Identity
Dusk set over Gotham City to Batman tackling a group of the Black Mask's thugs. One knife, five business suits, ten pairs of hands and feet and one Dark Knight. The attacker holding the knife struck first, Batman disarming and knocking him unconscious. Nervously, the other criminals glanced at one another, unsure who would take on the man in the cowl. The thing was, was Batman a mere man?
"Bring it on," Batman growled at one of the men.
He replied with a straight jab, it was easily blocked, Batman striking his palm directly into the thug's temple. Dazed, the criminal threw punches at his colleagues, the group back tracking up the corridor in Sionis Incorporated, a mid level skyscraper anonymous in the Gotham skyline. Naturally, Batman had worked his way up to the top floor. The now unconscious enemy fell on the cream linoleum, the 8 foot windows shining orange light through on his fallen body. The remaining three men kept backing up, eventually feeling the double doors behind their bodies. As they desperately tried to open them, Batman struck three fast blows to their heads.
"Sionis, you might as well come out and get this over with."
Batman scanned the luxury head office, the pine panel flooring, a fire place, a hand crafted desk curiously made out of smoked black wood. Twin marble pillars cast large shadows adjacent to the doors and the huge window to the rear of the desk showed Gotham at its best, the end of the old day.
PING-PTING
Shots ricocheted off the marble walling behind Batman, causing him to flinch.
"That was a warning, Batman," Black Mask said, his gravelly voice instantly familiar.
"I don't do warnings," Batman replied, throwing one batarang at each pillar.
Black Mask crouched to avoid one of the weapons and blindly fired from his position, punching holes in Batman's cape.
"Shit!" Sionis shouted, his frustration allowing Batman to move closer, light steps but crucial.
Reloading, Black Mask grinned under his façade, he had the Dark Knight now. Or so he thought. Stepping out into the fray, a padded glove smashed a tiny fraction of the forehead from Black Mask's 'face'. Putting his hands up, he blocked Batman's next punch, striking at his kidneys, in turn being blocked himself. Getting his left leg around, he swept Batman from the floor, pummelling him as he lay, forearms up. Sionis was determined, if he killed Batman, he would rule Gotham.
"Si-on-is..." came Batman's voice, never deterred, just concentrating on not getting hit.
Black Mask refused to answer, he wasn't stupid, he wasn't going to fall into the trap of letting his own guard down, part punching, part taunting. He knew it would lead to his arrest.
Light slowly faded, shadows becoming long and distorted, Black Mask finally got through and delivered a hard blow to Batman's stomach. The sound of knocking the wind out of his foe was glorious, it was euphoric. Drawing his pistols, Roman Sionis aimed dead eyed at his enemy, the insane man in a bat-themed cowl. He could do this, he himself wasn't crazy, his own visage was an accident. He could do this. He knew he could.
BANG
He shot Batman in the heart, a tiny yelp coming from Sionis' motionless face.
"I-I...killed him..."
Black Mask lowered his weapons, idly standing, surreal emotions crossing his body and mind.
"Not quite." Black Mask heard, raising his pistols in preperation.
Batman lifted his right arm, his batclaw shooting and grabbing Black Mask's braces, slamming him to the immaculate flooring. The thud seemed to knock Sionis unconscious. Standing, Batman heaved Black Mask over his shoulder, the sound of an elevator nearly arriving in his ears. The Dark Knight walked to the large window, the elevator having arrived with five of Sionis' bodyguards carrying automatic rifles.
"Let him go Batman!" One of them called.
"We won't hesitate to kill you!" Shouted another.
His left arm free, the vigilante reached to his utility belt, grabbing a small ball bearing before throwing it down, a cloud of smoke appearing and muzzle flashes coupled with the shattering of the glass leading to Batman's escape and Black Mask's arrest.
Gotham Rehabilitation: One hour later
"Good evening Edward, how are this evening?" The almost seductive voice of the psychiatrist said to the man through the panel in his cell, she entered soon after, accompanied by Aaron Cash.
"Fine, doctor. I don't know why you've brought along security Miss Blackburn, you're perfectly safe with me."
Cash walked briskly to The Riddler's bed, where he lay, "You shut your mouth Nash, if you know what's good for you." Cash handcuffed Edward Nash to the bed, the open room a lifestyle update to his usual Arkham prison cell.
"I love this place, it makes a real difference to my though patterns, I think I'm going to like it here." Riddler explained to the staff. "Plant pot in the corner, extra chair, an bathroom not in the place I sleep. Real nice touch."
"Don't get used to it Edward, Blackgate is re-opening in a couple of weeks." Blackburn said.
"Really Miss Blackburn? That's a real shame. That is, seeing as I'm at Arkham, not Blackgate. I'm insane, or did the other psychoanalysts not mention that to you?"
"It's being used as a temporary prison. Also I wouldn't worry about what I think Edward, I know of your insanity, I can assure you."
"Pfft, where's Doctor Strange? Isn't he going to talk to me instead of you? I'd much prefer a real genius to talk to, not a sycophantic meddler who believes they can cure me."
"I just want a chat."
"I'm bored of mindless chatter. How about a riddle?"
"Go on."
"What comes once in a minute, twice in a moment but never in a thousand years?"
Trudy Blackburn thought for about it then answered, "The letter M."
"Nice try but wrong."
