I flew under the secret entrance to the Batcave while Bruce drove on the road below in the Batmobile. None of us had said a word over comms since we left the shipyard. I was feeling guilt build up in my chest. I had been planning on telling Bruce the truth about where I'm from but it was easier said than done.

How could anyone tell someone they care about that they're not from their world let alone their universe? Ryan ripped off that bandaid for me and with Bruce's silence…I'm beginning to think that this relationship was doomed from the start.

My feet touched the main hub of the Batcave and my vibranium suit receded down to my neck. I didn't see Alfred in his typical spot behind the monitors.

My head turned hearing the sound of the Batmobile's hatch opening up. I swallowed heavily as Bruce climbed out of the vehicle and took off his cowl. He threw his cowl onto the desk by the computers.

I recognized that small wrinkle in the middle of his forehead was creased. That only happened when he was serious.

"We need to talk." Bruce said with a serious tone.

"I know." I said meekly, "What do you want to know first?" I hung my head down from his intense gaze.

"I need to know, Mel. Is what Cyclone said back there true?" I nodded my head.

"Yes. I'm not from here. Not Gotham City, not this world, not even this universe." Bruce glared at me.

"So everything I learned about you was a lie?" I snapped my head up to him in shock.

"What? No! Everything I have told you about myself is true. All I did was leave out specific details but the stories were real. I planned on telling you, Bruce. I just didn't know how or when. Telling your boyfriend that you're from a different universe than him is a hard subject to bring up in casual conversation!" I defended myself.

"Was this the reason why you were upset last week?" He asked again.

I nodded, "Yes," I sighed and sat down in the computer chair, "I can't go home, Bruce. Magic stones are what brought me here and it's probably the only thing that could take me back. I came to realize that last week. I wouldn't see any of my friends or part of my world again. So yeah, I got sad and then I got really, really angry." I explained as I leaned against the back of the chair.

Bruce rubbed his face with one gloved hand before sighing. He leaned against the desk behind him, "I told you I would listen when you were ready to talk. Now's the time to tell me everything, Mel." Bruce advised with a strict look on his face.

I told everything to Bruce. From how I truly got my powers from Thor, S.H.I.E.L.D., the formation of the Avengers, Ultron, and Thanos. It was a lot to take in for him. So much so that he needed some time to think. He left the Batcave hours ago. The sun was starting to rise over Gotham City. He still wasn't back yet.

I was sitting down on the edge of the pier of the lakefront penthouse. I fiddled with the bracelet on my wrist as I stared at the water's surface. Any worries I had regarding Penguin, Cyclone or the statues were now in the back of my mind. Not even the fact that the diamond statue had disappeared during the whole fiasco at the shipyard concerned me.

All I could think about was whether Bruce would accept the world I came from or if he would reject it. In turn, it'd mean rejecting me and I don't know if I could handle that. You can beat me down physically to the point where I could barely move and I'd still fight the pain to keep going. Emotional pain…that hurts a hell of a lot worse.

"Penny for your thoughts, Miss Moser?" I was startled hearing Alfred's voice next to me. I looked up to see the old butler standing just beside me.

"I messed up, Alfred. I should have just told him where I really came from to begin with. It would have made it so much easier if it came from me first…not from a villain." I muttered.

"Give him time, Miss Moser. It was a lot for Master Wayne to soak up all at once. He'll come around. I'm sure of it." I furrowed my brows.

"How can you be so sure?" Alfred smiled.

"I've seen the way Master Wayne looks at you. It was the same look that his father once held for his mother. He cares for you deeply, Miss Moser. Be patient." Alfred advised.

Alfred turned around and walked back into the penthouse. I let out a sigh and looked up at the sky. Where was he?

No One's P.O.V

Batman perched on a building that overlooked the ship that he and Voltess had left. He decided to return after Melody had told him everything.

Half of him couldn't believe what she said. She was really from an entire different reality and that she somehow got sent here by some magical stones. The other half believed what she said right away. She had no reason to lie to him. A habit that he was beginning to notice with Melody while she could tell half-truths, she was a horrible outright liar.

Batman's eyes caught on the Detective that Voltess had befriended the other day. Martin, he believed to be his name. He needed to get back to the bottom deck to have a chat with Cyclone.

Detective Martin looked up and froze seeing Batman on the roof. He looked around himself before walking further in the shipyard.

