Tragic news everyone! School's started back up again and from what I'm seeing from only going to one of my other classes it looks like its going to take some time for me to write as well as handle my schoolwork. Sorry! But, I promise I will be continuing to write when I have time, hopefully, I will have the ability to balance.
I own nothing.
Life Unexpected
Chapter 2
Gotham- suburbs
In a nice Gotham suburbs neighborhood, a pale blue house with a white picket fence and white wooden steps and handrail. The house has three floors, with one bedroom and an attic.
Inside the home, in the living room there are half opened boxes everywhere. Some on the wooden floor and on living room table. The two occupants of the house are talking and unpacking.
Diana Prince and Steve Trevor are moving in together.
The two have been dating in secret for the last two years, and they have been keeping it quiet from the studio because it would be frowned upon by the bosses of the radio show.
The dark-haired woman fumbles with one of Steve's belongings. A college basketball trophy. She looks at him and asks with a raised eyebrow, "Really?"
The blonde shrugs, "Why not?" It was a trophy on participation. He didn't win anything.
"It's a small place, Steve" Diana tells him, "can we please keep things that are coming into the place to the necessities?" she asks.
"Okay" Steve responds quickly, he goes over to the opened closet not far from the two. He pulls out a small box decorated in a shade of dark wine with flowers all over it, he had seen it several times when he came over to her place. "What about this?"
As he says that he begins to open the box taking off the lid, Diana now just paying attention to Steve, eyes widen as she quickly goes over to him, "Stop!" The dark-haired woman's hands grab at the box.
But, it was too late. Cards fall out of the box and plummet to the stained wood floor with a loud noise reverberates along their shared home.
Diana quickly bends down to pick them up. Steve does the same. "Sorry" he says. It was mostly out of curiosity that he pulled the box out. He saw the box many times and he just wanted to know.
Steve takes a good look at one it looks newer than the other cards the others a pale shade, "A fifteenth birthday card?" he says aloud. He opens it and sees that its blank.
He looks to Diana expectantly, but she doesn't give him the time of the day. She just busies herself by gathering the cards. The cards that are all blank.
The cards that she has bought every year after she gave up that piece of herself. She's hated herself for years for what she did. But, it was the best thing for her. She was an immigrant from Themyscira, an island nation located near Greece, her mother a senator in the government. She was on a student visa to study abroad. Her mother greatly against going but she reluctantly gave her consent.
But, that's in the past, after enjoying her time in America she decided to get her green card and become an American citizen. Went to college and enjoyed her life, knowing her child was better off with a good family.
"Whose birthday card is this for?"
Diana know having picked up all the cards but the one in Steve's hand, stands and turns to him, she flashes a smile, and takes back the card from Steve, "Oh, no one you know" she waves him off. "Just a friend of a friend" she lies.
She's never told anyone her secret and she never will.
She quickly puts the cards back in the box and returns them to the closet.
"Forget about it" she tells him. "Its just moving in together jitters" she reassures her beau.
He nods, brushing off his confusion.
Wayne Manor
Bruce Wayne returned home early from the office and he dwells in the study of the ancestral mansion.
He sits behind his desk, once his fathers', his tie missing, and the collar unbuttoned. He sits with his head in his hands. He sits brooding on the knowledge he was just imparted with. He has a daughter. And he just signed away his rights to be her father.
He just signed away his fatherhood.
He grits his teeth in anger. He slams his fist into the mahogany desk.
How could Diana never have told him?
Unless, he wonders inward, his eyes widening.
Then
Gotham Academy, one of Gotham's most prominent schools. Where one Bruce Wayne is a senior at. Graduation only twelve weeks away, but Bruce won't be going to graduation. With his grades he is just barely passing let only just above the line to graduate. All according to plan.
The young man will be in Tibet next month to begin his journey. Into what. He doesn't know yet.
He hears someone clear their throat from his place in the bleachers overviewing the football field.
He turns his head and sees a raven-haired girl clad in the school uniform, a short-sleeved white blouse, with the collar open, and a red skirt ending just below the knee, black dress shoes and stockings. Her bronze skin glistening in the summer heat. Her eyes gazing at him anxious. The Greek transfer student Diana Prince.
Bruce Wayne returns her gaze, curiously, clad in black dress pants and dress shoes, and a white short-sleeved dress shirt, the collar unbuttoned, and his red tie loosened.
The two of them hooked up a few weeks ago after the pep rally for the championship football game. Bruce intrigued by Diana's energy and kindness. As well as her exotic personality.
