For Her

One thing can change everything, even a so little such as the random movement of an electron in an electric field. Everything can be changed to the better good, or to the worse, so much worse. But this day, the odds chooses to be fair.

"Batman! Watch out!"

The Caped Crusader quickly jumped away, thanks to Clark's warning, from the path an energy blast he hadn't seen coming toward him. Batman threw a sharp edged Batarang to the alien shooter. It hit him directly at the head, knocking him out cold instantaneously.

Batman was angry, so much angry. This alien race which nobody seemed to know about had seriously started to test his self-control limits. If it were only for their violent nature and willingness to hurt innocent civilians, he would only be angry. But no, they had had to poison one of his teammates, and that he couldn't allow it without retribution.

The Dark Knight had planned a new counter-attack upon every Leaguer individual strength. His plan was in a very aggressive way highly efficient until now. They had succeeded to make the invaders to their mothership and now, they were trying to unable them to leave without the antidote.

"Lantern, I need cover, now."

"I'm on it." GL's fast answer went as a green bubble surrounded Batman.

John flew some feet above the ground, firing green blast while maintaining the protective bubble around him. Batman started to furiously type on the micro-computer on his left arm. He needed to speed up, the spacecraft was already lifting from the floor.

"Superman, try and stop it from leaving the atmosphere!" Batman yelled into his communication device.

"They aren't going anywhere." The Man of Steel replied, taking off and flying top speed to place himself in front of the extraterrestrial ship.

Batman watched as his friend pushed back the spacecraft downward, but he knew that ultimately, the thrusters would be more powerful the Superman. He needed to do it more quickly.

Around him, the last alien soldiers were regrouping and entering the mothership, pushed back by the whole League. It was a sight to behold, a show of power to the universe, Earth wasn't defenseless, the human race had the Justice League.

But Batman wasn't paying attention, his mind only focused on the small screen on his arm. Almost done… He needed some more moments…

"Done!"

The whole space ship seemed to stop, no more power in their energy core. The impact when it hit the ground raised a great cloud of dust, blinding the League's members. Then, the roar of an enraged army seeking revenge flew to their ears. This wasn't the end.

The aliens' behavior had changed too. They weren't as violent as before, they were it even more. They weren't fighting to conquer anymore, they were fighting to eliminate. And that change was threatening to switch the power balance.

Green Lantern's bubble faded away as John charged into the fray. Batman ran toward the ship to help as best as he could, seeing how many enemies were pouring out from the ship. He needed to reach the commander.

From afar, he saw him leaving the protective place that was his ship. Batman had found his target, and wasn't about to lose it.

Batman made his way quickly and silently, without being stopped by anyone. He reached the commander within minutes and saved one of his fellow Leaguer from a nasty contusion.

"It's over! Surrender!" Batman growled menacingly to the man before him.

"No, it's not. Fight for your life!" The commander yelled as he launched himself to the masked vigilante, trying to behead him with his slender sword.

Batman easily dodged the attack and took a step back.

"I'm not fighting for myself! What's the cure ?!"

The commander watched at him with a new look and laughed. "So, it was your woman ?" Batman's lenses narrowed at the assumption, "Forget her, she his already dead, there is only one cure and it's that." He said while lifting one finger where was an emerald ring. "You will need to defeat me to take it."

"I will." Bruce threatened and took a fight stand once more.

"Bring it!" The other challenged.

Batman threw his fist to the commander's head, but he avoid it. The commander was superior in strength and Batman knew it. Sure enough, he saw a sword coming to his side and jumped away. This fight would be difficult for him, but had to win, no matter what.

Putting himself at a safe distance from the commander's sword, Batman quickly searched a weapon he could use against his opponent. In his search, he barely saw the attack coming from his foe, and barely avoid it.

Batman crouched down and land a kick to one knee opponent, earning a painful crack sound from it. The commander stumbled from the impact and roared in pain, but it didn't stop him.

He lunged again himself at Batman trying to slay him down but only succeeding to meet air. However, as far as Batman was fast enough to avoid being caught, he couldn't take down his enemy.

Fortunately, Nightwing and Robin were here with him today, and right now, Robin was bringing him exactly what he needed.

"Catch it!" Tim shouted at him as he threw him his Bo staff to his father figure.

