"Black Cats"
Disclaimer: Don't own 'em.
CH 5: MOSQUITOES
"Congrats to us, Clark." Lois patted him on the back and pulled up a chair beside him. "We're getting a whole lot of attention because of that innocent Catwoman article."
Clark nodded in satisfaction. "Told you so."
"I have to admit that you were right, partner. Hey check this out." Lois handed Clark an envelope. "It seems that a certain billionaire has invited us to his party."
"A Black Cat Ball. How exciting." He chuckled. "Need a date?"
She laughed too. "I need a dress first."
"Lois! Clark!" Perry yelled from across the room. "Great story!"
"Thanks Chief," Clark replied with a grin.
~
Bruce was surprised to find Barbara and Dick sitting at his kitchen table; he had expected to find Alfred alone. He greeted them all and sat down across from the ex-couple.
"We stumbled onto a lead, only whoever is doing this targeted the two of us," Barbara explained to her mentor. "We almost had a name."
He nodded and drank some of his coffee. "Almost having a lead isn't going to save her. We need more."
Dick shook his head. "How? Who can give us the information we need?" The doorbell rang, and Alfred left to answer the door. Dick continued. "We need proof, but we don't know where to find it."
"Sir," Alfred interrupted with worry in his wise eyes. "Miss Selina Kyle is here."
Bruce stood from his seat as the imposter walked into the kitchen. She looked exactly like Selina. Every feature had been replicated perfectly. The hair. The body. The walk.
"What are you doing here?" Bruce managed to ask.
"I came to see you." She moved her eyes over the room and gave an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry. I hope I'm not intruding."
"No." Barbara smiled in return. "Not at all."
"Selina," Bruce suggested, "let's go in the other room." He guided the imposter to the great room and told, "It's not safe for you in this town."
"I don't care." She gently stroked the side of his face. He had to resist shuttering.
"Bruce," Barbara called as she walked into the room. "We're going to leave. I just wanted to say thank you for breakfast." She gave him an unusual hug and turned. She then purposely slipped and fell to the floor, knocking the look-a-like down with her. Bruce noticed her tiny scissors snip off a piece of the imposter's hair. She quickly hid everything and got to her feet. "I'm so sorry. It's these stupid stiletto heels."
After being helped off the floor, the look-a-like straightened her clothes. "Don't fret. I'm fine. I have to leave anyway." She lightly kissed Bruce's cheek and left the mansion.
"Not bad," Bruce complimented. "She didn't even notice."
Barbara placed the hair sample into a zip-lock bag and smiled. "I'll go down and examine this baby myself."
"No. I'll start on it after work, and then I'll take it to J'onn if it's not –"
"A clone?" Dick finished. "You think Ivy's back to her old tricks?"
"Maybe," Bruce answered honestly. "But it could be something entirely different."
~
Hawkgirl slowly stood from her seat, and Diana followed suit. They each proceeded in Selina's direction with caution. The girl had snapped before their eyes, for no reason at all.
"Listen, you don't want to do anything rash," Diana assured the crazed Selina. "You're not thinking straight. We're here to help you."
Selina chuckled. "By holding me hostage? What kind of help is that? You must really believe that I am some blonde bimbo." Her grip on the cleaver tightened; Selina's knuckles had turned white. She glared at them, and Hawkgirl noted the psychotic look in her eyes.
"Just breath, Selina," Hawkgirl begged. "Take in a few deep breaths and clear your head. Take time to think."
"Oh, I'm thinking clearly. Finally, I'm thinking clearly."
Diana began to slowly advance on Selina. The thief didn't fall for it. She punched Wonder Woman in the jaw and followed with a kick to the stomach. Diana hadn't expected it and easily fell aside. Winded, she gasped for air. Hawkgirl had to talk the girl down.
"Selina? Why are you doing this? Do you feel threatened?"
She shifted her weight and began to tremble. "N – no. I don't know."
