Tugging down his rolled up sleeves, Billy complained, "I don't see why I have to come- I'm sure the invitation wasn't even meant for me anyway. Batman doesn't exactly like me."

Clark was having none of it.

"Nonsense," he said, folding down his collar, "Bruce likes you a lot. Black hair and blue eyes- how couldn't he?" Clark joked.

"Yeah man," Conner nudged the still fidgeting boy, "he's totally cool. Plus there'll be too many of us at the table for him to even notice! Mr Wayne's probably just gonna think you're me."

Having pulled on her wedges, Lois squinted at the two boys as they stood next to one another. In pique mum-style, she grasped both of their faces, turning them left to right as she scrutinised their features.

"Hmmm yeah..." Lois said. "you two look awfully similar. You could be twins." She whispered to her husband, "Isn't that precious!"

Sat on the sofa besides his girlfriend, Damian ran his fingers through his hair, silently lamenting its unruly state, "Is there no spell I can learn to keep it straight?"

Raven rolled her eyes and pulled his hands away from his hair, "Stop it." She commanded. "Your hair is cute like this."

He huffed indignantly.

"TT. I don't want to be cute."

She leaned forwards and brushed the hair out of his eyes. Curling a midnight strand around her finger, she replied, "Tough." And pressed a kiss to his lips.

A shrill, "Ewwww!" From behind the other sofa broke them apart.

Eyes flicking upwards, Raven raised an eyebrow in Billy's direction. Pulling the straightened frontal chunks of her hair out of her face, Raven wondered at the general immaturity of boys.

Pushing himself up by the spongy armrest, Damian snorted. " 'Billy Batson' the orphan. I wonder where he's hiding the adoption papers."

His girlfriend (now moving to re-tie her laces) snorted a poorly disguised laugh, watching Billy's cheeks flare. Smirking, she gave Damian a sly handshake, appreciating the dank humour.

As Billy moved to defend himself, going so far as to roll up his sleeves, Clark lay an arm over his shoulder, assuring the boy, "C'mon Damian's just joking."

Passing her husband, Lois hummed, "Well Bruce does have a thing about orphans." Fixing a hoop earring through her lobe.

Deadpan, Clark said, "That's enough chitchat folks-" Damian suppressed a comment or two about his colloquialisms, "-we'd better get a move on or we'll be late."

Clark turned to the demon, pushing his glasses up his nose, "Are you sure you're good to portal us there?"

'Portal', Damian mouthed, baffled as to whether or not it could be a verb.

Raven nodded, standing and pulling her boyfriend up with her. She straightened her jacket, brushed down her shorts, and asked, "Are we all ready?"

A panicked, muffled, "Wait!" Eschewed, as Conner slurped the contents of his leftover milkshake (they'd popped out for lunch).

Having drained his drink, Superboy gave a thumbs up. "Yup, good to go!" he said, excited to be travelling by portal for the first time in a while.

Hands aglow, Raven stood before them, opening a purple void in a space cleared in the living room.

"Wait! Where's my handbag?"

The red accessory was in Lois' hands a moment later and Billy smiled at her.

"It was on the table."

All diversions out of the way, Raven led the way in to Wayne Manor and out of Metropolis.

***
"Wonderful to have you back Miss Raven. "Alfred greeted with a bow. He glanced at Damian, "And of course, you young Master."

Damian sniffed indignantly, exaggerating a mumbled greeting of his own.

The group was directed to the largest living room before dinner, generally with little fuss. The only event to significantly raise the butler's blood pressure was Conner knocking in to a painting on the wall- the half-Kryptonian insisted on hovering rather than walking like the rest. Having dapperly wiped the sweat from his forehead, Alfred precariously re-placed the several hundreds of years old painting besides the brassieres, giving a warning to the guests to, "Please do watch yourselves as you pass the corridors."

In spite of the late summer humidity, the hearth had been lit and the curtains drawn in the living room. Splayed across the several grand sofas (vintage French pieces, Alfred noted) were several people whom Conner had met, and some whom he hadn't.

The rugged biker dude with the white streak- clutching a copy of Little Women. Jason Todd.

Blonde mess in the corner. Stephanie something.

There next to her was an inconspicuous blob- oh no...the blob had a mop of black hair sitting atop an unnaturally pale face. Hadn't he seen that face before? Jack...Joey...no that was stupid...

A lightbulb pinged in Conner's mind. Ahah. Tim.

Another one of the dark and mysterious lot. Another person he had to worry about besides Robin and the demon.

Welcoming them was the imposing Bruce Wayne himself, who rose from his seat opposite Tim and said, "Have a seat. We should be taking dinner shortly, but for now please relax."

His tone was pleasant, sociable, and entirely in-Batman-like.

Billy was thrown off. He'd seen Bruce Wayne on television, watched the suave billionaire sweet talk the toughest of hosts.

He couldn't shake the thought that...Bruh...that's Batman...

The others seated gave their own greetings, staying planted on the sofas (which didn't sit right with Billy: it seemed rude, perhaps what Alfred would consider 'discourteous') save for one. The woman rose to stand besides Bruce, black-painted nails resting upon his shoulders like claws.

Eyes keen, green but not at all mean, Selena smiled at the group, "Hello," the voice came out as more of a purr.

Catwoman, came the silent consensus of the others.

Lois narrowed her eyes. Her only prior experience with the woman had been being chucked off a roof by her. That did not place the woman in her good books.

Damian had already flung himself on to the closets sofa directly opposite the glowing fireplace.

"Sup bastard." Jason greeted, lobbing a pencil at his brother's head.

