The First Cut is the Deepest

by RalphWolfandSamSheepdog55

Summary:

Sequel to Friendship Becomes Something Deeper, Barbara and Kara have been together for seven months and their relationship is going along great, same can't be said for Clark and Lois. When Superman is in charge of Gotham with Brace out of the city for a month, Lois is kidnapped by Joker who wants a new Harley. Meanwhile Clark mets an old flame of his but is the sparkle truly gone?

Chapter 1: Prologue

Authors note: This story is the first of hopefully many follow up to my fanfic "Friendship Becomes Something Deeper". Just like that story, this story is set in an alternative universe and includes themes such as homosexuality, homophobia, abusive relationships, violence, and minor profanity. If any of these things make you uncomfortable then please skip this story.

Special thanks to Princesspopular6417 for their help with coming up with the story's title. Please check out her work.

I hope you all enjoy the story.

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The First Cut is the Deepest

Chapter 1

Prologue

It had been seven months since Barbara and Kara had become a couple. Ever since they had moved into their new apartment and had made their relationship public, as Batgirl and Supergirl respectively, things had been going very smoothly for them. For them, every moment they were together was amazing. They playfully teased each other, helping each other to feel better when one of them was down in the dumps and when they could, they would a quick "snuggle" before bed. They were now at the "sleeping without clothes on stage" although this was only on rare occasions, they mostly preferred to sleep with their nightgowns on.

Things couldn't be better for the two of them, or at least for Kara. Whilst Barbara couldn't have asked for anyone better to call her girlfriend, it had come at a small price. Barbara's father hadn't reacted well when he found her and Kara kissing. Thankfully, Kara had convinced him to make amends with Barbara, although it was made clear that he would only do it for his daughter and that as far as he was concerned, Kara wasn't part of his family.

Kara's side of the family had been very excepting of her new relationship. Jonathan Martha and Clark treated Barbara as one of the family.

As the moon sat high in the red sky of Gotham city, Kara flew with Barbara riding on her back. The redhead held her arms in front of her as she felt the cool night air gently blowing through her red hair.

"Ready?" Kara asked slightly moving her head to look at the beautiful redhead.

"Ready." Batgirl said with an egure expression.

Kara gave a confident smile then flew higher into the air and did a loop de loop. Barbara briefly let go, falling at the right moment for Kara to catch her. Kara held Barbara in her air as the redhead held on tight, her arms around the blonde's shoulders. They looked lovingly into each other's eyes as Supergirl landed on a building. The blonde put Batgirl on the ground. The two walked to the edge of the building, with Barbara getting her binoculars out.

Barbara and Kara weren't the only recent couple in Gotham with a healthy relationship. Not long after the two heroes had started dating, Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy had confessed their feelings for each other. Since then the two had been enjoying their lives, even more than before. After spending years under the control of her abusive ex, the former psychologist didn't think she would ever be able to find someone who actually loved her, but then, after years of hiding her true feelings, Ivy became her girlfriend and had treated the blonde like a queen. Harley couldn't have asked for a better person to call her true love than Pamela Isley.

The two rogues were sitting in a small dinner having a small cup of coffee before going on their next heist.

"Coming on." Harley said in a

"No." Ivy said.

"But it's his birthday." Harley said.

"Harley, we're not spending money on a birthday cake for a Hyena." Ivy said.

"Would you get a cake for one of the plants?" Harley asked with a smile and a raised eyebrow.

"Harley, most of my plants get their food from the sunlight." Ivy said, trying not to laugh at Harley's pouty face.

"What about the carnivorous ones?" Harley asked leaning forward with a smirk.

"I would give them a steak which I think you'll find that Lou would prefer over steak." Ivy said causing Harley to let out a chuckle.

"Could we still get a cake for him please?" Harley said in a sweet innocent way.

"No." Ivy said.

"Even if it was a chocolate cake?" Harley said with a sly grin.

"Double buttercream?" Ivy asked. Harley nodded.

"Still not getting him a cake." Ivy said.

"Rats." Harley said.

"But we can get one for ourselves," Ivy said with a sly smile.

Harley gave a deadpan look to her girlfriend. Harley tried not to laugh to no avail.

Ivy smiled as she and Harley got up and walked to the counter.

"You really had me there for a sec." Harley said as she finished her laugh.

"Just because I'm not a hyena person doesn't mean I won't celebrate one of their special days." Ivy said as she put five dollars in the jar on the counter. Whilst she had gotten used to living with Bud and Lou, she was more celebrating the latter's birthday because she knew how can it made Harley happy.

"Thanks, Red." Harley said hugging Ivy.

"Anything for my belle fleur de rose." Ivy said as Harley ended her hug. The two walked out of dinner as they made their way to across the street to a bank, not noticing Batgirl and Supergirl watching them on top of the building next to the bank, keeping out of sight.

Harley and Ivy went into a dark alleyway. After checking that the coast was clear, Harley placed some dynamite on the wall that was next to the inside of the bank vault, whilst Ivy got the fuse box ready. Just as Harley placed the last of the dynamite on the brick wall when a figure in black dropped down with a blue dressed blond hovered behind her. Harley and Ivy turned to see the two heroes.

"Well if it isn't the Batbrat and the Superbrat." Harley said.

"Step away from the box Ivy, and no one gets hurt." Supergirl said.

"I would but we need the money." Ivy said coldly.

Batgirl reached for one of her Batarangs. She throw it towards Ivy but the woman in green had come prepared. Using her powers serval large vines shot out of the ground, one of them grabbing the yellow bat-shaped object in midair. Supergirl tried to use her laser vision to cut the vines but to her shock the vines were unharmed.

"What do you think? It's a little creation of mine." Ivy said as one wrapped itself around her arm in a loving way. "Their immune to you and Superman's powers. Took me months to get the formula just right." Ivy said as she stroked the vine in a similar way one would stroke a cat.

Supergirl and Batgirl slowly backed away as the vines came toward them.

"Care to do the honours?" Ivy said to her girlfriend.

"Gladly." Harley said with a smile as she went to the fuse box and pressed down the handle. With a loud bang, the circle of dynamite exploded creating a large hole. Before Harley and Ivy went into the bank they turned to Batgirl and Supergirl.

"Enjoy ladies." Ivy said then she and Harley went in as the vines rocketed towards Batgirl and Supergirl both of whom thankfully manage to dodge the attacking plants.

Batgirl and Supergirl tried their best to get past the dangerous vegetation but without the latter being able to use her powers to fight the vines, the two didn't have much hope. As two heroes were backed up to a wall, Harley and Ivy exited the bank with two large sakes of three thousand dollars in cash each and ran to where they had hidden their car.

Batgirl and Supergirl looked for a way out of their predicament. As they looked up they noticed that the nothing blocking the way up, although it would require the blond to fly quickly to avoid any of the vines catching them. Supergirl grabbed hold of Batgirl as the redhead in black held on tightly. The Argon flew as fast as she could as the vines shot towards them. The two just managed to get away although one of the vines had managed to grab Batgirl by her right arm a had ripped off some of her batsuit from the elbow downwards and one of the thorns had pricked her skin and had left a nasty scrape.

Supergirl landed on the top of a near and Batgirl let go.

"Are you alright?" Supergirl asked.

"I think so." Batgirl said.

"It doesn't look too bad." Supergirl said looking at the scrape. Still, just to be safe she took Batgirl to the nearby doctor's office before they went in they landed in an alleyway to change into more casual clothing.

Barbara was now wearing a black short-sleeved top and greyish black skirt with black pantyhose and black shoes.

Kara was wearing a white long-sleeved shirt and dark blue jeans with grey shoes.

The two entered the building and waited to see a doctor. After waiting for five minutes they were called into the doctor's office. The doctor examined Barbara's scrape, whilst Kara, outside the building, informed Batman about the bank robbery over her communicator. Thankfully there were no signs of infection or that the thrones had been poisons. After thanking the doctor, Barbara and Kara left and caught a bus home.

Meanwhile, Harley and Ivy were back at their house. After living in a rundown house for several months the heat had died down enough for them to move back into Ivy's abandoned greenhouse. The two had changed into more regular clothing. Harley was now in a white short-sleeved shirt with a large red heart in the middle, a dark red skirt and pink pantyhose. Harley had also taken off her hair bobbles letting her soft blonde hair flow freely down the back of her neck. Ivy was now wearing a small pink sleeveless top that show off her cleavage and belly and a pair of light blue shorts.

"Happy birthday Lou." Harley said placing a large steak with a candle on it on the floor in Hyena's bowl. Bud and Lou ran over to their mistress, drooling at the mouth as the scent of the large steak caught their noses.

"Make a wish Lou." Harley said as petted her hyena's head. Lou licked her face.

"Ok, ok mummy loves you too." Harley said in a voice that one would use when lovely talking to their pets. Harley blow out the candle and took it off to allow her babies to eat. Bud and Lou wolfed down their meal as Harley made her way to the sofa where Ivy was sitting with a piece of double buttercream chocolate cake. Harley sat next to her girlfriend, laying her head on the green woman's shoulder as they watched a cheesy romance movie with terrible acting and horrendous dialogue, although they only had it as background noise as the two began to makeout.

Meanwhile, Barbara and Kara were in their apartment sitting down at the table for their dinner, which was chicken and salad.

"How's the arm?" Kara asked.

"It's fine Kara. You don't have to worry." Barbara said reassuringly.

Kara gave a small smile at her girlfriend, secretly however the blonde was worried about her girlfriend but not because of the scrape. In a few weeks, it would be the anniversary of Barbara's mum's death. Even before they had started dating Kara had seen how upset Barbara got around this time of year. Kara understood completely having lost both of her biological parents. However, what was more concerning to Kara was that this year Barbara didn't have her father by her side.

"Well if there is anything wrong you know you can always tell me." Kara said.

"I know but..." Barbara let out a sad sign. "It's just... I really hoped that me and dad would have fully made amends by now." the redhead said in a sorrowful tone.

"At least he's trying to fix things up with you." Kara said, then the blonde thought of something. "You know tomorrow I'm in Metropolis. So you could invite your dad over and talk to him."

"I was kind of hoping that he could talk with both of us." Barbara said.

"I don't think he'll do that just yet." Kara admitted. Barbara looked down. "But he'll see me as part of the family someday and you two will be back to the way you were." Kara said.

"You think so." Barbara asked generally.

"I know so." Kara said. Barbara smiled at Kara, then the two returned to their meal.

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Please leave a review. Tell me what you liked about it, what you didn't like about it, and how I can improve for future chapters and stories.

Chapter 2: Ups and Downs of Relationships

Author's note: A special thanks to Glee-chan for permitting me to use her Batgirl costume resign for this story. Please check out her work on Deviantart.

Link to the Batgirl design: Batgirl Redesign by Glee-chan on DeviantArt

Hope you enjoy this chapter.

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Chapter 2

Ups and Downs of Relationships

The time was eleven o'clock when Harley and Ivy were getting ready for bed. Harley was wearing a pink low-cut bra and knickers with her hair still flowing free of hair bobbles whilst Ivy was in her white dressing gown still choosing what she was going to wear to sleep. As Ivy looked she noticed Harley sitting on the bed looking down at the floor. Ivy made her way to the bed and sat next to Harley.

"Are you ok honey?" Ivy asked.

"Yay I'm fine." Harley said trying to hide the sorrow in her voice but Ivy saw right through this.

"Harley you know you can always tell me if something is bothering you." Ivy said putting a hand on Harley's shoulder.

"Do you think people still only see me as Joker's ex?" Harley asked.

"Of they don't. They see you as Harleen Quinzel, one of Gotham's most feared, smartest and sexist rogues." Pamela said.

"It's... it's just that I feel like that all everyone knows me as is that wired girl who was madly in love with Joker." Harley said feeling ashamed of herself for making the dumbest decision of her life.

"They know you're more than that." Ivy said.

Harley slightly looked up for a second with a small smile but it faded and the blond looked down again.

Ivy thought for a second then she had an idea she walked to the wooden dresser. Harley let out a sad sign when she finished Ivy walked back to the bed only this time she went to the other side.

"I know what will cheer you up." Ivy said in a lusty voice.

Harley turned around to Ivy laying on her right side in the same revealing green bra and knickers that the redhead had worn on the night they had become a couple and their first night of lovemaking. Ivy gave a loving smile with one hand on her thig.

"Thanks, Red." Harley said with a small smile.

Ivy smile widened a little as Harley got into bed and under the covers. Pamela gave Harleen a quick peak on the lips before turning off the lights and their real fun began.

Meanwhile at Barbara's and Kara's apartment the two were looking over a sheet of paper with a coloured sketch of a new batgirl outfit. Over the past two months, Barbara has been considering changing her batsuit. She and Kara had been working on a new design, which was purple with the yellow bat symbol on the chest and black shorts around her lower abdomen. The mask was the same purple as the rest of the outfit with a black around her eyes and neck. The belt and gloves were the same as before. The boots were yellow with black souls and bat outlines at the top. Finally, the cape was yellow.

"What do you think?" Kara asked.

"That's it's that's the one." Barbara said.

"I can wait to see it on you." Kara said in a teasy tone causing the redhead to giggle. The two made their way to bed in their nightgowns and went to bed. Barbara looked at the picture of her and her father on the desk. The redhead left out a small sad quiet sign before falling asleep.

The next day, Kara said her goodbyes to Barbara as the former made her way to the train station. The redhead meanwhile went over to Bruce's house. He wanted to talk to her about something important.

It was nine o'clock when Kara arrived in Metropolis. Although it was quicker to fly she decided to take the train, mostly as she had agreed to meet up with Jimmy Olsen at the station.

Kara, who was wearing a white shirt, a pair of blue jeans and a black leather jacket, got off the train and made her way to a small cafe in the station where Jimmy was waiting for her. The man with ginger hair was sitting at a table with a coffee cup. Jimmy waved when he saw Kara walking up to him. He got up and walked outside to meet her at the door.

"Hey Kara, great to see you again." Jim said.

"It's great to see you again too Jim." Kara said. "So how have things been here?" she asked as they began to walk.

"Same old same old." Jimmy said.

"How have you been?" Kara said.

"Great. I manage to get a front-page story on Acme's pollution crimes." Jimmy said.

"Well congratulations James." Kara said.

"Thanks, so how have you been?" he asked.

"I've been doing good." Kara said.

"How's Barbara?" Jim asked.

"She's doing well but you know what it's like for her at this time of year." Kara said, hoping that he didn't notice the sorrow in her voice.

"Yay and with her dad not being there for her too." Jimmy said sympathetically.

"Yeah. At least their talking to each other." Kara said.

"That's good. How does he feel about you now?" Jimmy asked.

"Um, he's getting used to me." Kara said.

"He still doesn't accept you?" Jimmy asked as he put his empty cup in a bin.

"Yeah." Kara said her sorrow couldn't be hidden anymore.

"Well at least he's been nice to you." Jimmy said.

"True, unlike someone use I know." Kara said. Jimmy knew exactly who Kara was referring to.

Back in Gotham, Barbara, who was wearing a black shirt and top, arrived at Bruce's house.

"Good morning, Ms. Gordon." Alfred said as he opened the door.

"It's nice to see you again Alfred." Barbara said as she came in. The two made their way to the living room where Bruce was waiting.

"Ms. Gordon Master Bruce." Alfred said.

"Thank you, Alfred." The black-haired man said.

Alfred left the room as Barbara took a sit.

"So what is you wanted to talk about." Barbara asked.

"Tomorrow I'll be on a business trip out of Gotham for a month." Bruce said.

"Ok, I'm sure me and Kara can look after Gotham by ourselves." Barbara said confidentially.

"I can't risk that with Joker on the loose." Bruce said.

Barbara understood. It wasn't just the fact that Joker was the most dangerous person in the world but he was also very revengeful and Batgirl and Supergirl were his biggest targets at the moment as they were the ones who had got him in jail recently, which he had broken out of two days ago.

"I've asked Superman to look after the city unit I come back."

"Why didn't you ask Zee?" Barbara asked.

"She's on a magic show tour for the next two months." Brace said.

"Ok. Well, good luck with your trip." Barbara said.

"Thanks." Bruce said.

Back in Metropolis, Kara and Jimmy were at the Daily Planet chatting to each other when they saw Lois walking toward them.

"Hello, Lois." Jimmy said.

"Hello, Jimmy." Lois said before turning to Kara "Hello, dyke." Lois said in a bitter tone.

Kara glared at the woman in purple. When Lois had found out about Kara being gay things between they had gotten worse. Lois never liked gays and didn't hide it at all. Kara for her part had tried her best to be civil to the older woman but all that this would come to was Lois' rude and sometimes downright cruel remarks about the blonde.

"Hello, Lois." Kara said crossing her arms.

"So how's Barbie?" Lois Lane asked rhetorically.

"Her name is Barbara." Kara said gritting her teeth.

"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't realise that you actually named you sex-toy." Lois said in a smug sarcastic tone.

Kara's face turned to pure anger. "Why you little stubborn c…"

"Kara."

Kara turned around to see her cousin giving her a stern look.

"Can you to my office for a sec." Clark said.

Kara made her way to Clark, Lois looking smug as the blonde left.

"You could at least try and be nice to her." Jimmy said.

Lois just rolled her eyes and left.

In Clark's office, Kara took a sit.

"You heard what she." Kara said.

"I know but that doesn't mean you can call her that word." Clark said. Kara crossed her arms with a pout on her face.

"There's something I need to tell you." Clark said in a cram tone.

"What is it?" Kara asked.

"Brace is on a business trip for the next month and has asked me to help look after Gotham for the time being." The man in blue said.

"So who's looking after Metropolis?" Kara asked.

"I've asked The Green Lanterns to whilst I'm gone." Clark said then he took a deep breath. "However I will be bringing Lois with me."

"What! Clark no!" Kara shouted.

"I know, I know you and Lois don't get along but I could only get the time to go to Gotham if me and Lois get some stories there."

"But…"

"No buts Kara." Clark said sternly. "I'll talk to Lois about her problem but she's still coming."

"Fine." Kara said begrudgingly.

Meanwhile, Barbara was just finishing up getting the apartment ready for her father's visit. She made sure her new batgirl outfit was put away. Just as she finished there was a knock on the door. Barbara opened it to see her father.

"Hi dad." Barbara said.

"Hello Barbara." Jim said as he came in.

"Can I get you anything?" Barbara asked.

"Um, no thank you." Jim said as they sat on the sofer. There was an awkward silence for thirty seconds.

"Nice weather we've been having." Barbara said. Jim nodded.

"So how are things?" He asked.

"Good." She said.

"I was wondering if you would like to go out for a movie night? I know how much you liked those." Jim asked.

"Could I bring Kara with me?" Barbara nervously. Jim didn't answer he just looked away.

Barbara quietly signed.

"She can come with us." Jim said.

"Thanks, dad." Barbara said with a small smile.

As night came to Metropolis Clark and Lois were getting ready for bed.

"You know I don't appreciate what you said to Kara today." Clark said putting his glasses on the desk next to the bed.

"Hey, it's not my fault she's a freak." the woman in a black nightgown said.

"Lois way can't you just except her for who she is?" The man in dark blue pants said.

"Clark we've been over this. I like dykes because they are weird people and I hate people who are abnormal." Lois said.

"Superman isn't normal and you like him." Clark said in a teasing voice.

"At least Superman is straight and doesn't steal my stories." Lois said in a bitter tone.

"Lois please just be nice to her." Clark said.

"Fine." Lois said begrudgingly.

Clark turned off the lights as they fell asleep. Clark put his muscular arm around Lois but elbowed him to stop. Clark removed his arm and turned to face the other side of the bed.

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Please leave a review. Tell me what you liked about it, what you didn't like about it, and how I can improve for future chapters and stories.

Chapter 3: Electric Event in Gotham

Chapter 3

Electric Event in Gotham

The morning sun rose over the city of Metropolis. The sound of birds chirping filled the yellow sky with a few clouds drifting slowly across, as serval citizens began their day.

In her bedroom, Lois began to wake as the warm sunlight hit her skin through a creak through the curtains. She sat up, swung her legs over her side of the bed and stirred out her arms as Clark sat up and put on his glasses.

"Morning." Clark said.

"Morning Clark." Lois said.

"Look, about yesterday..."

"It's fine. I was just having a bad day yesterday." Lois said in a guilty tone. In her defences her day yesterday was pretty bad. She had to deal with being kidnapped by Livewire who had used her as bait for Superman, tied up to a pole with some very uncomfortable string around her waist, ankles, and hands and had been given nasty electric shocks by Livewire when the electric woman had been bored and wanted to have some fun. Thankfully, they had only been little shocks but still, it just made Lois' day all the more unpleasant, not helping by the fact that Livewire had managed to escape.

Clark smiled a little at her before he prepared to speak but before he could get a word out Lois slightly shook her head. Clark looked down slightly. An awkward silence filled the room.

"We should get going." Lois said.

"Yeah, we should." Clark said trying not to sound disappointed.

The two got out of bed and got ready for the day ahead of them.

Meanwhile in Gotham Barbara was making breakfast whilst Kara was on the phone with Martha.

"You can be nice to her for a month." Martha said.

"But she hates me." Kara said.

"I know I know but she'll come around to accept you, just give her time."

"I've been giving her time for the past seven months." Kara said in frustration.

"I know, Lois can be stubborn at times but she's still part of the family, just like Barbara." Martha said in a sympathetic tone.

Kara signed knowing what her adopted mother said was true.

"Please, Kara. For Clark's sake." Martha said.

"I will." Kara said.

"Thanks, sweetie." Martha said.

Kara smiled. "Bye Ma." the blonde said then she put down the phone.

The sad truth was that both Jonathan and Martha noticed that Clark hadn't really been happy for the past eight months. Although neither of them said it out loud, they both had suspected that Clark and Lois were going through relationship issues. At first, Jonathan and Martha weren't too concerned after all it's normal for couples to fall out every once in a while however as time had gone on it was becoming more and more clear that Clark's and Lois' relationship may be beginning to lose its spark. Kara had noticed this as well, although she had first thought her cousin was feeling stressed over the responsibility of being Superman, but, one night when she was visiting him in Metropolis, Kara had overheard Clark and Lois arguing over something and both of them sounded angry, the kind of angry when profanity is used, something that Clark tried his hardest to avoid. Similar to her foster parents, Kara wasn't too concerned, at first She and Barbara had couple fights as well, but their ones were usually resolved in a few minutes, at most a day and even then they were small ones, Clark and Lois on the other hand, seemed to had fights that had taken weeks to resolve hell one of their fights lasted for a month and they were often big fights too.

However, Jonathan, Martha and Kara had agreed to keep this to themselves, mostly as they only speculated this and didn't want to ruin Clark's relationship, based on just speculation, especially when they didn't have anything to prove it.

Kara came to the dining table just as Barbara placed the blonde's breakfast on the table, which was two slices of toast with a small spread of butter, a fried egg and some baked beans.

"Thanks." Kara said as she took her seat.

Barbara smiled as she took her seat and began to eat her own breakfast which was the same as Kara's only Barbara's egg was boiled.

"So what were you and Martha talking about?" The redhead in black said.

"Oh not much." Kara said as she scooped up some beans.

"Was it about..." Barbara asked knowing about what happened yesterday.

Kara signed and nodded.

"Well, you won't have to face her alone." Barbara said in a jokey voice.

Kara smiled a little. "Thanks, Babsy." Kara said as she scooped up another spoon full of beans. "So how's your dad?"

"He's good. He invited me for a movie night." Barbara said trying to hide the sorrow in her voice to no avail.

"So what's the problem?" Kara asked.

"I asked him if I bring you as well." Barbara said.

"And he said no?" Kara asked.

"No, he said you could come but he had to think about it." Barbara said picking up a piece of toast.

"Well, at least he allowing me to come." Kara said.

"I know but still, it feels like he doesn't want me to date you." Barbara said.

"At least he's trying to accept it." Kara said, Barbara, hummed in agreement.

"So what movie are we seeing?" Kara asked.

"Batrabbit vs Superduck III." Barbara said with a hint of a sly smile.

Kara smiled. She and Barbara had watched the first film on the night they had first met, it was an enjoyable so bad its good film, same could be said about the sequel.

"I can't wait." Kara said before she and Barbara continued their breakfast.

Back in Metropolis, Clark and Lois were at the train station. Clark was wearing a white button shirt, blue trousers and a blue buttoned suit. Lois was dressed in a white skirt, a black top and a purple suit.

As they waited for the train, Clark talked with Jessica Cruz, who was in a green dress, and John Stewart, who was in a black shirt and trousers.

"Are you sure you two will be ok? Metropolis is known for being a popular place for a lot of crime in one week." Clark asked.

"No se preocupe señor. We'll take care of things here." Jessica said.

"You don't have to worry Clark, Metropolis is in safe hands." John said.

"Thank you again." Clark said.

"En cualquier momento." Jessica said.

"Just be careful in Gotham." John said, "and say hi to Kara for us."

"I will." Clark said just as the train came into the station.

"Hey Clark, you coming or what?" Lois said as she got on the train with her suitcase.

Clark picked up his suitcase and walked over to the train, waving goodbye to the two green lanterns. The man in blue got on the train and the two lanterns left the station. As the locomotive departed, no one saw a bolt of electricity follow the train in the telephone wires.

The train arrived at the big station in Gotham at one o'clock. Clark and Lois got off. They looked around until they saw Kara, wearing her black leather jacket, a pair of blue jeans and a white shirt, waiting for them at the station exit.

"Be nice." Clark whispered.

"I will." Lois said.

Clark and Lois walked over to the young woman.

"Hi, Clark." Kara said. "Hi Lois

"Hello, Kara. I'm sorry about yesterday, I was just in a bad place." Lois said in a genuine tone.

"Fresh start?" Kara said, holding out her hand. Lois shook it.

The three left the station. They got a taxi to take them to Kara's apartment. Barbara, who was dressed in a black top and grey skirt, was waiting for them inside.

Clark, Lois and Kara entered the apartment.

"Lois, this is my girlfriend, Barbara Gordon."

"It's nice to meet you Ms. Lane." Barbara said.

"It's nice to Ms. Gordon." Lois said.

"It's great to see you again Clark." Barbara said to her girlfriend's cousin.

"It's nice to see you again too." Clark reply.

"Can I get you anything?" Barbara asked her guests.

"Coffee with two sugars, please." Lois said.

"Nothing for me." Clark said politely.

Barbara went over to the kitchen.

"So do you have any idea on what you're gonna write about?" Kara asked.

"Not yet." Clark said.

"Do you know anything that's happening this month that could be worth writing about?" Lois asked.

"Well, there's a charity event at the museum happening at the end of the month." Barbara said as she finished pouring the coffee into a cup.

"What's it for?" Clark asked as Barbara stirred the dark brown liquid.

"It's to help raise money for their new research facility." Barbara said as she turned around and walked over to the sofer with Lois' coffee.

"Sounds interesting." Lois said before taking a sip of her coffee.

"Why not we go there tomorrow?" Clark suggested.

"Sounds like a plan." Kara said.

The four chatted for a bit before they headed off to the hotel where Clark and Lois were staying for the month, unaware that they were being followed.

As they waited for a taxi, Lois decided to get a drink from a nearby vending machine. As Lois walked toward the vending machine, Barbara caught sight of a bolt in the corner of her eye that she had seen before.

"Lois wait!" Barbara shouted but it was too late.

Just as Lois reached the machine, it was suddenly consumed by electrical volts then a woman appeared.

"Hello again Lois "Bait" Lane." Livewire said.

Livewire grabbed Lois and held her against her will as the electric woman took up to building tops.

Barbara, Kara and Clark got out of sight before reappearing as Batgirl, Supergirl and Superman respectively.

"Seriously, kidnapping me two days in a row?!" Lois yelled in frustration.

"Well Superman always comes for his bitch." Livewire said in a cocky tone. Just then the three heroes appeared. "Well speak of the devil. Superman with two brats."

"Let her go Livewire." Clark demanded.

"You want her? Come and get her." Livewire said with a cruel smile. Then the blue-skinned woman shot out a bolt of lightning. The superheroes quickly dodged the electricity. Batgirl looked around to see if their water holder was near, luckily there was one but it few buildings away.

"Superman, I've got an idea." Batgirl said to Superman.

Superman and Supergirl came close to Batgirl as the redhead explained her plan.

"So miss Lane, how would you like this to end? Falling or fired?" Livewire said before giving Lois a small electric shock.

"Hey, Livewire!" Batgirl shout.

Livewire looked down at the woman in the purple bat suit.

"You know for someone with lighting powers, you're pretty slow." Batgirl said.

"Slow?" Livewire said in confusion.

"Well, that or you have terrible aim." Batgirl said.

"Why you little…" Livewire put down Lois and chased after Batgirl. The redhead ran towards the water holder, dodging the lightning bolts from Livewire. Once Batgirl reached the holder, she pretended to be cornered.

Livewire smiled. "Any last words Batgirl?" the electrical woman asked.

"Hope you brought your swimsuit." Batgirl said with a smirk.

Live looked in confusion just as Superman and Supergirl lifted up the holder and poured the water onto Livewire, leaving her completely powerless.

An hour later, the police arrived and arrested Livewire.

The three heroes were now in their normal clothing with Lois back on the ground and continued to their destination.

At nine o'clock at night, Clark and Loi were getting ready for bed.

"I still can't believe it. Superman in Gotham." Lois said sitting on the bed in her black nightgown.

"Guess he knows that trouble follows you." Clark said in a teasing way. He was in the bathroom just finishing brushing his teeth.

"Ha ha, really funny Clark." Lois said rolling her eyes.

"And it looks like his cousin knows it too." Clark joked.

"Stupid dyke." Lois muttered under her breath."

"I heard that." Clark said.

Lois rolled her eyes. Clark out of the bathroom and made his way to the bed. Once he was sitting next to her he began to speak.

"Hey, I was wondering…"

"Not yet." Lois said.

Clark looked down in disappointment.

"Well, goodnight." Clark said.

"Night" Lois said with a yawn.

The two got under the covers, and Clark turned off the lights. He put his arm around her but like last night, Lois elbow him to stop. Clark removed his arm and rolled over.

Meanwhile, Joker was in his office at his hideout. He had still not gotten over Harley. He paced back a forth as though what his next move would be. On his desk were several pictures of different women including but not limited to Zatanna Zatara, Diana Prince and Selina Kyle. He looked at the photos a tried to make up his mind on a suitable target. Joker knew he had no changes of getting Harley back. His ex had made it clear that she was never coming back after the last time he had bet her in anger all those years ago. Even when Joker had kidnapped Harley seven months ago, the former psychiatrist refused to be his little puppet and was rescued by Ivy (with a little help from Batgirl and Supergirl) had come and rescued Harley. It was clear after that incident that Joker knew he would never be able to reclaim Harley, and even if he did Ivy would kill him and feed him to one of her carnivorous plants, which was why he come up with a plan, if he could get Harley back he would create a new one. Joker had considered several women as a suitable replacements but they were either too powerful for him to control like Kara Kent or Zatanna or he couldn't bear to look at them for even half a second like Barbara Gordon, mostly because he hated female redheads.

As Joker looked he overheard two of his goons talking.
"Did hear? Superman's in town." one of the goons said.

"The boss isn't gonna like that." said the other.

The goon was right, Joker didn't like that... until a realisation came to him. A wicked grin appeared on Joker's face as a truly horrible idea came to him.

"If he's here, then Lois Lane will be with him… but not for long."

Chapter 4: Disaster at the Museum

Chapter 4

Disaster at the Museum

The next day at three o'clock in the afternoon, the four of them were at the museum. Clark once again was in a blue suit and trousers, Lois was in a purple jacket, black and white shirt, Kara was wearing a blue t-shirt with a picture of her and Barbara on a roller-coaster and black jeans and Barbara was in a black top and grey skirt.

They were in the dinosaur exhibit hall looking at the near-complete fossil skeleton of an enormous sauropod that stood seventy-two feet tall.

"That's is the biggest Brontosaurus I've ever seen." Lois said impressed by the large animal from the late Jurassic.

"Actually that's a Brachiosaurus Altithorax. The large front legs and small head crest and small give it away." Clark said.

"Please don't turn this into one of your dino lectures." Kara said, who had heard near every one of Clark's dinosaur history lessons.

"So Mr. palaeontologist what other facts do you have for us." Lois said in a playfully sarcastic tone.

Clark smiled. "We'll see." he said.

Although Kara wasn't looking forward to hearing her cousin's lecture's on the life of extinct reptiles, she was happy to see her cousin happy, something she had seen for at least three months. They continued their tour of the museum's dinosaur exhibit, seeing the many types of dinosaurs including a near-complete skeleton of a Parasaurolophus Walkeri, a Tyrannosaurus Rex, a Velociraptor Mongoliensis fighting a Protoceratops Andrewsi, a Pachyrhinosaurus Lakustaiand a bizarre-looking creature with long arms called Deinocheirus Mirificus.

Soon they came to a stand that had two Triceratops Horridus skeletons. The way the two ceratopsians had been placed in a way that made it look as if they were looking at each other, in the same way, that was depicted in romantic stories where the main characters would first meet and/or finally confess their romantic feelings for each other.

Barbara whispered something to Kara which made the blonde in glasses blush and try to hold back a chuckle. Lois rolled her eyes, she had an idea of what kind of joke the redhead had told the blonde.

"So what other kind of dinos do you have here?" Lois asked the two women who were holding each other hands.

"I can't remember the names but I know that there's a few more down this way." Barbara said pointing to her right.

"You go ahead I'll catch up." Clark said.

The three women walked off. When Clark was sure that Lois and Barbara were out of ear range, he let out a quiet sigh and looked down slightly. He raised his head back up and he looked at the skeletons of the two Triceratops one last time. Clark turned around only to accidentally bumped into a woman.

"I am sorry madam I didn't..." he stopped when he reconciled who it was. "Lana?"

"Clark?" Lana said. "Wow, this is a nice surprise. What doing in Gotham?"

"Just getting stories for the paper. So, what brings you here?" Clark asked.

"I'm only here for the next month." Lana said. "They asked me to design the outfits for the charity event."

"So how have you been?" Clark asked.

"A little busy smaller stuff, although it's my first big project in a while." Lana said. "What about you?"

"It's mostly quiet on my end." Clark said casually.

"Sure." Lana said in a teasing way, knowing that Clark had definitely done quite a lot since they last saw each other, mostly as Superman.

"Is it ok if could ask you questions about the event?" Clark asked taking out his notebook and a small grey pen.

"Oh sure." the woman in the green suit said.

"So what's the theme your going for?" he asked.

"Mostly nature green. They're still in the working process but I think I'll get them done before the event." Lana said as Clark wrote it down.

Meanwhile, Kara, Barbara and Lois were looking at a fossil skull of an AlbertosaurusSarcophagus.

"The apex predator of Albert, Canada during the late cretaceous seventy-five million years b.c. This species of theropod is a close cousin of the larger Tyrannosaurus Rex that may have hunted in packs." Barbara said as she read the sign below.

"Wonder what T. Rex thought of his cousin dating other women." Lois muttered under her breath. Kara heard what Lois had said but decided not to let it get to her, mostly for her cousin's sake.

The three of them turned to see a fossil skeleton of Maiasaura Peeblesorum and a nest full of its babies.

Barbara's expression slowly turned to sorrow.

"What's wrong with her?" Lois asked the blond.

"It's um... it's personal." Kara said.

"Did her mum not approve of her when she told her she was gay?" Lois asked in a genuine tone, not seeing Barbara's eyes beginning to form tears.

"No, it's..." Barbara tried to speak but she couldn't finish her sentence.

"Her mother died years ago." Kara said.

"Oh." Lois said in a guilty tone. She didn't mean to hurt Barbara's feelings.

"The anniversary of her death is in a few weeks." Kara said.

There was an awkward silence for a few seconds before Kara noticed that her cousin wasn't with them.

"Where is Clark?" Kara asked.

"Probably still at the Triceratops. I'll get him." The raven-haired woman said.

Lois walked back to where she had last seen Clark as Kara checked to see if her girlfriend was ok.

The reporter stopped when she saw Clark talking to Lana.

Lois don't mind Lana too much, they had talked a few times and the raven-haired woman had to admit that Lana was a very talented fashion designer, however, Lois never like it when Lana and Clark talked to each other alone. The woman in purple always felt that there might be more that was going on between them, in fact, Lois wasn't a fan of Clark talking to any woman who wasn't her or a family member.

Lois walked up to them, hiding her frustration with a neutral expression. Lana continued to talk about what she was doing for the event as Clark wrote down notes. Before she finished her next sentence Lana caught sight of Lois walking toward them. Lana stopped talking, Clark looked at Lana with confusion as to why she had stopped when he heard his girlfriend speak.

"Hey Smallville, are coming or what?" Lois said in a way to sound joky but mostly to hide her jealousy.

"Oh, um I was just getting something for the paper." Clark said putting the notebook into his right trouser pocket.

"It's nice to see you again Lois, how you been?" Lana asked.

"Oh, you know been busy. Looking for stories, trying to keep my position on top..." Lois said before her tone turned slightly venomous. "... keeping an eye out for rats."

Lana quietly gulped. Clark decided that he and Lois should get going before things got worse.

"It was nice to see you again Lana." Clark said. "Good luck with the dresses."

"Um, thanks, Clark." Lana said. "See around."

Clark smile and walked off. Lois glared at Lana.

"We're just friends." Lana reassured the reporter in purple.

Lois narrowed her eyes in a way to say "Better keep it that way" before leaving to join Clark.

Lana walked away just as Clark turned his head to see her one last time. Lois narrowed her eyes at him.

"Don't give that look." Clark said.

"Then don't look at her." Lois said.

Clark just let out a silent grown of frustration. He and Lois returned to where Barbara and Kara were waiting for them.

As the day continued Clark, Lois, Barbara and Kara walked around the museum, going to the many different halls all filled with statues, old pottery, stuffed animals, fossils of extinct animals and artefacts of ancient cultures from long ago. They were at the ice age exhibit looking at a model replica of a Wolly Mammoth and its calf when Barbara caught sight of an older redhead in a green suit.

"Hey, that's Lana Lang." Barbara said causing the others to turn to where she was looking.

"What's she doing here?" Kara asked.

"She's designing the outfits for the event." Clark said with Lois rolling her eyes.

"How do you know that?" Kara asked.

"We talked a little." Clark said.

"Were you to catching up with her?" Kara asked.

"Wait you and Lana know each other?" Barbara asked in astonishment.

"You could say that." Clark said.

"She's his ex-girlfriend." Kara said.

"Really?" Barbara asked the black-haired man. Clark nodded. "What was it like?" Barbara asked.

"I'll tell you about some other time." Clark said.

"Maybe when your current girlfriend isn't with you." Lois said with her arms crossed.

Barbara and Kara felt that it was best if they let the two have some space.

"Um, we'll just be over there if you need us." Barbara said.

The young couple walked over to the museum's cafe.

Kara looked back at her cousin, who seemed to be having a small argument with Lois.

"Is she also that unpleasant when he talks about his past girlfriends?" Barbara asked as she order a cup of hot chocolate for herself and another one for Kara.

"It's not just with Lana. She gets like that whenever he mentions other women." Kara said.

"'Hate to see how's she's gonna react when she finds out his secret." Barbara said.

Kara nodded in agreement just as the man behind the count hand them their drinks.

"I'll get." Barbara said.

"No, I'll get it." Kara said.

"You got it last time." Barbara said just as she got her card out.

"I know but I want to treat you." Kara said as she got her card out.

"Thank you, but I'll pay this time." Barbara said. She was just about to pay when Kara bet her to it.

"You're welcome." Kara said.

"Kara." Barbara said in minor frustration.

"What?" the blond said.

"I said I would pay for it." Barbara said.

"I know but I want to pay this time." Kara said.

"Can't you just let me do it?" Barbara said.

"So it's a crime for me to treat you?" Kara said.

Before Barbara could respond the two of them heard a chuckle. They turned to see a woman in a green dress.

"Young couples." Lana said.

"Hi, Lana." Kara said.

"Hello, Kara." Lana said. The two of them had met years. "Haven't seen you in ages. How you been?" Lana asked.

"Fine. I heard you working on the outfits for the museum's charity event." Kara said.

"Yep. The dresses are still a long way off but I'll get there." Lana said with a shrug. "By the way who's your girlfriend?" the older woman asked.

"Hi my name is Barbara Gordon." Barbara said holding her hand out.

"Well, it's nice to meet you, Barbara." Lana said, shaking the younger redhead's hand.

"I'm a big fan of your work ms. Lang." Barbara said.

"Thanks." Lana said. "But please call me Lana."

"Ok, Lana." Barbara said.

"Ms. Lang." a voice said.

Lana turned to see a man. He was in charge of overseeing the preporations for the event.

"I'm just Mr. William." Lana said. She turned back to the young couple. "I'll see you around." Lana said before heading towards the man.

Barbara and Kara waved goodbye before they went back to Clark and Lois, both of who had finished arguing.

"What took you so long?" Lois asked.

"We got caught up with someone." Barbara said.

"Let me guess. Lana Lang?" Lois said.

Barbara and Kara nodded nervously.

"By any chance did you talk to her about Clark?" Lois said.

"No, we just talked about... stuff." Kara said.

Lois raised an eyebrow.

"She seems nice." Barbara said to Clark.

"She is. Stubborn at times but nice." Clark said. "She didn't mind you two dating did she?" Clark asked.

"She seemed to be ok with it." Barbara said.

"Of course, she would." Lois said in a jealous voice.

"What that's supposed to mean?" Barbara asked in frustration.

"What? You actually think she likes you? She's just saying that so to get back in his pants." Lois said.

"Or maybe she's doesn't care about who other people are dating." Barbara said with a glare.

"Oh please who in their right mind would be ok with freaks like you?" Lois said coldly.

Barbara's jaw dropped, appalled by what Clark's girlfriend had just said to her.

This was the breaking for Kara.

"Alright that's it! I have tried to be nice to Lois but all you do is be rude to me and insult me! I can put up with that but no one calls my girlfriend a freak!" Kara said in frutratioon.

"Oh, I'm sorry you two could be normal and date men like I do." Lois retorted.

"We're just as normal as you and Clark." Barbara said.

"Very funny, maybe you two do deserve each other. Your both freaks after all." Lois said.

"At least we do deserve each other, unlike you and Clark." Barbara said.

"Ha, I'm the best person Clark could get." Lois said.

"Clark can do better than you. Anyone can do better than you. Hell if anything, you deserver to be with someone who would treat you like trash, you bitch!" Kara yelled.

Lois glared harshly at the young blonde woman. Then Lois stormed off.

"Lois, wait." Clark said but the reporter in purple just continued walking Clark stared crossly at his cousin.

"What?" Kara asked.

"The first chance you get, you apologise to her." Clark said sternly.

"But she the one who started it." Kara protested.

"I'm not defending what she said. But you have no the right to say of that to her." Clark said before he went after Lois leaving Barbara and Kara in shock.

Lois was outside, where the sky had turned to night. She had just gotten to the bottom step when Clark appeared at door.

"Lois wait." Clark shouted.

Lois stopped walking. She turned around and crossed her arms as Clark came down the stairs.

"What happen back there?" Clark asked.

Lois turned and spoke to Clark. "Oh, nothing just that stupid redhead..."

"Hey, they didn't start the fight." Clark said sternly.

"I started that?" Lois yelled. "I'm sorry who were the ones going on about that overrated fashion designer?"

"This isn't about them is it? This about Lana." Clark said.

"Congratulation Smallville. You win the prize." Lois said sarcastically.

"How many times do I have to tell you? Me and Lana are just friends." Clark sternly.

"Maybe to you but I know she's trying to get back into your life." Lois said.

"You're being ridiculous." Clark said.

"I'm being ridiculous, oh I'm sorry I'm not allowed to be suspicious?" Lois said.

"Of who?" Clark asked in a strict voice.

"Don't try and be smart with me, farm boy! I saw you looking back at her when she was leaving." Lois said.

