Batman Beyond: Two-Face II
Chapter 4: A Truth with Two Edges
By ShadowHawk & Demoness Space Pirate
Author's Notes: to the Readers who read this fanfic, just to let you know this fic takes places after my friend Demoness Space Pirate's fanfics Same Ol'' Game, Just New Players & Gray Shadows of the Past. Also if you don't know who Nightshade or Harley Jest is, i suggest you read Demoness Space Pirate's fanfics to find out who they are ;)
Disclaimer: We don't own the characters used
The next day...
The front page of the Gotham Daily newspaper was crested with the distorted facade of Gotham's newest criminal Two-Face.
"Hon, look at this One" Christopher Isely said driving the newspaper between the vision of his girlfriend and the television.
"Hey!" She cried as the grey sheet of paper obstructed her view of pro- wrestling. "Ya know I watch this to get new combat moves." Harley Jest said looking into her lovers green eyes.
"You know it's fake, c'mon read." He said shoving the paper into her hands.
"Two-Face successor steals twin statues." She read the headline. "He stopped with the priceless coin collecting, so big whoop." Harley said going back to her show of pointless violence.
"So," Christopher began. "You're not the least bit curious about this man?" He asked looking at the mans face on the paper.
"Not really. Why the sudden interest from you, my beloved peat?" Harley asked losing interest in the television.
Christopher leaned his folded forearms against the couch. "My mother once dated the original Two-Face."
Harley cocked her head to the side. "Reason?"
"To kill him for nearly wiping out an endangered species of rose." he said.
"But of course." Harley sighed waving her hand in a show of cynical ignorance. Christopher ignored his girlfriend's sarcastic behaviour. "Out of respect for my mother I have to know."
Harley sighed. "Miss Q told me that she once worked for the guy for a very short time."
Christopher leaned over the couch until he was looking his girlfriend in the eyes. "So will you come with me to meet him?"
Harley sighed heavily, if she were to say no he would find some way to make her feel bad and later join him. "Well since nothing good is due to come on TV soon I guess I'll go with you."
"Now all we have to do is find him." Christopher said.
Harley smiled. "Easy as coconut cream pie."
Back at the Dorm.
Max locked to door behind her as she brought the first aid kit to Terry. "Keep this up I may walk out of here with a medical degree." She teased trying to make light of the bloody situation.
The blood from the knife wound seeped out of the small tear in the batsuit staining the dark fabric. The wounded side of his body pained as he peeled off the torso half of his outfit leaving the rest to hang from the abdomen. As Max began applying the antiseptic onto the wound he thought to himself replaying the night's events over and over in his mind, 'Of all the villains I have faced, this one knew my moves.'
One week later.
Good face, bad face, good face, bad face, the silver coin rotated in the air as it descended into Two-Face's hand. He wedged his thumb beneath the coin and flips again. The coin performed a series of flips as it went into the air and fell again dropping into Two-Face's hand good face up.
Two-Face smiled and looked at his men frightening them for one he rarely smiles and secondly seeing his scared face smiling was a frightening sight. He said to them, "The good side wins, therefore our next job is going to be in the daytime. And because all of my crimes are based on my symbol 2 system, we will work on that Doubles Tennis match today."
One of the goons slowly approach him. "The daytime boss?"
Two-Face look down on him as if debating if he should live for such a stupid question. "The Bat only comes out at night."
Later under the warm afternoon sun.
Marcus Presario and his long time partner Erasa Cunningham battled in a grueling match against Gotham's champions of double tennis Bomber Redryne and his wife Saffron Redryne. The bright green gravity ball soared back and forth over the net as the players dashed about the green clay court. Surrounding the court the spectators sat comfortably in their seats behind a protective sheet of glass like material.
The people groaned then clapped when Presario made a lunge for the fast flying ball landing face first into the ground. Bomber Redryne smiled thinking that the game was going to be another easy victory. He tossed the ball high into the air ready to serve. The ball began descending when suddenly it was impaled by a double edge dagger. "What the hell?" Bomber shouted.
