DISCLAIMER: I do not own Batman or it's characters. I only own Athena and whoever else I write into this narrative.

Five:

Home Is Where The Bats Are

Rolling up the window, leather and pine invaded her nostrils. The soft bumps in the road shook the luggage in the trunk and knocked over the bottle of water once sitting next to her.

The city lights and the traffic were replaced with a still quiet, except for the tires on the road, and tall oak trees, amongst oak trees. A metal railing being the only object separating her from the great outdoors.

It was a tedious drive, with the only sight being identical shades of green that she whirred past. Annoyance came over her, as her limbs itched to be at their destination. Athena looked out the window, the sun unable to hit her face because of the height of the oaks. It was familiar, all of it. She had taken this route many times, it was the only way to get home and it was a long, boring ride, especially in the summertime. So long and boring, she often wanted to walk because anything was better than sitting in a car for an hour.

Athena turned her head forward. With all of this familiarity, there was a sense of strangeness she could not shake.

Sucking in the air through her teeth, she dug for the cellphone in the brown pocketbook over her shoulders. The water in the bottle swished back and forth as she scrolled through the many messages from days ago, from her classmates, to acquaintances, to people she almost considered friends. Inviting her to do this and that, asking if she was okay this day and that day. It was the summer, the time when both the college and high school students supposedly enjoyed their break. Her finger hovered over 'delete all.' There was nothing about this break that she would enjoy.

A part of her wanted to cling onto the anomalies in her life, these people who she felt no real connection to. If there was one night, she could get wasted and forget everything, why not take the opportunity?

Athena bit her cheek in scolding, before she pressed the screen, she stopped. Her eyes narrowed, as if she couldn't see it clearly. It was Evie Yi, a freshman in her forensic science course. Quiet, reserved, only talking to her because of a project they had to do together. She hadn't texted her very recently, still, to this day there was something oddly over familiar about the girl.

Finally, she hit delete, after unchecking Evie's message thread, leaving only those messages in her inbox. Athena pursed her lips, putting the device back in the bag, leaning over to pick up the bottle. The swishing was like waves crashing on land, it had gotten irritating and… she was thirsty. Tilting the bottle upwards, her uneasy gaze rested out the window. There would be better luck at entertainment from her phone, there was no beauty in nature, there were bugs, lack of wireless internet, silence amongst yourself and the ever growing possibility of getting murdered by a crazy.

Cold water went down her throat, the small gulps she took were not enough to refresh her from boredom, her eyelids closed almost halfway in disinterest, as she stared off into the distance and from within the trees, a pair of large, bright eyes stared right back at her, wide and crazed. Predatory.

Something beyond herself, told her that it wasn't just an animal. That is wasn't just her name mind, that is was a physical manifestation and not the friendly kind, at that. She had only seen its eyes and she was suddenly very glad she was not walking.

A breath of cold air slithered down her spine, the bottle of water fell from her lips. Malice.

Athena's eyes widened, as the sensation happened again. No. No, it wasn't her.

The quiet drive hadn't bothered her so much, until this moment. She looked to the rearview mirror, the driver had glanced at her then back to the road. Turning her head back to the window, the shivers warmed and there was nothing to see but emerald green.

"How long?" the words came out her mouth, low, unfocused.

The driver cleared his throat, speaking over the air conditioned hum. "About twenty, ma'am."

She would have ended it there, but the silence only made it worse. "Please, I'm only nineteen years old, call me ma'am when I'm a Mrs."

Exactly how many goddamn things were there out to get her? She might as well just go join the League at this point.

The driver only smiled, positioning his head so she could see it in the mirror.

He was not one for conversation. Athena glanced backwards, "Sage? Sage?" Her familiar had to be put in the trunk along with the luggage, much to her dismay. Before she could call the cat's name again, a brief image came to mind. The feline was slinking down a street that led to amounts of salmon so large, it could feed the neighborhood cats in both Gotham and Bludhaven. She took a sharp breath.

"Mind turning on the radio?"

As soon as she requested, the driver slowed down slightly. He held the wheel with one hand, careful, although there were no other cars.

Fluted notes filled the silence with serenity, "I can change the station."

"It's fine," focusing on the musical notes of Chinese origin, she did not look out the window anymore.

"You seem shaken." He had said something that wasn't a response to a question she had for the very first time.

"I'm fine, but thanks." Metarule number one, don't share with your cab driver that you're seeing things that could more than likely kill the both of you.

The older man nodded, his muscles seemed to relax on the wheel with his cultural music playing ever so sweetly. "I don't like taking this route, excuse my rudeness, Miss."

She cocked her head, "so you don't like coming to the estate?"

