Kon-El sighed, as he finished his chores for the day. It's always quick when you have super strength and speed. He was laying on his back, staring at the blue-cloudless sky in awe. It was beautiful. He had never thought he would get the chance to leave the lab or get a family. He was no longer Project Superboy. He was Kon-El, of House El of Krypton. He was Conner Kent, the adopted son of Martha and John Kent. He lived in the Kent farm and went to Smallville High- which if you asked Conner was useless, as in the lab all knowledge up to a doctorate in Engineering had been downloaded in his brain. But Dinah assured him it was needed, as he needed to learn how to behave as his age and as human. Which honestly was kind of amusing, as he was technically only one year old and half-Krytonian.
But not everything was rainbow and roses. Conner might be free now... but he had never felt more alone. He had dreamt of meeting Superman and forming a bond with the only other Kryptonian on Earth. Something that did not end up being true, as Bizarro and John Kent existed. However, Bizarro was with the Outlaws and Clark has yet to introduce Conner to little John. Which to be fair, Conner had been created to kill and replace Superman, so he does not fault him for being careful. Clark had given Conner more kindness than he had expected. He had given him two names, a Kryptonian name and a civilian name. His names. Not to mention, he had given him his parents too. So, it was safe to assume that Clark has accepted Conner in his life... he just needed more time to process everything that was happening.
That, however, does not make Conner feel any less alone.
"Conner! Please come in! We have visitors!" Martha called out for her youngest son, who rapidly moved to comply. He heard three heartbeats inside the house. One of them was an old man, British from his accent, with white hair and a traditional butler suit. Alfred Pennyworth, his mind reminded him, the butler of Bruce Wayne, one of the richest men in the world- richer than Luthor himself. The other two were teenage boys, both had black hair and green eyes, of clear Arab descendance. Damian Alfred Wayne and Alexander Joseph Wayne, two of the youngest Wayne kids. "There you are!" Martha smiled, making Conner feel warm inside. He might feel lonely, but it was never Martha's fault, she was a heaven-sent gift. "These are some of our family's friends, Alfred, Damian, and Alec. Clark and Bruce are great friends."
"Baba is also Batman," Damian added frankly, making everyone look at him shocked, before laughing. "Yeah, I am honest and very frank. I get it. We came to talk with you."
"Me?" Conner repeated suspiciously. "What for?"
"Because we understand," Alec answered with an uncharacteristically soft expression.
"Maybe we should give the boys some privacy," Alfred suggested. "I brought the Wayne's famous vegan Devil's Food."
"Oh! Let me prepare some tea then," Martha cheered and guided the older man to the kitchen, not before giving Conner a supportive smile.
"Would you like to go first akhi?" Damian asked Alec.
"I would," Alec nodded, taking a deep breath to calm his nerves. "I am a clone of two people, just like you."
"W-what?!" Conner was stunned by the revelation. "You are like me?" He asked, same amount of hope and horror in his voice.
"Yes, I am," Alec smiled sadly. "I am the clone of Talia al Ghul, my akhi's mother, and Deathstroke. I was created and grew in a lab, where I was not treated like a person. I never even had a name until my akhi gave me his." Alec snorted. "Quite literally, his middle name used to be Alexander."
"You are like me," Connor murmured in awe.
"And I was also genetically modified," Damian added. "Ra's and Talia al Ghul wanted to create a perfect weapon to destroy their biggest enemy... Batman, my baba."
"Just like me," Conner whispered. "I am not alone... sorry! It must be horrible for someone to be happy about your misfortune!" He laughed, humorlessly, as tears rolled down his cheeks. "I am such a horrible person."
"No, you are not," Alec quickly assured him. "If you are, then so are we."
"We felt quite relieved to know we are not the only ones too," Damian assured him with a gentle smile. "We are quite happy to know that you have a family and friends. Our brother Robin talks highly of you."
"Well, he is awesome," Conner chuckled, wiping the tears away and blushing. "He's been there for me since day one."
