Somewhere Nowhere
- Gotham City, Docks-
The outskirts of Gotham, the docks are hosts to several parked black cars in one of the warehouses. Sophia Falcone, Black Mask, Tony Zucco and Oswald Cobblepot all stand in opposition to each other with a group of suited armed men off to the side. They were coated in flickering lights and the cold. Sionis was the first to speak, "You have some nerve calling us here, Sofia. This better be important otherwise I'm going to have to blow your head off your pretty neck," he rubs his leather gloves together.
Tony Zucco was still bound to his wheelchair, unable to move his legs, "You know how dangerous it is for us to meet up like this. Batman could drop in on us at any moment..."
Oswald stands with an umbrella in hand which he uses as a cane. His lips curve into a grin, "Sofia, Sofia, Sofia... I believe what my friends here are trying to say here is... HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND? It's called a phone call. YOU'VE HEARD OF IT?"
"Leave it her to make such a stupid call. Maybe a lady isn't cut out to be a boss in Gotham at all... you were always better at being a side piece...," Black Mask glares, "How you managed to survive this long by your lonesome is certainly a mystery..."
Sofia folds her arms and smirks, "You just took the words out of my mouth, Roman. This whole operation... is now mine."
"How cute... the woman thinks she's a comedian... that's precious...," Black Mask snidely chuckles, earning a glare from Sofia, "You? As if my boys will take orders from a woman like yourself! My boys demand a strong leader, someone who doesn't take slack from anyone... and you... the only thing you are good for is being sideshow eye candy... hell would freeze over before you start running this city...," Sionis flicks his wrist and signals his fifteen men to take aim at Sofia with their weapons.
Then suddenly, a white blur cuts through the room and slices the armed men in a trail that leaves behind a river of blood. All of Sionis' men were eventually cut down, losing arms and legs, some even had their throats slit. In less than five seconds, all of the armed men were lying on the ground lifeless. Black Mask, Zucco and Cobblepot all panic as they look around to spot the killer. Sofia stands calm and collected, a smile slivering on her face.
The three men look up to the railing above where the man in white stood. His blue eyes shining from the darkness of his hood, "The ninth circle of hell is believed to be frozen over," Prometheus calls down to the three while Sofia held a grin. Prometheus warps down below onto the ground next to Sofia, "Unless you wish to see for yourself; Sofia will be taking over all operations, effective immediately," the man in white lowers his head, "Any attempt on her life shall be the end of yours...,"
"Just what this city needs... another goddamn freak running around like they own the place...," Black Mask growls.
"I'm exactly what this city needs. I'm what this world needs... I'll be watching you all...," Prometheus Boom Tubes out of the room and leaves the four on their own with the trail of corpses. Falcone takes glee in the frustration coming from Black Mask.
"What's a matter, Roman? I thought you didn't take any slack from anyone?," Sofia antagonises Black Mask to further his anger.
Gotham City
4 Weeks Later...
- Beneath Wayne Tower, Bat-Bunker -
"Happy 4th of July to all the citizens of Gotham, things have been rough lately but today is one of reflection. While Metropolis is honouring today by having their boy in red and blue open their newest history museum, it makes you wonder where our own protector has gone? It has been officially 32 days since the last reported sighting of The Batman, it seems like he's gone and vanished on us again. Be safe out there and be sure to check out the firework display tonight... Jack Ryder singing off"
Lucius turns the radio off and rubs his eyes, "...Where are you Bruce?" he wears a light pink shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a black tie. He hears footsteps coming closer to him, not choosing to look back he continues looking at the screen in front of him.
"It's been over a month, Lucius. He could be anywhere in the world...," Lee rubs the man's shoulder, "Being down here all this time isn't going to help. Go home, Lucius. Your wife and son are worried sick about you..., you haven't been home in weeks, you haven't eaten for days... and I don't even wanna guess how many days it's been since you last showered" Lee advises Mr Fox.
"Bruce wouldn't give up if he was the one trying to find me, I can't give up on him. I have to find him...,"
"And take a shower... but I'll let that slide for now...," Lee pinches her nose, "You think that what happened to him is your fault? You didn't make Bruce go to Nanda Parbat... he chose to. He chose to save you. That was his decision and his alone...," Lee sits down beside Lucius, "... Have you... told Alfred yet?"
"No.," Lucius sluggishly turns, "I tried calling him but he hasn't been answering any of my calls. He's not responding to any of my messages. I looked through the recent footage of Wayne Manner and that has proven to be pointless... it's on the fritz... has been for weeks."
"Alfred doesn't even know that his surrogate son could be...?"
"He's not. Bruce is tougher than you think...," Lucius stands up.
"I want to believe that he's okay... but I'm the one who has saved his life multiple times. It doesn't matter how hard Bruce tries, he's still just a man. He can die just as easily as the rest of us... he has lied in front me bleeding out too many times to make feel optimistic in this situation," Lee follows Lucius as they walk to the main computer, "Once you see that... he'll just be a regular man to you."
"He has to be okay... he has to be...," Lucius stood looking dejected, barely believing himself.
"You sound just like Selina... she's holding out hope... well in her own special way...," Lee looks to the screen in front of her, "Where are the girls anyway? Don't tell me they're out again..."
"I think they went out to deal with a robbery... not sure. I was busy with um-you know,... I'm sure they got it handled..."
Across Gotham
- Gotham Museum of Art -
Harley is thrown through a glass case and shatters it. She rolls on the floor among the shards of glass as she groans in pain, "We so do not have this handled!." A malnourished man who looks to have been mummified that wears golden bracelets on his upper arms, wrists and ankles. He was shirtless, wearing a wrapped skirt and sandals. He holds dual golden sceptres with curved ends. King Tut sees Catwoman leaping at him and points the tip of his cane at her. He fires a golden blast and knocks Selina on the floor.
"Do. You. Not. Know. Who. I. Am? I am the pharaoh Tutankhaten!," juxtaposed with his frightening appearance, his voice was unbearably whiny, like nails on a chalkboard, "You. Will. Kneel. Before. Me!" he fires another golden blast from his sceptre.
"I think he has a few screws loose if ya ask me!" Harley calls out to Catwoman.
"Where the hell is Talia?!" Catwoman finds cover behind one of the displays as she reaches into her backpack, "He's destroying millions of dollars in art!"
"When did ya start carin' 'bout art?" Harley crawls back behind her own display case across from Catwoman.
"There's a lot of cool stuff that I wanted to steal!," Selina pulls out a triple corded bola, "I really need to get myself somewhere better to store my things," she slides out of cover and hurls the bolas at King Tut's legs and binds him. Tut trips over and growls.
"Scoundrels! Tis is the way you treat your king? This is appalling!"
Harley and Catwoman nod to each other. They jump over their respective display cases, "Have ya thought of gettin' a new suit? That skin-tight outfit can't be too cosy in the rain! it must cling to some very unconformable places,"
"Oh, you have no idea. Some nights I have to peel this thing off of me...," Catwoman squats on the display case as she reaches back to her backpack whilst Harley simply sits on hers as she playfully swings her legs, "It's a very odd sensation... but... I've grown to like it. Plus it being skin-tight really helps with movement"
"Really? I was thinkin' of changin' my getup a tad. Got any tips?" the blonde asks.
