It's impossible to discern the expression on the invading monarch's face as she threw one bolt after another at the metal construct using thrusters to keep up with her. This wasn't something she could just punch her way through! Any attempt to distract it was foiled by Olivia who staggered to her feet and absorbed every bolt aimed at her brother's and Victor. Gun shots from Victor and Jason had her on the run. Tim waited for a clear shot along with Damian.

Olivia's eyes flashed and her hair lifted. "Stay put!" she shouted and before anyone could stop her she was at her father's side. While the other monarch was being conservative with her strikes it was beginning to build up and the suit could only handle so much. Without a word Olivia drained the energy away. "Are you okay?!" she yelled to him.

"Doing much better, sweetheart!" Bruce said with a grin and powered through a swing for another punch. The miss is expected. Olivia follows up with trying to go for another grab. She's kicked in the face and flies backwards but quickly recovers. There was no need to check on her! This doesn't hurt like it should. Bruce absorbed another strike as strong as a bolt of lightning and Olivia was right behind him sapping it all away.

She darted from the blind spot just behind her father and shot at the monarch grabbing her hands. There would be no telling them apart leaving Bruce following close behind catching stray bolts as the two struggled to win over the other. This woman had strength but could not hold on to the energy Olivia continued to siphon from her at an alarming rate. Her body felt like it was on fire as the snow evaporated before getting even a meter close to them. The effort to break away succeeds but before the woman could recover Olivia was out of the way as Bruce slammed a heavy fist into the woman's body sending her flying across the beach and crashing into a retaining wall. The woman's energy flickered before she dropped to the ground on her knees.

Olivia lands before her with Bruce close behind. There was the slightest prickle at the back of her neck. A bolt erupted from the woman's spine lashing out at Bruce only to be redirected and taken in by Olivia. Her skin felt alien to her but she needed to keep going. Before she could speak Bruce snatched Olivia away and hunched over her. A rock bounced off the armor plating followed by a barrage of dozens raining down from the sky. He carefully backed away with Olivia covered. "She brought someone with her! Is the rest of the colony waiting to back her up?"

"She traveled light," Bruce clarifies. "Can you reach them?" Olivia threw out her influence as far as she could then shook her head. "Then they're just far enough to stay out of your range."

Damian stepped up ready to throw a batarang at the fallen monarch who lashed out more with her energy. The quartet were alarmed at the raining pebbles starting to leave dents in Bruce's armor but they needed to act quickly. Victor's eyes grew wide and he tackled Damian out of the way as the barrage swept through where he stood like bullets from a passing plane. "FUCK!" Victor and the Robins scrambled to get to cover below the concrete supports of the pier. The rocks continued to rain down but then suddenly stopped.

Jason looked at Tim then nodded. Tim quickly darted beneath another stone support with nothing but ancient wood overhead and far from the monarch's view. Nothing. So far they can move unseen. "SUNSHINE!" Victor yelled out to the beach. A bolt struck the pillar Victor hid behind shaking loose dust. "Fuck!"

Tim raced out again and the hail of stones began once more. He noticed a significant delay before ducking behind cover again. "She's giving orders to whatever fae is up there! There's a fifteen second delay before you're spotted and when the rocks come down."

"Then we don't let her see us when we move!" Damian states.

"OLIVIA!" cried Bruce as she doubled over from taking another strike for him. The assault of stones on them ended as the monarch rose to her feet and used Bruce's suit as a source of energy now. The boys under the pier tried to see what was happening but the rocks rained down now blindly tearing up the wood overhead until they could be seen running for cover under concrete. "Olivia!"

Her eyes were wide and she reached out to touch the heavy armor. "I...I'm fine!" she gasped. Her heart was racing and her temperature was on the rise. "I...I can't!" Her energy flickered then dissipated leaving her in burned clothes. Her boots fell off at some point and were nowhere to be seen. What was happening to her? Why couldn't she breathe like she needs to? Help! HELP! PLEASE!

"I see. So you're at capacity already?" the woman laughed while brushing her disheveled hair aside. "That little bit was too much for you? Stars above, you are truly worthless to me! Well go ahead, explode! I'll make sure there's nothing left of your friends here should any of them survive. Or perhaps I'll take care of them while you're dying? Starting with the metal man." Bruce braced to take the hit. Olivia can't absorb any more. She needs to release all that she has. "Any last words to your charge?"

"EAT A DICK YOU OLD BITCH!" yelled a feminine voice before a ball of fire struck her in the face. The woman roared and shot away as Yazmine, arms and hair ignited, arrived on the beach hurling fireball after fireball.

