Just watched the Synder Cut. Loved it! Much better than Whedon's. Some issues with it though but no movie is perfect.
Also, the poll results will be announced at the end of the month. I will open it for view and everyone can see the results.
References Teen Titans (2016-2020) #20-Annual #2
Detective Comics #1030-1033
Making the Best of It
Chapter 20
Hall of Justice
Everyone of the core members of the Justice League were stunned upon what they had just heard. All sat at the round table as Batman, a visitor, disclosed to them what the Teen Titans have been up to.
Green Arrow and Black Canary were in attendance considering Red Arrow was a part of the Teen Titans.
Wonder Woman had taken a leave of absence considering everything that had recently happened with her child. Something many understood and remained silent of any opinions.
"I… can't believe Wallace would go along with this?" Flash uttered baffled by how far the teens had gone to battle crime in a different way.
Batman sat rigid by what he had learned.
Robin, his son, had gathered a new team of teenagers battling crime in an extreme and unique way. Holding captured criminals in a private prison. Treating them lower than animals which would only exacerbate their depravity. Worse, they went as far as altering their minds to make them more docile. Something that would no doubt come back to bite everyone in the hero community.
Which led Batman and Robin to have a confrontation that turned one-sided as Batman refused to throw a punch towards the boy.
To Batman, Robin's behavior was his fault. He had been neglecting him, focusing on Diana and the baby. And the fallout of his breakup with Selina that led to many unforeseen circumstances.
The worse of it all, Deathstroke was supposedly killed in the Teen Titans custody. However, reports indicated Slade was in ARGUS custody following a double-cross by Deathstroke's employer.
"What can we do?" Superman finally asked, getting to the point of the matter.
"I've contacted Donna Troy and asked her if she would be willing to chaperone these children," Batman answered. "She has agreed. Thinking it would keep her occupied after… recent events."
His hint did not go unnoticed as everyone in the room recalled the travesty of Sanctuary.
"Emiko?" Green Arrow interjected as it was suggested his half-sister was the one that 'killed' Deathstroke.
"She will also be given to Donna Troy's care," the dark-clad man nodded. "Seeing as how Slade is indeed alive. I see no reason to punish her."
His statement made Arrow feel relief.
"But," relief started to wane as Batman continued. "They should not be given a choice of this… "Titans school.""
"We should have intervened years ago," the man pointed out. "We can all agree that they needed space to grow and develop on their own. However, that was then. Here, we have unsupervised superpowered teenagers running around doing God knows what."
"Like you should be pointing this out," Green Arrow incredulous stated.
Everyone turned their attention to the bow and arrow wielding man. "You've had more sidekicks than anyone. Look how they all turned out!"
Batman scowled at the mere mention of the failed Robins.
"Your son dragged Emiko into this and now everyone's suffering," Green Arrow carried on.
"Oliver," Martian Manhunter warned the hooded man as they were getting off topic.
Oliver shot up in his seat, "You're toxic, man. All those kids would have been better off if you never interfered in their lives!" he shouted angrily.
"Oliver! Enough!" Black Canary finally spoke up. As she grew tired of her boyfriend's petulant attitude. Of course, she knew he was still grieving for the loss of Roy Harper, but Emiko was just as much his responsibility as Roy was.
Batman took the other man's outburst in stride. Stoney face, he responded. "I understand you are still dealing with a lot with regards to Roy Harper. Yes, I have made many mistakes when it has come to the Robins. But I will remind you, that upon learning of your young charge's heroin and alcohol addiction, you threw him out of the street."
Green Arrow's eyes widened beneath his domino mask as John Stewart used his ring to keep the fellow green clad man from leaping out of his seat.
"Enough!"
Stewart scowled at both masked men. "Batman is right. Although, his attitude could be better," he scowled at the indifferent man.
"These kids could be the next Justice League someday. We can't allow them to be using such heavy-handed tactics. Personal prisons? Mind control? These are the acts of supervillains. Not heroes," the ring-slinger pointed out.
Superman sent a pointed look Batman's way when a private prison was mentioned.
The room grew quiet as everyone came to a silent agreement.
"What are your plans, Batman?" Martian Manhunter asked the vigilante.
"Use the old Titans Tower as a training facility. Under close observation by Donna Troy and perhaps a few others to make up a… staff, if you will."
"Superhero school?" Flash could not help but utter to provide levity for such an intense topic.
"Something like that, yes," Batman concurred with the red-clad man.
"And Robin?" Superman inquired, silently questioning the man, whom the kryptonian considered one of his closest friends.