Diana fascinated by Bruce's observational abilities as well as his reluctance to involve himself with people. When the two first met they didn't think much of each other. But, when the two were forced to work together for a school project they saw each other in a new light. Diana's kindness and radiance. Bruce's intelligence and the caring heart he rarely shows but always tries to do the right thing for others.
"Bruce" Diana begins reluctantly, fiddles with her skirt.
"Leave me alone" Bruce states flatly, causing Diana eyes to widen in shock at his tone. His eyes narrowed in annoyance. "It was sex" he tells her, "not like we're boyfriend and girlfriend."
He gets up and gathers his belongings and leaves her sitting in the bleachers alone.
Tears well up in her eyes, as she wraps her arms around herself, "But, I'm…" she murmurs to herself, Bruce long out of ear shot.
All according to plan. He can't afford attachment, not with the plan. The mission can't allow for it.
Now
Bruce eyes wide and in total shock and disgust. Shock for that must have been what she wanted to tell him all those years ago. Disgust at what he's done. To Diana. A sweet girl. Elissa. His daughter. Growing up in foster care. Never having a good home long enough to know what family is like. Two lives destroyed all for the sake of the mission.
"What have I done?" he asks himself.
"Sir?" Bruce looks up and sees Alfred Pennyworth, the Wayne family butler, entering with worry evident in his old eyes. The old Englishman dressed in his butler garb. "Is everything alright?"
"No" the young man tells his oldest friend.
"What's wrong?" the older asks and sits in front of the desk.
"I just found out I have a daughter" he begins looking his confidant in the eyes.
"My word!"
The dark-haired man nods. "Yeah, I didn't believe at first, but she showed up with a birth certificate with my name on it, and I had Lucius run a paternity test."
Bruce shakes his head.
"Where is the girl now?" the butler asks.
"Looking for her mother."
The older man raises his eyebrow, "What do you mean?"
"She's been in foster care her whole life" he responds the guilt of his sacrificing his daughter in the name of his crusade crushes him.
Bruce rises from his seat and goes to the grandfather clock located in the room. He turns the hands to the special time and the clock opens revealing a passageway. The billionaire walks through it, his butler following.
They walk in silence until reaching the bottom of the steps. They have arrived.
Welcome to the batcave.
A cave used for the exclusive use of The Batman. A supercomputer located across the way with a chair in front.
The batmobile, a black car with the face of a bat on the front of the car.
Even a batwing, a black fighter jet, with the wings in the shape of batwings. The glass of the cockpit red.
A giant dinosaur and penny on display in the trophy room of the cavern. A big joker card suspended in the air by wires attached to the stalagmite on the ceiling of the cave.
Other trophies in glass cases on the metal floor of the cave.
Glass cases filled with costumes. Bruce's work clothes.
One case filled with a grey batsuit with long ears coming from the temple of the cowl, with purple wrist length gloves, and a yellow utility belt with a circular belt buckle.
Another grey suit with black cowl boots and gloves and a black bat emblem on the chest, the purple forgotten.
Another with dark blue with a black bat symbol on the chest in the center of a yellow spot. Like a bullseye.
We come to the a dark armored batsuit, all black with a yellow utility belt. The suit he's been wearing for the last two years.
Next to the latest incarnation of the batsuit, resides a red and green suit sans cowl with a domino mask and a black cape with yellow on the inside.
Bruce stands before his uniform his reflection in the glass case being over powered by the black inside the case. He stares dead in the white eyes of his darkness. And for the first time, he can't even look him in the eyes.
"I gave my daughter away, Alfred" he utters defeated, knowing his surrogate father stands right behind him. "I signed my writes away. Before I found out she was really mine."
Wayne lowers his head gazing at the floor, not having it in him to look at anyone at the moment. "I didn't believe her."
He grits his teeth, he stares back at the suit in the case this time looking him in the eyes, "I created him so innocent people wouldn't die. So, their cries for justice wouldn't go unanswered." Anger now his dominant feature, "If my daughter, was the sacrifice for this to become a reality, then WHAT THE HELL DID I DO THIS FOR!" he shouts which echoes throughout the cave, whipping his head at Alfred, hoping he has an answer. Because Bruce can't find one.
"Your human, sir." The butler replies his features solemn, "You made mistakes just like everyone else, but its not to late to rectify your mistake with her" he puts his hand on the younger man's shoulder, "I'm sure she's a lovely young lady, and I'm sure she would like to know where she comes from" he says with a smile.
Bruce nods dumbly, "Do you think she will ever forgive me?" he asks pleadingly.
Alfred shakes his head, "I can't answer that, sir. But, I'm sure the two of you can find some common ground."