He leaned his head back against the comfort of the seat, "no, that's not it at all. You see, I am a very superstitious man, those like me, make it so that they don't have to travel this road." The driver looked directly into the rear view mirror, "it would have been very hard to get anyone to drive you this way after sunset, Miss, believe me." The wrinkles on his face multiplied, a grim bearing overtook those stern brown eyes.

Choosing not to ask more than she could take, fighting the burning curiosity, Athena nodded, "I'm glad it's only 11a.m. then, sir." Father wouldn't have done that, he would have asked questions until he got all the answers he needed, then he would devise a plan with those answers, someway, somehow. And, maybe she stopped herself from asking more because she didn't want to be like him, fighting 'against a greater cause', but in actuality to burn through the undying anger from getting something you love dearly, taken from you. His parents. The normality she strived for.

Her way. She would do things her way. Hopefully it wouldn't come back to bite her in the ass.

The rest of the ride was as quiet as it had been before. A new song playing, this time with the flute and another instrument she couldn't quite recognize. Holding her head against the soft seat, Athena had her eyes closed, taking these opportunities to nod off knowing that the road bumps would wake her before she had to the chance to start drifting into her nightmare.

The car faintly jumped, this time, she was already awake. Keeping her eyes closed, darkness flooded her senses, the melodic notes brought her to a place of ease. In the misty world of clouds, where she didn't have anything to worry about. Another bump, her head shifted from side to side, before coming into a neutral position. A state of consciousness where for once, she was focused, not pulled in the many directions of life's obstacles.

All at once, yet individually, there was the music, the tires dragging against the asphalt, the car hummed. Beyond this, the trees were grown close together enough that the leaves slapped against each other from the breeze. It was soft instead of harsh because of how gently the leaves were hitting the other.

It was a soft breeze… because- who says that? Her apparently. The calm focus began to drift, after only a moment in paradise. Any regular person would have said darn the answers, get me a cure. Fate was not her friend since diapers, the first attempt to get rid of the more destructive part of her metagene, only made it stronger, albeit less likely to go haywire. And, she didn't need to be a detective to know that trying a 'cure' again wouldn't help. Not only would it most likely not work, but it would probably have fatal consequences.

Huh, it was ironic. The bad luck her father tried so hard to protect everyone else from, still replaced the blood pumping from her heart and into her veins. It was still apart of her, and although no one else would be affected unless she wanted them to, what about her? Did he miss that sole detail, the great detective who knew all the different possibilities? Did he not think that, injecting her with this serum would not only save the public, but exile her to a life full of building blocks leading to disaster?

"Miss?" The cab driver's voice sounded over all the other noises, the most prominent, snapping her out of whatever trance she had been in, almost like her soul was pulled back into her body. Only the sound of the ignition running remained.

Athena opened her eyes, as the car came to a screeching standstill. The ignition switched off, the chirps from the birds replaced that once, constant hum.

"We are here." He opened the door, stepping out of the car, before she could. The click to open the trunk and her doors followed.

She hesitated inside the cab, her hand on the door handle. Letting out a quick huff, she pushed the door open, putting her booted feet onto the gravel. Athena let it close before turning her head.

The home of one of the greatest founding families in Gotham City, stood before her, in all its pride and glory. A castle in nature. Once thought to be an impeccable storm grey, now, flaws were sparse in the stone monument. Still, after decades of withstanding natural disasters and natural corrosion, the Stately Manor was in a shape of disbelief. It was the elder, darker brother of the White House, come to reign in a city that did not deserve it.

Grandfather trees that have been growing for as long as the place was standing, still in the front, opposing just as the manor it guarded. The flora gifting the driveway with its growth, appeared unworldly to anything she had ever seen, tended to by the very best florists money could buy. Flowers, shrubs and bushes alone welcomed guests with their very presence. The air around the manor was secluded itself, fresh and abandoning pollution for those who lived in the city. A bubble surround the mansion, not only was it separated from the city- if someone said it was located near Gotham, the thought would be unbelievable. Every breath Athena took in, instead of being met with grease and dirt and food carts, she was met with nectar and bitter roses.

This, this was her childhood, and this larger than life house, certainly made her feel small again, in the way a bug is wiped from the windshield of a car. This doesn't belong here.

A noisy bang against the pavement, turned her around. "I'm sorry, you don't-" the cab driver put the last suitcase on the ground, struggling with its weight, "-have to." Athena smiled, "thank you," fishing in her pocket book for her wallet.

The sunlight reflected off his head, shaven to the scalp, he smiled, showing coffee stained teeth, eyes squinting, the scent of egg rolls lingered. The man was familiar, getting a good look at him. A passing thought, which she shook off, along with the mild annoyance she felt about the tiny bug in her head that said, 'you should remember this.'

