*Batman "Bruce Wayne", Gotham City
Staring at one of Gotham's most infamous thief's Batman felt a migraine begin to form.
"Selina," he tried to growl it out but it came more tired then that.
The feline based thief and sometimes vigilante gave him a sultry gaze.
"Bruce."
Staring at her, he felt like he should either order her off his batwing or try to arrest her. Yet every time the thought crossed his mind he would remember the good she had and continued to do for Gotham. His will would waver and eventually resign itself to accepting he would not bring her in.
He always thought one day she would cross the line and he would have no choice but to take her down.
But today was not that day.
While he had these thoughts going on in his head, Selina watched him carefully with her sultry expression becoming softer.
"What's wrong?"
Sighing, Batman step towards her and began leaning on the batwing just to her right.
Why a criminal like her could always make him break his Batman persona and even his Bruce Wayne mask he would never know. Just right now he wanted to be Bruce, something only a few could bring out of him.
Raising an eyebrow Selina said, "That bad?"
"No, just complicated," he responded while looking up into the night sky.
Gotham was his home, the place he would protect and eventually die in. Over the decades of his life he had memorized the night sky, even the light pollution blocking some of the stars did not inhibit its sight from him.
'Damn it,' he thought as he became more and more lethargic.
Had so many years straight of non-stop crimefighting and protecting the world finally forced him to realize a important fact?
'I need a vacation.'
The thief and the hero both kept watching the stars.
One of the great characteristics of Selina perhaps due to her burglary skills was patience. That and a deep understanding of both Batman and Bruce Wayne. Save for Alfred, he could not think of anyone who understood him better.
Its possible the two of them would of stayed that way for the rest of the night but Batman knew there was still work to be done.
"Do you need something Selina?"
The thief shook her head amused, "I can't come and visit you without any suspicion?"
The hard stare he gave her made her laugh.
"Fine," she said with a smile, "I have heard some things in the underworld I wanted to make you aware of."
At that Batman grunted before standing straight.
Selina seeing him get serious also stood up and took a more serious tone.
"The Justice League hasn't been able to find who is attacking them during their missions have they?"
That caused Batman to narrow his eyes, his unspoken gaze was all but demanding her to talk.
"Lets say theoretically a lady happened to come across some information by sure happenstance and would be very happy to share everything for a price."
Keeping a stern gaze on her he said, "Within reason, most prices would be acceptable..."
"Dinner?" She teased.
A flash of irritation but also tired acceptance crossed Batman's face.
"I'll get a reservation for Dorsia's," he said.
Selina eye's widened in surprise, "Dorsia, my my, you really do want that information."
"Selina."
Recognizing his no-nonsense tone she dropped the teasing.
"Alright Bruce," she said before taking out a thumb drive and handing it to him.
Seeing his questioning gaze she took a deep breath.
"I was on a job over in Argentina. A simple break in to some rich drug lord's house, nothing really crazy, just some easy cash. Anyway, I did it during one of the parties this fat gordo threw and while there happened to over hear him talking with some associates... friends... probably bosses."
She had a pensive look as she spoke, "These guys were very different from the rest of the crowd. Military corporate types that terrified the drug lord. Mind you, this guy was someone who had threatened the President of Argentina the previous week, he has juice yet was having a panic attack appeasing these people. As they talked the drug lord let slip something about the 'tax' being too high and asking when the war against the JL would end. That got his suit friends very angry for him even bringing it up and he clammed up."
"Interesting," the wheels in Batman's head were swirling.
"The Justice League has many enemies, what makes you think these are the specific ones?"
The smile widened on Selina, "Oh I am fairly certain. That thumb drive has quite a lot of the drug lord's personal information, including messaging and money transfers. If you cross reference where the money went you will find quite a lot of it going to the same locations the JL was attacked."
"This... this could be the lead we need," Batman muttered as he examined the drive.
Watching him, Selina said, "And now I suppose you are going to go off to your cave and spend the next few days examining every inch of that data?"
Batman grimaced, "I will upload it and run the analysis program... but no, after that I am eating dinner and going to bed."
"Wait... seriously?!?"
The Catwoman's genuine surprise nearly made Batman laugh.
"Yes, otherwise Alfred may try to poison me with a sleep agent again."
"I am glad he still does that," Selina said, "You work way too hard Bruce."
Pondering her words he said, "Perhaps... on a similar note. Have you had dinner yet?"
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*Felix, The Order base, Unknown Location
"Is that everything," Felix asked exhausted.
The murmurs of confirmation amongst the Order's higher ups confirmed so and with a quick dismissal they all left.
Felix slumped into his chair with a groan.
The last several years had been... stressful to say the least.
Following the Commandant's last command they had asserted their resources to cause as much trouble for the Justice League as they could. Between massive financial aid to the Light, to sending their mercenary teams and even occasionally the Sturmtruppen to engage the League. If that was all things would not be so bad but they also were trying to maintain their own economic superiority while staying clandestine. Such efforts required significant manpower, resource and most importantly money. The sheer amount of financial strain the Order was under would bury a few countries.
