Here's part 2, everyone!
Life Unexpected
Chapter 6
Moulton Towers-Penthouse
Everyone inside the room was frozen stiff. Shocked to the core at what they just witnessed.
The Death of The Batman.
Robin was horrified by the apparent death of his mentor. His partner. His friend. His…father.
Diana stood in utter shock at yet another death at the hands of the Joker. Steve was also stunned, uncertain on how much longer everyone else has left.
The hostages as well as three roused thugs stood in disbelief as their boss just killed The Bat.
Anger extinguished the shock within the young man as Robin charged at the clown in blind rage, but it wasn't meant to be as the three goons overcame their disbelief, overpowered and restrained him.
Robin gave a disgruntled yell at being unable to avenge Batman.
Within the room the emotions of surprise and anger swirled inside, yet all that was unimportant to the Joker.
He stood paralyzed, arm frozen stiff, gun still pointed in the direction of where Batman fell. While everyone was flabbergasted by the shooting of Batman, none were more stunned than the Joker, himself.
His features were evident as his eyebrows were up to his mid-forehead. His red lips were o-shaped, eyes bulged in his sockets.
The pale man was frozen for a good five minutes. The silence unnerving everyone in the room.
Until…
He busted out laughing. A small giggle escaped his lips breaking his paralyzed state, before a full-blown laugh erupted from his body.
"I did it!" he exclaimed. "I did it. I finally killed Batman!" tears starting to form in his eyes, his sides starting to ache from laughter. He whipped the corner of his eyes with his finger finally lowering his gun arm.
"You know even I had doubts of ever killing the guy. We've been going through the motions for years" he thought aloud. "After all these years, the millions of dollars, hundreds of deathtraps" he sighed fondly at the memories, "I honestly didn't think I'd ever manage to kill him."
"Ladies and gentlemen let us take a moment for the passing of a man, who was more than some do-gooder in a black suit. He was the best archnemesis a sociopathic clown could ask for!" he exclaimed enthusiastically.
All the good times The Joker had with Batman raced through his mind.
Feeding Bats to that shark at the aquarium following his Joker Fish scheme. Kidnapping the mayor's son and taking him to an abandoned circus. Trying to kill that casino mogul who made a casino in his image.
Ah, memories.
'Damn you!" Robin yelled breaking the clown from his nostalgia.
Joker looked at the teen out of the corner of his eyes.
His green eyes narrowed in displeasure at being interrupted.
Feeling in terrific mood, he decided to make this a two-fer. He aimed his gun at the teen's forehead, "Looks like you and Bats will be the Dynamic Duo in heaven" a twisted grin on the Joker's lips.
The maniac's finger started to pull the trigger about to end the Teen Wonder, only for the Joker to cry out in pain as something sharp stabbed into he back of his gun hand. The weapon went off shooting one of his hired man's ear off.
Seemingly ignoring the injured thug everyone focused on the Joker, whom was clutching his injured hand.
The purple-clad man winced in pain before examining his wounded his hand and saw a black and thin razor sharp batarang embedded in the back of his hand.
What?
A grimace on his face he turned in the direction of where the batarang most likely came from and wasn't even surprised to see Batman back on his feet, arm hanging low from throwing his weapon at the mad clown.
The hostages gaped in disbelief at the return of the Caped Crusader.
"Batman!" Robin exclaimed in exuberance.
Diana, herself gaped at the sheer strength of the man having survived a gunshot wound to the head. However, upon further inspection she noticed he was bleeding out the side of his right temple, locks of dark hair poking out of his mask. She noticed he was also breathing heavily, no doubt exhausted from his wound as well as surviving a fall from the building.
Her boyfriend on the other hand had a heated glare trained at the Dark Knight. Once again endangering lives with his presence.
"You know" the Joker started gaining everyone's attention, "I'm not even surprised anymore" he stated plucking the black projectile from his hand. "Nothing ever really kills you anyway" he finished saying dropping the batarang to the floor with a clank.
All the clown got was a heated glare.
"Robin!" Batman roared getting the teen back into the fight.
"Oh, sorry" he replied jumping up and split kicking the remaining goons holding him.
The dark clad man growled at the Joker angrily, "It's over, Joker."
"Over?" he parroted. "My dear delusional Dark Knight we haven't even begun" he answered sinisterly.
