AN: First and foremost, real quick, I rewrote portions of the final third of the last chapter. The story is unchanged, but the executions of themes and how they are weaved in were altered a bit. Reread if you wish. CONTINUE:

"So, how did the mission go for you?" Wonder Woman asked Orpheus.

The two sat atop Wayne Enterprise in Gotham City. The moon hung above them, peeking from behind dark clouds. A storm was brewing. He could smell it in the air and feel it in his bones.

"I beat Bane," he signed to her, a smile on his face as he overlooked the city. "Then it was the usual beat'em up as best you can. Not really worth mentioning. Kobra and Sportsmaster got away, though."

"I saw the mission reports from your team about Bane. Batman was quite pleased with that," she smirked, nudging his shoulder with a bump. "As was I."

Percy couldn't stop that warm feeling in his heart as he smiled at her.

"What was it that Kid Flash called you?" She teased him, shoulder-bumping him some more. "The Bane of Bane?"

"Think we could train some more?" He asked her, ignoring her prodding. If fighting Bane taught him anything was that he still needed to be better. He got caught out, and his powers saved him. Yet, Batman would be quick to remind him that powers can fail you. He at least didn't mention it during the debrief.

Diana's smile fell away to a more somber look. Did he sign the wrong thing?

"When do you ever stop?" She sighed and turned away from him. Her gaze traveled over the city and far into the distance. "You know there is more to life than being a hero, yes? It is more than a duty we hold. It was a tough lesson for me to learn, and I don't want you to make the mistakes I did."

He waited for her to turn back to face him before responding, "But that's my goal. To be a hero."

"What about working with the team last night? Did that not make you want to leave that dark cave more? To hang out with kids your age?"

Not at all. Robin was still rude to him. Kid Flash was walking whiplash, to say the least. As for the others, they were largely forgettable for their parts.

"Not really. Didn't really talk to them," He told her.

She only frowned, "Did Dick not include you?"

"It's more than that," he placated her. The problems between him and Dick were his to deal with. His to ignore.

"Then tell me, what is it then?" She pleaded, her voice yearning to understand. "Because Bruce figured you wouldn't want to be a part of the team, and I know that having no one but Alfred is healthy for a growing kid, or a demigod for that matter."

Wait…

"So, it wasn't Batman testing me on the mission?" He signed, staring into her ever-blue eyes, trying not to let his hands shake. His throat was clenched, he realized. Why did that hurt to hear? "You were trying to get me to socialize with the team?"

That wasn't a test at all to see if he was ready? It was a social test? To see if he, the mute, could relate to others who didn't know anything of how to interact with him?

"Is that so wrong of me, Percy? To wish for someone I care for to grow himself?"

"It would help if they didn't write me off when they learned I couldn't speak," he signed quickly and forcibly.

"Oh, I see…." Diana trailed off, looking down. She must have realized just how different things were compared to what she hoped for. That people don't know ASL. That people don't take time to account to understand others when simplicity fails them.

They descend into silence. A roll of thunder happened somewhere off in the distance behind them. The storm was approaching.

"What of after you beat Bane? Did they treat you differently?" She asked, her soft voice bleeding with the hope that there would be an upside somewhere in all this.

He only shrugged before responding, "They didn't make a comment about me being a liability afterward. They seemed shocked by it all."

"Well, I imagine they would be. Bruce told me about the initial medical report on Bane. You didn't pull your punches, did you?"

He did not answer her question. They both knew he didn't. Instead, he rubbed his bruised knuckles. They would be fine come morning.

"As you age and grow stronger, you will need to," she cradled his hands in her own. "The strength we have is not met for mortals. What could feel like a gentle push could be you fracturing bones."

He pulled away, "So, I shouldn't have hit him?"

"Don't misconstrue me. We both know what you did was right. It's about the future. I know Bruce has taught you to disable and subdue with your strength, but I, someone that knows your power potential, urge you to understand the damage you can do with even the simplest of actions."

"Your ideas conflict."

"Bruce is mortal at the end of the day," she explained. "He has his code and his ways, but being a demigod, having divinity flow in your blood, means we have a different code and ways too."

"I know."

She sighed as thunder rolled once more behind them. The storm was closer. Crime would be less tonight, but not nonexistent.

