." He paused on his step, like deliberating whether or not to question the Batman, and then nodded towards them. "Come."
Blinking at the retreating form, Lian chanced a glance at Batman to find him watching them instead of his son. She gulped at the intensity of the glare, and impeccable suit; his intimidating steps that broke the villains aggressions on the beaten Superman like a movie on her mind's eye. How, with one word (more like command) on his arrival, he'd removed Ivy's hold on the quivering mess that was the strongest man alive, and the others appeared behind him, making the Criminals back off with no questions in-between, and letting the Gothamite Vigilantes take the defeated enemy for themselves.
They were obviously in commute—why else would the crazies among crazies attack on their orders. Lian had watched Night-Robin dropped a beeping Batarang on the water nearby the Sewage Plant when they were by the river; she'd also watched him lure out Clayface right after they landed back on the City (and almost giving her a Heart attack in the process), and he'd conveniently disappeared moments before tanks filled with goons with the mark of the Penguin made their way towards the chaos coming from North. Then, he'd made them travel towards the commotion, and just stood-by on their vigilant post, allowing them to witness the fight from ground point.
She'd no doubt the others lured the rest of the company (for one Batgirl had appeared at the building opposite from them seconds before Mr. Freeze made his debut), and only after Superman had his gear completely ripped-off, right when Croc had marked his prey with his claws, had a lazy vine carrying the Master of fear made its entrance, dosing the man with his strange gas and laughing at him.
It was at that moment that everything clicked for Lian and the others; when the forms of Batman and Black Bat descended from that same vine (grapples) and landed on the ground, right next to a Red Robin (who arrived after the first two), completely unpreoccupied by the dangerous villains that reduced the World's greatest menace to a crumbled, crazed mess who couldn't form coherent sentences.
She shook herself from the trance, following after Iris, and feeling Milagro's steps after her.
It'd been a long time since she felt fear towards Batman, but the image of him securing the vulnerable Superman with his line to the back of the Batmobile and leaving the place without so much as a glance back at the glowering Master Criminals was enough to make her tremble.
Night-Robin had waited for them to watch Batgirl and Red Robin take their leaves with their grapples in the same direction the Batmobile had taken (the grunts from Superman against the concrete at the speed strong in her mind), leaving Black Bat alone with the criminals. And yet, given they cruised the streets that were heavy with goons everywhere, all in various stages of celebration—streets that had been silent with desolation preceding the combined attacks—they were the last ones to arrive to this secret hideout in the mouth of the Asylum—where all the innocent civilians of Gotham City apparently lived.
What a day.
"Now what?" She heard Milagro ask the young man. At one point during their watch on the traitor Lian could swore she heard her dad's name. It was very disconcerting.
"We prepare for the next battle."
That piqued her interest and growing confusion.
"What do you mean?" She asked, entering the Conference Room for the first time, unable to keep from staring at Batgirl and Black Bat who were whispering to one another while exchanging information on their holo-computers.
"YoumeanWonderWoman?" He nodded at Iris, his posed frame proud of the Meta.
"At this point you're not even trying," the sudden voice of Red Hood startled them for a third consecutive time (and really, what was with everyone having ghost feet?), the man marching towards Black Bat and nodding at Night-Robin on his way.
"Hood, late as usual." The latter acknowledged the nod in what appeared to be a civil tone, motioning them to remain standing behind him (they were all too gladly to comply), while he took his seat on the table.
"Had a hot date that I couldn't ditch, not that you would know anything about that."
"Tsk,"
"Really? Who's crazy enough to date you?" Batgirl easily joined the strange banter. Lian exchanged a look with her friends, deciding to keep quiet; Iris had Jai on her mic., and was talking with her twin in soft tones that made their chat unintelligible.
"You're not one to cast stones, Barbie, what with dating Replacement of all people."
"Hey!"
"Hood has a point, Fatgirl."
Lian and Iris gasped at the insult.
"That's no way to talk to a dama (3)." Milagro hissed, swatting the young man's head like a pesky fly earning a surprised huff from the older teen at the action, and some chuckles from the other side. "That's no way to talk to anyone."
"Insolent—"
"That was hilarious!" Batgirl grinned, making her way to her seat. "You should listen to your teammates, Damian, might learn a thing or two, especially since we're on the dating subject."
"Shut up, Brown."
"Good to see you've retained humor despite the circumstances." Red Robin said them as he entered the room, nodding at everyone—even them—and taking his seat. "I'm sure Batman will like it too." Then he turned to watch Red Hood with a frighteningly closed expression. "Lost?"
"'Wayward' more like, can't leave you kids all to Cass; not her fault you're way over your paycheck." Red Hood answered with deadly nonchalance, though everyone could feel the dangerous change in the atmosphere.
"If you're planning on more useless quarreling then get out." Batman's voice broke the upcoming argument, Lian barely able to keep from trembling at the voice while the three of them yelped again at the sudden apparition of the Bat. It suddenly dawned on her that they were here—in a meeting with Batman.
"Better keep your leash in check," Red Hood drawled, not the least bit frightened to have that glare on him.
forever
Lian could safely swear the man was crazy on top of dangerous.
"Mind I remind you young Masters, that today's events were the product of the Criminally Insane working together?" Alfred—bless that man—entered the room, cane in hand and Batman took his seat at the Head. "Is it not enough to have that foul man waiting for punishment downstairs, either?"
Alfred had always been the one to keep the leash short, the archer conceded at the obvious change. Batman nodded, hands over the table in grave manner.
"Let's begin."
(1) The Riddler's Territory.
(2) Poison Ivy's Territory.
(3) lady.