"I wanted to sure she was ok after your interrogation." Clark replied.

"Oh sure, you were. I guess you also need to make sure her ass was fine too." Lois retorted.

"Why is whenever I'm talking to other women you have the feeling I'm up to some?"

"Jees I don't know maybe because you might be looking at their cleavage." Lois said.

"You mean like what you do? When you're talking to men and looking at their chests?"

"Oh shut up Clark." Lois said. The raven-haired woman turned and walked off.

"Where are you going?" Clark asked.

"Going to cool off." Lois said.

"You can't walk alone out here at night. It's not safe." Clark said.

"Oh go lecture someone on dinos!" Lois retorted without looking back.

Clark looked down in frustration, shaking his head before heading back into the museum.

Unbeknownst to either of them, a dark figure had been listening to their argument in the shadows. Once Clark was back inside, the figure followed the woman in purple in the dark.

At nine o'clock, Barbara and Kara were sitting on the sofer watching the television before going off on their night patrol. Kara saw Barbara looking down with a sorrowful expression on her face.

"Are you ok Barbara?" Kara asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Barbara said but Kara could hear the sorrow in her voice.

"Are sure?" Kara asked.

Barbara nodded but Kara didn't buy it.

"Whatever it is you know you can tell me." Kara said.

"I heard what Lois said when we looking at the mother dinosaur." Barbara said.

"She didn't mean it. She was only asking what was bothering you." Kara said.

"But what if she's right? What if my mum won't approve of me? What if saw me as a disappointment?" Barbara said with salty water beginning to run down her face. The redhead then burst into tears. The blond put a hand on Barbara's shoulder.

"Barbara, you are not a disappointment to your mum. If anything you're exactly what any mother could want their little girl to be. A wonderful, kind and smart person who has achieved so many great things." Kara said.

Barbara turned to face her girlfriend.

"And I bet she would tell your dad to get over the fact your dating a woman."

Barbara hugged her girlfriend as the last of her tears fell.

"Thanks, Karwy." Barbara said.

Kara returned the smile before helping Barbara up to get ready for their night patrol.

Meanwhile, Clark was in his hotel room. Just like his cousin, he too was getting ready for the night watch. Just as he finished putting on his Superman suit, he wrote a small note for Lois, telling her he would be back late. Then he took to the skies to join Batgirl and Supergirl.

Elsewhere, Lois was walking alone down the street. She had cooled down a bit and began to think about how she could apologise to Barbara. Lois was just about to turn back when she saw she had come to an alleyway, which unbeknownst to her was the same alleyway where Joker had kidnapped Harley seven months ago. Lois looked at her watch, it was nearly ten o'clock. She remembered that there was a taxi station on the other side of the buildings. Lois walked into the alleyway. She had gotten halfway down the unsettling alleyway when she began to have the feeling that someone was behind her. Lois' heart beated loudly as her blood run cold with fear. She was just about to start running when something metal knocked her hard on the head, causing her to fall to the ground.

The last thing she saw as her vision faded was a blurred figure dressed in purple with green hair and bleached skin as everything went black.

Chapter 5: The Beginning of the End

Notes:

Trigger warning: This chapter contains scenes of graphic violence and torture. If these make you uncomfortable then please skip this chapter.

Chapter 5

The Beginning of the End

It was six o'clock in the morning as Barbara and Kara began to wake up to the sound of car noises outside and the warm sunlight peeking through the crack in the purplish-red curtains. Barbara stretched out her arms as Kara leaned on her side.

"Morning honey." Kara said to the woman in the black and purple nightwear.

"Morning." Barbara said turning over to look at her girlfriend in the blue nightgown.

"How are you feeling?" Kara asked in concern .

"I'm fine Kara." Barbara said.

"Your sure?" Kara asked as she gently stroked the redhead's cheek. Barbara nodded with a genuine smile. Kara smiled back, happy knowing her girlfriend was doing ok. Then Kara's smile turned a little slyer.

"What?" Barbara asked.

"Oh, nothing. Just I got some time before I need to go to work." Kara said getting on top of the redhead.

Barbara gave a loving smirk as she wrapped her legs around Kara under the covers. The two began to kiss, with Barbara moving her hand down Kara's back when the phone rang. They stopped kissing as Kara got off of Barbara and sat up on her side of the bed as she answered the phone.

"Hello?" Kara said as Barbara sat up behind her. The redhead put her head on Kara's left shoulder and her left arm around Kara's waist.

"Hello, Kara." Clark said.

"Oh, hi Clark." Kara said as Barbara played with the blonde's hair. Kara looked at Barbara and playfully shook her head at her girlfriend's loving antics.

"I was wondering if Lois was with you?" Clark asked.

"She not with you?" Kara asked. Barbara stopped what she was doing and lifted her head off her girlfriend's shoulder.

"No. She didn't come back last night." Clark said in a worried tone.

"I was hoping she came over to your place to apologies."

"We haven't seen her since yesterday." Kara said.

"I'm sure she's ok." Barbara said.

"We have to look for her, now." Clark said in a worried tone.

"We can't do that now, we have work today." Kara said.

"We'll begin looking for her on the night watch." Barbara said.

"Alright, just tell me if you see her." Clark said.

"We will." Kara said before putting the phone. Barbara noticed that Kara looked worried.

"He'll be ok." Barbara said.

Kara gave a small but brief smile. The blonde was worried about her cousin, especially after what happened yesterday and now with his girlfriend missing it might make things harder for him than they already. Barbara and Kara got off the bed to prepare for their respective jobs.

Meanwhile, Clark put his hotel room phone down then he got up to get changed for the day ahead.

Lois awoke to find herself tied up by her wrists and ankles on a rotten wooden chair in a dark room with the only light source being a dim light that barely lit up the dark mouldy room that had a rather horrible odour in the air. The room was empty except for a rotten wooden table that had a few metal objects on it such as crowbars and chain bars along with a large bag.

Her purple jacket had been removed revealing her black sleeveless top that showed off her cleavage.

Lois tried to free herself to no avail, with every pull causing the uncomfortable rope to rub against her skin. Then she heard an evil laugh that echoed around the room. Lois turned her head to the source of where the noise was coming from. Out of the darkest part of the shadows came a blenched white man with green hair and a purple suit.

"I see you're finally awake Ms. Lane." Joker said.

Lois glared at her kidnapper.

"What's the matter? Scared?" Joker asked.

"You don't scare me, you clown bastard." Lois said. "I already know why you're holding me hostage."

"Oh." Joker said pretending to be interested.

"You just need me to bring Superman to you. Whatever you have planned for him it won't work." Lois said smugly.

"Oh, I'm not after Superman." Joker said.

"Then why did you kidnap me?" Lois asked feeling a little nervous and scared.

"It's been so awfully dull since Harley left me." Joker said in a false sorrowful voice. "I need a woman in my life. Maybe someone with a degree in journalism." Joker said running a finger down her cheek and giving a smile.

Lois' eyes widened in horror. She spat in his eye. "Don't even think about you sadistic freak." Lois said with venom in her voice between her teeth.

The man in purple wiped the saliva out of his eye. Then Joker slapped Lois hard across the face, leaving a red mark on her right cheek.

"Watch your tongue you bitch. Or do I need to cut it out from your mouth?" Joker threatened.

Lois don't reply, she knew that Joker was a man whose bite was far worse than his bark. When he made a threat he would go through on it with no hesitation.

He turned around and walked to the table. Joker grabbed a crowbar and walked towards Lois, whistling the tune "I've been working on the railroad." as he did so.

Lois didn't dare to breathe, feared by what was about to happen.

Still whistling, Joker swung the crowbar hitting Lois as hard as he could. Lois whined in pain as the rusted metal left a nasty bruise on her upper arm. Joker swung the bar again, hitting her right leg along with one of the chair's legs. The wooden chair leg broke causing Lois to fall to the hard concrete ground. Joker stood over his helpless victim, showing no sympathy for her.

"Don't worry Lois. Soon this will all be over..." he paused for effect. "...once you become my new Harley." He laughed as he continued to beat her, each hit harder than the last. His psychopathic laughs drowned out Lois' screams of pain.

Meanwhile, Clark, who was wearing his usual blue suit and trousers, was with Kara who was in a white shirt and black trousers were walking down the street. Since moving to Gotham Kara had gotten a job as a reporter for the Gotham Globe. As they walked Kara noticed that Clark was looking down at the pavement.

"Are you ok Clark?" Kara asked.

"I'm fine. I'm just worried about Lois, that all." Clark said.

There was an awkward silence as the two walked. Kara decided to change the subject.

"So what did you and Lana talk about yesterday? Other than the dresses of course." Kara asked.

"We only chatted for a minute. She's a busy woman at the moment." Clark said.

"So are you gonna try and spend more time catching up with Lana?" Kara asked.

"Why not?" Kara said.

"I don't have time. I have to work on my story for the Daily Planet and I have to find Lois." the man in blue said.

"Clark, Lois be ok, she can take care of herself." Kara said.

Clark sighed. "It's more than that. We got into a fight last night." Clark said.

"Let me guess, over Lana?" Kara said. Clark nodded. "I have to make it up to her."

"For the third time this month." Kara muttered under her breath.

"I heard that." Clark said sternly.

"Ha, I'm kidding." Kara said, although she wasn't wrong, this was the third time Clark had to make amends with Lois over a disagreement. "But will you at least consider catching up with Lana?" the blonde asked.

"If I had time I will." Clark said.

Kara couldn't quite put her finger on it but there was something in the way Clark had talked about spending some time with Lana that sounded like there was more to it than that. As they came closer to the building where Kara worked, Clark noticed that his cousin was also looking a bit upset.

"Is there something bothering you?" Clark asked.

The young woman let out a sign. "Me and Mr Gordon still aren't seeing eye to eye." Kara said.

"He still doesn't like you and Barbara dating?" Clark asked. Kara nodded. "I'm sure it just going to take some time." he said.

"I know but it's been seven months, I just want him to see me as part of the family." Kara said.

"It takes a while, sometimes years but people do eventually come round to change." Clark said. "I'm sure he'll consider you as part of his family."

"Thanks Clark." Kara said.

Clark smiled. He waved goodbye as his cousin entered the building to begin her job.

Back at Joker's hideout, which this time was an abandoned factory, Joker was still hitting Lois with the rusty crowbar. After a few more hits the mad clown of a man stopped and picked up a large bag of salt. Lois, who had a few open wounds on her, shook her head in horror as her eyes widen in pure fear as she muttered the word no, which unfortunately fell on deaf ears. As he reached her Joker stood above her and poured the salt onto her open wounds. Lois scream in agony from the unbearable pain before Joker returned to using the crowbar.

As the working hours came to an end Barbara left her job and went into an alleyway. She went behind some creates to change into her Batgirl suit. Once she was done she made her to the tops of the builds to begin her night portal and to help search for Lois Lane.

As Batgirl walked across the rooftops, she saw a green figure with red hair.

"What are you up to now Ivy?" Batgirl whispered.

The redhead in purple followed the figure to the museum. Batgirl jumped down and landed behind her.

"Hold it right there Ivy." Batgirl said. The figure turned to revile themselves to be Lana Lang.

"Sorry I thought you were... Poison Ivy." Batgirl said.

Lana raised an eyebrow with a neutral expression on her face. Batgirl gave an embarrassed smile.

Lana let out a small chuckle with smile. "Well if I ever learn to control plants then you can see me as someone to watch out for."

"I'll keep that in mind." Batgirl joked.

"So how's Supergirl?" Lana asked.

"She's good." Batgirl said. "I'll be joining her soon."

"In more ways then one?" Lana said with a teasing expression and a raised eyebrow. Batgirl blushed a little but smiled nonetheless.

"By the way nice suit, I'm guessing the black pants where Supergirl's idea." Lana said.

"Um, mine actually." Batgirl said.

The older woman chucked. "By the way, how's Superman?" Lana asked.

"Not great. Lois has gone missing." Batgirl said in a serious tone.

"What?" Lana asked in shock.

"We don't know what's happened but she hasn't been seen all day." Batgirl said.

"Oh my. I hope she's alright." Lana said.

"Me too." Batgirl said. "I hate to leave in a rush but I have to get back to search."

"I'll keep an eye out for her and tell you if I see anything." Lana said.

"Thank you." Batgirl said before she turned back to resume her duties.

"And tell Kara I said hi." Lana said.

Barbara turned around in shock.

Lana smiled in a friendly and winked.

Barbara smiled. Then grabbing her grappling hook, she made her way back to the rooftops as Lana walked toward the museum.

It was midnight when Joker finally stopped betting the Daily Planet's famous reporter. Lois breathed slowly and deeply. Her skin was covered in large bruises and deep cuts.

"That was a wonderful day. I can't wait for tomorrow or the day after that and the day after that." Joker said in a gleefully wicked voice as he untied the rope around Lois' legs.

"Time for bed Ms. Lane." Joker said as he lead Lois to another room. This room had no actual bed instead Lois was to sleep on a damp, old, mouldy mattress. The dark grey paint on the walls was beginning to pell off and cockroaches scurried across the creaky wooden floor. The only other item in the room was a flower vessel with a few flowers in it.

Lois was pushed by Joker onto the floor.

"Night Lois." Joker said with a cruel grin.

Lois looked up in fear and confusion.

"This is the part where you say night to me." Joker said. Lois couldn't speak.

"Say it bitch." Joker said narrowing his eyes and saying the last word through his teeth.

"Do I have to bet the words out of you?" Joker said as he showed the crowbar. Lois gasped in fear and began to cry.

"Now what you say?" Joker asked rhetorically.

"Night Joker." Lois said as tears began to run which stung as the saltwater fell into small opened cuts under her eyes.

"Good." Joker said. "I expect you to say that every night before you go to bed. Otherwise..." Joker swang the crowbar at a flower vessel, smashing it to pieces. "Understand?"

Lois nodded her head in fear with a whimper.

"Good. See you tomorrow Lois." Joker said with a wicked grin. "Night night sleep tight hope the bedbugs bite." Joker left the room chuckling cruelly.

Lois curled up into a ball on the mattress, shivering in the cold room. Lois had no idea that what she had just experienced was only child's play, tomorrow the real torture would begin.

Chapter 6: I Will Survive

Author's note: Trigger warning, like the previous character, this character contains scenes of torture. Please skip if this makes you uncomfortable.

Special thanks to Princesspopular6417 for helping me come up with this chapter's title.

Please enjoy.

---

Chapter 6

I Will Survive

Lois was sleeping uncomfortably on the old mattress, tossing and turning as she tried to find the right way to get comfortable. Her cuts and bruises were still sore from yesterday.

Suddenly she heard the door handle being rattled causing her to awaken quickly.

She shot up as the door opened. Joker came in carrying a large bucket of water filled with large chunks of ice.

"What's that for?" A terrified Lois asked.

Joker smiled and bend down to the petrified woman. "I just want to see how long you could survive in cold water." He said. Then he grabbed the back of Lois' head and focused her face down into the bucket.

The ice made Lois' face to be unbearably cold cursing her face to lose any form of colour. Lois struggled to free herself as the air in her lungs began to run thin. Joker just grinned as the bucket began to fill with air bubbles as the woman tried to get oxygen into her body. After five minutes just as Lois was close to drowning, Joker finally allowed her to breathe.

Lois gasped for air whilst colour returned to her face, as Joker looked at his watch.

"Hmm. Impressive. I must say that you lasted longer than I expected." Joker said to her. Lois didn't hear what he had said, she was too busy getting her breath back.

"Now that you're done with your warm-up. We can begin the real fun." Joker said.

"Please don't bet again." Lois said with tears running down her cheeks.

"Bet you? I won't bet you. After all, there's more than one to break an egg." Joker said.

"What… what… are… you… going… to… to… do… do… to… me?" Lois said trembling in fear, barely able to get the words out.

"Now ms Lane, do you really want me to ruin the surprise for you? Hum?" Joker said. "Now get up times a wasting."

Lois slowly stood up.

"Now let's go." Joker said. Lois didn't dare move.

"Come on Lois. Don't you want some fun?" Joker asked.

"No!" Lois shouted before coving her mouth with her hand.

Joker glared at her. Lois didn't dare make a noise as the psychopath moved his arm upwards. Joker grabbed Lois' ear and twist it, causing the helpless lady to scream in pain.

"Don't ever speak like that to me again!" He yelled. "Understand!"

Lois whimpered a yes.

Joker released her and then spoke in a calm voice.

"Now then Lois I'll make you a promise. If you can behave and save all my tests today, I'll give you a present."

"What is it?" Lois asked in both worry and confusion.

"Oh, you'll see." Joker said with a cruel grin. "Now let's have some fun." Joker said. He grabbed Lois by the wrist and dragged her down a hallway to a large room. As they passed one of the rooms Lois thought she heard a bubbling noise. She grow nervous which Joker noticed.

"Don't worry. What behind those doors isn't for you... yet." Joker said.

After walking a little more, Joker and Lois arrived at a large room filled with many contraptions that were made to break the spirit of even the toughest person.

Also in the room was a large spin-wheel that had some forms of torture written down.

Joker dragged Lois to the wheel. He handed Lois to two of his goons as span the wheel.

"Now let's see what you'll be doing first?" Joker asked in a cruel tone. The wheel stopped at the slot that said shook quiz.

"Oh goody, one of my favourites." Joker said.

Joker walked over to an electric chair, with the goons carrying Lois over as she begged them not to. Joker strapped in the chair and lowered the helmet onto her head. Then the bleached man walked over to the switch.

"Now Lois this is simple. I'm going to ask you a series of questions. Every time you get one wrong then I pull the switch. Understand?" Joker said.

Before Lois could answer Joker spoke again. "Good. let's begin."

Joker took out a set of white cards from his inner jacket pocket. "Question one. Who was the man to discover Elephants?"

Lois had no idea who it was.

"Oh I'm sorry times up." Joker said. He pulled the switch and Lois screamed in agony as the electric bolts shot through her body. Joker had set it so that Lois won't die but still feel a large amount of pain. After seven seconds Joker turned it off.

"Question two. Name the three greatest villains of all time." Joker said.

"You, Lex…" Lois said before being shocked again.

"Incorrect. I'm the only villain in the top three." Joker said as he turned off the electricity.

"Question three. Who is the biggest slut in all of Gotham?" Joker asked.

"Lana Lang." Lois said, gritting her teeth. Joker was about to pull the switch again when an idea came to him.

"You're absolutely correct." Joker said. much to Lois' surprise, she was sure that the answer would be either Harley Quinn or Poison Ivy gave they were the women that Joker hated most of all.

Joker beamed. "Although you can't blame every man for wanting to get in her knickers…" he paused. "… especially Clark."

Lois' left eye twitched.

For the next hour, Joker asked near-impossible questions and gave Lois a nasty shock when she couldn't answer them, but every so often asked a question that would make Lois answer Lana Lang then he would say something about Lana and Clark being an item, knowing it would add fuel to the ever-growing fire of hatred in her.

Once Joker was done with the questions, he unstrapped Lois and brought her back to the wheel, with the two goons holding her in place. Joker spun the wheel again. This time it landed on the slot that read laughing den. Joker grinned as he took Lois to a door. Joker opened the door showing the smaller lightless room which had three hyenas, one female and the other two male.

"I thought you only had two hyenas?" Lois asked in a voice that was a mix of confusion and terror.

"I did, unfortunately, Lou and Bud are Harley's now." Joker said bitterly before continuing in a calmer tone. "These are Whoopi, Cheech and Jim."

The three hyenas looked at their master, laughing as they did so.

"Now I want you to get acquainted with them." Joker said.

"WHAT!" Lois shouted.

Joker pushed her into the room and locked the door.

"I think four hours will do." Joker said. "Make sure she doesn't escape." He told his two goons.

"Yes, boss." One of the goons.

Joker left the factory to take a walk in the darker parts of Gotham where he was less likely to be spotted by Superman.

In the small room, Lois was in a corner not daring to blink in case the hyenas attacked her. The carnivore's eyes glowed bright yellow in the dark. As Lois watched them she began to notice their personalities. Whoopi was the leader of the pack. She was the largest of the three and the most aggressive, often putting the other two in their place.

Cheech was the middle hyena of the pack. He seemed to be a fighter given he had serval scratches on his shoulders and face.

Jim was the smallest of the three. He often had his tongue sticking out on the right side of his mouth and seemed to never stop laughing.

Lois whimpered as the three spotted hyenas came closer to her, baring their sharp teeth.

"Nice hyenas." Lois said as Whoopi came just inches away from her. Suddenly Cheech lunged toward Lois. The helpless human shut her eyes, but before Cheech had even reached her throat, Whoopi grabbed him by the jaw and the two hyenas began to fight. Jim watched them, laughing whilst doing so.

Meanwhile, Harley, wearing black jeans, a red short-sleeved shirt and had her hair in a ponytail, was walking Bud and Lou in the park. By passers gave worried looks as the hyenas sniffed the ground. Just then a man recognised Harley.

"Hey, I know you?" The tall skinny man with glasses said. "Your Joker's ex-girlfriend."

"Oh yeah." Harley said in a sorrowful tone.

Bud and Lou snarled at the man.

"Are your pets ok?" The man asked nervously.

"Oh, they're just hungry." Harley said coldly. "I would start running if I was you."

The man turned and ran as fast as he could.

Bud and Lou stopped snarling and gave their mistress a sympathetic look.

"Thanks boys, mummy's lucky to have you." Harley said bending down and hugging her hyenas.

Bud and Lou lovingly licked her face.

"Ok, ok." Harley said with a chuckle. The three returned to their walk with the hyenas pulling to get to a nearby lamppost to do their business, knowing that their mistress's girlfriend won't like them doing it on any form of plant life.

Back at the factory, Lois had been locked in the room with the Whoopi, Cheech and Jim for six hours. Thankfully the hyenas hadn't been able to attack her due to fighting amongst themselves.

Joker finally returned and unlocked the door. Once it was opened Lois rushed out. Joker locked the door before the hyenas could escape.

"Sorry I lost track of time." Joker said smugly.

"Please tell me we're done." Lois begged.

"Not yet. There's still one more test." Joker said cruelly.

The two goons brought Lois back to the wheel. Joker spun the wheel again this time it landed on a wheel that obstacle court of death. Lois' eyes widened in horror as Joker lead her to a large obstacle court made up of serval devices with sharp edges.

"You have three minutes." Joker said. "Fail and you'll die."

"I'll never survive!" Lois said.

"Well, we'll never know if you try." Joker said.

Knowing that she had no choice in the matter, Lois entered the death court as Joker hang up a pistol in the air.

"On your mark. Get set. GO!" Joker said as he pulled the trigger on the pistol.

Lois ran as fast as she could unit she reached the first obstacle which was a large fast spinning wheel with eleven sharp large swords in its twelve slots. Lois looked nervously as she waited for the right moment to jump through. After waiting a while she finally jumped over the wheel with one of the swords nearly catching the tip of her leg. Once Lois had landed, she began to run again until she came to the next obstacle. She had to cross a very narrow thin bridge that had three pendulum blazes and below was a pool of water filled with red-bellied piranhas that had been starved by Joker to make them extra dangerous. Lois gulped and slowly made her way across the thin bridge with the piranhas eyeing her. Joker looked at his stopwatch, Lois had only two minutes left. Just then a third goon came into the room with a box in his hands.

"Do you have it?" Joker asked the third goon.

"Kind of, I couldn't get the one you wanted but I found something similar." The goon said nervously.

Joker gave a neutral expression opened the box and looked at the gift. To the goon's surprise, Joker didn't get angry, instead, the green-haired man smiled.

"Oh, this is even better." Joker said gleefully. "Now let's see how my new Harley is coming along." Joker said as he went over to where Lois was.

Lois was halfway across the bridge when she saw Joker. He showed her the stopwatch reminding her that she was running short on time. Lois quickly but carefully across the bridge nearly getting cut by the blade. Lois run the final leg of the court and arrived at the final obstacle. It was a large row of metal spikes that shot out of the ground if stepped on the wrong spot. Lois gulped she would have to rush this obstacle especially now that she only had thirty seconds left.

"Lana would have been done by now." Joker said in a mocking tone.

This angered Lois even more, she closed her eyes and run as fast as she possibly could, nearly getting pierced by the spikes serval times. With half a second left Lois just managed to finish the obstacle court.

Lois panted once she had finished. Her legs could bare hold her up as her muscles ached.

Joker clapped slowly as he approached her. Lois turned to look at him.

"Congratulations Lois, you did it. Now here's my present to you." Joker said as he handed her someone clothing.

Lois was shocked by the outfit. The outfit was a pair of red and black pant-like shorts with three black diamond symbols on the red side, a revealing black and red bikini-like top that had a black diamond symbol on the red side and a red star on the black side and a pair of heels, one red and one black.

"I was going to get you a jesters costume but I think this will fit your personality better." Joker said in a calm voice.

Lois don't want to say anything although she had to admit the new costume would make a nice Halloween costume but the raven-haired woman hated the idea of wearing something this revealing for someone like Joker.

"Now I've been genres to you this one time Lois but when I next see you I expect you to be in that outfit which will be your only form of clothing from now on." Joker said sternly. He then leaned in closer until his face was just inches away from hers. "Understand."

Lois nodded and whimpered in a way that sounded like a scared yes.

"Good." Joker said. He lead her back to her room and pushed her in.

"Night Lois." Joker said.

"Night Joker." Lois said. Once Joker closed the door Lois began to change.

Outside Joker was walking over to a room that had a wooden chair and desk. Joker sat down on the chair and began to think about what would be his next form of torture for his new Harley. Joker knew he would have to bring out the big guns (metaphorically speaking) if he was going to break Lois for good. He couldn't risk her leaving him like Harley did. He knew that part of the reason why Harley had been able to escape him was that there was still some kindness in the former psychiatrist. Harley was still a rogue at heart and won't hesitate to cause trouble for Batman or any other hero for that matter, but she still had her mortals. This time Joker would make sure that his new girlfriend would be just as twisted and evil as him.

---

Author's note: Lois' new outfit is based on Harley Quinn's from the 2019 show of the same name.

Also, can anyone spot the reference to the three new hyenas' names?

Chapter 7: A Hard Day in Gotham

Chapter 7

A Hard Day in Gotham

As the first rays of sunlight spread over Gotham, the city began to wake. At eight o'clock, Joker came into Lois' room where she was now wearing her new black and red outfit. Joker gestured with his finger for Lois to come into the light so he could get a better look at her in her new look. Knowing that disobeying the man known as the Prince of Crime would result in her getting beaten to a pulp, so Lois stopped just in front of her captor.

"Hmm, very impressive," he complimented as he circled Lois like a vulture flying down to feast on a fresh carcass. "I must say that it really brings out the real you." He stroked her left cheek.

Lois just glared at him without a word, knowing full well what he was capable of.

"Now then, are you ready?" Joker asked.

"For what?"

A cruel grin appeared on Joker's face. "Let's just say you'll be swimming with the fishes today." Then grabbing her by the wrist, he lead her to a room that had two tanks of cold salt water. Joker pushed Lois into the larger of the two and then two goons closed the lid. The water level was just high enough for Lois to be able to surface for air. She held her breath and her eyes began to sting from the salt. She saw Joker smiling and pointing to something behind her. She whipped around, her eyes wide in fear. There was a large pipe that connected the tank to the smaller tank which held a starving Great White shark. It had several scars along its right side and a small chunk missing from its left fin.

"I named him Bruce. I would be careful if I was you, he can smell fear," Joker laughed with a twisted smile. "See you in a few hours."

Lois looked at the shark, hoping that the predator wouldn't come to her.

---

Elsewhere in the city, Clark was walking out of the hotel to the museum. He had just arrived at a nearby bus stop when he saw Lana walking down the street on the other side of the road.

"Morning," he called out to her.

The woman in the grey cream-colored suit turned in his direction. "Oh, hey!" she greeted. She looked both ways and quickly ran across. She looked at his fine work suit and commented, "Looking dapper today, are we? So, where are you heading?"

"The museum, I'm going to interview one of the heads of the new research facility," he explained as they sat on a wooden bench.

"Mind if come with you? I'm heading there anyway."

"Um, sure."

After sitting silently for about twelve seconds Lana decided to speak. "So, how's Kara?"

"Good."

Lana noticed how anxious he seemed, even though she knew why. She took a deep breath before carefully choosing her next words. "Barbara told me about what happened to Lois," she commented in a genuine tone. Clark gave her a worried look. "Don't worry, you'll find her." Lana encouraged him.

"Thanks."

Lana smiled just as the bus arrived, which they both boarded, and headed off to the museum. She still noticed how Clark looked down at the floor.

"Is something on your mind?"

"Oh, it's nothing, I'm just worried about Lois," he clarified.

"You sure?"

Clark hesitated for a moment. He sighed, "We got into a fight the other day, she left to cool off and she didn't come back."

Lana thought carefully about how to word her next sentence. "Well just remember, it's nobody's fault about what happened."

Clark gave a small smile. "I just hope I can make it up to her."

"Of course, you will."

"You think I can?"

"I know you can," she reassured him.

"Thanks, Lana."

---

Back at Joker's hideout, Lois was still trying to get out tank after nearly three hours. She had managed to find a small door on the lid, however, it was heavy so, she had trouble pushing it open. To make matters worse the shark was working its way through the pipe. Lois had to constantly swim back under the water to make sure that the large creature wasn't in the same tank as her. As every second passed her heart thudded louder in her ears. She swam down again, and to her horror, she saw the tip of the shark's nose poke out of the pipe.

Lois froze in fear, trying to think of how to get the door opened. Just as the shark's dorsal fin came out of the tank the predator began to rocket towards her. She swam out of the way just in the nick of time. The speed and force of the shark's attack caused it to rocket to the surface and broke the small door clean off its handles. Lois swam behind the shark and waited for it to free itself, then before the shark even had enough time to turn around and try her, Lois bolted past and jumped out of the cold salty water. She ran to the room's door but to her surprise, it wasn't locked. She opened the door only to find Joker looking at his watch.

"You didn't take nearly as long to get out of that tank as I thought you would," he merely stated.

Lois didn't move a muscle as the saltwater dripped off her body.

"Guess you prefer the other Bruce," Joker snickered before leaning in a little with a raised eyebrow, "and maybe someone else?" Lois' eyes narrowed slightly. "Well come on, time for your next test!" He then took his mistress down the hallway to a room where her next form of torture awaited.

---

Clark had finished his interview at the museum. The black-haired man made his way to the cafeteria to meet up with Lana once she was on her break. He ordered two cups of coffee and made his way to a table with four chairs. He had only just sat down when Lana arrived.

"So, how did it go?" she asked as she took her seat next to him.

"Great." He slid Lana her coffee.

"Thanks. So, can you tell me anything about what they're doing?"

"That's classified information; you'll have to wait for when the paper comes out." Clark teased.

"Damn it," Lana joked. "Guess I'll have to cancel your visit to the workshop to see the new outfits."

"Darn," he retorted in a similar tone.

After a few minutes of casual banter, 'Work' Kara walked into the museum with her girlfriend who must have also just been released from her 9 to 5. They had agreed to meet up with Clark during their break, so were surprised to see their additional guest.

"Hi," Kara said.

"Hello, Kara," he returned.

"It's nice to see you again, Lana," Barbara greeted.

"And you too," Lana nodded.

"I'm just going to get us something to drink, I'll be back," she said on her way to the counter.

Before she spoke, Kara made sure that no one else was in ear range. "So, how did you guess about the identities of Batgirl and Supergirl?"

"Simple, Clark has a blond cousin who's dating a redhead." Lana plainly explained, then whispered, "and I already managed to figure out who our Superman is years ago."

"Bright one," she complimented.

"When did you tell them?" Clark asked Lana just as Barbara returned with two diet colas.

"Actually she only told me last night when I, briefly, mistook her for Poison Ivy," Barbara said in a slightly embarrassed voice as she sat down.

"How could mistake her for Ivy?"

"It was dark and she was wearing a green suit," she clarified, earning a chuckle from Kara.

"Hey, it was an honest mistake. Besides I think I could make a pretty convincing Poison Ivy," Lana said in a voice that must have been meant to mock the Queen of Green. The other three chuckled, and she rolled her eyes while making polite eye contact with Barbara. "Alright then, let's see you do better."

Barbara smirked and leaned over to Kara. "Oh, Harleen, you're so sexy in that dress," she said in a scarily good impression of Ivy, as she played with her girlfriend's long blonde hair, her other hand placed delicately on the Argonian's chest.

"Easy Babsy, she only asked you to do a voice," Kara blushed while she tried to hold in her laughter.

Barbara then looked back at Lana with a victorious smirk.

"Touche," Lana gave in, making Clark let out a small laugh.

Kara smiled seeing her cousin genuinely laugh for the first time in a long time.

As the four talked a woman clad in black walked by in nice casual wear, the only color from her dress being her neatly pushed back red hair. Poison Ivy, in white makeup, had heard about the upcoming charity event and formed a plan to steal some of the museum's rare flora. She walked into the Mammal's Hall where Harley was waiting for her next to a pair of stuffed tigers. She had on a brown jacket, boots, blue jeans, and a pair of dark sunglasses with her hair up in a casual bun.

Part of Ivy's plan was for Harley to disguise herself as a security guard who let her in during the event. While she looked for the plant, Harley had been tasked with looking for a guard who matched or came close to her physique for the event.

"Did you find one?" she asked, earning a nod of confirmation. "Which one?"

"That one," Harley nodded at a blonde female guard. "Do you think she'll work?"

"She'll be perfect."

"So, how should we get her?"

Ivy whispered her cruel idea to her partner.

---

The Clown Prince of Crime had just finished another form of torture for Lois. For the past three hours, he had locked her in a room with the heater stuck at one-hundred-nine degrees Fahrenheit. Joker arrived at the door with a bottle of water in hand and a smug grin on his face. Lois came stumbling out on her hands and knees. She was dripping in sweat and as she reached out for the bottle, Joker pulled away and slowly drank it himself.

"Oh, I'm sorry, did you want some?" he mocked her.

Lois didn't have the strength to reply, she just wanted to get out of this nightmare.

"Now Miss Lane you shouldn't be ashamed that got yourself stuck in that room," he smugly commented. "Now let's have some more fun." A goon handed him a large rusty pipe. Just as Lois looked up, Joker swung the pipe hard across the back. She fell to the floor in pain with tears forming in her eyes. "Oh, don't cry, sweetheart, I'm sure Superman will be here to save you..." he once again mocked with sympathy. Then his tone turned deeply sinister, "That is IF he comes for you."

Joker laughed as he continued to beat his helpless victim.

---

As five-fifty came around, the museum closed for the night. Clark left with his old flame, their bantering never dying out even as they reached their bus stop.

"Thanks for walking me to the bus stop." she said.

"Don't mention it."

"So what are you doing tomorrow?"

"Probably going to get some pictures for the event."

Lana took note that Clark had an unsure look on his face. "Is there something you want to ask me?" she asked.

He hesitated before he spoke. "I was wondering if you would like to catch up sometime?"

"Oh sure, I'm free next Tuesday?"

"Great, well, I'll see you around. Night, Lana," he happily nodded before leaving for the night watch.

"Good night Clark." She said, waving goodbye until he was gone.

In the shadows of the museum, under the noses of Gotham's protectors, Harley and Ivy, now wearing their usual outfits, waited just outside for the guard to come out. In time, 'Tara' exited the building. The crime duo learned that her shift was to begin at eight and end well after the gala was supposed to end. Tara made her way to her blue car, feeling uneasy as if she was being followed by someone or something.

Suddenly a woman in a red and black jester's suit stepped in front of Tara. "Evening, Miss," Harley greeted with a wicked smile.

Tara quickly turned around to run away only to be met by a sexy green woman. "What's the matter?" Ivy taunted as she approached the terrorized woman.

Tara was about to scream but Harley covered her mouth. As Ivy went to grab the bag, she noticed her girlfriend's expression had changed to worry. She turned around to see Superman hovering in front of them. Ivy quickly summoned her special vines to attack the Man of Steel and grabbed the bag. Harley threw Tara to the ground before she and her partner made a run for it.

Clark management to dodge the vines. He flew off to catch the criminals but just before reaching them, a straggling vine grabbed Tara around her waist, so he quickly flew back to rescue her.

The two criminals escaped into an alleyway, just as they turned a sharp bend they came face to face with their doppelganger heroines.

"Nice suit, Bat-slut." Ivy teased the woman in purple.

Batgirl growled crossly at her. "Take that back or I'll-"

"What? How can you get us when you have something else to take care of?" she responded with a cruel smirk.

Suddenly, two vines shot out of the ground. Supergirl and Batgirl gasped in horror as vines began their assault. Ivy and her partner casually walked passed.

"Au revoir, madames," the femme fatale teased.

Meanwhile, Superman was still trying to free Tara from the vines. He tried to pull them apart but every attempt was met with a brutal whip from the vines. As he dodged yet another potential strike, he thought of something.

"I'll be back as soon as I can," he assured Tara.

"Ok, please hurry," she cried.

He jetted off.

Back at the alleyway, the girls were still fighting off their vines, dodging every assault that accosted them. Batgirl began to calculate the vines' pattern. She gave her girlfriend a few hand signals to communicate her plan and Supergirl nodded.

"Now," she commanded.

They ran at the vines as plants began another attack. The two heroines dodged past the attacks by zigzagging into the free spaces. Then Batgirl jumped up and her partner grabbed her before flying up into the sky until the vines couldn't reach them. They landed on a nearby rooftop.

"Supergirl," Superman called.

"What is it?" Kara asked.

"I need your help."

"But Ivy-"

"Don't worry honey, I can take care of them," Batgirl reassured her.

Supergirl nodded and turned to her cousin. "Alright, what's the problem?"

"Some of Ivy's vines trapped a guard. I need you to help pull her free," he requested.

"Got it," she nodded and followed him.

They dashed off in different directions. The cousins arrived at the scene to confront the vicious vines.

"I'll pull on the right you'll pull on the left," he said.

Supergirl nodded then they flew down and grabbed the vines on their respective sides. With their combined strength they manage to loosen the vines just enough for Tara to free herself. They grabbed her and flew her away to safety.

Meanwhile, Ivy and her partner were still running until Batgirl dropped in front of them.

"Hand over the bag!" she demanded.

"Oh, how cute the brat thinks she can handle us all by herself."

"You have us at a bit of a disadvantage, Battybrat. There's two of us and only one of you," Harley agreed with a smirk.

Batgirl glared at her foes. The three had a stand-off until a sudden burst of energy led to them charging at one another. Soon they fought with vicious kicks, low blows, and spiteful dodges.

Batgirl tried her best, but it proved to be difficult for her to handle both villains at the same time, as soon as she had the upper hand on one, she got a surprise attack from the other.

Soon Batgirl was on her back after a hard kick to the round.

"Care to do the honor?" Ivy asked her girlfriend and handed her a rope.

"With pleasure," she replied, however, before she could tie her up, the Supers arrived and carried Harley up into the air.

Ivy spread her hands out to summon her new vines, however, her opponent sprung up and punched her in the stomach, soon giving her a roundhouse kick to the face. The Eco-Terrorist crumpled unconscious to the ground.

"That's for calling me Bat-slut." Batgirl bitterly retorted.

A few minutes later, the police arrived and returned Tara's belongings. The two villains were cuffed and put in a van while Commissioner Gordon talked to the superheroes.

"Thanks, we've been trying to get these two for months," he explained.

"Don't mention it, always happy to help out," Supergirl very politely nodded.

"So, how long will they be locked up for?" Batgirl asked.

"Hopefully, twenty years," Jim replied.

"Maybe forty."

"Maybe."

"Excuse me, Commissioner Gordon." Superman interjected, "I was hoping that I could ask for your help."

"What would that be?" he replied.

"Lois Lane has gone missing, do you think you could have a team look for her?"

"Of course, I'll get one together right away."

"Thank you."

Jim smiled and tipped his cap before they parted ways.

Clark, Kara, and Barbara, now in casual clothing, waited at the bus stop.

"Do you think they'll be able to find her?" he asked.

"Of course, they will." Barbara tried to reassure him. "My dad knows that the police force is better than anyone else. Trust me he'll send the best of the best."

"And even if they can't, we will," Kara added.

"I hope so." he somberly finished

She replied confidently, "Of course, we will."

"I just hope she's ok, especially given how dangerous Gotham's criminals are."

"Even if she's stuck with one, we'll save her. I know she'll be overjoyed to see you again."

"You could even use that as a reason to pop the question," Barbara added.

Clark just quietly hummed, leaving the two women very confused. Before either, one of them could ask what was wrong, the bus arrived.

---

Elsewhere, Harley and Ivy waited patiently as they always did for the right moment to make their escape. As quietly as she could Quinn slipped out a paperclip from her right boot which she used to unlock her cuffs. Once free, she did the same for her girlfriend. A few seconds later the van stopped at a sign. This was the moment they needed.

Harley handed Ivy a seed which the redhead used to grow a massive plant that split the van in half and knocked the drivers unconscious. They stole away to the shadows.

---

At Joker's hideout, the psychopathic man had finished his daily torture of Lois.

"There we are, done for the day wasn't that fun?" he asked rhetorically. Lois glared at him as she got up. "Now don't give that look, after all your cross face is too adorable." He took a long look at her before finally saying, "Well, time for bed, come along." He led her down the hall to her room. "Good night, Lois."

"Good Joker," she replied with a hint of anger.

Joker shut the door so Lois began to fall asleep on the uncomfortable mattress, muttering to herself what she would like to do to Joker.

The Clown Prince of Crime, meanwhile walked back to his office to get ready for tomorrow when a goon came up to him.

"Boss, what are we going to do if Superman comes?" he asked nervously.

"I thought of that," Joker said, revealing in his pocket a small piece of green kryptonite.

Chapter 8: A Night of Surprises

Author's note: I would like to thank AFY2018 for helping me with this story as Beta reader.

I am also Beta reading two stories for SawuScimitar74 called Southern Lord and Frozen Exteriors, Thawed Interiors. Please check out their work.

---

Chapter 8

A Night of Surprises

In her abandoned greenhouse, Ivy and her partner got ready for bed. Harley was in the bedroom wiping off her makeup while Ivy was in the bathroom in a greenish set of pajamas.

"Boy, that was way too close," Quinn noted as she put on her pink pajamas.

"You can say that again," Pamela replied after she finished brushing her teeth.

"Do you think we'll have to live somewhere else for a while?"

"No, we're fine," she assured her on her way to bed. Ivy sat next to her girlfriend. "The vines will protect us from the police. All we have to worry about now is Superman."

"Actually, I overheard the chief's conversation with him and from the sounds of it, the Schlemiel of Steel's got someone else on his mind."

"What do you mean?"

"Let's just say that little miss Lois Lane may have lost her way back home and he's worried sick about her. Which means..." Harley trailed with a smirk which her girlfriend returned.

"We'll only have to worry about his annoying cousin and Batbrat," Ivy finished. Her girlfriend confirmed her statement with a nod. "Looks like our plan isn't in too much jeopardy, then?"

"Yep, soon those museum plants will be yours," Harley promised as she snuggled under the covers.

"Indeed, and you could always steal something for yourself?" she offered as she followed suit.

"Well, I did see two beautiful rubies."

Ivy smiled at her before turning off the lights just as Harley put her arm over her waist.

---

Elsewhere, Clark was having trouble sleeping. He tossed and turned before finally letting out a loud sad sigh and getting out of bed. Clark made his way to the small table in his room. He picked up one of the books he had brought with him and went back to bed. Once he was under the covers, he began reading, hoping it would help clear his mind. After thirty minutes his eyes finally began to feel heavy. Clark put down the book and slowly drifted off to sleep.

In another hotel, Lana was sketching some of the final designs for a dress. She picked up a light blue pencil to color it in. Just as she finished the final drawing, she let out a sleepy yawn and placed her sketchbook on the table before she made her way to the bathroom. After a quick shower and teeth brushing, Lana pulled on her dark red nightgown. Like Clark, she had trouble sleeping. She didn't know why, but she felt as if something was different. She tossed and turned under the covers for ten minutes and finally fell asleep.

