CHAPTER 2:
Nightwing glared across the street into Leone's apartment. Watching TV. Great. I get to watch someone watching TV, but I can't even watch TV myself. The slob sat motionless, clicking the channels, the blare of the TV changing with each different station. The rain poured down, washing over Nightwing's body. It was freezing, but Nightwing didn't let the heavy down pour effect him. Three months. This guy better give him something...
He looked over at Barbara, and hated her for being here. No, it wasn't her fault. She made him uncomfortable. But it was Batman's fault. Bruce. He didn't think there was anything in this guy, he just sent Babs over here to bother me, Nightwing thought to himself. Nightwing tried to ignore his rage as he concentrated his energy on Leone. Give me something, he thought to himself. Something. Nightwing took out a pair of high-power night-vision binoculars, and zoomed in. The guy was so dead to the world around him it wasn't funny.
Batgirl looked over at Nightwing. He was so self-centered and dead to the world around him it wasn't funny. He just sat there staring at the guy in the apartment... Something she should have been doing, but she preferred to stare at Dick and pick apart his faults. Egotistical. That was obvious. That much was clear when you first met him, and nice as he was, he really cared about himself, a lot. Or at least he acted that way. A lot. He was so cold when he wanted to be... What was his problem anyway? He was just oblivious to people's emotions. He wasn't bad at heart though. And he was pretty good looking... But she had no desire to be with him.
BAM. Batgirl was launched out of her daydream with a forceful blast as her eyes whirred over to the apartment. Smoke. All she could see was smoke, surrounding a subtle hint of a burning blaze. Her sights darted back to Nightwing who had already sprung out of his stance, flying across the street to the apartment. Batgirl fired her grappling hook without hesitation, and waited for it to sink into the building after a split-second, and then she was gone, flying toward the burning apartment. She fell in, and tumbled, using her small cape to shield her eyes. She coughed gruffly and glanced around. The sharp heat made it unbearable, it scorched her skin fiercely. She looked around for Leone. All she saw was a distraught Nightwing looking right back at her. The two crime-fighters stared at each other for a moment before Dick darted out toward the door, looking for Leone. Batgirl was frozen in her tracks for a moment, but soon bolted after him. What is wrong with me? Barbara asked
herself with desperation. Get it together!
Smoke filled the place, and Batgirl could barley see where she was going as she stumbled through the halls. She stuck her hands out in front of her as she squinted through the thick gas...
And she ran into someone. It swung around, and a large automatic assault riffle was pointed directly at her. Batgirl brought a swift kick up and sent the gun flying down the hall, and two more kicks sent the gun's former wielder flying down the hall. Several shouts echoed through the hall as a result of the thug's crash to the ground.
"Tom? Look over there!" bullets tore through the smoke and Batgirl spun around, flying back away from the intense gunfire. She quickly ducked into one of the rooms and panted to catch her breath, listening for the approaching enemy. Small beads of sweat formed at her forehead and dripped down on the inside of her mask. She looked into the smoky hallway and squinted her eyes. She could see them. She slowly made her way into the hall and looked around. A hand grasped her on the shoulder and she almost screamed... If it weren't for the black gloved hand that clapped over her lips. She turned around wide-eyed to see...
Nightwing. He held is finger to his lips as he pulled his hand away, and she nodded in acknowledgment. She followed him down the hallway, ready for anything. As capable as she was... She liked being with Dick. She felt safer, in a way. She didn't need him but... It was complicated. They continued down the long hallway. They reached the end, and Nightwing quickly opened the metallic door, and it whistled shut as Batgirl darted through as well. He raced up the stairs, and she wasn't far behind. One flight... Two flights... Three. No stopping. They reached the top, the smoke clearing and the pair bolted out the door.
Right away they saw the perpetrators. Leone was on the floor; face down, with his hands on his head. There were three suited men around him- two with assault rifles, the third a larger, beefy man in a more expensive suit, toting a pistol. The black-gloved hand aimed the 9mm directly and Leone's skull. This was to be an execution style murder. Well, not today, Batgirl thought as she sent the batarang slicing through the air. It made contact with the larger man's hand, and sent his pistol sprawling. By the time the first of the hired help turned Nightwing was flying through the air, and landed with his fist making contact with the thug's face. The thug's smoked sunglasses shattered as he fell out cold. The second thug opened fire, but Nightwing somersaulted over him, and took his legs out from under him with a leg sweep before the thug was able to turn around. Once on the ground Nightwing came down hard with an elbow to the man's face, and with a blistering crack he ceased to
move.
