Hunter's Night
By Christy
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"So what happened with you and Dick?" I asked, brow furrowed. "Besides the whole... Cat-woman issue."
"That wasn't the main issue," argued Bruce, turning the wheel so the Tumbler raced out of the driveway. "The problem was his lack of obedience in the field. I pulled him for the next week, at least."
"I'm surprised," I said.
He cast me a quick glance. "You don't agree."
"No, I do," I added hastily. "Especially in the field. If he doesn't learn how vital trust is to this team, he'll get hurt. And we can't let that happen."
Batman looked away. "Team," he echoed in a dark mutter.
"You have a problem with that word?"
"I was... I was very used to it being the two of us, not so long ago," he said after a pause. "When the kids are grown up and gone... it'll be just us again."
I hid a smile. "We've barely had them, and you're already thinking about when they're grown up and gone? Granted, we are very young to have children of their ages, but still... You'll be in your mid to late thirties... You think we'll still be doing this?"
"You don't?" he shot back.
"Oh, no," I replied. "I think we'll be doing this until we're old and gray." The words fell out of my mouth before I remembered lifespan was a sore subject for him.
"If you even age."
I touched his arm. "Bruce. The moment I chose willingly to leave Themyscira, the moment Hippolyta decided to come after me was the moment I stopped being blessed by the protection of that island. Obviously I was born with certain abilities, but I don't think I'll live much longer than you at this point. Mom's aging, the others will age... I don't get why you think I'm still immortal. If Athena's threats are anything to go by, I'm not exactly the Olympians' favorite person right now."
"We'll keep them off the invitation list, then," he replied dryly.
I smirked. "I'm fine with that."
Silence overtook the ride for the next several minutes.
"Where are we headed? Museum?"
"See if he left a trail. He's nothing if not a showoff. But he was injured. He couldn't have gotten far."
"What'd you break?"
"Arm. Should've gone for the leg," he muttered.
"I would've done both," I said.
"Of course you would."
"Did you put a tracker on the cuffs?"
"I did." He glanced down at the screen. "Barbara, the cuffs still at the museum?"
"About a block away. But they haven't moved," Barbara said. "And, uh, Dick's really upset."
"He'll get over it," said Batman coldly. "Let me know if anything changes. Batman out."
Another pause.
"We could start with the closest hotels," I suggested. "The most expensive, obviously."
He grunted in agreement.
"Maybe we could pick out a venue while we're at it."
"A venue."
"Mmm-hmm. And maybe look at cake options. There are a few several bakeries in the area."
"It's two in the morning."
"Spoiling my fun, Mr. Moody," I teased. "I'll just make a list as we drive by."
"Or being shot at."
"That, too. Multitasking is one of your strong points, love."
"Can't forget the flowers," he added dryly.
"Of course not. Smart thinking. Let's say... Peonies?"
"Whatever the Princess desires," he said, and threw the car into another gear, slamming his foot on the gas.
"Even Deadshot's fingers and toes?" I added darkly.
"And they say I'm the scary one."
Bruce Wayne
Deadshot may have been an arrogant, egotistical murderer, but he wasn't stupid. He'd probably been long gone... maybe even left Gotham. Unless... unless he was just as rash as some would claim. Batman crouched over the empty, unlocked cuffs, gritting his teeth, and searched for a trail.
"Security cameras have nothing," Diana said, inspecting the shattered roof above.
"I know. I had... them taken out." Batman had to stop himself from calling Barbara by name. And she was right, Red didn't fit. She'd need a different codename. "Cameras stopped working when we first got Deadshot."
"He's not that much of an idiot, apparently," said Diana. "I'd guess - "
A bullet blew through the glass roof, aiming right for her head. She deflected it easily with her gauntlet and exchanged a look with him.
"Then again," she said dryly, and shot off into the night after him, bursting through the open glass. Batman took off after her, shooting his grapple gun into the air. Diana grabbed the end of the gun before it connected to a building, swung him around, and hurled him towards Deadshot's location. Batman saw the assassin aiming for him again - and the assassin let loose another round of bullets. Batman unleashed his wings and ducked down, swooping to avoid the gunfire. When Deadshot tried to compensate and take out the wings, Batman pulled them back and nosedived right down towards him.