"YOU BRAT!" she shrieked. A bolt was lashed out at the fiery fae and Olivia quickly reached out to absorb it! "HOW ARE!" A spear of ice whizzed past Yazmine's head fast enough to breach through the electrical heat and crash into the monarch's shoulder knocking her off balance. Bruce moved swiftly to slam a fist into the woman's side just hard enough to break bone and send her flying towards the water. Smoke bombs erupted from the pier and there was a mad dash beneath the splintering wood.

More bombs were scattered across the beach with small explosives kicking up sand and dust as well to create as much cover for Victor as possible. He tore through the sand to Olivia, snatched her up and scrambled back to cover as fast as he could. The assault on the pier ended and turned to follow him as the smoke began to clear. "FUCK!" He doubled over to shield Olivia as much as possible. She was burning up in his arms! The ground around him darkened further as a sheet of ice was held overhead by a silver haired woman with haunting, silver eyes. He grinned. "Thanks, gorgeous!" he breathed then pushed back up to his feet using the woman's ice as cover until he had Olivia under the pier beneath concrete. With the escorting done she left to aid Yazmine and Bruce as they continued to fight the other monarch.

"What the fuck?" Jason asked.

"I have no idea!" Victor laughed out of relief. Olivia curled into his arms then wrenched free to crawl away from him as her energy erupted from her along with a shrill scream. "OLIVIA!"

"She said she's going to explode! Olivia, you need to release all that energy!" Damian yells as Tim and Jason secure their spot under the pier. "Olivia please!" he begged while trying to reach out to touch her. His hand was shocked and he jerked it back as it went numb. The armor they brought with them wasn't insulated enough for this.

"Bruce's suit is slowing down!" Jason called out and rushed out to assist. He kept his eyes forward as he heard another blood curdling scream from his sister. They'll solve this problem and then help her. He swears on his life.

Olivia curled into a ball on cold sand. She can't explode. That will take her whole family with her but she can't seem to gain control of her own body. Everything hurt! Her spine was white with her energy and the scars grew bigger by the second. What was happening to her?! Why couldn't she let it all go? Anywhere would do, even directly into the ground! Her skin felt on fire and crawled with something! What was that?! Her hands clawed at her skin breaking through, making her bleed. "LIV STOP!" Victor cried out and grabbed hold of her hands. There was no shock this time. Her eyes were wide and mouth opening and closing as the color faded from her face. "Olivia? Olivia, breathe!"

Damian rushed over and watched the fear in his sister's eyes grow. he yelled. Victor held her face in his hands allowing Damian to see her spine. The light from her back was clear as day but stopped around her hairline. The rest of her body seemed to be shifting beneath her skin as if something was trying to break through. "Victor, she's suffocating. Her body is trying to grow past her own skin. It needs room!"

Victor looked on in horror as Damian took his sword from the sheath on his back. He glanced at Olivia as her eyes rolled closed then back to her brother. "Let me do it," he said in a dark voice and removed one of his combat knives from beneath his jacket. "You'll never forgive yourself if you're wrong." His hand was shaking while he searched for where to start and had the spot where her skull connected with her neck pointed out. There were no scars there, just the faintest light from a single line. Victor pulled his mask off and set it aside. "Olivia, I love you. Everything is going to be okay," he said then looked at Damian before pressing the blade to that line. 'Please work!' he prayed then pressed deep feeling her tense in his arms. Gritting his teeth he carried that blade up and pulled back to see her blood on it. The light surged to fill what was red and she gasped.

While Olivia's mind cleared she felt the ones nearest her calming. Oh good. That part was over. Her yellow eyes opened to see pained relief on Victor's face. He was happy she was breathing again. She was as well. Her eyes grew wide as she looked up and saw Bruce's suit crashing to the ground with him still stuck inside. A fae with ice stood over him trying to shield him from another attack. No. What voices that tried to call out to her as she stumbled to her feet were far away. He's still alive! He needs to get out of the suit! Get him out! GET HIM OUT! Olivia's body electrified and she was at his side in a millisecond siphoning the energy overloading the batteries of the suit. The ice fae tried to find a way to pry it open. Her monarch commanded it! This man needed to survive!

"Oh good, you're still alive," came the snide remark from the other monarch. The rocks ceased raining from the sky and now came from a dark haired fae dressed in a similar zerosuit at her side riding on a hunk of earth, shielding her from Yazmine's fire. "You're not looking so...wait. This can't be right!" Was she so shocked to see Olivia able to stand after all she's been through? She's tough! She's strong like her mother! Olivia dropped to her knees and screamed until her voice cracked, feeling blinding white pain. The earth fae grew still with blood dripping from his nose.

