Chapter 11
Crashing the Party
As Diana was listening to her mother rambling on about the god of Love Aphrodite there was a knock on her hotel door. Immediately she raced to the door and opened it. She turned the knob and saw a Bruce Wayne dressed in a grey tailored suit with a dark blue tie in Windsor knot. His hair was slicked back but there were a few bangs resting a few inches away from his eye brows.
"Bruce," Diana said with a small as she wrapped her arms around him.
Bruce kept his lips in a straight line as his hazel green eyes looked at the lady dressed in white silk. "I am missing something?" He asked.
Hippolyta arose and walked over to the door, her blue eyes stared directly at him as she studying him. "So this is the man that has won my daughter's heart," She said looking at his chiseled chin and inviting curved lips. "Step forward," She commanded.
"Mother what are you doing?" Diana asked in spiteful tone.
"Diana, silence, for I know what I am doing." Hippolyta said in firm voice.
Bruce stepped forward to the queen, he kept his head straight and arms crossed. The queen squeezed his cheeks together. "He does have a strong jaw," She said. "Well structured cheek bones." She looked at Bruce's eyes. "I can see why my daughter is in love with you Bruce Wayne. You have the qualities of a true warrior and not to mention the body mass."
The dark haired billionaire smirked.
"But that doesn't not mean you are off the hook, both of you are in dire consequence for your actions towards loving each other. The goddess of Love as placed Diana on trial or disobeying the law of loving a mortal man. She has sentence Diana to the pits of Tartus and your punishment has yet to be decided." Hippolyta clenched her jaw. "I am here to give you a chance to redeem yourselves. Diana will come with me at once and you Bruce Wayne will go on with your own life. I am sorry to both of you but it is the only way to save you."
Diana stood in front of Bruce. "No, mother I am staying in Gotham with Bruce for what time we have left."
Hippolyta death the billionaire a death glare, "Is this also the choice you want?" She asked. "You don't know what the goddess is capable of."
Bruce nodded. "I don't fear magic your highness." He said with a confidant voice tone.
"You should, Bruce Wayne." Hippolyta snapped. "I have seen what the goddess can do to mortals, to the men that disobeyed the laws of love. It is a horrific sight to see just richness of a body being reduced into a pitiful form." She looked at Diana. "Has for you my daughter, this is your choice and I can't not force you to come with me, you are a grown woman and able to make your own choices. I will only be able to see you once in the pits."
Diana had tears rolling down her eyes. "I guess the gods are against us, mother."
Hippolyta nodded and wrapped her arms around her only child. "Just remember whatever happens to you tomorrow night, I shall always love you and now and forever." She kissed her daughter on the forehead and the left through the door. Diana followed her out.
"Mother," She called out. "Mother, please wait."
Hippolyta turned around. "Diana," She said with sorrow. "Just remember that you are strong, you have the blood of the Amazons flowing through your veins."
"I will mother."
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After Hippolyta gave her final goodbye Diana returned to the hotel room and found Bruce standing by the window looking out at the city.
"Do you think what my mother said will happen to you, Bruce?" Diana asked.
Bruce turned and looked at her. "I don't know princess, and right now I am not worried about magic and goddesses." He said in a growling tone. "I have a murderer to track down." He looked at his Rolex. "Excuse me, princess."
Diana grabbed him by the arm. "Bruce, just be careful, we don't know what is at stake or who Aprfrodite has working for her. You need to be smart about this, maybe I should come with you."
"Fine," Bruce groaned. "If you insist, but first I have a birthday party to attend you." He looked at her. "So make sure you bring your armor."
Diana nodded.
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Rose Red was standing on her apartment's balcony watering her plants when Eris appeared like a shadow in the room. Her dark eyes gazed at the youthful red head. "Is everything set for tonight?" She hissed sounding like a snake.
Rose nodded. "Yes, I have the vial in my hand bag and when I get Batman alone I shall give him the potion."
"Did you perform a test run on the potion? Just to make sure that everything works moral?"
Rose shook her head. "No, not yet but I think I have someone in mind."
Eris rubbed her hands to together. "Excellent, see I know that mortals would make perfect slaves to control." She laughed and moved her long cloak around until there was a grey mist and just like that she was gone.
