Chapter 66
Sitting at my desk, the phone next to me suddenly starts ringing. I pick it up, "...hello?"
"Natalie, it's Barbara. Can...can you visit me? Are you free? I know you must have just gotten back from lunch but...we need to talk."
I glance around. Ed's off working a forensic case, and Montoya and Allen are still on their lunch break. So no one should notice if I slip out.
"Yeah, just give me your address, I'll be right there."
I ring the doorbell to what looks like a deluxe apartment complex. It's strange, I didn't know there was an apartment in the Gotham Bell Tower, I'd always thought the singular light coming from within was just to illuminate the clock at night.
Barbara answers the door, her expression giving away no emotion. I've gotten so used to seeing her as the enthusiastic, energetic Batwoman, that seeing her like this instantly has me worried.
"Did something happen?" I ask right away.
She bites her lip, "Well...hello to you too."
I back off, "Oh...sorry. Where are my manners?"
"It's fine, I get it," she nods, "...would you please come in?"
I walk into the grand apartment. A stylish sitting and dining area with a fireplace. Modern art accompanied by classy lighting, this place looks like it's straight out of a magazine.
She gestures for me to sit down on their soft, plush couch. We sit together, and she begins, "Our apartment was broken into by Don Falcone's men. I think they were planning on using me as a bargaining tool for Jim. I played the part of the scarred girlfriend, until Jim came to the rescue. Good ol' Jim."
I smile, "That...sounds horrible. But it's good that he got there just in time."
"Yeah, but now he wants me to leave town. Take the train out to Metropolis where I'll be safe," she explains.
"Well-I mean...that does make a lot of sense-"
"But I can't!" she cries, standing up, "I need to be there for Jim, to protect him! I'm Batwoman! I have a responsibility to not just him, but to the city! To take out the mob!"
I jump a little in surprise, clasping Barbara by the shoulder, "Woah, slow down. I thought you said you just did the Batwoman thing for kicks?"
Her eyes redden, as she slumps back down onto the couch, "I...I thought it was just for kicks too. But...I've come to realize, it's about more than that. The mob has always pushed my family around...they've pushed everyone around, and as kids… heck, even as adults we just had to put up with it. There was nothing we could do, or say that would change things. But now...now I have a way of fighting back."
I silently nod, I wouldn't think that the mob would target rich families, but when you think about it, it makes sense. They have the most money out of everybody, of course the mob would want a piece of the action. And all the money in the world can't stop things like dark secrets, questionable deeds, or legal loopholes the mob could use as a means to extort and manipulate.
"So...what's the plan?" I ask.
She lays her finger on the first of a pair of train tickets sitting on the glass coffee table, "This is the ticket Jim gave me to go from Gotham to Metropolis tomorrow morning," she moves her finger to the second ticket, "this is the separate ticket I bought that will take me on the next train back to Gotham."
"So, you're just planning on doing a roundabout?"
"Yes, but I won't be able to come back here, lest Jim know I'm still in the city. I can't take my Batwoman costume with me for fear that he'll see it. Once I check into a hotel room, can you deliver the costume to me?"
"Of course Barbara, I'd be glad to," I reply.
She smiles, "Thank you so much, and...you can call me Babs, it's the nickname all of my friends use. I keep the costume at V's house, you can pick it up there. Now, let me just get you the hotel addre-"
Barbara's interrupted by a crashing window, glass shattering in the other room. We both are on our feet, leaping up in reaction to the sound. After the noise settles, all is quiet.
I go first, walking over to the archway leading into the next room. Leaning my head around the corner, I see the broken window, pieces of glass scattered on the floor. There's nothing on the floor that could've broken the window, so what could have…?
"Oh my god!" Barbara screams.
I run back into the living room, where, crouched on the other end of the room is a tall, lanky man that I'd know anywhere. His entire body is clothed in a light gray cloth, save his legs, which are wrapped in dull yellow bandages. Black goggles conceal his eyes, and the cloth covers his entire head, peaking in two ear-like shapes at the top.
"Holy crap...it's the Talon…" I realize aloud.
