Work Text:
Brynn Wayne, heiress to the Wayne fortune and poster child of Gotham, sat at a workbench within the cave, her own personal hideout underneath her home. It was still pretty unique to know that these caves and tunnels had existed under her home for years and she never truly explored them (or knew about them for that matter). But for what she was in the process of doing, it would be good to have a place to assist her in completing the mission.
Though this place was still in need of patching up. Some of the walls that provided support were a raw mix of concrete and steel, scattered equipment filled up various pieces of space, and there was still the question of how to secure this area once she started moving things into here. Wires and tubing connected to the giant computer built into the wall behind her. If she hadn’t honed her senses and memory skills, she was sure she would have tripped over those cables.
Thankfully she had already made up a small workshop with enough equipment to fix up her bikes and car (the modifications of which were taking less time than she expected). It was slow moving, but Brynn was confident that things were going to come together soon. Her workbench was cluttered with various materials. Scraps of metal, wire, fabric, velcro, and a decent amount of plastic, kevlar, and spandex. It was a juxtaposition to her own self of identity, the billionaire princess that she was, and the darker identity she was crafting.
Currently, the woman was hunched over, her fingers deftly stitching the fabric into both the spandex and kevlar coverings. She placed a decent amount of effort into making sure that the chest of her suit was broader, alongside smaller parts of the body where it may give away her actual size. This design of the suit would allow her to be sleek and flexible, but give a more masculine and robust identity added into it. The black would allow for extra blending into the shadows, adding a greater sense of darkness to who she was becoming.
Alfred was confused at first as to why she was creating the suit this way. It was understandable, the effort put into making the suit more masculine. But Brynn had remembered her travels across the world, and the lessons she had learned. Women had more scrutiny pressed onto them no matter what they did, and that was prevalent everywhere she had gone. This suit, therefore, was a reflection of who she wanted to present herself as. To protect her identity and those she loved more effectively. From those who would want to control her, suspect her of anything new, of those who would notice her real identity and growing strength. This suit would be a literal metamorphosis for her.
It had been hours now, working diligently to create the suit as best as she could. A few bruises and stitches had already marked her skin, small noises escaping her lips from the slight happenings of pain. The pain was necessary though. She had scrutinized herself for even thinking of paying someone else to make this. Far too much of a risk, even with her finances being what they were. Unfortunately, as she had known before, working this long and with this amount of attention led to her mind once again wandering into a canister of memories. She thought of Dr. Thompk—Leslie, who always reminded her to take breaks and calm her mind when stressed. Alfred and all of his love and patience for her, but also his looks of resignation and worry when she fell into this rhythm of work and darkness. Even Kate, whom Brynn had not contacted or spoken to in…quite some time.
She should really call her. Brynn was certain it hadn’t been easy after her discharge from the military after getting ousted. One of the only decorated women in the forces, and based off her history, Brynn guessed she was getting drunk somewhere…okay she definitely needs to find her contact information sometime.
Brynn, against her better nature, also thought of…Selina…between the stitches and presses. One of the only people who ever saw behind the masks Bruce put on. Someone who could truly read her, had seen the raw edges and cracks that made Brynn (and that scared her…the way that she could be read). Thank God Selina didn’t know about all of…this, Brynn thought as she looked around at the lower earth surrounding her. Thinking of their younger days together was comforting, but it was also disheartening knowing how it ended. Though, their previous conversations at the gala and the soup kitchen when she returned had been nice enough…perhaps there was a real chance at reconnection?
Brynn shook her head, even when the thief wasn’t here, Selina still had a way of distracting her. Instead the brooding woman refocused on the work before her as she added the molded metal pieces into the chest of the suit. Shaped like the theme she was going for, the symbol of a bat, the same creature present throughout her entire life. Now this symbol would be something that Gotham would remember…something that…something new…some…thing…
It was so sudden, a quick and cold sensation that she could not describe. Her breath caught in her chest momentarily. A small sound rang throughout her mind, she had dropped the near complete suit onto the bench before her. Brynn wouldn’t realize until much later, but she was no longer in control. Jolts of unseen pain rippled along her veins, the feeling alien yet…familiar.
Her consciousness fell into darkness. Yet, the body remained upright. The nerves set themselves back in place. A small smile grew on the woman's lips, a simple “Hn” being all that was said.
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“Brynn” got up, her body moving naturally, but focused in its direction as she carefully stepped away from the workbench. The heart of the body kept steady in its beats, her breathing calculated in its coming and going.
She walked to a pair of mid-completed stairs, the concrete dried and formed, but no metal to frame its exterior yet (need to get that finished, she noted). These stairs led down to one of the uncompleted floors of the cave. A faint glow illuminated this dark chapter of the cave, and she pressed a button on a hidden keyboard within the wall. In a moment, a disguised door to a secret compartment revealed itself under the bedrock. Something that no one else knew about, not even Brynn.
It was a much smaller space than the interior of the cave. It was almost like an alter ego to the cave itself, difficult to find and access if one did not know about it. There were few things in this space: a file cabinet, some personal items that Brynn believed had gone missing, small bits of workout equipment, a collection of computers, as well as some things that were acquired throughout her journeys, some with magical effects. It is her hidden sanctuary, where she, a part of Brynn, could grow and prosper without the other girl ever knowing of the strength she gained.
She pressed her eyes against a scanner near the large computer in the back of the space. An automated voice called out:
Identity confirmed: Tlano of Zur-En-Arrh.