"You really are as crazy as they say!" shouted Deadshot, and aimed for Batman's head -
An Amazon dropped down from the sky behind the assassin and punched him right to the ground. Batman alighted in a drop roll onto the roof of the building and rose to his feet. Diana whipped off Deadshot's broken mask once again.
"Handlebar mustache," she said dryly. "Nice."
"We'll talk facial hair issues later," said Batman, and crouched down to slap Lawton's face. The assassin woke, wincing slightly, and blinked multiple times before focusing first on Batman and then on Wonder Woman. He whistled.
"Hel-lo, legs."
Batman pressed down on Lawton's broken arm, and the assassin yelped.
"Geez, Bats, give a guy a break."
"No," said Batman flatly.
Diana rose to her feet, staring down at the assassin, and folded her arms across her chest. "It's late, I want coffee, and you're pissing us off. Who hired you?"
"Hey, babe, can't talk. You know how it is. Clients need their privacy." His gaze raked over her. "Speaking of privacy... maybe you and I could have a little time to ourselves... Maybe I'll even say a few things... if you make it worth my while." He grinned up at her.
Diana blinked, unfazed, and looked at an inwardly seething Bruce. "Seriously?"
"Bet you like it rough, huh?" goaded Deadshot.
"You have no idea," growled Batman, and slammed his foot down onto Deadshot's broken arm. The assassin shrieked in pain.
"Aw, honey," sighed Diana. "I wanted to do that."
"He has another arm," said Batman, glaring down at a gasping Lawton. Diana took a step towards him, and the assassin's pale, sweaty face turned white as his gaze flickered from Batman to Wonder Woman.
"No, wait - wait, wait, wait."
"Done wai-ting," sang Diana icily, and lunged down to wrap her lasso around him. The rope tightened and glowed; the assassin let out a bloodcurdling scream and writhed, attempting to get away from the rope.
"No, wait, stop! Get it off me!" Lawton screamed. "Get - it - off!"
"Who hired you?" snarled Batman.
"I - I don't know," Lawton's voice was hoarse, barely audible. "He... He went through channels. Maroni was just the front man."
"Tell us something we don't already know," spat the Dark Knight. "You're wasting our time. There must be a way to track the money."
"No - no way. It - it went through Maroni," gasped Lawton.
"And what about the Waynes?" Wonder Woman demanded. "Who hired you to take them out?"
"Don't - don't know that either. Money - money wired into account. Half before... half after," rasped Lawton. "No... no real name... Called... himself... Hush." He gasped again, his breathing hoarse, and finally slumped over, unconscious.
Batman and Wonder Woman exchanged disturbed glances.
"Who the hell is Hush?" demanded Batman in a low voice.
"You will pay, Princess. I will burn your heart, and I will crush the ashes in my hands. It's only beginning, Diana."
Blood. Mine. His. Mingled. Steely, burning white eyes.
Blood everywhere. Fire and blood. Hands, crushing hands grip my wrists, wrap around like iron around my neck. I can't breathe.
I grit my teeth, my jaw tight, and bolted upright in bed, looking over at an empty side. I winced at the sunlight; even I needed a decent amount of sleep. And these nightmares were more exhausting than being awake. Rubbing my eyes, I entered the bathroom, threw water on my face, and stared at my hollow eyes. This needed to be over. It was enough having an elusive enemy who wanted to kill us for no apparent reason. But Athena's threats kept getting worse; and no Olympians seemed to care enough to do anything about it.
Like always... we were on our own.
The satisfaction of Deadshot's capture was diminished heavily by my thoughts of Athena... by Ares... and by this newcomer, Hush. But as I took a quick shower and dried off, I couldn't get Ares out of my head. Even in death, he tormented me.
"Thanks a lot, Dad," I muttered grimly. Whatever the god of the dead had going on... apparently it was more important than his own daughter, made of clay and lightning though I was.
The nightmares had put me in a bad mood, and unfortunately, Dick's attitude didn't help, either.
"What do you mean, I'm grounded?"
"From the team for two weeks, like your father said," I told him, trying to remain calm as I poured a cup of coffee.