"You talking about ditching the clown motif?"
"Nah. I wanna keep that. C'mon... my name makes Harlequin. How would you not want to branch out into that?," Harley crosses her legs and holds the back of her hand under her chin, "You know how it is these days... it's all 'bout brand recognition"
"Yes, your name does make *Harlequin*,... but leaning into that makes it like a whole lot easier to figure out who you are," Catwoman takes out another chain of bolas and throws it and King Tut and ensnares his arms, "Seriously, you need to be more careful."
"Didn't ya call yourself "cat*? for years...? Ya aren't exactly one to talk," the two women jump off the displays and walk towards the criminal. Harley squeals as she kneels down and picks up a red and black sledgehammer, "There ya are. Mommy thought she'd lost ya."
"Release me you Cretans! You dare lay a finger on King Tutankhaten! Release me this instant or suffer the wrath of the gods!," King Tut squirms on the ground as he tries to break out of the binds, "This is an outrage! Let me go now!... please?" King Tut keeps fighting against the binds, "Pretty please... with a cherry on top?"
"Wow... this guy is pathetic...," Harley cringes at the man, "I almost feel bad for him... kinda"
"I don't. He still just pathetic... and kind of hard to look at," Catwoman bites her lip, "Very, very... sad... man, I owe Kite Man an apology for calling him pathetic... this? This is a whole new level...," she kneels over King Tut and rips off his mask. Harley and her whistle when they see the face of a male in his late teen or early twenties. He has shoulder-length raven hair and a pair of thick glasses, "Wow... I was not expecting that."
"Honestly, he looks like a guy that I would have had pity sex with in college," Harley holds her sledgehammer behind her back as she inches closer to the unmasked villain. She lifts her eyebrows when she spots Catwoman's unconformable look, "What? I needed some like everyone else... I just wasn't exactly the popular girl."
"Enough of your babbling you foul wenches! I demand that you free me! My mom wanted me home before midnight!"
"Alright... that's too pitiful... even for me," the blonde gulps as she blushes.
"Quiet, Harl," Catwoman glares as she looks back to the teenager, "Obviously you're just a dumb kid. Why the hell would you think robbing an art exabit would be a good idea?"
"Rob? What, I wasn't going to take anything! I was working on a project!," King Tut shrieks, "I left it to last-minute thus I need to get in here and photograph the pieces!"
"Okay... he's winding it back to my bearable level of pity, a little more and he might win me over" Harley chimes in.
"Harl!," Catwoman scorns the blonde, "Let's get out of here," she lifts her chin as she hears the faint sounds of sirens in the distance, "C'mon." Catwoman stands and walks away from King Tut. Harley looks to Catwoman, quickly glancing over to the male again and forms a shaka sign which she holds against her ear as she moves her lips to mimic saying *call me*. She turns back and skips after Catwoman as the sirens become louder which every passing movement.
"Move it!" Selina reminds the blonde.
"Yeah, yeah... I movin' it."
4 Week Earlier...
Tibet
- Nanda Parbat -
Bruce Wayne, Jason Blüd and Talia al Ghül stand at the bottom of the monoliths of steps that lead up to the sweeping dojos. The steps were placed between a pair of icy mountains. The whole area was concealed by the dark blue, between sunset and full darkness. The clouds from above shroud the stars and moon. Bruce's eyes hone in on the lanterns far above them, dimly lighting the way towards the grounds up through the stone steps.
Bruce wore his white collar shirt and black jacket, using his cane as support. Talia wears her black jumpsuit zipped up to her sternum. Her sleeves were rolled up to her upper arms. She has her belt angled over her waist and fingerless black gloves. Her hair was loose, resting down her back. Jason's in a black turtle neck shirt and dark jeans. He carries a messenger bag over his right shoulder, with a silver watch on his wrist. He holds the strap of his bag.
Talia rounds her gaze to Bruce, "Whisper should be up there by now along with that friend of yours. Try not to get yourself killed, beloved"
"*Don't die*, expert advice. Let's get this over with before I wise up and turn around," Jason Blüd begrudgingly climbs the steps along with both Bruce and Talia to begin their long journey to the top, "Just what the hell are you going to do about your current state? You need that suit of yours to have a chance of winning"
Talia smirks, rocking her hips with each step that she took, "Whisper never was too bright. She made a foolish error of challenging Batman, not Bruce Wayne. Since she has no idea of the man behind the mask, her opponent shall be Batman. Whisper is now forced by League Law to fight Bruce suited up"
"Don't tell me that you judged this whole situation on a single technicality? How devious of you, yet again I should not expect much else from a daughter of the demon. It's hard to believe that Ra's was once disappointed with having daughters," the auburn-haired man cranks his neck up to further look over the top of the mountain, "He was never exactly the most... *modern* individual."
"My father was flawed, but I hear that you don't have the cleanest record either," Talia replies back with disdain, silencing Jason. The al Ghül sister turns back to Bruce who walks between her and Blüd, "As I said, you are permitted to suit up, but I'm afraid you are banned from using your gadgets, I will need to take away your utility belt, along with any other gadgets in the suit."
"Understood," Bruce says in a driven tone. Only focuses on getting Lucius back.
"I'm serious. If you are caught to even have an earpiece, even if you do not use it. Whisper will be declared the winner." Talia double-takes her glance over Bruce, "Speaking of which, where is your suit? I doubt that you are one those guys who wear their costume under their clothes..."
"I couldn't exactly take it with me abroad. Couldn't risk someone coming across it," Bruce reaches into his pocket and pulls an earpiece, "So I brought it in by other means." Talia and Jason look up along with Bruce to a small black aircraft circles around in the sky, he presses the earpiece into his ear and taps it, "Lock on my position, drop cargo." Halfway up the steps was a large area between the steps to which the Batwing drops a large capsule.
Around seven minutes later, the trio reaches the capsule. Bruce scans his palm against the outer case; opening it and revealing the Batsuit. A grey armoured suit, with a black collar around the neck that connects to the cape of the same colour. Black armoured gloves and boots. With a golden utility belt around the waisted of the suit. The Batsuit was positioned to be hanging its head low, looking down. Bruce reaches out to the suit, "Would you kindly turn around?"
"Don't even need to ask," Blüd turns his back to Bruce.
"Please, Bruce... I've seen everything of yours before... plenty of times. I nice refresher is long over due" Talia slyly folds her arms above her chest and grins, keeping her eyes on Bruce and watches him like a hawk. Bruce ignores the woman's flirtatious manner and regains his focus. The billionaire quickly changes into the vigilante, pulling over his gloves and boots and lastly his cowl. His blue eyes change through the lenses of the cowl to glow bright white.
"Happy?" Batman turns to confront the demon's daughter who wore the biggest smile on her face.
"... If it wasn't for the imminent danger, I would be jumping on you right now...," she holds out her hand to the vigilante, "Whisper is going to want some proof, hand that belt of yours over," Batman hands the belt over to her which she takes and puts it on angled over her chest. The three then continue their journey upward, for another ten minutes until they reach the top. Talia, Jason and the Bat look over to the redhead standing not too far away from them.