That seems enough for Bruce. For now, at least.
Now he needs to find his daughter.
Elissa walks around Gotham, grumbling to herself. How hard is it to find her mothers' address? Her brow furrows, maybe she should go over the Gotham Morning Madness radio studio and just wait around for Diana to show up.
She shakes her head, no, that would be too stalkery. Is that a word? She asks herself. It must be a word.
She decides to call it a day. Its after three, she skipped a whole day of school. She shrugs her shoulders, oh well. One day isn't going to hold her back a grade.
Maybe she should let her social worker handle the rest. The dark-haired girl doesn't know what would happen if she and her mother meet. Will she be angry? Will she be happy? Will she feel anything? The girl doesn't know what will happen.
She buries her hands in her jacket pockets and her muscles tighten to keep her warm from the winter cold. Gotham always has the coldest winters.
She heads to her foster home, hopefully being the last one for her forever.
A car horn blares in her ear causing her to turn her head and sees a red Ferrari pull up to the sidewalk.
Elissa's eyebrow rise, is some rich guy trying to hit on her or something? Does she look like the type to be impressed by a nice car?
The driver seat door opens and out comes Bruce Wayne.
"What are you doing here?" Elissa asks her father wondering why he's here.
He shuts the door and walks over to her. He stands in front of her staring at her face.
No, not staring, memorizing. Truly paying attention to her and wanting to see his daughter. Before, he didn't believe. But, now that he has proof that she is indeed his child, he wants, he hopes she will let him get to know her.
"I.." the man struggles, "I want to get to know you" he tells her with sincerity in his voice.
She is surprised by his declaration, but it quickly turns to skepticism, "Why? You didn't seem to care before when I was a baby" she replies back with bite.
"I didn't know you existed, Elissa" he informs her. He shakes his head, "And I'm not trying to through your mother under the bus either, I just want to get to know you" he asks her pleadingly.
The dark-haired girl is taken back by Bruce's request. She has always wanted to know her parents. To know why they abandoned her. She is reluctant to believe the dark-haired man. But, he's not asking the impossible. He just wants to know her. And that's the first time an adult male has wanted to be apart of her life.
Deep down she has always wanted to feel a fathers' love. And know she could have that, but that doesn't mean she wants to really on anyone anymore. No. She wants her freedom because the system and adults have always failed her.
She bites her lip nervously, and she shifts her weight around on one leg then the other, "Okay" she agrees, anxiety filling her azure colored eyes.
She holds her hand out, wanting to shake on it, Bruce takes it without any hesitation. They shake on it, but then a thought occurs to the girl, "Wait, how did you know where to find me?" she asks curious.
The dark-haired man rubs the back of his head nervously, "I called your social worker, told her who I was and that you came to see me" he begins, his hands now stuffed in his black winter coats pockets. "She gave me the current address of your foster home" he explains.
He holds out his hand gesturing to his car, "Coming with?"
Elissa gives him a strange look, "Coming where?" she asks perplexed.
"To see your mother" he states bluntly, causing the girls blue eyes to widen at the news.
"How?" the girl asks him baffled. She doesn't even know her mothers' address.
Bruce simply gives her a look, asking who does she think he is?
"Oh" she utters now realizing the stupidity of her question.
He beckons her to his car and she follows without another word. Once in and their seatbelts strapped in, the car speeds off.
Suburbs
Diana and Steve continue to unpack Steve opens a box labeled high-school. It's Diana's high-belongings. Filled with awards and certificates even her high-school yearbook.
Curious, Steve looks the book. He smirks, "Oh, wow! Look at you in your cap and gown" he gushes with a smile.
Diana turns to him, "Steve, stop snooping" she scolds. The woman is starting to get annoyed with her boyfriend going through her private belongings.
He ignores her and continues. He goes to Diana's graduating call and notices a blacked-out image in the photo gallery. "Who's this person you completely shaded in?" he asks squinting, "You even blacked-out the name!" he exclaims. He looks back to her, who is occupying herself by unpacking, "Ex-boyfriend?" he guesses.
A fine eyebrow twitches, he guessed it.
Just then the phone rings.
Diana gets up, and answers, "Hello?"
"This is Bruce Wayne" a voice speaks causing Diana's voice to be lost in her throat and eyes widening to the size of dinner plates, "I'm looking for Diana Prince?"
Diana doesn't know what to do, so, she hangs up. The phone call ending with a beep. Why the hell was he looking for her? They haven't spoken in fifteen years. Not since he told her to leave him alone.
"Who was that?" the blonde-haired man asks the woman.
