(AN) Well, spring break is upon me. I am now taking bets as to how many chapters I spit out during my hiatus from school work..
I do not own the fictitious characters described in this Masterpiece :p
Chapter 13 Trying To Throw Your Arms Around The World
The Watchtower's infirmary was almost at full capacity. Along with J'onn resting, Slade's four apprentices slept, regaining their strength. The young metas were restrained by the similar collars used by Slade, to restrict them from using their powers. However, they were also enclosed by a makeshift room within the infirmary. It was a necessary precaution, in case one of them would awake not liking their surroundings particularly well.
Cassandra had stayed by J'onn's side ever since he had been returned. The rest of the League had been concerned for J'onn, but Cassandra had formed a bond with him during their short time spent together. The doors in the infirmary opened and Raven, freshened up after a day of training, walked to to see her.
"Hey", Raven said walking towards her.
"Ay", Cassandra said back to her.
Raven had been carrying two cups of herbal tea with her. She gave one to Cassandra, who nodded back a thank you. Raven grabbed a lose chair and pulled it by Cassandra. It made a grinding noise across the ground that caused Cassandra to 'shush' Raven.
"Sorry", Raven said in her usual tone.
Raven sat down next to Cassandra, sipping her tea. She looked down at the Martian on the bed.
"So, this is J'onn", Raven said. "I heard he's going ok, he just needs rest."
Cassandra just nodded, still not taking her eyes off of him. Raven looked at her new friend with a bit of concern.
"Hey, Robin and Nightwing are cooking dinner now", Raven said. "They sent me to come and get you."
Cassandra still looked at J'onn
Raven had now lowered her cup down by her knees. She was not used to comforting people during hard times. Her powers enabled her to feel others' pain, but she could not understand what it meant to wallow in matters of the heart.
"Well...", Raven started. "I'm gonna go back to the lounge. Flash and Starfire looked ready to eat and I want to make sure I get there early enough to get my share."
Raven stood up as Cassandra still looked down at J'onn, as though Raven's words were never spoken. Raven gave Cassandra one last look over, then turned for the door. Before Raven could make it to the door, she was stopped by Cassandra's voice
"I...coming."
Raven looked back at Cassandra who was now standing up, however, still looking down at J'onn. Cassandra bent over and gave J'onn a small kiss on his forehead.
"Get...well soon."
*****
In the sectioned off room of the infirmary, Batman had been checking the vitals of the new metas. They had been in an induced state of unconsciousness since they arrived at the Watchtower. He heard Cassandra and Raven leave the main portion of the room, and decided he had spent enough time in there as well. He exited the infirmary heading towards his private quarters.
Batman reached his room and entered. He took off his cape and cowl, draping them across the foot of the bed. His kevlar lined shirt, gloves and utility belt followed. Being that he was alone, he allowed himself to jump on the bed in an un-Batman type fashion. The subtle smile of finally getting some rest was well out of character as well, but he really needed some sleep. So many things clogged his mind, however, that did not permit him to speak with the sandman just yet.
What exactly to make of the new young metas that he and Superman had liberated from Slade? Batman didn't really know if they were completely forced into fighting with Slade, or for some reason, they agreed to. He remembered the look in kids' eyes during the battle. The two boys and the blonde girl had looks of both hesitation and hints of fear. It could have been from their first battle with Superman and himself, but Batman knew that these kids had been forced form the very beginning.
Then, there was the Tamaranian. She was obviously connected with Starfire in some way. Green Lantern had briefed Batman on the information he received from the Green Lantern Corps. Its not coincidence that two Tamaranians just so happen to find themselves involved in this. Getting to the bottom of their involvement wasn't going to be easy. Starfire proved to be less than capable at this time to handle herself emotionally.
The other Tamaranian looked to be content with her role. Batman noticed that during her battle with Superman, she displayed enthusiasm and a hint of pleasure fighting against him. Its easy to say that of the four, she was the only one happy to be working for Slade.
Too many thoughts right now, Bruce thought, as he lay on his bed. A few hours of rest, then he would have to make some calls to Wayne Enterprises. More messes to be cleaned up. Millions upon millions of dollars would be needed for families of lost loved ones and the clean up of the destroyed Wayne Enterprises World Headquarters building.
The door buzzed in Bruce's room.
Bruce lay silent
The door buzzed again.
Bruce's head was under his pillow
BUZZ.
"What!?", Bruce shouted in defeat.
"Batman, its me", said Diana's voice said over the rooms intercom. "Can I have a word with you."
Not this, not now.
