Hunter's Night

By Christy (Serena)

A/N: Hey, guys! :) Wow, so so so sorry for the lack of updates. Things are crazy. Not ONLY is it my birthday today, but I also have my final critique at school, and I'm finishing up the hopefully last major edit for my novel before it goes off to the publishers.

WARNING: Parts of this chapter are pretty dark.

ALSO: It's high time you guys know my real name. Hi, I'm Christy. :)

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Bruce Wayne

"Bruce!"

Bruce smiled and strode through the restaurant to reach out and shake hands with Doctor Thomas Elliot. "Tommy. Long time no see. Glad I was finally able to get away."

"Bruce, I'm surprised you agreed to meet me out in the open like this." Tom cast a glance around the room as the two of them sat down. "Hear anything about the attack?"

"Not yet, but I'm sure Gotham's finest are doing their best," said Bruce.

Tom smiled wanly. "I'm sure. From what I've heard, Gotham's police force hasn't been... too reliable. At least in the past. I've heard the new Commissioner and, uh, Mr. Harvey Dent have taken to getting at organized crime more seriously."

Bruce nodded. "I'm sure. I don't pay too much attention to that, but Harvey's an old friend. You know him?"

"Met him a few times. School rivalries, of course," said Tom, grinning. "He and I used to get into some pretty mean fistfights in our day. Got pulled out of the games a few times."

Bruce laughed, relaxing back in his chair. "I remember poor Harv coming back with a couple black eyes from time to time. That was you, huh?"

"You better believe it, Bruce." Tommy grinned devilishly. "Good times. I may be one of the world's top surgeons, but I can pack a mean punch with the rest of them. It's Gotham, you either hit or get hit, know what I'm saying?"

"I might have an idea," Bruce said dryly, taking a sip of water.

Tommy just laughed. "Bruce, I can't tell you how much it means to me to see you again, to be back in Gotham. You and I, we know this city. This is our city. And we're going to do great things. Together, I hope." He raised his glass to Bruce.

Bruce grinned. "Sorry, Tommy, I'm already engaged."

Tommy laughed again. "To a knockout gorgeous woman," he said. "How the hell did you make that happen? She's... something else." He shook his head. "If you didn't already have her, I'd go after her myself."

Bruce tensed slightly, but he smiled. "Sadly, Tommy-boy, I've snatched her up. For now, anyways." He laughed brazenly, as if it were all one big joke.

Tommy smiled faintly. "Careful, Bruce. If you don't hang onto her, someone else might try to take her. But enough about gorgeous women. What've you been keeping yourself up to these days? Business seems good; and besides the fact that you're being hunted by assassins, which is all very charming, what do you do with your spare time?"

"Spare time, Tommy?" said Bruce. "I don't think either of us has much of that these days. Between work, playtime, and the women... It's a rough life out there for a rich, handsome soon-to-be married man. But I'm not married... not yet. And even after, who knows? Diana does her own thing, I do mine... it'll all work out, right?"

Tommy studied him for a long moment; and Bruce was reminded of when they used to play chess and Tommy would size him up, study him to anticipate Bruce's next move. Bruce didn't like Tommy's calculating gaze. He also didn't like to be reminded of the fact that he usually lost to Tommy.

"It will," said Tommy finally. "I think it will."

When lunch arrived, the two chatted about business, traveling, and technology; more safe topics, Bruce thought. He tried to steer the conversation away from himself; and when asked, lied or brushed off the question. What had he been doing with himself before getting back into the family business? Where had he traveled? And why would a vicious assassin be after him?

But Bruce just shrugged. "Business competitor? Unfortunate mistake?"

"You're really that nonchalant about it? Bruce, I don't know whether to be impressed or concerned for your blase mental state."

"That a medical diagnosis, Tommy-boy?"

"I'm a decent doc, if I do say so myself." Tom grinned and polished off the rest of his steak.

Bruce was silent for a moment. He wondered if it was the right time, or if he should even mention it... but he had promised Jim, and he didn't know a more skilled physician in Gotham.

"Tommy," said Bruce more seriously, "There's something I'm wondering you can help me with. Mind if I ask a favor?"

"Shoot, Bruce."

"I have a friend... His daughter was recently injured, and now she's in a wheelchair. I know you're the best surgeon in Gotham... would you be able to take a look at her and see if there's anything you can do?"

Tommy nodded, folding his hands together. "That's a tragedy, Bruce," he said seriously. "How young is she?"

"Eleven, I believe."

"And mind if I ask how it happened?"

Bruce hesitated. "Shot to the stomach."