"Would you feel better if Batman were here?" Hawkgirl took a couple of steps toward the woman. "Or Bruce Wayne?"
"He wouldn't want me to hurt you," she mumbled.
Hawkgirl reached Selina and softly touched her arm. "You don't want to hurt anyone." She then took hold of the cleaver.
"Something inside wants me to," she admitted. Tears started to roll down the sides of her face. "I'm so scared. I'm so confused."
"I know." Hawkgirl put the knife in the sink and slowly pulled Selina into an embrace. Suddenly, Selina broke down in her arms and shook as she cried. Hawkgirl could only try to comfort the woman with kind words and a gentle hug.
~
"They fell for it."
The Joker raised his eyes to see his lovely Selina walking into his office. He slightly laughed and asked, "They?"
"Bruce Wayne, his butler, and two kids." She sat down in front of his desk and kicked her feet onto it. She did have great legs.
"What if they tell someone? This is Gotham. What if Batman learns of your visit?"
"Who cares? She'll be dead in a matter of days. When she does die, I'll disappear. He won't find me."
"Don't be so sure," he warned. "I've learned that you can't predict the Bat's moves; you always need to keep a close eye on him."
~
"Did you identify what was in her blood?" Diana questioned J'onn when she walked into the lab. He slightly nodded and pointed to his microscope. Diana looked into the microscope and studied Selina's blood cells. Some kind of purple cell multiplied quickly and devoured the normal cells. "Oh Hera..."
"I believe that this is not human."
"Is it plant?" Another voice came from behind the two. They turned and were surprised to see Batman standing in the doorway next to Green Lantern. He made his way to J'onn and Diana and handed the Martian a plastic bag. "I brought a sample of the imposter's hair, hoping it would give us a few answers."
"How did you acquire it?" Diana wondered.
"I didn't. You can thank Batgirl for that."
J'onn placed the hair on a glass slide and examined it. "It looks human to the human eye, but it's not." He turned to face the others. "I'm afraid that it is not of your planet at all."
"It's alien," GL concluded. "The thing can shape-shift like you, J'onn?"
"Apparently so," Batman answered for the Martian.
"From analyzing this hair and the substance from Selina's blood, I think I know what type of alien this could be," J'onn told. "It's not of this solar system. I can't remember the specific name, but I do know that it resembles animals of your world. The Culex pipiens, Anopheles, or Anedes albopictus."
"What?" Diana and Lantern questioned in unison.
Batman answered again. "A mosquito? This creature is like a mosquito?"
"Yes. Much like Earth's mosquitoes, the female punctures the skin and drinks the blood. At the same time, they inject a substance."
GL stated, "Mosquitoes spread diseases on Earth like Malaria, West Nile, and Yellow Fever. Is that what happened to Catwoman?"
"Precisely, but much worse in this case," J'onn told.
"So, Selina has a disease?" Diana asked the room.
"Not quite," J'onn replied. "The poison is slowly killing her. The only way to stop it is to give her blood from the shape-shifter once we destroy it. We need to use fire."
Batman thought out loud. "Because it drank her blood, it could replicate Selina's DNA."
"Let alone her looks," Lantern also added. "No human would notice the difference."
~
Batman softly knocked on the open door to the recovery room and got Hawkgirl's attention. She raised her eyes to meet his and gave a faint smile. Hawkgirl stood and came to him.
"How is she?"
"Sleeping, finally."
He glanced into the room and noticed the restraints on Selina's arms. "Why is she tied down?"
Hawkgirl explained, "Her mood swings have been more frequent. This morning, she came at Diana and me with a cleaver. Actually, she punched Diana pretty good." The redhead turned to look at the blonde. "We have to do something and fast."
"I hate to see her this way. The sad thing is that it isn't the first time." Batman kept his eyes on his lover.
"Go sit with her a while. You'll make her feel better." Hawkgirl then left Batman when he nodded, and he walked inside the room.
