FACE OFF5

Notes: Wow this has been a long time coming. My muses all took holidays and then so did my free time…eesh. Well any thoughts or wishes you have are welcome but if I get a certain request I'll do all I can to avoid the person most likely to deliver my request. Oh and so said person knows "Take this fic Down" counts as a flame in my book. If you ever say that again I say: Bite me.

Why yes I did take offence to it…and I've just been ranting:

I'll stop and take my medication

AND NOW THE FIC!

---Poor / Rich---

The Batsignal lit up the sky. "That thing is getting a real workout," snorted Chris as they entered the batcave. Terry nodded in silence…his mind elsewhere.

"It's coming from the top of a certain someone's place of employment" Selina said as she tapped the keys and zoomed in on a shape standing beside the odd projector… Veronica. "Kudos to her for building a Bat Hologram Projector"

"I'll go see what's up," said Terry. "This is not a good idea"

"Hurry up and go" sighed Bruce. "That's far too…attractive a sign"

Terry landed on the roof of the news building and looked around. Veronica was standing on the side of the roof. She walked forwards. "Glad you could make it" she said. "Shall we get started?"

"Started on what exactly?"

"The interview"

"Did I say I'd give an interview?"

"I'd be ever so – grateful," she pressed removing her coat to reveal a pink ribbon-strap top that drifted just above her navel. "We can be very friendly…the media I mean" she said. "That's – if you … rub us up the right way"

Terry raised an eyebrow. "Ms Dominium…please...Don't sell yourself off"

"I'm not," she said. "You're a man" she sighed. "Unless - - - you do like girls right?" Terry raised his eyebrows and she shrugged. "What? It's a legitimate question to ask" she sighed. "Look I can help you. I've pulled files on the accident that scarred Wade Masters. The chemicals were synthetic materials to be used in cosmetic surgery but they were too unstable to be improved. No one knows what he looks like, he killed his surgeons in a fit of rage and donned a mask."

"I know"

"Did you know he donated half his spoils to assorted Charities?"

"I didn't know that," admitted Terry

"See? We could make beautiful music together," she said, moving closer. Terry stepped backwards and dropped off the building, vanishing into the dark. Veronica sighed. "What a man" she murmured.

----The Next Day----

The black and white truck smashed through the doors of the Gold Exchange. It was an old building that was currently home to the US Mint and their project to trade in precious ores with other countries. It had been the Gold exchange long ago; now precious metals of any kind fit the bill.

Iola popped out of the sunroof on the van, she was wearing heavy black goggles. "If I could have your attention for a moment" she said as she held up the ornate hand mirror. It glowed and with a flash mentally stunned everyone around. "Ah it's all done with mirrors" she giggled and swung out of the van.

The thugs spread out. A batarang hit Wrong in the side of the head and he collapsed with a thud. "I don't know" Chris said as he became visible. "What does it take to deter you from making us kick you butts?"

"I don't know maybe you ACTUALLY KICKING our respective BUTTS" Masque cackled as he pulled out his guns. His thugs aimed at Chris and fired. He leapt away as a cloud of smoke exploded from a small orb he'd thrown down. The smoke filled the room. Terry dropped down on the van and kicked Masque in the back of the head. Masque ran a hand through his black and white hair…then twisted and bashed Terry in the face with an open palm. He grabbed Terry by the neck and flung him off the van.

"I swear he SOOOOOOOOO needs a vacation," Masque giggled as he aimed his pistols and fired. Terry rolled away and used his rocket boots to get into the air. Iola raised her wand.

"Not so fast!" Chris hit her with a Redwing causing her to drop the wand. She shrieked in rage and hurled the small mirror to the ground. It unleashed a blast of electricity and hurled Chris away.

"We've got some stuff boss!" a thug said.

"Take what we can" Masque muttered. "AND STICK IN THE VIOLENCE!" he fired point blank into a crowd and a man collapsed, clutching his leg. Terry froze, staring… Chris groaned and collected his thoughts. The van shrieked backwards out of the Exchange and sped away.

"Terry what's wrong?" Selina asked.

"I – I – I" Terry shook his head and rubbed his face.

Iola huffed. "Well that was disappointing…oh hang on" the van stopped and she climbed out, removing her top hat. The driver of the armoured car watched her wearily as his partner checked his weapon and raised it. Iola bowed and pulled the long star-patterned blue material from her hat. She threw it into the air…it burst open and slowly descended.

"Hocus Pocus Kalamazoo" she smiled. "I've just made a fool…out of you!" the burst of smoke came from under the material, which in turn disappeared into a cloud of blue butterflies. The smoke exploded from her hat before the guard could fire, the driver was sitting on the ground, stunned until the terrible stink of the smoke startled him to his senses. The Truck was gone…and so was Iola.