Alec and Damian shared an amused look, it seems that it was not only their brother that was enthralled. Now, if only the two idiots would figure out that their soulmate is right in front their nose.
"How are things with the Outlaws?" Bruce asked his son, Jason, and daughter, Cass, during dinner.
The Outlaws was a new superhero team, formed by Redbird and Blackbird- with Redbird as its leader. Jason and Cassandra felt like they did not belong to neither the Titans or the Teen Titans, for one team they were too old and for the other they were young. Not to mention, that the Titans already had years of experience and being the new ones would feel too weird. So, they formed their own superhero team. The members of the Outlaws were Blackbird, Redbird, Arrowette, Red Arrow, Ravager, Red General, Bizzaro, Geo-Force, Terra, and Thunder.
How did that team come to be? Don't ask Bruce.
As soon as Cass and Jason made sure that Damian was good after being in a coma for a month, they took their dad's credit card and traveled all around the world. They saved many people and exploded even more buildings. They even dragged their friends Connor Queen and Emiko Queen. Emiko had chosen the name Red Arrow in honor of her brother, and Connor had gone with Arrowette because of a girl she had met in Star City. Her name was Cissie King-Jones, and her mother was forcing her to be a vigilante, after helping her get away from her and live with her aunt, Connor had adopted her alias. He felt some kind of kinship with her, after all she had been the first-person Connor had helped on his own.
On their journey they picked Rose Wilson, aka Ravager, up and helped her get away from her fucked up dad. Cass and Jason had never been gladder that they had kept Alec's existence a secret from Deathstroke. She had not wanted to join them at first, wanting to go on her own and continue her mercenary lifestyle. But the promise of getting in contact with Jericho and her lost brother, was too much not to accept. Alec and Jericho even paid the team a visit in Egypt, the meeting was filled with tears and hugs.
After that they burst an illegal laboratory and Jason finally got his super friend! Bizzaro was the Kryptonian of Jason's team, as Superboy was to Teen Titans, and Superman was for the Justice League. For some reason Clark had a better time getting used to Bizzaro, who he had given the Kryptonian name Jor-El and the human name Jordan Kent, than with Kon-El. They were making strides, but finding out that Conner was a half-Kryptonian, half-human clone of Superman and Lex Luthor was too much for Clark. It is not like they were fighting, but Clark needed even more time to get used to the idea. Plus having all of that happen around the same time he is getting divorced; it was not easy for the Kryptonian. At least, Kon has the Teen Titans, Ma, and Jon. Not to mention, he is too busy getting life in the world outside the lab was too much work for Kon-El, he had barely sensed Clark's lack of presence. For now, Bruce and Diana were there for their best friend, something Clark was very grateful for.
After that they found Artemis Bana-Mighdall, who Cass had quickly bonded with. One battle, in which Blackbird had irrefutable won, and Artemis was already calling Cass a shield sister. She had joined them, taking the name of Red General, and enjoyed getting to know the world around them. Jason, Bizz, and Artemis had become known as the Unholy Trinity in the superhero community. Their love for chaos and destruction was like no other, so many explosions... so many...
Unluckily, for Black Lightning, he had already sent his youngest daughter to form part of this new team, by the recommendation of his Justice League teammates, before this Unholy Trinity had been formed. Of course, he had later tried to get her out of it, but Anissa Pierce, aka Thunder, was having the time of her life and she would not budge. Especially, after meeting a certain exiled prince of Markovia. Geo-Force was furious about his uncle's betrayal and was ready to do anything to get his country back. Brion Markov had mellowed down after he had been informed of his half- sister Tara Markov. Yes, the Outlaws had also saved her from Deathstroke and sent her to the Teen Titans to heal. She had ended up finding a nice group of friends in San Francisco, taking the superhero name of Terra, and joining them to missions. However, she had never found herself completely accepted into the group. Not because, the Teen Titans did not accept her, they had simply not experienced life the way she did. So, when Terra had gone to Europe to meet her brother, she had decided to join the Outlaws, as they did understand her position. She had rapidly bonded with Rose, over their hate of Deathstroke.