Dick kicked the island and jumped out of his chair. "I was just trying to help!" he argued, shooting Cass a glare when she poked him. "Cut it out, Cassie." He darted away from her and bounded over the island next to me. "Mom, c'mon!"
Cass signed to him to cut it out right back, and I resisted rolling my eyes. Children, acrobats or assassins, were still children.
"Both of you, enough," I put in sharply. When Dick rounded on me, I sighed, rubbed my eyes, my voice growing softer. "Honey, I know you were trying to help. But if you don't trust your father - "
"I never said he was my father!" snapped Dick, and snatched his backpack and stormed out of the kitchen, slamming a door behind him.
I leaned over the counter and stared down at my coffee before glancing up at Cass, who munched on a piece of cantaloupe and regarded me with those large black eyes.
"Boys," I muttered, shaking my head.
She nodded solemnly.
I shook my head and rose to my full height. "All right, sweetie. Let's get your reading books."
A gentle hand shook me awake; I started, found Mom staring up down at me with concerned eyes.
"What..." I started, looking around at the empty kitchen table.
"You fell asleep," Mom said. "That doctor, Doctor Elliot came by looking for you. I told him you were sleeping."
I let out a small groan. "I forgot about him. Thanks."
But Mom took a seat next to me. "Doesn't explain why you're this exhausted. You're used to getting shot at on a regular basis. What's going on, Diana?" she demanded shrewdly. "Don't even try to lie to me."
"I wasn't," I said instantly. When she shot me a look, I glanced out the window. "It's... nightmares. Athena's tormenting me."
"How?"
My jaw clenched, but I didn't respond right away. "With Ares. She keeps putting him in my head... reenacting our battles... only I lose every time. But it's more than that, it's..." My hand tightened on my now cold mug of coffee, and it cracked slightly. I couldn't get it out. I looked at the door, hoping Cass was still doing her math homework with Alfred.
Mom's face had grown steely. "Diana... When you were fighting Ares... did he..."
I rubbed my temples, instantly tensing. "I don't know, Mom."
"Have you and Bruce..."
"No."
"Then there's an easy way to find out," she said.
I licked my lips as angry tears threatened to fall. "If he did..."
Mom's eyes narrowed. "If you think Bruce won't want you, or that he'll blame you, then you're wrong, Diana. And if he does, I'll snap his neck."
I smiled faintly. "Such a gentle mother."
"I'm serious, Di. If Athena is tormenting you with visions... we need to make sure. Hell, I didn't even consider this," she said under her breath.
I sighed. "Mom, it's not your fault. Just... don't tell Bruce."
"He already suspects something, Di. He's worried about you."
"I know. We keep fighting."
"I can tell. But you need to put this past you. Your list of enemies keeps growing, and now is not the time to fall apart. You're stronger together as a unit. You have a gang of assassins after your head."
"You don't have to remind me," I muttered.
Mom studied me with a hard gaze. "Take my hand," she said quietly.
I frowned, puzzled, but took her hand. She held it firmly, steadily, and held my gaze. After a minute, she relaxed and released me.
"Nothing happened," she said.
"What? How do you - "
"Trust me, Diana," she said softly. "I know. He didn't touch you. Not like that." Her eyes became strange, distant.
"What?" I asked, slightly alarmed.
Her eyes glittered with angry tears. "I used to guard your mother with the same fierceness with which I raised you," she said softly. "And now I can't even protect you."
I tensed. She hadn't mentioned Hippolyta in a long time. It had been somewhat of an unspoken agreement between the two of us. I had long forgiven her for taking me from Hippolyta, but I knew she still harbored severe guilt, about more than one thing. I knew she had loved my mother, but she also talked about her very little at this point. Themyscira seemed like a lifetime away, I thought. Gotham had wrapped us both in its unrelenting grip, and the golden-white shores and crystal clear waters of the paradise island was all but a memory, albeit a memory seared into our brains. But with Athena's growing influence, the Unspoken Ones' restlessness, and Artemis's thirst for battle, the Amazons' memory was slowly returning. Gotham still overwhelmed us, but every now and then, I felt Hippolyta's cold presence permeating the air.
I shivered.
