Hunter's Night

By Christy

A/N: Graduated grad school. Switched jobs, apartments, and am still in transition in a lot of ways. Please try to be patient with me, as you all have been so far! I can't tell you how much all of your notes over the past few months have meant to me.

SO much has happened. Wonder Woman movie. WONDER WOMAN MOVIE. Justice League! I want to have a viewing party.

Also, I finished my next novel! It's currently in revision stages now, but super excited! (Also why I haven't been updating)

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The kopis knife had proved something of a dead end, and this irritated me to no end. It led back to Athena - and what was I supposed to do? Drop everything and go after the goddess of wisdom? If she was in disguise somewhere in Gotham, she was well-hidden. If she were elsewhere... I had no way of locating her.

I woke from another restless sleep, unsettled. The spot in the bed next to me was empty. Bruce had risen a while ago.

Heaving a sigh, I did some light stretching before making my way downstairs, my mood still irritable given the events of the past week. Even with the kopis knife safely in the Batcave, we'd come no closer to finding out who was really behind the assassination attempts. Or who Cheetah truly was - or the mysterious Hush for that matter. Slade Wilson was currently being held at the precinct to be interrogated by Bruce later on today. While I'd at first doubted if the mercenary would crack, Bruce had obtained certain information that he knew would prove vital to getting the merc to talk.

I, on the other hand, was stuck feeling useless and wanting to punch something.

Entering the kitchen, I found Dick and Cass playing a card game with Mom and Alfred over breakfast. Mom stared hard at me a moment as I came in. I avoided her gaze and turned to the kitchen island, where Charis and Myrto stood talking with Mena over steaming cups of coffee. Charis passed one to me. I clinked the mug with hers and thanked her, inhaling the bittersweet smell of black coffee.

"Diana, you look terrible," said Charis bluntly. Never one to mince words.

I simply raised my eyebrows in acknowledgement. "Been a rough couple weeks."

"Hmm. It's something more. It's something in your eyes," the dark-haired warrior said. "Does it have to do with this Cheetah woman?"

I sighed. "Yeah. That. And everything else."

"We will accompany you into battle, Princess," put in Myrto. "You should not face a cursed demon alone. You know we are here to support you in whatever way you require of us."

I nodded. "Thank you. I appreciate it. But... this is something I have to do alone. Trust me. It's between me and a goddess. I don't want to get you involved."

"We're already involved," said Mena quietly.

The others nodded.

I didn't know what to say. How could I explain that I had to defeat this Cheetah woman - and the other assassins - alone? With Bruce, yes, but... this was between me and Athena. Between me and this woman who nearly clawed my eyes out. I had to take her down myself.

After a long, awkward pause, Mena coughed.

"Well, let us know." She set her coffee down and moved to leave. I noticed she was wearing a floral bomber jacket and paneled leggings.

"Mena - you look nice," I said. "I didn't know you were into the athleisure trend."

She frowned. "The... what?"

Charis grinned. "That may have been Miss Barbara Gordon's doing."

That explained it.

"Oh, well... you look nice. Off to work?"

"I am," said Mena. "And you're coming with me, Diana."

I stared after before Charis not-so-gently nudged me out the door after her. "But why?"

"Because it'll be fun," called Philomena after me.

I was still in a dark mood, lost in my own thoughts, as we got out from the car and walked a few blocks to the training gym where Philomena worked.

"Diana, you have to trust yourself and Bruce," she said, gently squeezing my arm. "You will handle this and come out stronger." She was ever calm. I appreciated that about her - she was always handling the situation with a sensibility that I sometimes lacked. Artemis even more so. I had to admit, I was surprised Artemis had the self-control to retain her job at the police force for this long. She'd done well so far, according to consistent updates from Gordon.

"But maybe not the way Bruce would like," I muttered.

"You are thinking of killing this Cheetah woman?"

"Everyone who's come after us," I admitted, finding it easy to talk to her. "It's... it's an issue."

Philomena's hand tightened on my arm. "Diana." She turned to me. "If I went after every person who ever tried to kill me, I would be a soulless shell. Indeed, your own mother would be dead. I'm not saying you don't protect your family - you don't. But my friend... little one..." She smiled. "You have to protect your own soul, your own heart. Or else why protect your family at all, if you can't protect yourself?"