"Not a total loss" Iola said. "No setback to our plans"

"Goodie" snorted Masque. "Because I really TRULY care about your PATHETIC need to stick to schedule." Iola rolled her eyes as he stirred his tea and drank his coffee with Naughty and nice dancing attendance on either side of him.

Veronica ran her hands down the red dress she was wearing. It wasn't very often you got to be on the arm of a highly attractive college student-gofer to a millionaire and said millionaires girlfriend. And there was the matter of the Grandson but that was messy.

Chris unnerved her. He had the same eyes as Mr Wayne but he seemed to be looking through her façade to her core. That wasn't good. She was a serious (intern) reporter with ambition…she didn't like being read.

"So dear" Selina said as the elevator neared the party. "You want to be a reporter?"

"Yes ma'am" Veronica said. The woman seemed ferociously protected of both boys and her bad side didn't seem like a fun side to be on. "I've been accepted into a Journalism course in three colleges…I don't know which to choose."

"Best choose soon" smiled Selina. "Or it'll pass you by. College starts in a few weeks and all final applications must be filled out".

"Unless you go to school in Californian Institutes of Dance," murmured Terry. He'd never really gotten over Dana. He'd been a little relieved when she'd left for California she always reminded him of Erika.

Before Veronica could ask more the doors opened and they entered the party. On stage the Incredible Iola was wearing a flowing purple gown and making tigers turn into kittens. The circular stage was set up in the middle of the room where everyone could see her. Two tall men with long pale blonde hair and blue eyes were showing a Siberian Tiger to the crowd. Three women in silver and gold showgirl outfits and feathered headdresses were prompting the crowd to cheer and clap on stage. A man in a velvet top hat and silver cape was doing card tricks for a few people at the bar. They were her ensembles apparently: accessories.

"What a surprise another performance by the latest celebrity fad" Chris said. "If I'd had birthdays when I was young I assure you I'd not have asked for a magician and still outgrown it at this point."

"Dance?" Veronica offered as a dreamy Waltz began. Terry allowed himself to be led out onto the floor by her but he still took the offered lead in the dance. "I got to talk to Batman," she said. A lump developed in terry's throat. He nodded with "interest" and kept a focus on his feet…the collar was still tight on the damn tuxedo. "He's really - - brooding" she said. "I don't know if any non-costumed man will ever be like him. Then again most normal men don't have a strange fixation with bats… but I suppose everyone's fixated with something at some point".

Chris watched the party from a distance. The magician bored him. The snobbish children of the rich and famous who were present at the party were either too dull or engaged in stupidity. And Selina had been pinned down by the town gossip – of course.

Bruce ignored him as usual and he was getting used to it. He was alone, the freaky kid with the radioactive acne and screwed up sense of sight (everything was pale and grey). "Chris isn't it?"

Chris looked at the waitress. Mel. "Yeah. Melanie…right?"

"Terry told you about me?" she murmured, her face falling.

"Just that he wished things could have been different" Chris said. (Terry had never actually said it but he FELT it and WISHED it because he liked Mel as a Friend if nothing Else and not the capitals all mentioned).

"Glad to hear it" she said her heart lifting and raising a smile. "So…why the wallflower act?"

"I'm not the ideal grandson" shrugged Chris as she offered him a canapé, which he accepted. "I'm not handsome enough, sociable enough, strong enough - - - good enough."

"Be yourself" Mel sighed. "He accepted Terry into his life. Give him time, people need to adapt to relatives…screwed up family? Try mine. Most in jail, one was a robot and the other's opening his second Casino in Keystone this evening."

"Why aren't you out there?"

"Working girl. Gotta pay the rent" Mel shrugged. There was a blast of gunfire…the elevators were letting floods of thugs into the ballroom led by the sneering Masque. "I don't believe it," muttered Mel.

Chris looked around. "Quick go hide" Chris whispered as he glanced at Terry who was already slipping the cowl out of the hidden pocket it was sewn into in his coat the coat hid the costume between the lining and the outer material.

Chris touched his own pocket and let the screaming crowds take him.

Iola was fiddling with her wand. She shot a seething glare at Masque and mouthed, "This – Wasn't -Planned" at him. He flipped her off.

"Ladies and Gentlemen AND I USE THE TERM LOOSELY" Masque snarled. "Please empty your purses, wallets and mattresses into the bags of my lovely assistants NOOOOWWWW OR I'LL BLOW YOU ALL TO HELL if its not too unpleasant." He snapped his fingers. "Pronto, pronto!"