She shakes her head, "Wrong number."
The doorbell rings immediately after she says that.
Minutes before the phone call
Bruce and Elissa sit in front of the home of Diana Prince. It's a lovely home. On the way, the two got to know each other.
The two discussed colors, music, hobbies, food. Whatever that could come to mind. And Bruce enjoyed the information and the talk they have been having. Elissa enjoyed what she learned about Bruce, his hobbies, music, etc.
Now, Elissa feels like a stalker. Sitting down in front of her birth mothers' house after tracking her down, all for her to sign her rights away for the teenager to be emancipated.
She nervously bites her lip chewing it, she looks to Bruce, hoping he lost his nerve too.
He looks at Elissa expectantly, she shakes her head, having lost her nerve.
Bruce deciding this has been a long time coming for all three of them, pulls out his cell phone and dials Diana's home number.
It rings until someone answers, "Hello?"
"This is Bruce Wayne" Bruce starts to say, hearing only silence on the other end, "I'm looking for Diana Prince?"
The person on the other line hangs up. Hearing only dial tone, Bruce tears the phone from his ear and stares at his phone with a curious eyebrow raised. Well not curious. He knows Diana most likely doesn't want to see him. But, its not about the two of them anymore.
He looks to the teenaged girl sitting next to him in the passenger seat, playing with the zipper of her winter coat. Anxious, to meet her mother and distressed by the impending meeting.
"Come on" he beckons. She whips her head to the man shocked at him.
"Wh-hat? Bruce!" she hollers at the man, whom, has already left the car. Calling her birth father by his name instead of calling him her father, its too soon to think of him as her father, besides, Bruce is fine with whatever Elissa calls him so long as he can be a part of her life.
She quickly gets out following him through the pathway and up the stairs. He rings the doorbell. Elissa fidgets and finally decides to move away from Bruce and stands out of view from the front door.
The front door opens, revealing Diana Prince, co-host radio jockey, dressed in a purple long-sleeved blouse, dark jeans, black high-heeled leather boots. Her olive skin the same as all those years ago, her eyes just as blue, and long black- hair as dark as the night.
She still makes him quiver at the sight of her. Deep down Bruce loved her all those years ago but scarified her and his happiness because of a promise he made on his parents' grave when he was a boy.
Know with the knowledge that the two of them had a daughter together, makes Bruce regret his decision.
"Bruce?" Diana speaks with disbelief, mouth agape. Disbelief quickly turns into a scowl, "What do you want?" she says crossing her arms across her chest and her shoulder leaning against the doorframe.
Bruce not at all shaken by Diana's tone, answers, "I need to talk to you."
"Now you want to talk" she says heatedly, "Last time I saw you, you told me to 'leave you the hell alone'" she glares at him.
Bruce rolling his eyes, not wanting to get into this right now, he reaches over and grasps Elissa's arm, causing the girls eyes to bulge, pulling her to him as he steps to the side, "Diana, meet our daughter, Elissa" he states.
Elissa's blue eyes remain stuck to the floor as Diana gasps taken back by seeing her daughter.
The teenager's eyes slowly levitate from the ground until she stares into Diana's azure eyes, she smiles meekly, and wags her fingers at her birth mother, "Hi."
Diana swallows the lump forming in her throat, "By the gods" she whispers. Her eyes misting over as her hands clasp on her mouth.
Diana releases her hands from her mouth, she sniffs a little, "You look so beautiful" she says some much emotion lined into her words, "you were so small when I last saw you" she gushes.
Elissa, not knowing what else to do, simply smiles a little and nods, "Thanks."
Bruce clears his throat, "She needs to ask you something" he interrupts the raven-haired women's meeting, getting them back on track, on why Elissa is here.
"Oh, right!" The girl exclaims, as she digs through her pockets, after some rummaging she finds what she been looking for.
The girl holds the paper to Diana, "I need you to sign this" she tells the woman.
Diana takes it and examines it. "Waiver of Parental Rights?" She looks to her homes guests in confusion, her brow furrowed.
"I need that signed so I can be emancipated" Elissa explains simply.
"From your parents?" Diana probes.
Bruce cuts in, "From the foster care system" he speaks to the woman. "She's never been adopted" he elaborates.
Diana looks to Elissa shocked by hearing this, she shakes her head, "The adoption agency said they wouldn't have a problem finding a home for you" she tells her daughter, surprised and heartbroken that her child has been without a home her whole life.
