The Bounty Hunter
Written by Arcadia
Chapter 17
AN: December is a crazy month to write with so much going on. I do promise the next chapter will be posted much sooner. Thanks to Hellacre and Unoaranya for the help. Thanks for the reviews.
*****"At ten, we have a meeting with Miss Bossman. She's the CEO of Women's Health Magazine." Julia looked over at Diana who sat at her desk with her chair turned towards the window. The Princess of Themyscira appeared more interested in the view of New York instead of listening to her schedule for the day.
Julia continued, despite suspecting Diana wasn't listening. "They want to do a feature on you and your fitness regime. They hope to create some exercises the average woman can do to keep in shape and administer healthy eating tips." Diana nodded. Julia checked off the future appointment knowing Diana wasn't paying attention. "At three, I want you to be maid of honor at my wedding to Batman."
When Diana nodded again, Julia placed her iPad on Diana's desk and turned Diana's chair around so the Ambassador was facing her. "Diana, what's going on?"
Julia had to stand in front of Diana to get her attention. "Hmm." She looked up meeting the stern eyes of her trusted advisor. "What is it, Julia?"
"You haven't been paying attention to me."
"I'm sorry," she apologized. "I've been distracted."
"It can't be due to Miss Lane's story over Superman." That morning Lois Lane printed an exclusive interview with Superman, shedding a different light on the alien and even changing her opinion on him. "From the interview he gave her, it will surely lessen the fear the public has on him. In fact, the bad boy image Lois Lane played up will give Superman an edge. Some women certainly like that."
"That's true," Diana agreed. "Women do find Kal irresistible."
"Don't worry about that," Julia told Diana. "Superman is a very handsome man. He's going to draw women like any hot celebrity. But men are drawn to you, Diana, and you won't stray. Kal won't either."
Diana didn't doubt Kal's loyalty to her but there was a problem. She didn't have a hold on him. She let Kal go and she had to accept her decision and the consequences.
"What was Kal's reaction when you gave him his ship?" Julia eagerly asked. She was certain it had to be a coup for Diana to do that and it only drew Diana and Kal closer together.
Diana smiled fondly at the memory. "He loved it. He was very appreciative for it."
And yet Diana didn't sound enthusiastic. Julia wondered why. "You don't sound too happy. Did the Kents interrupt you two?"
"No."
"That's good," Julia remained upbeat despite Diana's pessimistic tone. "You got some alone time with him."
"We did."
There was that defeatist tone again.
"Diana, I may be out of the dating world, but when you are alone with someone you care for, you can do things. You can talk, cuddle, kiss. I'm not getting the feeling this is what happened with you two."
"No, it didn't."
"Why?"
Diana was hesitant to say but decided if anyone could understand her, it would be Julia. "I told Kal to forget about me, and he did," Diana sighed, "very fast. He is moving on with Zatanna. Not that I have a problem with that," Diana hoped to sound convincing to Julia because she wasn't sure. "I told him to pursue other women. I never thought he would move on so fast."
Julia stared at Diana completely confused. "Diana, you lost me at 'I told Kal to forget about me.' Why did you do that? I thought you had feelings for him."
"I do but it doesn't mean I have to act on my feelings. One can't always do what they feel. There are consequences. People can get hurt."
Julia rolled her eyes, "Diana, please, you are not going after a married man. Kal is single. Why did you let him go only to have Zatanna scoop him up?"
"I had no choice."
"What do you mean you didn't have a choice? You're an adult, not a child. You….oh dear…" Only years as an experienced woman and mother told Julia the answer. "Your mother said something, didn't she?"
Diana always thought Julia to be a sharp and perceptive woman and yet she was still amazed she figured it out. "How did you know?"
"I'm a mother, too, Diana. I've been through it and I've done it." Julia sat on the edge of Diana's desk as she prepared herself for the story she will tell. "If you knew how many times I had to deal with Nessie and her string of bad boyfriends. I had a few myself when I was younger, giving my mother grey hairs. In my and Nessie's cases, the men we dated were bad. Your guy just has a bad reputation."
"Nessie had bad boyfriends?" Nessie was a sweet, established career woman married to a successful and kind man. "She seemed like such a smart girl."
"Being smart doesn't mean you can't fall under the charm of a bad boy. Nessie was always a bright girl but a late bloomer and a bit self-conscious, especially in high school. Nessie saw college as a way to forget her awkward stage in high school. Her freshman year in college, Nessie fell hard for a junior. I will never forget his name. Matthew Shultz. Looked like a young Brad Pitt. He had a motorcycle, too, and played up the bad boy image to the letter. I didn't like him and the more I didn't like him, the more Nessie and I argued over him and the further I pushed Nessie into his arms. He was Nessie's first serious boyfriend and Nessie thought she was in love. I warned Nessie what he was after and once he got it, he would drop her."
Julia sighed, recalling that fateful argument. It was one of Julia's biggest regrets. "Naturally, Nessie didn't listen and what I said would happen did. Nessie was so embarrassed and ashamed she told me she dumped him after catching him cheating on her. That wasn't the case. Nessie never saw him again after that night."
"He raped her?" Diana guessed.
"No," Julia shook her head. "It was consensual. Ten weeks later, I received a call from a friend of Nessie's. She told me the truth between Nessie and Matthew and that they were at the doctor and I should get down there. So many scenarios raced through my mind. I thought Nessie was pregnant. I thought she contracted something from Matthew." Julia sighed. "I think I aged ten years that day."
"What happened?"
"Nessie wasn't pregnant. She was late due to stress over her and Matthew. She did get a minor but treatable infection from Matthew. I felt so terrible because Nessie was so scared to come to me. I was wrong in how I dealt with Nessie over Matthew. Maybe if I hadn't reacted the way I did, I wouldn't have pushed her towards him. Thankfully everything worked out."
"You did the right thing in warning Nessie," Diana assured Julia. "Children do not always listen to their parent's advice."
"Sometimes parents do not give the correct advice," Julia wisely countered. "When our children leave the nest, as parents it's hard for us to let go. Sometimes we hold on too tight and it could harm our child instead of help them. The last thing any responsible parent want is a forty year old child still living with them. The control can lead to a blow up where you become estrange from your child. Right now, I'm sure you're not speaking to your mother. Nessie felt the same way towards me. Parents have to let go. We have to let our children make mistakes and pick themselves up alone. Our adult children can prove how much they don't need us anymore. Your mother isn't willing to let go to let you do that."
"What should I do?"
"Live your life how you want. Prove to your mother you are making the right decision with Kal. Once she sees how stable you and Kal are, Queen Hippolyta will have to give her consent."
"It's not that easy, Julia." Diana wished it was so. "If I date Kal, my mother will take away my title as Wonder Woman, my status as Ambassador, strip me of my title as heir and give it all to Donna."
