*Chapter 2: The Secret's Out!*
After Batman saved the cop in the streets, he had been tracking the military vehicle thanks to Oracle. But he had to track Emmet's car that is also following the vehicle. The military vehicle bumped into one of the police cars, making it crash into a wall.
"Goddammit, Newman! Get out of there now! I told you to stay put at the GCPD!" Jim's voice shouted from the comm. The batmobile continued to track down two vehicles.
"Shit! I'm taking this guy down!" Emmet's voice responded. Batman shook his head in irritation. Emmet will die out here. He is catching up to Emmet's car and drove past him to catch the military vehicle and use the missiles to shoot it down. Emmet's eyes widen and pull over to the side as the batmobile made a sudden halt. Batman got out of his car and approach the driver. He picked him up in the air, glaring at him.
"Where's Scarecrow?" He demanded.
"Go to hell!" The man replied as he tried to inject Batman with Fear Toxin. But Batman grabbed his wrist and threw him down on the street and took the object. Batman looked down at the man.
"Where is he?!"
"I've got nothing to say to you, Batman!"
"Talk! Or I'll crush every bone in your body!" Batman growled. Emmet watched in silent as he listens as the man gave in to give Batman details of Scarecrow working at the penthouse in Chinatown. Unexpectedly, Batman broken the driver's wrist, warning him if he is lying, he will break the other. Emmet blinked in shock. As Batman did the chemical analyzes to send to Oracle, Emmet ran up to him with a look.
"What the hell was that for?" He asked. "He told you-"
"Go back to GCPD, Newman. Now!" Batman told him. "This is not a game! This is serious! Scarecrow is very dangerous!"
"How bad can he be? Is he dressed as a scarecrow? By the way, Happy Halloween. Who was he?" Emmet asked. Batman walked towards his batmobile.
"I don't have for this. Go back to GCPD, or I will."
"I will if-" Emmet stopped when his phone rang. It's Mia. He sighed and ignored the call and face the Dark Knight. "Look, I just wanted to help and protect my sister. I'm not gonna lie, but I don't like the idea of her being married to Bruce Wayne." Batman's upper lip twitched a little. "What does she see in that rich man? And they both got a new baby. Is he really father material?"
"Why are you telling me this? You got a problem with Bruce Wayne?" Batman asked as he walked towards Emmet. "He's been through more than you ever know. He and Mia have lost their loved ones." Emmet turned away.
"I heard about what happened to Bruce's parents. I'm really sorry about what happened to them. I really am. But...I just don't think Bruce is right for Mia. And this city is filled with crime, and you came along. How come Mia isn't in love with you?" Emmet asked as he walked towards his car as Batman followed, making sure Emmet is leaving the streets for good. Batman doesn't know what to think. He had no idea that Emmet didn't like Bruce. He never showed it. Emmet could be thinking of the times Bruce had before Mia came along. Bruce had dated women and had parties a lot, and then Mia came to him, and everything changed. Bruce thanked Mia for making him happy. "Sorry. I just had to let it all out. Sorry for wasting your time." Emmet spoke. Batman thought about Barbara who is alone at the clocktower. Maybe he could use Emmet to protect her for a time being.
"Newman." Batman spoke. Emmet turned to him. "Meet me at the clocktower. You'll be safe there. I have a friend who needs protection." Emmet raised a brow at him but nodded. He got in his car and drove off. Now Batman could get back to business and head off to the penthouse to investigate. But he doesn't know the real problem was waiting in the clocktower.
Mia and Barbara heard the elevator coming up. Mia grabbed the baseball bat as Barbara pressed a button on her screen to hide the computer screens and she wheeled herself over to the corner as Mia stood by the elevator gate. As the elevator came up, Emmet walked in to see shelves and a couch.
"Hello? Anyone here?" He called out. Mia blinked at him.
"Emmet?" She asked. "What...what are you doing here?" She lowered the bat as Emmet turned to her in shock.
"What the hell? Mia? What are you doing here? I thought you were at the manor!" Emmet said. Barbara came over to them. The two started to argue. Emmet raised his hands up to silence Mia. "Listen, Batman sent me! He didn't say you were here!"
