The next day, Batman stalked into the Hall of Justice, feeling sour and displeased. He didn't see Arrow, but he did see Drifter sitting across the knees of the Green Lantern, laughing and rocking back and forth. His already low spirits lowered still further.
Batman walked through the Hall of Justice moodily until he found Superman at the large computer that scanned the world. "Hello Batman", he said brightly. Of course, Batman thought to himself, Superman was always so cherry and peppy. What cause did he have to be so happy flaunting his bright colors and flashy smile? Batman grumbled something unintelligible that Superman assumed to be a greeting and said in an equally cheery voice, "Is somebody in a bad mood?"
"I have Kryptonite", Batman said angrily.
"Gee", said Superman, recoiling in shock, "What did I do to you?"
"You were born", Batman grumbled, "I wish Krypton had blown up with you on it."
"Wow", Superman mumbled, "haven't heard that one since Wonder Woman." He went over to the other side of the computer to give Batman a little space. The Green Arrow walked in.
"Hey Batman", he said, "What's up?"
"I like to break arrows", Batman said, more loudly then was needed.
"Ok", said the Green Arrow, "I can see where this is going, I'll go over and work with Superman. Just give you your space to work."
"What's up with him?" Superman whispered to the Green Arrow. Arrow shrugged.
"Girl troubles", he said.
"Really", Superman said, sounding intrigued.
"I wouldn't think Batman… Well, I know how to handle this."
"Ohh please", said Arrow pleadingly, "Please let it handle itself." But, Superman was already walking up to Batman. Arrow slid behind the computer to the side and peeked out, knowing danger when he saw it.
"I heard about your problems", Batman, Superman said, "Don't worry, there are plenty of fish in the sea." Batman started to tremble with rage. Superman could have stopped right there and might have gotten off unscathed, but he didn't. "Hey", he said putting a hand on Batman's shoulder, "I might even be able to give you some dating tips." Batman exploded.
When Wonder Woman walked in, she saw the strangest sight she had ever seen. Superman was on the ground with Batman on top of him, trying to cram a piece of kryptonite down his throat while Green Arrow was hovering around, attempting to part them. "What are you three doing?" Wonder Woman asked. They all three looked up at her surprised. Superman took advantage of Batman's momentary loosening of grip and wiggled out of his grasp.
"He…is trying…to kill…me", Superman said, panting.
"He invaded my personal bubble", Batman said accusingly.
"Hey man", Superman said, "I was only trying to help."
"I don't even wana know", Wonder Woman said, walking out. Batman stalked off to skulk in a corner, leaving the Green Arrow with Superman.
"Don't tell anyone about his issues please", said Arrow, "I just want him to be able to get over this without a crowd gawking at him." Superman nodded, getting up.
"You tell me when this blows over", he said, "Until then, I think I'll just stay away from the Batman."
Batman stalked into his room and slammed the door with a loud, gratifying bang. He stalked over to a corner to bang his head against a wall. This seemed to help after a while, so that when he stopped, he found the pain distracted him from his emotions and allowed him to think clearly.
He had to forget the girl, he just had to. The fate of the world almost depended on Batman being in tiptop physical condition, emotional condition too. He decided that it would be best for everyone involved if he simply pretended like Drifter had never existed.
So, for the rest of that week, Batman ignored his feelings for Drifter. When she said hello to him, passing by arm and arm with the Green Lantern, he said hello back in his usual gruff manner. Everything seemed to be going fine, that is until on Friday, Batman overheard something he shouldn't have.
Batman wasn't actually anywhere he wasn't supposed to be. In reality, he was exactly where he was supposed to be, just not at the right time. As he was walking past Drifter's room, he heard loud voices.
Because Batman was a good citizen, he remembered the rules of the Hall of Justice, which were always walk slowly when you're not in a hurry and always stick to the right side of the wall, so that the people who are in a hurry can get by, most people ignored that rule, but Batman decided he should make an example of it right that very minute.
So, even though he was in a deserted hallway, he walked very slowly and moved very close to the door, which happened to be to his right, like the good citizen he was. "I can't believe you", he heard Drifter say angrily, "is that all you think about?"
"No", Batman heard Lantern say, "but it's the most important."
"If you think the only thing that's important about me is the fact that I happen to be good looking in your opinion, you've got another thing coming. I have a brain too, ya know."
"Come on baby girl", Lantern said, "don't me mad at me. Lets just lie down together make up, forgetting this ever happened. I know a couple ways."
"You shouldn't even be here", Drifter said angrily.
"How did this argument even come up anyway? All I did was say it didn't matter what you said in that resume, as long as you looked pretty, I was trying to boost your confidence. And anyway, this is the most boring relationship I have ever been in. we haven't even done anything together yet. I need stress relievers too ya know."
"I am sick of you acting like you have the brain in this relationship, I'm just as smart as you are, and I don't want to get in bed with you. I don't even think I like you."
"Sweet heart", Lantern said, "why does it matter if you're smart or if you like me? You're pretty and I'm pretty."
"Get out", Drifter shrieked, "I haven't been able to have an intelligent conversation with you, or anyone for that matter, for a whole week. A whole damn week Lantern. And I see the way you look at Huntress. You think I like that. Just get out of here. We're through."
"Nobody breaks up with me", Lantern said.
"I just did", Drifter replied. Lantern stormed out angrily, not even noticing Batman standing beside the door. He was muttering under his breath. Batman peeked inside Drifter's room to see the girl collapse on her bed with a sigh.
He wondered if he should go in and talk to her. No, he thought, he'd given her up. Anyway, she'd think he was a stalker. Batman forced himself to walk on.