Julia put a hand to her chest shocked. "You're kidding me."
"No. All my hard work with the Embassy and the Justice League will be nothing but a memory."
"What did Donna say about it?"
"I didn't tell her and I have no plans to do so."
"Diana, your sister has a right to know. If you team up and stand up to your mother together…."
"No, Julia." Diana put her hand up, stopping the older woman from saying anymore. "I don't want Donna to know what our mother is doing."
"Diana, protecting your sister is a very noble thing but not at the point of sacrificing what you want because of your controlling mother!"
"I can handle it."
Julia removed her glasses and squeezed the bridge of her nose. Why did Diana have to be so noble? More correctly, how could she be so foolish? "How much are you willing to take on before you snap, Diana? How much control will you let your mother have over you? You're losing Kal to another woman because of your mother. What's next? She's picking your dates? Oh, wait she does that. Remember Keith? Maybe the next one won't die in a robbery."
Julia was understandably angry but Diana wished she wasn't. "Julia, please. I know it's not right but I can't say no."
"Well, that is a shame." Diana never once disappointed Julia but the tone in her voice now told her she did. Julia touched Diana's chin and tilt Diana's face upward. "A beautiful, intelligent woman like you letting her mother control your life, making you afraid to stand up to her. Not exactly a thing Wonder Woman would do. I won't tell you want to do, Diana. Your mother has done enough of ordering you around. I hope you will stand up to her and take charge of your life and I hope you do it soon. It will be such a shame for you to look back on your life years from now regretting on what you missed."
"Superman was here?"
Wally expected Bruce to be angry and knew Bruce would find out sooner or later. He wished he wasn't the one who had to tell him. He wished he wasn't the first person Bruce saw today who knew what happened last night.
"Yeah, but it was okay," Wally was upbeat and hoped his enthusiastic attitude would fall on Bruce. "He was pretty cool. He and his dog."
"His dog was here, too?"
The higher Bruce's voice went, the angrier he sounded. Wally's heartbeat spiked. "Yeah, but it wasn't too bad. Kal and Krypto had dinner with Zatanna and Dinah."
"Zatanna was here with him?" Oh, Bruce didn't like that. "They had dinner together?"
Wally rolled his eyes, "You know, Bruce, you really need to stop responding in the form of a question but to answer your question, Zatanna invited him."
Bruce gripped his fists tightly. Rage burned through him. "I can't be surprised Zatanna would pull a stunt like that."
"I thought Diana invited Kal since she's closer to him than the rest of us but last night was all Zatanna's doing. I think she likes Kal and I don't think Diana knows that."
At that moment, Zatanna entered the room. She smiled brightly at the two men but that smile faded when Bruce got in her face. "Just what kind of game are you playing, Zatanna?"
"And a hello to you, Bruce." Zatanna put a hand on Bruce's chest, pushing him away from her. "What's stuck up your butt besides the proverbial bat pole?" She laughed at her joke but Wally's odd silence sobered her up. "What?"
Bruce struggled to keep his anger in check. "You invited Superman and his dog to the Watchtower last night!"
"So?" Zatanna didn't see a problem to it. "We're allowed to invite potential members of the Justice League to the Watchtower."
"Potential members?" Bruce roared. He couldn't believe Zatanna was even thinking of inviting Superman and his dog to be members of the Justice League.
"Oh, calm down, Bruce." While Wally was unnerved with Bruce's anger, Zatanna wasn't. "I swear you are gonna give yourself an aneurysm."
"It didn't look like Superman was here on an invite to be a potential member," Wally said casually. "I thought it was something more."
"Is it?" Bruce asked the magician. "Are you trying to get in bed with Superman?"
"It doesn't have to be the bed," Zatanna's smile was mischievous. "Any place would do." Wally cleared his throat and shook his head at Zatanna, indicating now wasn't the time for jokes with Bruce ready to blow his top. "And what if I want to bed Kal, Bruce?" Zatanna challenged him. "You have a problem with that?"
"Yes."
Zatanna blinked surprised. She wasn't expecting Bruce to say that and she didn't care. "Sucks for you. Kal's hot, we're both consenting adults and you are not my father." She looked him over. "You're not my anything."
"Oooh," Wally winced. "That's gotta hurt."
"You are not to flirt with Superman," Bruce ordered. "It's bad enough Diana can't think straight. I won't have the same to happen to you."
Wally stepped back. "Uh-oh."
Zatanna exhaled indignant at Bruce. The nerve of him! It would be so tempting to use her magic on him. Perhaps freeze his hot head! "As Kal would say, 'Fruck off!' You can't tell me what to do! Go chase that cat on a hot tin roof and stay out of my love life!"
"Sex life," Bruce corrected Zatanna.
"What?" Zatanna snapped.
"You're not in love with Superman. You're lusting after him. If you won't be honest with me, be honest with yourself and what you really feel for Superman."
Whack!
Not even Wally saw the slap coming. The sound of Zatanna's hand against Bruce's face was thunderous. Wally stared slack jawed while Bruce touched his sore face in silence. Both men watched Zatanna turn on her heels and storm out.
"Oooooo," Wally shuddered. He rubbed the back of his head nervously. "Geez, Bruce. First, you crawl up Diana's butt for being friends with Kal and now you go after Zatanna. What's with you?"
Bruce dropped his hand from his face even though it was stinging. "I could say the same about you. You've had a change of heart about Superman."
"I have," Wally admitted. "He and I talked. He apologized for Krypto almost damaging my favorite body part. He even promised to take me to a nymph world. Picture it," Wally said excited. "A world of beautiful, willing woman. Hal was there for a week when we thought he was doing business for Oa. I told Hal all about it this morning. He tried to deny it but couldn't. Hypocrite yelled at me for sleeping with Lois when he was on a nymph world getting information pumped out of him by a nymph through sex."
"Is Hal here?" Bruce asked.
"Yeah. He's in the training room with…" Bruce cursed and stormed out of the room. Wally looked on clueless. "Was it something I said?"
Diana touched down in front of the Kent barn one evening as quiet as a mouse. The lights were on in the Kent house but she was certain the Kents hadn't heard her and that's how she wanted it. She wanted to speak with Kal alone. Knowing Kal's sharp ears, he heard her when she landed but chose to wait for her to come inside. She was slightly nervous seeing him but still excited and she had Dick to thank for this trip. If not for him, she didn't know how long it would've been before they crossed paths again. It has been two weeks since she last saw Kal. He was in the Watchtower laughing and talking with Zatanna. Diana wondered how much contact the two had in the past two weeks. Not that it was her business but she couldn't help wondering.
