A/N: 2022.05.23

Wow, I am moving at snail's pace with this! I hope the next chapter will be up later this week. We'll see. Thanks for sticking with me, all!

Chapter 10

At Site Black, Koutetsu examined Jaguar, using the medical scanner to ensure there was no significant or long-lasting damage. Site Black was another semi-Bat Cave location, like the Machine Shop; the team used an abandoned underground train terminal, serving as a quick stop during any given night or for something like this. For the most part, none of its systems were connected to anything else the team used, keeping it off the main network. A safety measure in case the base was discovered. Not a likely scenario but there was no reason to just assume that would always be the case.

"What's the word, gorgeous?" Ember asked Koutetsu.

"She'll recover fine." Koutetsu looked at Jaguar, "I suggest taking it easy for the next 12 hours, at least. 24, if you can help it."

Jaguar groaned, "Great…"

Ghost-Wing looked at Koutetsu then Ember then back at Koutetsu. "Are you seriously dating her?" He pointed at Ember.

While Ember groaned, Koutetsu cleaned up the area, "Very much so, and it's far more committed than that."

Ember smiled.

Ghost-Wing shook his head, "What happened to you and Runner? You guys are some of the best fighters and heroes I know! Why be here?"

"We love it here," Koutetsu answered. "We have friends here. Family."

"Runner, I get. He married that doctor and got the kids. You could just go back to Japan or even France. Why stick it out here?" Ghost-Wing glanced at Ember, quickly. "With… questionable allies."

Koutetsu paused. He slightly glanced over his shoulder. "Questionable?"

"Nothing about her," Ghost-Wing motioned toward Ember, "is exactly humble."

"Look who's talking," Ember countered. "Could your helmet be bigger? Or have more bells and whistles for your suit?"

"Could yours be more form fitting?"

"One, yes. Two, your girlfriend's suit leaves so little to the imagination, I already know what she looks like naked."

Jaguar chuckled a bit.

"To be fair…" Ember looked at Jaguar, "…nice."

Jaguar laughed. "Sorry, Ghost. I'm starting to like her."

"Oh, whatever!" Ghost-Wing groaned.

"What point are you attempting to make, Ghost-Wing?" Koutetsu asked.

"I'm just saying…" Ghost-Wing continued, "I always pictured you with someone more… worthy of your demeanor and honor. Not a woman like… her."

Jaguar let out a resigned exhale. Even she realized that was going too far.

Ember set her jaw and looked away, a bit wounded by Ghost-Wing's words.

Koutetsu could feel Ember's uneasiness and he stood motionless for a few seconds, letting the anger building slowly subside. Then, he, methodically, turned toward Ghost-Wing, glaring at him, coldly. "A warning, my dear Ghost: that is the limit of disrespect that I will not tolerate. You've been dangerously close to that line with your unfounded, shameful, and uncalled for attitude toward Batman, but this is a far more personal line. Ember has a past wrought with wrong decisions. No one knows that better than her. However… those days are behind her. She is infinitely stronger for them. And I would not change her."

Ember smiled, appreciatively and lovingly, at Koutetsu.

Koutetsu looked at Ember. "Not one bit." He looked back at Ghost-Wing. "And I will not tolerate, accept, or put up with any insults directed at her, not while I'm present. We are more than 'dating'. I love her. You will respect her. Or you will find yourself at a very dangerous impasse with me."

Ember blinked. "The level of hot I am for you right now… you have no idea!"

"All that over her?" Ghost-Wing asked.

"I believe I made myself clear, Ghost-Wing," Koutetsu declared. "And I am in no mood to repeat myself."

Jaguar slowly sat up, "Okay, Ghost… you know there's very, very little that scares me. But I think you just pissed off Koutetsu. And that is terrifying the shit out of me, right now!"

"You might be smarter than I thought," Ember said to Jaguar.

Ghost-Wing just slumped his shoulders. "Whatever. Thanks for the med check. We need to go."