Tom's jaw tightened. "Only in Gotham." He took a long drink, licked his lips. And for one second, Bruce saw a strange gleam in the doctor's eyes. But it disappeared a second later. "I said I'd never come back, Bruce. I said I'd stay in Europe, or maybe move to New York. But something... something kept calling me back to this place. Maybe it's because both my parents died here. Maybe it's because I couldn't let you beat me, after all," he joked.

Bruce managed a smile. "You always were competitive, Tommy."

Tommy nodded. Took another sip of his drink. "You know your old man... he wasn't able to save my dad, but he sure as hell tried. And he saved my mother so she could live another ten years. Think it's time I paid you back, Bruce."

Bruce frowned slightly. There was an odd note in Tommy's voice, something he couldn't quite catch.

"Of course I'll do it, Bruce," continued Tommy. "Bring her to me, and I'll see what I can do."

Dick Grayson

Dick roused himself from drifting off as he finished up some English homework. Ugh, essays. Maybe he could try to convince Barbara to finish it for him. He shot a sideways glance to the redhead, but her face was buried in her own work. Was that... was that calculus? Oh, good grief. No wonder she was getting bullied - she was smarter than anyone else at their school. Probably college-level, he thought. He sighed, rolled his neck, and stared back at his one paragraph of a five-page essay.

Mom had always helped him with this. She had been a literature major in college. She loved this kind of stuff. If she were here now...

Dick stifled a sniffle and rubbed his eyes, trying not to cry in front of the girls. Even though Zucco had been brought to justice, he soon realized he didn't feel much better. Would he ever feel better at all? Bringing Zucco in didn't bring Mom or Dad back. They were still dead. They were never coming back. He grit his teeth, blinking rapidly, and his hand curled around his pen as the rage came back.

He shot a quick glance to his younger sister; and not for the first time, he wondered when he would be able to ask her more about her own background. Although he'd been with Bruce and Diana for months now, and he and Cass got along very well, he still didn't know everything about his adoptive sister. But he hadn't plucked up the courage to ask yet. He found her staring out the window, seemingly deep in thought.

"Hey, Tiger," Dick said, nudging his sister. "What's wrong?"

Cass shook her head. What? Nothing.

"Okay. Want to play chess with me and Barb? You and I can be a team." He waved a knight at her and rose to his feet, stretching.

Cass nodded after a moment. Okay. But I don't think we can beat her.

"What? Pshh. We totally can. Your brain, my good looks..." Dick grinned as Barbara rolled her eyes. "I'm just too handsome to lose."

"Oh, get over yourself, Grayson. Cass, your brother is an idiot."

Cass laughed silently. Totally, she signed, plunking down next to her brother on the couch. Barbara rolled herself to sit across from them on the couch. As they started the game, Bruce entered the room, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Miss Gordon," said Bruce Wayne suddenly.

Barbara looked up at him, startled, as he came up to her.

"There's something I want to show you."

"Sir?" Barbara was confused.

"Watch closely." Bruce showed her a simple but effective move to block an oncoming attacker. "Next time someone tries to push you over, you can stop them," he said.

"Mr... Uncle Bruce..." She hesitated. "Do you think... I mean... Do you think you could show me more moves like that? Could I train with you guys? At least a little?"

Bruce didn't reply for a moment, and she was afraid he would say no. But to her astonishment, he nodded. "If you do," he said sternly, "I will treat you just like Dick and Cass. No special treatment. You will train hard, train long, and I will not go easy on you. Understand?"

Barbara nodded eagerly. "Yes, sir."

"You'll start tomorrow, then. After school. But this won't get in the way of your grades. If I find you're dropping behind, like I told Dick, I pull you out."

"My grades won't drop, sir."

He regarded her with a careful, knowing eye. "I didn't think so, Miss Gordon."

He ruffled Dick's hair as he started to leave the room, but Barb remembered something.

"Mr. Wayne? Dad told me... he said you and Aunt Di... you guys are going to be my godparents. Is that true?"

Dick looked at Bruce, startled.

Bruce nodded. "It is. If you'll have us, Miss Gordon."

Barbara grinned widely. "Yes, sir. I'd love that."

"You're gonna be the Goooodfaaaather," Dick teased.

Bruce shoved his head. "How do you know about that movie?" he demanded sternly as he headed to the kitchen. "A little old for you."

"I fight crime, Godfather," Dick said in a long drawl. "That movie is lame compared to what we do."

"You da best, Uncle B!" Barb said with a cheery smile.

"Don't call me that!" Bruce's voice commanded through the kitchen.

The three children burst into laughter.

You think you're safe, Princess? You think won't pay for what you've done?

