(AN) Not much to report except to thank readersPrincess2, Nightshadow67 and Showstopper for their reviews. I'm feeling pretty good about this fic so far. I hope that I am still keeping some integrity of the Justice League animated universe. As far at the Teen Titans go, this is an AU of their animated versions.
Well, other than that, here we go!
I do not own the rights to the characters affiliated with DC Comics.
Chapter 10 Para meu amado
Batman, Robin and Cyborg were standing on the outskirts of Bawiti, Egypt. The sky had settled to a crimson skyline as the sun had disappeared. Saying that the sight was beautiful would be a tragic understatement. The three had been looking to the east, waiting. Suddenly, the very distant horizon had lit up with a sudden flash.
Batman had looked on without flinching, the lenses in his mask automatically changing to keep any harmful glare from reaching his eyes. Robin had to switch his lenses to the tinted ones, and Cyborg just covered his good eye with his arm.
"I hope this works", Robin said.worriedly.
"It should", Cyborg said squinting. "The probe I sent let us know about the bomb in plenty of time and she's good for coming through in the clutch."
Mere seconds later a black, domed vortex appeared from behind them. Batman turned as the sphere appeared. It was large enough to engulf half of Wayne Manor. Cyborg and Raven had joined the Justice League for their first mission. Batman was confident that they could handle what the mission needed.
Batman breathed a subtle sigh of relief,.then the dome disappeared. He was now face to face with a wide-eyed Superman who was about to make a leap at him.
"Everyone! Get....", Superman's face had gone from fear to confusion. "W....what the....where.....Batman?"
Superman was about to pounce on the Slade doppleganger, but it was replaced by a smirking Batman. It doesn't take much to confuse Superman, Batman knew.
"I'll explain it when we get back", Batman said. "Is everyone alright?"
Behind Superman, Nightwing was on the ground, being held upright by a mask-less Batgirl. They looked in bad shape.
"As best as can be expected", Nightwing said."What about you, Cass?"
"I...ok", Batgirl said. "Just...tired."
They were in front of the Javelin 7 as the bottom hatch had just finished opening with Hawkgirl and Green Lantern waiting to exit.
"What the heck just happened?", Hawkgirl said coming out.
"No clue", GL said.
Superman walked back to help with Batgirl and Nightwing. He reached down to help the two vigilantes to their feet. Nightwing still reeling from the fight with Clayface and that Slade robot.
"What about you, Raven?", Batman asked.
Raven was levitating above everyone as Batman looked up at her. She had used her powers to teleport the endangered members of the Justice League to get them away from that atomic explosion. Raven lowered herself to land in front of Batman. As she landed, she dropped to a knee and pulled back the hood from her cloak. She was obviously spent.
"I've been better", Raven said. "I'm not used to teleporting that much at once yet."
Batman offered a hand to Raven to help her up.
"You'll be fine", Batman said. "You did great."
Raven had taken Batman's hand and stood up. She gave a quick, subtle smile for Batman's praise. When she got to her feet, Cyborg and Robin had made it to Batman's side.
"Did I just see that right?", Cyborg said surprised. "Did Raven just smile?"
Raven's peaceful look was replaced by a scowl as she put her hood back on.
"Tell Beast Boy about this, and I'll kill you", Raven simply said.
Hawkgirl helped Superman take Nightwing and Batgirl back to the Javelin. They needed immediate medical attention. Nightwing was suffering from physical injuries and who knows what Batgirl had gone through.
Green Lantern had walked towards Batman, Robin and the young metas. He was still unsure about what was going on. One second he was in El Minya, Egypt, the next....he's not.
"How did you guys know when to get us out of there?", GL asked as he approached Batman.
"Cyborg used a long range micro-probe to monitor the situation", Batman said.
"And since its linked directly to my system", Cyborg added. "Nothing could jam its signal."
John Stewart walked in front of Cyborg and gave him a fist pound.
"Good thing you came along when you did, big man", GL said.
"No prob, man", Cyborg said.
Green Lantern then turned to Raven, who was now standing next to Cyborg. GL hardly ever spoke to her. No one in the League did for that matter. Now, he had something to say to her.
"Thanks to you, we were able to get everyone out of there safely."
