The Phoenix Behind the Truth
By: XCatwomanX
Disclaimer: I don't own the BOP actors, writers, or set (since they took it off). But If I did this is what it would be like! ^.^
Warning: This is a hardcore BOP fanfic! With actual facts from the comics and show to combine together and bring peace to between BOP comic lovers and BOP show lovers. Enjoy!
Special Thanks: To my twin sis, Maria for pointing out the obvious. To John Stinizi (I know I'm spelling your last name wrong but you know it's you) for convincing me to take on the character of Bruce Wayne. To Lord Serpentor for role-playing as Bruce (what? You guys think I actually know this guy?). Last but not Least, Peaches for always willing to look at my work. Thanks A Bunch Huns! And too my fans ^.^!
Summary: Trust is a hard thing to piece back together once it's broken. When one detailed is left out of a truth it is automatically lie, it cannot be toyed with. No matter how hard we try, the past always comes back to haunt us. And when you think you know someone they show you the real them in the strangest ways. How can the birds combat these errors? Run or stick in for the fight? These are the Birds of Prey!
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Chapter 8
Lady In Red
Memories fall like water
Shelve too high to reach
Moments short of a lifetime
Skin is fading, but not your eyes
Lost far away
Can I hold you?
But now you're gone
~~Balligomingo
According to Webster hormones are an endocrine secretion that is transmitted by the blood to the tissue on which it has a specific effect. According to Dinah hormones are things that mess up her life. Not more than thirty minutes ago a make-out session turned into a disaster. Canary's daughter thought the only problem to be wary of was getting mad, but now she needs to be cautious engaging in necking. Life never did give the third bird a break.
She sighed making a perfect circle with her rose lips, the echo bellowing the small elevator. The lift pinned when it came to the Clocktower plane. The doors slowly opened presenting the evitable. Barbara, Bruce, and a bob-styled dark haired woman in a red dress facing her back were by Delphi.
"Barbara?" Excitement filled her tone as she walked up to them, her steps apprehensive. "Who's that?"
The shorthaired vixen turned and the blonde girl couldn't help but squeal, "Ah! Helena! It's you!"
The dark knight's daughter quickly covered her ears with fingers apparently vexed, "Must you yell?"
"Sorry," the third bird calmed down but still had a smile on her face.
"So how did your study go with Mr. Sanders?" Barbara questioned raising a brow.
"Yeah, you surely wasn't anxious to leave," the brunette added imitating her mentor's tone.
Dinah rapidly changed her facial expression to that of which was defensive. She crossed her arms slowly considering, "He's ok… we kissed!"
Bruce who was in the room in a girl conversation and drinking water at the wrong time swallowed hard, it was heard through out the level.
The three birds looked at the bat.
Bruce wiped the moister from his lips then looked firmly at the red head, "Can we just focus on the task at hand. If I do believe correctly, she was sent here in a hurry because of an emergency."
"Right," Oracle faced Dinah. "You will be going here."
The red head pointed at the map on the computer and the blonde girl came closer for a better view, "Buldhaven? Why there?"
"We know, for a fact, that Mr. Thomas produced a Wayne Plant there. The stocks were shared between New Gotham and Buldhaven for better stocks and gross incoming," the red head maneuvered herself to another table as the young girl followed. She stopped, opened a drawer and handed her a token.
"What's this for?"
"The train."
"What! I'm taking a train?"
Barbara held her hand in the air commanding the girl to stop, "The hummer is in the shop, and Bruce's car will be in Helena's hands. Also, you will be meeting a- a friend of mine at the stop. He goes by the alias Nightwing. Don't worry where, he will find you."
"Nightwing…" The name rang a bell in the young girl's mind. She recalled her Super Heroes 101 guideline. "The former Robin?"
"Yes," she stated briefly in hopes her student wouldn't remember her former lover.
"Cool!" Dinah bounced with glee.
"You'll love Richard, Dinah. He's the greatest," Helena added.
"Helena, you'll be there no later than eight, right?" Barbara commanded
"Of course, since when have I steered you wrong?"
Oracle gave Huntress a look and they laugh it off.