A blank stare was sent Superman's way, until…
"He will not be joining. I'm currently searching for him. Hopefully, I will find him soon. If any of you discover him before me, I would appreciate it if he were detained until I arrive," he requested of his colleagues.
He saw some nod their heads in agreement.
"We need to keep a lid on this," Hawkgirl interposed. All eyes were on her now.
"If the world discovers what these young heroes have done, the few that are already afraid of us will have a larger population," she warned. "I can't even imagine what the villains will do when they find out. We could be looking a full-scale war like never before."
Many shifted in their seats as the thought made them uneasy.
"I am uneasy about this," Superman voiced. "We have already kept Sanctuary from the world. If they find out we hid the Teen Titans actions and allowed them to continue wearing masks the public could turn against us," he forewarned.
"What if the children refuse to go? What then?" Flash brought up an interesting point of how uncooperative teenagers could be.
"Then we need a firmer hand in dealing with them," Batman spoke again. His tone made the others uneasy. "If they do not accept then they can not be allowed to continue. We can't have eyes on them twenty-four seven. We can't have superpowered children doing what ever they feel like. This was a wake-up call," he declared.
"Yes, but still, what can we do with uncooperative children?" Stewart reiterated Flash's question.
"Then they are done," Batman stated vehemently. "We can't allow them to continue. If they don't cooperate then they can find another line of work."
"Who the hell are you decide that?!" Green Arrow shot up in his seat.
"Someone who does not want to clean up the mess of children. They want to act like adults. Then they will be treated as such," the dark clad man readily spoke.
"You—"
"Batman is right in this," the Martian Manhunter spoke up once more. "It's time we absorbed the Titans under the League. That way we can rein them in immediately instead of after the fact."
Several members nodded and agreed that they needed to take a stronger approach to the Teen Titans instead of letting them run wild through trial and error.
Batman left without another word only to pause when the obnoxious Green Arrow called to him.
"I thought you quit?"
Looking over his shoulder, Batman said readily. "I did." He walked out without another word leaving the true leaguers to their work.
Wayne Manor
Following the scandal, Hady was forced out of the mayor's office and arrested for corruption. Replacing him was an interim mayor until the next election. Many held their breaths that the interim mayor would do a better job than Hady.
Many doubted Hady would see the inside of a prison cell but at least he was out of office, which was a victory onto itself. With Hady out of the way, Bruce Wayne's Gotham Rebuild Project was unimpeded to begin.
Rachal Green had already filed a lawsuit against Davenport. It would be a long time before anyone went to court, but it would have to do. People knew what kind of man Davenport was now and his wallet was taking some hits.
Following the return of Elissa, Diana was glued to her side. She even went as far as sleeping in the nursey. She had called in to the League and the Wayne Foundation and took a leave of absence as she desperately needed time with her daughter.
Unfortunately, the little one was fussy from all the extra attention. She was delighted to see her mother and father again after so long, but she was suffocating from all her mother's hovering.
Diana was a little disheartened that she couldn't breast feed Elissa anymore. Desperate to rekindle further bonding unfortunately, it was too time-consuming and a lot of work. But she had tried only for Elissa to refuse.
Too much time away from Diana made her uninterested, now preferring formula.
"I love you," the raven-haired woman whispered as she wiped the drool from her little one's mouth. The last day or two Elissa had started teething. Screaming her little lungs out as her teeth started coming in. The Amazon's heart wrenched as her efforts to alleviate her daughter's pain were pointless. All she could do was be there for her.
Elissa refused the teething ring. She preferred her pacifier and some pain. Baby Tylenol helped a little, but this was something Elissa and Diana just had to work through.
"Diana?" Bruce uttered as he entered the nursery just in time to witness Diana sit in the rocking chair attempting to coax her daughter into calming down and hopefully take a nap.
Her head looked up to see the man carefully enter the nursey. "Everything okay?" he asked, barely audible over their child's wails.
"Teething," she answered simply, turning her attention back to the little one, turning red from all the crying.
"Why don't I tag in?" he suggested. From the woman's appearance she had not been getting much rest or eating, judging from her pale complexion and the bags under her eyes. Her hair looked oily and unkempt.
"I'm fine," she was quick to answer, her attention solely on Elissa as she rocked her child, trying to soothe her.
"No, you're not," he sighed, walking closer to her. Crouching in front of her, he forced her to look him in the eyes. "She'll be fine for a few hours without you. I'm here. Let me take care of Elissa," he spoke softly as Elissa's cries started to dampen.
