*Chapter 2: Safe than Sorry*
"You...you're...you're Mr. Freeze!" Axel said, looking up at the man in a suit. Mr. Freeze raised a brow at him. He aims his gun at the boy. Axel's hands were shaking. Not of fear, of being cold in this place. Yet, he needs to talk to Mr. Freeze out of shooting him. "W-wait! I...I'm not here f-for any trouble!" He told him.
"What kind of child like you is doing here in a place like this? In Arkham City of all places?" Mr. Freeze asked. "Did Strange take you away? How unfortunate."
"Yeah. His TYGER guys took me and my mom from our apartment, and brought us here." Axel said. "Have you heard of my mom? Her name is Mia Harlow." Mr. Freeze was taken back by the name. Mr. Freeze remembered hearing that last name from the newspapers months back. He lowered the gun.
"You are Nurse Harlow's boy? Why didn't you say so in the first place?" Mr. Freeze said with a smirk. "I am Victor Fries. But, you can call me Mr. Freeze if you wish." Axel let out a shaky sigh of relief. He rubs his arms. "How did you manage to come here without being caught by inmates or Strange's men?" Mr. Freeze asked, walking over to his computer.
"I...I got away." Axel said. "I had to get out of there, call for h-help. Somehow call Batman."
"Good luck with that, child." Mr. Freeze said with a frown. "Batman can't save everyone. He can't save Ms. Harlow." Axel wanted to argue, but decided it's best not to. He needs to find another safe place to stay where it's warm. "I highly suggest you leave while I do my work." Mr. Freeze spoke. The boy breathes on his hands to keep them warm as he looks around the room.
"How do you handle the cold like this?" Axel asked, seeing his breath.
"The cold never bothered me." Mr. Freeze replied with a small smile. Axel let out a chuckle. Then, they both hear sounds coming from the doors, and yelling. Mr. Freeze turned to Axel with a look in his eyes. "Hide!" He demanded. Axel looked around and see the grates. He climbed inside and look over at Mr. Freeze who picked up his gun. He turned to the boy. "Stay in there and wait until it's safe to come out. Understand?" Axel nodded and closed the gate and remain hidden under the floor.
Coming in were Penguin's thugs. They barge in with their guns and floor mines. Axel could only hear the ice man's voice and the thugs arguing. The sounds of the freeze gun, thugs screaming and cursing. Axel peeked out to see the commotion, but gasped when he sees Mr. Freeze being thrown down.
"We got Freeze!" One thug said.
"Good! Bring him to the museum! He is part of my collection!" Penguin's voice said through the speakers. Axel made a look. How he hates the little man. Axel let out a sneeze, quickly covered his mouth as he gave away his position.
"What the hell?" The thug wondered. "Who sneezed?" The other thug opened the grate and see Axel. He reached in and pull him out.
"What's a kid doing here?!" He asked.
"Let me go!" Axel demanded. "What're you planning to do with Freeze?!"
"Boss, there's a kid in here."
"Kid? Oh, it's that Harlow boy." Penguin spoke. Axel could hear his snicker. "Bring him along with Freeze! He is a part of this now!" The man gripped on Axel's arm and drag him out of the room. Things are getting worse. Axel needs Batman. Wherever he is, he should be somewhere in Arkham City.
Batman threw himself out the window and glide towards the billboard and the bell tower of the church explodes. He had rescued Catwoman from Two-Face in the court house, saved her from a bullet, and he saved the hostages in the church. Now, he had to find the Joker. He could be behind Protocol Ten. Batman looked over at the prison where Mia was kept.
"I'll come back for you, Mia. I promise." He said. "Axel could be anywhere in this city. I hope he's okay."
"Sir, doesn't he have the device that could contact you and you could track him down?" Alfred's voice asked.
