Making the Best of It
Chapter 32
It just after the new year when things in the world had changed. Clark had alerted Batman that something was going on within Leviathan, the secret organization that was founded by Talia al Ghul to pursue her diabolical goals of world domination.
He faintly recalled how close he was to losing against her when Leviathan had nearly conquered the world and almost destroyed Gotham. All the battles within the city to stop Talia from succeeding. Her use of brainwashed children within her ranks was heinous to him. What nearly sent him over the edge was her authorizing a hit on their son, Damian.
Damian as always stubbornly refused to be benched. Resulting in his death at the hands of the Heretic. A clone of Damian that nearly killed Batman himself when the battle neared its end.
When it was all over Talia was dead and buried next to Damian on the grounds of Wayne Manor.
The both of them were resurrected not long after their deaths. Talia had used her second life to rebuild her powerbase. Since then, Leviathan wasn't as dangerous as previously, but it was still a threat.
According to Clark, there was infighting within Talia's organization. Someone was stealing the reins from the woman. Clark had been kidnapped by Leviathan in the hopes of bringing Superman to them not knowing the reporter was the same man. Clark had spoken with Talia about Leviathan only for her to remain silent.
But he did take away one thing.
Talia wasn't in control anymore.
Someone taking the name of the organization itself as his alias. A man in red armor.
Learning this, Batman went to work investigating the matter.
He had no idea who this man was. He was a complete ghost. Voice print, height and weight were all inconclusive.
Without any other identifying marks, he pushed further.
Alarms blared from the batcomputer. The man clicked on the alerts and what he saw left him stunned.
Leviathan had just declared war on international agencies.
DEO, ARGUS, Spyral, Checkmate had just been hit all simultaneously.
The League was already responding as were first responders.
"Bruce!"
He heard Diana's voice as she, too, was alerted to the attack. He turned to witness the panicked look on her face. She landed gracefully next to him, leaning in peering at the screens.
"Steve's at ARGUS," she informed him with distress. She appeared torn glancing between him and the tunnel that led to the outside world. She was worried about her friend, but she didn't want Bruce to think that she was going back to him.
"Go, Diana."
Said woman froze before turning to face the man. He held a blank expression on his face. "I'm not going to be one of those boyfriends who get jealous when their girl has a platonic relationship with their ex. Go. You have history with him. Lives are at stake. I won't make demands of you."
She nodded gratefully, she turned, only to be pulled back by the man. Stunned, the Amazon faced him with a questioning look.
"Bruce, what are y—mmh!" he silenced her with a kiss. Slowly, their tongues fought one another passionately as they held the other in their arms. Slowly, they pull apart. She was left breathless by him, "Just a little reminder of why you like me so much," he smirked teasingly.
She smiled; a mild chuckle left her throat. He sure knew how to kiss.
"Dinner tonight? I'll even cook," he offered.
A fine eyebrow rose which made him backpedal on his offer. "I'll order out."
She kissed his cheek and levitated off the cold ground.
"I love you," she uttered lovingly.
"Love you too," he replied back with a tiny smile. He watched as she left him alone in his cave.
Swiftly, he was stoic as the mask was placed back over his face. He sat down at his computer and went back to work.
This attack was bold. Bolder than Talia. Someone with an axe to grind with the agencies that were attacked. He checked the Hall of Justice and discovered that it was unharmed. If someone was going to attack all the world's agencies, why leave the League alone?
It made sense to include the League as they were the primary target of anyone vying for world domination.
This was a calculated attack. What did these agencies have that the League didn't?
His white lensed covered eyes widened. Technology.
This attack was a two-prong assault. One: attack the agencies. Two: steal whatever technology that they could use for themselves. ARGUS alone had confiscated and sealed hundreds of dangerous artifacts.
The other agencies had access to other sorts of technology. In short, Leviathan had just eviscerated the intelligence community.
As of now, there was no intelligence community.
Efficient and daring.
Batman was certain that Talia was not behind it. Neither was Ra's as he recalled he had crippled his resources and destroyed several Lazarus Pits. He had the Outsiders monitoring the slightest activity from Ra's.
His mind pondered the variables. Who could do something like this? Who had the ability to devastate the world so quickly and easily? Who knew the ins and outs of each intelligence agency's security systems?
