The Killer
Gotham City

Time to make another deposit to the Gotham City morgue. He wondered which bumbling fool of a cop would trip across this one. Or maybe Batman himself would finally do the job he seems to pride himself in, despite his inability to actually do it. He laughed as he imagined the anguished look on his face as yet another of his precious citizens was found rotting in a ditch. Saving the people of Gotham was a waste of time. The city was a cesspool of broken humanity that no one should give a damn about. And yet, they had a madman dressed as a bat trying to fight against the perceived evils of the world to save them.

I'm doing the real work here.

As he set the latest victim in her spot and cleared all trace of his presence, he shook his head in disgust at how the citizens of Gotham worshiped their vigilante.

Let's see how much worship you get when another pretty young girl is found murdered.

Batman was a fraud and The Killer was going to make sure everyone saw that in the end.

Bruce
Vegas
Last Year

Zatanna had collapsed on top of him and quickly fallen asleep. As he held her body against him, Bruce tried to calm his mind. What have I done? He could think of a million reasons why he shouldn't have stayed...shouldn't have made love to her. They were all overridden by the fact that he'd been fighting to keep his hands off of her for weeks. He remembered the moment when he became fully enamored. Zatanna had shown up to practice in a rush, still wearing the stage costume he'd never seen her in before.

"You're running late. Forget your workout clothes?" He asked as she busted in the door...jacket hanging off of one shoulder and her messy hair falling around her face.

"Never," she grinned. "And I'm two minutes early." Tossing her bag onto the bench, she crossed her hands in front of her, spun in a circle on her heel, and snapped her fingers. In a burst of light, her clothes changed from fishnets, corset, and tux jacket to a sports bra and tight shorts. He stared at her for too long as she walked over and grabbed her protective gear.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure," she said, still smiling as she put her oversize vest on. He'd thought about getting her one that fit, but it made him smile watching her fuss and get frustrated with it as they worked.

"Why did you join the Titans and League? Was it because of your father?"

"No," she said. "Well, I guess in a way. He pretty much influenced everything about the way I live. But it's more than just that."

He leaned back against the wall, hoping she would be comfortable continuing. Their sessions had become relaxed the more they went on and he'd found himself looking forward to their Tuesday nights together.

"Let's see..." she held out her left hand and snapped again, bringing up a small visage of herself surrounded by servants, gold, and jewels as she lounged on a throne. "I could be anything I want...have anything I want. Money, sex, power, adoration. If I wanted it, I could make it happen with a few words. I could make the world bend to my will." Now she held out her right hand. With another snap, a visage of her in her Justice League costume appeared, fighting alongside him and the other members. "Or, I could help others; use my power to fight evil and do good." The image shifted to her on a stage, performing a show as the crowd laughed and applauded. "Use it to bring joy to others. Granted, I still get that whole money and sex thing in abundance," she winked and focused on her left hand again. "But I earn it. Power is an interesting thing. You abuse what you are given and it can consume you. When you're no longer grounded, you lose track of who you are. It eats away at your mind, your soul, your eternity." The image on her left hand twisted into a horrible wretch as she aged, sitting and conjuring alone in a room.

"You make it sound miserable...why do so many do it?"

"They didn't have someone to tell them the cost."

"The cost."

"Of magic." Her face was more serious now as she snapped the images away. "Let me try to explain it in more scientific terms. Newton."

"Issac or Fig?"

She laughed at his rare joke and the smile she gave him caused his heart to swell a bit. "Issac. Third law. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction." Walking closer, she suddenly shoved hard against his chest as she finished her sentence. He grabbed her wrist and spun her around until he had her pinned against the wall. She laughed again. "I push you, the same force is pushed back against me. You spin me around, the same force is spun back against you. It's the same with magic. Nothing is free. Nothing happens in a vacuum. There's a balance to magic just like there's a balance to everything else in the universe. Live in evil and selfishness and you lose what's left of the good in you."

He slowly released her wrist and took a step back. It was a side to her he hadn't seen before and he found himself fascinated by it...and by her. She was more intelligent than she let on and had a maturity that was far beyond her years.

"We should get started."

From that moment, he knew he was in trouble. He wanted her...physically, yes. She was effortlessly sexy and breathtakingly beautiful. But the more they spent time together, the more her personality tempted him. She was mysterious without being threatening. Joyful without being goofy. And now, he had given into those temptations. Zatanna was lying on top of him, quietly sleeping as his hands stroked her soft skin. With a sigh, he rolled them over and pulled her against his chest. She pressed her face against him as he pulled out of her and he felt her hands circle his waist. He didn't know how he would be able to leave in the morning, because everything in him wanted to stay. Lying awake for several hours, he simply watched her face as she slept in the dim light coming from the Vegas Strip. He fought the urge to wake her again; she was sleeping so peacefully.

