The car ride to "the house" was long, as it was far from Gotham's city center. For most of the ride I sat silently in the passenger seat, hiding my face when we passed by large groups of people so I wouldn't be noticed. It was a strange feeling, being wanted. I was a criminal now. I half heartedly wondered if they had released it to the public that Bruce Wayne was the Batman yet… I assumed they had. I had nothing anymore, all my titles had been stripped, my money was no doubt under surveillance, and my house had most likely been taken. I sighed and turned to Selina.
"I'm never going to be able to show my face again." I stated solidly. Selina laughed, and I was slightly offended at her insensitivity.
"Do you really think any of us can show our faces?" I frowned.
"I'm not like you. I'm a hero, not a criminal."
"Bruce…" she sighed, "I know it's hard for you to understand right now, but Gotham doesn't want you-"
"But they need me!" I cut her off, my voice lowering slightly.
"They don't see it that way." She sounded almost sad as she said it, her eyes casting down for a brief moment. I turned my head away and glared angrily out the window.
"Look, I know this isn't exactly all fun and games for you. You're a good guy and whatnot. But where else are you going to go?" She asked hotly, her sharp tongue and sarcasm coming back into play. "You are a fugitive now; probably one of Gotham's most wanted. Here at the house they don't ask questions, they don't judge you. You can be anyone you want, and they aren't going to care, Bruce. So this is the best you can expect at the moment. Maybe things will cool down, and Gotham will realize that the Batman is what they need; maybe they'll want you back. But until then, stop your whining and be thankful you're not in Arkham." She finished her speech and awaited my reply. When I said nothing she huffed loudly. "Fine. Brood all you want. You have about a half hour until we get to the house, then you better buck up and enjoy yourself."
The silence lasted for the next few minutes before I finally decided to change the subject. "Why is it called the house?" I asked, turning my attention back towards Selina and masking my anger.
"It's actually called the House of Atrum. I don't really know why it's called that, it just is…" She shrugged her shoulders. I thought for a minute.
"Atrum?" I asked.
"Yes. That's what I said. Atrum." She said, visibly annoyed.
"Is that a name?" I asked.
"I don't know Bruce. Ask someone else." She growled. I frowned down at my lap and silently took note that The Catwoman had a very short temper. Something that would come in handy if I was to be around her for long periods of time.
The House was what looked like an old style apartment building. It was tall, three or four stories. It was made of faded brick and the windows were evenly spaced, though some of them were broken or boarded. I took note of the fire exit on the West side of the building, just for future reference. Selina parked her car in the parking cover behind the building and we got out. I was surprised at how well kept the grounds were. The lawn was slightly overgrown, and there were fallen leaves on the sidewalk, but there weren't any dead bodies or weapons of mass destruction on the lawn as I had expected. Selina must have caught me staring because she spoke up about it.
"That's Scarecrow's doing… He's a bit of a neat freak…" I looked up at her. I was finding it slightly difficult to adjust to seeing things in the red tint of the mask.
"Crane is here?' I asked after mentally debating on whether or not to speak in my Batman cover voice or not. I logically decided against it. We began walking around to the front of the building before she spoke again.
"Yeah, you'd be surprised." I wasn't sure how to take that statement exactly, did she mean I'd be surprised he was here or by who else was here? I decided not to ask. We arrived at the door and opened it casually. "Ready for the grand tour?" She asked teasingly. I said nothing.
"Who's he?" A large man asked from the bar that sat in the foyer.
"A friend." Catwoman hissed back, and he shrugged his shoulders. I looked around curiously, realizing just how much it resembled an old apartment. In the opening foyer there was a bar, with a few old bar stools. They were mismatched and duct taped, to no surprise. They didn't honestly seem very stable. To floors were light wood that was dented in many places. There was a lounge type area with a few ripped leather couches, much like the one at Selina's house, circled around a TV. The TV appeared to have been shot however, so it seemed quite useless. The main staircase was large and very eloquent, with red carpeted stairs. I was starting to notice a pattern about the House however, everything was either ripped or dented.
Above the stairs hung a large wood sign with the words "The House of Atrum" burned artfully into it. I smiled at it appreciatively.
"This is the main floor. The kitchen is through there," Catwoman said as she gestured to a large door just passed the lounge. "But there's never any food in there. You gotta find your own." When I didn't respond she sighed and grabbed my arm, leading me towards the stairs.
As we walked up them she explained that there was four floors to the House, with a basement that lead directly to the underground sewer systems. She told me to avoid the basement at all costs, the things that happen down there stay down there. I was tempted to ask what exactly went on down there but before I could she was on the next statement.
"Each floor is dedicated to different villains in a way. I mean no one really ever says it, we all just know who each floor belongs to." I didn't really understand, but I didn't feel like asking would be the smartest idea.
Each floor was almost exactly as I had figured it would be. Simple hallways with rooms on each side. The building was small as a whole, so there were only about four rooms on each floor. Some of the doorways were broken and I assumed that the locks were all shattered at least once.