Raven had turned away from GL, not wanting another praise bring about a smiling fit. Green Lantern knew she liked to keep to herself, so he wasn't insulted by her giving him the cold shoulder. Batman had spoken up, getting GL's attention.
"Raven was able to keep a dimensional door open long enough to know when to get everyone out of there fast enough", Batman said.
GL looked at Raven's back and put his hand on her shoulder.
"Thanks for getting us outta there", GL said.
Raven remained facing the opposite way, trying to hide her current smile.
"Your welcome", Raven quietly said.
"Lets head back", Batman said as he started to walk to the Javelin. "We have too many things to figure out and no time to waste."
*****
Starfire was in her room, laying down face first on her bed. She had been sobbing the whole time since Robin and the others had left for earth. Starfire had learned earlier in the day that she had ties with the three new strangers. Unfortunately, they could not recall any of their past either. They did, however, know more than she did.
They had seen her in one of the camps.
Starfire was especially frightened when she learned what was going on in those camps. She was scared of the fact that she may have hurt others while in that camp. What exactly was done to her, is unknown, but what Batman had brought up was why would an alien be in that camp?
Starfire's door had beeped, notifying her that she had a guest.
"Just a moment, please", she said as she got up from bed and walked to the door.
She opened the door to find Diana waiting outside.
"Hello, Starfire", Diana said.
"Greetings, Diana", Starfire said, trying to hide the fact that she had been crying. "What brings you to my quarters?"
Diana noticed right away what Starfire had been doing the past couple of hours.
"I was wondering if you would like to talk", Diana said.
"I do wish to speak with someone", Starfire said. "I am having some difficulty understanding some things. Please, come in."
Starfire walked away from the door way, allowing Diana to enter her room. Starfire went to sit down on her bed as Diana followed her to sit down next to her.
Diana was still thinking heavily about the encounter she had with Batman. She had been beating herself up for it inside. She knew that Batman would not respond well to her using his real name, and making an advance on him at the same time. Especially now, during one of the most trying times of his life.
Diana really needed to get this off of her mind, and she knew Starfire had some issues of her own to deal with. So, Diana felt that maybe she could help Starfire get through some of her own problems.
"I am having trouble with dealing the fact that I don't remember anything before I was rescued", Starfire began. "But I am frightened by the things that I may or may not have done."
"Like what?", Diana asked trying to understand.
"I am scared that maybe I was forced to hurt people", Starfire said. "Those camps were made to create beings with special powers. I do not know if I have any powers, but I am scared that if I did, I did things that were wrong."
Diana understood Starfire's dilemma, being that anyone would be frightened of having extraordinary powers and not knowing it.
"Do you feel anything...unusual at times?", Diana asked.
Starfire gave her a confused look.
"I do not understand", Starfire said.
Diana was never really a good teacher. Seeing that Starfire's mind was very fresh to certain ideas and trains of thought, she knew some things were going to need time to explain.
"I mean are there times when you feel like maybe something.....might feel.....strange? When you think you should feel normal."
Starfire thought for a moment than her eyes lit up when she thought of something.
"Oooooh", Starfire said. "I believe I did encounter a time when I experienced dizziness, nausea and extreme cramping. I asked Robin about that, but he acted very strangely and said I should ask you or Hawkgirl about that. I forgot to though."
Diana could not believe this.
"Not that", Diana said."That's perfectly normal for a female of your age."
"What is that then?", Starfire asked, for some reason, excitedly.
Diana closed her eyes and blushed to herself. She had yet to discuss the changes a young woman goes through with anyone other than her mother and sisters back on Themiscyra
"We'll discuss that another time", Diana said opening her eyes. "Right now, you may have special abilities that have to be discovered and controlled."
Starfire nodded and lowered her head so Diana could not see her face.
"Diana", Starfire said. "That is not all that is bothering me. I have been experiencing certain......certain...."
"Its OK", Diana said. "You can talk to me about anything. I am here for you. I understand that its hard being alone in here. When I first arrived here, I knew of nothing away from my home. I had to try my best to fit in with and learn to trust my new friends. Are you starting to feel a certain way about something or someone?"
Starfire looked up at Diana with a surprised look.
"You can read minds as well? Or perhaps you can see the future?"
Diana chuckled.