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The colors of the hour of twilight reflected off the waves of Gotham Bay as Batman was crouched down on a fire escape in a alley way, in his hand was a picture of a the missing sister of deceased Ashley Whitehorn, Tilly Whitehorn was the teens name, Gordon received the photo from her father about three hours ago and gave it to Batman to look into. So far the Dark Knight had no leads and he was beginning to doubt that she was alive.
"Master Wayne," Alfred Pennyworth's voice said through the comlink in Batman's cowl.
"What is it Alfred?" Batman asked in a do not disturb tone with his voice.
"Shouldn't you be getting ready for the party, it's almost eight."
"Not right now, I'm busy."
"Well hurry up, it's important for Bruce Wayne to attend."
Bruce rolled his eyes underneath the cowl. "Fine, Alfred you win." He jumped down from the stairway and smacked his booted feet on the pavement and headed to his parked cycle that he covered up with a tarp.
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Inside the City Hall building were crowds of people, Commissioner Jim Gordon was there with his wife Barbara, Lucius Fox and wife Nicole were there also.
"Do you think Bruce is going to make it in time?" Nicole asked her husband. "He's always late for the important things."
"I believe at we will see his face tonight, my dear." Lucius replied. "After all we all know that he loves parties."
Bruce Wayne's silver Lamborghini Avengo pulled out to the curb, as his side door flipped up , he stepped onto the cement wearing a black tux and black dress shoes . He looked at the row of reporters and waved with his classic charm. The valet who was standing near the car walked to the passenger's door and helped Diana wearing a long black and grey dress out.
"Thank you," She said smiling as Bruce took her head, he could clearly see that she was wearing her silver brackets.
"Always prepared aren't you princess," He said.
Diana shook her head playfully. "You should talk."
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All eyes were on Bruce and his attractive sleek date that he had his arm wrapped around, he smiled. "Sorry, I'm late, but I had a few other parties to crash before I came here! Where's the birthday boy?"
Everyone in the crowd laughed as Bruce spotted the Mayor next to his wife and youngest daughter Devon.
A waiter handed Bruce a tall glass of champagne. "Mayor Hamilton Hill, you have always been a close friend of my father and me. When Mr. Fox told me that you were turning 60, at first I didn't want to believe it, when then I got a good look at your grey hair and said wow I guess the rumors must be true."
Mayor Hill's face was turning red, as he shifted with embarrassment.
"I am here to wish you a happy birthday and I hope you have many more to come. Here's to you Mr. Mayor." Bruce placed his drink on a table and clapped with a bright smile.
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In a black pickup truck that was parked in alley way the Joker emerged with a few of his masked men holding shot guns in their hands. He looked at his pocket watch.
"Boys' it's time to go crash the party."
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Bruce stood on the balcony of the stairwell when Fox walked up to him. "That was quiet a speech, Mr. Wayne." The older gentlemen said.
Bruce gave him a smile. "Any news on the blood sample I gave you?"
Fox nodded. "I found plant extract imbedded in the white blood cells."
"Plant?" Bruce asked with a shock expression.
"Indeed, the compound is found in petals of the flower to make the toxin, it affects the chemicals in brain making the victims hormones increase."
"So that it explains it," Bruce said folding his arms. "I was infected with a plant toxin that actually was created to be a love drug."
"Afraid so, but I believe in a few more hours it should be out of your system."
Bruce nodded. "Thank you. Mr. Fox." He looked over his friends shoulder and saw Diana.
Fox turned at looked at Diana, "I'll leave you two alone."
Diana moved to where Bruce was standing. "What was all that about?" She asked.
"Nothing, princess, just enjoy the evening."
"So when do you want to sneak out?"
Bruce looked at his Rolex. "We still have time."
Diana placed her hand on the railing. "Bruce, about what my mother said,"
"Leave it!" He said. "Like I said before, I'm not afraid of magic."
"Not even if you will turn into something other than human?"
Bruce shrugged. "It depends, princess. I know that you hate pigs ever since Circe turned you into one."
"Yes, and you had to perform a song for my freedom. Now what was it…? "She paused. 'Am I Blue?'