Frankie Ciprino was dumbfounded, and tried not to move. He looked back and forth between the two kids in awe. The first was a guy, of average build but in superb physical condition. He was dressed sharply in all black except for a quasi-bird shaped "V" on his chest, blue in color. The masked man walked toward him, shaking his mullet back over his shoulder as he did. The second was a girl- an attractive one no doubt. She had incredible silky looking red hair, which fell out from under a black/blue cowl with pointy "ears". She wasn't big, but he didn't dare try her- she was more than athletic. He caught himself staring at her breasts- so did she.
"Looking at something?" Batgirl asked. Nightwing still hated it when other guys checked Barbara out. But he could forbid that when he didn't want her himself. But he kept quiet for now.
"Admiring your emblem," Ciprino responded, as coolly as possible. She looked almost as threatening as her counterpart. He glanced in Nightwing's direction. Almost. Well, it could be worse. It could be the Batman, and not his more-than-adequately trained partners.
"Yeah, right," Nightwing snapped, dripping with sarcasm. "Tell me Mr. Ciprino, why would you want to hurt Mr. Leone here? Surely that wouldn't be beneficial to your business? He's such a great customer," he continued. Batgirl stared at him in a state of mild shock. She clearly had no idea who he was, and she clearly was flabbergasted how much he knew and she didn't. Perfect. Just the way he liked it. His eyes quickly panned over to see the look on Ciprino's face. It was the same look he saw on Barbara's. Clearly he was just as clueless as Leone. Again, perfect.
"Well, we... I have... Well, I have reason... Reason to believe that Mr..... That Mr. Leone has been using my... Products for uses that I don't support," Ciprino managed to stammer out after multiple pauses.
"So explain to me, Frankie, what uses of illegal weapons are, and are not acceptable?" Nightwing asked with a dangerous tone. Frankie didn't like to be degraded like this. He was above this.
"I have no reason to sit here and explain this to you and your girlfriend. I have my rights," Ciprino growled as he turned away. Nightwing was overcome with the intense desire to let Ciprino have it, but he held back. Girlfriend. That bothered him more than it should have. He balled up his fist, but Batgirl, to his shock, beat him to it. With a swift crack Ciprino fell to the ground, clutching his jaw. He was astonished as well, cowering bellow a defiant Batgirl. She had her jaw set, and wasn't letting Ciprino go anywhere. Nightwing was angry at first, Barb stealing his limelight and all... But she just looked so cute when she was mad. He had to bite his lip to keep from laughing at her fierce determination. One false chuckle and she might have sent a kick in his direction... So he kept his mouth shut.
"Girlfriend? I'm his girlfriend? First I'd like you to know that I'm more than capable of slapping you around like a baby, so don't start acting like I'm his sidekick," she snarled. She glanced at Dick. "We're both independent crime-fighters who happen to be working on the same case. That's it."
Dick was about to jump in and berate him further, but Batgirl continued, "Oh, and by the way, I think you waived any rights you might have had when you blew up an apartment and attempted murder, you know?" she looked up to Nightwing. "You want to add anything to that?" she asked with a hint of ferocity.
"No, I think you said everything there is to be said, fellow independent crime-fighter Batgirl," Nightwing retorted with a smile. She didn't return it. Nightwing became serious again as he grabbed Ciprino by the coat and yanked him to his feet.
"So one more time, Frank, let's get this straight, you don't approve of the way Mr. Leone has been using the weapons?"
"No, I do not. I was trying to avoid a situation like this actually," Ciprino explained as he wrestled free of Nightwing's grasp. "I was afraid he was selling them to international terrorists- a level above me. I seemed strange, but it got be worried. The last thing I need are the FBI breathing down my neck. So I wanted to see what he was doing with the guns. Never found out, so I paid him a visit,"
"And what was he doing with the guns?" Nightwing questioned.
"Why don't you ask him yourself," Ciprino growled. Nightwing and Batgirl spun around. Leone had vanished.
* * * * *
Harley Quinn read the note. Then she read it again. And again. And for a fourth time. She was a smart girl, but she wasn't sure what to make of it. She couldn't interest the Joker in sex, and he was no longer plotting, so something was wrong. His behavior didn't show it, he acted like he normally did. But he was different. He laughed like he normally did, but it was a different laugh. It was a fake almost distant laughter, and Harley didn't like it.
"Sumthin's upset my puddin'," she whispered softly to herself. She was worried. She stared at his room. What could possibly be going through his mind...? And who was this Phantasm? I mean, Phantasm? She'd never heard of any Phantasm. Something was up, and Harley was going to get to the bottom of it.
