Serenity: Justice League

Chapter 52

A/N (IMPORTANT PLEASE READ):

Hey guys, it has been a while since I have posted and like all of you, 2020 (and the first almost… like half? Of 2021) was a doozy for me too. I needed to take some time away from writing since I had a lot of personal stuff happen in my life.

Work got harder, I am now the lead engineer on my program, but alas that comes with a lot more work and since we were labeled as essential, work picked up quite a lot for me. I have been working 12+ hours a day, 7 days a week, since essentially my last post. However, the work aspect of my life has actually, and finally, gotten better since I found out that I have a job offer (that I plan to accept) for a higher level position that is out in Orlando instead of the middle of no-where Arkansas. Which, will be nice because I have a horrible boss that I need to get away from and who can argue with more money?

My MBA took a turn for the worst too, based on last time I posted… and got extremely hard in there. So between work and school, it was hard to balance this story as well. I knew that I couldn't do it justice, and well… you guys deserve the best story that I could possibly put out. However, the good news is that I am almost done with my MBA… homegirl over here was able to graduate a semester early… so I'll be done with my MBA in August.

And unfortunately, the most bitter portion of this time that has gone by in a year (since I last posted) I had also had my 6 year relationship end in 2020… and that… was a bad place for me. I hold no animosity towards him, but it was painful, nevertheless. However, it just wasn't meant to be. We realized that we both wanted different things in life, and well, those different things are really between us. I don't fault him for what he wants, but that wasn't who I am in a way. But, like the other two things, I have actually started recently seeing someone new, and its that old saying where one door closes another opens? Well, this guy is even moving to Florida with me, so I know he is in it for the long run.

I know that a lot of you follow this story and I am sorry that I have been away for so long. Hopefully you all are still here, and well, it may take me a bit longer, but you have my promise, that I will finish Grace and Arthur's story. Like them, I refuse to give up and the rest of you, I feel all have a little bit of Grace and Arthur in you as well. We fight for what we believe in, even in the hard times of 2020 and COVID. I hope all of you are happy and healthy, that the shut-down this past year did not bring you as much pain and sorrow as it has for many. I hope that you know that I care for each of you as I know you do for me, because hearing from you guys and with some of you touching base with me, well, you have helped me get through a lot of the stuff that life simply threw at me this year. Thank you for your never-ending support.

As for this story, like I mentioned above, you have my promise to finish it. However, I am in a better head space now than what I once was in. I do not simply just want to kill off everyone and the like. So, there are going to be a few changes:

1.) Alongside this story platform, I have decided to post on this platform and A03 (as many of you have been asking me to do for a while). So, if you prefer that platform, well, I will eventually be updating there and transferring all my stories there as well. But those of you who prefer this platform of , don't worry, I will still upload at the same time for this story as well. They will both probably be minutes away from each other during the upload process (once I figure A03 out.)

2.) So, like this story and my other Naruto one, I have decided that once I graduate (beginning of August)… I'M BACK BITCHES! So, Please give me until the end of August to wrap up everything for school and complete my move to a new job. I think that is fair, for both you guys the readers, and for me as well as I transition back into writing this story and completing this.

3.) On the next note, a lot of messages have come out about the extended cut of JL on HBO Max. So, after watching that version, I will be mostly following the events of that extended cut movie version, because it gives more details to the story. So, if you guys haven't already done so, I recommend watching it… AND YOU HAVE 3 MONTHS TO CATCH UP BEFORE I COME OUT WITH THE NEW DETAILED CHAPTERS. (Which side note: this is my last outlined chapter with the theatrical released version of JL so, it starts next chapter LOL)

4.) So, some of you may be asking what is next for after Serenity with Arthur's and Grace's story? Well, I do have a few fanfic ideas floating around. I plan to keep with my Naruto fanfic (Gaara x OC one) but I also plan to come out with a new fic that will cater to you guys a bit more… an Orm x OC fic. The idea has been plaguing me for about a year and its about time I finally put it down on paper. I also may venture into a pokemon fanfic (but that may fade just because I have been putting some hours into Pokemon Shield since I just got a Nintendo switch as an early graduation present for myself…)

With that, I hope that everyone is well, and without further and overdue adieu, I hope you enjoy this next chapter. Thank you.

BlueBloodSVUOrder: : )

Beth: Hey, thank you so much for checking in on me, I really appreciate it and it did not go unnoticed. Sorry it took me so long to update, but as I stated above, I will be bad towards the end of August. I think the Bird's of Prey soundtrack would be amazing for Grace and Diana and honestly pretty much a lot of the DC ladies!