"He would've used it by now. Unless the TYGER guards took it away from him. If he's alive, he'd be smart to look for a safe place where the inmates wouldn't get him." Batman said. "I'll find him. But I have to find Joker." He began to glide across the city to follow the radio signal the Joker was using. This night couldn't get any worse. Dinner plans are cancelled. All he wanted is to spend time with Mia, talking things over about the wedding, and where would their honeymoon be. Bruce remembered just yesterday when he and Mia are walking in the park and he gave her something special.
*One day earlier*
Bruce and Mia walked around the park with coats on and see the frozen lake as snow falls on them. They sat on the bench and held hands. Bruce looks down at the ring and kissed her hand. Mia rests her head on his shoulder.
"Of all the women you've dated, you picked me." Mia said with a playful smirk.
"You are not like the others I've met, Mia." Bruce told her, lifting her chin. "You're the one." He lightly kissed her lips. Mia smiled and run her finger down his firm chin. Bruce took her hand and kiss each of her fingers. "After we are married, you don't need to wait for me every night after I patrol the city or save it. When you and Axel will move in that is."
"Oh, you know I would. Just as long as you come home before dawn." Mia said. "I'm actually used to night shifts since I work at the hospital for day shifts." Bruce smirked and kissed her forehead. He pulled her up from the bench. They walk down the path. "I just don't want you to be in bad shape. After what happened in the asylum, I was concerned. You punched the Joker in the face by using explosive gel. Which was stupid, but I'm glad your hand didn't get blown up."
"But we lived." Bruce said. "I always have ways to defeat the Joker. You should know that by now."
"Yes. I know." Mia gripped on his hand tighter. "Sometimes you just don't know how to be very careful." Bruce playfully rolled his eyes at her.
"You love me." He told her. He wrapped his arm around her waist. Mia giggled as he nuzzles her blond hair. "Oh. I almost forgot." He digs something out of his coat. A pearl necklace. "This belonged to my mother." Bruce said. "They've been sitting in my office for years, kept safe from anyone. I would love for you to have it." He puts it around Mia's neck. She touches the pearls. She looked up at him about to say something, but Bruce beat her to it. "Please accept it. And promise me one thing."
"What?"
"Wear it on our wedding day." Bruce said, brushing the hair away from Mia's eyes. The woman smiled lovingly at him. There are many times before Bruce wanted to shower her with expensive gifts, but all she wanted was him. She can take the ring and this necklace. Mia smiled and embrace him.
Batman reached Joker's Funland and see the inmates stealing from the abandon truck. One inmate claimed it was dog food, but the others don't care, they were starving. Once he grappled to one of the rooftops, he needs to find a way to get inside Steel Mill. He looked up the chimney and made a smirk. It was suicide but it will have to do. He grappled up and then dove down into the chimney.
XX
Joker was coughing as one doctor failed to help him. Harley kicked her out of the doorway, having her fall below where the yelling henchmen are. The poor woman could've broke her neck from the long drop. Joker was amused, but he is weak. The Clown Prince of Crime has been sick for a few months. Because of the overdose Titan from the asylum. His blood is killing him.
"If only my favorite nurse is here to help..." Joker said to himself, looking out the window. "Poor Mia. Trapped with Strange. Such a pity she will be missing the party." He let out a cough, covering his mouth. "But Batman won't."
"Mr. J? You want Mr. Hammer to kill her? She didn't do much to help you!" Harley spoke.
"Make her suffer a little longer, my dear. Have the boys take her to the smelting chamber." Joker said as he turned to her. "The Bat should be here by now..." Harley smirked and went over to the doorway, stopping the big one armed man from bringing a hammer down to break the doctor's skull. The men were disappointed, but had no choice but to follow orders.
"You know what you have to do!" Harley said. "Go get the snowman and bring him right back here now! He's going to pay for screwing over Mr. J. I need him back here like yesterday!" Some of the thugs left to find Mr. Freeze who is supposed to make this cure for Joker. The remaining thugs were left behind to keep watch of the place, unaware that the Dark Knight was crawling under their feet in the grates, ready to attack.