A mother does not forget betrayal. Hippolyta has not forgotten. You think you're safe from the Amazonian wrath? From the wrath of the goddesses?

Blood. So much blood.

Drenched in it. Soaked in it. Is it mine... or is it Ares's? Whose blood? Mom... Mom, are you all right? Mom, you have to be all right. She's not my mother, Mom. She's not. I didn't do it for her. I did it for you. I did it for our family.

I did it for me. What he did to me, Mom. I never told you... I never told anyone. I wasn't sure myself. I locked it away, Mom. In a dark, secret place.

Did it really happen? Did it actually happen? Or was it another nightmare? Was it a horrible dream? Did I imagine it? A product of my nightmares, of my worst fears? Maybe it was fear. Maybe it didn't happen. Why it is coming back, why is it coming back to me all of a sudden? What actually happened that night? Why is everything so clouded? Why does it keep changing? Why can't I remember what happened?

You know why, Princess. You know why. I warned you. You made yourself forget. Persephone made you forget. Hera made you forget. I have simply restored the memories, restored what had been forgotten. It hurts, doesn't it, Princess? It hurts to remember everything.

No. NO. NO. I remember. I remember. That didn't happen. You're putting it in my head. That did not happen. You're lying to me, Athena.

Am I, Princess? Or are you just lying to yourself?

NO, I'M NOT.

I jolted away, gasping, staring at the ceiling. My hands were clutching the covers so tightly my fingers dug into my skin. I felt movement beside me; I tensed and knew that Bruce was awake, staring at me. I tried to regain some semblance of control. I tried to remember where I was, when I was.

"Your nightmares are getting worse," said Bruce grimly.

I rolled over on my back and sighed. "Yep."

"Diana..." His voice was a low growl. "You need to talk to me."

"I'm fine."

"Di -"

"I said I'm fine."

Bruce sighed shortly, ran a hand through his hair. "And I thought I was stubborn," he muttered. He sat up, glared down at me. "I'm not letting you sleep until you talk to me. This is getting ridiculous, and we both need as much sleep as we can get."

I rolled on my side away from him.

"Diana!"

"I told you I'm fine."

"Why are you lying to me?"

"I'm not. I told you I'm fine, and I will be. I just need more sleep."

I need to remember. Was she really lying to me? Or did the other goddesses make me forget?

Bruce was silent for a long moment; the only noise in the room was our breathing. I stared out through the window, hoping to hide my pounding heart and trembling hands. The moon hung high and bright in the sky tonight, but it only made me more uneasy. It was as though Artemis herself was glaring down at me, watching me, ready to draw her bow tightly and release -

I sucked in a breath and abruptly got out of bed.

"Where are you going?" Bruce demanded, already following my actions.

I threw on one of his sweaters and pushed the elevator button. "To do some work. Or punch a few punching bags."

He came to my side, his eyes tired but determined.

"Bruce - "

"Diana." His fingers slid into mine, and he brushes a few strands of hair out of my face. "You and I have been through too much for you to not talk to me. And you and I know it's only going to get worse. Don't shut me out."

I hesitated. I wanted to curl into him, to lose myself into his comforting presence.

But I couldn't. I needed to be alone. I needed questions answered.

"Bruce," I said quietly, "I need to be alone right now."

A long, hollow pause. His fingers left mine.

"Bruce - "

"Do what you need to do," Bruce said, but his voice was flat. He didn't crawl back into bed; instead, he threw on a T-shirt and disappeared down the hall, shutting the door behind him.

I rubbed my temples. It wasn't his fault. Usually he was the one doing the shutting out. But he wouldn't understand.

I kept seeing Ares' laughing face, his white, bloodthirsty eyes. I remembered being thrown around like a ragdoll. I remembered being alone when he came after me. I remembered his cold hands on my body... cutting it open...

I sank to the floor of the elevator and curled up into myself.

How the hell was I supposed to protect my own family when I couldn't even protect myself?

"Persephone," I murmured, "I need to know. What happened that night. What I'm missing. Tell me the truth."

But no response came. She did not appear. I remained alone in the dimly lit elevator.

I put my head in my hands.

Bruce Wayne

"There's something else bugging her. She won't tell me," he admitted.

The morning was dark and grey, morose even for the normally cloudy Gotham. Alkyone poured him a cup of coffee and took a seat opposite him.

"Bruce..." She placed her hand over his, and not for the first time, Bruce was reminded of his own mother's touch. While he would've shied away in the past, now... Now he did not. They'd been through too much. "Bruce," she said, "Diana's nothing if not stubborn. And I think you're also assuming that she is strong, if not stronger than you are."

