Ablaze: Told Twice Book 2

The Girl Who Worried About the Bat

A/N: Book two will be based on the New 52 Comics as well as Justice League Doom.

Two months later:

Batman descended from the shadows above and landed in front of a building. A security guard lay unconscious or dead in front of the building before him. He knelt at his side and slowly turned the man over. After checking for a pulse, he determined that the man was alive. Rising to his feet, he frowned as he saw the ace of clubs in his pocket.

He knew what that meant to him, but he wasn't one to jump to conclusions. He continued looking around until he came upon a projector that was shining like on a wall. He slowly reached his hand out finding that he could put his hand through it before he pulled back. He put his hand to his ear, to the coms that he designed for the members of the League. They were expecting him to report in on what he had found. His mind immediately went to contact Sakura first.

"This is Batman."

He could hear worry in her voice when she replied, "You're ok? You don't need back up?"

"I can take care of myself Sakura. I'm fine." He heard a male voice in the background and knew that Superman was with her as he always was. They were like conjoined twins joined at the hip. "And I've found them. Tell Cyborg he was right about how they've been breaking in."

"Alright, Batman. Stay there. We'll meet up with you soon. Superman wants you to--" Batman cut off the transmission before he heard what Superman wanted because he didn't care. He paused for a second looking at the light and without further hesitation made a decision.

He walked through the wall.

:::

Sakura turned to Superman and looked at him nervously. "He's not answering. I think our connection was cut off."

Superman snorted, "Or he hung up on you the second you mentioned me. I'm telling you Sakura; he doesn't like me."

Sakura rolled her eyes and held on to Superman as they took to the skies but automatically defended Batman anyway. "He doesn't dislike you. He's just a little prickly with everyone."

"Not with you."

"Especially with me. You just don't see it because you avoid Batman like the plague unless we have League business." Sakura bit her bottom lip and tried to contact Batman again but received no response. She let out an exasperated huff. "Can we go faster, Superman? I think he's in trouble." Superman glanced down at her but didn't say a word as he did her bidding.

They arrived with the other members of the League. Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and the Flash. Aquaman had business in Atlantis and Cyborg hadn't come because he felt his presence would have been overkill.

There was no one present at the place where they last heard from Batman. She saw the light from the projector and recalled Batman saying that Cyborg's theory about the break-ins had been correct. She placed her hand on the wall and when it went through she sighed and looked at the others.

"He went on without us."

Superman huffed, and Green Lantern let out a small laugh and said, "Of course he did." Without another thought, Green Lantern walked through the wall with the others following him. Superman and Sakura were the last ones to go through. Superman opened his mouth like he wanted to say something but instead shook his head and gave her a crooked smile before disappearing with the others. Sakura followed her mind a jumble of thoughts.

Sakura appeared on the scene in time to see a group of people dressed up like playing cards, also known as the Royal Flush gang, attacking Batman. Ace had a huge piece of rubble and was seconds away from breaking all Bruce's bones when Green Lantern thwarted his attempt by taking his makeshift weapon away from him and throwing it at his attacker knocking him through a wall.

Flash grinned and said, "Giving up right now would be a good idea."

"Holy shit! It's the Justice League," one of the women said, and it made Sakura smirk. They had made something of a name for themselves in the short time they were together. She hoped in time that it made people think twice before they broke into a jewelry store and stole everything that they could get their grubby little hands on. But that time hadn't come, and so they continued to fight on.

Green Lantern moved to Batman's side and said, "That's three you owe me."

Batman retorted, "If we're keeping score I think its seven to eight in my favor."

Green Lantern pouted, and Sakura laughed. "Don't worry about it GL. One day you'll catch up."

While they were distracted with their banter, Ten shot a beam of light the Lantern's way, but Batman pushed him out the way so he wouldn't get hit. Sakura would keep to herself that the score was now seven to nine.

Ten took off after she aimed at Hal and he didn't hesitate to get up and follow her. Sakura went to Batman her hands glowing with chakra. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." Sakura was sure her disbelief was written on her face. Batman reached for her wrists, and Sakura let her chakra fade as he pushed her hands down to her sides. "Let's finish this."

The rubble began to move drawing all of their attention. Superman flew over them placing himself between them and the enemy. The other members of the gang tried to take advantage of their distraction by leaving, but Wonder Woman and Flash chased after them.

Superman, Batman, and Sakura remained. And Sakura knew at least one other member of the gang was unaccounted for. Sakura was a heavy hitter, but she knew Superman could take care of Ace alone. She opted to stay with Bruce. He wasn't...looking up to par. She wanted to offer to heal him again, but she knew he wouldn't let her. Once he made a decision, he stubbornly stuck to it. Sakura didn't know when he had become sketchy about allowing her to heal him—especially since initially he had been the first to encourage her to do it. She felt a pang in her heart but pushed it aside for now and focused on the mission like she knew Bruce wanted her to.

"Who are we looking for?"

Bruce glanced at her and said, "Jack."