Bludhaven. Day three of the Anti-Life Virus.

You stood on the roof of the car and looked out at the city filled with the undead with a pair of binoculars. Cassandra sat next to you while Jason and Debra cleaned their guns near the dead body of the Joker. Jim was still inside the car with Hel, who was fast asleep.

Jim: Well?

Y/N: It's Bludhaven. An undead outbreak is almost an improvement. Almost.

You then moved your sights onto a peculiar sight.

Y/N: But there is a large concentration of the undead in the outskirts of the city. All surrounding a single building.

Cassandra: Survivors inside. Trapped.

Jason: We can keep driving. Find somewhere remote. Hide.

Everyone was silent for a moment. You were all thinking about the possibility.

Y/N: No. We can't.

Everyone silently agreed as Jason smirked.

Jason: No.

He cocked his gun and placed it back into his holster while Debra loaded her's. Everyone got back into the car and Cassandra woke Hel up as you started up the batmobile.

Y/N: Car. Disable all non-leathal safety protocols.

Car: Override password.

Y/N: "Remember Joe Chill".

It wasn't long after that you were speeding down the hill and toward the stone wall that surrounded what appeared to be a school of some kind. You flipped up the small cap covering a red button on the wheel, and pressed it.

Two homing missles fired out of the front of the car and blasted off toward the hoarde. They both landed on their target and engulfed the group of the undead which resulted in bloody showers.

Hel: There's a driveway and a garage door.

Y/N: Car. Is the door remote controled?

Car: Yes.

Y/N: Open it.

You drove the the garage which began to open and drove in. You then stopped and told the car to close the door, which it did. You all hopped out of the car and looked around confused.

Debra: School busses? Why are there school busses?

Jim looked ahead and his eyes went wide.

Jim: I think your answer, is over there.

You all looked over to the main building where you found a group of kids standing their with their makeshift weapons at the ready.

Girl: Hands were I can see 'em! And leave all screens in the car!

Hel: It's an orphanage.

You all raised your hands before one of the kids looked at you and gasped.

Boy: It's Batman.

Oh yeah. You still had your costume on. Well, so did everyone else but they didn't have their masks on like you did.

Jason: It's alright. We're the good guys.

Jim then leaned over and nudged Jason.

Jim: Jason.

Jason: Yeah?

Jim: Wanna take the corpse of the psychotic clown from the hood of the car?

Jason: Yeah.

Jason and Debra then got to work at taking Joker's body off of the car while Jim showed his badge and you stepped forward.

Jim: My name is Jim. I'm a police man. These four are heroes. Batman, Batgirl, Huntress, Red Hood, and Robin.

Jason slowly looked over to Jim as Hel hid her laugh. Ace hopped out of the car and walked over to the children. One of the older ones started to pet her.

Y/N: That's Ace.

Girl: I'm Letitia.

Y/N: You in charge?

Letitia: I guess.

She led the way inside the building as you and the other followed.

Jim: Where are your caregivers?

Letitia: Some left. The others...are in the gym.

She pointed at a door which was sealed close by some planks of wood and a metal bar that was bent and wrapped around the handles. Banging came from the other side and some blood was pouring from the bottom.

Debra: How did you get them in there? How did you block these doors?

Letitia: There was a hero. We didn't know her. She reinforced the doors and left us a lot of food. Then, she went away. And we never saw her again.

Boy: Are you going to leave us too?

Everyone looked at you for an answer. Well, at the end of the day, and the world, you were Batman. Your locked eyes with Cassandra who had the look of determination on her face.

Cassandra: This is a good fight.

You smiled a bit.

Y/N: It is. It's a good place to make a stand. We aren't going anywhere.

You looked to Letitia and held out your hand for her to shake.

Y/N: We'll get through this. Us orphans have to stick together.
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Three weeks in and you thought you were doing good. You all started to grow comfortable. Complacent.

Y/N: We need to do something about this, Gordon.

Jason: I completely agree. It's time to talk to them about the undead elephant in the room.

Of course, the two of you were referring to the barricaded door in front of you.

Jim: The infected are no threat when they're locked up in there.

Y/N: Jim...

Jim: What do you propose, Y/N? You want to open that door a blaze away? Can you really do that? There are children and caregivers in there.

Before you could continue the conversation, Cassandra appeared from seemingly out nowhere, as she does, with a faint look of distress.

Cassandra: The radio.

You all looked at each other before you headed to the room that had become the central base of operation in the orphanage. Hel and Debra were already there listening to the broadcast.

Radio:...Lois Lane broadcasting to all analog devices. If you can hear me, within hours, we're leaving Earth. We invite any out there to join us in one of the two sanctuaries. The Island of Themyscria and Posion Ivy's Jungle in Gotham...

Suddenly, Jim turned the radio off.

Debra: What are you doing?!

Jason: Gordon, a jungle in Gotham.

Cassandra: We could make it.

You shook your head as you walked across the hall and into the room where the kids were messing around.

Y/N: We might be able to. But there's no way we're going to be able to get these kids to safety.

You turned back to you team.

Y/N: We stay here. We defend. And we say nothing. We're not going to let these kids know their heroes are leaving them behind.

You knew that whatever was going on, the JL had it under control. Conner, Cassie, Lois, Bart, all of them. You had faith in them and you trusted them with all your heart. But you weren't going to abandon these children. Batman was needed here.

Hel: Alright. We stay.

Jason: No use in fighting that logic.

Debra: I get to play mom a bit longer?

