Chapter Four: New Acquaintances

I hope people will be pleasantly surprised that I'm planning on throwing some other DC characters into the mix in my Gotham fanfiction. I may take elements from the comics and tv shows, but I'm gonna be putting my own spin on things with these other heroes without tampering with the Gothamverse. In this chapter I'll be introducing characters like the Black Canary and Wildcat. I'm namely gonna just try to bring in vigilante type heroes and realistic enough meta-humans, not those god-level tier in the comics. I don't plan on creating a Justice League in this fanfiction, but that could change in the future. I hope you enjoy and please leave you're comments, I love hearing from you guys and seeing your input.

Several Years Ago-The Glades-Starling City

It was only a couple of days since they left Gotham, but it already felt like a lifetime since. Now here they were on the other side of the country. The place Bruce and Selina were looking for was bordering on the section of Starling called the Glades, the low income area of the city. When Bruce and Selina came into Starling no more than a day before, they took a look around the town. It was like a milder version of Gotham. Still, it had plenty of criminals and monsters, and worse not enough good people to make a stand against them. While they were making their way through Starling, Bruce and Selina passed the large Queen Consolidated building. No more than a year ago it was reported that the owner of the company Robert Queen and his son, Oliver, were lost at sea. Eventually they found their destination. The little Starling City gym wasn't the nicest training studio that Bruce and Selina had seen, but what they heard about the owner of the place drew their attention into expanding their skills. Ted Grant was supposed to be one of the countries best fighters. No matter how big the opponent or how much the odds were stacked up against him, Grant always put the guy on his back. They place only had a few of the regulars in it at the time Bruce and Selina rolled in. In the middle of the gym was a boxing ring. In one corner of the ring was a man in his forties with a silver fox looking face, but was his body was equivalent to that of a Olympic heavyweight boxer. In the center of the ring two opponents were squaring off. One was a middleweight male and the other was a lightweight young woman, only a couple years older than Selina. Bruce and Selina began to spectate the training session. The male opponent went in for a series of rapid jabs, but the woman was expertly blocking the strikes. "Atta girl, Laurel!" The older man cheered in the corner, "keep your gloves, up. Get him tired and look for an opening." Indeed the male opponent was starting to get sloppy. That was when Laurel went on the offensive and began a series of lightning fast punches to the man's gut and finished him with a strong right hook. The look at on the old man's look was full of pride as he went up and patted Laurel on the back congratulating her on her victory. The older man then saw Bruce and Selina and told Laurel to begin her cool down exercises. He approached the young couple wondering what they needed. "Hi, there. I'm Ted Grant. I own the place. What can I help you with?"

"Hello, Mr. Grant," Bruce said, "We hear you're quite the fighter." Ted immediately thought these were some kid's trying to meet their favorite boxer, "Look kid, I don't do autographs.." But Bruce interrupted the aging fighter, "I'm not here for one. We're asking you to train us." Ted became intrigued by the the young man's request. "Train you for what, exactly? If you plan on using what I teach to hurt someone, I can't help ya and you better walk on outta here if that's the case." Bruce's stone faced demeanor didn't change. "No. Quite the opposite really. To protect people. After all you know what that's like," Bruce immediately closed the distance to whisper into Grant's ear, "Wildcat." That name immediately earned Bruce a glare from Ted. It was true that nearly a decade ago that he had retired from being a masked vigilante hero named Wildcat. He called himself that in homage of a nickname his father had when he was a boxer in the military. The elder Grant taught Ted how to fight since an early age considering that they lived in the slums of Starling and you never knew when you had have to use your fists to get out of a jam. As Ted was growing up he hated the state that his city was degrading into. Crime rates high, families destroyed, and Ted had enough of it. So while he was a professional fighter, he secretly worked as a vigilante beside another known hero who became a good friend and ally. She was known as the Canary. Ted eventually retired considering that his mind and body were slowing down from the stress he's put on it over the years, especially with the grief he had when Canary died. He thought that life was behind him until now. "You two. My office. Now," Ted growled between his teeth. His office was filled with memorabilia from his time as a professional fighter. When Bruce and Selina walked in they felt like they were being called into the principals office. Ted than sat on his desk glaring at the two. "First off, how do you know I'm Wildcat? Second, why would I try to train the two of you who just considered blackmailing me to do so?"