Bruce had forgotten about the moment he had with Diana. He knew deep down that Diana didn't deserve being treated so poorly, but Bruce had to maintain a sense of control over himself at the time.
Bruce rose from his bed, still wearing the bottom half of his uniform. He reached for a robe he had draped across the chair by his bed and put it on to cover his bare upper body. Looking like a complete mess, Bruce sat down at the foot of his bed, ready to receive his guest.
"Come in", he said in the Batman tone.
The door opened and Diana entered the room dressed in a loose fitting sweatshirt, with a pair of worn down jeans, a pair of flip-flops and her hair in a simple pony tail. She obviously wanted to dress down, not to approach Batman as Wonder Woman or in an appealing fashion. However, poor choices in clothing could not hide her natural beauty. As she walked in, she noticed Bruce on the foot of his bed, victorious with the appearance she had attempted. His sloppy look caused a smile to come on his face.
"You didn't give me time to shower up", he responded to her silent comment.
Diana walked to sit in the chair by the head of the bed, causing Bruce to turn around to look at her. Diana's smile had disappeared, leaving a look that showed she wanted to get down to business.
"I want to apologize for what happened....."
"No", Bruce interrupted, looking back at her. "I know that I haven't been the easiest person to be around of late. It was an awkward moment."
"I know", Diana said. "It wasn't the best time for that. Especially with everything thats been going on."
Bruce looked away from her for a moment, focusing on a spot on his wall. He had been through a lot. So many deaths had occurred over the last few days. So many died at the whim of Slade. Being what Slade wanted, Bruce had put the burden of thousands of deaths on himself.
"I'm sorry", Bruce said still turned away. "I'm still not any better at this."
Diana stood up from the chair and sat down on the head of the bed, behind Bruce. He turned back to her, knowing she was going to do that. She sat with both of her legs folded in front of her.
"Would you like to work on it?", Diana asked, unsure of how he would respond.
Bruce's eyes returned to that attractive section of the wall.
"I don't know", Bruce said.
Diana remained silent for a moment as Bruce fixed his stare away from her. She hated feeling ignored, alone.
"Please look at me", Diana said.
Bruce complied with his look softening a bit.
"I don't pretend to understand everything about you", Diana said. "But I do think that you understand more of me than you appear to. I care for you. Being around those who call you mentor has given me a better understanding of who you are. The Batman who has taken the broken lives of innocent children and led them on a path to a fruitful life. You may not be an official member of the Justice League, but I know we couldn't exist as a team without you. You are the glue that keeps us together, whether you believe it or not."
Bruce's face never strayed from the softer look he gave Diana. Her opening up to him the way she did made him feel a bit guilty, like he should say something similar in response back to her. He just didn't know how, so he decided to be straight with her.
"What do you want?"
Diana now turned her head away from Bruce. She looked out of the window of his room, into the vastness of space. The on the corner of her eye that Bruce could see, the beginning of a tear was forming. Diana's words were becoming more difficult to verbalize.
"I chose to leave my home to help the people of this world. I sacrificed an established life when I was needed. My home is here now, in the Watchtower. Every night when the world is not in danger, I look down at the world from up here. I think about the life I left behind, the life I live, and the life I want in the future. I am going to be here for a very long time, Bruce. I don't want to miss out on the times that are here for me now. I want to be happy. I've been content with how my life is now, but I want more. Is that so hard to understand?"
Diana had continued to look out of the window, her mind racing along with her feelings. She never verbally expressed her thoughts as intimately since before she had left Themiscyra. Never to a man. The man she had come to adore and respect the most had taken audience to her every word, and she did not know how to feel. Bruce had risen off of the bed, removing the robe he wore and tossed it on the bed. He had reached for his cape and cowl that was underneath where he had been sitting. Diana had felt the weight from the bed shift as she was still looking out of the window, waiting for a response. Bruce was staring at the empty mask of Batman he levitated in front of his face.
"Maybe I understand", Bruce said. "I wake up everyday from the same nightmare. Over the years, my nightmare has changed from the death of my parents to the eventual failure my life is destined to be. I chose a path in life that has no destination, a path that gets longer the more I walk it. My destiny in life was to help those along the way as best as I could, whether it be as Bruce Wayne or Batman. I don't see myself finding anything or anyone anymore, and I except that. I except the fact that my mission in life will never be fulfilled, only that I prepare those who choose to walk the same path. In my dreams, I have seen my beginning and I've seen how its going to end."
Diana continued lookout at the area of the window, not even moving a muscle.