---

In their apartment, Barbara and Kara were giving a quick call to Bruce to update him during his absence.

"Any news on Joker?" he asked.

"Nothing yet, thankfully," Barbara informed him.

"Scarecrow?"

"Still in jail," Kara added.

"Ivy and Harley?"

"Just got them arrested tonight." The redhead informed him.

"Good. How's your dad?"

"He's good."

"How's your cousin?" he asked Kara.

"Not great. He had a fight with Lois, and she's missing."

Bruce's eyes widened. "Do you need me to come back early to help look for her?"

"No, we're fine. Besides, how are you going to convince the board members to let you leave the trip?" Barbara pointed out.

"I'm sure I could come up with something."

"Thanks, but we can handle it," Kara assured him.

"Alright, remember if you need me or any of the other league members, just call."

"We will," they said in unison.

"Ok then. Good night."

"Night."

Bruce put down the phone and left his first-class hotel room. Dressed in an immaculate suit, he made his way to the dining hall where he saw a poster for the entertainment for the evening. "The Amazing Zatanna! For one week only." Under the title was a picture of the entertainer standing with her wand held high in her left hand and her hat in her right hand. Bruce let out a light chuckle and checked a clock just above the door, 6:30.

He entered the large room and a host led him to a table in the front row. A few minutes later the waiter came with Bruce's lobster dinner. He thanked them just as the lights dimmed and a spotlight came up onto the stage.

"Ladies and gentlemen. Presenting the lovely, the spectacular, the amazing, Zatanna!" a voice announced as the velvet red curtains revealed the beautiful magician sitting on a large purple rectangular box.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen," she said as she got off the box. "Prepare to be mesmerized," she said her purple cape transformed into a flock of white doves which flew over the audients to their amazement.

As the show continued, the raven-haired magician performed tricks that became more elaborate. After finishing her last one, she spoke to the crowd: "Now for my next trick, I will need a volunteer." She looked through the many spectators until her eyes fell upon Bruce. "How about the gentleman here in the front?"

Bruce got up and made his way to the stage.

"Now sir, could you please enter the box," she requested.

"Of course, Miss."

Zee closed the box once he was inside. "Now I will make this man disappear," she said. Zatanna turned around and then whispered an incantation. She opened the box to reveal his sudden departure. She then closed the box and whispered another spell before opening the box to show that he had reappeared. The audience applauded as Bruce walked out of the box before making her way back to his table and the show continued.

The show ended at seven-thirty. As the audience left, Bruce made his way to the stage to speak with Zatanna.

"Great show," he congratulated her as she walked toward him.

"Thanks, glad you enjoyed it. So, what brings you here?"

"Business trip."

"Is it as boring as it sounds?" she teased.

"I've had worse," he jibed, earning a chuckle.

"So, what are you doing for the rest of the evening?"

"Not much, but I have a hunch you already have an idea."

"Damn, I've been caught." she joked.

"Well, whatever you have in mind, I'm sure I'll be more than happy to join in."

"Oh, I know you will," she hinted in a sultry tone.

Before he could reply they heard a scream. They sprinted to assess the situation. In the casino hall, six men were robbing people at gunpoint.

"Hand it over lady and nobody gets hurt!" the lead robber demanded to a woman as Bruce and Zatanna quickly slipped out of sight.

The robbers ran off with their stolen loot, but just as they got out of the back door Batman landed before of them. The gang froze in fear at the intimating figure.

"Gus, Tony, Boris, you take the loot back to the car. Me and the others will take care of the problem," the lead robber ordered, trying his best to sound tough.

His goons ran down the alleyway, while the other three took out their guns and knives. Batman threw out a Batarang which knocked the guns out of their hands.

The lead robber then charged at him, preparing to stab the dark knight. Batman dodged the strike and knocked him out cold with a single punch. The other two dropped their weapons and tried to make a run for it but they were chased down the alley. Batman threw another Batarang, knocking down a stack of crates that landed on top of them.

While the other three were still running down the back alley, Zatanna appeared in front of them.

"Nice legs, doll," Tony complimented.

Zatanna glared at them. "I'll give you ten seconds to take that back."

"Or what toots?" Boris smirked.

Zatanna didn't say anything she just conjured a purple shield. "Suit yourself."

The robbers charged at her with their knives held high.

Zatanna then spoke. "Snopaew evomer, epor ot dloh!" Suddenly all of the robbers' weapons disappeared and they were tied up in a purple rope. She then sternly spoke to Tony. "Don't ever call me doll."

Five minutes later the officers arrived and put the criminals in their van.

"Thank you for your help," one of the officers graciously stated.

"Don't mention it," Batman nodded.

"Anytime," Zatanna added.

The officer tipped his hat and made his way to the van. As the vehicle drove off, the heroes walked through the back alley where Zatanna used a spell to conjure casual clothing.

"So, what did you want to do before we were interrupted?" Bruce asked to which Zee just smiled with a raised eyebrow.

---

At eight, Bruce came out of one of the hotel pool's changing rooms, in a revealing pair of black swim trunks. Soon after, Zatanna came out of her changing room, wearing an equally revealing black bikini.

"You're right, this does make me more than happy," he successfully teased.

They approached the enormous pool where Zee made her way onto the diving board. She dove into the cool water as elegantly as a swan while Bruce entered via the ladder. He swam towards her just as she surfaced immediately getting splashed.

"Hey," he chuckled.

Zee smirked in response which led to them coyly swimming around for the next thirty minutes. As the night drew on, they decided to relax in one of the hot tubs.

"You've got to admit, this is the life," she said.

Bruce hummed in agreement. "You could say it's magical."

"By the way, how are the two lovebirds doing without your help on night patrol?"

"Fine, I asked Clark to help them."

"I see. How did he seem when you last spoke with him?"

"He seemed alright but..."

"You think he was having a bad day?"

"To put it lightly yes."

"Was it about Lois?"

"He didn't say but given how things have been going between them lately I wouldn't be surprised."

"Hope they were able to sort it out." Zee noticed his concerned expression. "What is it?"

"It's nothing you need to worry about."

"Come on, Bruce, what happened?"

"The girls just informed me that Lois has gone missing."

"What?"

"She had an argument with Clark and hasn't been seen since."

"Do you need me to go to Gotham?"

"No, they said they'll be fine. Besides, what about your tour?"

"I'm sure I could come up with something?"

Bruce held in his chuckle. "Thank you for the offer, Zee but I'm sure they'll be fine."

"Alright then, but they know I'm just one call away if they need me."

"Of course, they do."

"That's good, hate to see anything bad happen to Lane."

"Even after that little tiff, she had with you the other week?"

"You mean when she thought I was trying to flirt with Clark?" she rhetorically stated.

Six months earlier, Lois had gotten anger at Zee when she saw her with Superman after a mission. Zatanna was joking around with him, but Lois thought she was trying to her luck with him. The reporter lost her temper with Zee caller many unflattering names and even threated to end her career. Clark had to apologies to his friend, which she excepted however it meant he had an unpleasant argument with his girlfriend on the way home.

"I still can't believe after all that you're still willing to help her," Bruce said.

"Well, you know, the League looks out for everyone, no matter what."

"Can't argue with that." She smiled at him which he returned.

As they gazed at each other they saw the eyes of the other sparking in the blue light, although neither of them mentioned it to the other, then returned to chatting with each other until nine when they walked to Bruce's room.

"Thank you for the wonderful evening," he said.

"Don't mention it," Zee replied.

"Same time tomorrow?" They unintentionally asked at the same time.

"I'll be more than happy to. Good night."

Bruce entered his room as Zee went to her own.

As they lay in their beds, they wondered if they both had experienced the same moment under the blue lights. Either way, they smiled as they fell asleep.

Chapter 9: Movie Night

Chapter 9

Movie Night

Clark awoke to the sound of his alarm clock blaring at eight o'clock. He gently pressed the stop button before rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. He got out of bed and after a quick shower, he got dressed to watch the morning news.

"What you are seeing here is the remains of the police van transporting two of Gotham's most wanted criminals Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy. Using a giant plant, the two criminals have made another escape," A news anchor's voice said over the footage.

"You've got to be kidding me?" Kara said completely flabbergasted as she and her partner watched the report in their apartment.

"That green witch of a woman," Barbara muttered bitterly as her girlfriend turned off the television. "Calling me a slut, says Ms. 'I'll seduce any man just for the fun of it'," she ranted in her impression of Ivy.

"It's scary how well you can do her voice."

---

Meanwhile, Ivy and Harley were enjoying their freedom as they watched the news cover their getaway.

"There is currently no trace of the two," the reporter stated before the scene cut to the guard holding his head with his right hand.

"It was like I was hit by a train. I don't know how they were able to accomplish all this. They have to be evil geniuses," he said.

"Now that's an understatement," Harley chuckled.

"Once again Gotham is threatened by the redheaded eco-terrorist and Joker's crazy ex-girlfriend."

Harley's smile slowly turned to an irritated expression. Ivy decided it would be best if they decided to watch something and turned the over to the next channel.

---

At Joker's hideout, Lois was rudely woken from her sleep by the door swinging open as Joker marched into the room. Before she could even fully open her eyes, the cruel man bent down to pull her up.

"Come along, honey, it's time to begin your day," he stated. Hearing her new nickname made her wince.

As he lead her down the hallway they once again passed the room where that bubbling noise came that both scared and intrigued her. They continued down the hall until they came to a filthy room covered in slimy black gunk.

"It took the men all night to fill this room up. Unfortunately, honey, I've lost my favorite watch in there and I need you to find it. See you in an hour," he said, closing the door.

Lois took a deep breath and began to look through the gunk that squished between her fingers. She felt completely humiliated as she had to search for a watch on her hands and knees. Then she felt something slimly land in her hair, she looked up to see the same gunk on large overhanging pipes. Lois groaned in disgust as she continued her task. She looked in every corner of the room high and low, digging through the black goo, without success.

After an hour Joker returned and opened the door. "Did you find it?" he smugly asked.

"I... I can't find anything in this mess," Lois stated as she came out covered from head to toe in black ooze.

"Maybe I should remind you what you're looking for," Joker said taking out the watch from his trouser pocket. "Whoops, silly me."

"YOU HAD IT THIS WHOLE TIME!" Lois yelled.

"What did I say about talking to me like that," he coldly said as he grabbed her tightly by the jaw.

"Sorry, Joker," she pled.

"Please call me... Puddin' from now on." he calmly requested and released her.

"Yes, Puddin'," Lois replied much to her disgust.

"Good, now come along, it's time for your next activity."

"Could I at least have a shower first?" she asked.

"All right but only because I don't want you to get my suit dirty," he coldly agreed, leading her to the shower room.

---

In her boss' office, Kara was given a new assignment.

"I need you to get information on the Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn story."

"Couldn't Jerry do it instead?" Kara calmly asked.

"I've already got him on a story about a bakery trying to make the world's biggest cookie."

"Well, what about-"

"Ms. Kent, I'm assigning you to Ivy and Harley's escape and that's final," he commanded.

"Yes sir," she said in defeat. On her way back to her office, Kara texted a friend to request their help with Clark tonight's patrol since she and Barbara had plans. Once she had gathered her things, she set off to get information for her article.

---

Barbara was cooking a lasagna dinner at her apartment for her and her partner. Kara arrived home at six o'clock, looking exhausted and slightly frustrated.

"Hey sweetie, what's wrong?" Barbara asked as she walked over to greet her.

"Nothing, I just had a hard day that's all," she responded as she slumped onto the sofa.

"Do you want to talk about it?" She began to massage her girlfriend's shoulders.

"My boss wants me to write a story about Harley and Ivy's escape. All day I had to listen to the guard about how they "wonderfully" got away without a trace and how not even the greatest superhero could stop them."

"Well, next time we see them, you can kick their butts even harder."

"Thanks, honey."

"Don't mention it," Barbara smiled with a peck.

"So, how was your day?"

"It was good," she said.

"Sofie tried to ask you out didn't she?"

"She's really getting on my nerves. Every week she asks me out even after I've explained that we're a couple," she explained. "And today she had the gall to suggest I have two girlfriends."

"She'll give up eventually and if not, well I could always knock her out cold for trying to steal you," Kara joked.

Then Barbara's expression turned sly. "On the plus side, we've both finished work," she stated. "Not to mention that it is Friday evening, which means that for the next two days..." Barbara wiggled her eyebrows.

Kara smiled at her girlfriend as the redhead leaned towards her.

"Why Ms. Gordon, I think you're trying to seduce me." Kara played along as she was mounted.

"Come to think of it, we do have a bit of time before we need to go," Barbara lustfully goaded her.

"We do, but I think we should have dinner first," Kara pointed out.

Barbara's eyes went wide as she recalled their lasagna was still in the oven. She hopped off and rushed to the kitchen just in time to get their meal out before it burned.

---

Back at his hideout, Joker was setting up the final round of torture for the day. He strapped Lois to a chair that had two contraptions to pry her eyes open.

"I hope you like movies, sweetheart," he said as he put some eye drops in her terrified eyes. "This one is six hours long."

Joker turned on the projector and a truly horrific film began. Horrifying images that should have never been conceptualized by the human mind flashed across the screen. Lois screamed in horror as they were permanently planted into her brain.

Joker left the room, not bothering to lock the door. He went into a room where a few of his goons were nervously sitting at a table.

"How was your day, boss?" one of them asked.

"Good. I almost have her the way I want. Just one more night and she'll make the perfect replacement for Harley," he chuckled then his voice turn dire cold. "What's happened?"

The goons gulped. One of them showed him a paper with the headline reading: A GREEN GET AWAY: HARLEY AND IVY MAKE ANOTHER ESCAPE! Beneath was a photo of the broken van next to which was an older photo of the criminal duo.

Joker snatched the paper to read the article. One sentence stood out to him. "It is without a doubt, that Poison Ivy and Harley are Gotham's greatest criminals." Joker lowered the paper to reveal a face of pure anger. He then let out a furious scream as he knocked several cups off the table, shattering as they hit the ground.

"When I see those two, I will make sure they're pushing up the daisies," he stated clenching his fists.

---

Barbara and Kara walked down the street, now wearing neutral-toned street clothes, to meet James at the cinema.

"You know I'm really looking forward to this," Kara said.

"Me too, I heard it's the craziest yet."

"Actually it's more because I think it's a great opportunity for me to get on your dad's good side."

"I just hope he doesn't say anything horrible about us being a couple."

"Hey, give him credit, he's at least trying. That's more than some people have done."

"I know, I know but, it still bugs me," Barbara admitted. "Seven months and he still doesn't see you as part of our family."

"Well, tonight is the night we change all that."

"How?"

"Simple, I'll be on my best behavior to build bridges and soon things between us will be back to normal."

"I hope it works."

"I'm sure it will and I'm pretty sure it could also make up for what I said about the police that one time," Kara recalled with embarrassment about the opinion piece she wrote about a city's police department, having described them as 'useless and incompetent'.

"I'm sure he knows you were talking about the ones in Metropolis," Barbara confided.

---

Superman waited on the rooftop for Batgirl and Supergirl, yet when he saw a small yellow glow, he could see it was a tiny young woman. She landed and turned to her normal size.

"Evening, Bumblebee here to assist," she greeted.

"Oh, thank you. Um, who sent you?" he asked.

"Batgirl, she and Supergirl are unavailable tonight so she asked me to take her place."

"So, who did Supergirl ask?"

"Hola Superhombre y Abejorro."

Clark turned around to see Jessica Cruz hovering behind him.

"Jessica? What are you doing in Gotham? Shouldn't you be looking after Metropolis?"

"Kara asked me to help. Besides, John has the Flash while I'm here."

"Well, thank you for coming quickly," he said as the Green Lantern floated down to the ground.

"Es genial verte de nuevo Karen," she said as she hugged the other heroine.

"It's great to see you too, Jess," she agreed before pulling away. She turned her attention to Superman. "So what's first?"

"We'll be searching Gotham for Lois."

"Got it," the two women confirmed.

Bumblebee shrunk down and they all took to the skies to begin their search.

---

Barbara and Kara, meanwhile, arrived at the cinema where Jim was waiting inside.

"Hi dad," she said.

"Hello, Barbara. So, how have you been?"

"Great, how was your day."

"Hard. I had to deal with this dy-" he stopped when Barbara raised an eyebrow at him. "This difficult woman," he corrected.

There was an awkward silence for a few seconds.

"I'll just get the tickets," Barbara segued, trying her best to not sound cross.

"Do you want us to get some treats?" Kara asked.

"Yes please," Barbara replied. She walked over to the counter leaving her father and girlfriend alone.

"Nice weather we're having," Kara spoke as they made their way to another counter.

"Oh yeah. How have things been going for you?"

"Good, thank you for letting me come, I really appreciate it."

"Well, Barbara wanted you to come and I couldn't say no to her." Jim explained.

"I'm still happy you let me come."

"That's alright. Sorry about almost using that word."

"It's fine. So how difficult was this woman?"

"She was a nightmare, it took nearly an hour just to calm her down."

"Was she called Karen by any chance?" she joked.

"No, but she sure acted like one." he replied.

They reached the counter and placed their order. Jim bought a cup of coffee while Kara ordered a small tube of chocolate ice cream, a box of popcorn, and diet sodas for herself and her partner. They met back up with Barbara and went to the theater.

---

Elsewhere, Harley and Ivy hid in an alleyway near the back of the museum, waiting for the guard to end her shift. Just as Tara walked out the back door, carrying her guard's outfit in her bag, they caught sight of a blue blur. They hid again, hoping they weren't noticed. As Jessica and Bumblebee followed, the latter stopped and looked down where the rogers were hiding.

"What is it?" Jessica asked.

"I thought I saw something," she stated.

The criminal duo held their breath, as they heard the heroes get closer.

"Lantern, Bumblebee, what's going on?" Superman asked.

"I thought I saw something." the young black woman replied.

He took a quick look down before speaking again. "Probably just a cat. Come on, we're wasting time."

They flew off to continue their search, Bumblebee taking one last look before following them.

Harley and Ivy grinned before making their way to the unsuspecting guard.

Tara was just making her way to her car when Harley once again stepped in front of her. She turned and ran only to be met by the other femme fatale. This time Ivy blew a small pile of knock-out dust. Before she could do anything, Tara fell to the ground in a deep slumber while the criminals stole her guard suit and made their getaway.

---

At his hideout, Joker entered the room just as the credits rolled. Lois was completely silent. He walked toward her with a wide grin, he knew after that showing she would at the very least lose her kindness.

"Did you enjoy it?" he asked as removed the devices from her eyes and unstrapped her from the chair.

Lois had a blank expression on her face. "N-no."

"Why not?"

"I... didn't... have... any... popcorn... during the show," she said with a little twisted chuckle.

Joker beamed. "Guess I'll have to remember to bring you some for next time. Well, come along honey, time for bed."

They walked back to her room. Once they arrived, Joker opened the door and Lois went into her room.

"Good night, Honey."

"Good night, Puddin'," Lois replied.

Joker could hear small chuckles of twisted amusement coming from his hostage, he was pleased, the first cracks were beginning to show, and soon Lois would be Harley 2.0.

---

As the clock struck eleven, Clark and the two heroines finished for the night and were now in their civilian clothes. They waited at the train station for the women's ride home.

"I'm sorry we couldn't find her," Jessica apologized.

"It's alright. Thank you for your help tonight."

"You're welcome."

"Don't worry, you'll find her," Karen encouraged him.

Clark smiled but deep down he was beginning to have his doubts. They parted ways and he went to a nearby bus stop while the other two went to the station platform.

"Do you think he'll be ok?" Karen asked.

"Eso Espero. I've never seen him this worried before," she answered.

"I hope he finds her soon."

"Same, amiga."

They looked out of the window as the train began to leave, seeing Clark sitting on a bench looking down at the ground just as the bus came into view.

Once the vehicle came to a stop Clark got off the bench and took a seat on the left side at the front. He looked out of the window to spot a shooting star soaring across the night sky.

The 'star', however, was a glowing rock that shot through the air going lower and lower until it landed on the museum floor.

---

At the abandoned greenhouse, Ivy sat on the bed in revealing short-sleeved blackish-green pajamas while she watched her girlfriend model the guard outfit. Harley walked up and down the room like a runway. When she reached the bed she posed like a security guard.

"Excuse me Batgirl I'm looking for a woman called Poison Ivy have you seen her?" Harley jested in a stern voice, earning a chuckle.

"Sorry ma'am, I haven't seen that brilliant woman. I was too busy making out with Superbrat," Ivy replied in a scarily accurate sounding voice to Batgirl.

Harley and Ivy laughed and fell onto the bed together.

"This couldn't have gone better even if we wanted it to," Harley stated.

"You said it, honey. In a few weeks that museum won't know what hit 'em. Alright, time for bed."

"Could I model one more outfit, please?" Harley requested with puppy dog eyes.

"Alright, but just one," she agreed.

Harley beamed and quickly went behind the wooden dresser to change. She appeared now wearing a revealing purple nightgown. She walked over to the bed with an amorous expression on her face and posed with her hands on her hips once she was next to the bed.

"Ms. Quinn you're trying to seduce me," Ivy stated in a lusty tone as she got under the covers.

Harley joined her partner with slow sultry kisses.

---

Kara and the Gordons walked down the street after the film.

"That was amazing," Kara said.

"You got to love it. So stupid but so good," Barbara agreed. "What was your favorite part?"

"The scene where Superduck and his ex realize they still love each other. What was yours?"

"The scene where Batrabbit's dad discovered his son's identity. What did you think it dad?"

"It was um... something," Jim stated, unsure of what to make of the film.

"You know, I would love to do this again sometime."

"Me too. You choose the next film, Mr. Gordon." Kara suggested.

"Well one of the previews did catch my interest," he stated.

"Which one?" his daughter asked.

"Brody Martian. Would you two be okay going to that?" he generally asked.

"We'll be more than happy too," Kara said. Barbara nodded in agreement, although secretly she hadn't been won over by the trailer.

Soon, they arrived at the duo's apartment house.

"I had a great time tonight, Mr. Gordon," Kara said.

"Glad you did," he said.

"Thank you again for letting me come."

"It was nothing."

"Night, Dad," Barbara said.

"Night Barbara," he replied.

"Good night Mr. Gordon," Kara said.

"Night Kara."

Jim smiled as he left for home while the other two made their way to their apartment.

As the day ended, they got ready for bed. Barbara had just finished brushing her teeth when she spoke. "You can stop using your X-ray vision now."

"How did… um… what makes you think I use my X-Ray vision like that?"

Gordon raised an eyebrow at her girlfriend.

"Darn," she pouted causing Barbara to chuckle.

"You know, I think tonight went really well."

"You got that right. I think he's finally accepting me as part of the family."

"By the end of the month he'll be more than happy to have you in our family," Barbara smiled then she and Kara rubbed their noses together.

"Good night Kary," Barbara sleepily yawned.

"Night, Babs," Kara said before she turned off the lights and put her arm around her girlfriend's waist.

Barbara was happy as she fell asleep. Things were beginning to get better finally getting between her and her dad.

Chapter 10: Super Changes

Author's note: Special thanks to AFY2018 for their help with this chapter. Please check out his work.

---

Chapter 10

Super Changes

It was early morning as Lana made her way to work. The sound of the city begins with cars driving down the busy roads. As she crossed the street she saw Kara and Barbara on a morning jog, the former enjoying showing off her athletic abilities, much to the annoyance of her partner.

"Tired already? We've only been running for what, three hours?" Kara teased.

"You know, humans... don't... have... the same... stamina... as you." Barbara panted.

"Morning lovebirds," Lana greeted.

"Morning," Kara returned.

"Hi, Lana," the other runner said as she caught her breath.

"I see you're going on a light jog," Lana teased.

"Well, for me it is." Kara joked, making her girlfriend roll her eyes.

"By the way, aren't you worried that someone might recognize you without your glasses?"

"Nah, I run too fast for anyone to get a good look at me."

"Or keep up," Barbara added.

"You got to admit she is fast... but her cousin is faster," Lana teased.

"Haha very funny," Kara sarcastically stated over her girlfriend's laugh.

"Well, I'm off. See you two later," Lana said before continuing on her journey. They waved goodbye to her before continuing their morning run.

Lana arrived at the museum at nine o'clock. It was a rather quiet morning as she made her way down the hallway. Then something small caught her eye. Lana found a small rock, curious, she bent down to pick it up. Suddenly she was struck with a minor headache. She put her hand on her head until it passed and placed the rock in her pocket before continuing her round.

Her day went on as normal as she worked on her dresses. She just finished when she got a call to meet the head of the organization in his office. On her way, he spotted Clark.

"Oh hey," she greeted.

"Hello, Lana."

"So, who are you interviewing this time?"

"One of the paleontologists."

"What's about it?"

"That's classified information."

"Come on you can tell me," she teased.

"Nice try."

"Oh well. Guess I'll have to do better next time," she joked, earning a small chuckle.

"Well, I have to be off. See you around, Lana."

"Bye, Clark," she smiled as he walked away.

As she walked she took one last look and chuckled to herself. Of course, Clark would have his Superman outfit under his work attire. She continued just walking past a man in blue but did a double take, did she really just see a man walking around in his underwear? Just then a woman walked by.

"What the-," Lana said in shock as she saw the woman in her pink underwear. She shook her head and looked at the woman again, this time seeing her fully clothed.

"I need to switch to decaf," she muttered to herself.

---

Elsewhere, Bruce and Zatanna sat down for lunch at the hotel's diner during a pleasant break.

"So how's the meeting going?" she asked.

"It's going well, although I don't want to bore you with the details."

"It's that boring? And you still have a few more weeks of it."

"We could trade places if you want?"

"Bruce Wayne, shirking his responsibilities? I must cast myself into another dimension." she teased earning a chuckle.

"I'm guessing it's not that interesting of a dimension if I'm the only one who is different?"

"Well the government would trust us for once," she whispered. They both laughed.

As they chatted they once again saw each other's eyes sparkle in the light. Like last time they didn't bother to mention this as they continued to chat. After their meal, they began to walk outside of the hotel's entrance.

"So, will you be at the show tonight?" she asked.

"I can't I'm afraid. I won't be free until eight."

"Oh well. At least I can look forward to seeing you for an evening swim?"

"Same here."

They parted ways, wondering why they had seen each other's eyes sparkle again.

Later that evening, Zatanna had just finished her show and was just about to go back to her room when a voice came from her communicator.

"Zatanna, are you there?"

"Here. What do you need?"

"We've got a monster problem in Smallville, Kansas."

"I'm on it, but I'm going need some help." she said then she teleported herself to the state.

---

Back in Gotham, Lana's day was getting weirder by the minute, she had managed to sow one of the dresses when she overheard a conversation between a young couple. The boy was complimenting his girlfriend on how beautiful she was. Then the fashion designer shot up. The Egyptian's exhibit was on the other side of the museum, how was she able to hear them talk?

As the day went on, Lana got even more surprises. She had managed to finish one of the dresses in three seconds, she had accidentally made her drink cold when she breathed ice into it, and finally, she managed to overhear Clark's interview. On the plus side, that did help her come up with a new design for a dress.

The evening came around with dark grey clouds rolling in as Clark walked out of the museum where, unbeknownst to him, three figures waited in the darkness.

Clark walked into an alleyway and removed his business attire to fly into the sky in his superhero outfit. He landed on a rooftop where Batgirl and Supergirl waited for him.

"Ready?" he asked.

Kara nodded. "Let's go find Ivy and Harley before that storm hits."

"We don't have time to look for them, we have to Lois, tonight."

"But what about Harley and Ivy?"

"We can find them later," he said firmly. "We've got to find Lois before it's too late."

"But we've looked almost everywhere in Gotham for her," Batgirl stated.

"Then where haven't we looked yet?"

Batgirl was just about to speak when she got a call from her communicator.

"Batgirl, come in Batgirl." a female voice said.

"Batgirl here, what's the situation?"

"There's a monster attack in Kansas. Zatanna already on her way but she needs help. You and the Supers have to get there, A.S.A.P"

"But there's no one to look after Gotham in our absence," Batgirl stated. "Can't you ask someone else to handle it?"

"No one else is available."

"Can one of us stay in Gotham just in case?"

"Alright, two of you will go."

"Got it." she ended the call. "Ready to go to the middle of nowhere?" she teased her girlfriend.

"At least we'll get to kick some monster butt," Supergirl said as she picked up her girlfriend.

"Do you think you'll be ok on your own?"

"I will. Say hi to Pa and Ma for me," he stated.

"Will do," his cousin said and took to the sky with the redhead on her back.

Clark was about to start his search when from the corner of his eye he saw something move in the shadows.

---

Batgirl and Supergirl arrived in Kansas just as Zatanna did. They spotted a strange purplish reptile attacking Smallville. People screamed as they ran for cover from the beast's snapping crocodile jaws, just missing them by an inch.

"So what's the plan?" Zatanna asked.

Barbara thought for a moment. "First we'll get everyone as far away from that thing as possible. Then, Kara and I will distract it while you cast a spell to capture it."

The other two nodded in agreement before jumping into action.

Amongst the fleeing citizens were Martha and Jonathan. As they tried to run, the elderly couple were almost crushed by the creature's foot but were thankfully saved by their daughter and her girlfriend. She took them to a safe spot, far away from the monster's rampage.

"You guys ok?" she asked with deep concern.

"I've been worse," Jonathan stated.

"We're fine sweety," her mom reassured her.

The two heroines smiled before going back to help the other townsfolk. Once everyone was a safe distance away from the calamity, the three set to work.

"Try and get its field of vision away from me," Zee requested them.

Kara flew towards the huge creature, carrying her partner with her.

The monster let out an earth-shattering roar before knocking down a small shoe shop.

"Hey, lizard brain, over here," Batgirl called.

The enormous reptile turned around to see the duo hovering nearby.

"Why don't you pick on someone your own size," Supergirl taunted.

The monster growled and licked its dry lips before moving closer to them. They slowly moved backward as the monster opened its maw, but before it could attack, the beast was surrounded by a purple glow as Zee cast her spell. In less than ten seconds the monster was shrunken to the size of a bearded dragon and put in a small glass terrarium. Zee then used her magic to mend the broken buildings. The crowd cheered as Supergirl landed. They rushed over to thank them for getting rid of the beast.

Once the crowd had dispersed, the Kents approached their daughter and her friends.

"It's great to see you again," Kara said as she hugged her parents.

"It's lovely to see you too deary," Martha agreed.

"It's great to see you too, Jonathon."

"Same to you," he replied. "Thanks again for saving us."

"No problem," Batgirl said before turning to speak to her girlfriend. "I hate to break up the reunion so soon but we should get going before that lightning storm hits Gotham."

"You could stay at ours tonight if you like," Martha offered.

"I'm sure Clark wouldn't mind if you two stayed?" Zee added.

"Alright, thank you," Kara replied to her parents.

"Just let us get into something more casual," Barbara suggested holding the creature.

The three heroes escaped to an alleyway, where the sexy magician used her powers to change their clothing.

"Thanks for your help tonight, Zee," Kara nodded.

"You're welcome," she replied. "by the way, love the new fit, purple really suits you."

"Yeah, thanks," Barbara said.

"Thank you for holding on to him." Zatanna took the cage, "Now to take you to HQ."

Barbara looked up at the night sky. "You never get a view like this in Gotham."

"Yeah, one of the plus sides about this place is you get a really good look at the stars." Kara agreed.

"How would you describe them?"

"Sparkley."

"Just like my eyes," Barbara teased. Kara lovely smiled as she rolled her eyes.

"What'd you say?" Zee asked.

"Well, when I knew I loved her I saw a sparkle in her eyes."

"Really?"

"Well, we'd better get going. Goodbye, Zee," Barbara said before she and her girlfriend headed off.

"Goodbye, lovebirds," Zee teased, before teleporting to The Hall of Justice leaving her a moment to wonder if she had experienced the same thing as Kara.

---

While this occured Lana gathered her things on her way back to the hotel when she heard something. She crept out of her workshop and looked over the railing to see two robbers. She overheard one of them tell his comrade to head to the Art section while they would go to the Ice Age exhibit to steal a rare fossil. She backed away to call for help.

"Hello, Ms."

Lana gasped as she turned to see the third robber behind her.

"You weren't thinking about squalling on us to the police, were you?" he asked as took out his gun.

She slowly backed away as he gestured the gun to tell her to go to the open window. She did as she was told, the robber shoved her out of it before returning to his original task. Lana screamed and shut her eyes until she felt suspended in the air. She opened her eyes and let out a sigh of relief. She then turned to thank Superman for saving her but to her shock, no one was there. She looked down to see that she was somehow hovering.

"What the hell?" she said to herself. Looking up she decided to see if she could fly back to the window. It wasn't graceful, but she managed to get there. Just then she saw Superman on the ground floor.

"Superman!" she called.

He looked up and flew up to her. "You ok?"

"I'm fine," she reassured him. "I just saw three robbers break in."

"Did you see where they went?"

"One's heading to the Art gallery and the other going to the Ice Age exhibit."

"What about the third one?"

"I'm not sure. All I know is he was up here."

"Got it," he confirmed. Superman carried her to the ground floor. "I'll be back as soon as I can," he stated before going off to catch the robbers, neither of them noticing that they were being watched in the shadows.

Superman moved as quietly as a mouse until he saw the two robbers in a hallway with their stolen items.

"You got it?" one of them asked. The other robber showed him the painting.

"Good, now let's get out of here before Batman shows up."

"I think we've got someone else to worry about," he said, pointing behind his colleague.

He turned around to see Superman. They took out their guns but before they could fire, the Man of Steel grabbed them by the hand.

Lana waited in the main hall, when a figure walked out of the shadows.

"My, my miss, you're one tough cookie," he said as he slinked towards her.

"Stay back." She warned him, backing away until she was against the wall.

He chuckled once she was cornered. "Or what little ms..."

Lana quickly grabbed him by the neck, nearly choking him out.

Superman had cuffed the robbers. Suddenly the final one came flying around the corner. Clark looked through the lines of holes where Lana was standing at the end with a look of shock on her face.

Once everything was settled, Clark joined Lana in her hotel room now in his civilian clothes. She had explained about the rock and the things that had happened to her that day, in turn, he had clarified what it was precisely what the rock had done to her.

"So let me get this straight, I have powers now?" Lana tried to comprehend.

"Yes and I don't mean to offend you but that means you also have my responsibilities as well."

"You mean I have to wear a red skirt and blue suit," she joked.

"Lana this is serious. You now have a duty to protect others who are unable to defend themselves." he sternly stated.

"Clark, I'm not the kind of person who goes flying about saving people on a daily basis."

"You are now."

"I don't even know how to control them."

"I'll teach you."

"There's no way out of this, is there?" she said defeatedly.

"No," he asserted said.

She sighed. "Ok, but I'm designing my suit."

"Alright," he agreed.

"So, when do I start training, coach?"

He pondered for a moment, "Tomorrow night, once your off work."

"Alright," she begrudgingly agreed.

---

Barbara calmly paced around Kara's room in Kansas on the phone with her mentor.

"How have things been in Gotham?" Bruce asked.

"Oh you know, same old, same old."

"Any luck with finding Lois?

"Not yet," Barbara stated as Kara came up the stairs.

"Dinner's ready, sweetheart." she was informed by her girlfriend.

"Ok, I'll be there," she acknowledged before ending her prior conversation. "Bye Bruce."

"Goodbye." He hung up and wistfully chuckled to himself, "Young love."

His thoughts then wandered to Zatanna. For some reason, she had been on his mind for most of the day, so he grabbed his "inseam swim trunks and went to the pool.

Barbara and the Kents, meanwhile, sat for their meal. As they ate, the farmyard cat rubbed itself against the guest's legs.

"I see someone like you," Jonathan teased.

"I can tell," Barbara said then turned to her girlfriend. "You're not jealous, are you?" she teased. Kara playful rolled her blue eyes at her girlfriend's joke.

"So how has been in Gotham?" Martha asked her adopted daughter.

"Pretty normal," Kara replied.

"And how's Clark?"

"Um... he's been better."

"And Lois?" At Kara's hesitation, Martha pressed with deep concern, "What happened?"

Her daughter looked at her girlfriend, who gave her a nod, and took a deep breath. "She and Clark got into an argument so she left to cool off, but now she's gone missing."

"Good heavens."

"What were they fighting about this time?" Jonathan asked in exasperation.

"Well, it started when she saw him speaking with Lana and she may have accidentally called us... freaks." Barbara admitted.

"I take it Clark's hasn't been taking this well?" the older woman asked, earning a nod from the two.

There was an awkward silence before they continued their dinner.

---

Zatanna, once again in her revealing black bikini, joined Bruce at the hotel pool.

"Evening," she greeted as she sat beside him. "Sorry, I'm late, there was a monster issue in Kansas."

"That's alright, our duties always come first. By the way, how was the show?" he asked.

"It went as well as usual."

"Full house?"

"Of course, what else would it be? What are you up to?" she asked suspiciously.

"Nothing," he replied innocently.

Once she lowered her guard, Bruce playfully pushed her into the pool. Zatanna surfaced.

"Really funny Bruce," she said. Swiftly, levitated him until he was hovering over the water. She suddenly released him, resulting in a mighty splash.

"Touché," he laughed once he surfaced.

She smirked before exiting the pool, followed by Bruce, where they chose to relax in one of the hot tubs for a while.

"So how was the rest of the meeting?" Zatanna asked.

"About as fun as the first half," he successfully teased.

"Oh, you poor man. Stuck in a board room for hours."

"I've had worse," he agreed. "So, what was the monster problem in Kansas about?"

"Some weird reptile wreaking havoc in Smallville. It wasn't much trouble, I just had to shrink it down and done."

"Did anyone else help?"

"Your apprentice, Batgirl, she and her partner, Supergirl. They distracted it so I could work my magic," she clarified.

"Sounds like you three make the perfect team."

"We do, although I think those two prefer to work by themselves," she humorously admitted earning a laugh.

As he laughed, Bruce couldn't help but be mesmerized by the beauty of the most wonderful woman he had met. Zee smiled pleasantly as she gazed at whom she perceived to be the most handsome and kind-hearted man she had met.

Once silence settled between them, their eyes met with an amorous sparkle under the blue light. They slowly leaned into each other and closed their eyes as they kissed.

---

Lana, now in her nightgown, rested in her bed trying to comprehend her new life. One day she was a normal fashion designer and the next she was Superwoman, but that wasn't the only thing on her mind. She hadn't told Clark about one of her other concerns involving Lois's reaction. She shook her head, no matter what she said, she knew she couldn't get out of this. She had no choice but to face the music head-on.

Lana began to slowly drift off to sleep, unsure about what her new life had in store.

---

Bruce and Zatanna were spent in their hotel room, their swimsuits scattered across the floor. She snuggled in closer to her guest as he playfully squeezed her ass.

"You really know how to show a girl a good time," she whispered in his ear.

"You have a way of making it magical," he replied.

"Well, magic is my specialty, Brucey."

"Nice nickname, Zee Zee. Is it ok if I call you that from now on?"

"Maybe... unless you have any other nicknames you like to call me," Zatanna flirted.

"It's a shame you're leaving soon."

"Don't worry, the moment I'm back in Gotham, I'll show you some more of my... special tricks."

"I'll be counting down the seconds until then."

"What number are you on?"

"So far, I'm up to four," he joked, earning a chuckle from her.

"So when should we tell the others about us?" she sincerely asked.

"I'm not sure. Although I think we should at least wait until Lois is found before we tell Clark."

Zee hummed in agreement. Then they gave each other one last kiss and fell asleep, Zee resting her head on his muscular chest while he draped an arm across her body.

---

While still in the midwest, Barbara and Kara got settled in when the Kent's barn cat jumped onto the bed.

"Does he always have to sleep right next to my face?" Barbara asked as it curled up next to her.

"That means he likes you," her partner chuckled as she gently stroked the purring cat.

"Well can he at least not try and sit on my face at six in the morning?"

"I'll ask him but I think you already know his answer," she teased as the cat licked Barabara's nose. She wiped her nose while her girlfriend chuckled. "He was just kissing you good night."

Barbara lovingly rolled her eyes before joining in with a short giggle. She then noticed a slightly worried look on her girlfriend's face. "Is something wrong?"

"I'm just concerned about Clark," she admitted. "I've never seen him this upset and for so long."

"Do you think something happened between them, even before the museum incident?"

Kara hesitated for a moment. "Promise to keep this between us and my parents?" she asked. Barbara nodded. "Clark and Lois' spark, may have burned out a while ago, even before we started dating."

"You mean their relationship might be coming to an end?"

"No, no, no. They might just be in a rough spot at the moment."

"For eight months?"

"That's the part I'm concerned about. A month or two would one thing, but this…" Kara couldn't bring herself to continue, as tears began to form in her eyes. "I just want him to be happy in his life again."

"Don't worry, we'll do everything we can to make him feel better," Barbara promised, putting a hand on her shoulder. "I bet the moment we find Lois, that spark will be relit. And I know he'll be overjoyed to have her back."

"I hope they can get back to the way they were."

"I know they can. By the end of the month, he'll be his old self again."

"Thanks."

"Don't mention it," she said before letting out a sleepy yawn. "Night Karwy."

"Night Babsy."

They soon dozed off with the cat already fast asleep.

Downstairs, however, Jonathan and Martha sat in the living room having a restless conversation.

"Are you ok Martha?" he asked.

"I worried about him," she confessed. "We barely get to see him, and know every time we do, he's unhappy."

Jonathan joined his wife by the window to comfort her.

"I just want to see our little boy like he used to be."

"So do I, dear. So do I."

Chapter 11: Snap

Chapter 11

SNAP

A horrendous thunderstorm carried over from Saturday to Sunday but still, the citizens of Gotham slept unbothered, even with the rolling thunder interrupting the previously peaceful night. It shook the buildings, yet not even that disturbed their slumber. The rain poured down harder than usual, repetitively hitting the cold pavement with strong winds blowing through the dark city.

In her jail cell, Livewire waited for the guards to end their night rounds while she pretended to sleep as one of them passed her. Once the coast was clear and the light had been turned off, she removed her bed and went through the tunnel she had been digging for the last few days. She crawled through the tight hole, occasionally getting an abandoned spider web stuck on her face until she arrived at a room that had a large window with three bars. She reached the window just as a flash of lightning flicked in the distance.

"Perfect." She held out a piece of metal that she had been keeping hidden in a book and waited for the right moment. As a bolt of lightning struck the metal, she used her powers and shot out of the building and into the nearby wires. Once again she was free and she already had a good idea of what she was going to do with it. She would find Lois and use her as bait but this time, she would make sure that Superman couldn't save her.

---

Lois rocked back and forth on the moldy mattress in Joker's hideout, humming "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" to soothe herself. It had been a whole week of pain and misery for her and it was greatly affecting her mental health. Slowly but surely whatever sanity she had left was beginning to fade away and in its place was twisted insanity.

She looked up at the moldy ceiling. "Where are you, you mad son of a bitch?" She said as a small nervous and slightly psychopathic laugh came out with a creepy look on her face. Lois had been waiting for Joker to begin the daily torture, but he hadn't come into her room all day.

As she chuckled, she saw a cockroach scurry across the floor. When the invertebrate was close enough, she squashed it with her red heel as hard as she could.

"Bye bye buggy," Lois laughed, enjoying the squishing and crunching noise that came out as the insect life came to an untimely end.

Just then, she heard the door open violently. She jumped back and screamed in fear of what twisted idea the monster had planned for her. Joker walked into the room but stopped once he had reached her. Lois was up against the wall with terror in her eyes. He bent down and lifted her head up by her chin with one figure.

"Come Honey, it's time for your final test," he said in a calm voice as he stroked her soft black hair.

Lois whimpered in fear as Joker grabbed her tightly by the arm and dragged her down the hallway, the clicking of her heels echoing as she walked. Her heart beat loudly with every step, fearing what he had planned for the grand finale. They passed the door where the bubbling noise came from.