Crime stalked onto the tennis court with Two-Face flipping a dagger in his hand. "Get to work." He commanded of his minions.
Delia nodded walking towards the sheet of glass protecting the people, she rubbed her bass knuckles together until a visible charge was emitting from them. She smiled dementedly as she placed the charged knuckles to the glass. The glass began to tremble as if a thousand fists were banging against it, the trembling went on and on until finally the glass shattered. The fine dust like fragments showered down on the spectators.
"Please ladies and gentlemen please remain in your seats." Two-Face said pulling out two guns, one silver and the other black, from his coat. "Some people will be coming around with bags, all we ask is that you empty your pockets, purses, and wallets and place all of your valuables into the bags. Do we make ourselves clear?" Two-Face asked cocking a gun and aiming it at Saffron Redryne's head.
Everyone began removing money from their pockets placing them in the bags as commanded. Two-Face walked among them supervising the work.
A dark haired lady threw her purse at Two-Face's feet crying hysterically, "Here! Take everything, just please take your horrible face away!"
Two-Face only had a smirk on his half marred face and said "Come Madame don't be stingy, this is for charity."
Later that same day...
The few volunteers of Gotham City's Charity Home sorted out the days donations of can goods, clothes, and charity money.
An elderly orange haired woman sighed heavily. "People just don't give like they use to."
A young man nodded, "Well Marie at least we get to do something for the less fortunate this Thanksgiving. Though it won't be much."
The door bell rang cutting through the soft music playing on the radio. Marie stood onto her feet, "I'll get it this time." She said to the young man.
When she opened the door all she found was a large leather bag sitting on the doorstep. "What's this?" She asked picking up the heavy bag.
A dark car parked before the building quickly drives away.
Marie carefully opened the bag watching as the car disappeared in the heavy traffic. As she looked down into the bag a surprised look takes over her face.
"Marie, what is it?" The young man asked coming to his friend's side.
"Look at all of this money someone donated." She said in a shaky voice as she showed him the contents of the bag.
Inside beside the money and credits was a folded letter.
"Oh my...yes." He picked up the letter and unfolded it. "And it was contributed by Two-Face."
At the Gemini Club...
Two-Face along with his goons returned to their HQ. The goons were a bit disappointed with the lack of action from the day's robbery.
"I'm going to have to charge my brass knuckles all over again." Delia grumbled to her sister.
Deirdre nodded, "Yeah well I didn't even get to use my laser whip." She stated while opening the door.
Two-Face walked by them disregarding their chatter. The sound of the club's piano playing Funny Valentines flooded into his ears. "Someone's here." He muttered removing his gun from his its hoister then heading on to the dance and bar room.
Everyone stopped in his or her tracks upon seeing a young woman with red and black hair playing the piano with a small hyena resting at her feet. She wore a long sleeved belly shirt with one side red and the other black underneath a thin black trench coat.
"Any request?" She asked playing on.
"Who the hell are you?" Two-Face asked.
Harley stops and smiles at him. "Ya know you're a very easy person to find?" She asked. Nightshade walks in with a bottle in his hand. "Hey they have the good champagne!"
"Put that back! I'm not having you driving us home drunk." Harley argued standing onto her feet.
"Well if you'd just learn how to drive a car." Nightshade stated. The two intruders began to argue before everyone.
"Excuse me!" Two-Face started. "But-"
"Stay outta this Quasimodo!" Harley shouted. "Oh and stop picking at that scab or it'll never heal." She cackled.
"Quasimodo? Why you bi-colored bitch!" Two-Face frowned twisting his face into a hideous sneer.
Nightshade's green skin turned an odd color as he flushed with anger. "No one calls my woman a bitch."
"What are you going to do about it plant boy?" Delia asked.
Harley cracked her knuckles ready to fight. "Hey! At least we didn't get ourselves arrested so easily by Batman. And at least we weren't apart of some lame Jokerz gang, Delia and Deirdre Dennis!"
"At least we don't go around screwing plants, Harley!" Deirdre retorted.
