It took him two days to get up the courage to drop down by the manor. J'onn hadn't spoken to Bruce at all during that period and he felt oddly depressed about the whole thing. Especially seeing how it was sort of his fault. Bruce had been willing to forgive him but he'd just had to go and ruin it...and...calling him heartless probably didn't help matters at all... He appeared in the cave, relieved when flame throwers didn't go off the second the cave picked up his DNA...

Ran nervous eyes around the cave, sighing when it appeared empty.

Judging it to be safe, he stepped down from the teleporter.

"Bruce is pretty pissed off you know," Tim stated casually from his workplace, watching with slanted eyes as the Martian jumped. "Calling off a date, insulting Gotham, the whole...heartless thing...Dick and I were pissed too." His brother appeared besides him, continuing, "Because when Bruce goes through a hard time, he likes for the whole world to go through it with him."

J'onn bit his lip, wincing as he imagined all that he had put them through. "I did not...intend to..."

"Relax. See...we believe you," Tim interrupted.

Stared at them in shock, his mouth slightly open. They...believed him? About Gotham? When Batman didn't? He gave them a suspicious look. "Why?"

Dick sighed, leaning against the table. "Gotham's really protective over Bruce. She was nice to me while I was just Richard Grayson but...once I put on the Robin costume..." He chuckled. "Wow. She got rough. For about a couple months I was getting lost constantly, tripping over things, getting stuck in rooms...wasn't pretty."

Tim rolled his eyes, groaning, "Ditto. She's like...evil. Don't...tell her that though. I did once. It took her weeks to forgive me."

J'onn relaxed, immensely glad to hear that he wasn't crazy; that Dick and Tim had apparently been given a hard time too. "What did you do?"

They frowned, giving him twin shrugs. "Dunno. Just...guess we did something that she liked, because she eventually stopped picking on us."

Dick and Tim believed him. Great. But they didn't have any idea on how to get Gotham to stop harassing him. Which meant J'onn was on his own. Not great.

Not to mention Bruce was still mad at him...

But unless Gotham stopped...there would be no way they could have a relationship. Not with her constantly interfering...Gotham was where Bruce lived. Where Batman patrolled the city. The place his parents died. She was such an important part of Bruce's life...she needed to accept him.

How...do you go about getting a city's acceptance?

A sigh. Well...perhaps he should find out why she despises him? Seemed like a good place to start...

()

Batman was at the Tower, installing some new part that had just come in. J'onn didn't use the opportunity to make amends. In fact, as soon as he had seen the Bat in the monitor room he had teleported down to Earth. More importantly...

To Gotham.

It would be much easier to talk to her if he wasn't around.

J'onn flew up to the top of Wayne Enterprises, deciding that he would wait for Gotham to speak to him. No need to aggravate her by calling attention to himself...

No, he could wait.

So he sat down and proceeded to do so, closing his eyes as he slipped into meditation. An hour must have passed, but still, he didn't speak up. No matter how long it was taking. Gotham didn't like him so she'd eventually get sick of him just sitting and not saying anything.

Eventually...

Finally, Gotham spoke to him, saying in a sulky tone, My Prince isn't here. You know that.

He kept his eyes closed. It wasn't like he could see her anyway..."I do not wish to speak to him. I wish...to speak to you."

Whhhhhhhhhhyy??

"Why do you hate me?" Start with the basics and work from there, he supposed. Couldn't go about fixing the problem without being aware of what the problem was after all.

I don't. You're not worth the energy it takes to hate. I just do not think you are good enough for my Bruce.

Not worth the energy? That kind of...stung. "Bruce is my mate."

Is that supposed to change my mind? It doesn't.

J'onn sighed, opening his eyes to stare up at the night sky. "What will?"

Hmm, lemme think... Nope, can't come up with anything. I guess you'll simply have to leave!

"I will not," He stated firmly, his brow furrowing. She couldn't come up with anything?

Then I guess we're stuck.

"Why am I not good enough? Is it because I'm a Martian?" J'onn really hoped that wasn't it. There wasn't anything he could do about that, not really...

Please. I don't care about that. I considered Superman for a possibility you know. He wasn't good enough either.

'Thank H'ronmeer...' "Then why?"

You..accused him. Assaulted him. Insulted his honor. You hurt him. Therefore, you are not worth him.

He chewed at his bottom lip in a nervous manner. "I...was angry. Confused. Hurt. I did not...I jumped to conclusions--"

Admitting you were wrong doesn't change what happened. Nor does it change my mind. You are not welcomed here.

Her last sentence was said in a strong 'that-is-that' sort of tone and J'onn felt his desperation grow as he shouted, "You have to accept me!"

On the contrary. I don't have to do anything. Including talk to you.

J'onn's shoulders slumped as he realized he'd just angered Gotham again. Couldn't seem to get it right... "Please."

My Prince is...strong. Intelligent. Handsome. Kind. Determined. Giving. And you think that you are worth him?! That I will let you take him away?!

That got her a slight blink, as he took in those words. Was...it really...that simple? "It is not my intention to take him away from you."

Wh..what? Felt his lips tugging into a soft smile at hearing the surprise in her voice. Yes, it seemed it was that simple.

"Why do you think I am trying so hard for your approval?" Leaned back, feeling much more relaxed now that Gotham didn't seem so heartless. "You...are very important to Bruce. He loves you. You're his home. I would never dream of taking Bruce from you." He chuckled. "I doubt he'd let me."

...He...loves me? Any residual anger that had been left vanished as soon as he heard how amazed she sounded. She really, wasn't so cruel...

"He grew angry when I insulted you."

He did? Really? She let out a choked sound, whispering, My Bruce?

Not cruel at all, really..."Yes."

Wow...

"I...do not believe myself to be worthy of him either," J'onn sighed, shaking his head. Bruce was...too many things to even begin to start listing and J'onn was just...J'onn. He cleared his throat, forcing himself to focus. "But I...hope that little by little I am able to grow, to change into someone he would be proud to love." J'onn gave a small smile, adding, "And I hope, that when that day comes, you will be willing to share your Prince with me."

We'll see, J'onn Jonzz. We'll see. Gotham hadn't said yes but her voice was warm and he knew that there would be no more 'getting lost' or other pranks. That in some small way, she had accepted him.

Not feeling foolish at all, he bowed before leaving for the Tower, deciding to fly rather than teleport. Gotham had sounded so... different from last time. Last time she had been confident, mischievous. Tonight...tonight she had sounded so...unsure of herself. Really surprised to hear that Bruce actually loved her, which was strange. Bruce had become Batman just so he could help Gotham after all. Of course he loved her.

Looked back as he was leaving the Earth's atmosphere, feeling lighter than he had in quite some time. Gotham had shown several emotions such as jealousy, anger and happiness.

Which meant that she had a soul.

Gotham was worth saving, no matter what anyone else thought and J'onn was going to do whatever he could to help her.

()

o.o This one ish slightly longer. Which means if you don't review...umm...uhhhhh...I'll...pout? ...ehhh I can't pout. Hurts to pout. It's like too much cuteness for me or something...AHA! Review or I'll...STOP...STALKING YOU!! BWAHAHAHAHA!! o.o what? I'm not stalking you. Who told you that?! o.o ...meow...