Hunter's Night

By Christy

A/N: Yes. I know. Grad school. Writing two novels for grad school. And grad school. I love you all and thank you for all your messages and urging me to update - believe me, it's been killing me that I haven't had the time.

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Cass

Robin had disobeyed Batman's orders. Again. As he chased after Deathstroke up on the second level of the museum, Cassandra watched as a strange cat woman, covered completely in orange cheetah-like fur, attacked Wonder Woman with a curiously strong vengeance, actually giving her a fight.

"Batgirl, stay in the perimeter," she heard Batman snarl in her earcom. "Don't engage. Do not engage."

Cassandra did as ordered, and disappeared into the shadows, climbing to the ledge of the third floor of the atrium to watch her mother and the cheetah-woman fight around the ancient Roman and Greek artifacts. But when she felt a strange, familiar chill; instincts kicked in immediately, and she whirled around, her fists ready. She much preferred hand to hand combat over projectile objects; she felt more comfortable using her own body as a weapon.

But she wasn't the only one.

A figure stepped out of the shadows.

"You're improving," said a familiar voice in Mandarin. It'd been almost two years since she'd heard that voice.

Cassandra tensed as she glared apprehensively at her birth mother.

"They've kept you strong," said Shiva in English. "Good."

Still, Cass didn't move.

"A bounty has been put on their heads," continued Shiva. "I was hired to collect."

Cass's eyes narrowed behind the mask.

"As was David Cain."

Cassandra felt a true stab of terror.

"He will collect," said Shiva. "I will not. But consider this a warning. I am an assassin, Cassandra. I have other business in Gotham. Do not get in my way."

Cassandra's glare intensified. "Murder is still murder," she signed. "I'm not going to let you kill anyone."

Shiva's eyes softened slightly. "You don't have a choice."

And swift as the wind, she came at Cassandra. Cass had been training with her mother, but even with the Amazon's super-human speed, Shiva still struck like lightning. Cass had already anticipated her moves and was able to duck, block the next blow, and retaliate instantly.

After several minutes, Shiva abruptly retreated and straightened to her full height, satisfied. "Good," she said softly. "But we are not finished. Not yet." She turned and disappeared into the shadows.

Cass didn't even bother going after her.

Shiva

On the roof of an adjacent building, Shiva met a hulking shadowed figure and followed his gaze to where the team of Gotham fought their hearts out. Deathstroke and Cheetah were finally giving them a fight worth their time, and Shiva was pleased to see that Diana was actually given some real competition as she struggled against Cheetah's brutal attacks. But, to her credit, the Amazon Princess gave as good as she got, returning each blow for blow, growing more furious and more brutal in her own attacks.

"She has grown even stronger than I'd have realized." Pure admiration shone in his voice.

Shiva did not even look at her companion. "If you hurt any one of them, I will kill you."

A short laugh. "I have no doubt of it." A pause. "Though I admit I'm surprised. Getting soft, are we, Shiva?"

Shiva shot him an icy glare out of the corner of her eye. "I have unfinished business with the little one. When she is old enough. But for now... she is under their protection, by my will. Consequently, you will not harm them."

Another pause.

"As if I could," her companion murmured.

"Getting soft, are we?" mocked Shiva softly.

"Blood runs thicker," the man said.

Shiva's jaw flexed ever so slightly, and she looked away. "Not always."

After a moment, she turned and disappeared into the darkness.

Her companion's eyes were fixed on Wonder Woman. He took in a slow, wheezing breath, and eventually turned away.

Diana

With a snarl of fur and claws, the Cheetah woman lashed out at me, her claws scraping and sparking against my gauntlets. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Robin jumping up after Deathstroke, and Batman hunting them both down.

"I don't want to hurt you," I struggled to get out, ducking another lash. She got me in the chin with a brutal kick, hurling me back into an exhibit. I crashed into the glass, ancient artifacts tumbling and rolling to the floor around me.

