A/N: Thanks so much for the two reviews on the first chapter. It made me very happy to see there was some interest in my uber random fic. Well here's the next chapter. Enjoy.
"Oh my gosh Daria!" said an excited Brittany, "We're in Gotham! I'm so excited."
"Yes. Clearly." Daria returned as she wrapped a scarf around her neck, "I'm excited just to be off that plane.
"Oh yeah. Plane rides get people really cranky!" said the ditzy blonde as she carried her toiletries to the small bathroom of their shared hotel room. Daria, much to her and Brittany's disappointment had ended up randomly being chosen to bunk with the blonde cheerleader. The girl, still dressed in her cheerleading outfit smiled pleasantly.
"I can't wait to get out and explore. This room is really depressing." It could have been the room that was depressing or it could have been the mood radiating off of the other eighteen year old. Daria agreed silently. She did want to get out. If only just to be away from her roommate.
Brittany danced out of the room but Daria took her time. She paused in front of the full length mirror near the door. She wore her customary leather boots but with black and white leggings to keep her warm in the chilly whether. She also wore her classic black skirt with her green jacket. Her orange tee shirt was replaced with an orange turtle neck. Wrapped around the orange clad neck was a black and green scarf. Daria picked up her black backpack and slung it over her shoulder.
"Alright students." A clear authority figure said standing in front of a large group of teenagers, "Before you can scamper off to explore the city we're going to head to Wayne enterprises. The president of the company was kind enough to take time out of his busy schedule to see you so behave and show what kind of students Lawndale high produces! After that the afternoon is yours. And remember once you leave the group Lawndale high is no longer legally accountable for your safety." She then turned on her sensible pumps and began to lead the way.
"And remember we're here to have fun!" Mr. O'Neil happily reminded them.
As they walked down the filthy streets Jane Lane held a camera in her pale hands. She glanced around, her black hair flipping into her face as she did so.
"Is that the penguin?" she asked pointing.
"No… that's just a fat gothic kid." Daria said with her hands jammed into her pocket. Jane squinted.
"Ah. You're right." There was a moment of pause, "Is that the Riddler?"
"No. It's a hobo."
"Is that…?"
"No." Daria cut her best friend off, "Sheesh what's with a the wanna-be sightings? Those are criminals; we don't want to meet them."
"I don't want to meet them. I want to photograph them."
"Because?" Daria asked in her dead pan voice.
"Because I'll be able to sell an up close picture to any news paper or tabloid and make money, money, money." Daria stared blankly at her friend.
"It works in Spider-Man." Her friend said lowering the camera.
"Aright we're here!" sang the principal. Looking up a tall dark building loomed over the group. It towered over the near by building. The top was shrouded in clouds. On the front of the sky scraper was a huge W.
"Oh it's really tall!" Brittany said cocking her head to the side.
"Well yeah it's tall Babe. I mean how you expect all the people to fit in a smaller building?" responded her equally ditzy boyfriend.
"Oooh you're right Kevy! You're so smart."
"Well yeah. You have to be smart to make it in the big city."
"If his kind of "smarts" are required to make it in the "big city" then we're screwed." Daria said shuffling along with the group.
Stepping through the doors of the cooperate building was like stepping into a different city. The filth outside seemed to be a thing of another world. This building was pristine and clean. The marble floors shined and sparkled. The flowers in vases were fresh and colorful. Even the people seemed cleaner. Sitting behind a desk was a small pale woman with her brown hair pulled back into a bun.
Miss Lee rushed forward and said, "This is the class from LAWNDALE HIGH"
"Of course." The woman said smiling, "If you'll wait just a moment Mr. Wayne will be down to see you."
It seemed she had just finished the sentence when a powerful form entered the room. The head of this international corporation seemed to be no older then thirty. His square jaw was set as he strolled purposefully through the doors. His shoulders were broad and thrown back. His intense eyes darted around the room and landed on the group of teenagers.
"Who's that Mac Daddy?" Kevin whispered to his team mate.
"It's the president of the company and I told you not to call me that!"
"President? Like of the United States? Oh cool." Kevin asked scratching his head.
"Do I even have to make a comment?" Daria asked.
"Hello," he said, in his deep friendly voice, "I'm Bruce Wayne but you all can just call me Bruce." His smile seemed genuine even though it didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Hi ya Bruce!" Brittany said waving.
"Yes hello Bruce Wayne guy." Sandy said with her arms crossed.
"Erm. Hello." He said awkwardly, "Well, let's begin the tour shall we?"
He turned and began to walk away. Daria shifted her backpack on her shoulder. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed the men in black sweats as they dragged the darkness from the streets into the pristine building. They tarnished it with their presence which seemed to fill the room and more of them slipped in. Daria grabbed Jane's sleeve just as they pulled on their masks. She opened her mouth just as they shouted.
"OKAY! EVERYONE GET DOWN!" one of them bellowed. The teenagers gasped and dropped to the floor. The men pulled out their guns and began to race past the group stepping over them.
"Okay!" the leader shouted, "You are all hostages now!"
"Does this count as a mugging?" Jane asked raising an eyebrow as the thieves tromped around them. Daria sighed reluctantly.
"Yeah it does. You get that pizza when we get back." Daria glanced around, "Where's Wayne?" she asked looking at the other hostages. There were no broad shouldered men amongst them. Just teenagers and a few secretaries and teachers.
"Hey!" one masked man barked. Daria looked up at the gun pointed at her.
"Yes?" she asked her voice and flat and bored sounding as ever.
"Give me your bag!"
"Take it. There's nothing of any worth in there." She said lifting the bag. As the man reached for it a black object slammed into his hand. The man cried out holding his hand up. A black bat shaped object was imbedded into his flesh.
Daria looked up as a man in black swung over her head kicking the man in the face. She turned to her artistic friend who shook her head.
"Unless he holds us captive that pizza is still on you."
"Damn. Well then one can only hope." She said evenly.
The caped man in black drove his fist into the stomach of one man sending him flying into another. Mr. O'Neil eeped covering his head as a fiend landed in front of him. Daria kept her eyes on the hero as he darted around the room knocking guns from hands. His shoulders were broad, as he slung his fist connecting it with the last man in black his square jaw set hard. They flew back in to a pillar.
Looking around once again for any he had missed the bat like man raced out the front door and disappeared into the crowd. How a man dressed like that could fade away so easily was nearly dumfounding to Daria.
"Erm…" the secretary said slowly getting to her feet, "I think it would be best if your group came back tomorrow."
The teenagers and teachers carefully got to their feet looking around as if unsure. Suddenly the silence was broken when a voice squeaked.
"I think the bat guy was checking you out or whatever Quinn."
"Oh no Sandy!" the redhead returned, "It was all you." Then the class exploded with excited chatter. They had been in Gotham two hours and already had been held up by criminals and rescued by the world famous Batman.
Daria adjusted the strap on her bag.
"Anybody feel like going back home and never leaving their rooms again?" she asked.
"But then I won't get to show off my tights."
A/N: Alright. Sorry no joker yet! I wanted to build up the story a little before getting to the meat of it. Sorry! But if its not too much of a problem I'd love another review or two. Thanks so much! -InvadingAngel