"Come on, pal. We looked at the files. The Wildcat always fought strictly in the slums of Starling. Namely the Glades. Everyone of his attacks were made with expert precision and styles equivalent to that of boxing and kickboxing. Only one of those kind of legendary fighters ever came from the Glades, You," Selina pointed out flatly. "We weren't intending on blackmailing you. We are appealing to you. That part of you that was sick and tired of the death. The pain. The horrors that crime was taking on your neighborhood," Bruce's voice was filled with sincere concern from his the people he wanted to defend. Ted knew that kind of talk. It was that same voice in his head telling him to help those in need. That's why even after he retired he started the training center. A place where people can come and learn to defend themselves and those they loved. Ted personally took in all the people here knowing their reasons. Those who just wanted to be safe were gladly accepted, but those who just wanted to fight for the sake of fighting and causing pain were turned away at an instant. "Say I were to help. To help you become what you need to become. To teach you everything that I know. How committed are you to the cause? How much are you willing to sacrifice?" Bruce and Selina looked at each other and Bruce looked back at Ted, his eyes full of every emotion, "Everything." Ted only knew a handful of people like these two. He should've tried to talk them out of it, but this crazy messed up world needs more hero's now more than ever. Something in Ted's gut told them that this "Well, alright then hot shots. Let's get to work, But remember this. I don't care who you are or where you come from. You use what I teach you to do exactly what it is you tell me you're gonna use it for or you'll find out why half the scum in the Glades feared me back in the day. We clear? " Selina chuckled dryly, "Crystal."

Present Day-Diamond District-Gotham City

The run down old four-story building was crawling with only a handful of guards. Finch was held up tightly in the main office on the third floor. Down on the main floor three guards were positioned. One of them instead of doing his job was reading a smut magazine. This proved to be his folly to the point he didn't notice a pair of shadows cross the room. He then thought he heard a floorboard creek and looked behind him, but found nothing. He thought it must've been a mouse. He turned his head to meet a fist colliding with his face. This alerted the other guards. When they ran to check on him he was unconscious with a pool of blood streaming from his mouth and nose. It was then a small marble like device fell from the rafters encasing the room with smoke and Batman and Catwoman dove down. They men fired on the two figures, but couldn't get a bead on them due to the smoke and speed of the two. In a mere minute several guards were met with solid bone crushing kicks, punches, and slash marks. Finch tried to contact the guards via the walkie talkie he was given, but there was no response. "Where is all that muscle that Black Mask sent ?" Finch asked himself nervously. He ventured down to see the collection of guards tied up and beaten. He proceeded back to the main office on the third floor and locked himself inside. Then the lights flickered for, but a few seconds. Within that time two shadowy figures, The Bat and The Cat that everyone at the docks was talking about, appeared in front of him. Everyone was saying that those rank and file underlings were just trying to bullshit the cops. Make them think they could get an insanity plea by making the fuzz think they saw ghosts and goblins. But they were so very wrong. Batman threw Finch across the room into his desk. "Where are the files on the weapon shipments?!" Batman demanded. Finch tried to run, but his feet were tangled up by a bola tripwire that Catwoman threw causing Finch to fall face first into the floor. "Make this easier for yourself, and tell us what we want to know," Catwoman said. Batman raised Finch up by the collar of his shirt and pulled back his fist threating to punch him. "OK! OK! The files are in the safe in the back of the room! The combination is 6-40-07! Please let me go!" pleaded the terrified Finch. Batman quickly pulled out a small spray capsule from his belt and doused Fritz with an aerosol sleeping agent. Catwoman went to the safe in the far back of the room. She entered the code and the safe opened. Inside of the safe was a thick file booklet. Selina took out a miniature camera from her own belt and snapped pictures of all the files. "Alfred," Bruce contacted via the coms integrated into his cowl. "Yes, Master B?"

