"You take this, Miss Melody." I gave a small smile as I took the teacup from Layla Martin's hand.
"Thank you, Layla. It looks very good." The little four year old grinned and walked back over to her playset.
"You're good at this." I turned my head to see Liam Martin himself standing behind me.
"Yeah, well Layla's a good kid." He nodded and took a seat opposite from me.
"Thanks again for letting me stay here, Liam." He held up his hand in dismissal.
"Don't bother, Mel. You know Viv and I will always welcome you in our home. You're practically family at this point." He assured me.
I downcasted my eyes on the small empty plastic purple teacup, "So," I looked back up to Liam.
"Exactly how bad did Bruce screw up for you not wanting to go home tonight?" I scoffed and leaned back.
"Majorly. I don't want to see his face right now." Liam grimaced.
"Oof, that bad huh?" I nodded. My eyes glanced over at Layla. She was in her own world right now playing with her stuffed animals and the tea set.
"You've seen what's been going on with Batman recently." I said in a hush tone. Liam's eyes glanced at his daughters before coming back to me.
"Layla, sweetie. Why don't you take your friends up in your room to play tea party? Daddy and his friend need to have a grown up conversation." He told his daughter.
"Okay, daddy." Layla grabbed her stuffed animals and headed up the stairs.
Liam sighed after hearing her door close, "Yeah, I've seen it personally. Any idea what's been going on in his head?" He asked as he stood up.
"I have a vague idea of why he's doing this." I told him. Liam walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge door.
"And that is?" He trailed off and picked up two beers. He held one up and I nodded. He closed the fridge door and walked back over.
"It has to do with Superman and what happened two years ago." I took the beer from Liam as he handed it to me.
"Still? Your man can certainly hold a grudge." Liam noted and twisted open the bottle.
"You have no idea." I muttered and twisted off my own cap. Liam sat back down at his spot and took a swig.
"He feels that threatened by Superman? I would have thought he'd be seeing Superman as an ally not an enemy." I took a swig of my own beer.
"You'd think but no. I think he's too blinded by anger to see that they're on the same side. He blames Superman for losing the baby. In his eyes, Superman took away what could have been for us." I said gently.
Liam rubbed his forehead with one hand, "Yeah, that's a tough situation. Mel, what happened was horrible but it wasn't anybody's fault. It wasn't yours, it wasn't Bruce's, and it wasn't Superman's. It was a very unfortunate accident that life sometimes throws our way. It's shitty and it sucks but it's life." I nodded numbly and took another swig of my beer.
"I think it's safe to say that we're pretty good friends, Mel. Best friends, even. I know him just branding bad guys wouldn't make you mad enough to not go home to him. What'd he say?" I bit the inside of my cheek.
"He compared me and Superman without realizing it. Saying that he's not like us, he's from a different world and his powers are considered dangerous and called him a freak." Liam groaned and leaned his head back.
"You know for such a smart guy like Bruce he sure can be a dumbass at times. He just called his own wife from the same background as Superman a freak." I nodded my head in agreement.
"I can sick Viv on him for you. She'd absolutely rip him a new one. You know she would." Liam offered and I grinned and chuckled.
"I know she would, Liam. I wouldn't release the tiger on him just yet." Liam let out a laugh and took a swig.
"Just say the word. She's one quick phone call away."
"Is she working late tonight?" I asked.
Liam nodded, "DA's office is taking on several of the branding cases right now. She would have some choice words for Batman as well. Imagine if she found out who he was." I grimaced at that.
"I don't think anybody needs to see that blood bath." Liam leaned his head back and laughed.
"Daddy!" Liam looked up hearing Layla calling him.
"That's my queue. Viv just put clean sheets in the guest bedroom this morning. Make yourself at home." He set down his beer and got up.
"Daddy!" Layla called again.
"Daddy's coming!" Liam called out. I let out a sad smile hearing Liam interact with Layla. My heart urned for something like that.
I heard a knock at the front door. I turned to look over my shoulder, "Hey Mel, you mind getting that? It's probably Viv. She was stopping by the twenty four hour store on the way home. Her hands are probably full!" I heard Liam call from upstairs.
"I got it!" I yelled back. I set my beer on the end table and headed over to the front door.
I walked up the single step of the entryway and unlocked the door. I opened the door and froze seeing it wasn't Vivian Martin like I was expecting. Bruce stood in front of the door. I crossed my arms and a hardened expression formed on my face.
"I had a feeling I'd find you here." Bruce broke the ice first. He had an apologetic and guilty look on his face. Good.