He started to laugh, infuriating the vigilante, whom started to briskly walk up to the clown only for the Joker to start firing at him.
Batman went in evasive actions performing several Olympic level acrobatics to dodge the shots, quite surprising given he's suffering from a gunshot wound to the head.
The Joker sprinted to the balcony, looking over his shoulder still firing until he ran out of ammo. The clown pouted that his weapon was out.
He turned back to the balcony and then to Batman weighing his options.
"Give it up" Batman bellowed. Robin joined his partner having finished taking out the thugs.
The Joker turned back to the balcony and leaned over the railing staring at the long way down.
It turned the madman's stomach like being on a ride at the amusement park.
He pulled back and gazed back at the Dynamic Duo inside the room. His mind made up he shrugged, hands up in the air palms facing the sky with a grin on his face. He leaned his back against the railing and leaned backwards until he fell backwards.
The crowd inside gave an audible gasp in horror as The Joker apparently just committed suicide.
Even Batman and Robin were startled by the act.
The clown's stomach-turning laughter along the way down. That's what everyone thought until they saw the Joker flying by with a purple parachute strapped to his back.
"See Batsy I think of everything" the pale man shouted as he glided away from the building.
Street Level
Commissioner Gordon and his officers were preparing to breach the building when they heard sickening laughter.
The older man looked upward with the rest of his officers, "What the hell-?"
"It looks like the Joker" one of his officers stated.
Suddenly, they heard the roar of an engine. They turn and see a purple limousine burn rubber just outside the police cordon racing down the street.
No doubt the Joker's getaway vehicle.
"All units chase down that limo, it's that madman's getaway car!" Gordon ordered.
"You heard. Move!" one of the commanding officers ordered their subordinates.
GCPD started the high-speed chase to hunt down a mass murderer.
Inside the Penthouse
Not one to waste time, Batman started to sprint towards the balcony preparing to give chase. "Move!" he ordered Robin to come along.
The two of them together have a greater advantage of taking down the Joker than if they were alone.
That was the plan until someone wrapped their arms around Batman's torso trapping his arms as well. Stunned, he turned his head looking over his shoulder to see who was restraining him.
He was dumbfounded to see that it was Steve Trevor of all people binding him. "What are you doing?!"
"Doing what should have been done years ago" Steve replied his face strained from his struggle of holding down The Batman.
"Steve, what are you doing?" Diana exclaimed by her boyfriend's actions.
"Batman!" Robin yelled in shock, unsure on what to do.
The vigilante turned to his young partner, "Go! Follow but do not engage!" Batman advised the teen.
Seeing a weak nod, his protégé took off running to the balcony and jumped off, performing a double backflip before firing his grapple gun.
With his partner now gone, Batman focused on his new obstacle: Diana's boyfriend.
"Joker's getting away" Batman growled at the blonde man.
"So what? Let the police do their jobs" Steve stubbornly kept up his hold due to the vigilante starting to struggle trying to break the hold.
Steve started getting cocky having easily restrained the great Batman.
Although that's only because Batman's nursing a gunshot wound to the head combined with blood loss.
"I don't have time for this" Batman growled lowly. He bent his arms at the elbow before slamming his right elbow into Trevor's gut.
Steve released a grunt from the blow, but he refused to release his hold.
Seeing an alternative option Batman slammed the back of his head into the blonde's face. This time Steve lost his hold and his hands went to his now bleeding nose.
Not at all finished with the blonde, Batman spun on his heel now facing the man and delivered a right uppercut to the man's chin. The blow knocked his head backwards and his body went airborne crashing into a table with a loud crash.
Diana called out to Steve and ran to him. Checking to see how hurt he was. She breathed a sigh of relief when he gave a groan of pain.
"Any lives lost while you were getting in my way, I'll be coming for you" the dark clad man threatened glaring at the fallen man and then he was gone.
Diana could only stare at Steve in concern. What could Steve have been thinking?
Above the Streets of Gotham
The Joker was riding the air currents giving his parachute thrust. The sounds of the sirens from police vehicles and the traffic of the streets.
"I believe I can fly" he sang passing a couple making out on the roof of their apartment building who gave the passing clown an odd look. "Thinking 'bout it every night and day" he continued to sing completely ignorant of Robin following the madman using his glider cape.
The madman looked down seeing red and blue flashes following his limo.
Minutes pass and gravity starts to do its work. The Joker started to lose altitude getting closer and closer to the street.
