Disclaimer: I own nothing connected to Batman Begins. All the characters you don't know are mostly likely mine.

I'm trying something different with this story, so lemme hear your thoughts and opinions. There is going to be some swearing in this chapter. Nothing too strong though.

"Gordon." Jim Gordon stopped at the sound of his name and waited as a young man wearing a sailor's coat and a black knit hat that covered his short platinum hair caught up with him. They were in the outskirts of the Narrows, just months after Scarecrow's fear serum was released into the air. Gordon still remembered the day with aversion, so many people were killed, either by someone under the influence of the fear serum or driven to kill themselves out of terror.

"Got something, Mick?" Gordon asked as he shoved his hands into his coat pocket. It was cold in the fair city of Gotham, winter was coming through and snow would be falling soon. Mick shuffled his feet for a moment, looking at the ground before looking up.

"I can't have anyone knowin'. They'd hurt me or worse." Mick finally replied. "But I can't let this keep goin' on… you're the only cop I trust." He glanced off to the side as a car passed them by.

"What is it?" Gordon asked.

"You know Hugh Belafonte?" Gordon nodded. After Carmine Falcone was arrested, Belafonte took over the mob business. He had been quiet, all the crime had been on decline and most cops believe that Gotham's crime wave was finally over. However, Gordon believed otherwise, Belafonte could possibly just bidding his time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. And when Belafonte does, there was no telling how it bad it would be.

"He met somebody."

"Really? Why is this person important?" Gordon questioned and Mick finally met his eyes, a sparkle of amusement twinkled at him.

"He goes by the name the Riddler." Mick replied with a slight smile at Gordon's groan.

"First this Batman and now we have a villain named the Riddler? What the hell he called herself that for?" Mick laughed softly at Gordon's words.

"We're enterin' a new world, Gordon. I don't know much about the Riddler other then the fact he likes to leave riddles and jokes. He plays dangerous tricks though so don't underestimate him."

"Great." Gordon paused for a moment, thinking about the implications of the news that Mick had brought to him. Scarecrow had caused a lot of damage before they realized that he was the culprit and it took Batman to bring him down. He wasn't looking forward to dealing with another super villain. "Thanks for telling me Mick."

"Also… there's a cargo Belafonte been waitin' for. It's comin' in tonight."

"Really? At the docks?" Mick nodded. "Huh… okay."

"You won't tell anyone I told you?"

"I promise."

"Good. I'll see you around then, Gordon." Mick waved as he dashed across the street, causing a diver to blare his horn at him. Gordon shook his head at the younger man's behavior. Mick was a mystery to the cop. Gordon had encountered Mick in the streets just days after the fear serum where he was begging for food to feed his younger sister. Their apartment building had burned down during the dark day and Gordon had gave Mick some help, earning the trust and help of the young man. Gordon glanced around, checking the area before flipping his collar up and headed back to the station.

-

"Shit! Damn it Dale, what the hell are you doin'?" Mick exclaimed as Dale, a large bulky man, grabbed him by the coat and slammed him against the wall in an alley. Dale just snarled as he slammed the skinnier man into the wall again.

"Stop it! Shit!" Mick yelped again when his head banged against the brick wall painfully. He grabbed Dale's wrists to try to pry his hands off but the other man was too strong.

"You talked to Gordon." Mick's face paled as Declan, Belafonte's right hand stepped out of the shadows, a handsome man who could charm anyone.

"I swear! I only told him what you wanted me to say!" Mick quickly said, his hands held out beseeching. "Please, I just want my sister back."

"I didn't want you to talk to Gordon. He'd just tell Batman. He's a good cop and he knows the police is corrupted." Declan said as he idly examined the alley with mild interest before returning his blue eyes back to Mick. "I told you to go to Malcolm. I didn't want Batman to know yet."

"I'm sorry! Shit!" Mick yelped again as Dale slammed him against the wall for the third time.

"I think I'll keep sweet Sarah for just a little bit longer. Besides, I have another job for you and if you don't screw this one up…" A cruel smile spread across Declan's face as he leaned close to Mick. "Maybe I'll let you have your sister back."

"Please, Declan." Mick begged. "It's my sister."

"Don't let him off easy. He needs to learn his lesson." Declan ordered Dale as he turned away and walked back to his limo. Dale watched him leave and then turned back to Mick, a deadly look in his eyes.

