Batman Beyond: Two-Face II Chapter 21: Ego Trip

By ShadowHawk & Demoness Space Pirate

Disclaimer: We don't own the characters used

The first thing Batman became aware of as he slowly regained conscious was the overall incapability to move his somewhat sore limbs. He felt like he was a human fuse and he had just burnt out. Ignoring his pain he realized that there were voices, mumbling incoherent words somewhere in the distance.

As he really became aware of things everything came back to him and his situation was quiet clear, he had been captured and the voices speaking were not in the distance but really a few feet away.

"There, you're lucky you're more enhanced than normal people, that arm will mend within two months, if not sooner." A voice spoke in a stoic though chiding nature. "Until then I want you off any future missions until you are healed."

"But Deucie!" Someone whined. "Ya can't expect me to stay out of trouble!"

"That goes double for you, Harl." Cracking one eye open Batman observed his surroundings, he was in some sort of lab. The walls were a shocking hospital white hash the ceiling hummed from the bright incandescent lights, the bright pure colors of white was contrasted by the abundance of thick and thin black cords protruding from the walls snaking about before entering into a few computers and machines that he could see within his eyesight.

"Oh look," A soft feminine voice sated moments before long slender fingers took hold of his chin, forcing him to look towards the speaker. She was, he could say without a doubt, a beautiful woman, with long black hair framing her lovely face graced with nice and high cheek bones. Her lovely lips colored a deep shade of red lifted into a pleased grin before she removed her hand to hug a notebook to her white lab coat. His eyes went wide, "Talia? It can't be..."

"Our subject is awake, Anaya." The woman he supposed was Anaya, the first's twin walked into his line of vision grinning lightly, baring the same facial features, if not having more defended cheek bones than her sister. Brushing her hair back onto the shoulder of her black lab coat she gave a small chuckle, "Good thing, Melana. We might have had to start it with him still unconscious if we were to start on schedule." Anaya stated with false relief. Looking upwards his white covered eyes grew wide in shock upon spying The Twin Tails, the twin lasers that had been the main attraction in the science exhibition of the Gotham Museum of Science, but they weren't stolen when he had arrived, so how was it there now?

Turning upon hearing the playful teasing of the twin sisters Two-Face turned to the scene of Batman stretched out upon the lab table all of his limbs spread apart and held down by reinforced iron cuffs.

Waving off his right hand man and left hand woman he acknowledged him, "I see you've noticed my lasers. No, they aren't the same ones at the museum, they're actually duplicates created by the lovely Zin sisters here. Luck was on my side when my advisors Tomax and Xamot introduced me to their wives and I learned that they were quiet useful to me." He grinned giving both girls an encouraging touch to their shoulders.

"Not only just charming women, but amazingly intelligent, multitalented, and very dangerous." At his words the two blushed slightly before moving about the small lab checking on the various machines and computers. "Two-Face, we are ready."

The grin turned into a full blown smile as he moved to lean on the table right at Batman's head. "Well Batman, this is the end for you. No silly games, no peeling off your mask and finding out your 'secret identity', you see I never cared about things like that. No curtains one or two just plain curtains. The only reason why I'm going to toss this coin is to decide whether to heads, cut you right down the middle first or tails, from left to right." He all but laughed the duration of his small speech as he held up the coin for him to see.

The flip was quick barely raising up five inches into the air before he snatched it in his fist and slapped it flat down on the table by Batman's pointed ear. "Oh-ho! Heads it is! Girls give him a taste of laser two first." He smiled pocketing the coin.

"Well Batman in about twenty minutes those lasers are going to warm and the laser will slowly start to creep upwards cutting into your body straight up the middle. The lasers will cut and suture your wounds at the same moment letting you live long enough to truly experience the pain, and just when it's half way up the other laser will start and begin burning into from the side." He beamed as he explained the slow torment in store for the dark vigilante. "And then Gotham will be mine. Oh and do not hesitate to scream during the process, Batman."

"Do you expect for me to beg for my life?" Batman asked with a sneer.

Turning his back to the dark knight of the future Two-Face released a dark bark of laughter, "No Batman, I expect you to die."

Making his way down the hall Two-Face passed a few of the twins, his lower minions of the Two Timin' Gang most of them young and foolish hoping for easy money unaware of how disposable they really were to him, how easy it was for him to find a new pair of teenage or young fools looking for a quick buck.

He spied the Dee-Dee twins standing together rather bored before a door. "Can't you two at least pretend to be guarding her?" He asked coldly.