With the two of them back together and the aid of the Outlaws, the Markovs got their uncle out of the throne and recovered their country. Getting involved in a civil war had certainly made the Outlaws known worldwide. Especially, after Brion had proclaimed Markovia a haven for anyone meta or powered. Luckily, with the Outlaws and Tara with him, they aided him into making those changes slowly and not as abruptly as to scare the "normal" civilians in his country and worldwide. There were talks about some kind of accord to give meta and powered people protection and rights worldwide based on the changes Markovia was planning on implementing.
Finding out about the civil war his kids had been part of via the news, had almost given Bruce a heart attack. It took Clark, Diana, Alfred, Dick, and Damian to stop Bruce from getting on the batplane and flying to get Blackbird and Redbird back to Gotham. How much more chaos was those two planning on creating. Jason and Cass got a big scolding once they returned home from their destructive summer vacation. The gift their siblings had planned for them did not aid Bruce's bad mood, but he knew when he was outnumbered. So, he allowed his kids to proceed. They had bought, built, and refurnished a base of operations for the Outlaws in Jump City, where Rose, Artemis, and Jordan were quick to move in there. Thunder returning to her family in the city of Freeland, Red Arrow and Arrowette went back to Star City, and Geo-Force and Terra had a country to run- though they were one call away if needed.
Cass and Jason were still grounded. A punishment that lasted for three months and it had finished two days ago. So, Bruce knew that they would be meeting with their chaotic team.
"Meeting in Jump City," Jason hummed with a victorious smirk, getting slapped on the back of his head by Alfred as he passed around serving water. "Ouch! Alfie! Ok," he pouted when Alfred gave him a pointed look and glared at his siblings when these ones laughed at him. "Things had calmed down in Markovia, so we can finally meet all again."
"Missed them," Cass murmured softly with a fond smile.
Bruce could not stop a smile from appearing on his lips, how could he not be happy when his kids were this happy? "What about the Teen Titans?" He turned to Tim.
"We are having a training session with the Titans," Tim informed his dad. "We are meeting in our base in San Fransisco."
The Teen Titans consisted of Timothy Wayne, aka Robinn, Garfield Loga, aka Beast Boy, Jamie Reyes, aka Blue Beetle, Stephanie Brown-Row, aka Spoiler, Harper Brown-Row, aka Bluebird, Cullen Brown-Row, aka Agent C, Conner Kent, aka Superboy, Mia Queen, aka Speedy, and their new member, Cassie Sandsmark, the new Wonder Girl.
As for the Titans, we have the original New York team, Nightwing, Starfire, Troia, Tempest, Arsenal, and Kid Flash. Knows in their civilian lives as Dick Wayne, Kory, Dona Troy, Garth, Roy Harper, and Wally West. We also have the new members Joseph Wilson, aka Jericho, Violet Harper, aka Halo, Karen Breecher, aka Bumblebee, and M'gann M'orz, aka Miss Martian- the newest member brought to them by Martian Manhunter. Cyborg had left the team to join the Justice League, a position well-earned by the impressive hero. Jericho, Bumblebee, Troia, and Halo being the only ones living in New York full-time. With Kid Flash in Keystone City, Tempest saving the Nautic life all around the world, Arsenal in Gotham, and Starfire having moved in with Nightwing in Bludhaven.
"We are really looking forward to it!" Dick cheered, while Arsenal smirked challengingly.
"It seems that only the youngest members of the family are staying in Gotham to patrol then," Jade commented. "The Justice League is also holding a meeting."