The attacks were sudden, and their defenses were nothing compared to Leviathan's weapons.
A thought suddenly struck the man.
"Of course," he muttered to himself as his fingers danced along his keyboard. He hacked into confidential files of each organization that was attacked.
"I don't believe it," he grumbled. He ran from the computer and started up the batwing.
From his comms he had heard how bad it had gotten. Incalculable deaths so far. He wasn't surprised to learn from survivors that Leviathan had turned many members to his side. He certainly raised the bar when he took over.
He stopped at the hospital that Sam Lane was taken to. It was here where he would get some answers.
He snuck into the injured man's room. His injuries were serious but not life threatening.
"General," he called out, rousing the old man.
"W-What do you want?" the gray-haired man responded. The drugs pumped into him made him drowsy.
"Tell me about the man who did this?" Batman demanded with his usual gruff. "This could only happen by a man with a mission. Someone whom had been imbedded within each organization. Moving from one organization to the next. What did he say to you?"
Lane scowled as he fought the pain and the drugs in his system. "You know," he stated.
"I need to hear it from you. You were his handler, weren't you? The handler for the world's greatest spy."
The general considered staying silent but seeing as how he was laid up and Leviathan was making their play against the world, he answered. "I asked him to do what he does for the world. At first, I wanted him to implant himself into agencies that I felt had dubious alliances. Spyral, for one. He was good. The damn best in the world. And eventually, he moved on to every major intelligence agency in the world. Operating within or running several agencies. But…" he paused as he reflected on what had happened to the man. "I think it desensitized him. Made him doubt the need for these agencies."
Lane turned his head to Batman with a solemn expression on his injured face. "He wanted me and Waller to join him. We refused and I ended up here. He believes that once all the covert agencies are gone all the secrets and lies will be erased and he can stop shaping the world to his design," he explained.
Batman silently listened to the general as he started putting it all together.
"Stop him," Lane said earnestly to the vigilante's surprise. "He's a little lost. He went too deep. I know he has to answer for this but stop him."
Slowly, the dark-clad man nodded his head before he left the injured man only.
ARGUS HQ
Wonder Woman flee over the wreckage of what was once ARGUS HQ. The smell of smoke was foul within her nostrils as she scanned the scene. What was once a building was now nothing more than a disaster area. Stone and steel littered the area as nothing was left standing.
Her heart caught in her throat as she saw first responders treating the wounded and loading them into ambulances. She prayed for those who had lost their lives and silently prayed that Steve was alright.
She spent hours combing through debris as she assisted in rescue work. While she was delighted to help people, she was mainly searching for Steve.
Her hands were covered in dirt, her ebony hair filled with traces of rubble. She had other heroes assisting her at ARGUS while others were at the other attacked locations.
Too many casualties were found and not enough survivors.
What plagued her the most was… Steve was missing.
Her heart wrenched as she feared his fate. Was he dead? She didn't want to think about it. But she couldn't help herself.
She vaguely noticed that it was pitch black outside as she had not even noticed that the sun had set. A despondent Diana drank a bottle of water a fair distance away from the others. She opened her commlink connecting to Bruce.
"Speak."
His voice was curt as he undoubtedly was working as hard as anyone.
"It's me," she uttered haggardly. She knew he was busy, but she really needed to hear his voice.
"Are you okay?" his voice was gentler than his usual gruff self.
"Steve is missing. They are starting to consider presuming him dead," her voice broke slightly as she started against the lump of sadness in her throat.
"Don't think like that," he assured her. It was surprising coming from him.
"I'll try," she replied, her eyes closed as silent tears leaked out. "Can you call Alfred and have him kiss Elissa goodnight for me? I don't know if I can get home," she explained.
"Understood."
They were both silent on their lines for a moment. Until…
"Diana… Steve's fine."
"I hope he is," she said mournfully.
"I will speak to you later."
"Okay. Stay safe."
"You, too."
He hung up on her and adjusted his grip on the joystick. The batwing raced through the sky with a destination in mind.
He followed the money. Thanks to Talia's big plans he knew where their base was.
Outside the hospital that Sam Lane was admitted to. Leviathan watched the hospital from afar. The red armored man took no pleasure in what he decided to do next, yet he found it necessary.
