Chapter 12

Lake House; May 5th, 04:21 EST

He studied the lake house with a focused gaze, watching for any sign of movement or life…anything that would indicate that there was something going on. He wanted to collect as much information on Bruce Wayne and his alternate persona as possible so he could expose every last shred of evidence before putting the final nail in his coffin.

No more Bruce Wayne, no more Batman. Mission accomplished.

He shifted his position a little closer, staying near the trees to keep from being detected. He had no doubt that Wayne had the perimeter of his propriety well secured with motion detectors and cameras. Keeping his movements limited and his presence just beyond that property line would help to keep him from being detected.

Deathstroke had been here for over an hour, not able to find anything of importance. If he was going to find what he wanted, he knew that he needed to get inside that house. The problem was that it was likely more protected than Fort Knox.

He had to find a way to get in there.

He knew that the house had to hold secrets that he was desperate to get his hands on. He'd been through Wayne Manor already tonight, leaving empty-handed. It was just an old, dilapidated manor that was on the verge of crumbling to pieces, but he still felt it hid secrets yet to be discovered.

It looked as if the manor was going to get a makeover, leaving him to wonder what Bruce Wayne was up to with renovating his old home. Did it have something to do with his nighttime activities or could it possibly be part of his plans for the Justice League? Maybe he was restoring the family home for his new girlfriend.

He was beginning to wonder if he should put a bullet right between Wayne's eyes and just be done with it. Move on. Get it over and done with once and for all. He'd get what he'd wanted most and then he could get on with his life. Get back what he did best.

The thought was tempting to say the least, but he ultimately decided that he wanted to make Bruce Wayne suffer for as long and as painfully as possible. He knew that plan had to include the Amazon. It would be an eye for an eye.

The one that Wayne loved most in exchange for the loss of his son.

He felt his anger growing hotter as if it simmered like lava in his soul. Batman would pay with his life for what he'd done. Of that, he would make certain. It was just a matter of time. Now, though, he needed to amp up the pressure, and bring more pain to the billionaire.

It was time to make him realize this was no game. This was revenge in its coldest, most horrifying form. He was going to make sure Wayne felt every single bit of it. He would take out the Amazon first, and then go after the butler. Once he was through with them, Batman would beg for him to take his life.

He almost felt a pang of guilt about eliminating Wonder Woman. She hadn't been part of his vendetta against Batman, but she was found guilty by association. Therefore, she was going to have to be collateral damage in his plans to kill Batman.

Deathstroke knew that he'd have to find a way to get inside of that house if he was going to be able to accomplish his goal. It was either that or try to take Wonder Woman hostage in order to lure the Bat into a trap. One way or another, he would win. Revenge would be delivered for his dead son, and it would start tonight.

Batcave; May 5th, 04:55 EST

"He's leaving," Batman announced with a wave of relief.

"I wish you'd let me go out there," Diana stated with obvious pent-up anger. She was almost like a caged animal, determined to get out.

"I can't," he insisted as he turned his chair to face her. "Right now, he's only going on what Luthor has told him about me. He has no solid proof that I'm Batman. If we show up from the lake house, he'll know for certain that I'm Batman and there will be no deterring him. At least for now, I have a chance of fooling him."

"You're just going to let him keep stalking you?" she demanded to know.

"No, I have an idea," he told her. "Besides, I have the best security system that will alert us if he tries to breach the property line."

"I still don't like it."

"I don't like it either, but we can't go out there without giving him what he wants," he pointed out. "He wants me to come out there. He wants me to prove that Bruce Wayne is Batman. I can't give him that. I'd be jeopardizing everything that I've worked so hard far. It'll endanger the League and we can't afford that…not with Darkseid possibly on his way here."

"He knows that I'm with Bruce Wayne so he should expect me to be here," she tried to reason with him. "I can go out there and stop him."

"I'm not sending you out there to deal with my problem," he heatedly stated as he stopped in front of her, sharing her feelings but still fearing for her safety. "I'd love nothing more than to go out there and pummel him for shooting at you, but we have a bigger problem on our hands with Amazo. Right now, he's as powerful as you and Clark. There's no telling what he's going to do with all of that power. He's going to be next to impossible to stop and that's not including whatever else Luthor has up his sleeve that we're going to have to contend with."