"I wish you were under my care," Diana sighed. She was looking at the moon herself as it began to hide behind the growing clouds in the night.

He waited for her to turn to him before responding, "Didn't you take me to Olympus to be judged the first time we met?"

She had the decency to blush at his claim. What a night that was. A night that stuck with him for a multitude of reasons.

-Line Break-

Percy was angry. He was frustrated. He was tired.

He had been with Batman for a few months now after he took his sister to prison, and he wanted to lash out. Yet, he couldn't. He wouldn't. He knew better. Batman was his lifeline right now. He was his foot in the door to becoming the hero he promised Lor he would be.

So instead, he took his anger out on the punching bag, like every other night. Watching as it rippled with every blow, he threw another and another. He didn't hold back as he felt the rage in him boil.

He hated being here. This damned dark cave was dreary at best. He hadn't been able to go anywhere during the day at all, but he had snuck out at night when Batman went out for a mission with his sidekick.

Oh, how he loved those nights. To see the moon and stars was a gift. Then, whenever he snuck back into the cave, there was always a warm meal waiting for him near his impromptu bedroom. Whoever it was a godsend. A true saint amongst mortals. Their cooking was divine, and he would eagerly dig into whatever they made. Not once had the mysterious chef disappointed.

It was the only thing keeping him sane. The repetitive pattern of sneaking out to see the sky and nature and returning to a world-class meal. Obviously, someone in the Batman faction knew he was sneaking out, but no one reprimanded him.

Yet, tonight wasn't one of those nights.

Batman was at his supersized computer typing away as both Percy and the sidekick, Robin, dueled defenseless bags.

He really wanted a good meal tonight. It was Gotham; however, Batman and Robin could be called away at any point to go fight crime. There was always a chance.

He watched as his fist went into the bag. The material tore as he pulled his hand free. Sand trickled out onto the floor. This would be the ninth bag now.

"Looks like you killed another bag again," Robin mocked him. "Guess that's another day of 'special lessons.'"

Special lessons was a long-winded lecture on what it means to be a hero, and it was a boring and long affair to sit through. Percy hated it. That if he used this same force, he would endanger someone's life. He respected the message, but he hated hearing it over and over again. He got it. Don't kill people. Don't lower yourself to their level. Blah, blah, blah. Every life matters. We aren't the judicial system. Save every life, no matter whose it is.

He wasn't in the mood for another lecture.

"Maybe, this time, it will stick," Robin teased once more, and Percy couldn't stop himself. He was too frustrated.

But, as the silence that descended after Robin's bag fell to the ground with sand spilling everywhere, Percy didn't care anymore. He didn't care if he wasn't to use his powers. Blasting Robin's sandbag in half was only half as satisfying as seeing Robin roll away in shock. And that was only as half as satisfying as giving the bird-boy the bird for his comments.

"Perseus," The Dark Knight growled, standing from his computer and staring down at the two kids. "Restrain yourself before our guest."

Guest?

Only then did both boys look at the guest in question. A woman in red armor with gold trimming and a gold tiara with a large red star on it was lodged in her long onyx hair. A gold lasso decorated her waist where her hands rested.

Wonder Woman stared at the scene before her, her eyes locked on the destroyed sandbag before shifting to meet Percy's silver ones. Her eyes went wide.

"By Hera," she gasped. "Perseus, was it?"

He nodded back to her.

"Have you been claimed?"

Claimed? What did that mean?

Reading his confusion, she turned to Batman. "Why did you not tell me of him? I must take him before Olympus."

"No."

"This isn't up for debate, Batman."

"He is under my protection."

"This is beyond your influence. This is a matter of the gods."

"I made a promise to his sister that he would be safe and trained. I will not have your gods interfering."

"Who is his sister?" She asked, turning back to examine Percy. Her eyes roved every detail of his face but lingered on his eyes. His eyes that had notably begun to shine since meeting Lor and training his powers.

"Lady Encantadora," Batman told her as he pressed a key on his computer. His sister's file pulled up immediately, and the words were all scrambled to his eyes. Yet, he didn't stare at them. No, he looked at her mugshot. Tear-stained and all, it was her. It was the only way he got to see her anymore.

"One of the strongest daughters of Hekate in recent years," Wonder Woman informed the room. "I am afraid that only makes this more pressing." She began to move towards him, and he stepped back.