The Talon arches back, grabbing two long, thin blades from his belt, and bounds forward, moving at a superhuman speed. I prepare myself, but just as he's about to swing his blades, he's knocked back by Barbara, tackling him from below. She sends him soaring toward the bookshelf against the wall, slamming him into it and knocking books off of the shelf.
The Talon swipes her hand off with one of his blades, before grabbing a book off of the shelf and throwing it at her. The book hits her in the face, knocking her back. I don't have my own knives on me, so I run to the fireplace and draw the fire poker from out of the rack. Brandishing the weapon, I wield it with both hands and charge forward. I swing it at the Talon, who blocks it with his own blade. With the expertise of a fencer, he thrashes at my own weapon with both blades, trying to knock it out of my hand. I pull back to dodge him, only to retaliate, flinging the fire poker back at him. He stabs his blade in just the right spot, and the fire poker flies out of my hand, leaving a small cut. I quickly grab a book off of the shelf just as he stabs with the other blade, the tip tearing right through the book and just barely slowing down in front of my face. Throwing down the book, the Talon's left blade goes with it, and I kick him in the knee, sending him back. He throws down a smoke pellet, dispelling a hissing gray smoke into the room. Barbara and I start coughing, and I fan away the smoke with my hand. After a couple of seconds, the smoke clears, and the Talon's vanished.
"What...what the hell?" I ask aloud.
Barbara chuckles, "Just another day in the life...am I right?"
Helping Barbara up, we start cleaning up the mess made during the fight. I find the Talon's blade still stuck in the book. Pulling it out, I examine the long, thin weapon. The blade is freshly sharpened, and professionally made, no ordinary citizen could've gotten their hands on this. On the blade, the words "behind granite and lime" are written on the blade. Could it be a clue?
"Hey Barbara, take a look at this," I tell her, gesturing her to come over here.
She walks over, and examines the engraving on the blade, "...why do those words sound familiar…"
She takes the blade from me, "Can I hold onto this?"
"Sure," I nod, wondering what was so familiar about those words.
Oswald rings the doorbell to Don Falcone's mansion. He'd tried avoiding the place as much as possible, wouldn't want Don Maroni suspecting anything. The Don himself answers the mansion, dressed in a business suit even at home.
"Afternoon my friend, you're early," he gestures for him to come in.
Oswald steps inside, taking off his overcoat and hanging it up on the nearby rack. The two of them cross to the living room, where they sit down.
"Drink?" Falcone asks, holding up a bottle of scotch.
He nods, "Yes, please."
Falcone takes out two shot glasses and pours the two of them a glass of liquor, "The time is right. I need you to take out Nikolai, that goon trying to push me out."
"I agree, we'll have to make it look like an average shootout though. And Don Maroni should receive something out of it...just so he doesn't suspect," Oswald reasons, not touching his drink.
"Of course...what about the docks where I have my bookie racket? Nikolai and his men frequent a warehouse in the area quite often. I think he uses it as a storage for all the money he's been stealing from me. Lead Don Maroni's men there, and let him have that money."
Oswald gives a polite smile with a devilish twinkle in his eye, "Consider it done."
'66 Special (Standalone Bonus Content)
Meanwhile, at the Stately Kean Residence, the wealthy artist and heiress to the Kean fortune, Barbara Kean, and her good friend Natalie K., are engaged in a friendly game of chess.
"Natalie, the objective of the game is to protect your king from capture, and yet you have your king wide open. I could easily best you in five moves or less," she points out, gesturing to spots on the board.
"Gee Barbara, I never thought of it like that," her companion replies.
"Well, remember, chess is a game of thought and strategy."
Veronica Vreeland steps into the room, "Babs darling, the phone's ringing."
"Put them on hold V, I'm far too engrossed in this game to deal with petty social calls," she waves away.
Veronica clears her throat, "Ahem...it's the other phone, Babs."
Barbara and Natalie glance at each other, before the both of them stand, "Natalie, old friend, it looks like our chess game will have to wait. There's urgent business to attend to."
In Barbara's study, they reach a large red phone on a pedestal, and Barbara picks it up, "Yes, Commissioner Gordon?"