"Goodbye, Sam." And with a press of a button, Sam Lane's hospital room exploded. A torrent of fire blasted through the window as broken glass rained down onto the sidewalk.
Markovia
Batman had to hand it to Leviathan their technology was incredible. They made it virtually impossible to sneak into their country undetected. Reports indicated that they were starting to analyze the technology raided from the besieged agencies and were going to incorporate them into their own security soon.
Luckily, Batman knew how to get around undetected. Their security features were impressive, but he was better.
It was ingenious for Talia to have purchased a country. With it, they had diplomatic immunity as well as a right to close their borders to anyone. Even the Justice League.
But he wasn't the Justice League.
And if his thinking was accurate, he will find what he was looking for within their fortress.
He took down a guard swiftly and donned their uniform enabling him to move about more openly.
A little more effort and some incentives to a few guards got him to the holding cells.
As he entered, he saw who he was looking for.
A battered Steve Trevor slumped against the metal bars of his high-tech cell.
"Come on, Diana." He heard the military man mumbled as he was hoping that Diana would come looking for him.
Sorry to disappoint, but Trevor would have to settle for him.
The blond-haired man stared absently at the wall as he tried to formulate a plan. He tensed as he saw a shadow looming over him. He turned and was greeted to the sight of a Leviathan soldier.
"Let's go," the soldier ordered.
Scowling, Steve stood and faced the bars, his fists tightened.
"Knock it off, Trevor," the soldier grumbled placing a device on top of the lock pad.
Steve was taken aback by the soldier's tone. He felt an odd inkling that the voice was familiar.
With a beep, the bars to the cell opened and Steve was free.
"Come on," the soldier beckoned as he had his eyes trained on the door.
"Who are you?"
Steve's curiosity and hesitation got the better of him and the soldier could tell the extraction would be much more difficult if the man continued to drag his feet.
"It's me, you idiot," he snapped at the blonde. "Now, come on!"
Once again, Steve was taken aback by the man's rude tone. Until he got the sense of who it was behind that helmet.
"Batman?"
"Last chance or I'm leaving you behind," Batman offered brusquely. As soon as the doors opened the two cautiously left the prison cells, navigating the halls, the twists, and turns. They patiently waited for other soldiers to pass them as they hide in the dark corners of the base.
Unfortunately, they ran into some guards. Seeing as how that they were compromised, Batman tossed the helmet he appropriated at one of the guards. Hitting them straight in the head, throwing off their aim. Shots whizzed by the unlikely pair's side hitting the wall that flanked them.
Immediately Batman went to work. Diving forward, he tackled the one he attacked earlier to the floor, breaking up the three-man squad's formation. Before either could respond, Batman clutched their rifles keeping them away from him. As they struggled to regain their own weapons, the vigilante rammed their abdomens with the butt of their rifles, the wind leaving them with a painful grunt.
With them momentarily dazed, Batman clutched the side of each of their heads and bashed them together loudly. They flopped to the floor unconscious.
With their cover blown, Batman discarded the uniform he stole, his black cape dropped to the floor. Wordlessly, he walked down the hall just in time to hear the marching of boots coming his way.
As soon as he saw the guards flood into the hallway, Batman threw several explosive batarangs, the wings plugging up the barrels of several rifles. In under five seconds the batarang exploded in their hands injuring several of the armored men and knocking several to the ground.
Continuing his assault, Batman dropped several smoke pellets. Black smoke flooded the hallway, the dark cloud getting closer to the guards by the second.
The soldiers swallowed nervously as they had their weapons trained on the cloud, fingers on the trigger. Seconds went by, a bead of sweat ran down one of the armed men's temple. Suddenly, there was a change in the smoke and then…
Batman shot out of the cloud, delivering a devastating punch to one of the men, damaging their helmet. The guards screamed in surprise by the act and were about to react when Steve dove in. Tackling two to the ground, he began to wail on them while Batman handled the rest.
When the smoke dissipated the guards were left unconscious on the ground. Neither man looked worse for wear. Batman rose from his crouched position, scanning the area on the lookout for other guards. When he found none, he started to walk around the downed men. He came to an abrupt halt when he noted Steve pick up a fallen rifle.
"Pick up that gun, and I will leave you here," he warned the man in no uncertain terms.