"But I want want to hurt you, Princess," she snarled, and leaped up, claws bared -

I ducked under her, grabbed her tail, and punched her in the face, sending her flying back into that same exhibit. "Please be a little more original," I growled, as I grabbed my lasso, feeling its power hum underneath my fingers, and hurled it at one of her pawed feet, then jerked her around and, leaping into the air, whirled around and kicked her in the gut. She skidded to the floor with a hissed shriek, and turned about sharply, her claws catching the floor.

"How?" I snarled. "How are you doing this?"

She just grinned, flashing me her fangs. "Wouldn't you like to know, Princess."

"Who are you working for?" I spat at her. "Artemis? Athena? You reek of blood magic. What did they make you give up for this?"

But she just laughed hoarsely. "Nothing. I asked for this, Princess. I wanted this. And this will be the last face you see before I rip your heart out!"

I burst up into the air, hovering over her. Feeling a strange fury rising in my chest as I struggled to catch my breath from her gods-given strength and speed, I glared down at her. And then I saw a gleam of the kopis knife in the band of her black shorts.

"Oh, no one cares," I snarled. And I tore back down with a battle cry, my fists crackling with a strange, furious energy.

And our dance continued.

Bruce

Deathstroke was a meta-human, made strong by a serum, and even crazier because of it. Bruce was growing tired of this super-soldier experimentation, and even more irritated with fighting them. While last time Deathstroke had been playing with him, toying with him to make him angry and hopefully catch him off-guard, now the former soldier was going for the kill - but on his own terms. This was all a game to Slade Wilson, and Bruce was sure as hell that he wasn't going to play by Slade's rules. He didn't match Slade physicially, but then again, he'd grown used to sparring with Amazons, even stronger than Wilson.

And he knew that despite Slade's training, even Slade hadn't had the amount of dedicated training that he'd had. Diana was the best fighter in the world, Bruce had no doubt about that. Hard to top being trained by anyone else.

Batman threw a smoke bomb as Slade brought his swords down and motioned for Robin to move to the rafters above and ambush Deathstroke. Robin, thankfully did as order, slipping off into the shadows.

"You think you have a chance with your parlor tricks?" laughed Slade into the open atrium. "Please, Batman, give me some credit. I know you trained with Ra's al Ghul. You really think I'm impressed with that?"

Batman's eyes narrowed behind his lenses as he brought out an electrical batarang, still covered by the smoke filtering into the air. "I think you're overestimating yourself, Wilson," he said, throwing his voice around.

"Oh, really? Well then why don't you come out and fight me? Man to man?" Deathstroke demanded. "Or - man to rodent?" He laughed.

Batman rolled his eyes. "Because I'm not an idiot. But you are." And he hurled several electrical batarangs at Deathstroke before leaping off to another position higher up across from Robin. As Deathstroke sliced through one batarang, others came around from the back and nearly hit him - but Deathstroke was too fast and avoided almost all of them, save one. The tip of one batarang cut through Slade's armor, sparking to life. Slade howled as electrical shocks lashed through him, and that's when Batman and Robin struck together, leaping down from their positions from opposite sides. Slade tried to slice upwards with his sword, catching Batman's gauntlet and cutting through it, but Batman kicked him straight in the chest and pushed him back into Robin, who whacked him across the face with his bo staff. Before Slade could recover, Batman dealt a heavy blow to the face, kicking off Slade's helmet, and smashed the sword out of his grip. Slade shrieked, despite the fact that his bones would heal quickly, and tried to grab his gun with his other hand.

Batman pressed on Slade's neck with his foot, standing over him. "Don't."

Slade glared up at Batman through one uncovered eye. "You think this is over," he rasped. "It's only just -"

Batman pressed harder on his jugular. Slade gasped, coughing.

"I know Maroni didn't hire you. Who's Hush?" Batman demanded. "Tell me before I start breaking more bones."