Sabi2: Hey! Thank you so much for your last review… oh! And yes, don't worry some cool action scenes will be coming here in the next chapters! After my long hiatus, I am back and ready to work on this story again… well, at least after I move and I finish my MBA, LOL.

Crystal-Wolf-Guardain-967: Thank you and I hope you like this next update!

Books-n-Harleys: Thank you for liking this fic so much! I also LOVED Snyder's cut for JL, makes the movie seem much better and so much information actually creates a better story. I wish that was the version they released. Or at least a different theatrical cut.

Grace did not remember when she fell asleep. It was almost as if when her head hit the pillow, she was out cold. Blinking herself awake, she looked around the dark room that Alfred had placed her stuff in. The room alone was bigger than her whole old apartment. Heck, it was probably even bigger than the old warehouse that Barry and she were staying in. Granted, she had fond memories in that warehouse… and there was no rent. How could someone complain about that? Grace stretched and that is when the feeling of soreness hit her like a truck. She figured that her bad lifestyle choices and her ability to keep trucking through everything was finally getting to her. Taking a deep breath, Grace decided to close her eyes again, but after ten minutes of lying still she felt that sleep would not find her again. For the first time in a long time, she felt refreshed, not tired in the way one would just want to sleep the days away. She always used to joke that she wanted to be put into a light coma for four to five days, but for whatever reason when she woke up this morning, she did not seem to want that. Maybe this was the start of a new chapter for her—at least one could always hope.

Careful of her shoulder, she got out of bed and stretched. She knew she was sore and didn't want to, but the thing that was even worse about being sore was being stiff instead. She took a deep breath and shook off the feeling of wanting some alcohol. She made the promise to herself that she was going to cut that shit out and she knew that it was going to be hard, and she was going to think about it, but she knew that it was for the best. The best for her. She knew that she had a lot of things to work on… however, if she could start with one thing, just one, then she would finally be putting one foot forward. As Bennie liked to tell her when she was little, one foot forward, even a small one, is a step in the right direction. She exhaled at the thought of her uncle and knew that that was something else she was going to have to fix too. However, first things first, she couldn't solve anything on an empty stomach.

She opened the door to her room and entered the hallway. The wood was cold under her feet, but everything seemed so quiet here—it was nice. A peaceful change from the constant hectic pace of the city. The rest of the house and outside seemed to be still asleep. She had no doubt that Barry was sleeping. She knew that he would probably sleep all day if he could, or at least until noon. It did surprise her that Alfred was not around, but maybe he too was sleeping in this morning. Grace took her time meandering though the dark house, taking in the beautiful luxury of the house. However, with the tragic back story that she knew of Bruce Wayne, she could not help but imagine that a house this big, as beautiful as it is, it must have been lonely. Even though she never knew her mother, Grace was fortunate that she had her father and uncle around to help support her and bring her up. She knew she was far from perfect, but she knew that they did their best. She didn't know who she would have become without the people who raised her.

Finally, Grace found the kitchen and in doing so, she finally found a clock. The light seemed to blink at her in the dim kitchen before she found the lights and turned them on. 5:08 AM. No wonder why everyone was seemingly still asleep, and Grace didn't sleep for as long as she thought she did. She looked around the grand kitchen, and finally found a bowl, spoon, some frosted flakes and milk. She wouldn't have pictured Bruce to eat frosted flakes, but maybe some habits from childhood die hard. She knew that she still had a few of those. Her father always getting mad that she had grease or soot on her face and hands when she sat down after tinkering with some machine. She smiled at the memory and knew that she was still guilty of doing that to this day. With a spoonful of frosted flakes in her mouth and a trip down memory lane, she didn't notice Bruce enter the kitchen. However, when the two of them locked eyes, it seemed like they were both surprised that they weren't alone anymore and instead actually had company with another presence that was awake.

Grace took in the older man's appearance: sweaty as if he just came from an intense work out. She just presumed that he would be working out later in the day, or evening like most people do. It seemed to her that Bruce had the same idea that she did, or at least the same feeling of the inability to sleep. Watching him grab a protein shake out of the refrigerator, she helped herself to another spoonful of her cereal. She watched him and she could tell by the line of his shoulders and the crease of his shirt on his back that he was holding a lot of stress and tension within himself. She probably looked the same if someone looked closely at her. Sure, she slept well, but it was still a new environment where anything could happen in the blink of an eye. Especially since she didn't know what dangers the future held for their small team.

"Thanks," Grace spoke first, breaking the silence.

"Never thought I would ever hear those words come from your mouth," Bruce retorted.

Grace noticed the small bruises that lined his face from the day before and she couldn't help but smile into her cereal. She had one or two small bruises that she found forming last night, but not the wonderful shiners that Bruce dawned on his face this morning.