The Justice League has been constantly expending ever since their creation, but on the last couple of years their core members have grown rapidly until reaching a number of 18 members. Red Lantern (Guy Gardner), Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), Green Lantern (John Stewart), Wonder Woman (Diana Prince), Superman (Clark Kent), Batman (Bruce Wayne), Batwoman (Kate Kane), Cheshire (Jade Nguyen), Aquaman (Arthur Curry), Martian Manhunter (J'onn J'onzz), Flash (Barry Allen), Hawkgirl (Shiera Sanders Hall), Black Canary (Dinah Lance-Queen), Green Arrow (Oliver Queen), Doctor Fate, Cyborg (Victor Stone), Katana (Tatsu Toro), and Black Lightening (Jefferson Pierce). Capable and trustworthy comrades. Cheshire being the first villain turned hero to join their ranks, showing the world where the Justice League stands on second chances- they even got Cheshire pardoned. They were also considering extending an offer to Cheetah, but as she is Wonder Woman's villain, they left the choice to Diana.
"About that... I just got an invitation to the Justice League Dark meeting," Damian informed his family, gaining everyone's attention.
"Master Damian, I was not aware that you joined those meeting," Alfred said what everyone was thinking, but no one knew how to say it.
"I do not, I mostly fill my report and give it to Constantine," Damian replied. "But this time around is different,"
"Why is that?" Bruce asked suspiciously.
"Because baba," Damian smirked at his father. "Raven is finally coming back to Earth."
"So, what is this about?" Rose demanded to know.
They had just finished a combined mission between the Titans and the Outlaws. As much as Jericho and Rose loved working with each other, they've also noticed the batkids secretive behavior. How they would whisper to each other, while sneaking glances at the Wilson siblings.
"Right... so..." Dick tried to find the right way to say it, but nothing came to his minds.
So, Jason took it upon himself and went for the blunt approach. "Ra's al Ghul is piece of shit that took your father's DNA combined it with his daughter's and created a clone from the two of them." Rose and Jericho could only stare at him in disbelief. "His name is Alexander Joseph Wayne, he is our little brother, and his hero name is Respawn."
"W-wait a second!" Rose exclaimed, flushed. "We have a brother? A little brother you've kept from us?!"
"You do," Cass signed with a sad smile. "He only recently told us about his decision to meet his other side of the family."
"He does not want either Talia or Deathstroke to know about him," Dick explained with a sigh. "But he wants to meet his siblings... I'm sorry I did not tell you about him before."
"I understand," Jericho signed. "He was hurt, not ready. He needed time to heal. You gave it to him." Jericho smiled at his friend. "Thank you for helping him when we could not."
"Jericho!" Dick teared up. His friend has always been too good for his own good. "Thank you!" He threw himself at Jericho and hugged him like his life depended on it. "You are going to love him! He can be grumpy and stabby, but he is a sweetheart!"
"So, just like any Wilson," Rose snorted, smiling.
"He is bloodthirsty and violent," Jason smirked viciously. "I love him." "A total sweetheart," Cass signed with an angelic smile.
"Which is it?" Rose asked, as he lost control and laughed out loud. "Well, either way, I can't wait to meet him!"
A meeting that ended up happening one week later in the Outlaw's Headquarters.
"So, you are our little brother," Rose commented, as she and Jericho stood in front of Alec. "Yes, got a problem?" Alec scowled.
"Oh, that's dad's scowl all right," Rose snorted. "Is that... an insult?" Alec asked, quite confused.
"No, she also has it," Jericho signed, smiling gently. "It's nice to meet you, I hope we'll get along."
"Oh, we will get along just fine," Rose snickered. "He has shown more sensibleness than both of us by refusing to meet daddy dearest."
"Is he that bad?" Alec asked softly. "I've heard stories about Talia from my akhi and akhti, but Dick and baba refuse to tell me about Slade. They do not want to push their opinions on him into me."
"Bad? Oh, they've stories I've got for you!" Rose cackled, throwing an arm over Alec's shoulder. She ignored how he tensed under her and dragged him to the couch, where she sat him between her and Jericho. "Let me tell you about daddy dearest and his so-called training."