The Joker was practically straddling his limo when he lost all altitude by detaching himself from the parachute and dropped right into the opened sunroof of his personal vehicle.
He was greeted by the sight of two clowns in the front seat in the back of the vehicle, followed by himself sitting in the back with two women wearing clown makeup and in stripper outfits.
"So, ladies, who wants to go clubbing?" he cackled putting his arms on both stripper's shoulders.
"Sounds like a party!" one answered for the other.
The Joker laughed again and called to the driver, "Mo, I've been locked up too long. You have any idea where the party's at?"
"Sure do boss" Mo answered looking in the rearview mirror wearing a black chauffeur hat on top of his head and white clown makeup on his face.
"Well, let's go!"
As soon as he said that a loud thump was heard. Startling the occupants in the back of the vehicle.
"Was that a jumper?" the Joker uttered cautiously. Suicides are common in the big city.
The sunroof crashing inside the vehicle was the only answer he got. It wasn't a jumper.
The women shrieked at the noise. One of the men stood up slightly to inspect the roof only for a dark hand to pull him through the opening in the roof and thrown out of the vehicle with a scream.
Joker was the one to investigate it next and saw Batman standing on top of the racing car, white eyes glaring down at his nemesis. He mentally sighed, "Hey, Bats, I've been locked up for a while in the nuthouse. Can I get like an hour with these ladies?" he requested. He momentarily paused and then rephrased, "Ten minutes? I've been locked for a while."
He wouldn't last long with these two lovely ladies.
All he got was Batman silently glaring at him with a furious expression on his face, his teeth bared.
While Joker was distracted with Batman, Robin was dispatching the driver. The teen came crashing into the front of the vehicle feet first from the passenger window landing right next to the driver.
"Hi, I'm Robin and I'll be confiscating your driver's license tonight" joked with a grin of his own. He grabbed the steering wheel turning it to the left into a barren plaza.
Mo desperately wrestled for the wheel with the teen wonder. Only for him to crash the vehicle into a stone pillar.
The airbag's deployed from the driver's side bashing into Mo's face. Robin kicked out the passenger's door and tried to unsteadily walk out of the vehicle.
Joker rolled off the other man in the back of the limo groaning. He looked around with blurry eyes struggling to focus on anything.
He noticed his lady friends were unconscious in the front seats. And Batman was missing.
What were the chances old pointy nose was flung from the vehicle and is bleeding out on the street?
The next thing he knew a window was smashed open and he was pulled through the said window pieces of broken glass cutting his clothes and skin.
He came face to face with Batman. Whom scowled at the pale man.
Out of the corner of his eyes he noticed Robin, the teen third wheel, making his way over to the pair.
"You know what, Bats? You got a sidekick, now I need to get a sidekick" he stated. "Remember the jokermobile?" he asked excitedly. "Or the jokercopter? Oh, we had this evening the odds with each other for years! You mind if I ask where you got yours? Put an ad in the paper or something?" he asked nonchalantly.
His dark foe continued to scowl at the clown sirens and red and blue lights going off in the background as the police finally caught up to them.
"Well?" Joker said. "You gonna answer me? How'd you get your sidekick?"
Batman answered him by coldcocking the clown to the cement.
"Let's go" he ordered Robin leaving the scene and letting the police take it from here.
Moulton Towers-Penthouse
A few hours later after the Joker was arrested and loaded onto a transport van back to the asylum. Hopefully, this time he'll stay there.
The now freed hostages were being questioned by officers while others were processing and bagging the dead.
The surviving former hostages breathed a sigh of relief at surviving the Joker, not many can say that.
Inside the penthouse paramedics were treating Steve for a bloody nose and gave him an ice pack for his jaw.
Diana stood by her boyfriend making sure Steve followed what the paramedic told them.
Commissioner Gordon entered the penthouse, the mustached man scanned the room seeing officers doing their jobs questioning victims, satisfaction surged through him at seeing his officers doing their jobs especially in the wake of the Joker's attacks on the department years ago.
He continued scanning the room until he found the person he was looking for. He walked to the man, his every step commanded the authority he possessed for the GCPD.
He cleared his throat as Diana was whispering to Steve gaining their attention. Gordon turned to the paramedic, "They all clear?" he asked.
"Yes, sir. Just some bruises on this guy here" gesturing with their head to the blond man.
