Making the Best of It
Chapter 42
Wayne Manor
A lot can change in two years. Especially to the Wayne family. Bruce and Alfred got older. Dick was running for councilman in Bludhaven. Barbara joined the GCPD and was rising through the ranks much to her father's regret. Jason was in prison. The law finally catching up with him. Tim started his own tech company, which was already making great headway in advancing technology around the world. Cassandra had vanished. She went on a mission to finally end the evil of the League of Shadows once and for all. Bruce had lost track of her near Nanda Parbat. Damian had chosen to finally end his grandfather's vile organization. It would be an arduous task, but he could do it. Duke joined the seminary, surprising everyone.
And Elissa… well, let's just say the teenaged years were a pain in the ass…
Fourteen-year-old Elissa stood defiantly. Her beautiful face was in a frown, her body changing in a young woman, she was only a few feet shorter than her father. Her hair was longer and in a braid.
"I'm not going," she refused adamantly, crossing her arms across her chest.
The daughter wasn't the only one to grow older.
The father was much older than before, more so by his appearance. His hair grown grayer yet still held that salt and pepper tone. Some more lines on his face were shown. And the most obvious was the fact he held a cane. When he walked, he had a noticeable limp in his left leg.
"You are," the man responded, sounding more tired than irritated by her refusal.
"No!" she refused, turning her back to him almost petulantly.
"Elissa…" he sighed.
"It's been agreed. There will be no further debate," he told her, his tone brokered no argument. He saw her wince at having no say in the matter.
"I have homework," she mentioned, frantically searching for a reason to put it off.
"It's the weekend. You will be back on Sunday evening. You can take your schoolbag and do your homework on the way there or when you have a minute," he explained.
Elissa's displeasure deepened. She should have known better than to argue with her father.
Bruce gave her a tiny reassuring smile and a pat on her shoulder. "It's just for the weekend. You'll be back before you know it."
"What if she hurts me?" she asked weakly. Appearing fragile contrary to the hard exterior that she had built around herself whenever 'she who will not be named' was involved.
"She loves you."
He patted her shoulder once more in reassurance. "Go get your stuff."
He saw her whimper begrudgingly and then trudge up the stairs.
He sighed and wondered how things had gotten so bad in two short years.
Then
It was spontaneous. Or in hindsight it was calculated.
In the years since Hush's incarceration in Batman's private prison on the Lunar Batcave stewing in his hate, irrational jealously and rage morphed into pure hatred. His mind had worked out the angles and all the contingencies.
He made it out of his cell past Two-Face's cell, overpowered the security sentries and reached the teleporter.
Batman got an immediate alert as soon as the teleporter was used. When he arrived, he took in the destruction Hush had left in his wake. Within his cell were scribblings made from his own fingernails. Raved rantings filled with hate and murder involving Batman's demise.
The teleporter's computer was scrubbed clean, Hush was in the wind, which galled the vigilante.
Fortunately, his satellites picked up the energy distortion on Earth. He tracked Hush to an abandoned cabin located outside Gotham Forest.
A computer check showed the cabin was bought by Hush under an assumed name.
Batman approached the cabin carefully. He performed recon on the derelict cabin for hours.
He wasn't satisfied with his reconnaissance, so he decided to check the cabin. Choosing not to go through the front door, he started for the shed door. Careful, steady steps advanced toward the shed. The silent night ended by the booming roar of a motorcycle, light rays slipped through the seams of the wooden door, alarming the Dark Knight.
He attempted to dive aside the door, unfortunately he reacted too slowly, and the shed door exploded into a storm of splinters. Knocking the man away.
Hush riding a motorcycle sailed through the forest and onto a dirt road.
Every so often looking over his shoulder to see if he was being followed.
Groaning, Batman got to his feet, his body aching from the hit he took. Yet, he steeled himself, his resolve absolute and gave chase.
Storms clouds straddled the city, bloated with rain, aching to be released. Thunder rumbled overhead.
Gotham City was a hellish city to live in. It was said whenever an atrocity was committed against humanity it rained. For God cried from the barbarity committed against His children.