Damian held his hand out in front of him. A metre from his head, the pencil rebounded as if from an invisible barrier. Eyes round and mouth agape, he looked around, checking that the others had seen it. He turned around on the sofa, head poking over the top and breaking the passive-aggressive dialogue between Selena and Lois.

"Raven, Raven! Did you see?" He called to her.

She hurried over, looking around the sofa and floor, "What is it?"

He grasped the demon's hands as she lifted a pillow, "I did a non-verbal barrier spell. Just now. I managed it! Non-verbal!"

And I didn't even help! Anubis enthused. That was quite wonderful!

Raven squeezed his hands and grinned, "Brilliant! Why that's wonderful!-"

I said that!

"-any growing fatigue? Pains? Did you envision the barrier or..."

Failing at hiding his true reaction to their enthusiasm, Bruce purses his lips, "Anyway.."

"Aw they're so cute." Selena interrupted, glancing over his shoulder at the seated pair as they continued their animated discussion.

Conner looked past Mr Wayne to Raven and Damian- they were very cute. Glancing away from them, Conner sought the others that he hadn't recognised. A dude and two girls, he tallied.

Huh, one of them was in a wheelchair. Red hair, glasses, purple hat on her shirt. Conner deduced that was the first Batgirl. Of course, eyeing the wheelchair, Conner realised that she wasn't the current Batgirl.

On the sofa, besides the guy Conner was yet to know, curled yet another member of the Dark and Mysterious Club. Choppy black hair dusted the top of her shoulders and soft almond eyes smiled at something the guy besides her had said. Apparently noticing Conner's stare, she stared right back, eyebrows drawing forwards as if to figure out his own thoughts.

Conner wondered if she was some sort of telepath-empath-witchy-person like Raven. He didn't feel anything funny going on in his brain, so perhaps not. Though his heart seemed to be thudding awfully loudly: Conner mourned his pride with the knowledge that Clark could hear it beating out of rhythm. Dark, reserved and mysterious....how was Conner supposed to deal with this family when nearly all of them fit under that category. As if Raven and Damian weren't bad enough.

With an abrupt smile, the girl seemed to have concluded her search for answers. Nervously smiling back, Conner found his hand almost raising to wave. He stopped himself for smacking his head at the stupidity of it.

"Uhh, Conner my bro, are you gonna come sit or....?" Billy tapped him on the shoulder, pulling him back to reality.

Conner realised he was the last one left standing aimlessly. Lois and Selena sat in between their respective romantic interests, more warmth seeping in to their conversation when Selena reached the topic of the alter egos of Bruce and Clark in comparison to the men themselves. Lois' Batman impression was an immediate hit, sparking a peal of laughter from Stephanie and even a chuckle from Damian.

Billy took the seat besides the guy Conner didn't know yet- he introduced himself as 'Duke...I'm not related to him', and pointed towards Timothy, who was in the process of melting on to the floor.

The only open space was next to the girl who sat on Duke's other side. Conner stumbled over, immediately regretting walking rather than hovering. He perched himself awkwardly besides her, pulse racing when her knee brushed his arm (as she hugged them close to her body).

Carefully observing the pair, the empath leaned in to Damian's shoulder and whispered in to his ear, "Conner's at it again."

Her boyfriend, showing no subtlety, turned to stare at the two, smirking at Conner's unnaturally straight back and awkwardly folded arms. Damian did a double take, noticing his sister's periodic glances towards the half-Kryptonian.

Sure to use the sharpest point of his elbow, Damian jabbed at Stephanie.

"Ow! What the fu-"

Damian cut her off with a malicious grin, "Look over there."

Stephanie bottled her enthusiasm by squeezing her boyfriend's arm to the point that Tim was sure it would be blue and green tomorrow. After glancing around, she was crestfallen to see that Dick was missing, subsequently substituting him for Barbara.

Fabulous and flawless Cassandra, flustered over a boy! Surely not!

But the pink tinge to her cheeks (trumped only by Conner's) told no lies. More to the point, her aura told no lies.

Amongst them, Conner was the first to speak, "Hey- uh- I don't think we've met before." He held a hand out, "I'm Conner."

She shook his hand with a surprisingly firm grip, and said, "Cassandra."

Now that, Anubis commented, is cute. I wonder if Hathor is playing upon them. Oh! Anubis exclaimed, catching Damian's attention.

What is it? The boy demanded.

Look who has arrived!

A mass of red hair was all Damian saw before he was suddenly smothered in jasmine perfume, ribcages threatening to break. Raven was squashed in to his side, trapped in the same embrace.

"Greetings Raven! Damian! It has been far too long!" Kori squeezed. "Dick has told me of your forming a relationship. I would be happy to share some experience regarding the most effective methods of se-"

"Kori!" Raven cut her off, pushing back Starfire's arms. "It's good to se you again."

The formidable Tamaranean relinquished them, hands on her hips, "I know it has only been weeks, but it has felt as years! How are the both of you?" She didn't leave room for them to answer, adjusting the strap of her dress, "It is so wonderful to see you." Kori turned to My Wayne and said in her ever-pleasant, even voice, "And thank you for the invitation Bruce, it is lovely to see you again as well."

Damian's father nodded his welcome, "Thank you for coming Koriand'r, please take a seat- if there's anywhere left to sit."

Selena rolled her eyes at his celebrity-Mr-Wayne-voice, but eyed the alien all the same, marvelling at her extensive fiery hair: even in a ponytail it reached the back of her knees.

Behind her, Dick saluted them all, "Of course, I'm happy to see you all too."

A.N:

Hello my darlings how's it going?

Sooo...thoughts on today's chapter?? There's more to come for this lot so stay tuned! Things may get a lil spicy!

Oop. That's all for now!

Happy Halloween my darlings!!!!

-Bats :3