Disclaimer: I own nothing except for my OC Danika and any alterations to the original storyline plot her presence creates to various readers amusement everywhere across the globe.
Daughter Of Batman 2 Chapter 7
A little later that evening Bruce is on his way to a dinner date obligation he's having with Samantha.
And he's not alone.
With Bruce, sitting in the front passenger seat is Danika.
Instead of wearing her Lunar Rose uniform, Danika is wearing an ensemble far more agreeable for the occasion. Because Bruce couldn't exactly be seen taking the twins out shopping himself, Bruce had Alfred take the appropriate measurements and order clothing for Danika after she'd made suggestions to selections she prefers. This had been done after it was decided the twins would reside with him in Gotham. Danika was prevailed upon to accept and urged Damian to do the same so as not to offend. The dress she's wearing is a solid blue that matches her prevalent eyes, fashionable slipper shoes, and hair up in its usual arrangement in order to disguise its true length.
Ao is left behind at Wayne Manor for this outing's duration much to Danika's dismay. Bruce made it clear that squirrel would not be a suitable companion in a restaurant like the one they're heading to right now. Especially not accompanied by an outside guest.
From the gist of it, Danika can surmise that Bruce deciding to have her join him for dinner tonight is kind of a way for him to make up for any inattention she's received from him other than when she's in costume. Also, to reward her with indulgence for her compliance in following the rules and restrictions he has listed. Not only this, but Danika earned some major points by being honest with him about what when on during the time she and Damian had snuck out and everything that was spoken between them and Talon. While Damian's continued transgressions have just simply lowered his standing even further down the totem pole, increasing the rift evermore combined with the reckless tendencies.
Damian's insubordination is getting beyond tiresome and totally irresponsible.
If only Damian could simply cease acting so bitter and resentful then he probably would've been rewarded this way for good behavior, too.
Although Danika isn't quite sure how much of a prize this is going to be with whom they're going to meet.
Bruce is currently on the phone with the woman Samantha Vannevar, updating the woman on their progress to the chosen establishment.
"Running a little late, Samantha, but I should be there in about 15 minutes," reassured Bruce.
"I'm not a woman who likes being kept waiting, Bruce. But I'll make an exception for you," said Samantha, silkily.
Danika mimes sticking a finger down her throat and gagging.
Smiling at Samantha's tone of voice, Bruce said "Well then, I'll do everything in my power to make sure your patience isn't misplaced. By the way, Samantha, just thought you should know, there will be a third addition to our dinner party."
"Oh? Who would that be," said Samantha, intrigued.
Crisscrossing through some traffic, Bruce said "You recall my wards, correct? Well, the girl, Danika will be joining us this evening. I hope that isn't a problem."
A slight pause over the phone line.
"No, no, it's fine, Bruce. I just wasn't expecting us to have company. When we last spoke you made it sound like it was going to be the two of us. What about her brother? Is he coming, too," said Samantha, lightly.
But through her somewhat accepting tone of voice Danika detects a trace of irritation underneath. Danika can't tell if Bruce has sensed it, too, or not.
"Damian is grounded. So, he is confined to the Manor grounds for the foreseeable future," explained Bruce.
Not a total falsehood if Damian had stayed in Wayne Manor in the first place.
Chuckling lightly, Samantha said "Do I even want to know what the kid did to end up this way?"
"No, you don't. Keep an eye out. We'll be there soon," said Bruce, lips upturning in a small smile.
"Will do," said Samantha, sweetly.
The line then cuts off.
Tossing all pretense aside, pursing her lips in displeasure, Danika said "I still don't understand why you're taking me out to dinner with you when we really should be searching for Damian."
"Appearances must be kept. If too many engagements are blown off people can start to become suspicious about the reasons behind them. Don't worry. We'll go hunting for Damian after this is done," said Bruce, sternly, stone-faced.
Danika sighs in begrudging compliance.
Seconds later Danika's gaze snaps over to the side view mirror. At first, Danika thought she was simply imagining things but has come to realize that she's not.
The two of them are being tailed by four identical vehicles.
"Papa," said Danika, stiffening in her seat.
Without a change of expression, Bruce said "I see them."
Bruce proceeds to do his best to shake off their pursuers through other cars and oncoming traffic. Unfortunately, these people are undaunted. Relentless in their pursuit.