Batman stood at the foot of the bed and watched her sleep. The bruise on her arm had darkened, and the surrounding veins had become purple in color, making the poison visible through the skin. Perspiration dampened her forehead; her lower lip trembled. He wanted to hold her. He wanted to comfort her. He had to resist the temptation. Before he left, Selina spoke.
Her weak, quiet voice asked, "Is Bruce all right?"
"He's fine. He's worried about you." Batman didn't move from the doorway. "The imposter visited him today."
"She looks like me without a mask?"
"Yes." Batman signaled that he needed to depart. "Rest."
She slightly shifted and remembered the restraints on her arms. Selina laughed softly.
"Do you need me to loosen those?"
"No. I don't want anyone to get hurt. I'm unstable, remember?" Selina gave a reassuring smile. "I know you'll get me out of this. You always do."
Batman nodded. "Just rest, Selina."
~
"Mind if I join you?" Green Lantern asked the girl who sat alone on the couch. He smiled at Hawkgirl and waited for her to say yes.
"Knock yourself out."
GL took the space next to the redhead. He folded his hands and stared at the floor. Hawkgirl seemed so tired and worried, and he felt for her.
"Was it peaceful at home?" she asked to start a conversation.
"Yeah. Did you sleep well last night?"
"Oh, I'll live." She slightly chuckled and yawned. "Selina's the one who is important."
"You really care about her," Lantern observed.
"Someone has to," she remarked.
Green Lantern thought a moment and put an arm around Hawkgirl. "Why don't you get some rest right now? Every minute counts, right?"
She turned her head to look at him and nodded. Hawkgirl then laid her head on his shoulder, and he placed his head atop hers.
~
Barbara watched Tim Drake walk off the school bus with a surprised expression on his face. Once he got his bags, he made his way to Dick and Barbara.
"All right. What happened?" Tim asked.
Dick's forehead wrinkled. "What?"
"You guys are here to pick me up instead of Alfred. Something is definitely up."
"We've got a lot to tell you, but get in the car first," Barbara said. After they all seated themselves inside, Dick drove out of the school's parking lot, and Barbara handed Tim his Robin mask. "Suit up, kid. We're working tonight."
~
"I have a plan. I called up Superman, and he has reluctantly agreed to it. I need your support too." Batman waited a moment to get the room's full attention. "Flash is setting up the conference right now."
"Conference?" Hawkgirl stood from the couch, crossed her arms over her chest, and shook her head. "What conference?"
He answered. "A press conference."
"A what?" Green Lantern asked.
"A press conference," Batman repeated. "You need to convince this copy-cat that Selina has run away, and that The Justice League is having problems."
Diana's eyes narrowed. "You want us to lie to the public?"
Batman nodded. "It is the only way. They'd never expect it."
~
Barbara stood beside a couple of reporters. Everyone was waiting for The Justice League to release a statement. Little did they know that the conference was a stunt to lure the imposter out of hiding. She glanced at two rooftops. Nightwing was stationed on one, and Robin stood on another. They each had a set of binoculars and searched the audience for anyone strange.
"Anything?" Barbara whispered into her hidden headset.
Nightwing and Robin both answered with a no. Even from Barbara's front seat, she didn't notice anything. Finally, five members of The Justice League arrived: Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter, The Flash, Hawkgirl, and The Green Lantern. Wonder Woman stepped to the microphone and began.
"Good evening, everyone. We're sorry that this conference had been such short notice, but the reason for it is much more important. There is a conflict within The Justice League. The only reason that we have decided to go public with it is because it involves one of Gotham's notorious criminals, Catwoman. The Justice League has split over the idea that Selina Kyle is innocent of the crime that she had been accused of. Batman and Superman, on the other hand, do believe that she is not guilty.
"Recently, they had been protecting Selina and hiding her from the police. She had run away from them, and now all three have disappeared. We believe that this could all be settled reasonably and safely and would appreciate any information that anyone has. We'll answer questions now."