"I believe that the Titans and Teen Titans idea of cooperation is a great idea!" Superman exclaimed with a bright smile. "We should also join them."
"The Outlaws should also join those meetings," Diana added. "The more we learn to cooperate, the smoother it will be for us to work together when we are in need of calling other teams in case of invasions."
"Yeah, I like that idea."
"Awesome!"
"Let's show those kids how it's done!"
Many Justice League members agreed with the idea before Batman growled at them to shut up and get back to the meeting's real purpose.
"The Light and the League of Assassins have been acting strange," Batman said during the Justice League meeting. "They've been too quiet, there are no longer assassinations and schemes to control the world. It's not that they do not kill, but only when its... necessary. Well, necessary in their eyes. It's like they are trying to control the underworld, to keep the worse at bay."
"That's weird," Hal commented, confused. "I've not been on Earth a lot in the last couple of years, your son keeping me busy in Apokolips," he joked towards Batman, who simply batglared at him. "But aren't those two the largest and meanest criminal organizations out there?"
"I wouldn't call them mean, that's an understatement," Cheshire replied. "But they are the largest, alongside the Order of St. Duman. They've been around for centuries, in the case of the Light for millennials. It is one of the reasons why taking down the Order of St. Duman took years of work, and a lot of blood was shed. The Light... well, we dealt a huge blow to them. One that put them at the same level of the League of Assassins."
"Only that?!" Guy exclaimed shocked. "All that information, bases and labs dismantled, and they are still as big and well-connected as the League of Assassins?!"
"What did you expect?!" Jade snapped at him, bringing the whole room to an uncomfortable silence. "The Light has been around for millennials! What we did was the most we could have done. The biggest blow the organization has received since... ever!"
"Yet they are still around and kicking," Oliver complained. "It is grating."
"What else do you want? To kill Savage?" Barry turned to one of his best friends, with a raised eyebrow. "Cap already dealt with Savage's immortality, he will only be around for a couple more of decades."
"And what else will he do in those decades?" Oliver snapped at Barry. "Cap might as well finish the job and save us the bother!"
A pause... then the room exploded. "Arrow!"
"Green Arrow!" "Oliver!"
"Enough!" Batman shouted, getting everyone to shut up. He then turned to Green Arrow with a glare, a glare that surpassed his famous batglare. "I have been made conscious of my double standards lately, of how I push my ideals into other and expect them to obey. I do not kill, other do, many of them are in this room. I've learned to live with that and accept it... accept them." He ignored the proud looks given to him by Kal-El, Diana, and Dinah. "If you want to kill Vandal Savage, do it yourself, don't drag someone who has made it very clear has no intention of taking a life. I might have my issues with Captain Marvel, but his character is not one of them. Instead of killing his villains he rehabilitates them. Four of them are in the Justice League Dark and are aiding the world now! So, do not blame others for your shortcomings!"
Oliver glared at Bruce but kept his mouth shut, knowing that there was nothing he say. Batman's words were the truth.
"Let's get back to business," Diana spoke, getting everyone back on track. Though, from the look Dinah had given Oliver, he was in trouble. "Cheshire, has any of your contacts given you new information?"
"One of them sent me a package right before the meeting..." Jade answered, giving Batman a look of trepidation. "Flamebird, Shrike, and Respawn have disowned themselves from the al Ghul family... but technically only Ra's al Ghul is capable of taking someone's name off the family registry."
"Does that mean that they are still considered al Ghuls?" Clark asked in concern.
"Technically speaking Shrike and Respawn were never considered al Ghul, even though they possess the blood running through their veins," Jade explained. "Respawn is a clone, simply an experiment in Ra's eyes and not a grandson," many Justice League members looked furious, Diana looked ready to take her sword and decapitate Ra's. "Shrike's father was a cripple as such his name was taken out of the family registry, that was before Mara was born. Both of them have recently been added, Flamebird's position as heir has never been stripped."