A Batarang hit Day in the head and he staggered away. Masque groaned with dramatic loudness. "YOOOOOOUUUUUUU TWWWWWOOOO AGGAAINNNN" he spat. "Lovely to have you, drinks? What are you having?"

He raised his guns and fired. Terry wired aside and Chris hurled a flash bang at a group of men. Masque's left gun skittered away as Terry jump kicked it, Masque head butted him and shoved him into a table. He aimed his right gun at Terry. "Sorry Bats but this is how THE COOKIE IMPLODES!"

A shot rang out and the gun fell from his hand. He hissed and looked around for the shooter who's not directly injured anything other then his pride. Terry leapt up and punched him. Masque roared and slammed a sledgehammer of both hands down into his face before grabbing him around the throat and slinging him across the dance floor so he could pick up both pistols. The thugs were undecided whether to a) get Batman, b) get Robin or c) get the loot they'd nabbed together.

They opted for C. Masque aimed and fired. The bullet hit the chandelier over Batman. "It's above you!" he called. The light came shooting down on the dazed Terry. Mel lunged at him and tackled him out of the way as the glass exploded on the ground, sending a snow of shards skittering around.

"That's two I owe you" terry muttered.

"No you don't" Mel said.

"They're going to catch us boss" Wrong hissed

"Wrong…Wrong" Masque said. He pressed a button on his white lapel. There was an explosion. "The faces of the Gotham Memorial Statues have all just exploded, knocking their NEW placements on the ledges (courtesy of moi) off balance" he explained. "Did I mention I've tied a civilian to each of the statues which are all now unstable and about to plummet into the streets below with the attached civilians? Better hurry and do something" he cackled as the Dynamic Duo looked at each other and then ran for the window to speed down the street to the memorial building where the large iron statues (each now with a different person tied to the waists) were set high above the streets and roads. Terry leapt into the Batmobile as it shot past while Chris leapt onto his bike.

"We have to stop the statues falling!" Terry said.

"Well D'uh!" Chris snorted. He fired the missile; it exploded into a splatter of grey sticky glue that held one of the four statues in place. Terry fired two cables into another statue and gently lowered it onto the street. The other two statues had been moved with their counterparts just a few critical inches onto a danger teetering position, the explosions now had them grinding towards the end of a small sloped part of the ledge that would end them and the tied hostages crashing to the street.

"I've got this one" Terry said as he snared a hook around the neck of another and lifted it to safety. Chris launched his hook at the statue. The hook split into a bola top and suspended the Statue. Chris slowly pulled the statue back onto the ledge.

"Chris the arm!" Terry exclaimed.

The arm had a small explosive set on it which went off…shrapnel hit the helmet on Chris's head and made his head pound as he fired a spear-cord into the back of the statue. He cried out. There was a flash and the arm fell off course and landed on a nearby ledge with a crash as the statue shove back a few critical inches and let Chris' bike and cord pull it to complete safety.

"Chris?"

"Ter?" Chris was clutching his head and bleeding nose. "I don't feel so good---and what a cliché I have just issued…"

"He's fine Selina," growled Bruce. Selina slapped him. They were standing in the middle of the cave; Terry, Max and Chris were upstairs with an icepack for Chris' head and a box of Extra Strong Advil and Selina had just slapped him

"You can be such a dog," she hissed. She had just slapped him.

"What does that mean?" he growled. She had just slapped him.

"It means you don't see that the boy feels you don't care. You told him that he should have been paying more attention for heaven's sake! He'd just had a lucky escape from someone dying (and while we're on the subject his bike might have dropped with the damn lump of stone) and you criticize him." She had just slapped him.

"He needs to learn to be careful"

"He NEEDS to know you care!"

"He knows I care"

"No Bruce he doesn't" she turned away. His brain was still stuck on the fact that: she had just slapped him.

Iola examined the mirror decorated with an eagle spreading its wings into a frame. "What's that?" asked one of her showgirl assistants (Sparkle).

"It's a special device. The Boy Weird must have some sort of protection against my messages, this mirror will hit him with a triple whammy on 19 different levels of consciousness in 0.3 seconds"

"Will it work?" Top Hat asked.

"Ask that question ever again and I'll feed you to Stephano and Dave's blasted Tiger"

"Tinkerbell wouldn't eat him," one of the blonde men said.

"Oh Shut Up" spat Iola as she put the mirror down on the blueprints for her plan.

TBC

Review and I won't send Iola around to your house to make you watch subliminal messages and do so. Also what do you think of:

Veronica-Batman-Terry love trouble

Chris Weirdness

Selina-Bruce relationship?