Outside the shop, Batman made to draw his grapnel, but paused, turning his head to a different direction. "Gordon's daughter sent me info about six weapon caches Penguin's men have hidden throughout Gotham. I didn't notice before, but one of them is close by." He looked to Ozpin questioningly.
"Be assured, I don't mind any detours." With that, they pulled themselves upwards from the plaza to a short tunnel nearby where one of Enigma's toys were set up. While Oz casually broke it with a swing of The Long Memory, Batman scouted ahead to see a group of men guarding a wooden wall. As he joined his partner, the professor checked with his goggles to confirm a large crate was behind it. Batman suddenly pointed at one man in particular. "Enigma?" A nod.
No more words needed to be exchanged as they charged at the thugs. Two went down almost instantly, and a third lost his pipe to a disk and was grappled into a two-handed smash. Then the next tried to go for a lunge with his knife, but he was pulled screeching rather high-pitched over Ozpin's shoulder and flipped onto the ice. Meanwhile, Batman assailed the second-to-last with one batarang that stunned him and then a flying kick that did the rest.
Enigma's lackey was the only one still conscious, even as he tried scrambling away. "Y-you dudes are for real?!" Oz was right next to him in-between blinks, cane close to the side of his head. "P-p-please… let me go," he begged. "I'll tell you both whatever you need to know. Please…"
"Including the extortion information Enigma's having you watch over?" Ozpin slowly put the tip of his cane under the man's chin.
He only hesitated for two seconds. "No… no problem, no problem, man." He quickly pulled out a device that Batman snatched out of his grip. "I'll take you guys to it myself if you want." But a knock on the top of his head quickly put him out.
They then walked over to the wall, Oz applying some Explosive Gel onto its surface. I'm getting quite used to these gadgets. After its wooden fragments flew apart, Batman briefly checked how the crate inside functioned, then fired his disruptor at the lock, jamming it. "No one's going to be able to access it now." He reported to a certain number.
"Nice! One down,five to go," Barbara congratulated them before shifting to a more bitter tone."I can't believe there are people on the force who think it's okay to have stuff like this out on the streets. Pinching from evidence is bad enough... But selling weapons? SWAT's supposed to be the good guys."
"They'd probably tell you that their salaries aren't enough for the risks they have to undertake for keeping you and other innocents safe," Ozpin explained to the girl. "Not to mention it's likely how they were taught by their predecessors. Those who may've been a bit more idealistic were either brought along to their line of thinking or resigned because they couldn't handle it. I've seen this sort of thing before, Miss Gordon." He sighed under that bitter truth before continuing.
"But that doesn't have to be the case for tomorrow's officers. Someone just has to be willing to stand up and say there's a better way, and then prove it."
"You sure you're not having a teensy bit too much faith in us?"
A sad smile grew across his lips. "You wouldn't be the first to tell me that, and I've been disappointed many times before. But you're still asking us to do this, are you not?"
The redhead laughed at that. "Well, for what it's worth, thanks for humoring me, Ozpin." She then shut off on her end.
Oz kept his smile a bit longer, then sobered up and watched Batman bring up a digital map. "Five more crates, all scattered from each other. We'll be busy."
"Do you trust me enough that we can split up? It would save time, and we are each equipped to handle this alone. Should one of the assassins make a move, you can radio me and stall them until I arrive."
Batman said nothing while he considered, then nodded. Sooner than the wizard had expected, no less. "No reason to doubt you yet." Give it time. "We'll each handle two, then meet up at the last one that's on the Final Offer." They pointed out their respective targets, then launched themselves to the rooftops in separate directions.
Ozpin twisted and flipped across the snow and ice-caked buildings, centuries-old experiences as usual aiding his movements. His first target was in the industrial district, Sheldon Park. Much of Gotham City's electrical power came from the plants here, from what he'd read on Batman's computers. But it also provided a few good places to hide illegal dealings. Those are something Gotham appears to have in abundance. A bit like Mistral, I'm afraid.
Up ahead, three men, each with rifles, were watching over a crate just like they'd found earlier. They kept moving in rather coordinated circles, likely both to keep an eye on the entirety of their surroundings and to counteract the cold. Setting down quietly from his higher ground, Ozpin rolled his shoulders and took a stance, The Long Memory fully extended and at the ready.
