Bruce
Batcave

Bruce walked over and picked up the sword before tossing it to Zatanna. She wasn't paying attention and barely sidestepped it. It clambered unceremoniously to the mat.

"Why did you throw a sword at me?"

"You were supposed to catch it."

"That doesn't answer my question."

"Pick it up."

"That doesn't answer my question."

He sighed. It was going to be one of those sessions. "I'm going to teach you how to use a sword. Pick it up."

"Why would I need a sword?"

"I want you to be ready for any situation."

"That doesn't answer my question."

"If someone comes at you with a sword, what else are you going to do?"

"Turn their sword into a rubber chicken."

"No magic."

"If someone comes at me with a sword, I'm using magic."

"Zatanna?"

"Yes?" She was fighting a smile.

"Pick it up. Pick it up pick it up pick it up..."

"Alright! Alright, alright geez." She reached down and picked the sword up, holding it awkwardly in front of her.

"Unsheathe it."

Frowning, she pulled the sheathe off and tossed it aside. "It's heavy."

"Yes. Your arms will be sore tomorrow."

"Great. Sounds like a fun time. I feel like I'm going to cut my arms off if I trip."

"It's dull."

"Don't insult my sword like that."

He rolled his eyes and gestured for her to come closer while he took his own sword out. "Usual defensive stance."

She put her feet too far apart, with one dramatically in front of the other. Holding her left arm up, she stuck her hand in the air and held the sword out with her right. "En garde!"

Faster than a sneeze, he flicked his sword up and knocked hers out of her hand. "Why have you decided to torment me today?"

"For sport?"

Groaning, he motioned toward the sword again. "Just cooperate for half an hour. Can you manage that?"

She picked up the sword and took her usual defensive stance. "Probably not, but I can try."

"Get used to the feel of it in your hand. Think of it as an extension of your arm." He held his sword out and moved it slowly. She mimicked his movements, though he could tell the weight was bothering her. "You'll adjust to the heft and be able to move it fluidly in time."

"You fight with swords often?"

"No, but occasionally. It's mostly beneficial for enhancing hand-eye coordination."

"Are you saying I'm uncoordinated?" She grinned at him, still not willing to let the torment end completely.

"Anything but. It's all about being the fastest in a fight. You need your muscles to follow your every thought." He lunged at her, but she countered, their swords clashing. "Very good," he said with a smile.

"Already trying to cut me down, coach?"

"Just sharpening your senses."

"They're always sharp around you. The way you like to tackle..." She lunged at him and he countered. "My arms are already screaming."

"Definitely heavier than the gloves. And I'll definitely be tackling you later."

"Excellent." She suddenly mumbled something he couldn't understand and came at him with a series of moves he didn't learn until five years into his training. He countered them, overcoming his surprise in time to avoid getting slashed.

"Cheater," he growled, though he had to fight a grin. It had been years since he'd had an advanced swordplay opponent. "What was the spell?"

"Skill of Batman. Simple." She came at him again and his pulse quickened.

He held his hand up. "Hang on. Put me in my suit."

She smiled. "Of course you're enjoying this. Tius mih pu."

He took his stance and stared her down. "Show me what you've got, little witch."

"Oh, you're in for it now."

It was like fighting his shorter, sexier, mouthier self. She matched him move for move, making him improvise and landing hits that tested the strength of his armor – all while trash talking. After forty minutes, she stepped back and dropped the sword.

"What?"

"What?! I'm exhausted. I nicked your skill, not your stamina."

"Well...take that, too. Come on." He bounced on the balls of his feet and held the sword up again.

Laughing, she collapsed to the mat. "Nope. Time to tackle me."

"You already tackled yourself." Once he tossed his sword aside and removed his cowl, he laid down next to her. "That was fun."

"It was. And not a bad way to learn, really. I'll retain some of those moves."

"Never thought of that."

"Still don't have enough muscle, though. Need some Wonder Woman guns."

"Most sword fights don't last forty minutes. Your guns are plenty big."

"That's sweet of you to say, but I think you should know that I can't currently lift my hands."

He reached over and picked her arm up. Letting it go, he watched it plop back to the mat. "It's like a noodle."

"Picking your son up is going to be a challenge. Last week, the doctor said he's in the 99th percentile in height."