"I'm a hired gun, Batman. I don't get paid to ask questions."

Batman pressed again briefly before letting up only slightly. "No, but you ask them all the same. I know you looked into your employer. The money tracing from you goes through Maroni. It's a false trail. Where did the money really come from?"

"What, the great... detective can't... figure it out himself?" rasped Slade.

This was pointless. None of these assassins would talk, and even if they did, apparently no one knew anything other than the real backer's name. "Someone has to know who he is," snarled Bruce. "One of you."

Slade's jaw tightened. "If Maroni doesn't even know... then what makes you think any of us do?"

Shit. He had a point. Bruce was getting tired of these non-answers. "Fine." He lashed out with a blow to Slade's face, knocking him out - for the moment - and hurried to ensure he was in cuffs - cuffs he would use on an Amazon, or one of similar strength. "Robin, go find Wonder Woman," he said to his son. "Make sure she's all right. Her com's gone silent. And Batgirl - Batgirl, where are you?" Panic briefly set in before he saw a small hand waving from up another two levels. "Go with him, Batgirl."

Batgirl saluted and jumped down to rush off with Robin back towards the Greek and Roman exhibits.

Bruce stared down at the unconscious Deathstroke, feeling unbearably weary. His back was aching, and as he lifted his gauntlet, he realized it was covered in blood. Great. Slade's sword had cut right through the reinforced kevlar into his arm, slicing the forearm clean open. He hoped Diana was having better luck. When his earcom crackled, he snapped, "Go."

"Uh. You might want to get down here," Robin murmured.

Bruce grabbed Slade's arm and hauled him over his shoulder. He wasn't making the same mistake of leaving him alone. Slade's superior healing capabilities would kick in sooner than he'd like - he'd wake up in minutes, not hours. He carried Wilson down to the exhibit and dropped him near Robin and Batgirl, then knelt down to give Slade a powerful sedative which would hopefully knock him out for at least an hour or two. Rising to his feet, he strode forward to see Diana crouching amongst a mess of glass shards, artifacts, and blood. She was gingerly picking up a gleaming knife and inspecting it carefully. Bruce saw angry red claw marks laced up and down her arms, torn straight through the black fabric.

"What happened?" he demanded.

"Well," she said flatly, "I found the kopis knife. The knife that was missing. She had it in her belt, thought she could keep it safe. I guess it must've been some kind of talisman. But she still got away. Again." Her jaw clenched. As she rose to her feet, Bruce saw in her other hand, she held a bloody portion of what appeared to be...

"Is that... a claw?" he had to ask.

She held up a bloody sharp nail surrounded by tufts of yellow fur. "Yes. DNA sample. Wrenched it off when she was trying to tear my heart out. Literally." As she turned, Bruce saw several gaping claw wounds running down her neck towards her chest.

"Diana, you're injured -" He moved forward, but she shook her head.

"I'm fine," she said shortly. "I just want to get home and figure this out. I'm tired of this. I'm tired of these monsters coming after us, and I'm tired of us not doing anything about it." When he didn't say anything, she sighed heavily and glanced back at him, her long dark hair covering up the majority of the wound. "I'm sorry. I just... I can't believe she got away."

She was ashamed. Embarrassed that the Cheetah woman had essentially beaten her, in a way. Evaded her, and run away, but still similar. Diana was nothing if not proud. Bruce knew a thing or two about that.

"We'll drop Slade off at Gordon's," he told her. "After Bane, they set up a special cell for stronger metas. He should be contained there. For the present."

"Did he talk?" She pressed a hand to Batgirl's head and touched Robin's shoulder gently as she moved to inspect Slade.

"No, he didn't," Bruce said, glowering. "He's a trained soldier, there's no way I'll get anything out of him." But then he saw her face, saw a flash of something, and found that couldn't breathe. "Robin, Batgirl. Back to the car." His tone brooked no opposition.

