Beth Kane

"...who is this woman? I know my libido is high but I am not going to fondle a woman while she's asleep."

A blonde woman, tall and lithe, lay on a bed in Julia's bedroom. Arriving at her apartment, Aaron anticipated many things but not a snoring blonde. Her face was eerily familiar but he couldn't place a name on it. He glanced at Julia, who wore white shorts and a t-shirt. Pyjamas, in other words.

"Sorry, sorry, that's not it." Julia rubbed the back of her head, nose flaring in a sigh. "She's a close friend of mine and she…well…I think you can help her, Aaron."

"What's her name?" Aaron asked. "I trust you didn't introduce me to someone who will jeopardise our plan."

"On the contrary, she'll boost it." Julia smirked and gestured at the sleeping beauty. "This here is Elizabeth Kane, Kate Kane's twin sister. In other words, Batwoman's twin sister."

'Twin sister…?'

He crossed his arms. Suddenly, this got twice as interesting. "Go on."

Nodding, Julia began her explanation. "See, the Kates weren't exactly like their cousins, the Waynes. The Kate family had a military background and were very influential and very important to Wayne Industries' development in the military field. Anyway, that's not what's important. What's important is that the Kanes did a lot of stuff because of their work, and when the twin sisters were just twelve, the family got kidnapped in Belgium and nearly died."

"Sounds awful."

Question was: where was Julia going with this?

"At first, everyone thought Beth died in the ****. But turns out…" Julia plopped down at the edge of the bed, close to the woman's pale feet. "...she was actually taken by this crazy group called the Religion of Crime. They brainwashed her and she ended up becoming one of their top members, going by the name Alice. It was a split personality formed from the trauma of losing her family. A way to cope with her radically changed life. Later on, she even took up the name Red Alice after the Religion of Crime's big boss kicked the bucket."

"So, she was a villain?"

"Yeah, she got caught up in the whole villain gig. But there have been moments where she's tried to turn things around. Kate told me that during one of their earliest confrontations, Beth didn't know they were sisters at the time yet still saved her life. When Beth did learn they were sisters, well…ever since, her split personalities have been at odds. She's been brought back from the dead, fought alongside her sister, and had some moments of peace. But it's been a bumpy road, and she's still carrying a lot of baggage."

Redemption. That was Julia sought from him: a way to redeem this woman whose childhood had been stolen from her. Who tittered between good and bad due to her fucked up upbringing.

"You really think she can change?" Aaron asked.

"I think so. Deep down, she wants to make things right. With the right support and a bit of luck, she might find her way back. She's gone through so much therapy and she used to live with me and Kate. We took care of her and I just…" Julia inhaled, passionate. "I just think she can do it. That's why I think you can make a difference in her life, give her a chance to find some sort of redemption. Zatanna tried and she got really far. But with you…you can help Beth find the peace she's been searching for. I just know it."

Huh. Julia really believed in him. It felt…really good to hear, especially from someone who wasn't hypnotized. She believed in him, Aaron Reigner, because she thought he could make a difference. Was there a better feeling in the world–to be acknowledged by Alfred Pennyworth's own daughter?

"Let me guess: this is the real reason you joined me. Because you wanted me to heal your friend."

Rather than look guilty, Julia nodded. "Partly, yes. There was your dick, of course–" Her eyes flickered to his crotch, smirking. "But I also did it because I figured you, as the magical Chosen One, could do anything. That was what Selina had been saying all day when I got kidnapped."

"And so you thought I could heal your friend."

"Yes. Alice has been pestering Beth for too long. She's almost forty. This can't go on. I…I can't bear to watch it and neither can Kate."

There was no shame in Julia's words. Fear, yes, but no hesitation in her conviction. 'Good,' Aaron thought. Helping people was his top priority. If Julia had been the kind of government agent that cared more about the mission than morality, then he would have hypnotized her and sent her along as his obedient servant.

"W-where am I…?"

Speak of Alice in Wonderland and she would appear. Elizabeth Kane slowly rose from the bed, rubbing her eyes. Julia immediately came to her side.

"Beth, don't worry, you're alright," Julia comforted, hand on her back. "I brought you to someone that can help you."

"Huh?" Elizabeth–Beth–opened an eye and peered up at the crossed Aaron. "H-hello, sir."

She was tall but soft-spoken. Her green eyes darted, instinctively searching for an exit. The door was wide open and she relaxed.

"Hey." With a flick of his hand, he summoned a wooden chair and sat on it. Elizabeth blinked with wide eyes.

"You're a magician, like Zatanna," she muttered. "Are you going to use your magic?"

"Sort of," Aaron said. "I'm not going to cast a spell on you and fix you up. I'm going to emphasize the faithfulness in your heart."

"Faithful…ness?" Elizabeth repeated, still wide-eyed. She looked to Julia for support. "Um, what does he mean? Will he be able to make Alice go away?"

"Yes," Julia answered with a sincere smile. "Alice will go away."

Her short, shaggy hair seemed to shiver. "Then please do it. I don't want to hurt anyone anymore. I just…want the voices to go away."

He responded to her concerns with a comforting smile. "Of course." Aaron held out his hand. Nervously, after a few glances, Elizabeth took it. A surge of warmth enveloped her heart and mind. In that moment, a profound sense of healing and restoration washed over her, as if she had been touched by a divine presence. Aaron softly clutcher her with compassion and unwavering faith.

With a gentle touch, the power of Faithfulness flowed into Elizabeth's being, penetrating the depths of her wounded soul. The fear, the hate, Alice and her destructive tendencies, they began to lash out wildly. Elizabeth trembled.

"Just believe in yourself," Aaron said, almost whispering. His words resonated deeply within her. In her heart and mind, a kaleidoscope of emotions unfolded as the power worked its magic.

The fragmented pieces of Elizabeth's shattered identity began to mend, like a jigsaw puzzle being pieced back together. Doubts and fears were replaced with a renewed sense of purpose and a profound connection to the world around her.

"I…" Her green eyes stirred and flashed red. Alice, her second personality, seemed to break apart. No, Alice wasn't gone, she was…one with her. The goodness within her had swallowed Alice whole and changed her. No longer was there Alice and Elizabeth: there was only her. The comrade Julia knew as Beth.

"Beth?" Julia called out, hands opening and closing, her nerves lashing out. "Are you alright? Are you feeling fine?" She glanced at Aaron. "I thought you were going use hypnosis–"

"Not everything has to be done with hypnosis," he cut off. "Just watch."

Julia turned back and witnessed her friend breathe. Slow, steady breaths, as if she was a newborn seeing and feeling for the first time. "I…" Elizabeth bit her bottom lip. A shine appeared at the edges of her eyes. "Alice is…with me now. The voices…they're gone."

"T-they are…?" Julia blinked. Without warning, she threw herself onto the blonde. "Thank god…thank god…"

Elizabeth's arms hugged her back. Tears stained their shoulders. Aaron sat in his chair, smiling. Bringing people happiness…this was why he was doing all this.