"What do you want?" I asked coldly. The tone of my voice made Bruce flinch.
"I came to apologize." He said. I heard Layla's play scream come from behind me.
I stepped forward and closed the door behind me, "I'm listening." Layla didn't need to hear if this got heated between us again.
Bruce sighed, "I'm sorry, Mel. For what I said and what I'm doing with the whole branding thing." He dug something from his coat pocket and pulled it out. He opened his palm to show the small bat symbol branding ring in his hand.
He held it out to me, "Take it. This isn't worth losing you over." I took a step forward and grabbed it from his hand. His fingers gently brushed the top of my scarred palm.
I grasped it in my hand, "It's a start." I told him and put the branding ring in my own pocket.
Bruce lowered his arm, "Mel, about what I said…that wasn't directed towards you. You're not a freak and you are nothing like him." I narrowed my eyes on him.
"You don't even know him to judge him, Bruce." Bruce turned his head to the side and huffed.
"I just know, Mel. You have never been destructive with your powers. He is and he's reckless. That recklessness is dangerous to others. What happened two years ago could have been preventable if he had taken that fight to a non-populated area. He didn't and in turn thousands died including…" He couldn't finish his sentence and his eyes trailed down to my stomach.
"Things could have happened differently. I'm sorry for hurting you, Mel. I'm an idiot for not thinking of the parallels I made back there. I just want you to come home with me." He pleaded.
I gave a smile, "Say that again." Bruce frowned in confusion.
"I'm sorry?" He asked, unsure of which part.
"After that." I said with a small smirk on my face. Realization came to his face.
He hung his head and sighed, "I'm an idiot." He repeated and looked me in the eyes. My smirk grew hearing him say it again.
"Yeah, you are." I took a step forward and wrapped my arms around him. His arms instantly wrapped around me and held me tight against him. I felt him rest his head against mine and took a deep breath in.
"I don't like it when we fight." He muttered against my hair.
"Neither do I." I agreed. I felt him place a lingering kiss on the side of my head.
"Let me take you home. I got the leech device back from Diana." He whispered to me.
I nodded and stood back, "I'll let Liam now I'm leaving." Bruce nodded and he let me go as I opened the front door again.
I walked down the staircase of the Batcave to the main hub where Bruce was at. I had just taken a shower while we were waiting for the decryption to finish.
"Is it done yet?" I asked. Bruce snapped his head over to me and he had a panic stricken look on his face. He suddenly got out of his chair and I was taken aback by his sudden hug.
"Whoa, are you okay?" I asked softly and hugged him back. He pulled back only to grab my face in his hands and bring me in for a frantic kiss. Now I was getting concerned.
He pulled away and I placed one hand on his cheek, "What's wrong?" I asked softly.
"I fell asleep at the desk. I had a very real and very, very bad nightmare." I gave him a look of concern as I moved the hand on his cheek through his dark hair.
"Did you want to talk about it?" He shook his head.
"No, I don't want to think about it right now." I nodded in understanding.
I looked over at the screen to see the 100% screen on the monitor. "It finished, Bruce." I pointed out. Bruce turned around and let go of me to the computer. He sat down on the chair and grabbed the mouse.
He pulled up the database and typed in "White Portuguese". An image of a boat suddenly popped up.
"It's a boat, not a person." I whispered seeing the image.
"And it's currently docked at Gotham's harbors." Bruce added.
"What's it carrying?" I asked and kept my attention on screen.
An image of a green glowing rock popped up on screen. I frowned, "A rock?" I asked.
A log of information and lab data suddenly pulled up regarding the green rock. My eyes slowly started to widen as I read.
"That green rock is capable of weakening Kryptonian cells? This rock can really hurt Superman?" I said in almost disbelief.
"We need to get that." Bruce said immediately with a hardened look.
I turned to Bruce, "What are you planning on doing with that, Bruce?" I asked with a serious expression.
"If this rock is really his weakness then we need to get our hands on it." Bruce pointed out.
"And do what with it?"
"What else? Build a weapon from it." I looked at Bruce in complete shock.
"You want to kill Superman? Bruce, when are you going to open your eyes? He's not our enemy. We're on the same side!" I pleaded with him.
"He's not our enemy today but he could be. I remember what you told me about the Avengers years ago. You had a member of the team that was a ticking time bomb. He could destroy a city within minutes and you all knew this. You had insurance plans to stop him if it ever happened." Bruce stated.
"To stop him, never to kill him! Bruce, Superman hasn't done anything wrong! If this is about what happened two years ago then you can't blame him for what happened." I told him.