"Batwoman, thank goodness! Someone's robbed the Gotham Museum of Modern Art!" the young Commissioner explains.
"We'll be right there, Commissioner," Barbara responds.
"It's strange, I may not know the woman behind that mask, Batwoman, but somehow...I find myself rather attracted to you-"
"Yes, well, we don't want your girlfriend, socialite Barbara Kean finding that out, now do we? Besides, this is hardly the time to be flirting, Commissioner, not when we have a serious case on our hands," she reasons.
"Oh...of course! What was I thinking? Thank you, Batwoman for keeping me on the straight and narrow."
Barbara hangs up, and turns to her partner in crime, Natalie, "Someone just robbed the Gotham Museum of Modern Art."
"That vile crook!" she exclaims.
"Yes, and we should head there post-haste. To the Batpole!"
Barbara crosses the room to a Shakespeare bust, which opens up to reveal a red button. Pressing it, a secret door opens up to reveal two Batpoles, one labelled "Barbara" and the other "Natalie". Sliding down their respective poles, they're fully clothed in their crime fighting costumes by the time they reach the Batcave, where the Batmobile awaits them. Jumping in, they fasten their seatbelts as Batwoman starts up the car.
"Automatic batteries to power, turbines to speed," the Trickstress announces as the car powers up.
"Roger that, ready to go," Batwoman replies, before the Batmobile speeds out of the Batcave and toward Gotham City.
The Batmobile stops in front of the Gotham Museum of Modern Art, where they get out of the car and are just about ready to head into the museum when...
"Hang on Trickstress, we mustn't forget to pay the parking meter," Batwoman interrupts.
"But the police are probably already inside, and I'll bet they don't have to pay the parking meter!" she protests.
"Yes, but, it is our duty as civilians to do our part. This money goes toward building new roads," Batwoman argues, running back to insert a couple of coins in the meter, "there we go."
The dynamic duo make their way into the museum, where police have flooded the vicinity, taking pictures of markings in the walls where paintings once stood.
"Ah, Batwoman and the Trickstress, thank goodness you've finally arrived!" Chief O'Hara greets them.
"Good morning Chief, now, what exactly did the thieves steal?" Batwoman asks.
"The museum's prized Audubon collection, it's worth millions, and it was snatched right under the curator's nose!" he cries.
"Well, how are we going to get it back?" the Trickstress asks Batwoman.
Batwoman looks around, "Let's first examine the crime scene, there may be some hidden clues we could use to our advantage. You investigate out here in the exhibits, and I will check the back rooms."
"Okay, Batwoman," she replies.
Batwoman heads off, and the Trickstress walks into the main exhibit, where officers are hard at work marking clues.
"Audubon, huh? Not exactly what I'd call 'modern art'," the Trickstress murmurs to herself.
"Are you an expert in the arts, Trickstress?"
The Trickstress turns around to find a tall, thin man staring down at her. He offers his hand, "Edward Nygma, forensics."
She tentatively shakes his hand, "Pleasure."
"If you don't find Audubon to your taste, there's still some Picasso in the next hall that hasn't been touched."
The Trickstress paces back and forth, "Hmph, the entire Audubon collection stolen, and yet Picasso wasn't so much as touched? What is it with these criminals?"
"Remember miss, these are disturbed minds. Perhaps no one will ever know what truly lurks behind their deranged minds. Best not to dwell on it for too long," Edward reminds her, winking.
She smiles nervously, "You're right Ed...can I call you Ed? You seem like such a swell guy, maybe when the crime-fighting is done, we could-"
"Resume our civilian lives as if nothing had happened. Trickstress, a word," Batwoman interrupts, stepping between the two of them.
The two step away from Edward, leaving him to stare in confusion.
"Trickstress, I tell you to search for clues, and I catch you flirting with police personnel?" Batwoman chatsies, keeping her voice to a low whisper.
"I'm sorry, Batwoman. I was searching for clues when that nice young man approached me in conversation, but I swear it was nothing more than that," the Trickstress apologizes.
"Never mind that. Now, the curator's books say that someone by the name of K.G. Bird arranged for a private party the night the Audubon collection was stolen. Since the name is obviously fake-"
"It must be that avian fiend the Penguin!" the Trickstress realizes.