"Instead of having a big ego, the correct response is your welcome. I mean, your pretty face isn't so pretty this morning, is it?"

"Ah, so you think it is pretty then?"

Bruce gave her a cheeky smile and Grace just rolled her eyes in response. Returning to her cereal, Bruce opened his protein shake and leaned back against the counter by the refrigerator, putting comfortable space between where he was, and where Grace was sitting on the counter.

"Did Alfred show you the upgrades?"

"That is what I am thanking you for."

Bruce sighed and clutched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and pointer finger.

"I figured that if you were going to fight with us you needed more than just a bike."

The two remained silent, neither wanting to fight again, but neither really having the ability to let their egos go. Grace crunched on her cereal.

"That reminds me… I'll look at your pet project today. I don't make any promises."

"Thanks."

"Yeah, no problem," Grace said shrugging her shoulders nonchalantly, "I'm assuming Diana has already left?"

"Yes, she told me that she was going to try and track down one more person that we think will be interested in joining us."

"Well, hopefully you don't force their hand like you did with mine."

"You can leave any time you want, Grace. The door is right there."

"You have my best friend caught up in your lies, but I am not so easy to fool. He may trust you, but after the stunt you pulled, I certainly don't. It will take a lot more than just some fancy water guns."

"We don't need to be friends, but I need to know, if we are in a fight… do you have my back or do I need to watch out for you too?"

"I guess you will just have to find out then, won't you? After all, how can I trust that you have my back in a fight after going behind me and doing something that you told me you wouldn't do?"

Bruce scoffed, "I never said I wouldn't talk to Barry—"

"It was implied that you wouldn't given that I gave you all that other information…" Grace grumbled and turned to her breakfast.

The last thing she wanted this morning was another fight with Bruce and she could tell that he felt the same. She backed off the tone of her words and he followed her lead.

"Speaking about that subject… he definitely had some colorful words to say about you."

Grace laughed coldly, "I bet he did."

Bruce wanted to know more there, but he knew with that definitive ending to her tone, well, there wasn't much more to uncover from that front this morning. He was curious about their old relationship, but he knew that if Grace wanted to talk about it with someone, she would. He made a mental note about maybe asking Barry for the details later. If she told anyone those pesky details, it would have been him. Granted, Bruce didn't want to use that card until it was absolutely necessary and the bigger part of him hoped that it never was.

"I'm assuming that… Arthur isn't this last person you are trying to recruit, is he?"

Bruce picked up on giving the man in question an actual name, and following her lead once more, Bruce decided that for convenience sake, he should use proper nouns.

"Arthur was actually the first person that I asked to officially join the team… he didn't take it well."

"I can only imagine," a small smile appeared on Grace's face.

She had a feeling that Arthur, Egil, and Bennie gave Bruce a run for his money in the small Alaskan fishing village.

"Have you heard from him lately?"

"No," Grace answered defensively and immediately, making anyone with a brain figure that she was lying.

She shifted her body on the counter, instantly feeling the unease and trying to correct it by moving her position. There was obvious and then there was what she just answered with. If it didn't make things even more so, she probably would have face palmed herself.

"I don't know you well, Grace—"

"No you don't—"

"If you would let me finish… I just wanted to say that whatever happened between you two, between you and Arthur, well he really fucked up to leave someone like you. It is his loss, and it always will be."

Grace opened her mouth and shut it, not really knowing what to say to Bruce's words. She knew they were supposed to be comforting and supportive, but for whatever reason, they stung. She knew that she was harsh on Arthur the last time she saw him, but she was in pain and scared, if she was being honest with herself. She wasn't ready to see him, however, she knew that she never would be ready to see the man who completely broke her heart.

The blonde pressed her lips together and nodded her head in thanks to Bruce. He tipped the protein shake at her and walked out of the room, leaving Grace alone with her thoughts, and cereal.

The day did not turn into what she inspected and after working on Bruce's pet project almost all day, the moment she got out of the shower Barry had rushed into her room to tell her that the next phase of their mission was about to begin. Finally, after getting him to settle down, Barry told her that they would be flying in a private jet. As she sat in the plane now, she couldn't help but recount the conversation with Barry.

"Jesus, calm down."

"Well, I can't Grace, like, this is the first time I have ever been on an actual flying plane. You know, some of us don't cross an entire country to go to school."

"First, I lived here for a while before going to Alaska and started my degree here. It's just easier to finish here too. However, this isn't about me… seriously, this is the first time you have ever been on a plane? That is super unusual for someone in our generation."

