Chapter 3: Partners
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It was nearly dawn as we find ourselves at the home of James Gordon as he was tossing and turning in his bed having a nightmare before waking up screaming.
"Barbara!" James yells in horror.
Looking around he noticed his wife wasn't in bed.
Getting up he ran down the hall spotting his wife Barbara in the kitchen looking at a drawing of their family.
"Calm down. Daylight isn't for hours." She said as James walked over and hugged her. "What's wrong?"
"A dream. Just a dream and then you were gone." James frowns.
"I'm here." She said hugging her husband.
Sitting him down at the table, she poured him some tea.
"What happened?" James asks.
"Oh I just woke up thinking of our little girl wherever she is." Barbara sighs.
"How long has it been?" James sighs.
"3 years James. In a few weeks, it will be 4." She said.
"Someday she'll come back. I know it." James assures.
"I hope so, I worry for her and you. James these hours you're working too hard." She said.
"And that's not likely to change. I can't sit around while Gotham goes straight to hell." James said sipping his drink.
"No, no you couldn't." She frowns. "I'll make your eggs."
Taking his drink out to the backyard he looks out at the city only to see Batman emerge from the shadows.
"Damnation!" James said nearly spilling his drink.
"Don't be alarmed." Batman said.
"Says the man in the bat costume." James said.
"He's got you there Batsy." Dropping down from the tree, Spider-Man lands next to him. "Hello officer." Spider-Man said tipping his hat to him.
"Oh great you're both here. So what are you two partners now?" James asks.
"Well now that you mention it—" Spider-Man starts.
"Temporarily, but we are on your side commissioner. I plan to rid Gotham of the Ripper." Batman interrupts.
"We both do." Spider-Man corrects.
"And who will help me rid Gotham of the two of you?" James asks making Spider-Man scoff.
"Like your whistle blowers could stop us." Spider-Man said.
"They don't search too hard for us. I'm guessing that comes from the top up." Batman assumes.
"Back at the Union Camp in Culpepper soldiers would sometimes ignore a feral cat just to keep the rat population in check other times we'd eat them. I know a vigilante from a maniac." James said.
"This Ripper is no lunatic. He's freaking bat shit crazy. Uh no offense." Spider-Man said looking at Batman who just glared at him.
"What he's trying to say is the Ripper is a Skilled Hunter and he's only just getting started." Batman said.
"You two ought to have breakfast with Hugo Strange up at Arkham Asylum. He'd love to compare useless stories. I prefer facts." James said.
"Well here's a fact. We fought him earlier tonight." Spider-Man said.
"Approximately 6'3, 250 pounds, left-handed. Good fighter, trained." Batman said.
"I don't suppose either of you saw his face?" James asks.
"He had it covered." Spider-Man said.
"I need all your files on the Ripper. Detailed descriptions of the crime scenes, photo plates, even profiles from your alienist." Batman said.
"You want them alphabetical or in chronological?" James asks sarcastically.
"Listen Gordon. This Ripper is an enemy to all women in Gotham. Including your wife. So if you want to keep waking up to her meals every day I suggest you help us." Spider-Man said crossing his arms.
"James? Are you okay?" Barbara calls out.
"I'll be inside directly." James calls out before turning to them. Reaching into his robe he pulls out a piece of paper. "A letter from Jack to the Gotham Gazette. We managed to keep it from the public but I assure you it makes poor bedtime reading. Perhaps you'll find something of use in there."
Reaching out Batman took it.
"Thank you." Batman said.
"I'll leave a copy of the Ripper file on the roof of the Police Station. I know you two are fond of those. But understand that this uninvited home visit will not be repeated. This house is my refuge." James said looking inside. "Set apart from all the corruption of Gotham—"
When he turns back he saw only Spider-Man was there.
"What? Where did he?" James asks.
"Yeah he does that a lot. And as for the home visits, no promises." Firing a web Spider-Man said leaping up onto the roof.
As he looked down he noticed the family picture before disappearing into the city. 'Wait she looks familiar.'
Landing on a rooftop, Spider-Man saw Batman with his back to him.
"So partner what's the next move?" Spider-Man asks walking over.
"We're not partners. This is temporary." Batman said.
"Aw come on Bats. At least try and be a team player." Spider-Man said.
