Hunter's Night
By Christy
A/N: Moved into a new apartment, started grad school, and a new job in Boston. So, a little busy! :)
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Diana
It was shaping up to be a long night.
No sign of Deathstroke. No sign of any of the other assassins. Crime was minimal. And to top it all off, while we were on their way to hunt down the missing dagger, we ran into another little problem. Well... a green problem.
Batman and Robin had foregone the Tumbler to take the rooftops in a more quiet approach, while Cass and I would do the same, hovering overhead. We had to be cautious and lay low, as per usual - but when we got a call from Gordon, the quiet night started to get a little more interesting.
"Go," Batman rasped via intercom.
"Sorry to interrupt," Gordon said, a strange, almost dry note to his voice. "Dent wants to talk. So does his partner, Lance."
"We're a little busy," Batman returned sharply.
"I realize that. I'll let them know you may not show. Keep me updated if you need any backup. Gordon out." He'd learned well enough not to wait for a reply from us and simply hung up.
A pause, and Cass tapped my shoulder.
Someone down below. She pointed to the building adjacent us.
I peered down. Huh. Not what I had expected. "Well. That's interesting," I mused. I motioned for her to hang tight as we dropped onto a building roof.
"Batman, we got a visitor," I said into the earcom.
"I know," snarled Bruce. "I see him. The idiot."
Robin laughed. "Oh, c'mon, boss. He looks all right. That's him right? Arrow?"
"Green Arrow," I corrected. "You got him, hon?"
"Yes," my fiance snapped. I could already see him moving into position on the opposite end, several buildings away. "Hang tight and stay with me. This conversation's going to be quick. We have more important things to do."
Batman moved almost as fast as an Amazon - he still surprised me from time to time. From Queen's position, where the emerald archer believed himself to be hidden, scoping out the streets below, Batman was easily able to bypass him and drop down on him from behind in one fell swoop. The archer let out a startled gasp and tried to block the oncoming descent - but too late. Batman's takedown was quick and brutally flawless.
Dad's good, Cass signed, eagerly jumping down to meet him.
I swung her up in my arms and soared down. "Yes, he is," I agreed, secretly thrilled.
When we reached the rooftop, Robin and Batman had released a sullen, humiliated Queen, who looked even more embarrassed at my arrival.
"Oh, c'mon," Queen grumbled. "Really? Gotta make a whole scene of it, do you, Batman?" He picked himself up, muttering under his breath.
"Oh, hell," snarled Batman. "I don't have time for this. Get out of my city, Queen."
"Hear me out," snapped Green Arrow, holding up his hands. "I get that you don't want to join our team -" and here he looked more to me - "and at this rate it doesn't even look like you can handle your own city as it is -"
Batman lunged for him again, knocked Queen's bow clean out of his hands, and gripped him by the collar, smashing him up against the wall. "Get. Out," he thundered.
Well, this was going wonderfully. Bruce was going to tear Dinah's former boyfriend apart before they ever had a chance to reconnect. If she ever wanted to. The man was getting on my nerves as well. He had serious guts to insult us in our own territory, I'd give him that. But it was also a stupid move, and wouldn't win him any points, if that's what he was trying to accomplish.
"Hands off," spat Green Arrow, and tried to electrocute Batman with one of his arrows.
It didn't work.
Batman punched him.
Queen spat blood on the ground. "Damn it," he mumbled. "Listen, you sick son of a bitch. I didn't come here to fight with you."
"You fooled us, Oliver," I said coolly.
Queen turned to look up at me sharply. He stared at me hard for a long moment.
Hmm. I wondered if he recognized my voice from the failed dinner party the other night.
"Listen," he rasped, wiping his nose, as I relaxed slightly. "I'm not even here for you. I'm looking for someone here."
We knew who.
"Who?" demanded Batman anyway.
Oliver hesitated. "Someone from Star City."
"Who?"
Oliver grit his teeth. "Slade Wilson. Goes by Deathstroke."
"Our territory, Queen."