Barbara wheeled over to Bruce to chat letting the young ladies reminisce.
"Helena, can I ask you a question?" Dinah whispered insecurely.
"Just did," the brunette countered. "Come on, let's got to the kitchen."
They headed away from the mentors and Dinah sat in a chair in the kitchen. Helena took out two waters from the refrigerator handing one over to the blonde girl.
"What is it Dinah?"
"Um…" She chose her words carefully. "When you was just starting to develop your powers did they affect your…" The younger girl gave a stern look, "Performance?"
Helena's eyes drew a blank staring at the third bird, "Performance?"
"Today, when I was with Shawn, we um… made-out. And I don't know what happened. One minute I'm pressed up against his strong, lean-"
"Dinah."
"Oh, right… we're kissing stuff and then my hormones exploded!" She uses hand movements of her hands to explain the phenomenon. "And the pot, and the water, and it just flew!"
The brunette was glad she didn't drink her water during the account. "So in simpler terms, have I ever been so horny my powers go the best of me?"
Dinah's body slumps, "Yeah…"
"Well just put it like this. I'm eighteen, haven't engaged in months, finally gets some and the guy runs because of a certain," she clears her throat. "Force that intervened."
A large smirk appeared on the blonde, "So how do you control that force?"
"You want the truth kid?"
"Sure, why not."
"Still haven't," she takes a quick sip of her water. "I just gotta hope my eyes don't change on me. Other than that, the guy better enjoy the ride."
Dinah snorted, then regained composure. "Helena… so where are you going in this fine lovely dress?"
The shorthaired vixen rolls her eyes not wanting to talk about what the day will bring but did so anyway, "I'm going on date with Reese."
"Finally!" Dinah shouts and Helena moved back from the exaggeration. The blonde gasped, "Does Reese know?"
The brunette shook her head.
"Oh… ok. This is so cool! I finally get to see you in a
dress!"
"Yeah well, don't get use to
it," she stood up and walked with her feline sassy way to Delphi.
~ ~ *** ~ ~
The air was cool and thick in the subway station that ran under New Gotham. The walls were filled with grime and grudge from the beating it took since its birth. The tan Greek-like structured walls curved upward in a semi-circle. The escalator brought down a blonde haired girl wearing all black with a matching long trench coat. It was Dinah Lance, of course, approaching her destination. The citizens of New Gotham weren't aware of the young lady that protected the city in the time of need, but that was what having a secret identity was all about. The secrecy.
The third bird raised a hand to her bat-earring gracefully; looking around securing people's gaze weren't on her. "Oracle," Dinah waited for a configuration sound and spoke low with a dramatic tone. "I'm in."
"Well done. If my coordinates are correct. The A train should be arriving in five, four, three, two, one," a gust of wind swept the underground lane as the large A letter past by. The blonde vigilante's trench coat flew back as if readying to fly from its owner. When the mobile cart balked; so did the coat.
The doors opened and Dinah entered. Many seats weren't occupied, but she figured it be safer to sit next to a woman and her child then by the thugs on the other side.
"Welcome aboard Metro Express. Next stop is Uptown New Gotham 145, then Buldhaven. Please sit back, relax, while I take you to your destination. Stand clear of the closing doors," the driver instructed shutting off the intercoms and the doors closed.
The lady beside her gave her a warm smile. She was of dark skinned complexion; brown hair with blonde highlights, hazel eyes, and wore a simple blue dress. Her child- who sat on her lap- was lighter, with brown hair and eyes wearing a similar dress to the mother. Dinah smiled back, her features tensed. This was the first time she took public transportation. Back in Opal, Missouri, the school bus would pick her up, and it wasn't really public because she knew everyone there. Not to mention Barbara always drove her to school in city. It wasn't exactly picture perfect stories her friends told about whom would take public transportation. Someone was always- almost mugged or assaulted in the underground transit.
The baby grabbed on to Dinah's trench coat and started tugging on it. The blonde girl pulled it back and the baby's mom apologized. She stared out into the window. All was pitched black and the cart moved rapidly underground. Within a few minutes the train stopped and let some people out.