I smiled faintly and hugged her impulsively. "You are my heart, sister."

Philomena embraced me in return. "You are too good to go down this dark path, Diana. You are the light in this darkness. Not just for Gotham - but for your family... especially for Bruce. Things will get darker, Diana. I can feel it in my heart. You will both need to be there for one another when they do. I will not lie to you, Diana. I don't understand the connection you have to this city. But I respect it and admire it. This city... it is a part of you. It is in your bones, both of you."

"I know," I said heavily. "I just hope it doesn't kill one of us in the end."

"I don't think it will."

Philomena stopped. "We're here."

I looked up at the old boxing dojo. "Wow. You never cease to amaze me. How'd you know?"

"Smell," she said, and entered. "Also, I've been working here for the past several weeks. I've memorized the route." She pushed the door open, and I followed.

I inhaled, smelled a pleasant, musky scent. Being an Amazon, always training and attracted to men who were physically fit, I enjoyed the smell of the fight, of mixed sweat and blood. It reeked of power, and deep down, despite myself, I appreciated that. The gym itself was dark but not dusty, kept in good condition. Old posters of champions hung on the back walls. I saw one of the famous Wildcat peering out from behind another more recent champion.

"I like it," I said, impressed. "It's a nice place."

"That's great," rumbled a deep, gritty voice. "But I don't like strangers. Didn't say you could bring friends, Bright Eyes."

"Oh, I think you'll want to meet her," said Philomena. "Diana, this is Ted Grant. Teddy, this is Diana, my good friend."

"Ted Grant," I said, startled. "The famous Wildcat." Bruce had mentioned wanting to train with him a long while back. Strange coincidence that Mena had ended up working with him.

Ted Grant stepped out from a back office door and approached us. He was a burly man wearing a Gotham Knights t-shirt and sweats. His grey hair was cut close against his head, and his dark eyes were narrowed and piercing.

I straightened and held out a hand. "I've heard good things about you. I heard that - "

And he suddenly lashed out, trying to uppercut me across the jaw. My Amazon hyper-senses kicked in, and I blocked the blow and whirled around with a roundhouse kick, sending him shooting back into the wall. He hit the wall with a grunt and clambered to his feet, smirking.

I stiffened. Shit. What had I just done? "What the hell was that for?"

"Confirmation," he barked, brushing himself off. He cracked his neck. "Y'know, I thought Bright Eyes here was Wonder Woman at first. Seemed to fit. But we both know the Wonder ain't blind. Now I know who you are."

I stared at him hard.

"Aw, don't gimme that look," Grant said. "Guy like Batman doesn't have money like that to throw around for fancy cars and gadgets. I know a thing or two myself about bein' out in the field."

"Diana, it's all right," said Philomena in Themysciran. "I trust him."

"I don't," I said coldly, in English. "If too many people know the truth -"

"You're gonna what, sweetheart? Kill me?" sneered Ted. "C'mon, let's see you do it. Get in the ring and we'll do a real match."

The balls on this man. "I think the fact that I just kicked your ass -"

"Lucky shot," he barked. "You weren't holding back. You're a good fighter, lady. But let's see how you do in the ring."

I shook my head. Maybe Bruce needed to train with him, but I'd taken on the god of war and won. I stepped gracefully into the ring, head held high. Grant jumped in after me, and after we both put on gloves, I wasted no time going after him. I was of course much quicker, but he had almost super-human reflexes. I was starting to think he'd let me hit him, when he startled even me with a sharp jab to the stomach, followed by a punch directly to the spot where Cheetah had slashed me with her claws. Despite my endurance, he packed a vicious punch, and I stifled a gasp, instinctively reaching for that wounded spot.

That was all he needed to duck down, sweep a foot under my feet, and knock me to the ground. He rose to his feet, panting. He wiped glistening sweat off his brow.

"All right," he panted. "Not bad."

I glared up at him. No way in hell would I let another man beat me again. "Again," I gritted out.

Grant grinned and held out a hand.

I batted it away and jumped to my feet.

"Told you coming to work with me would be fun," said Mena, grinning.

I gave her a dirty look.

Batman

Batman stood across from Slade Wilson in the precinct's interrogation room. Slade sat there silently, watching him through his one good eye. On the other side of the glass, Dent, Lance, Gordon, and Artemis watched. Batman knew that the chances of Slade, a trained soldier, giving up any useful information, were slim to none. But he knew Slade something didn't. Something he would use to his advantage. A last-night discovery after some heavy investigation had turned up one very interesting fact about the superpowered mercenary.

