Bruce Wayne stepped out of the Hotel, alone. He ignored the small number of reporters following behind him, among them Vicki Vale and Lois Lane, and made his way down the steps to the limousine, where his butler, Alfred, was waiting.
"Was your meal with the Queen of Paradise pleasant, sir?"
"In a manner of speaking." Bruce said, as he stepped into the car. The door closed behind him, and Alfred entered the driving seat.
"Was the Queen less wonderful than what they're saying in the papers?"
"She was very kind to me." Bruce said. "It's the King I'm concerned about."
"You met Eren Jaeger?"
"I tried to. The Queen refused to even entertain the idea." His eyes flashed. "I don't like the amount of control he has over her."
"How do you mean?"
"Historia's family line, the Fritz family, goes back two thousand years." Bruce said. "They have ruled the Eldian people in an unbroken chain. They should have long ago established themselves as a political powerhouse, and the backbone of the Eldian government. Yet it's Eren Jaeger's people in the Military who are controlling everything. The Queen is nothing more than a figurehead."
"That sounds an awful lot like conjecture, sir."
"It is." Bruce acknowledged. "But they are an extremely xenophobic people. Very few people have been allowed onto their island, and walls surround the vast majority of their territory. The Queen herself mentioned to me that she considers all of humanity to be their enemy."
"Humanity, an enemy?" Alfred wasn't often surprised. Clearly this information had taken him completely aback. "Whatever could she mean by that?"
"I don't know." Bruce said. "But I think it's a cause for concern. I need more information."
"Perhaps Batman could be of help?"
"Yes." Bruce said quietly. "Perhaps."
They drove for a little while longer before Alfred changed the topic.
"By the by." He said. "Master Dick has arrived with his friends. They're settling into the manor now…"
"How are they getting on?"
"Oh, the red head girl keeps flying from room to room, and the green boy can't keep his nose out of sensitive business…"
"I'll have to have a word with them." Bruce said. "If they're going to stay here they're going to have to follow my rules."
"Master Dick is doing very well." Alfred said. "And the gloomy girl…. Raven hasn't left her room since she arrived. They certainly won't be any trouble."
"We'll have to think about finding another place for them to stay, if they can't blend in here in Gotham." Bruce said. "I doubt the Tamarian will be able to keep herself undercover at all."
His phone began to ring. He raised it to his ear.
"Hello?"
"Hey Bruce." Barbara Gordon said, on the other line. "Are you on your way back?"
"Yes."
"Good." Barbara sounded relieved. "Starfire has been driving me nuts… I've been shouting at her all day to stop touching things."
"And the others?"
"Doing about as well as we can expect. Once they really settle in I don't anticipate any more issues."
"And have you uncovered any new information on the Eldians?"
"Well, there have been a lot of rumors online… I'll get to that in a bit… but now that the Royal Couple has come to Gotham, there's been a big burst of interest in the public."
"I suspected as much."
"Most mainstream media." Barbara continued. "Thinks the Queen is just wonderful. She's really won them all over. I haven't seen a single bad thing said about her. She seems to be very devoted and loyal to her husband, and her country. And seems to legitimately want peaceful relations with the rest of the world."
"I had a similar impression." Bruce said. "During our conversation. But I doubt she controls Paradise."
"She doesn't." Barbara said. "That much has been made obvious already… Diana said as much after she visited there. Eren Jaeger seems to hold absolute power. Everyone on the Island holds him in high regard…. Except…."
She hesitated.
"The assassination attempt." Bruce said. "From the Eldian named Gabi."
"Yes." Barbara said. "That name hasn't come up again, Bruce. Whoever Gabi is, he or she doesn't seem to have left Paradise. But that means…"
"That there is some kind of rebellion brewing on the island." Bruce finished.
'Do you have any idea why?"
"That's what we're trying to determine." Bruce said. "We need to lead the people of Paradise into our world properly, with no room for conflict."
"The appearance of their island has already messed up the ecosystem in that part of the world." Barbara said. "Their very existence has… well, been disruptive. And destructive."
"That is what concerns me." Bruce said. "These people will doubtlessly antagonize world powers without even meaning to do so. And with no modern technology or ability to defend themselves they will doubtlessly by wiped out."
"And that's just the political angle." Barbara said. "If a real threat came along… an alien, or… some kind of new meta human…. They would be completely reliant on us to deal with it."
"Hm." Bruce sat, deep in thought, as he reflected on the days ahead. All of it… everything they knew about the Eldians, all of the theories and speculation… they would be put to rest after a single event.
"I want to meet with Eren Jaeger." Bruce said. "Once I do that... If I can convince him to allow the Justice League on the Island… there should be no threat. We can deter any foreign powers from interfering with their internal affairs, and deal with any threat that wishes to exploit the island."
"You make it sound so easy." Barbara said.
"It will be easy." Bruce said. "They've come to Gotham. They have shown that they are willing to listen to me. As long as they keep doing that… there will be nothing for them to fear."
He hung up the phone and leaned back in the chair. The limousine had pulled up to Wayne Manor, and came to a slow stop in front of the door.
"Master Dick will be waiting for you, I imagine." Alfred said. "I would have a word with him, before you do anything else."
"Of course, Alfred." Bruce responded, as he stepped out of the car and onto his property. His eyes flitted upwards, noting the unusual amount of lights on the upper floors of the mansion, before opening the door and stepping inside.
…
Historia found herself making breakfast for Mikasa personally the morning afterward. She sat at the table, stony faced, as Historia bustled around the rather elaborate and- to her- rather otherworldly equipment. However the food seemed familiar enough to her, and with a little help and advice from the scout regimen she was able to, at the very least, get something edible.
