As I heard Batman say those words, I knew my long night was nowhere near over.
The kitchen light stayed warm and steady above us, spilling over the marble counters, dark cabinets. While Outside the patio door behind Batman, the backyard was swallowed in night. The glass reflected faint pieces of the room back at me, my own tall frame standing near the refrigerator, Batman's black shape planted near the patio like a gargoyle, and the sharp line of his cowl only emphasized this feeling.
Neither one of us moved. That's when Batman spoke again breaking the paused silence between us. "Where were you between ten and ten-thirty tonight?"
I stared at him coldly. Showing no signs of panic or fear, even though I be lying if I said I wasn't on edge against the Goddamn Batman.
I wasn't surprised by the lack of small talk, he has always been straightforward and I respected that part about him. But pretending he wasn't standing inside my house uninvited, for gods knows how many times now. It was pissing me off, but I needed to stay in control and not let my ego blind me. I have my evidence and Nothing he can do will change that.
I already knew lying wasn't going to help, especially against someone like him.
Batman could read someone's breathing, posture, eye movement, heart rate if his cowl was running the right sensors, almost every micro expression as well. He could probably pick apart most lies before the person finished saying them. But half-truths were different. Half-truths were useful if you knew where to let the truth show and where to close the door.
Unless he already knew everything. Then this was not a questioning but confirmation of my actions, or worse, stalling.
Maybe he was keeping me talking while someone cleared the neighborhood in case things got violent. Maybe Canary and Manhunter was waiting in the dark nearby. Maybe the League had already set up around the house.
I adjusted my posture to a more confident form. My shoulders lowered slightly, chin lifted, my face calm but cold.
"I was minding my own business, Batman," I said. "Not that it's any of your concern what a nineteen-year-old boy of color does on his off time, unless you're insinuating I committed a crime."
The words came out smooth, sly, and mocking, but Batman ignored the bait completely. Not that I expected him to take it.
He continued on like nothing.
"Someone broke into the Belfry and hacked our computer," he said, voice cold and controlled. "There's sensitive information on it. If it gets into the wrong hands,"
"It'll be very bad for every person involved with the League," I said, cutting him off. "I know bats. That comes with the territory of this vigilante Hero business." I said dismissively.
His face didn't change, but the room felt colder.
"You're asking if I had anything to do with it right, why else would you be here?" I asked.
"I know you had something to do with it," Batman said dryly.
I smiled a little, not because I was amused, but because I needed to look amused to throw him off.
"I rewatched the security footage from the command room," he continued. "Batgirl and Miss Martian wouldn't have struggle with a normal thief or street-level intruder. But a metahuman trained in hand-to-hand combat would be different."
I tilted my head and let my tone go dismissive. "There are a few other metas in Gotham and the surrounding cities. So why me, or am I just that special?"
Batman answered instantly. "Only three men I know could perform a judo throw that cleanly against Batgirl, especially under pressure. She's one of the best in the world."
I smirked.
"Maybe when I was younger, I would've taken that as a compliment." I crossed my arms loosely. "But I'm five years out of practice with judo. I spend most of my time practicing the basics of boxing with Ted. I know some kickboxing, Muay Thai, and Wing Chun, but that last one's more of a hobby since I'm a Bruce Lee fan."
I chuckled lightly, but Batman didn't find that funny.
"Cut the game, Caius," he said. "You're walking a thin line. Give back what you took from the computer before this becomes worse."
There it was. It's not a threat but it might as well be for me. I looked at him for a long second, thinking what arrogance this man has.
Then I let my feet leave the floor, not by much at first but just enough for me to be highest person in the room.
My body rose silently my feet pointing downward until I floated above him, just high enough that my eye line stood over his. Considering Batman was tall, six-four, but I was higher now. My arms remained crossed. My face stayed composed.
Then I moved closer to him across the kitchen without touching the floor. It was slow, controlled, and deliberate for building tension.
I remembered something my father told me years ago. Not during a lesson on how to use my powers. He was explaining how Viltrumites handled conflict before it became violence. It was a watered down version because, he was still under the impression I didn't know they were a race of space conquers
He said height matters when dealing with proud enemies. Not because it makes you stronger, but because it reminds them they are looking up at someone possibly stronger. In most cases you will be the stronger one so make sure they know that.