"Buldhaven is next my friends. Please stand clear of the closing doors."
The train started to move once again and she could feel her stomach turn over. The third bird's instincts weren't immune to so much movement. Gazing out the window, she could see the train's speed decrease. The cart balked completely and people waited for an announcement.
"Um… ladies and gentlemen. We seem to be having some technical difficulties. If you please bare with us, we'll have this thing going in a jiffy."
Without warning, the glass shattered inward causing citizens to panic. Dinah immediately use the bottom of her coat to cover the lady and her child. Junior supergirl rose to her feet as the woman looked at her baby and the vigilante. It wasn't fear that filled her veins, but a recognizable presence. Another gust of wind blew into the cart, but by the velocity, the third could tell something was at the end of the zephyr.
"Everyone! Run to the other cart!" She commanded.
The citizens just gave her a horrified look not moving anywhere.
She faced the baby, and it did not seem to be scared even after the attack. It smiled at her. Dinah faced the entrance and the wind finally stopped. The first sight of life appeared in black boots and cape coming from the top of the entrance down. She wanted to run, but knew the people in the train would be in danger with her absence. The third bird took a step back as the Batman entered the cart.
The citizens started heading towards the other cart like she commanded a few seconds ago. With the people out of the way, she placed a hand on her bat-earring and contacted Barbara, "Oracle! He's here!"
"Who's here?" Babs voice was a bit shaken but managed to get the message across.
"The Batman!" Dinah took a step back as he glided, not walked towards her.
The man behind the mask grabbed the blonde vigilante by the wrist and she fought back shoving his hand away. The third bird was scared.
Junior supergirl examined his movements; his feet did not touch the ground. What kind of a Meta is he?
She contemplated whether or not to speak.
Batman made an attempt to get a hold of her once more but she pulled away. The effort was not successful as he grabbed her trench coat and she fell to the floor. Dinah kicked upward assaulting his mask and a grunt followed from the bat. The third bird twirled upward from the previous attack and held her hands up in combat mode. She gave him a couple punches to his ribs then a hard uppercut to his chin.
The bat didn't even seem to have felt the pain.
Oh boy, she thought and realized it was time for her telekinesis would step in. Junior supergirl held her hand in the air and squinted her eyes forming a force to throw. Before anything was able to build she was thrown back towards a door by another aura. An aura that came from Batman! Now, Dinah Lance had no idea what kind of Meta he was. Was he some kind of breed between super strength, psyche, and flight? Which ever it was, there was no way she could get out of this one but stand her ground with the little strength she had, even it surpassed her own.
"Dinah! What's your status?" Oracle chimed in.
"Annihilation!" She confessed looking at the grin on the bat's mask.
"I gave you a second chance! And this is how you repay me?" He spoke up, now with his lips tightly pressed.
Dinah didn't say anything looking into his deep forest green iris.
"No, it wasn't just a dream! Guess you have forgotten everything I've told you!"
"Dinah! What is he talking about?" Barbara asked a bit with disbelief.
"I… I…" Words couldn't form.
He walked up to her with a disgust look on what she could make out on his visage. Batman picked her buy the collar and pinned her to the wall. The bat looked into her aqua gaze, "Don't get into this Dinah. This is a family affair. You're not like them."
"I'm not like you!" She shouted trying to pull out of the blockade.
Batman pushed her harder into the wall hurting her shoulders, "Fine! Have it your way! You want to be apart of this. Then I'll make sure you loose something you've held one for years, your innocence. And that, is a promise."
Horror filled her veins as the prophecy unraveled. He let go and began to walk away. The imposter turned back to the young blonde girl. "Don't worry Dinah. I'm not coming back. Well, at least not now." He smiled and flew out of the train.
The third bird fell to her knees and wept. Tension inflexed with every breath she inhaled.
"Dinah?" Barbara's voice was uncertain.
"Yes?" She managed to speak in her moment.
"Are you ok?"
The third bird thought it over before answering. I will not be a victim!
"Dinah, speak to me!"
"I'm ok," she stood up and walked over the entrance with tears still streaming down. Dinah Lance stepped of the train, and ran towards New Gotham.