Lois looked at Joker in confusion.

"Is something wrong?" Joker asked rhetorically.

Lois pointed back at the door. "I thought..."

"Not yet, but you'll be in there very soon," Joker said with a wicked grin. She felt scared and intrigued by what he could possibly have planned.

They continued until they came to an old dark green door that Lois hadn't seen before. Joker opened the door to reveal a small room with nothing in it except a large goon. He had bulbous muscular arms and a deep scar over his right eye and in his hands, he held a large crowbar.

Joker shoved Lois into the dark red room where the paint had begun peeling off and she fell to the hard wooden floor. Lois pushed herself back up as Joker followed her in and locked the door behind himself.

"Ready?" Joker asked as Lois stood up.

"For what?" she asked not sure what exactly she was supposed to do. "Who's he?" she pointed to the cruel-looking goon.

"Oh, where are my manners?" Joker laughed in a rhetorical tone. "This is- well it doesn't matter who he is. You two are going to fight," he introduced with increasing excitement.

"What?! You want me to fight him?!" Lois yelled.

"Is there a problem?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Look at him, no one gets those kinds of scars from putting up with kittens. I won't last a minute against him." Lois said.

"Are you sure about that?"

"Yes!"

"I think you're underestimating yourself, Honey. Why, I bet you could beat him in five minutes."

"You're kidding, right?"

"Now Lois, am I really asking that much of you?"

Lois thought for a minute, she has been through much worse this week.

"So, shall we begin?" Joker asked with a cruel smirk.

"What's the fight even for?" Lois could not see how this was supposed to be a form of torture, especially after everything she had been through this week.

"Why it's simple. If you beat him, I let you go. If you fail… well, let's just say your torture schedule will be extended a few more hours."

Lois sighed, "Alright, let's get this over with." She turned to face her opponent.

"Good," he said before smiling sinisterly. "Oh, one more thing, this is a fight to the death." The psychotic man laughed manically as the goon advanced toward Lois. The woman in red and black turned and ran to the door. She tried to open the door as hard as she could to no avail. She turned to fight, her fists shaking in fear.

The goon swung the crowbar, almost hitting her in the face.

Joker watched intently as they fought, swinging his weapon violently trying to hit her. She was able to dodge the attacks but could barely get a good hit in. However, it was clear that she was close to breaking. At any moment she would snap and lose her sanity.

Lois dodged another attack before managing to land a hit to his right eye.

"You'll pay for that you bitch!" he yelled. He charged towards her with his fist held high. She dodged him at the last second and his fist got stuck in the wall.

Lois couldn't help but let out a twisted chuckle which stopped when the goon freed his hand.

Seeing this could go on for far longer than he wanted, the Clown Prince of Crime decided to intervene. He knew exactly what would be the final straw. He approached her and whispered in her ear, "I bet you wish Superman would save you! Oh, that's right, he's too busy with Ms. Lang!"

Lois didn't understand what he meant. Lana wasn't after Superman, why would she be? The only reason Lana would try to get the Man of Steel for herself would be if he was- Lois' eyes widened as the realization hit her like a ton of bricks. Clark Kent was Superman. For a moment Lois' mind unfocused on her current surroundings. All she could think about were the years of lies and deceptions from the man of steel. How she, the greatest reporter of Metropolis, couldn't figure it out after all these years. She snapped out of her thoughts when the goon struck her across the face which knocked her hard to the ground.

As the goon came closer to finish her off, Lois began to see his face change. Slowly the goon turned into Clark. Then she heard the goon's laugh becomes Clark's, mocking and belittling her.

"What's the matter, Lois? Can't believe you were dating Superman the whole time?" the goon mocked in Clark's voice. "Too ashamed to admit you couldn't see what was right in front of you this whole time, you utter fool?"

"Maybe he deserves someone better." she heard Lana's voice echo. Then she hallucinated the redhead walking next to him. "He's all mine." She lustfully declared before they both cruelly laughed. He then raised his weapon high for another attack, but just as the goon was about to hit her again, Lois kicked him in the groin and made him drop the crowbar.

Gritting her teeth, she grabbed the crowbar and attacked him. Hatred filled her eyes as she struck the man as hard as she could. He begged for mercy but Lois didn't stop, she kept hitting him harder even as blood splattered her face until finally, she let out a hellish scream and hit the goon right on the skull. Blood pouring out of his head as his eyes closed for a final time.

Lois looked at the body of the man she had just beaten to death. She stared with fury as she now saw the goon in his real form. With blood on her cheek, she breathed deeply, then her left eye twitched. Then she began to laugh a little before it got louder and more gleefully and twisted as a large, unnatural smile slowly appeared on her face.

The last of her sanity was destroyed and Joker looked on with a wicked smirk. He had done it, after a week of beating and torturing her, he finally made her snap. She was now just as twisted, heartless, and psychopathic as he was. There was only one final task for her to go past the point of no return. One last thing to make her... his new partner in crime.

Joker casually walked over to her. When Lois caught sight of him, she turned to attack.

"Don't worry Lois, I'm not going to hurt you," Joker calmly stated. Lois lowered her crowbar. "Tell me, did you like-"

"I loved it!" she laughed with a gleefully evil voice, smiling even wider. "The blood, the screams of mercy, seeing the life fade from him. I loved it all!"

Joker was slightly annoyed that he had been interrupted but he decided to let it slide just in case Lois used her new weapon on him. "Good, now how would you like to be my right hand?"

"What exactly do I get out of it?"

"You will become the Clown Princess of Crime. We'll terrify Gotham City like no one could even imagine. I can get my revenge on Harley and Ivy..." Joker paused for effect. "...and you can get revenge on Clark and Lana."

Lois beamed at the word and imagined standing over the deceased bodies of those who had backstabbed her. "Alright, I'm in, Pudding."

"Excellent, but first, there's just one more thing we need to do before you can be the perfect criminal," he stated on his way out.

They entered the room where the bubbling noise came from. He opened the doors to reveal a room with a large rusty vat filled to the brim with boiling acid. Joker led Lois up the metal stairs. Once they were at the top, Joker prepared to shove her.

"What do you think you're doing?" she yelled, whipping around to face him.

"I have to push you in. After all, don't-"

"Oh please, only an idiot would let you push them into acid." she interpreted, then her face turned to an evil smile. "Besides, I would prefer to jump in."

Joker blinked in shock before his face twisted into a smile. "Go right ahead, Honey."

Lois turned around and cannonballed into the vat. Acid splashed onto the dark blueish-grey tiled floor, leaving deep burn marks. Joker waited for his new partner to complete her transformation. Twenty seconds later, Lois emerged from the depths, like Ariel, and stepped out dripping with acid. Joker grinned even wider at the sight that to any ordinary man would be a sight of horror, but to the psychopathic mind was an image of pure beauty and sultry.

"Mirror," Lois commanded one of the goons, gesturing with her hand to give one to her. The goon was silent as he nervously looked at his boss' new girlfriend. "MIRROR!"

A traumatized goon shakily handed Lois a hand mirror. Lois snatched it out of his and held the mirror up to her face as she gazed at her new reflection. Her skin was bleached as white as Joker, her hair was now dark green just like his, and her teeth and corneas were a sickening yellow. The only thing that remained was her purple eyes. She began to laugh slowly but it soon grew louder. The goon backed away as Lois' laugh became more threatening as it echoed across the room.

"You better watch out Gotham, because I'm coming for ya!" Lois jeered as she threw the mirror to the floor, causing it to shatter as a bolt of lightning flashed across casting her menacing shadow onto the greyish-green walls.

The newest rogue in Gotham laughed in a tone of pure evil. Lois Lane was dead to make room for Lethal Lynx, the Clowned Princess of Crime.

---

Special thanks to Princesspopular6417 for helping me come up with Lois' villain name.

Chapter 12: A Bad Night for Batgirl

Chapter 12

A Bad Night for Batgirl

The next morning Barbara was rudely awoken by the cat as it rubbed its face on her cheek.

"Alright, alright I'm up," she groaned. She sat up and stretched her arms just as her girlfriend awoke.

"Morning honey," Kara yawned before kissing her girlfriend on the cheek.

Downstairs, Jonathan read the morning paper while his wife cooked breakfast. She had just placed the first plate on the table when her foster daughter and guest came downstairs, now dressed in casual clothing. The meal that Martha had cooked for the four of them was made up of three strips of crispy bacon, two slices of brown toast, two well-done sausages, and some baked beans.

"Morning Pa, morning Ma." Kara greeted as they sat down at the table.

"Morning dears," said her mother. "Did you sleep well?"

"We did, thank you," Barbara said before digging in.

"We had a little friend join us as well," Kara pointed out, just as the cat began to circle her girlfriend, rubbing its soft fur on her legs.

"He wasn't too much trouble?" her dad joked.

"Thankfully, he didn't sit on my face like the last two nights," Barbara mentioned with a soft glare at the feline, and unintentionally earned chuckles from the others.

"By the way, how have things been going with your father?" Jonathan asked.

"Pretty good. We went out for a movie the other night and he seems to be warming up to Kara again," Barbara stated as she dunked a piece of toast into her egg.

"That's wonderful," Martha congratulated.

"You must be happy to have his approval?"

"I wouldn't say I have his full approval, but it does feel good having our relationship back to the way it used to be," Kara admitted.

"May have taken him a few months, but it was well worth it."

"Well, as I've said before, it takes time for some people, but they'll come around eventually."

Once they had finished, they went outside as the young couple prepared to head back to Gotham.

"Thank you for letting us stay again," Kara said hugging her parents.

"You're welcome, Kara. You know you're always welcome to come back when you're not saving the world."

"And thank you for breakfast again," Barbara added.

"Bye you two."

"Goodbye dears. Tell Clark we said hi."

"Have a nice flight back," Jonathan added.

"We will."

Once the Kents had gone inside and they were sure the coast was clear, Barbara and Kara went behind a tree to change into their hero attire. Barbara then hopped onto her girlfriend's back and they took to the clear blue skies. She held her arms out and felt the wind blow gently through her red hair. Kara smiled as she looked at her girlfriend.

"Hang on, we're about to kick it up to super speed."

Barbara tighten her grip as Kara zoomed out of Smallville.

They arrived back in Gotham just as the city got busy. As they soared through the sky, they unknowingly passed Lana at the bus stop on her way to work. As she waited she caught sight of the headline in the morning paper. LOOSE WIRE: LIVEWIRE ESCAPES AGAIN! Underneath was a picture of the electric criminal and the story below that told of the villainess's escape. Next to it was the beginning of another story about the continuing search for Lois Lane.

"I hope Clark finds her before she does." She tapped her heel on the pavement, causing it to crack slightly. She stopped immediately and hoped no one noticed. She got up as the bus came to a stop. As she got on the driver saw the crack.

"The state of the pavements these days," he muttered to himself, not noticing Lana's look of embarrassment as she paid her fare. She sat next to one of the windows, as she nervously thought about her new side career.

---

Clark sat in his hotel room writing down a draft of his story when he heard a knock on the door. He walked over and opened it to see his cousin.

"Hey, Clark," she greeted.

"Hello, how are Ma and Pa?" He moved aside to let her in.

"They're doing fine."

"Can I get you anything?"

"No thanks. So, how did it go last night?" she asked.

"Surprising, to say the least."

"What do you mean?"

"You may want to sit down." He then explained the previous night's events.

"What? She's Superwoman," she tried to comprehend. He nodded. "Shoot, I was already set to change my name to that." she teased.

"Kara," he said sternly.

"Joking, joking. Geez Louise," she said crossing her arms. "Why do you take everything so seriously?"

"Because hero work (this) is serious."

"I know, but even when you're off duty you never seem to have fun anymore."

"I know. It's... just stress. That's all."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Okay," she said, only half convinced. "You know you can tell me if anything bothering you, right?"

"I know," he replied.

---

At the museum, Barbara hoped to have a chat with Lana on her break. As she looked around, she spotted the fashion designer making her way to her office.

"Lana," she called out.

"Oh hello, Barbara," she replied with a slightly worried look on her face.

"Are you okay? You don't seem like yourself today."

"It's nothing, just stress from working all morning."

"Would you like some help?"

"Sure, thanks."

They walked to her workshop where several pieces of clothing were ready for the upcoming event.

"Wow, these are beautiful." Barbara complimented.

"Thanks."

"So, what do you need me to do?"

"Could you get the blue fabric for me, please?"

"Sure."

Lana looked over at one of the mannequins and noticed that the head bow was crooked. She began to straighten it and as she did so, she unknowingly began to hover. Barbara came back with the fabric and had to do a double-take just to make sure her eyes weren't playing tricks on her.

The older woman turned to see the stunned look on the younger's face.

"What?"

"Um, you're hovering."

Lana looked down and quickly placed her feet on the ground.

"What's going on?"

"Nothing. It's a new... invisible stool."

Barbara raised an eyebrow as she gave her an unconvinced look.

"Alright." she signed in defeat. "I found this rock yesterday and now I'm stuck with superpowers."

"You're disappointed that you have superpowers?" Barbara asked in confusion.

"No, that I'm stuck with them and now have to be a superhero."

"What's wrong with that?"

"Honestly... I'm scared. This isn't something I'm used to. How I am going to live two lives at once," she confessed.

"Well I may not have powers, but I know what's it like to live a double life." Barbara comforted. "It's not easy and I'll admit I've had close calls with being discovered, especially by my dad, but to be honest after a while it begins to feel like nothing really changed." Lana raised an eyebrow. "Well, maybe a few changes here and there," Barbara admitted. "Trust me, it'll be fine. And I know you'll be a great hero."

"Thanks."

"Anytime," she said. "So, what else do you need me to do?"

For the next hour, Barbara assisted Lana with dressmaking. Once they finished they admired the dress they had made which was a lovely ocean blue with wave patterns.

"Thanks for your help today," Lana said. "You know if the hero business doesn't work anymore, I can always take you under my wing." she teased.

"I'll keep that in mind," Barbara played along before picking up her bag. "So, see you tonight?"

"Maybe."

Barbara said her goodbyes and left.

---

As evening engulfed the city, Joker sat with a few of his men to plan their next move when Lethal Lynx suddenly strutted in.

"Evening Mr. J" she flirted but earned nothing in return. "So Puddin' what we're gonna do for my first gig?" she asked excitedly.

"Why, it's all right here, see for yourself," he gestured to the plan.

Lynx looked down and her eager smile slowly disappeared. "That's it? A week of being tortured so I can be turned into this beauty, just for a simple bank robbery?"

"Yes, I need the funds for my revenge plan. Why is something wrong?"

"I was hoping for something bigger like gee I don't know, KILLING SUPERMAN AND LANA LANG!"

"Now now honey all in due time," Joker stated calmly. "After all, revenge is so much sweeter when you have time to come up with the perfect plan." Lethal pouted with her hands on her hips. "Don't give me that look. You're too adorable when you're angry."

"Fine," she begrudgingly agreed.

"Good," he then went into detail about the heist.

"Now then, is everybody ready?" he rhetorically asked his nervous men. "Good, then get going!"

The thugs followed their cruel leader with Lynx behind them. Just then her purple eyes caught sight of the headline on a discarded newspaper.

"If Miss 9000 volts is out," she whispered to herself. "Then she'll be looking for me." A wicked grin spread over her face as an idea formed in her head. "Won't want to disappoint her."

---

Superman waited on a rooftop for the others. Soon he was joined by the heroine in purple.

"Hi, Superman." Batgirl greeted.

"Evening Batgirl. Where's Supergirl?"

"She's dealing with a criminal on our street. She said she would join us shortly."

"Why aren't helping her?"

"It was a one-person job," she excused.

He nodded before turning his attention back to the red night sky.

"So Lana has powers now?" Barbara asked.

"She told you?"

"Kind of, I saw her hovering." she clarified.

"Oh, well, that does make things easier."

"Will she join us tonight?"

"Kind of, I'm helping her get used to her powers, so you and Kara are going to have to look for Lois by yourselves."

"Actually, we were kind of hoping to after Ivy and Harley."

"We can go after them once Lois is found."

"But-"

"That's final," he stated firmly.

"Fine." As he turned, she noticed his body language. "Is there something on your mind?" she asked.

"Hm, um it's-it's nothing."

"Come on Clark, what's on your mind?"

"I'm concerned about Lois."

"I'm sure we'll find her."

"It's not just that. Given what's happened to Lana, I'm scared that Lois might... overreact," he admitted. "I have no idea how am I going to explain this to her."

"Tell her you two superwomen in your life now. I'm sure she'll let it fly." Barbara joked.

"YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY!?" Superman yelled.

"I was only jok-"

"JOKING!? LOIS IS IN DANGER AND ALL YOU CAN DO IS MAKE JOKES AT HER EXPENSE!" he yelled.

"I wasn't trying to..."

"IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY THEN DON'T BOTHER SHOWING UP FOR THE NIGHT WATCH! YOU INCENTIVE IDIOT!"

Batgirl was shocked by his outburst. She had never seen him this angry.

"I'll... I'll just be going."

Clark turned back around, shaking his head in guilt.

Kara was just handing the crook over to the authorities, before taking off to join her cousin. As she flew she saw her girlfriend solemnly walking. She flew down next to her.

"Honey, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing." Batgirl lied.

"Please tell me."

"I accidentally made Clark angry and he called me an idiot."

"WHAT?!" Kara yelled as her eyes temporarily turned red.

"Kara he didn't…" But before Barbara could explain Kara shot off. As Barbara went after her, she received a call through her earpiece.

"Batgirl, there's a gang robbery at a jewelry store downtown."

"On it," she reassured before heading off.

---

Clark looked over the edge of the building as he contemplated how he would apologize to Barbara when Lana arrived.

"Evening Superman."

He turned to face her. Lana's new look fit her stoic stance. She wore a sleek matte silver suit covering her from neck to toe paired perfectly with deep scarlet boots and accents that matched her hair. Over her chest was the El family crest which she proudly displayed for her first patrol.

"So what do you think?"

"I was hoping for something a little bluer," he said.

"I want to try something a little different." she teased.

"I still think blue would have been more appropriate," he reprimanded her.

She rolled her eyes and then noticed his expression. "I know that face."

"What face?"

"That face you have when something's bothering you?"

"Nothing is bothering me."

"Don't think you can hide it from me, I've known you for over half of your life. I know when something's wrong," she stated firmly. "What's the matter?"

Clark was about to explain when a voice came up from behind him.

"HOW DARE YOU CALL HER AN IDIOT!?" Kara shouted.

"You did what?" Lana asked.

"It was an accident," he clarified. "She made a joke and I got mad..."

"Mad?! Over a little joke?!"

"Hey! She was making fun of Lois!" he snapped furiously.

"Oh, so that makes it okay to yell at my girlfriend?!"

"Okay, okay. Cool it!" Lana ordered getting between them. "Okay Clark, explain yourself."

"We were just talking and I explained to her that I was nervous about explaining to Lois about you being Superwoman."

"What was the joke?"

"That I could just say I have two Superwomen and she'll let it fly."

"That's it? THAT'S WHAT YOUR MAD ABOUT?!" Kara asked crossly.

"Hey, go easy on him. It was just a misunderstanding that's all." Lana said.

"You're taking his side?"

"I'm not taking sides nor am I defending what he said. I just wanted to stop you two from fighting."

Kara just signed and shook her head. "I'm going after her," she said before turning her attention to her cousin. "The first chance you get, you apologize to her."

His eyes widened as his own words echoed in his head. Supergirl flew off leaving the other two alone.

---

Batgirl walked across the rooftops, keeping an eye out for any suspicious activity. Then she saw a gang of six running with several bags. She sprung into action, running as fast as her legs could carry her.

The thugs quickly climbed up a fire escape ladder, but once they arrived at the top of the building, they were met by the redheaded guardian of the night.

"Batgirl!" One of them shouted in terror.

"Alright, hand over the jewels and come quietly and I'll go easy on you," she commanded.

"I hate to break to you sweetheart, but it's just you versus the six of us," the leader grinned, baring his rotten teeth.

She glared at her opponents as she readied her weapon. Two of the robbers got out their guns and shot at the young woman, which she managed to dodge. She threw her Batarang and knocked the two out. As she landed, another one came to her and tried to hit her with his fists. She dodged them as best she could while also trying to get a hit in herself.

Suddenly the leader grabbed her by the wrist and snatched her grappling hook gun out of her pocket belt. He chuckled cruelly as he and the others began to tie her up.

"Stop squirming would ya."

But just as they finished, the sound of police sirens could be heard.

"What do we do now, boss?"

"Throw the brat off and make a run for it."

They followed their boss's order before turning to escape. She screamed as she fell off the roof tangled up in the string of her grabbing hook. The gun, however, got caught on a rail and she stopped just before she could hit the hard ground, but in the commotion, her mask fell off.

The six criminals began to climb down the fire escape ladder only to find the police waiting below.

In the alleyway, Batgirl hung upside down, struggling to free herself. She looked down where she saw her mask. She looked up and her expression turned to fear as she saw her father standing before her, with a look of utter shock on his face.

---

Author's note: Special thanks to AFY2018 for their help with this chapter and the newspaper headline.

Chapter 13: Sparks

Chapter 13

Sparks

Jim watched his daughter look down, disgraced, as they sat at her dining room table.

"I can't believe this," he yelled crossly. "All this time you've been gallivanting at night as Batgirl!"

"I was going to tell you eventually, I swear. I was just waiting for the right time," Barbara explained sorrowfully.

"Why do I have trouble believing that?"

"I only want to help Gotham," she stated with tears flowing down her face.

"You're too young to be going out fighting crime!"

"I'm twenty-two, I can take care of myself!"

"I don't care how old you are, this city is too dangerous!" he stated firmly. "What if something happened and I couldn't get there in time?"

"I have others helping me. Batman, Robin, any members of the Justice League."

"And when they're not there? Who's looking out for you then?!"

"Supergirl, she always has my back."

"What about tonight? Why wasn't she there to help you?"

"That was just one time. If she had known I was in trouble she would have rushed to save me."

"But she wasn't! You could have been killed! How can you call her a good partner for almost letting something bad happen to you?!"

"Kara wouldn't let anything bad happen to me." She immediately recognized her mistake, but her father had already pieced it together before she could say anything.

"Kara... she's… she's Supergirl isn't she?!"

"Please don't tell anyone. Be mad at me, punish me if you have to, but please don't tell anyone about Kara."

"I knew there was a reason I didn't like her. She's a danger to you."

"She's the most reliable person I've worked with, just trust her."

"You really want me to put my trust in that d-" Jim stopped himself, but it was too late.

"Say it," demanded through bared teeth . "SAY IT!" He didn't speak, but she didn't need him to. "You were going to call her a dyke. Weren't you? I know it. You're never gonna change. You're never going to accept my relationship with Kara." she stated. "You know what? If she's not part of your family then neither am I."

"You can't be serious?"

"I am. If you're going to make me choose between you and her then I'm choosing Kara."

"But I'm not."

"Why do I have trouble believing that?" she said. She turned to leave and pulled on her mask. "Goodbye James," she said bitterly on her way to the window.

"Barbara please wait-"

"Why? I thought you didn't want a freak for a daughter," Batgirl coldly said. She grabbed her grappling gun and made her way to the rooftops.

Jim spotted a photo of him, his wife, and Barbara when she was five. Tears formed in his eyes as he went to look at it. They were so close to repairing their relationship, but that seemed impossible now.

"I'm sorry, Barbara," he whispered to the image as tears began to roll down his cheek.

---

Barbara sat between two statues on a rooftop, with her legs tucked up to her chest. A devastated expression covered her face as she cried. A small part of her felt guilty for her decision, he was her father and the person who raised her into the woman she was today. He was there in her darkest hour. Joyful memories of them, flashed in her mind, yet a small voice in her head assured her of her choice. He didn't approve of her girlfriend, nor did he accept her. She had been happy for the last seven months without him, why would things be any different?

"Barbara?" Batgirl was brought back to reality. She wiped away the tears as Supergirl approached her. She let out a sigh of relief before flying down to her and embracing her with open arms. "Oh, I was so worried." She pulled away to look eye-to-eye with her. "Are you ok?"

"I've been better."

"What do you mean?"

Barbara hesitated for a second. "I may have overestimated how many people I could fight on my own."

"They didn't hurt you, did they?"

"No, but they did manage to tie me up and throw me off the roof."

"Wait till I catch them," her partner threatened through gritted teeth.

"No need, the police already got them. But..."

"But what?"

"My mask fell off, they didn't see me but... Jim did."

"What?"

"He knows, I'm Batgirl."

"How did he take it?"

"About as well as he did when he found out about us."

Kara wasn't sure what to say next. "Well, I'm sure he'll get over it."

"It's more than that," Barbara remorsefully began. "We got into a fight and I-" Tears began to fill her blue eyes. "... I accidentally told him you were Supergirl." She was close to sobbing. "I didn't mean to, it just slip-"

"It's ok, it's ok," Kara reassured her and wiped away the tears. "I'm sure he won't tell anyone."

"I hope so."

"I'm sure he won't." She paused. "I take it I'm not his favorite person at the moment."

"Well, this time you don't have to get back in his good books."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm done with him."

Kara's eyes went wide. "You mean, you're cutting him out of your life?"

"Yes, and don't try to talk me out of it," Barbara stated firmly.

"That's a little extreme, just for us."

"It's not just that." Her voice was as bitter as a lemon. "During our fight, he almost called you THAT word."

"Oh."

"If you're not part of his family, then I'm not part of his."

Kara thought for a moment, but she knew she couldn't talk her out of this. "Ok, but if you change your mind-"

"I can assure you that won't happen."

Kara just nodded, taken back by how coldly she spoke. "We better get back to Clark. He owes you an apology," she said, then added. "And don't try and say he doesn't." Barbara smiled as her girlfriend picked her up and they flew under the red night sky. "We're going to have to tell Bruce about what happened."

"I'm sure he'll understand."

---

From a vacant building, Clark taught Lana how to properly fly.

"Just take it slowly," he instructed a few feet from the roof.

She slowly walked off the edge and began to hover, looking down nervously.

"Don't look down," he advised her. "Just look forward."

She nodded and slowly moved ahead, trying her best to keep in a straight line only stopping once she reached him.

"Not bad." he complimented.

"Thanks."

"Now we just have to go to that building," he directed to another skyscraper.

"It seems a bit far doesn't it?"

"Don't worry I'll be right behind you. If anything happens, I'll catch you."

Lana nodded and slowly began to fly with Superman close behind her. As she flew the gentle night air blew through her long hair. A smile spread across her face as her confidence rose. Before she knew it, she had reached the other building.

"Someone's a quick learner."

She turned to face him. "Thanks," she gasped. Clark had stopped halfway.

"Clark, why did you do that? I could have fallen."

"But you didn't, did you?" he replied.

"Touche," she replied. "So, what's next?"

"Just a few more flying lessons, then tomorrow I'll help you control your powers."

"I'm guessing that will require somewhere with fewer buildings."

"Yes," he stated. "Now we're going to go a little further with a bit more speed." He pointed to a billboard, in the distance.

"Race ya," she playfully challenged.

"No racing, we're training."

"Oh come on, can't we have a little fun while we do this?"

He just gave her a stern look.

"Alright, Mr. Grump, have it your way."

They began to fly towards the billboard at a slightly faster speed, side by side. Lana moved a few inches forward and Clark copied her distance. She inched again and he followed suit, and then she zoomed off. He groaned before going after her.

"I'm gonna win," she teased.

"It's not a race."

They were neck and neck as they came closer to the billboard, but at the last minute, Clark just managed to get ahead by an inch and arrived there first.

"Looks like I bet you," he joked.

"Oh, so now it's race?" she sarcastically said.

"I didn't say it was."

"But you were thinking it."

"No, I wasn't."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Yes, I was just saying I got here first."

"That sounds like something someone who won a race would say."

"Well, I won't say I won, I just managed to get here before you."

Unable to hold it in anymore the two began to chuckle before sitting down. They were so busy laughing at their childish banter, that they had failed to notice the advertisement on the billboard was a poster of a romance film between two old flames.

"Feels great to laugh again," he whispered in relief.

"What do you mean do mean again?" she asked.

"Um... nothing."

"Nothing? You just said something that sounds like you haven't had a good laugh in a while."

"Well you know, with everything going on, I haven't had a chance to laugh."

Lana just raised an eyebrow in suspicion and Clark gave her an uneasy look.

She sighed, "Alright, but promise me if something is wrong you will tell me?"

"I will."

They caught sight of his cousin and her girlfriend. He let out a sigh, as he prepared for what was to come.

"Barbara, I-"

"Before you say anything, I need to tell you something first," Barbara interjected and quickly explained the situation.

"You told him who Kara was?!"

"It was an accident," Kara defended.

He let out a sigh as he put his hand to his face, rubbing his eyes. "Did you at least manage to convince him not to tell anyone?"

"I've asked, practically begged," Barbara admitted.

"Did he agree?"

"I'm not sure."

"You mean you didn't wait for his response?"

"He didn't answer, he just went back to hating Kara."

"Oh my." Lana gasped.

"And, I cut him out of my life."

"I'm sorry to hear that," he stated. "And I'm sorry for calling you an idiot."

"It's ok," Barbara accepted.

"So what now?" Kara asked.

"I think the only option is for you to ask him." He then turned to Barbara. "And you're going to have to inform Batman, immediately."

They nodded. Supergirl grabbed hold of Batgirl and flew off.

"So, are we done for the night?" Lana asked.

He thought for a few seconds. "We'll train for another hour then call it a night."

"Alright."

They took off as well, unaware of the purple car traveling the streets below.

In his iconic vehicle, the Joker Mobile, the Clown Prince sped to Gotham's National Bank. Tagging along were his goons and new partner in crime who held a bucket of water.

"Why do you have that bucket, dearie?" he asked.

"Let's just say, that want to make a splash on my first day," she said in a darkly humorous tone.

"Just don't try to upstage me. Remember you are my second in command. Got it." he dryly threatened.

"Yes Puddin'," she rolled her eyes.

A little while later, the car came to a stop in an alleyway with a dead end.

"Now just stay here and keep watch," he ordered his girlfriend.

"Okey dokey Jokey," Lethal said in a sing-song voice.

Joker grinned before he and his gang left for the heist. Once they were out of sight, her smile turned to a sneer and she rolled her eyes. She got out and stood in front of the car to look for a target, like a crocodile waiting for its prey.

It wasn't long before Liverwire came into the area. As she made her way through the telephone wires, she spotted the silhouette of a familiar person.

"Oh, this is just too perfect." she chuckled to herself. She exited the wires and walked causally over to her target.

"Hello, Ms.-"

Suddenly the figure turned around and threw water at her. Livewire screamed in agony as her powers weakened. She coughed as Lynx came into the light to reveal her new persona.

"Hello, Livewire."

"What the-"

"My my, how helpless you are without your powers," Lynx mocked as she readied her crowbar.

"Lois?"

"Please, call me Lethal Lynx from now on," she paused for effect. "or with the little time you have left." She swang the crowbar with enough force to drop the electric woman to her knees.

Livewire tried to crawl away, but without her powers, she was helpless.

"Run, run, run as fast as you can. But I'll still catch you, I'm a Lethal woman." she sang as she continued to attack her before letting out a psychopathic laugh. Her victim's body was covered in deep bloody cuts.

"Stop, please," she begged, but her pleas of mercy fell on a heart of stone. She soon reached a wall, her eyes darting around for a way to escape to no avail.

Lethal cornered her helpless victim. "Lights out Liverwire. Lights out." As she loaded up the final blow, someone roughly grabbed her wrist.

"What do you think you're doing?!" Joker yelled.

"Putting out this spark." she venomously spat back.

"You're supported to be keeping an eye out for heroes."

"Well, we were supposed to get revenge tonight," she argued back.

"We'll discuss this when we get home. Now come."

Begrudgingly, Lethal hopped into the car, leaving Livewire, helplessly near death.

---

Kara dropped Barbara back home and went to look for Jim. She found him alone outside of the police station, so she joined him.

"Mr. Gordon."

"Ms. Kent." he greeted.

"Look, I know you hate me right now, but please don't tell-"

"I won't, your secret's safe with me."

"Thank you. May I ask why?" She asked, taken by surprise.

Jim turned away slightly to hide his emotions. "Because I don't want to put my little girl in danger."

She was silent for a moment. She and then nodded. "Thank you."

"Just promise you'll look after her."

"I will," she agreed before parting ways.

In her apartment, Barbara informed her mentor about the reveal and unmasking through video chat.

"You're lucky it was just your father. If had been anyone else, then I think you would have had to leave Gotham." Bruce realistically stated.

"You don't think he'll tell anyone about Kara?"

"Unlikely, doing so would put you in danger."

Barbara hummed in agreement just as her girlfriend came in through the window. "Good news. He agreed to keep our identities a secret.".

"Oh, thank god."

"Good, just be more careful in the future," he reminded them.

"I will."

"By the way, any luck with finding Lois?"

"Not yet," she informed him.

"Are you sure you don't want me to come back?"

"No, it's fine. But we will call if we do."

"Good." He looked at the alarm clock on his bedside table. "Well, I have to get going, good night."

"Goodnight, Bruce," they said before hanging up.

Bruce exhaled as he put down the phone and went to adjust his bowtie in the mirror. As tonight was Zatanna's last night, they had agreed to attend a play at the local theatre after her show. As he put together the finishing touches of his outfit, there was a knock on the door. Opening it revealed his date.

"Evening Brucey," the sexy raven-haired magician greeted. She wore lovely long sparkling navy blue dress that perfectly displayed her back and cleavage with matching heels and earrings.

"Evening, Zee," he greeted. "Lovely dress. Store-bought or did you use your magic?"

"Pure magic, although I had to buy the heels." she jested.

"I must say you did a beautiful job."

"Thank you," she graciously accepted with a sly grin on her flawless face.

"What?"

"Oh, nothing. Come on we're going to be late."

Bruce nodded and locked the door before walking arm in arm to watch their show.

---

In Gotham, Clark and Lana, now in civilian clothes, stood outside of her hotel.

"Thanks for walking me back here," she said.

"No problem. So, how did you find your first day?"

"Surprising, but I'll get used to it."

"Glad to hear it."

"So, how do you think I did?"

"Pretty good. But tomorrow will be harder."

"I accept the challenge."

He chuckled, but suddenly stopped as he caught the glimpse of a twinkle in Lana's eye.

"Something wrong?" she asked.

"No, just something in my eye," he lied. "So, same time tomorrow?"

"I can't wait," she said enthusiastically.

As he walked down the street, Clark wondered if he really saw Lana's eyes sparkle? He shook his head. It couldn't be, it was just his mind playing tricks on him. But unbeknownst to him, Lana was questioning the same thing herself.

---

Barbara lay awake in bed even as Kara slept soundly by her side. She felt that she may have been hard on her father and should have given him another chance.

Just then Kara turned over and her arm dropped over the redhead's waist.

Barbara looked down and wrapped her fingers around her girlfriend's hand. Her mind changed, her father was out of her life for good.

She had made the right decision… didn't she?

Chapter 14: Love Trouble

Chapter 14

Love Trouble

At the Joker's hideout, the mad clown chewed out his new girlfriend.

"WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING!" he yelled, rage filling his soulless eyes. "ATTACKING LIVEWIRE, WITHOUT MY SAY SO!"

"Hey, she's been kidnapping me for years. If I didn't do something, I could have been fried," she bit back.

"YOU DELIBERATELY DISOBEYED ME! I TOLD YOU TO KEEP WATCH! THAT WAS ALL!"

"Well maybe hurry up with your scheme next time."

Joker slapped her hard across the face, sending her to the hard floor.

"DON'T EVER USE THAT TONE WHEN SPEAKING-" But before he could finish, Lethal got up and kicked him in the stomach, knocking him down.

"YOU LISTEN TO ME, YOU LITTLE SHIT!" she sternly yelled. Poking him hard on the forehead. "I MAY BE YOUR SECOND IN COMMAND BUT DON'T THINK FOR A SECOND I'M GONNA LET YOU PUSH ME AROUND! IF YOU WANT A BITCH TO SLAP AROUND, THEN GO BACK TO HARLEY!"

Joker was speechless. He had hoped that Lois would become twisted after his torture, but he could now see that it may have worked too well. He decided to change tactics.

"I'm sorry sweetie. I don't know what came over me," he said in a falsely calm voice.

"Your ego," she dryly remarked.

"Maybe, but that doesn't excuse me for my behaviour. he tried not to show his displeasure as the words left his mouth.

She sceptically hummed.

"Tell you what, Honey, tomorrow night we can do whatever twisted idea you want."

"Promise?"

"I promise," he grinned, hiding his crossed fingers.

She pondered for a moment. "Alright, I forgive you, Puddin'."

"Good."

"But only if you carry me to bed," she added.

"Fine," he agreed halfheartedly. "Now let's get some sleep. We have a big day tomorrow."

Lethal beamed as she leapt into his arms. The twisted couple made their way to bed and Lethal planted a kiss on her boyfriend's bleached cheek before whispering in his ear "You better keep it."

"I will."

---

Ivy and Harley walked down the street on their way home from a girl's night out when they came to the alley where Joker and his gang had been an hour ago and something caught the looney jester's eye.

"What is it?" Ivy asked.

"I think someone had a nasty accident," she pointed to the body in the alleyway.

The green woman looked in the general direction her girlfriend was pointing. "Probably just some drunk..." she squinted as the figure began to look familiar. Then both their eyes widened as they realized who it was.

"Livewire?!" They rushed over to her. Harley cupped the weak woman's head in her hands.

Livewire coughed as her eyes opened. "Harley?... Ivy?... Is... that you?" she said between breaths.

"Yes."

"What happened to you?" Ivy asked.

"Was it Joker?" Harley added.

"No... it wasn't... it... it was... his... new... girlfriend."

"Girlfriend?!" the duo said in shock.

"Yeah... and... she's... a real... psycho."

"What's her name?"

"She... calls... herself... Lethal Lynx."

"And what's her real name?"

Livewire tried to speak but couldn't muster the strength, and then her eyes slowly shut. Harley put two of her fingers to her wrists, trying to feel her pulse, but there was none.

"She's dead," Harley almost choked.

Suddenly, they heard police sirens. Ivy took out a rope vine and threw it onto a rooftop. They climbed and pulled up the green vine, just as three police cars stopped. The officers got out and called in Livewire's body.

"Over here," he called out.

---

Bruce and Zatanna made conversation on their way to the theatre.

"So where's your next stop?" he asked.

"A city three hours from here." she clarified.

"Will you be performing at another hotel?"

"Nah, I'll be in an actual theatre. The hotel I'll be staying in doesn't have a stage… or a pool, F.Y.I."

"Take it you'll have to go somewhere else for an evening swim?"

"Only if there's one within walking distance," she stated. "By the way, have the others had any luck finding Lois?"

"Not yet."

"Hope they find her, I hate to see Clark worried."

"That isn't the only thing bothering him."

"What do you mean?"

He looked around to make sure that no one else was in ear range, then explained what Barbara had told him.

"So, Jim knows about them being Batgirl and Supergirl?"

He nodded. "Thankfully he won't tell anyone, for Barbara's sake."

"She's lucky to have a father like him."

"She is, just wish they could see eye to eye."

"They will, I may not have known her as long as you or Kara, but I know she's not the kind to hold petty grudges for long."

He smiled. She was right, Barbara may be stubborn at times, and a little rebellious, but she wasn't the kind of person to hold grudges. They finally arrived at their destination and went to the ticket booth.

"Two tickets for Medusa please," he requested.

The woman behind the counter handed them over and the couple took their seats in the fifth row. The audience went silent as the lights dimmed and the curtains opened up. As the marvellous show mesmerize them, Zee rested her head on his shoulder and their hands came together.

By ten o'clock the play had finished moderating applause and the couple walked out chatting about their favourite parts. Once they were far enough away from the crowd, they paused for a moment.

"Thanks for a great night," she said.

"Glad you enjoyed it," he replied.

"I'm gonna miss you."

"Not as much as I'll miss you," he teased.

"We'll see about that," she played back before leaning forward.

They gave each other a loving kiss. Under the prying eyes of a young journalist and their photographer.

"Quick, get the camera," she eagerly commanded. "This is gonna be front page news, I know it."

He took out the camera to take the photo and they left without being spotted.

---

The next morning, Barbara slept soundly until a loud blaring alarm shocked her awake. She went into the kitchen to see Kara trying to cook something. The redhead batted away the smoke before going to assist her girlfriend by plating the slightly burnt pancakes.

"Thanks," Kara laughed in embarrassment as she turned off the stove.

"No problem." They sat down at the table. "So, what do you want?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, the only time you make pancakes is when it's either my birthday, a special occasion or if there's something you want me to do."

Kara took a deep breath, but before she could speak her girlfriend had already figured her out.

"I'm not making amends with him," she said sternly.

"Why not?"

"He thinks we're freaks."

"Look, I know he's said some things, but he's still your dad."

"Why do you want me to make up with him, anyway? He's made it clear he doesn't like you."

"Because I don't want you to regret it. What if something were to happen and he never understands why you left?

Barbara pondered the idea and her heart sank as the thought of losing another family member stung her hard. "Alright. The next chance I get, I'll do my best to repair our relationship."

Kara smiled lovingly. "Thanks, Babsy." Just then, her phone rang. The caller ID showed Jimmy Olsen. "Hi, Jimmy."

"Turn on the news, quick," he ordered.

"What? why?"

"Just turn it on."

Kara and her partner quickly went over to the sofa and switched on the television.

"Famous Metropolis Super Villain, Livewire, has been found dead," a news anchor announced.

The duo gasped in shock.

"You're seeing this right?" he asked.

"Yeah, we are."

"Originally known as Leslie Willis, the dangerous criminal was discovered brutally beaten by a blunt weapon. She was pronounced dead on the scene." he finished. Then the woman next to him continued.

"The main suspect was thought to be The Joker, however, several eyewitnesses and CCTV footage have confirmed that he was robbing the bank during the time the murder has been estimated to have taken place.

"Thanks for the warning, Jimmy," she said.

"No problem, just stay safe out there, ok?"

"We will," Kara reassured him before hanging up. She turned her attention to her partner. "If Joker didn't do that, then who did?"

"I don't know, but whoever they are, they're our top priority as of now."

"Clark's not gonna like that."

"I know him well enough that he'll at least let one of us pause on the Lois search for something this severe."

"I hope so," she whispered to herself.

When the story of Livewire's demise finished Barbara switch over to the next channel to see what else was on the airwaves but only came upon a gossip panel.

"This just in, Gotham's billionaire playboy, Bruce Wayne, may have found the one," a host announced before the photograph of Bruce and Zatanna's kiss was shown.

"Zee?!" the couple shouted in surprise.

"That right. Zatanna Zatara and Bruce Wayne are officially a couple," another host added.

"The picture was taken by young photographer Bob Finger, for an article written by Julie Hale."

Barbara and Kara looked at each other before a smile appeared on their faces.

"Congratulations Zee," Barbara stated as they looked back at the television.

---

It was during his lunch break that Bruce discovered the news. He sat in his hotel room with the local paper when he turned to the enraging expose. He immediately called Zatanna.

"Hi, Bruce," Zee said. "Take it you heard about our secret going public?"

"Unfortunately."

"Given how fast this spread, most of the league probably already knows about it, too."

"That doesn't concern me too much, but with what Clark's going through, I won't blame him if he takes this the wrong way."

"What are you going to do?

"Don't worry, I'm sure I can explain to him," he reassured her.

"Um don't take this the wrong way, honey, but you and Clark don't exactly have the closest friendship."

Bruce signed knowing she was right. "I know we've had our disagreements in the past, but I'm sure we can sort it out like reasonable gentlemen."

"Alright, but don't turn it into a fight."

"I'll try," he teased.

"Bruce."

"I'm kidding, I won't."

"Thanks, Honey."