"Dale, don't do this…" Mick's head snapped back as Dale's fist impacted against his cheekbone and for a moment Mick thought he was going to faint from the pain as Dale adjusted his grip for a another punch. Another blow to Mick's stomach causing his legs to buckle and he would had fallen if it wasn't for Dale's grip on his coat.

"Learn your lesson yet, Mickey?" Dale taunted as he slammed his fist into Mick's stomach again causing Mick to double over.

"Don't call me Mickey." Mick groaned just barely holding onto consciousness. Dale just laughed as he let Mick go, watching as the younger man slide down the wall before kicking him.

"Fine, Mick. See you around." Dale dropped a piece of paper next to him before turning away and heading to the waiting limo, leaving Mick alone in the alley. For a moment Mick just laid still, trying to push back the waves of nausea and the blackness that threatened to take over his consciousness. Then slowly he reached out and grasped the paper, each movement brought groans of pain until he was able to read the words written on it.

Be at the docks at midnight tonight. Don't screw this up.

"Damn."

-

"Mick… whoa you look like shit." A boy just leaving his teenager years said in awe when Mick showed up at the docks. Mick was sporting a black eye, spit lip and was limping slightly.

"Thank you, Miles." Mick shot back with a dirty look. "What the hell are you doin' here anyway? You're too young to be in this kinda shit."

"Declan told me to come." Miles replied, his chin jutting out. He didn't like it when people implied that he was too young to do anything.

"Declan can go to hell."

"Careful Mick, we don't want what happened earlier to happen again." Dale said as he came up behind Mick.

"You can go to hell too, Dale." Mick glared at him, his arms crossed as he stood his ground against the larger man.

"I like you kid. Keep your nose clean, I'd hate to have to kill you." Dale laughed as he pushed by them and led the way to a container ship that was being unloaded. "Your job is easy, all you have to do is keep an eye out for the bat. Got it?" Both nodded before Dale headed towards a group of men gathered around one of the containers.

"Man… you sure got guts." Miles said impressed while Mick just scuffed.

"Declan got a tight leach on Dale. He won't do anything without master's approval." Mick replied. "Keep an eye out will ya? I don't want Declan mad at me again. I can't take another beating."

"Sure man." Miles glanced around for a few moments before getting bored. "So do you think Batman gonna come tonight?"

"Shit Miles! Pay attention!"

"What? I'm bored."

"I can tell that. Pay attention." Mick ordered again as he turned the younger man's head towards the container. "See that?"

"What? The container?"

"Yes. Do you know what's in it?"

"No."

"Trouble. Trouble for you and trouble for me. Plus trouble for Gotham." Mick released Miles' head and watched as some of the men started unloading the container and loading it into the waiting semis. "Batman got a nose for trouble so keep your eyes peeled. There's a good chance he's gonna come. And when he comes… we'd be in big trouble."

"Okay Mick." Miles was more sober now the dangers of the job were finally sinking into his brain. He nervously looked around but everything was calm. "Sure quiet."

"Isn't it?" A female voice asked suddenly from behind causing them both to spin around. She was a shapely brunette, dressed like an old film star. She also liked to flirt and was currently Declan's lover.

"Marsha." Miles exclaimed in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh, I was just wondering what you two fine boys were up to." She purred as she stroked a hand along Mick's cheek before he roughly shoved her hand away. Marsha just laughed.

"Cut it out Marsha. How's Sarah?" Mick asked as he gave Miles a shove for staring at the beautiful brunette. Declan was a jealous type, he'd kill if you even looked at his girls the wrong way.

"Oh, that cute little thing. She misses you." Marsha laughed softly with a wicked smile. "Poor Sarah would just cry herself to sleep she misses you so bad."

"Damn it, woman!" Mick exploded. "Stop taunting me with Sarah's pain!"

"Alright then, Mick. I'll see you around." Marsha blew a kiss at them before disappearing through the stairwell doorway, her laughers echoing. Mick sighed and rubbed a hand across his forehead before returning to his job of lookout, but wasn't really seeing the surroundings.

"Sarah?"

"My baby sister. Declan got her."

"Oh… sorry Mick." Miles returned his glaze to the container ship and noticed a shadow that moved strangely. "Uh… Mick? Is that Batman?" He asked as he pointed out the shadow.

"Shit I was hopin' he wouldn't come today." Mick quickly grabbed his walkie-talkie and started talking into it. "Dale, you got trouble comin'."

"Got it." Was Dale's replied and they watched as the shadow crept closer then jerked when a load shotgun blast went off.

"Shit! Did they get him?" Miles asked and then flinched when another shotgun blast went off along with several handguns. Faintly they could see the men get picked off, one by one as Batman moved effortlessly through them, barely pausing at each one.