Whisper has her red hair parted over, she dresses in a black jumpsuit, similar to the demon's daughter, though with it zipped up to her collar bone. Her sleeves were rolled up to her forearm with knee-high boots and gloved hands. A katana holstered over her shoulder. She stands with her hands held to her hips as her eyes track the trio's movement. A smile slowly creeps onto her face as her eyes land upon Jason Blüd. A'Daire holds her hands out and applauds the three, "Well what do you know? You actually followed through with your end"
"You sound surprised," Batman comments walks towards the redhead.
"There's an old saying: A man can be judged by the company that he keeps, and to be honest, you aren't rolling with a crowd of saints," Whisper reaches behind her back and grabs her blade, "Plus you spent all those years screwing the woman who screwed me"
"In my defence, I had no idea of what went down between you two," Batman steps closer to A'Daire, "I'm here, just like you wanted... you better live up to your own end"
"You have his number, right? Call him, he's on the first flight back to Gotham" Whisper lifts her eyebrows and points over to the masked man, "I could sense that you cared greatly for the man, so I knew you would come. He was long gone before you even go here"
"Oh?" Batman asks confused, "That... That was remarkably easy...," he looks behind him to Talia, "The last pouch has a tracker, use it to verify Lucius' location. I'm not fighting her until I'm sure that he's safe," the heiress reaches over her should and opens up the requested compartment of the belt. She pulls out a hand-sized screen which proved Whisper's words as true, showing Lucius moving towards Gotham. Talia clenches the screen.
"Lucius is heading towards America, just like she says" Talia informs the vigilante.
"Fine," Batman turns back to Whisper, "Let's get this over with"
A'Daire grins, "The last time we spoke, I promised that I would slit your throat in front of the woman that you love. If there's one thing you should know about me before you die... it's that I always keep my promises," she growls. Batman and A'Daire glare at each other, "Then once you are gone... I will kill my quarry..."
"Over my dead body," Batman clenches his hands into fists.
"That is the plan," Whisper smirks.
Present Day
Across Gotham
- Wayne Tower, Bruce's Office -
Lucius stands behind the office desk and holds the framed photo of Bruce and his parents from nearly two decades ago. Lee walks into the room as she opens the dual doors. She spots Lucius and carefully makes her way towards him, "When I told you to come out from the bunker, I meant for you to go home. Not just stand around here and punishing yourself even more." She walks around the desk and gently runs her hand up the frame of the photo, "Lucius... be with your family... you need to be with them right now," she takes the frame from Lucius and sets it down.
"When Bruce first returned from his travels, he came to me. He trusted me with telling me the truth. He put his faith in me... and I let him down. Both him and his parents... he was relying on me and I failed him...," Lucius drops his head, "Bruce would've found me by now if I was the one missing. He would never stop looking until he did... it should have been me...," Lucius' voice shakes with guilt, "It should have been me..."
"No." Lee squints her eyes, "Bruce would never want you to think like that. He never would. He would want you to pull yourself together and take a look at yourself. It doesn't matter where he is, either... gone or still somehow out there, he would never blame you... so stop blaming yourself," she chastises Lucius, "I checked on the girls, turns out the alarm was tripped by just some kid who was in a rush to get his school project done. Selina and Harleen are okay."
"Thanks. That's some good news."
"I still find it hard to believe that Bruce was-is Batman... and Selina is Catwoman. Jim shot her last year, the whole is just strange to me... and then there's Harleen... she's the one that that is boggling me the most," Lee comments.
"How come?"
"Well, there's something about her, something that doesn't sit right with me. It's hard to explain but as bad as it might sound, I don't trust her...-"
"Don't trust me to do what?," Harleen walks in her room, dressed in a collar unbuttoned red shirt and a short black business skirt, leggings and heels. Her sleeves were rolled up and her hair was tied in a single ponytail. She smiles as she greets Lee and Lucius. Her arms hug her chest and holds her laptop, "Oh shoot... did I just walk in you two havin' a private chat? Well, in my defence the doors were open... plus, this is sorta my office until Bruce returns..."
"What?" Lee asks.
"Bruce made her his PA while he was away so she could help catch up the work he was behind on," Lucius answers as he looks to the blonde, "Sorry, Harl, we're just on our way out," he and Lee head out of the room and close the doors behind them. Harleen pushes her glasses back up and glares back. She walks around the desk and takes her seat. She sets her laptop down and opens it. She enters the password and looks at the screen.
"C'mon, Bats... where are you? Mr J ain't going to be too pleased if you are really dead...,"
Outside the office, Lucius and Lee step into the elevator of the tower, "Harleen sounded like she didn't know who Bruce was...? Didn't you guys bring her into the Bunker for treatment after she was stabbed? How did she not remember that?" Lee bombards Lucius.
Lucius selects the ground floor and the two begin their descent through the tower, "I was wondering that too for a while but Talia told me that the Lazarus' effects can drastically alter depending on how close you are on the verge of death. She was bleeding out and was in shock, most likely it was all a fever dream to her."
"Are you sure? She could just be pretending that she doesn't remember?" Lee asks.
"I don't see why she would lie about that. Harleen has been nothing but helpful to us. Sure she presses some buttons but she has been there when we needed her... maybe she does know and is lying about it because she doesn't want her relationship with Bruce and the others to change?"
"Have you noticed the way that she looks at Bruce?" Lee questions Lucius.
"Uhh… nothing out of the ordinary, why?"
"Of course you wouldn't; you're a guy. You don't pick up on things like I do. She definitely can't keep her eyes off of Bruce when she's with him...,"
"... She has said some... things that would indicate that she has a thing for him..., so? I don't see any harm in that"
"A *thing* is putting it lightly, it's like she's obsessed over him. Selina's even noticed... but she's civil enough to not say anything to her," Lee looks up to the display that shows her the current level that they are on, "Someone needs to confront Harleen on this, it's not healthy... I don't know her well enough to do it myself, Selina doing it will only make things awkward, that Talia girl likely isn't going to want to hear her out, and you're... a guy, no offence"
"None taken. I want to stay as far away from this as possible," Lucius and Lee see the doors open on the ground floor. The pair walk out into the open area, "Hey, Lucius, you good to drive home? You look tired."
"I got it handled."
"Just eat something and for god sake...get some sleep, I'm telling you as both a friend...a doctor. At least eight hours and no junk food, got it?" Lee counsels Mr Fox, "Seriously, I'll be calling Tanya later to check on you. And if you haven't done what I told you, we'll be having a more serious talk, okay?"
"How can I sleep when Bruce could still be out there? It just feels wrong..."
"Bruce wouldn't want you to work yourself to death, I don't either." Leslie smiles.
"...I'll give a try...but I still don't like it," Lucius heads out of the entrance of the building.
4 Week Earlier...
Tibet
- Nanda Parbat -
"Here you are," Talia offers her own blade to The Dark Knight, "I'm guessing that you did not have the foresight to bring your own. This blade was once used by my own father centuries ago, he ordered it to be passed down to me on my eighteenth birthday," she stands on her toes to come closer to matching the man's height, "I only hope that you are willing to do what is needed to end this madness," her eyes reflect the vigilante's own gaze.
"The blood of Ra's victims are on that sword, I will not take it," he refutes the woman's offer, "I will not use a weapon that Ra's used to slaughter people," he sees the woman bring the blade back over her back. She subtly nods, showing her understanding of his choice.