Queen's eyes narrowed. "Like hell - all right, all right!" he added, before Batman punched him again. "Shi - sheesh," he quickly amended, seeing Cass beside me. "I just... I need to stick around for a while."
Batman glanced over at me. "Fine," he spat out. "But not as Green Arrow."
"What?" Oliver yelped. "Wait a minute - I can help you! I've fought Deathstroke before -"
"Good for you," snarled Batman, dragging him to his feet. "Now get out."
Oliver glared at him. "I can help you."
"We don't need your help. Especially not your help."
Oliver cast a quick look to me, as if to plead for my assistance. While I usually wouldn't turn down another helping hand, Batman was right. Oliver didn't know us. He didn't know how we operated, how we fought, how we strategized. He especially didn't know Gotham's streets, and that itself was more dangerous than almost anything else. He would not only slow us down, but he would potentially put us in more danger, especially in a fight where our attackers knew the city almost as well as we did.
It wouldn't work.
I'd take Dinah's help over his first.
When we left Oliver there, disappearing into the night, I met with Batman on another rooftop to watch Oliver pick himself up, still grumbling under his breath.
"What do you think?" I asked, already knowing the answer.
"Potential problem," Bruce said bluntly. "If he gets in our way, it'll make things more difficult."
"But we still have several assassins after us," I added. "We... could use all the help we can get."
He shot me a look through his lenses. "You really think that."
"Not from him," I added dryly. "He seems like a good guy. Little... out of it. But a good guy."
"Could be worse," Bruce admitted grudgingly. "But I still don't like him."
"Neither do I. Speaking of people I'm not too keen on... We might as well see what Dent wants before it's too late. It's on the way to the museum, and besides." I shot him a devilish grin. "You haven't met the new blood."
Another look.
Gordon
It was shaping up to be a long night.
Not only did a surprise Amazon waltz through his door, but Dent and Lance both wanted to have a word with the Bat and Amazon about Maroni's upcoming trial. As he poured himself yet another cup of coffee and lamented the fact that he wouldn't be there to tuck Barbara in - again - and wondered what his daughter was even up to, or if she was even sleeping or helping out with... vigilante activities... He saw Artemis - Essen - nearly bump into an approaching Dinah Lance. The young assistant D.A. looked even more tired than he felt.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Dinah apologized, stepping back.
"Not at all," was the clipped tone of the disguised Amazon. Gordon noticed not one of the men had even gone near her. She just oozed intimidation. Good.
Dinah smiled faintly. "I'm just here to see the Commissioner. Dinah Lance," said the assistant D.A., holding out a hand. She eyed Essen strangely. "Have we met?"
"I don't think so. I just transferred here, to Gotham." Artemis shook her hand firmly. "Detective Sarah Essen. I've heard a lot about you."
"I'm sure," Dinah said wryly. "Well, I'm here to see the Commissioner." She glanced over her shoulder as Dent strode into the station, still on his phone. She sighed, rubbed her temples. "It's, uh, been a long night. You ever have one of those? I'm sure you do."
"No." The Amazon's tone was short.
Dinah stared at her for a second, then smirked faintly. "No, you don't look like you would. If you don't mind my asking," she continued, not even taken aback by Artemis's stance, "Why Gotham?" When Artemis's eyes narrowed, Dinah added, "This coming from me. My parents were Gotham cops, actually, both of them. It's just great to see another woman join the team."
"Gotham offered a... unique opportunity," Artemis replied stiffly, after a moment. "New experiences are always good to keep learning. Staying present. Trained."
Dinah nodded seriously. "Oh, absolutely."
Gordon took this time to step into the conversation. "Sorry to interrupt, but we better get going," he said quietly.
Artemis eyed him. "To where?" He knew she didn't like being ordered around.
"The roof in five. Grab yourself a cup of coffee, Detective," he said. "You're going to need it tonight."
Detective Essen's lips parted in a silent snarl. He was pretty sure a derogatory Amazonian curse was about to fly out.