Bruce had picked up the rest of his costume and began to dress. The shirt, followed by his gloves and then his belt, the cape and cowl. Bruce had purposely left the cowl hang from the back of his neck. Before he made his way to the door, he spoke one last time.
"Please don't ask me that, Diana, because I can't say yes", Bruce said as he put the cowl into place. "Even if I want to."
Like a shadow exposed to light, Batman disappeared from his room.
Diana was stuck looking at the window, memorizing the look of it, inch by inch. She eventually lowered her head, force shutting her eyes in the process.
Only in Diana's mind, could her sobs be heard.
*****
Dinner in the lounge had ended with everyone getting a chance to know eachother better. The guest list had included Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, Flash, Cyborg, Boy, Cassandra, Raven, Starfire, and the chefs Nightwing and Robin. No one had seen Diana or Batman anywhere. Superman had tried again to return to Metropolis to get some work done at the Daily Planet. Dinner had consisted of a BBQ style menu, with pork ribs, hamburgers, hot dogs, and steaks.
After dinner was finished, Green Lantern had allowed the recruits to take the rest of the day off. Hawkgirl had joined Cassandra back to the infirmary to check on J'onn. Nightwing had joined Flash for lookout duty. Boy, Cyborg, and Raven went to the recroom to talk amongst themselves for a bit.
Green Lantern had asked Robin and Starfire to have a talk with him in the control room. Green Lantern had made it clear to everyone that he wanted no interruptions until they were done.
The three of them sat at the conference table in complete privacy, with Green Lantern at the head of the table. Robin and Starfire sat to Green Lantern's right, Starfire closest to him. Starfire and Robin had now clue what Green Lantern wanted to talk about.
"This isn't going to be easy for you to hear, Star", GL said. "But it should at least give you a sense of closure."
Starfire turned to Robin, who sat next to her, with a confused look.
"What does he mean?", Starfire asked him.
Robin, just as confused, looked to GL.
"What do you mean?", Robin asked.
"Starfire" , GL said regaining her attention. "When you first arrived here, I sent out a DNA sample for the Green Lantern Corps to examine. The Justice League and I didn't know what race you were."
Green Lantern paused, ready to spit it all out.
"I got results back from The Corps and they identified you as a Tamaranian."
"T..Tama..Ta...", Starfire tried to repeat.
"Tamaranian", Green Lantern helped. "Your from a planet called Tamaran. Your real name is Koriand'r. Your parents were the King and Queen of Tamaran, which obviously makes you a princess."
Starfire face lit up in joy as she leaped up from her chair. She leaned over and hugged Robin.
"Oh this is a wonderful day, Robin! You promised me that...."
"Starfire", GL said.
"...I would remember everything."
"Starfire", GL repeated.
Starfire released Robin from her embrace and turned to look at Green Lantern.
"I do not understand what makes this hard to hear, Green Lantern. You have just said..."
"Starfire, please", GL said, sitting with a look of impatience on his face. "Let me finish."
"Oh", Starfire said, then returned to her chair. "There is more?"
"Yeah", GL said.
John Stewart had been the bearer of bad news countless times. Being a former marine and current Green Lantern has given him the experience in this situation. As likely as it would appear be, he has yet to tell an individual that its entire heritage and history had been destroyed. Especially an individual who he as come to see as a friend. Now was not a time to hold anything back.
"Starfire, what makes this hard is was what happened to your people", GL started. "Ten years ago, the Tamaranians were attacked and enslaved by a well known intergalactic dictator by the name of Darksied."
Robin had coughed on his own saliva when Darkseid's name was mentioned. The fact that Starfire turned out to be royalty was shocking on its own, but this was too much. Starfire's mood had dramatically shifted. Robin moved his hand over to take her hand into his for support. She accepted his hand and began to gently squeeze it, not wanting to injure him with her newly found strength.
"What happened to my family?", Starfire barely could ask as she was looking down at the floor.
"We don't know", GL said. "No records of Tamaran existed off planet, so any information regarding it were presumed destroyed. Star, there's more you have to know."
Starfire face stayed glued to the ground, trying to hide from the horrible truth.
"Please", Starfire said beginning to cry. "No more."
Robin lowered his head to try to reason with her.
"Starfire", Robin said, very concerned. "This is very important. I think you should listen."
Starfire lifted her head, now looking at Robin. Her face had been caressed by streams of tears flowing downward from her eyes. Robin couldn't help but to feel her pain. What little he knew of his father, he wasn't proud of. He never even knew his mother. Starfire had her past stolen from her, along with her people. Robin hurt deep down inside with her.