None of the thugs had a chance to react, let alone fire a single round, before a green man-sized blur suddenly zipped in and struck them all down. Gracefully coming to a stop despite the slush, Oz sighed a bit. I should get out a bit more, that felt rather sluggish.
Shrugging to himself, he knelt by the large box and inspected its lock. Electronic, requiring a code, same as the previous one. Now, the wizard didn't have Batman's disruptor, but he did have a few tricks of his own. Placing his bare palm against the metal, he channeled an infinitesimal portion of his magic through his fingertips. A few green sparks flashed, and the internal circuitry flickered and then shut down.
To be sure, Oz tried opening the crate but found he couldn't, not without Aura (and probably ripping the cover clean off). Satisfied, he reported via comm, "I just took care of my first, the police can collect the goods at any time."
"Sweet! That's two crates! You know, I thought about getting my dad involved, but he'd probably just say it's a matter for the IAD. He's got way too much faith in the system. I wish I could get him to see just how broken it is."
Ozpin shook his head as he took a running start off the roof before grappling to another. "Your father's not wrong to have faith. It's probably one of the few things that help him get up in the morning and try to make a change in a system broken to its core. And I imagine he wants to give you of all people a brighter future." Any parent would.
A sigh, then, "Yeah, I know. I just I could help him sometimes. Or at least get him to smile more often."
"Almost every kid wants that." Batman's voice rumbled over the connection. "And you're helping him a lot."
"R-really? Thanks, guys! Well, no more distracting you two, later!"
Then as Ozpin was about halfway to his next target (which had to be next to the GCPD headquarters, because Penguin also has cops under his thumb and the night was a bit too easy), Batman called in to confirm his success with disarming the third crate.
"I've been flipping through the precinct's file on you and... wow. Let's just say you don't have a lot of fans here. But you probably knew that already. Anyway, I've trashed some of the more ridiculous stuff. I mean they're saying you kill people. And I know that's not your styles."
"I have killed in the past," Ozpin admitted. "but I try to use other options before resorting to it. Besides, Gotham is Batman's city, so I think it's fair to play by his rules." He swung by his grapnel to the right.
"Much appreciated." Half sarcastic, half sincere; Alfred would've approved. Then there was nothing more to say as they all continued on their paths.
Despite the very real threats of Gotham, not to mention the unease he felt around this Joker character, the old warrior couldn't help but feel a little… loose. Fighting to protect a single city was less taxing than an entire world, of course, but he hadn't realized just how used to his former circumstances he was, to the Grimm, to Salem; Both were always looming on the horizon. For goodness' sake, he half expected one of her acolytes to suddenly leap from behind a water tower and attempt to kill him, or worse, attack some citizens. Or perhaps that she was in some way behind this whole scenario as a means of permanently removing him as an obstacle from conquering Remnant.
Of course, the humans here are very much a threat to each other. Much like on Remnant. I suppose I should be relieved that discord is a trait not reserved for humanity of my home. And like there, here are souls willing to stand up and do what's right for the sake of goodness. His spirits lifted upon considering Bruce Wayne, Alfred, Barbara Gordon and her father. Who knows, maybe I can-
Then a part of his mind unleashed a memory of a certain time, a girl that became a woman and a follower, and later a broken shadow. All because of him. The pain he felt made him slip on the next ledge and it was only his reflexes that kept Oz from tumbling to the streets below. Pulling himself up, he took a few long breaths to calm himself, and slowly, his hands stopped shaking.
But it wasn't over yet. Can what, you wretched old bastard? That part from before whispered harshly while he forced himself to keep moving forward. Have you forgotten how many times you've drawn others into your mission? How many times you've failed them? Gotten them killed? You've already done enough in your part of damning Remnant. Don't you dare pull them into the mess you've made.
No. No, you're right, Ozpin mentally conceded, a single tear flowing down his right cheek as he neared the GCPD building. …But maybe, just maybe, I can help them with this mess. Surely, I can't destroy everything I touch. ...Can I?
He gave his thoughts a firm shake and wiped away the tear. Behind the building he had recently infiltrated, another of the crates was guarded, but not by Penguin's men. Of course. Four SWAT officers lazily stood guard over it, chatting away. "They better get here soon, desk sergeant's gonna wonder where the hell we went."
"Ah, relax. If she gives us a hard time, we'll toss her a few bucks. It'll be fine." Ozpin jumped down to the top of the gate separating them from the bay, still unnoticed.