"No, Starfire. I do not have those abilities. I have been watching you around here very closely to make sure you were doing ok. I know that you have been getting very close with Robin during your stay here."
Starfire gasped and quickly folded her hands in front of her.
"Oh, please do not say anything to him", Starfire begged. "I do not have the courage to tell him about these strange feelings yet."
Diana understood far better than Starfire could imagine. She wished she still lacked that courage.
"I will keep our conversation private", Diana said.
Starfire gave out a sigh of relief and put her hands down on her lap.
"I thank you", Starfire said wide eyed. "You have been such a great help. Now, I would like to return the favor. Is there anything you wish to speak about?"
"No", Diana said quickly. "Not right now, anyway."
"Oh", Starfire said visibly disappointed.
Diana had seen the disappointment in Starfire's face and gave out a deep sigh. Maybe, she thought, she could understand a few things herself by talking to Starfire about her problem.
"Actually", Diana began as she stood up from the bed and sat on the floor with he legs folded. "I have been experiencing the same feelings about someone."
"Really?", Starfire said surprised as she joined Diana on the floor. "Who is it? Oh, could it be Superman?"
"No", Diana said. "He has someone and I consider him my closest friend."
Starfire thought some more.
"It must be the Flash!"
Diana's eyes shot wide open as she was waving both of her hands in front of her.
"Oh, Hera no", Diana nearly choked. "I could not possibly...to even think.....with ....no."
Starfire did not see what was wrong with the Flash. He was a kind person who really seemed to care a great deal about females. And he was a good cook, too.
"The Green Lantern? But is not Hawkgirl..."
"No", Diana said, thinking maybe this wasn't a good idea.
Starfire had run out of people Diana could possibly have feelings for.
"I believe I am out of ideas", Starfire said, then smiled. "I cannot wait to meet this person whom you have feelings for."
Diana knew this was going to be harder than she thought.
"You did meet him", Diana said.
Starfire thought again and a look of shock shot across her face followed by a colossal gasp.
"Oh my", Starfire said.as Diana had nodded her head with her eyes closed. "That is so surprising. Ironic also. While I have feelings for Robin, you have fallen for his brother, Nightwing."
Diana's faith in this girl was beginning to diminish.
"No no", Diana said as she looked down, then said quietly,. "Its Batman."
Diana kept her head down to wait for Starfire's reaction. When she heard none she raised her head.
"Starfire?"
Starfire was looking down as well, her arms folded in front of her. Her tone serious again.
"I...the Batman scared me at first", Starfire began. "But everyone had told me that I had nothing to worry about. Then the Batman had told me himself that he would help me remember my past. I feel bad because I allowed myself to think of him as an awful person before I knew him, but he made me feel much better by telling me he would help me .He is like the father of Robin and Nightwing. He taught them how to be strong and good hearted people. I must thank him for that because if not for him, I would never have met Robin."
Diana listened to Starfire's hearted feelings towards the members of the Batclan, revisiting those feelings she had for the Dark Knight. How frightening it was that she and Starfire were in near perfect, similar situations
Starfire stared back at her with pure admiration. She started to look up to Diana as a model of what she could become. Someone who was strong, smart, beautiful and brave. Starfire knew for sure she had none of these qualities.
"I find it amazing that Batman, along with Robin, Nightwing, and Batgirl, are able to work and perhaps be the most powerful among us", Diana said.
"They do not have any special powers?", Starfire asked.
Diana gave Starfire a confused look.
"You didn't realize that Robin was a normal human, with no powers?", Diana asked.
"No, because I knew he was a special person", Starfire said. "How everyone treated him when he was among you, I thought that maybe he only used his powers when he had to."
Diana knew those were the exact reasons why she had felt for Batman. To her, he was a modern day Odysseus, a selfless and noble man who performed many noble deeds using only his natural talent and unparalleled mind.
"You surely must have said something to the Batman about your feelings?", Starfire said.
"I did", Diana said, ready to let it all out. "Batman is not an easy person to....understand."
Starfire began to notice Diana feeling down about this subject.
"I am sorry, Diana", Starfire said. "It appears that I am not as good as you are when listening to others. I did not mean to make you feel...."
The door buzzed.
Diana and Starfire both stood up from the floor and started to walk to the door. Diana stopped Starfire to say one last thing.