"Hey! Over here, Wonder Woman," a woman's voice yelled over the crowd. Barbara looked to her right and located Lois Lane of the Metropolis Daily Planet. "Both Superman and Batman stand for justice. Do you agree that they wouldn't jump to a conclusion like this without substantial evidence?"
Green Lantern stepped to the podium. "Now, Miss Lane, we never said that Batman and Superman weren't trustworthy."
"Then what are you calling them?" Lois countered.
The Flash replied, "A couple of regular guys who have been manipulated by a seductive woman."
Barbara smiled to herself. The press really bought the load of crap they had shoveled. She turned to leave the crowd but met with some man whose hand held a handle from the Coach bag Bruce had gotten her for her birthday. The needy-looking man swiped it and dashed out of the crowd.
"Hey!" she called and chased after him. Barbara stopped when something whirled by and created a sudden breeze. Almost instantly, The Flash halted before her holding her purse and the mugger.
He smiled. "I believe you lost this, Miss." He handed her the handbag.
"Thank you."
"Have we met before?"
Barbara shook her head. "No. I don't think so."
The mugger rolled his eyes. "Oh please. I'd much rather be in jail, Romeo," he mumbled.
"Quiet," The Flash warned. "But Miss, I never forget a redhead."
"I'm sure. Shouldn't you take him to the cops?"
"Oh, right. I'd love to have your number."
Barbara had to stop herself from smirking. "I don't date superheroes, but thank you again."
He made a disappointed shrug. "You're welcome." The Flash then sped away.
"Wow, that was entertaining," Nightwing's voice joked.
"Yeah, yeah."
~
Batman stepped out of the recovery room and waited for Diana to join him in the hallway. When she did, he began to speak. "Selina had become delusional. She's seeing things that aren't there and saying things that are out of place. She's also developed a fever."
"Has she eaten anything?"
"No. I couldn't get her to." Batman added, "By the way, the conference was convincing."
Diana nodded. "Now what?"
"You and Hawkgirl watch over Selina while the rest of us watch the city."
"Good luck."
~
(Bugs have entered the picture. Eew...)
Disclaimer: Don't own 'em.
CH 5: MOSQUITOES
"Congrats to us, Clark." Lois patted him on the back and pulled up a chair beside him. "We're getting a whole lot of attention because of that innocent Catwoman article."
Clark nodded in satisfaction. "Told you so."
"I have to admit that you were right, partner. Hey check this out." Lois handed Clark an envelope. "It seems that a certain billionaire has invited us to his party."
"A Black Cat Ball. How exciting." He chuckled. "Need a date?"
She laughed too. "I need a dress first."
"Lois! Clark!" Perry yelled from across the room. "Great story!"
"Thanks Chief," Clark replied with a grin.
~
Bruce was surprised to find Barbara and Dick sitting at his kitchen table; he had expected to find Alfred alone. He greeted them all and sat down across from the ex-couple.
"We stumbled onto a lead, only whoever is doing this targeted the two of us," Barbara explained to her mentor. "We almost had a name."
He nodded and drank some of his coffee. "Almost having a lead isn't going to save her. We need more."
Dick shook his head. "How? Who can give us the information we need?" The doorbell rang, and Alfred left to answer the door. Dick continued. "We need proof, but we don't know where to find it."
"Sir," Alfred interrupted with worry in his wise eyes. "Miss Selina Kyle is here."
Bruce stood from his seat as the imposter walked into the kitchen. She looked exactly like Selina. Every feature had been replicated perfectly. The hair. The body. The walk.
"What are you doing here?" Bruce managed to ask.
"I came to see you." She moved her eyes over the room and gave an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry. I hope I'm not intruding."
"No." Barbara smiled in return. "Not at all."
"Selina," Bruce suggested, "let's go in the other room." He guided the imposter to the great room and told, "It's not safe for you in this town."
"I don't care." She gently stroked the side of his face. He had to resist shuttering.