The raven-haired woman was reluctant to be away from her daughter. After just getting her back from wicked individuals, she refused to be away from her child. She failed Elissa when it truly counted, the Amazon swore to never let such a thing happen again. Ergo, her hovering.
She shivered when Bruce left his hand on her knee. "Diana, take a rest," he told her. "You're a good mother. No one could have done anything differently," he attempted to appease her suffering.
The raven-haired woman's lips quivered as his words rang true. Slowly, she gave their child to him as he gently took hold of her. Her cries turning into a whimper.
"Hey, baby girl," the man murmured to his daughter as he took her in his arms. Her whimpers turned back into a mild wail as she was handed off. Tentatively, he stood up. "Are you being good for your mother?"
Diana could see and hear the man light up whenever he held Elissa. She truly was the greatest thing in his life. He was alive whenever he was in Elissa's presence. Almost always he would make her his top priority.
Taking a breath, Diana rose from the rocking chair. Content with Bruce taking care of their child for a while. Reluctantly. Baby steps.
"Go," the dark-haired man told her. "I can take care of her. Go. Take a nap. Get some food. Shower." The last thing sounded far more important than the others.
Gawking, "I smell?" she rose a challenging eyebrow.
"It's been… days," he said carefully.
She grimaced towards him yet held her tongue. She vaguely recalled the last time she bathed. Perhaps she could use a bath and a rest as she finally felt the fatigue from the last few days.
"Fine," she grumbled. Making her way for the door. She paused and turned back to the father-daughter duo. "She was fed an hour ago. Try and keep her up for a little longer," she suggested walking through the doorway. She popped her head back in, "Oh, and try to get her to sit up. I'm trying to keep her from getting flat head."
"Got it," he replied dryly.
She went out the door and popped back in once again. "And try to get her to crawl. She has been making some progress lately," she said excitedly.
"Okay!" Bruce responded frustratingly with tight restraint.
Finally, Diana had left them alone entering her bedroom grabbing a change of clothes, entering her bathroom. She carefully stepped into a relaxing hot bath, a sigh escaping her lips as the tension left her. She leaned back, eyes slowly closing as she fell asleep comforted by the fact that Bruce could handle things for a while.
Bruce smiled at his little girl, wiping some of the drool away from her mouth with a tissue. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the giant teddy bear Dick had brought when Elissa was born. A pang of loss struck his heart, his smile slowly fading. Instantly, he returned to Elissa, who was whimpering from all the teething.
Wayne Tower
After a few hours it was easy to find Damian. Which lead to a… altercation between father and son. An altercation that led them to Wayne Tower as the two stood atop the building. Both sporting bruises and wounds from competent fighters. Both were scowling as Damian refused to look at his father. Preferring to stare at the street below.
Batman stood a few feet away with his arms crossed. His face expressionless as he reflected on how they got to where they were.
"You stole my casebook," the man began stating his son's theft of his Black Casebook, the cases that were odd to Batman or some containing his many failures during his early years or some cases left unsolved.
The teenager's scowl intensified as he slouched. "How'd you find me?"
"Last year breaking up that dog fight ring."
Instantly, the teen realized after Alfred had given him rabies shots something else was inside it.
"You tagged me?"
Damian felt angry as he realized his father had chipped him without his knowledge or permission.
Batman ignored the question and spoke once again. "I don't want to fight with you anymore. But your behavior can not continue," he admonished. "What you and the Titans have been doing was wrong. It must stop. I know I haven't always been there for you, nor best listener to you. But I'm here now," he said gently.
Damian was honestly surprised by his father's words, but he did not believe him.
"Please, continue on this course and I fear we will become enemies," the father pleaded to the former Robin to turn back. "And I truly don't want that," he beseeched. Damian appeared to be hearing him but wasn't ready to accept his father's stance. He did not believe he was ready to come back.
"We've lost enough family, son. Come home," he begged, offering his hand for his son to take. The teen was frozen as Batman was not before him. His father was standing in front of him, not the staunch defender of justice that was Batman.
"Your way isn't enough anymore. It doesn't work. I doubt it ever did," the teen boldly challenged. "There is no real progress from your way."
The man merely stared at his son understanding his words.
Suddenly, Damian expressed remorse. "I stole your casebook," he admitted. Prepared to be scolded for his thievery.
"I know," Batman replied. "I did not know Hush came at me when we were children. Commendable work, Damian," he praised his son's remarkable detective skills.
Pride surged within the young man upon hearing such important words from his father.