"But why? Were they not named as traitors?" Dinah asked Jade suspiciously. "That's right!" Barry exclaimed. "They betrayed them!"
"Technically they betrayed the League of Assassins enemies, using the Justice League to take them all out and allow the League of Assassins to grow in power," Jade answered. Everyone looked at her in stunned silence. "Technically they proceeded to do the most successful mission in the history of the League of Assassins without lifting a single finger and are currently being trained by the esteemed Batman, before returning to take over the league."
"They are my children! I will not allow it!" Batman growled.
"Do not worry my friend, if they come for them, they will face our wrath!" Diana assured him, eyes dark with promise.
"She is right Batman," Clark put a hand on his shoulder as support. "We have your back and will keep your family safe."
"Fuck technicalities!" Guy growled. "If they so as much lay a finger on our Grey Lantern, I will reap them apart!"
"Hear, hear!" Hal cheered. "We will show them that if you mess with a lantern, you mess with us all!"
"He is a bat!" Batman snapped at Hal. "Not a Lantern!"
"He is the guardian of the Grey Lantern Force," John deadpanned. "He was a lantern before he was a bat, we have seniority."
"Grrr!" Batman growled angrily, as the Justice League laughed around them, delighted by their banter.
Whatever comes next, they will face it together, as a family.
"Where's Lian?" Roy asked his ex as he entered the Wayne Manor's living-room, the whole Batclan and the Brown-Rows were present- the Constantine's were in some cult hunt in Europe.
"She is out with Bruce and Damian," Jade answered him with a Cheshire smile. "They are out shopping."
"Those two really love to spend outstanding amount of money," Roy shook his head in exasperation. "Didn't they buy her a princess dress for the next Martha Wayne Foundation Gala last week?"
"They still need to find her the perfect pair of shoes to match and a tiara," Jade told him seriously. "She is a princess after all."
"That she is," Roy could not disagree with her on that. Lian was the Wayne and Queen princess, and everyone knows that. Cat Grant made sure of that. "But still, how can they shop that much and not get tired?"
"They were born and raised rich," Jason told him. "They are used to it, while most of us were raised on the streets or as child soldiers. Dami might have been a child soldier, but he was a crown prince child soldier."
"He still is a crown prince," Alec reminded them.
"To a much bigger kingdom this time," Mara smirked, proud of her akhi.
"I still can't get over the fact that Damian Wayne of all people is the heir of Hell," Roy shook his head in disbelief. "I saw him yesterday playing tea party with Lian!"
"He is an angel!" Dick made sure to gloat about his favorite brother. "Well, he is a Nephilim," Tim pointed out.
"Do we really have to assist to that dreadful gala?" Steph pouted, leaning on her best friend Cass, even though her boyfriend was sitting next to her- many bat-siblings shared a look at that.
"She is right," Harper agreed with her stepsister. "Can't Damian be the only one to go? He is the only one to enjoy all the socializing and politics going there. He thrives at them!"
"That you do," Alfred answered her primly. "Master Bruce's childhood friend Mister Thomas Elliot is finally returning to Gotham after so many years. Master Bruce would like your support."
"We will be there for that!" Dick promised the butler. "Our support he will need," Roy sighed.
"What's wrong?" Jason asked him in concern, touching his arm in support.
Cass raised an eyebrow at that. That was not a gesture of support from a friend, but one of someone who cared very deeply about you. Cass smirked secretly, making an estimation of when those two will get together. A year at least, Roy would not touch Jason as long as he was still underage.
"I got information from one of my contacts in Santa Prisca, Bane has been killed," Roy informed the stunned Batclan.
"Was it confirmed?" Jade asked him rapidly.
"It was, she was there for his death and later for when his body was burned," Roy assured her. "When was this?" Alfred asked him seriously, getting right to work.
"Half a year ago," Roy confessed. "Six months ago?!"
"Why did we not know about this before?!" "Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!"
"Shit! This is insane!"