I shouldn't have come here.

He could have just attempted to find and apprehend Maroni alone, but knowing Zee was there, he couldn't resist the urge to recruit her assistance. Her skills were valuable, yes, but he wanted to be near her...away from Gotham. It was selfish and foolish; he simply wanted to get her alone. Weeks of restless nights thinking and dreaming about her had led him here. What he hadn't been expecting was for her to make the first move, because he never imagined she had felt the same way. He'd viewed himself as more creature than human and assumed most of the League did, as well. It kept him safe...his family...the people of Gotham. Zatanna clearly didn't see him that way; he could see it in her eyes when she smiled at him, feel it in the way she touched him and the way her lips clung to his. She could be with anyone she chose, but she was in his arms and making him remember that he was more than just Batman. As the night wore on, he knew he needed to find a way to make himself leave in the morning. He focused on Maroni and their failed extraction attempt. The more he focused, the more he was able to retreat into the guise of Batman, and by the time the sun started to rise, he was single-minded again. Kate called and he slipped out of bed, hoping to shower and leave without waking her. Batman can't afford distractions.

Batman
Batcave
Now

It didn't matter what he had to do, the killings were going to stop. No more. None. Not one more girl was going to die because of his failures.

"Master Bruce, are you not going to work today?" Alfred came into the Batcave around 11:00am.

"No. I'll be here or on patrol until I find the murderer," Batman replied, not turning from the computer monitor.

"I know we have discussed this at length in the past, sir, but Wayne Enterprises..."

"Doesn't come before the citizens of Gotham," he said, scrolling to the next page of evidence. "Women are dying, Alfred. And I have to stop it."

"And what of your other responsibilities? Have you spoken about this with Zatanna?"

"This is the only responsibility I have. And in regards to you and your secret keeping..."

"Have you lost your damn mind?" Alfred said with an edge of fury in his voice. Batman finally turned around at his uncharacteristic statement to match his glare.

"Stay out of it, Alfred," he said, pushing his chair back and heading to suit up. "Gordon messaged. I'm going to the precinct. Tell Lucius I won't be in." He quickly suited up and hopped in the Batmobile, not giving Alfred another chance to argue. When he arrived at the precinct, his fears were confirmed: yet another victim.

"Found early this morning in south Gotham. She's not from campus this time. Emily Romano, 20. She worked at a local coffee shop and was taken as she left her shift." Gordon read through the small case file that contained what little information they knew so far.

"He's changing his pattern. When was the body left?" Yet again, he scanned a body. Yet again, he found nothing of value.

"Around 2am."

My patrol again. He's mocking me, too.

"I need time with the body."

"Of course. Sorry to keep bringing you out in the daylight, Batman. Surprised you haven't burst into flames yet." Gordon headed to the door. "Oh, and I'm still waiting on that Catwoman report you promised me. Got enough problems without her causing trouble."

Find something. Anything.

He circled the body with his scanners, looking for fibers, fingerprints, body fluids, hairs...he'd even settle for a few skin cells.

Nothing. Still nothing.

Throwing the case file down onto the table, he paced in front of the body. The appearance and age were still the same, but he was clearly branching out from Gotham University. It wasn't the only place to find young women walking alone, so he'd found somewhere else to hunt...somewhere his family wasn't looking.

I'm failing again.

He uploaded what little data he had to the computer and headed back out. Daytime patrols were not his norm, by any means, but he couldn't go home. Jumping in the car, he drove to the nearest dumping site.

Time to find more nothing.

Zatanna
Shadowcrest

It took most of the day and most of her magic stores to repair the damage her outburst had done to the house. Asshole watched her with annoyance, still not happy that she had nearly brought the walls down around them.

"I told you, I'm sorry. I'll try to keep it together." The house itself was less upset with the destruction than it was with the plan it could feel her developing as she cleaned up. "I know, but I can't raise a baby here." The floorboards creaked and a cold wind blew through the hallways. "Don't be like that. We'll come back every holiday. And when he gets older, you're all his."

She really didn't want to leave the house, but the more she thought and read about her childhood there, the more it intimidated her. When the time was right, she would buy some land and relocate it to San Francisco, but for now she was going back to her townhouse in Nob Hill. Gotham didn't feel like home anymore. She realized now that it never really was after her father died.

- "You're running away."
"Yep, pretty much."
- "Because he rejected you."
"That's been established. Get some new material or shut up."

Might as well talk back...no one to freak out about it now. Finishing up, she locked the front door and headed to pay an old friend a visit. It was going to be awkward, but needed to be done. "Ot Nevahdülb." She appeared on a roof across from the police station. Assuming Dick was still inside, she decided to sit and wait for his shift to end.