With a glance at each other, the two nodded and hurried off.

"I can't believe she got away. Again," snarled Diana, her voice a low, guttural growl that was almost unfamiliar. "She's taunting me. She knows everything about me - knows who and what I am, where I came from... everything. It has to be Athena. This is all about Athena. She has this vendetta against me, and there's nothing I can do about it. She's been enchanted, Batman, by blood magic. She's been specifically changed, specifically altered to beat me." She reached down to grasp Slade and pick him up, but Bruce stopped her.

"Wait a minute." He grasped her arm, feeling her muscles tighten beneath his hold. "Look at me."

"What?" she snapped, puzzled.

"Look at me," he demanded, tilting her chin sharply upwards. He gazed at her eyes, studying them with a paranoid, almost panicked fervor. Maybe he'd just imagined it. Maybe he'd just seen things. Maybe it'd been the lighting.

Finally she jerked back. "What are you doing?" she asked, her fury fading, as she now studied him with a concerned bewilderment. "What's the matter with you?"

"Nothing," he said finally. "I just thought I saw... Nothing."

"Thought you saw what?" She now in turn gripped his shoulder, forcing him to face her. "You look like you saw a ghost."

He hesitated. Then, disconnected his earcom and said in a low voice, "Your eyes. For a moment, they looked like..."

But why even worry her with this, if it was nothing? It was probably nothing, probably just something he was imagining, or maybe even something her damned gods were trying to conjure up to make him doubt her.

"Looked like what?"

For a moment, for just one split second, her eyes had flashed a colorless white. The same shade of irises as the deceased god of war - Ares.

"Nothing," he said finally.

Jim

Another late, long night, and Jim was bone tired. As he shut and locked his office, he passed by young Officer Lawrence, who was bleary-eyed himself as he poured over piles of paperwork. The poor kid, but paperwork was unfortunately the bulk of a cop's job when all was said and done.

"Lieutenant," greeted Jim. "How are things going?"

"Good, sir." Lawrence blinked up at him, rousing himself out of his stupor.

"Your brother - Jason, isn't it? How's he doing?"

"Better, sir. Moved in with me a couple months ago. He's still getting into trouble... but at least he's not with my parents."

"He's young," said Gordon. "He'll be fine."

"I hope so, sir." Lawrence suddenly flushed and looked around, then said with a cough, his voice lowered, "Detective Essen, sir... She's... interesting."

Jim paused. "I'd say so. How's she doing?"

"Good, sir. She's... well, a little terrifying," admitted Lawrence with a sheepish smile. "She sometimes gets this look in her eye... Makes you wonder if she's going to snap at you or just slice your head off."

Jim hid a snort of laughter. Oh, how true that was.

"But she's a good cop, sir."

"Glad to hear it." And he was. Not that he was really surprised, but in a way, he was. He hadn't really thought Artemis, of all people, would be this much of a team player, especially in one of the most infamously corrupt police forces in the nation. But she continued to surprise him.

"This might sound strange, but she almost reminds me of Wonder Woman," admitted Lawrence. "Maybe she's an Amazon, too."

Gordon didn't look at him. "Maybe she is, Lieutenant. Or maybe all women really are... they're just starting to show their true powerful colors... and we're just now finding out about it."

Lawrence grinned. "We've got no chance in hell, then, sir."

Gordon now laughed. "I guess not, Lawrence." He started to move past the young officer when Lawrence suddenly took in a breath, then hesitated. Gordon raised an eyebrow and turned back. "Yes, Lawrence? Out with it. No time for hesitation here. No one in Gotham waits, you should know this."

Lawrence suddenly reddened. "Yes, sir. Do you know the Wayne family well, sir?"

"Well enough," said Gordon dryly. "Why do you ask?"

Lawrence coughed. "No reason, sir."

"Out with it, son." Jim hid his now routine alarm. Did Lawrence suspect Bruce? Or Diana?