"Well when you're poor and your dad is in jail…"

"ANWAY!" Grace popped in, trying to get out of the hole that she dug herself, "I'm just… so proud of you. You're finally popping your cherry!"

Grace couldn't help but high-pitch squeal at the sentence like a valley girl would have to give her words that extra amount of flair.

"Hey now… I'm a rich bitch, okay? Only a private jet would do for my first time!"

Barry fake fanned himself and the two of them started laughing uncontrollably.

But now, that flight was ending and the three of them were grabbing their things to get off of the plane. Yawning, the blonde tried to sleep on the plane but she wasn't so lucky. It didn't help that Barry was practically jumping off the walls the whole time to the point where even Alfred made the comment that he had to settle down or the plane would be thrown off with his chaotic movements. However, she couldn't complain, Grace was rocking her normal boots, flannel, leather jacket, and her hair was, well as much as she could, braided to keep it out of her face. As the three started to walk to another one of Bruce's sport cars, Grace couldn't help but grimace knowing that another uncomfortable car ride was waiting for them. However, it seemed as if she was saved instead as the face of Diana made an appearance. How Barry failed to meet Diana at the lake house she never would figure out given that he ran around the entire house like 50 times before she even walked through the front door.

"Did you find the cyborg?" Bruce enquired without friendly introductions.

"We spoke, give him time," Diana pleasantly but assertively stated.

Diana gave Grace a warm smile that made Grace almost faint, becoming a puddle at this woman's feet. Damn, she wasn't gay but if she was… and even though she isn't, she would have to try out her moves on this woman in front of her sometime. If not, well, it would be time wasted. However, instead of making things weird, Grace just returned the smile and slapped her internal thirsty self. That's when Diana turned her attention to Barry, and honestly, knowing her own feelings for the woman in front of her, Grace could only imagine how Barry was going to be like.

"You must be Barry, I'm Diana," the brunette offered up with another heartwarming smile.

"Hi Barry, I'm Diana… wait… no… that's… not right," Barry said in total embarrassment as he shook Diana's hand.

It took everything in Grace not to laugh at her friend so instead, she just bit the insides of her cheek to keep herself under control. Diana crossed her arms and turned to Bruce, sighing.

"So, this is us then?"

"Yeah, this is us," Bruce responded with a sigh of his own.

However, before the two could say anymore, Barry's excited personality returned as he started jumping up and down and pointing at the sky.

"Oh!"

The three of them look where Barry pointed as he continues the rest of his sentence.

"Awesome! That's the bat signal! That's your…. Ohh… shhhh!" Barry caught himself before exposing Bruce's secret to the empty tarmac.

Grace watched Bruce and she could tell from the emotion that was written on his face that he was starting to regret inviting her and Barry on this little trip.

"Sorry! Shhh, That's your signal!" Barry smiles and has the face of a kid that received everything that they wanted on Christmas morning.

"Well, I guess that means we have our first stop… and we should probably get going," Bruce eyed Barry and Grace nodded her head towards Bruce to make sure that he knew that she would keep Barry in check.

"Yeah… that's… that's what that means… This is so cool!" Barry gleefully expressed while Bruce and Diana shared a look.

Grace on the other hand couldn't help but smile at Barry. Without waiting for the others, Grace ruffled Barry's hair and continued to the other car… the cute but sporty one that Diana arrived in.

The storm was just breaking over the horizon and Grace knew that she was probably going to get soaked with the incoming rain. However, with the first droplets pelting her new "crime-fighting uniform" that Barry liked to claim, she was surprised. Not only was it bullet proof, but it seemed to be waterproof, or at least water resistant. She also took the moment to smile to herself, a comfort she was allotted with her helmet not displaying her face or facial features. She figured that she could play with the enhanced technological display present in her helmet that was added. It was something out of a sci-fi flick, but to her dismay, it did not have any emotes that could present itself on the outside of the visor lens and she knew that she would love to emote just like someone with one of those tacky light up belts that guys usually wear at weddings. She had to hand it to Bruce, even though she would never admit it to him. Her new pistols were at her hips, her new gear, and technological advancements to her helmet, well, she sure as hell felt like a badass superhero right now.

Lightning flashed, and in good Batman fashion, Bruce was the first one to drop down onto the top of the police precinct's roof. The other three of them, Diana, Barry, and Grace followed suit, each making themselves known in their own ways. Diana simply dropped down and flicked back her hair with her hand as she stood at attention, Barry was his humorous self and flash stepped forward, which left grace, who just simply walked next to Barry out of the shadows, not making a sound. Grace knew this face; she knew the man who stood in front of them. She had a feeling that he would be the one to trust in the abilities of the bat. As James Gordon looked at the group, his eyes landed on Grace's figure and she could only image that he recognized her as well—or at least her alternate "personality."

