Disclaimer: The song mentioned in this chapter is "Hit That" by the Offspring.
AN: First I would like to thank my sister for the idea on how this story is going to be. I would also like to thank her for helping me create the names for the characters. I couldn't have done it without her.
Heaven and Hell
Chapter One: Bat, Meet the Bird
"You know, this whole cat burglar routine is so overdone."
Raven smirked. "This whole computer whiz sidekick shtick is overdone too," she whispers into her microphone. "Now shut-up and let me concentrate."
"I was just letting you know. Besides, almost every burglar or crook around here has had their ass handed to them on a platter by the Batman."
Raven sighed. "Which is the whole reason I have you, sparky. Now shut-up and watch my back."
She heard a laugh echo through the tiny headset hiding in her right ear. "Aye aye captain," he paused. "Locking into cameras . . . now. You're set. Guards and late-working employees are all on the lower levels. Hmm . . . two guards in the security room."
"And?" she asked, lowering herself slowly through the cracked window. The line she had tied to her belt slipped slowly through her gloved fingers.
"Well give me a second. Genius takes time you know."
"Genius my ass."
He laughed. "And a mighty fine one it is. Great shot of it from where I'm sitting."
Raven turned slightly from her upside down position. The rope tied around her waist swayed as she moved. The slightly open window the tether was tied to creaked lightly. Her light eyes glanced over to the small camera attached to the far wall of the museum. She sighed. "I don't need you staring at my backside when you're supposed to be watching for guards."
"Hey, I can do both. We geniuses have the ability to multi-task."
"I would appreciate it if you didn't," she whispered, and then blew the small camera a kiss, knowing that he would still be watching.
"I'll use that one as a screensaver, thank you."
Raven stopped just above a small glass case holding a small silver mask created hundreds of years ago for the Roman goddess Ceres, otherwise known as Demeter. "Am I ready to lift this thing, or what?"
"Hang on, hang on. I told you that genius takes time. The security systems on these items are tight. In all of the places I've gotten you into, this is the worst one. These systems are routed, re-routed and then re-routed again."
Raven rolled her eyes. "Are you in yet?"
"Of course. I just wanted you to realize how much I had to go through to get you through the damn system without being seen."
"Remind me to give you a bonus later," Raven said drolly.
"I'll hold you to that, you know."
"I'm sure you will."
Raven tentatively reached down, dropping her hands slowly below her head and touched the thin glass surrounding the mask. She placed both hands lightly on the glass, pressing gently with her fingertips. Raven lifted the case slowly, careful not to brush the mask, completely unaware of a shadow lurking above her.
Syber gazed thoughtfully at the video monitor, watching as Raven lifted the glass case from the mask's base. Music in the background pounded, the bass thrumming through his mind. He bobbed his head in time to the music, his longish brown hair swinging as his head moved.
He smiled lightly, beginning to sing, "He's saying, I'm on a roll, with all the girls I know. His baby momma, don't need to know. He's saying . . . son of a bitch," he muttered, the lyrics to his song trailing off.
"What?" he heard Raven ask. "What is it?"
Syber jerked up in his seat, his eyes glaring into the monitors surrounding him. He reached out one hand and grasped the wireless mouse connected to his computer. He could have sworn he had seen something. A shadow jumped across one of his screens again, causing his head to jerk to his right. "Son of a bitch," he muttered again.
Raven's voice grew irritated as she spoke again into the microphone. "What is it?"
"Hang on, I'm checking," he replied. His fingers flew over the keyboard, enlarging one of the small screens showing the museum from different angles. His eyes widened slightly as he caught the dark figure haunting the cameras surrounding Raven. "Oh God. Raven. Raven you've got to get out of there."
"What? What are you talking about?"
Syber watched as Raven twisted slightly to look at the camera behind her, the glass case still clutched in her gloved hands.
"Raven!" he shouted into the microphone hovering near his lips. "Look out!"
Syber watched in horror as the line Raven was hanging on went slack and she dropped head first to the marble floor below her.
Raven allowed her body to go slack as the rope that was tied around her waist went limp. The breath rushed out of her lungs as her back hit the tall, thick pedestal holding the Roman mask she had been previously attempting to acquire. The pedestal shattered underneath her, splintering into hundreds of pieces. Her eyes closed beneath her mask, her eyebrows furrowing as she fought against the pain spreading throughout her body.
"-the hell?" she muttered, lifting herself up to lean on her elbows. Her head jerked up to look above her, her dark eyes searching the shadowy window above her.
"Raven? Raven, are you alright?"
"Bloody terrific," she mumbled, flipping up onto her feet.
"Good, because every alarm was just tripped. I count about six guards heading your way."
Raven glanced up at the window again, her eyes once again searching for any movement, but still found nothing. "Thanks for the good news."
Before she could reach for the grappling gun on her waist, the double doors behind her flew open, revealing six security guards, their guns drawn and trained on the room in front of them.
"Freeze!" one yelled.
Raven cocked her head to one side, placing one hand on her hip. "Does saying that honestly ever work?"
One of the guards-The stupid one, she mused- began to slowly walk towards her, his eyes never leaving hers.
"Just stay where you are and no one gets hurt."
"I think he believes you'll actually do it," Syber said in her ear, his voice crackling over the microphone.
The moment the guard came within reach, Raven's hand shot out and grabbed hold of the gun. She ripped the weapon from his hand, throwing it across the room. "I hate guns," she seethed, her other hand lashing out and grabbing hold of the guard's shirt front. She pulled him to her, kneeing him in the stomach and causing him to bend over.