"What? Why would he send you?" Mia asked.
"To protect someone who's been hiding here." Emmet replied as he walked over to the couch to sit on.
"Oh. I think he meant me." Barbara said as she sat in the middle. "But you don't have to stay here. You should go back to the GCPD to help my dad."
"I could but...I wanted to help out. And Mia, you shouldn't be out here. The city is filled with criminals and thugs. Does Bruce know you're here?" Emmet asked, looking up at Mia with a sneer. Mia crossed her arms, looking away. "Does he?"
"Emmet..." Mia spoke but let out a cry as a dark figure came down from the ceiling. "Batman?!" The Dark Knight turned towards her, and his eyes widen.
"Mia!"
"Oh boy, here it comes..." Barbara said as she backs away from the scene. "The big argument." Batman grabbed Mia by the shoulders with worry in his eyes.
"Mia, what are you doing here? You should be with Axel and Violet!" He told her. "Did Alfred know you're here?" They both hear a clear throat from the side. Batman and Mia turned to Emmet. Mia took Batman's hands and look up at him.
"We have to tell him." She whispered.
"What is going on?" Emmet asked. Batman is silent for a moment. He turned to Emmet and removed his cowl to reveal his face. The cop's eyes widen. "Holy shit... Bruce? Bruce Wayne?"
"Got something to say to me, Newman?" Bruce asked with a glare.
"Oh god. I...I had no idea! And I just talked shit about you too... But Mia! Why didn't you tell me?!" Emmet asked. Mia walked over to Emmet.
"I have many reasons to keep this secret. And you better keep your mouth shut about this! It's not a game!" She said seriously. "If you tell anyone..." She then grabbed him by the throat. "I will beat the crap out of you!" Emmet blinked at her. He pulled her hand off. "You swear you won't tell a soul?"
"Yes! I swear! Damn, don't try to kill me!" Emmet said. Barbara couldn't help but to giggle. Bruce didn't think Mia would do such a thing like this, but she does have a point. Emmet should know the truth at some point. Since tonight was serious, Emmet will keep this secret for good. He won't tell anyone. Bruce puts the cowl back on and walked over to the head bust and push it back. Mia and Emmet saw a thin blue line scanning Batman's face and eyes. The shelves disappeared in the floor and the screens appear. "Well damn." Emmet said.
"What did you find?" Mia asked as Batman types on the keyboard. Batman looked at the screen in awe as Barbara wheeled next to him and Mia.
"You've managed to reduce the compound to its core elements." Batman said to Barbara.
"But there's nothing in there that we can trace." Barbara replied with a sigh. Mia tapped her chin, thinking of something.
"What if we don't need to search for the toxin?" She suggested. Batman raised a brow at her. He started to type.
"The manufacturing process." He said, moving things around. Emmet only stood there and stared, not knowing what was going on.
"Why didn't I see this?" Barbara asked in shock. "The reaction emits a unique radiation spike."
"Run a scan of the city for this energy signature. It will show where Scarecrow is creating his fear toxin." Batman told his partner.
"It'll take a few hours to bring the satellites into position." Barbara said. Batman frowned. They don't have a few hours. But he got an idea.
"I'll repurpose the antenna at the movie studios." Batman told her. He then turned to Mia. "I don't like it when you're here of all times. Let me take you back-"
"Bruce, I can't leave Barbara like this." Mia said. "And I can help from here. I don't want to argue with you now. Just go out there and find Scarecrow." Her hands run up to his chest, tracing her finger over the bat symbol. "This is for our kids. Our daughter." She leaned up to give her hero a kiss. Batman wrapped one arm around her waist. Emmet looked away, feeling awkward. They pulled away. Batman stared into his wife's eyes.
"Your brother will be here to protect you both. If anything goes wrong, contact me right away." He said. Mia gave him a nod. She took a step back as Batman brought out his batclaw to exit out of the clock tower. Emmet crossed his arms. Mia gave him a smile. Emmet deserves an explanation.
"So..." He finally spoke. "You ladies have any beer?"