The next day, they were all called in early to go on patrol. "It's the legion of doom again", Superman said, "We think we know where they are. They were probably the ones that sent the missile to destroy the Batwing." Batman sat in moody silence.
"So, I'll split you up into pairs. Batman, you go with Black Canary, blah, blah, blah, down the list of superheroes, Drifter, you're with the Green Lantern, blah, blah, blah, the rest of the superheroes."
Once he was done, Drifter stalked over to him. "No", she said, "I am not going with him."
"Well look", said Superman, "I already assigned the teams. We all need to learn how to work together and I…"
Superman stopped because Drifter grabbed him by the collar and said, "I will shove a piece of Kryptonite up your ass if you do not get me a new partner." Superman seemed to think this was a veritable threat because he backed up, wild eyed.
"Who do you want to be with?" he asked. Drifter looked around, as if desperately trying to find someone that would make Lantern really jealous. Her eyes fell upon Batman.
"Batman", she said, "I wana work with Batman." She walked over and stood next to Batman. "Please go along with me", Drifter whispered, "I really want to make Lantern cry."
Batman decided he wanted to see the Green Lantern cry too, nodded his head and said, "I'll work with Drifter."
"What", Lantern shrieked, "you don't even like Batman."
"Of course, I do", said Drifter. "He's nicer then you are, he's more agreeable. He has more personality."
"Batman has about as much personality as a stick", Lantern said.
"Well then I guess you're a stick", Drifter said saucily and grabbed Batman's arm.
"Alright you two", said Canary, "I will work with the Green Lantern. Come along Lantern." Canary grabbed him by the arm, leading him ranting away while Drifter dragged Batman away. He allowed himself to be dragged.
As soon as they were out of sight, Drifter put her arms around Batman's neck and pulled him close. She buried her head in his chest and sighed. "Thank's Batman", she said softly, "I needed that." Batman nodded and cautiously touched her back. She smiled and kissed his chin. "I know you hate it when girl's do that", Drifter said, "I'm sorry."
Batman shrugged, "I don't mind, its ok." Drifter let go of him and smiled up at him. "The Batwing's this way", Batman said. Drifter nodded and followed him. As they flew along, Drifter seemed rather distracted and unhappy. She leaned her head against the window and closed her eyes.
Batman wanted to ask her if she was ok, but he wasn't sure quite how to do it. He sucked up his gut and asked. "Are you in good physical condition?"
"Huh?" Drifter asked.
"I mean, um are you ok?"
"Ohh", said Drifter, "I'm ok I guess. Just been hard I suppose, but we've all been through bad break ups right?" Batman stayed silent because he hadn't been through any sort of break up, much less a bad one. Drifter didn't press him, but simply sunk into dour silence.
Batman didn't speak again for the rest of the ride. After flying to the coordinates listed, Batman set the Batwing down in the midst of jungle. They were in India and the jungles there were so largely unexplored, the legion of doom would fit right in.
Drifter got out quickly and jumped down into the mud. "Which way are we going?" she asked.
"Well", said Batman, "We just need to comb our sector."
"Will it go faster if I air scent?" Drifter asked mildly.
"Can you?" Batman asked. Drifter nodded and turned into a large Alsatian. She stuck her nose in the air and trotted along, Batman behind her.
They made their way through the undergrowth for some time until Drifter stopped and stood stock-still. "What is it?" Batman asked.
"Move", Drifter screamed, "it's a bomb." Batman and Drifter dove into the underbrush on either side of the path, but Batman wasn't fast enough. As he was trying to get to cover, he trapped on a stone and fell. The blast of the bomb blew him into a tree and he was knocked unconscious.
Batman had a series of strange dreams in the instants he was unconscious but he heard someone calling his name. Groggily, he opened his eyes. He looked up and saw Drifter's beautiful face, smeared with soot, looking down at him. "Ohh thank god you're ok", Drifter said. Batman nodded. "This is all my fault," Drifter said unhappily, "if I hadn't been so distracted, we might have both got out of the way in time."
"It didn't kill me", Batman said, "but if I had been hiking on that same trail with Black Canary, I'd be a dead man." Drifter gave him a grateful smile.
"You're hurt bad", she said, her voice growing serious all of the sudden. "We had better get back to the Batwing." Batman nodded. There was nothing more they could do out here while he was injured. "Can you walk?" Drifter asked. Batman tried to get up, but found his legs wouldn't support him.
"Just my luck", he hissed through his teeth, "two broken legs." Drifter shook her head in dismay.
"I'll carry you then", she said.
"Are you strong enough?" Batman asked. Drifter nodded and as gently as she could, she picked him up. Batman looked up at her in wonder.
"Lets just say I'm stronger then I look", Drifter said. Batman nodded. Drifter hiked back as fast as she could to the Batwing.
As soon as she got back, she stopped and said unhappily, "Wait, I can't fly this and nor can you."
"I'll tell you how to set the auto pilot", Batman said. Drifter nodded and set him down on the seat, hopping in on the other side. Batman quickly set the autopilot and they flew back to the justice league.
Batman leaned heavily against the seat as Drifter watched the skies. "You look like you're in a lot of pain", Drifter said. She took his cape and tore it into strips, binding it tightly around his most bloody wounds. She used the first aid kit to clean him up as best she could, all the while Batman enjoying the feeling of her fingers on his skin.
His feelings for her were returning in great waves and he couldn't push them away this time. He loved her so much, he could barely breathe. Drifter put a cool hand on his brow. "No fever", she said, "you're not infected yet." Batman nodded, all the while acknowledging that the illness he had contracted had nothing to do with the bomb.
They got to the justice league building quickly, but there was no one there to great them. Everyone was already inside, finished with his or her part of the mission. Drifter lifted Batman gingerly out of the seat of the Batwing and carried him inside.