"You can't go using your fists, you will be outmatched, even if you had your gadgets," Talia concerns over the man, "In order to claim victory in this, you must be willing to end it... to be willing to end her, just like she is ready to end your life"
"I got it handled, I promise" Batman smiles to the demon's daughter, "I'll stop her, but in my way."
"I really want to start yelling at you, but I fear this is the last time we may converse, just do what you believe is just. I believe in you, beloved..." she reaches behind his neck and pulls Batman towards her as their lips connect. Talia moves her palms against the man's chest and Batman brings his arms around both her arm and lower back and he holds onto her tightly. Moments pass before they finally part from each other, Batman looks dazed and locked onto the woman's eyes.
"That-that...was..."
"I've always loved you, beloved. That has never changed..." Talia purrs with a grin, "Whisper asked you to bring the woman that you love... and chose me. Now I know that you feel the same as I, now win" she encourages him as she presses her palm against the man's cowl and draws him in for another kiss. Their lips caress each other. They part once more as they both turn to Whisper who stands several metres away from them, "I believe in you"
"Any pointers?" Batman asks the woman.
"Aim for her legs. She uses her lesser height to her advantage. She's agile and uses her legs to knock her opponent down... also, don't let her bite you. It doesn't matter how strong that suit is, her fangs can cut through it with ease."
Batman moves from the heiress and towards Whisper, he stops when he comes close to Jason Blüd. The auburn-haired man comes in close, "Remember the plan. It is the only way to ensure your victory and my continued existence" Jason whispers to the vigilante.
"I know what I need to do, just not looking forward to it. Are you sure that it's going to work?" Batman asks in the same whisper tone as Blüd.
"Of course I am. You can trust me, remember, I have a stake in this, you live through this... so do I, Godspeed," Jason wishes well upon The Dark Knight. Batman continues on his path towards Whisper. Talia makes her way over to the auburn-haired man.
"What did you say to him?" she inquires as she folds her arms.
"Hopefully, not my last words to him" he replies as he straightens his glasses, "Be honest with me here, you're the fighter. How do you expect this battle to go?"
"It doesn't matter what I believe, Bruce has a history of proving me wrong," she saunters her way after Batman with Jason following behind.
Present Day
- Sirens Club -
Talia al Ghul, dressed in a black sheath dress sets an empty glass on the bar. Barbara Kean stands behind the counter and looks over the demon's daughter, "So...you and Bruce were together? Wow... Bruce is the luckiest guy to ever walk this planet. So I wanna know, just between us what's the attraction? There's another woman that I know that was close with him, and for the life of me...I cannot figure out why," Barbara refills the glass and then leans over, she rests her chest over her arms, "The only thing that I can think of is him having a-"
"Please don't be talking about what I think you are," Selina emerges from the crowded floor and takes a set beside Talia, "Can you give us a minute, Barb?" she asks the redhead who reluctantly agrees. Barbara goes to serve another customer. Selina looks in both directions to check if anyone was in hearing range of them. She took into account the blaring music playing along with the noise of the crowd. She deduced it as the perfect cover, "We need to talk."
"I rather not." Talia snaps back as she fiddles her fingers with the ice cubes in her glass.
"But we both know that you need this, trust me, I went through the same thing," Selina leans over, "We looked everywhere, Tal. If he was out there we would have found him. France, Beijing and the Himalayas... that's where Lucius last tracked him."
"I'm aware. I was with you."
"I know what you are feeling. I think he's still alive too, I can still feel him out there," Selina identifies with the other woman, losing their usual disdain for each other, "He'll be back. He always his. But in the meantime...he would want you to help keep this city safe, we both know that you are the only one in this city that can do as much as good as he can."
"He's dead, Selina. I know him, he would have made his way to this city by now, no matter what stood in his way," Talia looks to her reflection in the cocktail, "You know Bruce and I know Batman and he hasn't been Bruce for years, not since that night."
Selina holds her arm over the counter and tilts her head to the other woman, "I was there, that night I mean. The night where he lost his parents, I saw it happen. I saw the mugger approach them, I saw him shoot them without mercy and I saw the terror in Bruce's eyes. Something like that is hard to forget, even for this forsaken city," she reflects on that night, flashing back to it, "It all started with that shooter and then... Gotham happened, it changed him, shaped him into the person that he is today."
"What's your point?"
"My point is that everyone in this city suffers a tragedy, it's unavoidable. Unlike the others in this city, he didn't turn his anger at the world, he didn't want to hurt others. My point is that Bruce chose to become a protector, a guardian so that no other kid has to see their parents gunned down," the raven-haired woman rolls her shoulders, "All I'm saying is that is not the fury of a monster but the innocence of a child who's lost... the innocence of a boy who saw his parents gunned down right in front of him..."
"You don't understand my troubles...," the complexioned woman makes a disingenuous smile, "My father tasked me with looking over Bruce, he destined us to be together. I hated my father for this, though I never dare question him. After my father died, I was left with just one means of honouring him. I looked over Bruce... and eventually, I grew to love him... he was my soulmate," she confessed, "We were lovers. I only stayed in this city for him... but the thought of him being...gone means that I couldn't even save the man that I love."
"Tal, I didn't even think abou-"
"Of course you didn't. I lost my father, my sister and my mother long gone. The league is disbanded and only thing I had left was ripped away," Talia's eyes begin to water, "My family is gone, my legacy has been erased and the one happy thing I had is now gone," she looks to Selina, "You have suffered losses too, I am aware but you are still surrounded by those who love you. I don't have that... I don't have anything, and Bruce...he loves you, he always will... and you aren't even willing to accept him for who really is," the demon's daughter stands and sets a pile of dollar bills next to her drink, "My father, the league and now the man who I gave my heart to... I am never good enough... I don't know why I ever expected things to change by coming to Gotham."
"Tal, wait!" Selina calls out to the demon's daughter who walks off and vanishes among the crowd.
Barbara Kean walks back to confront Selina as she picks up the money left behind, "I'm guessing that didn't go as planned."
"I only wanted to talk to her, I didn't expect it to get like that," Selina admits.
"You should know better than anyone, not everyone is good at talking. Some things are just better left unsaid," Barbara picks up the drink left behind and sips from it, "I can tell that she must have grown up in a strict home, I know that look anywhere. I had a hard time connecting with others for a long time after I moved out."
"I. Get. The. Hint. I shouldn't have pushed her."
"C'mon, Selina. You're a grown woman... I shouldn't have to be the one to tell you how to act," Barbara looks up to the clock above the bar, "Hate to be a bother, but could you do me a favour? Can you pick up Barbara Lee from her club?"
"I may not know a lot about school but I know that today it's off."
"Barbara insisted on going with her friends to the Library for their club today, one of the other kid's mom brought her there. She can't take her home and I am swamped here... I'm still dealing with that dumbass contractor, can you take her back to the house?" the redhead asks.
"Gotham City library? Ok... I can do that...," Selina stands and folds her arms, "I can do that..."
4 Week Earlier...
Tibet
- Nanda Parbat -
Batman comes in less than a metre from Whisper as they both square up. They both remain silent, watching each other, looking at every detail, every movement and slight change in posture. A'Daire grins, showing her fangs to the man as she reaches behind her back and grabs her sword, "You are unarmed. How disappointing..."