Detective Martin turned a corner and stopped seeing Batman now standing in front of him. The detective flinched seeing the masked vigilantes' sudden appearance.

"You're a little too good at that. Where's Voltess?" He asked.

"Not here. I need to talk to Cyclone." Martin sighed.

"Straight to the point, huh?" Martin looked behind him, "Alright. Give me a minute." Detective Martin walked back to the other officers.

Batman could see him say some words to other officers and they turned to leave. Detective Martin watched as the officers left before signaling Batman to follow.

"Good luck getting anything out of this guy. He's been radio silent since we showed up." Detective Martin advised as he walked next to Batman.

"I'll make him talk." Batman said gruffly. Detective Martin stopped as Batman walked below deck. The said man sighed and scratched the top of his head.

"How does Voltess deal with a guy like that all the time?" The detective muttered to himself.

Batman descended down to the bottom deck. Police had set up flood lights with extension cords to provide light. The decompression chamber hummed as it worked as intended.

Cyclone noticed the figure and followed Batman as he walked to the side of the chamber. Two glass windows and a speaker were located on that side.

"Well, look who's back." Cyclone's voice could be heard by the speaker.

Cyclone looked around and a coy smirk grew on his face, "Voltess isn't with you. Why is that? Oh wait, let me guess," He held one finger, "You two had a falling out because of her little secret. Hm? Am I right?" Batman remained stoic and Cyclone chuckled.

"You're no fun, Batman. Give me some sort of reaction. Do you feel anything?" Cyclone taunted.

"Where's Penguin?" Batman ignored the villains' taunts. Cyclone huffed and rolled his eyes.

"I had a feeling that's why you came back. You want me to talk about Penguin because I've seen his face and know his hangout spots. Tell you what, Batman. You play a little game with me and I'll tell you what I know." Batman glared at the villain.

"I'm not playing any game with you, Cyclone." Batman declined.

Cyclone shrugged, "Then it looks like you're not getting anything out of me. You'd have to beat it out of me but that requires unsealing the pressure. This time, there's no Voltess to protect you. Did you know that I can quite literally suck the air out of your lungs? You wouldn't last five seconds in a fight against me alone." Cyclone stated with a murderous gleam to his eyes.

Batman narrowed his eyes on the villain. Cyclone has to be one of the most sadistic villains he has met. He thought back to the conversation he had heard hours before. Cyclone and Voltess really use to be friends? What had happened to them to turn from being friends into enemies.

Bruce had wanted to know more about Melody and the world she came from that he completely forgot to ask her about Ryan Hayes/Cyclone. Cyclone had mentioned that it was Melody's fault that he became what he is.

"What's your game?" Cyclone's coy smirk was back.

"Glad you see it my way now. I've always loved a game of Twenty Questions. I'll start. What exactly is Voltess to you?" Batman's jaw muscles clenched. This bastard didn't need to know about his and Voltess' private relationship.

"We're partners." Cyclone seemed disappointed in the response he received, "Now tell me where Penguin is."

"In The Narrows."

"I want specifics." Batman growled out.

Cyclone shook his finger at the vigilante, "I can answer the question however I want. You give me vague answers then I will do the same. Now answer this next question honestly. What is Voltess to you? I don't buy that partner shit. The way she reacted when I said I was here to kill you says there's more to it than just being partners."

"Why do you need to know?" Cyclone banged his hand on the glass.

"Answer my question!" He yelled.

"We're dating." Batman gave in. He needed info on Penguin and unfortunately Cyclone was the only lead. He had to play along…for now.

A large grin plastered onto Cyclone's face, "Dating? You and Voltess. I'll admit I was expecting a more…heartfelt answer but this is a start."

"Wher-"

"Yes, yes. Where's Penguin? He runs his business out of a night club in The Narrows." Just like that, Cyclone is throwing his so-called "friend" under the bus. For whatever reason, Cyclone was laser focused onto Voltess. That's all he seemed to care about no...more like obsessing about.

"Did Voltess tell you about where she really came from?" Cyclone questioned.

"Yes."

"I wish I was there. I would have loved to see the heartbreak on her face as you turned away from her." Cyclone said with a sadistic smirk.

Batman narrowed his eyes and clenched his hands into fists. He did not like that way Cyclone spoke about the woman he cared for so deeply.

"Why are you so obsessed with her?" Batman asked genuinely curious.