"Why not?! If it wasn't for him, we could have had a family at this moment! We could have had a son or a daughter! I could have been a father!" Bruce yelled. A look of rage mixed with hurt spread on his face.
I mirrored his look, "And I could have been a mother." I replied in a soft tone.
I knelt down and placed a hand on his leg as I looked up at him, "That day was just as painful for me as it was for you. You saw how I spiraled after. I blamed myself for months for what happened. I can't tell you how many times I replayed that scenario in my head and thought of the what ifs. What if I had dodged in time, what if I had just let the building fall and more." I grabbed his hand and squeezed it.
"Bruce, what happened was nobody's fault. It was a horrible accident that nobody could have stopped." I whispered to him. Bruce looked at me where a single tear had fallen down his cheek.
"He could have stopped it." He whispered with hate in his voice. He pulled his hand away from me and swiveled the chair. He got up and started to walk away as I stood back up.
"Bruce," He stopped and glanced over his shoulder, "If this is what you want to do with that rock then I can't help you. I'm not going to help you create a weapon that will kill Superman. If you want to break your one rule then go ahead. Just know that taking the life of another will haunt you for the rest of your life." I warned him.
Bruce turned to me, "If it means protecting the world from him then I can live with that." I shook my head as I stared at him.
"I don't recognize you anymore, Bruce. The Bruce Wayne I married is not the one standing in front of me anymore. I want my husband back." I said with hurt in my voice.
Bruce swallowed thickly, "Sorry to disappoint." He muttered and continued to walk away.
I gave a frustrated sigh and rubbed my face with my hands. I sat down on the chair. I rested my elbows on the desk and my head in my hands. What am I going to do with him?
"Madam," I looked up hearing Alfred, "I know you don't want to help Master Wayne but he's going to need you." Alfred advised.
I shook my head, "I don't recognize him anymore, Alfred." I argued.
"I don't either but you are the only one that can bring him back. May I remind you that you took a vow five years ago. In sickness and in health. Master Wayne is sick right now. He needs his wife even if he doesn't think he does. He's changing now to head out there to get that rock. Please, for my sake and yours watch over him tonight. Batman needs Voltess' help tonight." Alfred pleaded with me.
I let out a sigh, "You just had to throw my vows in my face." I muttered.
Alfred smiled knowingly, "Desperate times call for desperate measures I'm afraid." I gave a breathy chuckle.
"Okay, I'll keep an eye on him." I assured Alfred.
I knelt on my board as its hover technology kept it in the air. I could see Batman crouched on top of the crane as he watched the men below. The men below were loading up the shipping container that held the green rock. The men eventually closed the back of the truck.
I could see Batman grab a tracking batarang from his belt. He threw it with enough force that the sharp metal easily embedded into the metal of the truck. Batman then dove off from the crane and glided down with his cape.
I stood up and moved my board seeing he was now on the move. Batman didn't know I was following him. My stealth had considerably gotten better the past five years. Between putting advanced hover tech in my board to achieve flight without my powers and from Bruce teaching me how to hide in the shadows.
I heard the familiar roar of the Batmobile's engine come from below. I watched as the Batmobile chased the other cars and stopping the other vehicles. Some cars flipped over to their roofs and other drivers lost control of their vehicles and crashed. Some of the crashed cars were now up in flames.
One of the cars that was trying to pin the Batmobile earlier couldn't stop in time as a gasoline truck went in front of it's path. I looked on alert as a large explosion from the sudden collision occurred. I could feel the heat of the blast from up in the sky.
Once the explosion died down, I didn't see the Batmobile anymore. I sped up my board and looked around for the armored vehicle. Where'd he go? It'd take more than an explosion to stop the Batmobile.
My question was answered when the Batmobile crashed through the side of the building. The armored vehicle drove through several old boats. The Batmobile drifted to its side and sped down the alley way the truck carrying the rock headed down.
There were three men on the opened end of the truck. They were all firing weapons at the Batmobile and one had a rocket launcher. I tensed seeing the rocket launcher. I was about to head down myself but I heard the sound of the pulse emitters coming from the Batmobile to trigger the explosive material of the bullets and rocket before connecting to the vehicle. Lucius Fox you're a goddamn genius when it comes to these vehicles. I had forgotten about that upgrade.
The truck turned a corner and I followed above as the Batmobile drifted along the corner. The headlights then revealed a familiar figure in red and blue standing in the way. My eyes widen behind my mask. Superman is here.