"We have what we came for place an anonymous call to the GCPD. We have garbage they may need to pickup."

The police soon began swarming the building with no bat and cat in sight. Harper and Bullock approached Jim as he exited his vehicle. "Just like last time. We found about nine guards bound and knocked out. But we found these booklets full of account files right next to them," Harvey said. " We're combing through those files that we found in the safe. It looks like they contain information on the shipments of weapons that were at the docks and who they were dealt to. Gangs like the Chessmen, the Leopards, the Royal Flush Gang, The New Red Hoods, just to name a few. But the trail as to the distributors is nothing concrete. Looks like it's just a bunch of shell companies that are manufacturing the arms, " Harper added. "So what do you think, Jim?" Harvey asked, "I know these guy's aren't exactly cops, but they did just hand us the shipping area for the guns and the files that links them to whoever is behind this." Jim looked to Harvey and said "I think that the vigilantes aren't our concern for the moment. In the meantime contact Judge Addison. We need to get search and seizure warrants immediately. Our main focus is to whoever is the main beneficiary of those accounts." Jim then walked over to the shattered window and looked out onto the view of buildings wondering what was this next storm was gonna look like? Who else was gonna get hurt?

GCPD Prisoner Transport

Finch was starting to come to in the prisoner transport when he saw an officer next to him. "How ya doin Finch?" asked the officer. Finch then realized he heard that voice before. It wasn't a cop, but one of Black Masks enforcers that came around every month to update the files. "Black Mask isn't happy about tonight. The cops have those files. That's bad for business., the enforcer said. Finch knew what this was. It was Black Mask's way of tying up loose ends. Finch was not above blubbering and begging so he did just that, especially when Black Mask was involved. "Look I can make things ri...gugh...ucckkk..." Finch tried to make noise, but the enforcer was strangling him with piano wire. "Nothing personal. Just can't have you talking," he said nonchalantly. The driver, who had also been one of Black Masks, then pulled over into a deserted alleyway. Both the hitman and the driver started pouring gasoline over and within the vehicle and then set it ablaze with the deceased Finch still inside.

The Cave

Bruce and Selina were already out of their suits almost ready to shower with both of them in nothing, but shorts and undergarments. They both were due to get some shut eye for the night. That is if Bruce would get away from the damn computer that had already uploaded the pictures Selina took earlier. Bruce was combing over whatever he could find from the reports they found. ""So do we plan on running into Gordon everywhere we go? Because this essentially feels like when he was still chasing after me when I was trying to dodge juvie," Selina sighed. Bruce simply chuckled remembering how Selina once told him she tricked Jim into the sewer and ended up ditching him. "I would've thought that would've brought you some nostalgia, Cat." Selina stuck out her tongue in mock annoyance at Bruce. Something immediately caught Bruce's eye. "I've been able to cross reference these account numbers and like I suspected there are numerous shell companies involved, however there are one accounts seem to repeat. The Oracle network that Lucius designed is able to patch me in into federal financial servers, but like we've already assumed the companies that own this account exist only on paper. However I was able to get a name from one of them. It appears to be called Janus Corp. " Bruce explained. "Janus? Isn't that supposed to be some Greek deity?" Selina asked. "The Greek god of doorways, choices, and duality to be precise. It could be a coincidence, but it could also be likely that it may reflect some characteristic about the perp. Names, even ones you're hiding behind, always have a meaning to the true person. We should know that more than anyone." Bruce knew he wasn't going to get anywhere further that night. He got up from his chair and stretched out accepting the fact that it had been a long night and he needed his sleep. He then caught Selina looking at him like a tiger eyeing its prey. "You look tired," Selina said. "I feel tired," Bruce replied. "I can fix that," she purred. "Can you?" Bruce asked with intrigue.