Batman masterfully caught it with one hand and instantly blocked the sword coming to his neck. The commander was snarling in barely contained anger at seeing Batman so calm and cold. The Dark Knight counter-attacked with his own weapon, but the commander blocked them too.

The fight was now even, none of them landing a hit on the other. Slowly, their fight led them back into the mothership and then, they were both knocked to their feet by a violent shake. The ship had restarted.

Batman hadn't many time left before he would need to make an exit if he wanted not to be trapped in enemy territory. They were alone in the long corridors though he could hear movements from other rooms, he couldn't see anyone.

Their path stopped when they both reach the bridge. None of the aliens made a move to help their leader but his presence seemed to make them to speed up their work.

"Engines activation in five seconds."

Batman and the commander moved closer to the wide window.

"Four seconds."

They were still in a tough fight, none of them allowing the other any rest.

"Three seconds."

Batman could see his escape.

"Two seconds."

But he needed the ring.

"One second."

Here was his opening.

"Engines activated."

The floor shook once more, but this time, Batman was ready, this moment could be what decided the rest of his life and so much more.

Batman jumped forcefully through the glass and through the force field protecting the ship's atmosphere to leave into space. His arm extended to threw a last punch to the commander. It hit him, hard. His hand wouldn't be able to take anything soon.

This moment was what could change everything.

The ring slipped from the commander's finger. Batman watched it like in slow motion as it fell to the floor. The emerald ring bounced once, twice… The commander threw his sword away and rushed to catch the rolling ring.

Batman felt the gravity took hold on him as his fall began, but his mind wasn't focused on that. His eyes were only fixed on the now tiny green point that was jumping over the edge as if he was following him.

A silver gloved hand appeared and try to catch the ring before it could fall farther. It almost succeeded, almost. The commander had the ring in his hand, brushing his finger, but it slipped away.

Batman saw the ring fast catching up, his velocity higher than his. Batman extended his hand to take it into. The ring fell into as if led by the hands of destiny.

He had done it. He had saved his princess, his life, his everything.

But now, he was falling down to his own death. Batman fired his grapple to a nearby building. It slowed down his fall, but it wasn't enough, the spaceship was quite tall and he had reached a velocity that would quite any non-metahumans.

He saw the ground fast approaching and took the position he knew would lessen the most the impact.

He was almost there. To his left, he heard his best friend cried his name and another higher pitched voice he knew was Robin's shouted to him too.

The hit was very painful but he hadn't time to think about it as his world went black.

oOo

"He's waking up!"

Flash's voice filled Bruce's pained head.

"Make less noise, Flash." Shayera scowled the red speedster as John slapped him on the top of his head.

Batman growled in annoyment as he tried to open his eyes. He succeeded as he tentatively took a look at his surroundings and the friendly faces staring back at him.

"Well, look at who chooses to come back from the dead." Superman teased his best friend, "You have us all worried about you, and frankly, you shouldn't have made it."

Batman had made it, but he shouldn't. He should have died. He smirked at himself. Of course, he should have died, but he didn't. Maybe he should thank his new updated suit and the one who helped him. Yes, he would do that.

But these thoughts stayed only mere seconds, replaced by the reason he was here right now.

"Diana…" He whispered weakly, his throat unbelievably dried.

"She is fine." J'onn answered, "thanks to you, my friend."

Batman sighed. She was fine, that's the only thing that matters.

"You should talk to her though, when you're fine too." Superman added, before he watched his friend slipped back into slumber. "She wasn't that thrilled to know what you risked for her." He finished his sentence in a low voice, knowing he hadn't heard him.

Clark hushed everyone out the room and left, not without glancing at his friend one last time. He needed that rest, he had earned it well.

Bruce's last thoughts was about Diana and the relief he was feeling knowing she was fine. Until now, it had only been a suspicion, but now, he knew it: he would do anything for her, only for her.

The End

So that's it :D Quite short, but I like it anyway. To tell the truth, it should have been the prologue of a new story but it works quite well all alone and like I said, it's a little short. Anyway, there will be obviously a sequel that will be exploring the 'what if Batman didn't caught the ring ?'. Since, it a sequel, be expecting parallel universe and all that stuff...

The second and last chapter should be done by the next week. See you soon.