At the time, I thought it was just some alien dominance tactic. Now I was using it, and could see what he meant by it.
I stopped a few feet from Batman by the patio door and looked down at him. " I want you to remember something, Batman," I said. "Your the one treating me like a wild beast when I have done nothing wrong for years."
Batman's cape still covered his body, making it impossible to read what his hands were doing. While his face remained still.
I kept going regardless.
"You've illegally broken into my home multiple times over the years to the point I lost count. You had surveillance throughout my house. You have my medical records. And you still refuse to tell me anything about my parents, who have been legally declared dead for five years now."
My voice stayed low and cold.
"I think I've been more than patient than I should have. I think I've also been going along with this game more than you deserved. So how about you get the hell out of my house before I call Diana and the others."
Batman looked up at me. He seemed unmoved, and unreadable, as always.
The room felt tight, like the whole house was holding its breath. Then he said, "What about your plan to release the identities of everyone in the League or associated with it?"
I chuckled. "That was obviously a bluff."
"I would never actually go after the others like that," I said. "Not when people like Lex Luthor and Amanda Waller exist, with only people like Cecil Stedman keeping them in check most of the time."
I paused, then added, " But You should definitely keep an eye on Maxwell Lord."
Batman's expression did not shift much, but I saw the reaction. There was a small tightening at the edge of his jaw.
I knew I was letting my past-life knowledge drive my words now, but nothing I was saying was wrong. Lex Luthor was dangerous in any universe. Amanda Waller was dangerous in every universe. Maxwell Lord could become a nightmare if the wrong story thread came to life. While Cecil Stedman was probably the most neutral of the bunch, and even he would cross lines most heroes would never touch, but he still a good guy at the end of the day.
Batman's voice lowered. "How do you know those names?"
I smiled ignoring the question. "What happened to my parents?"
Only silence followed. Batman did not answer. I nodded slowly, as if he had confirmed everything.
"I thought so." My voice hardened. "Now, I'd offer you tea, but honestly, I'd rather kindly ask you to get the fuck out of my house."
And for several seconds, neither of us moved. We stared at each other in the bright kitchen, our two shadows stretched in opposite directions under warm light, as the air got thick.
Not because either of us raised our voice. But because there were too many things unsaid, and every one of them had teeth.
Then suddenly came a several soft knocks at the front door. Three gentle taps.
I didn't break eye contact with Batman and neither did he. A second set of knocks followed. All still soft.
I slowly drifted backward.
My tactile telekinetic field braced around my body, wrapping close to my skin like armor just in case he moved the second I looked away. I touched down near the doorway, still facing him, then turned my eyes only enough to reach the door.
I opened it without fully looking at who stood outside.
Then I heard her voice. "Caius? What's wrong?"
I turned my eyes slightly.
Barbara stood on my porch in her civilian clothes, a dark jacket over a fitted top, jeans, and sneakers. Her red hair was loose over her shoulders now, her face uncovered, her blue eyes filled with worry, as if she wasn't bothering to hide.
Beside her stood M'gann was in her civilian disguise. Not green-skinned now. She looked human with fair skin, and soft features, auburn hair stopping at her shoulders, and gentle green eyes. Still, I could recognize her immediately. Something about her presence never fully disappeared, even when she wore a disguise.
I looked back toward the patio. The door was open, curtains billowed softly in the night air, as Batman was gone.
Of course he was. The most signature and basic skill Batman and anyone in the Batfamily.
I sighed. "Nothing's wrong, Barbara," I said. "I just had a visit from a mutual acquaintance of ours."
Her eyes narrowed immediately. " Wait, he was just here?"
I nodded once. Then I stepped back from the doorway and made a welcoming gesture. "Please, come in. I'd hate to have two lovely ladies standing outside."
M'gann smiled slightly. "Hey, Caius," she said softly. "It's good to see you after so long, and good to see you're still a gentleman, like always. It's me M'gann"
The warmth in her voice hit something old in me, and I nodded to her. " I know its you M'gann. I could never forget you. And it's good to see you too. But I take it since your both here this late, this isn't a social visit."