Diana peeked inside the slit of the barn doors. Kal was feeding the horses in their stall. He easily talked to them particularly the black horse named Thunder. He looked so good in his jeans and tight green plaid shirt. Two weeks away from him, Diana kept in contact with Kal through the television and Internet. He was everywhere. He was in China helping with the aftermath of a typhoon, India after a massive earthquake, stopped terrorists in London. He also stopped to take many pictures and sign autographs with fans. The ladies certainly loved him, and yet, watching Kal in the barn, he didn't appear as if the fame was getting to him. He looked so normal.
"Are you gonna stare at me all night or are you gonna come in here?" Kal teasing voice was heard loud and clear.
Diana shook her head amused. Kal. So blunt. Diana pushed the doors opened and stepped inside. "Hi."
Kal stepped out of the horses' stall. He smiled at her as he dust his dirty hands on his shirt. "Hi yourself, pretty lady. It's been a while. Excuse me." Kal disappeared into his room to clean his hands.
Diana could feel herself blushing at his compliment. Why did being around him make her feel nervous, excited? Why did it make her want to throw her arms around him and never let go? "It's only been two weeks."
"Two weeks away from seeing that beautiful face is torture on a man like me." Kal stepped out of his room, drying his hands on a towel. Diana walked to him and he met her halfway. When he reached her, Kal stared at her tenderly. "Don't stay away from me for so long." His hand stretched out to caress her face. "I can't be with you the way I want but I still want to see you. Friends can see each other right?"
The way his hand touched her face didn't feel friendly. His touch made her feel so warm; made her want to touch him, kiss him. "Friends," she shuddered as his thumb outlined her lips. "Is that the word to describe us?"
"We can have our own meaning of the word." Kal suggested. He took her hand and brought it to his lips. He would've kissed Diana's hand if she hadn't pulled it away.
"You know that can't happen."
Kal regrettably watched Diana walk away from him and knelt to say hello to Krypto who followed Kal out. "So, you've said." Kal didn't know Diana was at the Watchtower that evening with Zatanna but seeing her there and him with Zatanna, Kal thought Diana would reconsider her mother's blackmail. Guess he was wrong. "I'm done with my work for the Kents tonight. Krypto and I were going to my ship. Wanna come?"
Diana stood, leaving Krypto missing her touch. "Sure. Where is your ship?"
"In the Arctic. I've built a home around my ship. We can get to it here." Diana followed Kal inside his room. In her two visits, Diana never entered Kal's room. She was always in the loft or the barn. Stepping inside Kal's room, she noticed it looked no different than a studio apartment. Diana looked around, taking particular notice of the large bed.
Images of her and Kal on that bed filled her mind. Her fingers caressed the metal railing of the foot of the bed. "This is where you sleep."
Kal heard the breathy tone in Diana's voice. Just what was she thinking about? "Yes, it is." Kal came up behind her. His body was very close to hers but not touching. He placed his hand on Diana's. "Kind of lonely sleeping in this large bed by myself, naked. Would be nice to have company; company in the form of a tall brunette, who looks sexy in red even when she is kicking me in my balls."
Diana laughed loudly. She turned to smack his arm playfully. "You're horrible."
"If I'm horrible, why are you laughing?"
Diana chewed her lower lip, smiling coyly. "Because you make me laugh."
Kal stepped away from Diana to turn a bedpost at the head of his bed. The ceiling above the bed opened to reveal a portal to the Arctic.
"This isn't very safe, Kal. Anyone can innocently turn this bedpost and gain access to your ship."
"This post looks like the others but it's not. I built this one so it links with my DNA. Only I can activate the portal." He gestured Diana to fly in the portal first. "Go in."
Diana flew through the portal followed by Krypto and Kal. Diana found herself in a large room with ice walls and an ice ceiling. Kal's ship rest in the middle. "Where in the Arctic are we?"
"This is the docking area of my home." Kal noticed Diana touched her bare arms. "Are you cold?"
Diana shook her head, "I'm fine. It's not as cold as when we were on Teltic."
As crazy as being on that planet was, Kal wouldn't mind being there if only to spend time alone with Diana. "Krypto and I've been building a home here for months now. The exterior's done. Krypto and I are in the middle of furnishing the place and fixing up the rooms." Kal took Diana's hand and lead Diana her out of the docking area. As they walked down a long hall, he asked, "What made you stop by?"
"Why do you ask that?"
"I haven't seen you in two weeks, Diana. I know you are distancing yourself from me but something or someone forced you to see me."
Since he asked, "Nightwing wants to talk to you. He and Batman have been watching Joker and Batman feels Joker is up to something. Nightwing wants your help."
"I get the feeling Batman doesn't know about this."
"No, he doesn't but this could be a good way for you two to get on better footing."
"I won't be doing it for that, Diana." Kal could care less about forming a better relationship with Batman but if his help was needed… "Is there a place Nightwing wants to meet so he can tell me what Joker is up to?"
"Yes. Gotham Park tomorrow morning at nine."
Kal scoffed. "Kind of last minute."
"Which means whatever is going to happen will happen soon." A door opened for Kal, leading Diana to the first room on the tour.
It was Kal's laboratory. The large, spacious room was filled with scientific instruments and gadgets Kal transferred from his ship. Even his baby ship was in the room nestled on a table. If Diana knew Kal, he was studying that ship whenever he had the chance. She listened as Kal talked of experiments he was working on; some for his own interest and others that would benefit humans.
Impressed as she was with him, Diana had one question. "Am I your first guest?"
"Yeah. You think you are not?"
"I know I'm not the only person in your life anymore. I thought someone might've seen this place before me."
"The Kents?" Kal guessed.
"No. Zatanna." Kal gave her a questioningly look. "I wasn't aware you and Zatanna were seeing each other."
Kal shrugged. "It's something that just happened. She's the first person in the Justice League who wanted a clean slate and wanted to be friends with me. She's very nice. Very pretty."
"Yes. Zatanna is that. Have you seen each other much lately?"
"We meet for lunch and dinner sometimes. I see some of her shows."
"That's good. So, have you grown closer?"
With Diana fishing for answers, Kal decided to be direct with her. "Are you jealous of my relationship with Zatanna?"
Diana opened her mouth to say no but knew Kal would catch her in a lie. "Why would I be jealous?"
"No reason." Kal turned away smirking.
Diana slapped Kal's arm. "I saw that!"
Kal dropped the smile and turned back to Diana. "Saw what?"
"That smirk." If he thought it was funny to laugh at her, he had another thing coming. "Listen, if you want to date Zatanna, that's fine with me. I told you to date other people. I told you to forget about me and I mean that."
The smile in Kal's eyes died as quickly as the smile on his lips. Kal released Diana's hand and put some much needed distance from her. "So you've said."
Guilt stabbed Diana's heart. She wished she hadn't reacted that way. "Kal, I-"
"You've said enough, Diana." He knew it was foolish to get his hopes up. Why put himself through this when another beautiful woman wanted him? He shouldn't he decided. He won't anymore.