"It would be in your own interest to talk, Slade," Batman growled. "Who's behind all this? Who's behind Maroni's funding? What do you know about Hush?"

Slade said nothing.

"I'm not afraid to break you, Slade," snarled Batman.

"From one soldier to another," said the one-eyed merc finally, "Don't show your hand. You're desperate. I'm not like these other Gotham crazies, Batman. I'm a soldier. It's what I've been trained to do. It's who I am."

"You're a mercenary. A killer for hire."

Slade shrugged. "I don't deny it. But at least I know who I am. So don't pretend like I'm something else. You won't get a bit of information out of me. At least show me the courtesy of a good interrogation. Not this child's play. Or get your magical Wonder Woman to try and make me tell the truth. Even then -" He leaned forward - "I won't say a peep."

Batman smirked.

Slade's eye narrowed. "Now that's a bit disturbing."

Batman leaned over and muttered something in his ear. Slade paled. He lunged forward as if to grasp the Dark Knight, but the especially made cuffs held the superpowered soldier well in place.

"How the hell could you know about that?" the assassin whispered.

Batman leaned back in his seat. "Talk."

"If you even touch one hair -" Slade's lip trembled, his voice growing hoarse.

Batman's lenses narrowed. "I can keep a secret, Wilson. Give me your secrets and it'll stay that way."

Slade sighed. "I don't know who the backer is. I was hired through Maroni. Money was wired to my account through Maroni, but I knew it wasn't the Roman."

"Let me guess," Batman snapped, "Hush?"

Slade nodded. "Don't know him. Or her. Never spoke to the person."

"But you're no fool. You would've done your own research."

Slade's jaw clenched. He sighed. "My own research turned up nothing. The man's a ghost. He doesn't exist. Whoever he is, he's covering his tracks too well. But... I do know one thing."

"Talk."

Slade glanced over at the two-way glass. "Get me out of here and I will."

"Not how it works."

Slade grit his teeth. "You're bluffing. You wouldn't risk the life of a - "

Batman just stared at him. "Try me."

Slade finally let out a breath of air. "Fine. Fine. I know that Hush is working with Black Mask."

"How?"

"Not exactly sure how. That's all I know."

"I already knew this information. Do better."

Slade glared at him. "He's working with him especially. Not an as a hired assassin, but something else. He has plans with Black Mask. Plans for you. What they are I don't know."

Batman's jaw clenched. He rose from his seat in a fluid motion, about to leave the room. Slade stopped him with a call.

"Batman. Whoever this Hush is - he won't stop until you're dead. Both you and the Amazon. He wants you buried."

Batman stared him down and opened the door.

"Batman - wait." Slade's voice now turned slightly desperate, despite the merc's previous disdain. Slade's hands flexed in their cuffs. "Make sure..."

"I know," Batman said sharply. "I know, Slade."

Slade deflated. His head bowed. "Thank you."

Batman nodded and left the room. The door slammed shut behind him.

"What did you say to him?" Dent asked, puzzled. "Why did he talk?"

"You don't want to know," said Batman.

Dent grabbed his arm. "I need to know," he snapped. "For the trial."

Batman glanced down at where Dent held his arm. Silence overtook the precinct. Behind Dent, Batman saw Dinah's eyes widening.

Dent seemed to realize what he'd done and released him. Batman turned and strode out of the station without a word.

Harvey didn't need to know that even Slade Wilson, mercenary and super-soldier, had secrets to protect. People that he cared about. And even Slade Wilson, the great Deathstroke, had enough of a heart to care about what happened to his young daughter Rose. Batman respected Slade's prowess and his career as a soldier - nothing more. Not until today.

Slade was a man who would protect his family - that was a person Bruce could at least understand.

Now Harvey, on the other hand... there was a man Bruce still struggled to fully understand. He'd never cared for politicians, that was true enough. But Harvey seemed to be the bulldog Gotham needed to get back on its feet. To finally bring down Maroni and his mob thugs. However... the look he'd just seen in Dent's eye hadn't inspired confidence. Maybe Harvey was starting to crack under pressure. Maybe it was something else.

