Avenging Justice 2:
Caught Between an Ultron and a Doomsday
Part II
Earth, New Jersey, Gotham City
Across town, in a swanky hotel ballroom, a predator was on the prowl. This wasn't the predator, like the woman in the low cut dress, toying with the young men in the room. Nor was this the predator schmoozing up a young heiress, looking to steal her fortune for his own. Before, in a former life, Selina had used her wiles to part fools from their money. Tonight, she was doing it for a good cause, and a good reason, plus not all her targets were fools.
The Wayne Foundation had set up a fundraiser for at risk populations, like runaways and the homeless, more importantly for Selina, homeless teens. Because of this, she was in a magnificent dress, cut specifically for her, and accentuating all the right things. It was obviously working as most of the men became blathering idiots around her, and the women couldn't hide their admiration.
To be fair, it was more than the dress, not that she wanted to know how much it had cost. Learning to read people, she had used this to get close, learn secrets and then come back later to rob the mark blind. At first it had been to survive, but then changed as her way to give back. Robbing the rich, to help the less fortunate, had become her creed. In the process she had made enemies with those in law and order.
Then came Batman, and it was just three years ago that she joined him to fend off an alien invasion. Since then, she'd found opportunities like this availed, and should she really be surprised that someone like him had connections? Her criminal activities, outside assisting him, had seemed to fall away. To be honest, she missed a little of the thrill, but couldn't discount the good she was getting done this way.
With ease she came at the nearest rich person, who was soon relieved of a few thousand dollars, and the promise to send more. Not to be outdone, an "old money" madam doubled that donation. Selina put on her best public face, while beneath she was hiding mixed emotions. This was a great boon for the Bast Youth Home, but she also felt the need to stretch her legs. There was something to be said about the freedom of leaping from rooftop to rooftop.
As she turned to work another wealthy citizen over, she caught the dark shape of Batman gliding through the air. She smiled, and found herself wishing to join him. Still, she had work here to do. What she didn't expect was a very posh, older man, to come up to her. He had the air of a British butler, refined, reserved and a consummate professional.
"Ms. Kyle," the man spoke, and his accent was distinctly British. "Mr. Wayne regrets not being able to give this to you personally. He admires the work you're doing with the less fortunate."
The man handed her an envelope, and she curiously opened it. Two things were inside, both nearly took her breath away. The first was a check, which outdid what any of the other party goers had given. The second, was a letter explaining each of the girls at the home had a free trip to Disney World.
The first was really great, yet she felt her heart sink. She had done so much this way, yet still felt something was missing. The trip would be great for the girls, and some of them deserved a little innocence returned back to them. It was just something was off, and she knew it was with her. Again, came the urge to disappear into the night, and do her work as Catwoman.
"Thank you, Mister?" she asked the man.
Again, the man, very poshly, and formally said, "Apologies, miss, I believe my manners deserted me. I am Alfred Pennyworth, and it has been my exquisite pleasure to meet you. Again, my apologies for Mr. Wayne, he had other pressing matters to attend to tonight."
"Well, Mr. Pennyworth, let him know that I'm very grateful for his generosity," she said.
Selina liked the man, she could see past the polished exterior, and there was a very noble man in there. Still, she needed to get away for a few moments. After several more little chats, she excused herself to the balcony. Unfortunately, she was followed by a string of very interested men. There was a curse to the power of this little dress, she mused.
Below her balcony a much darker tale was unfolding. Several men were dragging a woman behind them. Thrusting her against the wall, all but one pulled out pistols and aimed at her. Red hair covered her face, and she was breathing hard, like she had been struggling for her life. However, this woman had a reputation, and these men weren't about to be caught off guard.
"The legendary Black Widow," the lead man said, a patch with a skull and several tentacles decorating it on his sleeve. "Where are your friends now?"
"Vacation I believe, except for the old man, I keep trying to get him to date, but what can you do?" she shot back.
The speaker went to strike her, but thought better. She could be playing them, and getting that close to her, would only give her a play. Instead he glowered and took a breath. Her reputation was well founded, but he was a Hydra agent, he could beat her in a game of wits.
"Did you not think we'd find out about your snooping?" he asked. Taking a match out, he flipped it against the match book. "Nasty thing about these Gotham Hotels, always one match away from burning up. See, it's the corruption here, makes people take shortcuts."
"Well Gotham has never been the ideal vacation spot, it's a wonder that anyone ever comes," she shot back.
The man smiled, "Good try, get me monologuing, tell you the whole plan. They do train you well at the Red Room."
"Technically your goons kidnapped me on the way to a Wayne Foundation party," Natasha sighed. "You guys really know how to kill a mood. I mean, can't a girl just want to mingle at a party?"
The man scoffed, definitely not buying it, "You don't have off days, there is always another angle, another mission. You're not a person, you're an agent. There is also no way you aren't trying to dig up information on us. Well, we have new weapons that will soon end your friends, too bad you left home, how close you might have been."
"Thank you," she said very calmly. "Stark, did you get a chance to break into his phone?"
"Yeah, did it a quarter way into this guy's smug attempts to outwit you," came Iron Man's voice in her ear. "When will they ever learn?"
Before the Hydra goons knew what was happening, one fell to her Widow's Bite. The electric current forcing him to the ground. Another two fell as two round nodules attached to their faces. Black Widow took out their leader, turning him to where he faced the remaining goons. They wouldn't shoot for fear of hitting him. Luckily, she didn't need to worry about that.
The leader down, she rolled back and then leapt onto the last two. Twisting around the neck of one, she wrapped her legs around the other, bringing both down quickly. A quick kick took the fight out and she slammed the last one's head into the floor hard. Even with the carpet, there was a loud thud. She rose, and just for good measure, kicked the other one again, just to be sure.
"Stark, let S.H.I.E.L.D. know they have some terrorists to pick up," she said in her neutral tone.
"Already done, and I've alerted the other Avengers," his voice came back. "I'll meet you on the roof, looks like we're heading to Sokovia."