Olivia reached to her back clawing at her bareskin until she felt something she could sink her nails into and pulled! Help. It hurts! IT HURTS! Bruce's suit opened and he climbed out in his cowl wiping blood from his mouth. He was just in time to watch as Yazmine, the ice and earth fae descended on a shrieking Olivia and tore into her back. He saw red. What pain is ignored as he tries to get to his daughter's side. Victor and Damian tried to rush to stop them but someone stopped them. Arthur and the siren fae Victor recognized from Oasis held them back. "LET ME GO!" Damian roared. "THEY'RE KILLING HER!"

Arthur shook his head. "She's fine! I promise you she's fine. Let them help." Damian wrenched free and raced across the sand as fast as his legs could carry him. Victor was right behind him and both stopped in their tracks as a violent light exploded from Olivia sending the three fae flying back. There was mad laughter from the other monarch. The excitement on her face could not be a good sign.

Surrounded by a glassed beach Olivia sat up to run her hands along her body removing what felt like a film off her skin. Piece by piece it was ripped away and disintegrated near her legs. Vivid eyes opened and she felt as though she was seeing and feeling everything around her for the first time. Her body glowed blindingly in her fulgurous state, her hair reached the small of her back and she felt so very weightless. The minds she knew were noisy and full of panic. The ones that were new seemed relieved. The invader was...happy? Her gaze slowly turned to the monarch now landing on the beach. Something felt different about her or maybe it was Olivia that was different.

"This whole time! This whole time you hadn't even molted!?" the monarch laughed. "You're perfect! Absolutely perfect!" Olivia sneered and rose to her feet easily floating. Her energy needed to be reigned in. People close by would get hurt otherwise. "Wait until your father sees what you have become!"

Olivia tilted her head. "My father is dead," she said in a soft voice. She flexed her influence again and the fae on the beach formed a line with Arthur at the front removing his mask. "This is over. Give up."

"I have traveled far for you! You are my blood! You will come back to the colony with me and take your place!" she roared.

The young Wayne stretched then took a sitting position in midair. "I don't want to be a monarch but it's clear that is what I have to be to keep others safe," she said. "This fight is over. You lost. Yield."

Arthur looked to the siren fae then back to the monarch. There was a surge in the power they felt. The siren opened his mouth and roared, "SHE SAID YIELD!" The monarch grit her teeth trying to resist being brought to her knees.

"Please don't fight this," Olivia sighed. Ice shot from the sea behind her and wrapped around her arms to pull the monarch back while molten sand swirled and encased her from the neck down. The woman roared and thrashed. Olivia floated over to land on her feet as the woman electrified and thrashed. The fae behind her stood down. "We'll deal with you later, sleep." The energy from the woman was siphoned off until she grew still and her eyes fell shut. Olivia exhaled and sat on the beach with her hands over her eyes. As her energy pulled inward she sniffed then cried. It was over. It was finally over!

Her family closed in around her with Victor arriving first, ripping his jacket off and tugging it around Olivia's bare form. The scars were gone and she looked no bigger than before minus the mass of hair she'd grown. Glowing honey eyes opened and she threw her arms around Victor's neck ."Hey, Sunshine!" he said with a brilliant smile and his eyes a little red. "How are you feeling?"

"Cold," she giggled. Yazmine dropped down to radiate heat with a beaming smile. A heavy, black cape was dropped on top of Victor's coat and pulled around to cover Olivia more. "Thank you. I..." She nearly spoke the names of her family. "Arthur, you can stay if you like but the rest of you should get home before the weather gets too rough."

"Okay, but are you sure you're okay," Yazmine said with a pout. "You did have your skin ripped off. It was pretty gnarly!"

Olivia gave a warm smile. "I promise I'm fine. Get home safely and tell no one about what happened here tonight, please."

"Yes, monarch!" The ice, siren and fire fae said and began to vacate the beach. "Bye, Victor!" Yazmine called out as they hurried through the pier.

"See ya, Yazzy!" he called out.

The earth fae waited awkwardly for orders. "Oh right, you're not from here uh...keep an eye on her?" she asked and nodded towards the unconscious woman. "She needs to be properly dealt with and she'll be easier to manage like that." The man bowed and the glass enclosing the other monarch lifted. She was settled away from the water before awaiting further instruction.

Bruce hobbled over and dropped beside Olivia. His arm was broken in a few places and his ribs cracked but he was happy she was alright. Damian sat on the other side of Bruce, quiet but smiling. Jason knelt down to thump the top of her head and Tim dropped in front of her sighing. "Ugh, that was rough!" he laughed. Olivia giggled and nodded. Arthur hung back until Jason snatched him over and sat him behind Olivia. He fidgeted then reached out and hugged around her neck.