The gray-haired man slowly nodded accepting the medic's professional opinion. He looked over to the pair of cohosts, his gaze scrutinizing.
"I understand you had an eventful night, Mr. Trevor?" The commissioner asked the blonde glibly adjusting his glasses.
Steve gave the older man a wicked look while holding a tissue to his now clotting nose. "You could say that" he bit out heatedly.
Gordon was quite amused but didn't show it to the man.
Diana was whispering to her boyfriend to settle down. Steve shrugged her hand away too angry to appease her light warnings.
"How long are you going to keep letting a vigilante to the job you and your officers are being payed to do, Gordon?" Steve yelled incensed.
Gordon took the radio jockey's hot-tempered attitude in stride. He stoically answered, "I have no idea on what you mean, young man."
Now that pissed Trevor off, whom shot out of his seat startling Diana making her lean back to avoid being hit by him, shooting up like a bullet. "What's the matter with you?! Are you that decrepit and ineffective you need a freak in a mask to do your job?" he shouted gaining the attention of other people in the room as well as causing some officers to become cautious concerning the blonde-haired man attacking their commissioner.
Gordon, however, wasn't the least bit intimidated by Steve's outburst. "Police policy regarding The Batman, if he even exists, is to apprehend him on sight" quoting department policy.
"Don't give me that crap!"
Now losing patience dealing with Trevor, Gordon voiced, "Mr. Trevor, I don't care what you think. You are not a real reporter nor are you on the front lines like my department and myself are. I'm sure you have an opinion, which is protected under our Constitution. But the next time you personally interfere in apprehending one of this city's worst murderers, you better check your emotions at the door. Or I will have you brought up on charges" he warns. "Do you understand me?" he enquired deeply, his brow clenching his features.
"You—"
"Understand?" Gordon bit out.
Steve tried to say something indignant but a look from Commissioner Gordon made him stop and angrily shake his head before walking away.
Diana breathed a sigh of relief at Steve backing down with the head of the police department. She gave Gordon a sympathetic look as well as a grateful one at not charging her boyfriend.
The older man nodded his head, "Have a good night, miss" he told her, to which she responded back to him and left with Steve.
Batcave
Robin sat on a bench in the locker room of the dank cavern beneath stately Wayne Manor. His green domino mask was laying flat on his lap. His head bowed staring down at his mask, he felt like he was awaiting his execution.
He knew he disobeyed orders from his partner. But he did it to help others. Wasn't that reason they did what they did in the first place?
Bruce and Alfred were in the infirmary, the older gentleman tending to the master's wound. Disinfecting the wound as well as beginning to stitch up his charge's skull. The recently upgraded cowl reinforcements are what saved the man's life tonight.
And the aging man had to admit, the master of the house was handling the situation quite well considering the circumstances.
Fifteen minutes passed and Alfred completed tending to Bruce's wound. The older man was discarding the soiled bandages and cleaned the utensils gingerly. While he was doing his work he commented to Bruce, "Do go easy on him, sir. He was just trying to help."
The dark-haired man gave his oldest ally a blank stare before marching to the locker room.
He walked to where his protégé resided in the cave, his footsteps as silent as always. When he reached the young man, he glanced at the dark-haired teen out of the corner of his eye.
Dick tried making himself be even smaller than he already was continuing to keep his head down praying Bruce won't fire him.
Bruce was staring in the opposite direction of Dick when he asked, "Are you alright?" his voice low.
Slightly taken back by the question, Dick stammered, "U-uh, yeah." Receiving a nod, content with the young man being safe.
The awkward atmosphere was too much for a hyperactive teen such as Dick to take so he did what he typically did to pass the time with old gloom and doom, he opened his mouth, "Look, Bruce, I'm—"
"No" the older man interrupted the teen making him look at the man for the first time. "You are done talking. I mean done!" he finally looked at the acrobatic teen. He shook his head, "You could be dead right now. I told you, you weren't ready for the Joker. You do not disobey a direct order from me" he scowled at the teen. "And I don't care how angry you are at me. You listen to me! "he yelled at Dick, whom visibly jumped in his seat. "It's my job to keep you alive. To look out for you. And I will always do my job! And you will always do yours and listen. To ME! That's the deal between you and me" he explained to him.
Dick didn't say another word and just did as he was told—which was listen to his mentor.