"Dale! He's moving your way and they ain't stopping him!" Mick yelled into the walkie-talkie. "Damn it! It's going straight to hell!" Mick swore as he watched as Batman moved closer and closer to his target. He yelled into his walkie-talkie again. "Dale! Answer me!"

"Shit! What should we do?" Miles asked with wide eyes as he watched helplessly. He shifted from one foot to the other as he turned to Mick.

"Nothing. There's nothing we can do." Mick dropped his walkie-talkie and watched as flashing cop cars appear. "I'm so screwed. Declan isn't gonna like this. Miles, I want you to run home, you shouldn't get caught here."

"What! I can do something!"

"Miles! Do as I say!" Mick turned onto Miles, his eyes flashing dangerously and causing Miles to take a step backwards. "Go!" Miles quickly turned tail and fairly flew down the stairwell towards safety. Mick pulled his knit hat off and ran his fingers through his white hair distressed when yelling over the walkie-talkie moved him into action.

"Dale?"

"Mick! Get your damned ass down here and bring the car!" Dale ordered and Mick raced down the fire escape towards the car that waited at the foot. Slipping in behind the wheel, he turned the key in the ignition and laid rubber down. He hasn't gone a more then block before he had to slam on the brakes, the headlights picking out Dale's large form as he hurried towards the car.

"Go, go, go!" Dale chanted as he leaped into the car. Mick slammed his foot down on the gas and the car leapt forward, nearly sideswiping Batman when he suddenly appeared and then they were safe.

"Okay, you can slow down now." Dale ordered as he relaxed in the seat. "You came through Mick."

"What do you mean? He wiped out the entire thing! You lost the cargo!" Mick exclaimed as he eased up on the gas but still felt shaky from the rush.

"But Batman took the bait." Dale chuckled.

"The bait?"

"Yep. The cargo's worthless really. He can't tie it to Belafonte or Declan. Sure, he got some of the guys but they were worthless." Dale shrugged. "Turn here, we're going to Declan's place."

"Why the hell did you bait Batman? You didn't catch him or kill him." Mick asked, his mind spinning as he tried to make sense of what Dale was telling him. It wasn't making sense… unless...

"Simple. It was a distraction. The real crime was committed elsewhere." Dale laughed again as they pulled up to the gates leading to Declan's sprawling mansion. Dale rolled his window down and pushed a button on the intercom.

"Yes?"

"It's us." Dale replied and the gates swung open. Mick slowly drove the car along the driveway and parked in front of the mansion. Then they both got out of the car and waited. Mick shivered and flipped his collar up against the cold wind and saw Dale do the same.

Just when Mick thought that they had been forgotten, the doors swung open and Declan came through with a large smile on his face. Marsha followed behind with a smug look on her face and she was holding Sarah's hand who was rubbing at her eyes sleepily with a teddy bear held tightly to her side by her elbow.

"Sarah!" Mick started forward but Dale grabbed him and pulled him to a stop.

"Ah, Mick, you thought I'd never let you see Sarah again. Well here she is." Declan gestured to the little girl. "However, I can't let her go with you just yet, Mick. I'm not finished with you."

"You bastard! You can go to hell!" Mick yelled before Dale slammed his fist into Mick's side causing him to crumple onto the ground with a groan.

"Mick? Mick!" Sarah screamed as she tried to run to her older sibling, but Marsha wrapped her arms around the little girl and kept her from getting away.

"Ah, Mick. You are only faithful to me when I have your sister. Besides, how I will I know that you won't go to the police the moment I hand Sarah back to you? You know too much." Declan said smoothly as he walked down the stairs and crouched down next to Mick. "You make a good lookout, you know Gordon and he trusts you. Because of that, you are my link to Batman. Through you and Gordon, I can make Batman believe anything I want."

"Go to hell, Declan." Mick spat before Dale grabbed him by the coat collar and pulled him up, about to punch Mick again when Declan held up a hand, halting Dale's actions.

"I hear Hell's nice this time of the year." Declan smirked as he turned slightly away from the two as Mick's shoulders shagged in defeat. He nodded to Marsha and she carried Sarah back inside, ignoring her crying.

"Mick. I have a simple duty for you. I want you to deliver this to the Riddler." Declan held out a letter. Mick grabbed it and stuffed it into his pocket as he braced himself against the car.

"Where do I find him?"