Incredulously, Steve said, "Are you kidding me?!"
"No." Batman started down the hall the guards came from while Steve scowled at the dark-clad man's back. He stared at the rifle in his hand and weighted his options. He leaned his head back in frustration and grudgingly discarded the weapon atop an unconscious guard and quickly caught up to Batman.
They moved in silence as Batman had already discovered an escape route for them. Luckily, the alarm had yet to be sounded but the vigilante was tapped into the communications keeping himself informed.
The military man found himself talking, "Do you have any idea who this Leviathan guy is? He saw me at ARGUS and personally ordered my capture. He said he could use me."
"Mark Shaw." Batman succinctly replied.
"The Manhunter? He's responsible for all this?"
"Yes. Apparently he is under the impression secret organizations are the enemy and he is wiping them off the map," Batman ascertained. He scanned the corner before he urged Steve to hurry as the two were rounded the corner. Batman managed to hack into the security cameras and put them on a loop from the previous minute.
"Does he realize how hypocritical that is? He's leading a secret organization!" the blonde exclaimed in a whisper.
"He's been at espionage too long, he's lost his mind," Batman uttered. They made it to the hanger and were greeted to the sight of several advanced transport planes. Several guards were patrolling the area proving that what happened next would be tight.
The two were hiding behind a parked truck observing the scene.
Stoically, the vigilante told the other man. "Commandeer a vehicle while I provide a distraction," he instructed.
With a nod from Steve Batman went to work.
He pulled an explosive capsule from his belt. He scanned the area searching for the perfect spot to toss the explosive. He saw a propane drum sitting next to a parked truck. He patiently waited for an opening as Leviathan members going about their duties.
Once he had an opening, he threw the capsule as hard as he could. It landed next to the drum, a second later the drum exploded in a tremendous fiery explosion, startling the people around all flinching, or diving out of the way. The force of the explosion pushed the parked truck along the metal floor, tires screeching, as people tried to get out of the way.
With chaos all around the hanger, it was easy for Steve to race toward the docked ship. He evaded people racing to put out the flames before more drums went up.
He boarded the ship and immediately sat in the cockpit. It took a little guess work, but he managed to start the thing. The controls were similar what he was used to.
He felt the aircraft come to life, the engine purring. "That's it, baby. Purr for me," he grinned as he recalled how good it felt to be back in a plane.
Transport was ready, now all Steve had to do was wait for Batman.
"Go."
Steve flinched as Batman appeared behind him. He watched as the man sat next to him in the co-polit seat.
Without another word, Steve fired up the engines and the transport took off out of the hanger and soared through the sky.
"We'll get as far as we can before we abandon this transport. I have a plane a klick away from the border," the vigilante informed the other man. There was no doubt in his mind that Leviathan was aware of the theft of one of their vehicles and were already tracking them.
"Understood," the man nodded in return. The man sharing the same thoughts.
As Steve piloted the transport, Batman kept his eyes on the sky and radar.
Not long after that Leviathan sent planes after them. Their transport was a fiery coffin as he dove downward until it crashed into a small cliff. A smokestack flowed upward from the wreckage as Leviathan patrol units circled the crash site.
A half a mile from the crash site, Batman and Steve saw the explosion from afar as they had set their commandeered vehicle to autopilot and bailed out well before enemy planes went after them.
"Let's move," Batman beckoned to the other man. "If we stay in the forest, the trees should obscure us from the air for now. My plane isn't far from here."
Steve silently followed as they started their trek through the forest. It was silent between the two men for quite a while. The dark-clad man did not seem the least bit tired or bothered by the heat. While Steve on the other hand was exhausted. It was reasonable due to the fact he survived an incursion was captured and held prisoner for an innumerable amount of time that he could not recall. Then he fought guards all without any food or water and he had yet to stop moving since.
"Tell me something," Steve suddenly started. Batman refused to stop moving nor turn his head behind him. "Why was it you who came for me? Was Diana busy?"
"Yes," the vigilante answered briefly not sparing him a glance. He moved a branch out of his way, navigating through the dense forest.
Steve stopped before the bent branch whacked him in the face. Silently fuming, he moved the branch similarly as Batman and followed the man.
"Yes, what? She was busy?" the blonde voiced in mild frustration.
