Batman turned around sharply enough that his cape made a flapping sound. Blake turned to the vigilante. He knew he was feeling the same anger that he was.

"Hey!" Blake called out and hurried over to Batman's side, "You don't even know where to start looking for him." He said in a hush tone. Batman stopped and glared at the man.

"I can find him." He replied gruffly. Anger is clearly evident in his tone of voice.

"Then let me help. She was my friend too, Bruce." Blake hissed out in a quiet voice so Martin didn't overhear. Gordon already knew who Batman was under the mask but his partner didn't.

"Fine, get suited up. We'll split the city up between us." Batman climbed back into the Batmobile and closed the hatch. Blake look at Gordon and the man nodded.

"Get going Blake." Blake nodded and turned around to leave.

"John!" Blake stopped hearing Martin call him by his preferred name. He turned his head to see Martin giving him a hard look.

"What the hell is going on? What did Joker mean back there when he had us both? He acted like he knew you but as somebody else!" Martin demanded from his friend.

Blake shook his head with a solemn look, "I'm sorry Liam. It's better that you don't know." He answered and got into the car. Martin glared at the vehicle as it turned on and drove away.

"I take it you know what's going on, Commissioner?" He asked bitterly but didn't turn to Gordon.

"Yes. Blake's right…it's better for you to stay in the dark on this." Gordon advised.

Martin turned his head and gave a steely glare to his chief in command, "Is it? Is it really, Commissioner? Whatever it is, you know, it's related to Voltess. She was my friend and partner just as much as Blake is to me and Batman is to her. I think I have a right to know." Martin turned and began to walk away from the rubble but not before grabbing the silver board.

Gordon placed his hands on his hips and sighed. He looked out to the rubble, "Please be out there somewhere. Gotham isn't ready to lose Voltess just yet." He murmured.

2 Days Earlier…

I shuffled my feet into the bathroom with a grimace look on my face. The soreness began to settle in now due to yesterday's actions. I lifted up my shirt and faced my back to the mirror. A large faint purple bruise formed where my back had taken the full force of the water. Even with accelerated healing that was going to take a while to fully heal. I moved my hand to barely touch the bruise and I flinched feeling the tenderness of it.

"That looks bad." I turned my head to see Bruce in his business attire clothes. He leaned against the door frame with his arms crossed his chest.

"It looks worse than it feels." I assured him and dropped my shirt back down.

"I'm sorry I couldn't help." Bruce said softly. He held a solemn expression on his face.

I shook my head, "Don't beat yourself up. We can't control what Joker was going to do. He attacked in the daytime knowing Batman couldn't show up." Bruce hung his head and looked away.

"Bruce," His eyes flickered to me and I placed a hand on his cheek, "I'm fine. I'm definitely sore but I'm okay." I reassured him. He grabbed my hand from his cheek and placed a kiss on my knuckles.

"At least try to take it easy today. For my sake, Mel." He requested of me. His thumb gently stroked across my fingers.

"You know I can't promise that. If Joker attacks again-"

"I'll handle it." Bruce interrupted me, "I don't like seeing you get hurt, Mel. For the first time in years I felt helpless yesterday. I stood on the sidelines and just watched. I can't just stand there and watch you take on the bad guys alone either." He referenced my earlier talk I had with him months ago.

I let out a drawn out sigh. He did have a point. I pushed my body to its limits yesterday. The soreness and aches of my body were reminding me of that with every muscle I moved. I should let my body rest and heal for a day.

"Okay. I'll take it easy today. No hero work." Bruce sighed in relief and smiled.

"Thank you." He said gratefully. He leaned down and caught me in a gentle kiss. He separated the kiss and moved some stray hairs from my forehead.

"I'm going to follow some leads today so it'll just be you and Alfred in the house. Call me if you need anything." I nodded and leaned forward. He met me halfway in another kiss and I felt his hand cup my cheek. He broke from the kiss and his thumb gently stroked my cheek.

"I love you." He whispered as his hazel eyes bore into my blue ones.

"I love you too." He smiled and gave one last kiss to my forehead before pulling away. His hand trailed down my arm and lightly grabbed at my hand before he fully walked away. I stepped forward and leaned against the doorframe as I watched him leave through the bedroom door. I heard the sound of car keys getting grabbed before the sound of the front door opening and shutting.