"But boss, it's no fun guarding her." "Yeah, what can a dried up old biddy like her do? Especially with her tied up." Ignoring the whining pair he walked into the dark empty room, once used as a utility closet until he ordered it cleaned out.

Turning on the sole light he looked down upon the aged Barbara Gordan bounded down to a chair with her hands held together behind her trapped in a pair of bulky handcuffs.

She looked upwards taking sight of her disfigured captor. "Jeffery."

"Don't call me by that name. You are my hostage, with you here I know I'll have all of Gotham's full cooperation."

"No, Jeffery, they won't give into your demands for me." She stated with great confidence.

"That's twice you called me 'Jeffery', Jeffery Dent is dead- - my name is Two-Face and don't make me tell you twice!"

"Years ago your father said the same thing, yet Harvey Dent lives. You are no different...Jeffery." She stated emphasizing on the name he so detested.

"Oh Really," He growled low in his voice taking out his gun aiming it directly at her head, "I'd like to test that theory."

"If you kill me what would you do about a hostage? Take your own advice and think twice about your actions." Frowning at having his own words turned against him he grumbled as his hand dove into his pocket removing the fate choosing coin. With a flick of his thumb the coin fluttered up into the still air only to land in the palm of his hand good side up.

"You get to live." He scoffed moments before an amused look passed over his face.

"It seems that little whelp Jeff wants to talk to you, I on the other hand despise you." Barbara was more than a little confused upon hearing his last statement but refused to show it for Two-Face to see.

Two-Face always said that Jeffery was dead, but if what he said was true then that means Jeffery was merely buried beneath the persona of Two-Face, there was still hope, real solid hope for Jeffery yet.

"The feeling's mutual. Let me talk to him." A moment had passed and Barbara could actually see the change wash over Two-Face the 2nd, his strong upright stance sagged almost as if his knees were too weak to uphold him.

His face, even his hideously scarred features had changed to some degree softening.

"Aunt Barbara?" He asked not in the tone of voice she had come to know as Two-Face, but in the gentle voice she knew well belonging to Jeffery Dent.

"Jeffery?" She asked leaning forwards as far as her bonds would allow her to look at only his good half, focusing on the image that was purely Jeffery. "Oh, my goodness, what happened? Are you alright? You need help."

"What's going on?" He asked looking down onto himself. "Why are you tied up?" He asked her in pure sincere curiosity moving to release her.

"Two-Face the 2nd." She heaved a deep sigh, "What's the last thing you remember?"

"I-I remember the accident at my Godfather's company were I worked. And small little hiccups here and there, like a bad dream." He admitted wondering where the key to the complex handcuffs were hidden.

Barb sighed deeply shaking her head from side to side, she really didn't want to be the one to tell him this, at least not like this. She had pictured it differently standing in the hospital with Grace and Harvey there, and Melaine, all of them telling him the awful truth.

"That accident happened nearly a half year ago, after that accident you were taken to the hospital. We figure that when you woke up you were a different person, a person all of Gotham thought was dead. You've become Two-Face the 2nd." Jeffery paused in his actions too stunned to really believe what she was telling him.

It was impossible, it couldn't be, he couldn't be who they say he was. "No."

"Try to think, do you remember anything strange at all?" She questioned.

"What do you mean?"

"Do you remember Batman? Doing things you would never dream of doing, Jeffery?" She asked pushing him to remember and accept the truth.

"No, I remember my family."

Barbara felt a sort of relief wash over her, he was still sweet, kind, and gentle Jeffery. The same little boy she had held, babysat, and cared for. "What about Melaine?"

"Annie..." He tried to picture the lovely blonde vixen in his mind but saw some thing else a coin a silver coin being tossed in the air, slowly flipping over and over and over, it had two heads. One normal, the other scored with something of a X. As it flipped he could hear a faint cold deadly voice, laughing, laughing at him.

The sound of Barbara's deep sigh pulled him away from his deep focus on the mesmerizing coin, "I'm sorry I have to tell you this; but you've become Two-Face just as your father did. And you have done some things you normally would never think of, you and your gang have killed people, you have committed countless crimes as Two-Face. And not just a moment ago you put a gun to my head."

"I'm sorry for what he's done to you." He said feeling ill with the things he had been told. The illness turned into an acute pain, he felt his consciousness beginning to fade, like he was falling asleep.

