Batman: Clipped Wings
A Fanfiction Story written by Ian Butler
Chapter 1: "Always On An Average Day"
Just another night in Gotham, Batman patrolled the dark alleyways and gloomy streets for criminals who refuse the cards that they were dealt in life and rebel against authority. Batman stood on a skyscraper, having been the Batman for several years now, he's realized that the city he wanted to fix seemed mostly the same from when he began. For every four people in this city, one of them is a thug, a criminal, a psychopath or worse. For that moment, Batman felt like he was just making a broken system, even worse… He stood at the top of that building a blankly looked at the streets while he thought.
And all of the sudden, Alfred's voice came through his earpiece. "Theres an armed robbery at the Princeton bank down in the 3rd street, you'd better hurry." Said Alfred. Batman dove off the building and glided down the street. After a short while, Batman observed the city from above. It looked peaceful when there was a crime in action or a crazed druggie pointing a gun at an innocent man. The city looked powerful, massive, like a beacon of hope in a city of terror.
Batman arrived at the bank to find two armored vehicles out front with its passengers inside the building. Batman grappled to the top of the building and went in through the ventilation ducts. As he crawled through the ducts he could hear some robber screaming at the bank teller, "Put the damn money in the bag! I'll shoot you lady, get the money in the bag or you die today!" That's something Batman has noticed about criminals in his time, whenever they talk about killing they say it brieffest form they can to avoid the fact that they are committing a horrible act. Batman crawled to a point above the robber and dropped from the vent. He landed on top of the robber, effectively knocking him out. The other five thugs armed with machine guns were immediately struck with fear at the thought of Batman at the scene. Shortly after Batman arrive, the lights went out and the entire bank went dark. Now Batman was in his element, he went around the room and took down each one individually with skill and precision. The only sounds to be heard were the sounds of panicked gunfire and choking and the only sights to be seen were the flashes caused by the gunfire. The bank tellers and workers huddled in fear as their Dark Knight did the job that the police could not.
After a few minutes of near silence in the darkness, the lights came back on and Batman stood at the behind the counter of the bank teller, dropping a sack of money on the counter and leaving the all five of the thugs cuffed and tied together. Batman left from the front door of the Princeton bank and began investigating the two armored vehicles. The vehicles didn't have much inside it, other than ammunition, guns and tools which was fairly typical for this city's criminals. What he did notice was a business card that said the name, "Carmine Falcone" on the back of it. He most of been getting sloppy, he's been in this business too long it seems. Batman then scanned the treads of the armored cars and noticed that they left a trail. Batman followed the trail from the tops of rooftops all throughout the street, eventually leading to a skyscraper known as the Monarch building. Standing out in front of it, Batman placed his finger to the side of his cowl and said, "Alfred, can you get me a list of the current occupants of the Monarch Building?" Alfred then replied, "Certainly sir, just a moment… Alright, I'm sending you the list now." After Alfred said this, A list of one hundred and seven different people appeared on in front of Batman, he searched the list for the name Falcone. Eventually he found it but also the name Oswald Cobblepot. "This was going to be interesting, it was clear now why Falcone had left all those clues, he wanted me here…" Thought Batman to himself. Batman then did a thermal scan of the building and found that a short man and a relatively tall man were sitting together in their own room on the 34th floor. Batman did was any time, he climbed the building until finally reaching that room where the two sat. He placed a small explosive on the window and climbed in through the window to the right of Falcone's room. Two armed gunman stood just outside the door to Falcone's room. Batman decided to detonate the miniature explosive, causing the window to explode and the guards to rush inside the room. Batman followed behind the guards and clunked their skulls together. The Penguin sat in the chair adjacent to Falcone, upon noticing him, Batman said, "The Penguin, Falcone what are you two doing here?"
The Penguin quickly answers, "Well Mr. Batfreak, We were having a lovely conversation, sharing a drink and enjoying the evening. So if you leave us to our merry ways, that'd be much appreciated."
Falcone then looks up at Batman and said, "Look, Bats, I was just taking out a deposit from the bank, no big deal right. I mean, I had to replace the money the Wayne's stole from me somehow."
"What are you talking about?" Said Batman.
Falcone leaned forward in his chair and said, "A while back me and the Waynes had a little deal, I'd sell him some product and he'd hand over the money. Except Mr. Wayne skipped on the money, ironic isn't it. The millionaire didn't bring any cash. So this robbery was gonna repay that, and guess who owes me money now!"
"That can't be true, The Waynes would never do business with the likes of criminal scum like you." Replied Batman.
"Oh it's true alright, Even people as high and mighty as the Waynes are just a dirty as the scum of Gotham." Said the Penguin.
Batman, sick of the conversation, said, "You two are coming with me. But before he could cuff them. The door behind Batman exploded and in the doorway stood ten armed guards. Batman was pushed back by the explosion, so much so that he shatter the table in the back of the room. While Batman tries to get back to his feet. One of the armed gunman came up behind him and laid the end of his gun to his head. Batman grabbed the gun and hit the gunman with the stock of the gun, knocking him out cold. Batman then dropped a smoke pellet, and began taking down the gunman one at a time through the smoke. He took them down with very little problem, his experience in combat was beyond any normal gunman had, it was wheat to sickle. After a few moments, the smoke cleared and there laid ten unconscious gunmen on the floor. Batman then tied up the Penguin and Falcone up and hung them out the window. Within a few hours, the police arrived on the scene and took them all into custody.