Diana
Oh, I wish I could've filmed this. Despite the situation, despite the assassins still after our heads, it was just too much fun to see Bruce's reaction - or non-reaction - to Artemis when she stepped out onto the roof behind Gordon.
I saw Bruce hold back a groan. Then, his glare shot right at me. I shrugged innocently.
"This must be the infamous Batman," Detective Sarah Essen said shortly. "I thought you'd be taller."
Harvey Dent's jaw dropped. Dinah Lance also looked stunned. Up above, I saw Robin and Batgirl stifling laughs behind their hands.
"Detective Essen," Batman growled. "First day on the job. Arrogance is the first mistake that gets people killed in Gotham."
"Well, then I'm sure you could learn a thing or two," Essen snapped.
Oh, hell. Artemis... I hissed a Themysciran curse under my breath. Artemis heard me and had the good sense to look at least a bit guilty.
Gordon cleared his throat loudly. "Detective Essen, Dinah Lance, this is... Wonder Woman." He sounded defeated.
Essen merely nodded. I had to resist rolling my eyes.
"Hi," said Dinah, clearing her throat. "It's, uh, great to meet you... finally."
"Likewise," I said with a nod, forcing myself to hide a smile.
"You're taller than I thought you'd be."
"I'm fairly average for an Amazon, actually," I said despite myself. I felt Batman's glare boring into my back, and Essen rolling her eyes, scoffing under her breath. I steeled myself. No time for small talk, Bruce was right. "But we're not here to chat. The Roman's trial is coming up, but we know he's not the main source behind the assassin attacks."
"The assassins - they went after the Wayne family, too," Dinah said with a scowl.
"We know."
"So what are you saying?" Harvey demanded. "Maroni's not stupid. He wouldn't get into bed with someone he didn't trust."
"He would if enough money was involved," Batman said grimly. "And if he had no other options."
"You squeezed him into a panic," Harvey realized. "He didn't have a choice, so he went this... benefactor who hired these assassins."
"It would seem so."
"And there's no way to trace the money?" Dinah asked. "No bank accounts, wire transfers..."
"Everything we've found has been handled with cash, under the table, in person," Batman said.
"So whoever this guy is, he's gotta be more loaded than Bruce Wayne himself," Dinah remarked.
Batman and I exchanged glances.
"We're prepared," said Harvey, his eyes glinting.
I knew Bruce was frowning. "Now's not the time to get cocky. The mob plays dirty. And with this Hush person involved, we don't know how deep it goes."
"You don't think I can play dirty?"
"If it's even the mob," I cut in.
"Maybe Hush is someone in the mob," Harvey argued. "A codename for a hitman. For all we know, he's Deadshot."
"Or maybe he isn't."
"Not everyone dresses up in costumes and runs around like - " Harvey's lips pressed together as he shook his head and ran a hand through his hair, agitated.
My gaze slid to Dinah. She did not look happy with Dent. She glanced over at me, almost apologetic. Essen's eyes were also narrowed at Dent. She didn't like him.
"What I'm trying to say is that you need to have a little faith in me," Harvey amended. "I've been doing this for a while now. Men like Maroni are a dime a dozen."
"So are district attorneys," Essen cut in sharply. "You seem just a little too sure that you're going to win this. From what I've seen, the mob's been able to weasel their way out of just about anything in this city."
"No offense, Detective," Harvey said, "But they haven't run into me yet."
Out of the corner of her eye, I saw Artemis shoot me an irritated glance. She didn't like Dent's overconfident attitude. I was on the fence.
"We'll see, Mr. Dent," I said, and shot up into the sky.
Artemis
She didn't like Dent. At all. She didn't like his gaze. She didn't like the look in his eye. She didn't trust him. She knew that Diana didn't, either. Wayne was on the fence. Gordon seemed to trust him. But only as much as Wayne did.
Gotham was run by Batman, she thought with a snort. That limited her options if she disagreed with her protege's beloved. Maybe she should've picked a different city. Metropolis, perhaps. But that was also taken over by another controlling man. Hmm.