"Compost, once we're through with him." Said one of the twin goons cocking their gun. The small hyena trotted across the floor towards the group of twins. He sniffed once in their direction and began to growl. The twin sneered at the animal moments before he kicked it away.
"Erik!" Harley shouted at the sound of her pet's cry. "The bitch thing I could have let slide, threatening my boy toy I would have allowed you to live this encounter with an inch of your life in your bloody bodies, but no one, and I mean no one, touches my baby!" Harley growled pulling out her Bang gun from her sleeve.
Two-Face was ready to fire at the red and black jester when a champagne bubble flew by his head smashing into the face of one of his four men. Two- Face turned in the direction of Nightshade who stood fuming with a large jade machete in hand, most likely poisoned. Two-Face dropped his guns as he grabbed two of his double daggers then went for Nightshade.
In a matter of moments the peaceful little place was transformed into total chaos. Two-Face and Nightshade fought swinging daggers in hopes of cutting the flesh of one another.
As Two-Face and Nightshade fought Harley dealt with the remaining five. Harley took out one with at laughing gas bomb to the face. During her fight with the last standing four Harley pulled a mallet from seemingly nowhere and brought it down the back of the twin goon who had kicked her beloved pet. With a hollow grunt the large man fell onto the ground.
At that instant everything stopped, even Nightshade and Two-Face paused. Everyone stood still staring in shock that not only did the criminal biker jester have the strength to swing the heavy mallet thing but also it seemed she had pulled it from thin air.
"Yeah! I get the teddy bear!" Harley declared hoisting the mallet onto her shoulder.
"Babe," Nightshade called. "Where have you been hiding that?" Nightshade asked.
Harley stuck out her hip as she shifted her weight. "A woman's got ta have her secrets. But if you must know it's the same place I keep my popgun." She said removing a large popgun from seemingly nowhere as well.
Two-Face and Nightshade look towards another forgetting for that brief moment that the other existed. Nightshade kicked out his leg knocking the daggers from Two-Face's hands.
Nightshade quickly placed the poison blade to his foe's neck. "You move and you'll die. A simple scratch is all this poison needs." Nightshade said between clenched teeth.
"On the contrary," Two-Face quickly removed a silver gun and placed the barrel to Nightshade's temple. "You move and I'll blow your damn brains out!"
An audible gun cock could be heard from behind him. "And if you even think about shouting him I'll make sure you come out of this a vegetable." Harley grinned pressing her Flag gun into the area of the back of Two-Face's head were his green and brown hair met.
Three more guns cocked. "Just try us Harl." Deirdre said.
Harley reached into her jacket removing her large Popgun. "How much should I bet that Miss Q never gave you the immunization for Joker venom?" She asked. "Wanna literally die of laughter?"
For a moment everyone stood silently debating what risk were he or she willing to take in this stalemate. "Since blowing each other's brains out would prove rather pointless," Two-Face spoke up. "I propose we settle this with a truce." Harley's black painted lips curled up in a smirk. "That goes double for you."
"Harl, come off it! We didn't come here for this in the first place." Nightshade said lowering his poisoned blade with Two-Face removing his gun.
Harley pouted. "Well they started it." She said replacing her guns into the unknowns of her coat.
"Lower your guns." Two-Face commanded.
There was still an untrusting air hovering about the club. "How 'bout we start this all over huh?" Harley asked breaking the silence. She stroked the belly of her young pet. "We can talk this all out over a drink." She suggested.
"A drink?" Asked Delia.
"What, you never use your bar?" Harley asked taking a seat on the bar itself. "Oh but Red can't drink tonight."
Nightshade took a seat on a high bar chair beside her. "Don't start that again."
Harley merely rolled her eyes. "I'm Harley Jest as the DeeDees could tell you. This here is my boyfriend and partner, Nightshade. And that spotted mauling maniac with fleas is my baby, Erik. And you are..."
"Two-Face, you've all ready met the others." He said sitting down.
"Oh so you don't want anyone to know who you are Jeffery?" Harley asked.