Raven grabbed hold of the man's arm, tugging on it and twisting his arm quickly. The man cried out in pain as she kicked out with her right leg, forcing him to his knees and then she kicked him in the side of his neck, effectively knocking him out. Before any of the other guards could react, Raven lunged at them, running right into the middle of them.
"I love watching you do this," Syber said in her ear.
Raven ignored him. She kicked up high, bending at the waist slightly. The guard to her right fell to the floor unconscious. With movements too quick to follow Raven took out each of the guards, disarming them quickly and incapacitating them. She stood up from a crouch minutes later, her eyes scanning the room.
"Anyone else?" she asked Syber, her hand once again going to the grappling gun at her waist.
"One," a deep voice replied behind her.
Raven's back went rigid at the unexpected voice that sent tremors down her spine. She turned around slowly, her eyes widening slightly to find a dark shadow standing across the room from her.
"Batman, I presume," she said, quickly hiding the way her voice trembled. She had never thought she would be in a position to face such an incredible presence.
"I don't know where he came from. He just appeared. I didn't even see him on the cameras." Syber gave a low whistle. "He must be as good as they say. Something ninja like. As in 'I am ninja, you can't see me'."
Raven's eyes flicked around the room, searching for a quick way out. She did not have time for this. Her gaze fell on the open window again; the easiest way to escape, but also the one that the Batman was blocking. Her hands slid slowly to the weapons belt tied loosely around her waist, circling the tight fitting black costume that she wore.
Raven's gaze flicked back to Batman, sizing him, contemplating how to get past him. She could feel his eyes trail over her black-clad body as well; obviously taking note of whatever weapons he could see and others that could be hidden somewhere on her thin frame. The moment his eyes locked on hers, she began to make her move.
"I take it you're the strong, silent type," she teased, smirking underneath her mask. Her right hand palmed three small throwing daggers, holding them between her fingers. "I've heard about you. You've got the whole underground talking. Saving a whole city from almost total destruction and then continuing to protect the city from her darker population."
Before Batman could respond, Raven threw the three daggers, aiming directly at his chest. She lunged forward as the daggers flew towards him, sidestepping so that she could run past him. A strong hand lashed out and grabbed hold of her upper arm as she heard the sound of metal hitting the floor, pulling her back in front of him.
"I don't like to fight women," he growled.
"Good. Neither do I." She looked up at him, taking note of the absence of the daggers that she had thrown at him.
Raven punched at him, her fist aiming for his unprotected chin. Batman blocked easily, sliding his gloved hand around her wrist. He pulled her closer to his body, pressing her against him. Raven smirked beneath her mask.
"I never knew you liked it rough."
Batman did not respond, but merely tightened his grip on her wrist. Without responding, Raven kicked up with her right leg, her knee slamming full force into his side. Batman grunted and bent over slightly; his grip not wavering on her wrist. Instead of letting go as she had hoped, Batman returned her kick with a punch to her cheek.
Raven rolled with the hit, jerking her face to the left. She swung at him again. Batman caught her arm, holding it once again against his chest. Using his arms as leverage, Raven jumped up slightly and planted her feet on his abdomen. Before he could react, she pushed with all her might, putting all her weight into her legs.
Batman's grip on her arms loosened as he flew backwards with the force of the kick. Using his own momentum, Batman flipped over, landing in a crouched position, his cape billowing around him. By the time he looked back up, Raven was gone. The sound of crunching glass drew his gaze above him.
Raven stood above him, her black costume silhouetted against the dark night. He saw the outline of her lips spread wide in a smile beneath her mask. She held up the silver mask she had been after, waving it at him in a mock salute. Seconds later, she was gone.
Batman reached onto his utility belt and grabbed hold of the small grappling gun hooked to his waist. A soft hiss issued forth as the hook shot upward from the gun. He triggered the release mechanism, causing the thin line to go taut and recoil, pulling him up through the window above him. His eyes scanned the rooftop as he landed, but Raven was already gone.
"Anything of interest?" Alfred's voice issued from over his ear piece.
"Not sure," Batman replied.
"Hmm, well I'm sure all vigilantes go through a bad spot."
Batman ignored Alfred's remark. "I need to do a search on whatever it was that she stole. See if anyone has put out a bid on it."
"Of course sir," Alfred replied. He paused and Batman could almost see the smile spreading across his face. "She, sir?"
"Not another word, Alfred," he answered and then disappeared into the night.
AN 2: If you couldn't tell already, I'm not all that good at writing fight sequences. My ability kinda comes and goes. If anyone would like to help me out with these scenes, just let me know. Either leave it in a review or e-mail me. I would greatly appreciate it.
Forensic Photographer711: Thanks! I'm glad that you liked it. I hope you continue to read!
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KiranI'm glad you like her. I found her rather strong-willed myself.
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brainfearThank you! I hope you liked this chapter as well! P.S. Love the penname. ; P
RedLilyBlackRoseBlueDahliaI'm glad you like it so far. As for the bad guy? You'll just have to wait and see. I'm also glad you like the title. It took me forever to figure out a name for this. I went through so many titles it almost drove me crazy! ; )
Christiana Anderson: Thanks! I hope you like this chapter as well!
CarnicirthialHi! Glad you like it so far. I'm glad you liked the banter, it took me forever to write and I'm sure you'll be able to do it very soon! I hope you enjoyed!