"I don't know if you knew this but, I had a little whole in my heart" Elissa begins, causing both adults to be taken by surprise by this new information. Diana looks to Bruce, as Bruce looks to Diana, and from the look on both of their faces neither of them knew about this. "It's fixed now" the girl reassures the dark-haired adults, "but, I had to have a bunch of surgeries, by the time my heart was fixed, I was three" she attempts to smile it off, "but parents who are shopping for kids, a toddler with a heart condition isn't really jumping off the shelves" she finishes with a shrug.
Diana shakes her head, "I didn't know about your heart" she tries to reassure the girl, "I'll sign this" holding the paper up, "I just need a pen" she utters.
Elissa holds one out to her, Diana gratefully accepts it. She presses the paper against the front door and her signature is added to it. She hands it back to Elissa, who accepts it thankfully.
"Thanks" she utters. She puts it back into her pocket, "I better get this to my social worker. My hearing is tomorrow" she finishes.
"I can drive you!" Diana eagerly hollers. Catching both Elissa and Bruce off guard.
Bruce wants to also put his name in the hat but decides its fair for Diana to spend some time with Elissa.
Elissa, shaken by her birth mother's eagerness, hesitantly looks to Bruce, pleading for assistance.
The man shakes his head, "I don't mind" he states, "go ahead."
The girl gulps, and nods, "Thanks" she tells the man. She turns back to Diana, "Are you sure you can take me?" The girl questions the Greek woman, silently hoping she backs out. Elissa doesn't know how her meeting with her mother will continue and she doesn't want to say something that she can't take back. Yet, a small part of her wants to go off on Diana, demanding answers as to why she didn't want her.
"It's no problem" the woman reassures the girl, she looks back into her suburban home, "I just need to get my keys."
Suddenly, a voice calls out from within the blue house, "Diana? Who's at the door?"
Diana's azure eyes widen, she didn't want to tell Steve about the child she gave up for adoption, and has now suddenly, returned to her.
Diana simply walks back inside the house until she meets the blonde-haired man, before he can get any closer to the front door, "I have to go out for a little bit" she states to her boyfriend, in a tone not up for questions.
She retrieves her car keys as well as her black leather jacket. She puts her arm through one sleeve and then the other, and finally zips it up providing protection from the cold temperature of the winter season.
She kisses Steve's cheek, "I'll talk to you later" she utters.
Left starstruck, Steve dumbly nods, until he remembers, "Don't forget we have that fundraiser we have on the yacht tonight!"
Diana simply waves back at him without looking back and shuts the front door.
Steve curious as to what's caused Diana to act out of character, goes to the front door and opens it, revealing Diana, and teenaged-girl with dark-hair and blue eyes, and a man in a black overcoat, well dressed pants and shoes, and blue-eyes with his dark-hair combed back. For some reason, the man looks familiar to Steve.
Diana turns her head back to the door after hearing it open after she just closed it. She raises a fine eyebrow as she sees Steve staring at her with a worrisome expression. The woman releases an exhausted sigh, "We'll talk later" she tells her beau trying to reassure the man. She turns her attention back to the teenager on her porch, she lifts her arm around the girl and pats her right shoulder, "Come on" she beckons, clicking her car keys unlock button causing the latest silver Mercedes locks to unlock causing a noise.
The two women leave the porch and walk to the car. Opening the doors, the quickly get in and put their seatbelts on. The engine starts soon after and they leave the driveway.
The two men remain standing on the porch, having watched the two women leave and following the car leave the driveway and then the street.
An awkward silence occupies the two men. They look to one another studying the other. Steve's eyes narrow. This aggravating feeling starts to overwhelm him. He recognizes this dark-haired man, but he can't put a name to the face. "Do I know you?" Steve asks uncertain.
Bruce is honestly surprised, someone in Gotham City doesn't know Bruce Wayne, Prince of Gotham. You would have to go to the other side of the world to just meet someone who doesn't know Bruce Wayne's name. But, its not unwelcomed.
Bruce simply shrugs, "Oh, Bruce Wayne" he introduces himself to the radio host, holding out his hand.
Trevor's eyes bulge in disbelief, know he recognizes the man. The man is the richest man in Gotham, hell one of the richest in the world.
"Uh, Steve Trevor" he greets dumbly, taking the offered hand, unsure of what else to do.
With Diana and Elissa
Awkward.
Really awkward.
That's the only way to describe the atmosphere inside Diana's car.
Elissa sits in the passenger seat her hands tightly folded together with her head down and the girl is nervously biting her lip, biting off some of the skin.
Diana stealthily as well as nervously steals glances as she navigates traffic. Her hands gripping the steering wheel so tight her knuckles turn white.