"Bruce," Barbara called as she walked into the room. "We're going to leave. I just wanted to say thank you for breakfast." She gave him an unusual hug and turned. She then purposely slipped and fell to the floor, knocking the look-a-like down with her. Bruce noticed her tiny scissors snip off a piece of the imposter's hair. She quickly hid everything and got to her feet. "I'm so sorry. It's these stupid stiletto heels."
After being helped off the floor, the look-a-like straightened her clothes. "Don't fret. I'm fine. I have to leave anyway." She lightly kissed Bruce's cheek and left the mansion.
"Not bad," Bruce complimented. "She didn't even notice."
Barbara placed the hair sample into a zip-lock bag and smiled. "I'll go down and examine this baby myself."
"No. I'll start on it after work, and then I'll take it to J'onn if it's not –"
"A clone?" Dick finished. "You think Ivy's back to her old tricks?"
"Maybe," Bruce answered honestly. "But it could be something entirely different."
~
Hawkgirl slowly stood from her seat, and Diana followed suit. They each proceeded in Selina's direction with caution. The girl had snapped before their eyes, for no reason at all.
"Listen, you don't want to do anything rash," Diana assured the crazed Selina. "You're not thinking straight. We're here to help you."
Selina chuckled. "By holding me hostage? What kind of help is that? You must really believe that I am some blonde bimbo." Her grip on the cleaver tightened; Selina's knuckles had turned white. She glared at them, and Hawkgirl noted the psychotic look in her eyes.
"Just breath, Selina," Hawkgirl begged. "Take in a few deep breaths and clear your head. Take time to think."
"Oh, I'm thinking clearly. Finally, I'm thinking clearly."
Diana began to slowly advance on Selina. The thief didn't fall for it. She punched Wonder Woman in the jaw and followed with a kick to the stomach. Diana hadn't expected it and easily fell aside. Winded, she gasped for air. Hawkgirl had to talk the girl down.
"Selina? Why are you doing this? Do you feel threatened?"
She shifted her weight and began to tremble. "N – no. I don't know."
"Would you feel better if Batman were here?" Hawkgirl took a couple of steps toward the woman. "Or Bruce Wayne?"
"He wouldn't want me to hurt you," she mumbled.
Hawkgirl reached Selina and softly touched her arm. "You don't want to hurt anyone." She then took hold of the cleaver.
"Something inside wants me to," she admitted. Tears started to roll down the sides of her face. "I'm so scared. I'm so confused."
"I know." Hawkgirl put the knife in the sink and slowly pulled Selina into an embrace. Suddenly, Selina broke down in her arms and shook as she cried. Hawkgirl could only try to comfort the woman with kind words and a gentle hug.
~
"They fell for it."
The Joker raised his eyes to see his lovely Selina walking into his office. He slightly laughed and asked, "They?"
"Bruce Wayne, his butler, and two kids." She sat down in front of his desk and kicked her feet onto it. She did have great legs.
"What if they tell someone? This is Gotham. What if Batman learns of your visit?"
"Who cares? She'll be dead in a matter of days. When she does die, I'll disappear. He won't find me."
"Don't be so sure," he warned. "I've learned that you can't predict the Bat's moves; you always need to keep a close eye on him."
~
"Did you identify what was in her blood?" Diana questioned J'onn when she walked into the lab. He slightly nodded and pointed to his microscope. Diana looked into the microscope and studied Selina's blood cells. Some kind of purple cell multiplied quickly and devoured the normal cells. "Oh Hera..."
"I believe that this is not human."
"Is it plant?" Another voice came from behind the two. They turned and were surprised to see Batman standing in the doorway next to Green Lantern. He made his way to J'onn and Diana and handed the Martian a plastic bag. "I brought a sample of the imposter's hair, hoping it would give us a few answers."
"How did you acquire it?" Diana wondered.
"I didn't. You can thank Batgirl for that."
J'onn placed the hair on a glass slide and examined it. "It looks human to the human eye, but it's not." He turned to face the others. "I'm afraid that it is not of your planet at all."
"It's alien," GL concluded. "The thing can shape-shift like you, J'onn?"