Jaguar painfully got to her feet, and Ghost-Wing walked over and put Jaguar's arm over his shoulder. "I appreciate the help, Koutetsu," Jaguar said.

Koutetsu nodded in return.

Jaguar looked at Ember, "And… thanks for saving me back there."

Ember, respectfully, inclined her head to her.

Koutetsu and Ember escorted Ghost-Wing and Jaguar to the entrance of Site Black and the latter duo left, heading down then abandoned train tunnel. After watching them leave, being certain they were gone, Ember looked at Koutetsu, "I really appreciate all that."

Koutetsu smiled. "I meant every word."

"I could tell." Ember let out a deep exhale. "So! About your reward for saying all of that!"

Koutetsu chuckled, softly.

"Do you want me to bang the hell out of you when we get home or do it some other time? I promise I'll keep in mind everything you said when it happens."

Koutetsu let out a good laugh.

"You'd be amazed how much I'm not joking!"

"Oh, I believe you." Koutetsu looked back inside Site Black. "Actually… if we have the external sensors on… we can see if anyone is approaching."

Ember blinked. "You mean… here? Now?"

"Do you object?"

"Hell, no! Just… what have I done to you?"

Koutetsu smiled. "A better question might be… what would you like me to do to you?"

Ember grinned as wide as she could. "Baby… you're the greatest!"

Minutes later, Ghost-Wing and Jaguar arrived back at their yacht, situated in a secluded Gotham wharf. Ghost-Wing set Jaguar on the couch in main room of the yacht, then Ghost-Wing stopped, looking around alarmedly.

"What's wrong?" Jaguar asked.

"Someone's here…" Ghost-Wing whispered.

"You're finally learning," Dick declared.

Ghost-Wing and Jaguar turned, hurriedly, to see Dick leaning against the wall.

"Pops?!" Ghost-Wing exclaimed.

"Uh-oh…" Jaguar whispered.

"Hey, kids," Dick greeted. "We need to talk."

It was getting close to daybreak when Runner came to the southern warehouse district. He followed a very light trace of the Scourge's escape vehicle to the area, but the trail stopped about a mile back. Runner just proceeded in the way they were likely to head, though he had no way to prove that one way or the other. For as many twists and turns he tracked, the trail could have been an intentional decoy. It wasn't impossible for Bane to be that cunning and think that far ahead.

Runner stood on top of one of the buildings in district and surveyed the area. "Zut…" he groaned.

"Even working around the clock, it could take days to search this area," Tiana noted.

"Assuming they're here at all." Runner exhaled, regrettably. He looked at the colors change in the sky. "Just another dead end. Sorry to keep you up so late, Oracle. Especially for nothing."

"Oh, please," Tiana replied. "Who sleeps anymore?"

"My wife. If she still loves me."

"Always," Sally spoke up.

Runner jerked his head back.

"I was about to say she was calling," Tiana smiled. "Sorry for patching her through without saying."

"No worries," Runner chuckled. "I never complain about hearing that voice. Hey, Doc."

"Hey, babe," Sally greeted. "Just wanted to know if it was too much to ask for you to get cereal and milk on your way home."

"And you were calling because you were nervous that I wasn't home yet."

"Yeah, that, too."

"Why didn't you just say that?" Runner asked.

"'Cause I always feel like I'm nagging whenever I do this!" Sally answered, nervously.

"I don't usually stay out until dawn. I get the concern. And you're not nagging. You know that, right?"

Sally paused for a moment. "Kinda."

"Sally, you're the kindest, I swear," Tiana giggled.

Runner chuckled. "I'll be home soon, chérie."

"Okay," Sally said.

"With cereal and milk."

Sally laughed. "Okay. Thank you."

"Thanks, Oracle," Runner complimented.

"No problem," Tiana replied.

Runner stared at the sun as it began to show on the horizon. "Bane. What do you want?"

A couple of hours later, at the Manor, Bruce came back from the bathroom, moving noticeably slower. Diana was sitting up in bed, studying Bruce as he laid back down.

