AN: Well, this was rather delayed. :) Unfocused writing means the release of this was rather slow but fear not, it is not abandoned. There should be 2-4 more chapters before episode 1 of the series, then all hell breaks loose! Enjoy.

Chapter 7

It was a long journey from the moment Ace departed the Batcave to now. The emotional pain was the worst; Ace never really built up a resistance to it, or a defence, like she had physical pain. There was no room in her castle for this. Instead, it just rained.

If anyone asked Ace what it's like to have rain in her head, she'd reply it was like being submerged. Detached but still linked to everything, unable to feel much beyond the constant underwater pressure as everything else was filled.

And she felt that terrible isolation from the first step of her long journey…

Of roughly 3 steps.

"Ace."

Frozen, Ace just started at Batman for a moment, expecting him to be out as planned; instead, he was here to witness her betrayal. Betrayal or perhaps abandonment of idea it pained her heart to think about. The idea of having something she truly yearned for.

"Batman," Ace calmly replied. Maybe she could play this off, pretend she was going...going...for a walk! People walked. They walked all the time, and it wasn't really a lie; she wouldn't lie to Batman, just omit certain truths.

"I see you're packed," crap! She had a bag! Ace couldn't believe she forgot about her pack of essentials, people didn't pack a toothbrush for walks… did they? No. Well, there's no helping it now.

"Yes, I'm leaving," Ace prepared her justifications, counter-arguments for any possible point. She had to leave. Batman had to see that.

"I know. Alfred's packing the rest of your essentials, we'll meet him at the car," Batman concurred in his usual commanding tone. Meanwhile, Ace just stopped. She just, well… what?

Still processing her sudden change of plans, Ace silently fell into step besides Batman as he led them to the car.

Thinking it through, Ace realised Batman must have deduced her plan to leave, not really surprising. Even if Ace thought she was relatively sneaky, she was probably nowhere near as good as some of the villains Batman caught weekly. And Ace was trying to sneak around in his own house! Of course he noticed.

But where were they going? Surely Batman arrived at the same conclusion she did; Ace couldn't stay. So where would the driver take them?

A safe house? Nowhere would be safe for long.

The elusive Justice League headquarters? No, Batman wouldn't want to be followed there by whoever was… no. Batman wouldn't want Ace to go crazy and start attacking his teammates.

Maybe somewhere better to start her journey? Or a bank so she wouldn't be moneyless along the way? Both fair possibilities but she doubted them. What if… what if he was taking her somewhere to contain her? Somewhere to experiment on Ace's powers, test their limits, what if he was with them?

No.

It was just in her head. Batman would never do that to her, Ace's growing instability was affecting her. Making her think of impossible things. She needed to leave.

Taking a deep breath, Ace came back to herself, Batman holding the limo door for her. Damn it.

Briefly, Ace entertained just running. But unless she incapacitated Batman it would do little good, even then Ace couldn't; she didn't want to hurt him. And she would have to hurt him, cripple him, to prevent him from following. Without any other choice, Ace ducked into the car.

It was comfortable. Limos weren't only costly for being stretched cars after all, the soft leather was admittedly ruined by the pressure of the atmosphere. At least on Ace's side. On Batman's… Ace wasn't completely certain he ever enjoyed a comfortable chair for what it was. It was more for appearances than anything else.

"Relax Ace," Batman softly ordered a few minutes into their silent waiting. Ace hadn't even realised she was vibrating the car with her nerves. Letting out a breath she didn't know she was holding, Ace sank back into the comfortable seat.

BANG

Ace jumped, whacking her head on the roof of the car as she startled. It was just the boot of the car slamming shut, proven by Alfred opening the driver's door and pulling away from the mansion.

Blushing, Ace rubbed her head while looking sheepishly away from Batman. God that was embarrassing. Why was she so jumpy? Maybe running was still an option, if only to stop making a fool of herself in front of her hero.

"Are you okay Ace," the dark Knight inquired.

"Yes," Ace answered simply. "Why did you decide to drive me somewhere? We didn't have any plans, I thought you were busy."