Bruce beamed. "That's my boy. 99th percentile in handsomeness and intelligence, too."

"And charm and sorcery."

"Absolutely." He rolled over and laid his head on her chest.

"I might need your help getting to the shower...and showering...and getting upstairs...and eating...and..."

He kissed her. "Anything you wish, Amata."

Zatanna
Wayne Manor

Screw being sore.

As soon as she woke up, Zatanna cast a spell to get rid of her soreness. Swordplay is hard work. So was having some pretty wild sex afterward...with Bruce doing the vast majority of the necessary muscle movement. Another show of gratitude for making practice more fun. And here I was just trying to avoid getting my ass kicked.

"Mama!"

"Thomas!"

"Mama!"

"Thomas?"

"Mama!"

"Thomas...what?"

"Fim pool?"

"They're working on it. You want to invite your friends over when it's finished?"

"Ya! Mama!"

"Thomas!" She picked him up and spun him around. "Crazy little man."

Kal walked in smiling at them...and wearing his costume.

"Having fun?"

"Hard not to with him," she said, setting Thomas down so he could run over. "Doesn't the cape get on your nerves?"

"No, it's great," he said, swinging Thomas up and onto his shoulders. "Why don't you have one?"

"Because it would get on my nerves."

"Eh, don't knock it till you try it." He hovered off the floor. "Care if we go for a ride?"

"Never. Have fun, you two."

The giggling faded into the distance as they took off. Zatanna sat down in her comfy library chair and pulled out a book. A few pages in, there was a light knock on the door.

"Come in, Diana."

Diana walked in, grinning and shaking her head. "Clairvoyant."

"No, you just stomp when you walk."

She frowned. "I do not."

Zee laughed and put her book down. "I could feel your energy from several miles away. What brings you to the madhouse?"

"Pretty quiet for a madhouse."

"Kal took Thomas flying."

"Ah, that'll do it."

Alfred walked in. "Can I get you something to eat or drink, Miss Prince?"

"I'm fine, Alfred, thank you."

"Of course. Ma'am?"

"I'm good," Zee said. "I'm sure Thomas will be hungry when he gets back."

"I have his snack ready for when they return." He walked back out of the room.

"So..."

"Bruce said Tsaritsa has been hounding your mirrors."

"She's a freaking stalker."

"If Adam really is recruiting more help, we have a problem."

"We have a Kal."

She nodded and pursed her lips. "Do you think she can help?"

"No."

"If she wants to..."

"She won't, Di. She's a manipulator. You know that better than anyone."

"I know. I do, but these are extraordinary circumstances. If she's afraid and can help us, we should hear her out."

Zatanna stood and walked to the window. "You hear her out, then."

"Zatanna..."

"I nearly died because of her, Diana. And you can bet she would have rejoiced if her plan had worked the way she wanted."

She heard Diana sigh and stand. "Okay. I'll get in touch with her, but I don't have the ability to perceive her intent."

"Apparently, I don't either. She fooled me before. I'm not going to be made a fool of again. I have a family to consider."

Diana walked over and turned her. "I didn't come here to upset you, sister."

"Bruce could have died, too. I doubt he told you that, because he can put it aside, but I can't. I almost lost everything."

"I know. I'm not trying to make things harder on you."

"I'm tired. I'm so tired, Diana."

She nodded. "I'm sorry. Don't worry about her anymore. I'll take the lead on Tsaritsa. You just focus on your family."

"I don't want to put all of that on you. I got myself into this..."

"We're in this together," she said, squeezing her arms. "You know, sometimes I forget how young you are."

"Because I look old and haggard?"

Diana scowled. "Because you've seen enough for six lifetimes."

"Are you sure it isn't because you're so damn old that you just assume everyone else is really old, too?"

"Brat. You're a child and a brat."

"Yeah. Want to stick around and play with me and the kid when he gets back?"

"Yes, and thank you."

Black Adam
Far Away

"Your demands are unreasonable," Adam said, staring down his only hope for assistance.

"Fine. Fight alone." He turned to leave.

"Stop. You don't have options here, either. You need my help if you want to rid yourself of the Justice League."

"You're not our only option."

"I'm best option. And this is your best chance."

"When there's another god helping them? You're an even bigger fool than I gave you credit for, Black Adam."

