Chapter 15

"Hey Bruce!" Richard "Dick" Wayne exclaimed as Bruce got out of his carriage. Bruce smirked in response. Jason was standing behind Richard smirking at Bruce.

"Hello Dick," Bruce responded. "Hey Jason."

"Hey Bruce," Jason said. "You sure took your sweet time getting here. We've been here for three hours."

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize this was a race," Bruce teasingly replied. Dick chuckled.

"Haven't you learned? With Jason everything's a race," Dick teased.

"Funny, the way I remember it you were the one always begging to race downstairs," Jason responded.

"No, I'm pretty sure that you," Dick replied.

"Bruce, was it me or Jason that was obsessed with racing down the stairs?" Jason asked.

"The way I remember it, it was both of you," Bruce said. "Though it was more Dick than Jason when it came to the stairs but when it came to food it was Jason."

"Oh! I remember that!" Dick exclaimed. "Mom hated it when you kept rushing through your food as if it would be taken from you."

"Her fault for setting up races to see who could finish our vegetables the fastest," Jason responded.

"Remember that one time when we did it with green beans and you threw up?" Dick said.

"No I'm pretty sure it was you," Jason replied.

"No, I think it was Tim," Bruce told them.

"Oh yeah! Mom was NOT happy," Dick added.

"Anyway, how have you three been?" Bruce asked.

"We have been doing well," Dick informed him. "How was Netherfield?"

"Uneventful," Bruce answered.

"Really? Didn't meet anyone special? Like…maybe…a pretty girl," Jason said. Dick elbowed him. "Hey!"

"Dude," Dick responded with hint anger in his tone.

"No, I didn't," Bruce told him. "Clark did."

"Really? Someone caught that guy's eye?" Jason questioned. Bruce nodded.

"Sadly, it came to light that she was only interested in his money, so they are no longer on speaking terms," Bruce informed them.

"Really? That sinks," Dick responded. "At least you figured that out early on instead of a month or two into an engagement." Jason elbowed him. "Oh, right. Sorry."

"None taken," Bruce replied.

"So did you run into Jack Napier?" Jason asked. Bruce nodded.

"Yes, I did," Bruce answered. "Thankfully, he didn't say anything."

"I'm glad it was you and not me," Jason responded. "I swear, if I ever see that man again, I'll rip that man limb from limb and then I feed what's left of him to the dogs."

"For once we are in agreement," Dick added. "If I ever see that man again I'll…."

"I think we get the picture," Bruce interrupted. "Let's not scare the house servants too much."

"Yeah, good point," Dick replied. "Well, let's bring in your stuff and show you where you're staying. We can plot the demise of he-who-must-not-be-named in the private."


Later that evening another ball was in full swing and once again the militia was the center of all the females' attention.

"What a lovely evening it is, don't you agree, Miss?" Harley Princeton turned to see Jack Napier leaning against the wall next to her.

"Hi Mr. Napier," Harley said. "Pleasure to see you."

"The pleasure is all mine," Jack responded as he lifted her hand and kiss it. Harley giggled.

"You're quite the flirt, Mr. Napier," Harley replied.

"Please call me Jack," Mr. Napier told her. "All my friends do."

"Then call me Harley," Harley responded. "Everyone does. Well, at least all my close friends do." Jack smirked.

"Well, while you two flirt away, I'M going to go and get a drink," Shayera interjected before strutting away from the possible lovebirds.

"Family drama, much?" Jack said with a smile. Harley giggled.

"Yeah, she's one of my older sisters, so she acts like she's the boss of me," Harley replied. "She all like, 'Harley Quinn Princeton! If you don't give me back my stuff, I'll…'" Jack laughed.

"Yeah, I know all about sibling quarrels," Jack told her. "I was a part of a rather large family myself."

"Really?" Harley questioned.

"Yes, that is…until they kicked me out," Jack responded sadly.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Harley replied.

"Don't be," Jack said sadly.

"Well, I'd say, it's their loss," Harley told him. "They're missing out on a great guy."

"Thank you, Harley," Jack said. "You're a true friend."


The next day the Luthors and Diana went up to the Al Ghul's mansion for an afternoon meal and visit. The door was opened by the housekeeper who led them to the living room. The three stood across from Ra's Al Ghul and, who Diana assumed was his daughter.

"It is a pleasure to see you again, Mr. Luthor," Ra's Al Ghul said.

"The pleasure is all mine," Luthor responded. "Mr. Al Ghul, the woman to my right is my wife, Mercy. The woman next to her is my cousin, Diana Princeton."

"Pleased to meet you," Diana said with a curtesy.

"Welcome," Ra's Al Ghul responded. "I am Lord of this house and this is my daughter Talia." Talia curtsied.

"Pleasure to make your acquaintance," Talia said in greeting.

"The last one downstairs is a rotten apple!" a voice exclaimed from upstairs. The three newcomers were slightly startled by the voice while the Al Ghuls seemed annoyed. A stamped of footsteps later and two young men with black hair, dressed militia uniforms came into view from the hallway. One was slightly taller and thinner than the other, however; the other one was a bit more muscular.

"Ha! I win!" the taller one exclaimed.

"What?! No! It was a tie and you know it!" the other responded loudly. Ra's Al Ghul cleared his throat loudly. The two turned to see the guests, their cousin, and their uncle in the living room. And Ra's did not look very pleased.

"Oh, um, sorry," the taller one said. "I forgot you were having guests over. Sorry." He elbowed the other one. They both bowed.

"Yes, we're sorry," the other responded. Ra's sighed before turning to address the guests.

"Mr. and Mrs. Luthor, Miss Princeton, these are two of my nephews," Ra's informed them. "Richard and Jason Wayne." Diana's eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"Wayne?" Diana questioned. "You wouldn't happen to…" Then another man came downstairs, and this one she DID recognize.

"This is my eldest nephew, Bruce Wayne," Ra's informed them.


To say Bruce was shocked would be an understatement. He knew the Luthors brought a guest, but he never thought it would be the very person he was trying to forget.

"Miss Princeton," Bruce said formally. He bowed in greeting. "A pleasure to see you again."

"The pleasure is all mine, Mister Wayne," Diana responded with a curtesy.

"You are acquainted?" Ra's questioned.

"We crossed paths a few times in Maryton," Bruce informed him.

"Yes, we did," Diana agreed.

"Well, how about we all sit down and have a little talk," Talia suggested as she sat down on the loveseat. The Luthors and Diana sat down on the couch, Ra's took his typical chair, and the Waynes each took a separate chair.

"So…do either of you boys want to explain why you decided to race down the stairs like children?" Ra's asked Richard and Jason.

"It was Jason's idea," Richard answered.

"What?! No. Everyone heard you exclaimed, 'last down is a rotten apple.'," Jason responded.

"No, it was you," Richard replied.

"Regardless of who it was, you two should know better," Ra's told them. "You're adults, act like it."

"Sorry," Jason said.

"No, you're not," Dick responded.

"You're right I'm not," Jason replied. "And neither are you."

"Um, maybe a little," Dick admitted.