"Exactly, and the only person who'd know where that prized collection is would be the Penguin himself, so why don't we just ask him! Trickstress, instead of flirting with forensic scientists, perhaps you could use your feminine wiles to convince the Penguin to lead you to the stolen art?" Batwoman suggests.
She gasps, "Holy seduction! I don't think that sort of behavior would be appropriate for a young lady like myself."
"Criminals are attuned to the disorderly and someone like the Penguin would be attracted to the idea of corrupting an innocent youth like yourself. However, being an intelligent young woman, you could easily use that to your advantage in fooling him into a sense of security."
The Trickstress ponders this for a moment, "Well...gosh Batwoman, if it weren't my namesake, I wouldn't go through with it, but I am the Trickstress after all. I'll give it a shot."
"Perfect. The Penguin frequents his nightclub The Iceberg Lounge, don a disguise and I'll take you," she instructs.
In her inconspicuous disguise of a green dress, gloves, and purse, Natalie saunters into the Iceberg Lounge, a classy, wholesome establishment on the outside, but a place of intrigue and scandal within. She finds a table and sits down, trying to formulate a plan.
"Miss, this arrived from the manager," Jack, one of the servers presents her with a card on a silver platter.
Natalie opens up the card, which is an invitation to the Iceberg Lounge's VIP room. Getting up from her table, and card in hand, she walks up a set of large crystalline stairs to the VIP room. Showing her invitation to the guard, he pulls back the curtain to reveal a velvet red room. As Natalie steps in, she notices a man in the shadows, sitting on a red couch and swirling a wine glass.
"Greetings, Trixie," the Penguin's mid-toned voice oozes with charm, referring to Natalie by her fake name.
She giggles, "...Oswald, sweetheart."
"Come, it's been so long since we last saw each other," he pleads, gesturing from the dark.
Natalie cautiously approaches him, setting her purse on a nearby table. The Penguin comes into view, the thin man in a sharp suit, monocle, and white gloves. His top hat is placed off to the side, along with his glass. He's smoking a cigarette from a long holder, but quickly removes it as Natalie sits down next to him. Their eyes meet, and she reaches over and smooths her hand against his cheek.
"Oh, Oswald, why do we have to keep hiding like this? You could quit these dastardly ways and we could have a normal relationship," she pleads, stroking his cheek.
The Penguin grasps her wrist, pushing her against the edge of her seat, "Or, you could turncoat, my pet. What's a good girl like you doing with a man like me if you're not a at least a little bad on the inside?"
"Maybe you're right...maybe I'm not as good as you'd think…" she smiles mischievously.
They both chuckle, their faces draw so close...as if they're about to kiss…
"Would you like to see something?" the Penguin asks.
Natalie's face lights up, "Of course."
He gets up, grabbing his black umbrella from nearby. Hobbling to a nearby wall in the lounge, the Penguin presses a nearly invisible button with the tip of his umbrella. The wall opens up to reveal the entire Audubon collection hanging on the hidden wall.
"I've recently come into some art," he explains, walking up next to Natalie as she admires it.
"Gee Oswald, but, why'd you steal all of this art?" she asks.
"Because my child, as not only a patron, but a protector of the arts, I find it's a crime how these rare pieces go unappreciated! Your generation doesn't understand the intricacies of classic works, and feel justified to just...throw them away, forget about them! Well I say: nay! That's why I've decided to keep them hidden here, where they'll only be glanced by appreciative eyes."
Natalie slowly begins nodding her head, "Sure Oswald...say, can I use your phone?"
"Oh, of course. You know where my secret study is," he points to the couch where they'd just been sitting.
She walks over to the couch, and pulls out the middle cushion, revealing a red lever. Pulling the lever, a wall on the other side of the lounge opens up. She steps through, and the door closes behind her. Spotting the phone on the Penguin's desk, she quickly rotates the dial to call Batwoman.
"What did you find my young friend?" Batwoman answers.
"The Penguin is hiding the Audubon collection in his VIP room in the Iceberg Lounge!" Natalie exclaims in a shouted whisper.