~ ~ *** ~ ~
Anticipation ran through her veins as Helena Kyle entered Shea Pier. It's warm colors of kaki on the walls and low setting lights made it a subtle place. The marble statues were place in attributed parts of the space creating a unique memoir of the restaurant. The scent of fine cuisine beaded the shorthaired vixen's inside regulating emotions. Ice water, she thought. Helena didn't know what she was getting herself into this time. Instincts always lead her to the right path, in battles any who. Yet, this was more of a blind test. Signs pointed towards this road, but its obscurities made it uncertain.
Glancing through the citizen's faces, tears of joy and sorrow equally swept the milieu. Shea Pier always left people with some kind of unforgettable memory, all kinds.
The lady in red wanted to turn back, she wanted to reimburse from all means of conflict and veil once more beneath the night sky, with physical challenges and turmoil. However, a familiar force wouldn't let her repent. Lost within the warrior Huntress, Helena was clashing through. Seemed like at times her double life controlled both body and mind, and sadly, at wrong accounts.
"Excuse me, madam," the consignor interrupted her vision. "Party of one?"
The vixen in red faced the old man shifting the weight on her hips, "No. I'm with someone."
"I'm sorry, I should have known a beautiful young lady as yourself would be waiting for a special someone," his pruned lips curved up in the end of the flattering, fake complement. "Reservations under?"
"Reese, Jesse Reese."
He ran his aged finger down the list. "Ah yes. Sir Jesse Reese. Party of two, awaiting… Huntress?"
"That's me," she added while the old man gave her a puzzled look.
For a brief moment the consignor's visage longed for the infinite question but brushed it off knowing full well work was important. He pressed a button by the book of reservation paging a waiter. Sure enough a young dark haired male appeared. "This is Huntress, to table four."
"Right this way," the young man walked fast to table four and Helena was right behind, even in heels.
"Detective Jesse Reese, your- ahem, Huntress is here," The young man introduced.
His eyes saw nothing but her as corny as it might seemed. The way the shorthaired vixen managed the crimson cloths tightly pressed on her skin sent an instant passion within his soul. "Huntress…" he words were overwhelmed with temptation. "You look… you look beautiful."
The young man knew his place and exited the scene neither man nor woman paying any mind.
Helena smiled a bit raising a brow ultimately delighted with the invisible drool that should be running down the detective's mouth. She broke their tensions with her casual wit, "Thanks… ah, you look beautiful too."
Reese eyed his overplayed tux and grinned brushing off the unusual compliment, "Well I prefer handsome. Shall we sit?"
"Why not?" Huntress accepted and the detective pulled out a chair for the vigilante. After the shorthaired vixen was adjusted, he went to his seat and pulled out a bouquet of roses.
"I got you these, don't worry they are not a weapon."
Helena's blue eyes dilated in disbelief. He was surely going out of his way tonight. Jesse handed them to her and she put placed it on her lap admiringly. He sat down while she smelt them. Her nose met a card and she picked it out to read aloud.
"To Huntress: The deceitful rose. Beautiful and lethal in one. Jesse."
Reese watched her intently. He didn't wait for her to make a comment about what she thought about them. Jesse added impishly, "Not that it's a bother or anything, really; but um… why the dress?"
Helena put the flowers by her side, "Oh this old thing, the element of surprise always tags along. Besides, I'm a woman of many faces."
"Is that so? Well uh, I'm wondering what kind of cuisines Huntress likes? The menu is in French, you need any help?"
"Je barle france. Je viec depus zank annees!" She replied enunciating every word perfectly. Even this detective underestimated her. Helena said she spoke French; that she lived there for five years. Ultimately because Selina Kyle was hiding the fact that she bore the child of her true love.
Reese was immediately flabbergasted and laughed. She was more mysterious then he could ever embark. Hopefully this detective was able to break that wall; the truth definitely enticed him.
"Bien la Chasseresse. Qu'aurez-bous aujord'hui?"
"La Salade d'Agneau de Herbed." She smiled. "Et vous?"
"Je pense que je ferai juste a le poulet."