Cyclone walked closer to the glass, "Because Melody Moser ruined my life and I want to ruin hers like she did to me." The villain said with venom to his tone.

"Do you know about her and Tony Stark's relationship?" Cyclone asked next.

"Yes, they're friends." Cyclone scoffed.

"You believed that? If you saw what I saw you would doubt that they were just "friends", Batman. You never saw Tony Stark without Melody Moser. Iron Man and Voltess always appeared together. The press has a field day with these two. Are Tony Stark and Melody Moser secretly dating? Tony Stark cheats on long term girlfriend with Voltess. Those were the headlines. Melody will claim they're just close friends but I never bought that for a second." Batman tilted his head slightly. He was starting to get a feel for Cyclone.

Cyclone doesn't know the exact conversation he and Melody had just an hour before. She was very forthcoming about her friendship with Tony Stark. The two of them were the only children in their families and both lost their parents as teenagers. They were kindred souls where their friendship evolved into a sibling bond. Melody saw Tony as the brother she never had and he had seen Melody as a sister.

Batman smirked realizing now why Cyclone was so obsessed with Voltess. He was jealous.

"You were jealous of Tony's relationship with her." Batman stated. Cyclone's eyes grew dark.

"That wasn't a question so I'm not going to answer. Just for that, you don't get to ask one. Are you angry that Melody kept her true home a secret from you?"

Batman paused on this one. He certainly was hurt when he found out. Especially it coming from Cyclone of all people and not Melody herself. He admitted that he was upset at first but after he realized that was the reason why she had been so distraught. His heart ached when he had seen Melody cry herself to sleep that night. He couldn't stay upset at her knowing it was out of her control of what happened.

"No." Cyclone seemed genuinely surprised at Batman's answer.

"You're serious." Cyclone muttered as he studied what he could see of the vigilante's face.

"I'm getting tired of this game, Cyclone. What is Penguin's real name?" Cyclone smirked.

"That's a big question. I'll only answer it if you answer one big question of mine." Batman was getting tired of this game very quickly.

"And that would be?" Batman asked through gritted teeth. He was losing his patience with this sadistic villain.

"Do you love Melody Moser?" Cyclone asked the question with a cock eyed smirk.

Batman froze. He had not expected that. His heart thudded against his chest thinking of the question. He certainly knew he was falling for her and hard at that. He had loved Rachel and that's how he thought love was supposed to feel. Then he met Melody. The way she made him feel was completely different from the way he felt about Rachel.

He would constantly make excuses of why he had to stop by Melody's office at work. Looking for ways to have Melody spend the night. He wanted her around him every day and every second. She was his drug and it was getting harder for him to stay away from her. Even now, all he wanted to do was finish this talk with Cyclone and go back to her.

So…did he love Melody?

The corner of his lip turned up in a small smile as he thought of his answer. Yes…yes he did.

"Well?" Cyclone's voice broke Batman out of his thoughts. The villain was getting impatient with Batman's silence.

Batman smirked, "That's my secret from you. Enjoy your first night in your cell." Batman turned and started to walk to the exit.

"You can't just leave! You haven't answered my question, Batman! If you leave now, I will never tell you anymore about Penguin!" Batman paused just before the first step.

He turned his head towards the villain, "You gave me enough information to find out all I need to know. Night club in The Narrows right?" Cyclone's face was red with anger now.

Batman turned once again and headed up the stairs. Cyclone yelled obscenities at the vigilante as he left his sight. Batman smirked knowing he got under Cyclone's skin. Consider that payback for the way he talks about the woman he loves.

Melody's P.O.V

I let a dragged out sigh through my nose. "Test number eighty-two on the web formula is another failure." I said out loud.

I stared at the solid mass of web fluid sitting on the counter from my spot in my office chair. I made it a solid alright…just too much of a solid.

Shortly after the talk with Alfred I decided to head into the office early at 7am. I had been working on adjusting the web formula since. Honestly, I was trying to keep my mind off of Bruce by working.

"Athena, how many more alters of the formula do I have listed?" I asked the AI.

"Just one more, Mel." I let out a groan and I let my head fall back. One more shot and then back to the drawing board. This was getting difficult.

"Pull up the formula." My voice slightly muffled as I rubbed my face with my hands.

I heard a knock on my office door before it opened. I lazily turned my head to see Mr. Fox walked in.

"Pardon the intrusion, Miss Moser." I waved at him.