"How is it wrong then Edward?"
"The answer, or answers should I say are...your boyfriend, Mr Cash over there and yourself, you cold, sexless bitch."
Cash once again headed over to Nash, "...smart mouthed piece of sh-!"
Miss Blackburn held up her hand and stopped Cash, "Leave him. He's just trying to get under our skin."
The officer stood down, never keeping his eyes away from the Riddler, who smirked at him triumphantly.
"Ahem...Edward. How did you feel when Batman had you arrested?"
The Riddler's smirk dropped into a scowl whilst Cash's did the opposite, "He cheated! He must have cheated! You call us crazy? At least we have goals! He thinks he's righteous but he's not! He steals to get his gadgets, how else could he have that technology? Robbery and deceit!"
"Calm down Edward."
"Look, I was, obviously, in quite a rush at Arkham, he knows that. He knows I can outsmart him."
"How did you feel when the police knocked down your apartment door?"
"Upset and then...happy."
"Happy?"
"Yes."
"Why? You were just denouncing him as a cheater."
"Because, my dear Miss Blackburn, I can refine and improve my riddles without any of his cheating."
Two hours later
Tim Drake scoured the roofs near the Iceberg Lounge, Penguin had not been incarcerated for several months and had stayed out of trouble but he needed information. The moon was half full, just as the whiskey glass in the luxury suite of the nightclub was. Tim fired his line launcher, hitting the modern building just above the highest windows. He climbed up and walked across the tightrope, merely a figure in the darkness. Robin could hear hearty laughs coming from the room.
"So let me get this straight boy, you want to work with me?" Oswald Cobblepot otherwise known as The Penguin asked an unseen figure.
"You mock me but I can help you bird man."
Robin pulled off his hood and cape, his shaved head feeling the brisk winter wind. Leaning over the edge, Robin let himself down over the side, his boots inches away from the glass. He waited.
"You're lucky I even let the likes o'you in 'ere. You stink for a start." Cobblepot said, the single glazed window providing a low-tech replacement for using a high powered, directional microphone.
"Listen to my words bird man, you will never be on top without my assistance. The Batman cometh."
The Penguin took a drag from his cigar, the sauntering smoke making the unknown man cough.
Finally, The Penguin spoke, "You're a mockery of this business. Piss off before I stub this out on your rodent face you little prick."
The reply was fast and harsh sounding, the mystery man was obviously offended, "You say I am the mockery when you are the flightless bird, an overfed midget that has gotten too big for his boots!"
All Robin could hear were screams of pain to which he crashed through the window, the loud music from the nightclub below covering his entrance. The Penguin had been burning the Ratcatcher with his cigar.
"Ah if it isn't the Batman's little mate! I was merely discussing a business proposition with my friend here." The Penguin stated.
"What proposition might that be then?" Robin questioned.
"I have rats in the basement! You can understand, you're a little, filthy rat yourself."
Robin reached his arm behind his back, wrapping his hand around his baton.
"You keep calling me little when it's clear that you're the shortest person in the room. I've met ten year olds taller than you."
The Penguin rushed forward in anger, Robin pulling the baton from behind and hitting the mob boss over his skull. His pained cries as he lay on the floor drowned out Ratcatcher's own whimperings. Drake stepped on Cobblepot's right arm and looked to the Ratcatcher.
"Otis, why do you keep doing this?"
Ratcatcher looked up, his gas mask hiding his pained expression, "Doing what? I only do what I want is best for myself."
Robin sighed and trampled The Penguin's hand instead, "Where's Killer Croc?"
"How should I know? He doesn't work for me any more!"
"Stop lying and tell me." Robin put more pressure on Cobblepot's hand.
"Argh! All right you bastard! He went back down to the sewers. Told me to give him some fresh meat if I needed him to come back."
"Good birdy," Robin said, kicking The Penguin's head.
The Ratcatcher stood in silence, his hands clasped, his breathing under the mask heavy and irregular.
"You can help me here. Where in the sewers is Croc, Otis?"
"I don't go to his area, he told me he would devour me if I even stumbled to his area. My area is my area, his area is his area. I wouldn't disobey him. My rats cannot take him on."
"Okay, okay, calm down Otis," Robin reached to his belt, pulling out a folded map of the sewers. "Show me on here where he is."
The Ratcatcher pointed to the majority of the pipe works, Robin sighed, "Anywhere more precise?"
"No, he roams the sewers as he would his own. Even if you're silent whilst down there, he'll find you."
"Thanks for your co-operation."
Robin jumped on to the window sill, Ratcatcher ran towards him, "Am I not to be imprisoned?"
Turning his head, Robin nodded, "I would take you to the police Otis but you've been a big help tonight, I'll let this incident go."
"Really?" The criminal replied.
"No." Robin dead panned. "Can you not hear the sirens?"
"B-but I helped you! My rats can't live without me!"
The sirens got louder, "I'm sorry Otis. You escaped Arkham, you're a fugitive."
The Ratcatcher fell to his knees and sobbed, The Penguin babbled to himself angrily. Robin leapt on top of the roof and picked his cape up, a small beacon for the police fell from it and he destroyed the device.
"Good job I used that. I had no rat poison."
A.N. Thank you for the reviews so far. I really want the villains to shine through as more than just foils for Batman, to make them darker and more realistic.