"You've been more nervous lately Ace: startling easily, jumping at shadows, being paranoid." At Ace's embarrassed nod, he continued." I have a working theory. I believe you have a version of ecophobia. You think, at least subconsciously, that if you didn't stay put all those years ago, you would never have gotten caught. Thus, you now grow more paranoid the longer you remain in one place, like the mansion. The known symptoms match rather well."

Soaking in the information, Ace processed and filed each nugget of insight. It did make sense, to a certain degree. There were holes, but time could prove Batman right; it usually did. "But why did you decide we were going somewhere today?" Ace questioned. "I've been getting worse for a week now."

"First, certain arrangements had to be made," Batman reasoned. "While that happened, I observed you, compounded my theories on what was wrong. Once I was sure of my hypothesis, the trip was ready, all I needed to decide when to leave. Since you planned to run away today, it seemed like the perfect time."

He knew! Of course he knew, he was Batman. He probably was aware of her deciding to run away before Ace even started to prepare.

Taking her silence as cue to continue, Batman explained on. "First, we have to confirm your condition. To do that I'll set you up in several safe areas. You'll live there until you start experiencing episodes then we'll try somewhere else. If each waiting period is roughly a fortnight, we'll have our timescale. Then we'll try having you move buildings but visit the same place daily to see if it's only the home environment that matters. If anything else arises, we can test as situations happen to find the full scope of your possible phobia."

"What if it's something else?"

"Then we'll figure it out."

Ace had no doubt he would.

"So," Ace started. "Where is the first safe location we're going?"

…

"Metropolis."

"I'm telling you Smallville, if I didn't know any better, I'd say old Perry's being a little sexist against me." Louis complained piling files into Clark's hands.

The Politzer winning reporter was wearing her famous purple-themed business outfit, while Clark was in a smart suit with a black tie and his classic glasses.

"He's just trying to make you be more careful Louis," the large man gently argued back. "You're a valued reporter of the daily planet. Perry just wants you to be a valued reporter who isn't noticed by the bad guys as much as you are."

"Wasn't the trip to Gotham punishment enough?"

"Gotham's nice," Clark reasoned back. "It's Metropolis' sister city after all."

Louis rolled her eyes at that well known but rarely believed fact. "A sister going through a lot of bad weather and 3 dozen crazy boyfriends a week. And when I went, they didn't even show up! Dull with a capital D, you'd love it."

"Didn't you shout at a member of the mob?"

"In my defence," Louis countered. "I was just coming to a young girls aid."

Ah yes, the mysterious Alice Asher. Clark would have to ask Bruce about her at the next Justice League meeting. Clark was, perhaps, in the minority in thinking that Bruce would actually make a pretty good parent. But if he was going to adopt or going to take in a ward, then Bruce would have broken the news already. No, Alice must have had something to do with Batman, not Bruce. Oh well, Bruce would ask for help if he needed it… probably… hopefully.

Clark let a teasing smile spread across his face, casting the subject from his mind, and looked at Louis. "So while being sent to a 'boring' Gotham party, you yelled at a member of a mob and didn't interview his boss or Bruce Wayne?"

Louis opened her mouth only to close it in contemplation. A couple of beats, she replied with the sharp wit and incredible quick thinking she was synonymous for, "Shut up Clark." He chuckled at that, making Louis sigh in resignation. "Fine, but it wasn't my fault. It all just happened, then the big fish left before I could get to either of them. It's not like I can ask one of them to pop by the office to have a catch-up interview.

Clark was about to say Louis could probably talk them into anything when he collided with another person, files spilling from his hands as he stumbled. It was a common misconception among the global community that whomever Superman was outside the tights must be a graceful, well put together individual. It was something Clark valued as an extra defence for his disguise. It was also completely false.

Due to several quirks, he developed while learning to hold back his power, Clark was quite genuinely clumsy. Not to mention having to hold back his immediate, super speedy, reaction and usually letting whatever minor catastrophe of clumsiness occur unimpeded.

And so the person he bumped into stepped back, the files Louis piled on him sprawled across the floor, and Clark himself stubbled. "Ah, sorry," Superman immediately apologised.

"It's okay," the young girl calmly replied, bending down and putting a large packet of crisps to the side to free up her hands. Clark offered her a small smile before starting to gather up the files. It was always lovely to see a helpful young girl, it was the kind of thing he fought for, people helping people.