Annoyed that he had to speak more to the soldier, Batman uttered stoically. "She is on rescue work right now."
"And you came to save me?" Batman could hear the skepticism in the soldier's voice.
"Originally, I wasn't looking for you. I was tracking Leviathan's headquarters. I heard that you were missing and extrapolated that you were captured to either be used against Diana or for a more practical purpose. Sam Lane and Amanda Waller were made offers," Batman elaborated.
"Well, thanks." Steve said gratefully.
They walked in relative silence for about an hour until Steve asked a question that had been gnawing at him.
"So this was all a coincidence?" he intoned with skepticism.
"I don't believe in coincidence," Batman rebuffed.
"Okaayy," Steve replied awkwardly.
He came to a stop as there was a fork between trees. It took him a moment to decide on which path to take. Eventually, he took a right.
"I thought you hated me?" Steve wiped a bead of sweat running down his face.
"I don't," Batman responded succinctly. He was quiet for a bit before he continued, "Diana would be sad if anything happened to you. That's why I came to retrieve you. Nothing more."
Steve froze feeling touched by the other man's consideration for Diana's feelings. He wouldn't call it admiration, but the military man didn't dislike the vigilante as much anymore.
They came to a stop at a small clearing. Batman touched his gauntlet and verbalized a command. "Drop cloak."
Suddenly, what was a barren clearing was now filled with a stealth plane Batwing as intimidating as all the other incarnations. Batman opened the cockpit and reached inside under the seat. He tossed a rations package at Steve feet, who was merely staring at the plane as well as keeping his eyes on the sky.
"What's this?" Steve uttered picking up the package.
"Rations."
"Thanks," the man uttered gratefully as he pulled out a bottle of water and gulped much of it down.
"Half a klick from here is the border. The U.S. military is already converging on the border after they got a tip that Leviathan is based in Markovia," he explained, getting into the batwing.
"Wait, are you leaving me here?" the man incredulously said.
"You can take it from here," Batman replied pressing a few buttons on the console.
"Are you serious?!" Steve yelled angrily.
"You can make it to the border before sundown if you hurry." Batman tried very hard not to sound too pleased by the situation.
"After all the trouble you went through?" Steve fumed. "I thought we were good?!"
"You punched me." The vigilante reminded the other man of what had happened atop GCPD headquarters a couple of years ago.
"After you slept with my girl!"
"We're even now," Batman stated, trying to fight the smirk that tried to form on his face as the canopy closed, and the plane started to levitate and then took off towards to the sky. Batman was known to carry a grudge.
Steve scowled as he watched the black plane leave him stranded in enemy territory. Cursing the man inwardly after he started to think he wasn't so bad after all.
"Prick," the military man muttered darkly as he started for the border.
Metropolis
"We can make this world a better place. With you with us there will be total transparency and a true vision for this world," Leviathan, or rather Mark Shaw proclaimed to Superman.
Metropolis was a disaster area, damaged by Leviathan soldiers. Damaged buildings, smoke littering the skyline. Shaw had even seduced some people Superman considered friends to his side, namely the Guardian.
Superman, his costumed torn here and there merely stared at the man hollowly.
"For God's sake Clark, those organizations I decimated were concocting plans for your son!"
Shaw struck low, trying his best to sway the Man of Steel to his side.
What Shaw was saying were nice things, but they were annulled by his monstrous acts. His mentioning of his son was just another bit of honeyed poison to sway him.
"It doesn't matter," Superman suddenly said. "They have a right to be afraid and cautious. I don't have to like it, but I understand their fears. It is my fault for not doing a better job, but I know a dictator when I see one, Shaw." The red and blue clad man said vehemently.
Shaw scowled at the insinuation but then his face went blank. "I'm sorry you feel that way." He pressed a button on his collar and his red mask covered his face. "All ships aim at Superman," he ordered via his radio.
Battleships suddenly dropped their cloaks and hovered over the City of Tomorrow like death.
Superman instantly realized that those battleship cannons could damage the city even further, expanding into the areas of the city that had yet to be evacuated. His brow furrowed as his legs bent prepared to take to the skies.
"You can't take them all out alone, Superman," Shaw taunted.
"Good thing he's not alone!"