Bruce took a deep breath to calm down. When he regained control to told Dick sternly, "You just used your get out of jail free card. There's only one. Disobey me again and Batman and Robin will be over. Clear?"
Dick turned his gaze downward no longer able to look Bruce in the eye, "Clear" he answered back sheepishly.
Satisfied, Bruce ordered Dick to clean up and get some rest, patrol was over tonight.
However, a thought occurred to Bruce. The Joker wouldn't let anything stop him from evening the score with someone that slighted him.
It's not over.
Steve Trevor's Apartment
Diana opened the door to Steve's apartment with a sigh. She held the door for him as he made his way through the threshold.
Neither said a word to each other since they left Moulton Towers.
Diana shut the door silently, stone-faced watching as Steve turned on some lights and took a seat on his couch.
He felt Diana's beautiful eyes on him, normally that wouldn't bother him but after knowing her for years and as well as he did, he was abundantly aware that she was looking at him disapprovingly.
She would ask for answers for his actions tonight. If he didn't reply than she wouldn't push him, but she wouldn't let it be forgotten.
The blonde rolled his head around purposely avoiding the woman's gaze. His nose had stopped bleeding after they left the fundraiser. But he kept some ice on it instead of his jaw.
He exhaled deeply and then turned to the Greek woman. He signed again before saying, "I know you are going to ask me about it. But I don't want to talk about it."
Diana silently strolled over to the man and sat carefully on the armrest of the man's seat looking down at him, concerningly.
"Steve, please. I've been kept in the dark about this for far too long. And I should have asked you this a long time ago: Why do you hate Batman?"
Just hearing his name made the radio jockey's jaw clench. His brow furrowed tightly, cursing that maniac's existence, he removed the ice pack from his face and looked dead ahead of him.
"I told you that I used to be Air Force, just out of high school, I wanted to serve my country, like my mother did" he started opening up to her. "I had a friend of mine you joined the same time as I did. We did everything together. We went to boot camp together. Trained together. We even served in the same unit together" he continued. Diana's brow knitted together listening intently.
Steve paused taking a breath, temporarily taking a rest from the emotional rollercoaster that was his story. He took another breath before continuing were he left off, "We served two tours together before I decided to leave the Air Force. I thought Carl would think me a coward for leaving but he was incredibly understanding that I didn't have it in me anymore to go back to war" the blonde recounted before shaking his head.
"So, I got discharged and came back to the states, while Carl went back. I didn't see him again for another two years. I went to college and got a job at a radio station. Nothing major at the time, I just got people coffee for a while. When I came back to Gotham, I heard about some idiot dressing up in a bat costume fighting crime and the police. The commissioner then put out a shoot to kill order out on Batman. But it didn't do any good as commissioners' came and went because the Joker came on scene soon after. Killing police commissioners', mayors, cops. Almost blew up the damn city" Steve's folded hands clenched tightly together at the memories.
Diana remained silent, simply listening to her beau and his past.
"Anyway, Batman saves the day, Joker went to Arkham. And the city went about its' business. Then the freaks started moving into town wiping out the mob that held Gotham in the palm of their hands. And so, after two years of all the nonsense here was going on, Carl came home. Engaged even. I was even asked to be Carl's best man. Carl and his fiancé went back to Detroit planning their wedding like any happy couple would" Diana could hear the bitterness in the man's voice.
"It was happiness plain and simple for them…until the hold up. You see Batman got a lot of attention in this town. One man trying to make a difference in a hopeless town. And Detroit has crime just as any other city. And of course, some stupid kid thought they could be Detroit's Batman" he started getting to the heart of the story.
Diana's eyes widen at hearing that Detroit had a Batman of its own. But still remained silent so she could hear the rest of the story.
"Carl and his girl were at a restaurant when a pair of robbers' came in with guns, demanding money. The cashier gave it to them and were about to run out the door. They would have left the patron's and the worker's alone. Well, that's what would have happened, if not for some stupid kid dressed like Batman came crashing in, getting himself and five other people killed. Including Carl and his fiancé" he raised his voice at the end of the last sentence, slightly startling Diana.
"Oh, Steve" she uttered sadly.
"You want to know why I hate Batman so much?" he said angrily. "I hate him for creating all this chaos. He's the one that broke the world and made everyone lose their damn minds! Some people praise him. Call him a hero. Others hate him. The rest don't care about him at all. How can no one else see the damage he's done. He gets a pass for all the tragedies he caused all the lives he's taken by letting those animals roam around who all want him dead" his breath got caught in his throat and couldn't say another word.