Yet, Batman stopped her from advancing anymore with an armored hand on her shoulder, "I made a promise."

"And I promise you he will return," she shrugged off his arm, "but he must be taken before the gods all the same."

"Now you've made a promise," Wonder Woman nodded to his words, and Batman turned to his ward. "Perseus, go with her. Mind your powers while you are at it."

He nodded before walking over to the warrior princess.

"Come, child," she held out a hand to Percy. He approached her slowly. "You are a quiet one."

"He doesn't speak," Robin chirped in from behind, pulling her gaze.

She turned to Percy. "Is this true?" He nodded. "How does one communicate then?"

He signed to her with his hands, words untranslated but a notion understood.

"I see," she said before a moment of silence. "Lady Athena will know how to proceed. Come," she beckoned him. He took her hand, and she pulled him forward before twirling him into her so she could hold him across his stomach. "Do not struggle. I would hate to drop you."

He gripped her arm as they began to lift off the ground.

After a thrilling flight above the clouds and under the moonlight and stars, the two heroes approached the Empire State Building of all places. Wonder Woman snapped her fingers upon landing, and Percy could feel something in the air change. Lor had done similar things, so that must mean Wonder Woman manipulated the Mist, also.

"We shall head to the elevator. None shall bother us," she told him as they entered the building. True to her word, no one looked her way as she led him into the lift. With practice eased, she inputted a series of button presses before the elevator doors closed, and the two ascended.

Percy watched the numbers tick higher and higher, matching the tempo his heart was beating at. Then it passed into the two hundreds, and he could only wonder how far us they were going. The building could not possibly ever be five hundred stories, yet the elevator still climbed higher.

"Almost there," Wonder Woman said, looking forward at the closed doors with a hand on her blade. "You will stick by my side no matter what the residents may say. Ignore any offers and requests. We are here on business, not pleasure."

He simply nodded, unsure if she even saw it.

Finally, on floor six hundred, the doors opened, and he couldn't stop his jaw from dropping.

Scaling up a mountain, weaving up to the peak, was a city of opulent marble white. Grand braziers of fire burnt into the night, illuminating the city of Olympus. Clouds drifted amongst the highest peak, where an ornate hall of columns towered over the world.

It was breathtaking.

Then he heard them, the muttering and gasps of people seeing them.

"Princess Diana!" Someone shouted.

"M'lady."

"Would you be interested in some Nectar?"

"Who is that she is with?"

"Must be a god. Do you see his eyes?"

"As if the moon descended from the skies and into his eyes."

"You don't think that she finally did it, do you?" Another voice added to the cacophony.

"I've changed my mind, Perseus. While it is impolite, we shall fly to the peak," she told him. She stepped to him and slung her arm around him before lifting off. "It is usual that one who journeys to the peak must walk the thousands of steps to stand before the gods, but the hassle it will take to even make it to the base is a burden unneeded at this time. Perhaps, next time you come to Olympus, you can take part in the journey."

In truth, he didn't mind skipping the steps. A thousand? That was a lot on anyone.

In no time at all, the armored princess landed before ornate gold doors.

"When we enter, we shall bow before the assembled and wait for them to address us. Speak only when spoken to and refer to them as Lord or Lady. Is that understood?" She asked before turning to him. He only nodded and signed something she did not understand. "Oh, apologies. I forgot."

She awkwardly looked back to the doors before knocking on them. Loud thuds echoed inside for a moment before settling into silence. A moment later, the doors quietly opened inwards to reveal the throne room of the gods.

Only one goddess awaited them inside.

She sat upon her throne, a giant of a lady, and she watched with a critical eye as they approached the middle of the hall. The princess began to bow just as Percy hurriedly followed her example, watching her out of the corner of his eye before glancing at the goddess. They met each other's gaze. Her eyes seemed to glow brown like bronze.

"Rise," she intoned. Her voice was cold and detached. "What brings you here beneath the hours of the moon?"

"Lady Hera," his escort intoned before stepping a step away from Percy and closer to the goddess. "I bring forth a child."

"I see such, Diana," the goddess assured, her tone very much bored. Yet, her eyes still held Percy's.

"I bring him forth before Olympus to be claimed."