Bruce's smile was wan. How strong was he, really? It'd been years, and the pain of his parents' death, the gruesome vision were still as fresh as they were the day it had happened. But Diana...

"She is strong," he said, toying with his cup. "But I know Ares affected her."

"In more ways than one," Alkyone replied softly. "And have you never thought about the pressure she's under? Not only is she being attacked from all sides, but she has a growing family to worry about. Not that she doesn't trust you, but I know how deeply she feels things. That's something you both share in common. She's wild, passionate, and feels things more strongly than anyone else I know - except you. Don't you think that maybe she's terrified of losing people? Of losing her children, her family, her friends? Of losing you?"

Bruce knew she hadn't been the same since Ares, or even since Bane. Bane had been the final straw for Diana. But she'd gotten through it - they both had. But maybe she'd been even more affected by it than he.

"I think it's something else," he said finally. "It's that... but I also think it's something more."

Alkyone looked down, and Bruce was startled to see a pained expression on her face. "Bruce..." Her voice was a whisper. "You were the first one to see her after Ares' attack. I never asked her... And I don't know if you have, either... But... do you think that he..."

Bruce froze. "I don't know," he said finally. "He seemed more intent on killing her. I thought... I thought she would've told you... or me, if he had."

"Yes," murmured Alkyone. "Maybe she would have."

But it was a small comfort.

Bruce rubbed his temples. "I have to go. I'll see you tonight." He pressed a kiss to Alkyone's forehead and disappeared through the doorway. He sat in the computer chair for a long time, unable to think of anything else. How could he be a good Batman if he couldn't even protect the people he loved the most?

Bruce put his head in his hands.

Cassandra Cain

The night at the cave was oddly quiet, and Cass knew that something was seriously wrong between her parents. Mom was straining to be warm, but Cass knew that her mother was going through something, and she knew that her dad was frustrated. He snapped at Dick once, and Mom then snapped at Dad in return. A tense, moody silence settled between the two, and Dick exchanged awkward glances with Cass, shrugging helplessly.

"I'm sorry," Mom said finally. "I haven't been myself today. I haven't been getting much sleep. But that's no excuse."

"I don't know why," said Robin. "It's not like you have late nights or anything."

That finally drew a laugh from Mom. "Dick, I love you. You are unfailingly positive. Thank you, I need that."

"No problemo," replied Robin cheerfully, giving her a mock salute. "Happy to help."

Mom smiled back at him, but Cass could tell that the tension between her parents had not disappeared.

They separated near the docks; Mom and Dad took the sorth and south sides, Robin took the east, and Cass took the west. The Russian had been spotted trying to smuggle a leftover case of weapons from the Gotham War, and a source had told them (after hanging from a building for several minutes) that the Russian was dealing with someone familiar to Gotham, but quickly gaining a name for himself.

"Calls himself 'the Penguin,'" Dad had told them. "He's a rising star in the criminal underworld. Rumor has it he's been stirring up more and more trouble - drugs, theft, blackmail, you name it. But he pretends he's a legitimate businessman and owns several establishments in Gotham. But he's got a lust for organized crime. His real name is Oswald Cobblepot."

"He sounds like a criminal version of Alfred," muttered Robin through the earcom.

Cass let out a breath of laughter. She sat back on the heels of her feet and glanced around from her view on the rooftop. They'd be here a while, and she wouldn't come in until later, as backup if needed. Honestly, she was bored. She flew down and realized that she was in a familiar alley. She'd been here before... chasing one of Zucco's men.

She dropped to a fire escape railing across from the boy in the window from that night, curious. The boy's room was lit tonight, and in another window, she saw a man drinking out of a bottle. The boy sat at the table, picking at his food. His eye was black, and his lip was cut.

Cass felt a burst of anger.

The boy suddenly jumped up and left the table, ignoring the man's harsh, loud words. The boy entered his room, shut the door behind him and locked it, and shut off the light.

Dad was going to kill her for what she was about to do.

After a moment's hesitation, Cass leaped across and quietly landed on the railing in front of his window. After muting her com so only she could hear Mom or Dad if needed, she peered inside and knocked softly. The boy turned, did a double take, and came right up to the window. He opened it.

"Hi," said the boy quietly.

Cass waved.

"I'm Tim," he said. "I hoped I would see you again."

"Batgirl," she signed, very much wanting to sign her real name.

"Nice to meet you," he said with a small smile. "Didn't know if I would see you again."

"You know sign language?" she signed rapidly.

"A little bit," he signed back. "I've been teaching myself for the past couple years, for fun."