But whatever it was, between Diana's rage under Athena's mental attacks, and now Harvey, Bruce was starting to feel more than a little uneasy. Out of control. The last thing he needed right now. He sank into the seat of the Tumbler and rubbed a hand over his jaw.

Dinah Lance

The precinct was buzzing with excitement and murmurs. Everyone had seen Harvey's reckless - and uncalled for - move towards the Batman. She'd seen the wild look in his eye, that almost desperate fervor before. Harvey was a passionate man, but this... This was different. Maybe the stress of the case was finally getting to him. Maybe finally making the shining White Knight of Gotham crack.

She'd always known she had a decently logical, solid head on her shoulders. She'd made some mistakes in the past, but that was in the past. She was back in Gotham to start over.

Harvey, on the other hand, was charging full steam ahead. But maybe it was taking a toll on him. He'd been more snappish the past couple weeks - to everyone. Even her, at times. And other times... he'd been more... demanding. More... insistent.

She rubbed her temples. She'd been staring at the same file on her screen for the past ten minutes now, getting nowhere. She stretched and rose to her feet, moving to look out the window at the late afternoon cityscape below. Gotham was all sharp angles and old, dark streets - but she loved it. It was home. Here, she was in her element. Star City had been too out in the open. Too bright, and too windy.

Too... everything.

But there was something about it that had still drawn her attention. Someone, rather.

"Hey, you get that file on Falcone I asked for?" Harvey barged into her office, his sleeves rolled up to his forearms, and his tie removed, the first button opened at his collar. His golden hair was askew. He looked frazzled.

Dinah nodded, biting her lip. "Yeah, I thought I emailed it to you."

Harvey ran a hand through his hair. "I didn't get it."

"I'll send it again. No worries." She moved to return to her computer.

"No, wait." He heaved a sigh and touched her arm. She stiffened. "Listen," he said. "Let's take the rest of the day off. We deserve it. We've been working this case day and night for weeks now. We'll grab a bite, maybe take a walk down to the pier - or grab a movie, if you want. I don't even know what's out these days -"

"Harvey-" She stopped him before he could wax on about it. "Don't you think we should keep working? There's still a lot to be done. I need a break as much as you do, but if we miss anything, this trial will be over before it's begun." He needed a break, she knew, but... They needed this. Work still had to be done. And if she was honest, she didn't much feel like going anywhere with him right now. Not with him in this condition.

His lip curled. "An afternoon off won't kill us. You're exhausted, and I am too. C'mon, it'll be fun." He tried to pull her towards the door. "Grab some Italian - or Indian, maybe? We need this. You need this." His hand slid down to hers.

She tried to shrug herself out of his hold. "No, Harvey - I can't - I need to finish this -"

"Whatever it is, it can wait." He tried to give her an easy smile, but it faded upon seeing her stony expression.

"Later." She attempted to calm him with a promise. "After the trial. We'll celebrate. We need to stay focused."

He scowled. "I am focused. I've been nothing but focused. This whole trial, this whole ordeal - that's all I've been. Dedicated, working my ass off. Don't I deserve a minute off, at least?"

"No, you do, but -"

"Or maybe you just don't want to take a break with me, is that it?" That eerie, wild expression was alight in his eyes again. Dinah took a step back. He held fast onto her hand. "Maybe you'd rather be going out with someone else, huh? Maybe that blonde billionaire from Star City?"

Dinah's eyes widened. "I don't know what you're talking about, Harvey. But you need to let me go. Now."

He continued as if he hadn't heard her. "Maybe you'd rather be riding around in his fancy-ass car, going to all the best restaurants? Staying in all the best hotels? I'm sure the Four Seasons has fantastic room service, if you were planning on spending the night -"

"Harvey!" she exclaimed, and shoved him back with a heavy push. "What the hell?"

He stumbled back, blinking, as if being roused out of a stupor. He dragged a hand through his hair. "Dinah, I... I'm sorry, I... I don't know what happened. I... I'm so sorry." The wild look in his eyes had disappeared, replaced with one of utter horror.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" she demanded, rubbing her sore wrist.

"I... I'm sorry." He swallowed, and hurried out of the room.

Dinah stared after him, stunned and more than a little afraid of the man who had become her friend.

Thoughts?

Again, I hope to update fairly soon. Now that I'm not in school it should be easier!