"I enjoyed our talk", Diana said. "We will continue this again later."
Starfire giggled. "I enjoyed our conversation as well. Do you really wish to continue?"
"Absolutely", Diana said, then gave her shorter friend a hug.
"You are my newest friend", Starfire said. "Today is a good day."
The door buzzed again and the females broke from their embrace. Diana went to open the door to see who it was. She opened it to see a giant green horse with Flash mounted on top of it, chewing on a toothpick and wearing a cowboy hat.
"Howdy, y'all!", Flash said.
Diana folded her arms as she walked out of the room to get a better look at Flash and his steed.
"I don't even want to know where you got that hat", Diana said, then began to pet the horse on his head. "However, Beast Boy makes a magnificent horse."
"Thanks", the horse neighed
Starfire came out of her room to look at Flash and the large animal.
"Oh, Flash", Starfire said. "I did not know you had a pet. Why did you not show me this earlier."
Flash had a troubled look on his face.
"Uh, Star", Flash started.
"Its me", the green horse said making eye contact with Starfire.
Starfire let out an 'eep' then approached the green horse.
"Oh, hello Beast Boy",
The horse just neighed at her.
"Well", Flash said looking back at Diana, "Everyone's on there way back"
"How did things go?", Diana asked.
Flash looked down at Diana with a now serious look.
"Well, they're all alive", Flash said. "But there's a big mess to clean up in Egypt now."
Diana turned to Starfire with a smile.
"We'll talk later", Diana said.
"I cannot wait", Starfire said gleefully.
As Diana turned to walk to the control room, Flash impeded her by putting his hand in front of her.
"How 'bout it, princess?", Flash said with a bad western accent. "Wanna stroll on over on this here dogy?"
Diana smirked then jumped up and landed on top of the green horse, taking Flash's spot by force.
"Hey!", Flash and Beast Boy said in unison.
"Oh, quiet", Diana said. "I only ride when I have full control."
Hearing that, Flash could not help but smile, his mind working faster than he moved.
"Yeah, your right", Flash said looking down. "Besides, the view from here isn't so bad."
Diana leaned down to the horse's ear and whispered something. When she came up, she gave a 'YA!' that made the horse stand up tall, knocking the Flash off. When it came down, Diana and the green horse sped away.
"Well that was rude", Flash said, rubbing his bottom as Starfire ran in her room to laugh.
*****
"So it was an robot", Diana asked.
"Precisely", Batman said at the head of the conference table yet again. This was a Justice League and Batclan only meeting. The four new tenants of the Watchtower had to sit this one out. Batman had been discussing the accounts of the robot Slade.
"However", Batman continued, "this was not a common android. Nightwing said that when his strikes hit the Slade duplicate, he struck what felt like flesh and bone."
"And he winced in pain when I made contact", Nightwing added, slightly wincing in pain himself.
"A cyborg", GL said.
"Not just any", Batman said. "It was not controlled by remote. Otherwise, the signal to it would have been jammed with everything else in the area."
"But didn't that robot transmit a message from Slade?", Superman asked.
"I seemed like it", Nightwing said. "But if it was, it was crisp. No sign of distortion. Like it really was Slade."
As the Justice League continued, the Watchtower communicator beeped on. It was Alfred.
"Yes, what is it Alfred?", Batman said as he remotely activated the radio.
"Pardon my interruption, sir, but we received a package with a very peculiar message written on the wrapping of it."
Batman had no time for new problems.
"What does it say", Batman said with his low tone.
"I believe it says 'Para meu amado' , sir."
Batman's jaw had clenched. The rest of the Justice League sat clueless.
"I'm on my way back."
Without saying another word, or calling the end of the meeting, Batman had walked out of the control room to make his way to the Javelin bay.
"Where are you going?", Hawkgirl shouted at him, only to be met with Batman disappearing behind the closing doors of the control room.
Everyone sitting at the conference table stared at each other with blank looks shot across their faces. Batman had left so abruptly that it seemed like it didn't really happen. However, Nightwing and Robin were not confused.
"What was that all about?", GL asked.
"Uh", Nightwing started to say to everyone.. "Guys, 'Para meu amado' is Portuguese."
