The curtains were drawn the next morning giving the dark room a brightening experience; Damian immediately covered his face with his sheets.

"Bats are nocturnal!" He groaned

Blake smirked "It's your ten in the morning wake up call."

Damian looked at him "Ten am? Son of a bitch!" he punched the bed "I used to be able to sleep till noon when I was a kid."

Since his return to Gotham, Damian secured the inheritance his father left him and managed to get a two story house in the Palacades, it wasn't the Wayne Estate but it would do just fine for him, sure, it was weird having a big house to himself, but it's how Damian preferred it that way.

"What day is it?"

"Saturday, Cobblepot's party is tonight at seven."

Damian threw his pillow over his head "Damn it."

"Nervous?"

"Hell no." He moved his pillow away and leaned forward, he could see that Blake was giving him this look that said 'you're lying through your teeth.'

"About the party no, about going out on a date with Victoria Queen…hell yes." Damian sighed running a hand through his bed head

"Well, you're going to do fine." He looked around "Where's your suit?"

"Blake, I haven't even unpacked!" He motioned to the boxes still out in the hallway

It was true, Damian hadn't unpacked since his things arrived in Gotham, he had yet to break it to his parents he had become Batman, he could see their reactions now, his mom would more than likely be proud of him, his dad on the other hand….knowing his dad he wouldn't be too happy about Batman making a return, but it had to be done to stop Black Mask.

"Well, you're lucky." Blake opened Damian's closet, his best suit was hanging on the hanger, still in the plastic wrap "Your mother ironed this for you."

Damian smiled and leaned back, his mom and he had a pretty good relationship, sure, he and his dad were rocky when he was a kid, he always had a strong feeling his dad was keeping something from him and by sixteen, he found out the truth, his dad was Batman and he told him everything about his training when he was Damian's age.

"You miss them don't you?"

Damian nodded "Aside from going out of state for high school, I haven't really been away from my parents, from helping my mom around the house after my dad's spinal surgery to travelling with my dad for training from fourteen to twenty-four."

"Well, why don't you call them?"

Damian shrugged "I might, not sure yet."

Blake looked at him "Well, you made the front page." And motioned to the paper by Damian's night stand

Damian took the newspaper and silently read the title silently to himself Batman Returns? Unknown person spotted in a Batman suit.

"Theatricality and deception are powerful agent's mister Blake." Damian stood up from the bed

Blake gave him another confused look as he stood using his cane for support "What are you talking about?"

Damian smirked and shook his head "Something my Dad once told me."

The night time soon arrived; VIPs were receiving the red carpet treatment as they walked down the red carpet catwalk leading into the Iceberg Lounge, as the cars began to move up, a pure black Lamborghini pulled up to the catwalk, stepping out of the driver's seat, Damian took a heavy sigh of relief, the day was struggling enough without having to worry. As he proceeded to the passenger's side, cameras began to flash as they took pictures.

He put a finger to his pocket and pressed something which caused the cameras to turn off, as the camera men looked at their cameras trying to determine the problem, Damian opened the door.

"After you my lady." He smiled and took her hand

Victoria Queen stepped out of the sports car, her red dress hugged her body, it wasn't form fitting but fitted perfectly, her blonde hair hung down a bit below her shoulders perfectly straightened and a small bit of makeup covered her face along with red lipstick.

"Well, well, looks like Gotham is known for some good things."

"And here I thought it was just my natural charm and good looks."

Damian took her arm laced in his as they walked down the catwalk going into the Iceberg Lounge.

"You clean up well Damian." Tori remarked checking Damian over

"Thank you; though I will admit it, you're missing something." Damian smirked and reached into his coat pocket

"And that would be?" She gave him a confused look

Damian smiled and stopped at the door, pulling out a diamond necklace from within his pocket, Victoria's face turned into a shade of pink in pure shock.

"Damian! It's beautiful!" She smirked "You shouldn't have."

He smiled gently at her and clasped the necklace around her neck, Victoria smiled and gently moved her hair so it draped down to the middle of her back.

"I just feel like a beautiful woman should have beautiful things."

Victoria shook her head and pecked him on the cheek "You are too sweet Prince of Gotham."

Damian rolled his eyes as they approached the main door to the Iceberg Lounge, Cobblepot stood outside, umbrella being used as a cane as two heavy muscled bouncers.

"Ah Mister Wayne," Cobblepot smiled "and Miss Queen, I didn't realize you two were acquainted."

Damian sighed "Oswald, I do appreciate the party."

"Of course, of course Mister Wayne." Cobblepot slapped his bouncer in the stomach

As the guards moved, Cobblepot bowed and let his arm point toward the door "Do proceed inside and tell them to send the check to me."

Damian nodded as Victoria smiled warmly, gently rubbing against Damian's waist.

"Thank you Mister Cobblepot."

Cobblepot smiled as the pair walked inside "Stupid kids." He grumbled

The party was well under way, many big leaguers from businesses, upper class citizens who had more than a penny to spend. Damian walked inside with Victoria still clung to his arm, as he scanned the room, Batman's instinct took over as he took in the room.

Several politicians, some judges and occasional member of the Wayne Enterprises board were among the high class citizens. The waitresses were helping customers wearing the same uniforms Damian had noticed before, though they now wore black domino masks over their faces, but something seemed off about them, they seemed to be moving robotically, their eyes had a glazed look in them, but they seemed to be operating normally.

The pair was escorted to their table, Damian pulled Victoria's chair out, his eyes continued to look around the room, there wasn't much room for cover, nor was there any place to hang from and listen in, he knew being Batman in here was difficult.

"Damian, just sit down and relax okay?" Victoria rubbed his arm

Damian smiled and sat down across from her, as a waitress gave them a bottle of wine on ice and two glasses, Damian's eyes went wide when he saw Cobblepot again.