* * * * *
Nightwing was slow to react at first, but sprung into action as soon as he saw Batgirl bolt past him. You're not getting this one, he thought to himself as he quickly came to a full sprint. His feet padded across the ground as he raced up beside Barbara, and eventually passed her. As quick as she was, he was truly an amazing track star, and she had to hurry to keep up with him. They arrived at the ledge simultaneously, and both glared down the fire escape at the fleeing Leone.
Nightwing leapt off the ledge and grabbed on to the fire escape with both hands, swinging down toward the level above Leone. Leone heard Nightwing slam down, and whipped out a pistol, firing several shots that Nightwing easily dodged. Batgirl, being the amazing gymnast she was came flying in over the steel guardrail, and kicked the gun from Leone's hand. It skidded across the catwalk with a clanking sound. Leone desperately looked around for somewhere to escape. He backed away from the girl... Right into Nightwing.
"Going somewhere?" Nightwing questioned. Leone gulped loudly... And jumped over the side. He fell four stories into the garbage dumpster, and with a loud smash resulting in propelling trash, he landed. He moaned softly, and stumbled, falling over the side onto the pavement. Nightwing glided down quickly, before retracting he wings. He walked and watched as a desperate Leone stammered down the alley, heading back to a dead end. Halfway there, he collapsed, a bloody mess. Nightwing didn't give him the opportunity to get back up as he snatched him by the shirt collar and slammed him against a brick wall. The thug winced in pain and gasped.
"Don't hit him that hard," came a female voice from behind him.
"Shut up," Dick snarled. WHY was she here? There was no good reason. Damn you Bruce! Damn you! He pounded Leone against the wall again. Leone stammered and shook.
"Why are you running?" Nightwing growled.
"I... I don't," he started. Dick punched him. Hard. The thug slid to the ground, whimpering. And there was Batgirl. He was so mad! He wanted to hit her. He wanted to hit Leone. He wanted to beat them all. Three months of careful work to be destroyed. He looked over at Leone again. BAM. He punched him on the ground. A fresh fountain of warm red blood boiled out of Leone's mouth.
"Tell me, right now: who are the guns for, and where are they. There are no second chances with this!" Nightwing bellowed at the defenseless man.
"I can't. I can't. I've seen what he does to other squealers. No... I can't..." Leone murmured as he prepared for the next blow. Nightwing drew his fist back and prepared to beat Leone's head in, but Batgirl grabbed his arm to prevent him. Without realizing what he was doing Nightwing spun around and roughly shoved Batgirl down. She landed with a thud and a gasp; looking up at him she looked distraught. Not in pain physically. Just in pain mentally, as she looked up at Dick. He wanted to go down next to her and tell her he was sorry, tell her he didn't mean it, tell her he loved her and it would never happen again. He wanted to hold her and tell her he was just caught up in the moment. But he didn't. He scowled at her coldly and turned his attention back to Leone.
But Leone was gone.
"Looking for someone?" came a voice. Nightwing looked in its direction to see Catwoman, with Leone at her feet, bound with her whip. He was bloodied and bruised, barley conscious.
"I would have had him," Nightwing growled. Great. Just frigging fantastic.
"A likely story," she purred as she cartwheeled across the catwalk. She unhooked her whip and Leone fell down to the pavement. "But I think you're lucky I showed up," She looked over at Batgirl who had since gotten to her feet. She looked strange as she stared at Catwoman.
"We don't need you here Selina," Batgirl growled dangerously.
"Aw, is the winged-mouse upset that I'm chatting up with her boy-toy? Don't worry little girl, I've used up my luck with little Nightywing here. When he wants to see what a real woman is like, I'm sure he'll step up to the plate," Catwoman grinned. Her black form flipped backwards and disappeared in the obscure darkness as quietly as she had come.
Barbara wanted to cry. She could feel the tears welling up in her eyes but she resisted as she looked at Dick. He just seemed mad. And embarrassed. Like he didn't want to be seen with her in front of Catwoman. She wanted to cry. Nightwing walked over to Leone and just glared down at him, an unforgiving look in his eyes.
"Give me a name," he snarled. Leone looked through bloodied, beaten eyes, and gave up.
"I don't have a name. This guy operates under the most secret conditions you could imagine. I have an address where I drop the stuff off though. The next drop is tomorrow night," Leone explained. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small piece of paper. Nightwing snatched it and inspected it carefully. He turned around, not before sending a violent kick crashing into Leone's face.