That said, why was there a young girl at the daily planet? She had black hair, was wearing black jeans and boots, finishing her look off with a black and white hoodie, the colours split unevenly near the middle. The crisp packet she put down was large, and expensive brand as well if he was right. Glancing up, Clark could tell her clothes were well made, costly too he'd bet.

"Alice!" Exclaimed, moving to give the girl a quick hug as she finished helping him and stood up, crisp packet in hand. "I'm so glad you're doing well. What are you doing here?" Louis asked, releasing the girl, Alice, who immediately resumed crisp eating stance. Giving an unhelpful shrug, before starting to extract her snacks from their packet.

So this was Alice Asher? Clark imagined her more full of life, but the girl seemed quite reserved, given her nonverbal answer and greeting nod. Then again, the girl was hanging around Bruce, so maybe she was used to conversations with fewer pleasantries and more to the point comments.

Hearing the crunch of a crisp in Alice's mouth, Louis decided to move the subject along for the seemingly shy girl. Wait a second… "Alice, how did you get here?" After all, one doesn't just waltz into the central area of the daily planet without someone letting them in.

"I brought her," a deep voice replied. Think of the devil, and he shall appear, eyes swivelled round to see the ever-charming Bruce Wayne saunter towards them. "You look lovely as always Louis," the billionaire playboy winked as he leant down to kiss Louis' hand.

Clark couldn't help but roll his eyes. It was always surreal to see how Bruce Wayne acted after you found out he was Batman. The swagger, the cockiness, the playful attitude, if Clark didn't know 100% Bruce was Batman he'd have a hard time believing it if someone told him. But it was all an act. That's why he didn't feel particularly threatened to see him flirting with Louis. As much as he wished Bruce would pursue some sort of romance, his best friend just wasn't looking for it. Frankly, Clark thought he was lonely, but worked harder instead of seeking someone, anyone else.

At least Clark thought Bruce was lonely, shooting a glance to the crisp eating Alice, maybe his friend wasn't so alone anymore.

"Bruce!" Louis replied with her own eye roll, not even blushing at the billionaire's flirt. "So what's Gotham's wealthiest bachelor doing here talking with little old me?"

"Well, you never did get that interview," Bruce silkily replied, referencing Louis' recent stay in his city.

"Sure..." Louis dragged out, unconvinced. "You should have called, all our interview rooms are booked up for at least an hour."

"Perfect, we'll do lunch while we wait," Bruce grinned back with a billion-dollar smile. "I know this amazing sushi chef, mind keeping Alice company while I get the best Japanese food in Metropolis?" Still suspicious, Louis agreed, discerning the billionaire wouldn't spill before getting his fill. This whole situation seemed a bit strange to her. "Good, Clark come help me, I could use an extra set of hands."

Before Clark even answered, Bruce was walking off, knowing he would follow. Placing the files down, Clark offered a quick smile to Louis and Alice (who was now spinning slowly in a chair while eating), before moving to follow his brooding friend.

Reaching the elevator, Bruce pressed for the roof, notably not the ground floor. "No sushi then?" Clark teased.

"Alfred's getting it now," Bruce stated, exiting onto the roof. "We have about ten minutes."

A tense silence fell between the two as Bruce likely decided what to start with. It was Clark who spoke first, "Alice seems nice, Louis likes her, she's usually a good trust of character."

"Until a few weeks ago, she was being tortured daily for 5 years."

Wow… Clark actually stalled at that one. 5 years… "How…"

"Electric collar and cattle prods, as well as mental conditioning."

Still in shock, registering information Clark didn't quite expect to hear when he stepped, the man of steel took a deep breath to calm his initial anger. He needed the full story. "Who were the ones holding her?"

It went on for the first 5 minutes of their time on the roof. Clark learnt Ace was a metahuman. That some government black site for human weapons had taken her at 2 and tortured her, honing a blade to strike against the heroes. He was told of Ace's physical and mental conditions. Clark thought Batman was holding something back, but when he asked the Batman just answered that it wasn't his story to tell. As a person who respects people's privacy, and trusting Bruce to inform him if it was important for him to know, Clark let it drop.

"So," Clark started, wanting to make sure he had arrived at the right conclusion. "I take it you want me to look after her while she's in Metropolis testing your theory?"