Diana thought about it for a moment as she began to pace, her arms crossing in thought. "If Amazo shares our strengths, then wouldn't it make sense that shares our weaknesses."

"It would make sense," he agreed, his brow furrowing as he returned to his chair. "Do you have any weaknesses?"

"I'm not indestructible," she reminded him.

"I wish you were bulletproof," he thoughtfully replied.

"Sorry," she apologized, flicking her fingernail against her bracer. An audible ping sounded in the Batcave. "This keeps me safe from bullets."

"Well, try to keep your head down because Deathstroke isn't going to give up anytime soon," he reminded her, turning back to his computer system.

"Don't waste your time worrying about me," she told him. "You need to worry about yourself. You're his main target."

Bruce shook his head as he brought up the video feed from his cowl of their encounter with Amazo tonight. "Deathstroke and I have tangled off and on for years," he replied. "I can handle him."

Diana walked over to where he was sitting. "Bruce, he has an agenda…an end game," she pointed out. "He's not going to stop until your dead."

"We need to focus on Amazo," he stated. "The only two that Amazo hasn't been able to replicate yet is Barry and Arthur. That could be to our benefit."

"Let's hope he doesn't run into any others that we don't know about yet—villain or not," she said.

"That's a good point," he murmured. "It may be a good thing I haven't been able to find Martian Manhunter yet or any others like the team."

"Hey, what's going on?" Barry asked, entering with Arthur and Mera.

"We aren't interrupting anything romantic, are we?" Arthur questioned with a grin.

Bruce ignored him, starting the Amazo video recording again. "You're just in time," he replied as he brought up the feed that he needed them to see. "We finally know what Lex Luthor and Professor Ivo are up to and it's not good."

They watched the scene play out in silence, the newly arrived members shocked to see Superman and Wonder Woman struggling to restrain what appeared to be an android of some sort. "What is that thing?" Barry finally demanded to know.

"Amazo," Diana informed them. "It's an android created by Professor Ivo. It can replicate the abilities of those it comes in contact with. It's why Superman and I had such a hard time trying to take him down. He now has the same abilities that we have."

"This is definitely not good," Barry stated the obvious.

Bruce turned around to look at the trio behind him. "You three need to stay out of sight," he told them. "If he sees you, he will scan you and be able to replicate your abilities."

"He'll be as fast as me?" Barry asked.

"Yes," Bruce confirmed. "He already has Clark's invulnerability and power, Diana's strength, and Victor's weapon."

"What did he get from you?" Arthur questioned him.

"Nothing," Bruce revealed. "I don't have any special gifts. I'm a mortal man with no powers. There's nothing for him to gain."

"Don't sell yourself short, buddy," Barry told him, patting his shoulder. "You still have plenty to offer the world."

Arthur frowned at the speedster before turning his attention to Bruce. "How are we going to stop it?"

"That's what we're working on," Diana replied. "If he has our strengths, he has our weaknesses. Too bad we don't have some kryptonite."

"I'm all out," Bruce said. "We're going to have to search for more."

Diana looked to Bruce, a thought occurring to her. "Do you think Luthor might have more hiding somewhere?"

"It's a definite possibility," he agreed.

"But we can't find Luthor," Mera reminded them.

"We're going to have to start all over on tracking him down," Barry replied.

"Let's get some sleep for now," Bruce suggested. "We'll have to tackle it once we've had some sleep."

"I'm heading home then," Barry said, looking to Mera and Arthur. "You're welcome to return to Central City and crash at my place."

"I think we'll stay here somewhere," Arthur decided. "I've had enough of traveling at the speed of light for a little while."

"I have a couple of beds set up in the back of the cave if you want," Bruce offered. "There's also a spare bedroom upstairs."

"That sounds great," Mera agreed. "I was very comfortable in the medical bay."

"We'll take the beds in the back," Arthur told them.

"Are you sure?" Diana asked, crinkling her nose in question.

"We'll be fine," Mera assured them. "We'll see you in the morning."

"Sleep well," Diana said before following Bruce upstairs.

"Are you going to tell the others about Deathstroke?" she asked Bruce as they made their way to their bedroom.

"No," he decided. "We have too much going on right now without having them worry about me. I'll handle Deathstroke myself."

