Batman peeled the cowl from his head and dropped it onto the workbench with noticeably more force than usual. Sweat clung to his hair from another long patrol, but he paid it no attention. His expression remained carved into a deep scowl as he strode toward the Batcomputer, already reviewing the night's reports before the suit had even fully powered down. Across the cavernous Batcave, countless monitors bathed the room in pale blue light while the distant hum of servers blended with the drip of water echoing through the cave. Gotham slept above them. Down here, the night's work was only just beginning.
The elevator descended with its familiar mechanical groan before opening to reveal Nightwing and Robin. Dick Grayson tossed his escrima sticks onto a nearby workbench as he walked over, looking every bit as frustrated as Bruce felt, while Tim Drake removed his domino mask and raked a hand through his hair. Neither of them looked particularly pleased with how the evening had unfolded.
"Same old Underpass," Dick muttered as he dropped into one of the chairs surrounding the central computer station. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees while studying the digital map of Gotham displayed across several monitors. Colored markers highlighted suspected safe houses, abandoned warehouses, hotel properties, and dozens of locations that had at one point belonged to the organization. "Even with their boss halfway across the country they're still impossible to pin down."
Tim folded his arms and continued staring at the map in disbelief. Several of the highlighted locations had already turned gray, signifying that Batman's intelligence had once again arrived too late. "I don't understand it," he admitted. "We had solid intel. Surveillance confirmed people entering those buildings yesterday. Informants said those warehouses were active less than twelve hours ago." He looked toward Bruce. "How do they keep disappearing before we get there?"
Batman continued typing for several moments before answering. "Because that's how they were built." A series of satellite images appeared across the screens as he spoke, each showing different locations spread throughout Gotham. "Most criminal organizations eventually become comfortable. They establish territory, fortify it, and defend it. The Underpass never made that mistake. Even after becoming the dominant criminal force in Gotham, they still operate like drifters."
He enlarged one of the warehouse images before replacing it with another taken only hours later.
"They expect every location to be compromised eventually. Every warehouse, every safe house, every apartment, every storage facility. Their people are trained from the beginning to leave with almost no notice. Equipment is packed for transport. Sensitive information rarely remains in one place for long. Their infrastructure isn't designed around holding territory." Batman's expression hardened slightly. "It's designed around surviving."
Tim frowned as he absorbed the explanation. "Yeah… I get that." He drummed his fingers against the edge of the console, thinking. "What I don't get is why we keep chasing these little bases. Why don't we just hit the hotels?" He gestured toward the map where several Continental properties stood prominently marked. "Or the docks? We know they're using both."
Nightwing answered before Bruce had the chance.
"Because neither option actually solves anything."
Tim looked at him.
"The hotels are legitimate businesses," Dick continued. "Legally speaking they're some of the nicest hotels in Gotham. They pay taxes. They employ hundreds of people. They donate to charities. They host fundraisers. The staff are professionally trained, customer reviews are excellent, and every inspection somehow comes back spotless."
He leaned back in his chair with an exasperated sigh.
"We've already tried exposing them. Hidden rooms, suspicious guests, all the things you'd expect to hurt a normal business." Dick shook his head. "Kieran just smiles, explains everything away, invites reporters to look around, and somehow comes out looking even better than he did before. Half the city ends up believing we're harassing a successful businessman."
Tim grimaced.
"And the docks?"
Dick's expression became considerably less amused.
"Different problem."
Batman finally turned away from the computer.
"The docks are where the Underpass is strongest."
Several new images appeared across the monitors, showing shipping yards stretching along Gotham's waterfront.
"They've spent years embedding themselves there. Longshoremen. Shipping companies. Independent contractors. Security firms. Customs brokers. Most of them aren't members of the Underpass, but enough are sympathetic that they function as an early warning network."
Nightwing nodded.
"The second we move against one section of the docks, everyone else knows about it. By the time we'd fight through the resistance and secure the area, anything worth finding would already be gone."
"And even if we brought the entire team," Bruce added, "the collateral damage would outweigh the gains. Gotham's shipping industry would shut down for weeks. Thousands of innocent people would lose work. The Underpass can afford that."
"We can't."
Tim let out a long breath before rubbing the back of his neck.
"…Fine."
