A/N: Thank you to those that took time to leave me feedback, it was greatly appreciated :) To my latest reviewer tangle of ivy and for those of you who may not be familiar with the different versions of Batman, here's a quick break down: Elisa, Brina, Rebecca, Augustus, Trent are all OCs, Jason Richards is based off of Jason Todd and Dick Grayson (two of the Robins from the comics), Harley, Ivy, Riddler, Penguin, Strange, Vicki Vale are inspired by their animated series/comic selves, and most of the rest of the cast is from the Nolan films. Hope this helps!

Chapter Eleven: Surprises

"God give me strength," Elisa murmured as he accepted Trent's hand and entered Delany. She almost wished he would have offered just to take her to a diner or a bistro, just so she would feel a little less like she was attending a costume party. Her plans had been turned upside-down when she received a card from philanthropist and animal-activist Selina Kyle, who insisted she come to her banquet for the Wildcat Foundation and would not take no for an answer. She didn't even know the woman, let alone have enough money to donate to the cause, but the letter explicitly stated she wanted someone from the GCPD to attend as a representative.

Elisa had decided to save her fancy cocktail dress for the following night and stick with her simple little black dress this evening. She had considered not putting on any make up or fixing her hair but Rebecca would hear none of it, especially since they would be going to such an upscale restaurant. So it was that she entered the hoity-toity building with people decked in jewels and designer-brand outfits, in her plain black dress with her hair curled and pulled back into a half-bun whilst the rest flowed down her back. She allowed Trent to pull her seat out for her as she sat down and put on a friendly smile.

"I hope you're hungry," he said, taking his seat across from her. They were fortunate enough to have a decently sized table that they were seated across from one another. She just hoped that he wouldn't get any bright ideas to reach over and touch her hand. "Any idea what you'd like to order?"

"Haven't got a clue," she answered back honestly, staring blankly at the menu. Most of the items were listed in French, making her bite her lip anxiously. "Uh…I'm afraid I'm rusty on my French. If this was Spanish, I'd have no problem translating."

Trent laughed and shook his head. "No worries. You like chicken and spinach?"

"Sure, sounds good," she answered.

"You're right, it does! I think I'll have the same."

Looking up, the pair found themselves staring at Bruce Wayne, dressed smartly in an ash grey suit and crimson tie, his brown hair slicked back as he flashed them a charming smile. On his arm was a blonde woman who kept one of her manicured hands on his arm, her eyes casting Elisa an icy glare though her lips were stretched into a sly smile.

"Bruce?" Elisa asked, blinking in surprise. "What're you doing here?"

"Same as you, I came to eat," he chuckled.

"With his date," the woman added, placing extra emphasis on the final word.

Bruce did his best to smile, though he noticed how Elisa gave him a look as she raised her eyebrows at him. "This is Veronica Vreeland. Ronnie, this is Elisa Montez and Trent Montgomery."

"A pleasure," she giggled as Trent kissed her hand. She gave Elisa a quick look over and made a sound of disgust.

"So, how about we pull another set of chairs up and get something to eat?" Bruce suggested.

"Uh, I don't think they'll let us," Trent said, catching sight of a server running over to their table. "Great, Wayne's going to get us kicked out already."

"Oh they should," Bruce said lightly, making a motion with his finger for the server to unite the nearest table with theirs. "I own the place."

Elisa watched in silent disbelief as the server eagerly tugged two more chairs out from a barren table and offered them their seats. Veronica immediately began to whine about sitting across from Bruce instead of next to him, but Elisa merely smiled back politely, further irritating the woman. When Trent offered to move, Elisa had to fight back a scowl. She saw Bruce's hands clench tightly as he clasped them together, his sweet smile matched with a look of unspoken challenge at Trent. Trent merely grinned and informed Veronica he was happy to help, giving Elisa a wink, which made her look away from him.

"So, have you two been together long?" Veronica started, slipping her fur jacket off to reveal perfect pale skin and a low-cut strapless green dress.

"We're not together at all," Elisa stated tartly, her eyes meeting Trent's. "We're good friends out for a nice night."