"I don't get it. If Cobblepot's all hot and bothered about getting his hands on this stuff, why's he taking his sweet time picking it up?" Maybe because a certain two vigilantes showed up at his shambling excuse for a boat and made him lock himself up…
"Just keep an eye out for anyone not minding their business. Last thing we need is someone poking around." That one got his fears confirmed just before he was knocked out by some kind of disk, smaller than a Frisbee and dark green.
Ozpin parried the club swung at his stomach, then with a twirl of his wrist, sent it spinning into the air. The guard didn't even get a chance to put his arms up before two more blows made fall back into the snow. The third and fourth tried rushing him at the same time, but the Huntsman calmly weaved around their blows, even letting them hit each other, all the while tracking the falling club. At just the right moment, he pulled them together, and a second later, the metal object clanged against their helmets, leaving them down for the count.
Chuckling a little, Oz then walked over to the crate, and like before, channeled a miniscule piece of his magic into the electronic lock. It sputtered and then broke, unusable. "Miss Gordon, Batman, I've just taken care of my second."
"Only two more crates to go. Thanks so much for doing this. Tonight's crazy enough already. If these guns got out there... I don't even wanna think about it."
"Neither do I," Batman's voice rumbled. "I'm heading for the last of mine."
"Then I'll see you at the Final Offer. Let me know if you encounter any trouble." Ozpin vaulted from his current rooftop to roll to a stop on one lower down.
"Same to you." Not much had changed on the ship, aside from some thugs wandering the deck. But a second glance at the upper parts and the closest rooftop told him snipers were present. As for the final crate, it was currently in a shipping container suspended by crane over the deck. Well, Oz might as well make himself useful while waiting, he decided.
Right after he neutralized one of the two on the roof, Batman reported, "I just got done on my end, see you at the Final Offer."
"Alright. Only one more of those suckers left! Gotta say... working together is kinda fun. I mean - we're actually getting stuff done! And my dad thinks I'm just sitting in his office texting and watching TV. If only he knew!"
"Please don't give the poor man a heart attack, he's already got a fair bit on his mind." The teacher good-heartedly chided her while putting the other gunman in a chokehold. "Anyway, I'm already here and tidying up a bit. Until then." He then lowered the unconscious man to the ground and silently grappled to the Final Offer's control room. Sniper Number Three still hadn't realized what had happened right to when he was kneed in the back of his head.
Then right as he was slamming the last one's head against the metal wall, Ozpin noticed a dark shape floating towards the main deck. Signaling an all-clear, he stood back to watch Batman dispatch the goons who had grown cocky under their supposed protection. The fight barely lasted two minutes, even with a martial artist present.
As Batman climbed up the stairs, Ozpin greeted him with a, "Well-balanced," as he opened with his grapnel gun the container where the object of their interest was hidden.
Batman grunted back a thanks, then aimed his disruptor and fired it at the crate's lock. Right on target, the mechanism sparked, then shut down. Both could imagine Cobblepot screeching in rage when he found out about his merchandise, but Batman managed to keep the smirk off his face. "The last crate is secured. Penguin shouldn't be any trouble anymore."
"That's it! We did it!" Miss Gordon cheered before saying so sheepishly they could practically see her blush."Well – you both did most of it, but I helped, right?"
Ozpin couldn't keep the smile away if he tried. "Indeed, Miss Gordon. You've made a true difference tonight. Congratulations."
Barbara continued, her tone appreciative from the praise. "I think we made a pretty good team. So... If you're ever, like, I don't know... looking for some kind of junior partner or apprentice... I'm here for ya! Oh, and Ozpin? It's Barbara."
"Well, Barbara, I'm afraid I currently have an entire school of pupils waiting for me back home, but it could be our melodramatic friend may have an opening in the future…"
"Don't drag me into this," Batman grunted, but they both heard the light humor in his tone. "Still, you did good work, Miss Gordon."
"And that, my dear, is high praise from him. Trust me." That earned the headmaster a glare.
The girl giggled. But Ozpin wasn't done. "Miss Gordon—Barbara. Earlier, you asked my associate and I why we do as we do. Now, I might ask the same of yourself. Why help?"