How appropriate for this night.
Batman chased Hush to Gotham and through the city streets. Eventually ending up in a night quiet neighborhood. Batman had ejected himself from the batmobile and tackled Hush right off his bike, auspicious considering the bike was on its last legs.
The battle was vicious. The most vicious either had been in in years. Hush had been channeling his hate and aggression that had consumed him over the many years of his unjust incarceration. Batman had found his fighting abilities unparalleled in verocity.
Years of imprisonment had made him rabid, his hate limitless after all those self-help sessions. His tactical mind had waned following his years of imprisonment.
Utilizing his skills as a surgeon to incapacitate Batman. Targeting vital points that made motion difficult. However, that didn't stop Batman.
He got some good licks in himself.
A right cross connected with Hush's face, dazing him, and untying some bandages around his face. His hands locked around the back of his neck and brought his head down for Batman to slam his knee into his face. The move worked so well, he performed it once and twice more.
Rage fueling him, pain spurring him on, Hush retaliated. Launching a straight left punch in Batman's stomach. Said man grunted as the breath left him. The man was doubled-over which presented a perfect opportunity for Hush to slam the back of his head into Batman's chin, his head thrown back from the blow.
Batman quickly recovered and sent an axe kicked into Hush's head.
The fight turned brutal as Hush pulled out some surgical knives that he had pocketed from the cabin. The knives went in Batman's left shoulder, deadening it and the arm as well as other surgical strikes to his suit that reduced its protection.
They tussled in the pouring rain, delivering devastating blow after devastating blow. They rolled around until they had to part to catch their breath.
Hush's face was bloody. Missing teeth, a swallow eye, his trench coat torn. A batarang rested in his shoulder, ribs broken, a limp in his left leg.
Batman's suit was torn up, his cape shredded. Blood dripping down his face.
Desperate for revenge, the gun was pulled out.
Batman pulled out a batarang.
The gun flashed as Hush fired at his hated enemy. Batman dodged the sailing rounds, crouching low, he tossed the batarang at his former childhood friend.
Hush howled in pain as the batarang wound up in his left eye. His trigger finger instinctively squeezing the trigger. Bullets flew randomly causing Batman to react constantly to evade getting shot.
The masked man's body twisted past bullets. He palmed a batarang from his belt, he threw his weight back, throwing the batarang to disarm the man. Unfortunately, the masked crimefighter was exposed.
A bullet shot Batman into his left knee; hot fire coursed through him as he fell flat on his back. Yelping in pain as his leg bled. Clutching his leg, Batman tried to stem the bleeding.
The batarang knocked the gun out of Hush's hand, clattering onto the wet ground. The pouring rain swept the gun into a sewer drain.
The gunshots had alerted some of the neighbors provoking Hush to hobble away and life to fight another day.
Limping away, he started to cross a street, blind in his left eye, he didn't' see the bus coming his way. Only the partial sight of beaming light and the blast of a car horn.
He never saw it coming as the bus pulverized him before coming to an immediate halt.
Batman, laying on the ground was horrified and shocked at the apparent death of his former friend. However, instead of investigating, he called for the car and alerted Gordon of the scene. The police commissioner would handle it from here until Batman was back on his feet.
Blood swirled down the nearest sewer drain.
As he batmobile traveled home, the pain wrecked his body while his mind was still processing. He had his doubts about Hush's death. It was too ordinary. Hush was a meticulous planner. Was this a ploy? Or was he truly dead?
Time would tell.
Days passed as Batman was treated. The medical examiner had indeed confirmed that Thomas Elliot was dead. No game. No fake outs. Just mere tragedy.
Following Hush's dead, Batman scrapped the Lunar Batcave and returned Two-Face to Arkham surprising the Arkham staff as he was considered dead. The trauma of being isolated had left Two-Face near catatonic. Hopefully, something can be done for him.
Alfred and Dr. Thompkins had done their best to treat Batman's gunshot wound. Unfortunately, the bullet had severely damaged his knee. Well beyond their capabilities.