"It's getting worse," Diana declared, grimly.

"Just a bit." Bruce exhaled. "I was already old, Diana. This… just added on top of it."

Diana laid back down and took hold of Bruce's hand. She rubbed Bruce's knuckles with her thumb, "I really wish I could do more, Bruce. I wish you would let me do more."

"No. I can't cheat this. Trying to hold off the grim reaper with those methods is how we got Ra's al Ghul."

"You're not him. You could never be him. You're two different people. Entirely!"

"If I wasn't, Ra's wouldn't have been convinced that I was his true heir."

Diana thought for a moment then sighed, "Fine. You have traits Ra's respected. That anyone would. You're strong, determined, focused. All qualities I love about you. Plus some."

"But that's why I can't cheat this," Bruce declared. "I'm close enough to being Ra's as it is."

"Bruce…"

"This is the natural course of life, Diana. After all… I'm only human."

"You're more than that." Diana sighed, a bit more sadness attached to it. "You're not fair at all. You finally learn how to enjoy life and now…" she stopped, "now…"

"My timing was always lousy," Bruce joked.

Diana smiled a bit, "About a million correctly thrown batarangs speak to the contrary."

"Timing in life, though… I was never good at it. It's why I didn't want this to happen initially… I… thought I'd… ruin you."

Diana huffed. "Bruce Wayne, you are one of the dumbest men on the planet."

"I hope you're not expecting me to argue," Bruce grinned.

Diana shook her head. "If only you ever learned to forgive yourself…"

"A lesson I didn't learn."

"I know. It's because you were so sure you had to be in pain to be Batman. Then… you convinced yourself you just had to be in pain. As some kind of penance."

"Nothing you said was incorrect." Bruce looked away from her, regretfully. "I'm glad Terry didn't fall for that foolish thinking."

"I won't call it 'foolish'," Diana countered, causing him to look back at her. "I'll call it… misguided. And I'm glad he didn't either." She smiled. "If he did, we wouldn't have Grace and Warren."

Bruce chuckled a bit.

Diana smiled at him. Then tears formed. "I… I don't want to lose you, Bruce."

"I'm sorry, Diana," Bruce replied. "You're… a peace I never deserved in all of this."

"But not your only peace. And that… I can't even begin to describe how grateful I am for that."

Bruce kissed her. "So am I."

That afternoon, at Wayne Enterprises, Terry and Max were back in their office after a business meeting. Terry sat in his chair and finished recounting the events of the previous night to Max, who was leaning against the desk.

"He's got his own Iniquity Collective?" Max asked.

"That name is so pretentious," Terry rolled his eyes.

"To be fair, the news called them that first, don't forget. After that psychologist said all of this is your fault."

"True. And…" Terry sighed. "…yeah, he's got his own team. I don't know what Bane's plan is. But… it feels like it could be big."

"So, you still got nothin'," Max shrugged.

"Yup."

Max smiled. "Don't worry, baby. You'll figure it out. You always do."

"Maybe." Terry paused then continued, "I need you to look into something. And you're gonna get mad when I say it."

"Uh-oh…" Max whispered.

"I need you to dig up everything you can on Ghost-Wing and Jaguar."

Max jerked her head back. "And look for what, exactly?"

"Anything and everything," Terry answered.

Max studied Terry, nervously. "He's Dick's grandson! C'mon, baby, he's trying to help."

"He's trying to help himself. He's too arrogant. They both are. They only care about bringing down Switchblade. And I need to know why."

Max stared at Terry for a moment. She couldn't help but smile. "You sound like him."

Terry smiled a bit. "Been hearing that a lot lately."

"Terry, listen: I really don't think you have to worry about these two. Not… to that degree, anyway. I talked to Sally, and B talked to her about these two before. They're arrogant jackasses. But not dangerous. They want Switchblade so bad? They can have him. Less work for us. They're gonna need us, eventually, anyway. Folks always do, it feels like."

Terry chuckled a bit.