"Me?" He could imagine her leaning back, mulling the question over."Well…Gotham City is my home. I've said before that it's been kinda collapsing under the weight of crime. My dad hasn't given up on trying to ensure people don't get mugged coming home from work every day of the week. It's a thankless job. Literally. The GCPD's popularity has been at an all-time low but he hasn't resigned in the years it's been going on. I've had to patch him up after his 'co-workers' try to remind him who's really in charge of Gotham…But he hasn't given up. He believes in a better future for this city. He's given me courage that way. Same as Batman, and now you. So, to answer your question, Ozpin: I want to live up to the ideal of making Gotham City better than it is. Not just for my dad, but for others who wanna do good in turn. That's how things get better. It may take a while, but it's something worth doing. You've shown me that."
Ozpin felt a certain emotion well up inside his chest. "In that case, to be perfectly candid, Barbara, from what I've seen tonight, you've proven yourself to be your father's daughter. And come what may in the future, I foresee Gotham City will benefit greatly under your watch. Whatever occupation you pursue, I believe you can accomplish a great deal for your father and this city."
There was a smile in her voice. "… Thanks, Oz. It's been great talking to you. Even you, Batman!" A grunt for a response."Anyway - I'll let you get back to kicking ass and keeping us safe! And you'll see - one day my father's gonna figure out just how cool I already know you both are!"
His smile saddened again as familiar words crept out. "Barbara, I can't speak for Batman, but I am just a man. And not even a very good one." As a certain girl I once thought the world of would tell you. The pair grappled up to the nearest roof and waited for the Batwing to arrive.
But Barbara had one last thing to say. "Hm. Way I see it, you're really not a very bad one, either, Oz."
That made the old man freeze up in total shock. But then she disengaged before he could contradict her or ask what she meant or, well, say anything. Even as old training rose up to keep himself looking impassive, thousands of thoughts warred in his mind, saying she could be right, she was dead wrong, she didn't know the whole story, she's just romanticizing him…
A hand clapped on his back, giving him a chance to focus. Batman-Bruce gazed at the fallen hero, his expression unreadable. "She's not wrong," was all he said before firing his grapnel at the Batwing hovering above them. Ozpin stared after him for only one second, then copied the motion. Even as they flew back towards Jezebel Plaza, a grateful smile played its way on his lips.
Flipping out of a personalized aircraft over a bustling city wasn't something Ozpin did on a regular basis, but he had to admit, there was a certain feeling of exhilaration he could appreciate. Why else would've he made teaching about landing strategies Beacon's first lesson? As he grappled along the side of a roof to turn his fall into a swing, Batman gliding expertly on his right, a nearby clock tower chimed loudly. "It's midnight, sir." Alfred's voice crackled over the comms. "Just wanted to wish you and our new friend a Merry Christmas."
"You too." It was short, but Oz could've sworn he heard some gentleness in those two little words.
"Merry Christmas to you as well, my friend. I can't claim to be familiar with this holiday, but in return for the hospitality offered to me, it's the least I can do." And to you, Bruce Wayne. I hope you'll be able to take off the cowl for good one day. Alfred switched off from the two with a warm farewell. An alarm rang from inside the building. But that day hasn't arrived yet.
On top of the roof, Batman went straight for the door to the inside, but it was locked tight. This prompted Ozpin to circle it on the right, scanning with Detective Vision, until he found a suitable spot and blasted the weakened cement apart with some Explosive Gel. Inside, dead guards were lying in front as well as on the staircase downwards, another indication they weren't the first to arrive. The dark knight quickly leaped down and flipped open the latch for the rest of the bank, followed half a second by Oz.
Now behind the clock, the way out was barred with access panel and small jammer; Batman's disrupter took care of the latter while Oz' Sequencer spelled out "OPENSESAME", making the bars in front of the exit retract. Opening the door, they found themselves overlooking the main lobby to be ornate and quite professional-looking even with holiday details, as expected of any bank worth its reputation. If it weren't for one rather disturbing detail. "Bodies everywhere…" Batman muttered as he perched on the railing. "The Joker may still be here, in the vault. We should use caution."
Ozpin nodded, himself apprehensive of what was basically a slaughter. "That goes without saying." As he climbed down, loose paper scattering in his wake he kept checking each of the victims, his frown deepening with each passing moment. "They're all dead, but there's something much more sinister going on here." As his ally looked at him, he pointed at one. "That man's been strung up in lights. The one to his left has had a wreath placed over his neck. They weren't just killed, someone took the time to purposely leave them in these positions."