She liked Gotham, though. She did. She liked the darkness, the richness. She liked the layers, the aura. It filled her with a certain... anticipation. A certain... bloodlust. Excitement. Contained though she was as a Gotham detective, she could still roam the streets. She could still use brute force if necessary.
Hopefully.
Unless that ass Dent had something to say about it. Word was he'd been investigating cops in Gotham for a while now. She wouldn't be surprised if she were next.
He could try, she thought darkly.
"Detective?"
She blinked, looked up at a sheepish Lawrence, holding out a cup of coffee.
"Yes?"
"Here. You look like you could use it," he said kindly.
She tensed, ready to bite his head off. She didn't need his sympathy, his kindness, or his damn cup of coffee - and wasn't he swooning over Philomena? Or was he cheating on her already? Was he just another disappointing male pig who needed to be wiped off the face of the earth? She didn't need any help, especially from some pathetic, simpering male swine -
"Only if you want it," he added quickly. "I used to get the coffee for everyone around here, and it kinda just stuck. But I remember my first week here, Lieutenant Gordon - uh, Commissioner Gordon got me a few cups. So, just passing it on, you know?" He grinned sheepishly. "Rambling, sorry. Anyway, it's bad. But here. If you want it."
Oh. He was being...
"Thoughtful," she managed to murmur, more to herself. She cleared her throat, took the cup. "How thoughtful. Thank you." She nodded, attempting to be somewhat gracious.
"No problem. And if any of these guys say you're up for coffee duty, they're full of bs," he said bluntly, grinning. "Trust me."
"Very well." She didn't know what to say to that. She would never serve someone else coffee. Not even for Diana. Maybe for Diana. Well... no. Not even for Diana.
"Essen," barked Gordon, coming out of his office. "Take a ride with me."
Artemis stuffed down the urge to slice his head off at the sheer arrogance of a man giving orders to her - her, the most feared and honored Amazon warrior, her - the fiercest immortal warrior of the Queen of the Amazons - her - who had slaughtered hundreds, thousands in battle in honor of her people who had been enslaved for so long - her, the trainer and loyal guardian and protector of the Heir of the Amazons, the Princess of Themyscira - Her -
Mortal. Human. Detective. Sarah. Essen.
Traitor. Deserter. Cursed.
Mortal. Sarah. Essen.
Artemis sucked in a long, slow breath. Rose from her chair. Took the coffee. And followed Gordon out to the car.
She said nothing for a long time, lost in her own thoughts. A steady, drizzling Gotham rain drew her even deeper into her own memories. Until Gordon pulled her out, and had her say what was on her mind. "He's an arrogant ass," she said shortly.
Gordon sighed. "Dent is confident, and an ass, I'll give you that. But he's the best chance we got of actually putting these guys away."
"You certain of that?"
Gordon didn't sound happy with her tone. "You're not?"
"No."
He licked his lips, ran a hand over where stubble was growing. "Why not?"
"I think he's biting off more than he can chew. I also think there's something he's hiding. Something not right about him. He makes me uneasy."
A flash of alarm went through Gordon's eyes. "Listen... I know we've had our differences. But I trust your judgment. Even if you are prone to... jump to conclusions. But with everything you've probably been through, I don't blame you. But I want you to know that I trust you. Even if you don't trust me yet." He turned to her, fixing her with a curious, hard gaze.
Artemis hid her surprise and looked away. His eyes were honest, she'd give him that. Honest, and very blue.
"Uneasy how?" he pressed. "What don't you like about Dent?"
"I don't like his eyes, Gordon. You can tell almost everything about a man through his eyes."
"Window the soul, something like that?"
"Something like that," she said coolly. "I don't like his. I've seen plenty of men with eyes like his. One wrong move... one bad thing..." She snapped her fingers. "Turns on you. Just like that. I don't trust him. There's a wild look in his eyes, and I wouldn't trust him with my soldiers as far as I could shoot him."