Batman taps his cowl and activates his modulator, "When you're as good as me, there is no such thing are being unarmed."
"Confident? I like that... just means there's more of your spirit to destroy... you will suffer for killing the great Ra's al Ghül!" she tightens her grip around the hilt of her blade, "Let's end this..." she swings her blade towards Batman. The Dark Knight raises his gauntlets and deflects the sword, creating sparks between them, and scratching over the man's gloves. Batman turns on his feet, using his cape to knock Whisper off balance.
She rolls onto the ground and traps the man's waist between her thighs, she throws him over her. She jumps to her feet and sees Batman trying to stand up. She grabs at her blade and holds it over his head. Batman scoops up a handful of dirt and turns, throwing it at the woman's face and in her eyes. She's thrown into a coughing fit and covers her eyes as she backs off from the Knight. The vigilante jumps to his feet and grabs onto the woman and throws her onto the ground.
In the moment, Whisper wrapped her thighs around the man's back and her arms around his neck as she takes him down with her. They both fall on the ground, though Whisper used her lower body strength to put Bruce on the bottom and her on the top. She now straddles the man's stomach, "That was unhonourable," she hisses as she holds her arm over the man's neck, "Fine. That's how you wanna play it? Okay, let's play dirty... I never did get that taste...," the redhead bares her fangs and launches her head towards the man's neck.
Batman's right gauntlet intervened between his neck and the woman's fangs, causing Whisper to bite into the armour, "Dressing like a bat is one thing, but that kind of foreplay is strange... even by my standards," he grabs onto the woman's shoulders and rolls them over to put him above her. He goes to reach for the handcuffs in his utility belt only to remember that he wasn't wearing it. He then remembers that the belt was in possession of Talia.
While the man was in the middle of the motion, Whisper reaches out to the sword on the ground next to her. She grabs her blade and slices it across the vigilante's chest which cuts through the bat symbol. She curves her legs and kicks the man off of her. She follows after the man, jumping on his shoulders from behind and kicks her legs around his neck. The combined weight of both him and Whisper normally would have been enough to throw him down on the ground but thanks to the endoskeleton of the Batsuit, he now could support both of their weight.
Seeing that the man was still standing puzzles the redhead. She was sure that Batman should've been dropped to the ground like before, but somehow he was able to support her on his shoulders, "What's this? Why did you not fall, Alwatwat?"
"You want me to fall? Be careful what wish for!," Batman drops backwards and takes Whisper with him, landing over her on the hard surface. The sudden drop combined with the weight of the Batsuit helps to knock the wind right out of Whisper as she gasps, feeling several of her ribs break. Batman rolls off of her and rises to a kneeling position. Seeing the woman's current state left him to lower his guard, she was down for the count... a foolish misjudgement.
Like a blur, A'Daire springs at Batman and tackles him to the ground, her fangs pierce through the Batsuit and into his neck. She climbs on top of him and grabs the back of the man's cowl and tilts his head. Bruce screams as he feels the woman's fangs cut through the veins in his neck and the toxin she injects into his system. At the very moment that Whisper bit Bruce, Jason Blüd looks down to his watch, focusing on the seconds hand. Whisper throws her head up, her lips coated in the man's blood with the man under her silencing, "... Don't be ashamed... no mortal can survive my toxin... you will meet your maker in mere moments..."
Jason Blüd keeps his eyes looking to his watch, not showing concern for the sight in front of him. Talia weakens at the sight of her hurt beloved, "... My beloved!." Talia goes to charge at Whisper but is stopped when Blüd holds his arm own to block her path.
Whisper straddles the chest of the man below her. She creeks her neck over to look at Talia, "The love of your life is about to die, now you will understand my pain. Wallow in it for the rest of your days...," she then looks to Jason as she climbs off of Batman and stands, "Now... time to finish the job. You're next..."
Present Day
Across Gotham
- Wayne Tower, Bruce's Office
Harleen locks the doors of the office and makes her way towards the bookshelf of the room. Her eyes land upon a chess board residing on one shelf. Her lips curve as she reaches over and grabs the black Knight and the white Knight piece and switches their position on the board. She hears a latch unlock and the bookshelf opens and reveals a hidden path. The blonde saunters through the gap and into the elevator. She looks to the retinal scanner and reaches into her purse.
She takes out a small box and opens it. She takes out an eyeball and holds it to the scanner. The tech observes the eye with a green beam. Moments after the lock flashes green and the elevator begins to descend. Harleen arrives at the Bunker and leaves the confines of the transport. She gently squeezes the eyeball before throwing it back into the box and to her purse. She walks to the main hub area with the Bat-Computer and rests her palms on the console.
She pulls out an earpiece and puts it on, she clicks on it and speaks, "Good news, puddin', I got myself in, it's good thing you still had the eye left from that Alfred clone. I have the whole place to myself." She reaches back into the purse and takes out a USB, "Yeah... yeah... yeah, Uh-huh, got it. Understood, Mr J," she walks to other nearest computer and inserts the drive, "Installin' now," she informs the person at the other end of the call. Her eyes wander over to the rack of the Lazarus test tubes.
The blonde makes her way to the display and reaches for one of the tubes, "Don't worry, puddin', I'm bringin' you a souvenir," she takes one of the tubes and holds it in her hand. She then paces around as awaits for her next move. She walks back to the computer when she hears the notification. She pulls out the USB with her spare hand, "Yeah... I ejected it properly, promise," she lies as she returns the USB back to her bag. Harleen heads towards the Bat-Computer and looks at the information appearing on the screen.
Chinatown, Gotham City Library
Selina Kyle walks through the halls that are sectioned off by the bookcases stumbles upon a table that nearly ten kinds sit around, one of them being the one that she was looking for. She sees Barbara Lee and the other kids focusing one person in particular, Jason Blüd. Selena makes her way towards the table and notices that the auburn-haired man was reading a book to them. Blüd's eyes were locked to the pages of the books, not taking notice of Selina as he continues to read to the children.
Getting even closer, Selina sees that Jason was holding a copy of David and Goliath.
"If you remember anything from this, I deeply desire that it will be this: Inside us all is a David and eventually... we are all destined to confront our goliath. When you are at your lowest point, thinking that you can no longer go on, continue fighting... remember, it was David who slew Goliath," the sagacious Liberian looks up to see Selina standing behind the table and next to Barbara Lee. He closes the book and holds it at his side, "I see that we have gone on long enough. Good day."
"Aunt Selina!" Barbara Lee stands and hugs the woman's waist. Selina returns the affection as she pats the girl's back.
"Stop calling me that," Selina jokes as she looks back to Blüd, "Pack your things, alright? I'm taking you home today, just give me a moment." She leaves Barbara to pack her belonging and heads to the auburn-haired man, "We need to-"
"Uh-uh," Blüd evades, "I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
"Tsk, on what grounds?"
Blüd taps his foot on the floor, "Uh, this one?"
"Smartass," Selina glares, "When I first met you, I just thought you were a jerk but after learning that you went to Nanda Parbat with Bruce...I'm seriously considering on testing that immortality of yours."
"You're here for the girl, right? Take her and go." Jason advises Selina, "I have no vested interest in continuing this discussion."