"Fancy meeting you here," Nightwing's voice came from behind her before she could fully sit on the ledge.

"Hey, Dick. Starting patrol early?"

"They're taking in a triple murder suspect in an hour. Just wanted to be here to make sure it goes smoothly," he came to sit down next to her, giving her a somewhat-forced grin. "What brings you to my neighborhood?"

"Just wanted to talk, if you've got a minute."

"I've got several. What's up?"

"I'm leaving the Justice League...and Gotham. I didn't want you to find out via the news wire," she said quietly, looking out over the city as the sun slowly set. It was a long time before he spoke, but she could feel his eyes on her.

"What did he do?" His voice was strained.

"This is about me, Dick. But I do want you to promise me something." She finally looked over to him as he raised an eyebrow. "Fix things with him. You're family and you need each other. Don't let someone like me ruin that."

"Zee, if he did something..."

"I'm pregnant." She could see the anger flash across his face and he suddenly stood.

"Then why the hell would you be leaving? Did he...he knows?"

"Yes. I'm moving back to San Francisco." She stood to face him and took his hand. "Promise me."

"Fix things after this? You're out of your mind." He tried to pull his hand away, but she held onto it.

"I know I am, but please. I need to know that I didn't destroy your family or his."

"I can't. Not if he's leaving you to raise his child on your own. Don't ask me to do that."

"I already did. He doesn't want a child with me...I accept that. He already has a family that you're an important part of. Just promise me and keep the promise."

"No," he said, ripping his hand away. "Fuck him."

"Dick, stop. This is important."

He paced back and forth on the roof as she watched him. She had no intention of leaving until he made the promise to her. Too many people had lost too much because of her and she wasn't going to be the reason an entire family was torn apart.

"How could he abandon his own child?" He seemed to be talking to himself more than her as he continued his pacing. "After his childhood...mine...how could he abandon his own child?" He stopped now and looked at her. "Stay here with me. I'll help you if he won't. I'll take care of you and the baby."

She smiled gently and shook her head. "No, Dick. You're sweet and a good man, but no. That's not what you really want and you wouldn't be happy."

"We could be. I'd make it work this time. I'd be good to you, Zee. You can't raise a child alone."

"I can. I'm going to." She paused for a long moment before speaking again. "And with the baby, I won't be alone anymore," she said quietly. Leaning up, she kissed Dick's cheek and took his hand again. "Promise me," she whispered.

Holding her hand tightly and leaning his cheek against hers, Dick took a long, deep breath. "I'll try," he said. Zatanna pulled her head back and nodded.

"Thank you. I'm holding you to it. Make it work, no matter what." She took a step back and dropped his hand. "Take care, Grayson. Annataz yawa."

Batman
Gotham City

"Keep me on them."

"They're running down 16th. You'll need to ditch and go on foot."

"Got it." He skidded the batmobile to a stop and jumped out of the car, hitting the ground running. "Left or right?"

"Left. I'm following with the drone," Barb replied.

Grappling up the side of a building, he hit the boost button and became airborne. "Batgirl?"

"Bear a little left. You'll see the first one just around the next corner."

Swooping down, he landed on the mugger's back, hearing the wind forced out of his lungs as he crashed against the pavement. "Fucking scum," he said as he hit the back of his head. Again. Again. Again. The strikes landed with brutal forced as he brought his fist down.

"Boss? Boss! I think he's down. Enough!" Barb yelled over the line. "You've still got another. Get moving."

"Where?" He growled.

"Keep going down this alleyway. 150 yards ahead and then right. He's hiding behind a dumpster."

Grappling up again, he rose into another glide. Spotting the hovering drone, he picked up speed and slammed himself into the front side of the dumpster, crushing the other mugger behind it. He cried out as the weight pinned him to the brick wall behind him.

"Someone get me out of here!" The coward squealed.

Batman shoved against the dumpster again, hearing more bones break under the force.

"Fuck! Someone help me! He's going to kill me!"

"Bruce! Enough!" Barb's voice rang out again. "What the hell are you doing? They stole some money. They didn't bomb a goddamn building. Just cuff him and stop."

He took a step back from the dumpster, catching his breath as he listened to the broken man whimper like a wounded dog. Grabbing the edge of the dumpster, he moved it back just enough to be able to reach back and put the zip ties around the man's wrists.

"What the hell's wrong with you, man?"

"Shut the fuck up," he said, bringing his fist down to render him unconscious. "Find me something else, Batgirl."

"I think you should call it a night before you kill someone."

"Don't help, then. I'll find something myself." Cutting off the communicator, he headed back to the batmobile. The night was young and he had more trash to collect.

Batcave

He'd stayed out well past dawn, cleaning up the streets and patrolling for signs of the serial killer. Every ER in Gotham City had at least three broken and mangled criminals from his night's work.