"No, please do. My brain needs a break from this seemingly impossible formula I can't figure out." Mr. Fox walked over to the hologram image that showed the last formula I worked up.

"What are you trying to make if you mind me asking?" He asked.

"It's a synthetic spider silk formula. The origin of the formula is a fluid material that deteriorates after a couple hours. I need to change it to a solid that's flexible enough to be woven into fabric and non-degradable. I've been getting the solid part nailed down but it's more like a rock." I said and lifted up the solid mass of web next to me.

Mr. Fox continued to stare at the formula, "Have you tried adding a longer sequence of proteins?" I frowned and looked back at my formula.

"What do you mean?" I asked quickly. I sat up straight in my chair as Mr. Fox enlarged the image of my formula.

"You're on the right path but the math is slightly off. There's too much pressure to make the solid and not enough protein sequences to create the fiber that you want." Mr. Fox then began to modify the formula.

I slowly stood up and stared at his changes in awe. "There. Try this." Mr. Fox said as he finished his last correction.

I let out an airy laugh and a small grin appeared on my face. "I never saw that." I muttered.

Mr. Fox smiled, "Every once and a while it's good to get a fresh pair of eyes on a problem you're stuck on. Before you start on this, there is a reason why I came down here." I raised an eyebrow at that.

"Is there something wrong?" I asked, concerned.

Mr. Fox chuckled and shook his head, "Not at all, Miss Moser. There will be a board meeting later this afternoon. Being the Head of the Technologies department means you also have to attend these meetings. Myself and the other higher ups want to see what you are currently working on. Don't let them know I gave you a helping hand." Mr. Fox winked at me before heading to the door.

"Thank you, Mr. Fox." I said just as he turned the door handle.

He turned his head to me with a smile, "It was my pleasure, Miss Moser. Oh and if I were you, I'd bring a sample of that new fiber to the meeting."

As soon as he left, I turned around with a grin on my face. "Alright Athena, let's run this last test."

"Right away."

I waved at Katie the secretary as I walked by her desk to the meeting room. Katie was currently on the phone but smiled and waved back.

I held a folder in one hand and a thumb drive in the other. That modification to the formula that Mr. Fox had done, worked like a charm. I had the sample I just ran a series of tests on. The thumb drive held the power point and video I had taken while testing the new fiber.

I caught a glimpse through the glass that the other board members were already there and waiting. Mr. Fox saw me and ushered me in with his hand.

I opened the door, "I hope I'm not too late." I said as I walked in.

Mr. Fox smiled, "Just on time, actually. I was just talking about you. Everyone, this is our new Head of Technologies. Melody Moser." I turned to look at the board and I felt myself freeze.

Sitting at the end of the table was Bruce. I felt a pain in my chest. He never said or texted that he was back. I know Alfred said he needs time but it still hurts knowing he didn't try to contact me.

"Miss Moser," I turned my back to Mr. Fox, "You have the floor." Mr. Fox stated and sat down in his chair.

Okay Mel, this is just like the meetings at Stark Industries. Forget that Bruce is there and it'll be fine.

I smiled and walked over the laptop that was connected to the overhead projector.

"I have been working on a project over the past two weeks. This is something that many scientists around the world have been trying to accomplish for some time now. I can say for certainty that we are now on the forefront of this latest discovery." I said as I got the laptop ready.

"What exactly is this discovery, Moser?" One of the older men on the board asked.

I plugged the thumb drive in and pulled up the power point, "Synthetic Spider Silk. It's no secret that the strongest fiber on Earth is spider silk. Its tensile strength is ten times stronger than anything we currently use. Mankind has been trying for decades to replicate what mother nature can do and failing…until today." I hit the spacebar and the slide showed a picture of the sample I had with me.

The same man scoffed, "This is supposed to impress us? This is what you've been putting the company's money towards? This seems like a waste of company money."

"Men's lives are a waste then, sir?" The older man seemed taken aback.

"That is not what I sai-" I went to the next slide that showed the video.

The sound of gun fire came from the video making many people jump in their seats. I turned my head slightly to the screen. I had fired an entire round at the white fiber covering a gelatin cube.

"That gelatin there replicates human tissue." I paused the video and pointed to the control group of gelatin I had beside the one with the fiber on it, "Those are bullet holes going through the control gelatin. Imagine that gelatin being a real person. People like the men and women that fight for our country. Now take a look at the gelatin with the new fiber covering it." I resumed the video.