"I'm so sorry about the wait." Historia said, as she sat the plate down in front of her. "And about last night."
"I could tell." Mikasa said softly. "Thank you."
"I would never have done it if… I… If I didn't think it was important."
"I know." Mikasa said shortly.
Historia knew that nothing she could say could possibly make it up to her. If Mikasa had her way, she and Eren would be living alone on a mountaintop in Paradise, far away from matters of state. Mikasa was loyal to Eren, and Eren alone. And Historia truly respected that about her.
"Is Eren coming to breakfast?" Historia asked.
"No." Mikasa said. "He is surveying the city."
"Without you?"
"He said…" She closed her eyes and sighed. "That I need to be a little easier on you."
Historia stared at her, eyes wide and shining.
"As long as I can be by his side…" Mikasa murmured. "I don't need anything more. I don't need to marry him. But I…"
Mikasa gave a shudder as Historia leaned in and gripped her hands tightly. She smiled.
"You will have his children, Mikasa." She said, her voice warm and affectionate. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
Mikasa blushed, turning her head away so that she was unable to meet her eyes.
Historia was able to coax her into finishing her breakfast, and then asked her to help her wash the dishes. Historia, at this point, had more experience handling the hotel's modern equipment more than Mikasa did, and amused herself by teaching her how the stove, the dishwasher, and the refrigerator worked.
They were in the middle of discussing what they would cook for Eren when he got back when a knock came at the door. Historia fell silent as one of her people went to answer it.
"Yes?"
"A message from Mr. Wayne." The concierge said, handing them an envelope. He tipped his hat to them and was gone.
The letter was handed to Historia, and she promptly ripped it open.
My Dearest Historia,
I cannot even begin to tell you how much I enjoyed our time together. I have been thinking at length about our talks together, and find myself more and more fascinated by your homeland. I understand that this is a new and difficult time for you, and that you have little time for frivolities, but I would very much like you to understand that you have already made a good friend here in Gotham.
I will be eagerly awaiting to see you again. I will be hosting a welcoming party for you and your people at my Manor, and hope that you will get to meet and understand the people of Gotham, so that we in turn may understand you.
Wishing you the best,
Bruce
"He seems to have been rather taken with you." Mikasa commented. "Has he fallen in love with you already?"
"I don't think so." Historia responded. In her experience if someone was in love with her they would just come out and say it.
"He sounds like a sap." Mikasa said, with disgust, re-reading the letter again. "What did you think of him?"
"I'm not sure." Historia said, humming thoughtfully. "He seemed nice, but… there was something there. Something dark."
Her expression suddenly became stern.
"But he's one of the main reasons we came here, to this city. So please don't be rude to him…"
Mikasa's expression was looking stony again.
"We really need to prepare for this event." Historia said. "You will need a dress."
"I don't-"
"Nonsense." Historia said, taking her arm. "We'll pick out something Eren will like. Besides, it will give us a chance to survey the city."
"But-"
"Are you neglecting your survey corps duties?" Historia asked her, in the most lofty voice she could muster. "Are you refusing to survey the boutiques and the department stores? Will you allow humanity to remain ignorant of the unknown?"
Mikasa's face fell.
"No…"
"Very well, let us go." Historia said. "And no more arguing."
Without further ado, she led Mikasa out of the room, instructing her people to arrange for a guide.
…
Lois Lane had made arrangements to stay in the same hotel that Historia Reiss and Eren Jaeger were staying. It had been easy, considering her pedigree and coverage of high profile stories like this. She had been watching Historia's movements like a hawk, documenting the coming and goings from her floor and the discussion about her and her people.
When Bruce Wayne had come to visit, she had found herself bristling somewhat. She knew Bruce personally, had even dated him for a very short period, and knew him well enough that she had been able to easily discern that he was Batman. The fact that he was here upset her.
She had not had the chance to speak with him, however. He was out of the building before she could stop him. It was not until the next day when Historia came out of her room, arm in arm with one of her female bodyguards, that she finally had a story.
"Ah, Lois." Historia said with surprise, as they came to a stop in front of her. "A pleasure to see you again… I wasn't expecting to see you until Mr. Wayne's party."
Lois tried to hide her surprise that Historia had remembered her name. It had not been all that long ago, but most of those politicians and celebrities paid no notice to the people behind the loaded questions and slanderous stories written about them.
"Your majesty." Lois said. "I happen to be staying in this hotel as well. I'm not from here, you know."
"Is that so?" Historia said. "Well, perhaps we should have tea sometime…"
She tugged on the girl's arm.
"But not now." She said. "We just realized that SOMOENE hasn't picked out anything to wear for Mr. Wayne's party."
Lois had not yet taken any notice of the individuals that Historia surrounded herself with. She was taken aback when she looked into the bored looking girl's face and realized that she was strikingly beautiful. Not in the warm, approachable way that Historia was. She was quiet and intimidating.
"Historia…" The girl muttered, looking very embarrassed. She covered her face with the red scarf wrapped around her neck and averted her eyes.
"Lois, this is Mikasa Ackerman." Historia said promptly, noticing Lois' interest. "She is the very best soldier we have brought along with us… second, in fact, to the Great Captain Levi."
"Levi's not that great." Mikasa said, almost sullenly. Historia tugged on her arm again.
"Don't mind her." Historia said. "They don't really get along."
She waved goodbye, and they went along their way. Lois watched them go, and then frantically began scribbling on a notepad.
The Queen treats her subjects as if they were her closest friends…