"Why?" The goddess asked, her tone betraying how little she appeared to care.

"M'lady?"

"Why should it matter if he is claimed?"

Diana seemed to pause a moment, her words leaving her.

"Take him to the camp he belongs at. He will live his life. Die as fate will decree. The sun will still rise. The moon will darken and return. The sea will crash onto the shores. Nothing changes."

Silence permeated the room as Diana looked back to Percy, who merely shrugged at her.

"Is this not the life of a demigod?" Hera asked dismissively, her gaze now meeting Diana's.

"Perhaps, but he is no normal demigod. Look upon his eyes. They glow as gods!"

"A firstborn then. His eyes glow just as Cadmus and Dionysus did. If this tells me anything, then that bitch finally got herself knocked up. Blessed be that. Maybe finally, she'll lose her attitude."

"We both know Lady Artemis would never break such a solemn vow."

"Then why is he here?"

"He was in the company of a daughter of Hekate."

"So, he is titan-born. What difference does that make? He can go to camp all the same."

"Perhaps," a new warm voice interrupted from behind them, causing the three assembled to turn to the fire where a small girl stoked the flames. "Perhaps, the boy should speak?"

Both Queen and princess turned to Percy as he signed unknown words to them.

"Does the child not speak?" The Queen asked. A newfound softness crept into her words.

"No, M'lady. I am sure Lady Athena would see to understanding, however."

The goddess nodded, understanding the notion of summoning Athena.

"I summon one; I summon all," Hera muttered before snapping her fingers. A loud snap seemed to echo amongst the halls. "Close your eyes, mortals."

Both did, as flashes of lights blinded them through their closed eyelids.

"What is the meaning of this, Wife?" Thundered a man.

Percy opened his eyes to see the visage of a man with a long white beard and even longer hair in a suit. He sat on a throne just next to Hera as he palmed a glowing bolt of lighting that crackled and discharged into the man's body.

"I need not all of you, only Athena," Hera rebuked as Zeus glanced at the visitors.

"None leave," Zeus held up a hand. "Princess Diana, you come to Olympus at such an hour, with a child no less." Percy felt the man's gaze rove over his body, expecting every inch of him. Should he bow? Oh god, they were in a staring contest now. "A powerful child."

"Yes, M'lord. I found him in Gotham," she told the King.

"Your name, boy?"

Once more, Percy signed. The hand signals were unreadable by the King.

"Percy Jackson," a new voice translated. He was a lean man. Long curly blonde hair was pushed back as glowing blue eyes met silver. "He said his name is Percy Jackson."

"Since when did you know that, mailman?" Growled a new voice, and Percy whipped his head around to see a man who looked like he was part of a biker gang fiddling with a knife.

"It is sign language. Just another language I, as the god of languages, understand, Ares," Hermes responded.

"Silence, you two. We shall make this quick," Zeus ordered. "Percy Jackson, you are brought before the gods. Does anyone claim to his parentage?" No one said a word as Zeus scanned the present eleven before falling upon one goddess with auburn hair. "Artemis?"

"I broke no oath."

"Nor has Athena, yet she has a litter and a half."

"Silence, Ares," Zeus demanded as Ares bowed his head in submission. "We all know how to identify our children. The eyes are such gateways to our souls and divinity. You both share the same color. His eyes glow as that of Dionysus did when he left my thigh. Is he your firstborn son?"

"No, Father. Yet, I grant claim of protection of him nonetheless."

"Sis?" Another god spoke up, his hair matching Artemis', but his eyes were golden where hers were silver. "You know that is a boy, right?"

"I do, Apollo. Yet, it changes nothing. The moon protects those who seek it as a guide."

"He is not your son, but of the moon's descent no less, daughter?"

"Yes. You and I both know the truth of the matter," She barked. "Take his silence as proof."

Zeus didn't waste a second to respond, "Impossible. Faded long ago."

"Never left. Only hid," Artemis countered just as fast.

"You sought not to share?"

"The moon protects those who seek it as a guide. Plus, I learned what happened. To what led you to do what you did."

Zeus paused for a moment. A dark cloud lingered in his eyes as he stared her down.

"Whom all know?"

"' Whom all know,' what exactly?" Hera asked, interrupting the two.

"A faded memory," Zeus explained. "Written out by Fate."

