Life at home, family drama, and a recent medical issue - yeah, last month into a couple of days ago. You can imagine. Everyone is tired but eager for things to eventually go back to normal.

Thank you, Phygers, for all the help your comments and ideas have given. :3

Title by Kate Hewitt ("Vows to Save His Crown").

Chapter Nine

Vows to Save His City - Part One

They didn't consummate their marriage, for a couple of reasons.

One: they weren't obliged despite the obvious, unspoken attraction Stephanie was feeling and what she could tell in his eyes based on experience.

And two: they were tired as hell after the festivities.

Still, it was nice to share a bed with him. They settled together nicely as if it had always been there. People today...young people especially...why the hell was marriage considered a scary thing? Why did fearmongering have to discourage people from making such a big decision? She liked to think a lot about this. They weren't as ready as they thought they'd be, they also made irresponsible choices, and one party tends to think only about themselves...but I feel otherwise.

~o~

A lot of work they'd done in the next couple of months to follow before they finally made their faces known to Gotham and the world.

Everything they'd talked about was in secrecy to be announced to the world, their first meeting with the new mayor scheduled halfway through October, but there was one thing to be done, just as Jason talked about. It would be his first step, and it would rattle Bruce to the point where he could confront it but do nothing about it. Whether as himself or Batman, either way, the footage would be cut and leaked to social media and garner more flames.

The newlyweds were having so much fun doing this.

Just like they had fun returning home without running into the Bat, and with Oracle looking out for them. For now.

"Home, sweet home!" Jason crowed at the sight of their penthouse that Talia got them, happily as a late wedding present, and not just that, but they were surprised with some gifts from Deathstroke and Lady Shiva of all people. Which were stowed safely away in their armory which was away from the building.

They got a calm color scheme filled with some faux plants without the worry of them dying, yet they looked real enough. They were within walls neutral as the softest ocean shore sands, the floorboards carpeted in the right places with soft sage. The coffee table and side tables on either side of the dark chocolate suede sofa were black metal swirls and curved lines over soft rattan, programmed to light up at night. The lamps - damn, they were freaking cool! They were large black lanterns with Thomas Edison bulbs covered all over with wires of tiny fairy lights. Check out that chandelier, too! Looks like something out of a farmhouse, with the romantic dark swirls and the classic tear-shaped bulbs... Stephanie was in heaven here, and there was so much more to look at. Topping the coffee table was a large terrarium, geometrically shaped and filled with soil, some river rocks, and exquisite succulent plants. Looked like all the plant life they'd need without overtness and too much care. It was opened upwards to allow oxygen and back out again.

The kitchen was a dream come true for Jason, for he whistled and plopped himself on the island in the center, elbows on the surface, chin in his palms, as he took in his favorite spot. There was open shelving, which would generally be a worry for anyone else in terms of unwanted clutter, but there was no issue here. That would mean putting things back in place as before, and if something was amiss, you'd notice. There weren't many trinkets and dishware, either, except for the red-and-black plaid dinner set atop one oak shelf - a look perfect for the countryside within this modern location. There was also a cute little whimsical camping trailer holding the salt and pepper shakers atop the silver stove. That, the pale sand countertops which also covered the island and matched the floorboards, the silver fridge and freezer, the sink, and the little vases lining the window over the sink; they were made of molten glass over root wood and in different sizes so plant and flower life could be placed in.

It almost seemed so real. Her breath was taken away. Everything within reach, practical, warm, and welcoming. Unlike places like Wayne Manor. She and Jason would do everything together and themselves.

Home.

"Wanna go eclectic with all this, Steph? Be my guest. Just make sure everything's organized." And that was what made her and her new husband different: he learned how to be a neat freak from Alfred, but she wasn't like that.

In no time did they get this place feeling like a home, as if they were a genuine married couple. For a while, Stephanie believed it, and half of her wished it.

After barely three weeks, they were visited by none other than - "Barbara!" Steph exclaimed even though her friend and one-time Batgirl mentor, the OG herself, had been invited ahead of time. Been a long time since they did anything outside the nightlife, so it was well-deserved before the real work could begin. That and a nice mac and cheese dinner Jason was whipping up. Tim was having fun with Kon, Cassie, and Bart tonight, so next week he would swing by.

"Oh, did you guys hear?" Barbara asked slyly, eyes glowing over the rims of her glasses as she pushed them up the bridge of her nose. "Because I got something worth toasting over - except too bad you're not legal yet, Steph. I'd show you on mobile, but it's still blasting all over the TV." Despite the smirk, she was somber. The new Todd couple knew exactly what this was and had been waiting for the development. "Two things that are both making headlines."

Both Batman and Bruce Wayne. The cherry atop the icing was that EVERYONE was watching, and not just Gothamites.