"Keeping a lookout for her would be sufficient," Bruce stated factually. "Ace is incredibly mature for her age in many areas, she should be able to look after herself; she's smart enough to. I just want you to look in on her and make sure she's safe."

"I don't like the idea of leaving Ace on her own," Clark replied with concern leaking onto his face.

"I've set her up in Halldorf hotel, all meals included plus room service, she'll be fine," Bruce dismissed.

Sighing, Clark gave up the point; he knew Bruce would never see what he was talking about. The young Wayne had run away around the world and returned to become Batman. If he thought Ace would be okay, then Bruce was probably a good authority on the matter.

And Clark was going to check in regularly, make sure the girl was alright. "And where will you be?"

"There have been several chemical thefts back in Gotham, I think Crane is building up his supply of fear gas, I need to investigate."

Ah, so this was also about getting Ace out of Gotham for her safety as well as her sanity. So like Batman to have one action solving multiple problems. Not to mention Bruce would likely be too busy to look after a minor and Alfred will be busy looking after his original charge. Having someone at the Batcomputer was more useful than Bruce would likely ever admit.

"What if Ace's symptoms re-emerge?" Clark asked.

"If it seems my hypothesis is correct, we test it again to make sure," Batman declared. "I'm thinking of contacting Diana next. After all, it's unlikely I'll be done in Gotham within a month, more than just Scarecrow is happening. Themyscira should be safe for Ace."

Running a hand through his hair, Clark watched as his friend glared at the city skyline. For not the first time, Clark was incredibly happy that he was found by the Kents. If he had landed somewhere else… it didn't bear thinking about. It was horrible that anyone had to go through the kind of torture Ace had. The man of steel was more than willing to help the poor girl with anything she needed.

Deciding to lighten the mood, Clark smirked at his friend. "Not going to make Ace your ward then, or maybe adopt?" He teased. "I think you'd make a great father Bruce. Imagine the birthday parties in the Batcave."

"Hmmfff," Bruce huffed back before making his way back towards the elevator side by side with Clark. "I offered, but she turned me down. For my protection apparently."

Clark raised an eyebrow, impressed with Ace's self-sacrificing nature but still wanting to rib at his friend. "So you were turned down by another girl?" Clark chuckled as Bruce had a not entirely forced smile now. "But still, you offered?"

"I did."

Maybe there was hope for Batman to not be alone yet. Even if it wasn't romance, looking after a kid would do him a world of good. Smiling, Clark entered the elevator, hoping for the best as much as he was sure Bruce was planning for the worst. What a pair they made.

It occurred to Ace, some 5 minutes into her conversation with Louis, that this was only the second prolonged conversation with someone who didn't live in Wayne manor in her new life. Frankly, Ace was okay with that. Not appearing as rude was just so hard.

She'd probably already been rude several times to Louis without even knowing it. Were one-word answers rude?

Has that monster been following you?

No.

How are you and Bruce doing?

Okay.

Planning on doing anything nice while in Metropolis?

Shrug.

…

Should she talk more? Could Ace talk more?

Louis didn't seem to mind. Or was she just hiding it? Even if Ace could read her mind, she wouldn't; that was almost certainly considered rude.

Not that Ace wasn't capable, it's just non-consensual mind invasion was in her box of 'powers not to touch until your older' pile. It would only be people letting her in, and mad scientists that tortured Ace for years, in the foreseeable future.

Ace had kept her empath abilities. They were rather low maintenance and didn't stress her body too much. Through them, Ace could feel emotions, like a passive sense of smell or touch. It told her that Louis wasn't annoyed! Plus one social interaction points for Ace.

Without focusing on someone, Ace's empath abilities weren't that useful. In a crowd, it only really singled out extreme spikes. Annoyingly most people Ace would want to know were coming were sociopaths or very good at controlling their emotions. Either way, it wouldn't help her.

It was then that Louis asked the question. Something with an answer so completely unknown that Ace shut herself off the moment it was uttered. Not out of rudeness, but just to deal with the mental unrest that the question caused. In her place was left a sort of 'autopilot'.

It was something for when Ace needed to think but couldn't just leave her body unresponsive. With her autopilot on, Ace would respond to threats and actions via preset behaviours until she was done thinking or certain conditions were met. Conditions like major threats, being followed, or Batman talking. Only the major things.