"Aw, too bad. You two would make a cute pair," she smiled wickedly back, placing a manicured finger on her cheek.

"I wish I could say the same for you," Elisa answered brightly, enjoying the look of pure hatred that shot out of Veronica's grey eyes. The way Bruce's mouth turned up and the way his eyes moved over to look at her made her heart skip a beat, but she ignored it.

"So!" Trent cut in, tugging at his tie. It was suddenly much too uncomfortable and warm in the restaurant, and after Elisa's statement he knew he would be in for a rough night. "Is anyone headed for Miss Kyle's fundraising banquet tomorrow night?"

"Yes," the three others responded simultaneously, making each one of them share a surprised look.

"How did you get invited?" Veronica sniffed at Elisa.

"The same way you did, by mail I imagine," Elisa answered coolly, picking up her glass of water and sipping it calmly.

"Well, I suppose you don't have a date for tomorrow night," Veronica smirked.

"Who said I needed one?" Elisa asked, cocking her head. "I don't depend on having to put out to get in to places."

"What did you just say?" Veronica asked, her voice suddenly low as she leaned across the table.

"Ronnie, weren't you talking about that Bat-guy on the way here?" Bruce said suddenly, stroking his chin in thought. "What exactly did you call him?"

"Oh, he's despicable," Veronica replied, instantly distracted once Bruce caught her attention. "He's a crazy vigilante who thinks he can go running around at night and start terrorizing people."

"I'm afraid I have to disagree," Trent shook his head. "Yes, his methods are unorthodox, but the Batman saved Gotham. He risked his life for us the night that fear toxin was spreading."

"Trent, you can't be serious," Veronica scoffed. "This Batman is on the same level at that terrible Catwoman. He's nothing more than a psychopath that is taking the law into his own hands-"

"Maybe there's a reason for it," Elisa spoke up, casting Veronica a dirty look. "Maybe something about the way we do things had to be fixed, and since he couldn't do it with us, he did it without us."

Veronica made a sound of shock as she stared accusingly at Elisa. "Aren't you that new little detective that nearly got Bruce killed? Are you telling me you support this idiot's actions?"

"This 'idiot' is doing more good than you know," Elisa said firmly, her eyes narrowed. "He may not be the knight in shining armor you're hoping for, Miss Vreeland, but at least he's doing something. Our world is corrupt and people are constantly in danger. The police aren't always able to do extraordinary feats…I think he's that little push everyone needs to take a look at themselves and examine their consciences, so we can do good, too."

Bruce absorbed each word that came out of Elisa's mouth, his blood racing within his veins as he sensed her protective approval of his secret persona. His eyes had wandered over to her when she had interrupted Veronica, and they had remained on her face ever since. There was something about the way she sat straight and clenched her hand, the way her eyes shone and how her glossed lips formed each syllable that kept him hypnotized. He wished he could have heard her while he was in his cowl and cape, just to see what kind of reaction she might have knowing that he knew what she thought of him.

"Ha!" Veronica laughed, pointing accusingly at her. "I know what you're at. You're in love with him! It's sick, really, how some women actually think he's attractive-"

"I've heard it has to do with the dark eyes," Bruce cut in, chuckling as he rose from his seat. Offering his hand to Elisa, his lips forming a gentle smile, he asked softly, "May I have this dance?"

Everyone at the table stared at him, stunned to silence for a moment.

"B-But Bruce!" Veronica squealed.

"Now hold on," Trent frowned, reaching over for Elisa's shoulder. "I think-"

"Yes!" Elisa gasped, grabbing his hand and jumping up from her seat. "You may." Her eyes locked with Bruce's, a silent look of gratitude passing between the two of them before he offered his arm to her and led her away after she had slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow. They could feel the heat from Trent and Veronica's eyes on their backs but neither one of them dared to look back.

Arriving at the open space Delany had reserved as a dance floor, Bruce placed his hand on the small of her back, sensing her immediately tension. "Hey, I don't bite," he murmured as he bent his head to whisper in her ear, chuckling as she smacked his shoulder before placing her hand on him.

