This fanfiction is dedicated to the memory of Heath Ledger…
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Kim Possible is owned by Walt Disney Productions
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Batman is owned by DC Comics
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The Dark Knight
Chapter 1: Life Goes On
Triton, Colorado, eleven years later …
Police sirens filled the air as several SWAT vans and police cruisers roared through the streets. In practiced speed, the SWAT team and police officers quickly surrounded the three-story office building.
"We got 'em this time, Chief Detective," An officer said as they came to a stop at the police standoff.
"We'll see," the red-headed woman said, narrowing her emerald green eyes on the building. But unlike the rest of the police presence, she focused on the rooftop instead of the top floor where the desperate thugs were holding the office workers hostage. She squinted when she saw a split-second flicker in the shadows. With a shake of the head, she reached for the police radio. "Possible to Gordon…"
"This is Gordon," was the static-laced response.
"Don't worry about the signal; he's already here." Kim Possible climbed from the car and stepped toward the taped-off line. "Ok, let's wait for the Commissioner's pet to clear the air, and then we go in and clean up. Are we clear?" she asked the SWAT officers, who all nodded in understanding.
"So, now what?" one asked.
Kim just smirked as she leaned against the SWAT van. "We wait for the screaming to start and stop."
(-V-)
"Wonder why the cops haven't tried to rush us yet," one thug said, noticing the others were making sure to avoid every shadow.
"We know why, so stay alert," another barked. "They've probably called IT in…" he drifted off with a gulp. "Watch the shadows…"
The men jumped slightly when the door to the hallway echoed from someone knocking. "What the…" the leader blinked. "Mike, check it out…"
Mike glanced to their leader and nodded before slowly moving toward the closed door. He slowly, carefully opened the door and peeked out into the hallway. He looked for several moments before glancing back at his boss. "No one's out there-" he started but was cut off when the door was kicked open and a teenaged boy swung in, kicking both feet into Mike's back and pushing him into the ground.
"Excuse me," the boy smiled down at the groaning thug as he couched on top of him. The teen was dressed in a crimson tunic with a yellow R on the left side of his chest, over a green battle-suit, black gloves and boots, a flowing, black cape, and a large domino mask over his eyes. "Is this party invitation only?"
"It's the Bird!" one of the thugs cried out, pointing to the caped teen. "If he's here… EVERYONE AWAY FROM THE SHADOWS!"
But it was too late as a caped figure leapt from the darkness like a demon preying on the wicked. The once-cocky group of criminals now screamed in terror as the Batman and his partner quickly moved about them, sending them to the floor or to the wall in unconsciousness.
The gang leader saw his friends being manhandled and showed his care and commitment by screaming and running out of the room. He almost made it to the door to the stairs when it kicked open, sending him stammering back. He eyed the attractive redhead as she walked into the hallway, watching him just as carefully. "Yes, just what I needed, a hostage …"
He climbed to his feet and started to go toward the woman, but before he could even reach her, a cabled batarang flew from behind him and tied up his legs, sending him right back to the ground face first.
He barely had time to mutter a curse before Batman was on top of him, slamming his face into the unforgiving floor. "I could have taken him," Kim said with narrowed eyes.
"I know, but there's no need in getting your hands dirty," Batman growled as he kicked the thug to make sure he was unconscious.
"Do you always have to show off?" Kim asked as Robin peeked out of the office.
"I wasn't aware apprehending dangerous criminals before they could harm innocent people was showing off," Batman growled as he cuffed the thug's wrists behind his back.
"Right… I'm just going to go… in here and… tie up some bad guys…" Robin said as he glanced from Batman to Kim and back again before disappearing back into the office.
"Is there something I can help you with, Chief Detective?" Batman asked coldly as he stood and turned his back.
"Why should I ask you for help anyway?" Kim spat as she checked over his work on the thug. "It's not like you've ever told me anything truthful."
"The situation's under control, Detective," Batman said, ignoring her jab. "Robin and I have a few more stops to make before we call it a night."
Kim could only glare at the cold figure before looking away. "I hate you." She said, feeling the tears well up in her eyes.
"I know," he whispered in response as he faded into the shadows of the hallway, leaving her alone with the unconscious criminals just as the police came through the stairway door.