"I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE OKAY, MISS OLIVIA!" he cried. "Please don't be upset with me for gathering all the fae I brought."

Olivia laughed and shook her head. "It's okay, Arthur. You helped keep my family safe and you stayed relatively out of danger. I don't know how I'll ever pay you back."

He gives a weak, teary eyed smile. "Just let me help from the start next time. I'm strong enough to bring anyone to their knees now."

Victor grinned as he hugged Olivia close to his chest. "Oh really now?"

"No...not like that!" The boy's face was hot and he was quick to try and hide it in Olivia's hair.

Victor let Olivia slip away as Bruce brought his arm around in a tight hug. "I'm so proud of you," he said in a raspy voice.

Olivia's eyes welled up with tears. "Thank you dad," she squeaked. "I was so scared."

"I know."

"We need to get this place cleaned up," Jason points out.

Bruce grunts as he rises to his feet. "I'll call Alfred to collect the suit. The last surge fried the circuitry."

Olivia smiles as her hair sparks. "Jon can help." The whole of her family looked at her. She gazed towards the pier and out stepped Jonathan Kent in his blue suit carrying Victor's black mask.

Bruce frowned. "Don't be too mad at her!" Jonathan said sheepishly. "I pretty much begged her to let me help. A little bummed I wasn't needed. So much for racking up a second favor." Damian punched his shoulder. "Didn't mean to butt in." Bruce glared at him and Jonathan bowed his head. "It won't happen again, sir!" Jonathan smiled at Olivia and Victor passing over the recovered mask. With little effort the busted suit was gathered up. "I'll just drop this off in the cave for you!" After a nod he was off with a gust of wind clearing the snow and sand around him.

Victor swept Olivia up into his arms and the young woman smiled. "What are we going to do about the old lady?" he asked while looking over the uncious monarch.

"Dump her in the bay," Damian sneers while leading the group away from the water's edge. Olivia needs to be taken home first before they deal with the invader.

"I second that," Victor says while tightening his hold on Olivia.

"Third," Jason chimes in.

"No." Bruce flatly states. "She'll be taken to The Watchtower and held until we're ready to question her or the rest of the colony arrives. We'll take care of her escort as well." The earth fae looked to the strange family but mainly towards Olivia. "Will you be compliant?"

"If the monarch wishes me to do so," he says, not once looking away from Olivia.

"You have a choice in this," Olivia says. This situation made her uncomfortable. It felt strange giving commands to any fae but this one expected it. "I'm sure they can find someone else to keep an eye on her."

"The station we pass on entry is this watchtower?" the earth fae asks. Bruce nods. "Then I will go. There is a fae I know there I would like to see if permitted."

Olivia looked at Bruce. It was the assassin sent to retrieve her. Knowing how the colony operates, or how her grandmother handled things, they were no different from a gun. "We can talk about that after everything has been dealt with," she explained. The fae bowed his head.

"Talk about what?" Jonathan asked as he returned, gently descending from the sky. Autonomous motorcycles soon arrived to collect their riders.

Olivia cleared her throat and wiggled in Victor's arms. "Jon, could you carry me home? It won't be very safe or warm riding on a motorcycle like this." A deflection to the young man's question. He accepts he needs to be kept in the dark and approached to have her passed into his arms. "Arthur?"

"I don't feel comfortable flying," he expressed while holding up his hands defensively. "I'd like to keep my feet on the ground." Jonathan shrugged.

"Don't drop her or I'll break your knees," Victor joked. Olivia rolled her eyes but beamed as Victor kissed her. "See you when we get back, Sunshine."

The smile she wore was radiant and her hair gently crackled with electricity. Nothing has changed about her. "Okay." She points to the last fae. "Behave yourself and do as Batman tells you, please." He looked confused because this didn't feel like a command so he simply bowed his head low. Jonathan smiles then takes off with Olivia back to the manor.

Victor watched the pair fly away then looked back at Bruce. "So all that talk about turning her in was for show right? Because the boyscout is gone and this bitch deserves to die," he says while pointing at the woman. He can still hear how Olivia screamed as her body was tearing itself open. Just for pushing Olivia that far was cause enough for him.

"We'll be handling this with a lot more care than a back alley execution," Bruce says in a firm voice. Arthur shrank back behind Victor. There was a night and day difference between Bruce and Batman and it was scary!

"Yeah but why?" Jason asked with a hand thrown up. "She's involved in the murder of two people with the influence to do real damage. Inter-galactic bullshit aside, she's facilitated the death of one human."