"Apparently so," Batman answered for the Martian.
"From analyzing this hair and the substance from Selina's blood, I think I know what type of alien this could be," J'onn told. "It's not of this solar system. I can't remember the specific name, but I do know that it resembles animals of your world. The Culex pipiens, Anopheles, or Anedes albopictus."
"What?" Diana and Lantern questioned in unison.
Batman answered again. "A mosquito? This creature is like a mosquito?"
"Yes. Much like Earth's mosquitoes, the female punctures the skin and drinks the blood. At the same time, they inject a substance."
GL stated, "Mosquitoes spread diseases on Earth like Malaria, West Nile, and Yellow Fever. Is that what happened to Catwoman?"
"Precisely, but much worse in this case," J'onn told.
"So, Selina has a disease?" Diana asked the room.
"Not quite," J'onn replied. "The poison is slowly killing her. The only way to stop it is to give her blood from the shape-shifter once we destroy it. We need to use fire."
Batman thought out loud. "Because it drank her blood, it could replicate Selina's DNA."
"Let alone her looks," Lantern also added. "No human would notice the difference."
~
Batman softly knocked on the open door to the recovery room and got Hawkgirl's attention. She raised her eyes to meet his and gave a faint smile. Hawkgirl stood and came to him.
"How is she?"
"Sleeping, finally."
He glanced into the room and noticed the restraints on Selina's arms. "Why is she tied down?"
Hawkgirl explained, "Her mood swings have been more frequent. This morning, she came at Diana and me with a cleaver. Actually, she punched Diana pretty good." The redhead turned to look at the blonde. "We have to do something and fast."
"I hate to see her this way. The sad thing is that it isn't the first time." Batman kept his eyes on his lover.
"Go sit with her a while. You'll make her feel better." Hawkgirl then left Batman when he nodded, and he walked inside the room.
Batman stood at the foot of the bed and watched her sleep. The bruise on her arm had darkened, and the surrounding veins had become purple in color, making the poison visible through the skin. Perspiration dampened her forehead; her lower lip trembled. He wanted to hold her. He wanted to comfort her. He had to resist the temptation. Before he left, Selina spoke.
Her weak, quiet voice asked, "Is Bruce all right?"
"He's fine. He's worried about you." Batman didn't move from the doorway. "The imposter visited him today."
"She looks like me without a mask?"
"Yes." Batman signaled that he needed to depart. "Rest."
She slightly shifted and remembered the restraints on her arms. Selina laughed softly.
"Do you need me to loosen those?"
"No. I don't want anyone to get hurt. I'm unstable, remember?" Selina gave a reassuring smile. "I know you'll get me out of this. You always do."
Batman nodded. "Just rest, Selina."
~
"Mind if I join you?" Green Lantern asked the girl who sat alone on the couch. He smiled at Hawkgirl and waited for her to say yes.
"Knock yourself out."
GL took the space next to the redhead. He folded his hands and stared at the floor. Hawkgirl seemed so tired and worried, and he felt for her.
"Was it peaceful at home?" she asked to start a conversation.
"Yeah. Did you sleep well last night?"
"Oh, I'll live." She slightly chuckled and yawned. "Selina's the one who is important."
"You really care about her," Lantern observed.
"Someone has to," she remarked.
Green Lantern thought a moment and put an arm around Hawkgirl. "Why don't you get some rest right now? Every minute counts, right?"
She turned her head to look at him and nodded. Hawkgirl then laid her head on his shoulder, and he placed his head atop hers.
~
Barbara watched Tim Drake walk off the school bus with a surprised expression on his face. Once he got his bags, he made his way to Dick and Barbara.
"All right. What happened?" Tim asked.
Dick's forehead wrinkled. "What?"
"You guys are here to pick me up instead of Alfred. Something is definitely up."
"We've got a lot to tell you, but get in the car first," Barbara said. After they all seated themselves inside, Dick drove out of the school's parking lot, and Barbara handed Tim his Robin mask. "Suit up, kid. We're working tonight."