"How many of you are there?" Gordan asked quizzically, directing the question towards Bruce.

"Not Enough," Bruce responded honestly, even though a bit of unease creeped into his voice.

Gordon sighed and shook his head as if he was already preparing for impending doom. He didn't waste any time though, and instead, he launched right into it knowing that the team in front of him were his best chance of getting himself and his people, those that he protected, to safety—even if one specific member had an APB out on her.

"Eight people were abducted from or near S.T.A.R. Labs… and thanks to a child, here is what the potential perp may be…" Gordon held out his notes as the emergency light gave the team just enough to see the drawing that the child drew.

If Grace didn't know any better, it looked like the notorious batman. However, Gordon flipped his notes closed and held them towards his side so they wouldn't get too soaked that they weren't recoverable.

"Parademons" Diana frowned and omitted a noise that was like a sigh, looking directly at Bruce.

The police commissioner raised his eyebrows but didn't make any comment towards the name or rather ancestry of identification towards these monsters.

"Okay…" Barry muttered, clearly a little shocked and being hit for the first time what he may have stumbled into.

"The demons must have caught the scent of the Mother Box. They carried the people who were close to it away from the area so they could find out what they know," Diana announced.

"So, that means the eight must still be alive," Bruce commented towards the rest of the team as he received a head nod from everyone there.

"Nine," a deep voice announced from the shadows making the four members of the team turn around and get into a stance as if they were waiting to be attacked. However, as a man emerged, he was fit with technological advancements that were not from this world. The Cyborg has made his presence noticed.\

Barry dramatically placed his hand over his heart while Grace rested her hand on top of one of her pistols, as if she still didn't trust the man that just showed up. The action didn't go unnoticed by Gordon. However, Grace knew that this was probably the last person that Bruce and Diana were trying to recruit.

"The head of S.T.A.R. Labs was taken as well," the Cyborg stated without emotion.

Diana smiled, "You made it."

The man just nodded her head at her.

"So then," Diana continued, "there must be a nest nearby."

Gordon shook his head, knowing a make-shift team when he saw one, but continued on anyway.

"I plotted all the sightings in Metropolis. Gotham. No pattern that I can see or make out," he stated and showed them the random markings over the paper, "the lines on the map don't converge."

"On land," the cyborg interrupted.

He looked around at the rest of them almost as if they were stupid, that it was just a simple part of the puzzle.

"These lead back to Braxton Island between the two cities."

"Gotham Harbor," Bruce gravely said, "these are all air vents. They lead down to the tunnel for the Metropolis Project that was abandoned in '29."

Gordon wiped a hand down his face and stared out towards the harbor. He knew that this wasn't a great prognosis. Plus, he was a bit peeved that these things were living so close to him and he had no idea. The commissioner just hoped that this group could get the job done. As he thought before, he didn't think that they had a good chance. Hell, they were apparently meeting this new member here on this roof, as if it was a family reunion that he said that he wasn't going to attend and decided to show up anyway causing the host happiness to see them but grieve to make sure that they had enough food for all of the guests.

"Do you really think that—" Gordon stated, but tapered off his words abruptly when he saw only Barry and Grace standing there.

Barry looked around, surprised that it was just him and Grace left. Grace watched the others and thought it was a bit rude of them to leave like that, but in true Barry fashion, he was just oblivious of the change around him.

"Oh, wow. They just… they really just vanish. Huh? Oh. That's rude," He stated as he fakes saluting to Gordon.

Grace sighed and turned around, going back towards the darkness that she emerged from. She didn't have superpowers to make her just vanish like that.

"The Phantom Rider… that's what they call you, right?" Gordon asked making Grace stop in her tracks and throw her head over her shoulder.

She didn't respond or anything, but she gave him her attention.

"I know you didn't cause those deaths in that street race… but that is why they, as in the other precincts in Gotham are after you, isn't it?"

Grace didn't want to hear any more of this conversation and took a step forward, but that just made Gordon raise his voice at her.

"I thought you were just human with a death wish, riding your bike like that, but I guess I was wrong. Are you metahuman or are you just plainly a human? I see your new weapon upgrade, so maybe you are just that good."

Grace gritted her teeth, trying to prevent herself from mouthing off at the detective. She couldn't get a good read on the man. Was he trying to bait her, or help her?

"I have a feeling that we will meet again, Phantom Rider. Just make sure, at least a request if you are one, human to human, that this jumbled, poorly put together team doesn't kill each other before the end of this war. As much as I hate to admit it, they are our best hope. You are our best hope."