"It's, uh, a bit embarrassing, sir."

Now Jim had to admit he was confused. "Lawrence, I don't want to pry, but what interest do you have in the Waynes? I'm sure I know them as well as you do, all things considered."

"Well... not exactly the Waynes, sir... More... uh, it's someone who lives with them. Or knows them, anyway."

"Ah." Jim's thoughts immediately went to one of the Amazons. "This someone have a name?"

"Mena." Lawrence was beet red. "I don't, uh, know her last name."

Mena. Philomena. An Amazon royal guard. Poor Lawrence was way in over his head.

"Huh," said Jim slowly. "Not sure I know her. I'll ask the Waynes, if you want."

"Oh, no, sir, I wouldn't... That's fine." Lawrence put his head down and started to scribble on a stack of paperwork, seemingly too embarrassed to continue the conversation any further. Jim was fine with that - he wasn't necessarily comfortable with discussing the Amazons or the Waynes in general.

Jim smiled into his coffee cup. "Very good, Lawrence. I'll see you in the morning." He dumped his coffee cup and grabbed his coat, but stopped short in the hallway when he saw Artemis - Sarah - standing just outside. He threw on his coat, thankful the weather was growing warmer - and muggier, unfortunately, but it was Gotham - and came to stand beside Artemis. He still couldn't really wrap his head around calling her anything but her true Amazonian name - nothing else really suited her, even disguised as she was.

"Detective," he said. "You waiting for a ride?"

"I was going to walk," she said. "I could use the fresh air."

He nodded, the hesitated. "Drive you home?"

Her eyes narrowed at him. "I'm not exactly in your... how you say... neighborhood, Commissioner."

"Up to you. I was going to grab a coffee before heading home," he said, hoping he didn't sound too eager. "Want to join?"

She glared at him for a long moment. He thought she would refuse; but to his surprise, she nodded stiffly, wrapped her trenchcoat tightly around herself, and started off with him down the street.

They entered a small cafe that stayed open late; it had a warm ambiance with the best fresh Italian espresso. Gordon had quickly discovered that the Amazon had the finest taste in coffee - and that she drank at least five cups a day. They sat at a corner booth and were silent for a long few minutes as Artemis stirred her coffee and then dumped half the sugar shaker in.

"I didn't expect you to join the force," said Gordon finally.

Artemis slowly stirred the sugar into her coffee. "What would you have expected?" That sharpness had returned. He'd missed it, he realized.

He shrugged. "Thought you'd be doing your own thing. Start your own self-defense courses. Travel the world, maybe. I never saw you follow rules."

Her eyes narrowed. "I followed orders for thousands of years," she hissed, and he knew she was offended.

"Well, yes," he said. "But not a man's orders."

A pause.

"No," she conceded, stirring again. "Not a man's."

"So be honest with me. Not talking from man to woman, but from partner to partner. How are you holding up?" Gordon saw her hesitate again. "Look, I know we're not exactly friends, but I do want you to know that if you ever need to talk, I'm here."

"Why would I talk to you?" Her tone was acidic.

Jim grinned dryly. "Maybe because I'm not a woman."

Artemis glared at him. "Men are untrustworthy."

"And yet you joined the force. Mostly men. In one of the most well-known corrupted cities in the world."

"Hmm."

"You trust your partner to have your back?"

"No."

"No?" he echoed, baffled.

"I'm more than capable of taking care of myself. The last partner that claimed to have my back ran away to hide and recite prayers and poetry in the hopes she would be miraculously saved by Zeu-" Artemis cut herself off, glanced around. Her lips pressed together. "I can take care of myself," she repeated shortly.

"I'm sure," said Jim honestly. "But it's not as though you can go all... you know, crazy dragon lady while you're in the force."

"No. But close enough." She quirked a brow. "Are you intimidated by a strong woman, Commissioner?"