~
"I have a plan. I called up Superman, and he has reluctantly agreed to it. I need your support too." Batman waited a moment to get the room's full attention. "Flash is setting up the conference right now."
"Conference?" Hawkgirl stood from the couch, crossed her arms over her chest, and shook her head. "What conference?"
He answered. "A press conference."
"A what?" Green Lantern asked.
"A press conference," Batman repeated. "You need to convince this copy-cat that Selina has run away, and that The Justice League is having problems."
Diana's eyes narrowed. "You want us to lie to the public?"
Batman nodded. "It is the only way. They'd never expect it."
~
Barbara stood beside a couple of reporters. Everyone was waiting for The Justice League to release a statement. Little did they know that the conference was a stunt to lure the imposter out of hiding. She glanced at two rooftops. Nightwing was stationed on one, and Robin stood on another. They each had a set of binoculars and searched the audience for anyone strange.
"Anything?" Barbara whispered into her hidden headset.
Nightwing and Robin both answered with a no. Even from Barbara's front seat, she didn't notice anything. Finally, five members of The Justice League arrived: Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter, The Flash, Hawkgirl, and The Green Lantern. Wonder Woman stepped to the microphone and began.
"Good evening, everyone. We're sorry that this conference had been such short notice, but the reason for it is much more important. There is a conflict within The Justice League. The only reason that we have decided to go public with it is because it involves one of Gotham's notorious criminals, Catwoman. The Justice League has split over the idea that Selina Kyle is innocent of the crime that she had been accused of. Batman and Superman, on the other hand, do believe that she is not guilty.
"Recently, they had been protecting Selina and hiding her from the police. She had run away from them, and now all three have disappeared. We believe that this could all be settled reasonably and safely and would appreciate any information that anyone has. We'll answer questions now."
"Hey! Over here, Wonder Woman," a woman's voice yelled over the crowd. Barbara looked to her right and located Lois Lane of the Metropolis Daily Planet. "Both Superman and Batman stand for justice. Do you agree that they wouldn't jump to a conclusion like this without substantial evidence?"
Green Lantern stepped to the podium. "Now, Miss Lane, we never said that Batman and Superman weren't trustworthy."
"Then what are you calling them?" Lois countered.
The Flash replied, "A couple of regular guys who have been manipulated by a seductive woman."
Barbara smiled to herself. The press really bought the load of crap they had shoveled. She turned to leave the crowd but met with some man whose hand held a handle from the Coach bag Bruce had gotten her for her birthday. The needy-looking man swiped it and dashed out of the crowd.
"Hey!" she called and chased after him. Barbara stopped when something whirled by and created a sudden breeze. Almost instantly, The Flash halted before her holding her purse and the mugger.
He smiled. "I believe you lost this, Miss." He handed her the handbag.
"Thank you."
"Have we met before?"
Barbara shook her head. "No. I don't think so."
The mugger rolled his eyes. "Oh please. I'd much rather be in jail, Romeo," he mumbled.
"Quiet," The Flash warned. "But Miss, I never forget a redhead."
"I'm sure. Shouldn't you take him to the cops?"
"Oh, right. I'd love to have your number."
Barbara had to stop herself from smirking. "I don't date superheroes, but thank you again."
He made a disappointed shrug. "You're welcome." The Flash then sped away.
"Wow, that was entertaining," Nightwing's voice joked.
"Yeah, yeah."
~
Batman stepped out of the recovery room and waited for Diana to join him in the hallway. When she did, he began to speak. "Selina had become delusional. She's seeing things that aren't there and saying things that are out of place. She's also developed a fever."
"Has she eaten anything?"
"No. I couldn't get her to." Batman added, "By the way, the conference was convincing."
Diana nodded. "Now what?"
"You and Hawkgirl watch over Selina while the rest of us watch the city."
"Good luck."
~
(Bugs have entered the picture. Eew...)