To the surprise of everyone, the Justice League burst onto the scene. Lead by John Stewart with the Martian Manhunter and Hawkgirl flanking him.
Flash and Aquaman were at Superman's side. Wonder Woman soon joined him.
Virtually every member of the superhero community arrived to aid Superman and Metropolis.
"Fire!" Shaw bellowed to his battleships.
In reaction, the several Green Lanterns had used their rings to put up shields to defend against the incoming volley.
Superman did not sit on the sidelines. He took to the skies, a red streak through the air tore through their engines while Wonder Woman and Hawkgirl flew to take out the cannons. A sword sliced the barrels while a mace smashed said barrels leaving it a bent mess.
Ground troops fought off the Leviathan members.
The battle was fought long and hard as Leviathan took casualties while taking out several heroes as well.
Metropolis was a scarred city as the battleships congested Metropolis Harbor.
"Shaw!" Superman yelled as he flew towards the ringleader of the terror group. Shaw's technology formed a blue force field around him absorbing the kryptonian's punch's kinetic energy and sent it right back at him knocking him several feet from the red man.
"I am the leader of a nation now, Superman. I have diplomatic immunity," he disclosed.
A grimacing Superman tried to sit up. Shaw's reveal stunned him, making him doubt what would happen after this. Would Shaw face justice? Or would he just be sent back to his new country?
"Kal."
J'onn mentally spoke to his friend.
"J'onn?"
"I just spoke with Batman. The United Nations is already removing Shaw's diplomatic immunity based on the facts that the purchase of Markovia was illegal. It's okay. Stop Shaw."
Superman smiled confidently. "Count on it!"
He took flight getting right back into the fight with the terrorist.
Wayne Manor
Bruce was comatose to the world as he enjoyed his rest. After going through several time zones and going without any sleep for nearly a day, he was exhausted.
He had only just returned and immediately collapsed into his bed. The sun was high in the sky, its rays peeking into his bedroom past the closed curtains.
He awoke at the feel of soft lips on his stubbed cheek. "Hmm?" a sleepy Bruce grunted; one eye slightly open.
He could vaguely make out Diana's form looming over him.
"Thank you for rescuing Steve for me," she voiced appreciatively.
The man merely buried his face into his pillow, a tired grunt erupting from his throat.
Later his mind would be working better. And when it was, he would be surprised to hear that Steve had contacted Diana and told him what he had gone. Hopefully he left out the little detail of him leaving him to find his own way home. He didn't want to hear Diana chastising him after she thanked him for going… well not the extra mile. He did leave the man to make the rest of the way on his own.
"I know you're tired, but I just wanted to thank you."
The Amazon stared at the man's back, watching it rise and fall. Her heart swelled at the lengths he went for her friend. She lightly patted the man's back and left him to continue his sleep.
She walked the halls of the manor, her mind processing the events of the last few hours. Leviathan was being dismantled and Shaw had been captured and would be facing the world court. His allies were also rounded up and would face judgment.
She was pleased as relieve efforts were being made to Metropolis. She planned on assisting in the cleanup, but she wanted to stop at home to take a quick shower and see her daughter. When she had returned home, Steve had given her a call and told her what Bruce had done for her.
She was touched by the man's actions, and she couldn't wait to speak to him.
She went inside her daughter's bedroom and found her nuzzled into the giant teddy bear Dick had gotten her when she was born.
Elissa was such a curious baby. Her curious hands pulled at the fur of the giant toy. Her blue eyes caught sight of her mother and she squealed. "Mama!" she energetically exclaimed getting up and walking over to her mother.
"Hello, my love." Diana picked her child up instantly. "I have missed you so much," she gushed. Elissa's hands grabbed at her mother's shirt, staring at her mother with love in her eyes. She giggled as Diana peppered her chubby cheeks with kisses.
"Oh, how I wish I could stay with you for long. But I need to go step out for a bit. But I promise when I get home you will be trying to get away from me," she chuckled. "I am not letting you go," she said sweetly.
Elissa only stared into her mother's eyes before she rested her head on the woman's shoulder.
"I love you," Diana stroked her daughter's back.
NEXT: Dark
This chapter was mostly about Bruce and Steve working together and in some way burying the hatchet. The Leviathan stuff I only skimmed online, I never read any of Bendis' Leviathan stuff.