She went up to Bruce and nuzzled his cheek. He turned to her giving her a warm smile. Selina turned and walked over to the shower alcove shredding each article of clothing gracefully. Her black sports bra, yoga pants, and panties lead a trail to the shower and to a stark naked Selina. She looked over her shoulder to Bruce with a smile on her face. One hand on her hip and the other making a come hither gesture at the billionaire vigilante as she stepped into the alcove. Bruce couldn't help, but follow. He entered the steamy shower to behold water cascading the down Selina's body. Each droplet forming and moving across the slopes of her breasts and soon he found his hands moving along the curves of her hips. He pressed his body against hers feeling the smooth firmness of her form. Selina was facing towards the shower head when she felt him behind her. "Mmmmm...come to play, have we?" Selina asked. "As long as you're who I'm playing with," Bruce said. The steam of the shower enveloped the two. Only sounds of moans, gasps, and pillow talk could be heard echoing through the cave that night. Eventually their night of passion led to their bedroom. Bruce felt the warmth of Selina's body against him as they slept. He gently wrapped his arms around her and kissed her forehead as she slept. He looked over onto his nightstand to where a picture of him and his parents on one of their camping trips. He remembered what his father said to him in his letter about choosing one of two paths. Truth or happiness. 'Father,' Bruce thought,' you once told me I couldn't have both truth and happiness. I believe this would be one of those instances where you would be glad being proven wrong.'

Arkham Asylum-Arkham Island-Gotham City

A young lady sat in front of the head of the asylum, Dr. Quincy Sharp, who had been running the asylum since the conclusion of the siege. "Dr. Quinzel," Sharp spoke in his high and mighty voice, "I do remind you that you even though you are one of the youngest and brightest minds this asylum has seen in it's many years of service to Gotham, you still are not authorized to deal with the more volatile inmates. This asylum may have serviced the city, but it has also fallen into the hands of men who are as insane as the inmates dwelling here. For everyone's best interests, Doctor, I would urge you to stay away from the intensive care unit. Harleen Quinzel looked defeated and merely said, "Yes, Dr. Sharpe." As Harleen got up from being excused from his office, Harleen could certainly feel the eyes of the old pervert leering at her body as she walked out of the room. "Creepy old bastard," Harleen thought to herself. As she walked down the hallway, Harleen couldn't help, but to vent about the circumstances of her meeting Dr. Sharp. "All I wanted to do was to prove herself to these moron'," Harleen thought to herself. She certainly proved it in her studies, but half the time she felt like everybody underestimated her and mistook her for some Brooklynn accented blonde bimbo who wants to play doctor. "Dammit, the underestimated views of I get around here is enough to drive a person mad," Harleen growled between her teeth. Sometimes she felt as if she had more in common with the mentally unstable than the rest of the population. Within the collection of papers she was carrying was Jeremiah Valeska's file. She couldn't help, but to open it. She took note of Jeremiah's relationship to his brother while at the same time took note of his fascination and obsession of Bruce Wayne. Somewhere inside Harleen couldn't help, but feel sorry in a way for Jeremiah. While she was making her way through the asylum she noticed a nurse making her way towards the intensive care ward.

"Excuse me, Nurse?" The nurse turned to acknowledge the doctor. "Yes, Doctor? What can I help with?"

"It's just that all the shifts are over, and there's limited access to the Intensive Care Unit," Harleen was trying to explain without sounding like a rule-bound stick in the mud. "Oh, I apologize Doctor. Sometimes I can get a little to sympathetic towards these poor souls. It can be heart breaking to have them cooped up here."

"Oh, believe me, I understand. Besides half of these guys are just goofy people who believe their birds. It's pretty funny if you think about," Harleen giggled.

"Finally! A person who appreciates comedy in this god forsaken place," the Nurse said, "I hope you don't mind if I do one last checkup on the patients, Doctor?" Harleen giggled and said, "I won't tell if you won't." The two soon parted from each other and the nurse made her way to a specific room and entered it.

"What took you so long, Ecco?" Jeremiah asked with mild annoyance in his voice. "Sorry boss, had a little girl talk. She was fun," Ecco said playfully.