Dick took a break from his morning jog in Gotham Park at a water fountain. He poured water into his empty drinking bottle, casually glancing around for Kal. Dick wondered if Kal would show up. Diana promised to talk to him and if he was willing, meet him in the park. Dick capped the bottle once it was filled and resumed jogging.
Dick placed a foot on the bench and stretched his legs. It was a ruse to look casual as he watched the people, trying to discern if Kal will show up in a disguise. He had the most recognizable face in the world now through his heroics. Kal couldn't go anywhere without being spotted.
After stretching, Dick sat on the bench, took a drink from his bottle and studied the people in the area. Two women were pushing their children in strollers. A man was jogging around the lake. An elderly man walked his dog. Dick suspected that was Kal. Kal could be dressed as an old man and the dog was a white Labrador like Kal's dog. Dick sat up expecting the man to stop but he kept walking.
Dick checked his watch. Kal was late. He hoped Kal would show up. He wanted to see him before meeting Bruce tonight who had no idea what Dick was doing. Bruce already chewed out Hal for getting captured on the nymph world. Of course Dick was very envious of Hal. He wouldn't mind being captured on a planet like that.
"Does your boss know what you're doing?"
Dick turned around to see a tall, big man looking down on him. Dick didn't hear anyone behind him a minute ago. Who was this man and how did he sneak behind Dick so easily? He was dressed in a red, plaid shirt and dark, blue jeans. He wore glasses and a baseball cap, partially shielding his face. With him, was a white Labrador on a leash.
Dick stood coming a few inches shorter than the man. He whispered, "Kal?" He looked down at the dog. "Krypto?"
"That's us."
"I didn't hear you coming."
Kal grinned. "I was a space bounty hunter. You think I can't get behind you without you knowing?"
Should've seen that coming. "I wasn't sure you would come."
"It must be important if you're willing to go behind your boss' back. What's going on?"
Dick, Kal and Krypto resume walking down a trail. "It's the Joker. I think Batman and I will need your help." Dick pulled out his phone. He searched for a file in the photo gallery. "Joker has been quiet for a while so we knew he was up to something big. Joker is a big fan on striking on holidays. Today is Halloween."
"That's the one where people dress in costumes. Kids knock on doors asking for candy."
"Right." Dick opened the file and handed the phone to Kal. "There's a private airport just outside of Gotham." While Kal stared at the picture of a man picture dressed in a trench coat and fedora, Dick said, "That's Bane. He arrived in the city two nights ago from South America. A source saw two large suitcases of Bane's venom, which makes us think Bane will be in Gotham for a while or he's planning on sharing."
"With the Joker?"
"No. Joker wouldn't take it. He would use it on someone else. The fact Joker and Bane are partnering up is troubling, but that's not the only thing. Move to the next picture." Kal did so. The next photo was of a woman dressed in a doctor's coat. She was a pretty, petite woman in her thirties with auburn hair and bright green eyes. "A month ago, Dr. Kline, a scientist specializing in genetics was kidnapped. She left her office one evening but never made it home. Dr. Kline was on the verge of fixing deformities people have since birth or disease." Kal stared at a picture of a mutated dog. There was an abnormal growth on his swelled head. Picture after picture, there was an animal deformed somehow with an extra limb, head twice its size or a forehead caved in. "Was she experimenting on these animals?"
"No. Dr. Kline was an animal advocate but whoever kidnapped her probably forced her hand or did it themselves." Kal arrived at the last photo. It was Dr. Kline. She lied in garbage field. Her clothes were torn, her auburn hair hacked off. Her left arm was twice its size and covered in massive clumps of hair. Her pretty face was no longer pretty. Her nose was caved in, eyes enlarged as if threating to burst from its sockets. "Whoever captured her forced her to create a mutagen that caused deformities instead of curing them and used it on her."
And Kal guessed it was the Joker. "I've seen pictures of the Joker. He's deformed, too. I've read about him during my time studying this planet. If he kidnapped Dr. Kline, he could be planning on using that mutagen on others."
"Batman and I were thinking the same thing."
"Explain to me why he hasn't been dealt with." Kal handed the phone back to Dick. "I've read all the things he has done and the plans you and Batman foiled. He is one sick motherfrucker and when he is captured, he is sent to Arkham Asylum but he escapes and continues to cause harm. He is not going to change his ways. Why hasn't he been dealt with permanently?"
"If you mean kill, that's not our way."
"Look, I understand you taking the high road but sometimes a line has to be crossed. If I meet the Joker, I'm not promising to be light on the guy."
Oh, boy. This wasn't what Dick wanted to hear. "You're gonna kill him?"
"I won't promise not to kill him but if I confront him, he won't cause harm to anyone ever again. It's a fair warning to you now if you want my help."
Dick sighed. He went this far going behind Bruce's back. Why stop now? He hoped he or Bruce got to the Joker before Kal did. "Fine."
"Where do you think Joker will strike?"
"At the Governor's Mansion. It's an election year for Governor Pullick and he's turning the mansion into a haunted house for underprivileged kids and party for the adults as one more push before Election Day."
"Playing up to his good guy image?" Kal guessed.
"Yeah, especially for the kids. Lots of photo opportunities there. The adults attending have to pay a thousand dollars each unless they are the parent of the underprivileged kid. Gotham's Elite is expected to attend."
"So, I assume Bruce Wayne will be attending in person and not as Batman?" Kal predicted. "It will make it easy for him to move through the crowd, watching for any suspicious characters."
"Bruce Wayne is expected to attend. He's a rich businessman after all."
"Will he be in costume as Batman?" Kal asked grinning. "Will you be in costume?"
"Is that really important to know?" Dick asked irritably.
"Well yeah, Krypto and I won't be attending. We'll be watching from afar and it'll help to know what costumes you will be wearing among the guests."
Dick sighed. "I'm the Fonz."
That didn't help Kal. "Who?"
"I'll be wearing jeans, a white shirt and leather jacket."
Kal frowned. "You didn't put much thought into your costume, did you? What about Batman?"
"He'll be jet setting playboy."
"In other words he'll be himself or the persona he gives off to the people." Kal rolled his eyes. "I guess when playing a vain role you would go as yourself and it's a good way to throw off the people."
"Party starts at seven. Kids will be sent away at ten so we think the Joker will crash between before the kids leave. He won't spare them."
"Does the Governor know the Joker may crash this party?"
"Commissioner Gordon warned the mayor about the Joker but he's going ahead with the party."
"He's stupid to risk the safety of children for an election. He shouldn't get reelected on that alone."
Dick couldn't argue with that. He felt the same way. As Kal walked off, Dick wondered what Bruce will do to him. Chances are, he will find out about Dick seeking Kal's help and he won't be happy about that.
Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson handed off their invitations upon entering the Governor's mansion. The two immediately went in separate directions, working the crowd, looking for anyone suspicious. The invitation wasn't only to local celebrities and rich businessmen. Anyone willing to pay $1,000 was allowed to come and Joker and his goons could easily get that. It also didn't help everyone was in costume.
There were the usually costumes of vampires, animals and television and movie characters but there were others dressed as members of the Justice League. There were several men Bruce found had bodies too wide to fit his suit.
The ones not in costume beside himself was Commissioner Gordon and several officers keeping an eye out for the Joker. Like Gordon, Bruce disagreed with the Governor inviting children especially when there was a chance Joker would show up.
Dick kept an eye on the people; socializing with the men and women. No one stuck out as Joker's goon but Dick knew they were here. For the third time that evening, Dick ventured to the window, wondering where Kal was.
The Governor's mansion was on eighteen acres of land. The mansion had three levels and thirty rooms. The ballroom the adults were in held two hundred people. The Governor made his way around the room, chatting with his donors while his wife escorted the children on a haunted tour around the mansion. A sixty inch television was on the wall repeating the Governor's campaign messages and encouraging them to vote. Dick drowned his ears out to the drivel of the campaign and focused on Kal and Krypto. Since Krypto was coming, Kal couldn't be in the building. Dick could only guess Kal was watching from a distance on land or in the air.
"You won't see Joker coming because he is already here," Bruce warned as he joined Dick. "Stop looking out the window and focus on the people in this room."
"Joker's not in this room. I bet his shady cohorts are here, scoping the place in preparation for him. Joker could be a part of the kitchen, security or cleaning staff but I haven't checked those rooms yet."
Dick and Bruce turned to the new voice. It was a man dressed in a Batman costume. It wasn't the costume that shocked Dick and Bruce since there were several guests dressed as Batman. It was the voice. A voice known to the world as Superman.
"Oh, hell," Dick groaned.
Bruce went from shock to livid in seconds. Of all the people to arrive unexpected, Bruce never thought he would show up and in his suit to boot! It took all his energy to not scream, "You're here? You're dressed as me?"
Kal grinned. The anger on Bruce's face was entertaining. "Someone has to show you two how to dress in costume." He looked Bruce over. "So coming as a jet setting playboy means you only wear a tuxedo?"
"What are you doing here?" Bruce hissed.
"Dick invited me."
Dick slapped a hand across his forehead. "Oh, damn." Bruce was gonna kill him. "How did you get here?"
"I paid the $1,000."
"If you're here, where's Krypto?"
"Krypto is here, too?" First Hal and now Dick. Who else was meeting Kal behind his back? "What did you do?"
Kal answered for Dick. "He saw that you needed help and asked me to help out and I am."
Bruce snarled, losing his cool. "We don't need you!"
Just for fun, Kal scanned Bruce. His heart was pounding, his blood was pumping fast through his body but he wasn't near the point of having an aneurysm. "Unless you can physically throw me out, I'm staying."
Bruce wished his could. If only to get that smug look off Kal's face. "What did Dick tell you?"
"Everything. I don't know who Joker's goons look like but if they are here, they aren't carrying weapons. I've only been here five minute and just checked this room so far. Everyone is clean."
"See what great help he is?" Dick got enthusiastic and hoped Bruce would get on board. "We wouldn't have known that without him."
Bruce scowled at Dick. Perhaps, but Bruce wasn't going to admit that. "You can stay but you can't interfere. Despite what Dick says, we can handle Joker fine without your help."
"Come on, Bruce. Don't be this way."
But Bruce didn't listen. First Diana and now Zatanna. Bruce wasn't going to allow Kal to take his enemies from him, too.
"No," Kal rejected Bruce. "I'm not gonna stay here and do nothing when there's a chance others can be hurt because of your stupid pride."
Kal suddenly stilled as his ears picked up rapid ticking coming from outside. Something was triggered because he hadn't heard anything a moment ago. He turned and before he could speak, bombs exploded from the front lawn. One after one, bombs blew up from different patches across the lawn. Large craters were created and trees toppled over. Kal quickly counted twenty bombs in a succession of forty seconds.
Commissioner Gordon and several officers ran out the room to investigate the explosions and make calls to the fire department. Though no bombs went off in the room, the sounds outside were enough to cause pandemonium sending people screaming and running around in fear. The few officers that stayed back sealed the room off forcing people to stay inside for their own safety. There were many guests who refused to listen and started fighting the police to get out.
"Those bombs outside were a diversion and used to get the police out." Kal looked through the doors. "I think we're looking at a hostage situation in five, four, three, two…."
The police blocking the exit were suddenly knocked on their faces by the arrival of Bane pushing down the doors. Following after Bane were Joker's goons firing off guns to the ceiling to incite fear in the guests. One goon shot down a chandelier. As it fell to the floor, Kal noticed it was going to fall on guests too slow to move and too distracted by the gunfire around them. He blew a deep breath on the chandelier sending it crashing against a wall. While Kal was distracted, Bane grabbed the Governor, locking the politician's arms behind his back.
Holding the Governor captive, Bane signaled the goons to lower their guns but that didn't silence the screams. Bane grabbed the Governor's left arm and broke it, inciting frightened cries. "If you don't quiet down, I will break his other arm."
As Bane expected the people settled down. Bane released the Governor, letting him writhe on the floor in pain. "A Happy Halloween to all. May I draw your attention to the television?"
All eyes turned to the wide screen television. The Governor's campaign message was disrupted in the middle by the insane smile of the Joker. His ghoulish laugh was heard across the room inciting fear in the guests and what twisted Joker plot they were tangled in.
"Happy Halloween to Gotham's Elite!" Joker laughed madly. "Aw, look at all the people: the rich, the stuffy and the privilege." Joker pouted. "I'm insulted you didn't invite me as an honored guest. That's okay. I'm having fun with people who accept me." Joker pulled back from the camera to reveal the children that were invited to the mansion. The children were scared and huddled together with the Governor's wife.
"Halloween is all about trick or treating; kids going from house to house hitting up people for candy, throwing eggs if they don't get candy. Unfortunately, treats don't interest me on Halloween but tricks do!" Joker doubled over in laughter. "And boy do I have a trick for you!"
The camera panned around to reveal gas bombs attached to all corners of the room. "Dr. Kline, bless her mutated soul helped me with this." A picture of the deceased mutated, Dr. Kline in the garbage field lined the screen. "While it worked so well on Dr. Kline, I'm not sure if it will work on the adults yet. I need one more test to be sure" The screen returned to Joker's sadistic face again. "That's why these wonderful children will be my blessed guinea pigs!"