Cobblepot stood into the shadows, speaking to a man he didn't recognize, the man wore a mask with an orange side on the left and black on the right, the orange side had an eye hole, the man wore pure black armor with shoulder pads on them were shotgun bullets, a thread of bullets was lined along his back with duel swords on his back and what appeared to be a pistol attached to his belt.

"Wonder who that is." Damian motioned to Cobblepot

Victoria looked back "Huh, that's odd, I never knew Cobblepot associated with mercenaries."

"Maybe body guard."

"Maybe something else." Victoria said grimly

Damian looked, he really wanted to know what they were talking about, and he could tell Victoria had read his mind, her green eyes told him that she knew what he was thinking.

"I'll be right back." Victoria stood

"Where are you going?" Damian smirked as he took her hand

Victoria smiled and kissed his "My job."

She readjusted the domino mask over her eyes as she looked at herself in the mirror, she was wearing the same uniform as the waitresses, the woman she took the uniform from was bound and gagged in the stall of the ladies bathroom, she gently tied her hair back and hid the necklace Damian gave her in her purse.

Gently moving, Tori stepped outside and looked out to make sure Damian wasn't watching but upon inspection, the table was empty, not even Damian was sitting there.

Her steps were graceful, calm but beautiful as she moved toward Cobblepot and the masked mercenary, she immediately grabbed a tray with two glasses of Champaign in them.

"Look, I know what Roman is requiring of me, I am doing all I can, the shipments are being brought in on my watch, your shipping is being handled." Cobblepot said, anger growing in his tone

"Champaign sir?" Victoria asked, mocking a slight French accent

Cobblepot looked at her; a glazed look in her eyes, the penguin smiled "Thank you my dear."

He handed the other glass to his associate as Victoria turned her back to them and headed toward the kitchen, as she looked down, her cell phone showed Cobblepot's name, phone number and a rotating bar with the words forced par on them, when it was complete, she headed back toward the bathroom to change.

Damian slipped a ski mask over his face as he headed toward the back alley way of the Iceberg Lounge, mercenaries stood outside, moving their hands together trying to get warm, their faces concealed by black skull masks.

"So why did the boss make us tag along with this guy again?"

"We need to make sure Penguin gets the last shipment in Frank, jeeze you're freakin' dumb as hell."

"Don't blame me Gabe; I try the best I can." Frank retorted

As the third mercenary walked toward Damian's location, his eyes kept looking forward, his submachine gun in his arms; he continued to walk as Damian slammed his head into the wall.

Frank and Gabriel turned back to the masked man approach them, they quickly raised their guns in retaliation and opened fire on Damian's location who quickly ducked out of the way long enough for them to reload, as they slapped the new clips in, Damian attacked.

He shot his fist into Frank's throat then disarmed him, slamming the butt of the weapon into his head knocking him out, when Gabe took aim; Damian moved with quick precision to knock his gun away then slammed his back into the wall, his arm going over Gabriel's throat.

"Who is the man in there?" Damian growled as his Batman voice "The masked one speaking with Cobblepot."

Panic shirked in Gabe's voice "We never knew his name, but he works for Roman Sionis as a hired mercenary, we don't know his name, only his alias."

"And that would be?"

"Deat…" Gabe whispered but his voice grew louder "Deathstroke!"

Damian looked at him with curiosity "Thank you." He was met with his head slamming into the wall

He quickly slipped back into the Iceberg lounge and slipped his ski mask into his coat pocket, he knew things would be intense, but now he had to look into Deathstroke, which was impossible, Deathstroke died years ago.

As he walked back to his table, Victoria was waiting with her purse in her hands.

"Vics I am so sorry." Damian leaned in and kissed her cheek

"Its fine, listen work called and they need me to resubmit tomorrow morning's article." Victoria smiled "So we have to take a rain check."

Damian frowned "I'm sorry again."

"Don't be, just take me home, we can meet up tomorrow for breakfast?"

"Sure. It's on me." He kissed her on the cheek again

"That's impossible, Deathstroke died years ago, there should be no way he's alive."

Damian returned to the Batcave after dropping Tori at her apartment, he had to get answers about Deathstroke and he knew Blake would be the only person with those answers.

"Well according to Black Mask's thugs, Deathstroke is working for Roman."

"As I said, it's impossible. The original Deathstroke was Slade Wilson, he operated in the ASIS, and he died in 2010 on this island."

Blake flipped back to the computer and began to type furiously on the keys; on the screens an island appeared with gray clouds over head.

"The island is known as Lian Yu, or also known as…"

"Purgatory." Damian muttered

"Yes, after a series of events that has been unrecorded, Slade was confirmed dead by none other then…" Blake tapped another key

A picture appeared of a young man in his early fifties, his blonde hair was graying along with his mustache.

"Oliver Queen." Damian muttered again

"Yup, Oliver spent five years on that island."

"So what would Deathstroke be doing in Gotham?"

"Well, I know one way to find out."

Damian looked over to the Bat suit rising from its container.

Victoria listened to the ongoing recording of Cobblepot and the mercenary over and over, she had a hard time understanding, but she knew someone who would want to hear it.

She pulled a phone out of the drawer of her desk and began to dial "Good evening, got something you'll want to hear."

On the other end, Black Mask smirked "Good, very good."

Okay, sorry for the lack of updating, this was due to two things. One, severe writer's block, didn't know how I was going to incorporate things into this chapter and two, work has been kicking my butt. Also, I am a big fan of the CW series Arrow hence the inspiration for Victoria Queen, but I am saying this right now, this is structured like the comics where references are made with no actual crossovers.

So I hope everyone enjoys and I will update as soon as I can!