Batman's fist clenched as he connected the dots. "You mentioned there being a sense of amusement back at Lacey Towers, Ozpin." He angrily wrenched free a vent with his grapnel. "Is this what you meant, that the Joker has some sick sense of humor?" A single nod was all the confirmation he needed. "All the more reason to stop him."
One after the other, they slipped into the vent and crawled their way until they were right on top of the main vault. Detective Vision revealed an extended group of armed men moving in the room, as well as the wall being doubly thick. Therefore, both men each applied a coating of gel before triggering the detonators.
The floor crumbled to pieces upon the explosion, letting them drop right into the vault. The mobsters immediately aimed startled their weapons at the duo, only for the two closest to be disarmed and hit to the ground. But the rest kept their distance, and with the moment of surprise gone, were ready to shoot.
And right in front of them sauntered Black Mask, pistol in hand, eyes gleaming from his skull. Next to him was another thug dragging a secretary along; Ozpin couldn't help but frown as he took a better look at her. The poor woman was clearly terrified, but her lips kept shifting into a toothy smile, and it seemed like she was quietly giggling. Behind her and her guard, part of the wall had been shattered, leaving it open for the rear end of a truck to be positioned there. Inside were numerous bundles of the paper Oz had learned to acquaint with dollars, the city's currency.
"Think you boys can just waltz on into my bank, huh?" The crime lord sneered at them, arms spread wide. Then his head snapped towards one in particular. "I've been hearing there's a new cat in town, a guy with style who joined up with the biggest guy without style in Gotham." He tilted his head in curiosity. "Care to share your name with the class, Mister…?"
The professor kept his tone neutral as he scanned the room. Something's not right here… "Ozpin will suffice, Mr. Sionis. And in fairness, would you be so kind as to introduce your latest acquaintance?"
Black Mask froze up for a split-second, something both crime-fighters noticed. "We know about the Joker," Batman pressed. "Where is he?"
"The Joker? Hmm…" Then Sionis just backed away from them, pretending to be in deep thought. "Never heard of him." He turned around and grabbed the oddly grinning secretary. "How 'bout you, doll?" He aimed his gun straight at her cheek. "Know the Joker?"
"Th-the who?" she managed to get out between a bout of restrained giggles. Meanwhile, another mobster pushed over another man in the same suit as Black Mask with his hands bound and a sack over his head.
"And you, sir," Black Mask then ripped the sack off his head and pulled away the piece of duct tape over his mouth. "Name 'Joker' ring a bell?"
But Ozpin barely registered the words as he stared at a battered Roman Sionis glaring right at his captor. Wait. We know for a fact Roman and Black Mask are the same person. But if Roman's not the one wearing the mask right now, then- "You son of a bitch!" The man growled through some missing teeth. "You think you can steal from me and get away with it?! You're a dead man! Dead!" Oz glanced quickly at Batman, whose own shock melted away in realization. We've underestimated him.
And in one of the most brutal displays Oz had ever seen, the imposter whirled on his captive, harshly striking his weapon against the man's face repeatedly. "CAN'T. YOU. JUST. PLAY ALONG?!" Black Mask emphasized each word with a crack against Sionis' jaw with the base of his gun in a voice that definitely wasn't Mask's.
As he continued to kick his captive in the ribs, the woman's chortles slowly but surely grew into full-blown, uncontrollable laughter. Even as terror flashed in her eyes. "Y-you're insa-ha-ane!" She barely managed to get out between her howling.
The imposter finally stopped hitting Sionis, only to nearly double over. Oz noted with disgust how his body language and the little noises coming from him belied a twisted feeling of amusement, even as he waved for the bound man to tossed into the back of the truck. He then straightened and made to follow, then paused, pulling off the mask and turning back to the two.
Ozma had seen many faces over the course of his various lives. Some had been cold, some gentle, some stunningly beautiful and others utterly horrifying (one person had been both of the latter). But he could count on one hand the number, including Salem after he understood just how far the Grimm's essence had corrupted her, that could turn his stomach like the face this man wore. Skin white as a Grimm's mask, teeth bared in a cruel grin with blood-red lips, eyes of a gleaming emerald that sang songs of madness and violence. As he giggled, the Huntsman's grip tightened around The Long Memory's handle; So this is the Joker, then?