Bruce took the news hard. Even tried to stand on his own in protest. His body protested right back. And it was more emphatic than he.
Dread drowned him as he realized his body could no longer continue. He could no longer be Batman. The realization of it hit him like a train.
Depression began to set in, having lost his purpose in life. He would no longer be able to fulfill his promise to his parents.
His moods were surlier and downright abusive to anyone that tried to talk to him, especially when he heard something he didn't like.
Following Batman's retirement, supercrime went into a lull. Giving the good people of Gotham a respite from the horror of the last few decades.
It lasted for quite a while. Until…
The rise of the Mutant gang and the Jokerz.
Gotham Airport
Bruce and Alfred walked the teenager to the billionaire's private jet. The two men were set on seeing Elissa off, although she was unhappy about going. Her suitcase in hand, her schoolbag strapped to her back, a frown on her fine features.
"The jet will take you to D.C. and the pilot will be ready to take you home on Sunday." Her father explained to her as the jet's turbines began to rumble.
Elissa listened but didn't respond. She felt Alfred give her a hug goodbye, while her father gave her a pat on the shoulder.
She gave one last look over her shoulder before trudging on with a sigh, acting like she was going to her hanging.
Bruce and Alfred watched as her plane took off.
Elissa, on the other hand, slumped in her seat, eyes staring out the window watching the bright blue sky and white clouds.
Her thoughts were about who she was going to meet and why she hated having to go.
Then
Bruce's mood grew darker than ever. He was unapproachable. Even Elissa was worried about her father. Alfred chose to leave Bruce to himself and wait for him to work it out. Diana on the other hand got the worst of Bruce abusive barbs.
She couldn't possibly understand having a body that was incapable of going on any further. She held her patience and tried to be understanding but his words cut her to the core.
She bristled at the barbs, scowled, and walked away leaving him with a scathing retort.
It went on for months, Bruce withdrew further and further into himself.
It frightened Elissa. Especially hearing her parents argue so much.
When the Justice League learned Bruce retired, they almost threw him a party. But, of course, Bruce always found a way to burn bridges. Isolating himself even from his friends.
It didn't take much for Bruce to give Diana a cutting dressing down. Eventually, she couldn't take it anymore.
Her pride and self-respect were threatened, and frankly, she had enough of his rude and condescending remarks.
In the dining room, she just cut into him after yet another disrespectful comment.
Months of frustration and anger just boiled over and she let him have it. She really went after him. Hitting him in the soft spots where she knew were vulnerable.
He didn't seem to be fazed by her venom tipped words.
You know how it goes: you get so angry that you say things that were untrue just to hurt someone that angered you.
"Well, maybe if you hadn't gotten me pregnant, we wouldn't be in this mess?!" She yelled at him vindictively. It felt so good to hit him with such poisoned words just to hurt him after these months.
She was not a malicious person. But it felt damn good to give Bruce a taste of his own medicine.
Unfortunately, it led to disaster.
What was once a stone-faced Bruce turned to incensed.
"Diana!"
He yelled.
It took her a moment to realize he wasn't looking at her but past her.
She whipped her head and her heart broke.
Elissa stood a few feet away from the doorway, appearing so lost at what she had heard from her own mother.
"What…?"
"Elissa…" Diana quickly walked on hollow legs to her daughter to comfort and apologize. However, the girl backed away from the approaching woman.
The dark-haired girl couldn't believe what she had just heard. Her mother just uttered the most horrible thing she could ever expect her to say.
"You… and dad… are only together because of me?" She spoke hollowly. She was confused. Lost. She had to get away. She knew things were bad with her parents, but she never expected something like this to happen. Her mother's words made it sound like she was forced into this situation-being a family. Having her.
"Elissa, please. Let me explain. Sometimes people say things they don't mean when their angry," the woman stumbled to say.
As she got closer, the Amazon reached for her daughter to comfort her.
A slender hand reached for the girl only for the girl to slap the offered hand away.
"Don't touch me!"
Elissa sprinted away faintly hearing her mother call her name pleadingly.