"What do we do now?" a disturbed Batgirl asked quietly.
"I'm going to check out where he's dropping off these weapons. Quite frankly, I could care less what you do," Nightwing snapped as he walked off into the darkness. Barbara held it in until he was far out of sight, before losing herself, sobbing uncontrollably.
* * * * *
Tim sat at the table and looked at Barbara. He didn't get it.
"I just don't get it," he explained. Barbara was rather frustrated. She was done with school, but here she was, doing the things she did a decade ago, only this time she got the opportunity to explain it to someone else. It was strange. Tim seemed like a bright kid, but here he was, failing Pre-Algebra, and here she was, tutoring him. Quite possibly the last thing she wanted to be doing.
"You have to combine like terms," Barbara explained for the sixth time. "Ignore the coefficients..."
"The coe-what?" Tim interrupted. Barbara sighed loudly. He had a dazed and confused look in his eyes.
"Let's take a break," she groaned, and got up. She began to walk toward the kitchen, thinking as she went. Tim watched her walk away... In a different way than he ever had before. In a way he liked, a lot. "You want anything from the fridge?" she asked carelessly as she entered the kitchen. Tim was snapped out of his trance.
"Uh, yeah, get me a soda or something," Tim murmured. Barb really was pretty. And she had a nice body. Much nicer than any of the girls he knew from school. He studied his homework. It was all just a jumble of letters and numbers to him. Why were letters included in math, anyway? It seemed kinda stupid to him. He waited for Barb to come back in with two Cokes, one diet. He continued to watch her as she came toward him... She was so pretty. And really cool too.
Just get your mind off Dick, she told herself as she sat down at the table.
"So, tell me, what's going on in the world of Tim Drake?" she asked with a smile. She knew it was lame right after she said it, and Tim gave her a look that reassured her it was.
"Yeah... Well things are okay," he murmured. He took a sip of the Coke.
"Just okay?"
"Well I need a tutor for math. You must think I'm an idiot." He mumbled.
"I don't think that at all. I think you're a smart kid who needs to apply himself,"
"What?"
"You need to try harder,"
"Yeah right," Tim grinned.
"So..." Barbara continued. "How is everything else at school? I mean, you have friends, right?"
"Sure, I have friends. No really close ones though. I mean, I can't exactly invite them over. With my luck they'd find the cave or something," Tim explained with an experienced sigh. Except he wasn't experienced. Barbara giggled slightly in anticipation of her next question.
"So, do you have a girlfriend?" she chuckled. He got a look over his face, but not the disgusted look she expected. More like a surprised, excited look. But he was trying to contain it.
"Nah. But I don't think girls have cooties anymore if that's what you mean. And I'm not afraid to slow dance anymore," he added, remembering something he told her once.
"So are there any girls you like?" Barb asked excitedly. It was strange how interested she was in Tim's love life, but she was.
"Maybe. Well yeah, there is this one girl," Tim admitted.
"What's she like?" Barbara asked.
"Well she's really smart. Really pretty too. She's nice, patient, and cool. She's fun to hang out with. She's a good dresser." Tim continued, going down the list as he thought about Barbara.
"Well she sounds great,"
"She is. The whole package you might say," Tim thought carefully.
"Does she like you back?" she asked. Tim thought about this.
"No. I don't think so anyway."
"Why not?"
"I'm not... Mature enough for her,"
"Well that's too bad." Barb thought. She started thinking of Dick. "Just be nice to her, courteous, and don't do anything kiddish, like shoving her," Barb explained. "She'll come around. Eventually. Just give her lots of compliments." She added. Good advice for attracting a thirteen year-old girl. Barb looked at her watch.
"Whoa! Lost track of the time there Tim. I gotta go meet one of my girlfriends. You okay with the math?" she asked as she got up.
"Yeah, I got it," Tim lied. "And I like your sweater,"
* * * * *
Bruce Wayne stepped out from behind the threshold to his other world, and as the shiny mahogany grandfather clock slid back into place he sighed quietly. Wayne Manor was dark at this hour. Alfred and Tim were asleep. Barb was gone. It was just Bruce and his thoughts. And he liked that. The Joker. He'd make his move sooner or later. No use worrying about it now.
He made his way over to the stairs and began to march up them slowly. The Joker. He couldn't get his face out of his mind. He made his way to the top and continued down the long carpeted hallway toward his room. It was dark, and he was cold. But it didn't bother him. He almost liked that too. It was comforting... In a strange way. He came to his room and opened the door. His jaw dropped. Literally.
Andrea Beaumont was lying on his bed.