"Okay", Starfire said, then turned to look at Green Lantern. "I am better, now. Please continue."
Green Lantern didn't show it in his face, but he was quite taken by Starfire's sudden show of bravery.
"Okay then", GL said. "When Batman and Superman were on earth, they encountered another group of young metas. This time, they had been working for Slade. Batman and Superman easily defeated them and we brought them up to the Watchtower."
John had to take another pause.
"Star, one of them was a girl. A Tamaranian girl, like you."
Starfire and Robin remained silent, both knowing that there was more.
"I had run a DNA sample with the information we have from the Green Lantern Corps. She's your sister, Starfire. Her name is Komand'r."
Starfire's calm face remained.
"Is she unharmed?", Starfire managed to ask.
"She's fine", GL said. "She and the other three are resting in the infirmary. Batman wanted them to remain unconscious until we've decided what to do with them."
Starfire nodded her head. Her face now began to display the anguish that tore through her body, until she could not take anymore. She bellowed out in a loud cry that led to her falling into Robin's arms. He supported her as she leaned against him, trying to cry all of the pain out.Green Lantern had stood up from the table, knowing that this is what Starfire needed to do.
"I'm sorry", GL said.
Before he walked out, John Stewart looked at Robin. Robin nodded back to him, letting him know that he would take care of Starfire. John nodded back, then walked towards the door. As he reached the door, he looked back at the two young people whom he had learned to call friends. Starfire was going through some real pain right now, but he knew that Robin felt just about every bit of Starfire's pain.
"You'll be alright, kiddo", GL whispered to himself. "Just hang in there."
*****
Robin had walked Starfire back to her room, making sure she would be alright. They both entered her room, walking towards the bed area. Starfire sat down on the bed, looking up at Robin.
"Could you please stay for a while?", Starfire asked. "I do not wish to be alone right now."
Starfire reached up and grabbed Robin's gloved hand. He had monitor duty with Hawkgirl after Nightwing and Flash's shift.
"Um, sure Star", Robin said. "But I can't stay too long."
"I know", she said. "Just...for a little bit. That is all."
Robin nodded as he sat down, her hand still in his. Starfire was still badly shaken up by the news she received about her past. She sincerely appreciated all that had been done for her. A place to call home, people to call friends, and even the discovery of her past. It was all too much for her to think about now.
Now, she wanted an escape.
Robin had been thinking about what he could say to her to kill the silence, but was cut short by Starfire suddenly giving him a passionate kiss.
Starfire's eyes were closed, lost in the wonderful feeling that she was experiencing.
Robin, however, was wide eyed and slightly panic stricken. He had never before kissed a girl. Except for that dare back in eighth grade. But this was different. It felt...good. Robin struggled with it at first, then found a comfort level and began to kiss her back. Their arms found their way around themselves as they sat on the bed, beginning to tip over on their sides.
*****
Dr. Emile Dorian had stared at a large glass container in his underground laboratory, hundreds of feet beneath downtown Central City. The glass container was large enough to store the remains of a large dinosaur. However, the glass container contained the specimen that was delivered to him from S.T.A.R. Labs, unlawfully of course. He was proud of himself. The specimen had sustained severe brain trauma, but Professor Emil Hamilton of S.T.A.R. Labs was unaware that the damage was slowly healing itself.
"Dr. Dorian", said a loud voice coming from the shadows of the lab. "How is our patient?"
Dorian had turned around as Slade appeared from the shadows, wanting a progress report.
"Mr. Slade", Dorian began. "I must say that our specimen is doing quite well, and should be fully healed within the week."
Slade walked over to Dorian's side, now staring at the glass container.
"Thats very inspiring news, Doctor. Are there any foreseeable side effects?"
Dorian was extremely pleased with the report he had for Slade.
"Of course", Dorian began. "But not negatively. This creature has the ability to regenerate damaged or loss cells. Most notably, the forehead region that sustained the most damage had fully healed and its skin has molecularly evolved to a denser form. Meaning that the external damage its skin took will be its last. He has grown immune to any concentrated heat attacks."
Slade looked at Dorian with his exposed eye, pleased.
"Excellent, Doctor", Slade said. "Your fee will be paid in full upon the creature's successful awakening."
Slade turned back to the creature, staring intently at it. He had seen it in action before, but it had been against the impostors, not the real Justice League. Slade knew their eventual meeting was inevitable. He turned away from the glass case, speaking as he was exiting.
"Inform me immediately when you can begin the re-animation process."
Dorian smiled, proud as if he himself had created this doomsday device.