"Shut up and dance," she mumbled, terrified as her heart began to speed dramatically when he curled his hand around hers. They remained silent as they swayed, listening to the pianist's soothing song. She kept her eyes averted from him as she sensed he was glancing over at her. "…thank you."

"For what?"

"For saving me," she admitted, goose bumps rising on her skin as he chuckled.

"What's with you and Montgomery?" he asked, raising an accusing eyebrow at her. "I thought you said you weren't interested."

"I'm not. He is, though," she responded. "He wouldn't take 'no' for an answer, and he said if I got bored or uncomfortable at any given time I could leave."

"Awfully generous of him," he noted.

"What about you? How'd you get stuck with Bridezilla?" she asked, making him laugh.

"I had a few classes with her at Princeton. She stopped by to see me this afternoon and hasn't let me breathe since," he told her.

Elisa smirked. "Funny…you seem to enjoy other women's company any given day when you go to fancy events according to the tabloids."

"You buy those to read about me?" he grinned.

"No, I see them lying around in the station. It's garbage," she replied. "Seriously, why don't you enjoy being with Veronica?"

"Do you honestly have to ask?" he sighed. "You saw how she was with you. She's obsessive, obnoxious, over-acts-"

"Only on occasion?" she asked with a teasing smile.

"No. Always," he finished, causing the two of them to laugh at their alliteration. Their words dried as he looked into her eyes again and realized she was shaking in his hands. "Are you ok? You're trembling," he said, his brows furrowed in concern.

"What? Oh, no…I'm a little cold," she admitted, shrugging it off. "I forgot to bring a jacket."

Dropping his hands from her hold and side, he slipped his jacket off and caught sight of her blush. "Don't argue, Elisa," he winked, placing the fine piece of clothing around her shoulders. "It's fine-"

"Excuse me?!"

Both Bruce and Elisa turned to see Veronica making a beeline for them, her face bright red as she approached. "Bruce Wayne, you are the most selfish, piggish, shameless-!"

"Bruce Wayne?!"

Another gaudy female approached the pair, her face twisted into a scowl. "You ass! You never called me after you left the store-!"

"Back off!" Veronica screeched. "He's mine!"

"In your dreams!" the other snarled.

The two threw themselves at each other, screaming and clawing at their faces and arms. Jewelry flew all over the place and guests either leaned back in horror or scooted closer to watch the fight. Bruce and Elisa watched with large eyes for a moment before Bruce snapped back to his senses and took Elisa's hand.

"Hey!" she gasped. "What do you think you're doing?!"

"Making a clean getaway," he said, tugging her along. "Come on!"

Back in his seat, Trent rested his head on his fist, his elbow propped against the table. "Check please, waiter," he said with a broken smile. "I'll take my meal to go."

As the women raged on inside the restaurant, Bruce and Elisa rushed out through the front doors and were instantly greeted by the valet. "Your car, sir," the young man said at once, offering the keys as Bruce exchanged them with his ticket.

"Thanks," he said, slipping the boy a generous tip.

Elisa gazed at the slick, dark silver Lamborghini, remembering how she had found him late one night, drenched to the bone, the two of them sharing a pizza and a few laughs. She smiled widely as she recalled his laugh, his boyish grin, his relaxed posture…it was almost as though he were a different person. Her eyes widened as he opened the door to the car and offered her his hand. "Um…what do you think you're doing?"

"Inviting you in?" he suggested as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"That's sweet, Bruce, but I think you've had enough girl drama for one night," she shook her head. "I'll call a cab-"

"You haven't eaten yet, though," he pointed out. "Alfred said he was cooking tonight anyways, and he makes a mean Shepherd's Pie." He felt his lips stretch into a grin as she bit her bottom lip and squeezed her eyes shut, as if trying to resist the idea of the steaming meal. "Come on, I'll show you where I'm staying at until the Manor's rebuilt."

A sigh of defeat escaped her as she took his hand and made a face at him. "Damn you and your enticing promises of warm food," she pouted.

"You'll thank me later," he winked.