Nightwing glared across the street into Leone's apartment. Watching TV. Great. I get to watch someone watching TV, but I can't even watch TV myself. The slob sat motionless, clicking the channels, the blare of the TV changing with each different station. The rain poured down, washing over Nightwing's body. It was freezing, but Nightwing didn't let the heavy down pour effect him. Three months. This guy better give him something...
He looked over at Barbara, and hated her for being here. No, it wasn't her fault. She made him uncomfortable. But it was Batman's fault. Bruce. He didn't think there was anything in this guy, he just sent Babs over here to bother me, Nightwing thought to himself. Nightwing tried to ignore his rage as he concentrated his energy on Leone. Give me something, he thought to himself. Something. Nightwing took out a pair of high-power night-vision binoculars, and zoomed in. The guy was so dead to the world around him it wasn't funny.
Batgirl looked over at Nightwing. He was so self-centered and dead to the world around him it wasn't funny. He just sat there staring at the guy in the apartment... Something she should have been doing, but she preferred to stare at Dick and pick apart his faults. Egotistical. That was obvious. That much was clear when you first met him, and nice as he was, he really cared about himself, a lot. Or at least he acted that way. A lot. He was so cold when he wanted to be... What was his problem anyway? He was just oblivious to people's emotions. He wasn't bad at heart though. And he was pretty good looking... But she had no desire to be with him.
BAM. Batgirl was launched out of her daydream with a forceful blast as her eyes whirred over to the apartment. Smoke. All she could see was smoke, surrounding a subtle hint of a burning blaze. Her sights darted back to Nightwing who had already sprung out of his stance, flying across the street to the apartment. Batgirl fired her grappling hook without hesitation, and waited for it to sink into the building after a split-second, and then she was gone, flying toward the burning apartment. She fell in, and tumbled, using her small cape to shield her eyes. She coughed gruffly and glanced around. The sharp heat made it unbearable, it scorched her skin fiercely. She looked around for Leone. All she saw was a distraught Nightwing looking right back at her. The two crime-fighters stared at each other for a moment before Dick darted out toward the door, looking for Leone. Batgirl was frozen in her tracks for a moment, but soon bolted after him. What is wrong with me? Barbara asked
herself with desperation. Get it together!
Smoke filled the place, and Batgirl could barley see where she was going as she stumbled through the halls. She stuck her hands out in front of her as she squinted through the thick gas...
And she ran into someone. It swung around, and a large automatic assault riffle was pointed directly at her. Batgirl brought a swift kick up and sent the gun flying down the hall, and two more kicks sent the gun's former wielder flying down the hall. Several shouts echoed through the hall as a result of the thug's crash to the ground.
"Tom? Look over there!" bullets tore through the smoke and Batgirl spun around, flying back away from the intense gunfire. She quickly ducked into one of the rooms and panted to catch her breath, listening for the approaching enemy. Small beads of sweat formed at her forehead and dripped down on the inside of her mask. She looked into the smoky hallway and squinted her eyes. She could see them. She slowly made her way into the hall and looked around. A hand grasped her on the shoulder and she almost screamed... If it weren't for the black gloved hand that clapped over her lips. She turned around wide-eyed to see...
Nightwing. He held is finger to his lips as he pulled his hand away, and she nodded in acknowledgment. She followed him down the hallway, ready for anything. As capable as she was... She liked being with Dick. She felt safer, in a way. She didn't need him but... It was complicated. They continued down the long hallway. They reached the end, and Nightwing quickly opened the metallic door, and it whistled shut as Batgirl darted through as well. He raced up the stairs, and she wasn't far behind. One flight... Two flights... Three. No stopping. They reached the top, the smoke clearing and the pair bolted out the door.
Right away they saw the perpetrators. Leone was on the floor; face down, with his hands on his head. There were three suited men around him- two with assault rifles, the third a larger, beefy man in a more expensive suit, toting a pistol. The black-gloved hand aimed the 9mm directly and Leone's skull. This was to be an execution style murder. Well, not today, Batgirl thought as she sent the batarang slicing through the air. It made contact with the larger man's hand, and sent his pistol sprawling. By the time the first of the hired help turned Nightwing was flying through the air, and landed with his fist making contact with the thug's face. The thug's smoked sunglasses shattered as he fell out cold. The second thug opened fire, but Nightwing somersaulted over him, and took his legs out from under him with a leg sweep before the thug was able to turn around. Once on the ground Nightwing came down hard with an elbow to the man's face, and with a blistering crack he ceased to
move.