He took a breath. "Your demands. If I have full reign of Khandaq...with no interference from you for eternity..."

"We can agree to that."

It would require another plan to remove his temporary allies, but if it was the only way to get him to help, he knew he had no other options.

"Then it's an agreement."

Bruce
Wayne Manor

He finished reading Robin's patrol notes and headed upstairs. Thomas was laughing, so he followed the noise. He and Kal were on the floor playing some version of catch while Zatanna watched with a…

"Is that a rabbit?" Bruce asked, looking at the fluffball in her lap.

"Yeah. Flip."

"Flip?"

"He likes to do flips."

"Where did he come from?"

"He's one of mine."

"You say that as if there are more."

"14."

"You have fourteen rabbits?"

She looked over at him with a baffled expression. "I'm a magician."

"I know, but...where? Who takes care of them?"

"Mother nature and a gardener. I have a 20 acre fenced sanctuary for them on my property."

He rubbed his head and sat down. "I don't think we talk enough."

She laughed and put the rabbit in his lap.

"He wasn't feeling good, so I thought he could use some TLC."

Bruce pet his ears. "What does the cat think of him?"

"He's scared of him. Hiding."

"So, he'll take on a serial killer, but an ailing, floppy eared bunny paralyzes him."

"Seems that way. For that reason, I have revoked his Justice League membership."

He leaned over and kissed her. "Di texted. Sorry."

"Sorry?"

"I didn't know she was going to ask you to do more."

"Don't apologize. I'm not mad at anyone but Tsaritsa and Adam."

Letting his head fall back against the couch, he sighed and closed his eyes. Thomas came over and joined him, taking over the petting duties for Flip.

"Hi, Dada."

"Hey, son. Good day?"

"Ya."

"Anything fun?"

"Aunt Di came over and I went wif Ka to fy."

He chuckled. "You're getting as many in as you can before he has to leave, huh?"

Thomas nodded as Kal stood. "He's pretty easy to entertain. Why don't you ever take him flying, Zee?"

Zatanna snapped her head up and glared at him. "I will torture you," she mouthed.

"What?" Kal said, holding his hands up.

Thomas looked between them, knowing he was missing a vital bit of information, but not quite following.

"There are things he doesn't need to know yet. There are things he would absolutely drive me crazy asking to do if he knew," she said through clinched teeth.

"Ah, right," Kal said, forcing an apologetic grin. "Sorry. I'll just...I'll be outside...avoiding torture."

He slipped out of the room while Bruce tried not to laugh.

"Think of how happy he'd be if he knew."

"Do you think I won't torture you, too?" She looked at him with the same glare.

"I like it when you torture me."

"This torture would involve needles and fire and hanging upside down."

"Bats like hanging upside down."

She rolled her eyes and put her head on his shoulder. "I think I should snoop."

"I think you should, too." He'd been thinking about Selina and their con all day. It was too quiet.

"I'll just check in and make sure she's okay. I won't interfere if she is."

"Thank you," he said quietly.

"After we eat, though. Night will be safer."

"Agreed. Ready for dinner?"

"Yes," she said, standing and taking Flip back. "I set up a little pen for him outside. I'll feed him and meet you at the table."

Bruce stood and carried Thomas to the kitchen, where Alfred was plating their meals.

"What's on the menu?"

"For you: salad, steak, carrots and bread. For Master Thomas: macaroni and cheese with broccoli and chicken. For ma'am: vegetable stir fry with rice."

"You made three separate meals? You didn't need to do that."

He shrugged. "I don't mind. Leftovers for three days worth of lunches. It balances out."

"Thank you, then. Sounds good."

Zatanna came back in and they all sat down. Alfred put Thomas's plate in front of him.

"Tank you, gwampa!"

Alfred froze and looked at him. Bruce glanced at Zee, who had her head down, but was grinning.

"You're welcome, sir," Alfred said before clearing his throat and sniffling.

Emotion from Alfred. Now that's a real magic trick. He reached over and squeezed Zatanna's hand. There would be some gratitude shown later for that little surprise. They ate and listened to Thomas ramble on about his day. There was never a need to fill silences anymore; he took care of that just fine. When they were finished, Zatanna bathed Thomas and handed him off for monitoring.

"I'll let you know what I see."