Jim and Cassandra smiled as you watched the kids play. They were under your protection now. Even as the arcs took off into space, as hope left this planet, you stood tall.

Cassandra held your hand and you smiled.

Y/N: Alright. It's settled. We stay.
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Night had now fallen over the city and you stood in the dark, alone. Though some of the windows were boarded up, you could still see through the spaces.

Your suit had seen better days and your hair was already a bit longer than you would've liked. Guess you couldn't really complain in the middle of an apocalypse.

Suddenly, you felt warm arms wrap around your body and a soft, tender kiss on the back of your neck.

Cassandra: You aren't in bed.

Y/N: No.

Cassandra: Restless?

Y/N: Always.

You moved so that you were embracing each other in the moonlight. Everyone was asleep by now.

Y/N: I love you. So much. And I'm glad you're here.

Cassandra: I love you too. Are you okay?

You shook your head.

Y/N: We're all that's left now. Everyone is gone. Me, you, J, Hel, and Debra are all that's left in the family. I guess, I just haven't really had a chance to process that yet.

Cassandra hugged you tighter. The two of you stood there for a moment before you heard something. Like glass shifting. You and Cassandra were suddenly on guard with your weapons at the ready as the mirror in the hall began to change.

Y/N: What....Mirror Master? What's he doing here?

Suddenly, from the mirror, came two figures. Mirror Master, and someone you didn't know.

Cassandra: Mother?

Y/N: Mother?

Lady Shiva stood there with a stern face and her hands behind her back. Her sword hung from her hip. Mirror Master hung close to the mirror as Cassandra took a step forward.

Lady Shiva: We have somewhere were it's safe.

She looked at you. She didn't have to say it, but the invitation didn't extend to you. She turned back toward the mirror while Cassandra stood there.

Cassandra: Wait.

Shiva stopped in place and Cassandra looked into the room where the kids were sleeping.

Cassandra: Kids come too.

She then moved to your side and clung to your arm.

Cassandra: My family as well.

Lady Shiva: Out of the question. We don't have the room.

Cassandra looked at her mother for a moment before her grip on you tightened.

Cassandra: Then I stay.

Lady Shiva: Don't be stupid. The world is ending. You don't have to end with it.

Her eyes then landed on you.

Lady Shiva: Or with a toy.

Okay. Ouch.

Lady Shiva: You're coming with me.

Cassandra: Kids come too.

The two women stared each other down for a moment as you and Mirror Master stood there in anticipation.

Mirror Master: Ah, Shiva? This place is surrounded by undead. Savage is gonna be pissed enough that we left the sanctuary. We shouldn't hang around.

Shiva took a fighting stance while Cassandra got prepared as well.

Lady Shiva: You're coming with me. You don't have to be conscious.

Shiva dashed forward, but her hit never connected. Instead, you caught her fist and pushed her back.

Y/N: She's not going anywhere she doesn't want to. Mother or not, I ain't gonna let you hurt anyone here.

Shiva looked at you almost impressed.

Lady Shiva: The Batman. But, not the real one.

Y/N: Come and find out.

Shiva lunged at you but you caught her leg and swung her into the wall as Cassandra and Mirror Master watched.

Lady Shiva: I'll see if you really are worthy of my daughter.

Y/N: Only as worthy as she thinks I am.

Shiva threw another punch but you blocked it. You didn't see the uppercut she delivered that sent your lower jaw slamming up. Your head rattled before Cassandra leaped over your and punched her mother across the face.

Shiva went to swing again, but instead found her wrist grabbed by someone else.

Jason: Hey! I'm not gonna lie. Part of me very much wants to watch his play out and see what happens. Another part of me wants to join in. But I think it'll be really sensible if we all....

Jason was shut up by a kick to the face.  Jason slammed down into the ground where Shiva pulled out her blade. However, she heard a click of a gun.

Debra and Jim aimed their guns at the assassin and the Mirror Master. Hel was in the doorway with Ace where they were trying to keep the kids in.

Jim: That's enough of that.

Cassandra helped your up to your feet as you spat some blood out.

Cassandra: Are you okay?

Y/N: Yeah. So, she's your mom?

Cassandra nodded as Hel rushed over to you.

Hel: Dad!

Shiva: Dad? Care to explain.

Hel held you up as Cassandra turned to your mother.

Cassandra: They are family. My family.

Shiva looked at you before she turned away.

Lady Shiva: I offered you a chance. Because you're family.

Cassandra: This is family now.

Hel: Damn straight. So shove off, scary intense lady.

Cassandra stepped up and looked at her mother.

Cassandra: You can stay.

Shiva scoffed and turned back to the mirror where Mirror Master was waiting.

Lady Shiva: Goodbye, daughter.

And with that, they were gone.

Cassandra sighed and turned back to you to see that you had blood coming from your mouth. She grabbed a nearby rag and started to clean it up but you gripped her wrist to stop her. Everyone else started to head back to their rooms as you stood there with Cassandra and Hel.

Y/N: You alright?

Cassandra hesitated before she nodded.

Hel: So that lady is my grandma? Jeez.

Cassandra looked at you busted lip and gently ran a finger over it. She then leaned up and quickly peaked your lips.

Cassandra: Bed. I need cuddles.

You smiled as you hugged her. Hel even smiled a bit.

Y/N: Alright. We can cuddle.

Cassandra: Good.

The world was falling apart. Things weren't perfect. In the end, you were with your family. And you were glad to have them here at the very least. Even with the Justice Leauge now gone, these kids will survive. You were going to make sure of it.