Joker pouted on the television again. "Of course, if you think I shouldn't test my mutated gas on these sweet babes you have two hours to deliver one hundred million dollars here in cash. Otherwise, these kids will really look like the Wolf man, mummies, zombies and the bride of Frankenstein. Some may die but since the world is overpopulated and these kids come from underprivileged homes, it's one less mouth to feed for the parents. It's a win for all!" Joker laughed at his sick joke for a minute before becoming deadly serious. "Do try to stop, Bane, you rich, pampered fools. He loves breaking backs. I know the real Batman is somewhere in the crowd. If you dare call your Justice League friends or if I see a sliver of a red cape, I will immediately release the gas." Joker's face was replaced with a clock counting down. "Get on your phones and make me rich!"
Bruce grimaced, "Even if he gets the money, he's not letting the children go."
"Or us either," Dick said. "I bet Joker got some of those gas bombs hidden in this room."
Kal searched for the bombs. He spotted two behind the streamer decorations in two corners of the room. The bombs were twice as big as the bombs in the rooms with the kids. Joker planned this very well. Kal could only assume Joker had men working in the mansion for months and no one detected. "I see them and I can get to them."
Dick looked around, watching people on their cell phones, calling their accountants, their banks trying to get money transferred to cash and delivered to the mansion as soon as possible. Outside, Commissioner Gordon and several officers were blocked from entering as Joker's assailants held them hostage by their guns. No one could get inside or out.
Dick checked his watch. "If we're gonna move, we have to move fast. Time is running out."
Kal looked up at the lights. "I'll knock the power out before I slip out. It'll be dark for a moment before the backup generators come on."
That was good enough for Bruce. "A moment is all we need."
"I'll alert the steroid freak attention and create a diversion."
Bane walked through the crowd, watching the pathetic rich put calls to their handlers, complying with Joker's demand. This was too easy for Bane. He was hoping for a challenge. He was hoping Batman would emerge and challenge him to a fight. He knew Batman was Bruce Wayne and should be among the elite here. It was a coup to know this information and it was a bigger coup to keep it a secret. He knew villains the likes of the Joker would kill for information like this but Bane considered Joker and every villain beneath and should not be privy of such knowledge. If they wanted to know Batman's identity so badly, let them find out on their own.
As he sifted through the crowd, he noticed everyone on phones except one individual. A man dressed as Batman. Except for being a couple inches taller than Bruce Wayne, his build was close to the playboy and he was better fit than the other Batman imposters in the room. The man dressed as Batman caught Bane's eyes and moved through the crowd, distancing himself from Bane, sparking Bane's curiosity.
Bane followed the man, pushing people out of the way until he cornered him near the exits, confident he knew the man behind the mask. "Mr. Wayne." Bane called out in his thick Spanish accent. "You are no doubt the richest man in the room. Do you find yourself above helping children? After all, you were an orphan. One would think you have more incentive to help children."
He thinks I'm Batman? Would've been nice if Bruce told me this walking steroid knew his identity.
Kal disguised his voice with a thick Southern accent. "I ain't rich. I just came here to hit on the rich women here. I need a Sugar Momma. I'm from Texas where everything is big."
Bane chuckled, "Aw, a master of voices you are, Mr. Wayne, but I know the truth." Bane grabbed Kal by his neck and raised him over his head. "Perhaps, I should expose you or better yet break your back once more."
Kal grinned again and mimicking Bruce's Batman's voice, "Go ahead, motherfrucker." Kal yanked Bane's hand from his neck, gave Bane a sharp kick to his iron stomach with enough force the boisterous 6'8 juggernaut stumbled forward in immense pain. Kal grabbed Bane's left arm, twisted it to the point it snapped from his shoulder in one smooth, clean break. He easily picked up Bane and tossed him across the room. Kal didn't waste any time shooting off his heat vision to the lights panel and killing the cameras in the room, cutting off Joker's live feed and drawing darkness to the room. The first thing Kal did was retrieve the bombs in the room and dismantling them. With that threat out of the way, Kal took a moment to knock out and disarmed Joker's goons and give Dick and Bruce a much needed advantage. As he easily slipped away in the darkness, Bruce and Dick changed in their uniforms.
When the backup generators, returned the lights, Batman and Nightwing stood in the room and didn't waste time tag teaming against an injured Bane.
Above the mansion, Krypto kept watch, waiting for Kal to signal him inside. The Kryptonian dog was alarmed when he saw bombs exploding in the yard. Krypto kept a closer eye on the situation. He watched Commissioner Gordon and several police officers coming out to investigate only to be held hostage by Joker's goons. Krypto knew he was to stay in the shadows but he knew the police were the good guys and needed help. Krypto swooped down fast like a gust of strong wind knocking Joker's goons off their feet. It was enough of a diversion for Gordon and the police to grab their guns and hold the goons hostage. Krypto flew up settling over the mansion again, waiting for Kal's orders.
Kal zoomed through the rooms of the mansion. Time was of the essence and he didn't trust Joker to hold up his bargain. For all he knew, he released the gas already. With his x-ray vision, Kal found the Joker on the ground level of the mansion. The level was decorated with in Halloween decorations of fake cobwebs, spiders, tombstones and monsters plastered on the wall. With his sharp hearing, Kal heard the whimpers of children and the growls of hyenas.
For Joker's sake, those kids better not be harmed. "Krypto," Kal whispered so low for anyone to hear but not too low for Krypto. "Stealth mode."
Krypto heard the call of his master and the 'Stealth mode' command. Krypto looked through the mansion, searching for Kal. He found him on the ground level. Krypto dropped down to the ground, avoiding getting his image caught by the cameras surrounding the mansion.
Krypto walked around the mansion looking for a way in without triggering any alarms. If he stormed through the brick walls, someone might hear him. Breaking windows would certainly set an alarm off. So, he did the one thing that dogs love to do. Dig. Using his speed, it didn't take Krypto long to dig a hole into the ground and break through the foundation to the ground level. Waiting for Krypto when he surfaced was his proud master.
Kal stared at his dog, covered in patches of dirt and rocks. "You're gonna need a bath later."
"I spy with my little eye, Batman cheating with Superman's dog." Joker's voice came from above. "I told you no red capes."
Kal searched for the hidden camera Joker was watching them from. He spotted it behind a fake skeleton's head attached to the wall. "Just bending the rules, Joker. We both know you meant no Superman but you never said anything about his dog."
"Only I get to cheat! Not you!"
"Only women wear makeup, but you don't mind cheating on that rule."
Another sharp retort from Batman. That was unlike him. "It's a shame you must cheat, Batman. Now we won't have our duel."