In a nearby alleyway, Robin sat in the passenger seat of the Tumbler as the Batman joined him in the driver seat. "Kim's still mad?" Robin asked, earning not even a grunt in reply as Batman started the car's engine. "Can't really say I blame her, you know; that was a really stupid move, but four years?" Batman simply glared at his younger partner. "This really is getting to you, isn't it?" Robin asked, still not getting a verbal response from his partner. "Do you need a hug?"
This time, the answer came from Batman gunning the engine, throwing the teen hard against the back of his seat.
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The following morning, school began as it always had at Middleton High School. Teens gathered in the locker walled halls of the school, among them were three girls. "You already dumped him?" Dinah Mankey asked as she walked with her best friends Barbara Possible and Helena Rockwaller. Dinah and Helena were dressed similarly in rather form-fitting jeans, Dinah wearing a low-cut tank top, Helena a purple button-up blouse that looked a size too small.
Barbara, on the other hand, was wearing baggy jeans and a loose fitting jersey, her long, red hair tied up in a pony tail and a pair of glasses with a row of freckles across her nose. "He served his purpose; he got me into Cobblepot's club, wasn't as exciting as the seniors led us to believe, though," Helena snorted as she led the three girls through the hallway. The three then caught sight of a dark-haired teen with several of the school's flocks of mindless female worshipers just outside earshot. "Hey, Dickhead!" Helena called out and waved as they approached.
"Morning, Hellspawn, Dinah," Dick Grayson greeted with a yawn, "Babs, Rufus," Dick smiled as his pet bat Vlad swooped from his letter jacket to chatter with the naked mole rat in Barbara's pants pocket.
"Late night?" Barbara asked in a soft voice, glancing around for any eavesdroppers, only seeing Dick's usual swarm of drooling fangirls.
"Wasn't too bad," Dick smiled, "Few of the same old same old… but Ron and your mom had a run in."
Barbara Helena and Dinah's eyes widened monetarily. "Oh, my God… was anyone hurt?" Barbara hissed.
"I got out of the way before any violence could happen," Dick said as he took his books, and the four started down the hall. "And as usual, the old man refuses to say a thing about it…"
"I was so scared she wouldn't forgive me when she found out I knew the truth about my father…" Barbara bowed her head slightly. "He was only trying to protect us, but mom really doesn't see that…"
"He really could have gone about it a lot better, but that's Ron for you, his way is the only way just because he got personally trained by a bunch of crazy ninjas makes him Dr. Phil or something," Dick shrugged.
"That ramble made no sense," Helena pointed out to her companion.
"Did I ask your opinion?" Dick cocked an eyebrow.
"Didn't have to." Helena crossed her arms.
"Can't you two get along for five minutes without getting into an argument?" Barbara rolled her eyes as he glasses slid down her nose.
"No," Helena, Dick, and Dinah said in unison.
Barbara snorted slightly before walking past them toward their first class of the day. "Hey, wait up!" Dick called as he ran to catch up with the girl. Helena narrowed her eyes slightly before she and Dinah followed along behind them. If Dinah and Helena had their choice, they'd take a seat in the back of the class, but as always, they sat as a group. And unfortunately for the two, Dick and Barbara always had to sit at the front.
"Alright, listen up, people!" the substitute teacher, vice principal, and football coach Mr. Barkin yelled as he entered the room.
"This day just keeps getting better…" Dinah groaned as she laid her head on the desk.
"Mrs. Anderson unfortunately was hospitalized yesterday after an unfortunate event at lunch involving the mystery meat, so I will be your teacher for the foreseeable future!" Barkin growled out, causing looks of shock and discomfort from the class. He couldn't be sure, though, whether they were from the announcement of what happened to their teacher or the fact he was teaching.
"Better and better…" Dinah rubbed her face. "If it got much better, I could scream…"
(-V-)
"Are you sure you want to do this, Ron?" Commissioner James Gordon said as he sat at his desk in his office at Triton Police Headquarters. "We haven't cashed the check yet so it's not too late…"
"Jim, this is the least I can do to help out," Ron flashed a smile at his friend. "The police department is nightmarishly underfunded, and I just wanted to help out a little bit."
"But one billion dollars?" Gordon laughed.
"I make four of those every two weeks with my investments," Ron smiled, "Giving up one every so often isn't going to kill me."
"If you wanted to throw some around, I'll take a check, too," Jim winked at his friend.
