Three days and nights they rode, only stopping long enough for their mounts to have a rest and get a nibble and a drink.

Isfet frowned as he lifted his container of water. "We'll soon be out of supplies, Prince Ma'at."

Ma'at grimaced. "I know. I'm hoping there's a village over the hill, or at least an inn."

"I have my doubts. We've seen no sign of life besides lizards and serpents, and hardly any plant life the past two sunrises."

Their mounts lifted their heads. Nostrils flared. Without warning, they ran.

Ma'at began to slip, but leaned forward and tightened the hold his legs had on the beast.

Isfet, quicker to take note had leaned in just as his mount took off.

They sped up the hill. Atop it, their mounts came to a halt on their own.

Both rider and steed gazed down into the valley below.

Ma'at counted seven structures. Four small ones, two larger ones and one very big one. "A village."

Isfet watched the scene below. A woman had a wooden tub and cloth in hand. Across from here outside one of the buildings a stand stood and a man waved a loaf of bread. "Quaint."

"Let's go. We can restock our supplies. Maybe they'll have enough water to spare for a full bath."

Isfet looked just beyond the buildings. "They should with a lake that size."

Ma'at blinked and glanced in the same direction. "It looks like there's a river just beyond it."

Isfet, "We need to be careful. We don't know these people."

Ma'at nodded. "Of course. Since we don't want to be recognized I can go by Bat."

"And I by Joktar."

"That is still part of your name."

"It's not easily recognizable. And most Alpha's do not go by the most intimate part of their names. It's unheard of."

"Good thinking."

"Isn't it always?"

Ma'at chuckled and with a flick of the reigns his steed headed for the village. Isfet and his steed followed at their side.

Once in front of the building with a sign reading 'Inn' they hopped off and tied their mounts to one of the few trees outside.

Isfet glanced in each direction. "I believe this is an Alpha and Omega village."

Someone stepped outside of the Inn. "That's right. And we don't want any Beta's stinking up the place." They glared at Ma'at.

Ma'at didn't correct them that he wasn't a Beta. Not when the herbs he took every morning and sometimes during the night before he took to slumber kept the truth hidden.

Isfet quirked a brow. "Bat here is with me."

"An Alpha bending over for a Beta, are you?" They clenched their fists.

Ma'at stepped beside Isfet and placed his head on his shoulder. "No. Joktar is all Alpha."

Isfet stiffened, but after a moment relaxed, if only a smidgen. One of his hands went around to settle on the middle of Ma'at's back.

Other Alpha's stepped out of the buildings, while the Omega's stood behind them, or ran inside as if threatened by a band of assassins.

Isfet's hand began to lower inch by inch for their audience. "My Beta and I are only passing through. We'll pay well for a room," his hand brushed down over Ma'at's ass and squeezed, "and a bath, then be on our way in the morning."

Ma'at's felt his face heating up and ducked his head.

"If you can pay triple the usual fee."

Isfet growled, "Bat, get the coins." He pinched him.

Ma'at refrained from glaring at him and turned toward their steeds. Where he pulled out three of the hidden pouches filled with gold and silver and brought it back to Isfet.

Isfet took the pouches and glanced at the innkeeper. "Will this be sufficient, Alpha Innkeeper?"

The Innkeeper took the pouches and began to count, but he still blocked the entrance to the building. "Why is a Beta even with an Alpha? A female I could maybe understand, but a man?"

Ma'at wrapped his arms around Isfet's middle and rested his head on his shoulder again and frowned at the Innkeeper. "Isn't it obvious?"

When no one spoke and appeared to be waiting for him to elaborate, Ma'at rolled his eyes.

"It's love."

The innkeeper snorted. "Unusual Beta. Fine, this will do. Follow me and I'll log you in and show you to a room. My wife can fill your rooms tub with hot water."

Isfet walked arm and arm behind the man, "Thank you," he glanced down at Ma'at when no one was looking, and whispered, "clever."

Ma'at grinned.

The innkeeper didn't know the truth behind the grin, but he wrote in his book, placed the silver and gold in a safe place, then turned to lead them down the hall and to an empty room with freshly laundered sheets.

"You can place this board down and it'll keep others out." He pointed to the board at the back of the door and the latch on the wall.

Isfet nodded, "Thank you, again."

"My wife and I will be up shortly with the water to fill your tub." He pointed to the large wooden tub in one corner of the room. "The outhouse is just outback." With that said the man turned and left their room.

Isfet pushed Ma'at aside. "You're quite the actor, little prince."

Ma'at blinked. "I wasn't acting." What he said had been true.

Isfet opened his mouth and closed it again, and as he was about to say something there was a knock on the door.

"Hot water coming through."

Ma'at opened the door and stood aside as the innkeeper, his wife and a couple of other individuals entered carrying buckets of hot steaming water.

Isfet mouthed to Ma'at, "This conversation isn't over."


Bruce couldn't believe the scene he'd witnessed. He just wanted to wake up and not see the twisted things that this Isfet Khaba Joktar would inflict on the innocent prince.


Joker held his head between his hands and laughed, because he couldn't bring himself to cry. Not anymore. Not over his long-ago past. But hearing that prince say he loved him... his voice he thought he'd forgotten, but for some reason, the memory could no longer be suppressed.

"How am I supposed to work like this!?" He frowned as he stared down at the ingredients and pieces he'd gathered to use in a new bomb. The Beta's had to pay. Batman, he swore, would not get in his way this time.

Now if he could only focus.


A/N: Thank you for reading thus far. Would love to hear what others think of the story and what they might like to see going forward.