Diana's hand her stinging hand. Elissa had hit her much harder than she was taught to. Her worry for her daughter was pushed aside as she began to question just how powerful her daughter was becoming.
Elissa locked herself in her room away from everyone. Whenever her mother tried to explain herself, she ran. She didn't want to hear any excuses. Nothing would change the fact that she said what she said.
And whenever she tried to explain herself, that she didn't mean it. She fumbled the words which only made things worse.
It went on for weeks combined with Bruce's behavior even an Amazon had limits. After twelve years of a relationship, Bruce and Diana called it quits.
She moved out and soon settled back in Washington D.C.
Elissa stayed with Bruce as it was her home and where she went to school. While Diana would get her on the weekends. Regrettably, she was always busy, causing visitation to dwindle. Which did nothing but widen the gap between mother and daughter.
Washington National Airport
When her plane landed, Elissa sighed resignedly. She really didn't want to be here. She would rather be at home.
It wasn't like she had anything to say to her mother.
Or him.
She dragged her feet from the plane all the way to the terminal. Her sneakers scuffed the polished tile floor as she navigated around crowds of people.
She grumbled as she scanned the crowds of people in search of her mother.
"Elissa. Elissa!"
She heard her name being called from her left. She whipped her head to the left, finding her mother waving her hand at her enthusiastically.
The dark-haired girl groaned, her shoulders slouched and trekked over to her mother, grumbling.
"I'm so glad you're here," her mother beamed.
That makes one of us.
Elissa thought bitterly.
"Come," Diana beckoned her with a warm smile, her arm wrapping around the teenager's shoulders. She couldn't hear the girl groan over the roar of the crowd.
In the parking lot, there was a car and graying blonde-haired man standing by it.
"Hello, Elissa." Steve Trevor greeted the girl.
"Hello," Elissa replied briefly.
It almost put the man off, but he quickly changed the subject.
"Let me get your suitcase for you." He reached for her suitcase to get it into the trunk.
"I can lift a car. I think I can handle a suitcase," she replied icily.
Steve was a bit thrown off by the teenager's comment yet countered. "But you'll have more leg room if we put it in the trunk."
"You're being rude, Elissa." Her mother whispered into her ear.
She could feel her mother's cold stare on her. Resignedly, she handed the man her suitcase which was promptly placed in the trunk.
The car ride was quiet as Elissa popped in her earbuds listening to music.
When they arrived at the house, Diana rattled on suggestions on what they could do this weekend.
'We could go to the park. Or the movies. Or… something." The Amazon rattled off, hinting that she had no true plans for the weekend. She was mostly overcompensating as this was the first time Elissa would be staying with her for the weekend.
Something that Elissa found irritating. She wanted her here, but she didn't even have the foresight to plan anything.
"I have homework to do," the girl countered.
Alerting the raven-haired woman of the schoolwork that needed to be completed.
"Of course. Tomorrow then," she reasoned.
"Whatever."
Elissa's cool demeanor stung the woman. It was clear she didn't enjoy speaking with her let alone being in the same room as her. How sad as they had always been close when Elissa was younger. And Diana had no one to blame for this change but herself. She allowed it to flourish until her daughter held animosity towards her.
She prayed that these weekends would mend fences between them. Or was that wishful thinking? Elissa was just as much her father's daughter as she was her mother's.
Grudges could be held for a long time.
"We've got your room all set up. Feel free to decorate it with whatever posters you kids are into these days," Steve said jovially. He was trying very hard to make the girl feel welcome. She was after all his Angel's daughter. Although, the girl didn't appear to like him or her own mother for that matter. It was expected that he would receive some distaste. Her parents had all but in name gone through a divorce and he was the man in her mother's life.
However, the utter disinterest in her own mother gave the man pause. In the short time since he had known the girl, he had found her rude. Giving either brief responses or borderline impoliteness.
"Uh huh," the girl merely uttered, grabbing her suitcase.
"I'll show you to your room," the blonde assured her.
"Sure, Trevor," the teenager replied.
"Please, call me Steve." He beamed politely.