"Don't mention it," he stated and checked his watch. "Sorry to cut you off, but I have to get back to a meeting."

"Well, good luck."

"Thanks. Bye Zee Zee."

"Bye Brucey,"

---

As dusk came to the city of Gotham, Batgirl and Supergirl waited on a rooftop while they discussed the identity of Livewire's killer.

"Riddler?" Kara suggested.

"I've checked with Arkham and he's still locked up," Barbara stated.

"And Scarecrow?"

"They've put him on complete lockdown, they're not taking any chances."

"Thank goodness," Kara said, just as Lana arrived.

"Evening you two."

"Hi, Superwoman."

"So, what you two talking about?"

"We're trying to figure out who killed Livewire?"

"Harley and Ivy?" Lana suggested.

"Nah, she had a mutual relationship with them."

"And besides given their recent activity, I doubt they would want to be on the police's radar anymore than they are now," Batgirl added.

"Well whoever it is, I'm sure you'll catch them."

"You mean we'll catch them."

"Well, actually Clark and I will still be training. But I'm sure you two can handle it on your own."

"Oh sure."

"By the way how is my cousin?" Kara asked.

"You know I haven't seen him since last night. He seemed alright, but..."

"But what?"

"It's nothing. He just seemed a little..."

"Stressed?"

"He said the same thing to you?"

Kara nodded.

"You don't believe it either?"

She sighed, "He's hiding something, I just know it, but every time I try to talk with him just uses the same old excuse."

"Any idea what it could be?"

"No," she lied.

There was an uncomfortable silence for the next thirty seconds with neither party knowing what to say.

"Can I ask you something?" Lana asked to break the silence.

"Oh, sure."

"How did you two meet in the first place?"

"Well," Barbara stated before telling the tale of the night she and Kara meet and took down Livewire and her doppelgangers.

"That's quite a story."

"Yeah and we've been best friends ever since."

"So, when did you turn into lovebirds?"

"Well, when I saw her laughing on a rollercoaster, there was a brief moment when I thought I saw a sparkle in her eye," Barbara admitted.

"Sparkle?"

"Yay." A sly grin appeared on her lips as she turned to her girlfriend. "And if I recall about a month later..."

Kara playfully rolled her eyes. "We were chatting one day and I saw her eyes sparkle in the sunlight."

"And you said it never gonna happen to you." Barbara teased as she tickled her girlfriend's abdomen.

"No, stop. I give up!." Kara said between laughs.

Lana smiled to herself. Seeing the young couple reminded her of her time dating Clark when she was around their age.

"Uhum."

The couple stopped and the three of them looked up to see Clark hovering with a stern look on his face.

"Hi," Kara greeted him in an awkward tone.

"If you two are done, we can begin."

"Actually, we were hoping to ask you something first."

"Sure."

"We know you want us to continue looking for Lois, but with this killer on the loose-"

"Absolutely."

They were taken aback by his direct answer. "Seriously?"

He nodded. "You still have to look for her, but until further notice stopping this murderer is our top priority."

"Got it."

The lovebirds set off to begin their search, leaving the old sweethearts alone.

"They were only having fun," Lana explained once the pair were out of sight.

"I know, but this isn't the time for it," he sternly expressed and then added, "Besides, they're on duty."

"I know, but they're still young. Remember what we were like at their age?"

"I do," a smile crept over his face. "Seems like only yesterday, we were spending our summers at the lake," he reminisced. "Do you remember?"

"How can I forget," she smiled. "Those were the days."

"Yeah, good times."

"Like when you pushed me in," she teased.

"By accident."

"Oh sure, 'accident'."

"It was."

"No, I remember it well. You pushed me in when my guard was down."

"Alright, if you say so." a relaxed grin appeared on his face. "You should have seen your face. I don't think I've ever seen such a pout."

"I don't pout."

"Yes, you do."

"I do not."

"You sure about that? I'm pretty sure you were," he teased with a raised eyebrow.

She playfully rolled her eyes. "Well, if I did pout, I still managed to get the last laugh that day," she stated.

"You mean when you poured a bucket of water over me when I was sunbathing?"

She nodded with a proud smile. "Man, where did the time go?"

He looked and reminisced for a moment before asking, "Anyway, are you ready to begin?"

"Yep, what's first?"

"Ice breath."

"I suppose winter came early this year, then," she joked, earning an eye roll.

They flew off to find a less populated location. As the cool air blew across their faces, a cunning smile materialized on her face. "Race ya," she said before zooming off.

"Hey," Clark laughed and dashed after her.

They soared across the city, unknowingly passing over Ivy's greenhouse, inside of which she and Harley spent a tranquil evening at home. As Harley entered the living room she saw her girlfriend reading an article.

"Whatchya reading?" she asked startling her.

"Urm, nothing," Ivy fibbed as she attempted to hide the paper.

"Come on, you can tell me."

"It's nothing."

"Let me see." Harley seized the paper.

"Harley no-" but it was too late, Harley noticed the story. It was about Livewire and her life. The part that Ivy was worried about was the paragraph that articulated when the electric woman teamed up with them. The journalist had called Harley "Joker's former 'Yes woman'."

As her expression turned to a combination of sorrow and furry, Ivy placed an arm around her girlfriend's shoulder when she began to weep.

"It's not fair. I haven't been with him for years and they still act like I'm just his girlfriend," she fumed before punching a cushion. Tears streamed down her face. "Why do they always have to mention that?"

Ivy looked at her, uncertain of what to do. This wasn't going to be an easy fix. She tried to think of any way she could make her happy then something came to mind.

"You know they probably only call you that because they don't consider you a big crime leader."

"What do you mean by big?"

"Oh, you know, killing a famous person, or abducting a celebrity," a smirk appeared on her face. "Robbing a highly secured area."

"What are you suggesting?"

"If you head a significant robbery, a genuine big-time robbery, then maybe people will see you as more than his ex, maybe they'll see you as a better criminal."

"That's a brilliant idea Red, but what are we gonna rob?"

"The museum."

"But we're already going to rob that and besides you're heading it."

"Only for the plants," Ivy added. "But you can lead us in stealing some other priceless artefacts."

Harley pondered for a second then a smirk appeared on her face. "You did say I could steal something I liked."

She swept her off her feet "Ma belle fleur de rose, will we be stealing some rare fossils?"

"Actually, I know something better to steal."

"What's that?

"Ever heard of The Devil's Eye diamond?"

The two villainesses shared a wicked grin as the identical idea came to them.

---

In the centre of Gotham, Batgirl, and Supergirl flew over the buildings as they looked down on the city.

"See anything suspicious?" the lady in purple asked.

"Nothing yet."

"Let's land for a sec."

Supergirl nodded and landed on a nearby building, her girlfriend hopping off her back.

"So, what are you thinking?"

"I'm trying to think of a good place to start looking for this killer."

"It'd be easier if we had an idea of what sort of person we're looking for?"

"It has to be someone who would have known about her water weakness."

"And be strong enough to beat her that badly," Kara added.

"That's the issue, everyone I can think of that fits either one of those points is either in jail or doesn't have a motive."

"Do you think Joker could have done it?"

"No, we saw the footage."

"But what if it was one of his goons pretending to be him."

"Why would he do that?"

"To try and lure us to him. We're high on his hit list at the moment, if he can get us to come to him, then he could trap us and do god knows what."

"But why slaughter Livewire? If he really wanted to trap us, he would have gone after somebody closer to us."

Kara sighed. "Good point, there goes my theory."

In the distance, the duo saw a familiar figure making her way across the rooftops. Immediately they leapt into action, following the figure as she moved through the city in a cat-like fashion until she came to a local jewellery store. The cat burglar began to cut a hole through a top window when a pair of shadows loomed over her.

"Well, well look what the cat dragged in," Batgirl remarked as the feline-dressed criminal turned to face them.

"Batgirl, Supergirl." Catwoman groaned.

"Alright, come with us quietly and no one gets hurt," Supergirl firmly stated.

"You know, I was anticipating Batman."

"Well, he has other obligations at the moment," the redhead cuffed the older woman.

"More like a new girlfriend," Selina Kyle mumbled bitterly to herself.

"You know it wasn't going to work out for you two."

"It would have if he wasn't Mr. Morals-Over-Relationships."

The duo rolled their eyes, not noticing Selina had managed to unlock the cuffs with one of her claws. Suddenly she spun around and managed to cuff them together.

"Nice catching up with you ladies," she taunted before backflipping off the building into an alleyway.

Supergirl carefully broke the cuffs with her laser vision and they raced after her but soon lost her trail. Even with her X-ray vision, she couldn't find her.

"Oh, this is just great." Supergirl groaned.

"Well, we've got bigger fish to fry at the moment. A petty cat burglar is something the authorities can handle." Batgirl pointed out.

"True."

"Speaking of which, we should get back to searching," Batgirl suggested as she hopped onto her girlfriend's back.

Supergirl nodded and then took off into the night.

Once the cost was clear, Catwoman emerged from her hiding place and headed for the Iceberg Lounge.

---

Superman mentored his new pupil as she learned how to use her new powers like her ice breath. She attempted but couldn't make it go longer than a few seconds.

"Ok, how are you able to do this?" she caved.

"Take in as much air as you can, hold it in for a few seconds, then blow as hard as you can."

Following his steps, she managed to create a small ice puddle.

"Pretty good."

"Thanks. You know if we work together we could make an ice skating ring," she teased. Superman laughed. "What?"

"Nothing."

"Come on, what is it?"

"Don't you recall what happened the last time you went ice skating?"

"No," she fibbed.

"Are you sure you don't remember?"

"Yes, I'm sure."

"You mean you don't remember how you keep slipping and falling." he chuckled.

"Anyway," she segued, "what's next?"

"Laser vision. Now, this one is highly dangerous, so you'll have to be careful," he informed her sternly. "The most important thing is to focus on the target." He proceeded a few feet forward and etched an X on the ground. "Now just aim at the X."

Lana's eyes glowed red as she concentrated on her target. Suddenly laser beams shot out of her eyes and hit it. She beamed and turned to him. "Did you see…" But she had forgotten to stop her lasers. He ducked just in time, but the lasers cut down a tree which collapsed with a loud thud. They looked at the damage before he turned with a harsh glare.

"Oops," she chuckled in embarrassment.

"I told you to be careful," he warned.

"It was an accident, I swear."

"I know, but imagine if that had been a person! Powers carry a lot of responsibility!"

"I know…"

"Then start acting like it."

Her jaw dropped before she gave him a fierce glare. "You know what? Maybe I don't want to be Superwoman."

"You don't have a chose."

"Oh yeah, just watch." She dryly said. She turned around and began to leave. Clark flew in front of her but she just moved higher and then zoomed off. He grumbled in frustration before going after her.

"Wait, please."

She stopped in midair. She turned to face him, once he reached her.

"Where are you going?"

"Back to the hotel."

"We're still training."

"I told you I don't want to be Superwoman."

"Whether you like it or not you are Superwoman."

"Who says?"

"I do."

"Oh, so you're the one who wants me to be thrown into the superhero business?"

"This isn't about what I want or what you want, it's about doing what's right."

"What makes you think I want anything to do with this?"

His stern expression turned colder. "What's going on?"

"It's none of your business."

"Tell me."

"Nothing."

"Tell me," he repeated in a final tone.

"I'm scared, alright!" she yelled, taking him by surprise. "I'm scared about being Superwoman."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I'm a grown woman, I shouldn't be scared of anything," she admitted.

There was a brief moment of silents before he spoke again. "You know, I've been Superman for years and there are still times when I'm scared."

"Really?"

"Really. It only happens a few times but there have been missions where I was terrified."

"What was the scariest moment?"

"Not sure, but the thing I'm scared of is losing someone closest to me."

"That must happen quite a lot."

"It does. I just have to keep a brave face."

She let his words sink in, and then she smiled. "I think I'm willing to try and be Superwoman."

"Glad to hear it."

"Thanks for the pep talk."

"Don't mention it. Thank you for listening."

"Guess you told that to a lot of people."

"I've never told anyone that before."

"Not even your family?" He shook his head. "Why not?"

"Because they already know." He received a call from his communicator. "Superman speaking, what's the situation?"

"A mutant rattlesnake is on a rampage in Dallas, Texas. I've tried nearly everyone else, but they're all occupied. You, Supergirl, and Batgirl need to get over there, A.S.A.P."

"Alright, but one needs to be in Gotham just in case."

"It's a three-person job."

"Are you sure no one else is available?"

"I'll check, but you and one of the girls need to go, now."

"Absolutely. I'll inform Supergirl and we'll be on our way." He hung up before turning back to Lana. "Can you help Batgirl with the search while we're gone?"

"Sure."

"I'll tell her to meet you at the museum."

"Got it." She flew off while he informed the young couple about the situation.

---

Zee was in her dressing room when she got a call from her communicator.

"Zatanna here."

"A giant rattlesnake in Dallas, Texas. Superman and Supergirl are already on their way, but they need your help."

"I'll be there in a flash," she informed them, before casting a teleportation spell.

The Supers arrived in the centre of Dallas to see the oversized serpent. The enormous Western Diamondback Rattlesnake flicked out its long forked tongue as it searched for its next meal.

Zatanna appeared beside them, taken back by just how ginormous the serpent was. "Ok, does anyone have an idea?"

"First, get everyone to safety, then we'll try to get it out into the open before you turn it back to normal," he planned.

"Got it," they agreed.

They immediately snapped into action. The Kents rounded up the citizens and led them away from the titian snake while the magician used purple shields to fence the serpent in. Once everyone was safe, the Supers lifted the snake and carried it out into the open desert. Zatanna summoned soothing music to keep the animal calm. Once they were far enough from Dallas, the raven-haired woman cast two spells on the snake, one to remove the mutation from its body and the other to turn it back to its original size. Once the snake was safely on the ground, it slivered into the desert.

"You know, compared to some of the other monsters we've faced, that one was the more reasonable one," Supergirl stated.

"You can say that again." Zee agreed. An awkward silence filled the air before Zee spoke to Superman. "So, how have things been?"

"Hard," he stated.

"I'm guessing you heard about me and Batman then?"

"I have. When were you planning to make the announcement?"

"After Lois had been found," she admitted.

"Surprised he didn't use it as an opportunity to gloat," he muttered.

"We didn't want to hurt you."

He let out a sign. "Well, I'm happy for the both of you," he stated, trying to hide the disappointment in his voice.

"Thank you. If you ever need our help, just call."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"I hope you find her soon," Zee said before teleporting back to the hotel.

Superman looked up into the starry night as he exhaled deeply.

"Are you ok?" Supergirl asked in concern.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"If you need to talk-"

"I said I'm fine."

She tried to hide the slight pain from his short response.

"We should get going."

"Yeah."

They flew over the city as the locals cheered, none of them seeing the look of sadness on either of the heroes' faces.

---

At the Iceberg Lounge, Catwoman sat at a table with a simple glass of milk, when she overheard the familiar voice of Joker chatting with Penguin.

"You seem more unsettled than usual," Penguin said.

"It's my girlfriend, she's more trouble than she's worth," he explained before taking a sip of his beverage.

"Strange, I didn't think you and Harley would have gotten back together."

"No, not Harley, I have a new girl now."

"Oh, what's her name?"

"Lethal Lynx."

"Who was she before?"

"Lois Lane."

Catwoman nearly choked on her drink at the name.

"You mean you're dating Superman's girlfriend?" Penguin gasped.

"I am, took me a whole week to break her and I may have done it too well."

"Oh."

"She isn't a pushover like Harley was."

"Tough bird then?"

"That's putting it lightly. She killed Livewire when she was supposed to be our lookout."

"She's the killer everyone's talking about."

"Yes and without my say so."

"Excuse me, madam," a waitress addressed Catwoman. "Would you like a refill?"

"Oh, no thank you," she stated sensing that this waitress might have been trying to warn her to stop eavesdropping on her boss's conversation.

"I'll just get your bill then."

"Put it on my tab."

"You said that the last two times," Catwoman revealed her claws. "I'll put it on the tab."

Catwoman left with a slight grin on her face. She had the perfect bit of blackmail in case she was caught again.

---

Barbara and Lana, now in civil clothing, walked down the street to a nearby bus stop after having concluded their night watch.

"Thanks again for your help tonight," Barbara said.

"Don't mention it."

"What do you think about your new side gig?"

"Challenging to say the least, but I think I'll get used to it."

"Trust me after a few months you'll barely notice a difference," she stated. "By the way, how did your training go?"

"A bit rocky, to be honest," she admitted.

"How so?"

"I accidentally cut down a tree."

"Jesus," the younger woman muttered.

"Yeah, I'm just glad no one was hurt."

"I take it Clark wasn't too happy."

"Mhm, but on the plus side, I was able to confess my fears to him," she stated just as they arrived.

"Well thanks again for your help tonight."

"You're welcome. Shame we couldn't find her."

"There's always tomorrow," Barbara pointed out, but secretly she was starting to doubt if they would ever find Lois.

Shortly after, the bus arrived.

"See you tomorrow, say hi to Kara for me."

"Will do, night," Barbara began walking just as the vehicle left.

---

When Joker returned to his hideout, Lethal had been waiting impatiently.

"I thought you said we were going to do what I want tonight?" she bitterly stated through her putrid yellow teeth.

"Oh, I'm so sorry Honey I forgot." he fibbed.

"Forgot?! We talked about it last night! You promised me!"

"Whoopsie, my fingers were crossed." he playfully mocked with a grin. She pounced at him but he swiftly grabbed her before any damage could be done. "Now, now Lethal, is that any way to treat your Puddin?" he rhetorically asked.

She glared harshly at him with fire in her eyes. Slowly, however, she began to calm down knowing full well that he wouldn't hesitate with whatever vile threat he made to her.

"But Puddin you promised," she stated in a fake sad voice.

"I know Honey, but if you behave yourself, then we might do your revenge plan."

"Okay Puddin."

"Good. Now let's get some sleep. After all, we can't come up with a master plan if we're tired."

"Okey-dokey Jokey," she agreed, faking a lusty tone with her arms around his shoulders to hide her crossed figures.

---

At her apartment, Barbara gave Bruce the rundown on their mystery killer.

"I know you probably don't want to hear this, but I think you should get your father on the case," he suggested

"I'm sure we can handle this on our own."

"Barbara, I know you two don't see eye to eye and I completely understand, but you can't deny his help in this." he sternly stated. "You need him to get a team to look for this murderer."

"But-"

"Barbara, I'm not asking."

"Yes, sir," she begrudgingly agreed. "So, how's Zee?" she asked.

"Fine," he said in a knowing tone.

"Congrats on you two getting together."

"Thank you, although we were hoping to tell you in person."

"Well, at least you don't need to keep it a secret anymore."

He hummed in agreement. "Well, goodnight, Barbara."

"Night, Bruce."

It was nine-thirty when she finished brushing her teeth and heard Kara come in.

"Hi, honey. How was Dallas," the redhead asked as she came out of the bathroom.

"It was good," Kara said failing to hide her sorrowful voice.

"Is something wrong?"

"Nothing, I'm just tired." she fibbed as she entered the bathroom.

Concerned, Barbara listened from behind the closed door. Even though it was faint she could her girlfriend crying.

"Honey, whatever's going on, you know you can always tell me," she reassured her before heading to bed.

Two minutes later Kara sat next to her girlfriend on the bed. "He just won't talk to me."

"Who?"

"Clark. Every time I try to talk about his problems he just says he's fine or it's nothing to worry about but..." salty tears began to fall out of her eyes. "... but I just know he's lying."

"It's ok," Barbara comforted her with a tight embrace. "He knows you're there if he needs to talk."

"Why hasn't he?" she sniffed.

"I'm not sure. Maybe he just doesn't want anyone to worry or maybe..."

"Maybe what?"

"Maybe he thinks you already know what's wrong."

"You mean with the Lois situation?"

"Maybe or..." she took a breath before finishing. "Maybe you and our folks were right about his relationship."

"But if that's the case, why won't he tell us?"

Barbara just let out a sad sigh. "I don't know, I honestly don't know." She turned off the lights as they began a restless night's sleep.

Chapter 15: One Short Day

Author's Note: I apologise for the long wait. I have been busy with real-life stuff as well as writer's block. I would like to thank everyone for being patient with this chapter. I promise that the next one won't take as long.

Special thanks to AFY2018 and Pure Red Crane for Beta reading this chapter.

Without further ado, I hope you all enjoy this chapter.

---

Chapter 15

One Short Day

The following day, Clark was in the bathroom and used his laser vision to shave off the stubble from his chin. Once finished, he prepared for his day out with Lana. As he dressed, he began questioning if he had seen a twinkle in her eyes. "It's all in your head," he tried to convince himself as he finished putting a white shirt over his Superman outfit.

From her hotel room, Lana was having the same conversation with herself as she pulled a long-sleeved shirt over her uniform. "It wasn't a sparkle you saw. It was just the light reflecting off his eyes."

"You're just friends, that's it." They unknowingly agreed before leaving their respective rooms.

At nine, they met up outside Clark's hotel.

"Hi, Clark."

"Morning, Lana."

"So, whatcha got planned for today?" she giddily asked.

"I was thinking we'd go sightseeing," he suggested.

"OK, sure. Where to first?"

He waved down a taxi and opened the door for her. "Gotham's Aquarium?" he suggested.

"Sure."

"Gotham's Aquarium, please," Clark told the driver.

As the driver took them to their destination, Lana shut the window between them before talking to Clark.

"So, how did it go in Dalles?"

"Oh, it was just a standard mission."

"Giant snakes are a norm?"

"More so giant monsters."

"What have I gotten myself into?" she mumbled to herself.

"Hey, you'll be fine. You'll probably start with smaller jobs first."

"You mean like robbers?"

He nodded. "Once you think you're ready, you can do more dangerous tasks."

"Trust me, that'll be a long time."

"You'd be surprised how quickly you learn. You'll be ready in no time."

"I think I've had enough surprises to last me a lifetime," she quipped, earning a small chuckle.

After the ride, they explored the many tanks and attractions of the aquarium. They saw a huge octopus hiding among the rocks, an Alligator Snapping Turtle, a school of Red-Bellied Piranhas devouring a large dead fish, and many other amazing sea creatures. They came across an enormous tank filled with several species of sharks, like Hammerheads and Nursing sharks.

"Glad I'm not in there with them," Lana stated as they sat down to watch the sharks.

"They're not that dangerous. They only go after people if they're hungry. And even then, they don't really like human meat."

"How do you know that?" she teased.

"They don't look hungry. Besides, you have me to protect you if need be." He played along.

She playfully rolled her, and the two sat silently as they watched the sharks swim about. "So, how's your story coming along?" she asked.

"Pretty good. I've still got a few more drafts, but it's getting there. It's still classified, though." he joked, earning a small chuckle. "How are the dresses coming along?"

"Great, I've already finished the first batch, and I'm halfway through the second one."

"Really? You made twenty dresses in just over a week?"

"Well, I may have had some help."

"You didn't use your powers, did you?"

"Only for one of them, and that was before I knew I had powers," she pointed out. "Besides, you must have used your powers outside of work."

"Well, not often," he admitted.

"Anyway, I meant that Barbara helped me with a few of them. I might offer her a job if I ever need an assistant."

"I think you'll have to convince her to leave Gotham first." he quipped.

A small chuckle escaped her lips when she suddenly saw another twinkle in his eyes. Quickly, she decided to change the subject. "Let's keep going," she suggested.

"Alright."

---

Barbara was drinking coffee on her lunch break at a cafe. She had just taken a sip when her girlfriend joined her.

"Hey, sweety. How's your day been going so far?" Kara asked, sitting across the small table.

"Pretty good. Your's?"

"It's going well. Just out looking for a story or two for the paper."

"Found anything?"

"Not yet, but I'm sure I'll find one soon."

"I'm sure you will. By the way, Jessica, Karen and Country called. They wanted to know if we would like to go for a girl's night out next week."

"Anything in particular?"

"Country suggested eating out."

She smiled. "Tell them that we're in."

"Will do."

Kara noticed a small hint of sadness in her girlfriend's voice.

"Is something wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Are you sure? You know you can tell me if something's wrong."

She hesitated for a moment before confessing. "I've just been thinking about my mum lately." Kara placed down her cup and wrapped her arms around her girlfriend as the redhead's eyes began to water slightly.

"It's ok. I know how much she means to you."

"I just miss her so much. Why did she have to die?"

"I don't know. But I know she would be proud of you and the woman you've become."

Her girlfriend smiled a little. "She would have loved to have met you."

"I would have loved to have met her, too."

"I wish she was still here."

Kara thought for a few seconds. "When my grandmother passed, my brother and I were in tears for weeks. Our mum would always tell us that she was always with us, even if we couldn't see her."

"Really?"

She nodded. "Your mum is still here, even if you can't see her."

A small smile formed on Barbara's lips. She hugged the blonde tightly.

"I just hope I can be just as good as her when I'm a mum."

"You will be."

"We will be." Barbara corrected. Just then, she caught sight of someone.

"Oh no."

Kara looked around to see a familiar face, much to her dismay. A brown-haired woman about their age walked up to them. "Hey, Barbara."

The redhead tried to stay calm. "Sofie."

"Mind if I sit with you?"

"I'm trying to have a private conversation with my girlfriend."

"Oh, I'm sure she won't mind if I sit here quietly."

"I do actually mind, and I would also like you to stop hitting on my girlfriend," Kara stated firmly.

"I just want to see if she's interested."

"I'm not Sofie."

"Oh, come on! Just one date? That's all I ask."

"I'll give you ten seconds to leave." Kara threatened.

"Come on..."

"I mean it," she stated through gritted teeth.

Sofie groaned and departed with her nose in the air.

"The nerve of that woman."

"Hopefully, that's the last time she tries to do that," Barbara added.

Kara hummed in agreement before taking a sip of her drink.

---

At noon, they took a break from their sightseeing to have a small lunch at a cafe.

"So, what do you think of Gotham?" he asked.

"Pretty good. It's got nothing on Metropolis, though."

"I'll toast to that," he agreed, cheering her cup.

"Help!" They heard someone scream.

They looked outside to see a gang stealing a lorry of cash along with a few captured hostages. As two members got into the vehicle, the third gagged the last of the hostages and threw her into the back of the vehicle.

"Step on it, Mickey!" the leader ordered.

Just as they began their getaway, Clark and Lana rushed out of the cafe, leaving their payment on the table, before heading into an alleyway to reemerge as their respective alter egos. Superman took to the skies, followed by his new companion.

The second in command looked through the right-side mirror. "Bugsy, we've got company."

Bugsy took a glance. "Superman?!"

"And look, he brought a friend with him," she sneered.

"Mickey, lose these jokers quickly," he ordered.

"Sure thing, boss." He made a sharp turn and floored it.

"I'll try and cut them off once it's safe. You keep following them," Superman told his apprentice.

"Got it."

He zoomed ahead of the lorry. The gang tried their best to shake her off their tail, turning left and right, but she kept in sight and managed to get closer. Once they were out of traffic, Superman suddenly flew down in front of them. Mickey quickly pulled a 180 and drove into an alley, only for the front left tire to run over a nail and go flat. The gang rushed out of the lorry and down the alley. The Supers freed the hostages before heading off for the crooks, who cornered themselves at a dead end.

"What now?"

"We're gonna have to fight them," Bugsy said.

"Jeez, you don't say," she retorted.

"Shut up, Holley!"

"Come quietly, and no one gets hurt," Superman ordered.

"You want us? Come and get us!" the leader challenged.

"You sure ya wanna do this?" Superwoman rhetorically asked.

"Sure, toots. After all, there's three of us and only two of you," Holley mocked as she and the rest of the gang pulled out their weapons.

They charged at each other, with Superman taking on the two men while the women squared off.

The Man of Steel dodged the many swipes of the thieves' knives and punches. Mickey tried to stab him, but Superman caught him by the wrist and lifted him off the ground. Superman dropped the criminal with a hard thud.

Holley and Superwoman fought back and forth, with the former trying to land a kick, only for the superheroine to grab her by the leg and throw her into the brick wall.

Bugsy, seeing his chance, made a break out of the alley. The heroic duo followed in hot pursuit. Before he knew it, the thief was lifted into the air.

"Where do you think you're going?" Superwoman asked in a stern voice.

"Shit."

Not long after, the authorities arrived, along with a few reporters. The gang was promptly arrested and placed into the police cars.

"Thank you for your help today," an officer said to the two heroes.

"Don't mention it. Glad to be of service," Superman said.

As the officer left, the press swarmed them with cameras and notebooks at the ready.

"Superman. Samual Johnson of the Daily Report. How did you stop this operation?"

He explained the events and how they played out.

"Ms., over here," called a female reporter. "Nicholle Charendoff of the Weekly Times. Who are you, and how long have you been in the hero business?"

"Superwoman. I've only started today," she said.

"With your boyfriend, no less."

"What? No, we're not together. We're just acquaintances," she quickly stated.

"Are you sure about that?" another reporter butted in.

"Yes, we are," Superman sternly added.

"How does Lois Lane feel about Superwoman?" a third asked.

"Does she mind you working with her?"

"Superwoman, did you meet Ms. Lane before she went missing?"

"Does she feel the same way about Superwoman as she does towards Wonder Woman?"

"Superman, has Lois apologized to Batgirl and Zatanna yet?"

The two didn't know how to answer the highly personal questions as more were flung at them in rapid procession.

"Excuse me," came a familiar voice. "Kara Kent of the Gotham Globe. Is Superwoman expected to be joining the Justice League anytime soon?"

"As of now, there are no plans to have her join the team." her cousin clarified.

"I want to get a bit more experience in the field before making any big decisions."

"No further questions." they unintentionally said in unison, much to their surprise.

"Thank you for your time," Kara said before leaving.

The rest of the reports tried to push their luck with further questions, only for the duo to fly away.

Once they were back in civilian clothes, Lana said, "Wow, that was something I never expected to do."

"You were great out there," he encouraged.

"Really? Thanks, but I think I'll stick to fighting robbers for now," she joked. "By the way, are the press always that relentless with their questioning?"

"Trust me, I've had to deal with worse from them."

"Great, just when I started to enjoy my new career."

"Well, it's something you'll get used to, even if it is a pain. Is something on your mind?"

"It's nothing, really."

"Are you sure? You can tell me."

"What did that reporter mean about Lois and how she felt about Wonder Woman and the other women?" She carefully phrased.

Clark let out a sigh. "Lois isn't the biggest fan of some of the women I work with."

"Oh."

"You don't have to act surprised," he stated. "She's like that with every woman I talk to."

"Every woman? I can understand why she wouldn't like me talking to you, but why Wonder Woman?"

"Well, they got into a bit of a heated debate."

"Over what?"

"Um, I can't really remember to be honest."

"Oh, okay. What about Zatanna?"

"She gave her an unflattering review, which wasn't because of the show. Zee was joking with me, and Lois took it the wrong way."

"Geez. Well, at least Lois won't have to worry about Zatanna now that she's with Bruce Wayne."

"Yeah," he quietly said to himself.

"So, what's Lois's problem with Batgirl?"

"It might be best to ask her that yourself," he advised.

She nodded. "So, where should we go next?"

"I'm not sure. Maybe we could just walk around for a bit and see what we can find."

"Sounds like a plan."

As the day continued, the two tourists resumed sightseeing while exchanging stories about old times and enjoying each other's company. Clark found himself feeling genuinely happy for the first time in months. It was almost like the days of their youth. Yet he would occasionally catch a small twinkle in her beautiful green eyes. He never said anything about it, but even so, he had to convince himself that he hadn't seen it.

At six o'clock, Clark and Lana were at a restaurant having dinner. "This is a nice place," Lana commented as she looked around at the restaurant decor. "How did you find it?"

"A colleague of mine brought me here," Clark answered, waving a thank you to the server who brought them to their table and took their drink order.

"Was it one of your Super-Friends?" Lana's eyes suddenly widened with an excited sparkle. "Was it Batman?!"

Clark blinked rapidly. It was so easy to forget that under that easily excited demeanour was a very intuitive woman. "Wow. You got it in one."

"What kind of person is he to know such a place?" Lana's sparkling eyes started to wander over every detail of the area.

"...This is one of the cheaper places he brought me to," Clark muttered absentmindedly.

"What'd you say?" Lana asked, snapping out of her daze when she realized she had ignored her friend.

"Nothing." Clark looked away.

Lana hummed. The waiter came back with their drinks. The glasses were so fancy that they felt compelled to be extra careful when taking sips. As Lana tasted the best drink she ever had, her eyes saw through the cocktail liquid and glass. She saw Clark staring admirably at the rich red of his wine, a slight excited smile on his lips. Placing her glass on the table, Lana looked at the difference in their drinks, hers blue with fruit and his a simple red. Both were tasty but looked so different. As the waiter left and Clark opened the menu, Lana sighed.

"You couldn't take me to places like this when we were dating."

"It's not as if a restaurant like this could be found in a farm town."

"No, but you could fly." Lana huffed. "I feel cheated out of a magic carpet ride and dinner in China."

Clark chuckled. "You seemed pretty satisfied dancing at the bar. My mistake."

"I'll say." Lana took another sip of her drink, eyeing the yellow lemon that slipped around the rim as she moved her glass. "...Then again, it probably would have scared me off."

Clark didn't say anything.

"I was always scared of new things."

Clark remained silent.

"I didn't even think about leaving until you started talking about it."

Silence.

"...If I had the courage back then, I wonder if you and I would be different."

"..."

"...Does Lois know about you and Superman?"

"...No."

Lana started poking at the lemon. "Is it my fault you haven't told her?"

"No. That is a secret I've always been hesitant to tell. I'm surprised I could hide it from you two at all."

Lana pouted. "Secrets are not good in a relationship, Clark. The longer you keep it, the more likely she'll question everything and smack you."

"You took it well," Clark argued.

"Yeah, but we're not in a relationship. It hurts more from a partner than someone you haven't seen in years."

"What about a childhood friend?" Clark challenged.

Lana flinched, and then her expression turned pensive. She put her elbow on the table and her hand under her chin, thinking. "...If it were back when we were kids, I'd be excited."

"As teenagers?"

"I'd smack you and say, 'How could you not tell me?'"

"When we were dating?"

"...I wouldn't even know how to process it." Lana flicked the lemon into her cocktail. "And that was always the problem. Back then, I was scared of everything, and you weren't enough to bring me courage."

"That's not true anymore." Lana's gaze moved to Clark as he used his fork to take out the lemon from the cocktail, placing it on an appetizer plate. "You're in Gotham, not a small town surrounded by fields. You're working as a designer, not that server job at the bar. You're letting me teach you how to be a superhero instead of walking away like when I asked you to join me in Metropolis." Clark smiled at her. "You're stronger. You're open to new things. You dare to do the right thing. You've become an amazing woman on your own, and that is incredible."

There it was again - that sparkle. Lana could feel the heat going up to her cheeks. She quickly finished her cocktail and opened the menu to hide her blush. "Geez. When did you learn to talk like that? Was it Batman? I bet it was Batman."

"No. That was my journalist degree." Clark chuckled. Lana looked so cute when she was embarrassed. Catching himself just in time, Clark returned to his menu and dismissed the thought. He didn't notice Lana peeking over her menu to look at him, silently scolding her heart for rekindling feelings that could not be reciprocated anymore.

When the waiter returned, Clark and Lana ordered steak and chicken with salad, respectively. She cut a slice of her meal and tasted it.

"How is it?" He asked.

"Very nice. I can see why Batman would recommend this place." She took another bite. "How's your steak?"

"Lovely."

There were a few seconds of silence as they ate before Clark spoke again.

"So, did you get any inspiration from our day out?"

"That shark tank gave me a few ideas," she said as she picked up a piece of lettuce with her fork. "So, how are the interviews going?"

"Very well. I've got one with one of the palaeontologists tomorrow."

"I take it you enjoy talking with them?" She playfully teased.

"Well, maybe a little."

"You were always talking about dinosaurs when we were kids."

"I wouldn't say always."

She chuckled before she spoke. "Of course you did. On that field trip to the museum in ninth grade, you upstaged the tour guide, especially when he got the facts wrong."

"You mean when he referred to Torosaurus as Triceratops?"

"Do you remember the look on his face when you pointed out the mistake? I swear steam was coming out of his ears."

Clark chuckled a little before silence fell upon them again. He remembered that day well. The museum in their hometown was a little small, and the dinosaurs on display paled in comparison to the one in Gotham and especially in Metropolis, but it did feel nostalgic for him. It was the closest place for him to see dinosaurs as a child. Every month, his parents would take him there to view the magnificent fossils of mighty creatures. There were only about eight or nine dinosaurs. The Torosaurus was one of only two complete dinosaurs. The other complete fossil was that of Ceratosaurus, which held a special memory for him. During the aforementioned field trip, he and Lana were standing in front of the incredible remains of the Jurassic carnivore when he had first asked her out on their first date. He never forgot that wonderful day.

Once they had finished their meal, they asked for the bill.

"I'll get it." Lana offered, getting out her purse.

"Thank you, but I'll pay for it," Clark stated, getting out his wallet.

"I insist I pay for it."

"Thank you for the offer, but I'll pay." He said.

"You paid for lunch, so let me get dinner."

"Please let me pay."

"How about we split the bill fifty-fifty." She suggested.

"Alright." He reluctantly agreed.

With that, they paid in cash with a small tip for the waiter.

While walking down the quiet street outside, they continued bantering with each other before arriving at a quaint little ice cream shop painted in a pink coat with a sky-blue sign above and its name proudly displayed in indigo.

They entered, finding the shop nearly empty. The only other people inside were three staff members. The interior was welcoming, with its pinkish-white walls and beautiful seaside paintings framed neatly. The tables were perfectly spaced, with two per row and four chairs each.

"I'll pay this time," Lana stated.

"No, I'll pay..."

"Clark, please. Let me get this. Think of it as my way of saying thank you for dinner."

"Alright."

They approached the counter, where an elderly lady met them with a warm smile.

"Good evening. What would you like?"

"One vanilla and a strawberry with chocolate sauce," he asked, much to the redhead's surprise.

The older woman gave them their orders. Lana gave her the cash, and the owner wished them a good evening.

"You remembered?" Lana asked Clark once they were outside.

"Well, you ordered it every time we were dating."

"What can I say? I like what I like." A thought came to her, causing her to let out a quiet laugh.

"What?"

"Nothing, it's just..."

He smiled as he finished for her. "...We ordered the same flavours we had on our first date."

A warm smile slowly spread across their faces. They continued down the street, eating their frozen desserts under the setting sun.

---

Author's note: Special thanks to Pure Red Crane for helping with the dinner scene.

Chapter 16: From Bad To Worse

Chapter 16

From Bad To Worse

When evening came, in the criminal underworld of the harsh city, the Joker was at his desk trying to devise a plan for his revenge. He tapped his finger as he contemplated who to target first: the two heroines who had got him locked up or his ex and her witch of a girlfriend. He was tempted to go after Batgirl and Supergirl, but at the same time, Harley and Ivy were the ones who ruined him. A gleeful chuckle escaped his red lips as he imagined the four's horrified faces as he did unspeakable forms of torture to them and their screams of agony filling the air. He could practically taste the sweetness of revenge on the tip of his tongue. Suddenly, he was broken out of his fantasies by hungry howls.

"Oh, confounded mutts!" He stormed out of the office, heading towards the hyena room. The three spotted creatures continued to howl in starvation, hoping their twisted mistress would give them something. Lethal was in the room with the pets chained to the wall, reading the paper. A vicious sneer formed on her face as her purple eyes read the story of Superwoman. The ever-growing fire of hatred burned more furiously as she looked at the photo of Superwoman and Superman with heroic smiles on their faces.

"That two-faced whore!"

"LETHAL!"

She rolled her irritated eyes as he marched over to her. He pulled her up by the arm.

"Why are the hyenas howling? I can't concentrate when they're making noise!"

"Gee, sweety, maybe they're hungry." she sarcastically stated.

"Hungry? HUNGRY?! YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO FEED THEM!"

"Well, sorry, Puddin', but I haven't got the time to feed your mutts."

"What do you mean you didn't have time?! All you have been doing is sitting around!"

"Look here, Buster! I've got my own trouble! Thanks to you wasting time robbing the bank, I've missed my chance to get even with Clark and Lana when she was a sitting duck. Now she's Superwoman, which will make things twice as hard!"

"You think that's difficult?! Ivy has managed to make a plant strong enough to stop Superman! Think about what she could do to me with those?!"

"Oh boo-hoo, you poor man." She sarcastically stated before her tone shifted back to vexation. "Just grow a pair and kill the freaks, you twit!"

"Watch it, you ungrateful little slut!"

"UNGRATEFUL?! What do I have to be grateful for?! You beat the shit out of me for a week!"

"I gave you a new life. I've made you my second in command!"

"Oh yeah, it's such a great position, being only second best while having to dress in this ridiculous outfit!"

Joker was about to retort when the hyenas howled louder than ever.

"SHUT UP, YOU MISERABLE MUTTS!"

"Just feed them already!" she yelled.

He turned while letting out a frustrated growl, and then he grabbed her by her arms, holding her tightly. "YOU LISTEN TO ME! ALL YOU HAD TO DO IS FEED THE HYENAS! THAT'S-!"

Suddenly, she bit the tip of his pointy nose clean off. He dropped her as he covered his wounded nose.

She spat out the tip in the waiting jaws of Jim, who swallowed it before returning to the chorus of howls. Lethal twisted Joker's ear, almost ripping it off his skull. "Listen here, Buster. I don't take orders from you or anybody! If you want those slobbering mutts fed, do it yourself." She pushed him to the ground. The three hyenas charged towards him with hunger in their yellow eyes, only being held back by their chains. He scrambled to his feet, panting. He looked over his shoulder to find that his vile girlfriend had already left.

"I wish Harley were here," he mumbled as he held a paper towel on his nose before he fetched food for his drooling pets.

Lethal stormed past her boyfriend's office when a small green glow captured her attention. Checking that the coast was clear, she made her way over to the desk. She opened a small drawer to find a few small pieces of glowing green rocks.

"Kryptonite." she gasped before a twisted Grinch-like grin emerged. Making sure the coast was clear, she took two pieces and one of his guns.

Three of the goons were playing poker when Joker came in. Anger painted his face with a fresh bandage covering his recently shortened nose. They wisely choose not to ask.

"Are you ready, men?" Joker rhetorically asked.

They nervously nodded.

"What's the plan, Boss?" one of the goons asked curiously.

"Putting an end to the Man of Steel." A female voice interrupted.

Joker turned to see Lethal walking in.

"Actually, Honey, we're..." She just walked past him.

"We're going to find him tonight and end his career." She beamed as she clenched her bleached fist.

"But what if we can't find him?" another goon asked.

"We'll lure him to come out."

"But what if he doesn't show up?"

"Then we'll try again! Every night until Superman and Superwoman are dead!" She spat as she slammed her fist on the table, causing the deck of cards to fall off the surface. Her eyes filled with pure red-hot rage – more red-hot than the hottest red rock in Death Valley during midday.

Joker gritted his teeth. He needed to remind her who the head of the gang was. "Look here, Lethal. I give the orders around here, not-"

She grabbed a nearby knife and held it to the neck just inches from his skin.

"I'm only going to say this once. If you so much as even suggest that we forget about going after them, I'll kill you." She threatened. As she spoke, one of the goons quietly got out of his chair and crept up behind her with an empty glass beer bottle. Holding the bottle up, he was ready to strike the back of her cranium. She shoved Joker to the ground before quickly tripping the goon with a swift kick. The bottle fell to the ground, shattering into sharp pieces. The two men got up, avoiding the glass on the floor.

"Anyone else got any objections?" Lethal asked the other two. They slowly shook their heads with fear in their eyes. "Good. Let's go."

She headed for the door, followed by the goons and her sorry excuse of a boyfriend.

---

Superman and his apprentice joined Batgirl on a rooftop. She looked down through her binoculars towards the street below.

"Evening, Batgirl." she greeted.

"Evening, you two. Glad you're here."