Bruce winced as he shifted his weight. "This is not for discussion. We're turning her in and we'll deal with her once everything is settled and her colony comes to collect her." The more hostile of the group looked displeased but will have to defer to Bruce on this. They are dealing with an alien species now with a functioning community. Things could get messy. "We have evidence that they may pose a risk if left unchecked while in our system. If it comes to another fight we won't need to keep this within the family." Victor arched a brow. Was he part of that family now? Was Arthur?

Tim eyed Bruce then came to his side. "I'll go with you to the tower," he announced. "The rest of you should head back and check on Olivia. We may not be out of the woods for whatever transformation she's had." A blue portal opened up and Tim would turn to the earth fae. "Would you please come with us?" He nodded and fell in line behind the two men with the contained monarch as they stepped through.

"Arthur, long shot that you've ridden before?" Victor asked while handing him Tim's motorcycle helmet.

"Very long," he sighs.

"Hop on, hold on and don't freak out," Victor said. Arthur climbed onto the bike behind Victor as Tim's bike sped off on its own without a rider. Victor gave no warning before taking off and laughed as the boy clung to him. He'll be fine.

At the manor Olivia stands in her bathroom looking over herself in the mirror. It feels like something has changed, but what? Her eyes were more radiant, hair obviously longer but nothing else was different that she could see. She still looked very much like herself. Her clothes still fit for the most part. Maybe Victor can point it out for her like he did before. With a sigh she rubs her face then examines her hair. There was so much of it. She looked like the recordings of when her mother was pregnant and ready to pop. A few pictures were taken with her phone for posterity but mainly for Melissa to see. Her phone made it home before she did. It was placed in the mobile armory that was the car they arrived at the benefit dinner in. Alfred was kind enough to place it in her room before preparing to assist with the madness that was her grandmother's arrival.

The poor man hugged her so tight she thought she'd crack. Thankfully her molt healed her broken ribs. He had to witness the fight from everyone's angle except her own. No doubt heard those blood curdling screams she let out as her body rejected her skin. Her whole family had to have been rattled by that. Olivia knows she was! Thinking about the pain made her sick. Did her mother have to go through the same? According to the old woman it was something expected.

As she stepped out of her room in her pajamas, which now included Victor's borrowed shirt, with her phone still in hand her free one reached to the back of her neck. The memory isn't very clear but she heard Victor telling her she was going to be fine and felt a sharp pain on her neck that turned into relief. Did he cut her open? That had to have been hard for him to do in the moment. She imagines any of her family would have hesitated.

Her aimless path led her back to the cave where Jonathan was assisting Alfred in managing the damaged suit. The jet that delivered it to the beach was still dripping wet from the snow. The intention was to fit it with a cable rig to collect the suit when everything was over. Jonathan showing up eliminated so much extra work. Vivid blue eyes looked up as Olivia stepped into the cave. "Your family should be home soon. I can hear them coming through the tunnels," he said while looking through the cave as headlights approached at an alarming speed. It was just Red Robin's motorcycle. On its own it didn't need to stick to human safe speeds. "Oh well...I assume the rest of them aren't far behind," he chuckles.

Alfred wiped his hands clean as he stepped away from the broken down suit. Far easier to manage in pieces. There were perfectly circular rocks scattered around or still embedded in the armor plating. "Master Bruce and Master Tim are taking care of our prisoner at the Watchtower and will return after things have been settled there," he explained then stepped up to his mistress. "Is there anything you will be needing from me, Mistress?"

"I'm fine Alfred," she said with a weak smile then turned to pull her hair away and show off her neck and upper back. "See, all healed." The old gentleman looked relieved, gave a nod, then returned to his work on the suit. Olivia took to sitting at the super computer and watched as the tracker continued to count down. She really left without the rest of the colony but why? To get here faster or was this supposed to be a secret mission. If that was the case why bother when she's in charge? She sighed. It was such a relief to not feel that gnawing itch at the back of her mind. Hopefully soon she'll have more answers on what being a monarch is supposed to be about and if that was one side effect.

The worst of it was over. She's going to sleep like the dead tonight. At least, she hopes she will. "Have we ordered food yet for the boys?" Olivia asked while scrolling through her phone. It was quite late so their options were limited.

"I am afraid I have been rather occupied since the suit's arrival," Alfred called out to her. "And getting anything delivered this late will be most inconvenient for any establishment given the weather."

Olivia looked to Jonathan. "Jon could pick up something for us very easily, right?" Jonathan gaped at Olivia confused. "Obviously we would foot the bill," she said while stepping up to the much taller young man with her eyes flashing for just a moment. His cheeks and ears turned red while he leans back stammering. "You did want to help out and this would certainly be helping."