"Whatever, Trevor." The dark-haired girl intentionally referred to him by his surname. Namely, because it seemed to bother him. If she had to be forced to be here, she was going to make it unpleasant for everyone else.
Her insistence rubbed him the wrong way, but he held his tongue. He left her in the sparse room to let her get settled.
He made a beeline for Diana, who was trying to figure out what to get for dinner.
"I can't stand her," the blonde grumbled to the woman in a whispered tone.
The woman sighed, "I know she's being difficult," she expressed. "But she's just having a hard time adjusting."
"I get that. But does she have to be so much like her father?" Steve wondered exasperatedly.
"I'll talk with her about her behavior," she sighed. She just knew she was in for a fight.
"She's a teenager, Diana. They're bred to annoy their parents," the man tried to cheer her up.
"I understand that. But she was so sweet not that long ago!" she said incredulously.
The man reached for her and brought her into a hug. "Hey, everything's going to work out," he assured her.
"How?"
"Because you are you," he reasoned readily.
Which made the woman laugh at his belief in her.
Truthfully, she would rather be facing a hydra than a teenaged daughter.
Just then Diana's Justice League communicator went off, and a second later, Steve's ARGUS communicator went off as well.
"Go ahead," Diana answered.
"This is Trevor," the bearded blonde answered.
The woman's features morphed into an uncertain one.
"J'onn, I'm on leave this weekend," she explained.
"It's an emergency, Diana. We need all hands," the Martian explained.
The woman sighed. "I'm on my way," she replied with reluctance.
"Understood."
The raven-haired beauty turned to her boyfriend. She saw the same expression on his face as the one she held.
"ARGUS is calling me in too. Something about a robot attacking California," he explained briefly.
The woman was reluctant to go as both adults had to leave for an emergency. Leaving her teenaged daughter home alone.
Regretfully, she headed for the staircase. "Elissa!" She hollered.
No response.
Diana tried again. "Elissa!" she yelled louder.
"What?!" the teen yelled back opening her bedroom door.
"Steve and I need to head out, it's an emergency. Will you be alright on your own?"
"Sure," the teen replied briefly from the top of the staircase.
"I'm sorry. It's an emergency. Hopefully, I will be back before midnight," she explained. She looked over her shoulder in the general direction of the kitchen. "There should be plenty of food in the refrigerator," she told her.
"Okay," her daughter uttered, vaguely paying any interest.
The mother held a painful expression on her face as this was not what she had planned for the weekend. And she knew that her daughter would be holding this against her. Once more she disappointed her daughter.
Her heart broke when Elissa walked back to her room leaving her mother alone at the bottom of the stairs feeling cold.
She and Steve departed from the house and twenty minutes later, Elissa came down the stairs searching the place for a piece of paper and a pen. When she found them, she quickly jotted something down and left it on the kitchen counter.
She raced back upstairs and came back with her backpack and suitcase and left the house where an Uber was there to take her back to the airport.
Diana and Steve returned home near midnight as the situation ended much more easily than previously anticipated.
And when she returned, she noticed all the lights were out. She turned on a few lights as she entered from the backyard.
She made a beeline for Elissa's bedroom, sparing a glance at Steve, whom came from the front door, some Chinese takeout in hand. She went up the stairs through the pitch-black hallway and through the ajar bedroom door.
She stepped lightly, eyes peering through the darkness. Her heart skipped a beat in fear as her daughter was not in her bed.
Diana raced out of the bedroom to check the bathroom. Her fear growing as it was empty as well. "Elissa?!"
She frantically checked the rest of the rooms. Her heart pounded in her chest as her daughter was nowhere in sight.
"Elissa!"
She flew down the staircase hovering above the ground as she frantically searched for her daughter.
"Elissa!" she screamed desperately.
Wild eyes found Steve racing towards her with a worried expression on his face. "Steve, I can't find her!"
"We'll find her," the bearded man vowed. He raced to check the basement while she checked the rest of the ground floor.
Their efforts were fruitless as the teenager was nowhere in sight. Just as Steve was about to check the backyard, he spotted a piece of paper lying on the kitchen counter.