"The Ripper doesn't attack during the day so let's use this time to rest and prepare for tomorrow. I'll have a look at the letter and files in the meantime." Batman said.
"So what am I supposed to do?" Spider-Man asks.
"You said you had 2 former Ripper victims. Keep an eye on them. Make sure that whoever the Ripper is doesn't know they're alive." Batman said.
"Well that I can do. But uh what if we need to meet up again? Talk plans?" Spider-Man asks.
"I'll figure something out." Batman said about to leave.
"Wait." Spider-Man calls out stopping him. "Don't you think I should help out more? I mean aren't we partners now?"
"When we're fighting but right now I do better on my own. This part requires some investigating." Batman said.
"You know I'm not useless. I can help. I'm a crime fighter too and I know this city like the back of my hand." Spider-Man said.
"Then keep your ears open. Maybe you can find something. In the meantime just focus on helping our only witnesses." Batman said about to leave.
"Wait." Spider-Man calls out one more time.
"What?" Batman said getting annoyed.
"I just want you to know your secret is safe with me. I just hope my secret is safe for you." Spider-Man said.
Turning to him, Batman merely gives him a nod of acknowledgment before leaving.
"Boy he is just a big ball of sunshine and lollipops." Spider-Man sighs before leaving.
At Jaden's home, we see Cindy and Pam still asleep in his room as the sun was slowly coming up.
Since they needed to heal Jaden let them have his bed.
Slowly waking up Cindy walks to the window and looks in the direction of James Gordon's home like she could see it in the distance.
'It'll be almost 4 years since I left that place.' She sighs.
Suddenly she heard a noise from the next room startling her.
Slowly, she peeked her head out and saw Jaden on the ground near the couch.
"Oh man." Jaden groans.
"Are you okay?" Cindy asks.
"Yeah I guess I just rolled over in my sleep and fell off." Jaden said making her giggle.
Helping him up, she sits down next to him on the couch.
"So how are you and Pam feeling?" Jaden asks.
"Much better. All that rest was just what we needed." Cindy smiles.
"Well that's one problem solved." Jaden said.
"Yeah but now we have a different problem. What are Pam and I supposed to do? If we go out there the Ripper might find us again and we can't exactly stay cooped in your place until he's captured. No offense." Cindy said.
"No I get it." Jaden sighs laying back. "The thing about the Ripper is he goes after women of the night, but something tells you two can't pull off the fancy kind of wardrobe. Uh I mean not that you couldn't. I mean I bet you both would look pretty. Uh not that you two aren't already pretty. It's just that what I mean is—" Jaden stutters making Cindy giggle.
"It's fine. I get it. And to answer your question yes, no way Pam and I could afford to dress like those ladies." Cindy said.
'Hmm I wonder if Bruce would loan me some money for dresses? Nah he might think I'm weird or something.' Jaden thought before groaning. "Ugh what kind of scientist can't even solve one problem?"
"Wait what?" Cindy asks.
"Sorry it's just uh…when I was little before, I was in the orphanage I wanted to be a Scientist. My parents always hoped that I could make it and I was pretty good, but uh…well it wasn't in the cards for me. Some dreams just can't come true." Jaden said.
Frowning Cindy moved closer to him.
"Before I ended up in the orphanage when I was a kid I wanted to be a police officer like my dad. But my dad wasn't a fan of his little girl being a part of this life. So my dad told kept trying to push me down a different path." Cindy said.
"Well if it makes you feel better I think you're tough enough to be a police officer." Jaden said.
"Thanks I swear, part of me considered disguising myself as a man to try and get in." Cindy sighs getting Jaden's attention.
"Wait what?" Jaden asks.
"I know it sounds crazy no way I could make it through without raising a few heads." Cindy chuckles.
"No go back what did you wanted to do?" Jaden asks.
"Tryout for the police?" Cindy asks.
"No before that. How you wanted to sneak in." Jaden clarifies.
"I was gonna disguise myself." Cindy said.
"Oh my god, you're a genius." Grabbing her by the face, Jaden kisses Cindy on the cheek surprising her. "You are the best."
"Wow…thank you." Cindy blushes before realizing what he said. "Wait what am I genius for?"
Soon Pam was up and she was looking at Jaden with a weird look.