"It's been you this whole time." Batman's tone was heavy with contempt. "You hired the assassins. You've been running Sionis' operation."
Joker just tilted his head, smile not wavering for a second. "Well, technically it's my operation now. Isn't that right, boys?" At this, the goons all discarded their skull masks for ones resembling twisted clown faces. "There we go, a lot more dramatic than those old eye-sores, wouldn't you agree, Ozzy? Or would you prefer Mr. Pin? Mr. Pinhead, maybe?" He threw back his head as his own deranged laughter mixed with that of the secretary. The combination sent a chill down the centuries-old Huntsman's spine like few Grimm ever could.
"You've got us," Batman tried. "Now let her go."
The madman calmed down enough to sneer at him and pull the guffawing woman into a one-handed embrace. "Oh, life would so simple if you and your new best friend were all I wanted. Noooo, no, you're just a pair of teeny little distractions, compared to what I've got up my sleeve." He then aimed the gun straight at Batman's chest and pulled the trigger, laughing.
But Ozpin intercepted all three shots, deflecting them with three precise movements of his cane that sent the bullets harmlessly embedding themselves into the walls. The mobsters all just stared at the display, too stunned to even keep their guns raised, Batman nodding his head in gratitude. Even Joker paused in his laughing fit, taken aback, before shaking his head with a fresh chuckle. "Now that's some fancy trick there! Looks like I'll be having a widdle bit more fun than even I would've guessed! Here, kiddies," he shoved his hostage at the pair, "have a laugh on me."
Even when Batman pulled her behind him, neither her laughter nor that nightmarish grin abated. Ozpin forewent pursuit. Looking at the woman in confused worry, the professor wondered if she might've been drugged in a manner he had certainly never seen before. He shifted his attention, with rising anger, at the one responsible. "Do you really believe there is anywhere you can hide from us, Joker?" His warning was ice-cold. There weren't many times he could recall in recent history where he had been so furious.
Joker sneered back a challenge. "Why don't we find out, Ozzy?" Then as her laughter reached a crescendo, he hopped onto the back of the truck even as its engine started up. "Do you hear that? Sounds like eight tiny reindeer." The vehicle began to drive away, even as some thugs noticed and tried chasing after it. The reason soon became clear when Batman and Ozpin noticed in the laughing lunatic's hand a device with a button on it. When he pressed down, it flashed from red to green.
Even as giant fireball erupted from the vault, Ozpin struck the ground with The Long Memory, summoning his verdant barrier around Batman and the secretary, then with a grunt of effort, lifted it up and sent it and its contents out of the room. Even as the explosion tore through the room and blasted the vault door right into the much smaller doorway, he kept the shield up until the last ember was gone. Then he dispelled it with a sigh, Didn't want to risk it being not strong enough. My magic's not what it used to be. He turned back to his partner. "Is she…?"
"Dead. I've never seen theis kind of poison before." Batman gently laid the secretary's unmoving body onto the dollar-covered floor. Her face was still contorted into a horrible rictus similar to the one Joker had continued to show them. They couldn't even close her eyes. "And we're about to get company." That statement was all both needed to immediately grapple up to separate gargoyles.
Sure enough, a group of rifle-carrying second-rate clowns came through the door on the opposite side of the room. "I'm tellin' ya, they ain't dead." The leader said in his radio.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Joker's voice drawled back as they fanned out. "Must be a bad connection. I thought I heard you say that after I BLEW UP a building on them, THE BAT AND THE PINHEAD SOMEHOW SURVIVED?!"
Batman swung over to another spot and fired his disruptor twice, disabling two rifles, though their owners didn't notice; too busy flinching at the last words. "If they was dead, there'd be bodies. There ain't no bodies."
"Oh, since I know that's impossible, I'm going to let you reconcile my vision of reality with your version of reality, and in case your pea brain can't parse big words, I'll translate it into thug-speak for you:" said thug was smart enough to hold the radio away from his ear for the next bit. "KILL THE BAT AND HIS LITLLE FRIEND, OR I'LL KILL YOU!"
Not if we don't find you first, Joker, Ozpin promised as he dropped a smoke pellet into a group of four, blinding them and letting them fire at random. He then pounced down on the closest, taking apart his gun and clubbing him with the pieces, while Batman glided from the other side to ram another's head into the hard floor. A third was knocked for a loop by a batarang, then stumbled right into the headmaster's fist. The last one almost managed to aim his rifle at Batman through the dispersing smoke, but Ozpin's cane cracked into his knee, making him fall with a cry, then a black boot slammed into his mask, and all he saw was darkness.