The line with Batman came first: "We have more outstanding and condemning footage of the now-hated vigilante, the Batman, and this time is between him and Black Bat. We must warn you that it's very sensitive and may strike some people close to home. Exercise caution."

Turned out to be a week ago, judging the date at the bottom of the video, and taken from cowl footage on Cassandra's part. Her point of view was focused solely on Bruce's emotionless, now-perceived wicked face. Showing the monster he'd become, what the entire world was seeing. And because Black Bat was silent, hand signs were her method of communication.

"Red Hood and Spoiler brought it on themselves. They're not welcome into our family -" He was cut off with a brutal backhand to his exposed jaw, pissing off Black Bat, and this earned whoops all over Twitter, Instagram, and the new faces of the media. The camera jerked at every angle with the action before going back to normal as its owner straightened her posture. He looked up in time to see her furiously sign, and some time passed before he responded to whatever she said to him. "You know we don't kill. Hood sealed that as soon as he returned to this city. We're supposed to be better than the rest of them. As soon as Spoiler went to him, she put herself on his level. Look at Black Mask and Cluemaster now." He stiffened at her next livid curse. "Our enemies are not like my family!"

Finally, Black Bat hissed at him. "LIAR." Her voice was a hush, the words broken into pieces, but the message crystal clear. "Second Robin...broke your camel's back. Your Rogues true equals. We insubordinate and expendable. You lie sugar sweet. We are better than you. Hood big brother, you not father. Spoiler sister. Don't abuse and exile family."

"But you are my children," Batman insisted. "It's my job to discipline you to make sure you don't get hurt again."

He got himself a kick to the middle of his abdomen this time, his daughter being the one to throw his sins back in his face, and he lost his touch when she lashed out a leg like a ten-foot pole and sent him onto his back. She then walked his way, allowing the world and her siblings to see her place the heel of her boot on his chest where the symbol was - the symbol he'd corrupted himself. She made him look up at her this way as she signed what turned out to be a major question that deserved the light of day instead of between those involved.

"The Joker isn't important, but if I take his life once, then I'll never stop at him. If anyone else kills him, then the same will happen to them. Hood came close, but I had to stop him. You know that."

And he admitted to choosing a mass murderer and terrorist over all of Gotham and the true protector of Crime Alley who had done so much for their people than Batman ever did, now that the residents exploded from the silence to say the bastard never gave two shits except when his regular rogues were involved. "Arkham is your fix. Addiction. The cowl, too. Revolving door keeps moving. Without it, you're nothing," Black Bat sneered, and that was the end of it.

"Shit, old man," Jason hissed, reclining back on the sofa as he smirked at the television screen. "You did this to yourself, but ladies? Of course, he refuses to hold himself accountable."

Speaking of the Rogues Gallery, many of them had gone to ground, and thugs who took the plea spilled the beans that their bosses refused to be the Bat's punching bags any longer, and also refraining from getting involved with the feud between the Dark Knight and his former sidekicks. And if you wanted more acid on the wound, there were reported moments where he'd tie up and leave a suspect, guns were pulled on him and he was told that they did not work with someone who was Public Enemy Number One. They let the suspect go as a result. "Oh boy, I see B throwing a tantrum and pulling out something in return, but is he that stupid?" Stephanie asked, leaning into Jason instinctually, her head on his shoulder.

Barbara smirked. "He didn't put up a fight, just turned and stalked off like a little bitch. Psychologists are comparing his antics to just that, and as for the no-killing thing - including some times he stopped a cop or civilian from killing one of his Rogues - oh, yeah, I don't need to clarify."

~o~

The Bruce Wayne spectacle just kept getting just as juicy.

Damian Wayne was now going by Damian Kent.

Support congratulated the young boy for being integrated into a family that really loved him while his former adopted siblings continued to remain in his life, and by the looks of it, Ric Grayson was making the effort to sort of pick up where they'd left off. Well, the old him while the rest of them were working on acclimating to the new Richard Grayson whether he regained his memories or not. THIS was family, not the way it was before.

Ric began to sleep and live in his car less and less, though bouncing between her and Jason - being that hardly anyone tailed him after the shit Bruce pulled - and Damian and the Kents, given Bludhaven only took and took from him just as much as Gotham did.

All of which brought them back to the present and involved updates on Bruce Wayne's funding of Batman's crusade, covered by Vicki Vale:

"According to the whistleblower, Alfred Pennyworth, the Wayne family's longtime butler, he has admitted that he couldn't stand by after being blinded until now. He had suspicions after many years, coupled with alleged neglect of the sons Mr. Wayne adopted over the years - Richard Grayson, the late Jason Todd, Timothy Drake, and now Damian, his own son who has just been taken from his custody - and announced his official resignation, so once the investigation is over, he intends to either return to England or fully devote his time to the boys. He also revealed that he took to drinking not too long ago, hinting at a final say as a means to emotionally escape the guilt of enabling and ignorance." Vicki paused for a moment, taking a breath and shaking her head in disbelief before going on.