They stop at a red light. Diana studies the girl's features. Her dark hair. Her tanned skin. Her blue eyes. Those blue eyes. Just like his.
Feeling eyes on her, Elissa looks to Diana, whom, appears bashful.
"Sorry" she apologizes. Turning her attention back to the road, the light now green, stepping on the gas the car continues down the road, "It's just that you look so beautiful."
Elissa blushes looking away and running her hand through some strands of her midnight hair. Attempting to change the subject, "Was that Steve Trevor back at the house?"
"Yeah" the Greek woman responds, "we've been seeing each other for the last two years" she elaborates.
"Wow" the teenager squeaks, "I love you guys!" she gushes. "I been listening to you guys for years" she continues with a bright smile. "Until I got placed in Star City, I didn't get the station" she says looking at Diana, "it was the reason I asked for a new placement" she says with a shrug, "well that and my foster parents were dealing drugs" she states nonchalantly, immediately after hearing the last few words Diana's head whips at Elissa glancing at her worryingly.
Elissa catching Diana's stare, "Prescription" she clarifies attempting to reassure. It doesn't work.
The raven-haired woman shakes her head, "I was told there were these waiting lists and that the adoption agency would have no problem finding you a good home."
"I like told you a little while ago, I had to have surgeries for my heart" she tells the woman as if she's talking about the weather. "Most parents want babies, not toddlers. Or they have all these other options for a baby" she states, "well not all parents" she says with sadness in her voice.
Diana flinches at the intentional jab, her heart hurting. But, she can't fault the girl, "No, not everyone" she responds dejectedly.
Elissa just leans her head against the ice-cold window on the passenger's side, silence now occupying the inside of the car.
Ten minutes pass and they pull up across the street from the Social Services Agency.
Elissa quickly unbuckles and gets out of the car, no longer able to stomach being around her birth mother.
Diana unable to leave things the way they are, quickly gets out of the car and cuts Elissa off, "I just want you to know" she speaks out taking a deep breath, "it's not that I didn't want a baby" she struggles to say, "it's just that I was only a few years older than you are now" she explains, "I was in America on a student visa" she tells the girl, the woman's eyebrows narrowing, a lump of guilt forming in her throat, "you were born here that makes you a U.S. citizen, my visa could have been revoked or expired or I could have even been sent back to Themyscira" she states giving multiple reasons on why she couldn't keep her daughter.
"Back then, if we had that loon in the White House today, the two of us would have been separated" the woman continues to make excuses.
Every word coming out of Diana's mouth starts to make her violently angry, "You had no problem separating us yourself" the girl replies with bite.
"I know" Diana shakes her head sadly. "If my mother knew I got pregnant in high-school she would have killed me and made me return home" she says that lump getting bigger and her throat know dry.
Elissa now having her arms crossed over her chest, an annoyed frown along her face. "I should get these signatures to my social worker" the girl no longer wanting to hear excuses.
She walks around her birth mother and looks both ways before crossing the street, Diana quickly following, "Wouldn't you rather wait and see if something changes" Diana hurries keeping up with Elissa, who is walking faster trying to get away. "I mean someone could adopt you."
The two now in front of the agency building.
"No wants me unless I have a check with me" Elissa states flatly. She turns her head to Diana as they walk side by side, "No one wants three-year old's, how many people want to adopt teenagers" she questions rhetorically, her brow furrowing.
The woman shakes her head, "Point. I probably don't even know what I'm talking about" tears now welling up in her eyes.
"Yeah" the girl mutters.
"But, there must be a lot of things you haven't thought about yet" Diana points out. "Do you know where you're going to go to school? Where you are going to live? How are you going to pay for food?"
Now Elissa has had enough, she can understand Bruce's reason for not being apart of her life but Diana, she willfully gave her up. "Thanks for driving me over here, but I haven't had a mother my whole life, I don't need one now" she states heatedly. With that said she walks away and enters the building.
Leaving Diana standing there in the cold alone, a single tear running down her cheek.
Gotham Harbor
Night has fallen on Gotham.
At the harbor. A fundraiser is being held on a yacht hosted by Gotham Morning Madness, the fundraiser is for the Gotham's Children Hospital.
Diana arrives wearing a midnight blue dress ending just below the knees, and straps of the dress are a shade of lighter blue wrapped along her shoulders. All of this concealed by a dark overcoat. She walks in dark pumps.
Music playing, a DJ speaking as well as people dancing, laughing.
Diana walks aboard the yacht and sees Steve dressed in a tux surrounded by two blonde women.
The dark-haired woman walks up to the blond-haired man, "Sorry I'm late" she apologizes.