I reached my hand up and gently grabbed the diamond infinity necklace that I wore around my neck. A small smile appeared on my face as I fiddled with it. How this man could still make my heart beat faster than it already is all the time amazes me. Despite the current circumstances, my life felt perfect.

I leaned against the arm of the sofa with my cheek resting on my fist. I held the tv remote up with my other hand as I channel surfed through the different stations. I was bored…very bored. I let out a sigh and stopped the channel surfing as it landed on a soap opera. I raised an eyebrow at seeing the dramatic scene play out on the screen.

"I have to tell Julio that I love him before he gets on that plane!" The lead actress said dramatically.

"But Julia, his flight leaves in an hour." The other actor said on screen.

"Julia better get there fast then." I muttered under my breath.

"I didn't realize you liked soap operas, Miss Moser." I heard an amused British voice from behind me.

I lifted my head from my fist and behind my shoulder, "I never really watched them. I was bored and channel surfing. I landed on this and it caught my interest. These shows are overly dramatic. I never understood why some people love these." I answered and turned back to the screen.

The next scene was playing on screen. Julia was now at the airport stopping who I assumed to be Julio. Dramatic music began to play as the two met.

"Julio, please don't leave! I love you!" Julia confessed to him. Julio dramatically turned his head away from Julia.

"I'm sorry, Julia, but I don't love you. I didn't know how to tell you this…but I'm in love with Nadia…your sister." My jaw dropped and I gasped slightly at the revelation.

"What?! That is cold, Julio!" I said out loud in shock.

"Would you like me to make some popcorn, Miss Moser?" I heard Alfred asked with amusement in his voice.

"Yeah, that'd be great Alfred." I answered quickly but kept my eyes on the screen. I'm now understanding why people enjoy these.

"Okay, Julio doesn't deserve Julia now. She moved on and now all of sudden he wants her. What a tool." I said as I threw some popcorn in my mouth.

"But he admitted he denied his feelings for her in the beginning." Alfred countered.

"He loved both sisters and he chose Nadia over Julia but that was before he discovered Nadia cheated on him and is now pregnant with another man's child. Julia was just the backup." I argued back and pointed to Alfred.

Alfred and I had both gotten hooked onto this soap opera. We were several episodes in. Apparently there was a whole marathon running right now that was leading to the season finale of the show. I had a bowl of popcorn in my lap and Alfred was sitting across from me.

I didn't pay any mind to the sound of the front door opening and closing. Alfred didn't even turn his head either. Both of us had our eyes glued to the screen as Julia and Julio appeared on screen for their first reunion since the airport.

"Hello? I'm home." I heard Bruce's confused voice behind me. I absentmindedly waved at him but kept my eyes on the screen.

"Yeah, welcome home." I dismissed him quickly.

"Yes, welcome home sir." Alfred did the same as me and kept his eyes on the screen.

"What are you two wat-"

"Shhh!" Alfred and I both shushed him. Bruce moved his head back not expecting to get shushed.

"Julia, I'm sorry. Please take me back. I made a mistake running to Nadia." Julio pleaded. He grabbed Julia's hands. She ripped away her hands from Julio.

"No, Julio. I've moved on. I'm in love with another man!" I munched on some more popcorn. Julia hadn't revealed who the new man was. We had only seen back shots of the actor or scenes that covered his face.

"Who? Julia, please tell me who has taken you away from me!" Julio begged.

Before Julia could respond another figure appeared on screen. It was the man that we had seen constantly with Julia. The camera slowly panned up to reveal the man's face.

I pointed to the screen, "I called it!" I yelled. On the screen was the same actor that played Julio.

"Juan?! My own twin brother?!" Julio exclaimed. The credits of the episode began to roll and a commercial popped up.

"Nicely deduced, Miss Moser. I certainly did not see it coming." Alfred praised.

"What is happening right now?" Bruce asked and looked at us completely lost.

"Miss Moser discovered this show and I find it quite entertaining, Master Wayne." Alfred checked the time on his watch.

"It's past one o'clock. I'll begin making lunch then." He said and got up from the couch.

"I'll make the DVR record the finale episode then. We've found a show to watch together, Alfred." I commented. I reached for the remote and opened up the guide.