Frankie Ciprino was dumbfounded, and tried not to move. He looked back and forth between the two kids in awe. The first was a guy, of average build but in superb physical condition. He was dressed sharply in all black except for a quasi-bird shaped "V" on his chest, blue in color. The masked man walked toward him, shaking his mullet back over his shoulder as he did. The second was a girl- an attractive one no doubt. She had incredible silky looking red hair, which fell out from under a black/blue cowl with pointy "ears". She wasn't big, but he didn't dare try her- she was more than athletic. He caught himself staring at her breasts- so did she.
"Looking at something?" Batgirl asked. Nightwing still hated it when other guys checked Barbara out. But he could forbid that when he didn't want her himself. But he kept quiet for now.
"Admiring your emblem," Ciprino responded, as coolly as possible. She looked almost as threatening as her counterpart. He glanced in Nightwing's direction. Almost. Well, it could be worse. It could be the Batman, and not his more-than-adequately trained partners.
"Yeah, right," Nightwing snapped, dripping with sarcasm. "Tell me Mr. Ciprino, why would you want to hurt Mr. Leone here? Surely that wouldn't be beneficial to your business? He's such a great customer," he continued. Batgirl stared at him in a state of mild shock. She clearly had no idea who he was, and she clearly was flabbergasted how much he knew and she didn't. Perfect. Just the way he liked it. His eyes quickly panned over to see the look on Ciprino's face. It was the same look he saw on Barbara's. Clearly he was just as clueless as Leone. Again, perfect.
"Well, we... I have... Well, I have reason... Reason to believe that Mr..... That Mr. Leone has been using my... Products for uses that I don't support," Ciprino managed to stammer out after multiple pauses.
"So explain to me, Frankie, what uses of illegal weapons are, and are not acceptable?" Nightwing asked with a dangerous tone. Frankie didn't like to be degraded like this. He was above this.
"I have no reason to sit here and explain this to you and your girlfriend. I have my rights," Ciprino growled as he turned away. Nightwing was overcome with the intense desire to let Ciprino have it, but he held back. Girlfriend. That bothered him more than it should have. He balled up his fist, but Batgirl, to his shock, beat him to it. With a swift crack Ciprino fell to the ground, clutching his jaw. He was astonished as well, cowering bellow a defiant Batgirl. She had her jaw set, and wasn't letting Ciprino go anywhere. Nightwing was angry at first, Barb stealing his limelight and all... But she just looked so cute when she was mad. He had to bite his lip to keep from laughing at her fierce determination. One false chuckle and she might have sent a kick in his direction... So he kept his mouth shut.
"Girlfriend? I'm his girlfriend? First I'd like you to know that I'm more than capable of slapping you around like a baby, so don't start acting like I'm his sidekick," she snarled. She glanced at Dick. "We're both independent crime-fighters who happen to be working on the same case. That's it."
Dick was about to jump in and berate him further, but Batgirl continued, "Oh, and by the way, I think you waived any rights you might have had when you blew up an apartment and attempted murder, you know?" she looked up to Nightwing. "You want to add anything to that?" she asked with a hint of ferocity.
"No, I think you said everything there is to be said, fellow independent crime-fighter Batgirl," Nightwing retorted with a smile. She didn't return it. Nightwing became serious again as he grabbed Ciprino by the coat and yanked him to his feet.
"So one more time, Frank, let's get this straight, you don't approve of the way Mr. Leone has been using the weapons?"
"No, I do not. I was trying to avoid a situation like this actually," Ciprino explained as he wrestled free of Nightwing's grasp. "I was afraid he was selling them to international terrorists- a level above me. I seemed strange, but it got be worried. The last thing I need are the FBI breathing down my neck. So I wanted to see what he was doing with the guns. Never found out, so I paid him a visit,"
"And what was he doing with the guns?" Nightwing questioned.
"Why don't you ask him yourself," Ciprino growled. Nightwing and Batgirl spun around. Leone had vanished.
* * * * *
Harley Quinn read the note. Then she read it again. And again. And for a fourth time. She was a smart girl, but she wasn't sure what to make of it. She couldn't interest the Joker in sex, and he was no longer plotting, so something was wrong. His behavior didn't show it, he acted like he normally did. But he was different. He laughed like he normally did, but it was a different laugh. It was a fake almost distant laughter, and Harley didn't like it.
"Sumthin's upset my puddin'," she whispered softly to herself. She was worried. She stared at his room. What could possibly be going through his mind...? And who was this Phantasm? I mean, Phantasm? She'd never heard of any Phantasm. Something was up, and Harley was going to get to the bottom of it.