"We were her personal guard," Mom continued softly, after a long pause. "We were the most fiercely devoted soldiers in the entire tribe." She smiled wanly. "Phillipus was only the captain of the general guard. She told Hippolyta we were overzealous and brutal-minded. Which we were," she added gravely, with no regret, her eyes shining at me. "We slept in four doorless compartments surrounding Hippolyta's private chambers. One at least was awake at all times." But then, bitterness twisted her expression, and added softly, "Even when we dreamt... we prayed to Athena... Athena that we could guard Hippolyta in her dreams, as well."(1)
To my astonishment, tears rolled down her scarred cheeks, and she reached over and took my hand.
"If only I'd known that Athena would be using your dreams against you," she whispered. "It should be me, Diana. It should be me who's suffering. Not you. Anyone but you. Athena is punishing you for my actions. If I hadn't taken you that night -" And her head went down.
"No." I squeezed her hand, knelt down in front of her. "Mom, look at me."
She would not.
"Mom." My own voice grew rough with tears. "I went back. I went back for her. I tried to be her daughter, and she tried to kill me. Me, her own flesh and blood."
"If I hadn't taken you to Gotham - "
"Then Bruce Wayne would be a cold, bitter young man even more reckless and dangerous than he is now," I said, "And Alfred would not have anyone but him." I rose up and kissed her cheek, then hugged her tightly.
"I've never deserved you, Diana," whispered Alkyone. "I've never deserved any of this. But now you're paying for my crime."
"No," I said firmly. "I'm paying for Ares's death. I'm paying because I made the conscious decision to leave Themyscira and return to Gotham, return to all of you. Not because of you. I could've stayed, Mom. But I didn't. Because everyone I love is here. This is my home. Gotham is my home. It's in my blood, Mom. It's too late." I smiled faintly. "The minute we got here, this city got into our skin, into our bones."
Mom's eyes squeezed shut, but she opened her eyes and looked at me finally.
"And look," I added, my voice still quiet. "You've ended up with not just one daughter, but a son and two grandchildren. I would say you are blessed, Captain of Her Majesty's Guard."
She didn't smile, but her expression radiated warmth.
"I'd say it's time for a new title," I added. "It's not as though I'm still a Princess. Not of Themyscira, anyway. Of the house, maybe. Which makes you the Captain of my guard. Of the Wayne household. Would you accept that?" I held out my hand.
Slowly, her hand slid into mine. "I do," she said softly. "My Queen." And pressed a kiss to my hand.
I hugged her again. No more words needed to be said. This conversation, this topic had been closed. For good, I hoped.
The phone ringing abruptly broke our moment, and I roused, squeezed Mom's hand, and touched her shoulder lightly as I retrieved the phone. I looked at the number and raised an eyebrow, pleasantly surprised. Dinah Lance. I took the call; but before I could get a word in edgewise, Dinah spoke, her voice tired and slightly forced.
"Diana?"
"Dinah, hi."
"Are you free tomorrow night?"
I opened my mouth, then closed it. "Hi to you, too," I joked. "And yes."
Dinah sighed. "Sorry, I'm sorry... It's been a rough week."
"That's why I was calling," I told her. "It's been a difficult week for me, too. How you holding up?"
"Holding up. I could use a night off, though. You free?"
"Absolutely. I'm visiting an old friend tonight if you want to come along. I think you two would hit it off. We'll have some wine, junk food, and just take our mind off things. Feel up to it?"
She sighed again, but this was one of relief. "Do I ever. She wouldn't mind me joining?"
"Of course not. Pick you up at seven thirty?"
"Sounds like a plan," Dinah agreed.
Helena Bertinelli
Helena rapped her pencil on the table as she frowned, her gaze flickering over a paper. She crossed out a few things and said, "Hey, hotshot. We gotta work on your grammar."
Dick, who was on the couch playing Mario Kart with Cass, scowled. "Grammar's fine," he mumbled.
Helena raised an eyebrow. "Cut the mood, kid. This is a no-moody-zone. I get enough of that from your dear ol' pops. Don't need you turning into him, got it? Be more like your mom."
Dick didn't reply. "I wouldn't turn into him, anyway," he muttered.
"No mumbling!" Helena ordered. "Your mom's going to be here any minute. Want me to tell her you've been a brooding Batman wannabe?"
"No," mumbled Dick.