"That sounds like a wonderful idea, Miss Moser." Alfred agreed and disappeared into the kitchen.

I hit record on the DVR as Bruce took a seat next to me on the couch. "I never took you as a fan of those kinds of shows." Bruce commented. He rested his arms on the backside of the couch.

"I wasn't until I found this one while channel surfing. I got bored this morning." I told him as I changed the channel. I didn't want to start watching the episode with Alfred.

"Well it looks like you had a bonding experience with Alfred because of that show." Bruce commented with an amused expression on his face.

I shrugged, "It was nice. How'd you do with chasing your leads?" I asked. I set down the popcorn bowl on the coffee table and turned my attention to him.

"Dead ends mainly. The police were able to apprehend those men you dropped into the harbor yesterday. Blake said he and Martin were going to interrogate them to try and get anything out of them. Blake's going to call me if he finds anything out." Bruce moved his hand towards me. His fingers twirling some of my blonde locks.

"How are you feeling?" He asked suddenly.

"I still feel sore but it's gotten somewhat better. My back on the other is a different story. I still can't put any pressure on the bruise without it being tender. It's why I'm hunched over right now." I explained to him. Bruce frowned and moved his hand to my shirt. He gently lifted up the clothing and stared at the purple bruise that went from my lower back to the middle of my back.

"You should put a heating pad on this. It'd help with the healing." Bruce advised.

I shrugged, "It'll heal up by tomorrow anyway." Bruce rolled his eyes.

"Your accelerated healing factor, I know. Just because you have that doesn't mean you should be reckless about getting hurt. I'm grabbing the heating pad." He got up from the couch and headed in the direction of where Alfred kept the first aid supplies.

I huffed and without thinking I leaned my back against the couch. As soon as the tender bruise pressed against the leather I straightened back up and let out a hiss through my teeth. I don't know if I'd be diving off a bridge ever again. Hitting the water felt like concrete and now my body's paying for it.

Bruce came back from around the corner and stopped seeing the pained look on my face.

"You just leaned on it, didn't you?" He asked and something told me he already knew the answer.

I grimaced, "Yeah." I managed to say. Bruce shook his head and continued his strides over to me.

"Lay down on your stomach." He ordered. I adjusted myself until I was lying flat on the couch. I felt Bruce lift my shirt up and I could hear the click of the heating pad being turned on. I winced slightly at the added weight of the heating pad on the bruise. The pad began to heat up and the pain quickly vanished. I closed my eyes and let out a sigh of relief.

"Better?" Bruce asked with a chuckle.

"Much." I opened my eyes as Bruce sat down on the floor. He rested his elbow on the couch and moved the stray hairs that fell down in front of my face.

"You're too stubborn for your own good sometimes." Bruce mused with a smile on his face.

I narrowed my eyes on him, "I could say the same thing about you." Bruce's smile widened and let out a breathy chuckle.

My ears picked up on the sound of Bruce's cell phone going off in his pocket. I had a feeling I already knew who it was. Bruce just mentioned he was waiting on a call from Blake. Bruce fished his phone from his pocket and answered.

"Bruce." He answered. His expression and tone of voice is now more serious. I could vaguely make out Blake's voice on the other end.

"When's the trade happening?" I perked up hearing that. What did Blake find out from Joker's men?

"Alright. I'll head to the docks tonight. You and Martin follow up on the lead in the Narrows." Bruce then ended the line.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"One of the guys spilled everything for immunity in the future case. What remains of Penguins men are setting up a trade with Joker. Money in exchange for weapons. There's another lead somewhere in the Narrows. Martin and Blake are going to check it out tonight while I deal with stopping the trade." Bruce informed me.

"If Joker is there at the trade tonight, you sure you won't let him get to you?" Bruce gave me a look.

"I'll be fine, Mel. You promised me, remember? No hero work today for you." Bruce reminded me with a stern gaze.

I let out a sigh, "It was easier said then done in hindsight." I muttered. It was harder to just stay here and do nothing knowing Bruce would be out there fighting Joker.

Bruce sighed and stroked his fingers through my hair, "I know it's hard for you. I just want you safe tonight, that's all. I don't like seeing you like this." He said softly.

"Master Wayne, Miss Moser lunch is ready." I heard Alfred's voice come from behind the couch.