"So what does it mean, Dick?", Diana asked with a concerned look.
Nightwing turned to look at Robin who came up with the same translation and conclusion.
"It means 'For my beloved'."
Well, other than that, here we go!
I do not own the rights to the characters affiliated with DC Comics.
Chapter 10 Para meu amado
Batman, Robin and Cyborg were standing on the outskirts of Bawiti, Egypt. The sky had settled to a crimson skyline as the sun had disappeared. Saying that the sight was beautiful would be a tragic understatement. The three had been looking to the east, waiting. Suddenly, the very distant horizon had lit up with a sudden flash.
Batman had looked on without flinching, the lenses in his mask automatically changing to keep any harmful glare from reaching his eyes. Robin had to switch his lenses to the tinted ones, and Cyborg just covered his good eye with his arm.
"I hope this works", Robin said.worriedly.
"It should", Cyborg said squinting. "The probe I sent let us know about the bomb in plenty of time and she's good for coming through in the clutch."
Mere seconds later a black, domed vortex appeared from behind them. Batman turned as the sphere appeared. It was large enough to engulf half of Wayne Manor. Cyborg and Raven had joined the Justice League for their first mission. Batman was confident that they could handle what the mission needed.
Batman breathed a subtle sigh of relief,.then the dome disappeared. He was now face to face with a wide-eyed Superman who was about to make a leap at him.
"Everyone! Get....", Superman's face had gone from fear to confusion. "W....what the....where.....Batman?"
Superman was about to pounce on the Slade doppleganger, but it was replaced by a smirking Batman. It doesn't take much to confuse Superman, Batman knew.
"I'll explain it when we get back", Batman said. "Is everyone alright?"
Behind Superman, Nightwing was on the ground, being held upright by a mask-less Batgirl. They looked in bad shape.
"As best as can be expected", Nightwing said."What about you, Cass?"
"I...ok", Batgirl said. "Just...tired."
They were in front of the Javelin 7 as the bottom hatch had just finished opening with Hawkgirl and Green Lantern waiting to exit.
"What the heck just happened?", Hawkgirl said coming out.
"No clue", GL said.
Superman walked back to help with Batgirl and Nightwing. He reached down to help the two vigilantes to their feet. Nightwing still reeling from the fight with Clayface and that Slade robot.
"What about you, Raven?", Batman asked.
Raven was levitating above everyone as Batman looked up at her. She had used her powers to teleport the endangered members of the Justice League to get them away from that atomic explosion. Raven lowered herself to land in front of Batman. As she landed, she dropped to a knee and pulled back the hood from her cloak. She was obviously spent.
"I've been better", Raven said. "I'm not used to teleporting that much at once yet."
Batman offered a hand to Raven to help her up.
"You'll be fine", Batman said. "You did great."
Raven had taken Batman's hand and stood up. She gave a quick, subtle smile for Batman's praise. When she got to her feet, Cyborg and Robin had made it to Batman's side.
"Did I just see that right?", Cyborg said surprised. "Did Raven just smile?"
Raven's peaceful look was replaced by a scowl as she put her hood back on.
"Tell Beast Boy about this, and I'll kill you", Raven simply said.
Hawkgirl helped Superman take Nightwing and Batgirl back to the Javelin. They needed immediate medical attention. Nightwing was suffering from physical injuries and who knows what Batgirl had gone through.
Green Lantern had walked towards Batman, Robin and the young metas. He was still unsure about what was going on. One second he was in El Minya, Egypt, the next....he's not.
"How did you guys know when to get us out of there?", GL asked as he approached Batman.
"Cyborg used a long range micro-probe to monitor the situation", Batman said.
"And since its linked directly to my system", Cyborg added. "Nothing could jam its signal."
John Stewart walked in front of Cyborg and gave him a fist pound.
"Good thing you came along when you did, big man", GL said.
"No prob, man", Cyborg said.
Green Lantern then turned to Raven, who was now standing next to Cyborg. GL hardly ever spoke to her. No one in the League did for that matter. Now, he had something to say to her.
"Thanks to you, we were able to get everyone out of there safely."
Raven had turned away from GL, not wanting another praise bring about a smiling fit. Green Lantern knew she liked to keep to herself, so he wasn't insulted by her giving him the cold shoulder. Batman had spoken up, getting GL's attention.