"Where's Supergirl?" he asked.

"She's on a mission with Stargirl." she clarified. "Anyway, we've got trouble." She pointed down to where a shady-looking figure was hiding. "Harry Wester. Local drug dealer. He's making a deal tonight."

"Any idea when the buyer will be here?" Superwoman asked.

"I think he's already arrived." He pointed to a man in black making his way to Harry. The dealer led him down an alleyway. Batgirl and the Supers followed secretly, moving as quietly as mice.

The two men entered his headquarters.

"No one followed you, right?" Harry asked.

"Of course not. Do you see any cops around here? Now, the cocaine."

He lifted a briefcase, opening it to reveal several bags filled with the forbidden white powder.

"Oh, come to Papa, baby."

"Money first," he commanded.

The buyer opened his case. It was filled to the brim with cold, hard cash. Just as they were about to exchange, there was a loud bang as something crashed through the brick walls. When the dust cleared, they turned to see the three heroes.

"Superman! Superwoman! Batgirl!" Harry cried.

"Give it up, Harry," Batgirl commanded. "If you surrender, then your sentence might be reduced."

Naturally, like any notorious criminal, Harry didn't give up so easily. He knocked over some crates before he turned and ran. The other man tried to leg it, only to be caught by the Supers. Batgirl chased after him through a maze of crates. Eventually, he came to a dead end.

"It's over, Harry," she stated as she corned him.

"Alright. I'll come quietly." He fibbed. Suddenly, he pulled a knife from his back pocket and charged. She dodged as he slashed wildly, trying to land a fatal hit on the hero. During the commotion, he managed to cut the lower arm of her suit, missing her skin by a few millimetres. Before he could land another hit, she managed to trip him with a hard kick. He landed with a loud thud. Batgirl cuffed him, taking the weapon out of his hand.

Outside, Commissioner Gordon and a few officers were waiting. The Supers handed over the buyer to the officers just as Batgirl led Harry out of the building.

"You have the right to remain silent. Anything you do or say will be used against you in a court of law." the officer stated as he placed the criminal in the car.

"Thank you for your help, Supers. We've been trying to catch him for months."

"No problem, but she did all the hard stuff," Superwoman stated, pointing to the heroine in purple.

"Is that true?"

She nodded.

Sensing the awkward tension, the Man of Steel spoke. "We'll give you two some space."

The Supers and the officers left the scene, allowing Jim and his daughter to chat privately.

"That was impressive." Barbara's dad said, timid in his posture and voice.

"...Thanks," Barbara responded tensely.

"Where's K...Supergirl?"

"She was needed for a mission out of town." Batgirl's eyes narrowed under her mask. "What? Got a problem with it."

"No, no. It's just that..."

"That what?"

"Given how dangerous Harry is, I thought she would have been here with you. You know, just in case."

"It was a last-minute call. I thought you didn't want her help."

"Why won't I want her to help you?"

"What was it you said about her again? 'I knew there was a reason I didn't like her. She's a danger to you.'"

"It was just in the heat of the moment..."

"Oh, sure, just like calling her a…" Barbara couldn't say that dreadful word.

"It was a slip of the tongue," he stated, his voice begging to show a hint of irritation.

"Sure, it was. I wouldn't be surprised if you call us that when talking about me to your officer buddies."

"I would never call you that."

"Yeah, right. It's not just Kara you have a problem with. It's me."

"You're being ridiculous."

"Oh really? Because ever since you found out I'm a lesbian, you act like I can't be trusted."

"What? I trust you."

"So, you believe I can take on the Joker?"

"U-Um-"

"Or Ivy?"

"Well-"

"What about Harley?" Barbara sighed at the silence. "So, I need a partner for you to think I can be a hero? That's not trusting me."

"How am I supposed to trust you when you've been keeping secrets."

"So, I need to tell you everything that happened in my life?"

"No, just the parts that put you in dangerous situations."

"I'm an adult, Jim. I can make my own decisions."

"Your mother would be disappointed with your choices!" He unintentionally shouted. Once the words left his mouth, he instantly regretted it. His daughter's expression shifted from shock to sorrow, then to anger. "Barbara, I didn't..."

"Don't even bother apologising! I am done trying to make amends! I'm done trying to get your approval! I don't want to have anything to do with you! I don't want you in my life! I HATE YOU!" she yelled. Jim's face wore an expression of shock and sorrow as his daughter glared at him with hatred-filled eyes before she stormed off. She looked back, wondering if she should apologise before her expression turned stern, and she continued walking.

Jim sorrowfully walked back to his car. He sat down as tears built in his eyes before flowing down his face.

Superman and his assistant were chatting as they waited. "Bet you didn't expect to help take down a notorious criminal on your first night?" he teased.

"Can't say I did." she joked. "Then again, I never expected to be a superhero."

"I've got to say you're getting the hang of this quickly."

"What can I say? I have a great teacher." She joked. "I'm just glad the press isn't here."

"Thankfully, they rarely do during the night."

"Does that mean I can ask for night duties only from now on?" She quipped.

"Hmm. No."

"Darn."

He chuckled.

"Superman, are you there?" Kara's voice came from his communicator.

"I'm here, Supergirl. What's your status?" He answered.

"Just finished up with Stargirl. I'm heading back to Gotham right now."

"Copy that. How long do you think you'll be?"

"Five minutes tops." She said. She hung up before blasting off.

"So, I take it once Supergirl's back, we'll continue looking for Livewire's murderer?" Superwoman asked.

He nodded just as Batgirl arrived. They noticed her melancholy expression.

"How did it go with your dad?" Superwoman asked.

"Fine. Just fine."

"Are you sure?" He asked.

Batgirl just nodded.

"Batgirl, if something's on your mind, maybe we should talk about it."

"No, it's fine. Let's just get started with the killer search."

"Actually, Kara's done and should be here soon. Once she's back-"

"Hey, guys."

They looked up to see Supergirl as she floated down to the ground.

"So, what did I miss?"

"Not much. Just a small job." Superwoman stated.

"Well, small might be underplaying it." He added before turning his attention to his cousin. "Could you just check to ensure Batgirl's okay when you're out looking for the killer?"

"Why? What's wrong?" Supergirl asked, worried.

"We're not sure. She and her dad talked, and I think something happened between them."

"Ok. I'll see what I can do."

"Alright." He then called for Batgirl. "I want you and Supergirl to look over the east side of the city while Superwoman and I take the west."

"Got it."

The team split up. As Batgirl rode on Supergirl's back, they began to talk. "Hey, sweety, what's wrong? You know you can tell me."

She hesitated for a second. "My dad and I were talking, and... it turned into an argument."

"Oh. Well, I'm sure he didn't mean whatever he said."

"He said my mum would be disappointed in me."

There was an awkward silence. Kara was unsure of what to say. What could she say? She doubted that the commissioner would have meant it, but at the same time, he knew how much Barbara's mum meant to her. Eventually, Batgirl decided to break the awakened silence.

"How was your mission?"

"Nothing, honestly. Just a bunch of evil bots." Her girlfriend replied nonchalantly. "Didn't even break a sweat."

"How's Stargirl?"

"She's good. She liked your suggestion for a meal out."

"Did she have any ideas where she would like to go?"

"She was thinking about this new Italian restaurant."

"Well, I already know what I'm ordering."

"What's that?"

"Spaghetti for two." She playfully joked.

"Aww. I was hoping to have a pizza." Supergirl played along.

They chuckled as they continued to glide over the vast city.

---

Lethal and the gang arrived in a dark alleyway filled with abandoned crates and cans. Alcoholic puddles filled in the holes, causing a horrible aroma in the air. Rats scuttled in the darkest shadows, their glowing yellow eyes watching them.

"Why are we here?" Joker asked. "Superman won't waste time in a place like this?"

"Unless there's someone in trouble." Lethal corrected.

"So, you're just going to pretend I'm holding you hostage?"

She chuckled with a mix of amusement and annoyance. "My days of playing helpless little damsel are over. Anyway, I have a different task for you, Puddin'."

"What would that be?"

"I need you to rob a clothes shop. I'm tired of this foolish outfit. Get me a suit and a white shirt. No red and black this time. Get one's that's... purple."

"Now see here..."

"Just do what she wants, Boss." a goon nervously advised, noticing her threatening expression.

Joker groaned, gnashing his teeth. However, knowing she wouldn't hesitate to kill him if he disobeyed, he reluctantly obeyed, like a hunting dog taking orders from its master. He walked off, mumbling to himself.

"Go with him just to make sure he doesn't screw it up." She ordered the goon.

The goon followed him while the rest stayed with the vicious villainess.

"If you're not the one he's coming to rescue, then who is?" another goon asked.

"Somebody else. Man, woman, child, I don't care. The first person you find, bring them here, and I'll do the rest." They nodded before beginning their search. "Be back in five minutes and no mistakes."

"N-no, no mistakes." the third goon said nervously. "Got it, Loi- Ur, I mean Lethal."

As the goon left, Lethal began preparing everything for her plan. She barely contained her excitement. She could practically see the horror on his face, the screams of agony and pleas for mercy. He would pay for all those years of lies and humiliations. She would make sure he paid dearly for it all. And even if she could get it today, she would at least have some enjoyment with her unknown victim. She quickly chuckled to herself.

Sofie walked down the street. She had just finished drinking at a bar and was heading home for the evening.

"What does she see in that stupid blonde?" She complained to herself.

As she walked, she could not help but feel that she was being followed. Each step she took was followed by the loud beating of her heart. Sweat ran down her forehead while the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. Her eyes moved from side to side, looking around for any danger. Then she felt a shadow creep over her. She turned around, only for the goons to grab her. One covered her mouth before she could let out a cry for help. Sofie tried with all her might to escape to no avail. They took her back to the alleyway and dropped her hard to the ground.

"Please don't hurt me! Help! Somebody! Anybody!" Sofie cried.

"Don't worry, sweety." She turned to see where the voice had come from. Lehal walked into the light with her weapon ready. "I'm sure a hero is out there. They just need to find you."

"Who are you?"

"I'm surprised you don't recognise me. Then again, I had quite the makeover." Lethal came closer, flicking her green hair.

Sofie began to recognise her features and gasped in horror. "Lois Lane?"

"Not anymore. I go by Lethal Lynx." She grinned, showing her sickening yellow teeth. "Now you're going help me."

"W-w-what are you going to do to me?"

"Hmmm. What should I do to you? Beat you? Hold you hostage? It doesn't matter, just as long as you scream loud enough to bring Superman to me." The villain said before holding her rusty crowbar high and bringing it crashing down upon Sofie's hip.

---

Joker and the goon were in the women's section at a nearby clothes shop, looking at a line of suits.

"Who does she think she is? Ordering me, ME?! She was supposed to be second in command. She follows me, not the other way around." Joker ranted as he tossed the suits across the room. "Once she gets rid of Superwoman or Superman, I'll get rid of her forever."

"Will this do, Boss?" the goon held a purple suit and white shirt. It looked like a woman's version of his own suit.

"As long as she doesn't hurt us, it will do," Joker muttered before they left.

---

"Stop it! Please." Sofie cried as another hit from the rusty metal made contact with her upper thigh. Her body now had serval bruises and deep cuts. If it weren't for her broken coxal, she would have run for it."

"I can't." Lethal mocked. "Superman isn't here." She reached into her pocket and took out the gun. "Maybe this will make him come." She held the gun to her hostage's head, just inches away from pulling the trigger.

"Now call for him in your loudest voice or else." She threated.

Just as Sofie was about to cry out, a bleached figure grabbed Lethal's arm.

"Oh no, you don't!" Joker yelled as he wrestled Lethal for the gun. "You already got to murder Livewire. I'm not letting you kill anyone else without my say-so."

"I wasn't gonna kill her, you moron. I was only threatening her to get him here!"

They fought for a few seconds. Then Lethal managed to shove him to the ground, but in the process, her finger pulled the trigger."

BANG!

Sofie felt cold as she drew her final breath and her eyes shut for the last time.

"Now, look what you made me do!" Lethal yelled in frustration.

"It wasn't my fault you pulled the trigger, Ms. Butterfingers!"

Just then, the sound of sirens filled the air. With no choice, they rushed out and headed to the Joker Mobile.

Not too far away, Batgirl and her girlfriend were patrolling. They heard the gunshot and rushed towards it.

They arrived at the spot and gasped in horror.

"Sofie," Supergirl said.

Batgirl checked to see if there was a pulse. "She's dead. Gunshot." As she examined the body, she began to recognise something familiar about the wounds. "She was beaten with a metal object, similar to Livewire."

"Do you think it's the same person?"

"Definitely."

A police car pulled up, and two officers emerged.

"What happened here?" One of the officers asked.

"Not certain, but I think our killer just got their seconded victim," Batgirl stated.

"Get Commissioner Gordon ASAP." The officer ordered his co-worker.

Batgirl shook her head. "I don't think that's nece-"

"Honey, I know you two don't see eye to eye at the moment, but you can't let it get in the way of your professional work." The blonde whispered to her girlfriend.

Batgirl signed in irritation.

"Look, why don't I talk with him, and you continue looking?"

"Ok." She agreed. Batgirl grabbed her grappling gun and made her way to the rooftops.

Commissioner Gordon arrived about thirty minutes later, along with paramedics, to take Sofie's body away. He talked to the blonde in private.

"So, she's one of Barbara's co-workers?" He asked.

"She was? Does that make Barbara a suspect?" Kara asked.

"No. However, I do think you two are linked to the killer."

"Why's that?" Supergirl asked.

"Both victims knew you and Batgirl. However, I wonder why they went after them. Livewire knew your alter egos while Sofie only knew you as your true selves."

"Do you think they're trying to get us then?"

"It's possible, or they're just going after random people. Either way, I'm putting this case as the top priority." He stated.

"Well, thank you," Supergirl said.

"Don't mention it. Just doing my duty." He said.

They parted ways. Supergirl flew to the rooftops. As she looked for her partner, she informed her cousin about what had happened.

She had just finished her conversation when she found Batgirl looking down upon the city.

"Beautiful view."

Batgirl turned in surprise.

"City looks pretty, too." Supergirl joked, earning a playful eye roll.

"Anyway, how did it go with the Commissioner?"

"Pretty good. He's made it his top priority to help catch the killer."

"We've already got Superman on the case. We don't need his help."

"Does Bruce want him on the case?"

"He told me to have him get a team together." the redhead admitted.

"I know you don't like it."

"Understatement."

"But it is his job."

"I know." She tried to hold her anger in. "Can we change the subject?"

"Alright. Did you spot anything suspicious while I was talking with him?"

"Nothing so far?" She clarified.

They walked across the buildings in silence as they continued their night patrol.

---

Back at his hideout, Joker was having another argument with his second-in-command while she was behind a dresser putting on her new suit.

"... If it wasn't for you, I could have killed Superman by now." She said bitterly.

"Perhaps you should explain your plans to me before you go off on a killing spree." He ranted.

"For the last time, I wasn't going to kill her. I needed her alive as a witness so the world would know WHO killed Clark Kent."

"Then why even bother to bring the gun then?"

"Look, Mr. J, I'm a busy woman. So how about you make yourself useful and don't interfere when I'm working? Got that?!"

Lethal walked out from the dresser. She took in her new appearance, admiring her reflection in the mirror.

"Not bad. Reminds me of my reporter days, only more villainess-looking."

"I think you looked better in the other one," he murmured.

"Too bad. I prefer this one. It brings out the real me."

She threw her old outfit away, discarding the costume like it was nothing.

"Good night, my Harley." She mocked before letting out a gleeful and twisted laugh.

A sneer formed on his face as her laugh echoed in his eardrums. He could feel the twitching in his figures, how he wanted to grab her by the throat and tighten his grip until the life faded from her eyes. He barely managed to control himself. He could wait. He could wait until she was of no use to him anymore.

Lethal walked out of the room, her laugh growing louder with each step. Once she was out of earshot, he began to rant and rave while going on a rampage. Anything he could pick up, he threw or knocked off onto the floor. His blood pressure was through the roof. His nostrils flared just before he let out another hateful scream.

His goons cowered in fear in another room. They knew too well that things had gone from bad to worse.

---

Clark and Lana arrived outside her hotel, now in their civilian clothing.

"Thank you for a wonderful day." She said.

"Don't mention it. Thank you for agreeing to it." He replied.

"We could do it again sometime if you like."

"Sure. Maybe in three or four months?"

"I'll keep a day open for then."

Silence filled the air as they stood there for a while.

"So, see you tomorrow then?" she asked.

"Yes." He stated. "I'll be heading off. Good night, Lana."

"Night, Clark Bea... Kent." Lana corrected herself. She blushed with embarrassment at almost calling him by the nickname she had given him when they were dating. She walked into the hotel, trying her best to avoid an awkward situation.

"Night...Bella Lana." He whispered, then began going on his way.

---

Barbara and Kara were in their apartment, getting ready for bed. Kara couldn't help but notice that her girlfriend's mood hadn't improved since her argument.

"Babsy. What's ever bothering you, you know that...

"I'm fine, Karwy." she lied. "I'm just tired."

"Alright," Kara said, not wanting to push her further. "Good night." She kissed her on the cheek before laying her head on the pillow.

"Night," Barbara replied. She looked at the picture of her and her father on the desk. Her expression turned to a glare. She turned the picture facing downwards before going to sleep.

---

Clark lay in bed, thinking about what Lana had called him. He smiled. He won't admit it out loud, but he missed being called Clark Bear. He thought back to the day that they came up with their nicknames. It was during their third date at the local fair. He had won her a bear plushie from a test-your-strength game.

He felt his cheeks getting warm. He shook his head.

Lana was tossing and turning in her bed. She couldn't believe that she had almost called him Clark Bear. Why had she done that? Why would she do that? She stopped and laid on her back.

She began to think back to that day they had given each other nicknames. She smiled as she reminisced about the days she and Clark were together. Those joyful moments of their youth when they lived in Smallville. She began to think about where they could go next. Maybe the magic carpet ride to China or a day in Paris, France or even Japan. Slowly, her smile faded away as, once again, the heat returned to her cheeks.

"It's... It's all in your head." They tried to convince themselves, unknowingly simultaneously, before they slowly drifted off into a quiet sleep.

---

Author's note: Special thanks to Pure Red Crane for helping me come up with Lana's nickname.

Chapter 17: Team Up Of Villainesses

Chapter 17

Team Up of Villainesses

Ivy walked into the room, surprised to see Harley at her desk drawing down her plan for the robbery. She had never seen her so coordinated before. The last time she had been allowed to plan a heist, she had gotten bored halfway through and decided to just wing it. Naturally, this landed the both of them in Arkham, but this time, Harley was making sure that even the tiniest detail was thought out.

The small bin was filled to the brim with crumbled-up paper, each one rolled into balls. The blonde scratched her head with the rubber end of her pencil.

Ivy looked over her shoulder.

"So, how's it going." She asked.

Harley was broken out of her trance. She turned to face Ivy. "Oh, hey, Red. Just adding the final touches to my master scheme. What do you think?"

She held up the blueprint to her girlfriend. Ivy examined the plan as Harley beamed proudly.

"You miscalculated the gap between the Diplodocus skeleton and the balcony. You also misspelt the name."

Harley looked at where she was pointing. The dinosaur's name was written down as "Dipollodolcuos."

"Damn it!" The blonde yelled, throwing the paper to the ground. "And it was going so well."

"It was only two mistakes. That's better than last time." Ivy tried to reassure her.

"I can't have ONE mistake. If I'm going to be seen as a REAL criminal instead of his ex-girlfriend, then I have to have the perfect plan. One that will top every plan he ever came up with!"

"Ok, maybe you should calm down just a bit..."

"Calm down?! I'm completely calm. I never so calm in my life." She said, her left eye twitching.

"Alright, that does it. Get your jester suit. We're going out."

"Why?"

"Because if you don't take a break now, you're going to be crazier than you already are." Ivy dryly stated.

"I'm..."

"No arguing."

"Fine. So, where are going?" She reluctantly agreed.

"How about a couple of drinks at the Iceberg Lounge?"

"Sure, why not."

…

They sat at a corner table with a drink. Harley was writing down notes on a napkin. Any idea that came to mind for her plan, she quickly scribbled down.

"You're supposed to be taking a break," Ivy said.

"I know, but if I don't write my ideas down now, then I might forget them when we get back." She stated. "I can't wait to pull this off. This will be my masterpiece."

"I'm beginning to think this was a bad idea." the redhead whispered to herself.

"Good evening, you two."

They turned to see Catwoman walking towards them.

"Well, well, look what the cat dragged in." The jester jibed.

"Funny. Never heard you use that one before." Selina rhetorically stated. She pulled up a chair and sat with them. "What you get there, Clowney?"

"Nothing." Harley quickly hid the napkin.

"Looks like someone's planning something big."

"And it's none of your business. So, unless you want to be my plant's next meal, buzz off." Ivy threated.

"Now, now, Ivy. There's no need to try to scare me. I know you two must be planning something, and I want in." She stated before taking a sip of her glass of milk.

"And why should we let you join?"

"Because I'm the best thief in Gotham." She revealed the napkin in her hand, having taken it from Harley without her knowing.

"Give that-"

"Arr, arha." Catwoman held the paper out of Harley's reach. She examined it, and a wicked grin appeared on her face. "The Devil's Eye diamond." She whispered. "I had my eye on this one for months."

Ivy snatched the napkin clean out of her hands. "Don't make me use my plants on you because I won't hesitate."

Catwoman just sat there, unfazed by her threat. "Oh, Pamela, you're always quick to anger. I was going to suggest that the three of us work together."

"Why would we after the last time we did and you double-crossed us?" Harley asked with a sneer, recalling a heist from a few months ago.

"I won't... if you allow me to keep the diamond."

"Oh no. You're not getting that diamond. Now go away before we ask Penguin to throw you out."

Catwoman just smirked. "What if I were to offer you some valuable information?"

"What could you offer us that is more valuable?" Ivy asked, unconvinced.

"I never said it was more valuable."

"Then we're not interested."

"So, you don't want to know Lethal Lynx's true identity?"

"You're bluffing."

Selina just raised an eyebrow. The criminal duo's eyes slowly widened, seeing that she was serious.

"Met us at our place," Ivy whispered.

---

"I knew you'd come around." Catwoman beamed before leaving the table.

An hour later, they were at Ivy's greenhouse. Bud and Lou glared at the woman in the black suit. Selina told them about the conversation that Joker and Penguin had, and who Joker's new girlfriend was.

"Lois Lane?!" Ivy shouted in disbelief.

"She's the one who killed Livewire?" Harley added.

"She is, and by the sounds of it, Joker is having trouble keeping her under his thumb." Catwoman chuckled cruelly.

"Boy, the Schlemiel of Steel isn't going to be happy when he finds out what's happened to her," Harley remarked.

"Anyway, I've kept my end of the deal, so now you've got to keep yours."

Reluctantly, Ivy and Harley explained their plans to her.

"I must congratulate the both of you. You've managed to plan everything to the t." She held out her hand. "So, when do we start?"

"Eleven o'clock, during the charity event." Ivy clarified.

"On the dot, so don't be late or the deal's off." Harley bitterly added.

"Don't worry, ladies. I'll be there." She got up. "No need to show me the door. Au revoir."

Once she out of the greenhouse, they both let out a frustrated groan.

"The nerve of her. I bet ya she's gonna double-cross us again." Harley complained as she fed her hyenas.

"Maybe. Unless..."

"Unless what?"

"We double-cross her first."

"What do you have in mind for our feline 'friend?'" Harley asked.

"Let's just say that if the worst comes to shove, my vines will hold in place until the police arrive."

"But what if she rips them apart like last time."

"She won't if it's my special vines."

They beamed before letting out an evil chuckle.

"Boy, I can't wait to see her face when she's led away again." Harley chuckled.

"Me too, Harley. Me too." Ivy agreed as she petted one of her plants.

Chapter 18: Laboratory Fight

Chapter 18

Laboratory Fight

Barbara was cleaning her mother's grave, removing weeds that had taken root. When that was done, she brushed off the dirt that had accidentally fallen on the stone's smooth surface. Sighing, she placed the flowers for her mother down before grabbing the pile of weeds and standing. The grave looked beautiful thanks to her hard work, even if dimmed from Gotham's typically grey clouds. She smiled sadly at it, imagining her mother's ghost thanking her.

"Thanks." Barbara flinched, turning to the owner of the voice. Jim approached slowly. He couldn't help but notice her reaction and the immediate, wary frown on his daughter's lips. After placing his flowers on the grave, he faced Barbara's disdain. "I was planning to clean it, but you beat me."

The redhead clenched fists around the weeds. She came early so she might avoid meeting Jim and not have her moment of mourning interrupted. Why was he early, too? Not wanting to risk exploding in front of her mother, Barbara held herself back, turning away silently.

"Wait." Jim pleaded.

Barbara started walking away. Just hold it in. Hold it.

However, her self-control threatened to boil over when her dad caught her arm. "Wait!"

Barbara forced her arm out of Jim's hold and threw the weeds in his face. As the weeds fell, she glared at him and started walking again.

"Please? I don't want things to be like this." Jim pleaded again. Barbara paused at that. She didn't want things to continue this way either. Seeing hope, Jim said, "Can't we...start over?"

"...Starting over won't solve the core issues," Barbara said. "And it can't change what you've said."

"I've come to grips with your alter ego. I had forgotten how talented you are."

The redhead looked over him before landing on something in his eyes and turning away again. "You suck at hiding your uncomfortableness. You say I'm talented but clearly don't trust me."

"What? I trust you."

"Really? Because that wasn't what you said last time." Barbara said as her eyes began to water slightly. She turned away and walked off, holding back her tears until she was out of earshot.

Jim kneeled to his wife's grave.

"Oh, Sarah, I wish you were here right now. You wouldn't have made the mistakes I have. You always knew what to do. I've said something to Barbara that I shouldn't have said." He admitted before wiping away a tear. "I promise you, Sarah. I will do whatever it takes to make amends with our little girl. Even if it's the last thing I do."

---

Lana was in her workshop, adding the final touches to one of the dresses. She overheard a conversation about her alter ego as she cut the thread.

"She's amazing," exclaimed a woman. "The way she took down those crooks."

Lana smiled to herself, feeling a little prideful.

"I can see why Superman likes working with her."

Her smile slowly faded. He had been on her mind for the last few days. Ever since she saw that sparkle in his... she shook her head. "It's all in your head, Lana," she mumbled.

She stepped back and examined her work. She slightly adjusted the mannequin to make it straighter. She smiled, content with her work. Then, something outside caught her eye. She looked out to see a man snatch a woman's handbag. Without a moment to spare, she quickly removed her work attire, revealing her sleek matte silver suit beath, and then she flew out the open window.

The thief hid in an alleyway, digging through the stolen handbag for valuables.

"They say you can tell a lot about a woman from the contents of her purse..."

He looked up to see Superwoman hovering behind him.

"...but maybe that's not what you had in mind."

"No, you misread the situation." The robber fibbed, slowly backing down. "I found it lying around. I was looking for a piece of I.D. to return to its rightful owner."

"Likely story." She sarcastically stated.

"All right, you got me." He said, reaching for his back pocket. "It's not mine... but this is!" He whipped out his gun and fired two bullets at her. Quickly, she destroyed them with her laser vision. Before the robber even had a chance to run, she grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and held him in the air.

A few minutes later, the police arrived, and she handed him to them.

"There you go, madam." She handed the woman back her purse.

"Thank you, Superwoman."

"Don't mention it."

Superwoman was just about to head off when a news reporter approached her with a camera crew.

"We're here live with the newest hero on the block, Superwoman, after her first solo crime fighting." The reporter stated before addressing the redhead. "Superwoman. How does it feel to have your first solo victory under your belt?"

"Amazing. Only a small-time thief, but still."

"Do you think you'll be moving to bigger crocks soon?"

"Not for a while. I'm still new to this."

"Superwoman, are the rumours about you and Superman true?"

"Rumours?"

"The one's about you two being an item."

"Superman and I are just co-workers, nothing more," she firmly stated.

The reporter turned back to the camera.

"You've heard it here, folks. According to Superwoman, she isn't Superman's girlfriend."

A glass bottle shattered the screen as it hit the television.

Lethal sneered, her yellow eyes burning with fury and her teeth bared like an aggressive Alsatian.

"That..." She screamed in frustration. After several unsuccessful nights trying to get the Supers to come to her, she finally lost her patience.

A goon was about to enter the room, only to back away after seeing the fried TV set. He knew it would be wise to avoid making her angrier, especially with the friction between her and Joker growing. Several times, the two psychos had fought, arguing about who was in charge.

Lethal stormed off to her private closet-turned-office, passing a few goons who backed away from her. The other night, one of them had asked why she didn't just call for Superman to lure him out, but that only ended with him getting a broken nose. It was partly because Joker had destroyed her cell phone but also because she could not control her chuckling whenever she tried to practice.

She slammed the closet door and sat down at her makeshift desk.

"There must be some way to get them to come to me." Lethal pondered. She picked up a newspaper and noticed a picture of Commissioner Gordon on the front cover. "Wait a sec."

She began to connect the dots in her head. If Clark was Superman, then Kara must be Supergirl, and if she was Supergirl, then the woman she was dating had to be Batgirl, which meant...

A wicked smirk formed on her face as an idea worked through her twisted mind.

"Maybe I've been using the wrong bait." She chuckled. "Maybe I need to get someone close to him. I need to get Supergirl to come to me, and who better than Batgirl to bring her to me." She chuckled. "And I know just how to catch her." She drew a red circle around the picture of the commissioner... and two X's in his eyes.

---

Lana, dressed in her work attire, was back at the museum. She had recently finished talking to the event organizer and was heading back to her workshop when she saw Clark walking towards her.

"Afternoon, Lana." He greeted.

"Hi, Clark." She replied. "How's it going?"

"Pretty good. I'm just off to my next interview. What about you? I saw the news earlier."

"Oh, ya. First solo job."

They went silent momentarily, neither knowing what to say to the other.

"I should be heading off." He stated. "I don't want to be late."

"Yeah. Me too. I've got a lot of dresses to finish."

"I'll see you later tonight, then."

"About that. Mr. Willaims asked me to work late tonight. They've got more people attending than they thought." She explained. "I'm going to have to take a rain check."

"That's all right." He said. "Say, would you like me to walk back after work? You know, to save a bus ticket."

"That be wond... I mean, yes, please. Thank you, Clark."

They parted ways, and just as he was about to turn a corner, he looked towards her. A low sigh escaped his lips as he shook his head before continuing to walk.

---

Kara observed Barbara. Her partner was making dinner, but the process was not as enjoyable as before. The blonde had noticed this a few days ago. Barbara was holding in some scary emotions. Kara could tell by the sharp sound the knife made whenever Barbara cut ingredients, the burnt smell in the air, or the bandages cradling her partner's fingers. These were not mistakes Barbara usually made, and not this frequently. Tonight, the redhead was stabbing the cutting board so loudly that it made the blonde cringe every time. Barbara seemed especially upset right now. Eyeing the bandages on those precious fingers, Kara felt she needed to speak up.

"You seem to be having a hard time. How about I cook this time?"

"It's dine." Barbara paused at her mistake.

Kara blinked and wisely chose not to address the grammar error. "No. You've been working hard."

"It's...fine."

"Honey, there's no need to push yourself. It's been hard for you since you had that fight with your dad. I can-"

"I said I'm fine!" Barbara yelled frustratedly, cutting the lettuce like the blade of a guillotine. Half of the poor green landed on the floor with a thud, the only sound before an awkward silence.

Kara flinched again. "Are you sure? If you want to talk about it-"

"Talking is what started the problem. Clearly, that isn't the best idea here." Barbara took the lettuce, briefly looking at it with a glare before throwing it carelessly in the compost bin.

"Okay," Kara said, looking at the trashed lettuce with pity before returning to her girlfriend. "I'm just a little worried that the way you're venting is a little...vicious, and talking is good at expressing those upset feelings. So maybe I should cook, and you can talk-"

"I don't want to talk," Barbara growled, cutting the lettuce still on the cutting board with increasing speed, making Kara even more worried about her.

"Please don't be stubborn!" Kara pleaded.

"I'm stubborn?!" Barbara exclaimed, angrily chucking the lettuce into a steel bowl before turning to Kara with a glare. "What about you?! I've made it clear that I don't want to talk! Why are you still pushing me?!"

"Because I don't want you to chop your fingers off!" Kara quickly grabbed the knife from Barbara's hand, floating a little to keep it out of reach. The redhead started using her agility to take the knife back, but the blonde wouldn't allow it. Suddenly, the girls were playing the superhero version of keep-away.

"Give it back! I need to cut the tomatoes!" Barbara said as she used the couch to jump to Kara's level. But it didn't work as Kara floated away from the living room and back to the kitchen.

"No! Not until we talk through this!" Kara cried out, floating out of the kitchen and back to the living room when Barbara tried to grab the blonde's ankle. "It's too dangerous for you to hold a lethal weapon!"

"And what do you want me to say?!" Barbara yelled, frustrated. Catching Kara was like trying to catch a bird. "That my dad's hate and stubbornness finally drove us apart!" The redhead tried to use the TV remote to knock the knife from the blonde's hand, only for the latter to quickly bring the steel to her chest and rush back to the kitchen. "That I gave up on him!" Barbara jumped onto the kitchen island, using it as a stepping stone to try and jump Kara again. The alien dodged again and retreated to the living room. "That I had to work with him, and it was the most awkward thing we ever did together!" Barbara jumped onto the kitchen island again and propelled herself into the living room. "That he started talking again, and I snapped at him again!" Suddenly, Barbara had no more energy, and she started to cry. "That I can't seem to have a normal conversation with him anymore. That I can only hear the worst every time he opens his mouth..." The tears began to fall faster as she fell to her knees.

Kara stopped moving away, turning to her girlfriend and her breakdown. Those wails were heart-wrenching for anyone to hear. Quietly and gently, Kara approached Barbara, landing and sitting beside the redhead in an act of comfort. "You can be so stubborn sometimes, you know that?" Kara leaned her head on Barbara's shoulder. "You don't have to force him out. You can still give him a chance. Just be mindful about it and take it easy."

The redhead looked into her girlfriend's eyes. "I don't think I can." She admitted. "Every time we talk, I feel angry. I don't... I don't know if we can."

"You can try. You don't want your last conversation with him to be where you fight." Kara said as she wiped the tears from Barbara's cheeks. "Once he's gone, he's gone. If you don't make amends soon, you might never be able to."

"But... but what if it's too late? What if I pushed him away for good?"

"Does he act like he wants nothing to do with you?"

Barbara shook her head.

"Then I think there's a chance for you two to make amends." Kara comforted. "Now, can I make dinner? Just to give you a break."

Barbara nodded. Kara returned to the kitchen as the redhead got up and sat at the dining table with much on her mind as her eyes drifted to a photo of her and her father at her graduation.

---

Bruce was on a call with his beloved in his hotel room, who had just finished her show.

"How was your day?" He asked as he sat on the bed.

"Quiet mostly. Just been practicing for most of the day," She stated before taking a sip of water.

"Did your show go well?"

"Naturally. By the way, did your meeting go well?"

"Well, it wasn't exciting, but at least we're getting somewhere."

"I'm guessing you're glad about that."

"That's an understatement. Hopefully, if all goes well, I'll be back in Gotham by the end of next week."

"Speaking of which, Have the girls given you any updates on the Lois case?"

"Kara told me they've been doing it on the side since the Livewire incident. Their top priority is finding the Gotham Killer."

"I read about that in yesterday's paper. Do they have any leads?"

"Nothing. Nothing is connecting the victims. Besides Livewire, none were famous."

"So, it's just a random killing spree?"

"Seems to be." He said.

"By the way, how are the lovebirds doing?"

"Kara's doing fine. She told me to say she said hi."

"Well, tell her I said thanks," Zee said.

"I will."

"And Barbara?"

"From what Kara told me, she and her dad are still on bad terms, to put it lightly."

"Oh boy." She decided to change the subject. "Have you heard about Superwoman?"

"I read the story Kara wrote about her. She seems to be a fan of hers."

"And Clark?"

"She told me he already knew her in high school."

"Oh, an old friend of his?"

"Not exactly."

"Oh, old flame?"

"Yep."

"Wow. It's just bad news and awkwardness over there..." Zatanna said, feeling a little stumped after being unable to bring up a more positive conversation. "I hope that storm doesn't hit us too-! Oh!"

Bruce tilted his head at the sound of realization. "Zatanna?"

Zatanna let out a nervous laugh. "Am I screwed? I might be screwed."

"What's wrong?" Bruce asked, eyes narrowing.

"The storm will be upon us..." Zatanna ran a hand through her hair, pacing and muttering nervously. "Can I even beat her? Can I get away?"

"Zatanna, please calm down and explain," Bruce said, trying to break her from whatever fear was taking over her. "We can figure it out together."

"Why do you have to be so charming?!" She suddenly exclaimed. "Because you're so perfect, I will have to fight off Wonder Woman!"

"...What?" Bruce's initial confusion was soon replaced with rationality. "You don't have to worry about that. I'm not-"

"No, you're fine! But she won't be!"

"Calm down Zee, I'm sure she'll understand." He reassured her.

"But what if she doesn't? What if we get into a fight? She's the strongest woman in the league. There's no way I can bet her."

"I'm sure she'll listen to what you have to say."

"And if she doesn't?"

"I'm sure you know a spell or two that will make her." He joked, earning a soft chuckle.

She glanced over at the clock. "I've got to be going. When can we talk again?"

"I should be free next Wednesday night."

"I'll keep a time open."

"Night, Zee Zee."

"Night, Brucey."

They hung up. The magician let out a sigh before getting up. She decided to take an evening stroll to calm her nerves.

Zatanna walked down the quiet streets with only the sounds of her shoes touching the pavement to keep her company. She headed into a beautiful park with several large trees, beautiful flowerbeds and a crystal-clear lake. She was lost in her thoughts as she strolled the orange stone path. She paused at a street lamp and looked up at the moon in the tranquil night air, admiring the natural beauty.

"Magical, isn't it?"

A voice broke her out of her thoughts. She turned around to see the owner of the voice. The famous heroic Amazonian stood under a tree not too far away. Zatanna silently breathed out before she spoke.

"If it isn't Wonder Woman." She said, trying to hide her nerves.

Wonder Woman walked up to her. "I'm surprised you're not at the hotel."

"I just need a walk after the show. But, how did you know..."

"I have a flyer of your tour stops."

"Oh. Are you the only one?"

"To my knowledge."

"Ok. So, what brings you here?" Zee asked.

"I've come to get your help." She explained as they walked back down the path. "There's a situation with Cheetah."

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but haven't you beaten her single-handedly on multiple occasions?"

"Yes, when she's on her own. However, she got assistance on this occasion."

"Who?"

"Volcana and Star Sapphire." They walked off the path. "They were witnessed robbing a laboratory specializing in animal genetics."

"Do you know what they're looking for?"

"Not sure, but knowing Cheetah, she's probably going to try and use their research for her nefarious plans."

Zatanna carefully chose how to word her next question. "Why did you choose me to help you instead of someone else?"

"You were the only one available. Admittedly, you weren't my first choice."

"I see." She replied uneasily. Then, a thought dawned on her. "Wait, you said that Cheetah had two people helping her?"

"Yes."

"So how are the two of us going to take on three of them?"

"Who said it would only be the two of us? I managed to get Batgirl to help out." Diana stated as they arrived at the invisible jet.

"Won't Superman need her in Gotham?"

"He's on a mission of his own."

"So Supergirl is the only one looking after the city."

"She'll be fine. She can handle Gotham on her own for a while."

"I'm sure you're right."

They flew off to Gotham to collect Batgirl. Zatanna sat in the back, looking out of the window.

"How's your tour going?" Wonder Woman asked to break the silence.

"It's going well."

"What's been your favourite stop so far?"

The magician silently gulped. "The one from two weeks ago."

"Not a surprise." Wonder Woman whispered to herself.

"The audience there loved the show."

"Oh, I think one member loved more than just the show."

Zee decided to bite the bullet. "I take it you're referring to Bruce."

"I am. I can't say that I'm not bothered by it," she admitted. "But if you two are happy together, I will accept it."

There was silence for a moment before Zatanna spoke. "Thank you."

"Don't mention it."

---

Batgirl and Supergirl were on top of a building, and the former was finishing a conversation with her communicator. She turned to her girlfriend.

"What's is it?" Supergirl asked.

"Wonder Woman needs my help along with Zatanna, which means that you and the other Supers will be working on your own until I come back," Batgirl explained.

"I'm sure it will be ok." she teased.

Batgirl smiled, then planted a kiss on the blonde's lips. "I'll be back as soon as I can."

"Say hi to Diana and Zee for me," Kara called out as her girlfriend headed to the meeting spot.

Kara sat atop the building, looking towards the horizon as the sun set along the horizon. Her red cape danced softly in the light breeze.

"Mind if I join you?"

She turned to see her cousin.

"Sure."

He sat down next to her. The two supers in blue looked over the city in silence before she spoke.

"How'd it go at the museum?"

"Good." He said. "I've got the last few interviews next week."

"With who?"

"That's classified."

Supergirl thought for a second and then asked. "Did you see Lana there?"

He looked away from her. "Sort of."

"What do you mean sort of?"

"I briefly saw her in her workshop." He stated. "She told me she'll be working late tonight so she won't join us on patrol."

"Ok." She said uneasily.

She looked at her cousin, his face gloomy and shoulders slumped. She couldn't take it anymore. She had to know what was happening.

"Clark, what's been bothering you?"

"Nothing it's just stre..."

"DON'T SAY IT'S STRESS!" She yelled. "YOU'VE BEEN SAYING IT'S STRESS FOR THE PAST EIGHT MONTHS!"

"It is stress." He retorted. "Work's been..."

"OH, GIVE IT A REST CLARK! THIS ISN'T ABOUT WORK!" Her eyes were close to glowing red. "IT'S ABOUT LOIS!"

"It has nothing to do with her!"

"It has everything to do with her! Every month, you two have an argument or something. Every time I see you... when any of us see you, you're unhappy." Her eyes became teary as her voice became sorrower. "Please, Clark. Tell me, what's been going on between you two?"

Superman exhaled, but before he could tell her, he got a call from his communicator.

"Superman, here. What's the situation?"

"Superman. Batman needs your help with a robbery. And before you ask, I've checked, and everyone else has other obligations."

"I'll be there, A.S.A.P." He stated. He turned to his cousin. "Will you and Batgirl be able to look after Gotham alone for a while?"

"Batgirl's on a mission with Wonder Woman and Zatanna." She explained. "Don't worry, I can handle Gotham on my own."

"All right." He reluctantly said. "But call me the instant something bad happens to you."

"I'll take my..."

"Kara."

"All right, I promise."

He turned to leave.

"Clark, you will tell me what's bothering you when you return."

He hesitated. "I will."

They parted ways, with Superman zooming across the red sky to the west while Supergirl went east.

---

In the large laboratory, Cheetah and her assistants continued their frantic search. She grew increasingly frustrated as she continued to dig through the file draws. Her two associates, on the other hand where getting tired.

"Can we go already?" Star Sapphire asked with a groan. "We've searched every inch of this blasted place."

"Not until we find those documents." The feline woman snapped. "They are the key to my next plan."

"Plan for what? Cloning mammoths and sabor-tooth kitty cats?" Volcana jibbed, earning a laugh from Carol.

"This isn't a joke!" Cheetah hissed, holding herself back from clawing them. "If I don't find those..."

"You won't."

The three villainesses turned to see the mighty heroine walking into the room, her sword and shield ready.

"Wonder Woman. What a pleasant surprise." The feline evildoer sarcastically snickered.

"I'll give you one chance, Cheetah. Surrender now and come quietly."

"Surrender? Let me think. Hmm, no. After all, you seem to have us at a disadvantage. There's three of us and only one of you."

