77 Side Chapter : Daughter 5/5

(A/N: Hey, It's been a while huh? I took an extra long break to clear my head on some things. My creative juices were hampered and I was unsure of where to take the story next. I have so many ideas, but it was the putting them together part that made it difficult to write.

Anyways, I'm back and hope everyone has been safe since I've been gone!

This chapter and another will be posted.)

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It's been two days since Sandra separated from Barbara and within those two days, she encountered quite a bit of trouble.

The Talons were becoming a growing nuisance, they blocked every chance she had to escape from Gotham City with her daughter Cassandra, forcing them to hide.

Sandra was a skilled assassin and incredible martial artist, but these Talons weren't much worse which was a problem on top of their numbers.

These immortal warriors were relentless and she was starting to wonder if she'll ever return to her beloved.

Or perhaps she should have him come to her?

She didn't quite know why, but she felt as if Ethan could solve her current problem with minimal effort...

"...m..other?" Cassandra saw that Sandra was deep in thought and wondered what was going on.

Currently, it was night time and the two were held up at an old apartment building that was abandoned. And for some reason, Sandra could feel Ethan's presence in the place.

It was faint, but to her, it was clear as day.

'Did he used to liv-' Her thoughts were halted as she grabbed the hilt of her katana.

Something or someone was watching them.

Her eyes dart around the empty room, trying to find the culprit, but several seconds later the feeling disappeared, leaving her confused.

'Strange...'

"Hm...?" Cassandra didn't sense anything at all so seeing her mother on edge raised her curiosity.

"It's...nothing." Sandra sighed, trying to relax. 'Whatever it was I suppose it's not here for a fight...'

Soon after settling in the room, Sandra finally decided to call Ethan to ask for help. The phone only rang once before it was picked up and she nearly jumped with joy hearing his voice again.

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"Why? What's wrong?" Ethan's face immediately turned serious as he listened closely. Not a lot of things can stop that sort of woman, and hearing that she needs help was quite worrisome.

"I've run into a bit of trouble and I don't think I-"

"I'm coming for you." Ethan didn't even let her finish her entire sentence before giving his answer.

"You aren't going to ask what it is?" Sandra asked, sounding a bit confused

"I'm curious but my woman called me asking for help. I'll come regardless." He said without hesitation.

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"You..." Sandra felt warm inside as a smile crept up on her face.

'..This is love right?...' It was a feeling still new to her, but she welcomed it with open arms as it made her feel complete. It was as if she was standing on a cloud while soaking up the warm rays of the sun.

"Are you ok right now?"

"Yes...~" She cheerfully replied, holding the phone closer to her ear as if it was a way to feel closer to him. "...I should be fine for the time being. Where are you?"

"We aren't that far away actually. We're in New York. We can be there in a little over 2hrs. But if you need me earlier I think-"

"No, that should be enough time. I can hold out for the two hours..." Sandra said before biting her lower lip.

There was a brief silence afterward and underneath her breath Sandra uttered three words she has never said before in her life, "I love you..."

She wanted to say it louder, but honestly, it felt too embarrassing to do so with her daughter by her side.

However, Ethan was able to hear it and returned those words. "I love you too."

"Ah..." Sandra's cheeks immediately turned red as hearing those words was almost like taking a drug, one that sped up her heart rate, making her crave his presence. She was with him for but a short time, and yet she was already addicted to him.

Seeing her mother act in such a way was strange for Cassandra. The 18-year-old known her mother for almost two days and she already realized that woman generally kept her emotions to a minimum, keeping her face the same. However, as soon as she picked up her phone, she started to show a variety of different faces.

Who was the person on the other side of the phone?

Was it her father?

'No...it doesn't sound like him at all.' Cassandra shook her head while sitting on the floor which was surprisingly clean despite it being abandoned.

It was strange, especially with it being closer to the bad neighborhoods of Gotham City.

Why was that?

Unbeknownst to both of them, a pair of eyes was watching them from the shadows and if Ethan saw their face then they would be highly recognizable.

After watching them for some time the owner of the eyes disappeared from the area like a wisp which alerted Sandra again, however just like earlier nothing happened.

"Something wrong?" Ethan asked.

"I thought I felt something, but I suppose it was nothing," Sandra answered with a slight frown on her face as it ruined the good mood she had earlier.

The two then spoke for a few more minutes before ending the call.

"W...who?" Cassandra pointed at the phone as she was curious about the owner of the voice.

"I'm not sure if you'll understand yet, but...he is my..." Sandra places her hand over her chest as a tinge of red forms her cheeks once more. "My husband..."

Cassandra tilted her head to the side as she didn't know what the word meant at all.

Seeing this only caused Sandra to blush even more as somehow she would have to explain it to the girl.

If it was anyone else she would have no issue, but somehow she found it a bit embarrassing to explain it to her daughter.

'Please get here fast...' She thought, unknown to the trouble that was slowly creeping closer like a dark fog.

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In the dead of a night, a man could be found walking through the streets of Gotham City. Normally, no one casually strolls through the crime-ridden city this late, but now there was one.

However, even the worst criminals in the area wouldn't approach the man with the black and orange mask on while he was giving off a dangerous aura, plus he was armed.

"Sometimes I wish I could stop...I wish I could go back and make different choices. Unfortunately, life just doesn't work like that..." The man whispered to himself as he felt a large group of people following him from the shadows.

"Are we going the same way or is this one of those coincidences?"

Suddenly, a Talon, unlike the others, stepped out, he was tall and carried a 2-handed sword on his back.

"The woman and the child is ours. Don't get in the way mercenary." The Talon snarled.

"Unfortunately...you aren't the ones that paid me." The man replied as his singular eye gave off a dangerous green light.

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A little over an hour away from the area was a place that laid hidden under a massive mansion. It was home to one of the most popular heroes of the DC universe despite not having any powers.

It was the Batcave, and currently, Barbara was talking to Bruce through the Batcomputer, Batman's computer he uses for just about everything he does as the caped hero.

"And this information is accurate?" Bruce asked.

"She has no reason to lie about it, and digging anymore could possibly mean more trouble," Barbara answered with a sigh. "Should I have let her go like that?"

"Luckily, she was in a good mood." Bruce scowled while remembering about Sandra as she was a dangerous woman that could best him in combat. " She could have easily killed you if she wanted...but you say she's quitting the life of an assassin? It's very hard to believe."

"And what about the Court of Owls?.."

Bruce stared blankly for a moment before giving his answer, "Leave that to me and the League. If that information is true then we can't tackle this lightly. Stay low and out of sight for the time being. Are we clear?"

"But-"

"Are we clear?" He said again in a harsher tone.

Barbara gritted her teeth, "...Yes"

"Get some rest for now. Batman out." Soon after, the screen switched back to its basic background, leaving Barbara to her thoughts.

Despite what she wanted to do, Batman was her superior so she had to listen to him.

Unfortunately...she was unable to do so.