THE LION: Chapter 6
It was a some what subdued Superman that met up with Batman the next morning.
"So, how did your research for Jubilation Lee go after talking with Trica yesterday?" Superman asked Batman, who was hunched over a computer keyboard on the Watchtower.
"Actually that tidbit on how Ms. Lee was dating Lex Luther and that he opted for a disguise while dating her was very interesting. What's wrong with you?" Batman asked his friend. "Did something happen that I don't know about?"
"I really shouldn't have let you come with me to see Trica." Superman sighed.
"Why, what happened!" Batman sounded concerned. He had a sneaking feeling that he wasn't going to like what Superman had to say next.
"Well, it seems that she put two and two together and got it in her head that I'm Superman." He said quietly. Batman just sat there waiting for the other shoe to drop.
"So what made her think that her computer hacking, sometime roving reporter, boyfriend was Superman?" Batman asked. "You didn't tell her outright, did you?" Batman asked concerned.
"I didn't have too. She figured it out on her own for the last three years." Superman said. Batman's mouth got hard.
"She has suspected you're Superman since you started dating?"
"She caught on I was him after the second date." Superman chuckled ruefully. "She really is quite brilliant in her own way, Batman. She figured out your secret identity too. Your secret is not so secret anymore."
"I've noticed. So what do you suppose gave it away of who I was?" Batman asked.
"I didn't ask. I thought it would be best not to discuss it anymore. She didn't offer an explanations and I didn't want to start anything I wasn't prepared to finish. She's like that. When she gets it into head about something, she doesn't let go. She's a lot like my mother that way." Superman smiled. "I'm beginning to wonder if she really is a frail. She's been tested and tested, but nothing has ever been proven that she's not what they tested her for."
"I suppose we can trust her to keep our secret? After all she's had plenty of time to reveal all." Batman said rather calmly.
"True. So, why in the world would Lex Luther be dating a frail in disguise?" Superman said changing the subject.
"Well, it just might be because of her parents." Batman said, calling up the file he found on them. "Sing and Kim Lu Lee, were extremely powerful."
"Wait, do you mean to tell me that the Lee's were the parents of Jubilation Lee, but she's a frail, and they were some of the strongest power welders around." Superman said surprised. "Weren't they killed by the Brotherhood? I wasn't able to help them; the volcano in South America erupted at the same time. Almost the entire neighborhood was taken out when they did battle."
"Yeah, that's right. There could be a connection to Lex Luther and the Brotherhood. Hey, I wouldn't put it past him to be involved with Hydra as well." The two men looked at each other contemplating the newest information. The curiosity of Colonel Walker now took a turn into something that might be more then just a little dangerous.
"I'm rather curious as to why Ms. Lee chose the Canadian wilderness to migrate." Batman said almost to himself.
"We were only supposed to find out about what she is like, after all; she's shacking up with Vic during a snowstorm." Superman said.
"True, but there might be more too it then that. You know, sometimes the strangest things are brought together by Lex Luther for a reason. He never does anything half way, or for no reason…. you know that very well." Batman said calmly. Superman sighed.
Yeah, he knew very well what Luther was like. Luther was a very canny businessman, but an excellent manipulator of feelings and ideas. He had a very subtle way of doing it too. Years of practice and part of his powers that made him almost unbeatable in the business arena but Superman and Batman knew that he was into more then just big business. He was probably part of or high ranking in Hydra as well, although they couldn't prove it. Luther always covered his tracks. He probably had help with that too.
"You are going to let the Colonel know about what you've found out, aren't you?" Superman asked Batman.
"Yes, of course. I'll be sending him the information soon. He's not going to like what I've been able to put together though. I doubt that Jubilation Lee has anything to do with Luthor or Hydra at the moment. So there's nothing to worry about until the storm in the area is passed. Are you going to the cabin? I doubt that a little storm will be able to stop you." Batman said, a deadpan look came over his face.
"That quite true, but I think under the circumstance that I not intrude on the pair of lovebirds. It's not easy for Vic to find a girl that wasn't interested in just him and not the hero. Not easy for any of us, for that matter." Superman said quietly. "I guess the same can be said about billionaires as well." Superman let a question hang in the air.