He knew what it was and what it meant, "My time's up." It was like watching ice melt as he reverted back to his evil self, the softness in his face hardening as he stood straight almost taller if at all possible. Two-Face had heard it all he was disgusted by his goodie-goodie weaker self, if it were possible he would have vomited on the spot.

"Jeffery, please fight." Barb said in a whisper with hopes that he heard her plea before leaving.

"You know you rely too much on Jeff," Two-Face sneered in shallow mockery grabbing hold of his gun once more. "I've got big plans in store for Gotham and Bats as well. In fact right now he's about to be split in half. And even you, dear Aunt Barb, play a certain key in my plans."

"I won't help you." She spat back in determination. "You'll have to kill me first." "Oh I won't kill you, the coin said that I can't and knowing my good side he won't forgive me. When he wants to be he can be a real headache, tossing around up here throwing a tantrum." He all but laughed tapping himself on his temple with his gun. "So what do you plan on doing? Kill Batman and rule the city? It doesn't matter what you do someone will stop you one day."

"Let them try, after all you had a hard time trying to get info on my location." He retorted carelessly waving the gun towards her. Barbara frowned with dislike of his cocky condescending attitude, "You are Two-Face, you had us running around in circles knowing you have two hideouts, once we found one you were already in the second." She stated the simple fact all of the police department were well aware of it.

"My dear Aunt Barb, like your father before you you've figured me out! I'm impressed." He chuckled grinning in a fashion his scarred skin wrinkled upwards making him look almost like a Chesire cat.

"I'm not trying to impress you of all people." Barbara sneered. "Second guessing, looking twice, each time we came close to getting you we were too late, that tells me you have some of my men on your pay. Seeing as you had to put a mole into my force just to stay two steps ahead doesn't impress me in the least."

"Tsk, tsk, Aunt Barb, being bitter does help." Barb sighed getting tired of listening to Two-Face gloat and boast. "You have both my police force and Batman to deal with before you can claim this city." "We'll see." He laughed leaving the room, leaving her alone in the darkness perhaps to waste away until he returned for her to serve his purposes.

Unable to see him any longer Barbara sat still and hoped and prayed that she was right. He could feel it, the usual slight ache in his head, that annoying pain that coursed through him when Jeffery Dent actually tried to put up some sort of fight, was actually stronger, far stronger than he had ever felt before.

Slamming the door behind him he ignored the panicked faces of the Dee-Dee twins who jumped at seeing his angered yet strained face. "Keep your eyes on her, you know I don't like second rate work."

"Yes Sir." They barked out together watching him as he left them to board the elevator.

He knew he shouldn't have let the little runt out to talk to Gordan, the boy really needed to just give up and die, he had been so close to just fading away not too long ago and now, now the punk was fighting him for control.

The elevator rose up the many stories of the building coming up onto the penthouse of the top floor, the bell dinged just seconds before the doors slid opened onto the private floor putting him out right into the large living room.

"Boss?" Buttons questioned looking up from his seat on the couch. "I thought you were going to watch Batman's-"

"Changed my mind." He growled clutching his head trying to relieve the throbbing pain somehow. "Make sure that I'm not disturbed for the rest of the night."

His henchmen, being the ones closest to him and nearly always in his presents, had seen this sort of behavior in their boss before, they knew to some degree what was happening but also knew that Two-Face's temper flared the most when he was this way. If anyone where to try to bother him they would more than likely get shot in the head.

"Alright, Deuice. If anyone wants to mess with ya they have to go through us first."

Barbara leaned her head backwards slightly listening carefully to the whining female voices from the other side of the door while concentrating on working her wrist out of the handcuffs. It was no doubt these women were the ones put in charge of tying her down in the uncomfortable chair, for if they were complaining about watching over an 'old crow' then surely they would underestimate her, forgetting that she was not only a cop but the commissioner of Gotham's police force. Not to mention her days long ago as Batgirl left her with certain expertise that did come in quiet handy.

She slipped her right hand from the cuff, easily slipping free from the carelessly tied ropes. Standing she rubbed her tender wrist scoffing lightly at the fools, they might as well have held her with yawn and tied her with a granny knot.

She had to move quickly, if what Two-Face said was true, than Batman was in desperate need of some help, her help. Moving to the door Barbara pressed her ear to the crack listening to the bored moans and pouting protest.

"I don't know why we have to watch the old hag," Deirdre groaned leaning against the wall to the right of the door with her arms crossed over her bust.

