Note: this story is set after "The Victims Don't Have to Care", and is in the same universe thereof. Since "The Victims Don't Have to Care" is set after "Hunter's Moon" in the DCAU, it is also set after, well, that.
Disclaimer: as it should be quite clear due to the fact that I'm posting this in a fanfiction website, I do not, in fact, own the DCAU.
Doctor Sandra Molina's story was, by all accounts, that of the American dream – with every bit of its underbelly: she had fled the US-supported dictatorship in Guatemala to the United States themselves, worked hard, graduated in Psychiatry, specialized in super-heroes, obtained her Green Card and helped her brothers obtain theirs and now lived comfortably in the US, a country that would never have the kind of government it made a sport of propping up during the Cold War. Her house had two stories and a pleasant balcony that gave way to a breezy, wooded area in the great state of Illinois.
She was also one of the very few unpowered civilians that had managed to entrap and torture a hero and get away with it, though a pretty good case could be made that said hero deserved it. That was because the hero, Shayera Hol, had aided in the invasion of Molina's planet and caused her to experience the very same kind of dictatorship she had fled. Everybody had their traumas, after all; if Shayera's was claustrophobia, Molina's was rule by military might.
Shayera had gotten away with it, so she, Sandra Molina, should too. To Shayera's credit, she herself had accepted this.
Molina often thought about this, but, right now, she was just sipping some tea and reading a book, shortly before bed, enjoying the coziness of her closed bedroom. Suddenly, the wind moving through the door to her balcony made itself felt.
She carefully set her cup and her book aside and looked up to see a visage she already expected the moment she felt the wind.
Batman was not in the habit of making his house calls polite, after all.
That said, facing one's fears twice and settling the score with the cause once were the kind of things that left someone a bit harder to intimidate.
"Well? Are you here to threaten me or chastise me?" – she asked, coolly. – "Or have you finally lost all of that precious honor and decided to come after me even though you people promised not to?"
If Molina's reaction surprised the Dark Knight, he did not let it show.
"Neither." – he said. – "I came to make a proposal."
"In that case, you will leave, go to my front door and ring my doorbell." – said Molina, simply. – "And then, and only then, will I listen to what you have to say. This isn't a power play. You need to learn to deal with other humans. I will get dressed and we will sit and talk."
Bruce Wayne, under the cowl, simply nodded and saw himself out through the balcony, under Molina's gaze.
Shortly afterwards, the two were sitting in the doctor's living room, with a teapot on the coffee table between them.
"Would you care for some, Batman?" – she asked, politely.
"No. I remember the last time one of us drank or ate anything you offered." – he answered.
"Suit yourself, but I don't tend to keep tea laced with roofies around just in case one of you people visit me in the middle of the night." – said Molina, shrugging. – "The thing with Shayera is over and done. Plus you didn't get the Earth invaded. And I'm fairly certain that her admitting that she deserved what I did was a one-time event. But, anyways: what brings you here?"
"Regardless of how things went the last time we met, you were right about one thing." – said Batman, cutting to the chase. – "Arkham needs new administration. And I have been looking at your file. I believe you are qualified."
"Setting aside how we have zero reason to trust one another, surely you don't think things will change there just by me taking the wheel." – said Molina. – "When I said Arkham is a dump, I wasn't exaggerating. A change in management alone won't even begin to solve its issues."
"You yourself said your issue with Shayera is over." – Batman answered. – And she herself convinced me and the rest of the Justice League to let it slide. As for change, I can see to it that you have the money you need to implement it. Along with reasonable wages for the position."
Molina pondered for a moment.
"You are, of course, aware that this would end up with me knowing who you are?" – She asked, finally. – "Well, I should say, knowing your civilian identity. Because you'll basically pay my way into taking that dump over and making it into a hospital. So unless you wish to use a lot of figureheads…"
Batman simply pulled down his cowl.
"I am not afraid of you." – said Bruce Wayne.
Doctor Molina observed him, evenly.
"Good." – she said, smiling pleasantly. – "That makes two of us. I'm glad we're making progress. Now, this is a pretty big change you're suggesting. I will have my answer by the end of the week. Just send me an e-mail with your contact info."
Bruce Wayne nodded, put his cowl back on.
"Thank you." – he said. – "I will."
And left through the door, as Molina watched.
Progress.