Helena shook her head, tempted to mumble something under her breath. She resisted, wanting to be slightly more mature in the situation. She'd taken Dick home with her after school; Cass had joined them via Philomena dropping her off. She'd noticed right off the bat Dick's poor attitude, but she just didn't know what was wrong. Moody teenager? she wondered, losing interest in his paper. Maybe. But probably not. He was pissed off at Bruce, but he wouldn't say why. He'd been stubbornly silent in the car, and his mood hadn't improved much since then, even after some snacks and Mario Kart. Cass, she noticed, usually managed to cheer her brother up, but not today.
She'd leave him alone for now, let him tell her when and if he wanted to.
A knock came at the door; recognizing Diana's knock, Helena called that it was open. Diana stepped through, behind her a blonde woman who looked even more tired than Helena felt. Dinah Lance, Helena remembered a tad sourly. She shrugged to herself. Whatever.
"I brought company," said Diana, setting down a few bags on the table. "Hope you don't mind."
"Yeah, well." Helena peered up at Dinah through her glasses.
"I think we got off on the wrong foot," said Dinah.
"Hmm."
Dinah smiled. "I brought chocolate."
Helena blinked, then smirked. "You're all right, Blondie. Have a seat. I have water, grape juice, apple juice, and Sprite. Also have some snacks."
"Grading?"
"Yup. Fun times abound. Have a seat, make yourself at home. Hey, you," she called out to Dick. "Watch those run-on sentences."
Dick groaned. "Aw, man. How many?"
"A lot, Mister."
Dick grumbled again under his breath and let out a yelp as Cass exploded his car. Cass grinned and nudged him.
Dinah set the chocolate down on the table. Helena put her papers down and took a sip of Sprite, carefully eyeing the blonde. "So. You work with Dent."
"That's right."
"Seems like kind of a douche. I don't like his hair," said Helena. "Too much gel. When a man uses more hair gel than I do, I get suspicious."
Dinah started laughing, much to Helena's surprise. "I'm glad I'm not the only one to have noticed," said the assistant D.A., snickering. "Oh, my goodness. Drives me crazy. He definitely uses more product than I ever have." She ran a hand over her hair.
"Word is you two are a little more than colleagues."
"Word is wrong," said Dinah simply. When Helena raised an eyebrow, she added, "Harvey's a good man, but we're just friends. I'm not looking, well, not ready for a relationship right now."
"I hear that," Helena said somewhat begrudgingly. "Asshats."
Dinah smiled. "I'd say so. So, you're a teacher. Where do you teach?"
"Gotham Prep. I teach punks like that over there," she said, pointing to Dick, who made a face. "A little far from here, but it's great pay, so, I deal. You just move here?"
"Moved back, yes. From Star City." Dinah looked suddenly uncomfortable.
"And you moved back to Gotham... why?"
"I wanted a change," said Dinah. "And being the Assistant D.A. was a big step up for me, and I agree with Harvey's campaign, so... It just felt... right." But Diana noticed a strange darkness in her eyes.
"Still. You willingly choose to come back to Gotham. That takes a certain kind of person," Helena commented frankly. "And from what I hear Star City's pretty nice. You must have a few screws loose."
Dinah smiled. "Maybe I do."
"Hmm. So how'd you meet our resident future billionaire?" Helena's eyes danced as she looked at Diana.
Diana rolled her eyes. "It's not as if I own that money."
"Still. You mooch off him, I mooch off you... that's how it works," said Helena with a careless shrug. "What are friends for?"
But Dinah was frowning. She hesitated, and Helena knew she was holding something back.
"Don't take this the wrong way... but you're a smart woman, Diana," said Dinah slowly. "I just don't understand..."
"Trust me, nobody does," cut in Helena.
"Me and Bruce?" Diana smiled. "I know we're not an obvious match, but we work well together."
"Even if he flirts with other women right in front of you?" Dinah blurted out.
Helena had to admire Dinah's gall. She wasn't sure how well the blonde woman knew Diana, but at least she was sticking up for her. Not many friends would be that honest, especially if it involved a handsome billionaire. Maybe she'd pegged this woman wrong. She was almost certain now that Lance wasn't screwing Dent, and now she seemed to be disliking Playboy Wayne. Not too bad.