Kal wondered what he meant when he and Krypto heard the sounds of snarling hyenas running towards them. They came around a corner and stopped when they saw Kal and Krypto. Six snarling hyenas stared Kal and Krypto down. Each hyena was three times their normal sizes with venom pumping collars fitted on them. Their bodies were bulky and ripped with muscles. Their enlarged heads looked fierce and ravenous at Kal. Their teeth were sharp, claws so sharp it scratched the steel floor. It left no doubt in Kal's mind Joker used Bane's venom on them.
"I forgot to feed my babies. You two will do nicely."
Krypto's growl was fierce and louder than the hyenas as he stood protectively in front of Kal. If those hyenas wanted Kal, they would have to go through him first.
"Six against one. How unfair." Joker laughed. "I love it."
"It is unfair," Kal agreed. "Six hyenas and Krypto still isn't challenged."
Joker's smile faded slightly. He didn't like this. There was something off about Batman. Batman was all business. He was never cocky. He never responded with smart ass remarks. Was he really Batman or Superman disguised as Batman? He sounded like Batman but he was with Superman's dog. Superman was also in Gotham not long ago when he dealt with Black Mask.
"Attack!" Joker ordered his hyenas. He would watch Batman. If he pulled off any moves that weren't Batman's, he would know.
The hyenas attacked to kill and Krypto was ready for them. Krypto slapped one hyena with his front right limb and kicked another hyena with his powerful hind legs. The two hyenas collided and fell back whimpering in pain at Krypto's strength. This left four hyenas left. One hyena bit Krypto's back but his whimpering howl forced him off Krypto for he broke several teeth as he tried to pierce Krypto's tough skin. Krypto showed the hyena a real bite by going for his jugular. The hyena howled in pain and Krypto tossed him into the two whimpering hyenas. The fourth hyena bit Krypto's tail. Krypto ran around in circles, spinning the hyena around until he was too dizzy to hold on. They hyena let go and with an extra kick from Krypto was sent flying through a wall. That left two hyenas.
Kal went to the fallen hyenas and removed the venom collars. It was clear to Kal Joker didn't care for his pets and what this potent venom was doing to their bodies. It gave them extra strength but it was harming their bodies, pushing their hearts to exertion. These animals were angry but it was out of pain and abuse. They would die under Joker's care if it persists and Joker wouldn't care. He'll just get another set of hyenas. It angered Kal to see this kind of abuse on animals.
Kal could hear the heavy breathing and heartbeats of the final two hyenas. They were going to attack him as he tend to their friends and once more Krypto was going to defend him. One hyena leapt to attack Kal, but Krypto fired off his heat vision at the hyena's collar. The collar snapped in half and the venom spilled over the floor. Kal decided to deal with the last and put it out of his misery.
"Stay down, Krypto," Kal ordered. Kal allowed the last hyena to leap towards him but Kal moved with speed that appeared human. He dodged the hyena, grabbed the collar and snapped it free from the hyena. The hyena dropped to the floor, shrinking to its normal size. "Now," Kal ordered Krypto. Krypto gave the hyena a kick strong enough to knock him out but light enough it wouldn't do much damage.
All six hyenas laid on the ground or in the wall with broken limbs, whimpering in pain. Joker was disappointed in his babies but still wasn't sure if that was really Batman. He could be Superman and he could not. He knew through Lex Superman could be weakened by red solar energy. Unfortunately, he didn't have any at his disposal. Still, even if it was Superman, Joker wasn't scared. If anything, he will be taken to Arkham Asylum by Superman and he'll be out of the facility in less than a week and this will be after he poison the guests in the ballroom and the children whimpering behind him. He'll get off with mass murder again. Superman had a tougher personality but Joker was confident he could run through him as he does Batman.
Joker heard the booming sound of the door being kicked down but he wasn't fazed. Batman's done that several times before. It'll be business as usual with them. Joker turned in his chair with his sick smile and not at all scared. "Batman, welcome."
Kal ignored Joker as his eyes took note of the scared children and Governor's wife, and the four gas bombs attached to the four corners of the rooms.
Joker held up a small remote in his right hand. "As you can see, the lives of those children are in my hands, but oh," Joker feigned shock as he revealed a second in his left hand. "Another one? What is this for?"
"You have your gas bomb in the ballroom with the adults."
Joker grinned. "Detective to the end but were you smart enough to know that before you got here?"
"Why don't you press that button and find out?" Kal challenged.
Joker's grin faltered slightly. He wasn't expecting Batman to challenge him. Again Joker suspected something wasn't right. Calling his bluff, Joker's thumb moved close to the green, trigger button. "I press this button and everyone in that room will die within minutes."
"Including your cohorts and Bane."
Joker didn't care. "More money for me." He rubbed his thumb over the green button. "I press this button and they are gone."
Kal crossed his arms over his chest. "Go for it."
Either Batman dismantled the bombs or Batman is calling his bluff. Joker suspected the former. It didn't matter for Joker had Batman where he wanted him.
To Kal's surprise, the four bombs in the room exploded expelling a large dose of the gas. Children and the Governor's wife screamed at the deadly gas expelling from the bombs. "Oops!" Joker slapped his hand disapprovingly. "Guess I set off the wrong bombs. You wanted me to set off the bombs in the ballroom. Not here." Joker put on a gas mask and taunted. "What are you gonna do now, Batman?"
Joker twisted laugh died when he saw Kal and Krypto fly above the children to suck in the gas with their powerful lungs. Realizing it was Superman dressed as Batman, Joker made a quick exit. He ran as fast as he could, skipping over his defeated hyenas. His only concern was escaping and if he could get away from Superman, he can gloat about that for weeks.
Only it wasn't to be. Joker's escape was stopped by the sharp teeth of Krypto tearing into Joker's rear end. Joker enjoyed pain as much as the next psycho but having Krypto's teeth tearing his butt, it felt like it was going to be ripped off. Joker fell forward trying to pull away from Krypto but Krypto's grip was tight as he dragged him back to his angry master. Instead of screaming, pleading and struggling, he laughed like the madman he was. He didn't care. He would take any punishment with a smile.
Kal stood in the hallway, watching Krypto bring the Joker back to him. Kal had to give the Joker credit. Instead of crying like a puss, he laughed as if he won. Kal knew it was part of Joker's sick psychotic mind to get to him and it wasn't working. When Krypto dragged Joker to Kal's feet, he yanked the laughing Joker off the floor. "You piece of zhuut! You almost killed these children!"
"I know!" Joker laughed insanely. "Wasn't it fun? And you saved them at the last second didn't you?" Joker held his hand up for a high five. "Put it there."
Kal enclosed Joker's hand with his much larger hand and crushed it. Kal could see the pain on Joker's face but he stubbornly refused to give in vocally. "I've had about enough of you. You are a sick motherfrucker with no remorse for all the zhuut you have done to the people not just in this place but in this city. These people have been too easy on you, too foolish to think you will change your ways. I'm not so foolish. You only get one strike with me. "
"Are you gonna kill me?" Joker asked with no fear. In fact, he was laughing. "Gonna cross a line Batman never did?"