Swallowing, Damian continued, "I will solve every case in your book. My gift to you. From the first to the last. But I can't go with you," he shook his head, "I don't have the heart to do things your way. I won't kill anyone or hurt them like I've done. I will find my own path," he pledged.
While Batman was relieved to hear that he managed to reach his son, he was distressed by his branching out. He pulled something out of his belt and presented the 'R' that Damian tore from his uniform when he quit as Robin.
"Take it."
Again, Damian shook his head. "It's not mine. Not anymore." A solemn silence hung over them before the dark-haired teen leapt off the rooftop, leaving the man alone.
Bruce was saddened to see how confused and lost his son was. Especially, when he refused to be Robin again. But he was filled with hope that his son would find a better life. If he doesn't, Damian knew where his home was.
Where it will always be.
Wayne Manor
If Bruce was depressed by Damian leaving, he didn't show it. At least not to Diana, they both had their hands full with an infant.
One that they were trying to get to crawl. Bruce hung behind Elissa, as they set her down on all fours, with Diana sitting a couple of feet away from the two.
Her face lit up with excitement as she patted her knees trying to garner Elissa's attention as the seven-month-old turned her head side to side looking in those directions, uncertain on what to do. Sucking on her pacifier as her father loomed over her, ready to catch her in case in little arms gave out.
"Come on, sweetie. Come on. Crawl to mommy," Diana coaxed eagerly, smiling brightly.
Elissa blankly stared at her mother, lips sucking on her pacifier.
A couple seconds pass before Bruce shared a defeated look with the woman. "We'll keep trying, Diana." His suggestion prevented her from losing heart.
Bruce took the little girl into his arms and sat on the floor with her in his lap. He offered her one of her untouched blocks to which she curiously took. Examining all sides of the block, the gears of curiosity turning in her little head.
Diana got closer to them, she ran a hand through her daughter's dark locks, smoothing out any out of place locks.
These were some of the good moments in the Amazon's life. Spending time with her family.
It took almost a month for Bruce and Diana to finally have that date they were planning on going on before the whole 'Elissa taken from them debacle'.
Alfred was kind enough to watch Elissa for a few hours. The man was elated when it came to the youngest of the family. He took to being to doting grandfather very seriously. The older man was relieved to see that Bruce was spending more time as a father than as Batman.
Especially with the departure of Master Damian.
Every young man that has stepped through the halls of Wayne Manor has left it with a vision of the world and a drive to make the world better in their own unique way. At least Bruce tried to make amends with Damian rather than ignore him and command him to return home.
The dark-haired pair were nervously stiff. It took so long for either of them to have time in their busy schedules to even get together.
Bruce wore a dark blazer with matching slacks, a light blue dress shirt beneath the jacket. Diana wore a lovely red dress that ended near her ankles, one of her shoulders bare.
Both held their menus tightly as they awkwardly glanced up from them once and awhile before they both dryly scoffed in embarrassment.
"This is ridiculous," Diana chuckled.
"I know," the man agreed with equal amusement. "We've known each other for years. How can this be so difficult?"
"I think it's because we've been so distracted lately," the woman suggested.
"We've barely had a minute to even say hello to one another let alone make small-talk," Bruce elaborated taking a sip of his water.
"Yes, it is quite exhausting," the Amazon sighed, lowering her menu as she had decided on what to eat.
Bruce soon followed her as the waiter approached their table. After a few minutes, the waiter left to file their orders.
"Did you see Elissa try to crawl the other day?" Diana suddenly became enthusiastic.
"Did she do it?" the dark-haired man instantly became interested and partially upset that he could have missed it.
The woman's smile slightly receded, "Well, she almost crawled to me," she saw Bruce become proud by how much Elissa's was growing, she herself felt like she was just born and not the growing eight-month-old they had on their hands. "But," she paused, peaking the man's interest. "She wasn't certain on what to do at first. So, I thought maybe if she saw me do it, she would get the idea to do the same. Only," she chuckled, "she crawled backwards."
"What?" the man raised an eyebrow.
"She crawled in reverse. Got in a few inches before she stopped," she continued to explain.
The billionaire chuckled as he imagined his daughter doing just as Diana described. The woman soon joined in on the laughter.
When their meals arrived, they made mild small talk asking about the other's day and asking questions for further explanation.
When the League was brought up, Bruce got a little defensive when the woman elaborated on one mission where they were battling a new type of Amazo. As she was going into detail on how the League dealt with the machine, Bruce interrupted her.
"Diana," he began silencing her, "I'm trying to leave the League behind me. I don't want to get sucked into League business again. I will be polite and courteous, but I don't want to be convinced into being apart of it again," he explained.