The two women walked in. Barbara's eyes swept the room immediately, landing on the open patio door, the kitchen lights, the angle of the room, every place Batman could have stood. Even out of costume, Batgirl habits stayed alive.
"I'm afraid not Caius. But first what did he say?" Barbara asked. "Did he do anything?"
"No he didn't do anything, but he did ask me about the Belfry," I said. "And I take it that's why you're both here too?"
Barbara and M'gann exchanged a look, then Barbara faced me fully. Her tone was concerned, but there was an edge under it now. "Caius… I hate to ask you this but did you break into the Belfry and hack its computer?"
I leaned against the front door and crossed my arms. There was no point lying now and she was one of the few people I didn't want to lie to. Ever.
"Yes. I won't lie to you. I did it"
Barbara's eyes widened slightly, and M'gann's expression tightened with concern, but I held Barbara's gaze.
Barbara's confusion sharpened into frustration. "Why? I invited you. If you waited, me, Dick, and the others could've made a case to the League about your treatment."
M'gann stepped in gently. "I know you're upset Caius, but doing something like this will make the League and others look at you with even more distrust."
That pulled a slow breath out of me. I looked at both of them, and whatever softness had been in my face faded as my eyes narrowed. My gaze becoming cold and my amber eyes piercing.
"I did it," I said, "because if I hadn't, I never would've found out what Batman did to my parents."
The room changed immediately as Barbara's eyes went wide, even M'gann's lips parted slightly.
"Batman is involved in your parents' disappearance?" Barbara asked.
"Yes."
The word was simple, but hard and heavy.
Barbara looked like she wanted to say that couldn't be true, but she didn't. Maybe because she knew Bruce well enough to know impossible and Batman were never cleanly separated. Maybe because the guilt from earlier was still sitting in her chest. Maybe because some part of her had always suspected there was more to the story.
M'gann's face softened with quiet alarm. "What did you find?" she asked.
I didn't answer immediately. Because words were useful, but action would be better.
If I simply told them, they could dismiss it as anger. Maybe Grief or paranoia. A hacked file I misunderstood. But if I showed them what Batman had kept hidden, that would matter more. And right now, I needed their trust not the Leagues.
But Barbara, and people who knew me before the league however many government put a leash around my throat.
I pushed off the door and stood straight. "I'll make a deal with you, Barbara."
Her posture changed immediately. "What kind of deal?"
I looked around the house. "Call Conner here to scan my place for bugs or surveillance Batman might not have disclosed."
Barbara's jaw tightened but I continued before she could interrupt.
"If he finds nothing, I'll cooperate with whatever you want. You and only you. Not Batman or the League. i swear on my Parent's."
Barbara watched me carefully. "And if he finds something?"
"Then you trust me, and you follow my lead." I said.
Her face flickered as she was in deep thought. "Even after you already broke my trust, you think swearing on your parents changes anything?" she asked.
My answer came out cold as cold a I meant it to be. "Just like you abandoned me without hearing my story."
And that hit her hard.
Her eyes widened, and for a moment the grown woman standing in front of me looked like the little girl who used to tug my hand toward birthday cake. The girl who had been my first friend in this world. The one who knew me before Batman, before Titans Tower, before Omni-Man, before everything went to shit.
She swallowed and then nodded. "Fine."
She looked at M'gann. "Can you call Conner and ask him to come here?"
M'gann's expression turned apologetic.
"I'm sorry, but he's on a mission with Superman. He won't be available for a few more hours." She paused, then added, "But I think I have someone else who can do the same job if you want this to happen tonight."
I nodded. " Please call them."
M'gann smiled lightly, though there was warning in her eyes as she pulled out her phone. "Okay. But I should warn you… she's kind of distrustful of Viltrumites. Especially hybrids."
I looked at her, confused. "Who are you calling?"
M'gann tapped the screen, lifted the phone to her ear, and waited.
Barbara looked from her to me, her expression unreadable now. The house was quiet around us. The patio curtains continued shifting in the wind from where Batman had vanished into the night. Somewhere upstairs, the old wood settled with a soft creak.
Then M'gann spoke into the phone. "Hey, Kara. Are you busy?"
My stomach dropped a little from hearing that name. Wait she doesn't mean....