"Killing you will be too easy for a psychopath zhuuthole like you but I can punish you where you won't harm anyone again." Holding Joker by the collar of his shirt with his left hand, Kal used his free hand to flick his middle finger against Joker's forehead. If it wasn't for Kal holding him, Joker would've soared across the hall with the wall stopping him. Instead, Joker's eyes rolled back with a sadistic smile on his pasty face.
Kal dropped Joker like trash. He turned to check on the children and the Governor's wife but pause when he saw Batman. From the looks of Batman's torn uniform, cuts and bruises on his face and the slight limp to his walk, Bane really put a number on him and Dick but still they came out as the victor.
"Is everyone all right?"
"Yeah," Kal said as he removed his cowl. "The children and the Governor's wife are shaken but they weren't hurt."
Bruce knelt to Joker feeling for a pulse. Feeling a strong beat, cause Bruce to look up at Kal in disbelief. "You didn't kill him." He wasn't sure how to react to that. Relief? Disappointment?
"Pfft. No. I hit with the right precision against the frontal lobe to give him enough brain damage to put him in a coma. If he awakens, he'll be in a vegetative state. Whether he recovers from that is up to his body and any care he is given. Either way, he won't be bothering anyone for a long time. That type of punishment should settle any critics against killing the Joker."
Bruce knew that remarked was directed at him. "You don't understand our way—"
"I understand your way and it's honorable. However, if you put yourself in a position to defend and protect decent people against psychos and zhuutholes like the Joker here, you gotta have enough balls to put them down when necessary. Cops and soldiers on this planet do that. Why can't the Justice League?"
All this time with Diana and he still didn't understand. Bruce pushed himself to his feet, defiantly getting in Kal's face. "The Justice League do not police. We are not judge and jury as you seem to be."
"You may not agree but it gets the job done," Kal shot back. "You've only fought pieces of zhuutholes on Earth. Walk in my shoes for a day and then get back to me on that."
"Don't act so honorable, Superman," Bruce spat out. "We all know you did it for a price."
"So what?" Kal wasn't ashamed of that but he was annoyed with Bruce being judgmental over it. "I got paid but it doesn't mean I didn't care about helping people against space punks. Aren't the police paid for protecting good people? Aren't soldiers paid when they put their life on the line? You can do this for free and fund yourself but other people aren't as fortunate. So get off your high horse."
From the corner of his eye, Kal noticed eyes of the children were on them. The relief and joy their eyes held when they were rescued was now replace with fear over he and Batman arguing. The last thing Kal wanted was to produce a negative image but Bruce wasn't helping the situation anymore than he. No matter what, this tension with he and Bruce won't reflect positively on Diana who was the face of the Justice League. Whatever personal problems he was having with Diana, she didn't deserve that, and it was for that sake alone, he tried again with Bruce.
"Look. I'm still learning how you guys work. I won't agree with everything you do and you won't agree with everything I do but we should try to meet in the middle. Maybe then we won't be so judgmental of each other. You may not agree with what I did to the Joker but I don't understand how you let him get away with all he's done for so long. Even if you didn't want to kill Joker, the least the Justice League could've done is lock him in a place where he had no chance of escaping."
Bruce didn't have a response to that. Truth be told, he didn't want to admit Kal had a point in a way. Instead, Bruce took notice of the empty bomb containers outside the room. "The bombs went off?" He looked in the room with the children and Governor's wife. "But no one's affected?"
"Joker set them off. Krypto and I sucked in the gas before anyone else could breathe it in."
Bruce looked Kal over. He looked perfectly fine. "You're not affected."
"Earth diseases don't affect me," Kal said simply. He looked down feeling Krypto's paws on his legs. Kal rubbed Krypto's dirty head affectionately. Poor dog was covered in dirt from all the digging earlier, dealt with hyenas high on venom and on top of that, he had to sink his teeth into the Joker's backside and he didn't complain. He just wanted acknowledgment by Kal. "Boy, are you dirty and you have Joker aftertaste in your mouth. I bet that tastes like zhuut. I promise you a huge reward for tonight. Oh, Krypto," Kal groaned through laughs as his dog leapt in the air to lick his face. "Not the face."
Bruce observed Kal with Krypto. There was much love and affection between man and dog. It was odd to watch. One moment Kal could be tough, arrogant and a pain in the ass but in the next, he revealed a softer side at least to people he cared about such as his dog. Bruce wondered if Kal was that way towards Diana. That may explain some things.
"We're leaving," Kal announced, "but I have to say this to you."
Bruce waited expecting another verbal spar with Kal. "I still think you are a zhuuthole for the way you treated Diana but when Joker revealed himself, you stopped being an ass and focused on what was important: helping the people. I disagree with you a lot but you put yourself on the line a lot for people you will never meet in a thankless job. That's commendable."
Bruce wasn't sure but he thought he was insulted and praised at the same time. "Is that your way of a compliment?"
"I guess it is. I know you won't list my attributes but I want to say thanks for your help." Kal held a hand out to Bruce.
Bruce stared at the hand, hesitant but after a long pause extend his own and shook it. He hated how Superman's recent attributes has been changing his opinion of the man. He hated to think how Superman might not be that bad of a man and even though he was rightfully angry at Diana, perhaps he was too hard on her as well.
Diana emerged from her bath refreshed. Diana normally like the take evening baths before she went to bed. Diana reached for her towel and dried herself off when she heard a noise coming from her bedroom. Someone was here. It wasn't Julia because the sounds her sharp ears picked up were soft footsteps across her floor, as if the intruder was moving in stealth.
Diana put on her robe and secured her belt tightly. She grabbed her lasso off a hook on the back of her door. She opened her linen closet and pulled out a sword from behind the towels and secured it to her belt loop.
Diana yanked the door open and charged out. "Intruder, face your match!" Diana halted when she saw who her intruder was. "Bruce?"
Bruce sat in a chair by Diana's desk. "Diana."
"What are you doing here?" She noticed the wounds on his face. "Are you all right?"
"Superman was in Gotham tonight. Dick sought his help in dealing with the Joker. He said he contacted Kal through you."
Was he going to yell at her about that? Diana hoped not. She wasn't in the mood for it. "Yes, I did. Was Kal helpful? I assume everything went all right since you are here."
"He was helpful," Bruce begrudgingly admitted. "He talked to me the last time he was in Gotham and given what happened tonight, I think it's time we talk about Kal and our friendship." Bruce removed his cowl. His face wasn't stern as Diana expected. In fact, he looked vulnerable which left Diana thinking their friendship will not be the same again after this night. "Diana, I have a confession to make."