Diana suddenly froze, abruptly turning and flying out of the lake house without a word. She took off like a guided missile straight towards the woods where Deathstroke had been hiding, stopping in midair to catch a rocket that had been fired straight at the lake house.

She took off with the rocket away from Gotham, launching it into the sky just before it exploded. Overcome with fury, she flew back to the woods surrounding the lake house to find no one there. Deathstroke had run away just like a coward, but it wasn't going to stop her from getting her hands on him one day.

Her chest heaved with anger as she turned in tight circles, her hands clenched tightly at her sides. If she hadn't heard Deathstroke loading that rocket launcher, he could've killed or seriously injured them all. Thankfully, she'd been keeping an ear out for him just in case he tried something.

Deathstroke hadn't left. He'd gone for his weapon.

Diana finally took off towards the lake house to find Bruce standing outside watching for her. She landed a few feet in front of him only for him to immediately pull her into a crushing embrace. "I'm so glad you're all right," he murmured in her hair.

"You should've stayed inside," she replied. "He could have shot you."

"I was more worried about you," he told her, leading her inside the house. "I saw the explosion in the sky, and I thought that he'd killed you."

"What happened?" Alfred asked, running towards them in his bathrobe.

"Deathstroke tried to blow up the house, but Diana stopped it," Bruce informed him.

"Good heavens," Alfred murmured. "Are you hurt?"

"What was that?" Mera questioned them, racing into the kitchen with Arthur on her heels.

"It's okay…I'm fine," she reassured them. "I stopped a rocket from destroying the house.

"Who was it?" Arthur demanded to know, heading towards the door.

"Wait!" Bruce yelled. "It's someone who wants me dead. Luthor gave my secret identity to Deathstroke. I don't want you involved in this."

"I think it's a little late for that, don't you think?" Arthur retorted. "He tried to blow all of us up."

"Arthur, if Bruce doesn't want us involved, we need to respect his wishes," Mera told him. "We need to leave it in his hands until he requests our help."

"He's gone anyway," Diana informed them. "I checked the area. He took off."

"I suggest we try to get some sleep," Alfred proposed. "I'll have a big breakfast ready when you wake."

"Thank you, Alfred," Mera replied, taking Arthur's hand to pull him away. "Come on."

Arthur grumbled as he followed Mera back down to the cave. Alfred bid Bruce and Diana good night before retiring to his room. Bruce and Diana headed towards their bedroom; Bruce still somewhat shaken by the fact Diana could've been killed but reminded himself that she'd face worse over the years.

Still, he just wanted to curl up in bed with her safely in his arms. He knew that Deathstroke was not going to stop until he'd killed both of them. He was going to have to end Slade Wilson before he ended them.

Metropolis, May 5th, 07:57 EST

Clark kissed his fiancé, his hand gently stroking her back. "I'm so glad that Diana was there to protect you and Ma yesterday."

"She felt terrible because she was the target," Lois revealed, sighing contentedly as his lips whispered against her jaw.

"I wonder why Diana is being targeted," he thoughtfully said. "I wonder if Luthor hired someone to shoot her."

"Whoever it was they don't know who they're messing with," she told him. "She was furious about it. I never want to get on her bad side."

Clark chuckled softly as he gazed into her eyes. "She's fierce," he agreed. "I wish I could tell you to lay low until we can get a handle on this, but I know that you'll just ignore me."

"Pretty much," she murmured with a grin. "Glad you know me so well. It makes getting married that much easier."

Clark rolled her onto her back, hovering above her. "You are far too stubborn for your own good," he muttered against her lips.

"And yet you love me," she reminded him, her fingers tracing the curve of his handsome face. Her expression changed from tender and teasing to pensive and concerned. "Do you think you're going to be able to find Luthor and Ivo?"

Clark captured her lips in a kiss, trying to take her mind off anything other than him. "It's not if, it's when," he countered. "I will find them and put them away. It's only a matter of time."

"But what about Amazo?" she continued. "There's no telling where he went."

"I have no doubt that he'll show up sooner or later," he replied. "He won't be able to stay away for long. He's going to try to find Professor Ivo."

"I hope he doesn't cause too much trouble for you," she said. "Our wedding is coming up soon. I'd really like to see you standing up there at the alter waiting for me."

"There's no other place I'd rather be, Lo," he swore to her. "Please, don't worry about me. I'll be fine."