Control.

"Master Bruce, I need a word."

"Not now, Alfred," he said, pushing past him and toward the shower.

"Yes, now." Alfred grabbed his arm and forced him to turn. He was stronger than he looked.

"What?"

"Zatanna. What are you going to do?"

"I told you to stay out of it."

"I will not stay out of it. Not if you intend to leave her alone to raise your child." He was still gripping his arm and matching him glare for glare.

"I can't have a goddamn child, Alfred!" He finally ripped his arm away and turned again.

"You are having a child. Whether you planned on it or not, and that child will need its father."

"I can't..." His head started to pound as the thoughts he'd been repressing tried to fight their way through. "I can't keep a child safe. I can't even keep a serial killer from slaughtering women in the city. How the hell can I have a child?"

"Do you think any parent has the slightest idea about how to keep a child safe in this city? This world? Do you think I had any idea how to keep you safe once your parents were murdered? And now you're going to leave her to protect your child on her own after a year in which she almost died twice." Because I couldn't protect her. Alfred walked to stand in front of him, blocking his way to the shower. "I love you, Master Bruce, as if you were my own son. But if you abandon her and that child because you're too afraid, then I will never forgive you."

Bruce shoved past his angry butler and entered the suit chamber to undress. "I don't have time for this. I need to rest before my next patrol."

"Which, of course, comes two hours after your last patrol. You're running yourself into the ground and Miss Barbara told me about last night. You're losing control."

"No, I'm taking it."

Done listening, he stepped into the shower and quickly cleaned off. Sleep would come in the Batcave again, at the computers. If he slept in bed, he would risk staying too long. The city needed him.

Control.

He couldn't remember the last time he had any. Distractions had led him here. He'd let life get in the way of his mission and people were dying while Gotham slipped through his fingers. Sitting down in front of the computers, he closed his eyes and drifted in and out of sleep. The faces of the murdered girls flashed through his mind. Failing. Zatanna's voice in his head: "pregnant". She's not safe. Tommy running into his arms. The city isn't safe. Waking with a start, he looked at the clock. It was early evening. He walked back over to the suit chamber to ready for another night.

Control.

Zatanna
Shadowcrest

After three days of work, she had most of what he needed transported to San Francisco. She worked in shifts, realizing quickly that something about carrying a baby meant using magic drained her faster.

"Little parasite," she said to the baby with a smile. "I guess you can steal a little of my magic, but you already owe me, bud."

The nearly-empty house felt cold and dark. She knew it wouldn't forgive her until she moved back in, but that would be a few years down the line. For the first time in her life, she was planning ahead and, to her surprise, she felt hopeful. Terrified and unprepared, yes, but there was a joy that came in knowing that she would have a family again. It might not be quite how she would have chosen it to play out, but she owed it to her child to make the best of things and give him the most amazing life possible.

"Okay, cat, you ready to teleport?" Asshole had no idea what he was in for, but he was already screaming at her before she cast the spell. "Elohssa ot Nas Ocsicnarf." Well, listening to him complain all night will be a treasure. The house let out another creaking groan as he disappeared. "Sorry. I really am. I know you want to keep him here, but I can't take care of him from across the country. He'll visit, too. Anytime the baby and I do."

Reinforcing her wards for the long haul, she made a few final passes through the hallways. When she wound up at the door to her father's room, she stepped inside for the first time since he had died. The air inside was musty and there was a thin layer of dust over everything. Waving her hands, she quickly cleaned the dust and cleared the air. As she sat down on the bed and closed her eyes, tears started to flow down her face.

"I miss you, Daddy. I wish you were here to help me." She opened her eyes and looked around the room. Pictures of him and her mother were on the dresser, next to pictures of her as a child: the happy family that was slowly torn down around her. "Thank you for teaching me so much in so little time. I'll try to raise your grandson the right way."

Rather than stay and wait for the voices to ruin her memories, she stood and closed the door again. With a deep breath and another apology to the house, she transported herself to San Francisco. Exhausted, she snatched up the terrified, still-protesting cat and took him upstairs. "You'll like it here just fine. Food is food in any house and you can still bitch at me whenever you want. Your two favorite hobbies." Unimpressed, he jumped from her arms and plopped onto her pillow while she took stock of the room. It wasn't as big as her room at Shadowcrest, but there was plenty of space for a crib and changing table. Everything else could go in the smaller room across the hall. "We'll make it a home, I promise," she said, casting a glance back at the glaring cat.

Grabbing the next volume of her father's journals, she went back to studying. Some people read "What to Expect when You're Expecting", some people read "Zatanna Got Sucked into a Time Portal Again".

Sheesh, I was a handful.

To be continued…