"Plus," Max lightly touched his cheek, "you've got enough on your plate. Don't let yourself get caught up in worrying about why they're stupid. That's not your fault."

Terry exhaled. "Yeah, I guess." He stopped and rubbed his face.

Max kneeled down next to him, took hold of his hands, lowered them down, and smiled at him.

Terry smiled a bit and let out a breath. "I'm just being paranoid."

"I get why."

"This has been a lot, Max."

"I know." Max fell quiet as she took a breath to address the elephant in the room. "When… can we talk about… that?"

Bruce.

"Whenever you want," Terry answered.

"You sure?" Max asked.

"Yeah, because it's happening," Terry replied, quietly. "I don't like it, I don't want it… I'd do anything to change it… but it's happening. So, whenever you want, we can."

Max thought about it for a second. "Not yet."

"Okay."

Max stood up straight. "But, when we do… I reserve all rights to scream and cry."

"I'd be surprised if you didn't. I might, too." Terry's phone rang. He picked it up, looked at the screen, and answered, "Hey, Dick."

"Hey, man," Dick greeted. "Is it okay if you guys meet at the Manor this evening? With Alfred and Kailyn."

Terry immediately deduced Jaguar's real name, since he already knew Ghost-Wing's. "That works. I'll bring everyone else, but I can't say what Shell might do."

"I'm… kinda looking forward to that."

Terry laughed. "We'll see you there. Thanks, Dick."

"No problem," Dick replied. "See you tonight." He ended the call.

Terry looked at Max, "Busy tonight?"

"Yes," Max answered. "I'm going with you."

Terry laughed. He gazed into her eyes. "I love you so much, Max."

Max smiled, affectionately. "I love you, too."

Bane and Athanasia sat in their bath together, laughing and sharing wine. The door flew open and Ikram rushed in with Switchblade, nervously, hurrying behind him. Athanasia swiftly moved her arms to cover her bare chest.

"Sorry, Mr. Bane!" Switchblade said, worriedly. "Ma'am! We tried to stop him, but he pushed past us and ya said not to hit him, so…!"

"It's fine, Mr. Childs," Bane reassured. "Thank you for trying. I know Ikram is… stubborn."

"And how!"

"Please, leave us be."

"Right," Switchblade turned and left, grumbling about Ikram's behavior before closing the door behind him.

Ikram glared at Bane and Athanasia, "I see you both are… comfortable."

"A little less so, now, Father!" Athanasia said, irritably.

"Well, do forgive my intrusion of your third honeymoon! But we have been playing this game for far too long! Batman is likely to locate us soon!"

"If he does, he does."

Ikram stared at Athanasia in disbelief. "Excuse me?"

"The game, as you put it," Bane began, "has hardly begun. We have only just started to test Batman and his team."

Ikram growled. "We waste time with this when the weapon should be prepared!"

"The weapon is being prepared!"

"Your concern is unwarranted, Father," Athanasia explained. "The weapon will be ready in due time. When it is, the Harut'yun will show our true power."

Ikram glared, angrily, at them both. "Just don't forget… our vision."

"I never have, Father."

Ikram huffed, turned and exited the bathroom, angrily closing the door behind him.

Bane and Athanasia smiled after they could no longer hear Ikram's footsteps.

"Should we have told him we changed the name?" Bane asked.

"No," Athanasia answered. "My father will learn everything. Once the Castellum is ready."

"He'll be humiliated."

"As it should be. I learned from the mistakes of my grandfather. Father's failure is wishing to be Ra's al Ghul."

Bane smiled, "In his defense… I understand the temptation."

Athanasia looked up at him and smiled, "I'm grateful you didn't fall for it."

"As am I." He cupped her chin, "I crave a temptation of a different sort."

"By all means, Beloved… give in to it."

They shared a deep, passionate kiss.

A/N: This is becoming more and more fun to write simply because of the characters! I hope you guys are enjoying it! Like I said at the beginning of the chapter, I hope the next chapter will be out sooner. Thank you so much and see you soon!