His eyes scanned it before calling for Diana.
"Diana! Over here!"
Said woman flew into the kitchen, a frantic look in her eyes. Greeted to the sight of a white piece of paper. She quickly grabbed it and read it. Life instantly drained from her face as she unsteadily collapsed into a chair.
Written on the paper was…
Went home.
E.W.
"I am a horrible mother," she woefully acknowledged. She held her head in her hands, her inky locks slipping out of her slender fingers.
"You're not," Steve quickly dissuaded her of such thoughts.
She briefly glanced at him, before she bowed her head in misery.
How could her daughter hate her so much that she would just take off like that? Why didn't she resist J'onn's call more strongly? She knew her daughter needed to know that she was wanted.
How screwed up did this situation become?
Diana was plagued by these awful thoughts and worries.
"I need to call Bruce," she weakly stated. She needed to know that Elissa was at least safe with him before she turned in for the night.
"Of course," the man replied understandingly. Inwardly, hating what this situation was doing to his love. He was kind enough to grab the phone for her, to which, she sent him a grateful look.
Wayne Manor
Bruce sat in his chair within his study, blankly staring forward as he was lost in thought. He was pulled from his thoughts by the sudden ringing of his phone.
"Wayne," he answered.
He instantly heard Diana's voice over the receiver, frantic.
"Yes, Elissa had called me. Alfred's already at the airport picking her up," he explained. "Of course, I will let you know when she's home," he replied understandingly.
He sighed deeply, regret boiling inside him.
"Diana, I'm sorry," he confessed. "We'll… figure something else out," he assured.
"Goodnight," he bid her farewell and hung up after her own farewell. He leaned back in his chair, head lulling against the headrest. He regretted what had transpired between his family. And it was his fault. If he hadn't acted like he had things would be better.
Now his daughter was acting out and wanted nothing to do with her mother because of how things had occurred between her parents. He should have spoken with his daughter regarding her abrasive behavior toward her own mother. Diana was still her mother and deserved respect from her daughter. His sitting on the sidelines in terms of disciplining her had turned everything into a disastrous quagmire.
He needed to do something. But that girl held the combined stubbornness of both her parents. And he would rather join the ballet than try to get that girl to change.
Gotham Airport
When Elissa's plane landed and she left the terminal, her head was down in nervous apprehension. She knew she was going to be yelled at for such a stupid and selfish thing.
But she had her reasons. Although, some would say she was just being stubborn hanging onto a grudge that could have been resolved with a nice long chat and an apology. But since she refused to be around her mother that would never happen.
The moment that she looked up from her feet and winced at seeing Alfred standing by the limousine properly.
The teenager shrunk in on herself hoping not to meet a disproving gaze.
"Come along, Miss Elissa." The older man spoke, holding the car open for her.
"Thanks," she responded weakly. She quickly entered and took her seat, the car door slamming shut in her ear made her flinch as she awaited the butler's disapproval.
But he never did. Alfred merely entered the limousine and drove off. His old eyes occasionally glancing at her in the rear-view mirror.
Every time she locked eyes with the man, she bowed her head instantly. The man was kind. He never uttered a single thought he had of her actions.
Finally, after so long, Elissa broke the silence.
"Please don't be mad, Grandpa." She pleaded with a tone that made her sound half her age. She hated to disappoint Alfred of all people. He was always the most understanding in the family. Always willing to listen and give advice when she wasn't comfortable going to her parents.
Alfred merely flashed her a reassuring smile in the mirror. "It will all work out, Miss Elissa."
She nodded numbly as she leaned back in her seat.
Wayne Manor
When they pulled up to the house, Elissa suddenly found a lump in her throat as she finally realized that she would have to face her father.
She silently followed Alfred into the house and was instantly greeted by the sight of her father standing in the foyer. His face blank, his cane resting before him, both hands resting atop it.
Elissa was nervous, while Alfred removed his chauffeur cape from his balding head.
Bruce's aging eyes drifted to Alfred. "Goodnight, Alfred."
"Goodnight, Master Bruce," the butler nodded his head, disappearing into the manor.