His frustration was obvious, though he made no effort to hide it.
"So what's the plan now?"
Batman pressed a key on the console.
A digital invitation appeared on the central monitor.
Elegant lettering.
Gold trim.
The Continental - Star City Grand Opening.
Nightwing only needed one glance before rolling his eyes.
"Of course."
Bruce ignored the remark, "I received this."
Tim looked between the invitation and Bruce, "You're actually going?"
"I'll be attending the opening." Dick gave a dry laugh.
"I swear, every time Kieran opens a new hotel you end up RSVPing."
"It's an opportunity."
"To get manipulated."
"To gather intelligence."
Nightwing smirked.
"Same thing."
For the briefest moment, Bruce almost looked amused. Almost. The expression disappeared as quickly as it had come.
He turned his attention back toward Tim, "And remember something."
Tim straightened slightly, "It might feel like we lost tonight."
Bruce gestured toward the dozens of reports displayed across the Batcomputer.
"But we still removed criminals from Gotham's streets. Drug traffickers were arrested. Two kidnapping victims made it home alive. Three illegal weapons shipments were intercepted."
He met Tim's eyes.
"The Underpass wasn't our only target tonight." Tim remained quiet.
Bruce continued, "We've hurt them before."
His gaze drifted toward the map."We've cost them money. Interrupted operations. Forced them to change plans. And they adapt but so do we."
A quiet determination settled over the cave, "Don't mistake an enemy's resilience for invincibility."
Tim slowly nodded, "I won't."
Batman looked once more at the invitation glowing on the screen.
"Besides…" His voice was almost thoughtful now. "Kieran invited Bruce Wayne."
A faint scowl returned to his face, "I think it's time Bruce accepted. I have some tasks for you two."
***
Hectic.
Hectic didn't even begin to describe what lay before Nolan's eyes.
The grand lobby of the Continental had become a living organism, one fueled entirely by organized chaos. Hundreds of people hurried across polished marble floors carrying everything from flower arrangements to crates of expensive liquor. Bellhops practiced greeting guests while housekeeping gave the already spotless floors one final polish. Chefs barked orders from somewhere beyond the swinging kitchen doors, their voices occasionally carrying into the lobby before being drowned out by the constant chatter of managers coordinating the final preparations. Outside the towering glass entrance, luxury vehicles began arriving one after another, delivering investors, reporters, local politicians, and contractors eager to witness Star City's newest landmark open its doors.
The grand opening was only a few hours away.
If Nolan were being completely honest with himself, he doubted he would ever grow accustomed to this sight.
His Gotham locations had certainly experienced busy opening days, but nothing remotely comparable to this. Those hotels had grown naturally, expanding alongside Gotham itself until the Continental had become another familiar fixture of the city. Star City was different. This wasn't simply another hotel opening its doors. This was the first Continental beyond Gotham. Every success or failure tonight would shape the company's reputation across the country.
Everything needed to be perfect.
Ironically, Nolan was perhaps the calmest person in the building.
Managers rushed between departments carrying clipboards. Supervisors checked schedules for what had to be the tenth time that morning. Employees nervously rehearsed greetings beneath their breath while department heads obsessively searched for problems that had already been solved. Nolan simply walked among them with his hands tucked comfortably into his pockets, offering the occasional correction or word of encouragement whenever someone looked particularly overwhelmed.
There wasn't much point in panicking.
He had hired the best architects he could find.
The best contractors.
The best department heads.
The best chefs.
The best trainers.
When you paid for excellence, the sensible thing to do was trust excellence.
If something went wrong…
Well.
The world would continue spinning tomorrow.
People often acted as though mistakes were disasters. Most of the time they were simply inconveniences.
"It crept up on us, boss."
Nolan turned to find Dre weaving his way through the sea of employees. Unlike everyone else rushing from place to place, Dre seemed perfectly content walking at his own pace. He wore one of the newly tailored black suits prepared for senior staff, though the broad-shouldered man still looked far more comfortable in work boots than polished dress shoes.
"It always does," Nolan replied with a quiet smile. His eyes drifted back toward the controlled madness unfolding throughout the lobby. "Time has a funny way of speeding up whenever there's too much to do."
Dre chuckled.
"Ain't that the truth."