Diana glared harder at her adversary and got into a defensive position. Suddenly, Cheetah leapt towards the mighty superhero, her claws bared. Wonder Woman shielded herself in time as her foe viciously clawed wildly, leaving deep scratches in the shield.

Volcana prepared a fireball and was about to throw it when Batgirl swung in, knocking her to the ground.

"Two against three." Sapphire was about to attack the young woman when she was hit by something. She turned to see Zatanna.

"Make that three against three." The magician stated.

With that, Volcana and Sapphire began their fights with their respective opponents.

"Watch it," Batgirl said in frustration.

"Oh, sorry, but I'm in the mood for fried bat."

The two redheads battled it out, Batgirl trying to avoid the rapid-fire punches. A spark nearly landed on her hair, and she felt the heat of the flames on her skin.

Sapphire and Zatanna used their powers to create shields and attacks on each other.

"Surprised you didn't bring your boyfriend with you." Carol teased. "You could use his help."

Zatanna paid no attention to her and just cast another spell. The woman in dark pink dodged the oncoming attack. Carol created a spear using her powers and hurled it towards her opponent. Zatanna managed to avoid the spear as it hit the wall.

Wonder Woman swung a fist towards her opponent, who dodged at the last millisecond. Cheetah ran towards the wall and then pushed herself towards Wonder Woman. Diana managed to get her shield up in time as Cheetah landed a hard kick, knocking her back a bit. The Cheetah landed on all fours before lunging forward. Wonder Woman evaded her cat-like attack and managed to swipe her with the tip of her sword, leaving a small cut on her upper arm and causing her to stumble. Cheetah looked at her wound before turning to her rival and letting out a fierce hiss, barbing her sharp, long, white canine teeth. The two began to circle each other, waiting for the other to make their move. Then Cheetah did a surprise attack, managing to claw Wonder Woman's shoulder, leaving four red marks.

Zatanna continued to use her magic shield to deflect Star Sapphire's blasts. She quickly got behind a table just as Sapphire let out another blast, missing her by an inch.

"Zee. Get us out of here." Diana demanded.

Zee quickly teleported them into another room. They hid behind a table, Batgirl checking that the coast was clear.

"All right. We're safe." She told the other women.

"I don't know about you two, but I think we need a new tactic," Zatanna said, creating a bandage around Diana's wound.

"Thanks," Diana said before her tone turned serious. "Any thoughts on what to do?"

Batgirl noticed a few sprinklers and pointed to them. Wonder Woman quickly formed a plan.

"I've got an idea." She stated to them. "Batgirl, try and lure Volcana under those sprinklers. They'll be set off if she can create enough heat."

"Got it." The redhead said.

"Zatanna, can you make the water level rise?"

"I know the perfect spell."

"Good. I'll handle Cheetah. When I say 'now,' I want you to turn the water to ice and put fire-proof cuffs on Volcana."

"Got it," Zee said. "What about Star? She'll be flying."

"Batgirl, have you got your grappling hook?" Diana asked the younger woman.

"Naturally."

"Can you pull her down once Volcana is out of action?"

"If Zee can distract her."

"Good. All right, you know what to do?" She asked, earning a nod.

Batgirl peeked behind the table just as the door was blasted down.

"They've found us."

"Then let's go," Diana stated.

"Wonder Woman, come out, come out wherever you are." Cheetah creepily whispered. "Don't think you can hide from me."

Wonder Woman and her teammates exited their hiding spots, ready for round two.

Cheetah chuckled before she and her associates charged at their respective opponents.

Batgirl lured Volcana under the sprinklers. The younger redhead dodged every fireball that was thrown at her.

"Hold still." Volcana gritted her teeth.

"What's the matter? Can't hit a moving target?" She teased. "Or maybe your balls are too small."

"Maybe you're right." Volcana grinned. Using both hands, she created an enormous fireball. The heat reached the sprinklers and they released water, causing Volcana to become soaked and extinguishing the fire. Batgirl gave her a roundhouse kick in the stomach, knocking her to the ground, then gave a hand signal to the magician that told her to cast the spell.

"Retaw tnemegralne!"

Soon, the water increased, reaching over the ankles.

Wonder Woman and Cheetah battled each other like there was no tomorrow. Cheetah swiped her claws at her face but missed. Diana landed a powerful punch on her archnemesis's stomach, sending her flying. Cheetah hit the wall and fell to the ground with a splash.

Zatanna and Star Sapphire continued their battle, the latter unaware of Batgirl sneaking up from behind, keeping out of sight.

"Do you think a little water is going to stop us?" The villainess stated, gaining the upper hand.

Before she could unleash her next attack, Batgirl managed to lasso Ferris by the ankles with her grappling hook and pulled her down to the ground with a mighty splash as she, Diana and Zatanna got on top of some tables.

"Now!"

"Retaw ezeerf! Erif foorp sffuc!"

In no time, the water froze over, trapping the villains while two fireproof cuffs appeared on Volcana's hands, preventing her from using her powers.

Cheetah let out animalistic growls of frustration as she struggled to free herself.

---

As the three villains were loaded into the vehicle, an officer spoke with the heroines, congratulating them.

"Don't mention it. Glad we could help." Wonder Woman said.

As the authorities left, she turned to her allies.

"Thanks for your help again tonight."

"You're welcome," Zee said. "Are you okay?"

"That? It's fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. She's done worse to me." Diana jibbed.

"I still think you get it checked, just in case."

"I'll keep that in mind." She said before making her an offer. "Would you like a ride back?"

"That's ok. I'll use my magic." She politely declined. "It will save you an extra trip."

"All right." Diana turned her attention to Batgirl. "Guess it's just us two then."

They returned to the invisible jet while Zatanna teleported to her hotel room.

"Thanks again for your help tonight." Wonder Woman said.

Diana noticed Barbara's melancholy expression.

"Is something wrong, Batgirl?"

"It's noth..." She signed. "I've just been having a rough day."

"What's happened?"

"My Dad and I's relationship has been getting worse. We've tried to make amends, but everything seems to be deteriorating."

"Is he not giving you a chance?"

"No. I haven't given him a chance." She confessed with a sigh. "Every time we talk, I just feel... so angry."

"I know how you feel."

"You do?"

"I have to work with someone I'm not fond of because of recent events."

"Zee?"

Wonder Woman nodded. "Promise this stays between us."

"My lips are slied."

"When I heard about her and Batman, I felt so furious that I thought I was going to break a statue or something."

"Really?"

"Really."

"But you worked with her just now. How were you able to work with her without exploding?"

"Because despite how I feel about it, we're still friends at the end of the day."

"But that's not the same as being family."

"How so? You two see each other every so often." Wonder Woman just raised an eyebrow. "Batgirl, I may not have had experiences with daddy issues, but I know what it's like to have a fallout with someone close." She stated. "When I was about your age, I fell out with one of my sisters. We didn't talk for weeks." A tear formed in her blue eye. "One day, she was... gone. I never managed to make amends with her."

"What was sister's name?"

"Sandra."

"What was she like?"

"She was one of the kindest people I ever knew. She was always helping, always putting other's needs before her own."

Barbara thought carefully about how to word her next question. "How did you two end up fighting?"

"I don't remember," Diana admitted as a tear rolled down her cheek. "But I regret it to this day."

They reached the invisible jet. As they got in and took off, Barbara looked out the window, thinking.

---

Commissioner Gordon walked out of the police station with his head hung low. He rubbed the back of his neck as he exhaled loudly. When he got to his car, he reached into his pocket for his keys. That was when he noticed that one of his tires was flat.

"How..." He groaned in frustration.

He bent down for a closer inspection. At the bottom of the hubcap was something written in red. Squinting his eyes, he was able to read the words.

"SURPRISE COMMISSIONER."

Something hit his head hard, knocking him out cold. The last thing he saw was two purple heels belonging to a blenched woman.

---

Author's note: Special thanks to Pure Red Crane for helping write some the scenes.

Chapter 19: Batman’s Talk

Chapter 19

Batman's Talk

Batman and Superman finished dealing with the robbery, handing the crooks to the authorities. The chief thanked them for their help, then turned and drove off with the wrongdoers, leaving the duo alone. The heroes made their way to the rooftops, taking in the sights while looking out for any more trouble.

"Thank you for help tonight," Batman said, fiddling with his binoculars.

Superman shrugged. "Don't mention it..."

With that, the conversation fell into silence. The city had a lot to say, with cars roaring along the roads and distant conversations between citizens, but the heroes said nothing as they watched. It made Superman uncomfortable as his mind wandered with nothing to do. Without his job, without saving the day, without the air of friendship from Kara and Barbara, without the enigma of Lana, without Lois' strong presence, Superman started to fall into the comfort of a reliable teammate like Batman and lose his guard. He noticed it was happening, but once the memories started, the boy scout couldn't just snap out of it.

His mind was being carried through the current of memories. Superman saw Lois storming out in anger. He saw Lana cutely hiding behind her menu. He saw Kara expressing her concerns for him and Lois. Then memories of all the fights he had been having with Lois flooded in, and it was becoming harder and harder for the alien to pull out the happier moments between them. Clark didn't want to give up on Lois, but…

"…Has our relationship deteriorated that much?" Superman whispered to himself.

"Yes," Batman said. He was so merciless in his blunt response that the single word felt like a stab in Superman's back – a harmless one, but it still hurt.

"I shouldn't have said that." Superman scratched the back of his head.

"I'm just stating the obvious based on your behaviours," Batman stated. "When Lois was first kidnapped, you searched relentlessly for days, but then, as time passed, you started focusing more on work. I'm not going to complain since missions are being completed and lives are being saved, but it does imply that your love for her is declining."

"Are you calling me heartless?" Superman lightly growled. The statement, neutral as it sounded, felt like an attack on his character, that he didn't care about Lois.

"No." Batman turned to his teammate. "I'm saying you're starting to remember."

"What?" Superman said frustratedly.

"You're starting to remember happiness."

"What are you talking about? I was happy with Lois!"

"...Then why haven't you been more of a pain in the a*?"

"Huh?" Superman shook his head as confusion mixed with his annoyance.

"Why are you not abandoning missions to search for her and dumping all the work on Kara, Barbara, or me?"

"Lives are at stake! Of course, I have to help!"

"Why are you not taking time off your job to look for her?"

"I-In journalism, you have to meet deadlines! Miss one, and you're fired! I can't just leave it for days! Lois and I would get in trouble!"

"Why are you training Lana and not making Kara do it?"

"W-Well-" Superman had no answer for that.

"Why hasn't Lois returned to you?"

The man of steel lost his footing in the conversation at that question. "…What?"

Batman stood, now at eye level with Superman. "Lois is undoubtedly good at getting into trouble, but that doesn't mean she can't at least send an S.O.S. She's been kidnapped enough to become rather resourceful and stubborn. So, why hasn't she contacted you?"

"Uh…"

"I have many theories of what might have happened to her, but I find it strange that no one has contacted you. Villains in Gotham are either noisy and incompetent or noisy and deadly. They like to get attention and will flaunt a success like the kidnapping or murder of Lois as if they won an award for villainy. Some clue, either from the villain or Lois, should have appeared ages ago. The only reason it hasn't must be because something went wrong after her capture."

Superman couldn't say anything, and his attention was fully on the greatest detective.

"Lois is still alive."

"…"

"However, the fact that she isn't sending you clues…"

Superman felt a shiver go down his spine.

"Leads me to wonder if her anger has made her lose faith in you."

The way Batman's eyes narrowed made Superman gulp.

"If she has truly given up on you…"

Batman turned back to Superman, who was frozen in place, completely shaken.

"Expect to meet an entirely different person when she returns."

Silence fell as each returned to surveying the area for wrongdoings. Superman didn't want to believe their relationship was done. There was still hope, wasn't there? He could make it up to her once she was found. Yet deep down, he knew Batman was right. His thoughts returned to the last time he saw her. The anger in her voice and eyes haunted him.

Suddenly, Superman began to see Lana's smile when they bumped into each other that day. Slowly, he began reflecting on his recent time with her. Those moments of joy in an otherwise dark time in his life. He saw her laughing during her first night of training and how she had grown into a true heroine since that fateful day she gained Kryptonian powers. Then he saw her eyes sparkle and felt the heat return to his cheeks. He shook his head, trying to convince himself that it was his imagination.

"We'll give it another hour before we head back."

Clark wasn't paying attention.

"Superman?"

"Hmm, oh, yes."

Batman glared and groaned.

"Sorry, I..." Superman grunted in frustration. "I can't get her out of my mind."

"Who?"

"Lana." He admitted.

"Is that a bad thing?"

"Yes. No- I mean... We broke up years ago, and that was that. But now whenever I'm around her, I feel... like our spark is still there when it isn't."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am," Superman stated firmly.

"…You don't seem sure," Batman said, looking at Superman's eyes.

The man of steel tried to keep himself together as he spoke again. "Look, Lana and I are just friends – that's it! Nothing more, nothing less. Nothing will change that!"

"Don't lie to yourself, Clark." Batman harshly stated, getting tired of his friend's clear denial. "You know what you're feeling. The more you fight it, the worse it will get."

A sigh escaped from Superman's lips. "I thought I had gotten over her, that I moved on. Now I'm not sure if I want Lois or her."

Batman thought for a second, contemplating how to word his next sentence. "In the end, it's your decision. However, moving on is your best bet."

He looked at Batman with confusion.

"It's tricky, and you might doubt if you've made the right choice, but eventually, you'll end up in a better place."

"How can you be sure about that?"

"Because I've been through it."

They returned to their duties while Superman let Batman's words sink in.

---

Author’s note: Special thanks to Pure Red Crane for their help with this chapter.

Chapter 20: Lynx's Warehouse of Danger

Author's note: Special thanks to Pure Red Crane for their help.

Happy New Year everyone.

---

Chapter 20

Lynx's Warehouse of Danger

Jim slowly regained consciousness. His hands were tied behind his back as he lay on the cold, hard floor on his side. He looked around and saw that he was in an abandoned warehouse with shattered windows. Rats scurried in the dark shadows, water dripping from the oxidized pipes. A horrid aroma filled the air, smelling like a mix of rotting fish guts and sewer water. He tried to get up to no avail, and every pull caused the uncomfortable rope to rub against his skin.

"I wouldn't bother struggling if I was you."

He turned his head to where the voice had come from. From the shadows, Lethal Lynx walked towards him with a rusty crowbar in her hands.

"Glad you're awake. I was worried you'd miss the show." She bent down to meet him at eye level.

His eyes widened in terror and shook. "Lois Lane?"

"Not anymore, Chief. Name's Lethal Lynx, Clowned Princess of Crime." She bent down and stroked his chin. "Now, Mr. Gordon, you're going to help me."

He said nothing, still trying to wrap his head around what was happening.

"You're going to help me lure Batgirl here so I can beat the stuffing out of her."

"Why would I help you do that?"

"I wasn't asking. Even if you refuse, I'm still using you as bait. After all, who better to lure Barbara than her own Daddy." She let out a cruel, looney laugh.

Jim's eyes widen in horror. "Don't you dare hurt my daughter! Wait! How do you know Barbara is Batgirl?!"

"Only a genius like myself could figure it out. Once I discovered that Kara was Supergirl, I realized the woman she was dating must be Batgirl. Both of them are so lovey-dovey, even in their alter-egos." Her twisted smile grew wider, and her sickly yellow teeth made her appear creepier. "Now, I can't promise that I won't hurt her, but there's one thing I can promise." She paused for effect. "A Gordon will be bleeding tonight!"

She laughed evilly, swinging her crowbar and hitting him as hard as possible.

James tried to hold in a groan of pain, his teeth pressing hard against each other.

"Did that hurt, Commissioner?" She asked in a fake sympathetic voice. "Let me see if I can dent it out!"

She hit him repeatedly, each strike harder than the last. Jim tried to hold in groans of pain, which became harder with each blow.

---

Wonder Woman dropped Batgirl off on a building rooftop. The redhead hopped out of the jet as she addressed Diana. "Thanks for the ride."

"Don't mention it. Thanks again for your help."

"Glad I could be of assistance."

Wonder Woman smiled before flying off.

Batgirl walked across the rooftops, her mind still thinking about what Diana and Kara had told her. She rubbed her arms to comfort herself. She recalled her happiest memories with him, a guilty expression painted on her face as she began to rethink cutting him out of her life. She looked down at the city below, seeing the people of Gotham walking in the streets. She saw families chatting among themselves and laughing. She looked up and saw Supergirl flying nearby.

Kara saw her partner waving and flew down to meet her.

"Hey, Honey, how'd it go with Wonder Woman?" She asked.

"Not bad. I dealt with Volcana and helped Zee take down Star Sapphire." She proudly stated.

"Lucky. Gotham's been quiet tonight. Not even a petty thief."

"Some people would see that as a good thing. It's very rare in this city."

Kara smiled. "Anyway, how's Zee doing?"

"She's good. Although I think she wants her tour to end sooner than planned." She jibbed.

"I wonder if it has anything to do with Bruce Wayne?" Kara played along.

They chuckled for a moment, and then Kara spoke again. "And Diana?"

Batgirl's smile dropped.

"What's happened?"

"Nothing. We were talking about Jim, and then she told me about a similar situation she had that ended before they could make amends."

Kara put a hand on her girlfriend's shoulder. "It's not too late. You can call him now if you like."

"Aren't we on duty?"

"Given how quiet it's been, I'm sure it couldn't hurt."

She signed. "Alright." She took out her phone and dialled her father's number.

"WHY WON'T YOU SCREAM!" Lethal cried, frustrated by Jim's refusal. His body was beaten to a pulp and covered in deep bruises and cuts. "CALL HER FOR HELP!"

"N-ne-nev-never!" He was barely able to breathe, let alone speak.

A hellish scream erupted out of her as she brought the weapon crashing down upon him.

His phone rang. Lethal paused her assault to hear who it was.

"Hi, Jim, it's Barbara. I've been thinking. If it isn't too late..." She signed. "When you get this, call me back, okay?"

Lethal chuckled with a sinister grin, picked up the phone, and pressed the green "accept" button. She held it to Jim's face, allowing Barbara to hear his weakening breathing.

"Jim? What's wrong?"

No reply.

"Jim?"

Still no response.

"Dad?! What's going on? Where are you?" Her tone grew worried.

A soft cackle cut in.

"Who is this?! What have you done to Dad?!"

"If you want to see Daddy again... alive, come to the warehouse at Dini Alley." A voice said. It sounded familiar, but the erratic, deranged tone made it difficult for Barbara to put her finger on it. "Yours sincerely... Lethal Lynx, a.k.a The Gotham Killer!" Then, the caller hung up.

Kara saw her girlfriend go pale. "Batgirl, what's wrong?"

"The killer has him."

"What?!"

"The Gotham killer has him. She's at the warehouse on Dini Alley. We've got to go now!"

"She? It's a woman?"

Barbara didn't hear her. "Come on, we've got to go!"

"Alright. I'll call Clark to come..."

"There's no time!"

"But he told me to…"

"We can handle it ourselves. If we don't go now, it'll be too late!"

Reluctantly, she agreed, and they raced off.

---

Lethal chuckled, slowly turning her attention back to Jim. Fear covered his face as she circled him like a hungry hyena hunting a wildebeest.

"Any minute, your precious little girl will be here and the moment she arrives..." She swung her crowbar, landing a hard blow on his back. "It's going to be a massacre." She cackled, her venomous laugh echoing and bouncing off the metal walls. "I wonder if Kara will come with her. I hope she does. Otherwise, I brought this for nothing." She took out a small piece of Kryptonite from her pocket.

It wasn't long until Batgirl and Supergirl arrived at Dini Alley. They rushed towards the warehouse and crashed through the glass roof, landing perfectly on the floor.

"Glad you could make it, ladies."

Their eyes widened in disbelief at who their mystery killer was.

"Lois?" Supergirl asked. "You're the Gotham Killer?"

"I am, but don't call me Lois. The name's Lethal Lynx, the Crown Princess of Crime."

"What happened to you?"

Batgirl looked behind Lethal. Seeing her Father lying helplessly on the ground, she felt sick to her stomach.

"It's funny really. I was on my way to apologize to you freaks when Joker kidnapped me. He tortured me for about a week, then BOOM! Goodbye, boring journalism! Hello, number one criminal in the world." She cackled.

"Let the commissioner go!" Batgirl demanded.

"You mean let Dad go, Barabara. You don't need to play that game anymore."

Kara narrowed her eyes. "How do you...?"

"I know both of your true identities. Barbara Gordon, daughter of Commissioner Gordon, and Kara Kent of the Gotham Globe." Her smile grew wider. "I would tell you how I figured it out, but I got bigger fish to fry. Here's the deal: I'll let Daddy go if you two let me use you as bait for... Superman." She gritted her teeth upon saying his name.

"How can we be sure you'll keep your word?"

"You're just gonna have to trust me." She gave a false sympathetic smile.

Batgirl examined their location, searching for a support beam so she could use her grappling gun to swing and knock her out.

Kara got into a defensive position, ready to fight her.

"Kryptonite." A croaky voice whispered.

Barbara listened more closely, while Kara heard the warning.

"She... got... kryptonite." He said again.

Lethal examined the redhead's faces. It seemed as though she were trying to hear something… or someone. She chuckled as she slowly turned around to James. "Isn't that sweet? Daddy wants to warn his little girl." She paused for effect. "But I can't have that." She raised her weapon. Supergirl shot forward only to feel weak upon reaching her, falling to her knees. "You think I wouldn't have come prepared," Lynx said, focusing on her while holding the kryptonite in her free hand. Supergirl tried to get up, but Lethal punched her in the stomach. "My, my, how weak you are, Kara. I thought you put up more of a fight."

Supergirl tried to throw a fist at her opponent, but it did little damage to the vile villain in her weakened state.

Batgirl raced toward her father, only for Lethal to knock her to the ground with a leg kick. "You think you can save him?" She mocked coldly. "Even after he called you a freak, you still want to rescue him instead of letting him sleep with the fishes. I'd laugh if it weren't so pathetic." She thought for a moment. "What the hell? I'll laugh anyway." She cackled, sounding exactly like Joker, albeit more feminine. She swung her crowbar only for Supergirl to push her girlfriend to safety at the last moment. The rusty metal hit her side, causing the blonde to let out a scream.

"Kara!" Barbara cried.

Lethal turned to the redhead, a creepy smile painted her bleached face as she walked towards her. "Say hello to Mummy for me, Barbara!"

Barbara's eyes widened in fear as she was cornered.

"Leave her!" Jim shouted. "I'll be your bait for Superman."

She turned to the helpless man and chuckled. "Why would I need you when I have her?"

"Because…"

"That was a rhetorical question. But while I have you, I will kill you. After all, killing the police chief will show this city who's Queen!"

She raised the crowbar high. Jim tried to keep his eyes open but to no avail. "Goodbye, Mr. Gordon." She chuckled, but as she was about to swing her weapon, Batgirl leapt over and snatched the kryptonite from her hand before throwing it as far away as she could from a broken window.

"No!" Lethal scream. She was about to attack her when a red laser beam melted the crowbar.

Kara was back to her full strength. She stood strong, cracking her knuckles, ready to fight.

Seeing she had lost her advantage, Lethal let out a frustrated growl. "I'll get you both next time." Then, she made a retreat.

They were about to go after her when Jim began to cough violently before stopping, lying motionless.

"DAD!" Batgirl yelled. She ran over to him as quickly as possible. She knelt and softly picked up his head, examining him for signs of life. His eyes remained closed. Not even a sound of breathing came from him. "Daddy?" Barbara said as she began to cry. Jim didn't respond. She held his unconscious body as she broke down in tears. "I'm sorry, Daddy."

Kara rushed over to her side. She listening for a heartbeat. It was one fate, but it was there.

"Don't worry. He's still alive." She comforted, but Barbara couldn't hear her because of her crying. "He's going to be okay, I promise."

---

Clark flew over the city, his cape flapping in the gentle breeze.

Batman's words echoed in his head. The more he thought, the more he felt his conviction weaken. Yet, the heart wanted to believe in Lois. There was still a small voice inside that tried to reassure him that he was still happy with Lois, things would improve, and they could return to being a happy couple – him and Lan... Lois. He was still happy with Lois…maybe? Why was he so torn about this? Why was his mind so messed up?

Trying to sort himself out, Superman thought of the last time he was happy being with Lois. It was during a night out in the park. They were on an evening walk, and he remembered how happy he felt until…

He snapped back to reality upon seeing an ambulance and a few police cars outside a warehouse. Curious, he flew down, watching them leave the scene, and some friends became more visible.

Batgirl and Supergirl had finished explaining what had happened to the authorities, the former trying to hold it together. Once they were alone, she burst into tears, water running down her red cheeks. Supergirl held her tightly, letting her cry on her shoulder.

Superman landed and walked over to them. "Batgirl, what's wrong?"

Batgirl turned to him. "…The killer almost killed my Dad, and I… I never…" She broke down.

"What?!"

"He's alive, barely," Kara stated. "We didn't have it easy, given she had Kryptonite. She almost had me back there."

"What!? Why didn't you call me?! I told you to call me if anything bad happened!"

"We didn't have time. Mr. Gordon would have been…" Kara didn't finish, not wanting to upset Barbara more than she already was. "And there's something else."

"What?"

She inhaled, carefully choosing how to word her sentence. "We know who The Gotham Killer is."

Clark felt anticipation envelop him. This was a mystery that had been on his mind for a while, and it would be nice to make some progress on that mission. "Who?"

Kara looked down.

Superman's frown deepened. "Kara? Who is it?"

Supergirl sighed. "I'm sorry, Clark."

"What do you mean 'sorry'?" Superman tilted his head as anticipation mixed with confusion. "Kara, just tell me who it is."

Kara let out an unsteady breath before answering, muttering it quietly as if it could soften the blow of the word for Barbara and Clark. "Lois."

Superman's eyes widened, shaking his head in disbelief. "What?" The answer was not even close to what he expected, and no amount of 'I'm sorry' or whispers could help him process such a devastating answer. Denial kicked out the anticipation and sat beside Superman's confusion. "No, no. How is that possible?"

Supergirl turned away. "Joker turned her into a female version of himself."

"No, no, no." Clark felt weak in the knees. "What...? How... could..." As his mind filled with questions, it also raced a mile a second, trying to answer them. Batman was always going on about how villains in Gotham were always insane, making them more dangerous than most. If Joker, the most insane villain of them all, took Lois, it made sense that they had such a hard time finding her. That deplorable madman must have pressured Lois to kill. Joker was the reason his girlfriend was doing all these awful things. It wasn't of her own volition. Lois wasn't broken. He could still save her. He could fix her. All he needed to do was break her away from Joker's control. Superman caressed his forehead as a headache pierced his mind like a dagger. The pain was enough to reel him back and change the subject. "…She didn't hurt you, did she?"

"Almost…" Kara answered. Her eyes were on her cousin, and she seemed to see something, but Clark had no idea what. "If it weren't for Mr. Gordon distracting her, she would have killed me."

Clark looked towards Barbara, her head hanging low. She rubbed her upper arms to comfort herself, and tears ran down her face. "You should check on her."

Kara looked at Barbara. She didn't want to leave her cousin in such a bad state, but her girlfriend was close to breaking down. She made her way over to her and held her in her arms as she flew them home.

Clark and Lois would have to wait.

Clark stood alone, looking down at the ground, seeing his devastated expression in a puddle.

How could this have happened? Why did it happen? How did he let it happen? He was supposed to rescue her from danger, to ensure nothing would ever hurt her as he always did. Things would be different if he hadn't fought with her that night. He didn't want to believe it, so he tried to convince himself that Kara had lied, but he heard her heartbeat. There was no abnormality. She was telling the truth.

A small drop of water fell from the dark grey sky, causing a ripple in the puddle. It was followed by a second, then a third before it started raining. He stood, getting drenched, thinking about how to save her. He thought about going after her now but knew Joker would likely have a trap set for him or worse. On top of that, it was getting late, and he… suddenly remembered his promise to pick his Bel… Lana. He promised Lana he would take her home after work. He quickly took off and headed to the museum, his mind numb and working on autopilot.

Chapter 21: End of Denial

Chapter 21

End of Denial

Barbara and Kara, now dressed in citizen clothing, had been sitting outside her father's hospital room for over an hour. Barbara was barely holding in her tears as her partner held her tightly in her arms to comfort her. Kara didn't know what to say. What could she say? No words could bring reassurance to Barbara in this dire moment. She looked grimly down at the floor, praying it wasn't the end. Meanwhile, Barbara felt tight in her chest. What if it was too late? What if this was how it all ended? What if he died and they could never make amends?

A nurse came out of the room, and the couple immediately got up.

"How is he?" Barbara worriedly asked.

"It was close, but he'll make it." She explained. "He'll most likely be out in a week or two."

"Oh, thank goodness," Barbara whispered in relief.

"Can we see him, please?" Kara asked.

"I would recommend coming in when he awakes from his coma." The nurse advised.

"How long would that be?"

"Not sure, but we'll inform you when he's awake."

"Thank you."

"Just doing our job." The nurse then left to return to her duties.

With nothing else they could do, the couple left the hospital. Once they were alone, Barabra's tears began to roll down her cheeks.

"He'll be okay," Kara reassured her.

Barbara didn't respond for a moment, but then she spoke solemnly. "Why did I have to be stubborn?"

"Hey, don't beat yourself up. You didn't know this would happen."

"But he could have died, and we would never made amends." She looked down at the soaked pavement. "Because of me."

"Barbara, look at me." Kara turned Barbara's head to face her, whipping away fresh tears. "What happened to him has nothing to do with you. He's going to be okay, and you two will talk. I promise."

Barbara didn't respond.

"Don't worry, Barbara. We're here for you – me, my folks, Clark..."

"Clark…" Barbara gasped. "Oh god, what must he going through right now?"

Kara tried to keep her calm but, in her heart, she was worried beyond comprehension. Her cousin must have been going through all nine circles of hell after hearing what had transpired. She didn't want to leave Barbara at such a critical time, but now that her girlfriend was more stable, it was time to check on Clark.

The alien waved down a taxi and when one pulled over, she opened the door for Barbara. "I'll be back as soon as possible. I'm just going to check on him."

Barbara gave an understanding nod before getting into the taxi. Once the vehicle started heading for home, Kara made her way to Clark's hotel.

---

Lana exited the massive building, feeling worn out from a day's work. She tried to cover herself from the worsening rain as it came down in stair rods. She looked around for Clark to no avail. She shivered in the cold rain as the water began to run into her heels. Not wanting to get hypothermia, she headed into a nearby phone booth that had seen better days and quickly changed into her Superwoman suit. She wondered what had happened to him. Clark wasn't the type to be tardy. If anything, he was usually early. Then again it was likely that he had been held up dealing with some crooks or got a last-minute call for a mission. She began to fly off, the rain dampening her red hair as it flowed gently in the breeze. She looked down at the city below trying to spot him.

"Sorry, I'm late."

She stopped and turned to see Superman flying towards her. "You know you could have told me if… you… were…" She trailed off upon seeing his sad face. "Superman, what's wrong?"

"Oh, nothing just…" He tried to hold in his tears. His mind was swimming in emotional turmoil, still in denial of what happened.

"What?"

"It's been a rough night for me." He stated.

"Wanna talk about it? Maybe somewhere dryer."

"That would help." He admitted.

They flew side by side back to her hotel. Lana looked at him, concerned. He was more down than she had ever seen him. Given what he had to deal with regularly, this had to be something far worse than she could imagine. But what? She began to worry. Did something happen to Lois? Was she... No, it couldn't be. Surely Lois wasn't dead? Lana heard Clark's heartbeat – slow, sorrowful and self-blaming. But for what? It pained her to see him like this. Her own heartbeats grew forlorner the longer she looked at him.

Once inside her room, they changed into dryer clothing in separate rooms. The rain continued to pour in a sky painted in grey clouds. Water ran down the outside window like tears running down a person's face when they cried. Clark sat on the sofa, his head still swimming in mixed emotions, hoping there was a way to save Lois from Joker's wrath.

Lana stirred the hot chocolate in a blue mug, steam rising from the rich brown liquid. She then placed a few marshmallows into a red mug filled with a lighter shade of hot chocolate, which was slightly more milky. Picking up both mugs, she left the kitchen and went to the living room.

"Here." Lana handed him the blue mug before sitting beside him on the purple sofa.

"Thanks, " Clark said, taking a sip. It brought him back to when they were dating. Often, during the cold winters, they would have hot chocolate while they snuggled up close to each other, sitting near the fire or watching TV under a blanket. He noticed that she put seven marshmallows in his drink, just like back then.

Lana took a sip from her mug before speaking. "So, Clark, what happened tonight?"

Clark hesitated momentarily, knowing there was no point holding it in anymore. "The girls found out what happened to Lois."

"Is she alright?"

"No." He felt his eyes begin to water. "She... she... Joker turned her into a copy of himself."

Lana didn't know what to say next. This was something she had never imagined would happen, especially to Lois, someone who was so stubborn and strong. No wonder Clark was in such a melancholy state. His girlfriend, the love of his life, had been turned into a monster by Gotham's greatest villain.

"Oh, Clark, I'm sorry." Lana put a hand on his knee to comfort him. She thought carefully about how she would word her next question. "Have the police... you know?"

"They didn't catch her."

"She's still out there?"

"Most likely at Joker's hideout."

"Did she say anything to you?"

"I didn't see her in person. Only Barbara and Kara did."

Lana sombrely turned away, moving her mug close to her lips and letting the steam help her meditate on the information that was dumped on her. Then a thought struck her, turning back to him with worried energy. "Are Barbara and Kara alright? Lois didn't hurt them, did she?"

"Kara's fine. She fibbed about not getting hurt, but the injuries aren't bad. Barbara though..." He sighed, feeling guilty in the pit of his stomach. "Almost lost her father to Lois."

"What? Lois tried to kill him?!"

"N-not... not by her choice. Joker's pressuring her to do it!" He said, but he didn't sound convincing to her or himself. "She would never do anything like that! I know it."

"And where was Joker during all this?"

"They didn't say, but I know she wouldn't do something like this on her own will."

Lana's eyes moved quickly as if she were speed-reading her own thoughts in her mind's eye. She was so confused. Lois was being manipulated by Joker, but her kidnapper wasn't even there? Ans Lois went back to him? There was no way Joker wouldn't be there to see his latest achievement at work and if Lois was in her right mind, she would not have gone back to her kidnapper. None of the facts gave Lana the impression that Lois' actions were against her will. There was…an alternative theory – a darker one. But since it was the Joker who took Lois, Lana couldn't help but feel it was plausible. Carefully wording her question, she asked. "…What if she's not the Lois you knew?"

"What's that supposed to mean?!" His voice slightly rose in anger.

"I'm just saying that maybe she's gone completely nutty."

"No, she hasn't! I-I can save her and turn her back to normal and we can go back to being happy together."

Lana was shocked at his outburst, which was quickly replaced with annoyance. She heard the denial in his voice. She saw the sorrow in his eyes. She was tired of the excuses. Lana didn't care if she would get yelled at. She was going to get the truth from him no matter what. But to do that, Clark needed to face reality. "Um, Clark...I don't think it's possible to fix her. She was brainwashed by the Joker of all people and the Harley Quinn evidence suggests the insanity is permanent. Also, it's not like she was sane with you."

"What's that supposed to mean?!"

"Well, before she was turned into a psycho, she blackmailed Zatanna just for 'flirting' with you, she called your cousin a 'freak,' and from what Barbara told me, she had some…interesting choice of words about Batgirl." She stated firmly.

"S-she didn't mean anything when she said those things. It was just the heat of the moment."

"She must get heated very easily, given how often it happens."

"Everyone says things they never mean."

"Not everyone is a criminal willing to kill people."

"She..."

"Oh, Clark, how can you be so blind not see what kind of person she is?"

Clark groaned. "Y-you're... you're one to talk."

Lana blinked rapidly as she processed what he just said. "Excuse me?"

"You're Lex Luthor's ex-girlfriend. You didn't see anything wrong with him."

Her face turned as red as her hair. "I thought we agreed to never talk about that again. At least I'm not in denial about my ex."

"I'm not in denial!"

"Oh really. Tell me, Clark, are you happy with Lois? I mean, actually happy?"

"Yes, I am. We're... just been going through a rough spot."

"For eight months? That's not a rough spot. That's a relationship falling apart and you know it."

"It's not as bad as it sounds."

"Oh really? Because from what you have told me, it sounds like you two are on the verge of breaking up."

It took a lot of willpower to keep his eyes from glowing red. "It won't come to that. She's just..." He tried to think of the words, but his thoughts failed him.

"What? Easily jealous when you're talking to any woman that isn't family?"

He had no answer.

"If that's what she was like before getting a clown makeover then I hate to think what she's like now."

"But I can fix her!"

"Fix her? How?"

"I don't know yet, " he admitted. "But when I do, we'll be happy."

"Open your eyes, Clark! You've been unhappy with her for months!" Lana yelled, finally at the end of her rope. She felt like she was arguing with a wall. "Do you even recall when you were last happy with her?"

He didn't want to tell her, not with how that moment ended.

"Are you going to tell me or can't you remember?" Lana glared at him.

Still, he didn't answer.

"When did you last do something romantic together?"

"Um, three months ago. We had a movie night."

"Were you happy that night?" She asked.

"Um, well... Not really."

"Why not? And don't say it was because the movie sucked." She sternly inquired, crossing her arms.

Clark hesitated briefly. "We had a rough day and she was exasperated from all the work. You know how it is."

"So, why have the movie night? You could have rescheduled for a later date."

"We-" He couldn't answer that. "Look why do you care what I do in my romantic life?"

"Because I'm worried about you! Everyone is – me, Kara, Barbara, your parents! I wouldn't be surprised if the whole Justice League is concerned about you!"

"There is nothing to be concerned about! I've..."

"Been stressed? You use that excuse every time. Just tell me the truth, Clark. Are you happy with Lois?!"

"I-I..."

"Well, are you?"

Their quarrel was interrupted by a knock on the door. With quick stomps that relayed her frustration, Lana opened it to reveal Kara.

"Hey, Lana. I heard…a few things. And my cousin's voice was not coming from his hotel room, so I'm guessing Clark is here?"

"He is."

Kara noticed the redness on the older woman's face just as it faded away. "Are you ok?"

"I... no. We've just had an argument." Lana led Kara into the living room.

"Okay."

Lana turned to Clark. "Do you want to tell her?"

Clark sighed, then explained what had ensued before his cousin arrived.

Kara remained silent before she spoke. "Clark, I know you don't want to hear this, but you can't fix her."

"Maybe not right away, but I'm sure-"

"I saw what she's like now! She's fully Joker! They have the same smile, the same bleached white skin and green hair, the same psychopathic tendencies, and even the same laugh! She's beyond fixing!"

His heart sunk deeper than ever before. He knew Kara was telling the truth. The Lois he knew was dead, replaced by a psycho-clown woman, who tried to kill his only blood relative.

"I'm sorry, but there's nothing we can do," Kara said.

"…I just wish I could have saved her in time."

"Hey, it's not your fault. No one could have guessed Joker would kidnap her." Lana said, trying to comfort him.

Clark looked gloomily at the wooden floor. His denial was slowly fading away. It was becoming harder to justify that there was still a chance with Lois.

They sat in silence for a minute. Kara felt nervous about what she had to do next. She knew she had to ask him. She needed to know. Everyone did.

"Clark. Be honest with me. What happened between you and Lois?"

Clark hesitated. A small voice told him to say nothing, but another told him it was time to reveal the truth.

"Please, Clark. We want to help. You can tell us anything." Lana gently encouraged.

It was no use running around the bush. "…Lois and I haven't been in the best place," Clark admitted. "Every week we fight or she accuses me of flirting with other women, belittling me about my work. Even during romantic moments, she feels… disinterested in what we're doing."

"And how do you feel during them?" Kara asked.

"I feel... unhappy." He admitted.

"Oh, Clark, why didn't you say something?" His cousin asked.

"Partly because I believed things would get better between us."

Kara's heart sank. She put her arms around him, trying to comfort her cousin. She knew what she had to ask next. "When did Lois' love start to deteriorate?"

He didn't say anything.

"Clark, please tell me. Did something happen between you?"

Still no answer.

"Maybe she's tired of waiting for you to pop the question?" Lana suggested.

"I already proposed to her." He confessed.

"What?!"

"When?" Kara gasped.

"Eight months ago." He signed in defeat, then told the memory of that faithful night.

---

In the darkness of night, but under the lights of Metropolis, Lois stormed out of the Daily Planet, the clicks of her heels signalling her anger. Clark sped-walk to catch up to her and had to continue the faster pace to keep up. Any who noticed her glare moved to the side, giving her space. Clark gave the citizens apologetic smiles and waves. This continued until they reached the park. When they reached the water's edge, Lois suddenly stopped.

"Urgh!" Lois huffed and then yelled into the void. "That Luther! I hope he loses all his money sweeping my story under the rug!"

Clark smiled a bit at her outburst. She was so cute. "You inflicted damage. I think that was worth all the work."

Lois pouted. "But I wanted to take him down. I wanted him to pay for what he did. I was so close!"

Clark took her shoulder and pulled her close, letting her head rest on his chest, encouraging her to calm down. She did, and they could enjoy the sound of water crashing into the land. Clark rubbed her arm, creating warmth and showing her sympathy. He too had hoped Lois' investigation would bear fruit and take out Luthor. They had worked on that project for months. They had imagined the Daily Planet would love the newsworthy story and the scandal it presented.

But Luther had been smart and managed to stop the story from spreading. Money and good connections went a long way for Bruce Wayne and it was the same with Luther - a truly unnerving superpower. However, Clark was right. Their efforts weren't in vain. The story may not go viral and make a great impact on the public subconscious, but the evidence did catch the eye of some key figures and Luther would be set back for months. Funds that would have otherwise been used on different evil schemes were now being put into keeping Luther's fake good persona afloat.

Lois sighed after a nice salty ocean breeze hit them.

She lifted her head, feeling slightly better. She saw a flock of gulls flying, their silhouettes highlighted by the moon's light.

Clark also looked at the peaceful sky, a smile crept over his face. This was the perfect romantic atmosphere. He had hoped that the circumstances would be better, but the scenery was exactly how he wanted it.

"Come on, let's go home." She removed herself from his embrace and began to walk away, but she stopped when she noticed that Clark hadn't moved. "Clark? Aren't you coming?"

Clark stepped forward, looking her gently in the eyes. "I was hoping to save this as a surprise for when your story went viral." He got onto one knee and then took out a small blue box, opening it to reveal an engagement ring. "Will you marry me?"

Lois said nothing. She just stirred at the ring. Her eyes were frozen with stunned surprise. The only sound that was heard was the ocean making contact with the land. His smile slowly faded. "Lois?"

No response.

"Is that a..."

"I... no... I can't. Not yet." She eventually managed to get out.

"Why not?"

"Clark, how do I put this?" She tried to stay neutral in her response. "I love you, I really do, but I'm not ready for marriage."

"Why not?"

"It's complicated." She tried to keep calm with her wording, not wanting to make the situation more awkward than it already was. "I've been trying my whole life to get to the top and I'm close. I can't throw it away now."

"Why would marrying someone stop you?" He asked, genuinely confused by her statement.

"Because I'll be stuck in your shadow too."

"Too?"

"I've already got one shadow looming over me that I've been trying to get out of."

Clark was even more confused. Lois was the number one reporter in Metropolis. No one was even close to her status. "I... um... Who else at the Daily Planet...?"

"It's not another reporter, Clark."

"Then which shadow are you referring to? I don't see anyone who could possibly eclipse you."

"Seriously? No one else?" Lois tried to hold in her frustration.

"Of course. I can't think of anyone else who has accomplished as much as you have." He said innocently.

"Thanks, but you really can't think of anyone else?"