"There's no privacy here. You gotta understand that, and get used to it." I nodded in acknowledgement and she continued to speak. "The gangsters usually hang out here, this is kinda their area, ya know?" She said as she gestured to the floor area around us, the second floor. I shrugged and she rolled her pretty green eyes. "About four gang members live here at all times, six on a crowded day. It's a place to get away to when you're wanted, yeah?" I nodded. "Alright then... Next floor!"
"The third floor is the best floor." Catwoman said with a wink. I was confused about that statement but I didn't ask. "All the best fights happen here." She laughed.
"Who's?" I asked as we got to the top of the stairs.
"Well you see, good old Joker-Man finds it funny to steal little Spooky's drugy-wugy's." The voice that spoke was not Catwoman's, in fact it was not a woman's at all. It one a recognized well, and I turned quickly to see the Joker leaned against the doorway of the room nearest to the stairs. I stayed silent, as much as I wished to hit him, I stayed silent. He walked forward, and inspected me closely. He walked around me in a circle, slowly and methodically.
"Well well well... Look what the cat dragged in..." The Joker said casually before doubling over in hysterical laughter at his own joke. I clenched my jaw.
"Very funny Joker. Now if you'd mind I'd like to continue my tour." Catwoman said coldly as she grabbed my arm and dragged me around the man who was now on his knees.
"Up we go." She said as she dragged me up the stairs once again. "I usually stay on the third floor. Not 'cause I have to, no way! In fact, Two Face has offered for me to stay upstairs with him many times, but why would I leave a floor with so much... excitement?" She laughed to herself quietly. I didn't reply.
"And here we have the final floor." It looked identical to the previous ones. I sighed.
"So let me get this straight..."
"Each floor has a certain designation. First floor is the foyer. You can hang out there if you'd like, but it's oddly boring. Second floor is the gangsters. They hold down the House, keep it safe and running. They're the sane ones! Haha!" She laughed to herself, turning to me for reassurance, but I stayed silent. "Fine then... Anyway, the third floor is me and mine. We got me, Joker, and Little Old Scarecrow. And then up here, we got the boring ones. Two Face, Pretty Little Ivy, and... Oh yeah, and that crazy one, the Riddler. Eh. He can be fun I guess." She shrugged her shoulders casually.
"-I don't care to be honest. Deal with it yourself." A voice said as a man walked out of a room toward the end of the hall. I looked up to see Two Face, his scars more gruesome than I remembered. He strode down the hall toward us in his slightly scuffed blue button up shirt. Behind him trailed a man who walked slouched, the picture perfect definition of submissive.
"But please, I need you to do something-" the man pleaded slightly before yelping suddenly. He was cut off by Two Faces arm across his chest as he was slammed against the wall. He put his hands up terrified, as if to surrender.
"I don't care Crane. If you want to keep your life you'll stop talking to me about this." Two Face growled. He bunched his hand up tightly in the center of Dr. Crane's collared shirt and tossed him to the ground, he landed near my feet with a small gasp of pain. Catwoman snickered beside me.
"I see you found a friend." Two Face stated, his lips pulled into a tight line. It took me a second to realize he was talking to us. I tore my eyes away from the blue eyed man who was trying to straighten up. He seemed to be having trouble, and I wondered vaguely if he was injured. I looked up to Two Face just to catch him staring straight at me.
"He's with me." Catwoman purred. Two Face nodded.
"Find him somewhere to stay." He turned his attention to Catwoman. "I'm going out tonight. Bank Robbery. Could be promising, join me if you'd like." And with that he pushed past us and began to walk down the stairs before stopping and turning to us once more.
"Actually, if you wouldn't mind, I need you there as backup. Bring your friend if you'd like. But I suggest you follow me." Then he began to walk again. Catwoman sighed and turned to me.
"You stay here." She commanded before slinking off after Two Face. Once she disappeared completely I heard movement from the man on the ground. I turned to him quickly, watching him struggle to stand. I reached out a hand, but he slapped it away. He stood swaying slightly on his feet.
"I'm fine. The Joker shocked me." He growled before I had even asked. He eyed me carefully, just staring. I felt uncomfortable and wished to leave, though I knew it was not my place to do so.
"You should leave now, before you have nowhere else to go." He hissed. I was surprised at how much more venom was in his voice now than there had been earlier as he begged Two Face for whatever it was he wanted.
"I wouldn't be here now if I had somewhere else to go." I said coldly before I even registered the words leaving my mouth. Crane's mouth twisted into a smile.
"Ah. I see. Well then, I suppose you'd like to stay downstairs? Yes. Well, I'll show you to your room then I guess." He motioned for me to follow him, stumbling slightly as if he was drunk. He motioned for me to go first down the stairs, turning to me and smiling as if he knew something I didn't, which I was sure without a doubt he did. I lead the way down the stairs, hesitant about every step.