The Batmobile tried to stop but not in time before colliding into Superman. It caused the Batmobile to turn around and back up into a neighboring warehouse.
I cursed silently in my head as Superman began to approach the Batmobile. I knew that stupid branding was going to get someone's attention! I just didn't expect it to be Supermans! The thought of Superman doing something to Bruce…
Blue electricity crackled under me as I shot down to the two men. My jaw clenched seeing Superman tear off the hatch of the Batmobile. I could see Batman stand up and the two men were face to face now.
"Next time they shine your light in the sky, don't go to it. The Bat is dead. Bury it. Consider this mercy." Did Superman just threaten my husband? Now he's crossed a line. Nobody threatens the people I care about, not even someone like him.
"That sounds like a threat." I spoke up. Superman and Batman turned their heads to me, "I don't take to those very well." I said in a harsh tone as I hovered above them.
"My problem isn't with you, Voltess." Superman clarified.
"You just made it my problem by threatening him." I replied back sharply.
Superman gently flew from the ground until he hovered just in front of me. I could see his face clearly now and I looked at him in shock under my mask. I knew that face. That's Clark Kent! I had to keep my composure though. I couldn't let him know that I knew, not just yet anyway.
"You're protecting him? Voltess, you have been in the same city as him. You of all people should know what he has done." Superman stated. Looks like Clark did do some digging on Voltess and Batman after all.
"I know everything that he has done. I might not agree with what he's doing now but that doesn't overshadow what he's done in the past. Gotham City is a far cry from Metropolis. It's not all sunshine and rainbows here. You have no idea what has gone on here and the evil that has lurked in this city's shadows. Batman is not your enemy and neither am I. However, if you act on your threat," I hovered closer to the Kryptonian, "then we will be enemies. I've fought aliens like you in the past and I've beaten them. You're no different. You don't scare me." I said with a dangerous tone to my synthesized voice.
Superman gave me a pained look, "I was hoping we could have been friends, Voltess. I guess that was wishful thinking." He said quietly.
"I guess so." I agreed. I had thought along the same lines as him. That we could have been friends, but that went out the window as soon as he threatened the man I love. Superman gave me one last look before shooting off higher into the sky.
"That weapon doesn't sound too bad of an idea now does it?" Batman's deep synthesized voice cut through the thick air. I hovered down and stepped off as Batman walked to me from the Batmobile.
I looked up where Superman had disappeared, "No…it doesn't." I muttered and turned to Batman, "Don't think this means I'm onboard with your plan. I don't agree with killing him but stopping him…I'm all for that." Batman smirked under his cowl.
"I'll take it." He took another step until he was right in front of me, "How long have you been here?" He asked curiously.
"I've been following you since you left the cave. I kept my distance to keep an eye on you. I'm glad I did." I replied.
Batman let out a breathy chuckle and a proud smile, "You've improved a lot. I had no idea."
"Well I learned from the best." Batman got a glint in his eyes and his smile turned back into a smirk.
"Head back to the cave. We need to pull up the tracking." I nodded and stepped back onto my board. Batman got back into the Batmobile. That hatch is going to be expensive to fix…
I flew down the lake opening of the Batcave while the Batmobile drove on the road just next to me. We both reached the main hub of the Batcave. I hopped off my board and recalled it to my hand. My mask retreated down to my chin as Bruce hopped out of the Batmobile.
He placed his hands on either side of his cowl and pulled the top portion off. He held it in one hand as he walked up the stairs to the computer screens. I followed closely behind him.
He set down his cowl on the desk and pulled up the tracking. He leaned against the desk as the computer showed on screen that it was searching for the signal from the batarang transponder. The computer began to zoom in on the map until it stopped. LexCorp Research Park.
"There it is." I muttered.
"I would rather prefer it to be here." Bruce stated. He stood up straight and we turned to each other. He suddenly grew a smirk on his face. I furrowed my brows slightly as he pulled me to him with one arm.
He leaned his head down until he was by my ear, "Hearing you defend me against him was quite a turn on." He whispered huskily. A smirk of my own grew on my face. Bruce always did like it when I got protective of him. Something about it got him excited.
I leaned my head up slightly, "Then get out of the suit and meet me upstairs." I whispered into his ear. I didn't need to say anything else to motivate Bruce. Without a word he let go of my waist and headed in the direction of the changing room.
I retracted my own suit and headed for the elevator back to the penthouse. Even though we're going through a rough patch right now with this whole Superman ordeal. I have to admit I still love being married to this man. It's moments like these that the Bruce Wayne I know comes back. I just need to get him to stay back.