Delia rolled her eyes upwards, "Yeah, one moment we were hanging on Two-Face's arms, having fun and the next thing you know we're demoted!"

"Demoted to watching lil' old grannies while Batman is about to be cut up!"

Barbara felt young again, the same feeling she had when she was first donning the uniform of Batgirl, she resisted the urge to laugh merely letting a small near unnoticeable smirk grace her lips.

With a mighty kick the door flew open, rather than sliding open as other modern doors did, to slam forcefully into Delia knocking a hollow cough from her chest while Barbara flew from the room with a rolling duck coming to a stop turning to face the stunned pair.

With Delia still somewhat winded leaning against the wall for support the darkly dressed Deirdre glared venomously at the ready older woman. "Do you need a cane or something to help you out grandma?" She teased the spiked heels of her shoes clicking against the floor as she moved into place.

Barbara nearly rolled her eyes at the comment. "I don't need anything to put you two in your places."

"I just might feel bad about beating you up. Right Del?"

Before Barbara could react the twin dressed in the white frilled lingerie like outfit sprung from her crouched position landing on her hands and springing onto her feet, a pair of golden knuckle busters glint in the air as she swung with her right hand.

Barbara frowned slightly her mind shooting back to the days she was the female vigilante battling against the Joker's crazy in love girlfriend Harley Quinn. Her arms came up to block the initial blow from the lightly dressed sister and ducking almost instinctively from the stiletto kicked in her direction by the darker half. As she caught the kicking leg tossing the women into the wall before returning the assault she could see in their eyes where the comparison to the departed femme fatale ended, they lacked the demented crazed gleam in their eyes, they weren't fighting for anything, they were doing this for the thrills.

Delia waited for her twin to distance herself from the active woman she moments before thought was bound to a life of retirement in Florida before leaping up behind her catching her head in between her spinning knees, with a twist she pulled all of her weight downwards slamming Barbara into the hard cold floor.

Stunned by the attack and somewhat dizzy from the blow her head was dealt when it bounced off the floor. Slowly standing up she watched as the two girls slowly moved to stand next to one another both smirking knowingly towards one another. Seemingly out of nowhere the two removed a pair of handcuffs, exactly what sinister deed they planned to do with them was a mystery.

They were nothing like the villainesses she had faced back in those days long ago, because of this, she knew without a doubt she wasn't going to lose to them.

They gave out a cry before moving in to pull off their twin attack. Spying her gun resting on the hip of the darkly dressed twin Barbara grinned slightly before moving again into an attack simultaneously tripping one while cuffing the pair's hands together and bringing her elbow into the abdomen of the second. Spinning on her heel she grabbed her gun from the holster of the falling twin's hip coming to a quick halt with gun aimed down at the entangled sisters.

"Alright, where's Batman?"

Everything he did, every single thing he tried to do to stop the destiny fate and Two-Face had set before him. Each time he failed, each time he got close to escaping the Zin twins as Two-Face called them would laugh before stopping him. Even with Bruce telling him not to panic and to try one thing or another was of no help. He was left to lay on the cold table and watch the digital clock slowly tease him by counting down the minutes until

The first laser hummed into life causing Melana to laugh a bit with her excitement as Ayana grinned hugging her notebook to her chest with glee. "Hmm, given his height, the length of his legs when do you think the laser will hit him?"

Melana watched as the bright red beam of light slowly began to travel upwards between the space of Batman's spread legs and mentally calculated the given figures. "Give or take fifteen minutes."

Ten minutes Unlike before the time didn't slowly tick by giving him false hope that any moment he may wake up in his bed...five minutes no the constant hum of the laser and the smell of the burning table kept him aware of his impending death two minutes within moments, seconds it will start at his groin, and unimaginable pain would begin. Twenty seconds he was prepared for the worst when instead one of the sisters, Ayana he believed it was, was suddenly flying through the air crashing painfully into the first laser knocking out the beam and knocking it off course so that it pointed towards the base of the second. The laser beam that was just seconds ago out flickered on and off before returning to its full force burning into the mechanic base of the laser's twin.

Melana looked about the sudden chaos with surprise ready to tear into the one who dared to harm her sister and disturb their work when she found herself looking onto Barbara Gordan and the aimed and very loaded gun in her hands.

"Do you think that little gun is going to stop me? We are Zin-ugh!" The shove sent the twin head first into the near computer module bringing he proud rant of the woman to a instant stop as she fell into an unconscious heap much like her sister.