"Raven was able to keep a dimensional door open long enough to know when to get everyone out of there fast enough", Batman said.
GL looked at Raven's back and put his hand on her shoulder.
"Thanks for getting us outta there", GL said.
Raven remained facing the opposite way, trying to hide her current smile.
"Your welcome", Raven quietly said.
"Lets head back", Batman said as he started to walk to the Javelin. "We have too many things to figure out and no time to waste."
*****
Starfire was in her room, laying down face first on her bed. She had been sobbing the whole time since Robin and the others had left for earth. Starfire had learned earlier in the day that she had ties with the three new strangers. Unfortunately, they could not recall any of their past either. They did, however, know more than she did.
They had seen her in one of the camps.
Starfire was especially frightened when she learned what was going on in those camps. She was scared of the fact that she may have hurt others while in that camp. What exactly was done to her, is unknown, but what Batman had brought up was why would an alien be in that camp?
Starfire's door had beeped, notifying her that she had a guest.
"Just a moment, please", she said as she got up from bed and walked to the door.
She opened the door to find Diana waiting outside.
"Hello, Starfire", Diana said.
"Greetings, Diana", Starfire said, trying to hide the fact that she had been crying. "What brings you to my quarters?"
Diana noticed right away what Starfire had been doing the past couple of hours.
"I was wondering if you would like to talk", Diana said.
"I do wish to speak with someone", Starfire said. "I am having some difficulty understanding some things. Please, come in."
Starfire walked away from the door way, allowing Diana to enter her room. Starfire went to sit down on her bed as Diana followed her to sit down next to her.
Diana was still thinking heavily about the encounter she had with Batman. She had been beating herself up for it inside. She knew that Batman would not respond well to her using his real name, and making an advance on him at the same time. Especially now, during one of the most trying times of his life.
Diana really needed to get this off of her mind, and she knew Starfire had some issues of her own to deal with. So, Diana felt that maybe she could help Starfire get through some of her own problems.
"I am having trouble with dealing the fact that I don't remember anything before I was rescued", Starfire began. "But I am frightened by the things that I may or may not have done."
"Like what?", Diana asked trying to understand.
"I am scared that maybe I was forced to hurt people", Starfire said. "Those camps were made to create beings with special powers. I do not know if I have any powers, but I am scared that if I did, I did things that were wrong."
Diana understood Starfire's dilemma, being that anyone would be frightened of having extraordinary powers and not knowing it.
"Do you feel anything...unusual at times?", Diana asked.
Starfire gave her a confused look.
"I do not understand", Starfire said.
Diana was never really a good teacher. Seeing that Starfire's mind was very fresh to certain ideas and trains of thought, she knew some things were going to need time to explain.
"I mean are there times when you feel like maybe something.....might feel.....strange? When you think you should feel normal."
Starfire thought for a moment than her eyes lit up when she thought of something.
"Oooooh", Starfire said. "I believe I did encounter a time when I experienced dizziness, nausea and extreme cramping. I asked Robin about that, but he acted very strangely and said I should ask you or Hawkgirl about that. I forgot to though."
Diana could not believe this.
"Not that", Diana said."That's perfectly normal for a female of your age."
"What is that then?", Starfire asked, for some reason, excitedly.
Diana closed her eyes and blushed to herself. She had yet to discuss the changes a young woman goes through with anyone other than her mother and sisters back on Themiscyra
"We'll discuss that another time", Diana said opening her eyes. "Right now, you may have special abilities that have to be discovered and controlled."
Starfire nodded and lowered her head so Diana could not see her face.
"Diana", Starfire said. "That is not all that is bothering me. I have been experiencing certain......certain...."
"Its OK", Diana said. "You can talk to me about anything. I am here for you. I understand that its hard being alone in here. When I first arrived here, I knew of nothing away from my home. I had to try my best to fit in with and learn to trust my new friends. Are you starting to feel a certain way about something or someone?"
Starfire looked up at Diana with a surprised look.
"You can read minds as well? Or perhaps you can see the future?"
Diana chuckled.
"No, Starfire. I do not have those abilities. I have been watching you around here very closely to make sure you were doing ok. I know that you have been getting very close with Robin during your stay here."