"Good work Trickstress! I'll be right there."
Batwoman hangs up, and Natalie hangs up the phone, just in time to hear a *click* by the secret door. She runs to it, and realizes that the door is now sealed.
"Hey Oswald! I'm finished with the phone...you can open up now!" she shouts.
A devilish chuckle comes from the other side, "...oh, I know Trixie...or should I say...the Trickstress!"
Natalie's expression morphs into one of dread as the Penguin's chuckle turns into a cackling squawk, "Thought you could 'trick' me, hmm? Well this time, it is I who have tricked you! That's not the real Audubon collection, I have the real collection stashed somewhere else, you'll never find it! And now you have Batwoman heading right for my trap! Ha ha ha!"
"You won't get away with this!" Natalie cries, slamming her fist against the door.
"We'll see about that my little bird! It is a shame though, we could've had a beautiful future together," the Penguin laments, before laughing off.
Will the Trickstress escape Penguin's perilous plot? Will Batwoman spot his harolling scheme? Find out next time, same Bat Time, same Bat Channel!
Author's Note: While my trip to New York City has been extended to the entire week due to plane ticket availability (sadly I'm not doing anything Gotham-related, mostly just school and tourist stuff), I will continue posting as usual (I understand this chapter is a bit late, but I came down with a fever last night and was unable to post).
Also, there's less than ten chapters until the seventy-fifth chapter of BOAF. Oswald's bonus scene for the fiftieth chapter was pretty successful, but I want to do something a little more this time around. What I've been thinking of is an entire extra arc about Natalie and Ed's childhood, with possibly a cameo from Oswald. But that also means a higher review demand on the specific chapter, maybe nine instead of six. Or I could just write another bonus scene for six reviews, same as last time. I'd like to know what you guys would prefer. If no one weighs in, I'll just go for the extra arc, which is something I've wanted to do for a while now
Erik-is-my-angel1234: Thanks, although I know it will never be considered as such, I do try to treat the story as if it's canon with the show
McCoyote: Yay, thanks so much for this, I'd come down with a fever last night and this long review was just what I needed to raise my spirits. And I'm honored that I've inspired you to write your own fic, I'll read it if I get the chance.
Although canon Penguin is generally villainous overall, there are actually plenty of stories in which he tries going straight, including BOAF's namesake, an episode of Batman: the Animated Series. Before first being introduced to Batman: the Animated Series, I was pretty indifferent about the Penguin, but his round character design in that cartoon makes him look like a plush toy when he smiles. Admittedly, I don't remember watching Batman Returns until watching it with my dad one summer when a local channel was airing it for its 20th anniversary. While I love Robin Lord Taylor's acting performance, I'm starting to have mixed feelings about the character, since he's starting to look more and more like DC's answer to Loki.
There isn't nearly as much information on Ed as there is on Oswald, with Oswald I have dozens of interviews with Mr. Taylor and the showrunners to pull from, where's Cory Michael Smith has maybe six or seven that go into any depth. It makes the transition harder, and it also makes it harder to predict what the show runners are trying to do with the character. And the dialogue. While Ed personality-wise is very similar to many of my friends in real life, his unique pace of speaking means that everything he says has to have a certain rhythm to it. Plus I've basically given up on writing my own riddles. I try to keep Ed as a contrast to Oswald, but they also have a lot of similarities that aren't easy to ignore.
I'd originally drawn Natalie to be a rather flexible OC, since, especially toward the beginning, it's better to highlight the personas of canon characters. But as I noticed that people were liking her despite her bland persona and the fact that I'd given no prior physical details about her, I started trusting myself more and started giving her things like a backstory, physical traits, and more concrete morals.
I can understand not liking the Barbara scenes, they're certainly not for everyone, but I've introduced her because I want to use the story to explain why she does the things she does. It's still early on, and while I wish I could write at a pace to where I could keep up with the latest episode, that'd mean at least ten chapters a week, and I couldn't do that even on my old schedule of posting every other day
Even though I'm going on vacation, I have to take my laptop with me due to the sheer amount of homework I have over spring break. So since I've already written the next few chapters in advance, I just need to reply to reviews before posting
Thanks! :)