"Let's try this again, shall we?" Hugo said as he sat across from Mia who glared at him. "After this, you will be having your meal. I wouldn't want you to starve before Protocol Ten commences, would I?" Mia placed her hands on the table, still cuffed. She isn't in a mood for food or speaking to him. Yet she doesn't have any other choice.
"What else do you want to know, Strange? You studied me. You somehow knew Bruce is Batman." She spoke. "My son better be alive somewhere in this damn city. If he isn't-"
"Why did you pick Wayne?" Hugo interrupted.
"Excuse me?"
"Of all the men out there in Gotham, why him?" Hugo asked. "Surely you weren't after his money."
"I don't care if he is rich or being Batman. I love him for who he is." Mia said, sneering at the smirking professor. "How about you tell me how you discover Bruce's secret?"
"Simple really." Hugo replied. "Speaking of which, you are aware that Wayne has escaped and may be Batman out there right about now. Do you believe he will come back for you? Do you believe he will find your son alive?" Mia wanted to strangle Hugo. Her fists clenched, shaking a bit. The professor chuckled. "I've touched the wrong nerve, haven't I?"
"I know what you are trying to do, Strange."
"Really?"
"It won't work. Batman will come and stop you and get me and my son out of this city." Mia said. "You arrest innocent people. And you plan on destroying this city, killing thousands of people. You're insane. What are you really planning?"
"I'm afraid I cannot say much about that, Ms. Harlow." Hugo replied. "I am here to talk about you. Are you aware of the age gap between you and Wayne?"
"What does it matter?" Mia asked.
"Eleven years."
"Age doesn't matter. People of Gotham may have a problem with it, but they have to deal with it." Mia looks down at her ring. "Whether you like it or not, we'll get married."
"Unless one of you dies." Hugo told her. "If Wayne does come back for you, he may be the first one to go. He will see that I, Hugo Strange, is better than him. I will be a hero. Just like him." Mia got up and back away from him, glaring at him. If only she could fight him. "We will speak after you are calm. I will have a guard bring you dinner." Hugo summoned one of the TYGER guards to come in and take Mia out of the room. "Oh, before you take her to her cell. Bring her to a friend." Hugo said.
"Yes sir."
"Friend?" Mia wondered.
They walk into an office and one TYGER guard pointed his gun at Ben who was tied to a chair. Mia watched from the window with a gasp. Ben was revealed. Hugo's chuckle was heard from behind her.
"Such a fool for being here. He thinks he is clever with disguises. I always know who is working for me." He said. "He wanted to help you escape. Here is what happens to those who tried to help prisoners escape." He snapped his fingers. Ben looked up at Mia through the glass. His face is bruised, and his nose was bleeding.
"Ben..." Mia whispered.
"I'm sorry..." Ben whispered. "I...I've tried. Tell Gordon...I've tried." The TYGER guard shot Ben in a head, killing him. Mia let out a cry and turn her head away from the scene. Hugo ordered his men to clean up the mess and take Mia to her cell. Now Mia is trapped here. Ben tried to help her get out, but he was discovered. Hugo is more clever than Mia thought.
"Get out of my way, Quinn!" Batman demanded as he approached Harley. She is kneeling next to the body of the Joker.
"Just leave us alone, B-man..." Harley said. "Just leave me with him." She sobbed. But Batman pulled her out of the way and examine the dead body of the Joker. Harley was yelling at him. "This is all your fault! You've hounded him for years, beat him to a pulp, and for what? Why are you so mean?!" Batman never said a word to her. Until suddenly...
"Surprise!" A voice laughed. A mask filled with gas went over Batman's mouth. Batman struggled to get someone off him. He felt dizzy and weak. He hears Joker's voice behind him. "You fell for the ol' fake Joker gag, Batman."
"Batter up!" Harley swung her bat at Batman to knock him out. After the third swing, Batman blacked out.