In the Shadow of the Bat

Nyssa Al Guhl sighed to herself happily as she and her lover ate ice cream in a small shop not far from where they were living now. "Hmm," she softly purred as she had another mouthful of the mint chocolate chip.

"You really like that," Cass Cain noted warmly.

"Oh yes," Nyssa agreed cheerfully. Thoughtfully she added, "I don't think I've let myself have a treat like this in awhile."

"We'll do this as often as you want," Cass promised.

"Ha!" Nyssa laughd. "Does that mean I get ice cream every day?" she teased.

Neither could quite explain what made them move. A flash of light off the scope? A hint of movement off in the distance? SOMETHING sent Nyssa sprawling to the ground even as Cass leaped over the counter and shoved the ice cream guy backwards.

"Hey!" he yelped.

CRASH! The front window shattered as bullets ripped through it, stitching across the counter where they had been standing.

"Never mind," he eeped.

"Nyssa?" Cass called.

"I'm fine," Nyssa answered, "Where is the shooter?"

"Across the street, rooftop," Cass answered then as she crawled around to where Nyssa was she asked, "league?"

Nyssa scoffed softly. "Too incompetent for League of Assassins. Could be a wanna-be who's trying to join."

"Admittedly, bringing Talia your head probably WOULD get him or her their membership," Cass agreed.

"Should we...?" Nyssa started when they heard a startled cry off in the distance.

Cass snickered, "I think it just got handled."

As expected a few moment's later Robin swung down, the masked young man smiling wryly. "Everyone all right?" he asked.

"I think so," the ice cream guy noted, brushing himself off. "Do I wanna know what happened?" he asked dryly.

"Probably not," Nyssa said, "but I promise to cover the damages."

"I'm insured," he shrugged, "but thanks for the offer."

"Excuse us," Cass said to the shop owner as they followed Robin outside. Dropping her voice she asked him, "Gunman?"

"Yeah," Robin nodded, "he was using a rooftop sniper's nest nearby. Don't think he was a professional, though."

"Oh?" Nyssa wondered.

"He said something about it not being like Team Fortress," Robin smiled. Both women looked at him blankly, neither getting the joke. "Never mind," he sighed.

Cass patted Tim on the arm. "Video game reference?" she asked.

"Long story," Robin waved it off. "Anyway, I'll hand him over to the police and we'll keep up the patrols around the area."

"Thank you, again," Nyssa smiled. "You know, we could probably handle this sort of thing ourselves...," she offered.

"Nah, don't want to spoil your honeymoon," Robin winked then took off, firing off a grappling hook and ascending back up to the roofs.

"He's sweet," Cass smiled as she took Nyssa's hand.

"Agreed," Nyssa agreed as she squeezed her hand back. "So, wanna go honeymoon some more? We could go to bed early..."

"Oh yes," Cass purred.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"Ma'am," Teresa Ludlow-Dalt shook the hand of her agent as she noted, "been awhile, Is everything all right?"

"All right?" Catherine Weiss beamed, "It's terrific! All your running around as The Spider has been terrific publicity!"

Teresa did her best not to groan. She hadn't intended to do any of that, things just... kind of happened. As it was, she was STILL being chased by that crazed Seven Soldiers club, not to mention other loonies.

"Something wrong?" Catherine asked.

"No, it's fine," Teresa waved it off. She leaned forward and asked, "Are there any problems with the book contract?"

"No, no it's all good," Catherine reassured her. "In fact, in addition to Gotham University Press, there's some interest from several mainstream publishers."

Teresa looked wary, "But...?"

"It would have to be slanted a bit differently than your planned academic work," Catherine admitted. "Less a analytical piece and more Ann Rule-like."

"Ugh," Teresa made a face.

"It's not THAT bad," Catherine reassured her.

"I'm really not good at that sort of thing," Teresa shook her head ruefully.

Catherine gave her a sympathetic look. "I know a reporter who could ghost write it, if needed," she offered, "good writer if a bit down on her luck lately."

"Who is it?" Teresa asked curiously.

"Vicki Vale," Catherine said, "we worked on a book on the Gotham mobs, a few years back. That's how I know she could do your book too."

"Let me meet her first, and we'll talk about it," Teresa offered. "I know that kind of book is a money maker, but I'd rather not compromise my integrity TOO much."

"Spoil sport," Catherine laughed. Warmly she asked, "Want to go out to lunch? I'll put it on my expense account."

"If you don't mind being jumped by super crooks," Teresa shrugged.

"Huh?" Catherine looked at her.

Teresa made a helpless gesture. "Almost any time I try to have lunch with a contact, a costumed crazy shows up," she explained.

"That is just wild...," Catherine shook her head.

The two women hit street level, leaving the office building and stepping out into Gotham sunlight. "So, where to?" Teresa asked reasonably.

"Penguin's Iceberg Lounge?" Catherine suggested. She grinned at Teresa's disapproving look, "Hey, if I'm gonna go out and get in trouble, I say go for the gusto."

"You are insane," Teresa laughed as they headed out together.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

What later came to be known as 'The Battle of Iceberg Lounge' was a series of almost impossible coincidences coming together at the same time.

Firstly a group of the Flash's Rouges had ended up in town, apparently to meet with their Gotham counterparts. None of the BIG names like Cold or Zoom, thankfully. But Trickster was there, along with Top, Weather Wizard and Mirror Master. Supposedly there for just a drink.

Second, Clayface was there, looking for Cobblebot. He knew that Penguin was helping smuggle criminals out of Gotham for money, and hoped the crook would help him set up a new identity. When he found out Penguin was DEAD well... he got upset.

Third, Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy were there trying to have a sweet, romantic dinner. They actually were pretty peaceful until Trickster accidentally dropped a rubber chicken bomb on their table. Things went downhill from there.

"You hit my sweetie!" Harley yelled, hefting a giant hammer.

"It wasn't intentional!" Trickster yelped.

"It's a trap!" Clayface yelled, switching forms and clobbering Weather Wizard.

"Break it up..." one of the staff started, only to be jumped by the Top.

"How DARE you overcook my steamed broccoli!" Poison Ivy yelled, animating plants and trying to get the cooks.

"What the fuck." Mirror Master sighed, wisely jumping behind the bar. He was in no way interested in getting into THIS kinda brawl.

The fight ran on for over a hour, the total damage was in the high thousands, and people across Gotham would claim to have been there, even though they weren't. Of course, some people WERE there...

"You weren't kidding," Catherine noted as they climbed out from under a table.

Teresa sighed, "It's NOT MY FAULT."

To be continued...

Notes: I noticed that almost every time I have Teresa go out to eat, something happens. So, decided to go for the gusto. Heh.