AN: Have to confess, this chap was not in the story until two days ago. I just thought it would be nice to see the 'girls night out'. As always, thank you for the reviews and continued support. Now to answer a few questions ya'll have posted but remember, some things may be spoilers if you've asked the right question so I may leave the answers a little ambiguous:
The Darkman- There has always been a respect between Ra's and Bruce, so there's more to him than simply defeating Batman even though he knows his identity. But who says Ra's is behind Damion being there with the detective?
Riley 000 – Interesting you focused on the failsafe mission…
Seychelles – The two you asked about, I would be on the lookout later on.
Eric – You know, I do have a theory about the creation of the Lazarus pit that could work for this universe. As for the Light, I always saw Lex as the type to have a grander plan from the get go and see everyone as a pawn in his grand game of chess, which is why I think he and Bee weren't at the summit. And since he could view himself as the orchestrator of the 'game' he could see every fallen partner as a necessary sacrifice for his own goals and keeping those he can use more of in the long run. I'll also get to changing that rating, thought I set it to teen and not K so thanks for bringing that up. And remember, Lois wears the pants, but Clark wears the trunks.
Ben A – The Brain is still in custody and will most likely stay there unless he is needed by those left in the Light. It's mostly how they see each other and other potential members on how useful they can be at any given time. I also have plans for the Hall of Justice. Terra, Terra…hmm, and a failsafe mission…
PinkRedRose – Terra, Terra…
5.
Sake Restaurant - Gotham City
April 25
20:23 UTC
"No way, so you have pictures of Dick in speedos?" Karen asked as she nearly chocked on her tea.
"Yep," Barbra answered. "Ten years old and running around Gotham in little green trunks. How Batman didn't die of embarrassment in anyone's guess."
"Was it a Circus thing or a hazing?" Cassie laughed.
"Honestly, I really don't want to know. But thank all that smiles on blackmail those pictures were still in the Batcomputer."
Celebrating Barbra's anniversary on the team, the all-girl group occupied a back table within a Japanese restaurant in downtown Gotham. It was one of the few places billionaire Bruce Wayne had marked as a safe place for the members of the League to speak freely as it was always swept for electronic bugs. It was also one of his and the rest of the Batclan's most frequented spots with an out-of-the-way table always ready for them. Not only were they treated to a rather expensive dinner, given to them by a generous entrepreneur, but they were also treated to a show as the chef prepared their food on a large, flat skillet in front of the women. M'gann had to scoot her seat back and claim a fear of fire whenever the flames rose high while Kara was tempted to put the flames out with her freeze breath.
Twirling a batch of noodles on her fork, Zatanna enjoyed the taste of the fried pasta when she heard her name called. "Hm, what?"
"I said," Raquel, known as the black super heroine Rocket, repeated. "Who is this mystery man we've seen you with?"
"Oh, um, we're just friends."
"Friends who see a lot of each other?"
"She's got a boyfriend?" asked Karen.
"Who is he?" Artemis asked with a grin. "Our minds are inquired right now."
"I thought you never cared for anything like this," Zatanna pointed out.
"Sue me, I don't have to be a tough girl every day. I can take some time off. So spill it or we'll make M'gann here read your mind."
To add to the comment, the grinning Megan disguised M'gann had her eyes glow a bright green.
"No need for that," Zatanna laughed. "His name's John."
"What's his last name?" Cassie asked.
"Constantine."
"Quick," Artemis said as she began pointing around the table," Barbra, run a background check, M'gann, get the Bioship ready, Raquel, grab your belt and make one of your bubble things. We have to move out and catch this guy before he learns about Zee's extracurricular. We move out in five, go, go, go!"
"Yeah, I think they didn't just give you water." Taking her glass away playfully, M'gann moved it just out of her reach.
"Oh whatever, just trying to be celebratory."
"Pardon me," a disguised Koriand'r said as she tapped Karen's shoulder. The glamour charm she wore made her resemble a strawberry blonde, Caucasian woman in a pair of jeans and a white blouse with normal green eyes. "But why do you want a background check on this John Constantine? And what is a background check?"
Smiling at her question, Karen patted her on the hand. "It's a joke we do to everyone who dates outside the teams. It's done to see if they can be trusted by looking into their past."
"There's no need for that," Zatanna said. "He's actually involved with the occult. I've seen him work. He actually does exorcisms from time to time."
"Then we better use a quiji board for his background check," Raquel joked.
"So is this all you do when you're 'off the clock'?" Kara asked Barbra.
"Sometimes," the former Batgirl answered. "It's good to get away from the Kevlar and tights every once in a while. How's your sushi rolls?"
"Not what I expected. I would have thought they would be cooked. Guess they forgot to do that part."
Laughing, Barbra put her arm around the Kryptonian. "Oh, honey, they're supposed to be raw."
"Hey, maybe next time we can have a night like this in Titans tower," Cassie said. "Remember when we watched Wrestlemania in Watchtower? It would be like that, only on a bigger TV."
"Sixty inch screen showing guys in tight trunks," Zatanna said. "Very nice."