Starfire gasped and quickly folded her hands in front of her.
"Oh, please do not say anything to him", Starfire begged. "I do not have the courage to tell him about these strange feelings yet."
Diana understood far better than Starfire could imagine. She wished she still lacked that courage.
"I will keep our conversation private", Diana said.
Starfire gave out a sigh of relief and put her hands down on her lap.
"I thank you", Starfire said wide eyed. "You have been such a great help. Now, I would like to return the favor. Is there anything you wish to speak about?"
"No", Diana said quickly. "Not right now, anyway."
"Oh", Starfire said visibly disappointed.
Diana had seen the disappointment in Starfire's face and gave out a deep sigh. Maybe, she thought, she could understand a few things herself by talking to Starfire about her problem.
"Actually", Diana began as she stood up from the bed and sat on the floor with he legs folded. "I have been experiencing the same feelings about someone."
"Really?", Starfire said surprised as she joined Diana on the floor. "Who is it? Oh, could it be Superman?"
"No", Diana said. "He has someone and I consider him my closest friend."
Starfire thought some more.
"It must be the Flash!"
Diana's eyes shot wide open as she was waving both of her hands in front of her.
"Oh, Hera no", Diana nearly choked. "I could not possibly...to even think.....with ....no."
Starfire did not see what was wrong with the Flash. He was a kind person who really seemed to care a great deal about females. And he was a good cook, too.
"The Green Lantern? But is not Hawkgirl..."
"No", Diana said, thinking maybe this wasn't a good idea.
Starfire had run out of people Diana could possibly have feelings for.
"I believe I am out of ideas", Starfire said, then smiled. "I cannot wait to meet this person whom you have feelings for."
Diana knew this was going to be harder than she thought.
"You did meet him", Diana said.
Starfire thought again and a look of shock shot across her face followed by a colossal gasp.
"Oh my", Starfire said.as Diana had nodded her head with her eyes closed. "That is so surprising. Ironic also. While I have feelings for Robin, you have fallen for his brother, Nightwing."
Diana's faith in this girl was beginning to diminish.
"No no", Diana said as she looked down, then said quietly,. "Its Batman."
Diana kept her head down to wait for Starfire's reaction. When she heard none she raised her head.
"Starfire?"
Starfire was looking down as well, her arms folded in front of her. Her tone serious again.
"I...the Batman scared me at first", Starfire began. "But everyone had told me that I had nothing to worry about. Then the Batman had told me himself that he would help me remember my past. I feel bad because I allowed myself to think of him as an awful person before I knew him, but he made me feel much better by telling me he would help me .He is like the father of Robin and Nightwing. He taught them how to be strong and good hearted people. I must thank him for that because if not for him, I would never have met Robin."
Diana listened to Starfire's hearted feelings towards the members of the Batclan, revisiting those feelings she had for the Dark Knight. How frightening it was that she and Starfire were in near perfect, similar situations
Starfire stared back at her with pure admiration. She started to look up to Diana as a model of what she could become. Someone who was strong, smart, beautiful and brave. Starfire knew for sure she had none of these qualities.
"I find it amazing that Batman, along with Robin, Nightwing, and Batgirl, are able to work and perhaps be the most powerful among us", Diana said.
"They do not have any special powers?", Starfire asked.
Diana gave Starfire a confused look.
"You didn't realize that Robin was a normal human, with no powers?", Diana asked.
"No, because I knew he was a special person", Starfire said. "How everyone treated him when he was among you, I thought that maybe he only used his powers when he had to."
Diana knew those were the exact reasons why she had felt for Batman. To her, he was a modern day Odysseus, a selfless and noble man who performed many noble deeds using only his natural talent and unparalleled mind.
"You surely must have said something to the Batman about your feelings?", Starfire said.
"I did", Diana said, ready to let it all out. "Batman is not an easy person to....understand."
Starfire began to notice Diana feeling down about this subject.
"I am sorry, Diana", Starfire said. "It appears that I am not as good as you are when listening to others. I did not mean to make you feel...."
The door buzzed.
Diana and Starfire both stood up from the floor and started to walk to the door. Diana stopped Starfire to say one last thing.
"I enjoyed our talk", Diana said. "We will continue this again later."