Zur smiled. She normally introduced herself to others as Tlano, but between thoes who were in the know, Zur was her true title, and she liked the name just a little better. Best to keep the truth with non-talking machines such as these. The mini sanctuary roared to life, computers whirling on and red lights flashing above her. To the side of her was a large container, and opening it up revealed a large amount of her own materials. She took them to her small workbench, similar, nearly identical even to the one above. And like her other self was doing, she got to work.
See, Zur was fine with the way things were going for Brynn. She was safer than before, and now their experiences would give way for Gotham to experience true justice. Even the Ghostmaker would not be able to puncture their kingdom with the defenses Brynn (and on occasion Zur) set up.
But…Zur also knew that Brynn would need something else eventually. The world they had travelled throughout had shown Zur that there was more than mobsters and political corruption to deal with. Magic, metahumans, and things from outer space (like the so-called Superman, and after what occurred in Metropolis, buying up a decent amount of that green rock was a good choice, now that there was another kryptonian to worry about as well) had come into the world at a higher percentage than whatever the Justice Society delat with in their prime. They needed to be ready for anything. Zur would not be unprepared, she would not give into hesitation for what the mission required her to do
Each cut of fabric, every snip and slice of the scissors through the material was precise and deliberate, crafted to the same measurements as the incomplete suit above. The process was quicker, thanks to Brynn’s planning beforehand. As the other girl worked, a memory of Leslie, one of the only women in this city she trusted, surfaced to her mind.
“Don't be afraid to accept your full self, Brynn. The other girl, Tlano as you call her, protected you in Arkham, but I don’t think you’ve realized that you are both free from that place. Not even Strange can hurt you now, I can assure you of that. You…you have to find a way to co-exist with your other half Brynn. Both of you…” she hesitated. “You can’t just live with one version of yourself, both sides make up one being.”
She said those words to Brynn, but Zur never forgot. As she pondered the kind woman’s words, her hands and fingers trembled. Her foot began to twitch. Not out of fear, but out of anticipation. Anticipation that something bigger was coming. A new identity was being weaved for both of them, something that would offer protection no matter what came their way. Brynn took from the example of the bat, from every version of mythology they learned from. She had harnessed the creature’s power. But Zur would create something greater than just the bat…
The base of the suit was completed, alongside the cape and boots. She would have to get objects for the utility belt later on, but that could be done once Brynn made up some of her own. Like before, the curves of her body and her breasts would be hidden with the material’s help. It provided a certain sense of protection. It was a second skin for her. Different yet the same from a thematic perspective. Instead of creating something dark for the shadows, Zur wanted something like the heroes of old. After all, didn't the Justice Society get things done in wartime by wearing ridiculous clothes that gave their positions away? But that ridiculousness kept them to be remembered and adored to this day.
Zur needed something colorful, random, and different from Gotham to confuse the criminals of this day and age. Purple, red, and yellow…those were her colors. Those very colors that Professor Strange used to confuse them in the asylum during that strange therapy, she would renew these colors with her actions now.
More random and categorized memories resurfaced as each stitch and press was done. How the people close to Brynn, like the butler, were worried for her, but they also knew that there was so much underneath the surface that was Brynn Wayne. How could they truly know her? No real feelings came up from these thoughts for Zur however. They were simply things that existed in her head. She didn’t really care, after all they were Brynn’s memories, not Zur’s. Still, having things to think back on was nice, even if there wasn’t any real emotion to back them up.
Sometimes, Zur wishes she could feel something immense like Brynn. Something akin to ecstasy, like sharing those sunny picnics with Zatanna back when she was training under the fledgling magician’s father. Honestly, Zur missed her and her fun magical antics, but leaving was necessary to complete her training for the mission (but she needed to be careful around the magician now. She was one of the few people who knew of Zur’s existence).
At last, the creation of the mask. It wasn't just any mask, it was sleek, angular and sharp, but kept with the theme of the bat that inspired the other. A mask that would protect their identity and make sure that they would be feared by the filth that littered this city. With a breath of excitement, the personality slipped it onto her face. The moment the material settled completely, something stirred within the woman. Something she had only felt when wearing the symbol of Zorro, but never like this. She was no longer just a fangirl wearing a mask. Zorro was a thing of childhood, an ideal of a man thrown into a madhouse where she was created, just like her father said..
Now…now she had something new, something original, something to call her own. She looked into the mirror, an air of finality washing over the body. Her smile grew wider and fuller, the white irises of the mask sharpening their gaze.
Tlano was now the hero of her own little homeworld.
The Batman of Zur-En-Arrh.
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Brynn blinked
She blinked again.
Air filled her lungs as her eyes grew as wide as dinner plates. One breath, and two breaths. Then a third…then her body relaxed, her head clear, her eyes eased.
For only a moment…something felt wrong. Her hair felt pressed down, had she tested out her mask? She looked down at her hands, a needle in one hand and a gauntlet in the other. Her mask sat at the table near the back end of it. Just like it was a second ago.
“Huh, weird.” she mumbled to herself before yawning. A quick movement popped out a muscle, leading to a groan alongside a feeling of satisfaction.
“Guess Alfred was right about my work ethic...heh.” Regardless of what had happened, she continued with her work. Soon the suit would be completed, and she would be a step closer to . Soon, Gotham City would be beholden to something brand new…
She just needed a little more work to get done.
(Even though something else was already completed).