Then, Bruce's eyes shifted to his daughter. Said girl was desperately trying to make herself as small as possible. She knew her father would be angry with her for doing something so reckless and irresponsible.
To her surprise, the man did nothing to express any anger. His voice was calm and direct. "Head upstairs. It's late. We will speak about this in the morning," he intoned.
The stunned girl merely nodded her head, grabbing her backpack and suitcase. She hastily strolled to the staircase, pausing, and turned back to her father. "Goodnight, Dad."
"Goodnight, Elissa." The man returned flatly.
His tone made the girl wince as she knew she would get it in the morning. Instead of discussing the matter she ran to her bedroom. All the while, feeling her father's eyes on her as she headed up the stairs.
He didn't trust her.
That hurt her more than anything.
Bruce was lost in thought about how things had changed. His depression brought out the worst in him. Which in turn drove Diana away from him. He recalled how he was brought out of his debilitated state or rather by whom.
Then
A gloomy Bruce was simply sitting in his study, brooding in the pitch-black room. The sun had set some time ago; however, the man didn't seem to notice or care. The aging man stared blankly into space lost in his own mind.
The lines on his face were more prominent than a year ago. His hair salt and peppery with his dark hair fading with time.
Light swiftly crept into the room as the door opened and a worried Elissa entered. Apprehensive, she entered carefully, the door left ajar to provide some light.
She could make out her father's silhouette in the dimly lit room. Frankly, she was very concerned about him. He hadn't spoken to anyone in weeks. Not since… Mom left.
The wound was still fresh. Her mother seemed relieved to be getting out of the manor or rather away from her father. Part of her couldn't blame her, her father was very hurtful. Although, that didn't stop her from worrying about the only parent that she had left.
Tentatively, she reached out to him. Placing a tender hand on his broad shoulder, that didn't faze the man. "Daddy?" she intoned sounding very distraught.
"Daddy, please. Talk to me," she pleaded. Her voice cracking a bit, tears welling up in her azure eyes. She inched closer to him almost leaning against him.
For a moment she thought she was unable to reach him.
She was wrong. As her frightful pleas had reached deep into the man's depressive fog, rousing him from the debilitated state.
Her quivering voice shattered his dark prison, the voice that he had known all her life.
His eyes turned to his daughter; his face blank yet a tender look reflecting in his eyes.
He sighed, before uttering, "What's wrong, Elissa?"
His sudden question surprised her as she flinched and leaned back a bit to stare at him in bewilderment.
"Daddy? Are you okay?" she asked in concern, placing a tender hand on his cheek.
He gave her a tiny reassuring smile. "I'm alright, Elissa. Or at least I'm getting there," he answered. Grabbing his cane, he struggled to his feet with a grunt as his knee acted up again.
His daughter was aghast at her father's sudden change in behavior as he had been unapproachable for months and now, he's all better just like that. She didn't buy it. But at least he was getting out of his funk, at least for a tiny bit.
Progress.
Bruce, on the other hand, had finally realized that his daughter was suffering because of his behavior. Not only was she worried about him, but she was also feeling alone now that her mother had left.
He came to understand that he needed to get his act together for Elissa.
He had a good run as Batman and now it was time to hang up the cowl or come to terms with it.
Washington D.C.
Diana was sprawled on her couch as she quietly sobbed with Steve doing his best to comfort her. She was beside herself at how devastated she was at the volatile relationship with Elissa.
She briefly wondered how she could fix it. But all she could do right now was sob now and ponder later as innocent nostalgia comforted her. Times when her daughter followed her around, loved her, and idolized her.
She knew it was impossible for her and Elissa to have those days again. Not with how resentful her daughter was as of late.
If Diana couldn't have her daughter, she needed the comfort of another.
Someone who loved and cherished her. One that provided comfort and banished her worries away like it was smoke.
Diana needed her mother.
She needed to find her mother and her people.
She needed to go… home.
NEXT: The Dark Knight Returns!
Please don't hate me for separating the family. I swear it's all part of the plan. If you're patient, you'll see it all come together.