"I'll decide what's fun my dear and do tell me if you found a way to procure our party favors?" Jeremiah asked

"Absolutely, Mr. J!" Ecco smiled creepily. She then handed him a file she was hiding that held information on U.S. Army weapons depot in Gotham. The main thing Jeremiah found interesting in the file was the stockpile of C-4 explosives that were kept there. The gears in Jeremiah's head started to turn. He looked back at Ecco returned the smile and said, "Good, well then let's go shopping then. Hahahaha!"

Courthouse-Midtown-Gotham City

When Gordon and Bullock got to the courthouse the next morning, they were expecting that the warrants would be signed and ready for them to take action into the weapon smuggling operation, however things took a bit of a turn. "What the hell do you mean the warrants won't be issued?!" Jim was furious. Judge Addison quickly dismissed any possible reason for the handing out a warrant to trace the accounts that were in the files the GCPD found. "How can I possibly issue out a warrant when you broke into a building without proper evidence.." Harvey immediately cut him off, "Oh for Christ's sake! We responded to a disturbance at the docks which was called in by an anonymous source. It just so happened that these punks that we found were dealing the supply of weapon's we've been trying to stop coming into the city. And now we have proof as to the account information to who is selling them and who they're being sold to!" Jim's cop sense then kicked in. He saw the twinge of guilt in the judge's face. He knew that look all too well when he himself looked in the mirror after the horrid things he had done. "But you already knew about the shipments being loaded at the docks, didn't you?" Jim asked. The judge went from annoyed to stone cold angry within a matter of milliseconds. "Just what are you implying, Commissioner?" Jim then stood up from his chair, put his hands on the desk, and hunched over to look the judge who was sitting across from him in the eye as if he were interrogating a perp, "It's know secret that you've got a few problems of your own. You're wife's medical problems. You're son you bail out from his drug addiction. It's easy for a man with all that on his plate be leveraged into doing..." The judge immediately jumped from his seat. "Get the hell out of my office! Both of you!" Jim and Harvey reluctantly left the office. When they were gone the judge took at some of his blood pressure meds and popped them into his mouth and washed them down with a swig of scotch. He then grabbed his phone and made a call, "Yeah, it's Addison. We need to talk."

"We need to find out everything we can about who Judge Addison has been in contact with and keep an eye on his back accounts," Jim told Harvey as they made their way out of the courthouse. "I'll get Harper right on it. We could try pressing the gangs. Maybe one of them will talk about what they could tell us about the dealer," Harvey replied. "Perhaps. Let's go with that for now and just press everything we can. I don't know why, but things are gonna get hectic around here real fast." It was then that Jim received a phone call from an anonymous source, "Who is this?" Jim asked. "No one of consequence," Bruce spoke. "There's always consequences. However I might overlook some of them if you answer my questions. Are you the one who was behind the assaults on the weapon dealers last night?" Jim asked sternly. "I am. But I am not alone. I'll take it you're attempt to get search warrants didn't go so well?"

Jim looked around nervously wondering if the vigilante was hiding in plain sight. "How would you know that?"

"Cell phones in this day and age make great listening devices. It just takes the right know how and the right equipment."

A thought immediately came into Jim's head which he needed to ask, "Did you know that the judge was in on the weapons deals?"

"I had my suspicions when I took a look at his bank accounts. A fund for his wife and son's problems is being paid by the same account that run's consistently throughout the files you retrieved last night. The account belongs to a shell company called Janus Corp. At least now you can get things moving looking into it."

"Why are you doing all of this?" Jim asked.

"Same reason as you. Because I made a promise." The call abruptly ended with Jim pondering more and more as who was on the other side of that call.

Yacht- Seven miles off the coast of Gotham

A middle eastern woman is sitting at a desk in a lavish bedroom cabin looking over a file that had explicit details on the travels and associates of one particular person.. Bruce Wayne. " To think my sister would've killed you out of jealousy. Father was quite right about you. What an extraordinary specimen you are, Mr. Wayne. You are nearly ready to be the true Dark Knight, and I will make sure of it.. beloved," the woman said. She walked to observation deck to observe the city she will hope to rule with alongside the Dark Knight. Talia Al Ghul will not rest until she has Gotham at her feet and Bruce Wayne by her side.