* * * * *
Nightwing was slow to react at first, but sprung into action as soon as he saw Batgirl bolt past him. You're not getting this one, he thought to himself as he quickly came to a full sprint. His feet padded across the ground as he raced up beside Barbara, and eventually passed her. As quick as she was, he was truly an amazing track star, and she had to hurry to keep up with him. They arrived at the ledge simultaneously, and both glared down the fire escape at the fleeing Leone.
Nightwing leapt off the ledge and grabbed on to the fire escape with both hands, swinging down toward the level above Leone. Leone heard Nightwing slam down, and whipped out a pistol, firing several shots that Nightwing easily dodged. Batgirl, being the amazing gymnast she was came flying in over the steel guardrail, and kicked the gun from Leone's hand. It skidded across the catwalk with a clanking sound. Leone desperately looked around for somewhere to escape. He backed away from the girl... Right into Nightwing.
"Going somewhere?" Nightwing questioned. Leone gulped loudly... And jumped over the side. He fell four stories into the garbage dumpster, and with a loud smash resulting in propelling trash, he landed. He moaned softly, and stumbled, falling over the side onto the pavement. Nightwing glided down quickly, before retracting he wings. He walked and watched as a desperate Leone stammered down the alley, heading back to a dead end. Halfway there, he collapsed, a bloody mess. Nightwing didn't give him the opportunity to get back up as he snatched him by the shirt collar and slammed him against a brick wall. The thug winced in pain and gasped.
"Don't hit him that hard," came a female voice from behind him.
"Shut up," Dick snarled. WHY was she here? There was no good reason. Damn you Bruce! Damn you! He pounded Leone against the wall again. Leone stammered and shook.
"Why are you running?" Nightwing growled.
"I... I don't," he started. Dick punched him. Hard. The thug slid to the ground, whimpering. And there was Batgirl. He was so mad! He wanted to hit her. He wanted to hit Leone. He wanted to beat them all. Three months of careful work to be destroyed. He looked over at Leone again. BAM. He punched him on the ground. A fresh fountain of warm red blood boiled out of Leone's mouth.
"Tell me, right now: who are the guns for, and where are they. There are no second chances with this!" Nightwing bellowed at the defenseless man.
"I can't. I can't. I've seen what he does to other squealers. No... I can't..." Leone murmured as he prepared for the next blow. Nightwing drew his fist back and prepared to beat Leone's head in, but Batgirl grabbed his arm to prevent him. Without realizing what he was doing Nightwing spun around and roughly shoved Batgirl down. She landed with a thud and a gasp; looking up at him she looked distraught. Not in pain physically. Just in pain mentally, as she looked up at Dick. He wanted to go down next to her and tell her he was sorry, tell her he didn't mean it, tell her he loved her and it would never happen again. He wanted to hold her and tell her he was just caught up in the moment. But he didn't. He scowled at her coldly and turned his attention back to Leone.
But Leone was gone.
"Looking for someone?" came a voice. Nightwing looked in its direction to see Catwoman, with Leone at her feet, bound with her whip. He was bloodied and bruised, barley conscious.
"I would have had him," Nightwing growled. Great. Just frigging fantastic.
"A likely story," she purred as she cartwheeled across the catwalk. She unhooked her whip and Leone fell down to the pavement. "But I think you're lucky I showed up," She looked over at Batgirl who had since gotten to her feet. She looked strange as she stared at Catwoman.
"We don't need you here Selina," Batgirl growled dangerously.
"Aw, is the winged-mouse upset that I'm chatting up with her boy-toy? Don't worry little girl, I've used up my luck with little Nightywing here. When he wants to see what a real woman is like, I'm sure he'll step up to the plate," Catwoman grinned. Her black form flipped backwards and disappeared in the obscure darkness as quietly as she had come.
Barbara wanted to cry. She could feel the tears welling up in her eyes but she resisted as she looked at Dick. He just seemed mad. And embarrassed. Like he didn't want to be seen with her in front of Catwoman. She wanted to cry. Nightwing walked over to Leone and just glared down at him, an unforgiving look in his eyes.
"Give me a name," he snarled. Leone looked through bloodied, beaten eyes, and gave up.
"I don't have a name. This guy operates under the most secret conditions you could imagine. I have an address where I drop the stuff off though. The next drop is tomorrow night," Leone explained. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small piece of paper. Nightwing snatched it and inspected it carefully. He turned around, not before sending a violent kick crashing into Leone's face.