Jim just smiled. "It's Jim, Artemis," he said quietly. The cafe was mostly empty at this time of night. No one would really be able to hear them. "And no."

Artemis studied him, as if scrutinizing whether or not he were trustworthy - or just worthy. She took a sip of her coffee. "You have a fine daughter. She will be a worthy warrior, both on the field and off."

"Coming from you, that's high praise," said Jim. "And thanks. She's been through... well, you know. Hell and back."

Artemis's eyes darkened to that blood-lust state. "Her attacker is still out there roaming free."

"I know." Jim rubbed his temples. "We lost the car. No trace. Nothing. Dead end. Probably a mob hit, but I'll never be able to prove it. Bullets came back, untraceable."

"And the... Great Detective has found nothing?" There was no mistaking that sarcastic, unimpressed note in her voice.

Jim sighed. "No. Not yet. But we're working on it - all of us. You should give him a little more credit, too. Bruce has been through a lot in his young life. He's doing things for Gotham that I've never seen... He's bringing this city back in a way it hasn't been to life before. I know you're critical, especially because he's going to marry your friend - but I know that I, for one, count myself fortunate to be his friend - their friend. Not many people can say that."

Artemis glowered into her coffee. "You speak so highly of him," she muttered. "Maybe you should marry him, then."

Jim barked out a laugh. "You are something else, you know that?"

Artemis's lips turned upwards.

Diana

I hadn't gone to bed. I stayed up, running scan after scan of the Cheetah's claw, of the knife, but nothing told me who the real identity of the woman was - or why she'd been chosen to be the one to come up against me, almost as a champion of Athena... Or why the woman had chosen it herself, if she had.

"You need to sleep." Mom's voice nearly made me jump, so intent on my studies of the kopis knife.

I touched one of my bandaged arms gently and picked up the knife. "No. I need to find out what the hell is going on. If we can't trace the money from Maroni, at least I can try to solve at least one mystery, even if it isn't Gotham-related."

Mom frowned and took the knife from me, studying it with a careful eye. "This knife is covered with old blood magic, Diana. Be careful. It was used in sacrifices to Athena."

"You know about it?" I asked, startled.

"Of course. The kopis knife has ended many innocent lives, all for Athena's glory. I'm no traitor to the gods, Diana," Mom said heavily, "But more and more I see how they've hurt people as much as they've claimed to help them. More and more I see them for what I think we both realize them to be - extra-dimensional beings, demi-gods, who have been given long-lasting or immortal life. I can't claim to understand it, but considering that my own daughter is a god-killer... it puts things in perspective."

My lips parted in shock. "A crisis of faith? Mom, I didn't realize... Why didn't you tell me you felt this way sooner?"

She waved me off. "You've had enough going on. I didn't want to make you more upset, especially given the fact that Athena's been targeting you specifically for breaking her rules."

"I'm not upset, Mom, just surprised, honestly."

"Well, it's a long story for another time. You should really get to bed. Even Bruce is -"

"He's in the room, doing work on the laptop. Not asleep either," I said dryly. "I'll finish when I'm done with this."

But Mom just shook her head slowly. "You really think you'll get answers from a magical weapon like that, Diana? Don't be foolish. Athena isn't that stupid - she knows you'll stop at nothing to find out the truth."

She was right. I stayed up until early in the morning, running test after test on that knife. No DNA, no prints, nothing. Just more frustration and anger.

I didn't realize I'd fallen asleep until a pair of arms picked me up and carried me into the lift. Warm lips pressed against my forehead. Then, nothing but soft comfort around me as someone pulled the covers over, burying me in a cocoon of warmth.

"Sleep, Princess," Bruce's voice said.

I reached out and grabbed his arm. "You, too, mister," I murmured.

I heard a soft exhale, and he sank into the bed beside me.

Gotham and Athena could wait a few hours.

Thoughts?

Next update will hopefully be within a month.

- Christy