"You said that we all have a goliath, so tell me...what's yours? What's your challenge that you have to overcome?." Selina asks.
"Miss Kyle," Blüd removes his glasses, "We all have our demons, we all have our own ways of fighting them and some us...lose those battles," he looks over Selina's shoulders and to Barbara Lee, "Some demons...you just have to run from," he looks back to Selina, "Next time I see you in here, it better be with a Library card."
Selina inches up on her heels, "What happened to you to make you a heartless son of a bitch? Bruce went to Nanda Parbat to save your sorry ass and you can't even bring yourself to help with the search. I don't know what happened with you...but you deserve every part of it" she turns and heads towards Barbara Lee, she takes her hand in hers and guides her towards the exit, "C'mon, Barb."
"Aunt Selina, can we see the fireworks later?" the girl asks innocently.
"Of course," Selina agrees.
Blüd stands in silence as he puts his glasses back on.
4 Week Earlier...
Tibet
- Nanda Parbat -
Whisper suddenly begins convulsing violently and holds her sides, "W-what? W-wha- happening?" she spasms as she falls to her knees and covers her mouth. Her entire body begins to tremble, shaking as she dribbles her own blood, "Wh-what's going... on?." to her shock, Batman stands up, like he was perfectly fine and wasn't just injected by her toxin. The Dark Knight walks past her, glaring down to her as he holds his hand against his neck. A'Daire gasps as more blood leaks from her mouth, "H-h-how? I... I-bit you... y-you should be-dead!"
"Beloved... what's happening here?" Talia asks confused.
Jason Blüd takes his glasses off and smirks, "Before we left Gotham, Batman and I had a little chat about dealing with Whisper. I was aware that he wouldn't kill her, and I didn't want to die either... so we came to a compromise between the pair of us. During her time in Gotham, she injected her toxin in one of the Checkmate Guards... so we located the body..."
Batman steps in front of gasping Whisper, "We isolated Whisper's toxin and reverse-engineered it."
"-Y-you inoculated yourself...?" A'Daire glares up to Batman.
"Me too," Blüd waves to her, "And thanks to that very annoying display of PDA between these two lovebirds, Miss Al Ghül here was also inoculated...," he puts his glasses back on, "And for what's happening with you, since the vaccine is in Batman's since you just drank his blood... well, you're a clever woman. You figure it out."
"I did my research on you," Batman tells A'Daire "You always leave your mark on your targets. You always inject your toxin into them. It was obvious to presume that you would try to kill me with that... and now you just drank the cure to your own poison"
"Wait...?" Talia's eyes narrow at Batman, "Did you only kiss me for that?"
"Not now," Batman looks back to Whisper, "Your powers are gone, Whisper. Your toxin also held traces of your DNA, we managed to separate the human DNA from the cobra's. You'll be just as human as the rest of us in a matter of minutes"
"Well as human as Batman and I," Talia turns and glares at Blüd.
Whisper's hands press against her own throat, "Ra's gifted me with my youth... how dare you...," she stands on her wobbling legs, "Lest we forget, I was a force not to be reckoned with long before Ra's changed me... this fight is still going!" she squares up, grabbing her blade from the ground and points it to Batman, "I'll will end you."
"No you won't," a voice calls up from the roof of the dojo. The four look to the direction of the voice and sees a man dressed in a white robe with glowing blue eyes. The man has dual swords holstered on his back along with two dual bandoliers around his shoulders in sash-style. From beneath the man's hood was complete darkness except for the light of his sapphire emanating eyes. He has several small belts tied around his legs and arms. Prometheus looms over the four as his gaze meets Whisper.
"Prometheus? B-but you said you wanted Blüd dead!," Whisper calls back, still shaking from the antidote flowing through her body.
The man in white maddens at Whisper's words, he vanishes within a flash of bright light and warps to her side, fast enough to make the change in position look like a blur of light. Prometheus now stands in front of A'Daire. He reaches out and grabs the woman's hair and yanks her off of her feet and hurls her onto the ground. He kneels over her with his arm pressing against her throat as she tries to fight against his hold on her, "Alwatwat is off limits... you betrayed your orders to pursue some foolish vendetta... how disappointing... but not unexpected"
"Tal, belt now!" Batman jests his hand towards Talia who unclips the belt around her chest and throws it towards the dark knight. Midway through the air, Prometheus warps between the two and grabs the utility belt to stop it from going to Bruce. Prometheus tightens his grip around the belt as he turns to Batman.
"Kids these days... they wouldn't last a day without their precious technology..." Prometheus takes out his Mother Box and holds it against the belt. The apokoliptian tech explodes the belt into ash. The man in white holds out his hand and opens his palm and allows for the dust to fall out of his hand. He places the Mother Box back under his robe, "We are face to face once more, Alwatwat... so to speak of course..." he draws attention to the mask that they both wear.
"I'm not afraid of you," The Dark Knight clenches his fists.
"Good, I don't want you to be. I'm not your enemy... not yet anyways..." Prometheus modulated voice sends a shiver down Batman's spine, "History says we still have a few more years to go..."
"How 'bout we get a head start," Batman rushes at the man in white. Prometheus grabs his dual blades and warps at the vigilante, delivering a kick to the man's chest and knocks him back. Batman grabs Prometheus' foot and throws him back, reacting the man in white to backflip. Prometheus swings with both of his blades, one vertically and the other horizontality as he spins on his feet. Batman catches the tips of the blades in his hands and snaps them off. The Dark Knight then throws the brunt of his cowl forward and hits Prometheus' head.
The man in white throws his dual blades to the ground as they disintegrate in blue flashes of light. He then holds out his palms as a new pair of blades form from the same light. He tightens his grip over the hilts of the blades, "Are you even trying? Your inamorata gave a better fight...," he ducks to evade an attack from Talia's blade behind him. He straightens up and kicks the woman in the back and knocks her to the ground. He points one of his newly formed blades to the back of Talia's scalp, "You al Ghüls were always a nuisance, I should have eliminated you lot like the pests that you are!"
Present Day
Gotham, Chinatown
- Gotham City Library, Back Office -
Jason Blüd sits back in his chair as his eyes look at the photo that he was holding: A slightly torn black and white photo of a Victorian woman smiling, in a black dress and bonnet. The photo had small traces of dried blood and burn marks on it. He gently caresses the picture. He tenses as he experiences quick flashes from his memories: A demonic figure with red-glowing eyes, webbed ears that wears marron and silver knight-like armour with a long torn blue cape and metal chains on its wrist. The demon conjures bursts of flames from his palms as he growls. His hands fold, his long black claws curving with them. The demon has two long spiked horns on the top of his head and black lips and fangs.
"...Never again...," he whispers, brokenly.
His mind then flashes to another memory of his: the demon kneels in the middle of a burning home, bleeding and bruised. The demon lifts his head and looks to a figure standing before him, covered by the flames and the thick layer of smoke. With the only discernible features being six glowing yellow eyes, three on each side of the figure's face and long flowing white hair. Blüd was brought out of his thoughts as he hears the phone on his desk ring.