Her pout transformed into a smile as she giggled at his expression. Strapping her seatbelt on, she found herself thinking that the vehicle was about as handsome and as charming as its owner. "No, no, no, no! Don't start! You don't want to turn into those two in there," she shook her head, remembering the women inside Delany. "We are friends, nothing more. You don't need anything more from anyone." As she watched Bruce slip into his seat and rev the engine, she fought to control the strange feeling within that made her heart beat irregularly. "Just friends…just friends…"

-B-

The penthouse overlooking Gotham's brilliantly lit downtown area was lonely and plain, in Elisa's opinion. She said nothing as she was invited inside and immediately smelled the mouth-watering aroma of beef, potatoes, cheese, and steamed vegetables.

"I received your message, Master Wayne, and set an extra place at the table," Alfred informed him promptly, casting Elisa a smile despite his strict decorum. "It's lovely to have you here, Miss Montez."

"Elisa, Alfred," she corrected him, embracing him and kissing his cheek. "I think we can move past the formalities."

"Very well, Miss Elisa," he nodded, returning the embrace happily. "Please, sit down. Enjoy yourselves."

"Won't you join us?" Elisa insisted. "It wouldn't be fair of you to go after you made this delicious meal."

"Come on, Alfred, you can tell us a story about your days in the 'ol' boarding school'," Bruce teased, doing a terrible job of mimicking Alfred's accent.

The elder smiled knowingly at this. "Or perhaps I'll tell her about the time you decided to be a smart one and steal the raspberry preserve."

"Do tell," Elisa laughed, eager to hear the tale once she saw Bruce grimace and cover his eyes in embarrassment.

Elisa never expected to spend over an hour at Bruce's penthouse, listening to stories and sharing a few of her own on her life or her experiences. Alfred had a way with words and a soothing voice that made her feel welcome and at home. He always seemed to know what to say, and it was comforting. Bruce interjected every so often, preferring to stay quiet and listen, just as he had at the restaurant. Elisa could often feel his gaze on her and sometimes accidentally met his eyes, which made her entire body become warm in spite of herself. Once they had finished dinner, Alfred began to gather the plates when Elisa stopped him in his tracks. "Oh no you don't," she said sternly. "I'm washing the dishes."

"Certainly not," Alfred frowned. "You're our guest."

"I think I can manage some wrinkly fingers," she winked. "I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty."

"In that case, Alfred, take a break and prop your feet up," Bruce said, casting Elisa a sly grin. "I'll get my hands dirty, too."

"Hmm, we'll see how long that lasts," she said with a roll her eyes.

"As you like it, sir, Miss Elisa." Alfred walked off, a smile etched onto his face. He was certain that now would be an excellent time for the two to finally get some privacy.

Elisa took her position at the sink and began to scrub the dishes with a soapy sponge before handing the items over to Bruce for a rinse and leaving them to dry on the rack. "Thanks, Bruce."

"For helping? Of course," he answered.

She shook her head, her eyes darting away from his face. "No…for everything. Dinner was great, and it was nice being here. The company was great…and you did save me from being trapped in an awkward date."

"Any time," he chuckled. "I ought to be thanking you, too. If it wasn't for you, I'd still be stuck with Ronnie."

"Oh geez," she grimaced. "You're not going to end up in trouble because of me, are you-?"

"I get into trouble on my own without help, remember?" he teased.

"Well, that's only because I feel like you know I'm going to be around-" She lifted her hand to point accusingly at him when suddenly the water dripping off of her hand flew and splattered onto Bruce's face. "Oh!" she gasped, setting the last plate down before reaching for the nearest towel. "Oh my gosh, Bruce-!"

"Oh, so that's how you wanna play," he grinned wicked, flecking the water from his hands to her face, making her wince and laugh.

"Hey!" she exclaimed, returning the gesture. On it went back and forth until their faces, necks, and shoulders were covered with droplets of water, their once-pristine clothes now stained and moist. Giggling and snorting, the two called a truce as Elisa grabbed the towel and wiped his face clean. "There…" She quickly looked away as she sensed him staring at her with tenderness. She tidied herself up and then made sure to dry their work space before setting the cloth aside. "Well, aside from that little distraction, we made a good team."