Diana shook her head, a little uncomfortable. Helena felt a twinge of pity for her old friend; it had to be rough seeing her fiance flirt with other women. Even if it wasn't real, and they had both agreed and known what it would take to lead a double life... It had to be difficult.
"I don't condone his actions, believe me," Dina sighed. "But I know what I'm getting into, and I promise you that I can handle it."
Hell yes she can, thought Helena dryly. If anyone could, it was Diana.
"You deserve better than some cheating scumbag," Dinah argued. "Helena, I'm sure you'd agree."
"Oh, I do," said Helena dryly. "Guy's a total scumbag."
"Who is?" piped up Dick.
"Your dear ol' pops," said Helena.
"Oh." Dick went back to playing.
Dinah raised her eyebrows. "Well, then."
"Oh, Dinah - this is Dick and Cass, my kids." Diana nodded to the siblings, smiling.
Cass peered over the couch and waved.
"Hi," said Dick, less enthusiastic.
"Your... kids?" But Dinah's confusion was quickly overtaken by a huge smile. "Hi!" She beamed at Diana. "They're so adorable," she said. "How old are they?"
"Dick is twelve, Cass is eight."
Dinah looked even more hesitant now. "I didn't know..."
Diana laughed. "Dinah, I understand. And don't worry about me. I've known Bruce since we were kids, and trust me - he's not as bad as you think he is."
"You're definitely a force to be reckoned with, Diana," said Dinah. "How long have you two known each other?" She looked between her and Helena.
"Oh, Di and I go way back," drawled Helena. "Started in kindergarten all the way up to high school." Her phone suddenly buzzed; she checked it instantly.
Another body was just found. Same MO as the last one. Face skinned off. Get down here when you can.
She didn't recognize the number.
It's Vic.
How the hell had he gotten her number?
Don't bother asking how I got the number. If you're interested text back. This connection is secure and backrouted through a dozen different satellites. No one can trace it.
She rolled her eyes and inserted him as a contact, calling him "Q."
Wouldn't have expected you to text me at all, she responded.
If you're not happy with it, tell me.
You're just weird, Q.
Don't call me that.
Too bad. I'll be out later tonight.
Let's meet, he texted back.
All right. My apartment? I'm guessing you already know the address.
I do. 11?
You bring the food. I'll get the wine.
It's a serial killer investigation. You want to look at gruesome photos over a nice dinner?
No, you dolt. Before the photos, obviously.
I'll be there.
Helena put her phone away. She'd be lying if she said the skinned man hadn't disturbed her. And now another one? Serial killer if she ever saw one. Common as street rats in Gotham, but more and more the psychos were coming out of the woodwork.
And this whole thing with Vic... It was getting weird. Not weird, weird. A comfortable weird. As in texting weird. She was honestly flabbergasted that he owned a phone, or that he texted her at all. And now they were having dinner? At her place? She hoped he didn't expect anything else.
But she felt a strange thrill at the idea of seeing him again. She hadn't had a decent boyfriend in a long time. Or ever. She'd gone back to Sicily for a year, just before Diana had come back, and she'd thought she loved someone... But no. He was part of the mob, and she wanted no part of it.
But Q was different. Sure, a little creepy. Total weirdo. A little older. Rugged. Dedicated. Still a total weirdo. Paranoid. Neurotic. Pretty good looking. OK, maybe he was a few years older. At least ten. Eh. She'd gone out with older men before. He didn't look that much older, anyway. Kinda chiseled. Pulled off the rugged look very well.
Had a secret soft side.
Ugh. She hoped she wasn't getting mushy.
"Interesting text, El?" said Diana knowingly.
"Quite," said Helena. She looked up, leaned back in her chair, and studied the blonde woman. If Diana seemed to like her, she had to be all right. "So. Star City, huh?"
Dinah nodded slowly. "Yep. Nice city. Very beautiful. But... just not for me, at least right now. Gotham has a beauty all its own."
"If by beauty you mean criminal psychopaths and gang thugs, sure," drawled Helena. "I guess they're all right looking."
Dinah laughed. "Well, have you seen Batman?"