Diana did the only thing she could think of and wrapped the distraught man in her arms. "Shh" she soothed him rubbing his back in comfort.
An hour later, Steve had calmed down enough for Diana to get them something to drink, while Steve busied himself with going through his mail that he left on his kitchen table when he arrived home earlier that day.
Diana knew she shouldn't say anything right now, but she had to say her piece. "Look. I know you are angry, but I think I should say something because I know you will listen to me" this earned the blonde's attention from the mail. "I do not believe you should hold one person responsible for the actions of another. Batman exists to try and fix Gotham. This kid that got killed trying to be Batman was responsible and lost his life for his foolish actions. If this boy impersonated a police officer, would you be against all police officers?" she proposed.
Steve could only grumble silently, because if he said something Diana would slap him with a retort against what he was planning to say. He busied himself with his mail instead of responding.
Diana glared lightly but neglected to fight him on it anymore. She glanced at the clock and did a double take as she noticed it was almost two in the morning. She told Elissa she would be home by midnight at least.
Diana left Steve to his mail so she could check in on Elissa. She called her house and got nothing but her answering machine, which got her slightly worried but remained calm. She tried Elissa's cell phone and got nothing but her voicemail.
Now she's getting a little worried.
Maybe she's asleep? It is late. She knew she was just trying to make herself feel better. But she's a new mother and she's worried about her daughter being home alone.
Maybe she should call Bruce, see if he can stop by and check on her. Now that she thought about it, where was Bruce? He disappeared shortly after the fundraiser started, just before the Joker took the everyone hostage. However, now that she thought about it, she honestly didn't see him at all. Although she had heard he was there for a little bit.
Perhaps, he ducked out after finding something more interesting to keep him occupied. Or someone?
The mere thought bothered her for reasons even she didn't understand. The thought that he left the fundraiser for some woman irked her.
Why?
Diana's eyes widened, she…she couldn't be jealous. Could she?
She remembered she did kiss him at his penthouse sometime ago. And he kissed her back.
She couldn't still have feelings for him, could she?
Since their daughter reappeared in their life's, all these long-buried emotions had started rising from their graves.
During the early years after giving Elissa up for adoption following her slight bout with depression, she had fantasied about the three of them together. Raising their daughter to become the incredible young woman she had become now.
She was pulled from her musings when she heard a loud crash and followed by uncontrollable laughter.
The Greek woman raced back into the room.
A horrified gasp escaped Diana's mouth, as she saw Steve laying on the floor laughing uncontrollably.
His face white as a ghost, his eyes bulging out its sockets with a forced smile on his features.
"Steve" the woman whispered in desperation, completely unsure on what to do, crouching over her dying boyfriend.
Suddenly, one of the windows exploded making the woman turn to the sound.
Her eyes widened as she witnessed Batman crash into the apartment.
"Batman" she uttered lowly.
"Move!" he yelled pushing her aside so he could administer the antitoxin combined with a sedative.
Diana could only watch helplessly as the vigilante saved Steve's life, all while she sat on her bottom with her legs spread her dress covering her lower regions.
"I figured this wasn't over" the vigilante explained out of nowhere. "The Joker's ego is far too big to allow anyone to insult him and live" he continued noticing a torn envelope lying on the floor next to the now unconscious man, joker playing cards spilled out it.
Diana felt frozen, uncertain on what she should be doing. The helplessness clutched around her like a noose.
"He should be fine now. But an ambulance is on its way just to be sure.''
Batman's gravelly voice stirred her from paralysis, her blue eyes narrowed as she managed to get a closer look at the exposed section of the man's face.
She knew that jaw. From somewhere.
Abruptly, Batman rose to full height, sirens approaching. "Will you be alright?" he asked looking down at her.
She numbly nodded and with that he was gone.
Soon there was banging on the apartment door, the paramedics had arrived.
Gotham Mercy Hospital
It felt like a blur to Diana as paramedics entered Steve's apartment and hauled him off to Gotham Mercy, just after Batman had busted through the window and managed to administer the antidote to the poison that ran through her boyfriend's veins.
And all she could do was look on, Diana never felt so helpless and useless in her life.