But now their cover was nearly completely gone, forcing them to hide before the rest could notice. Batman slipped into a floor grate while Ozpin ducked behind a divider. "The Joker knows we survived the explosion." The former's voice crackled in the comm. "We need to hurry before he kills Sionis or anyone else."
"Then let's wrap this up here. They're also all wearing a machine on the outside, probably so Joker knows which ones are conscious." But as he tried using Detective Vision to track the remaining four thugs, all he received was interference. "Batman, something's jamming my signal."
"Same here. See if you can figure out what it is and take it down." Oz suppressed a chuckle at the irony of the situation, even as he slipped to another wall to track a goon; it had been a long time since he really took orders from someone else. But then again, Batman had a knack for leadership. If he'd enrolled in Beacon, I'd have little choice but to make him a leader. Such potential.
Then as he noticed something interesting, Joker sent another message. "As your new commander-in-chief, I've got one simple order for you: No one gets out of that bank alive." Then as Batman sprang up and downed a goon who stepped over his hiding spot, "Since you can't find Batman, maybe you could find the lucky fellow he just introduced his fist to?"
As for Ozpin, he spotted one thug carrying a metal backpack with a massive antenna on top. I wonder… he silently trailed after the man with his goggles on; sure enough, the disturbance was highest around the gadget. So when he pulled back the man and wrapped his arms around his face until he stopped moving, he then wrenched off the antenna and gave the pack an extra kick.
Just like that, Detective Vision was working properly again, just in time for Batman to realize that he'd almost run into a mobster around the corner. But he reacted quickly and battered that one into the land of (rather painful) dreams before the man could notice.
As for the last one, he dropped his gun and tried making a break for the exit, but a certain man in an emerald three-piece suit, fingers drumming on the top of his cane, hampered his progress. "That didn't take long," Joker could be heard muttering from his radio. "Maybe I should've left a few more of Black Mask's goons alive, huh?"
The perp couldn't respond, for one, because he only had a one-way radio. For another, Ozpin pulled him in close by the collar while Batman stalked towards them. "Stop! Stop!"
"The Joker. Where is he going?" The Long Memory hung by his side. "Fair warning, my friend is quite agitated and I'm not in the best mood right now either."
"Yeah, I know. Guy's nuts, man!" His eyes clearly mirrored his frightened disgust. "Killed about a quarter of Black Mask's men when they wouldn't take orders from him."
Batman did a good job of suppressing his revulsion when he took over. "Unless you want to join them, talk." He loomed closer.
"H-he said something about the Steel Mill…"
Ozpin looked toward Batman, remembering the time they'd tracked down Ian Chase. "That's Sionis' mill." The vigilante explained.
The false clown let out a small chuckle at that. "I-it's Joker's mill now. Ain't no way either of you gettin' in there."
"Your concern is noted," was the last thing he heard before the handle of Ozpin's cane rattled his jaw. Its owner wasted no time in activating his comm. "Alfred, I assume you've been following our encounter?"
"Unfortunately, Master Ozpin. I've encountered my fair share of deplorable souls, but this…" The feeling was one Ozpin shared. We have to stop Joker now. I've seen eyes like those before, and not from Grimm. A being like that would set the entire world on fire, just to watch it burn.
Batman continued Ozpin's plan of action. "Pull schematics on Sionis Industries' steel mill. Joker's taken Sionis there. He's going to kill him unless we get there first."
A hint of concern could be heard in his answer. "This Joker sounds dangerous…"
"Ozpin's theory was right: he's taken over Black Mask's operations and slaughtered the men who wouldn't turn. He's the one who hired the assassins."
"And it must he who ordered the bombing of the GCPD." Right, Oz remembered, of course he would. On one hand, it sends a clear message of power. On the other, it fits his recently uncovered capacity for sheer insanity. "Oh, dear lord. Shouldn't you think about letting the police handle this one?"
"Not a chance," Batman snarled as he strode for the exit. "He's mine."
Ozpin went to follow him, if mostly because he understood this was too much for one single person, when he noticed his comm was still active. "Master Ozpin, this is a private channel. Please… watch over Master Bruce, would you? I'm not certain how to talk him out of all this, but at the very least, he seems to respect you."