Steve turns to the source of the beautiful voice he had just heard, "Hey" he greets. "I've been trying to call you" he states concerningly.
"I got them, I just was ignoring them."
Steve wraps his arm around her shoulder and guides her along with him. "We need to talk" he tells her his voice on the precipice of desperation.
"I don't want to talk right now" she tells him wearily, the two continue walking.
"I do" he insists.
She sighs, "Okay" she complies reluctantly.
"That kid" he begins, "and Bruce Wayne show up on our doorstep" he says in hushed tones, not wanting people to know the two of them are dating.
"Her name is Elissa" the Greek woman clarifies. "She's mine and Bruce Wayne's daughter" she admits. She looks at Steve's face and sees that every word she says is like a knife in his heart.
"We went to the same high-school" she continues dejectedly, "it didn't end well, and I gave my Elissa up for adoption, didn't work out" she finishes going over the cliffnotes of what's happened in the past twenty-four hours.
"If this changes your mind about us being together I understand" she says sadly.
The man shakes his head, "I just want honesty, Diana. I think you would understand that."
Diana of all people treasures honesty above all things. The woman nods, "I never wanted to tell anyone about it."
Steve's brow furrows, "If you can't be open with me, why are we even together?"
Diana shrugs.
"If you want to end this, end this because you don't love me anymore" he demands. "Not some asinine excuse!"
"I can't fix anything with her" she exclaims. "She doesn't want me around" tears now running down her face.
Once again today, Diana finds herself alone.
Diamond District
A man is thrown through an already broken window of a jewelry shop and crashes into a pile of trash bags and cans.
Soon another comes out through the window and another.
Two cloaked figures stand over the three men in the pile of garbage.
Batman and Robin.
Batman dressed in his black armored suit.
And Robin, dressed in red and green armored suit. Green armored pants, with black boots, green gloves that end just above the elbows, leaving his biceps bare, with his shoulders covered in green shoulder pad-like armor. A yellow utility belt draped around his teenaged waist, and a red armored shirt donned on his torso, with a black circle in the spot where his heart is with a yellow 'R' in the center of it. A black cape with yellow on the inside draped along his neck, a black domino mask on his face, and black spikey hair.
Batman leans in close to the leader of this little gang of robbers, the first one thrown out of the store. He grasps the man by his shirt, "You're on our radar now" he rasps at the thug, who turns his head away in terror. "Trust me when I say that's not a place you want to on" he says through grit teeth.
Robin stands behind his partner glaring at the trio.
Batman releases the man's shirt and stands to full height, his cape enveloping him, "Wait here for the cops to arrest you" he orders. "Don't, and the next time we see each other it won't be pleasant" he warns.
With that said, sirens start blaring and get louder as they approach the scene.
Batman and Robin fire their grapple guns and soar into the night.
Gotham City Courthouse
Today, is Elissa's emancipation hearing, the teenager hopes it will turn out the way she wants it to.
Elissa stands before the judge, her midnight hair down, wearing a nice dark jacket, a white blouse, and a dark skirt ending just below the knees, and heels. She is dressed like this attempting to give a professional and adult aura around herself, hoping the judge will be swayed by it.
Her social worker, Marie, sits at the other table next to Elissa, dressed in a business suit, files on the table before her.
Unaware to the girl, Bruce Wayne sits a few rows away from Elissa in the gallery. Patiently listening to the proceedings, dressed in his usual business attire. A black suit, a white dress shirt, and a red tie.
The judge, an old African American woman, with graying black hair, wrinkles on her face, showing her many years of being on the bench, and a pair of glasses on her face.
"I see you turn fifteen tomorrow, is that correct young lady?" the robe wearing woman asks.
"Yes, your honor" the dark-haired girl replies politely. Just as Elissa responds to the judge's question, Diana silently steps into the courtroom. Having found out where Elissa's hearing is taking place.
Dressed in a black overcoat, heels clicking as she walks to the gallery to take a seat in the one of the pews. She just so happens to sit in a row just in front of Bruce.
The man leans forward in his seat, his lips close to the woman's ear, his hot breath warming her ear, "What are you doing here?"
His question causes the woman to jolt in her seat in surprise. She whips her head to the voice, her eyes widening in shock. But, doesn't answer. And the two remain seated and quiet.
"Is this your social worker?" the dark-skinned woman asks, her head turning to Marie.
Marie rises from her seat to answer, "Yes, your honor." She turns her head to Elissa and continues, "I've had Elissa for several years now."
Elissa looks down a little in embarrassment. Marie is the one adult who's been good to her.