"We sure did," he agreed softly, making her clear her throat and gather her hair onto one shoulder.

"Well, it's getting late, and I should be going," she said, starting to walk off. She could hear his footsteps behind her as he followed, but he said nothing. Retracing her steps to the elevator, she was suddenly drawn to a photo that remained on the coffee table by a set of small, functional couches. The photo inside the silver frame appeared to be burnt and nearly split apart. She stopped and inspected the picture intensely, startled back out of her thoughts when Bruce went over and picked it up.

"My parents," he explained, his voice soft and low. "This picture nearly got destroyed in the fire…"

Cautiously, she came up behind him and placed her hand on his shoulder as she looked at the photograph in his hands. "…you've got your dad's eyes…and your mom's smile," she murmured, recognizing the familiar features of Bruce that had unknowingly ingrained themselves into her subconscious.

Bruce turned his head just a smidge, his eyes locking with her once more. This time, she did not look away, held in place by his eyes. There was something vulnerable she could see in him, and yet there was a wall she sensed that he had placed tactfully around himself. She didn't realize how fast her heart was beating or how her stomach was filled with butterflies until her phone began to buzz incessantly, making her catch her breath and look away. She didn't know whether to feel relieved or disappointed now that she was looking away from him.

"Excuse me," she said, edging away from him as she answered the call. "Hello Commissioner…yes…yes sir…I'll be there…what? The man's a corrupt businessman out for personal gain-!...yes sir," she said finally, biting her tongue as she hung up, defeated.

"Everything ok?" Bruce asked, setting the picture down.

"Oh yeah," she nodded, her lips pressed into a line as she jutted out her chin and placed her hands on her hips. "Loeb just wants me and John to go to the Iceburg Lounge to check in with Mr. Cobblepot. Apparently, he wants to speak directly to some officers to help him with a situation he's got at his club." She shook her head and crossed her arms over her chest, tapping her foot in agitation. "That man is as crooked as the men he works with."

"You're going there now?" Bruce asked, his voice tinted with worry.

"Yup, I've got to meet John there," she said with a sigh. "Thanks again, Bruce. I'll see you around."

"Elisa!" he exclaimed, grabbing her hand. She froze in place as he gave her a gentle squeeze and whispered sincerely, "Please be careful."

Smiling back at him, though her brain screamed it was wrong, she threw her arms around him and gave him a tight embrace. It only lasted for a moment, but to Bruce it ended too soon. "I will be," she promised as she released him. With cheeks full of blush and a shy smile, she pressed the elevator button and entered immediately. "Tell Alfred I said 'thanks'."

Bruce waited until the doors of the elevator shut before he took off running, nearly colliding with Alfred. "I'm suiting up, Alfred. By the way, Elisa said 'thanks'."

"Thank you for taking care of the dishes," the British gentleman answered, his eyes watching his young master vanish to become his other self. He silently hoped that Elisa would keep Batman out of trouble as much as she did for Bruce Wayne.

-B-

"So, how about we go to my place for a movie and dinner tomorrow night, then we battle on 'Night-Raiders' 'til we collapse?" John asked, wrapping his arm around Brina as he walked her back to her apartment from Gotham University.

Brina clutched John's jacket to her neck, thankful that he had placed it around her shoulders as they walked home together. While it wasn't freezing out, the night air nipped at her skin and made goose bumps rise. "That sounds like fun, but what about Tim?"

"Hey, you know I don't mind having him over," John responded, kissing her forehead. He laughed as she blushed, loving the way her cheeks became a soft shade of pink. "He can play, too."

"'Night-Raiders' is a little complex for him, don't you think?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

He opened the building door for her, ushering her inside. "He's a whiz, I'm sure this video game will be a cinch for…" His words died as he heard his phone ring, making him stop so he could pull out his electronic. He grimaced as he saw who it was and held his breath. "Yes sir?...yes…right…ok. Yes sir…" Hanging up, he sighed and shoved his phone back into his pocket. "Loeb wants me and Elisa to meet with Cobblepot at his nightclub, the man wants some help."