"But of course, Mr. Slade."
I do not own the fictitious characters described in this Masterpiece :p
Chapter 13 Trying To Throw Your Arms Around The World
The Watchtower's infirmary was almost at full capacity. Along with J'onn resting, Slade's four apprentices slept, regaining their strength. The young metas were restrained by the similar collars used by Slade, to restrict them from using their powers. However, they were also enclosed by a makeshift room within the infirmary. It was a necessary precaution, in case one of them would awake not liking their surroundings particularly well.
Cassandra had stayed by J'onn's side ever since he had been returned. The rest of the League had been concerned for J'onn, but Cassandra had formed a bond with him during their short time spent together. The doors in the infirmary opened and Raven, freshened up after a day of training, walked to to see her.
"Hey", Raven said walking towards her.
"Ay", Cassandra said back to her.
Raven had been carrying two cups of herbal tea with her. She gave one to Cassandra, who nodded back a thank you. Raven grabbed a lose chair and pulled it by Cassandra. It made a grinding noise across the ground that caused Cassandra to 'shush' Raven.
"Sorry", Raven said in her usual tone.
Raven sat down next to Cassandra, sipping her tea. She looked down at the Martian on the bed.
"So, this is J'onn", Raven said. "I heard he's going ok, he just needs rest."
Cassandra just nodded, still not taking her eyes off of him. Raven looked at her new friend with a bit of concern.
"Hey, Robin and Nightwing are cooking dinner now", Raven said. "They sent me to come and get you."
Cassandra still looked at J'onn
Raven had now lowered her cup down by her knees. She was not used to comforting people during hard times. Her powers enabled her to feel others' pain, but she could not understand what it meant to wallow in matters of the heart.
"Well...", Raven started. "I'm gonna go back to the lounge. Flash and Starfire looked ready to eat and I want to make sure I get there early enough to get my share."
Raven stood up as Cassandra still looked down at J'onn, as though Raven's words were never spoken. Raven gave Cassandra one last look over, then turned for the door. Before Raven could make it to the door, she was stopped by Cassandra's voice
"I...coming."
Raven looked back at Cassandra who was now standing up, however, still looking down at J'onn. Cassandra bent over and gave J'onn a small kiss on his forehead.
"Get...well soon."
*****
In the sectioned off room of the infirmary, Batman had been checking the vitals of the new metas. They had been in an induced state of unconsciousness since they arrived at the Watchtower. He heard Cassandra and Raven leave the main portion of the room, and decided he had spent enough time in there as well. He exited the infirmary heading towards his private quarters.
Batman reached his room and entered. He took off his cape and cowl, draping them across the foot of the bed. His kevlar lined shirt, gloves and utility belt followed. Being that he was alone, he allowed himself to jump on the bed in an un-Batman type fashion. The subtle smile of finally getting some rest was well out of character as well, but he really needed some sleep. So many things clogged his mind, however, that did not permit him to speak with the sandman just yet.
What exactly to make of the new young metas that he and Superman had liberated from Slade? Batman didn't really know if they were completely forced into fighting with Slade, or for some reason, they agreed to. He remembered the look in kids' eyes during the battle. The two boys and the blonde girl had looks of both hesitation and hints of fear. It could have been from their first battle with Superman and himself, but Batman knew that these kids had been forced form the very beginning.
Then, there was the Tamaranian. She was obviously connected with Starfire in some way. Green Lantern had briefed Batman on the information he received from the Green Lantern Corps. Its not coincidence that two Tamaranians just so happen to find themselves involved in this. Getting to the bottom of their involvement wasn't going to be easy. Starfire proved to be less than capable at this time to handle herself emotionally.
The other Tamaranian looked to be content with her role. Batman noticed that during her battle with Superman, she displayed enthusiasm and a hint of pleasure fighting against him. Its easy to say that of the four, she was the only one happy to be working for Slade.
Too many thoughts right now, Bruce thought, as he lay on his bed. A few hours of rest, then he would have to make some calls to Wayne Enterprises. More messes to be cleaned up. Millions upon millions of dollars would be needed for families of lost loved ones and the clean up of the destroyed Wayne Enterprises World Headquarters building.
The door buzzed in Bruce's room.
Bruce lay silent
The door buzzed again.
Bruce's head was under his pillow
BUZZ.
"What!?", Bruce shouted in defeat.
"Batman, its me", said Diana's voice said over the rooms intercom. "Can I have a word with you."
Not this, not now.