Louis trying to coax Ace back out of her shell was the situation Bruce and Clarke walked back into. The two smiled, it was mildly entertaining to watch Louis lane talk to a brick wall, but Batam knew what this was.

"Could I interest you two beautiful ladies in some delicious food, it's free with the company." Hearing his voice, Ace's eyes immediately lit up, filing away her mental quandary for later. Her eyes glowed as she devoured sushi box after sushi box gave all 3 of the adults a genuine smile.

"So, Bruce," Louis started between mouthfuls. "Why are you here, really?"

"Can't wait for the interview Louis?" Bruce replied with a natural smile and a look that would make most girls swoon. A smile that Louis easily ignored. "Ace here is going to be in Metropolis for a couple of weeks so I thought I'd introduce her to a couple of people she could trust."

"Thanks Bruce," Louis replied, looking genuinely touched. "But I'm still getting that interview."

"I'd expect nothing less," Batman chuckled.

"And this diner sells the best apple pie in Metropolis," Clark couldn't help but chuckle at how Ace's eyes lit up at that prospect. The man of steel wouldn't be ashamed to say that looking after the preteen felt daunting. At least at first.

Thankfully, Bruce wasn't exaggerating when he said Ace was mature for her age. In fact, it made Clark a bit sad at how controlled the 7-year-old was when most children her age would be bouncing off the walls after meeting real-life superheroes. Things would get better from now on, he promised.

"Ace," the teen turned her head to face him as Clark stopped on the sidewalk. "Thank you. Bruce… could use someone like you. I think he needs someone to keep him afloat. Someone to look after, no offence, to remind him that it's not all about 'The Mission'."

"He's Batman," Ace shrugged, continuing to walk towards the diner. Clark couldn't help but chuckle at that. The way Ace said it was like being Batman explained everything, like it was an absolute… maybe she was more of a kid than they thought.

"He's also Bruce," Clark pointed out, receiving only a shrug in response.

Screams filled the air, Superman swivelling to towards the sound of gunfire and explosions. "I'll be having some pie," Ace stated when Clark turned back to her. Smiling and nodding, Superman dashed into a nearby alley, shedding his disguise before flying to the scene.

Even now, he felt it.

The constant battle, like a storm in his head, pushing him one way while his mind pulled him another. Was this insanity? No; the insane could sleep better than this. Dark rings under his eyes proved the man wasn't deranged… yet.

It can't be long now though.

No.

His pride demanded something else. Demanded that he not devolve into whatever the voice in his head wanted, to live as himself and no one else. Another whisper echoed through his skull, his other half not liking that.

Looking down at his empty plate, the man couldn't help but chuckle, his burning anger sinking into a bottomless pit of melancholy. Who knew Apple pie would be a millionaire's last meal?

The universe, however, perhaps playing with dice or dancing around events long in the making, had decided otherwise. With the depth of his despair, the man had attracted the attention of another denizen of the dinner. A girl in black and white who sat across from him.

"I can help you," the monotone girl stated, startling the man from his thoughts. The girl was young, wearing a black and white hoody, and eating a piece of apple pie like the one he just ate.

"Who are you?" He hadn't even noticed her sit down, so lost within himself.

"Someone who can help," the man wanted to scoff at that; he had the finest physiatrists in the world, the best treatments, and nothing helped. Then he felt it. Something, unlike anything he's felt before, like something prodded his mind. Not an invasion but a declaration of ability, showing this girl could do things no man he'd met could. "Do you want me to help?" The girl asked, holding out her hand.

Hesitation. But why? What did he have to lose? His mind was already going. Even now it was warring with itself, arguing not to entertain the idea of this girl, or embrace his saviour.

Maybe...maybe she could return his mind to normal. Perhaps he could finally get a full nights sleep.

It was that hope that drove the man to take her hand.

With his permission, Ace entered the man's mind. Without it, his mind would have fought her intrusion with every bit of natural strength it had. As limited as her powers currently were, she probably would have been rejected. But with permission, his mind yielded, allowing Ace deep into his psyche.