Helena raised an eyebrow. "Oh my." She grinned wickedly. "So, you have met our infamous Dark Knight after all."
Dinah blushed slightly. "Just once. He's... a force to be reckoned with. They don't call him a great detective for nothing."
"Oh? Now I'm intrigued. Tell me more." Helena ignored Diana's deathly glares and hid a wince when her old friend kicked her under the table. Did the woman not know her own strength?
Dinah laughed and took a sip of wine. "Oh, trust me. I'm just saying he's hot - in that tall, dark and scary kinda way. Nothing else, though. I'm pretty sure he's taken. With kids."
Helena dared a glance over at Dick and Cass, both who were too engrossed in their own game to be listening to anything they were saying. At least, Cass seemed so. Cass... Cass was probably listening in to every word they said, analyzing everything. That girl was scary smart, and if her birth mother was anything to go by, even more dangerous. She'd seen the girl fight; it was eerie how Cass predicted every move of her opponent, even before her opponent had thought it himself. She couldn't put anything past Cass, that was certain.
"Met the Woman of Wonder yet?" Helena asked sweetly, changing the subject slightly.
"I haven't, actually," said Dinah, her expression revealing some disappointment. "But I would love to... If I could just sit down and have a chat with her, that would be amazing."
Helena grinned. "What would you say to her?"
"Just... I'd like to thank her, and tell her that I admire her for what she's doing. She's a force of nature. From what I've heard, she's an actual Amazon, which, in this day and age, is entirely possible. Got Superman in Metropolis, meta-humans popping up everywhere..." She trailed off, cleared her throat. "So. I'd just like to meet her."
"I'm sure she'd like you, Dinah," Diana said warmly. "From what I've heard - and I've never met her myself - but I've heard she's pretty amazing."
"I've met her, actually," said Helena smoothly.
Diana stepped on her foot.
"She's kind of a pill," added Helena.
Diana pressed harder.
"Really?" Dinah looked startled. "I mean... not that Batman wasn't an egomaniac... but I thought she would be different."
"Nope, a pill." Helena took a sip of wine as Diana kicked her again. "And the tall, dark, scary Bat is a pill too, huh?"
Dinah grinned. "Sexy, but a jerk. Classic bad boy syndrome?"
Diana covered a burst of laughter with violent coughing. "Sorry," she apologized sweetly, taking Helena's wine from her. "Just need some water."
Helena quickly snatched the wineglass back.
"But they're both doing good work," said Dinah, confused at their behavior. "How'd you meet her?"
"Oh, you know... she's around..." Helena waved her glass airily. "Just random happenstance."
"Huh. Well, if she ever shows up, I'd like to meet her."
"What, no interesting characters in Star City?" Helena said, underlining another problem on Dick's paper in red. "Don't you guys have your own vigilante?"
Dinah turned slightly pale. "Yes, I think so," she said finally, forcing a smile. "Don't know much about him."
"Green Arrow, right?" Helena was studying the blonde woman carefully. Dinah was good, but not that good. "Heard he's pretty popular."
"Not exactly," said Dinah. "The police still aren't sure... at least, they don't have the same trust level as Batman and Wonder Woman have here." She frowned, turned to Diana. "Speaking of which," she said, probably hoping to get the questions off herself, Helena noted, "You're good friends with Jim Gordon, aren't you?"
Helena watched Diana's reaction carefully.
"Yes," said Diana, smiling. "We met Jim when Bruce's car was hit a while back. His daughter comes over to our house a lot. She and my son are good friends."
Dinah's brow furrowed. "Not to be out of line... But has he ever mentioned them to you?"
"Who, the vigilantes?" Diana chuckled. "No, he doesn't like to talk about his work. I'm not really interested in a couple of vigilantes running around in costumes. I'm organizing some events for charity, and I do what I can... But I leave the police work to the good Commissioner and others like him. If he thinks Wonder Woman and Batman are good for the city, then I'll trust his judgment. Personally I think they're a little looney, but hey... what do I know?"
Helena smirked. "Not a lot, apparently."
Diana kicked her again and smiled sweetly.
1. - Paraphrased from Wonder Woman - The Circle by Gail Simone - WHO I should add is now FOLLOWING ME ON TWITTER!
Thoughts?
- Christy