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Gotham's rain pelted the rooftops like nails from the dark muggy sky. High above the city, on the edge of Wayne tower, Lara Kent-Wayne crouched, the neon glow of the skyline flickering against her black and blue suit. The Bat-S shield on her chest was cracked-- much like her ribs... but she wasn't about to let that slow her down. Not tonight.
she winced as she adjusted her position. The pain was sharp, and cold. Kryptonite burns had a way of lingering, even after the source was gone the amount she took in was going to linger for a while... how to avoid Pa for a while was a thought that raced for a second... The mission was supposed to simple disrupt a shipment rumored to be laced with alien tech. She hadn't expected kryptonite. Definitely not in gas form either. Someone out there knew how to hurt her and succeeded.
*****
Back at the Batcave.
Alfred was the first to notice something was off when she limped in, holding her side like it was stitched together by sheer will.
"Miss Lara," he said gently. "That looks worse than just a bruise."
"I'm fine, Alfred," she muttered, brushing past him.
With a slow deep breath, she changed and made her way to her room. Avoid Dad and Pa easy, or so she thought.
because even Batman and Superman's daughter couldn't hide the pain from the two people who knew her best.
After a painfully long slow shower Lara finally cleaned the wounds the best she could and settled into bed.
Then there was a knock at the door.
'Yes?" she called out and the door slowly opened.
"Hi, I didn't see you after patrol and wanted to check in on you to see how the bust went." Came Tim's soft reply before she could answer he spoke again.
"oh, and Dami wanted to see you before he turned in for the night" then Damian crept into the room.
"Hey little man" Lara replied and sat up with a horrible wince that didn't go unnoticed by either brother.
"Whoa whoa whoa wait a minute are you okay?? Tim questioned came imminently.
"Yes, shall I go get father or Pennyworth?' Damian was asking quickly after.
"No guys just got a little banged up I'll be fine after some rest I promise."
But as everyone knows that's never Kent-Wayne luck.
Lara was extremely lightheaded, but she just had to last a while to see how the boy's nights went and send them off to bed so she could rest herself.
"Let's not talk about me. Tell me about patrol guys, anything good happen with y'all?"
Dami and Tim jumped full force into how their nights were, both Had smooth easy nights and that's all that mattered to Lara.
"Alright well I guess we will let you rest. Are we still on for movies tomorrow? Tim asked and looked over to Damian to ask him the same thing to which he nodded his head.
At this point everything has turned fuzzy, and Lara was really trying to hold it together, but her words came out slurred and her eyes rolled back.
"Hey, Hey, Hey" Tim said as he caught her “Hurry Damian go get Dad and Pa somethings really wrong" and with that he ran to go find them.
Bruce and Clark were both sitting in the study, one looking over paperwork and the other reading and enjoying the quiet company for the time being. All of a sudden Clark parked up from his book with a raised eyebrow.
"What is it Hun?" Bruce asked without even looking up.
"It's Damian he's running this way" not even 5 seconds later the door flew open with their Nine-year-old standing in the doorway looking very frightened.
"Father! Pa! come quick something is wrong with Lara" He stated and ran away again with a "hurry" in his wind.
Clark and Bruce jumped up immediately and were by her side in seconds... well at least Bruce was,
The minute Clark made it through her bedroom door he dropped to a knee panting.
"Bruce it’s Kryptonite" Clark stated weakly
"Damian go tell Alfred to get the recovery Pod ready for Lara. Tim help Clark out of the room. He will be fine once he's a safe distance away."
Tim went to protest but Bruce was already picking Lara up out of his arms.
"Go son. Go help your Pa. We are going to help her, and she will be alright."
Tim helped Clark up and across the hall far enough so Bruce could get out of the room and down to the med bay
(In the med Bay)
The monitor was steady with the rhythm of her heartbeat. Bruce sat there holding her hand. It had been about an hour since the whole thing went down. With Lara now moved out of the recovery pod and onto a normal bed Clark stood behind Bruce both just watching their daughter waiting for signs of her waking up.
How do you feel, Clark?" Bruce asked, turning his head so he could see Clarks bright blue eyes.
"I'm okay babe, just really worried about Lara." Came Clarks light replies.
"Me to Clark me too" Bruce's worrisome eyes locked with Clarks again, this time Clark leaned down further to kiss him slowly softly.
"Get a room you two" Came Lara's Croke of words.
"Oh, Lara thank Rao" Clark cried with a breath he didn't even know he was holding.
"Lara... Baby Girl what happened and why didn't you come tell us?" Bruce asked, sounding hurt.
" I'm sorry Daddy... I'm sorry Pa. i-i-i" Lara stammered
"Breathe babe it's going to be okay just breathe and tell us what happened" Bruce replied resting his hand back in hers and with Clark grabbing the other.
"I... didn't want you to think I couldn't handle myself and I thought if I just went and rested, I would be okay! Lara replied, teeth gritted, a tear slipping down her cheek from all the pain but not just the physical.
"The two of you are so strong and the best of the best out in the field... I... I'm just trying to be enough." Lara turned her head away from her fathers.
Bruce touched her face, guiding her to look at them. "Baby being enough doesn't mean being invincible," he said
“Is really thought i could push through” Lara whispered
“Like you both did. I thought keeping it to myself would make me stronger.”