"It is tradition that the least injured is sent out for food," Alfred falsely points out. It will help him not have to cook for a small army so late and they do need the pick up of a warm meal.

"You could consider this a favor and I will personally pay you back." Olivia unknowingly was turning up the charm and making the young Kent conflicted on if he'll let himself be manipulated or not.

"I...I think I hear my mother calling me," he said after swallowing hard. "I should...probably go make sure the glass coral didn't fall over!" Olivia would tilt her head and give a pout. She has to know she's doing this right?

Olivia could hear his mind going into overdrive and she stepped back. It was clear she made him uncomfortable. "Sorry, I didn't mean to put you on the spot. It's just really convenient having a flier around. I should probably get a box so I can do little food runs now that I'm one too!" She giggles and his heart melts a bit. The sounds of roaring bikes rumble from the depths of the cave as the quartet return. "How tacky would it be to get someone to fly us a decent pizza?" she asked herself while tapping at her lips. "Do I even want pizza? Oooo! Tteokbokki!" she mused.

"It sounds to me that you simply want carbohydrates. When did you last eat, Mistress?" Alfred asked with a mild bit of concern. Her appetite has always been far from normal but an active night seems to have accelerated it.

Olivia pauses as she thinks. "I...had nothing! I had a glass of champagne but other than that I couldn't eat all day I was so nervous." Drinking on an empty stomach was possibly the worst idea to have tonight.

The trio of motorcycles arrived and once they made it to their platform Arthur hopped off shaking. He wrenched off his helmet and was wide-eyed and grinning wildly. "You okay, Art?" Victor asked with a snicker.

"I think I want a bike now!" he laughed while trembling. "It shouldn't be legal to go that fast on anything with just two wheels!"

"Oh it's not!"

Damian shook his head as he removed his helmet then took up a heavy steel box from the rear seat of his bike. Jason had a similarly sized box and a milkshake in his hand already. "We brought food!" he called out, belched, then went back to drinking.

Olivia stuck her tongue out but hurried over to bounce excitedly until Victor's mask was off. "I'm hurrying as fast as I Mm!" She was on his lips in seconds and he could not resist pressing her into his body.

Before they could divvy out food Alfred called over all the young heads, "No eating in the cave! Upstairs if you would please and preferably at a table of some kind!" There were apologies offered as they filed up the stairs with Damian stopping to grab Jonathan as well.

Instead of making Arthur wear something over his eyes Olivia walked with her hands over them, giggling when he remarked on how many stairs there were! How far underground was this cave he barely got a chance to look over?

Anticipating Tim and Bruce's arrival at some point the group went to the dinning room to lay out everything they ordered from the go to late night burger spot in the Bowery. Burgers, fries, chili dogs, chili fries, a chicken sandwich just for Tim which is quickly stashed in the fridge along with a milkshake for him in the freezer. Hopefully he returns home before that freezes completely. A carton of french fries were set beneath a small heat lamp to stay warm along with a small bowl of chili. The Waynes would not elaborate on whom that was for. Victor assumes Alfred.

The sheer number of drinks was concerning and then Olivia inspected the boxes holding all the food. "Did...did you buy their delivery cases?!" she asked and looked right at Damian who then pointed to Victor who was in the middle of licking ketchup off his thumb.

"What?" he laughed. "I mean it was that or no milkshakes so." He shrugged. The youngest Waynes got virtually the same sugary concoction of a shake and were all too eager to dig in. The dessert drinks were confiscated and savory food pushed their way. The look they gave was almost identical. Dumbfounded that someone would put their hand that close to their mouths. Arthur happily nibbled away with no mask in sight for him.

"Arthur, where's your mask?" Olivia asked and wondered if he charmed everyone here and just forgot.

The young man's face lit up and he chewed faster to clear his mouth. "I don't need it!" he cheered. "I don't know what it was but after tonight I can just turn it off!" Olivia gasped. She made him stronger?! "This is going to make photography so much easier!"

"He mentioned monarchs can make the faes in their orbit stronger so I have to assume that's what happened when you," Damian said then paused as he remembered the gruesome scene. "Shed? Let's call it that."

Olivia gave a weak laugh. "Yeah that was...insane! But I do feel a lot better. My back is all healed. I just don't know if anything else has changed besides all this hair. Which I need to cut!"

"Aw, but I think it suits you, Miss Olivia!" Arthur said with a pout.

"You look like a topiary come to life," Jason snickered and received narrowed eyes and puffed up cheeks from Olivia.

"I think it looks great but do what you will, babe," Victor adds. "Though my shower drain will thank you if you decide to lose like...a foot of hair."

Another huff from Olivia before she pulled her hair together and made a crude braid to manage it as much as possible. "It's so heavy! How was that old woman carrying around twice as much?" she muttered.

