Sorry for the late update here guys! I actually started a Naruto fanfic called 'What We Become'! I'll try and update this, the new fic and maybe one of my older ones in the near future. I may not have the energy to write and original work but I hope what I've been doing is putting a smile on your faces!

Enjoy as always,

- The Fallen Sun

"How are things back in the cave Alfred?"

"Quiet for the time being sir." His butler quickly responded. "Cheetah is working hard away at her solution to her…predicament. More reports are coming in by the hour over the radio," Alfred answered, murmuring quietly to himself as he looked at the sources, "cell phones, webcams… It is a lot of information to process at once Master Bruce."

He knew he needed to be patient but still something felt off about the air even through his improved suit. "Do what you can, old friend."

The night had been active to say the least. With Black Mask's men pulling back from their usual protection ring it seemed the rest of the smaller gangs took the chance to take his turf. They were quite surprised to see the Batman crashing their party in his new armor. Most ran away at the sight of him but those that fought were left with broken limbs. He wasn't in the mood to show mercy tonight considering the Court began to rear its ugly head to all of Gotham to see.

"Ah!" Alfred chirped into his ear, jolting him from his thoughts. "A report has actually appeared nearby Master Bruce. I'm forwarding it to you now."

Batman heard the active chatter over the police radio as he scaled the rooftops. The report was simple; shots fired near an apartment complex. It was vague, but with the right details and not to mention hearing more gunshots close by he knew he was close to whatever the source truly was. The wrist mounted grapple shot him up and over the roof. For a moment as he felt his stomach flutter from the aerial rush he could admire his city in its full, gloomy state. It was a welcome sight and if he didn't know better he thought Gotham was asleep for once. His years under the cowl time and again proved that to be a lie. He just needed to be at the right place at the wrong time to bring the rats from their sewers.

With a flick of his armored wrist his cape extended. He glided along, hearing the rain patter against his armor. The visual scanners saw two warm figures on the rooftop, fighting it seemed as several more cold bodies lay around them. He felt a weight at his heart as he saw the familiar flip, one he perfected at such a young age. The weight soon turned into rage as he went into a dead drop towards the fighting pair. He would save Nightwing. He refused to lose anyone else, even for a moment.

Now a part of him hoped that both his armor would hold from the sudden impact, and the roof was made of a sturdy material. A flashback of him falling through a wooden roof briefly played in his mind but with a grimace he pressed on. He had no time to waste.

Talon tilted his head as he watched the boy twist and arch away from his knives as they whistled by his frame before returning firmly to his grasp. His fingers curled, tapping out their command as they kept grazing and nearly cutting the vigilante wide open. He felt his face pull in a smile beneath his mask. He didn't even know that he was being played with.

He recalled his daggers quickly though as he spun out of the way. A large, armored form crashed into the rooftop in a kneeling position and looked over at him with mechanical eyes. His brow lofted as he watched the man closely, already calling his daggers to spin around his taloned fingers. The man rose to his full height, rolling his shoulders as he did. This was the fabled Batman? He thought that this man was mortal, but seeing the armored figure before him he wondered if any of the rumors he heard were in fact true.

"You won't harm him." The voice echoed out from his helm, hiding his identity with the robotic warble it emitted. The Court's sensors were no doubt recording everything that was happening right now.

"You won't stop me."

He was surprised when the armored man vaulted forward. He moved quicker than he expected but using the armored knee he punched once and again into the faceplate without any effect. He dove away and brought the daggers around. They swept left and right in a sudden, twisting cord of steel. To his credit Batman weaved side to side, letting the daggers sail along his cloak in a shower of sparks and those that did strike him didn't seem to affect him but he was chipping away at the armor. Progress was better than being stopped entirely.

"Forgot about me didn't you?"

He twisted forward just as the escrima sticks sailed over his head. His foot planted into Nightwing's back sending him toward the shifting daggers. He used his weapons to parry the daggers as they tried to skewer them, knocking them aside. With a scowl beneath his mask he recalled the daggers back to him, save for the two in his hands. He twirled them about in his grip, his gaze flicking between the pair of them. He knew he was outmatched. His daggers had a limited range and charge. His martial skill was nothing to be scoffed at but seeing the two figures before him he had to weigh his options. Rally back to the Court with the rest of the Talons, or die here foolishly? The former was much more appealing. But he'd have a bit more fun with the pair of them first.

He charged forward, throwing his sheathed daggers every step and when they both swung at him, the Batman from up high and Nightwing along his knees, he leapt between the gap, letting his talons lash out. One scored a deep gouge in the armored limb of the former while he saw Nightwing's leg buck back as blood trailed along his leg. A light cut, but one that would serve as a reminder that he could have killed him if they continued their duel. He then stood upright, letting his daggers return to whence they came. He hopped up onto the edge of the roof and bowed low to them both.