It's when a gap in the traffic briefly opens and the stalking vehicles surround them from all sides that Danika is finally able to get a glimpse of the people occupying the other cars.
Danika can't make out their faces. They're all wearing identical white masks.
Bruce figures out who they are immediately. Identifying them as belonging to the Court of Owls.
The organization he's been searching for.
The car is getting rammed. Unlike the Batmobile, this vehicle can only take so much damage as it's being roughly bumped around. Telling Danika to hold on and brace herself Bruce picks up the speed. He's soon forced to do a 180 when he discovers a roadblock ahead. Bruce deftly avoids hitting the first two cars that attempt to intercept him, but the third has no inhibitions in slamming directly into them. This causes the car to flip and roll. Luckily coming to a stop right side up.
Bruce and Danika are battered and bruised but alive.
Danika groans, coming to, reaching for Bruce, instinctively bringing a hand up to her hair at the same time.
Before she can even touch him, Bruce is taken out of the car by the people in masks and dragged out.
Danika doesn't have time to react as another of this stranger removes her from her section, holding her bridal style as someone unseen sneaks over with a needle that carries a knockout drug in hand.
Danika can only do little more than protest as she is injected with whatever it contains.
"Stop it! Papa," called Danika, straining against the arms holding, releasing a sharp yelp as a needle is stuck into her neck.
"Danika! What the hell is this," demanded Bruce, gruffly, vision becoming blurry as the same thing is done to him and the drug quickly takes effect.
"An opportunity. And one you should be extremely grateful for."
A sack is placed over both of their heads, and everything goes dark.
Unaware of how much time has passed Danika feels herself awakening in a wobbly standing position.
As her vision clears Danika deduces, they're in an atrium of sorts. Surrounding them on all sides from upper levels are various adults and a handful of children all wearing the same full-faced masks.
The level of intensity behind the stares aimed at the pair makes Danika uneasy and uncomfortable since they resemble owls on a hunt, homing in on their prey.
Moving closer to Bruce, pressing into his side, eyes roaming over the crowd, Danika said "Bruce."
"Steady," whispered Bruce, eyes trained on the person he presumes to be the head of this operation.
Danika can read the underlying message in his undertone. To watch and listen closely. And not to make a move unless he deliberately tells her to.
Time to put on an act.
The Court of Owl's leader steps forth into the light where Bruce and Danika can see him.
"Welcome, Mr. Wayne," said Grandmaster.
"Not exactly a warm welcome," said Bruce, touching the shallow abrasion on his temple with one hand and wrapping an arm around Danika's shoulders with the other.
"If we'd wanted you dead, you wouldn't be here now," contradicted Grandmaster.
"Who are you," said Bruce, coldly.
"The Grandmaster of the Court of Owls," said Grandmaster.
Brow furrowed, Bruce said "I would say the Court of Owls is merely a legend."
"A legend we are, but one rooted in fact. There was a time when the Court of Owls stood behind every wall, in every shadow. We whispered and Gotham trembled. Not a leaf fell without our permission. The golden age," said Grandmaster, reverently.
"But all golden ages end," challenged Bruce.
Evenly, Grandmaster said "A faction rose against us that even our talons couldn't stop. We were forced to retreat, but we never surrendered. And now-."
"You're back," said Bruce, eyes narrowed. "Why?"
"Because we care, Mr. Wayne. Just as our fathers and grandfathers and great-grandfathers cared. We are and always have been the sons and daughters of Gotham's wealthiest. We know far better than the rabble what's best for our city," said Grandmaster, coy.
"In other words, you want to control Gotham," said Bruce, bluntly, not beating around the bush.
"How else to restore a city that's spiraled into chaos? That's become a cesspool, a charnel house, a magnet for freaks, lunatics, and delusional vigilantes. We have a vision of Gotham's future, Mr. Wayne. And so, we understand do you," said Grandmaster, slyly.
In front of Bruce and Danika a hologram powers up, unveiling a familiar diagram in front of them. The exact one Bruce had shown Samantha, but with specific and calculated additions placed on it.
Danika's eyes widen upon recognizing the design. Danika's eyes turn cold as ice as they glower contemptuously at the Grandmaster. Already suspecting who's calling the shots around here. Connecting all the dots it does make sense. It must be Samantha Vannevar. She's part of this Court of Owls. It's the only logical explanation and explains the reason why the woman had been so obtuse about Danika's attendance. This had been planned all along.