He takes a moment to regain his composure and picks up the phone, "Jason Blüd - who might I be talking to?" his body stiffens as hears the person on the end speak. The auburn-haired man removes his glasses, "Well, well, well...I should've known that you would still be kicking around...you what?," he waits for the person to finish speaking, "I see...how...curious. You and your family have always been full of surprises..."
4 Week Earlier...
Tibet
- Nanda Parbat -
"Both you and your sister should have been taken care of sooner...!" Prometheus twists his hand around his blade's hilt. Batman moves to the man in white's side and goes to punch him. Prometheus evades by warping behind him and wrapping his arm around the vigilante's neck, "Just as I believed, without your gadgets you are no threat. Ra's would be beyond disappointed..." he looks over to Jason Blüd who stands on the side-line, "We will be seeing each other again...," Prometheus then Boom Tubes away from the scene, taking Batman with him.
"Bruce!" Talia jumps to her feet and grasps her shoulder. Talia walks over to the downed Whisper who was convulsing rapidly, "Damn you,.. you bitch...," she lifts her boot and kicks the redhead in the head to knock her unconscious, "Death would be too good for you..."
"... What have I done...?" Blüd questions himself.
[Paris, France ]
The twilight hours of day oversaw the city. Bright light resides all over the large field of grass and the Eiffel Tower which too is illuminated among the dim light of day. Both Prometheus and Batman blur out of the boom tube as they land upon the railings of the radiating glow of the Eiffel Tower. Batman desperate clings onto one of the railings to avoid falling to the ground way below them. From his estimate, they were easily above two hundred and fifty metres off the ground. He pulls himself up and balances on the railing along with Prometheus who was already standing on the same railing.
"Like the view? I thought we could use somewhere more private," Prometheus grabs his blades and swings them at Batman. The vigilante lifts his gauntlets up and blocks both blades. The man in white than kicks against the man's gauntlets and sends him back. The Dark Knight quickly shifts his weight to retain his balance on the railing. He then left hooks Prometheus, his blow being blocked by the hilt of the masked man's sword, "You can't kill me, Alwatwat. So c'mon... let's see the damage that you can really do."
Without his grapple launcher, Batman is made to jump up and grab onto the railing above him and Prometheus. He climbs on top, jumping over and hanging from another railing above. Prometheus shakes his head as he then follows after Bruce, though instead of ascending up the tower like Batman, he instead warps his way from upward. They bump into each other, Batman attacks with his fists and Prometheus uses his swords. Knocking each other back, they ascend further up the tower, attacking each other and then move upwards.
"I'm not finished with you yet" Prometheus tackles Batman off of the tower and they begin to plummet down towards the ground. Without his grapple launcher, Batman could not think of a way to get out of this situation and his impending doom. They punch each other on their descent, coming into blows and tackling each other as they drop hundreds of metres and near the ground that was full of civilians who look up to the two men in confusion.
At the last second, Prometheus Boom Tubes away and takes Batman with him, sparing him from hitting the ground.
[Beijing, China]
Both Prometheus and Batman drop out of the Boom Tube and roll onto the walkway of the great wall of china between the forest hills that expand for miles. The seemingly never-ending wall now homes the two's conflict as they continue their fight. Batman blocks another swing from his foe's weapons and knocks one of them out of his hands. Batman then takes hold of the falling blade and swings it at Prometheus who deflects the sword with the one in his grip.
The two clash their swords with speed and precision, making sparks between each connection of their blades. Prometheus's blade cut across the Batsuit's chest and Batman's sword cuts across his enemy's chest. Blood begins to drip from the man in white's wounds, however, he wasn't even taking any notice of it. He was too busy being lost in the brawl between him and the vigilante. Tourists from across the wall lock in on the two men's battle and snap photos of the sight.
Prometheus ducks under one of The Dark Knights' swings and springs up, grabbing his cowl and slams his head into the uneven ground. Batman rolls out of the way of a descending slash of Prometheus' blade. He kicks up and tightens his legs around the man in white's neck and throws him over him and onto the ground too, "That all you got?," Batman jumps to his feet and sees Prometheus doing the same. Batman now grabs both of swords off the ground and takes them into his grip.
"No. Not even close..." Prometheus sternly replies as snaps his fingers. The sword's in Batman's grip both break and shatter, reforming in Prometheus' own hands, "Now... where were we?" he then rushes Batman and sends both of his blades swinging at him. As the blades hit against the vigilante's gauntlets, the two are taken away by another Boom Tube.
[Himalayas]
The pair land upon the top of Mount Everest, continuing their fight. The atmosphere at their height was cold, unbearably so. Bruce was fully aware that his Batsuit is the only way he could survive. Though he feels the struggle on his lungs to breathe, it hurts each time he gasps for air. He taps the side of his cowl and his cowl slides together and connects, sparing him from the harsh conditions. He backs away from the attack of Prometheus and his swords.
Batman steps out of the way of another swing of the man's blades and grabs on the tip. Instead of breaking it this time, he takes it out of Prometheus' hand and shoves it into the man in white's legs. He then keeps his hands on the hilt and uses the blade to cut up all the way through the foe's legs, spilling blood on the mountain. Prometheus growls as he kicks the Dark Knight off balance and yanks the sword out of his leg. With a faint glow, the cut in his leg heals, like it wasn't even injured in the first place.
He then grabs Batman's shoulder and spins him around. The man in white punches the vigilante's lower back and kicks Batman onto his knees, "I have knowledge of your ways. Evert martial art you've were taught. Every decision you will make and how you will make it. Prometheus takes out the Mother Box and presses it against his opponent's back. The man in white than clenches his other hand around Batman's left shoulder to hold him down, "And I am aware of the tech you're using to walk."
The Mother Box flashes and Batman suddenly feels the endoskeleton of his suit lose all of its power. Without the needed support; Bruce drops down onto the floor, unable to stop himself from descending onto the ice, "What did you do?" Bruce hears his modulator glitch and he sees his eye lenses darken. He tries to crawl from the man above him, Prometheus kneels down and grabs the back of Batman's cowl and yanks it up and slams it to the ground.
He turns the vigilante over on his back with one kick, "Don't you understand? You cannot kill me. You cannot stop me. You cannot even match me. What hope do you have of stopping the oncoming battle for this World!"
"W-What the hell are you talking about?" Batman grits his teeth below his mouthpiece.
"It's most men's destinies to bow before gods... but you? It's is yours to one day fight alongside them... as an equal. Try as you and they might... you cannot stop Apokolips. You fail and the world is destroyed because of your arrogance. I'm the only who can save this world... but I need you and the rest for now."
"I am going to... stop you..."
"Not if you value your loved ones. I will give you one warning: stay out of my way! Just because I need you does not mean your love ones have used to me... come after again, and I will slaughter them all!" Prometheus leans in closer to Batman, "Are we at an understanding?"
"You think... that you have all the answers, don't you? If you touch any of my loved ones again... you will wish that you can die!" Batman growls as he attempts to hit Prometheus from the side. The Man in white catches the vigilante's first with his palm and stops the momentum of the punch.
"Selina Kyle, Talia al Ghul, James Gordon, Lucius Fox, Alfred Pennyworth, Leslie Tompkins, Barbara Kean, Barbara Lee Gordon,, Harvey Dent, Silver St. Cloud..., I know everyone you ever loved and everyone you will someday love. I know your whole life story, Bruce... and it's always going to be a tragedy," Prometheus tells the vigilante, "No. I won't kill them all at once. I will kill one each day, maybe each week. I will drag out your torment and their suffering... then... you'll be one wishing for death..."