"Thank you, Alfred." Bruce thanked the butler. He then turned to me, "Stay here, I'll get your plate." He said as he got up before I could even attempt to get up myself.

My leg bounced up and down rapidly as I sat in the office chair of the Batcave. I fiddled with my hands and chewed on my lower lip. I was getting antsy just sitting here. Bruce had left just over an hour ago to head to the trade site at the docks. My back was feeling better with the bruise mostly healed up now but Bruce still wouldn't let me go. I did promise him so I didn't argue too much. It's just…I kept getting the gut feeling like something bad was going to happen. I couldn't shake the feeling and it was getting worse the longer it took for Bruce to return.

My eyes looked down at the cave floor and my brows slowly came together. Why was I seeing a flashing reflective light off the cave floor? I looked over my shoulder hesitantly and I felt my heart sink. There on the screen flashed "Batman S.O.S". No...the distress signal!

No One's P.O.V

Batman turned behind a cargo container while his left hand held onto his right side. He had arrived where Blake had told him the trade was going to happen. There was nobody there. None of Penguins men and no Joker. Just when he had thought Blake was fed false information he was ambushed by Joker's men.

The new suit kept him protected for longer than his last one would have but he got hit by a machete. The synthetic material had done its job and took most of the brunt of the blade but he still got hit. He lifted his gloved hand from his side to see his crimson blood on it.

Batman placed his hand back on the wound and seethed through his teeth in pain. He turned his head as he heard the yells from Joker's men searching for him.

"He couldn't have gotten far! We got him good, boys!" He heard one of the men yell.

He looked up to the sky waiting to see any sparks in the air yet. He really didn't want Melody doing any hero work today but he also didn't expect to fall into a trap. He had no choice but to activate the distress signal Melody had made them months ago. He was already getting light headed from the blood loss.

He leaned his back against the shipping container. He grabbed a batarang from his belt as he heard fast footsteps approaching. He tried to silent his breathing as best he could while feeling the pain from his side. He turned the corner and went to throw the batarang but stopped mid throw seeing the familiar black and purple metal suit of Voltess.

Melody's P.O.V

I punched the face of one of the Joker's men and let him fall to the ground. I looked around myself and looked at the pile surrounding me. My chest heaved from the adrenaline pumping through my veins. Any soreness or pain I felt gone with the powerful drug in my system.

Batman had been led to a trap. Joker knew his men would get caught and he knew one would squeal under police pressure. I had tried calling Blake when I got Batman's S.O.S but he didn't answer no matter how many times I tried calling him. Him and Martin went down to the Narrows and if this was a trap, then so was that.

I walked over the unconscious bodies of Joker's men. I still needed to find Batman and if he's hurt then that means he's hiding in the shadows. I'd have a hard time finding him while he's doing that. I was looking for any sign or clue that could possibly lead me to his location.

I walked by a shipping container and stopped. I took a step backwards and looked at it with the moon light being the only source of light. Blood. There was blood smeared on the container. I looked down at the floor and I could see blood drops on the concrete ground. I slowly walked as my eyes followed the blood trail. It's him.

I broke off into a jog and followed the blood trail. What the hell hit him to make him bleed so much? It must have been a big weapon if the synthetic spider silk material couldn't protect him fully from the hit.

I got my answer as I neared a shipping container. I saw a dark blur whip around the corner but suddenly stopped. I stopped seeing Batman holding a batarang in his hand ready to throw. I felt relief finally laying eyes on him.

"Are they…?" He trailed off with a grunt. His voice synthesizer still on.

"They're down, all of them." I rushed over to him as he dropped the batarang. My mask retreated down below my chin as I did so. I felt Batman slump against me as I got to his left side. I could see him clutch at his right side.

"What happened?" I asked as I tried to gently lower him to the ground. He winced and groaned in pain as he made it to the ground.

"Ambush. I was holding them off then one of them hit me with a machete." Batman removed his hand from his side and my eyes slightly widened seeing the wound.

"How bad is it?" Bruce's unaltered voice came through this time.

"Considering it was a machete that did this, I think it's safe to say it could have been worse. Much worse. The spider silk helped but I'll have to patch the suit but first we need to patch you up." I took hold of his left hand and tapped on the control panel.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

"I had a feeling this would happen at some point so I put some first aid in the suit. There. Point your fist at the wound." Bruce looked at me with confusion under the cowl but did as instructed.