For a few moments they simply stood together watching the organized chaos unfold before them. Staff hurried past carrying trays of champagne flutes while decorators made microscopic adjustments to floral arrangements that already looked perfect. Somewhere overhead someone shouted for another ladder before immediately apologizing for shouting.
Dre rubbed the back of his neck, "Sorry about the other plans."
The grin he'd been wearing slowly faded. Nolan didn't need him to explain. He already knew exactly which plans Dre meant.
The homeless communities.
The recruitment efforts.
The gradual expansion they'd hoped to establish before opening night. It hadn't gone poorly. It simply hadn't gone as well as they'd hoped.
Nolan gave an easy shrug, "It would've been nice."
Dre looked down at the polished marble beneath his feet, "I wanted more."
"I know."
"We could've done better."
"We probably could have."
Nolan rested a reassuring hand on the older man's shoulder, "But we still accomplished something worthwhile."
Dre looked back up.
"We reached people who would've never spoken to us a month ago. We hired good men and women. We gave people opportunities they otherwise wouldn't have had." Nolan smiled warmly. "That's progress."
"It don't feel like enough."
"It never does."
Nolan's voice remained gentle, "We were ambitious." A faint chuckle escaped him, "Perhaps a little too ambitious."
Dre finally managed a smile, "You always know how to make failure sound respectable."
"I prefer to call it adjusting expectations."
"Fancy words."
"One of my bad habits."
That earned a genuine laugh.
"Yeah…" Dre nodded to himself "…that sounds about right."
The disappointment slowly left his expression. He straightened his jacket before flashing Nolan a grin.
"Well… have fun tonight, boss."
His smile widened mischievously.
"I know I will."
Nolan laughed.
"I don't doubt that for a second."
"You enjoy yourself too."
"I'll try."
"You'd better." Dre pointed accusingly at him. "If I catch you workin' through your own grand opening…"
"You'll what?"
"I'll complain."
"You already do that."
"I'll complain louder."
Nolan shook his head with another laugh as Dre wandered back into the crowd.
The moment lasted only seconds before reality reclaimed him.
"Mr. Everleigh?"
Nolan turned. One of the event coordinators hurried toward him carrying a clipboard.
"The catering staff has finished preparing the ballroom."
"Excellent."
Another manager approached almost immediately afterward.
"The press entrance has opened. Reporters are beginning to gather outside."
"Any issues?"
"None so far."
"Good."
Before that conversation could end, someone from housekeeping requested approval to open the executive suites. A department head from security needed clarification regarding guest escorts. The restaurant manager wanted confirmation on the evening's schedule while the concierge politely informed him that several prominent businessmen had already arrived earlier than expected.
Nolan handled each conversation without ever appearing rushed.
He answered questions.
Adjusted schedules.
Approved requests.
Redirected problems toward people better suited to solve them. Every employee who approached him left looking calmer than when they'd arrived.
Gradually the frantic energy throughout the hotel began to settle. The running stopped.
Voices lowered.
Staff took their assigned positions.
Bellhops lined the entrance.
Concierge personnel straightened their uniforms one final time.
Valets moved toward the front drive.
Somewhere beyond the massive glass doors, camera flashes began illuminating the evening air.
Guests were arriving.
Nolan glanced once around the magnificent lobby.
Crystal chandeliers shimmered overhead, casting warm light across polished marble floors. Fresh flowers decorated every available space while soft music drifted through hidden speakers. Employees stood proudly at their stations, each one wearing the same quiet confidence that came from weeks of preparation.
A small smile crossed his face.
They were ready.
The massive entrance doors slowly swung open.
The first guests stepped inside.
The Continental of Star City was officially open.
——
A/N: kinda important author note, so obviously choosing young justice as one of the main templates means a lot of characters and a lot of changes. Robins especially. In the show Jason Todd story line is off screen, I get comments extremely often about the joker etc. the two main issues is I don't know if I can do the joker justice and two almost every instance of the joker appearing Nolan would just kill him instantly. That being said I'm still figuring out when and how I want him to officially make an appearance. Speaking of young justice there are a shit ton of characters. The timeline is vast and to be honest I have to check the wiki often to figure out who is in the team at what point. So with all of that being said don't focus too much of the timeline of certain young justice events/ characters.