The judge examines some papers in front of her regarding Elissa's history with the foster care system. Her brow rises, "Nine different foster homes" she exclaims in mild surprise. She looks back to Elissa.
The girl shakes her head, "But, that's not my fault, really."
"Whose fault is it then? Are you saying the nine families you were placed with weren't right for you?
Anxiety fills the young girl's body, she doesn't like where this is going, "No, I wanted a good home. The city just hasn't provided me with one."
The judge continues to gather information about Elissa, "So you have no permanent place of residence, as of this moment?"
"When the court grants my petition, I plan to go to an apartment complex not far from my school" the girl explains her plans to the judge.
"You're going to afford an apartment? On what income?" the African American woman questions with skepticism in her voice.
"I have a thousand dollars saved up" the girl responds and honestly believes that would be enough to sustain herself until she gets a job.
"Who's going to co-sign your rental agreement?" the woman keeps poking holes in the teenagers hopes and plans.
Elissa gives off a scoffing laugh, "The point of being emancipated, is so I won't need it co-signed."
The judge scoffs, "No landlord in their right mind would rent to a minor."
Immediately after the words left the woman's mouth, two voices speak out, "I'll co-sign your honor" Bruce and Diana say in unison.
The duo stare at each other confused, after rising from their seats.
The commotion causes both the judge and Elissa to look at the source of the voices.
Elissa's azure eyes widen in shock and dread.
"Who are you two?" the judge asks, glasses in hand.
Elissa exhales deeply and turns back to the judge, "They're… my birth parents."
The dark-skinned woman raises an eyebrow.
"The three of us met yesterday, your honor" Bruce explains to the dark-skinned woman.
The woman rolls her eyes. Feeling a headache coming on, she turns to Marie, "Let me see that file."
Marie complies and walks over to the robed woman and hands her Elissa's file. Accepting the file, the woman begins to examine it.
"Bruce Wayne" she speaks. She looks to Bruce and then to Elissa, giving the girl a skeptical look, "You're trying to get emancipated from him?" the woman asks in disbelief. Wayne is the richest man in Gotham and the girl wants to get away from all that.
"Mr. Wayne" the judge turns her attention back to the man, "you are a CEO, is that right?"
"Yes, your honor."
Flipping through the file, which has more information on Bruce, "And I see you already have an adopted son, is that correct?" the woman asks.
Hearing this Elissa turns to Bruce, mouth agape, he adopted some other kid? She can't believe it. She probably should have done more extensive research on her birth father when she was googling him.
Bruce nods, "Yes, your honor."
The woman turns her attention to Diana now, "And you're a radio talk jockey, is that correct?"
Diana swiftly answers, "Yes, your honor."
The continues looking through the file and finds something else, "And you are original from Themyscira. Here on a student visa" she states going through Diana's background, "and got your green card years ago" she looks up from the file and back to Diana, "is that all correct?"
Diana nods, "Yes, your honor."
"Neither one of you have any criminal records" the judge speaks aloud.
Elissa now utterly confused speaks out, "What is going on?" Desperation evident in her voice.
The robed woman exhales deeply, leaning forward, "I will be straight as I can possibly be" she tells Elissa.
The girl's brow furrowing.
"I am not granting you emancipation" the judge tells the girl, horror appears on the girl's face, "You have no income, barely any funds to take care of yourself, no permanent residence, you filed a fee wavier to cover court costs" she prattles on. She leans back in her seat, "Legally, Bruce Wayne and Diana Prince are still your parents." Bruce and Diana look at one another and then back at the judge.
Elissa refusing to believe what is happening shakes her head, "No, I had them sign their parental rights away."
"Which was never notarized nor signed by a witness."
"And to top it all off, your fifteen. Your too young to be emancipated" she shakes her head, "in some states you can be emancipated at fourteen, but we are not in one of those states."
The judge continues, "Unless anyone has abjections. I am releasing back into the temporary joint custody, of Bruce Wayne and Diana Prince."
Bruce and Diana look at each other once again in disbelief.
Elissa simply stands there frozen. Her mouth agape.
"Case dismissed" the judges states banging her gavel.
UP NEXT: We pick up directly where this chapter ends. The three figure out what to do.
Thoughts?
The costumes in the cases are 1st appearance suit, year one suit, 70s batsuit.
The next story I plan to update next is the dark knight of tomorrow. Sorry, but I have been neglecting that story for too long. Its my baby, the main reason I started writing, it really means a lot and I want to make it as successful as my two wonderbat stories are.
Thank you, everyone! For reviews, favs, and follows.