"Soldiers," he murmured, more to himself. "Of course." He looked as though he were in deep thought about something. "I can't look into his medical records," Gordon admitted after a moment. "Legal issues."
"Not even for police business?"
"If I were Loeb or Flass? A corrupt cop? Then yes," he said dryly. "But no, not legally. Unless we have something concrete, we'll just have to keep an eye on him."
"So you believe me."
"No reason not to. You have more experience than I do."
"Yes," she said, almost hesitantly. Almost. "But this is your city. Your... world. I am not as familiar with it as you are."
He rubbed his jaw, smiled thinly. "Truth is, Essen, that this world ain't a hell of a lot different from the world you knew. It's just quicker and easier to kill people now."
"Hmm," she said. "Depends on who's doing the killing."
Gordon shot her a look. "Right. Remind me not to get on your bad side."
Batman
Aside from the one appearance of Queen, the night had been disappointing. A few minor crimes here and there, but the assassins had been strangely quiet. Too quiet. Batman was becoming more than a little uneasy.
When they finally did a perimeter sweep of the museum and entered, Batman carefully glanced around the quiet building. There was something about museums that had... a strange, almost mystical aspect to them. But on the one hand, he was walking beside a living legend. Still, something felt off about the entire situation - and that usually meant his instincts were correct.
"Robin, Batgirl," he said quietly. "You two hang back around the perimeter."
Robin frowned for a second. "Aw, but what about the -" He cut himself off and nodded hastily. "Yes, sir." He and Cass dropped back before Batman could direct a vicious glare at him.
As they stepped into the Greek and Roman artifact area of the museum, Bruce had to admit he felt a strange tug at his chest. "I don't like this," he admitted to Diana.
"What's to like?" she muttered, warily glancing around.
The missing knife case still hadn't been touched. Batman carefully inspected the case that held the missing knife, using his computer lenses to further analyze the surrounding area. "I'm running a fingerprint analysis on the case now," he said. "Matching it up with those of the employees'." After a second, he added grimly, "Nothing out of the ordinary. No other prints here. No other fibers. You see anything?" If these specialized lenses or Diana's sharp, Amazonian eagle eyes didn't pick something else up, they were again at a dead end.
"No," she said, disappointed. "So in theory - it's someone from the museum."
"But we've checked everyone."
"Right."
"So we'll check them again."
Diana rubbed her temples. "More research. Can I please just hit someone?"
He smirked. "Careful, Princess. Temper."
She shook her head, knowing they were both teasing and exhausted by the whole ordeal, and turned to Robin and Batgirl, who were at the other end of the museum. "You two find anything?"
"Yeah," said Robin. "Museums creep me out. Also... this shield over here is glowing."
Exchanging startled glances, Batman and Diana rushed over to them, where they found an old, battered shield with a Medusa design hanging in another glass case, its inscriptions and design glowing bright blue. Batman wanted to groan - he hated magic. He couldn't explain most of it, and he weirded the hell out of him.
"It's Athenian," murmured Diana. "Looks like Perseus' shield. Could even be the original."
"And it's glowing because...?" Robin frowned, bewildered.
Batman felt a cold pit in his stomach. "Because she's here."
Diana cursed, whirled around just as a guttural snarl echoed throughout the musuem; and a lithe, graceful figure pounced on her.
"Took you long enough!" came a loud, mocking bellow from above.
Bruce grit his teeth and immediately threw out two batarangs up at the glass ceiling where Deathstroke was hiding. The assassin dodged each of the attacks and jumped down onto the second level walk.
"That the best you got?" he shouted.
Robin burst up after him, practically flying up the railing. No question he was one of the Flying Graysons.
But he was no match for a supercharged assassin.
"Robin, wait!" Batman snarled, lunging after him.
Time for round two.
Thoughts?
I'm mean to Ollie, I know. Don't worry - he'll be back! And I really do love him.
FYI: He is the Justin Hartley/Smallville interpretation of Oliver Queen.
More battle scenes ahead, plus plot-advancing stuff. Plus more Huntress & Question! :)
- Christy