Their bartender cam back; this time wheeling a table with two champagne bottles in a metallic cooler. Reese looked at her then the waiter.
"I didn't order that."
"Oh, we know sir. This is already paid for."
"Paid? By who?"
The waiter ignored the detective and faced Helena, "Oracle's mentor said your welcome."
The shorthaired vixen nodded acting like it was no big deal but inside it was… and he knew as well. She faced the waiter. The detective locked his attention on the vigilante.
"He will be having chicken, and I will be having the salad," she explained. The waiter wrote it down as he walked away. Helena smiled wearily and looked at the champagne bottle. "Piper Heidsieck, not bad…"
"Not bad? That's the best and most expensive French champagne out there!"
"That's why I said not bad…"
Reese lost his cool obviously not trusting her at this point, "Whose Oracle's mentor?"
"Calm down Reese," she played her cards composed waving off the sudden outburst. "It's just a friend," Helena placed the two-glass cups on the table. "Now you want some or not?"
"Why are we all of a sudden getting this treatment?"
"You want some or not?"
He reluctantly gave up, "Fine!" Reese took the bottle from her and poured the drinks.
"A toast?" She suggested raising her cup.
"To?"
"A year without ripping each other's heads off?"
Jesse grinned, "How about to old friends and new enemies?"
"I can live with that," they tipped their glasses and took a sip. Helena pulled the cup away from her mouth, "Ah! Bubbles…"
Reese smiled.
"What?"
"So why you're a salad kind of girl?"
"Why are you a chicken kind of guy?"
Jesse looked away semi-bashful, "That's about the only thing I could say in French."
Helena laughed, "And the truth comes out!"
"You've defiantly changed, Huntress," he gave her an impish look. "Some well then others."
"Well Oracle is looking for any finger prints on the letter. She agrees with me on this one. This guy is not Bruce Wayne," the lady in red changed the conversation. Her walls aligned again.
The detective smiled avoiding the swift in topic, "Yeah well I don't really care right now. Come one Huntress, tell me about yourself."
The shorthaired vixen let the cop have his fun, "What do you want to know?"
Reese gave a thinking pose that painted a smirk on the dark knight's daughter, "How about… what's your favorite color?"
She leaned in closer playfully adding tension, "Ah so your going for the deeper questions here… Blue."
"Blue, really? I thought you were more of a purple passion kind of girl."
"Yeah, well keep on underestimating me."
He raised a brow, "Why me?"
"What?"
"Why go after me? I mean there surly were much gullible cops out there to trust, Huntress."
She sat back; he definitely killed the mood, "To tell you the truth, I just basically run on instincts. You can't really ask me why I do what I do… I just do it. You can't really understand a person who doesn't even understand themselves."
"Well Huntress, you're scholars have definitely changed in the past year. Either you've matured, or you've been around Oracle too long."
She laughed but regained composer to give in her two cents, "That's life, an why must you say my alias every time you speak!"
"Why not? I mean that's what your name is," he consider knowing full well she would read between the lines.
"Oh, that question again," Helena moved farther into her seat.
"So, you gonna tell me or is this another one of those complicated things?"
Helena balked. The ultimate question with the ultimate answer… all can be revealed in one answer. But would she go for it? Her father words echoed through her psyche, The fewer- the better. The beating of her heart made the world still as all source of reasoning and instincts bombarded this moment. She had the chance to tell him in the New Gotham High five-year reunion, but it didn't happen. His soft brow iris locked with her stills of aqua.
Reese anticipated with ever fiber in his soul. His body tensed as if wishing for the impossible. That was all he wanted to know right now. Ever since she first jumped out of the window and into his heart.
Helena Kyle's gaze didn't even move half a centimeter looking at Detective Jesse Reese. He was different, wasn't he? He was defiantly strong to have waited this long. Why was it that he was even still here, wasting his time and money in a fancy place when it could have spent it on the greatest stalker known? Her conclusion led to something she was too blind to see. He wanted to hear it from her.
"Helena," her voice was shaky. A large lump in the throat stopped her from continuing but she was determined with such passion to let him in. To finally let their soul intertwine. "Helena Kyle."