"As for the fallen prince of Gotham, it's kept close-lipped, but a couple of sources confirm the Board of Directors of Wayne Enterprises is considering the removal of Mr. Wayne as a definite possibility in light of the scandals. Not only that, but the business of one of Gotham's oldest founding families will face a boatload of lawsuits from shell companies, civilians, and criminals alike for the misuse of company equipment and the involvement of Batman's activities."

~o~

And now their moment arrived. That, and a statement from Alfred Pennyworth himself showing on every screen. It was becoming a habit and a cathartic ritual to keep them on their toes.

"I no longer consider Bruce Wayne my employer, nor even a son. I deeply regret allowing him to become the man he is now." A sigh and bow of the head. "Nothing I say will ever change anything. As for the matter of the Batman, I suppose it all makes sense. He could have done it all himself, because why not? He has the money and resources, and yet chose not to get his hands dirty like the coward he truly is." Tim and Cass were with her, her former Boy Wonder whistling while her bestie sniggered behind her hand. "He never grew out of the boy who lost his parents to one of the very people they tried to help. As a consequence, he failed the boys he took into his care. He was never ready to be a father to any of them despite doing it out of the kindness of his heart as the late Thomas Wayne would have been proud of. Alas, it isn't enough to do a good deed when the immense responsibility of raising a child comes after.

"He failed Masters Richard, Jason, and now Damian just as he failed Gotham itself. I stumbled upon all of it by accident, or perhaps I was willfully ignorant, but what does it matter anymore? Things have to change now, and I will personally start seeing to it so that others can step in and use this example. Think about the money from Wayne Enterprises and his own inheritance - incidentally also coming from the taxpayers themselves, THEIR hard-earned money - that he has been irresponsible with, merely tossing towards the situation and walking away, naïvely assuming it would magically resolve itself in time. If he'd done so much more than that, we would have an entirely different Gotham today. He must have known vigilantism was a crime but chose not to care. It's no wonder nothing in the courts sticks because the worst of the underworld never stick in place, charges dropped in no time because they were picked up by a rogue vigilante in his payment. Call it an old man's experienced opinion on delusions and disconnection from what the true residents of Gotham ever wanted."

And he finished with this, absolutely mincing nothing at this point: "It's absolutely absurd two men the entire city has looked up to are out of touch with those in their homes, and I don't refer to the posh, overrated elites."

And he got praise for his statements. "Ain't that the damned truth?" Tim grumbled. "I haven't spoken to Bruce since everything. Got busy with finding ways to keep us out of the systems if it comes to that."

"What about Damian? He try to see him?"

"Nope." Tim popped on the "P". "Clark is ready for the Kryptonite stash and everyone else, even Dick." Between them only, they called their big brother by that name and not to his face. Means either he gave up or isn't stupid to try anything else. We're all backing him into a corner. The more we take from him, the more desperate he gets.

They braced for the inevitable eruption.

Here in the hotel room assigned to her, her husband, and their friends further down the hall just to spend quality time - hopefully they wouldn't get their faces snapped by patrons - before the big night that finally came after preparation and helping Jason back on his feet. It would be maybe a little over half a year before he was physically back to his old self.

"If I decide on Red Hood again, then it will be to face Batman...one last time." When he said those words, there was a cold ruthlessness. That scared any lesser man, and to them, it temporarily took them all off-guard before it roared with fiery ecstasy.

We'll show Batman his time's over. He outlived his usefulness to Gotham and the rest of us. He brought this on himself. He brought us up, we will take him down.

"I give you all Mrs. Stephanie Todd!"

She proudly and happily introduced herself to Tim and Cass in her and Jason's room, while her partner was still getting ready in the bathroom. It was like being a diamond polished to perfection after being removed from the rock.

Tim's jaw dropped, Cassandra's eyes shining like onyx with tears. And at the same time, Jason emerged all fine and pressed, and his expression was far more priceless.

Everything about her was the same but also upgraded. Not meaning to admire herself the way Narcissus admired himself, but her expressive sky eyes and full lips which were glossed over with the taste of crisp, tasty apples which were freshly taken from the orchard were the same. However...