More then once these past few years had Felix wondered if the Commandant was purposely driving them into the ground.
Shaking his head, he stood and poured some expensive drink. Taking a sip brought a certain amount of comfort to his worrying mind.
'Whether or not it is true the Commandant has made his commands clear,' he thought morosely.
The Commandant had not made contact with the Order since the last meeting they had years ago. Felix had him tracked for only a few days before he disappeared completely from their own extensive intelligence network.
Most would reason that with their leader gone the Order would have Felix take the reigns or one of the other heads. But there was quite a few reasons why that would never happen.
One was the absolute terror of what defiance would bring from the man. They all were well aware the fear the man could put in even deities should he get upset.
'If someone like Black Adam high tails it and runs you bet your ass you should to,' Felix thought darkly.
The other reason was the fact that despite them being able to feel temptation, or even traitorous thoughts they could not. Literally, their forefathers had designed them to be nearly perfect humans with loyalty being the absolute important factor.
Such a design was insisted on by the great leader... may he rest in peace.
A beeping from his suit broke Felix from his thoughts as he checked his phone. An incoming call from the Light.
Frowning Felix answered, "What is it?"
A gravely tone with an unidentifiable accent responded, "Why Felix, you don't sound too happy."
"Savage," Felix pinched the bridge of his nose.
Perhaps assisting the Light would not be so annoying if they didn't spend a considerable effort trying to dig their claws into the Order and bring it under their control. The Order had withstood such attempts with ease but it was tiresome to deal with all the underhanded ploys and spies.
"What can I do for you Savage?"
The immortal grunted, "I hope all is well with our allies?"
"We are associates at best Savage, allies will always be a stretch," Felix said dryly.
Felix sat back in his chair as he waited for Vandal Savage to get to the point.
"Nonsense, we both have similar goals and your aid has greatly secured the Light. Imagine all we could do if we united fully and focused our efforts..."
"I think not Savage," Felix interrupted, "I think it would be wiser if you would not be so pushy and insistent on this point."
"I believe you will live to regret such," Savage said with a note of threatening, "Very well, I can tell you are not in the mood for wordplay. You are familiar with Lex Luthor I presume?"
"Of course I know Lex Luthor," Felix made himself sound bored while internally he was fuming. How dare this old relic threaten him and the Order. Perhaps it would be best to put Savage on notice of just how far their reach was.
"Nearly a trillionaire with hands in every cookie jar imaginable of both legal and illegal quantities. A long time adversary of Superman and the Justice League with various plots that should see him imprison for the next couple lifetimes. But luckily for him has enough money to throw around to make Wayne look thrifty."
Savage gave a murmur of agreement and made to speak but Felix threw one last thing, after all, he was not in a great mood.
"Oh," Felix said nonchalantly, "He is also one of the 7 heads of the Light which include you, Queen Bee, Klarion..."
"Enough!" Savage growled, any previous amusement or mocking from him ceased and turned to deadly seriousness.
Felix smiled as he continued, "Ultra Humanite, Zviad Baazovi, and I know Ra's Al Ghul was one once but left, and Deathstroke was an enforcer but later turned down an offer of membership. Which suggests that you may bring back Gretchen Goode to fill in the spot, that or the recently escaped Brain will be welcomed back to your ranks."
Silence prevailed between the two men, Felix took another sip of his drink as he waited for the reply from Savage.
"You know much more then you should," Savage said with constrained anger.
"Oh I know that," Felix said, "And I know this will serve as a sufficient reminder to yourself and your colleagues. The Order is not your underling, we dragged you back from the brink, we can always put you back."
Vandal murmured something he could not hear before saying, "Yes... I understand."
Whether the Light would stop their spying activities against the Order was unlikely, but at the very least they would pull back some of their efforts and stop trying to bribe Felix and the other Order's leadership. Some relief would come from this thank goodness.
Wanting to move past this verbal spar which he lost Vandal got back to the original point.
"Luthor is running for President and will foreseeably win thanks in part to your resources. However, there are growing concerns amongst the others about his ambitions overshadowing the work the Light is doing."
Felix frowned, "The internal divisions of the Light is no concern of us."
"It is if our operations against the Justice League are significantly diminished," Savage retorted, "Attacks against the League are an objective we both share but one you have invested significantly in."
"I still fail to see how internal issues in your organization are our concern and what you want."
'What does Savage want exactly?' Felix thought as he ran through the various scenarios.
Savage took a deep breath, "A member like Luthor leaving would cause significant damage to the Light. Even more so if he went off to do whatever he wanted without our say so. Luthor is smart, oh so smart, but he has a few blind spots. Superman is one, and the Order is another."
A feeling of discomfort came upon Felix as he understood the implications of what Savage wanted.
"The details can be worked out as well as payment," Savage said.
"When the time comes... I want you to kill Lex Luthor."