"I know," she agreed, kissing him. "I just want you with me for the rest of my life."

"That sounds amazing," he whispered as he began to make love to her.

Lois groaned with the love he was showing her, losing herself in the heat of the passion they were creating when a thought abruptly occurred to her. "Hey!" she exclaimed.

"What?" Clark breathily asked, fearing he'd hurt her.

"What if Luthor…is in Metropolis?" she asked, her chest rising and falling heavily.

"What makes you think that?" he questioned her, trying to focus on what she was saying and not the desire that was pulsating through his body at that moment.

"You guys can't find him because he escaped Ponta Delgada," she pointed out. "His yacht went to Morocco, but what if he returned to Metropolis? That's the last place you'd expect him to be."

"It makes sense," he conceded. "I'll call Bruce later and tell him."

"Tell him now," she suggested.

"Lois…Bruce is the last thing on my mind right now," he informed her.

"Good point," she said. "Let's finish and then you can call while I make breakfast."

"What if I don't want to let you out of this bed?" he decided, his mouth finding hers in a heated kiss.

"We have too much work to do," she reminded him. "You need to find Luthor and Amazo and I have an article to write about Bruno Mannheim and Professor Ivo."

"I thought we were writing the article?"

"I'll write it and add your name to it," she promised. "Now, make love to me."

"Yes, ma'am," he murmured with a grin, lowering himself over her once more.

Lois was soon panting from pure enjoyment with what he was doing to her, her head rolling from side to side with the building passion that was set to explode inside of her. This man was amazing in more ways than the world ever knew, and she would make certain she was the only one who knew it.

Lake House; May 5th, 9:50 EST

Bruce sipped his coffee as he considered this newest opinion about the whereabouts of Lex Luthor. It made complete sense that Luthor would return to Metropolis, hiding in plain sight so to speak. No one would think to look for him in the heart of the storm that he'd once created.

He didn't know what had made Lois think of Luthor returning to Metropolis, but he had to admit that it was definitely in keeping with Luthor's erratic behavior. He was just arrogant enough to come right back to the very place where he'd caused all the chaos.

Diana walked by him, her hand rubbing his upper back as she passed. "Penny for your thoughts," she said as she poured herself a cup of coffee.

"Clark called with an interesting theory," he replied, glancing at the newspaper lying on the table. "Lois wondered if Luthor hasn't returned to Metropolis or is on his way back here."

"Interesting," she murmured, taking a seat at the table beside him with a coffee cup in hand. "I wouldn't rule it out. It would be just like him to do something like that."

"The problem is figuring out where in Metropolis he could be hiding if he really is here."

Bruce's cellphone sounded, alerting him to an incoming message. He cringed at the thought of another message from Deathstroke but was more than a little surprised to see a text message from Selina Kyle. He immediately stood to his feet, his chair pushing backward with his movement.

Diana frowned as she looked up at him. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," he muttered with a shake of his head. "I just need to take this."

She watched as he quickly walked away with his cellphone in hand, her brow knitting with worry. She could tell that whoever had sent him the message had rattled him. She hoped it wasn't Deathstroke sending more messages to him. After the attack on them last night, she couldn't imagine that he'd be so bold as to send taunting messages today, but then again, she didn't know Deathstroke as well as he did.

"Where did Master Bruce run off to?" Alfred asked Diana as he re-entered the kitchen.

"He received some sort of text message," she replied. "He said he needed to answer it."

"Dear heavens…I hope it's not Mister Wilson again," Alfred groused, setting a platter of croissants on the table. "Well, breakfast is ready. I just alerted Mister Curry and Miss Mera. They're on their way up."

"This all looks delicious, Alfred," she told him, taking in the vast array of breakfast foods he'd prepared this morning."

"It's all going to go to waste if Master Bruce doesn't return soon," he grumbled.

"Something smells wonderful," Mera commented as she entered the kitchen with Arthur.

"Did someone say something about breakfast?" Barry asked, suddenly appearing beside Arthur.

"It's amazing," Arthur said to him. "Someone just mentions food and you immediately show up."

"It's a gift I guess," he told him with a shrug.

"Mister Allen," Alfred greeted him. "You're just in time. I set a place for you just in case you managed to make it here in time for breakfast."