Bruce had forgotten about the moment he had with Diana. He knew deep down that Diana didn't deserve being treated so poorly, but Bruce had to maintain a sense of control over himself at the time.
Bruce rose from his bed, still wearing the bottom half of his uniform. He reached for a robe he had draped across the chair by his bed and put it on to cover his bare upper body. Looking like a complete mess, Bruce sat down at the foot of his bed, ready to receive his guest.
"Come in", he said in the Batman tone.
The door opened and Diana entered the room dressed in a loose fitting sweatshirt, with a pair of worn down jeans, a pair of flip-flops and her hair in a simple pony tail. She obviously wanted to dress down, not to approach Batman as Wonder Woman or in an appealing fashion. However, poor choices in clothing could not hide her natural beauty. As she walked in, she noticed Bruce on the foot of his bed, victorious with the appearance she had attempted. His sloppy look caused a smile to come on his face.
"You didn't give me time to shower up", he responded to her silent comment.
Diana walked to sit in the chair by the head of the bed, causing Bruce to turn around to look at her. Diana's smile had disappeared, leaving a look that showed she wanted to get down to business.
"I want to apologize for what happened....."
"No", Bruce interrupted, looking back at her. "I know that I haven't been the easiest person to be around of late. It was an awkward moment."
"I know", Diana said. "It wasn't the best time for that. Especially with everything thats been going on."
Bruce looked away from her for a moment, focusing on a spot on his wall. He had been through a lot. So many deaths had occurred over the last few days. So many died at the whim of Slade. Being what Slade wanted, Bruce had put the burden of thousands of deaths on himself.
"I'm sorry", Bruce said still turned away. "I'm still not any better at this."
Diana stood up from the chair and sat down on the head of the bed, behind Bruce. He turned back to her, knowing she was going to do that. She sat with both of her legs folded in front of her.
"Would you like to work on it?", Diana asked, unsure of how he would respond.
Bruce's eyes returned to that attractive section of the wall.
"I don't know", Bruce said.
Diana remained silent for a moment as Bruce fixed his stare away from her. She hated feeling ignored, alone.
"Please look at me", Diana said.
Bruce complied with his look softening a bit.
"I don't pretend to understand everything about you", Diana said. "But I do think that you understand more of me than you appear to. I care for you. Being around those who call you mentor has given me a better understanding of who you are. The Batman who has taken the broken lives of innocent children and led them on a path to a fruitful life. You may not be an official member of the Justice League, but I know we couldn't exist as a team without you. You are the glue that keeps us together, whether you believe it or not."
Bruce's face never strayed from the softer look he gave Diana. Her opening up to him the way she did made him feel a bit guilty, like he should say something similar in response back to her. He just didn't know how, so he decided to be straight with her.
"What do you want?"
Diana now turned her head away from Bruce. She looked out of the window of his room, into the vastness of space. The on the corner of her eye that Bruce could see, the beginning of a tear was forming. Diana's words were becoming more difficult to verbalize.
"I chose to leave my home to help the people of this world. I sacrificed an established life when I was needed. My home is here now, in the Watchtower. Every night when the world is not in danger, I look down at the world from up here. I think about the life I left behind, the life I live, and the life I want in the future. I am going to be here for a very long time, Bruce. I don't want to miss out on the times that are here for me now. I want to be happy. I've been content with how my life is now, but I want more. Is that so hard to understand?"
Diana had continued to look out of the window, her mind racing along with her feelings. She never verbally expressed her thoughts as intimately since before she had left Themiscyra. Never to a man. The man she had come to adore and respect the most had taken audience to her every word, and she did not know how to feel. Bruce had risen off of the bed, removing the robe he wore and tossed it on the bed. He had reached for his cape and cowl that was underneath where he had been sitting. Diana had felt the weight from the bed shift as she was still looking out of the window, waiting for a response. Bruce was staring at the empty mask of Batman he levitated in front of his face.
"Maybe I understand", Bruce said. "I wake up everyday from the same nightmare. Over the years, my nightmare has changed from the death of my parents to the eventual failure my life is destined to be. I chose a path in life that has no destination, a path that gets longer the more I walk it. My destiny in life was to help those along the way as best as I could, whether it be as Bruce Wayne or Batman. I don't see myself finding anything or anyone anymore, and I except that. I except the fact that my mission in life will never be fulfilled, only that I prepare those who choose to walk the same path. In my dreams, I have seen my beginning and I've seen how its going to end."
Diana continued lookout at the area of the window, not even moving a muscle.