"Sorry," Brina said, placing her hand on his cheek. "You two be careful, ok?"

"You can bet your toenails on that," he winked, making her laugh. Shrugging the jacket off, she handed it back to him and prompted him to wear it again. Stealing one last kiss from his girlfriend, he took off into the night, running down the length of the street. He knew where the fancy, albeit tacky, establishment could be found, thanks to the enormous, flashy sign above the entrance.

The Iceburg Lounge was well-known amongst the wealthy as an eccentric sort of place, designed to look like an artic wonderland, complete with actual penguins, seals, and even a set of polar bears. It was said that the owner, Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot, was about as zany as the place itself. Cobblepot claimed he came from a family of old money, but John had done some deep research and had yet to find such a family history of wealthy good-doers called 'Cobblepot'. It was only with Bruce's assistance recently that he found that the Cobblepots were of German descent, immigrants to this country, and through joining mobs and rising through the ranks, Cobblepot's grandfather was able to make himself a fortune and reputation.

Making a sharp turn, John nearly ended up colliding with another figure, causing him to skid to a halt and nearly topple over. "Elisa? There you…are?" He raised an eyebrow at her, looking her over. "You're not seriously going in there like that are you?"

"Look, I didn't exactly have time to change, John," Elisa scowled. "I was forced into an impromptu date and wasn't expecting this last minute assignment."

"This date wouldn't have happened to have been with Bruce Wayne, would it?" John asked casually.

"We're wasting time, John. Let's get moving see what this sleazebag in a tux wants," Elisa stated, ignoring John's knowing smirk.

John chose to bite his tongue and follow the young woman, eager to get the job over and done with. Arriving at the doors, they showed the guard their badges and were allowed access into the building. Immediately, a gust of cold air hit them, making their teeth chatter. The pair was left speechless as they noticed they could see their breaths in the air as they were guided by a female server in a revealing tuxedo uniform. The woman led them to a short staircase that circled around a pool of Emperor penguins diving off the little icy hill erected for them. Behind this pool was a platform, where a rotund man stood up and opened his arms to them.

"Ah, you must be the young officers Commissioner Loeb sent to my aid," he grinned, making the pair wince at his horrifying gesture. His nose was pointed and his eyes were squinty, and the fact that he wore a monocle and top hat did nothing to make him appear less like a cartoon character. "Please, sit down…I see that one of you is dressed appropriately for my club," he cooed, his voice grating on the ears. He leered at Elisa and offered his hand as he swiped his hat from his balding head. "You may call me Oswald, my dear-"

"Mr. Cobblepot, Officer Blake and I would like to resolve this as quickly as possible to ensure that we are all satisfied and my leave you in peace," she informed him coldly, keeping her hands at her sides.

"Ah, a down-to-business kind of woman, eh?" he gargled, motioning for them to sit down at the table. They did so reluctantly and sat straight at attention. "Well, I'm not sure how much Commissioner Loeb told you-"

"He mentioned you were having trouble," Blake interrupted, his face void of emotion.

"Yes, well, business has been rough lately because of a few little run-ins with the mob," Cobblepot explained coolly, accepting a drink from a passing server. He motioned for the lady to offer some to his guests, but both declined quietly.

"You're well known to have mob bosses visit here and chat, Mr. Cobblepot," Elisa noted.

He laughed, the sound of his mirth seemed too similar to the squawk of a dying bird. "Oh, that was in my youthful, rambunctious days. I like to think that I've improved from that and kept my record clean."

"Clean enough to have issues that require police protection?" she persisted.

"Hmm, and sharp as a tack," he noted, licking his lips at her. Elisa had to fight not to take her eyes off of his face or wretch. Clasping his hands together, he informed them, "Salvador Maroni used to come to my club to have little chats with some of his chums…unfortunately, he hasn't been welcomed here after he offended some of my better clientele and nearly got some of my employees killed. My place is- er, was, the hotspot for him to make deals, after all."

"I'm assuming that any business of yours that 'would' happen here would be strictly off the books," Elisa suggested, earning another chuckle out of him.