Two-Face looked up at her a bit surprised, "Jeff Dent is dead." He growled.
Harley chuckled grabbing a bottle of whiskey from behind her. "Then a drink for the dead." She said handing him the bottle.
"So Deux-Face how did Jeffery die and how did you become the handsome man you are today?" Harley asked.
Two-Face took a swig of the whiskey before answering. "Jeff was once a faintly known scientist who specialized in chemicals, a chemist you might say though his skill reached into other scientific departments. He was working on a new type of acid which he had hopes of finding a way to making it harmless onto humans."
"The acid?" Nightshade asked.
"Vitriol, the last I had it is still under develops." Two-Face said.
"So to test if it did or didn't hurt people you tried it on yourself?" Harley asked with a cocked brow.
Two-Face looked onto the woman, there was no way she was serious of not that then not all there. "Let's just say an unfortunate accident happened rendering Dent scarred for life."
"And the laboratory Dent worked for didn't compensate for his accident." Nightshade guessed. Two-Face nodded taking another drink. "So what plans do you have in store for lovely Gotham city that involves taking over all the underground jobs? I mean this has to be something bigger than following in big daddy's foot steps." Harley questioned.
"I'm slowly but surely securing my hold on this city."
Nightshade humph as he took the bottle and drunk before Harley could stop him. "Why would you want to have control over this place? There are better places than Gotham." He said.
"It's not just control, it's complete domination, but I'm not stopping with Gotham, merely starting. I'm going to rule this world." He said.
"World domination, how derivative." Nightshade mutters so that only Harley could hear.
"Wait, you're sounding Pinky and the Brain-ish on me here. You're saying you're striving for total world domination?" Harley asked looking down into Two-Face's yellow eye.
"Wouldn't you like to?" Two-Face asked.
"Well if you think of it this way it would have its kicks for awhile but then the countries would start to fight, Iraq won't leave Israel alone and so on and so on, it's like taking care of a bunch of little kids. You can have it if you want."
"So then you don't wish to join us?" Two-Face asked.
"You mean 'us' as in you and your gang or do you mean 'us' as in you?" Harley asked.
"The answer is no. World domination is too high above our standards." Nightshade said interjecting between the conversation between Harley and Two-Face.
"Surely your mother would take the chance to save the environment." Two- Face said.
Nightshade waved his arm around. "If you haven't noticed there isn't much of one to save, and rebuilding it would be quite the task. I'm waiting for that one moment when no one's expecting it."
Harley jerked her thumb towards Nightshade. "Believe me he is. So when you conquer the world can I have France, the Galapagos Island and Hawaii. Oh and maybe a few rainforests for Red?" She asked.
"What?" Two-Face asked looking at her.
Harley jumped down from the bar. "Get back to me on that one." She said as they headed out of the club. "Well bye-bye everyone. And Deux let your face heal!"
Two-Face watches confused as the criminal couple left making him recall a lover of his own when he was once Jeffery Dent.
Some hours later... Jeffery Dent aka Two-Face 2 stepped from his office/room wearing his father's old suit with one side white and the other side black. Inside his dress coat his dress shirt had one side black while the other was red. It was the same with the tie he wore; one side on the right red while on the left black.
The twin thugs and the Dee-Dee twins were concerned when they saw the look on their boss's face. Delia asked, "Boss, you ok?"
"Yeah you look depressed." Added Deirdre.
Two-Face turned and faced his gang, his depressed expression had changed to a cold emotionless like glare. 'Idiots.' He thought taking out his trademark coin.
'If good heads lands up, I see her. If bad heads lands up, I don't.' With that he tossed the coin high into the air. All eyes stared mesmerized as the rotating round of silver fell back into Two-Face's unscarred hand. After a long period of silence he held up the coin. Good side up. Luck was indeed a cruel and unpredictable mistress onto him.
He pulled on a long trench coat that had one side on the right black while on the left blue. He looked back once of the curious faces of his twin minions before he scowled then walked out the door.
To be continue.