"Enough!" Dick took command of the room as the eldest, shutting his siblings down. "Why is that your contact has only informed you of this now? What took her so long?"
"Because the one that offed Bane was his second-in-command," Roy answered him. "Until then he had been too scared to go against Bane, but without his venom he was finally vulnerable. He had his assassin training, but his body was weak and trying to get used to the idea of being without the venom..."
"So, he took his opportunity and took control of the organization in Santa Prisca," Tim deduced. "The unrest of a coup and new management must have made it hard for your contact to send anything."
"It was," Roy agreed. "It was even worse when the criminal empire and dictatorship over the island went to shit."
"Of course, it did," Jade sighed. "What made Bane so dangerous was not only his venom-enhanced body or his League of Assassins training, but his intellect. Which his second-in-command clearly did not have, as he failed to keep control in just mere months."
"It also helped that my contact inspired people to revolt," Roy shared with a smirk. "She is in charge now."
"Good," Alfred nodded primly. "We will have the Martha Wayne Foundation send aid and maybe create jobs, a factory or lab in the island will nice. Not to mention, that the Wayne family is in deer need of a family vacation villa in the Caribbean. Most of the family's island villas are in the Mediterranean Sea."
"Don't you guys own your own private island?" Harper asked them sarcastically.
"Two of them," Mara replied. "A Wayne Island in the Philippine Sea and an al Ghul island, known as the Infinity Island."
"Akhi fought our great-grandmother and won it in a trial by combat," Alec gloated with pride.
"You have two private islands and a villa in Europe, and you still want another one in the Caribbean?" Cullen asked them slowly. "Rich people, I'll never understand them."
They all laughed at that. When Bruce, Damian, and Lian had finally made it back to the manor, they had a report done and ready for Batman. While relieved that Bane was gone and Santa Prisca is safe, Bruce was also sad that there had been no other way to save Bane as well. For a long time, Bruce had kept faith of rehabilitating his rogue gallery mostly out of stubbornness. But when Damian came that changed, so many of his villains were saved- given a chance to do better. Right now, his old childhood friend Harvey Dent was working as a legal consultant in the Wayne Enterprises' Legal Department. He was on his meds and was doing much better. Bruce was delighted to have him back in his life, and even Dick has moved on from his trauma of almost dying because of him when he was Robin.
Though he was never going to be Dick's favorite person. Man-Bat, on his part, had been healed by Flamebird and had joined Dr. Freeze and Poison Ivy at the R&D Department of Wayne Enterprises. Their research was being closely monitored every day and they had mandatory weekly therapy sessions.
Of the worst rogues Batman has ever had only the Penguin, Mad Hatter, Black Mask, Scarecrow, Mister Zsasz, and Professor Pyg, were left at Arkham Asylum. Even Firefly was taking his meds and getting better. It was a slow process, one that his team was taking one time at the time. But being surrounded by Flamebird's flames, after his objective of blowing up the city was stopped, changed him. That fire could heal and not hurt, being hugged by those flames, and feeling that protective hug, it broke him. For so long he had thought that fire was meant to purify by destroying, he had based his entire life around that. Being proven wrong about that shook him to the core... he had tried to commit suicide. Damian feeling guilty, had paid him a visit, which had proven effective. It was hard to hit rock bottom, but it was what Firefly, no, Garfield Lynns, had needed to finally move on. He was still in Arkham but would be released next month, Damian would have everything prepared for him by then. A cushy job at Wayne Constructions demolishing buildings and an apartment to start his new life. Of course, he would be monitored closely.
Only in Gotham City would they allow a convict to be around fire like that after being convicted as an arsonist... then again, he had never gone to prison but to Arkham Asylum as a patient. Still, only gothamites would be crazy enough to allow this to happen. Oh, well, at least things were getting better, if slowly.