"You want us to dress up like men so we can go outside and avoid suspicion? Do you have any idea how crazy that sounds?" Pamela asks.
"Crazy is literally all we got to try." Cindy said.
"Besides I saw this play once where they had a woman dress up to play the role of a boy uh Peter something and it worked pretty well there." Jaden said.
"Are we really about to take this risk?" Pam asks.
"It's either that or we hide out here the rest of our lives or head out or we wait until the Ripper tracks us down and try to kill us again." Cindy said.
"Alright, Jaden make a man out of me." Pam said almost instantly.
"Okay ladies here's where 2 miserable years of doing makeup and backstage work in the theater district pays off." Jaden sighs taking out some medical wraps.
Slowly Cindy took off her top and had her back to him.
Blushing Jaden slowly tied the wraps around her chest, he couldn't help but stare at her smooth, shiny skin.
"Alright tell me if I pull too hard." Jaden said tugging the wrap pushing her breasts in making Pam cringe.
Slowly looping it around her Jaden's hands grazed her chest making Cindy shudder.
'Hmm looks like Babs is enjoying the attention from him.' Pam giggles.
"Alright last one." Pulling hard Cindy ended up falling backwards and falling on top of him.
Freezing both saw their faces were inches from each other's faces and instantly Cindy remembered the kiss he gave her.
"Uh sorry you're a little stronger than you seem." Cindy said getting up.
Seeing this Pam couldn't help but smirk.
"Well uh try putting this on and we'll see if it'll work." Jaden said handing her some of his clothes.
Making his way to the living room, Pam turns to see her friend change.
"So what was that back there?" Pam asks interested.
"It was nothing really." She said looking away.
"Babs come on it's me. You know you can't hide things from me." Pam smirks.
"Well when I gave Jaden the idea to disguise us he kinda…kissed me." She admits.
"Ooh." Pam whistles impressed. "How was he?"
"I didn't kiss him back he kissed me on the cheek." Cindy replies. "Besides you kissed him yesterday so why are you asking me?"
"Because if you like him too then that makes things very interesting for us." Pam said.
"Why does everything have to be fun with you?" Cindy blushes.
"Because if I didn't you would be constantly obsessed with what could go wrong." Pam said wrapping her arms around her best friend. "I know it's near that day. And while still think of it as a bad day I remember it as the day I met my best friend."
"Thanks Pam." Cindy smiles softly.
"Anytime." She said before turning to the door. "Well guess it's my turn."
Looking around the room, Cindy saw Jaden had a few newsboy caps and a pair of glasses.
Taking them she put the glasses on as well as the cap to hide her hair.
"I hope this works." She sighs.
Hours later as the sun was going down we find ourselves at Bruce's home where Bruce was reading the letter James had given them.
"Dear Boss, Gotham has become a den of filth and scum. I'm down on whores and I shan't quit ripping them till I do get buckled. Grand work, the last job was. I hardly gave the lady no time to squeal. How can they catch me now? I love my work, cutting whores and then degenerates what with defend them." Bruce read aloud as Alfred walked over with dinner.
"Bit of light reading sir?" Alfred asks.
"Them cusses' of coppers nor the false God you hide behind...won't spoil the game for me. I will be on a job soon and will send you another bit of innards." Bruce sighs as he stops reading. "Goes on like that in some detail about his dissection plans."
"Mrs. Cooper has sent up a portage. Bon Appetit. And what do you deduce from this magnum opus?" Alfred asks.
"Very little. Cheap paper with no watermark. The hand is that of a man with some education disguised to look like a man with none." Bruce said standing up.
"I'm certain your displays of graphology would duly impress any young ladies you encounter." Alfred said as Bruce walked to the window.
"Women are a distraction from the mission Alfred." Bruce said.
"So you've said. Your evening attire sir." Alfred said pulling out a suit.
"I believe you know that was not the suit I was referring to when I said I would go out tonight." Bruce narrows his eyes.
"I've taken the liberty of putting your other suit in the seat compartment of the carriage sir. Before the Batman can prowl I'm afraid Bruce Wayne must make an appearance. Tongues will wag." Alfred explains as Bruce walks over to change.
"What engagement have I accepted?" Bruce asks.
"You are carousing with the lively man-about-town and rake, your oldest school chum, Master Harvey Dent. Gotham's solicitor." Alfred said.