"Any word from Drake or father?" Damian asked. Olivia shook her head then giggled as Jonathan swiped a fry through Damian's shake without him able to stop him.

Victor idly ran his hand up Olivia's back while he ate with the other. Her body seemed adjusted to her abilities now. Unless she expended energy while they were on their way, she felt a normal temperature again. Without thinking he dragged his nails up her back. A surge of light rushed up her spine and electricity frizzled through her hair. "Can you stop groping her for five minutes! I'm trying to eat!" Jason yelled.

Olivia's face was dark and she would love to hide in her hair right now. Victor chuckled and shook his head. "Yeah, my bad." Well they now know she hasn't lost feeling along her spine.

"Is anyone seriously injured and not telling me?" Olivia asked. There were shakes of heads and no active brain activity to put to any lies. It was honestly not the right question to ask this table. What was serious to her they no doubt considered a scratch. Bruce would need to have his ribs and arm checked on. He spent the most time squaring off against that woman.

"Can I point out how insane of an entrance Bruce made dropping out of the sky like that," Victor laughed. Arthur's eyes lit up. So he was there to see that too?

"He's always been one for theatrics," Jason points out. "You can't argue with the results. She looked spooked when he landed."

"I remember him crashing a few mafia parties like that. Man leaves an impression!" Victor claimed then leaned back and crossed his eyes. Olivia held a fry out to him and he quickly accepted being fed. He'll keep himself distracted for as long as possible. He has to ignore how amazing she smells, the general warmth of her glow, the tiny bit of milkshake on her bottom lip.

Olivia snapped her fingers and Victor blinked. "Where did you go just then?" she giggled. She caught him looking down at her lips again and smiled. "I see."

Jason loudly clapped his hands. "Not at the table! Go to a room!" Olivia puffed up her cheeks and sparked. "And before that, everyone send me your video feed of tonight. Including the shit with Mario. Something tells me Bruce and Tim are going to be out late with paperwork." He was on his way out the door then leaned back in to point at Olivia. "You did great as a honeypot for that mission too. We're not making a habit of this!" he said and pointed at Damian and Victor.

Jonathan looked alarmed. "Honeypot?" he asked his best friend.

Damian shrugged. "She helped us keep a mafia head occupied at a party," he explained.

"And that was tonight?!"

"It's not like we knew the old lady was going to land early. Would have called the whole thing off, or just sent one of us," Victor points out.

Damian slurped on the last dregs of his milkshake and sighed. How both he and Olivia ran on so much sugar without issues was baffling. Arthur covered his mouth and yawned. "Come on, we'll get you set up in a room, unless you're cool with Kent flying you home," Damian offered.

Arthur shook his head. "I think riding on a motorcycle was enough excitement for one night. And after all I just ate I might embarrass myself."

"You wouldn't be the first one to throw up on a first flight," Jonathan chuckled. Damian rose from the table to clear off his mess. Jonathan and Arthur would do the same and follow him out to set up a room.

Olivia and Victor were left in the dining room and he would lean over the table to spy if anyone was coming around the corner before bringing his nose to her shoulder then licking up her neck. Olivia squeaked and sparked. That static was no more dangerous than any other time. She was still very much her. "Victor!" she giggled. "Not at the table!"

He leaned back and looked her in the eye. "You're totally right. My room it is!" he announced and attempted to hoist her up over his shoulder. She slipped away and pointed to the mess they left behind. He lets out an exaggerated sigh and cleans up then chases Olivia out of the dining room. She's not making the best attempt at staying ahead of him so it was an easy task to sweep her up and carry her through the halls. "I have to let you know you smell amazing!" he muttered against her neck. "I need to get used to this or I'll be bugging you for days! Mm, maybe even weeks."

Olivia hugged around his neck and smiled as she was carried away. On occasion they would pass a window she could catch their reflection in. Her senses were heightened or simply raw from molting. His touch was warmer than she remembered. The scent of his skin calmed her mind and she could see that hint of red around his eyes that normally only showed when he was excited. It seemed she was a fully realized fae if she could spot demon blood. "Your eyes are so different to me now," Olivia mused aloud.

"Hm, is that a bad thing," he asked while traversing the halls with her.

"I already loved your eyes and now I can see this extra color in them. I really like that!" She sighs and nuzzles into his neck. "You smell like fire to me."

"That might be the few stray shocks I did get," he laughed.

"No, it's something else. It seems so inviting. I think I remember it when..." Her eyes closed. "When it felt like I was dying. How do I always find myself near you when I'm scared?"