"By Fate?!" Artemis snorted. "Is that what you call it?"

"Not now, daughter," He ordered.

"What are you two on about? Husband, explain."

"I cannot, Wife. Silence binds that of the moon. Only those involved could ever know of it, and even then, they will never find the ability to speak or write of it."

"Such a thing to do," Tsked the mailman. "What ever did you hide?" Hermes asked before Zeus ignored him. The god in question turned his focus back to the mortals.

"Princess Diana, we have gotten sidetracked. The boy, Percy Jackson, is protected by Artemis. Anyone counter?" Zeus' eyes scanned the hall of gods, noting all of their indifferent stares. His gaze then fell on his brother, who was staring too intently at the boy. "Poseidon. Speak."

Poseidon's sea-green eyes widened in surprise before he coughed into his hands and spoke, "Nothing, Brother. Just lost in thought."

"So be it. Then we advance. The boy be moved to camp. Artemis, he is your ward in these matters. His acts reflect you, as our children reflect us. If there are no questions, let us depart."

"M'lord," Wonder Woman began, "I made a promise."

A few gods sighed, frustrated at being held up. Yet, Zeus held his hand up to hold them all in place, and they obeyed nonetheless.

"That is?"

"He remains a ward of his mortal guardian," Diana shared.

"Summers at camp or however they police such times," Athena said. "The guardian remains in the picture. Easy compromise."

"It is more than that. He is of the Justice League."

"The superheroes you accompany?" Apollo asked, leaning forward.

"Yes." Diana nodded.

"One of the aliens?" Hermes asked.

"The green one or the 'S' one?" Ares joined in.

"Maritain or Kryptonian, you mean?" Corrected Athena.

"Whatever, nerd,"

"No, he is a mortal man," Diana interrupted the gods. "Although, he fights of that of a demigod."

"You found the boy in Gotham?"

"Yes, Lady Athena."

"So, the Batman is only a mortal man?" The wisdom goddess' voice was of shock. Her grey eyes glowed as her gaze grew distant like she was reading something in another world.

"Yes."

"Fascinating."

"Are you children done?" Zeus asked, garnering the hall's attention once more. "Your colleague, you made him a promise to return his ward?"

"Yes."

"Yet, you brought him here? Knowing that death could await the boy if not for Artemis?"

"Yes."

"Then, why exactly did you bring him here?" Zeus asked.

"His eyes. I had never seen that from a demigod before. I thought, honestly, he was a god in hiding. It raised caution to find so much divinity among man. In Gotham City, no less."

"You thought him hostile?" Hera provided.

"Not as much as I thought could happen. I would rather be safe than sorry."

"I applaud the forethought of such a notion. However, it is sorted now," Zeus assured. "Return him to his dwelling with the mortal. For assurance's sake, we shall check in with him in some time when his powers manifest properly, and we will go from there. Artemis," He turned to his bastard daughter. "Keep a close eye on him. I do care not how it happened, but you will find out why it happened. That is your hunt. Find the truth.

"Now, if that is all, dismissed."

Percy closed his eyes instinctively after hearing the dismissal, and just as they came, they flashed away. As he opened his eyes, few remained in the hall on their thrones. Artemis, dressed in a lightweight silver rain jacket, approached him. Her eyes never left his as she approached, and he could have sworn he was looking into a mirror with how familiar her eyes were. They were identical to his, well, almost at least. While his were truly silver, there was a tinge of greenish-blue near his pupil buried in the vibrant silver.

"Perseus," she started before her eyes flickered to something behind him," when you have a moment, I will be outside the doors." Then she left, walking away.

"Ahem."

Both Diana and Percy turned to the next immortal to approach.

"Lord Poseidon?" Diana met the god in a fisherman's shirt.

"Lovely to see you as always, M'lady. How are the affairs down below?"

"Growing more troublesome by the day. It is as if the more we do to help, the more people want to undo our work."

"People will always struggle to do what is right. Just as water takes the easiest path, so too do humans. Unfortunately, that would seem to be a life of negligence and strife."

"One day, they'll come around," she said, and all the god could do was smile a forced grin.

"May I have a moment with young Perseus here?" He asked her.

"Yes. Of course," She bowed her head and then turned to Percy, "I will be outside."

He nodded to her before turning to the sea god.