For now, the Batclan was at the Martha Wayne Foundation Gala. Roy and Jade were with Lian, talking with the Queen side of their family. Well, with the Queen kids, Roy was keeping Oliver at bay. Jason and Cassandra were waltzing around the ballroom, while Dick was showing off Kory and being the social butterfly, he was. Steph, Harper, Duke, and Time were at the balcony taking a break from it all. Mara, Alec, Cullen, Colin, Suren, and Maya were at a corner observing everything and everyone, getting intell from those invited for Wayne Enterprises and Fox to use later. As for Damian, he was with Bruce, socializing as much as he could. He truly enjoys playing with people and manipulating them via words, humans can be so dumb at times.
Damian played his game, until he noticed a beautiful woman by the buffet getting a glass of whiskey from Alfred. He politely bid his goodbye to the ones he was talking with, hugged his baba, and rapidly headed her way.
"Maze, I was not expecting you all the way here," Damian greeted her with a fake smile. "What are you doing here? Did great-grandparent send you for something?" Only the smallest tension in Alfred's body showed how his grandson's words affected him.
"They did," Maze smirked viciously, her human disguise hiding her disfigured face. "They wanted me to tell you that the annexation of Queen Raven's kingdom to Hell has been completed. Raven is now a princess of Hell, and Hell now has ten regions."
"So, Dante was right," Alfred commented, as collected as always. "There are nine circles of Hell."
"Circles, ha!" Maze snorted. "We call them regions. By the way, you are truly earning the respect of those that hated you for your changes in Hell. Having Trigon's kingdom annexed, was a stroke of genius!"
"Raven did not want to rule as queen but she needed to put her siblings somewhere they would not harm others," Damian explained, mostly for his confused grandfather. "So, I offered her to annex her kingdom to Hell and have it join the new policy of rehabilitating those lost souls. They can get their sadist urges out during the torture period or battling other regions' demons. Everyone wins that way, and my great-grandparent stops meddling with my life... though, as you are here, I believe that won't be happening any time soon." Damian sighed, before glaring at his great-grandparent's second-in-command. "What are you truly doing here?"
"The princes of Hell are talking about engaging you to Princess Raven," Maze smirked at the vicious and smart great-grandson of her ruler. "She is beautiful, powerful, and carries the blood of demons through her veins. The blood of Trigon."
"Combining my half-angel DNA to her half-demon DNA, which come from the strongest angel and the strongest demon in the universe will make a powerful child, a perfect heir," Damian agreed, trying to stop himself from smirking- if only they knew. Damain smiled softly at his grandfather, who was secretly looking at him with worry, but you needed to know Alfred to realize that. "However, who I marry will be my choice. I am from the Lucifer bloodline, we love once and we love forever. I'm sure my great-grandparent knows that and wants you here simply to cause drama and worry my family. Which I will not allow."
Also, for something else, Damian thought suspiciously. What for though?
"Oh, you are no fun!" Maze pouted and turned to leave, only stopping when she caught sight of Bruce Wayne and Thomas Elliot talking- Bruce looked much happier to see the other, than Tommy was to see the billionaire. "But he is," she continued with a smirk. "That boy is going to Hell for sure. He has sinned so much! The envy and jealousy he has for Lucifer's esteemed grandson-in-law is all consuming. He wants your father destroyed and then dead."
So, that is what she is here for, Damian sighed internally, as Alfred's worry became clearer. Even though Maze did not know what she had done, she had just given me the opportunity to unmask Hush earlier. As much as I hate to admit it, thank you Esteemed Great-Grandparent.
"Master Damian," Alfred turned to his grandson with a whisper. Maze was gone and with her the silencing and cloaking spell around them.
"I know shido," Damian sighed. "Titus," the green-eyed boy whispered and something in his shadow moved. "Follow him, gather intel and report back." A shadow shot towards Thomas Elliot and dived into his shadow. "Let's hope Maze was simply messing with us."
Damian said that mostly for Alfred and to keep up his facade. But Damian knew the truth, Thomas Elliot was Hush and there was no changing that.
A/N: watch?v=rmYyPcEQKU4