"Okay, I'm not going to lie. This is gonna hurt but you need to make sure you cover the entire wound. Ready?" I said as my finger hovered over the last button on the control panel to press.

Bruce tightened his jaw and nodded his head. He looked at the wound and as soon as my finger pressed the final button, a white spray discharged from under the small raised groves of the knuckles to the gloves. Bruce immediately let out a groan from the pain and his whole body tensed. His groans turned into a shout as he finally covered the entire wound with the medicine. He unclenched his fist and the medicine stopped dispensing.

His body immediately relaxed as the initial pain stopped. His eyes weakly glanced at me as his chest heaved. From what I could see of his face the skin looked pale. I placed my right gloved hand on top of the bat symbol of his chest armor. My left one cupped his face through the cowl.

"You did it. That sealed up the wound. You're alright now." I soothed in a calming voice. Bruce lifted his right hand and placed it on top of mine on his chest.

"Thank you." He shook his head, "I really didn't want you out here tonight." I couldn't help but smile.

"Look who's saving who now." Bruce gave a small smile and chuckled. His hand weakly squeezed mine.

"How light headed are you?" I asked. He had been bleeding out for a while. It would explain why he looked pale and weak at the moment. Humans kind of need that red body fluid to stay in our bodies to function.

"Very." He answered simply.

I looked around, "Where did you park?" I asked in reference to the Batmobile. Bruce lifted his gloved hand and pointed towards the main shipyard.

"Okay, come on. I need to get you back." I crouched down to his left side seeing as it was the uninjured side. I put his left arm around my shoulder.

Bruce grunted in discomfort as he helped push himself up while leaning on me. God I forgot just how heavy he is thanks to the suit and how dense his build is. I don't think I would have been able to carry him if he was unconscious.

I sat at the edge of mine and Bruce's bed. Said man was currently laying on his back passed out from the blood loss he experienced. My eyes followed the cut that still had the white medicine that bandaged the wound. Alfred about had a heart attack seeing the state he was in when I drove the Batmobile into the cave.

The medicine used to treat his wound was created to seal up open gashes without the need for stitches. It was also an antibacterial and antiviral agent to stop any infection that might have been there. That's why it stung him so bad. With this, it shouldn't scar too badly. Better than if stitches were involved.

"I don't want to begin to think what could have happened if you didn't get there in time, Miss Moser." I heard Alfred's voice come from the doorway.

"Neither do I." I agreed in a whisper. I kept my eyes on Bruce's sleeping form.

"I got a hold of Commissioner Gordon. Both Detectives Martin and Blake have not been seen since they left for the Narrows earlier in the evening." Alfred informed me.

I stood up from the bed and placed a hand on top of Bruce's. I used my other hand to move his dark hair that was damp from sweat that stuck to his forehead.

"I'm heading out, Alfred. Keep an eye on him while I'm gone." I pulled back from Bruce and walked by him.

"You're going to search for the detectives?" Alfred asked as he followed me.

"I don't plan on searching, I plan on knowing. Ryan and I need to have another chat." I tapped my bracelet and let my suit once again form around my body.

"Please be careful, Miss Moser." Alfred pleaded with me. He already had one scare seeing Bruce the way he is currently.

"Ryan won't hurt me." I said confidently. I walked onto the pier and threw my board out. My feet were placed on it and I took off in the direction of the abandoned mansion.

No One's P.O.V

Ryan Hayes threw his bag down at the corner of the room in the abandoned mansion he was crashing at. He had a makeshift cot in the same corner and an outdoor cooker to the side of it.

He stifled a yawn and ran a hand through his brown hair. He headed for the other side of the room and stopped feeling a presence. One that was all too familiar.

"You're getting pretty good at hiding in the shadows, but not at the level as your boyfriend, Mel." He turned to face a corner in the room where darkness lay.

The white eyes of the Voltess mask suddenly glowed to life as the heroine stepped from out of the shadows. The mask receded down to her chin to reveal the blonde haired and icy blue eyed woman known as Melody Moser beneath.

"We need to talk." Her voice held an authoritative tone that Ryan wasn't use to hearing coming from her. A coy smirk formed on the meta-human's face. This intrigued him.

"Let's talk then."