"Um… no. If anything, I might need to be worried." He jibbed hoping to lighten the mood. "If I'm not careful, Superman might…"

"THAT'S THE SHADOW I'M TRYING TO ESCAPE FROM!" The sound of the ocean was the source of noise after that outburst. Lois exhaled before she continued. "I've achieved so much over the years, but all the recognition I ever get is 'Superman's girlfriend'. Every day, I feel as though I'm trapped in his shadow. Everyone sees me as 'the damsel that he rescues' and nothing else." Her face was flushed red, and her temper reached boiling point, erupting out like a dark cloud of ash from a volcano that suddenly awakened.

"That's not true. Everyone knows you as the Daily Planet's greatest journalist." Clark pointed out.

"Tell that to the other news outlets." Lois put her hands to her forehead while she tried to cool off for a second time. "Look, I'm not against us getting married, but it's not the right time for me."

"If it helps, you can decide when you want us to get married." He suggested.

Lois laughed, delighted at the idea. The cheer made Clark's joking smile turn sincere and loving.

"It does! Thank you, Clark." Lois said when she finished chuckling. "I'm sorry. I'm not ready now, but I promise that when I am, I'll propose so good, it'll ruin romance movies for you!"

It was Clark's turn to laugh. He took her shoulder and brought her close again. After a gentle kiss, the couple peacefully walked home.

Clark thought it ended well.

But now, he wondered if he missed a cue during that simple walk to their apartment.

---

Lana and Kara were speechless.

"Ever since then, everything got worse, because of me."

"What? Clark, you did nothing wrong. She's the one who's shot down the proposal." Kara stated.

"No, if I had paid more attention, then I would have recognized how she was feeling. I would have taken her feelings about not being seen as Superman's equal more seriously. Maybe if I had, our relationship wouldn't be in the state it's in now."

"It's not your fault, Clark Be..." Lana stopped herself before she called him by his former nickname. "You did everything you could to keep your love afloat. That's more than she ever did for you."

Clark hummed in agreement. His denial was dead as a doornail now.

"I know you probably don't want to hear this, but I think you should move on," Kara advised.

"That's the second time I've been told that." He said. "…I think I should too."

Kara smiled. Her cousin was starting on the right path for a happier future.

"Thank you for the talk." He said to both of them.

"Anytime," Lana said.

The Kents said their goodbye to Lang and left for home. When they got outside the hotel, the younger turned her attention to the older.

"So, why did she call you 'Clark Be?'"

"Oh, um, she was going to say Clark Bear."

"Clark Bear?" Kara raised a questioning brow.

"It was the nickname she gave me when we dated." Clark clarified.

"Not gonna lie, that's cute. What was the nickname you gave her?"

"Bella Lana."

"Aww. That's so sweet." Kara's smile slowly faded as she noticed Clark's expression. "…What's wrong?"

"Oh, it's... Lana."

"What is? She hasn't done anything bad has she?"

"No. It's just…I'm not sure if I'm still in love with her or not."

"Why don't you ask her if she feels the same?"

"I'm pretty sure it's one-sided." He said with a hint of doubt.

"You should at least tell her."

"I will when I next see her."

---

Barbara sat glumly at the table with a cup of tea. In her hands, she held the picture of her and her father. She thought about all the good times they had together, how he was always there for her in her darkest moments and how he had looked after her alone after her mother passed away. If it wasn't for him, she may never have grown into the woman she is now.

A fresh tear rolled down her cheek and fell into her cup. She felt cold and miserable.

Kara arrived home, quietly closing the door. She made her way to Barbara and pulled up a chair next to her. She didn't say anything. She just pulled her girlfriend in closer to give her a comforting hug.

---

Lana's hotel room clock showed eleven o'clock as she lay in bed. She looked up at the ceiling, her mind plagued by Clark. This was his lowest moment in his life, losing Lois after eight months of trying to improve their relationship, only for the latter to drown in insanity. She hoped he would be okay.

That wasn't the only thing bugging her. For a second time, she had almost called him Clark Bear. Why did she do that again? She sighed. She couldn't deny it anymore, her feelings for him were still there, but she wouldn't tell him. Not yet. It was too soon.

---

Author's note: Special thanks to Pure Red Crane for their help with this chapter.

Chapter 22: New Hero For Gotham

Chapter 22

New Hero For Gotham

"After several weeks with no lead, the mystery behind the identity of The Gotham Killer has been revealed. According to the authorities, the killer has been identified as Lethal Lynx, formerly known as Lois Lane. The news came when Commissioner Gordon was taken to the hospital after a near-death encounter with the former reporter. Thanks to Batgirl and Supergirl, he has avoided being the fifth victim of the newest rogue in Gotham." A reporter announced.

Bruce was at the hotel's bar when the news was broadcast. He immediately felt concerned. Both his apprentice and friend were experiencing one of the worst moments of their lives. He headed to his room to call Kara, not wanting any eavesdroppers.

When her phone rang, Kara was writing a report about the recent events at her desk.

"Hello, Bruce. Take it you heard about Jim and Lois?" Kara answered, trying to be professional and to the point, but her voice was full of tiredness and worry. She rubbed her forehead. What was she doing? Being professional and not personal might not be possible here, not when it came to Barbara.

"I have. I wanted to know the status of Barbara and Clark." Bruce said.

"Barbara is barely holding it together. She didn't eat breakfast this morning and barely slept last night. I worried sick about her."

"What about Clark?"

"He's doing a bit better. He's still in shock about what happened, but on the plus side, he's willing to move on from Lois."

"Glad he took my advice. Do you think they'll need someone else to deal with the Lethal Lynx situation?"

Kara thought for a moment. "…I know I said Clark is willing to move on, but that is still a work in progress. I don't think Clark's mental state is in the best place. As for Barbara...I'm not sure."

"You think she'll be too emotionally drained?"

"Kind of." She felt her stomach churn. "I'm scared she's gonna try and go after Lois for revenge, which makes people reckless and stupid."

Bruce carefully chose how to word his next sentence. "I don't want to add pressure on you, but if you're concerned about what Barbara might do, you have to talk her out of it."

"But what if I can't? What if she leaves in the middle of the conversation?"

"It won't come to that. You're one of the few people who can get through to her when she's in a bad headspace."

"Still, this isn't anything we've had to deal with before."

"If you want, I can come back to Gotham tonight."

"What about your business meeting?"

"That doesn't matter. I'll come up with something."

"You don't need to do that. If I need someone else, I'll ask a league member, like Diana or Zee..." Kara heard his heartbeat slow down slightly. "Bruce, is something bothering you?"

"It's...a private matter. Nothing for you to worry about."

"Are you sure? You know, you..."

"I'm sure, Kara. Besides, you've got more important matters to deal with."

"Ok." She said, unconvinced. "Sorry to end our conversation abruptly, but I must finish my story. Bye, Bruce."

Bruce put down the phone with a heavy sigh. The mention of his girlfriend's name reminded him of the difficult decision he had to make.

Gotham was one of the most dangerous cities. Many of the world's most notorious villains lived there, committing some of the vilest crimes in the history of humanity. He didn't want Zatanna to live in such a place. It pained him to imagine what could happen if Joker or Ivy caught her.

He didn't want a long-distance relationship, but would have to for her safety.

With a clear resolve, Bruce picked up the phone and called Zatanna, informing her about Lois's situation and his decision.

"What? No, Bruce, you can't let one incident stop us from living together."

"It's not just what happened to Lois. I can't let you live somewhere that dangerous."

"But there are heroes in Gotham – you, Kara, Barbara, Robin-"

"The number of villains outweighs the number of heroes. What happens if none of us can save you in time?"

"I have magic. If I get into trouble, I can cast a spell and poof, I'm safe."

"You don't know how dangerous Gotham crooks can be. Even with your magic, the risk is too great."

She sighed. "I don't want us to be apart."

"Neither do I, but I can't risk putting you in danger."

"I know." Her voice dipped in sorrow.

"If there were any other way, I would let you be in Gotham."

"…I know."

There was an uncomfortable pause before they spoke again.

"Goodbye, Zee Zee."

"Goodbye, Brucey."

Zatanna fell onto her bed. Of all the cities in the world, why did he have to live in Gotham? There had to be another way, surely.

Zatanna understood Bruce's concerns. When it came to villains, there were none as erratic as those of Gotham – so powerful and insane that heroes fought them with extreme caution. Pause for a moment to utter a spell, and Zatanna could end up in the hold of Joker. On the other hand, she couldn't help but feel Bruce was shielding her too much. She was a hero. It was her job. Fighting villains was what she was good at. Helping her friends and comrades was one of the best parts of the job.

But Bruce didn't want her anywhere near Gotham – his chaotic home. He would not allow her to prove herself if it meant risking her life. Zatanna would have thought it was sweet how much the Caped Crusader was worrying about her if not for the fact that she wanted to help him and her friends, which left her frustrated and fidgety.

The magician raced her mind to devise a reason she could use to argue that she could handle Gotham and its villains. Unfortunately, the reason "I can use magic" wasn't enough, and it was difficult to come up with a better reason than that... Should she sneak into Gotham and help anyway? Honestly! Batman never had a problem with Robin and Batgirl fighting villains in Gotham. What made them diff-?

That was when an idea came to her. She picked up her wand and cast her spell.

---

Clark was in his hotel room, writing his report on the upcoming charity event. Next to him was a cup of half-drunken coffee and a half-eaten biscuit. He rubbed his eyes, the emotions from last night still fresh in his mind. Clark couldn't focus, and his mind was still spiralling. His mind's eye wouldn't stop looking back, unable to look toward the present, much less the future.

It wasn't just that his relationship was over.

There was so much else to regret.

The past eight months had been torture enough, but now it was worse. Clark had done his best to keep the relationship issues to himself, trying not to drag other people into his problems. But in the end, downplaying the situation made it worse for everyone around him. It was his fault, his choices that led everyone to the current predicament. It was because of him that Lois had been kidnapped, turned into a lunatic and nearly killed James Gordon. It was because of him that Barbara had almost lost her father, the look in her eyes from last night still haunting him.

He should have made Lois stay in Metropolis instead of bringing her to the most dangerous city in the world.

He should have chased after her and made sure she got to a safe place that night.

He should have communicated and paid more attention to his friends.

The reporter shook his head, escaping the rabbit hole of despair. He sighed from the mental exhaustion. His mind was a complete mess. Clark considered taking time off. However, his head told him that work would distract him and that a positive news story might benefit him. It worked to an extent, but his thoughts wandered frequently. Sometimes, it led to his failures. Sometimes, it went to Lois. Other times, it went to Lana.

...He knew he couldn't lie to himself anymore.

Clark still had feelings for Lana.

...But he couldn't just confess.

There was still loyalty to Lois and what they used to have.

He needed to wait until he felt Lois's scars had faded.

With a heavy sigh, he returned to his task.

Then, there was a knock on his door.

Getting up, he went to the door and opened it to reveal Lana.

"Hey, Clark. I just stopped by to see how you're holding up?" She stated.

"I've been better." He admitted, letting her in. "Would you like a drink?"

"Water, please." She hung her green jacket before sitting down.

While Clark went to get a glass of water, she noticed the report on the table. The skeletal, unfinished state of the article made her more concerned for him than she already was. Looking at Clark, she saw his shoulders slumping before he turned and changed his body language to something more put-together.

"Here." He gave her the water.

"Thanks." She sipped the drink, eyeing Clark as the fear of uncomfortable silence started to creep. "Um, how's the article going?"

"Not great. I think I've got writer's block." He stated, taking his seat.

Lana's gaze held a touch of pity with her worry. "Clark, is there something you want to talk about?"

Clark sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "…After everything that's happened, I can't help but think of how things would be different if I had been honest from the start. If I had told my folks or Kara about how rocky things had become between Lois and me, none of this would have happened.

"Hey, you shouldn't beat yourself up. How could you have known any of this would happen?" Lana pointed out, hearing his heartbeat, slow and self-blaming. He needed to realize that none of this was his doing.

"But it's because of me that everyone else is miserable. My actions caused my family to worry for eight months, Barbara's father is in the hospital, and Lois..." He nearly choked. "Lois is now a monster." He looked down at the wooden table, guilt flooding his mind.

Lana gently touched his cheeks, lifting his head to look him in the eyes.

"None of this is your fault, Clark. Your relationship is strained because Lois snapped at everything and everyone. She chose to walk alone at night in Gotham, where Joker chose to kidnap her. Joker chose to torture her, and she's the one who snapped and killed people. She chose to stay on the side of evil even when she had the chance to leave." She explained, firmly but gently. "You've got to stop redirecting the blame at yourself and making excuses for her."

Clark sighed, knowing she was right. He had to face reality. Lois had chosen to go down the path of evil, and by the sound of it, she was enjoying every moment of wrongdoing. She wasn't the woman he had fallen in love with all those years ago. She was now a murderous monster with no tenderness in her now-twisted heart. Even then, she hadn't been the nicest person since his failed proposal. Every fight they had started because of her getting in a bad mood. She threatened every woman who dared to say hi to him, believing he was considering other options. Hell, they only fought at the museum because she got jealous of him catching up with Lana. Clark slowly began to ponder.

"Clark?"

"Hm? Oh, sorry, I..."

"No, it's ok. It's a lot to think about."

"It's not that." He admitted. "I just... I know I can't change what happened that night, but I wish I could have walked home with her to ensure she returned safely. Then, I would have ended our relationship there. At least that way Joker wouldn't have gotten her."

Lana was so pleasantly surprised that she didn't know what to say. She was glad Clark had accepted that it was over between him and Lois. It meant her friend was one step closer to being happy again.

After a brief moment of silence, Clark spoke. "I forgot to ask, how did work go today?"

"Not too shabby. One more dress and I'm done." She stated that before her eyes were drawn to the half-eaten biscuit. "By the way, I don't suppose you have any more biscuits, do you?"

"I've got a full pack. Well, minus one." He said, eating the last half of the biscuit before going to the cupboard.

"You always had those when we went camping." Lana reminisced, eyeing the familiar box.

"Does it count as camping if we're three feet from our house?" He jibbed.

"I'd count it. Besides, we did go beyond our gardens a few times."

"I remember the times we camped at the lake." He sat back down, placing the pack of biscuits on the table before handing her one.

"Thanks." She said before taking a bite. "Those were the best ones."

"Couldn't agree more. Remember when we woke up and a deer was only five feet from the tent?"

"I do. It was captivating."

"I remember the quiet nights watching the stars."

"The morning swims."

"Seems like it was only yesterday."

While they talked, they ate the biscuits until only one was left.

"Man, where did the time go?" Lana asked. "And the biscuits?"

They paused. Looking down, they saw their hands touching when reaching for the last biscuit.

"Sorry." They said in unison, their hands quickly parting ways.

"You can have it." Clark offered.

"Thanks." She said, not wanting the moment to drag as she quickly claimed the treat.

There was a moment of awkwardness as Lana finished the biscuit. Slowly, they began to chuckle slightly before it grew louder, remembering how they had done the same thing in high school. It was when they had first realized they had romantic feelings for each other.

"Thank you." He said when they had finished laughing.

"For what?"

"A good laugh. I needed it after a rough week."

"It was nothing. Thanks again for sharing those biscuits."

---

The moon hung high in the red sky as night came to Gotham. The streets were being cleared of the crowds of citizens as they began the journey home after another hard day's work.

Barbara sat glumly on the sofa. It had been a dreadful day at work. She couldn't focus on her job as her thoughts continuously returned to her father. She wished she hadn't cut him out of her life. It wouldn't have changed Lois going after him and nearly making him push up the daisies, but at least they wouldn't be on bad terms.

A fresh tear ran down her red cheek as she replayed their fight from the other day. She had gotten angry at him, even when he hadn't said anything horrible or belittling to her on that occasion. She had let her anger get the better of her and exploded at him just for speaking to her. Why had she done that? Why did she let her temper win?

With the sound of an opening door, Kara came in from work, having just finished a call with Country to ask if she could cover for her for the next few days.

"Thanks, Country, you're a lifesaver. I'll see you in a few days. Bye." Kara hung up and then saw her girlfriend's sad expression. The blonde then came up with an idea and went into their bedroom. When she emerged, she wore her Supergirl outfit and carried the purple Batgirl suit in her arms. "Hey, sweety."

Barbara turned, her expression remained sorrowful, but now showed a hint of confusion. She wiped away the tears rolling down her face. "I thought we weren't going on night patrol?"

"We're not. We are going on a flying date." She handed the redhead her suit. "You look like you need some fresh air. Just the two of us, like old times."

Barbara was hesitant at first, but looking into the blonde's blue eyes, she got up and went into the bathroom to change into her suit. Once she came out, Kara gently held the redhead in her arms. Barbara wrapped her arms around her girlfriend's shoulder, and the two took off through the window.

Their hair blew gently in the breeze as Supergirl went higher and higher into the atmosphere until they reached the tops of the clouds. Supergirl slowly flew over a fluffy cloud so Batgirl could run her hand through it. Barbara did so, holding out one of her hands and feeling the soft cloud pass through her fingers. A smile began to form on her face. It was small, but it was a start.

A flock of birds flew on either side of them, their wingtips only inches away from touch. The birds looked surprised to see humans flying in their space. Barbara admired their smooth wings shining in the light and the freedom from woe they represented. The birds' calls kept them in harmony as they moved away from the strange people sharing their space, flying towards more peaceful skies. Barbara admired their coordination and teamwork. She saw it as more beautiful than their feathers.

Teamwork was beautiful.

Being together was beautiful.

Barbara felt Kara readjust her superhuman grip, making sure the redhead wouldn't fall, cherishing and protecting her.

As Kara started moving towards a lovely view she spotted, Barbara's gaze stayed on her girlfriend, thoughtful as she watched the blonde try to make this flight a positive experience in what had been a cluster of negative ones. Barbara suddenly remembered all the times Kara had been supporting her – when she was fighting with her father, when the blonde tried to talk the redhead out of letting rage run the show, when Supergirl took charge so that Batgirl could have space to deal with her father's emergency condition.

Barbara was still worried – sad, angry, scared, despairing, regretful – for her father. But her burden felt lighter upon remembering that she wasn't alone. Kara had been doing her best to keep things positive in Barbara's times of anguish, even when the latter failed to communicate. Like a bird, the blonde supported the redhead, lessening the struggle against the strong winds and calling the redhead to keep going and fight what was trying to beat her down.

Kara looked down, feeling Barbara's gaze. Under the mask, eyes full of gratitude and love were looking up. The blonde blinked, confused and wondering what was going through the redhead's mind.

Their lips parted.

The redhead leaned up.

Everything would be fine.

---

Bruce exited the bathroom after a hot shower. He was exhausted. The meeting had taken forever, but that wasn't the only reason. His conversation with Zatanna that morning was still fresh in his mind. It pained him to keep them apart, but he couldn't let her live in Gotham. What if the same thing happened to her as it did to Lois? Or worse, what if she was... He didn't want to live through another loved one dying.

He knew he was doing the right thing, yet a tiny voice couldn't help but wish for another way. But Bruce had already lost too many to the cruel world known as Gotham City, either to the numerous villains or to corruption.

He had just gotten ready for bed, hoping a good sleep would recharge him for tomorrow, when he got a call from his communicator.

"Batman, there is a situation in Timm City. A gang is attempting to rob the bank."

"I'm on it." He replied immediately. Quietly, he put on his Batman suit before heading to the city in the Batplane.

---

In a dark alley of Timm City, an explosion created a hole in the wall of the bank, and a few bricks were still falling as the dust settled. Three men emerged from the hole, carrying several bags containing thousands of dollars each.

"Worked like a charm." The leader stated wickedly. He was tall with large muscles and a deep scar over his left eye. He was notorious in the city, having robbed more banks than anyone in the area. "Now let's get out of here before the cops show up."

"You got it, boss!" A plump man agreed while a skinnier one nodded in agreement. The three rushed back to their car, only to find Batman standing before it. They turned, running as quickly as a flash, but the fat one fell behind with heavy wheezing. Batman cuffed him before continuing his pursuit.

The two remaining robbers turned a corner, hoping to lose Batman, but they were unaware they were being watched from the rooftops.

Suddenly, a figure dropped down in front of them. She was dressed in a black batsuit with garnered dark blue boots, gloves and decals with the bat logo across her chest. Her raven hair flowed from an opening in the back. She stood tall with a menacing stare that sent a shiver down the crook's spine.

"Who are you?!" the leader demanded.

She didn't answer. She just glared at them.

"It looks a... Batwoman!" the scrawny robber stated nervously.

"Well, I don't care if it's Batwoman or Wonder Woman. We've got her outnumbered, " the lead robber reminded them.

The crooks readied their weapons as the figure prepared to fight. They charged, throwing fists and swinging knives. Batwoman managed to dodge every attack, with movements as elegant as a gazelle, before landing a hard roundhouse kick to the skinny criminal's face, causing his nose to bleed and knocking him out cold.

"You'll pay for that!" The lead robber said. He lunged towards her, the knife held high, glistening in the moon's light. She caught his arm, and the two struggled against each other.

Suddenly, a Batarang knocked the knife out of his hand. He turned to see Batman just as the Dark Knight caught the flying object. The crock tried to flee, but Batwoman managed to trip him, causing him to crash to the hard ground.

The authorities took the crooks away a short while later, leaving the two heroes alone.

Batman turned to the silent heroine. "Thank you for the help." She didn't say anything, just nodded with a neutral expression before turning to leave. "How did your magic show go tonight?"

She stopped dead in her tracks, her mouth hanging open, before turning to face him and his harsh glare. She closed her mouth, inhaling deeply to calm herself before she spoke. "How did you know it was me?"

"It seemed a little too coincidental that Batwoman showed up on the same day I told you to stay out of Gotham. Also, the way you stand is the same as when you're on stage." He stated with his glare still as harsh as ever. "What I want to know is why you've dressed as Batwoman?"

"You let Batgirl and Robin fight in Gotham despite the danger, so I figured the only way I could be with you in Gotham is if I became Batwoman, thus making me part of the Batfamily. I figured they're the only ones you'll allow to be in Gotham."

"We've been over this. I can't have you risk your life by staying in Gotham."

"Why not? I'm already a member of the Justice League. I've fought hundreds of villains and even helped you before the League was formed. I think that proves I can look after myself." She stated, looking him dead in the eye.

"This isn't about proving yourself. It is about keeping you safe." He firmly stated. "I don't want to lose you. If anything happened to you, I would never forgive myself."

She gave him an understanding look. "I know you made that decision with the best intentions, but I want to be with you, even if it means living in Gotham, and I'm not taking no for an answer." She smiled. "If it helps, I think you're sweet. You worry about me."

He sighed.

A moment of stillness passed as he thought about it. Zatanna held her breath. Would he allow her to stay, or would they be stuck in a long-distance relationship?

Bruce's thoughts raced through his mind as he tried to rationalize the situation. Having Zee live in Gotham was highly risky, and he wanted to keep her safe at all costs, especially from the likes of Joker. On the other hand, he let Richard, Barbara, and Tim fight alongside him when they were far younger and didn't even have magic. Meanwhile, Zee had proven she could handle herself without magic.

The risk may be great, but after what he saw tonight, there was a chance it could work out.

He held out his hand. "…Welcome to Batfamily, Batwoman."

Batwoman beamed from ear to ear before embracing him with a hug. "Thank you."

Batman smiled, returning the hug. "Although Batwoman can only fight in Gotham." He winked.

"I figured. But I'm not giving up being a magician." She said as they ended their hug. For a brief moment, they looked into each other's eyes. They slowly leaned into each other and closed their eyes as they kissed.

---

Author's Note: Extra special thanks to Pure Red Cane for their help with this chapter.

Chapter 23: Battle of the Clowns

Chapter 23

Battle Of The Clowns

Lethal paced in her office like a bored animal in an unsuitable enclosure, her temper reaching a boiling point. The bin was filled with ripped-up paper of discarded plans, while the walls were covered in black-and-white newspaper photographs of the two Supers with red X's over their eyes. Some were slashed by knives in a fit of rage, making the room look like it had been ripped by the claws of a beast.

"How dare they?! How dare they?!"

A week had passed since the public learned of her new criminal career, and she was still no closer to completing her goal of destroying her ex-boyfriend. None of the plans she came up with clicked with her goals or would give her a satisfying result, which was delaying her revenge and causing a sense of impatience to rise with her anger.

To make things worse, it was the night of the charity event. After today, Clark would return to Metropolis, and she couldn't have that. She wanted him to suffer in this hell of a city with her, not fly around the pretty silver streets of Metropolis, probably to live his normal life and leave her behind. Just imagining it made her stab her stiletto on the worn-down wood floors, making a dent as she walked on without missing a beat.

Lethal wanted him to pay. She needed him to pay. She needed him to pay for all those years of making her live in HIS shadow. Lois had worked hard to show the world she was an amazing journalist, but her efforts were ignored as the label of Superman's damsel in distress wouldn't stop haunting her. It didn't matter how much effort she made when Superman was always hovering over her. It had frustrated her back then, and it was frustrating her now as the media still clung to that idea even with her new role.

And the fact that Clark was doing it to her this whole time hurt.

How dare he do this to her?! How dare he not tell her that he was Superman?! How dare he leave her in the dark while Lana got to learn the truth right away?!

Lethal ran a nail over the table, leaving a mark, as her thoughts jealously turned to Lana Lang. That overrated designer – how did she get to be Superwoman? Lana had never been the bravest person, always backing away in Lois's presence. What made her so special? What did Lana do to deserve power? The press kept saying SHE was always being rescued by Superman, yet Lana needed his help just as much. Superman always helped Superwoman, watching over her and teaching her about heroism, even when Joker kidnapped his girlfriend. It boiled Lethal's blood, thinking about how Clark would drop everything to help Lana… Lethal stopped in her tracks. Her smile grew wider and twisted as an idea hit her like a runaway train.

"THAT'S IT!" Lethal laughed. "Why didn't I think of it before?! Oh, I can't wait to see the look on your face, Clark!" Her laugh grew louder and twisted as she imagined her ex's look of horror before she put out his lights for good.

---

Meanwhile, Joker was preparing his own villainous plan. Lethal's reputation as a villain was growing fast – too fast. If he didn't act now, she could dethrone him as the greatest villain in all of Gotham or worse. As much as it irritated him, he would once again have to put his revenge plans for Batgirl, Supergirl, Ivy and Harley aside. He knew the best way to keep Lethal in second place was to beat her to the punch and kill The Man of Steel himself. It wouldn't quench his need for revenge, but it was worth it to be the one to end Superman and to stop Lethal from taking his spot as the number one greatest villain. He beamed as he took out a gun and his last piece of Kryptonite from his desk drawer.

"Say bye-bye, Superman." His grin grew wider, loading a bullet into the gun and placing it on the desk next to the newspaper image of Superman, sitting amongst several other hero photographs – his targets. "I'll make sure your death is extra slow and painful." A wicked chuckle escaped his dark red lips. He could already picture the headlines of newspaper reports: DEATH OF A HERO: HOW JOKER KILLED SUPERMAN! It made him laugh even harder, his sides nearly splitting.

"YOU!" Joker turned to see Lethal standing behind him with a look of pure anger on her bleached white face. Her lips curled, revealing her yellow teeth. "Oh, no, no, no. I have worked too hard to get my revenge on Clark, just so you could take it away from me. I'm killing him and Lana, even if it's the last thing I do!"

Joker snarled at her like a mad dog, his sickening eyes burning with deep fury. He placed his weapons on the desk. "I'm sorry, Lethal, but I can't let you take my place as number one. After all, you're my number two."

"I'm done living in others' shadows. I'm killing him and that's final, Joker." Lethal growled.

"You're forgetting you're place again, Lethal. You're MY second in command!" He threatened through gritted teeth.

They glared at each other. Then, they reached for the gun in a flash, grabbing it simultaneously. They struggled back and forth like two starving crocodiles fighting over the last bit of meat on a rotting carcass.

"I WON'T LET YOU RUIN EVERYTHING I'VE WORKED FOR!" She screamed.

"YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE MY NEW HARLEY QUINN! SOMEONE WHO OBEYS MY EVERY COMMAND!"

They were evenly matched, struggling to get an edge over the other. Like two polar bears fighting over territory, neither backed down. One moment, Lethal had the upper hand. Next, Joker had the advantage. Their figures were only inches from the trigger, one slip away from firing. One of them just needed the other to slip so they could take control of the fight. The gun went back and forth rapidly, becoming a silver blur between the bleached humans.

"LET GO!" Joker ordered.

"NEVER!" Lethal venomously spat.

A finger landed on the trigger, their eyes widened and then...

BANG!

Chapter 24: Lana's Predicament

Chapter 24

Lana's Predicament

Lana was putting on her lipstick as she prepared for the charity event. Next to her bed was a packed suitcase, prepared for her to leave the following morning. It would be a chaotic couple of days, but Lana was eager to get this task off her chest.

She would be lying to herself if she said she would miss Gotham, especially given the crime rate and the notorious villains who called it home, but she couldn't deny that her time in the city was wonderful. She gained superpowers and became close friends with local heroes, such as Batgirl and Supergirl. Most importantly, she got to see Clark again after all these years. Only after meeting him at the museum that day did she realise how much she truly missed him, his charms, his kindness, and his loyalty to his friends and family.

After finishing putting on her makeup, Lana's thoughts wandered to Clark. He would be back in Metropolis tomorrow, and she didn't know when they would next cross paths. She considered telling him about her feelings for him tonight, but felt he still needed to get over Lois. She didn't blame him for his struggle. They had been together for years, only for it to crash and burn at the end. The last thing Clark needed was for Lana to complicate things with most likely one-sided feelings. She could only hope that he would find closure with Lois someday.

Lana smoothed out her black dress. She wore matching earrings and slipped on heels. In her handbag, she packed her Superwoman suit, just in case.

Stepping out of her hotel, she began to head to the museum, excited about the event. Walking down the pavement with her heels clicking with each step, she saw a vast, dark cloud slowly covering the city like a blanket.

"Hope it doesn't rain." She mumbled to herself as she reached the bus stop.

Suddenly, Lana felt that something or someone was watching her.

Lana looked back to see if anyone was following her. There was no one behind her. She squinted to get a better look in places with more hiding spots. She thought she could see a figure in the shadows. She snapped back into reality by the sound of the bus coming to a stop. She quickly got on, paid for her fare, and took her seat.

As the vehicle drove off, a menacing figure watched with a large, unnatural smile.

Lana could feel it.

But she dared not turn to look.

Instead, Lana looked out the window, taking in the sights of the passing buildings and the busy streets. As the vehicle moved closer to the museum, the designer let out a breath of relief as she saw more people – innocents going to restaurants, bars, corner stores, playing music, talking, and so on. She felt safer now that she was amongst others, where she could be one with the crowd.

With that sense of security, Lana felt the courage to look back toward her hotel, toward the direction of the suspicious person. Why would someone be sneaking around her? What did they want? Lana's mind filled with questions, and she tried to reason with herself before she spiralled out of control, unknowingly fidgeting with her phone.

Lana remembered the haggard breath the stalker struggled to conceal. She remembered the twitch that suggested a suppression of the urge to look over their hiding spot. She remembered sensing the clenched fist that moved up to the stranger's chest and how the other hand held it. The movements suggested they had been running around for a while, and the moment they saw Lana, they rushed to keep up with her. When they got close enough for Lana to sense them, they rushed to correct the mistake by hiding. Whoever this was, they had… fixated on Lana, which filled them with anticipation and… rage.

Someone had bad intentions toward her.

Lana scolded herself. 'I should have asked Clark to help me train my X-ray vision more. Then I would have seen who they were…'

Shaking her head, Lana noticed that she had unwittingly pulled out her phone and went through her contacts. Clark's name stood proud and shone amongst all others. Tilting her head into the window, Lana stared at the name that comforted her, and a small smile emerged.

Right. She had Clark. She had Superman. She had a whole team of superheroes behind her. They would protect Lana if someone attacked her. Actually, Lana could even defend herself. She had Superman's powers, after all. The attacker would have to be a god to fight Lana, and no god just crouched in the shadows, hiding like a human stalker.

Lana had nothing to worry about.

…However.

When Lana arrived at her destination and got off the bus, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

She tried to convince herself that it was her being paranoid.

But the anxious voice inside would not stop fretting.

She took one last look behind her to reassure herself. She couldn't see anyone in the shadows or anyone acting shifty.

"You're safe. Nothing bad is going to happen." She told herself as she walked into the museum. A prideful smile grew on her face upon seeing the many attendees of the charity event wearing the dresses she'd spent weeks working on. The sea of nature-coloured dresses painted the grand museum like an ancient canvas, which was overlooked by the fossils of the mighty animals that once roamed the land millions of years ago.

"Excuse me, Ms Lang."

She turned to see one of the palaeontologists at the event, wearing one of her dresses, with her chestnut hair tied in a bun.

"Sorry to bother, I just wanted to congratulate you on your work." The woman said.

"Thanks. If you don't mind me saying, you look fabulous in green." Lana complimented.

"Thank you. I'm glad you came to the event. We really need the funds, or that new research facility will be cancelled..."

While the palaeontologist spoke, Lana thought she caught something moving in the dark shadows outside the museum. She thought she saw a flash of bright purple moving in the sea of natural greens, blues and browns. She didn't recall making a dress in purple or anything with purple for the event. Was this her stalker? Or was she imagining things? She tried to look for the figure in purple, but none could be found. Her heart beat as she looked with her x-ray vision, but still no sign of purple.

"Ms Lang?"

She snapped back to reality, turning her attention back to the scientist.

"Sorry, I got lost in my own world." She placed a hand to her forehead.

"Are you ok?"

"Just a little lightheaded."

No one noticed a thin layer of Kryptonite gas sneaking its way down the establishment.

"Yeah... I'm... I just some..." Lana fell to the ground unconscious. The scientist bent down to pick her up, calling for two others to help take the fashion designer to one of the offices.

"What happened?" A woman asked.

"I don't know. We were talking, and she suddenly felt lightheaded before she fell."

They put her in a chair against the wall to keep her head up.

"Lana, can you hear me?"

No responses.

She turned to one of the other people in the room.

"See if there's a medical doctor at the event."

He nodded and turned to leave, only to be knocked out, along with everyone else in the room.

A dark shadow loomed over the unconscious body of Lana Lang, with a menacing cackle.

Chapter 25: Clark and Lethal

Author's note: Special thanks to Pure Red Crane for their help.

---

Chapter 25

Clark and Lethal

Ivy and Harley were in an alleyway near the museum, the latter wearing the security guard outfit. Everything was in position to begin their grand plan, except for one thing, or rather someone. Quinn impatiently tapped her foot, looking up at the clock tower.

"Where is that feline oddball?! I told her-! Didn't I tell her to be here on time?! Didn't I say the deal would be off if she didn't show up?!"

"You did, but you know, Catwoman always keeps us waiting." Ivy dryly remarked, tapping her finger in perfect sync with her girlfriend's.

"Do I?" They looked up to see Catwoman on a rooftop, before she flipped off and landed on her feet. "Sorry for the hold up, Irving needed his dinner."

"Cat-freak," Harley muttered.

"Says the woman who dresses as a clown, has pet hyenas and dates a plant." Catwoman smugly jibbed, earning a glare from the others. "Now let's get that diamond." She headed off.

"That no-good feline," Harley growled. "Why I gonna..."

"Patience Belle fleur de rose. Once you have the diamond, we can leave her in the veins for the cops." The redhead reminded.

Harley smirked before she and her girlfriend caught up with Catwoman.

---

Lana groaned as she regained consciousness, feeling like she had been hit by a train. She first saw that her legs had been tied to the chair. She looked behind her to see that her arms, too, had been tied up. She tried to use her super strength to break free, but her power hadn't recovered from the Kryptonite gas.

A sickening chuckle cut through the room. Lana looked up to see...

"Hello, Ms. Lang. Biggest fan of your work." Lethal Lynx laughed. Her mocking echoed off the brown walls.

Lana couldn't believe her eyes. She knew what had happened to Lois, but she never thought the reporter had become THIS twisted. Except for the purple eyes, Lois looked, sounded and acted exactly like a female Joker, right down to the laugh. The woman Lana once knew was dead. Now standing before her was a sadistic clown with the blood of the innocent on her bleached hands.

"What do you think? Like the new look?"

'You know copycats get sued for plagiarism, right?' Lana wanted to say. However, when she tried to make a sound, her energy was suddenly gone, and all she could do was make a weak whimper.

"What's the matter? Still recovering from the gas?"

"Gas? What... kind... gas... was..." She coughed.

"Kryptonite gas! Hope you liked it, because I made it specially for you..." The vile villainess paused for dramatic effect, her twisted smile growing ever wider. "...Superwoman."

Lana gasped in horror, panic bringing back some energy. "How did... how did you... find out?"

"It wasn't that hard. I'd recognise your dumb face anywhere. Surprised no one else noticed. The real question is how did someone as pathetic as you get to be Superwoman?"

"…classified."

Lethal let out a loud, outlandish laugh. "Look at you! Acting like you're a hero! It's too much, really! The damsel in distress turned hero!"

"I don't care…what you do to me. Just…leave everyone else out of this." Lana pleaded.

"Oh, but I can't do that. After all, I need witnesses for the death of Superwoman, don't I?"

"Then what are you waiting... for? Why not... kill me now?"

"Oh, you don't know how tempting that is!" She scratched the redhead's chin. "You know, I've dreamed of this moment for a long time. Hearing your screams, the look of fear in your eyes – those are my most erotic fantasies."

"You're sick!" Lana said in disgust, her voice hoarse, her energy starting to lower again.

"Thank you, I'm so glad you noticed." Lethal mocked. "But why can't I kill you now? You see, you're high on my hate list, and I mean really high – number two, to be precise – but I want to kill number one first."

"Who could you possibly..." Lana's coughs were growing more frequent and violent.

"Who? You're joking? Let's see who it could be. Oh, yes, Clark Kent."

"Clark? All he ever did…was love you. He's been worried sick…about you…since you went missing. He was willing…to stay with you…even after the way you treated him!"

"Treated him?! He's the one who made me live in his shadow for all those years! He made me nothing but his damsel, while he rode high in the sky as SUPERMAN!"

"How..."

"I won't waste time telling you how I figured it out. All I know is Superman always comes for his bitch!"

"You're... using me... as... bait?"

"Naturally. After all, I need someone close to Superman... and Clark Kent."

Lana weakly gasped, horrified by the reveal.

"Soon he'll be as dead as that Brontosaurus!" She declared, pointing to the fossil outside.

"That's…a Brachiosaurus."

"Whatever! Oh, and one last thing. Hold still."

Before Lana could do anything, Lethal put an air mask around the fashion designer's face, giving her a full blast of the gas.

Two men came in with guns in their hands.

"We've gathered as many hostages as possible into the reception area." One of them said.

"Excellent! Now, keep them there until I have Superman. Then, once I kill both of the Supers and hear their gasps of despair, you and the others get rid of all loose ends." She ordered.

"What about her?" The other man asked, pointing to Lana. "Do you want one to keep watch over her?"

"Leave her. She's completely helpless now."

Lethal chortled, departing the room with the two men, leaving Lana to be slowly poisoned.

---

Clark had arrived at the museum, preparing to take event pictures. He looked up as the first drop of rain fell from the darkening sky.

"Of course it would be raining today." He mumbled.

It had been a hard day for him. He had managed to finish his story, and tomorrow it would be in the morning paper, but he couldn't ignore how he felt to be at the museum one last time. The haunting image of where he last saw Lois, just being there, brought back memories from that awful day. He knew the sooner he got the pictures, the sooner he could leave and finish packing for the journey home.

Clark wondered if he would get the chance to speak to Lana, hoping to say goodbye to her in person. He smiled to himself. He had helped her grow into a true superhero who stood for justice and truth. Clark had contemplated getting Lana into the League, but wasn't sure if she wanted to be part of it yet. Moreover, she had only fought small-time crooks, none of whom came close to the likes of Lex, Cheetah, or Joker.

The journalist snapped back upon seeing several people rushing out of the museum screaming.

Without hesitation, Clark rushed out of sight and changed into Superman. He hurried towards the entrance, only to stop when he spotted the green gas inside.

"Kryptonite gas!" He took out his communicator. "Batman, are you there?"

"Batman here, what's the situation?"

"There's an attack at the Gotham Museum! I don't know who's behind it, but they've filled the building with Kryptonite gas."

"Stay put until I get there. I'll bring Batwoman to help."

"Batwoman?"

"It's a long story. Just stay put until I get there."

"Alright."

Clark looked at the museum, feeling a sense of helplessness and confusion. Why would they fill the room with Kryptonite? Had they been expecting him? Was it in case Supergirl came to the rescue? It had to be one of those two possibilities. There wasn't...

The realization made his blood run cold.

Lana was at the event! The gas was for her!

Superman thought about what he could do. He knew if he went in, he would be weakened and both of them would die, but if he didn't do something, Lana could be dead by the time Batman and mysterious Batwoman arrived…

He had an idea.

Instantly, Superman forced open several windows, letting the gas seep out, trying not to breathe it in. His plan seemed to be working. The gas was not as potent as he opened more and more windows.

He was opening a large one when he saw the silhouette of a familiar figure.

It was Lethal Lynx.

Or as he knew her, Lois Lane.

Superman's mind was racing at a thousand miles per hour. Lois was here and doing God knows what to the innocent people inside. He dreaded facing her. He didn't know if he could... but he couldn't let her harm anyone.

He flew high and scanned the building with his X-ray vision. He saw several goons pointing guns at the hostages in the reception area. He frantically searched for Lana, his dread growing with each passing second. Finally, he saw her in the office, sitting limply.

In a last-ditch effort to disperse the gas, he rocketed towards the roof and crashed through, creating a giant hole. The debris fell upon the gunmen, thankfully missing the hostages that had been huddled against the wall.

Superman stood up, feeling weaker than he had ever been in his entire life.

With the gunmen stunned, unconscious, distracted or injured, the hostages rushed to the door, while Superman hurried to the office where Lana was being held.

A woman tried to open the door only to find it was locked. She and the others tried knocking it down, but it was useless.

"What do we do now?"

---

Clark entered the office, finding Lana coughing violently and looking pale.

"Lana, don't panic."

He went to her and tried to get the mask off, but the gas weakened him by the second. He fell to his knees, helpless as his strength left and the mask slipped through his fingers, going back to its original position.

A sickening cackle came into the room.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Superman, coming to rescue his poor helpless friend."

Superman turned to see Lethal entering the room, her smile larger than ever.

The hero felt sick just looking at her. Nothing of the woman he once loved was left, just the monster who wanted him dead.

"What do you think, Farmer Boy?"

Clark closed his eyes with a pained expression. "…I'm sorry, Lois."

I'm sorry this happened to you.

I'm sorry I couldn't find you in time.

I'm sorry that this is what has become of us.

"You're acting like it's a tragedy. Joker kidnapping me was the best thing that ever happened. Sure, it meant I was beaten and tortured, but the results are incredible! Not to mention, I managed to get back at him! Shoot him right in the stomach!"

"You killed Joker?" Superman asked, shocked.

"I wish. He survived and is now with an underground doctor. Still, I have to thank him for two things – one, making me the Clowned Princess of Crime, and two, telling me who you really are, Clark Kent."

Clark gulped softly. "Lois, please, I know you're mad at me, but spare Lana. She has nothing to-"

"Don't say she had nothing to do with it. She has your powers now, and I bet you enjoyed training her to be Superwoman."

"Why? How could you do this? How could you let Joker break you? Let you become this monster?"

"How? Well, Clark, it's because you lied for all these years, making me look like a fool in front of millions. Meanwhile, I was stuck in your shadow. Well, no more! You and Lana are going to die tonight, paying for everything you put me through. Not only will I have my revenge, but I will be seen as the greatest criminal mastermind on the planet. After that, who knows, maybe I'll kill your cousin too."

"Don't you dare harm her?!"

"Oh, and what are you going to do about it, hmm? You can't even save yourself." Lethal mocked.

She let out the loudest laugh she had ever done, echoing all across the building. Clark and Lana could only hope that help would arrive in time.

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Series this work belongs to:

• Part 4 of DC: Friends to Lovers