"You're doing it without me?" He fussed, thinking he should be there when she peeked in on Selina.

"We've been over this. You're distracting. Besides, it's your night to monitor." She kissed his cheek and walked away.

Selina
Stuck

Her hands were aching from assembling the bombs during the daylight hours. It wasn't her idea of a good time and it wasn't getting her any closer to Scarecrow. No one ever spoke to her. She was housed with three other women in a filthy room – only bare mattresses on the floor to sleep on. After several days, she knew she had to find a way to move the plan along or she would be stuck for weeks. It didn't take her long to learn the schedule of the guards. One seemed to be in charge, so she started watching his movements. Around bedtime, he would check all of the sleeping quarters before going into a room at the end of the hall. She knew she needed to get to him.

Once everyone was in bed, she slipped out of the room, easily getting past the weak lock on the door. Making short work of his lock, too, she entered his room. He didn't seem overly surprised when he looked up from the desk where he was working.

"Something you needed?" He looked back down at his paperwork.

"I want to be out on the streets helping recruit."

"What what makes you think you're ready for that?"

"I've lived most of my life on those streets. I know them better than anyone. Even better than Batman."

He smirked, but didn't look up. "You're probably right. That doesn't mean you're ready to recruit."

"Then get me ready. What you're doing here...I want to be more than a set of hands on an assembly line. I'm too skilled for that."

Setting his pen down, he looked up at her and leaned back in his chair. "You are skilled. Probably the most skilled person in the building."

"Thank you."

"Seems odd that someone with that level of skill was caught."

A chill ran down her spine. Play it right.

"We all make mistakes. I was distracted."

"Mm. I was there. You were being obvious. What I can't figure out is why."

She walked over and leaned against his desk. "I think you know why."

"You wanted to get caught."

She nodded. "Yes."

"The tracker?"

"Used to go to Batman. I disabled it before you took me."

"Which is why it was pinging to a dead tower."

Thank you, Bruce.

"He tried to get me to infiltrate this operation. I did."

"But..."

"But not to shut it down. I want to help."

He stood and walked to stand in front of her, a little closer than she would have preferred. "Bullshit."

"What?"

"I said bullshit. No one wants to be here. Not a single goddamn person in the building wants to be here."

"I don't want to be here...I want to fucking get Batman and his pathetic little followers out of Gotham. I don't care how. I don't care if you pump me full of enough toxin to drive me insane. I want him gone."

"Then why not kill him on your own?"

"You think I haven't tried? I have spent years trying to undermine him. I've gotten close to him. I've earned his trust. And every single time I've failed. I can't do it alone. No one can. Your boss knows that. I'm sick of looking over my shoulder and I'm sick of failing."

He took a step back and studied her. "Does he still trust you?"

"Enough for me to get to him. He won't suspect this level of betrayal."

"Go back to your room."

She turned and headed back to the door. "You'll talk to him?"

"Goodnight, Catwoman."

Zatanna
Wayne Manor

She sat down in her circle of candles and crossed her legs.

"Okay, just peaking in," she mumbled. The cat appeared and sat down in her lap. "Well, if it isn't the world's bravest feline."

"Mrrrrw." He scowled at her and curled up.

"You know, I might go tell all of your cat friends that you were scared of a little, harmless bunny. I will wreck your street cred."

"Mrrrr." He laid his head down and closed his eyes.

"Fine, but don't be wiggly. I need to focus." She took a few breaths and relaxed. "Alright. Pordsevae no Aniles."

It didn't take long for her mind to focus. She heard Selina's voice and saw through her eyes. The words chilled her. They were talking about Bruce and his family.

"I want him gone."

She went on, talking about betrayal and getting close to them. Acting. She's acting...right? Zee didn't feel she knew her well enough to make that call, but anyone who lives two lives successfully had to be at least a passable actress. Maybe if she wasn't talking about murdering my husband…

"Goodnight, Catwoman."

Zatanna followed her until she made it back to a spartan room with a mattress on the floor. Selina laid down and stared at the ceiling. There were others in the room, so she couldn't risk talking with her. Don't read her mind, either. When she started to doze off, Zatanna let the connection go. She pet the cat's head while he slept and ran through what she'd learned. It seemed appropriate to gather her thoughts before facing the question-firing squad. I need to leave my feelings out of this. Bruce was perfectly capable of determining where to go next with the information. The cat grumbled when she stood and woke him. She carried him down to the den and sat down next to a very tense, but trying-to-act-casual, Bruce.