"He goes by the name Edward Nygma. You can find him in the research section of the Wayne Enterprise. You should clean up before hand, they don't take kindly to street trash." Declan eyed Mick up and down.

"You can thank Dale for that." Mick shot back and then flinched when Dale made an aggressive move towards him causing Declan to laugh.

"That's it, keep that spirit! Dale take you to the guesthouse, you'll be staying here for now on. I want to keep an eye on you." Declan laughed again as he headed back to his house with a jaunty wave over his shoulder. Dale grabbed Mick by the collar of his coat and they headed towards the small buildings out back. Upon reaching a small guesthouse, Dale shoved Mick inside and locked the door behind him. Mick glared at the door rubbing the back of his neck before turning to take in the place. It was nicer then the hole in the wall he had been living it but it was still a prison.

"Um… hello? I'm looking for Edward Nygma." Mick shuffled his feet as he watched a young woman give him a look of great distaste. The secretary nodded, a bit distracted but seemed to be doing her job. Finally she glanced up.

"Seventh floor, room 703." The secretary replied before going back to her job. Mick nodded and pushed away from the desk, headed for the elevators. He pushed the up bottom, glanced at a pair of young women who were staring at him and gladly went into the elevator the moment it arrived. Mick sighed as he unbuttoned his coat and pulled off his knit hat, shoving it into a pocket. It was warm in the building, comfortable if you weren't wearing a heavy coat but sweltering when you were.

"Oh, hello." A tall young man dressed sharply in a suit looked up in surprise at finding Mick in the elevator. For a moment they rode in silence, Mick shooting sideward glances at the other man, there was something familiar about him but Mick couldn't place his finger on it, before the man suddenly turned to Mick with a hand out to shake.

"I'm Bruce Wayne." He smiled. Mick remembered this was Gotham's playboy prince and he was riding in the same elevator.

"Mick." Mick replied as he quickly released Bruce's hand. The elevator doors opened and a man looked at them before stammering that he would take the next elevator. "Sorry about that, the people around here don't seem to take to me for some reason." Mick shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't think it was just you, most let me have the elevator to myself." Bruce joked, breaking some of the tension. "What brings you to Wayne Enterprise?"

"I gotta deliver a message to Nygma." Mick replied and then kicked himself for telling the playboy that much. "Not much really." He added.

"Nygma? Hmm… I don't remember him." Bruce said thoughtfully as he crossed an arm and tapped a finger on his chin thoughtfully. "Wait. He's that strange one, with the helmet?"

"Err… I don't know, I never met the man." Mick admitted. Sure sounds like something the Riddler would do though. When the elevator's doors opened at seventh floor, Mick quickly hurried through, Bruce Wayne made him nervous.

"See you around." Bruce called out and Mick just waved a hand as the doors closed again. He leaned against the wall and tried to gather him courage back up again and jerked when a pretty woman walked by wearing a lab coat. She shot Mick a puzzled look but decided to ignore the stranger.

"Nygma? Edward Nygma?" Mick asked as he pushed the slightly open door wider and peeked inside. At fist all he saw was an office room cluttered with random junk and papers that covered nearly every surface. The computer was on screensaver mode and he could see a bunny bouncing across the screen. "Hello?" The door swung open to reveal that Nygma wasn't in.

"Shit. Now I gotta hunt him down?" Mick groaned to himself and turned just in time to see a man with wild hair and wearing a strainer on his head. "Nygma?" Mick asked in disbelief as he stared.

"Hmm? Yes? Wait! Let me try this out really quick, it's a mind reading device you see." Nygma rambled as he hurried into his office and started plugging his 'helmet' into different things. "Now, think really hard, okay?"

"Err…" Mick got out before Nygma's fingers flew across the keyboard and then suddenly there was a loud bang and the lights went out. Mick could hear other people yelling and complaining about the loss of power.

"Eeeouch. Whoo! What a rush!" Nygma exclaimed and Mick could smell the scent of burning hair. Then the lights came back on and Mick could see that Nygma's hair was standing on ends and smoking slightly. The helmet was missing.

By this point, Mick's eyes were wide as they could go and he was sorely tempted to run. Anywhere, as long it wasn't near this crazy guy.

"Um… Nygma?" Mick asked. "Are you okay?"

"Oh sure, I'm fine." Nygma paused for a moment as a puzzled look came over his face. "Do you smell something burning?"

Hope all of you enjoyed this chapter, more coming when I write them.

The chapters do update faster the more reviews I get though! Hint, hint! So click that button and let me hear from you. :o)

Lady Fanuilh