"Because I look for you," he admits. "I don't want you to be alone in anything. If I can help it I'll be there." They arrived at Victor's guest room and he swiftly closed the door behind him with a light kick of his foot. "Probably me subconsciously following the smell of a panicked marshmallow," he teased. Olivia stuck her tongue out at him and was dropped onto the bed as expected.

Olivia watched him closely as he removed his plain suit. She'll make adjustments to the one she was designing for him again. The back of the light plating was taken up and she inspected the damage. When did he take all these hits? While he was carrying her to the pier? This will need to be replaced.

She's proud of herself, well happy with how tonight turned out. Minimal injuries. Her dad has been through worse. She would have preferred he wasn't hurt at all but they're alive. She's alive. The plating is hugged to her chest and she lets out a heavy sigh.

"You okay, Sunshine?" Victor asked while sitting to remove his boots. He should have done this outside. There was so much sand in them. Alfred was going to be finding sand tracked across much of the mansion.

"It feels like a weight's been lifted and I can finally relax." Her eyes closed and she rolled onto her side. "I think I might sleep for days."

"No more comas, please," he expresses with an uneasy laugh. "You also have to stop falling in the lake."

"She kicked me in midair!" she explains. "I never want to go through that ever again. Can't wait to go back to just making clothes," she sighs.

Victor smirks. "Really not going to dawn a super hero getup and fight crime with the rest of the family?"

Olivia scrunched up her nose. "I will go along doing things that don't require me using my powers. Preferably not another 'talking to men old enough to be my father' mission."

Victor looks her over then gently pulls Olivia closer. "So if I needed distracting arm candy, you'd be down to help with that?"

"If you can't trust anyone else to then yeah, I wouldn't be against it." Victor smiles and pulls her in for a soft kiss.

"I'm not going to take advantage of how cute you are and how wrapped up everyone seems to become even when you're just being polite," he points out. "But if I do ever need you, you'll be getting paid too." Olivia giggles. The thought of sometimes being a mercenary was wild to her. His eyes bounce over to the bathroom then back to Olivia's. "Join me for a shower?"

"It's going to be cold!"

He shrugged. "I can compromise." She's taken nothing but ice baths for almost a week, including that dip in the lake, she'll be fine! And he sticks to his word. The water they bathe beneath is far warmer than he would have liked but just cold enough that she stuck close to him until she adjusted. She had so much hair now and water weighed it down to truly show off its full length, or close to it.

Victor could not help fixating on her back. He ran a nail the length of her spine and along where his blade cut. "Do you remember what happened out there?" he said in a low voice. "Before you shed?"

Olivia furrowed her brow. The memory was a little cloudy so she shook her head. "I remember suffocating and my hearing was muffled. I don't even remember being able to see but I felt you and Damian and then...it felt like a burn or something along my neck and then I could finally breathe. And...and I remember screaming and tearing and so much relief."

"Damian suspected you were trying to grow out of your own skin but something was going wrong," he explains and traces his nail along that invisible cut. "Those scars didn't venture far enough up so I had to help." He doesn't see what he did as hurting her, far from it. Damian's quick thinking and Victor's willingness to act saved her life and possibly everyone's on that beach. Olivia is trying to comprehend that she needed to be opened up like a stuck zipper. Her kind were so strange! "I didn't want your brother to be the one to do it in case he was wrong."

Olivia looked up into Victor's eyes, the red in them was softer and his smile sweet. "Why?"

"I knew if it failed and he made that cut he'd never forgive himself," he said with a nonchalant shrug.

"But you would?"

"Phft! I'm cold but I'm not that cold. As obsessed as I am with you, they'd have to put me down with the havoc I'd wreak trying to forget what I'd done." He pulled her in for a tight hug and sighed. "Not the healthiest response I know but grief isn't something I'm used to dealing with."

"I..." She swallowed and tightened her hold on him. "I'm glad you could go through with it. I wouldn't want anyone dying because I turned into a bomb...except maybe that old woman."

Victor perked up and looked down at her. "I thought you'd be on that high horse with your dad over her," he laughs.

"I am but if I had to go, I think I owe it to my parents to bring them some kind of justice while I'm at it." Her eyes fell shut and she sighed. "I really do hate that woman and seeing how excited she was when I came out the other side stronger made me hate her even more. She wants to take the credit for making me. Pathetic..."

Victor grinned and pressed his forehead to hers. "There's those horns finally showing themselves. Hot!" Olivia snorts then laughs. "Let me be the monster for you, if the time ever comes." That time may never come. If she can't bring herself to pull that proverbial trigger she's not going to send out Victor. He has to know that. She hopes he does. She loves him too much to ever let him be a tool for revenge on her behalf.