Ron laughed and glanced out the office window to the desk across the room. His smile faulted slightly when he saw Kim sitting at her desk, focusing on some of her paperwork. Her hair was tied up in a ponytail with a single strand falling down across her face. He felt the urge to look away, but couldn't as he saw her look across the room. He could see her face lighten and a sparkle come into her eyes as a man in a high-dollar suit walked in and approached her desk.
Ron narrowed his eyes as he read Kim's lips when she greeted the man. He responded to her by bending down and giving her a quick kiss. "You ok, Ron? I know you and Kim have a history…"
"She's finally happy; that's what matters," Ron said as he looked away from the scene. "That's all that ever mattered."
"She was happy with you, for a while anyway," Gordon said. "She never did say exactly what happened…"
"And I won't either," Ron said with a hollow smile.
"Glad to see you're ok about it then," Gordon shook his head as the man moved from Kim's desk to approach the desk.
"I hear someone in here is handing out money," the man grinned as he walked into the office.
"Door's closed; don't you know how to knock, Harvey?" Gordon mock-glared at the man, who simply adjusted his tie.
"Has it ever stopped me before?" District Attorney Harvey Dent grinned even brighter before he turned to Ron. "Rondo! How you been, buddy?" Harvey said as Ron stuck out his hand to shake. The DA quickly took it and pulled the blond into a hug. "After everything you've done for me trying to get my stupid self elected and to stay in office, I think we're past informality, don't you?"
"If you say so, Harv…" Ron shook his head.
"I was going to come over to your place tonight, but since you're here, there's something important I was hoping to talk to you about…" Harvey said before turning to Gordon. "Do you mind if I borrow your office for a few minutes?"
"Sure," Gordon blinked for a moment before stepping outside.
"What's up, Harvey?" Ron asked as the District Attorney stepped to the desk and leaned against it.
"Look, I know you and Kim have been together since before Time began," Harvey smiled. "That's why I wanted to talk to you about this before I did anything."
"If you want romance advice about Kim, I'd go to Josh Mankey or one of the guys at High School, I was just lucky to get dumped twice," Ron chuckled and gave a smile that Harvey, if he had been paying attention, would've seen didn't reach his cold eyes.
"More like asking permission," Harvey said, and Ron went ridgid as he glanced out the window.
"Permission?" Ron asked, trying to keep the growl from his voice.
"This weekend, at the charity ball, I'm going to announce my re-election bid and…" He hesitated for a moment. "I'm going to ask Kim to marry me."
"Shouldn't you be asking her father about that?" Ron asked, dodging the unasked question. "I'd hate to see you win election again just to be the first DA sent to the Sun."
"Already asked," Harvey said, kicking his shoe slightly on the carpet.
"And what did he say?" Ron inquired quietly.
"He told me to ask you."
"Oh…" Ron sighed, and the room fell quiet.
"So..." Harvey said, trying to nudge the conversation along.
"Have you met the Batman?" Ron asked suddenly.
"I've heard of him, from Jim especially," Harvey said.
"If you ever hurt her... in anyway…" Ron said as he turned to face him with a look that drained all the color from Harvey's features. "You will wish that it was the Batman who got a hold of you instead of Ron Stoppable. Understand?"
"You won't have to worry about that," Harvey said with a confident smile. "Thank you."
Ron just turned his back and nodded his head as Harvey left the room. It was going to be a bad night for the criminal element of Triton.
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Meanwhile, in a dark lit office, a young man walked into through the shadowy doorway. "Thank you for coming, my friend," a feminine voice spoke from her desk, her features completely hidden in the shadows.
"Never thought you of all people would want to deal with an assassin," the assassin known as Black Mask said behind his dark skull mask.
"Everything is going according to plan, but there is one variable I need your special skills to deal with," the woman said as she tossed a folder to him.
Black Mask whistled, "Never killed a real hero before. It should be fun…" he chuckled lightly. "Any particular way you want me to do this?"
"You may choose your own plan of action. Just so long as the target is neutralized, I don't care how it's done and would prefer not to know."
"Even more fun, but it won't be cheap…" Black Mask drawled looking through the folder.
"You can name your price, once the job is done."
"Even better; anything else?" he asked, glancing up at the woman, only to find the room empty. "Humph, ok, off to work then…"
To be continued...