"Jackson. A familiar last name. Not particularly common as most, but not uncommon either. Your mother, was she Sally Jackson?"

Percy nodded.

"You have her nose. That is what gave it away truly. Though, it troubles me… You see, if you are staying with a mortal hero, I fear Sally is no longer in the picture. Is that correct?"

Again Percy nodded.

"Was it cancer? She was afraid of it after what happened with her uncle."

He shook his head no.

"An accident?"

Again, no.

"Is she alive then?"

He shrugged his shoulders. He didn't know. She just disappeared. He refused to believe her dead.

"I see. I will endeavor to find out for both of us. She was a queen amongst mortals. You see… me and her, well, I am sure you can imagine," The god paused. "However, the child was lost at birth despite the efforts of the best in the world. That same night, in her hospital bed, Sally said she needed time and distance. After that, I did not see her again. I have awaited the day she would call me once more but at last…

"I guess what I am getting at is that if you need something. For what once was, you need only ask it of me. For Sally."

Percy could only nod. What was he to even respond with?

"You really do have her nose and her eyebrows. Although her hair was a dark chocolate brown, and yours is more black like mine. But I see her in you, nonetheless."

Was the God of the Seas tearing up?

Unsure of what to do, he nodded again once more.

"Ahh, apologies," He cleared his throat. "Artemis awaits you, and the sea calls for me. I shall leave you to it. Goodbye, for now, Young Perseus."

Then without a flash, he evaporated into moisture and a breeze. The smell of the Montauk beach lingered in the air, and Percy smiled fondly at the thought of it.

-Line Break-

"Well, yes. However, if you were in my shoes, you'd be smart to do the same. I don't think you realize how truly special you are, Percy. Your divinity radiates from your eyes. That is not common among regular demigods. Power does not manifest as it does for you. Your eyes glow like the gods.

"As for what I did, it is my duty to protect Olympus and her interests. You, an unknown, had to be addressed."

He nodded along, "I know. Plus, it was kind of fun, all things considered. I mean, I got to meet Lady Artemis and Lord Poseidon. Although, Lord Apollo wouldn't stop staring at me. That was kind of weird."

"You are not a typical demigod. An explicit son or daughter of the moon has never been born before. Artemis denies you as hers but insists on protection over you. Hekate does not address you. So, you are a puzzle to the gods, and the gods do not have many other things to interest them anymore. Especially since Lord Zeus and Lady Artemis had that vague conversation concerning you."

"Think any of them want me dead?" He signed as thunder rumbled even closer to them. The storm was mere minutes out. He could already hear the rain falling on the city behind them.

"I…" She paused, thinking of the matter. "I doubt they would try," She settled on before glancing out to the storm clouds in the sky. "The gods do not voice their opinions unless they wish to act on them. The less they speak of you, the less likely you have to worry. Considering that your death was not on the table then and has not been discussed since, as far as I know," Diana turned to him before throwing an arm over his shoulder. "I think you'll be fine."

"You just said I am a puzzle to their bored selves. Won't they be speaking of me?"

"Perhaps, but gods are strange beings. They have eternity to puzzle themselves. Plus, as long as Lady Artemis holds a claim to your protection, no one will dare do a thing to you. Live as you please, worry not about lighting or fire, and focus on yourself. That is what is more important."

He only nodded, not finding it within himself to sign back anything, and they descended into silence once more as sirens began to echo across the city once more. Another night in Gotham, the same ambiance as always. It would be weird if there weren't sirens, honestly.

"Would you be willing to do more with the team?" Diana asked him, tentatively breaking the silence.

He really didn't want to waste his time, or anyone's for that matter. Batman was already helping him reach his goal, so did the team benefit him? They didn't understand him, and it would be a miracle if they knew how to if he came back. Yet, Diana has always pulled for what would be for him. His unofficial aunt, who showed him more love than Bruce ever could. If this is what she thought was best…

"I will if you want me to."

"I want you to come out of your shell, not to please me."

"I like my shell. It's cozy."

She only sighed at his response. Then she reached for her golden lasso, an artifact of the gods capable of powers that should never be misused. She finagled with the rope before it began to glow, and she turned to him to speak.

"You need not a voice to lie."

"I'll work with the team," he double-downed, eyeing the artifact that could compel the truth out of anyone.