Bruce had picked up the rest of his costume and began to dress. The shirt, followed by his gloves and then his belt, the cape and cowl. Bruce had purposely left the cowl hang from the back of his neck. Before he made his way to the door, he spoke one last time.
"Please don't ask me that, Diana, because I can't say yes", Bruce said as he put the cowl into place. "Even if I want to."
Like a shadow exposed to light, Batman disappeared from his room.
Diana was stuck looking at the window, memorizing the look of it, inch by inch. She eventually lowered her head, force shutting her eyes in the process.
Only in Diana's mind, could her sobs be heard.
*****
Dinner in the lounge had ended with everyone getting a chance to know eachother better. The guest list had included Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, Flash, Cyborg, Boy, Cassandra, Raven, Starfire, and the chefs Nightwing and Robin. No one had seen Diana or Batman anywhere. Superman had tried again to return to Metropolis to get some work done at the Daily Planet. Dinner had consisted of a BBQ style menu, with pork ribs, hamburgers, hot dogs, and steaks.
After dinner was finished, Green Lantern had allowed the recruits to take the rest of the day off. Hawkgirl had joined Cassandra back to the infirmary to check on J'onn. Nightwing had joined Flash for lookout duty. Boy, Cyborg, and Raven went to the recroom to talk amongst themselves for a bit.
Green Lantern had asked Robin and Starfire to have a talk with him in the control room. Green Lantern had made it clear to everyone that he wanted no interruptions until they were done.
The three of them sat at the conference table in complete privacy, with Green Lantern at the head of the table. Robin and Starfire sat to Green Lantern's right, Starfire closest to him. Starfire and Robin had now clue what Green Lantern wanted to talk about.
"This isn't going to be easy for you to hear, Star", GL said. "But it should at least give you a sense of closure."
Starfire turned to Robin, who sat next to her, with a confused look.
"What does he mean?", Starfire asked him.
Robin, just as confused, looked to GL.
"What do you mean?", Robin asked.
"Starfire" , GL said regaining her attention. "When you first arrived here, I sent out a DNA sample for the Green Lantern Corps to examine. The Justice League and I didn't know what race you were."
Green Lantern paused, ready to spit it all out.
"I got results back from The Corps and they identified you as a Tamaranian."
"T..Tama..Ta...", Starfire tried to repeat.
"Tamaranian", Green Lantern helped. "Your from a planet called Tamaran. Your real name is Koriand'r. Your parents were the King and Queen of Tamaran, which obviously makes you a princess."
Starfire face lit up in joy as she leaped up from her chair. She leaned over and hugged Robin.
"Oh this is a wonderful day, Robin! You promised me that...."
"Starfire", GL said.
"...I would remember everything."
"Starfire", GL repeated.
Starfire released Robin from her embrace and turned to look at Green Lantern.
"I do not understand what makes this hard to hear, Green Lantern. You have just said..."
"Starfire, please", GL said, sitting with a look of impatience on his face. "Let me finish."
"Oh", Starfire said, then returned to her chair. "There is more?"
"Yeah", GL said.
John Stewart had been the bearer of bad news countless times. Being a former marine and current Green Lantern has given him the experience in this situation. As likely as it would appear be, he has yet to tell an individual that its entire heritage and history had been destroyed. Especially an individual who he as come to see as a friend. Now was not a time to hold anything back.
"Starfire, what makes this hard is was what happened to your people", GL started. "Ten years ago, the Tamaranians were attacked and enslaved by a well known intergalactic dictator by the name of Darksied."
Robin had coughed on his own saliva when Darkseid's name was mentioned. The fact that Starfire turned out to be royalty was shocking on its own, but this was too much. Starfire's mood had dramatically shifted. Robin moved his hand over to take her hand into his for support. She accepted his hand and began to gently squeeze it, not wanting to injure him with her newly found strength.
"What happened to my family?", Starfire barely could ask as she was looking down at the floor.
"We don't know", GL said. "No records of Tamaran existed off planet, so any information regarding it were presumed destroyed. Star, there's more you have to know."
Starfire face stayed glued to the ground, trying to hide from the horrible truth.
"Please", Starfire said beginning to cry. "No more."
Robin lowered his head to try to reason with her.
"Starfire", Robin said, very concerned. "This is very important. I think you should listen."
Starfire lifted her head, now looking at Robin. Her face had been caressed by streams of tears flowing downward from her eyes. Robin couldn't help but to feel her pain. What little he knew of his father, he wasn't proud of. He never even knew his mother. Starfire had her past stolen from her, along with her people. Robin hurt deep down inside with her.