"I will not die here, Batman." He began to lean back off the edge of the roof. "The Court will have its due Batman. You know this."

Then he was sailing towards the ground, the wind whipping against his covered ears. The Court will be pleased by both the surveillance and the warning, but he knew all too well because you pleased the Court's will, doesn't mean you continued to serve. The Talons were simply a plaything and he dreaded if he lost his luster in their eyes.

He saw Nightwing about to leap after him before his hand reached over, resting on his shoulder. He didn't like it all in fact if it weren't for his helm his protégé would see him gritting his teeth.

"No, Dick." He murmured. "The Court is making its move. We need to get back to the cave to weigh our options see who we can call for help."

Nighting pulled his shoulder from his grip. "You need to return to the Cave and call the League. I'm going after him."

"We… can't call the League."

"What?"

Batman sighed. How could he explain this to him? "The Court has been around for centuries Dick. They'll be prepared and I have no doubt they will have experiments meant to counter them specifically. A genetically altered Superman walking around? A Wonder Woman? We cannot risk having them woken up. We have to keep this contained."

That seemed to calm his protégé down, but his lips were still pulled into a scowl. "Then why did we let him go?"

"When he attacked me I planted a tracker on him. Call it a reflex with the suit now."

Nightwing's frown was quickly replaced with a smirk as he holstered the sticks at his lower back. "Getting slow in your old age, Bruce?"

Bruce's armored shoulder lifted in a shrug. "No, I like to think more efficient."

He let Nightwing mull that over. Bruce wasn't one to make jokes, but his time with Cheetah seemed to draw out the nicer parts of him.

"Let's get back to the Cave, see where he's going."

He peered up in the sky as the plane's engine soon could be heard whining overhead. Nightwing was pulled up first and with a hard tug to his cable he was shot up into the pilot's seat. It had taken awhile to get the cord's strength right with his new suit but it took only a handful of tries this time around rather than near falling to his death the first time he attempted using a cord entry.

It wasn't a long trip to the cave at all and as soon as they landed Nightwing leapt out, pulling off his mask and smiling as he looked around.

"Man it has been awhile since I've been here, everything looks like it almost has-"

"A woman's touch?" a voice purred.

Bruce cracked a smile as he removed bits of his armor, letting the sliding plate return to its deactivated form as he heard Cheetah's voice. That and the sight of Nightwing nearly leaping from his skin upon seeing Cheetah certainly helped. He just removed the last gauntlet as the woman leapt into his arms, immediately pressing her lips to his with a pleased purr rumbling from her chest. He happily returned the kiss and allowed his arms to curl around her waist.

"Not here long, love," he murmured into her ear, "just stopping in to check in on you and to see if the reports are still being called in."

She nodded and leaned up, trailing her rough tongue along his jaw before kissing him again. She seemed to follow him closely as he made his way to the computer and more than once when he checked the reports with Alfred and Dick she cuddled up into his arm or side. He did not mind the affection, considering the circumstances.

Their hardships though seemed to be working towards the agreed end goal; starting a family. That was a discussion he'd hope to have in detail with her both after the Court was dealt with. All good things took time though, and this large step for him was no different. He had too many factors to weigh in if he continued this relationship to the bitter end but for now he would stare down the Court, for their sake and the city's.

"Bruce," Nightwing called out, "I've contacted everyone I could think of here in Gotham. So far, all have agreed to move on your signal."

"Good. We can put an end to this and-"

A large, metallic boom echoed in the cave and on reflex his arm curled in front of Cheetah. She was a capable fighter but the claw trailing his back was proving to be both a token of appreciation and a pleasant distraction.

"What in God's green earth was that?" Alfred asked after a terse moment.

Another metallic boom could be heard and Bruce's eyes looked over to the entrance to the Cave. He made his way over to his armor and began to strap it hastily to his frame. Cheetah helped, a worried look at her lip as a third boom followed quickly after the second.

"Alfred, grab a shotgun. Nightwing ping who you can that's nearby. Cheetah, I need you to hide your research."

"Then what?" Cheetah asked, a frown at her lip. "Hideaway again?"

"This is the Cave, Barbara." He murmured to her even as he slid his helm on. "I plan to go down fighting with you at my hip."

Her response was muffled as the sound of tearing metal echoed throughout the Cave causing her ears to pin to her head and her lips to twist in a growl. Batman turned as his armored chestpiece extended and locked into place while his arms were brought up to allow the armor to shift and lock along his limbs. The Court had found the Cave, and slowly smoke filled the cavern.

The Night of Owls had begun.