Barbara looked to the still slightly bound Batman, free of only one foot, struggling to free his arms. "Are you okay kid?" She asked moving to his side to free him of his bonds.

"Two-Face was wrong, luck's on my side." Batman remarked lightly as he messaged the pain from his wrist.

Moving to the unconscious sisters Barbara handcuffed the pair together (much like she had done to the Dee-Dee twins who were now in the closet she had escaped from), back pressed to back, their handcuffs cuffed onto another set which were tightly secured to the bolted down leg of the very table Batman was once strapped down upon all the while telling Batman what she knew from the information given onto her by Two-Face, Jeffery, and the Dee-Dee twins.

"I'm going after Two-Face," Batman stated once he and Bruce on the other side of the communicator had a firm grasp of what was going on. "I can't let him get away this time around. I said it before, this ends tonight."

"Kid-" Barbara began.

"Things are going to get a little messy, you should get your men here while you can."

"Kid, be careful. I don't think Bruce would forgive me if I left you and something happened."

"I'm Batman aren't I?" And right before her very eyes he vanished into the cloaking camouflage equipped into the new and improved Batsuit.

He had to save his strength, that Batman knew first off, he couldn't waste his energy on the likes of Two-Face's lowly minions in the form of the Two Timers of the Two Timin' Gang, regardless of how much of a push over they may be. No, if the information Barbara have pumped from Two-Face's ex head girls was true then he would have to go through the members of the gang that stood out from the rest, and from the likes of things it seemed he had four people to face first. The Doppler Brothers who he had yet to face, and of course Two-Face's personal left and right hand body guards, the only non-twin members Buttons McBoomBoom, and Harley Jest. And then and only then would the path to Two-Face the 2nd be clear.

It was like he were the silent shadows incarnate with how swift and silently he moved through the halls of the building's basement making his way to the elevator careful to bypass each of the few Two-Timers who lingered about the floor.

The problem with his plan of action, was that he knew very well that the location of Two-Face was in the penthouse on the very top floor. But the problem with simply knowing this was that there was only one elevator to that floor, and even more so getting the key to that elevator. For him getting that key would open up a door to a sort of hell he was sort of dreading, once that door opened he would surely have to face a wall of security, in what form was the only mystery.

The elevator dinged as he came to a stop and a pair of Two Timers got on. Moving quickly Batman pressed his back against the opposite side careful not to make his invisible presents known.

"So now that the Bat's dead what do you think Face will want to do first?" The first asked leaning lazily against the side of the elevator while his twin stood straight.

The second shrugged lightly expressing just how much he didn't care, "Who knows, you'll have to ask him."

"But he's up in his room."

"Damn, well then we'll have to ask those foreign ghost guys, Sigmund and Simon."
Batman felt like slamming his fist into the elevator wall, he wanted to avoid as many of Two-Face's minions as he could and now he would have to go directly to who he was very sure that the men the pair were talking about were the Doppler Brothers.

Following the pair out onto a floor a few stories below his final destination Batman cringed at seeing all of the members of the Two Timin' Gang, all carelessly moving about in some sort of celebration by drinking and shouting loudly semi-incoherent words to one another.

It wasn't as hard for Batman to find the ghostly twin brothers as he had originally thought, some distance away from the partying Two Timers standing near a door way were one of the pale siblings, his eyes hidden behind mirrored shades followed the his unmistakable twin making his way towards him. They seemed rather aloof from the others settling to watch their marry making while drinking something from unmarked bottles. They shared a brief glance before leaving out to door on which the first was seemingly guarding.

"Wayne, you there?" He asked moving swiftly to follow after the pale duo.

"Yes." The aged voice of the veteran vigilante spoke over the communicator. "There isn't much information on them. Just a few mentions of them from the German police force, they are suspected to be tied into various murders."

"So more or less they're mercenaries going to the highest bidder."

"Yes." Bruce answered. "A source says that they are well synchronized in combat. So be careful."

"I'm afraid 'careful' isn't apart of this job description." He spoke knowing that the dry joke was wasted on his mentor. He trailed quietly behind the Doppler Brothers as they moved farther and farther out of the range of wild twins.

It amazed Batman slightly that no one had suspected the building to be Two-Face's main hideout, there seemed to be no tenants in the luxurious apartments though the carelessly opened doors told him that all who resided there were just Two-Face and his company. Surely someone would have, should have, noticed the unusual amount of twins coming and going. But then again if he was indeed where he was sure he was then a man like the late Grissom who once practically owned the place would have likely paid or threatened the neighbors to keep their mouth shut.