Cass really didn't know what she was doing here. But the boy looked so friendly, and despite his injured face, his eyes still shined bright green. He couldn't have been older than nine, maybe ten.

"You want to come in?" He stepped aside. "My dad won't hear us... He doesn't hear much after he's been drinking a lot," Tim muttered.

Cass hesitated. She needed to be on patrol, waiting. But after a moment's hesitation, she nodded and hopped inside the room. Tim sat on the edge of the bed, and she joined him, crossing her legs and resting her hands in her lap. She looked around his room and noticed how it was covered with everything Batman. As if he'd been conducting his own investigation on the Batman. Cass suddenly tensed. What if he knew something? Or was he just a fan?

"So... what's it like... living in a mansion?" Tim asked after a pause.

Cass stared at him. He couldn't know. How did he...

Tim smiled faintly, winced, touched his lip, and sat back on his bed. "It's okay. I won't tell anyone."

Cass moved forward, reaching out, and touched under his eye. She made a fist and smacked it into her palm, pointing to his doorway.

Tim shook his head. "No, don't worry about it. He gets like this sometimes."

Cass smacked her fist into her palm again.

Tim smiled wearily. "Seriously, don't worry about it. He's... just upset. He lost his job a couple months ago."

"How did you find out?" Cass signed.

"I figured it out," he replied quietly. "Batman has really high tech. You have to be super rich to have the tech that he does. Also, I know his parents were killed in front of him. That's a good reason. Also, he was gone for several years, and didn't show up until about a year ago - right when Batman showed up. He's got the perfect location to hide everything, and he has the perfect cover. No one would think twice about Bruce Wayne getting into stupid accents to cover up injuries. And Wonder Woman... She would want to be out of the spotlight, and as Bruce Wayne's fiancee... wearing a wig and glasses, no one would think to spot her. It wasn't that hard to figure out," he said with a rueful smile.

Cass stared at him for a long moment. "And... me?"

"Well, I'm guessing they don't want you out in the limelight, either," said Tim. "Don't worry - I would never tell anyone. You guys are awesome. I met Robin once - before his parents died. I don't think he'd remember me, though. But I took a picture with him."

"He's a doof," Cass signed.

Tim stifled a snicker. "You're funny. I didn't really expect that."

"I'm Cassie," she signed.

Tim grinned. "Cassie. Tim Drake. Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you, too, Tim." Cass felt an odd thrill. She'd never met another boy besides Dick, but this... this felt different. Tim was different. He'd already figured out who they were, and he spoke as though he were years older.

He could be her secret friend. Dad wouldn't like Tim knowing who he was. What if... What if Dad didn't know? Then he wouldn't be upset.

But Cass didn't like the idea of keeping secrets from her parents. Maybe she'd tell Mom. Aunt El knew what they did. Maybe Mom wouldn't be so mad with her for talking to Tim... Mom never got mad with her.

Cass grinned. Yeah, she'd tell Mom first.

"Batgirl, meet up with Robin on the east side," Batman's voice suddenly came into her earcom. "Maintain stealth. I don't want them seeing you unless absolutely necessary."

Cass turned the mute off and tapped the earcom.

"I gotta go," she signed to Tim, and tapped her pointer finger in front of her mouth. Tim nodded, understanding. He rose to his feet and followed her as she slipped out the window and perched on the ledge. "Bye, Tim."

"Bye, Cassie," Tim signed, and waved as she disappeared into the night.

The docks were too quiet. There was supposed to be a deal going down, but so far, there had been nothing other than a few minions making their rounds. But we didn't care about them; we wanted the head guys.

"I don't like this," I muttered.

"What's to like?" Batman returned sourly.

"Bruce -"

"Not now, Princess."

I grit my teeth. "I don't think it's going down tonight."

"Patience, Princess."

"Don't give me orders."

"It was a suggestion," he growled.

Robin groaned. "Guys, come on. Can't you save the family drama for later?"

"He's right," Batman said. "Hang on, I just spotted something. Standby, I'm going to check it out."

"Do you want any h-"

"No," he interrupted me. "Stay put. And yes, Princess, that was an order."

My eyes widened; I wanted to knock his face off into the next century -

An explosion abruptly rocked through the docks, sending golden flames blossoming out and shooting up into the air.

"BATMAN!" I screamed.

Thoughts?

Wow, wow, wow, this is SO painfully overdue. What's it been, like three months? I am so sorry, guys. I've been going through a writer's block with this story, but I think it's over. :)

Also, I'm looking forward to a familiar character in the next chapter, but it's one we haven't met before.

- Christy