Leaning over to their Martian friend, Artemis nudged her to get her attention. "Hey Megs, You haven't said too much. Thinking about something?"
"I'm just wondering if things are alright at the tower," M'gann answered. "The team's staying over to bond more and Conner's taking care of Carter. I just hope nothing goes wrong."
"Really? A tower full of superheroes with the archer I'm training, and you're worried about something going wrong?"
"Well, maybe you're right."
"Besides, Conner knows better than to let them play Truth or Dare, or Twister. Nothing to worry about."
Titans Tower
April 25
20:29 UTC
"So which one is this?" Garfield asked as he lay on his back on the floor.
Looking at the green shapeshifter, Kyle pulled a disk from the DVD box he held. "It's episodes two sixty six through three sixteen. Season fourteen. This one's where the war comes to an end."
Inside the living area of Titans Tower, Kyle, Garfield, Cissie, and a reluctant Raven were gathered around the TV for a team bonding camp-in. It had been recommended the Titans get to know one another and this was one of several instances where they all got together on their personal time. Snacks were sitting on the table along with drinks and a stack of DVDs each selected for the night. A mixture of action, horror, fantasy, and anime waited to be seen but no one was in a hurry to see them.
"Well before you start, I just gotta know, does he or does he not get with the girl?" Garfield asked as he grabbed a drink with his tail.
"Which one?" Kyle asked.
"Who cares?" Cissie said from the sofa behind them. "They're just cartoons. Fantasy. Make believe fictional people that never existed. You guys talk about them as if they're real." She carefully applied a coat of red nail polish to her toes.
"It's a well written series and full of action, Cissie," Kyle defended. "The story is so-"
"Stupid?"
"No! It's so deep that it makes American shows, both live action and animated, look like a fanboy or girl wrote them. All except a few that is. So stop hatin' on the eye candy known as Blea-"
"Pease," Raven said from her spot on the single seat where she was reading a book while floating above said seat, "That Anime's nothing compared to Tokko or High school of the Dead."
"You watch Anime?" Kyle asked with a hint of excitement in his voice.
"When I was living on my own. I needed something to laugh at."
"Um, those aren't supposed to be funny," Garfield pointed out.
"They were to me. So was Attack on Titan."
"Okay, so, Raven's got peculiar tastes when it comes to her sense of humor." Placing the disk in the DVD tray, the shorts and jersey garbed Green Lantern started the episodes his green friend wanted to see.
"At least tell me if Ichie meets Hime by the time it's all done." Garfield said as he moved to a sitting position.
"Ichihime? You mean Ichiruki, right?" Kyle told him. He Rukia's main man."
"No, he's Orihime's. Rukia's with Renji."
"Ichiruki."
"Ichihime."
"I don't know you anymore." Kyle said as he turned his head.
"I doubt you ever did." added Garfield. Unknown to both the teen boys, their female partners were rolling their eyes.
"How's things in here?" Conner asked as he walked into the room. He was already dressed for bed in a pair of lounge pants and tank top.
"Good, all things considered." Cissie muttered.
"Considered what?" Conner's question surprised her as she momentarily forgot about his enhanced hearing.
"Conner," Kyle broke in, "who do you pick? Ichiruki?
"Or Ichihime?" Garfield finished.
Looking at both boys, the Titan leader raised an eyebrow. "Umm..."
"Oh forget their stupid argument," Cissie said as both teen boys objected to her words. "We want to do other things beside watch movies or play video games."
"Read a book and not a cereal box then," Raven commented.
"Shut up," Cissie snapped, not seeing the ultra-small grin on Raven's face.
"What else do you want to do?" Grabbing a water bottle from the refrigerator, Conner unscrewed the cap and took a swig of the liquid.
"Well, how about a game?"
Their leader simply shook is head. "League's banned us from playing any kind of game whatsoever."
"Why?"
"Give me a game and I'll give you a reason." This drew the others attentions.
Narrowing her eyes, Cissie said her first game. "Twister."
"The first Robin and Wally got into a fist fight and Artemis nearly shot them both for touching her rear."
"O...kay."
"Poker," Kyle said.
Again, Conner shook his head. "Money was used as payment as well as clothing. League didn't like that."
"Hungry Hungry Hippos?" Garfield asked.
"Artemis used Wally as her hippo and tried to stuff oranges in his mouth."
"Monopoly," Kyle said.
"Never play against anyone associated with Batman."
"Trivial Pursuit," Raven suggested.
"I nearly killed Robin."
Garfield went next. "Duck Duck Goose."
"M'gann nearly killed Wally."
"Chutes and Ladders?" Kyle went next.
"No...never again."
"Connect Four," Cissie asked hopefully.
"Kaldur had to go to therapy and still has nightmares."
"Truth or Dare, Break the Ice...Candy Land?!" Cissie said when the others looked at each other like all this was unbelievable.
"I'm still not allowed in Denmark, Wally sabotaged the marbles with Robins exploding spheres, and again, Wally West."
"Why Denmark?" Garfield asked.
"That's on a need to know basis."
"That's a joke, right?" Raven asked. "About Denmark?"
Taking another swig of his drink, Conner began to walk to the main bedroom he and his wife shared. "Yeah."