"Hmm." Bruce grumbles not liking the sound of this.
"Well maybe next time I can try inviting your new partner?" Alfred offers.
"Jaden is not my partner. I just agreed to temporarily work with him since we have a common goal." Bruce denies.
"It's actually quite amusing when you think about it sir." Alfred smiles.
"What do you mean?" Bruce asks.
"Sister Leslie seemed very eager for the both of you to meet. Two young men put on masks to help the people of Gotham. You can't help but think maybe you two were meant to be a team. Granted Jaden's only young man but I think you could benefit from having an extra hand."
"I don't know Alfred. He's not exactly what you expect and he never stops talking it's annoying." Bruce said.
"We all have our different ways, Master Bruce. Not all of us can be closed from everyone." Alfred said.
"He's inexperienced." Bruce counters.
"But you're not. You can show him the ropes. Who knows maybe he can help you in areas you're not very good with." Alfred said.
"I'll think about it Alfred." Bruce said.
"Well in the meantime I'm certain you shall have a pleasant and elegant evening's entertainment sir." Alfred said.
We find ourselves at the Monarch Theater as Bruce and Harvey were watching a cabaret performance and Selina was the main star in this enchanting number.
(Play Gotham by Gaslight Selina Kyle Cabaret)
When the circus came to town
Jay Augustus Henpecked Brown
Bought himself a ticket for the show
Passed by all the acrobats
All the clowns in funny hats
Went to see the animals below
Saw a tamer put his head into a lion's mouth
Waited till the tamer man was through
Shook his hand and said,
"at taming wild ones, you're a bird But just one thing I'd like to ask of you"
Can you tame Wild Women?
Can you tame Wild Women?
You made a tiger stand
And eat out of your hand
You made the hippo do the flippo
Honest, it was grand
Can you tame Wild Women?
So they'll always lead
A sweet and simple life
Up above Harvey was looking at Selina with lovestruck eyes.
"Bruce I'm in love." Harvey sighs.
"Well that's good news Harvey. I'm sure your wife will be very pleased to hear that." Bruce smirks.
"Oh, please, Bruce. This is the 19th century. Don't be such a dinosaur. Marriage is more like a business arrangement. Besides, what Gilda doesn't know, won't hurt her." Harvey said as the song ended.
Looking up at their box Selina blew a kiss.
"Selina is the most amazing gal, Bruce. You'll see." Harvey said.
"I think I already do." Bruce smiles.
After the show ended both men went to Selina's dressing room and knocked on the door before opening.
"Make yourself at home gentlemen. I'll make myself decent." Selina said revealing she was behind a changing divider.
"I certainly hope not." Harvey said sitting down.
"Did you enjoy my performance Mr. Wayne?" Selina asks.
"Bruce. And I'm told you also gave quite an impassioned performance at the World's Fair preview." Bruce recalls.
"I'm passionate in everything I do, Bruce. And boss Tolliver needed to get the message." Selina said walking out in a beautiful magenta outfit.
Noticing the two of them lock eyes, Harvey moved in.
"Come on, my pet. Let's see if we can't make our way to a more comfortable establishment before Gordon's killjoy curfew takes effect." Harvey offers.
"Listen carefully, kitten I'm many things but I'm nobody's pet." Selina teases before they headed out.
On the streets of Gotham, Bruce and Selina were having quite a debate while Harvey was becoming a third wheel.
"And you can't doubt for one minute that if men were being slaughtered Tolliver would hire an army of policemen to find this Ripper." Selina said.
"But I don't agree. If it were affluent women, society ladies, the outcry might be deafening. Jack targets destitute women. When the voiceless cry out, no one hears." Bruce counters.
"I think you're ignoring the real tragedy here. Every establishment in town is closing down." Harvey gestures.
"What a shame. I was starting to suspect that there was more to your friend than a good family name and prep school manners." Selina said looking at Bruce.
"Well, there's the Wayne fortune. But I'm sure you didn't forget that, did you, Selina?" Harvey asks.
"Steady old man." Bruce glares. "You'll have to excuse Harvey."
"Oh, I know. When he drinks, he's an entirely different person. A regular Jekyll and Hyde." Selina said as they walked up to a place called The Dionysus Club.