Underneath the hologram, in a display case is a full owl mask, a replica of all the others everyone is wearing. One clearly meant for Bruce.
"We invite you to join your vision to the Court's. Together we can raise Gotham City up and return her to glory," declares Grandmaster with great conviction.
"That 'deluded vigilante'? He's quite territorial about this city and not very fond of people like us," said Bruce. "How do you plan on dealing with him?"
Disdainfully, not missing a beat, Grandmaster said "He's being dealt with even as we speak."
Discreetly placing a small tracker inside the owl mask as he places it back down onto the podium, Bruce said "I can't say I'm not intrigued by the offer. But I'd like some time to think it over."
A crude method but one that's paid off for him plenty of times in the past.
"Of course, Mr. Wayne. But not too much time," warned Grandmaster. "Sleep well."
A sack is slipped back over their heads, and knocked out again.
The next thing Bruce and Danika know they're waking up in front of the Wayne Manor gates inside the banged-up car.
Digging a hand into his pocket Bruce marks the beacon from the mini tracker he'd managed to lay behind at the Court of Owls.
Exiting the vehicle Bruce rounds over to Danika's side, opening the door for her.
Assisting Danika out of the wrecked vehicle, Bruce said "Let's go get your brother."
They have a lot of work to do.
Authors Note:
We are getting through this story a hell of a lot faster than I thought I would. I just seem to keep coming back to this one. ;)
Heads up everyone there's someone on fanfiction you need to seriously watch out for. Early a couple of days ago after I woke up I was checking my email and I saw I had a new guest review on my A Dog's Purpose Is Strange Magic 2 sequel. I took a look at it and got a very big shock. Some random person I've never spoken to before on here or anywhere else in my life was basically threatening me. Intimidating and practically ordering me to write a threatening letter to someone on their behalf, telling to stay off of for life or else they and everyone else close to them would be killed, disgustingly telling them to kill themselves. And at the bottom of the message this crazy person wasn't done. Warning me that if I don't send the letter then they would kill me and for confirmation to email them to make absolutely sure I complied with their demands. Of course I did nothing of the sort. Instead of doing what they wanted I reported them to the website, sent copies of this deplorable guest review message to police officer cousins of mine so they could have it on file, and I went to a nearby police station and reported it.
When I spoke to the police officers and they checked everything on the message they saw, that while the address and names of business were accurate the people and their names were not. They agree it was more than likely a scam because of the email address on the bottom in order to perhaps get access to personal information or potentially hack my computer. Despite that I'm still very happy they took it seriously as I showed and told them everything. All the same I'm still very happy that I brought this to the attention of law enforcement. Even though the entire thing might be fake I'm still very happy to have brought this to the attention of those who can do something about it if it was legit in someway. This may have been a scam, but it's obvious these people are beyond irresponsible if they try to goad people into sending death threats to random strangers just to get access to info.
Be that as it may if this does unfortunately happen to you do not send any messages to the email addresses they put down and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you bring the message to the authorities immediately whether it is legit or not.
Because it's a guest review it might not be visible for a couple of days as it loads if it is sent to you. But when it does you should definitely pressing the report abuse button and send it to the email that leads to the support staff that is available.
Just a heads up to those of you who aren't aware of this yet, Email alerts for this website are now only active if Email opts is enabled in account settings.
I hope you all like this one! I certainly did while writing it for your vast enjoyment! ;D
For those of you just starting out with my stuff there are other works on my profile that may catch your interest. I highly recommend you take a look as soon as the opportunity presents itself to you. Who knows, you may be pleasantly surprised by what you discover.
Stay safe everyone. Especially with all of these crazy natural disasters occurring a lot lately due to global warming and climate change everywhere for sure. I swear it's like they're getting worse and worse all the time and it's like officials are simply just ignoring it or pretending it doesn't exist entirely just to go on with their daily lives. Especially those in multi-million dollar companies that rely on certain elements of our planet that we rely on to naturally keep us safe instead of adapting and finding new safer ways to keep in business. There are so many options out there where they can adapt, but they just refuse to see it because all they care about is money. Climate change is altering so much faster than anyone can really keep track of.
So, in light of all this, it is important to live life to the fullest as much as anyone can.
I know I am. ;) See you guys next time.