Batman's stray thoughts were quickly brought into line when the two walked into a large apartment far away from the booming bass of the ongoing party, the light white theme of colors and overall lack of furniture gave clue that this was the place given onto them by Two-Face as their living arrangements.

Diving into the room as the door nearly closed on his heel, Batman rolled to a stop before the pair inadvertently making his presents known.

Simon and Sigmund jumped slightly their hands moving quickly to snatch their pearl handled switchblade knives flourishing them before them with unusual speed and skill.

Standing with his arms raised in defense Batman watched as the two brothers slowly began to move apart each step in sync with each others until they came to stand opposite of another on other sides of him.

"I am quiet sure you are suppose to be dead." Sigmund spoke in an unmistakable German accent.
The lips of Batman's dark mask lifted into a cocky sort of smirk, "I get that a lot. Maybe I'm a ghost then."

Simon's lips turned upwards in a grin, "If you aren't now, we'll make you one!" He lunged forwards his arm ready to swing the blade.

Batman moved back in an effort to dodge the attack early to only feel a sharp pain race across his back. Hissing he could only turn just enough for the oncoming blade to scratch past his cheek. Grabbing Simon's outstretched arm Batman turned and kicked out his leg catching Sigmund in his side, knocking him away from him as he jolted the captured arm over his shoulder nearly popping the bone from it's socket before he just as quickly lifted it over his head. Turning slightly Batman slammed his elbow into Simon's exposed side tossing him towards his brother.

"Terry, it's best that you keep the both of them in front of you." Bruce advised as he watched the scene play out before him.

He would have replied had he not been watching the bothers stand aside one another seemingly unfazed by his retaliation. He could see the calm in the twos' stance telling him that it really didn't matter to the pair just where they stood.

They gave their wrist a sharp flick making the well polished blades gleam in the artificial light, as if a silent gun had been fired the pair dashed forward in union only with Sigmund gained a little more distance he first attacking with a straight lunge while seconds later Simon came up from his right swiping with deadly precision. Swing after swing they attacked using both knives and body to attack simultaneously.

Batman could only dodge as best he could and shield his most vital spots from the ever stabbing and slashing knives getting an attack in few and far between. Each time he felt he could jump back a knee to his side brought him over into the path of a fly knife.

Their attacks were indeed well timed and in sync with one another but with their well practiced synchrony it was simple to see the pattern of their tactics. When Simon moved to stab Batman ducked only to leap into the air in a split kick catching the knife handling brothers in their faces.
It took only a moment for the ghostly twins to regain their stances from the staggering blow, they looked at their positions pleased to see that they were once again standing on opposite sides of Batman. Grinning the flourished their sharp blades behind them ready to attack together once more, the look of the cut and wobbling Batman told them that this time would be just like with the mayor.

Taking off again they grinned madly as the distance between them and Batman became smaller and smaller, their hands still behind them only ready to draw at the last possible second. Yes, they would surely be paid in double if their dual persona employer knew they had killed Batman. Batman's head looked back and forth between the two hoping against all hope that he was judging the pair well for he had only one shot at this, when it seemed they were upon him he leapt into the air, flipping backwards he watched as the brother's blades sliced through the air where he once was. The blades clashed together the bright light reflecting off the harsh white bulb above them moments before they shattered.

Tossing the useless blades down onto the floor the brothers looked over to the crouching Batman. "I really don't have time to be playing games with you two." Standing up straight and tall it was he who this time attacked his fist connecting strong and hard into Sigmund's face before spinning into a high kick catching the advancing Simon. Sigmund stumbled from the blow only to receive another hard kick into his gut followed by a hard right hook. Simon ran to his brother's aid with a blind swinging fist feeling only light and empty without the knife. Batman merely dodged the swing to slam his elbow into Simon's belly doubling him over, in his lowered position it was easy for him to kick the now bloody faced man sending him crashing into his sibling.

Snatching Sigmund up by his now bloodstained shirt Batman jerked him about like a useless doll. "Like I said I don't have the time to play with you two. Give me the keys to Two-Face."

Simon stood making Batman tense somewhat ready for another fight. "We really aren't being paid enough for this." Simon sneered wiping the blood from his chin.

"No," Observing his stained white shirt Sigmund reached within his pocket removing the cardkey to the elevator. "We are not." He stated tossing the key towards Batman without care.

To be continued