He smiled at that; he had been a father more than once, too, and not just by blood. "I can't convince him to change his mind, you know probably better than I do how stubborn he can be. Besides, I'm not certain the police can deal with a threat of this caliber in its current state." A sigh from the old man. "But I've no intention of letting him just run off on his own. That I promise you."
After a little pause, "I cannot thank you enough, Ozpin."
"And you don't have to, Alfred." He turned off the call and remembered he'd stopped moving. Doubling his pace, Oz found his newest student outside, hiding away from some SWAT officers parked in front of the entrance. No doubt they heard a rumor of us being inside the bank, and not being aware of who actually set up the bounty, they thought they could ambush us.
Luckily, they were still busy discussing strategy, and by the time they began moving for the building, the Huntsman had joined Batman. "Sorry for the wait, just needed to discuss something first." The vigilante gave him a curious look, but then both of their attention shifted to a particular sound: a baby crying close by.
There wasn't any point in fighting the officers, not with Joker, Sionis and a child in apparent danger, so they drifted away from the bank towards the source. Right in the middle of the plaza stood a lone carriage, nothing or no one in sight. Inside, the baby's cries continued, notably at the same pitch. "Trap?"
"Trap. But we might as well get it out of the way before someone else springs it." So they moved carefully up to the carriage and pulled away the blankets to find, sure enough, a tape recorder playing the cries they'd been hearing. "There's nothing here…" Batman murmured…
Then Ozpin spun around, his cane slicing through the spot where the woman was a moment ago. She nimbly ducked and kicked out at the same time, only for Batman to block her attack. She then used the momentum to roll away from the following cane thrust, then rose to her full height. "Shiva, I presume?" Ozpin was silently impressed with her reflexes; he may've held back a bit, but his attacks weren't so easily dodged. Yet this woman did it so gracefully.
Shiva gave a mocking bow, notably one where she could keep her eyes on the two. "Indeed. I have heard rumors that the Bat had acquired an ally this evening. And to my delight, one with true skill. You must be Ozpin, then."
Batman was wary as well. "Trying to collect the bounty?"
"That's just a consolation prize in case you fail the test."
"Test? We don't have time for this."
But Shiva continued. "Somewhere in New Gotham, an innocent man is about to die. And while your friend is still a mystery, we all know you, detective, won't allow that. So the question is: can you find him, Batman? Can you save him?" She narrowed her eyes at the other man. "Ozpin. You may observe, but aid him in any way without permission, and the test will end." Then she disappeared in a flash of smoke.
The pair were left staring at the place previously occupied by the assassin. Batman drew in a breath to calm his seething anger while Ozpin stonily worked his jaw.
Between the Joker and now Shiva-not even counting the remaining assassins and additional criminals potentially hiding in the shadows, Ozpin could not shake the feeling this night would only get worse before it got better.
Review Q&A:
*To Jebest4781: Thanks for your kind words!
*To MetalScizor: While I appreciate your reviews and enthusiasm for giving me ideas (and you've given me a couple of things to think about), I can already tell you that I'm not gonna deviate too far from Origins' story mode. I'm adding my own spice to it, and there will be different scenes, but for the record, I refuse to add Professor Pyg. For one, I'm not sure where to put him without drawing out the story, and for another, the guy just creeps me out. Sorry, but there are already enough psychos running loose right now, and I'm not trying to traumatize the characters.
*To Adriaus Nighthunter: Thank you!
*To The Avenging Titan: yeah, Oz has seen plenty of crazy things throughout his reincarnations, I'd wager, and can appreciate a little silliness, but everybody's got their limits ;-). Too bad the night's not even halfway done. As for Oz telling them about Remnant, you're right that it's coming soon. Just stay tuned!
*To MajorBrony95: Ohoho, you are giving me goosebumps there. Yeah, Ruby would have that sort of animosity with Hatter, better than Ozpin or Oscar. Hope you're doing okay and one way or another, I await "The Blood-Red Rose" with eagerness.
*To Mastermind4982: Exactly, neither one would be controlled that easily. Frankly, it'd probably be an easier thing to list all the things Ozma hasn't experienced at least once. But now, here's the most dangerous psycho Gotham City has to offer. Hope you and the rest like it!