"You've got it." She noted his face and broke off a part of the sandwich and held it up to his face. "Eat."

"I'm fine" he shook his head and turned away-only to come face to face with Alfred.

"No sir, you are not" the butler stated, "it has been nearly twelve hours since your last meal"

Bruce sighed and took the sandwich, along with the small plate that Alfred insisted on putting next to him-and a home made protein shake.

Ciara also placed a large bottle of water beside him. Stingray rubbed his shoulders a couple times, "We have to have you at full strength. Especially when we find these assholes."

"I guarantee you, I'll be ready for them" he growled. Nobody, NOBODY, messed with his city.

"I know. Just humor the Old man and the Mom a little ok?" She said softly. She'd become rather fond of Bruce and the gang. She considered them part of her expanded family.

Sure he had the willpower to push himself but one of these days, his body was just going to say no.

Bruce shrugged and went back to work on whatever Gadget he had been fiddling with while throwing the entirety of one of the mini sandwiches into his mouth.

The next week was long with little progress and less rest, though Batman had made a significant breakthrough. The drug wasn't just something chemical, it was part magic as well which was what made it so difficult for an average person to create and that was why it had to be shipped everywhere. Not to mention, the only people who survived the detox were those who had some innate magical ability-known or otherwise.

So naturally, the next person he called on the scene was Zatara.

"I'm going to need some backup" the magic user declared, "this thing is only half magic so it's going to take three or four magicians to make a strong enough tracking spell for it.

"I think I know just the ladies." Ceres wiped out her phone, "...Horatio, what are your lovely sisters doing?"

"You mean the one swooning over the master of magnetism and his magical world of Genosha, the one who's kicking the butts of Shield's new recruits, the one Rogue sucked up or the one that disappeared?" Horatio replied, currently alone in the library, "Why? What's happening?"

"Something big is happening. There's a new drug out. And it's bad." Ciara explained the situation. "I figure your sisters are perfect for the job."

"Yeah, one of them packs enough magic for two average people" Horatio agreed, "I'll see if I can pry one of them away." As glad as Horatio was that Ceres and Eric were getting along again, the two of them had been spending a lot of time together and that sort of left Horatio... well... reading. And Genosha's library only had a few braille books. He'd come with her for support and now she didn't need him anymore. He had enjoyed spending time with Ciara but then she left to help out Batman. Maybe this was a chance to get back into things? He spoke to Ceres about it almost immediately.

Ceres was in a room with a doozing pedant and several chalked markings all over the room. She threw the pedant across the room. "Damn. It's not working." It kept pointing back to her instead of toward her soul tome. These spells weren't powerful enough. She'd be at it for a good while now. Having told Eric she needed to focus.

She'd even altered the circles and everything she could think of. But it was no use.

"Oh, Horatio. How long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough to have to avoid flying object apparently" Horatio replied, rubbing his arm where the pendant had hit him, "didn't think I had to approach cautiously. Is everything alright?"

"Oh, I'm sorry." She got up and walked over to him. "I've been working on a tracking spell for my soul tome for the last couple of days. But I can't get it to work properly. Because the tome is a part of me, the spells keep pointing back at me. Either that or Loki has found someone to put up wards around my tome. It's very annoying."

"Hows about a distraction?" Horatio offered, "Ciara's at the Batcave, they need a little help with tracking down whoever's been making that new Red Devil drug. I guess you're pretty practiced with tracing spells by now, you could probably do it yourself" he chuckled.

"Wait- The Batcave... Like... BATMAN?" O.O Ceres had no idea Ciara was Stingray or where she'd gone. She'd been rather focused on the task at hand.

Coco rubbed up against Horatio's leg before hopping up on his shoulder, rubbing his face against Horatio's.

"uhhh, yeah. She's part of the group, helps out when they need her-But try to keep that on the DL" Horatio told her, "They need someone with a little extra magical punch. Shall I tell them to send the jet?"

There was a knock on the door and Emma's voice, "So there's a bat-shaped jet outside demanding your presence. You mind telling Batman to clear these little flight plans with Scott first? It's starting to get annoying."

"... or they could already have sent it" Horatio chuckled

Ceres made a little excited noise. "Of course I'll help-... Well that was fast. Coco." Ceres clapped her hands and after a moment of light she was dressed in her magical girl outfit. "Are you coming too Horatio?" She asked.

"Sure" Horatio smiled and soon enough the two of them were at Gotham. Horatio had a sneaking suspicion that Batman kept a jet or two not far from Genosha, just so he could bring Ciara over at a moment's notice.

The team was already set up in an abandoned warehouse that Batman had cleared himself a few days ago, no one would come around here for quite awhile. Zatara was setting up for the spell when Horatio and Ceres arrived.

"Not the batcave. Got it. " Ceres said after asking Horatio if this was the bat cave.

"Batcave is way more impressive" Horatio grinned, "Stingray? You here?" he called for Ciara.

"You're Ceres then?" Zatara walked up to greet her.

"Over here." Ciara waved, looking over Ocrale's shoulder as they went over a few things.

"Hm? Oh yes. Pleased to meet you..." She trailed on, not knowing her name.

"Zatara" the magical girl introduced herself.

Horatio turned his attention towards Ciara, "... care to say that again?" he called to her, stepping forward.

"Oh, here" Zatara took Horatio's hand, "better go around the ruins, they aren't dry yet." she dropped him off with Stingray and then went back to Ceres-but Batman had already taken over there.

Batman had stepped up to Ceres the moment Zatara stepped away, he'd come out of nowhere, having not been in view when they entered and he towered over the girl. His expression was unreadable, especially under the mask, though he gave off the distinct feeling that he was judging her. "You've been briefed?" he questioned in that deep, intimidating voice.

Ceres jumped slightly upon his appearance, tensing up in place, "Y-Yes Batman, sir." Coco who had been chilling on Ceres' shoulder was now puffed up defensively, judging Batman just as much as he was judging Ceres.

"Good." and then Zatara returned and he turned his head to her, "Make sure she's ready. The sooner this is done the sooner we can end it all."

"Aye aye captain" Zatara waved him off. Batman went over to speak to Nightwing and she looked back at Ceres, "First time meeting the bat?" she guessed, "Don't worry, he's that intense with everybody, all the time-but he's really a big softy. Nothing to worry about-unless you mess with his city. Man I do not wanna be the guy behind this Red Devil fiasco."

Coco hissed at him lightly as he walked away. "Coco, please don't anger Batman." She whispered before Zatara came back. "Right, sure. So, locator spell?" She said pointing down at the runes. Coco turning into her staff.