"Okay", Starfire said, then turned to look at Green Lantern. "I am better, now. Please continue."
Green Lantern didn't show it in his face, but he was quite taken by Starfire's sudden show of bravery.
"Okay then", GL said. "When Batman and Superman were on earth, they encountered another group of young metas. This time, they had been working for Slade. Batman and Superman easily defeated them and we brought them up to the Watchtower."
John had to take another pause.
"Star, one of them was a girl. A Tamaranian girl, like you."
Starfire and Robin remained silent, both knowing that there was more.
"I had run a DNA sample with the information we have from the Green Lantern Corps. She's your sister, Starfire. Her name is Komand'r."
Starfire's calm face remained.
"Is she unharmed?", Starfire managed to ask.
"She's fine", GL said. "She and the other three are resting in the infirmary. Batman wanted them to remain unconscious until we've decided what to do with them."
Starfire nodded her head. Her face now began to display the anguish that tore through her body, until she could not take anymore. She bellowed out in a loud cry that led to her falling into Robin's arms. He supported her as she leaned against him, trying to cry all of the pain out.Green Lantern had stood up from the table, knowing that this is what Starfire needed to do.
"I'm sorry", GL said.
Before he walked out, John Stewart looked at Robin. Robin nodded back to him, letting him know that he would take care of Starfire. John nodded back, then walked towards the door. As he reached the door, he looked back at the two young people whom he had learned to call friends. Starfire was going through some real pain right now, but he knew that Robin felt just about every bit of Starfire's pain.
"You'll be alright, kiddo", GL whispered to himself. "Just hang in there."
*****
Robin had walked Starfire back to her room, making sure she would be alright. They both entered her room, walking towards the bed area. Starfire sat down on the bed, looking up at Robin.
"Could you please stay for a while?", Starfire asked. "I do not wish to be alone right now."
Starfire reached up and grabbed Robin's gloved hand. He had monitor duty with Hawkgirl after Nightwing and Flash's shift.
"Um, sure Star", Robin said. "But I can't stay too long."
"I know", she said. "Just...for a little bit. That is all."
Robin nodded as he sat down, her hand still in his. Starfire was still badly shaken up by the news she received about her past. She sincerely appreciated all that had been done for her. A place to call home, people to call friends, and even the discovery of her past. It was all too much for her to think about now.
Now, she wanted an escape.
Robin had been thinking about what he could say to her to kill the silence, but was cut short by Starfire suddenly giving him a passionate kiss.
Starfire's eyes were closed, lost in the wonderful feeling that she was experiencing.
Robin, however, was wide eyed and slightly panic stricken. He had never before kissed a girl. Except for that dare back in eighth grade. But this was different. It felt...good. Robin struggled with it at first, then found a comfort level and began to kiss her back. Their arms found their way around themselves as they sat on the bed, beginning to tip over on their sides.
*****
Dr. Emile Dorian had stared at a large glass container in his underground laboratory, hundreds of feet beneath downtown Central City. The glass container was large enough to store the remains of a large dinosaur. However, the glass container contained the specimen that was delivered to him from S.T.A.R. Labs, unlawfully of course. He was proud of himself. The specimen had sustained severe brain trauma, but Professor Emil Hamilton of S.T.A.R. Labs was unaware that the damage was slowly healing itself.
"Dr. Dorian", said a loud voice coming from the shadows of the lab. "How is our patient?"
Dorian had turned around as Slade appeared from the shadows, wanting a progress report.
"Mr. Slade", Dorian began. "I must say that our specimen is doing quite well, and should be fully healed within the week."
Slade walked over to Dorian's side, now staring at the glass container.
"Thats very inspiring news, Doctor. Are there any foreseeable side effects?"
Dorian was extremely pleased with the report he had for Slade.
"Of course", Dorian began. "But not negatively. This creature has the ability to regenerate damaged or loss cells. Most notably, the forehead region that sustained the most damage had fully healed and its skin has molecularly evolved to a denser form. Meaning that the external damage its skin took will be its last. He has grown immune to any concentrated heat attacks."
Slade looked at Dorian with his exposed eye, pleased.
"Excellent, Doctor", Slade said. "Your fee will be paid in full upon the creature's successful awakening."
Slade turned back to the creature, staring intently at it. He had seen it in action before, but it had been against the impostors, not the real Justice League. Slade knew their eventual meeting was inevitable. He turned away from the glass case, speaking as he was exiting.
"Inform me immediately when you can begin the re-animation process."
Dorian smiled, proud as if he himself had created this doomsday device.
"But of course, Mr. Slade."