A.N. Okay, this is a sequel to Homunculus Gotham. I wasn't sure whether or not I was actually going to do this… so tell me what you think. By the way, in the last story, Stacy was the one who tried to lead them into the Riddler's trap.

Tick tock.

Tick tock.

Tock.

The sound of the minute hand shifting positions startled her from her reverie, and she looked up with a sweet smile that she fancied herself an expert at. It was the smile of an innocent and it was the smile of a child, and at the same time it was a smile that fit perfectly onto the face of a young woman.

It was a smile that had won over many men and women alike. In fact, that smile had perhaps been her most powerful tool. In it, one would sense no deception, see no hidden lies. Her eyes would smile too, genuine and bright with naïve enthusiasm, reflecting whatever the recipient wished to see. It had been that smile that the Riddler had prized her for.

The Riddler, now a fresh corpse buried in a makeshift grave behind his own headquarters, had left her two things.

An army. She had been his second-in-command and as such she had been privy to all the inner workings of the criminal organization he had meticulously built up over the years. He had left her with incalculable power, contacts and soldiers at her disposal.

But, he had also left her enemies. Neither the Riddler nor his odd associate had managed to kill even one of the homunculi or their allies, and yes, she knew their secrets, how they were from another reality, how they were not exactly human. They were all alive, and by now they must surely have figured out her involvement in the plot.

They all stood against her, they all blocked her way. The Batman, the back-stabbing Scarecrow, and the siblings, Lust/Talon, the shapeshifter, and her Ling. Her beautiful, precious homunculi, who she knew was head over heels for her. She smiled, she could certainly use that.

"To them," she mused, speaking to herself, "I am the white rabbit who betrayed Alice."

"Or perhaps a merely annoying harlequin," a voice behind her suggested with a smile in her words.

"A harlequin?" the girl the homunculi had known as Stacy asked with a frown, snapping around and staring at her visitor, "That's rather insulting."

The new figure approached, and her appearance solidified as she drew closer. She was a young woman, tall and graceful, with caramel colored skin and silky dark hair. A slight smile tugged at her mouth. "I meant no offense," she said, "But I doubt they'd see you as much of a threat."

"Yes," the girl agreed. "Perhaps I can use that to my advantage." With a smirk, she stood and faced the visitor, "Very good to see you, Isley."

"That's Doctor Pamela Isley," the woman corrected. "And thank you. It's good to see you too, Harleen. I understand you have a bit of a problem on your hands, Quinzel."

"Oh yes indeed," Harleen Quinzel said, "Now, what shall we do about it?"

"Whatever shall we do?" Lust purred, a slow, seductive smile creeping up her red lips, her violet eyes narrowed. "All alone, no villainous masterminds to speak of…." With a sigh, she turned and straddled the man sitting next to her. "Dear Bruce," she began again, lowering her face to his neck, and kissing him lightly. In a soft murmur she continued, "Tell me what you want to do today. Anything at all. I'm feeling generous."

Bruce Wayne grinned up at her, and placed his hands around her waist, pulling her playfully closer. "Anything at all, Lust?" he teased, "Don't be to rash."

With a laugh, she raised her head and kissed him deeply. "Really," she sighed, "I think I know what I'm getting myself into."

"I certainly hope so," he replied.

"What did I get myself into?" Greed asked, glowering at Envy.

"Shut up," Envy replied without looking at him, a thin line of concentration marring his brow. "Crane thought it was worth a shot, and I happen to agree with him." With a sigh, he stood, wiping sweat from his face. The paintbrush in his hand dripped red paint onto the floor, but Envy's task was done, a large section of Batman's cave had been converted into a miniaturized alchemy lab, the floor painted with the appropriated runes for making a philosopher's stone.

Greed languidly kicked up his feet, propping them on a nearby table, and admired Envy's progress from afar. "Nice," he complimented mockingly, "But who does the Scarecrow think he's kidding? There's no alchemy in this world."

Envy tossed the paintbrush on the ground and wiped his dirty hands on his jeans. "That Copper kid did alchemy here, and besides, Crane told me there were ancient alchemists here, and they seem to be the predecessor of modern chemists."

"Were they like our alchemists?" Greed pressed, "And moreover, does anyone here have any sort of alchemic ability? Aside from Mason Copper, who's now dead. Any anyway, why would we need a stone? I like it here. Do you really want to go back to good old Amestris where everyone hates you?"

"Shapeshifter, remember?" Envy snarled, "And an exit plan is always good, just in case we blow our lives here, or just get bored. And as for alchemic ability, how hard can it be, right? We'll just try and find someone here who can do it."

"If anyone can. Where is Crane, anyway?"

"Not sure. He said he had to go find some blue poppy, that he was running low of his fear gas supply, or some shit like that."

"Not that you care, of course."

"Why the hell should I?" Envy asked calmly, "He's a human. One that may be necessary for the completion of this little project, but a human nonetheless."

"Huh," Greed said.

Envy walked forward and shifted forms, taking on an appearance identical to Edward Elric's. "And how about you?" Envy asked in his usual voice, waving Edward's arm around for emphasis, "Are you really so uneager to get back to these loser's you called your friends?" Envy smirked with Edward's face, his gold eyes shining with cold glee, "But they're only human, right?" he asked softly, and Greed stood up, shoving his hands into his pockets.

"Find someone else to play with Envy," Greed told him coolly, "I'm not in the mood."

"Aren't you?" Envy asked, and this time his voice was a familiar feminine murmur, "But I haven't even gotten started."