"You want me to quit being Batman...?"
"No. No. No. No. Gotham City is always going to need a Batman, it's always going to need you and you, it... do as you please dark knight, just stay out of my way along with my compatriots. Sophia Falcone is not to be touched by you... that for the ensured safety of everyone you love... do. not. get. in. my. way." Prometheus stands over the vigilante, "I'll leave you to decide. Looks like you need some alone time," he vanishes through another Boom Tube and leaves Batman at the top of the mountain.
Present Day
- Gotham Undergrounds -
Harley Quinn, now dressed in her red and black attire, her face powdered and hair split into pigtails with the tips dyed. She walks through the darkness of the room and approaches a shadowed figure sitting in the same darkness that was waiting for her. Though his face was concealed, his blood-red grin was unmistakable to her, "My dear sweet Harley... how I have missed you...did you get it...?" his yellow gloved hand is held out to the blonde.
Harley holds the tube of Lazarus to be level with the man's gaze, "Yeah, puddin'. Anythin' for ya... Oh, I just love makin' ya smile!" she chirps as she passes the tube to the man in the darkness. The man snatches it from the blonde and chuckles.
"I don't need you for that... just... watch... watch, my dear Harley...," the shadowed man takes the Lazarus test tube and pours it into an already half-full syringe containing purple liquid, "Lazarus and my toxin together... almost like Mine and Bats' very essence are colliding... oh, have I longed for this..., my next evolution... shall be his too... oh, he's going to love this...," he injects his forearm with the concoction. His veins glow bright green.
"I'll love ya too, puddin'! Maybe we can just forget about Bats for now and just-"," Harley was thrown to the floor as the shadowed man stands and backhands her. The green veins glow brighter and his eyes shoot open.
"Forget about Bats?... Not a chance... I need him now... ha, ha, ha, ha!" the man bursts out laughing as he holds his sides. Harley holds her reddened cheek as she looks up the body of the man, "He's gonna want to say Hi to the new me...," Joker laughs. His skin was fully healed but now dyed ghost-white and his lips were blood red. He has inhuman green eyes and middle-length dark green hair. He grasps his scalp with both his hands as he laughs, bleeding from his eyes, he violently swings his head back and forth like a pendulum while his laugher got louder, and louder.
"Puddin'? What's wrong? Ya okay?" Harley asks as she lifts herself back up.
"...Never better..."
"...Never Better..."
"HA!"
"HA!"
"HA!"
"HA!"
4 Weeks Earlier...
- Himalayas, Mount Everest -
Four days, four long gruelling hard days without food and barely any water. Barely enough to keep him alive, barely anything. On his descent down the mountain, it was like he was falling through hell and all nine levels of it. Bruce can barely process any thought, harvest any recollection. Every muscle he moved, every breath that he took, every tremble. It was only to keep him alive, to keep being able to descend down. The lack of his gadgets or any climbing gear made his venture more treacherous and spells sudden doom for him.
The Batsuit's endoskeleton was busted. Broken beyond repair. A lost cause. Bruce could barely stand, prolonging his descent by much, much longer. He had to be conservative with his efforts to survive the harsh conditions. He could try to climb down in one single attempt but he wasn't a fool. He knew if he did, his doom would be an absolute. He had to use his energy wisely, slow... but low effort, maybe it wouldn't even make a difference, maybe no matter what he did, he was going to die there.
Coms are out. Same with the rest of the Batsuit's functions. The others couldn't even reach him. He wouldn't know if Lucius and the others got home safe, he would never know if he saved his friend. He had no way of knowing if his loved ones were still safe.
Batman was aware of where he was. How could he not? Mount Everest, the tallest mountain on the planet. He knew how treacherous it was. How many people who crossed paths with it have met their maker. He was still a long way from hitting the bottom. He was over half of the mountain, possibly even more. The laborious climb sent his body into shock, his body anyway. The Batsuit was designed to handle many dangers to the wearer: bullets, knives, punches, kicks, but he never thought it would be Mother Nature that was spelling his doom.
His body was cold. He could feel the frost covering the Batsuit, increasing his weight and making his descent much more challenging. He could barely recognize the colour of his suit, instead of the black, it is drowned in a coat of white, stiffening his joints. His cape was frozen in place. And Bruce could feel the frost seeping into his flesh. He knows the Batsuit could not protect him for long. In fact, he was surprised that the suit guarded him for as long as it did.
Five days now, and Bruce was barely any closer to his goal, but he is teetering towards his end. The front had broken through his suit. He can feel the beginning of frostbite taking his digits and arms. It was agony, absolute agony. He could not bring himself to stand. He was limited to crawling, thus slowing his journey even more.
Six Days.
Seven Days.
Eight Days.
Nine Days.
Ten Days.
Eleven.
Twelve.
He lost track. No food, no water. Bruce lies on his back as he looks up at the sky. His suit was frozen. He could not move any of his limbs. His stomach was aching and his throat was dry. As the days grew in number, his efforts were made even more pointless. He was still a far way off from even being halfway down the mountain. He's a dead man, he knew it was only a matter of hours before his body gave up on him. His vision was blurred and he was able to even speak.
Time passed and his eventual plummet into the abyss was nearing. His eyes slowly flutter as a blurred shadow moves into his line of view. His eyes close and his breathing ceases. The shadow moves over him, belonging to a woman. She's dressed in a black fur hood parka with a snowboarding mask to conceal her face. Black climbing boots, gloves with padded black pants. She has a grey and black climbing backpack angled around her chest in sash-style and a harness around her waist with red indents that held metallic cases around it.
She slants her neck and kneels over Batman. She sloops her arms over her knees.
Present Day
Gotham, Wayne Manner
- Master Bedroom -
Bruce wakes to the warm surroundings of his bedroom. Confused and dazed by how he ended up there. He sits up, realizing that he was only wearing a pair of boxers. His body was stiff like his whole body was rusted, however, Bruce notices that he could move, just with subtle resistance. A large improvement from before. He throws the bed covers off of his body and looks towards the doors to the room, "Alfred? Alfred, are you there?" he motions to stand and turns his view to the other side of the room.
His eyes pause as they meet the back of a woman who stood out on the balcony. Her arms were folded over her chest as she basks in the rare sight of sunlight in the city. She is dressed in a black leather jacket zipped up to her sternum that has a hood that was lifted over her head, leather pants. Black boots that reach her knees. The woman also has a bandolier that was covered with throwing knives. She also has a curved blade holstered on her back.
Her head gently shifts towards the now awake man, still shielding her face from him with her hood, "Mr Pennyworth isn't here. He was long gone by even the time I first arrived here," her rosy lips curve. Bruce tenses up as he hears the woman's voice and recognises it.
"... No... that's not possible...," Bruce stammers, suddenly realizing that he could move and walk perfectly, "... I saw you die..."
"You were always naïve, just one of your many traits that bewitched my sister," the woman turns to face Bruce and pulls down her hood. Nyssa lifts her eyebrows, "Hello, Bruce. There is a matter that we must discuss," she tells him.
- To Be Continued… -