Batman

It was the goddamn Batman.

Aaron straightened up as his white eyes settled on him. The legendary hero glanced between him and then the **** bodies of Leviathan grunts.

"Who are you?" Batman approached him. He was much taller than Aaron expected. Broader too. He was like a walking, talking building, yet as he walked closer, a non-threatening aura surrounded him. "What happened here?"

"I'm Aaron Reigner. I didn't take out these guys, it was someone else."

"Lady Shiva. This is her doing," Batman noted with frightening accuracy. "I assume you managed to escape the Tournament of 100?"

Aaron blinked. Leave it to the World's Greatest Detective to figure it out. He explained to him what happened, from the daring escape to the appearance of Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy, omitting his background participation in Batman Incorporated's fight. He explained the lever controlling the platform needed to be pulled with someone left behind.

Batman's mouth was set in a flat, unamused line. "You're stuck."

"I guess so."

The remaining vigilantes from the battle poured inside. Batwoman, Batgirl, Katana, the Huntress, the Signal, Lady Shiva, even Talia al Ghul. All of them wore varied expressions, from pain, relief, regret, all the way to satisfaction.

"Jason could have at least stuck around."

"You know him. He's got an image to keep."

There were new faces too–or rather, new costumes. Nightwing and Red Robin. Their blue and red colour schemes were too iconic not to recognize, especially coupled with Nightwing's dark blue Escrima and Red Robin's long, silver battle staff.

"Enough about Jason. If only you idiots had followed my lead, then maybe Prometheus wouldn't have gotten away." It was a boy that was maybe fifteen years old. The newest Robin, Damian Wayne. He sounded bitchier than Cassandra described him, donned in a black cape highlighted with yellow and wearing a domino mask.

Speaking of Cassandra, finally, after the vigilantes trickled in one-by-one, he saw her. Mask ripped off, hoodie torn, neck bruised, and eyes down-cast. She trailed behind the Signal and then…

She glanced at him. Her eyes went wide.

Her little jog as she came up to him was cute, especially with the smile wearing at her expression. Aaron pretended to be surprised.

"Cass, you're here," Aaron greeted with a slim smile of his own. His smile fell as he knitted his brows in concern. "You…don't look too good."

"I'm okay." A palm touched his heart. "You're okay?"

"More or less, yeah." The spiritual relief oozing from her was palpable. Too palpable, like she had known he was going to be here. "Wait…did you know I was going to be kidnapped?"

Cassandra rubbed the back of her neck. Her eyes darted down to his feet. "Mhm. Sorry."

He tilted his head. "Was that why you did that whole thing about wanting me to leave the city?"

"Mhm."

"Well, if that was the case, you could have just told me."

"Couldn't," Cassandra replied. "Was explicitly told I wasn't allowed to share information with those outside the family."

Such loyalty. He was impressed. Leave it to Cassandra to remain tight-lipped, to keep herself true to her cause. It was why he admired her so much.

He could feel the boring gazes of the Bat Family–plus Lady Shiva and Talia al Ghul. Aaron briefly wondered where David Cain was. Maybe he left or the Penguin grabbed him on the way out?

"Wait, wait, wait." Robin, Tim Drake, pulled Cassandra back by the shoulder. "I know I said that but, like…who is this?"

"I'm Aaron." He waved a hand.

"Who?" Nightwing repeated.

"Aaron Reigner."

"Never heard of you," Nightwing replied. He looked between the team. "Did Cassandra ever tell any of you about someone named Aaron? Steph?"

The purple-themed Bat shook her head. She tilted her head as she inspected him. "Nope. Never seen or heard of this guy. It's weird." She clicked her tongue. "Very weird…"

"You mean suspicious," Huntress added, squinting.

"Nice jaw, sharp eyes…" Lady Shiva had suddenly closed the distance between them, her head moving up and down. Like everyone else, she was inspecting him, except her examination was rather technical and close. "...lean muscles, good looks…is this your partner, daughter?"

"No!" Cassandra yelped.

Tim Drake pinched the bridge of his nose. Nightwing rubbed his mask as if wondering if he was in a dream. Damian Wayne behind his domino mask squinted. Batwoman put a hand on her hip. Stephanie Brown's Batgirl did the same but with less gusto. The Signal, Duke Thomas, looked like a lost child without parents. Nobody could move or speak as bewilderment overrode them, even Batman. Talia was perhaps the sole exception, rather intrigued than shocked.

"She pulled a Bruce," the Huntress muttered under her breath. He had no idea what she was referring to but the younger Bat Family members concurred.

"It's nothing like that," Aaron chimed in, contrasting Cassandra's discord. "We're close friends, that's all."

Admittedly, it hurt to say that. Still, seeing Cassandra's mother cradle her chin and deconstruct him like a toy dulled the pain. He needed to be as cool as a cucumber right now.

"I see," Lady Shiva muttered.

"Have you all lost your minds?" Damian Wayne stomped his way through and placed himself in front of Aaron. He glared at him, then Cassandra. "This man knows our identities. Orphan–Batgirl–have you lost your mind?"

Cassandra was not intimidated in the slightest. Smiling, she wrapped an arm around his waist and said, "Don't worry, I trust him." She beamed up at him like he was the light of her world.

He blinked twice. For the second time today, his mind was stunned by the sheer kindness of her gesture. It was a simple one-handed hug, a subtle and proud introduction of someone, yet it meant everything to Aaron.

Meanwhile, everybody else stared at Cassandra like she was crazy.

"The GCPD are coming," Nightwing suddenly announced. "We gotta go."

"The Commissioner will buy us some time," Red Robin stated. His eyes fell on Aaron. "What should we do about him?"

"Oracle," Batman said, tapping his cowl, "we're having a guest. Ready some coffee."

Aaron was impressed. 'The World's Greatest Detective, indeed. He somehow knew I was addicted to coffee.'