Barry grinned at him as he took a seat next to Mera. "You're the best, Alfred."

"I'm going to see what's keeping Bruce," Diana announced, heading in the direction that he had gone just a few minutes before.

Hearing his voice coming from the living room, Diana entered to find him standing before a window talking on his phone. "Yes, I can meet you," he said. "This afternoon is fine."

Diana couldn't help wondering who he was talking to that he needed to meet them this afternoon. They had too much going on trying to track down Amazo and Lex Luthor for him to leave, but she wasn't going to question him on it. It was obvious this was something or someone important.

"Yes, it's been too long," he softly replied. "It'll be good to see you too. I'll see you then. Goodbye."

Bruce ended the call, slipping his phone into his pocket. Instead of moving from his spot near the window, he stood there for a moment as he stared off at the grounds that surrounded the lake house.

She watched him for a short time, hating to interrupt him. It was apparent that whatever that call had been about had affected him deeply…or maybe it was the person who he had just spoken with. She felt a twinge of apprehension as she silently approached him, her hand coming to rest against his back as her chin rested on his shoulder.

"Are you all right?" she murmured.

"Oh…yes, I'm sorry," he muttered, startled from his thoughts as well as the past that had come back to visit him.

"Alfred has breakfast ready," she informed him.

"I'll be there in a minute," he told her, turning to give her a forced smile.

Diana frowned as she studied him, knowing that something was wrong, but not wanting to push him on it. She hoped that he'd feel comfortable and close enough with her that he knew that he could talk to her about anything.

She gave him a sweet kiss before pulling away. Without a word, she turned and walked away, stopping at the entrance to the living room to glance over her shoulder at him. He was staring at her, a distant look in his eyes that gave her pause.

She smiled softly at him before walking away, a sense of dread settling over her. It suddenly felt as though things were about to go from bad to worse.

Gotham; May 5th, 12:28 EST

Bruce removed his sunglasses as he entered the Gotham Museum, sliding them into his jacket pocket as he inconspicuously scanned the museum. He knew he hadn't been followed but he wanted to make sure that she hadn't been followed either.

He pretended to take in the sites, but he didn't really notice them. He was feeling extremely conflicted about the phone conversation that he'd had this morning and even worse about lying to Diana. He'd actually told her that he needed to meet a business partner this afternoon.

He couldn't believe that he'd lied to Diana like that, guilt swarming like a twisted knot in his gut. Worse, he had a bad feeling that she hadn't believed him. Still, she had let him leave without any questions, telling him she'd be there when he returned.

Bruce rubbed the back of his neck, wishing he could go back and do it all over again. He knew that he was going to have to tell her the truth, but how could he ever make it up to her after what he'd done? She had trusted him, and he had just violated that trust.

He'd have to worry about her later.

Right now, he had to focus on the reason that he was here in the first place, fixing things with Diana later if she'd even talk to him. He headed towards the Chinese pottery display, agreeing to meet there. It was towards the back of the museum, hopefully allowing them some semblance of privacy.

His coffee-brown eyes glanced about him, hoping that this wasn't just a wild goose chase. If she was lying to him, he would make sure she felt every inch of his fury. She'd lied to him too many times in the past. He would not tolerate it again.

Walking into the ancient Chinese pottery room, he found it empty, making him wonder if she was really going to come. He began to wander around the expansive room, slipping his hands into his pants pockets. He readily decided if she didn't show up in the next five minutes he was leaving. He didn't have time for games.

Stopping before a vase from the Tang Dynasty, his mind swiftly became consumed with memories of the past that continued to haunt him even now. He thought that he had loved her at one time, but now he understood that wasn't love…at least not real, abiding love. It was nothing compared to what he shared with Diana now.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

An all-too-familiar voice spoke breathily in his ear, causing him to immediately grow tense. "It is," he politely agreed. "What do you want?"

She chuckled softly as he turned to face her, his eyes hard like steel and his jaw set like granite. "I'd forgotten how handsome you really are," she told him, gazing at him underneath the brim of her sunhat.

"I'll only ask one more time," he icily stated. "What do you want?"

She sighed as she averted her eyes, making sure they weren't being watched by anyone. She removed her sunglasses as she made her way to a bench against a near wall. "I have information that you're going to need," Selina told him, sitting down, and crossing her legs.