"I like it," the Gothic girl said flatly as she resumed reading her book.
"And one more thing," Conner said before he left the room, "it's Ichihime."
Sake - Gotham City
April 25
20:52 UTC
Leaning back in her chair, Zatanna let out a long breath. "Woo, I'm stuffed."
"Yeah," Raquel said as she put her drink down. "And to think, I didn't think there was a lot on my plate."
"We all thought that." After wiping her mouth, Artemis stretched her back and arms, popping her bones from sitting too long. "Okay, so what's the damage?"
"On you know who's tab," Barbra told her.
"Oh yeah."
"What are these things?" Holding up a light tan object, Kara showed it to Karen.
"That's a fortune cookie," Karen explained. "You usually only get them with Chinese food, not Japane-"
"Okay, nobody move or I'll fill ya with an overdose of your daily intake of iron!"
Bursting in through the front door, several men wearing clown masks and brandishing weapons took positions around the female criminal known as Harley Quinn. Handguns, shotguns, and uzis were held out at everyone in the Japanese restaurant with the implication being for them to all remain cooperative.
Skipping ahead of the Joker thugs, Harley happily hummed as she twirled a baton in one hand with her red streaked blonde hair done up in pigtails bobbing around. Anyone would look ridiculous wearing a red and black leather corset with a frilly tutu underneath a matching skirt but she managed to pull it off. Her legs were covered in long stockings, one black and the other red with steel tipped calf-high black boots.
"Hey, you, the Chinese guy behind the countah, Why don't you be nice and fill a takeout bag with tha money. And gimme a dozen of those eggrolls in those cute little boxes to go. And Heaven help ya if ya skip on the soy sauce!"
Nodding nervously, the Japanese, not Chinese, clerk did as she ordered while telling an employee to get her the food she demanded. While he emptied the register, the henchmen went about robbing the customers while also partaking in what was on their plates. Some laughed at the misfortune of others while a few rushed the customers to give them their possessions.
"And the tradition continues," Zatanna said over the mental link.
"Is this the part where we smash some heads?" Kara asked excitedly.
"Of course, girlfriend," Raquel answered. "We take the goons down and then the clown."
"Barbra, if you please." On M'gann's words, the former Batgirl flipped a small compartment on her wheelchair's armrest and pressed several buttons, causing the light over their private table to fade out without anyone noticing.
"Come on! Hurry it up with those egg rolls!" Harley yelled. "Or should I go back there and make'em myself?"
"Ppplease, mmmmiss," the clerk stuttered. "They're nearly done."
"Well they better be finished in the next five seconds or things will get messy." Holding out her baton, Harley flicked a switch on the side of the shaft. After a 'click', twin blades popped out on either side of the baton as the criminal woman grinned evilly.
"Nice toy, wanna see mine?" Standing against a wall, Rocket finished slipping on her bomber jacket then cracked her knuckles. "I really hate clowns."
"Well if it ain't Missile." Harley said as she moved back from the counter and the scared clerk.
"Missile? Girl you're gonna learn my name when this night's over."
"Says you, pincushion. I'm gonna rip those piercings right outta-hey, my baton!"
"You mean this one?" Sitting on a table, Zatanna twirled the weapon in one hand with a grin. "You should learn to keep an eye on your things."
"Gimme that-AGH!"
Flying around the tutu wearing criminal, Bumblebee zapped her rear end and laughed as she jumped into the air while rubbing her injury. The winged woman then flew over to the counter and leaned on a water filed glass.
"You stupid bug, just wait until I get a fly swatt-AGH!" Jumping back and falling to the floor, Harley barely had time to avoid having her nose shot off by a fast moving projectile.
"Fly swatt-Agh? Never heard of one." Stepping out of the darkened area near Rocket, Tigress aimed her crossbow at Harley after firing a bolt near her face.
"What are you boys waiting for? get the- oh crap."
Looking over to where her pack of thugs were, she saw them floating in the air with Mrs. Martian holding them up with her telekinesis. Beside the Martian, stood Supergirl with a weapon in hand. With no effort at all, she smashed it and took pleasure in seeing Harley's eyes bulge at the sight of her feat.
With a large smile, Harley laughed nervously while thumping her hands on her thighs. Acting fast, she drew a pair of chicken nunchucks hidden on the backside of her corset and struck a defensive pose.
"Okay, just...just take it easy. I'm getting out of here and none of youse gonna stop me." Just as she said those words, an object from the back of the restaurant struck her chickenchucks and pinned them to the wall behind her. Her eyes widened when she saw they were struck with a Batarang when someone tapped her shoulder.
"Greetings," Starfire said as she gave her a smile. "I do believe this is the part where you and your criminal friends lose."
Moving closer to the surrounded Harley Quinn, the heroines were looking forward to keeping their tradition alive and well by knocking the female criminal around before leaving her for the police.
"I only came out tonight without my puddin to have a good time," Harley gulped. "And honestly, I'm feeling so attacked right now."
Watching the girls do their work, Barbra smirked and coolly called or the authorities, proud she still had it in her to make that hard throw with her Batarang earlier. "Still got it."