"Since you've banned Maroni from your club, has he been causing consistent disturbances?" John asked, pulling out a notepad and short pencil.

"Small things, really. Accidents with kitchen appliances going wrong, supply shipments that are missing certain orders, and lately, some of my clients that order drinks from the 'Black Pumpkin' brew are becoming ill with bouts of paranoia. A few have ended up in the hospital. I've already contacted the brewery but they personally test their drinks at the plant, which means someone tampers with them either inside my club or just before they are brought in."

"How long ago did you ban Maroni from here?" Elisa asked.

"About three mon- erm, years," he corrected himself, a weak smile on his flabby lips as the two detectives gave him a condescending look. "Forgive me, sometimes I blurt things out without thinking them through…"

"You could say that again!"

A round of bullets shot over their heads suddenly, causing the three to throw themselves to the floor and cover their heads. Cobblepot seemed to squawk frantically as he reached for his umbrella hidden under the table. "In case you were going to ask how I know it's Maroni's men behind all this, here's your proof," he grumbled, rising from the floor and catching sight at the seven men who had infiltrated his club. Already his guests were either running out the door or cowering at the sight of the armed men. "You bird-brains! Get out of my club!

"Make us, Penguin!" the ringleader sneered. "The boss wants us to send you a little message… the club belongs to him now."

"Oh, really?" Cobblepot sniffed, unimpressed. "I don't think so."

"Yeah?" the leader scowled, jumping back as John and Elisa jumped out from hiding and fired warning shots at the men. "It's the cops!"

"There's only two of 'em, we can kill these idiots in a jiffy-!" The gang member that had been so certain and defiant stopped in his tracks as the lights were suddenly shut off. The combination of the gunshots and darkness made the animals screech and roar in a frenzy, confusing the perpetrators even more so. The men searched blindly to find their opponent, jumping at any little sound that was made once they were able to focus past the animals.

Elisa squinted into the dark, struggling to find the enemy when a scream from one of them made her gasp. "What happened? Where'd he go?" she could hear them shouting. John had taken the other side of the staircase and was separated from her, making her anxious as she fought to remain calm. As her eyes adjusted to the shadowed surroundings, she could make out the shapes of the men that had walked in, all of them constantly spinning around in fear. Tiptoeing cautiously, she lurked towards her prey, knocking the man down from behind with the butt of her pistol before keeping him in a chokehold just for good measure. Once he was down, she snuck up behind a second man and did the same, all the while listening to the others calling out to their fallen partners.

Feeling a hand on her shoulder, she immediately tightened her hold on her gun and spun around, shocked as the man stopped her by gripping her wrist. Her mouth had opened to call out to John but a second hand covered her lips. She felt fear grab a hold of her as she couldn't see who it was that had trapped her.

"Montez, it's me."

The low, gravelly voice made her slump in relief, which prompted him to remove his hand from her face. "Am I glad to see you," she whispered, thinking how ironic it was that she couldn't even see him considering how black his costume was.

"Stay with me," he ordered, releasing her wrist.

"I can barely see where you are," she admitted when suddenly his eyes came to view. They were close, so close, making her own eyes widen a smidge.

"Do you trust me?" he murmured as he took hold of her hand.

"Yes," she whispered back, squeezing his fingers as she let him guide her in the dark.

John in the meantime had slunk out and done his own attacks, following the same technique Elisa had used. He didn't think twice about the fat, squawking man he was supposed to protect until he heard a man wheeze for breath several feet behind him. His first inclination was panic as he remembered Cobblepot. Turing around, he too squinted at the darkness, catching sight of two figures that were pressed to the polar bear exhibit.

"L-Let go of me!" one of the figures choked. John could make out the man's body squirming against the other man, large and looming over the first. His eyes widened as he realized that it was not Cobblepot who was in trouble, but that he was the one causing the trouble.