The video showed me taking off the fiber from the gelatin. The gelatin was completely unharmed. I paused the video again.

"Same gelatin, same gun, same ammo. Does this seem like a waste of money now, sir?" I could visibly see the older man sink into his chair. I then opened the folder and pulled out the white fiber.

"You tell me, Mr. Fox. Do you see any evidence that this material just had an entire magazine of bullets fired at it?" I handed the fiber to Mr. Fox.

He gave a small smirk and took the fiber from my hands. He studied the fiber by feeling for any indentions with his fingers.

His smirk grew and handed it back to me, "No, I do not Miss Moser. There's not a scratch on it."

"This material is stronger than steel and tougher than Kevlar. Wayne Enterprises would be the first company to produce this for military and local law enforcement use. Making a vest or protective armor out of this fiber will save multiple lives of the men and women that protect and serve." The board members looked at each other and murmured to themselves.

I felt the all too familiar steely gaze of Bruce on me. I refused to look at him though. If I did, I would lose the composure that I was currently holding.

"Have you served, Miss Moser?" I turned my head to another man. He was younger than the first guy but not that far. His hair was mainly gray and age wrinkles adorned his face.

"No sir, but I was raised by a Marine that served for over twenty years before retirement." The man smiled fondly.

"What was the Marine's name and rank?" He asked.

"Colonel Daniel Moser, sir. I just called him dad." The man chuckled.

"I was a Major in the Marines myself. I might have served alongside your father, young lady." The retired Major stood up and looked at his fellow board member, "I say we fully invest in any assets required to produce this new fiber. I don't know about the rest of you but I wouldn't disagree with her." He pointed at me with a playful grin.

"This young lady knew exactly what she was doing firing that weapon. I wouldn't want to stand in her crosshairs." I couldn't help but smile as the retired Major chuckled.

I've never liked guns and my dad knew that. However, he'd still take me out to the range to know how to properly handle and fire one. He drilled that into me as a little girl. No daughter of his would disrespect or mishandle a firearm. He knew exactly how lethal they could be in the hands of the untrained and undisciplined. I did too, after all that's what got him killed.

"Then it's settled. I'll go over with Miss Moser on what exactly she needs to produce this on a larger scale." Mr. Fox said as he stood up.

I heard a beep and my eyes glanced down to see the red light emitting from my bracelet. What now, Martin?

"Excuse me." I excused myself and quickly headed out.

"What was that?" My sensitive ears picked up the retired Major's voice.

"Low blood sugar monitor." I smirked at Mr. Fox's excuse. I might have to start keeping juice boxes in the mini fridge in my office to keep that appearance.

I flew down to the police building where Detective Martin was waiting for me.

"Martin, what's going on?" I asked as I hopped onto the roof.

"A lot's happened actually. We got the mole." My head perked up at that. At least last night wasn't a total loss.

"Who was it?" I asked.

"Some rookie. Penguin offered the guy ten thousand dollars. I don't blame him for taking his offer. Guy has a really sick kid in the hospital. That amount of money would have paid for his kid's life saving surgery." My teeth clenched hearing this.

Penguin took advantage of a father desperate to save his child. I wanted to drag Penguin's ass all the way to prison myself.

"What happened to the rookie?" I asked.

Martin sighed, "The Commissioner's hands were tied. We were able to drop all charges but he was relieved of duty effective immediately." I clenched my hands tightly into fists.

"Did he ever meet Penguin?" Martin shook his head.

"They talked through a middle man. He did have more information on the last statue. The ruby one. It's being held for a private auction for Gotham's elite. The word through the grapevine that the rookie heard was that Penguin would be making a personal appearance." I smirked under my mask.

"When's the auction?" I asked.

"Tomorrow night. The Commissioner and I are currently trying to figure out a way to get into the auction without alarming Penguin." My mind immediately thought of one person who could show up to an auction like that and nobody would look twice. Bruce.

"I know somebody that can help with that." Martin raised an eyebrow.

"Who?"

I shook my head, "Sorry, I can't reveal my source for protection reasons." I climbed back onto my board and hovered it higher.

"I can see why you and Batman hang out now. You guys don't share much." I chuckled.

"It's called being a hero, Martin." I said and sped off into the Gotham's sky.

Bruce admits it! Now he just as to tell Melody but he hasn't had a chance to yet.