Slowly, the woman responded, "I did not intend or insinuate that, Bruce. I respect your decision to leave."
Her face expressed annoyance. "And do not ever think I would manipulate you into returning," she told him heatedly.
Immediately, he became embarrassed at his overreaction. His tongue stumbled on itself as he quickly apologized, which gratified the woman mildly.
Their date became awkward for few moments as they both took a break.
Ignoring the tension, Diana continued her story. "Back to the Amazo—"
Bruce cut her off again, "While everyone distracted the robot, you had Flash or J'onn become intangible and remove its mainframe," he theorized.
Diana stared at him blankly for a few seconds before she corrected him. "Actually, Victor downloaded a virus into its mainframe."
"That's one way of doing it," the billionaire commented.
Dinner went off without a hitch. Both comfortable with one another. Bruce felt good about the date, he hoped Diana felt the same way. Diana felt similarly. Relief washed over her as it felt good to relax a little. No League, no Wayne Foundation. Although, she was anxious about leaving Elissa for a few hours, but she knew her daughter was in the best capable hands, so she did not need to worry so much.
She needed to relax and an evening with Bruce provided just that.
On the drive home, they told stories neither had ever told the other before. The Amazon laughed at something he said as they entered the manor.
"I had fun tonight, Bruce." She said it so suddenly the man raised a curious eyebrow.
"Have you not before when we spent time together?"
"Of course, I have," she quickly dismissed any thought of doubts. "It's just been a while since I have felt like another person instead of everything that I am," she stated after some self-reflection.
Gingerly, he walked up to her almost flush against her. She looked up into his eyes as there was only a mere inch in difference in height.
"May I kiss you?" he said so softly she almost had to strain her ears to understand him. He glazed lovely into her eyes as he awaited her reply.
A smile slowly crept up on her lips. "You never need permission for my kisses," she responded coyly. She took the initiative and kissed him. Lips and tongues mashing together hungrily as her hands stroked the back of his head.
Eventually, the need for air forced them apart.
Panting and flushed they both looked at the other searching for something. "Diana," he started slowly, "are you willing to do this? I know you had reservations about us," he asked her, hesitation and fear overcoming him as this was the first time, he had dated anyone out since Selina.
The raven-haired woman gulped in hesitation as she contemplated her decision. Her fears and doubts. Her concerns for her daughter if things ended badly with Bruce.
She was an Amazon, she firmly reminded herself. She was not one to doubt herself or fear anyone. She was instilled with compassion and love for everyone. Even for a man like Bruce.
She broke her ex's heart by an error in judgement. She needed to start being who she used to be again. Fearless, yet considerate.
Resolute, she kissed him again. A kiss that left him dumbfounded. A kiss that made him forget his own name.
"Does that answer your question?" she asked him with a smirk.
He bobbed his head back and forth as that kiss left him unable to perform vocalization. Seeing him like that made her smile deepen as she took his hand and led him up to her bedroom.
Clothes were tossed haphazardly, breaths coming in heavy pants. Slender fingers ran through hair, moans and groans escaping the pair as the other brought out pleasurable sensations from the other.
She gasped as he filled her, clutching at his back, fingernails scoring his skin, only to spur him on. Her legs tightly coiled around his waist as he thrusted within her. His feverish pace brought both of them to an explosion finish.
Panting he rolled off her as they needed a minute to catch their breath.
As they laid back cooling down, Bruce stared at the ceiling lost in thought.
"I want to make this work," he suddenly spoke. The woman glanced at him from the corner of her eyes, whipping away sweat and loose strands of her inky locks. "I care about you. Maybe even love you," he revealed to her, as her heart skipped a beat.
"I want to change. Be the person—the partner worthy of you. I've never tried to work for a relationship. It had always been one-sided. My way or no way. Maybe that's why I've always failed at relationships," he analyzed. "But with you," he finally turned to face her, "I have to."
Diana was stunned by his confession. She processed his words and concurred that he was trying. She rolled over on her side, propping her head up with her hand. "If we are going to work. If we are to be partners—parents, a couple then we need to be open with one another," she asserted.
"I'm trying," he maintained with the same impassive expression though his voice reflected what he was feeling.
"I know."
"But there are parts of me that need to be kept away," a tremor of sadness in his voice. "You wouldn't like what you see," he warned her.
Instinctively, she cupped his cheek. An action that surprised him.
"Let me be the judge of that," she said sealing her decision with a kiss, crawling on top of him to further drive her point.
NEXT: Change
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