When I get free… Bruce thought angrily as Hawkgirl and her friend stalked past the glass. Focus Batman- how should you get the handcuffs off?

It was no binding familiar to him, but as an experienced escape artist, Bruce doubted he would stay here for long. He could easily move and bring his hands out in front of him as opposed to behind him and make use of that, but then there was the force-field to get past.

Smashing aimlessly against that would do nothing at all, so his only option was to sit tight and wait for something to happen. Make himself broken. It wouldn't be hard. Next to his super-powered comrades, it was easy to overlook him. The Thanagarians had proven themselves to be arrogant already, and even with Shayera's input, he would be ignored while they were handling the others. They had even left him his utility belt. Idiots. They had forgotten one of the most important rules of war- never leave an opponent with their weapons. Even in a locked room, or an "impenetrable" fortress. It was like leaving the Joker in a straightjacket while he still had a knife or a gun on him. You just didn't do it.

Batman eyed his cell again. If the control panel was inside the cell, he would have happily smashed it up and killed the field. However, it just so happened to be outside, so that wasn't an option (he could probably thank Shayera for that one).

And the Boyscout wondered why Batman wasn't friendly and why he hadn't wanted to team up with the others or even Superman himself. "You make it seem like everyone who talks to you is hiding something," Clark had told him once.

And he'd been right, hadn't he? Hidden agendas, secrets, spying… Bruce was used to it. However, his capture –Batman's capture- and that of the rest of the Justice League, was just embarrassing.

Clark and Barry would be weak by the time they got out- the only thing that could hold Superman without killing him would be red sun radiation, so his powers would be dulled.

Barry could vibrate through most bindings, so Bruce had to assume they were using an extreme force to hold him inside his cell, and keep him down. It would be some sort of gravity trap, weighing down on Flash so he couldn't move.

Diana could be held as he was, but he imagined she would be tied up. They wouldn't bother with her legs- if she couldn't reach what she wanted to kick, and couldn't move her arms, they would see no threat.

The League's best hope was her escape.

That left Lantern and Martian Manhunter. The Martian would no doubt be captive in a similar device to the one he and Superman had first found him in all those months ago.

John would be no better off (probably in a worse situation) than Bruce without his ring, so that would have been taken off him… Where would they put it? He or any of the others would need to get it quickly and having a place to start looking might help. The eyes of his cowl narrowed as the answer presented itself. Not where it was; who it was with.

Hro Talak.

Commander of the Thanagarian army.

Batman knew he and John were competing for Hawkgirl. It would be his way of telling himself that he'd won –a symbol of victory. He would have taken it himself from John himself, but shared it around with some of his officers. Degradation of the ring and its former wearer, because anyone could hold it now. All they would have to do would be to find the most irritating of the Thanagarian force, and they would find the ring. Batman recalled some annoying Thangarian some of the others had mentioned… Kragger, maybe?

Bruce relaxed his breathing and his scowl, aware that it could attract unwanted attention from the circling guards. The action reminded him of vultures.

And speaking of birds… Where was Robin in all this? Bruce sincerely hoped he hadn't gone out on patrols. From the sounds of it, anyone spotted in a hero uniform (or costume; it really depended on the person) had been detained under Thanagarian marshal law.

No, Bruce told himself, Richard is a smart kid- he'd know better than to attract attention.

…Hopefully.

There was still a doubtful, nagging voice in the back of his head that reminded him of the two choices Dick would have been faced with. They were to keep his head down in an act of self-preservation, or to protect Gotham from the hawkmen.

Self—preservation? Bruce nearly laughed, that will definitely be his choice. After all, Batman and Robin are always thinking about themselves, and staying safe.

He pressed himself into a corner of his sell, back facing wall. From here, he could see outside well enough. No one could sneak up behind him in the position, or push him over. He would have clear view of anyone who came inside before they reached him, and if any of the guards had conversations in front of the shield, he could read their lips- maybe even find out some of the things they were planning.

Batman wouldn't sleep –that put him in a far too vulnerable state. He could, however, preserve energy he would undoubtedly need later. The shadow across his cowl made it impossible to tell his eyes were open or not. His body wouldn't react- his position wouldn't shift or change whatsoever.

His eyes closed. Bruce took one deep, quiet breath through his nose, held it for a second, and then slowly exhaled.

Falling into this pattern of blank consciousness seemed easier each time.

He would hear any significant sounds and pull himself back when he needed to, but for now, Batman simply fell into patterns of breathing.

There was no truly coherent thought, no significant colours and no weight to his body. He conscious took the form in the sound of his breath.

Exhale…

…Inhale…

…Exhale…

…Inhale…

…Exhale…

…Inhale…

…Exhale…

…Inhale…

Batman drifted.

BWBWBWBWBWBWBWBWBWBWBWBWBWBW

'Security breach in cellblock seven!' someone called, instantly pulling Batman out of his subconscious state.

Batman fought Bruce's urge to grin.

Diana.

And there she was.

As he ran to the front of the shield, she came into view, deflecting energy beams from the Thanagarian guards.

'Diana!' Batman called, 'the force field!'

She got the message.

With one powerful Amazonian punch, the outside control box was destroyed and the field died. He ran to her side and was about to say "cover me" when she told him to free the others. He'd been right- Flash was under a gravity beam. Unfortunately, while he praised himself for that, some stupid guard punched him. Only once though, because after throwing a few round punches, Batman threw him into the force field.

He could have destroyed the panel with a kick or smack from his handcuffs, but he preferred it this way. No one punches the Batman without paying for it. He gave the control panel inside a kick and destroyed it. Flash looked up tiredly.

'I feel like I just ran a marathon on Jupiter,' he said.

'You can rest later,' Batman told him.

After having the cuffs unlocked and grabbing the keys, Batman went for Superman. Another of his presumptions was correct- red sun radiation.

'The lights,' said Superman weakly.

Batman pulled one of his arms over his shoulder, 'Lean on me.'

Busy supporting Clark, there was very little Bruce could do when they were swooped by another guard and sent tumbling to the ground. Two guards came his way, so Batman left Superman to deal with his own. It wasn't a fair fight- two Thanagarians (one with what looked to be an giant electric war hammer) fighting Batman. It really wasn't fair on the two of them.

In the time it took Clark to get smacked around, Bruce had dealt with the two and stolen the bigger one's hammer. Batman gave the hawk punching Superman a good smack on the head with the hammer, before helping his comrade up.

'Here, try this,' said Batman, handing him the hammer. Even with dulled strength, Clark could make good use out of that.

He pulled another hammer off of the fallen guard, and then he and Clark got to dealing with the guards.

Batman didn't see how it happened, but a massive hole was blown through the side of the ship, and he ended up being pulled into a piggyback by Superman. Batman was not pleased, but he knew he'd be less pleased if he was left in the ship to drown or combust.

He would get him back later.

AUTHOR NOTE!

Hello!

This is the first chapter of a new story of mine.

I will be updating very soon.

Bruce knows Superman and Flash's secret identites, but none of the Leaguers know his. Why? Because he's Batman, and I find it hard to believe that Bruce would have gone to Metropolis with a mask that could be seen through by Clark ("World's Finest" animated movie).

Flash doesn't know Bruce that knows who he is.

Flash is Barry in this version, seeing as I like Wally being around the same age as Robin.

Leave a review if you feel like it!

-Tonks