"This is my club. We can catch a hansom here. I'd invite you in for a drink but, unfortunately, men only." Bruce said.
"At least we still have something." Harvey said walking in first.
"I didn't take you for an anti-suffragist." Selina said as Bruce just smirks at her.
Meanwhile in a bar across the street, Cindy and Pam were disguised as young men wearing Jaden's clothes as they had hats over their heads and glasses over their eyes.
"Hey Jaden don't forget to lock up." The owner said.
"Yes sir." Jaden nods from under the bar.
"I can't believe this is actually working." Pam whispers.
"You were right Jaden they can't tell the difference." Cindy said in a deep voice to try and sound manly.
On the other side, Jaden popped his head up with bottles and a mixer to make drinks.
"I told you when people drink they'll believe anything and no offense but I think after the day you two had I think you need a drink more than anyone." Jaden said handing them two glasses.
"Uh Jaden we don't exactly have much cash on us right now." Cindy said.
"It's on me." Jaden smiles walking away to help someone out.
"You don't see good men like that often." Cindy sighs.
"Yeah he is something else." Pam agrees when a man sat down next to them.
"Ugh I need a drink." He said noticing the girls. "Hello ladies."
"Uh I think you're mistaken pal." Cindy said in a deep voice.
"How much have you had to drink?" Pam said in a deep voice.
"Clearly a lot." He said looking at his bottle.
As he turned to leave both girls breathed in relief.
Meanwhile, at the Dionysus Club, we see Bruce had given Selina a men's suit and top hat as she sat with him at the bar while Harvey had fallen asleep with a glass in his hand.
"I don't think the doorman was quite convinced that I'm a man." Selina laughs.
"If he was, I'd have to have him dismissed. The Dionysus Club cannot tolerate a doorman who is blind." Bruce said.
"You'd never do that. Have someone fired. You're too kind. I've heard." Selina said.
"You don't know me." Bruce said.
"I know most other men would've abandoned Harvey hours ago." Selina gestures.
"Well we've all had a few." Bruce said.
"You haven't. You've been pouring your drinks in potted plants all night." Selina said getting his attention. "A mutual friend told me you like to solve mysteries, ever since you were a boy. You're studying me."
"You're a fascinating subject." Bruce said.
"And what have you learned?" Selina leans in interested.
"Only that you were raised in a small, regional circus probably in a family of performers. That some traumatic event possibly connected to the scar on your left arm that you're trying to conceal, led you to the continent where you reinvented yourself as a nightclub performer." Bruce said surprising her.
"Nothing else?" Selina asks.
"That you take it upon yourself to act as champion of the voiceless. Which you, no doubt, learned from our mutual friend, Sister Leslie Thompkins. One of the few people who knew me as a boy." Bruce finished.
"Yes. She was the one who told me you were kind. She even told me her favorite quote. With Great Power…" Selina starts.
"Comes Great Responsibility." Bruce finished knowing that by heart.
"She took me in too. She takes in all of the helpless, the hopeless, feeds them, protects them." Selina lists making Bruce's eyes widen in horror and realization.
"I've been a fool." Bruce said standing up.
"Bruce wait." Selina said standing up.
"Fetch me a hansom quickly!" Bruce calls out.
As Bruce ran out the door Jaden finished his shift at the bar and spotted him just as the carriage pulled up almost running them over.
"Whoa!" Jaden gasps pulling the girls back.
"Jaden?!" Bruce said surprised.
"What's going on?" Jaden asks.
"Leslie's in trouble!" Bruce said.
"What?!" Jaden said as Bruce yanked him into the carriage with him.
"Guys head back to my place!" Jaden said tossing the girls the keys before they drove off.
Confused both girls didn't know what to do when Selina ran out and saw them in the three women saw their disguises.
"Well this night just keeps getting interesting." Pam said.
"Nice to know I'm not the only one trying this new look. Did you see a man come this way?" Selina asks.
"He just pulled our man into his carriage and drove off." Cindy said.
Not liking this the three women looked out in worry.
At the church, Leslie locked the door.
As she made her way through the courtyard, she turned around thinking she heard a noise.
Turning around she saw nothing, but as she turned around, she gasped seeing a figure by a column.
"Oh sister you gave me a fright." An elderly woman in ragged clothes said.