After chatting with the doctors here, the raven-haired woman knotted stomach became undone as she was informed that Steve was going to make it, all he needed was some rest and stay in the hospital for a couple days.
Diana felt like she could finally breathe again.
He's gonna be okay, she thought to herself, smiling in relief.
"Miss?" a voice called to her making the gown clad woman to look up from her seat in the waiting room.
"Yes?"
The nurse gave Diana a sympathetic smile, "He's going to be unconscious at least for another day. We just want to make sure the toxin is out of his system. You should go home, miss. It's very later. We'll call if there are any changes" the nurse promised.
Diana's brow furrowed uncertain if she should leave. The urge to stay here with her boyfriend was being weighted down by the concern to check in on her daughter.
Seeing Diana's hesitation, the nurse smiled again, "I promise we'll call if there are changes."
Diana was convinced, "Alright" she agreed, gathering her belongings, "thank you" she said gratefully.
"Anytime, hon."
Diana's House
An uber pulled up to the curb outside Diana's home. She gathered her purse and started to get out of the car, while giving a parting 'thank you'.
She walked up to her front door, the porch lights illuminating her path. Feeling dead tired knowing it was almost four in the morning.
She passed the threshold of her home sighing. Shutting the door while dumping her purse and keys on the antique table by the front door.
She kicked off her silver heels cursing herself for wearing them but they're so damn cute, she'll work through the pain.
She leaned on her table by the door massaging her aching feet taking a minute for herself before she started up the staircase leading upstairs.
She needed to put her worries to rest and hopefully herself in a couple of minutes. Her footfalls as silent as possible not wanting to disturb Elissa if she was home and asleep.
As she arrived at her daughter's room, the woman suddenly felt anxious. Elissa had given her no reason for her to doubt her ability to stay home but, Diana's a mother now.
No one can fault her for worrying about her cub.
She pushed the door open as quietly as she could and was relieved to see Elissa's profile underneath the covers of her bed.
A small smile came across Diana's lips, and pulled back shutting the door. She left for her bedroom where she could enter a blissful coma and sleep as long as her body was able.
She entered her room and made a bee line for her bed. Dropping like a stone on top of the mattress with a satisfied sigh.
Etta gave Diana a call as soon as she heard about the hostage situation as well as Steve being admitted into the hospital, and the bosses of their station had Etta pass the message along to Diana to take the next few says off until Steve was back to full health.
Some time off right now sounded very, very good.
She numbly unzipped her dress and pulled it off her body and slide under the covers in her underwear, wrapping her favorite thermal blanket around her releasing a comfortable sigh as sleep easily took her.
It was late morning when Diana awoke, she still felt dead tired, but she willed herself to rise from her lovely warm bed and left her bedroom while still in her underwear.
She patted down the staircase to the kitchen running a hand through her dark locks that were mussed. Her eyes were shut when she reached the bottom steps resting them as her memory of where the furniture helped her effortlessly navigate to the kitchen in search of coffee without bumping into anything.
The woman passed the kitchen table completely missing Elissa sitting at the table eating a late breakfast.
The girl wide eyed as her mother walked past her in her underwear, causing the girl to shriek, "Woah!"
The teen's scream woke Diana from her hazy state, turning to the source of the scream with wide eyes and suddenly remembered she wasn't alone in the house anymore, she released a scream, "I'm sorry, I forgot you lived here" she cried as she tried to cover herself up with her arms.
She raced out of the kitchen and back up to her bedroom to put on some clothes. While that was happening, Elissa was stunned by what she witnessed. She self-consciously looked down at her lavender colored sweatshirt, locked on to her still growing chest.
Her mother's chest was quite… ample. In mild annoyance, Elissa wondered if she was going to develop to her mother's stature.
A few minutes passed and Diana joined the girl downstairs once more this time clothed in gray sweatpants and white long-sleeve shirt.
The Greek woman's cheeks burned bright red in embarrassment at showing a little too much skin to her impressionable teenaged daughter. She wasn't ashamed of her body but that doesn't mean she will show more than she would like to just anyone. And technically, they were still getting to know one another.
"Sorry" was all Diana could say, feeling absolutely mortified. Though the girl couldn't even respond to the woman.
An awkward silence filled the room. Diana busied herself by getting herself some coffee while Elissa finished her breakfast.
Diana swallowed the coffee along with the lump in her throat before she stated, "I tried to call last night, but you didn't answer."