"Break into my club and scare off my clients, did you? Sneak in little surprises for me from Maroni and his little paranoia-obsessed friend, did you?" There was a silent moment from Cobblepot until he thrust the umbrella cover off, revealing his staff to be a hidden sword. "Did you know that Emperor penguins eat their food and regurgitate it for their young? Well guess what, chum?" He lowered the weapon down to the man's face, flashing a sinister, ugly smile. "They don't call me 'Penguin' for nothing!" He raised his arm high into the air in preparation for his execution when the lights came on without warning. Blinded, Cobblepot screeched as he covered his face, taking several steps back and bumping into a tall, thick figure behind him.

John sighed in relief as he saw Batman take a hold of Penguin while Elisa knocked the last gang member unconscious. Rising to his feet, he approached the group, slipping his gun back into the holster. "You're awfully vengeful for a man who supposedly wants to settle this peaceably with the police, Mr. Cobblepot."

"You!" Cobblepot gasped, screaming as Batman grabbed him by the front of his shirt and hoisted him into the air. "Put me down! Put me…NO!" he yelled, flapping his arms uselessly as Batman lifted him up to the glass that contained the bears. "You wouldn't dare-!"

"Shut up!" Batman snapped, making the fat man's eyes widen. "You wanted to drag the police into this so you could get them to side with you even though you're still in deep. You've been siding with Daggat and hope to take Maroni down with him."

"Prove it-ALL RIGHT! I ADMIT IT!" he screeched at the top of his lungs when Batman removed one of his gloved hands and threw a batarang at the glass, making it shatter. This earned the bears' attention as they stared and licked their chops.

"Do I want to know how he found this out?" Elisa asked John, who shrugged innocently.

"You know who's supplying the spiked drinks. Who is it?" Batman demanded.

"The psychotic maniac in charge of the fear disease – Crab or Cray or something!" the chubby man wailed, kicking his little feet in the air to no avail.

"Crane!" Elisa and John exclaimed.

"That means he's working with the mob and hiding out there somewhere," John concluded.

"Where is he now?" the cowl-covered man persisted.

"I don't know! The last I heard was that he was trying to get some of his little drug into Arkham to a friend he could trust! Unhand me, you Philistine!" Cobblepot made an undignified squawk as he was brought down suddenly, going cross-eyed as Batman head-butted him into unconsciousness.

Setting him down, Batman glanced over to see that the beasts had lost interest in the scandal and were lumbering off towards their indoor shelter. "Call Gordon, make sure this mess gets cleaned up," Batman ordered John, who gave him a look but did as he was told. He turned to Elisa as she walked up to him, his eyes trailing down to her dress. "Nice outfit."

"What? Oh," she blushed, shaking her head. "Long story. Thanks. So, what now?"

"I'm going to Arkham. Make sure Cobblepot gets taken in for a statement," Batman said.

"Hold it," she frowned, placing her hand on his shoulder. "You can't just waltz into Arkham alone. Do you have any ideas on who Crane could be giving the drugs to?"

"He worked closest with Dr. Hugo Strange and Dr. Pamela Isley. One of them has to be in…then I'll make them talk," he told her.

"I used to work there, I can help," Elisa insisted.

"Someone has to stay here," he said sternly.

"No problem, John can do that."

"Oh, sure, and you can go off in your little black dress," John scowled. "I don't think so."

Looking to her friend, she placed her hands on her hips as she gave him a look. "Just because I'm dressed like this doesn't mean I can't do anything. And if you think that…" She had turned to direct her rant to Batman, only to blink in confusion. "…and he's gone," she sighed, growling in frustration. "He's a stubborn one. He thinks he can just order me and around and leave when my back's turned?"

"Tell me about it," John rolled his eyes. "You should've heard him when I ask to join…" He stopped himself, glancing over to see Elisa crossing her arms over her chest as she tapped her foot. He could already see her eyebrow rising. "Uh…not that he said yes-"

"You're helping him, that much I realized, but you're actually working with him? Like partners?" she asked, her voice low as she kept her eyes on him.

"Um…maybe?" He winced as she walked over to him and grabbed onto his arm, yanking him away. "What gives?!"

"We're going after him. Jim should be here soon enough, Cobblepot and these goons are fine."

"I'm not going to hear the end of this from either you or him, am I?"

"Nope."

A/N: Pretty please leave a review?