Starfire giggled. "I enjoyed our conversation as well. Do you really wish to continue?"
"Absolutely", Diana said, then gave her shorter friend a hug.
"You are my newest friend", Starfire said. "Today is a good day."
The door buzzed again and the females broke from their embrace. Diana went to open the door to see who it was. She opened it to see a giant green horse with Flash mounted on top of it, chewing on a toothpick and wearing a cowboy hat.
"Howdy, y'all!", Flash said.
Diana folded her arms as she walked out of the room to get a better look at Flash and his steed.
"I don't even want to know where you got that hat", Diana said, then began to pet the horse on his head. "However, Beast Boy makes a magnificent horse."
"Thanks", the horse neighed
Starfire came out of her room to look at Flash and the large animal.
"Oh, Flash", Starfire said. "I did not know you had a pet. Why did you not show me this earlier."
Flash had a troubled look on his face.
"Uh, Star", Flash started.
"Its me", the green horse said making eye contact with Starfire.
Starfire let out an 'eep' then approached the green horse.
"Oh, hello Beast Boy",
The horse just neighed at her.
"Well", Flash said looking back at Diana, "Everyone's on there way back"
"How did things go?", Diana asked.
Flash looked down at Diana with a now serious look.
"Well, they're all alive", Flash said. "But there's a big mess to clean up in Egypt now."
Diana turned to Starfire with a smile.
"We'll talk later", Diana said.
"I cannot wait", Starfire said gleefully.
As Diana turned to walk to the control room, Flash impeded her by putting his hand in front of her.
"How 'bout it, princess?", Flash said with a bad western accent. "Wanna stroll on over on this here dogy?"
Diana smirked then jumped up and landed on top of the green horse, taking Flash's spot by force.
"Hey!", Flash and Beast Boy said in unison.
"Oh, quiet", Diana said. "I only ride when I have full control."
Hearing that, Flash could not help but smile, his mind working faster than he moved.
"Yeah, your right", Flash said looking down. "Besides, the view from here isn't so bad."
Diana leaned down to the horse's ear and whispered something. When she came up, she gave a 'YA!' that made the horse stand up tall, knocking the Flash off. When it came down, Diana and the green horse sped away.
"Well that was rude", Flash said, rubbing his bottom as Starfire ran in her room to laugh.
*****
"So it was an robot", Diana asked.
"Precisely", Batman said at the head of the conference table yet again. This was a Justice League and Batclan only meeting. The four new tenants of the Watchtower had to sit this one out. Batman had been discussing the accounts of the robot Slade.
"However", Batman continued, "this was not a common android. Nightwing said that when his strikes hit the Slade duplicate, he struck what felt like flesh and bone."
"And he winced in pain when I made contact", Nightwing added, slightly wincing in pain himself.
"A cyborg", GL said.
"Not just any", Batman said. "It was not controlled by remote. Otherwise, the signal to it would have been jammed with everything else in the area."
"But didn't that robot transmit a message from Slade?", Superman asked.
"I seemed like it", Nightwing said. "But if it was, it was crisp. No sign of distortion. Like it really was Slade."
As the Justice League continued, the Watchtower communicator beeped on. It was Alfred.
"Yes, what is it Alfred?", Batman said as he remotely activated the radio.
"Pardon my interruption, sir, but we received a package with a very peculiar message written on the wrapping of it."
Batman had no time for new problems.
"What does it say", Batman said with his low tone.
"I believe it says 'Para meu amado' , sir."
Batman's jaw had clenched. The rest of the Justice League sat clueless.
"I'm on my way back."
Without saying another word, or calling the end of the meeting, Batman had walked out of the control room to make his way to the Javelin bay.
"Where are you going?", Hawkgirl shouted at him, only to be met with Batman disappearing behind the closing doors of the control room.
Everyone sitting at the conference table stared at each other with blank looks shot across their faces. Batman had left so abruptly that it seemed like it didn't really happen. However, Nightwing and Robin were not confused.
"What was that all about?", GL asked.
"Uh", Nightwing started to say to everyone.. "Guys, 'Para meu amado' is Portuguese."
"So what does it mean, Dick?", Diana asked with a concerned look.
Nightwing turned to look at Robin who came up with the same translation and conclusion.
"It means 'For my beloved'."