Bruce turned to exchange a look with Clark.
Then after a few minutes Clark spoke up.
“Honey, hiding it makes you reckless. And believe me when I tell you your dad and I have both paid that price many times before... Heck even your brothers have done the same. It takes a lot of courage to speak up when you need help yes, but it doesn't make you any less 0f a hero.”
Lara gave her dads a half smile and thanked them for coming to help her. Then started drifting off again.
(Few hours later)
Lara woke up back in her own bed slightly confused at first then it all came rushing back... She turned her head to see Clark and Tim lying next to her.
“Well good morning sleepy head” Tim said with a laugh.
“Don't you ever do that to me again” Tim said with a light slap to her hand.
“Okay. Okay I'm sorry Timmy I really am”. Lara replied weakly then it hit her.
“Oh gosh where Dami i probably scared the hell out of him i owe him a huge apology.” Lara said with a hand on her forehead...
Then Clark spoke up.
“Your dad finally got him to lay down and get some sleep.” Then he pointed down to the foot of the bed. At the foot of the bed there was a lump of blankets just beside Titus.
“I thought I felt more than just you and Tim’s presents.” she said with a small laugh.
Just then is when Dami sat up rubbing his eyes.
“It is two AM; can't this conversation wait till morning??” Dami said
With that the three of them laughed.
“Oh, trust and believe we will be speaking about this in the morning; some changes need to be made...” Bruce said from the door.
“Ouuu you’re in trouble,” Tim said in a sing-song voice.
“Tim cut it out or you will be in trouble for making fun of your sister.” Bruce said with a stern look.”
That's when Clark patted Tims back and spoke. “Alright up we go we need to get in our own beds and let Lara rest she is still very weak.”
Tim and Damian both went to protest that was until Bruce and Clark both gave their signature ‘Dad look’ an off they went with a quite
“Good night” and “see you in the morning”
Clark leaned down to kiss Laras forehead “Goodnight baby girl we love you, just shout if you need us no matter how small the need may seem to you.” Thanks Pa.” “Thanks Dad.” “I love y'all.”
“We love you too Hun.” and with that they were out the door shutting it behind them.
(The next morning in the kitchen)
Sitting around the kitchen island drinking a cup of coffee Clark and Bruce were in deep thought trying to figure out ways to help and keep Lara safe.
“We could upgrade her suit. It has been a few years since her last upgrade” Clark threw out the idea.
“I know Kal, I've already been looking for ways to upgrade it for a while now.” Bruce said, rubbing his head. “I also think she would benefit from more training with you and i. I really hate to be this way with her Kal, but I believe I'm going to have to bench her until she's fully better and has done a little more training. I know she’s been doing this for a while but Clark she could have died, and I don't think I can do that again...” Bruce thought out loud with a painful look on his face.
Clark moved closer pulling him into a hug and kissing his head. “Oh baby. I can agree with what you think is right. It's for the better and sure she isn't going to be happy about it but that's just something she's going to have to face. It’s for her own good and she may not see it that way at first, but she will get over it.”
Clark turned his head to the entrance of the kitchen “Come on in here Lara. Didn’t anyone ever tell you it's not polite to eavesdrop?” Clark said with a light smile as Lara stepped around the corner.
“I don’t know Pa; that's kind of our thing around here... Especially you and me. I could hear y'all plotting this whole thing in my room.” Lara replied with a sad smile.
“‘Plotting’ is an interesting way of describing this conversation. With that being said Lara you have to see where we are coming from. You can’t hide injuries like that kryptonite is not to be played with you could have died baby girl. However, the accident happened you took so much of the impact it was in your bloodstream it affected your Pa from across the room.” Bruce said calmly.
“Hun if it hurt me like it did across the room i can only imagine how it felt in your bloodstream.” Clark said worried. “How do you feel now that you have rested?”
“I’m okay Pa, Dad... just a little weak but I promise I'm fine. So, be honest, how long are you benching me?” Lara said, looking up from her feet where she had been really focused.
“Just a few weeks. Even Clark isn’t going out unless he absolutely has to. One to recover with you and two to do a little training with you.” Bruce replied.
“Can I at least have monitor duty Dad?” Lara asked with puppy dog eyes and lip out.
“Lara, that face doesn’t really work on me anymore... Bruce said laughing.
“But with that being said I might let you have a few nights on monitor duty but only a few...”
“Yes!” Lara said happily. Then with immediate regret “oww” she said grabbing her side.
“Soo what's the upgrades with the suit? Any ideas yet?” Lara asked one eyebrow raised in curiosity.
“Oh, nothing much, just a little change…. lead-lined armor is definitely on the list of things to add.” Clark said with a laugh.
Lara healed. Slowly. Her pride, Slower still.
But in the weeks that followed, something changed.
Yes, she still flew into danger. She hunted shadows with a detective's mind and a Kryptonian’s strength. But now, when her comm buzzed with Batman’s Gravel voice or Clark’s calm concern, she answered.
And when the next trap sprung- this time laced with red sun grenades and telepathic drones-- she didn’t try to fight alone.
She just called for her father’s
And together they did what they all do best.
END