His spiralling despair that got the young empath's attention, and with the state of his mind, she understood why he felt so lost. It took Ace a moment to realise which thoughts in the tempest of carnage were his. The rest must be from a splintered personality… no… and intrusion?

Certainly a subtle one, but Ace could see a purposeful hand in the trail of destruction.

Carefully, Ace started to build a wall. Thick, sturdy, made from materials the man's mind though unbreakable. When she was done: it stretched on for as long as anyone could ever go; it was taller than any idea could ever fly; the concept of going under it was impossible.

Gathering the intruding influence from its source, seemingly some experience spelunking, Ace banished it to the other side of the wall. As a bonus, Ace even banished negative experiences or hurtful memories to the other side before retreating from his mind.

It couldn't have been more than a moment when the girl pulled her hand back.

"How are you going to help me?" The man asked. Moments later, he realised his mind had stopped, waiting for something…

…

Where was the voice? The whisper about how this could never have worked? The neigh sayer? The influence?

It… It was gone. IT WAS GONE!

He couldn't speak, too afraid to shatter this dream. Breathlessly he laughed with a tear rolling down his face, searching his head for the voice. Finding it didn't even rob him of the joy pumping through his veins with each heartbeat. It was like its speech was muffled, only there when he focused on it, watched for it.

No longer did it plague his every moment.

"You'll be able to feel the voice when you desire to," the girl said, taking another bite of her now cold pie. "Eventually the wall in your mind will erode, but your mind should have built up a resistance by then."

He could have laughed. Would have too if he was still having trouble finding his voice. When he did though, the gears in his head had started turning, looking at the girl with a more critical eye. "What do you want? What's the cost of this?" There was no way it was free.

"Money," Ace shrugged. Now the man did laugh. It was a sudden, uncontrolled outburst before he promptly recovered himself. "There's a bank around the corner if you can pay," Ace said as she finished off her pie, remembering passing it on her way here with Superman.

It would surprise most people watching how fast the tired, ragged looking man launched out of the booth. Lightning was filling his veins, not even caring if this was a devil's bargain anymore. Barely 2 minutes later they were at the bank.

Some would say the amount of money exchanged was ridiculous, especially between people who had just met. Honestly, the man thought it wasn't enough. It was like he could breathe for the first time in a long time. In comparison, the 7 figure sum seemed poultry, especially considering his wealth.

But once Ace had said it was enough, receiving payment on the card Batman had given to her not linked to Alice Asher, she simply said thank you and moved to leave.

"That's it?" The man asked disbelievingly, dumbfounded when he got a nod in response. "Well… thank you. If you ever need anything, please come to any of my companies and tell them to contact me. I'll make time," he promised. After all, if this is what the girl could do in an afternoon, what could she do all grown up in a day? The things they could do together…

But he wouldn't push today. Being pushy would just lose him a powerful future asset. He would wait for her to come to him. Or create another circumstance for their meeting down the line, once his affairs were back in order; he had let things go a bit awry lately.

"Just tell them to call Maxwell Lord. You never know when you could use a friend," he stated, bidding goodbye to the girl.

Walking away, Ace smiled to herself. Now she wouldn't have to use Batman's money. Even if he could easily afford it, Ace wasn't going to be a leach. No, she wouldn't allow it.

There must be dozens of emotional people who would be willing to pay for some mental help. Grief counselling, repressing trauma, organising their minds, Ace could do it all.

…

Frowning, Ace couldn't suppress the frown that spread across her face as Louis' question escaped its cage to rattle around her head. Each wall it hit echoed throughout her being, shaking Ace to her core.

'What do you want to be when you grow up?'

Batman was a hero, was she? Ace had money, shell companies she could fund to reality, she could do anything. Anything at all… nothing was off-limits...

Why could Ace hear her heartbeat? Her vision was narrowing, blood pumping faster through her small shaking frame Ace felt something swell in her chest. It was like her stomach had dropped while a fire burned in her veins. Like fear and hope were dancing through her soul to a pulsing cacophony.

Ace… had a future. A terrifying, unknown, undecided fate that she got a say in and had no idea what to ask for.

"Sorry for that," Superman paused a moment when he saw a wide smile adorning Ace's features. A grin of his own blossomed at the childish glee clearly visible on her face. "Now, about that pie."