"Hey," she said, putting the cat down next to Thomas so they could cuddle.

"Hey. Quiet night."

She grinned. "You can ask."

"You can tell me without being asked."

"I guess I can. She's okay, but hasn't gotten to Scarecrow. They're in some sort of run-down building."

"Probably the storage warehouse Mike was telling me about."

"Probably so. She's trying to get closer to him, I think."

"You don't sound sure."

"Bruce." He turned and looked at her. "You trust her?"

"Yes," he said, furrowing his brow.

"Okay. Then let's give her the time she needs."

"Zee?"

"It's nothing. I just don't know her well enough to gauge what she's doing. If you trust her, then I'll trust her."

"Okay. I know that isn't easy for you."

"It is. You're a better judge of character."

He smirked and turned back to the monitors. "Not really, but in this case I think my judgment is sound."

She didn't really want to talk more about his exes, so she stood and held her arms out. "He has some friends coming over tomorrow morning. He needs his rest."

Bruce frowned, but handed over his partner in justice. "Okay. I'll be up in a few hours."

Zatanna read Thomas a short story and tucked him and the cat into bed. "Night, sweetie."

"Night, Mama," he said, yawning and closing his eyes.

She walked over and sat in the chair, feeling the need to watch him sleep a while. Kal came in a short time later and sat on the floor.

"I think I may know where your friend is," he said quietly.

"Who? Selina?"

"Yes."

"She's not really my friend, but what do you know?"

"I heard her when you were listening in. Talking about Batman and the others."

"Where is she?"

"An old farm about twenty five miles outside of the city."

She studied him. "You haven't told Bruce?"

He shook his head. "Not yet. He seems to care about her quite a bit. I didn't want him doing something too risky."

"Good. Scarecrow isn't there and I don't want to blow up the operation unless she's in trouble. She'd be pissed and a lunatic would still be on the loose."

He leaned back against the chair. "Okay. I won't tell him."

"And don't you go doing anything heroic about it, either. We have a plan and we're going to stick with it."

"I know, I know. The plan doesn't involve Superbat."

"It does not. Sorry. I imagine it's hard for you to sit this out."

"Getting harder the more I see of your life."

"Then stop looking."

He scoffed. "Easier said than done. I know you don't want me to turn superhero, but it doesn't seem right to do nothing with my power now...in any dimension."

She sighed and stood, walking over to pull Thomas's blanket up. "I know."

Kal
Wayne House

It wasn't until he watched Zee's face when she brushed Thomas's hair back from his forehead while he slept that he finally figured out why she was so against him going back home and trying to fight against evil. It wasn't about him. She wanted to believe that someone could be around heroes and not choose that life. Thomas would would be powerful...he already was.

"Zatanna, he might not want to..."

"He will. He's too much like his father not to," she whispered, still watching him sleep.

"Just his father?"

"No. No, not just his father." She leaned against the door. "I guess it isn't realistic to think he'll be a banker or a professor. I wouldn't have gone that route, no matter what my dad had wanted. And Bruce...well, I don't really know what he would have done if his childhood had been different."

"Is that why he does what he does? His childhood?"

"I see he hasn't told you...which means I won't, either, but he missed out on a chance at a normal life. He wasn't born into it like us."

Kal chuckled quietly. "Which is what makes him even more incredible. But, you know...don't tell him I said that."

She smiled. "Your secret admiration is safe with me."

"You should go sleep. I'll stay with him."

"You don't need to stay with him."

"I know. Go get some sleep."

Once she left the room, he moved up to the chair and thought about her concerns. It isn't just this Thomas. If he went back and played hero, Tommy would want to do the same...maybe even Tanna. Is that the life I want for my family? They'd lost too much already and looking at Thomas now, the answer seemed simple. He didn't want to bring anything but joy and happiness to their lives. In the middle of a fight, though, he felt invincible – like someone who could make a difference. He looked down at the bat on his chest. Have I really earned this? Closing his eyes, he leaned his head back and tried to focus on the here and now. No matter what, this world needed saving before he could worry about his own.