Elissa shrugged her shoulders, "Sorry, I was tired and conked out like an hour after you left" she answered.
"It's fine. I was just worried about you being home alone."
"Sorry, didn't mean to worry you" the daughter uttered guilty, but Diana waved it off.
"Don't be. I was probably overreacting" she said simply. The two women sat down together and chatted for awhile until Diana brought up the elephant in the room. "I guess you heard about what happened last night" the started.
The teen raised an eyebrow, "What are you talking about?" she inquired completely in the dark about what ever her mother was talking about.
The woman's eyebrows knitted together, "You didn't hear?" she sounded surprised.
The girl shrugged nonchalantly. "I told you I fell asleep after you left. I just woke up an hour ago" she reminded her. "Did something happen?"
Diana nodded slightly, "You could say that" she answered before she began her tale.
Once she was finished all Elissa could say was, "On my God!" she exclaimed. "Are okay, Diana?" she asked worriedly.
Diana was quick to ease her daughter's worries, "I'm fine. Settle down" she reassured.
"Is Steve going to be alright?" Elissa inquired worriedly, knowing how much the man meant to Diana.
"From what the doctors tell me, yes. He should be out of the hospital in a few days" Diana explained.
Elissa took a few moments to process what happened last night to Diana. She got held hostage by the Joker. The Joker. Met Batman. And Steve got sent to the hospital because the Joker poisoned him, then Batman came back and saved Steve Trevor's life twice in one night.
Wow.
He really is cool.
"So, you met Batman too? What did you think?" the teen asked excitedly.
Diana took a small breath, considering how to answer. What to say about Batman? "Well, he was very heroic-" she started before something about what Elissa asked made her pause. "Wait, what did you mean about 'too'?" she demanded.
Gorgeous blue eyes narrowed at the girl suspiciously.
Elissa chided herself internally at the slip of the tongue. She continued to grow anxious as Diana kept her narrowed eyes trained on her demanding an explanation.
"I'm waiting, young lady" Diana easily switched into concerned yet stern parent mode.
"Uh" she started sheepishly, "well, um, remember my birthday? When I was sleeping out on your front porch" she continued to jog her mothers' memory.
"Yes."
"And remember my scrapped knee? The one you bandaged for me" she continued to remind.
"Yes, I do. Explain." Her mother commanded firmly.
"Uh, well, I may or may not have been almost mugger and Batman may or may not have saved me and told me to find someplace safe to go" the girl finished explaining looking away from Diana, missing the horror and concern appearing on the woman's face at what had happened to her daughter.
"Elissa" Diana uttered as a whisper. The girl bashfully turned back to the woman worried on how she will react.
"Why didn't you tell me?" she requested concerned.
The girl could only shrug nonchalantly. "I didn't want to say anything about it. I never had anyone to confide to before, except Maria, but she usually would just change my foster home when something ugly would happen or was close to happening. Like having unusually touchy foster fathers' or pervy foster brothers. It never got as bad as someone molesting me, but I didn't have anyone to… you know have anyone to tell my secrets to or make me feel better when I had a bad day" she finished.
Diana's face portrays the hurt and worry she couldn't help but feel at her daughter's confession. "I didn't know you went through all that" she whispered to herself. "But we never really talked about your past while in foster care, have we?"
Elissa shook her head, "No, we haven't" she answered back coldly.
"Then how about we discuss it?" Diana proposed.
The teenager paused taking a breath before saying, "I think we should" she accepted.
It wasn't before long that the two discussed the subject in detail for quite some time that day.
Arkham Asylum
The Joker laid flat on a couch restrained in a straitjacket, bored out of his mind.
The door to the room opened and a blonde woman in a white lab coat entered the room.
"Hello, I'm Dr. Quinzel. I'll be giving you a quick psychological exam" she informed her patient.
A smug smile erupted onto the Joker's face.
Jackpot, he thought.
I got the Joker singing from the Hangover part 3. I thought it was hilarious. Did everyone enjoy all those Easter eggs, and quotes from various Batman media. Some from BM: The Animated Series, Brave and the Bold, and BM Arkham Asylum.
I hope everyone enjoyed the chapter. Please review, follow, and favorite. Also, we're making some progress on the Diana and Bruce angle.
Next: A little time skip, followed by some father daughter bonding time for Bruce and Elissa. Steve returns to work. And possibly something else. Not sure on this part yet.