"What do we do now?" a disturbed Batgirl asked quietly.
"I'm going to check out where he's dropping off these weapons. Quite frankly, I could care less what you do," Nightwing snapped as he walked off into the darkness. Barbara held it in until he was far out of sight, before losing herself, sobbing uncontrollably.
* * * * *
Tim sat at the table and looked at Barbara. He didn't get it.
"I just don't get it," he explained. Barbara was rather frustrated. She was done with school, but here she was, doing the things she did a decade ago, only this time she got the opportunity to explain it to someone else. It was strange. Tim seemed like a bright kid, but here he was, failing Pre-Algebra, and here she was, tutoring him. Quite possibly the last thing she wanted to be doing.
"You have to combine like terms," Barbara explained for the sixth time. "Ignore the coefficients..."
"The coe-what?" Tim interrupted. Barbara sighed loudly. He had a dazed and confused look in his eyes.
"Let's take a break," she groaned, and got up. She began to walk toward the kitchen, thinking as she went. Tim watched her walk away... In a different way than he ever had before. In a way he liked, a lot. "You want anything from the fridge?" she asked carelessly as she entered the kitchen. Tim was snapped out of his trance.
"Uh, yeah, get me a soda or something," Tim murmured. Barb really was pretty. And she had a nice body. Much nicer than any of the girls he knew from school. He studied his homework. It was all just a jumble of letters and numbers to him. Why were letters included in math, anyway? It seemed kinda stupid to him. He waited for Barb to come back in with two Cokes, one diet. He continued to watch her as she came toward him... She was so pretty. And really cool too.
Just get your mind off Dick, she told herself as she sat down at the table.
"So, tell me, what's going on in the world of Tim Drake?" she asked with a smile. She knew it was lame right after she said it, and Tim gave her a look that reassured her it was.
"Yeah... Well things are okay," he murmured. He took a sip of the Coke.
"Just okay?"
"Well I need a tutor for math. You must think I'm an idiot." He mumbled.
"I don't think that at all. I think you're a smart kid who needs to apply himself,"
"What?"
"You need to try harder,"
"Yeah right," Tim grinned.
"So..." Barbara continued. "How is everything else at school? I mean, you have friends, right?"
"Sure, I have friends. No really close ones though. I mean, I can't exactly invite them over. With my luck they'd find the cave or something," Tim explained with an experienced sigh. Except he wasn't experienced. Barbara giggled slightly in anticipation of her next question.
"So, do you have a girlfriend?" she chuckled. He got a look over his face, but not the disgusted look she expected. More like a surprised, excited look. But he was trying to contain it.
"Nah. But I don't think girls have cooties anymore if that's what you mean. And I'm not afraid to slow dance anymore," he added, remembering something he told her once.
"So are there any girls you like?" Barb asked excitedly. It was strange how interested she was in Tim's love life, but she was.
"Maybe. Well yeah, there is this one girl," Tim admitted.
"What's she like?" Barbara asked.
"Well she's really smart. Really pretty too. She's nice, patient, and cool. She's fun to hang out with. She's a good dresser." Tim continued, going down the list as he thought about Barbara.
"Well she sounds great,"
"She is. The whole package you might say," Tim thought carefully.
"Does she like you back?" she asked. Tim thought about this.
"No. I don't think so anyway."
"Why not?"
"I'm not... Mature enough for her,"
"Well that's too bad." Barb thought. She started thinking of Dick. "Just be nice to her, courteous, and don't do anything kiddish, like shoving her," Barb explained. "She'll come around. Eventually. Just give her lots of compliments." She added. Good advice for attracting a thirteen year-old girl. Barb looked at her watch.
"Whoa! Lost track of the time there Tim. I gotta go meet one of my girlfriends. You okay with the math?" she asked as she got up.
"Yeah, I got it," Tim lied. "And I like your sweater,"
* * * * *
Bruce Wayne stepped out from behind the threshold to his other world, and as the shiny mahogany grandfather clock slid back into place he sighed quietly. Wayne Manor was dark at this hour. Alfred and Tim were asleep. Barb was gone. It was just Bruce and his thoughts. And he liked that. The Joker. He'd make his move sooner or later. No use worrying about it now.
He made his way over to the stairs and began to march up them slowly. The Joker. He couldn't get his face out of his mind. He made his way to the top and continued down the long carpeted hallway toward his room. It was dark, and he was cold. But it didn't bother him. He almost liked that too. It was comforting... In a strange way. He came to his room and opened the door. His jaw dropped. Literally.
Andrea Beaumont was lying on his bed.