Bruce studied her for a long moment before finally following her to sit on the bench next to her. "How do I know that what you're telling me is the truth?"

"Ouch," she murmured with a grimace. "That was cruel don't you think?"

"Selina, we've been through too much together over the years to play coy," he ground out. "You know you can't be trusted. You've proven that more times than I can count."

"Fine," she spat out, pursing her red lips in anger. "Luthor is recruiting villains to join his team against the Justice League. Are you happy?"

"And he tried to recruit you?"

"Yes," she confirmed. "I was at his hideout in Metropolis last night. He told me some of his plans, but I'm afraid not enough to help you."

"And why would you help me?" he questioned her.

"Because despite everything we've been through, I still love you, Bruce," she admitted. "He tried to get me to confirm your secret identity, but I wouldn't bite. I think he knows anyway."

"I'm afraid he does, but I'm working on a plan to make him think otherwise," he replied.

"Good," she said, the palm of her hand coming to rest on the bench between them. She leaned towards him, her arm supporting her. "I'd hate to see anything happen to you. I heard about Doomsday and Steppenwolf. You need to be more careful, Bruce. You're not in your twenties anymore."

He snorted in mild amusement or displeasure; she didn't know which. "Tell me about it," he answered with a distant look in his eye. "I feel it a little more each day."

"You really need to watch yourself," she cautioned him. "Luthor isn't going to stop until all of you are dead. He wants to make way for someone he called Darkseid. I don't know who that is, but it doesn't sound good."

Bruce was somewhat caught off guard by the mention of Darkseid. He wondered how Luthor knew about the alien warlord unless he'd learned it through the Kryptonian ship. Why would Luthor want to allow Darkseid to take over the world instead of keeping him from destroying it? It made no sense.

Then again, no one completely understood the mind of Lex Luthor.

"If you're telling me this, then I take it you decided against joining Luthor's gang?" Bruce questioned her.

She smiled brashly at him, her green eyes sparkling like emeralds in the museum lighting. "You know I've never been a team player, Bruce," she reminded him. "I do just fine on my own."

He smirked in response, knowing truer words had never been spoken. "Do I ever," he confirmed.

"I'm getting out of town for a while…laying low until Luthor's plans have blown over," she informed him, standing to her feet.

"Wait," he said, standing as well. "Where is Luthor hiding?"

She grinned at him, one that reminded him of the cat who ate the canary. "I'm not joining the good guys either," she replied, her hand reaching out to drag a forefinger along the chiseled curve of his face. "I'm on my own team. You're going to have to work to figure that one out."

Before he could respond, she leaned in and kissed him, a rush of memories flooding his mind as he gently pushed her away. "Selina…" he cautioned her as he took a step away, his hand immediately going to his mouth. "I can't.

"I know, but you can't blame a girl for trying," she said with disdain lacing her voice. "I heard about the Amazon. Is she better in bed? Wait—don't answer that. I don't want to know."

He looked at her questioningly, his guilt growing stronger over Selina kissing him. "How did you know?"

"Luthor told me," she revealed. "She could crush you and not even realize it. I hope you know what you're doing getting involved with an Amazon."

"I hope she knows what she's doing getting involved with me," he corrected her.

The corner of her lips quirked slightly, sadness permeating her emerald eyes. "True," she reluctantly agreed, her expression growing serious. "You always fell hard for the unattainable or should I say the untrainable."

"I never wanted to train you," he reminded her.

"I just didn't want to change my thieving ways…not even for you."

She kissed him chastely on the cheek before rushing from the room, leaving him standing there all alone. He drew a deep, shuddering breath before releasing it slowly through parted lips. Luthor was in Metropolis, and he was actively seeking his own gang members in order to welcome Darkseid. That added a whole new spin on things. On top of that, he knew about him and Diana.

What did this maniac know about?

Hurriedly making his way through the museum, his phone alerted him to a message, one that had his heart stuttering out of rhythm as he brought it up. Amazo was in Gotham searching for Professor Ivo. Diana had gone after him to try to stop him with no backup.

Damn.

A/N: Well, things just keep getting worse!

UP NEXT: Diana takes on Amazo. Bruce comes clean about Selina. An unexpected visitor appears in the Batcave while Luthor has a meeting with Bruno. :)