Fate was not happy. The windows they sat by and all the other ones crashed in. Debris of shatter glass hurled inward with a sound that barricaded the room. Most of the people ducked in time, others were badly cut. Helena and Reese were victims towards the attack. After everything settled a rustling of the wind came in. Huntress stood up with her scrapped body. Reese did the same and came beside her. The vigilante held the detective's hand absentmindedly.
Batman appeared. He glided on the air towards their location. The old man that Helena met before Reese got up at the wrong time, which triggered tragedy on his part. The man behind the mask swiftly reached inside his utility belt and threw a pelt at the consignor, which exploded in contact and tentacles wrapped around his body. The fake caped-crusader looked at Helena immediately.
She hesitated but Reese just stood in front protecting her.
The enemy smiled and pulled out a gun from his utility belt, "Hey Reese, you live by the gun, you die by the gun."
The sound of the bullet released from the gun cartage thundered the restaurant.
"No!" Helena yelled. The detective dropped back and she held onto his broken body. She looked into his fading brown hues as the blood poured out uncontrollably. The wind shifted again and Huntress looked at Batman, her eye formed into their amber like slits.
He smiled and threw a pelt at her.
Time sharpened in the watery midst. Like a picture frame, she was able to pinpoint the small metallic circle from a distance and quickly smack it out of the way, fast enough so that the pellet wouldn't react.
An obvious sign of frustration escaped the Bat's tone and he flew towards her. He grabbed Huntress the shoulder's dragging her to the wall behind, "You should have listened to your Father!"
Her eyes widened. How could he have known? How can he fly?
"The fewer! The better!"
NO! She shook her head. Her eyes went back to their shades of aqua tears streaming down. This didn't make any sense, the fates were wrong. The only thing that was going on in her mind was how impossible this was. Her body trembled, partly because of the bat's presence, but mostly longed for Reese.
"You think you two can make it together in this city? You make me sick!"
Her eyes snapped open locking with his forest green. They were impassioned and firm. The instincts that very much helped her get to this point left and Helena was there, the very same Helena that watched her mother die eight years ago.
"He won't understand, and you - can't - handle it!"
She gave up, tears overwhelmed her face and the only thing she could do was weep uncontrollably. Helena eyes closed as he shook her.
"Look at me Helena! Look at me!"
Her eyes snapped open once more and they met tentacles behind him that wrapped his body. The bat fell on the floor in a loud thump as if his wings were clipped.
With the body out of the way she met Reese standing with his hands over his bloodied shoulder. He breathed hard looking into her eyes.
Helena's psyche was corrupted, but her heart reached out and she ran up to him. While they embraced the civilians rushed out of the scenery. Their weight tilted on onto the metahuman-female, blood still flowing out of his body, but now onto hers.
"Reese…"
Police sirens were heard as they gradually came closer.
Dinah rushed in, "Huntress!" The image of disaster and the temple of the detective's shattered her naïve soul. Her attention quickly glanced to the bat confined on the floor beside them. The blonde teen used her telekinesis not giving a damn whether or not they would work. She moved the bat towards the entrance, lucky, the old man was facing the opposite way. The third bird ran up to them, "Reese!"
Helena laid his body on the ground while Dinah helped.
"What are we going to do?" The blonde teen questioned not really expecting answer.
"You're not leaving me!" The lady in red shouted directing it towards the injured man. Helena ripped off a long piece from the bottom of her dress. She pressed it tightly on his shoulder wrapping it around. The red material blended perfectly with his blood and that made her cry even harder. "Reese! You hear me?"
"Haw…" Reese murmured with all his strength, his lips a whither shade of pale.
"You're going to be ok," she lied.
Dinah stood by not knowing what to do.
Policemen entered, and so did the paramedics.
"Over here!" The teen called them over.
"Reese, you here me?" Helena frantically asked watching his eyes flutter uncomfortably.
"Helena," he managed to say.
Her soul for that brief moment was lifted. He said the name that was given by her mother. Her soul cried out, her soul was furious with the outcome.
"Helena Kyle…" His eyes rolled back and eyelids shut.
To Be Continued…