They were in the early days of autumn, cold coming ahead of time, but Steph was outfitted in sweet blush, the skirt ruffled and the strapless bodice ruched, stopping at the knees so that it would display the knee-high heeled chocolate suede boots. The hairstylist who was long gone had gone to town with the new style Stephanie wanted to try, the thickly woven chignon cascading with French curls over one shoulder, also showing off one of the earrings; they were inspired by the shield of Athena always catching the light at every turn and top-posted with a breathtaking ruby within a perfect, antiqued circle, and three chainlink bracelets in one - all made of the finest Italian gold.

Talia purposefully made her to be a modern princess in all but name, maybe a queen in the making, and this was going to latch onto the true people of Gotham like the sweet nectar of honey.

She, Jason, and Talia were outside the Iceberg Lounge that fateful night when the cameras on live television covered their moves, speeches, expressions, and body language. Everything that mattered.

We're married, but in heart and soul, it doesn't mean we're husband and wife. But to me...it's just one-sided, except for what he said when we were alone, before now...

"Steph, I'm nervous and sick to my stomach, but I really gotta tell you this: you're the damnedest smartest - yeah, not the same as Barbara, but smart all the same - and gorgeous girl I've ever seen, so I know you can pull this off with me. We're gonna shine together even though we hate that kind of attention; it's the only option we have. We're gonna blow them away with the official promise of change that Gotham should have had a long time ago, and then we'll see if anyone follows our example."

And that meant getting backlash from the filthy rich looking to solely line their pockets. And also getting the attention of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

They had security and League assassins on hand to keep Batman from breaching their grounds tonight, and it was a vow.

Cass, Ric, Damian, Clark and Lois Kent, and Tim were there to show their support and did her bestie look like a sexy queen - the words she was imagining someone online could say. Cass wore a black lace peplum dress, sheer over flesh-colored underlining to give the idea she was naked underneath, something she was still blushing over but would help her break out of her shell. Her jewelry was gold, with a pendant of three rings with the center lit with white fire, joined with earrings of opened gold petals resembling any flower from Asia to honor her heritage. All of them men and the youngest were dapper in black and white: Tim had a necktie of silver with a sophisticated paisley print, Dami's being emerald green with small golden medallions to honor his heritage, Clark sporting a very creative sapphire blue with a creatively stitched constellation of stars against the night sky, and Ric rocked a vibrant yellow-and-red striped piece he'd said was in honor of his parents and circus life - and partially Nightwing. Steph refused to say that part aloud.

And there was Lois herself - dramatic in a pale petal-colored, one-sleeved, ruched gown with earrings and a pendant of rose-gold with exotic, blushing pamirite - excited to take part with her husband in showcasing the new "power couple" who would be the yin to Batman and Bruce Wayne's yang in terms of who was gonna begin changing Gotham for the better.

They'd already turned the general population against him, showing them all who and what he really was, both of his personas, and now they physically put their feet back in the home they belonged in, unlike him.

The camera flashing wasn't as horrible as it used to be back in the day before smartphones evolved, but still, neither she nor Jason was used to having this kind of attention on them. Before he'd died, he'd hated putting on ties and suits and loathed the attention on him because he knew what all of that resulted in, so Bruce had paid off the paps and their bosses to take down the pictures of him. This time was different.

Jason she could never get enough of looking at. After this, she was excited to see him without that damned tie with his ruby silk shirt, because he was much better without one. Sans tie suited him best.

"Name's Jason al Ghul -" And wasn't that a gem to be called his new adoptive mother's name along with his American-given first name? And the fact Stephanie was also Stephanie al Ghul - this stuff was too good to be true, belonging only in the escapist fairytales from childhood, dropped into her lap without reaching for it first.

"- and I'm a born Gothamite, coming home to a city that took everything from me, but at the same time, it's in my blood. I can't stand by anymore and continue to let it rot. Yeah, yeah." He held up his hand, laughing and getting it from the reporters and lucky civilians who happened to watch from outside the security lane. "I know what you're all thinking: it's too far-gone and decrepit, and it's been said since long before any of us was born, nothing really accomplished and always the worst setback here and there. Can go on all night, but I promise you'll all be hearing more from me after this night."

He then turned his attention to her beside him, Talia elsewhere after her introduction before letting her son come into the vultures' views, and smiled warmly, taking her hand into his. The one wearing both of her rings. Warmth turned her skin into Jell-O at the simple contact, and her throat turned dry as she tried to swallow.

"And this right here is my wife, Stephanie. A Park Row native like me who I've been lucky to share my life with, and to have the same goal as me."

That seemed to garner admiration in most eyes, but some were cynical and thought they were idealistic youngsters with fantasies they assumed would fix overnight. Those idiots and the ones that mattered had no idea what hit them until now.

"Both Bruce Wayne and Batman demand proof and then doctor it to cover up everything and save his own butt" - help is needed for that one if I can incorporate that in the future here. Truer words have never been spoken, right?

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