He took the bill, "always a pleasure to serve a Wayne." With a nod, he started to walk back to the driver seat.

Athena blinked, "how did you know that?"

The driver looked back, "not many have that aura about them. People in Gotham are either arrogant snobs, tasteless, or, excuse my phrasing, just plain scum. You, however, are different. I know money when I see it, and I also know someone who is for the people when I see it." The man smiled, once again, opening the car door, halfway inside before turning to face her again, "be careful, Miss Wayne."

Be careful? Athena stood in the driveway, with a cat carrier in hand and a travel bag slung over her shoulders, out of her confusion, she told him that she would, and with that he drove away.

Shaking her head, she put the carrier on one of the suitcases, letting it rest against the handle. Multiple steps leading up to the porch, made Athena stop at the foot of them, sighing and wishing she had thought to ask the driver to help her up the steps. Seconds passed, before she made her way up to the blackwood door. She intertwined her fingers with the door knocker with the gargoyle hanging from it, silently hoping pieces of wood didn't fly inside the manor, making a whole nother peephole.

There was no answer. She knocked again, this time a bit less soft, just in case no one heard. No answer. Lifting up her hand to knock once again, the door swung open.

"Who in God's name do you think-" the man started, grey eyebrows furrowed, an accent with a familiar eloquence filled with all the times she had been scolded, all the times dad had been scolded and no one ever scolded him. The man's traditional monochrome tuxedo neatly ironed. Sea green eyes widened, his mouth held agape. He never seemed to age, yet his wisdom always did. "My word- Lady Athena?"

A smile as wide as the Gotham bay developed on her lips, she was sure he hadn't gotten the chance to see it. Athena tackled the old butler, feeling him flinch away at first, she snuggled into the fresh linen of his morning coat, wrapping her arms around his mid back. "Alfred!" she said his name as if he were her savior, the second father she never expected. "Alfred, it's so good to see you!" Pulling away from him, her smile still lingered.

Alfred shook his head, his mustache curling up with his smile, close mouthed yet still as good as the next. "Likewise, Lady Athena," he stepped out of the manor, "Please, let's get you inside. Are you here to stay?"

She gesture toward the luggage behind her, "for awhile, I hope that's okay. My cat came too."

Alfred started down the steps, Athena following to grab one of the suitcases and Sage, while he took the other. "You will never have to ask that question, my Lady." Pulling the suitcase up the stairs, he looked to the carrier, raising an eyebrow, "Titus will enjoy her presence, I'm sure."

Athena scoffed a laugh, "The dry sarcasm never gets old, Alfie."

The door closed behind them, allowing a small space to welcome her. Inside of the manor, was a dark cherrywood, dreary and victorian. Instead of coathangers, twin gargoyles rested on podiums, gazing ahead with realistic, surly eyes, making anyone who entered think twice about stealing.

Why was it so small? This was only the entrance. An obsidian doorway arch, bordered with a gothic touch, simple but eye catching, led to forward. Typically, after the entrance of a house, there was a foyer. At the Stately Wayne, the foyer was the great hall. Places to lounge were positioned with care throughout the area, a beige tiered fountain rested in the centre of it all, a small gargoyle perched at the crown, watching over the hall. Behind the fountain, was a grand staircase, twirling to form into another set of stairs pointing in each direction, appearing as balconies over the great hall. A maroon carpet spread across the center of the steps, leading upwards and giving the impression of royalty, because that's what they were. Royalty. Ceilings ruled over her figure, never seeming to end, leading her into an abyss of darkness, that made her pull her eyes away.

Two smaller arches next to the base of the stairs, made way for the rooms for private use, while the arched doorways across from the stairs led into the many rooms aimed toward the guests, such as the parlor or the ballroom.

The foyer alone was much to take in, as if she had not seen this type of first impression to a house many times, as if this was her first time in this place, at all. A stranger, someone who belonged in the parlor or the reception room.

"Please, re accustom yourself while I prepare your room, for you and your cat. What is her name?"

Athena focused on Alfred, instead of all the different marvels. "Her name's Sage, thought I would introduce her as the new edition to the family."

Alfred chuckled, "very funny, my Lady," beginning to walk toward the stairs, "oh, I almost forgot to mention, your father has gone on a business trip for several days, he is presently not here."

"That's fine, don't bother telling him I'm here."

He nodded in parting before carrying her belongings up to the second floor. Athena stopped trying to refuse his service a long time ago, it was like restricting a soldier from killing people for their country.

Once he left, she set the carrier down on the coal tile, leaving it open, although the cat still purred softly in her sleep, and she hadn't planned on waking her.