"Marlene what are you doing here? A warm cot is waiting for you and you're out here in the cold?" Leslie asks helping her up when she smells something. "Ugh you've been at the bottle again?"
"I'm sorry sister. I was having trouble sleeping and I needed my medicine." Marlene said.
"I don't know where you're hiding it but that medicine will kill you. Now off to bed." Leslie insists.
As Marlene made her way upstairs Leslie headed out towards the cemetery.
Pulling up the gate, a carriage came to a stop.
"Keep it don't wait up." Bruce said paying the driver as he and Jaden ran out.
Running to the gate they saw it was locked.
Jumping up the two men scaled the gate with ease and ran into the door but it was locked.
"This way." Bruce said as they ran along the church little did they know Marlene saw them from the upper window before taking a drink from her flask.
Entering the cemetery, Sister Leslie approached a tombstone with an angel statue on it as a shadowy figure followed her from behind.
Putting her hands together in prayer, Jack the Ripper emerged from the shadows and approached her.
"So this is it then?" Leslie said revealing she knew he was there. Turning around she stared the killer dead in the face. "Well I won't beg. I won't go hysterical. I won't give you the satisfaction. But know this…I forgive you." Hearing this the Ripper raised his knife high into the air.
As Leslie's screams echoed through the courtyard Jaden and Bruce turned in that direction and ran as fast as they could before spotting Leslie's body on the ground bleeding but the Ripper was long gone.
"Leslie!" Jaden gasps running to her.
Picking her up Jaden turns her around to show several stab wounds with blood spilling out. Clearly, the Ripper wanted her dead.
"We're too late." Bruce said with a hint of regret in his voice.
"Leslie. Please please hang in there!" Jaden begs as tears ran down his eyes.
As Bruce approached them Leslie, slowly opened her eyes.
"B-Bruce, J-Jaden?" Leslie said weakly making them gasp.
"Leslie hang on we're gonna get you help." Bruce said bending down opposite of Jaden.
"You both are together. I knew you boys would get along." Leslie smiles.
"Save your strength. I'll get the best doctors in Gotham to help you." Bruce said.
"You're gonna be okay. Look at me. Look at me." Jaden said trying to keep those eyes open. "We're going to get you help. You're going to be fine." Jaden said.
"It's too late for me boys. I'll be with your parents soon." Leslie declares.
"Leslie please you can't die. You were like a second mother to me. To so many people." Jaden sobs.
"Including me." Bruce chokes.
Using the last of her strength, Leslie reached out and took their hands.
"I always knew you boys had the biggest hearts. You care about others, always putting them before yourselves, finding ways to fix problems and make the world seem brighter. You two may not see it yet, but I do. So different but so similar. You boys can do much good together and I hope that someday you will. You boys are like my own children and I'm so proud of you…both of you." Closing her eyes Leslie's hands dropped down leaving Jaden and Bruce speechless as Leslie died in their arms.
Sobbing Jaden held Leslie close crying loudly while Bruce struggled to keep it together.
Looking down at the young man Bruce saw it in his eyes. The overwhelming sadness at the loss of a loved one, but there was one more thing…a hint of drive. The drive to avenge a fallen loved one and ensure it never happens to anyone else. The same look he had years ago.
"What do we do?" Jaden frowns.
"I'll tell you what we do." Bruce said standing up. "We put a stop to Jack the Ripper."
"What?" Jaden said looking up.
"The Ripper made one big mistake. He made this personal going after Leslie tonight and you and I are going to bring him down. For Sister Leslie." Bruce declares.
Wiping the tears from his eyes Jaden knew this is what he had to do.
"We'll make him regret ever setting foot in Gotham." Jaden said.
As the two of them looked at each other with serious expressions they both turned to Leslie.
"Leslie believed the two of us could do great good together. Let's prove she was right to bet on us." Jaden said.
"Agreed." Bruce said holding out his hand. "You ready…partner?"
Surprised, Jaden couldn't believe it. Bruce had officially called him his partner.
Grabbing his hand Jaden shook it. "Partner."
Bonded by the desire for justice and revenge both heroes were more driven than ever to find the Ripper and take him down.
'Your days are numbered Ripper. When I find you I'm going to make you pay once and for all.' Jaden thought wanting revenge.