"Thank you," she said sincerely, letting the threat of the lasso fade. She turned her attention back to him, "I think you will find friends within them. You all share similar dreams of being heroes. Perhaps one day you will even replace us, the League, so you best at least get along with them. Even Bruce has done this."

"I get along with everyone," he signed to her, making her laugh aloud and lean back as her shoulders shook.

"Your 'everyone' includes a small collection of people," she broke it to him. "That hardly counts."

"I made somewhat friends with Poison Ivy."

"The half-dryad likely thinks you are Artemis' and thinks you are a figure of nature yourself."

"Really? She is half-dryad?" That wasn't in Batman's records. Did he know? He had to know!

"How do you not know this?" She asked him sincerely.

"Batman says she was a scientist caught up in an accident." Diana nodded before tapping her chin as the cogs turned in her mind.

"That would explain her unusual growth of powers," She began. "I always did find her a freak of nature in that respect. I have never met a dryad like her. I figured she must have been a daughter of a nature god as well. Or Lord Dionysus might have had an intervention with her. Yet, I do not run her circles to know everything."

"Think Pan was up to his shenanigans?"

"Pan has been silent for many years, and where did you learn of what Pan has done? Should I be censoring your internet access?"

"A dryad actually told me in Gotham Park a while back."

She only sighed. A sorrowful one at the loss of his innocence if he truly learned of some of the things Pan did.

"Next time, close your ears. Nature spirits are such lewd beings, that is something the myths always blame on the gods, but many times, it takes two."

He silently chuckled, not a noise escaping from him, but his shoulders shook all the same. "Okay, mom," he mocked.

She smiled at him, a warm smile reminiscent of the ones Lor always gave him. Diana really was family to him.

Across the city, breaking his attention from Diana and her mothering, he saw a light flick on. A beam into the heavens. A beacon in the night. A warning in the dark.

Diana saw it, too, as she patted his back, urging him to move.

"It would seem you are needed, Orpheus. Best get a move on."

He nodded to her, extending his right arm for a fist bump that she met. They both smiled at one another before he donned his mask, pulling the top up and over his untamed black hair and connecting the bottom portion up from his neck to his nose before latching it closed.

He blinked once as a HUD came online before his very eyes. A call from Batman just beginning to ring.

This was his life.

Orpheus let himself fall from the tallest building in the city, extending his arms out into a dive as the bat suit shifted rapidly into a wingsuit.

This is what he wanted to do.

To be a hero.

Any hour, any night, any day.

A hero's duty calls!

AN: Welcome back to this little story of mine. Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please favorite/follow/review at your own leisure. I appreciate it and it fuels me to write for this story quicker, seeing an eager audience.

However, on the flip side, I got quite a bit of backlash from my PMs about this story. A comment or two in the reviews, and while I hear the complaints, I feel as if they come too early in the story. I don't want you to know everything from the first few chapters. I need time to breathe my characters and progress them. However, that said, it also really made me consider things about an audience. While I appreciate the passion for a fandom, you are reading fan fiction... People take liberties to mess with canon and this or that to mold a story based on their own imagination. For the numerous people who let me know they think it's stupid that Percy isn't a son of Poseidon, I ask you this: how do you know who his father is? HUH? I haven't said anything about that till just now, mentioning that Sally did the nasty with Poseidon. Trust me, when I dive in and explain his "bloodline," I don't think I've read a story that has done what I have. Especially not in retrospect to merging with Young Justice.

I am trying to create something original (as can be) and unique here. It won't be perfect. I don't have a template to follow or a second person with omnipotence to help me. So, let us just see where I take this for now. Critique what you can about what you know now. That's all I ask. Thanks to all the complaints I have gotten from people promising never to read any more of any of my work from people! I am going to resolve their issues within a few chapters to come, or so that will be fun.

As always, I have other stories on my page, a Teen Titans fic, and a Star Wars: The Clone Wars x Percy Jackson fic. I got a LOT of positive remarks about the Star Wars one making it my biggest success as of now from a singular chapter alone.

If you want to reach out to me and contact me and other writers/readers, come find us on the Emerald Library on Discord. My handle is the same on both this and the server.I love chatting about my work and other nonsensical things.

That's about it.

-Manke