Athena looked around the great hall. Quite frankly it helped her to go through all the rooms in the manor, there were too many to remember and she wasn't afraid to admit that she would probably get lost.

Walking past the staircase and through the corridor, she went straight down the hall to the living room. A spacious area, with leather furniture, a homely fireplace burned below the television, and large windows circled the area. Wide spacing always made her feel disconnected, but this area was much more intimate than expected of it.

Athena plopped down on the long couch, the leather cold against her skin, leaving her shoes on the wine colored rug, she put her feet up.

Thumping came from nearby, making her sit up, looking around as it grew closer and closer. Standing, she grabbed a fire iron from its container, her eyes searched the living room, darting around. Malice just couldn't leave her alone. She was back here, the place she grew up, she was finally doing something about her situation and-

The thumping came to a halt, a door she hadn't realized was at the far corner of the room bursted open, "Alfred!" The small boy called, "Alfr-" he stopped in the middle of the butler's name, his eyes stopped on her, green, similar to an ocean, angry, but beautiful. His hair slightly spiked, expression in a permanent look of contempt.

Dropping the fire iron, she walked over to him. Even with her shortness, she towered over him, it would have been embarrassing if she hadn't. A thirteen year old twerp and a nineteen year old.

"Look who decides to return," he tilted his head upwards to stare directly into her eyes. "Goddess."

Returning his gesture, Athena flattened her lips, spitting the word out like poison on the tongue. "Mortal."

Damian narrowed his eyes, a deep frown on his lips. Athena narrowed her eyes into slits. The air around them chilled to a bitter frost, their expressions unwavering. The burning logs in the fireplace would not have blown out, but frozen over, creating something mystical, sacred. Only when their glares met with one another.

They both stood just as, for seconds, until Damian cracked a smile, crooked and troubling to anyone who hadn't been close to him, who hadn't been his blood. He wrapped his arms around her waist, a tight grip for someone who just entered their teen years only months ago.

"Revel in this moment."

Athena was laughing now, a light sound that she rarely heard. "You would never say that to Grayson." She might not have been around very recently, but she made it her obligation to check up on everybody, even Jason who hadn't been around much either. Damian and Richard had gotten pretty close.

Damian blew air through his teeth, a sound resembling a 'tt,' he pulled out from her. "He's earned them after proving his worth to be my sibling," he folded his arms, "and that is quite pathetic when by blood, he is not."

"Ouch, little dude." Athena rubbed the back of her head, letting out a guilty scoff. "Love you too."

He looked her up and down, "I've missed you, sister." Just like all the nice things Damian said, there was always something much more insulting to follow. "You've become soft, I'm not sure you are in my class anymore."

She shrugged, flatting her lips. "Don't worry. I'll get you back later." She wouldn't tell him about what was going on, he was just a kid, regardless if he was Robin or not.

The retort that never came, scared her more than anything, coming here brought her- or began to bring her out of this world of hopelessness, allowed her to see things clearly. She was not okay, if she let her little brother snark her around like that and get away with it.

"What'd you want with Alfred?"

Damian seemed to hesitate, switching his stare to the tile instead of her eyes. This would be good. "It is lunchtime, afterall. I told Alfred I wasn't hungry before, but I am now," he suddenly smiled, putting his fists on his hips, the classic heroic stance. "He would have prepared for me a vegan sandwich," Damian raised a finger in the air, "with baba ganoush a-la-Alfred!"

A house-rattling chime from the belly of a grandfather clock sounded from within the study. It was in the next room over yet the intensity of the chime could have been mistaken for originating in here.

"First, it's lunchtime now," Athena raised an eyebrow, the pronunciation flying right over her head, "and, I have no idea how to make baba ahh noosh." She started walking toward the exit to the living room, with a sudden purpose. Not hearing any little footsteps behind her, she turned around, "do you not want lunch?"

He stared blankly back at her, his arms to his sides and any form of excitement left his stature. "You know how to cook?" The way he said 'you' was demeaning, as if she were completely incompetent and only knew how to put on makeup(which she did not).

Standing in the doorway, Athena crossed her arms. "Don't forget I'm way older than you, little dude. College teaches you a few more things that ninth grade can't." She turned around, "now do you want an awesome grilled cheese with veggie bacon bits, or not?"

The kid huffed, walking up next to her, his eyes narrowed as a small smirk grew on his lips. Here it comes.

"What's with this sudden desire to do things for me?" Damian side eyed her, letting out a mocking laugh as they walked to the kitchen. "If I'm not mistaken, it looks like you're a little jealous of Grayson."

And, there it goes.

R&R, at your leisure!