Bruce made his lips become pursed; his high cheeks bones were tight through his flesh. "Don't ever mention that song again, princess. I can't believe that Zantanna told you after I trusted her."
"Yes, but you were good to me when I was under Circe's spell." She placed her hand on his cheek. "You have always been good to be, handsome."
Bruce placed his hand on top of hers. "So what does the goddess of Love turn men into?"
"Whatever she wants, she and Circe are what you call partners in crime. But if you thought Circe was bad you should see the horrors her daughter Alexandria can do."
"You mean some actually had relations with that witch?" Bruce asked.
Diana nodded. "Forcefully, but then she turned her slave into a pig and killed him."
Bruce rubbed his lips together. "Well, I'll be keeping my distance from her."
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The Joker entered the hall with his gun pointing at the crowd. "What's a birthday without a clown?" He snapped his fingers and his men stood in front of the crowd. "Now where is the birthday boy?"
Bruce looked at Diana. "Protect the Mayor and his family." Bruce said.
"Where are you going?" Diana asked.
"To change."
He sipped through the back door unnoticed.
The Joker moved through the terrified guest smiling. "Come on, Mr. Mayor, don't be shy."
Mayor Hamilton Hill looked at his daughter. "Devon, whatever happens , stay with your mother."
Devon nodded. "Dad, don't, he'll kill you."
"I have no choice sweetheart." He walked through the crowd. "Here I am, Joker."
The Joker turned and looked at the grey haired man standing straight.
"There he is the birthday boy. Now come over here and get your present."
Devon had tears rolling down her face as she watched her father being handled by the green haired clown.
Diana was standing next to her. "Don't worry , little sister," She said.
"Batman will come won't he?" Devon asked wiping the tears from her eyes. "He just has to come ."
"He will."
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In the parking lot of the City Hall Bruce was walking up to his expensive sports car when a thug dressed in a clown masked appeared in front of his car, toting a shot gun in Bruce's face.
"Where do you think you're going, pretty boy?" The thug asked.
Bruce rolled his eyes and flipped the shot gun around in the thugs hands, used it has a fulcum and to snap his forearm and then smashed the man's jaw bone with the stock of the gun without hesitation, the thugs fell landing on his back while Bruce stripping the rest of the gun into pieces and threw them into different directions. He then grabbed the thug by legs and dragged him away from his car.
Bruce opened the trunk of his Lamborghini and pulled put a huge black case and ran into the nearest alley to change.
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The Joker pressed the knife into the Mayor's neck. "I wanted to make sure that the little Mayor got my gift." He laughed as Batman appeared from the crowd.
He glared at the Joker. "Drop the knife."
The Joker patted the Mayor's cheek. "No cake for you Bats." He chuckled as there was a tap on his shoulder. He turned around and saw Diana standing right behind him.
"Didn't you listen, you sordid little man," She grabbed the Joker by the wrist and flung the knife out of his hand. "He said drop the knife." The clown smiled and then dropped the Mayor to her feet and then he twisted his body around and placed his hidden switchblade that slid out of his pockets sleeve and placed it on Diana's neck. He looked at Batman daring him.
"I think I found my party favor for the evening."
"Joker," Batman growled. "Let her go!"
Diana shook her head at Batman. The Joker raised the knife to her lips. "I wonder if she has a beautiful smile."
Batman lunged after him as the he turned to jab his fist into Batman's shoulder. The Dark Knight blocked the bow with his gloved hands and spins him around; Diana broke free from the clowns grasp and kicked him into the legs, making fall forward. Batman grabbed the Joker's wrist as he held him down. Diana disarmed the knives and slid them under the dessert table.
The Joker slid a playing card from his sleeve and sliced Batman's chin and then head butted the hero in the forehead. Batman fell back as the Joker crawled to the crowd; he stood up and grabbed Devon Hill by twisting her arm.
"Get your hands off of me, clown!" Devon demanded.
"May, I can see that you're a tough gal." The Joker moved to the stairwell. "If anyone wants to be the hero of this brat's life please by all means step forward so I can blow her brains out."
Diana helped Batman back onto his feet. "He's mad." She said.
"You don't know the half of it, princess." Batman said as he raced to the stairs and stood on the last step. "Let her go Joker, I'm the one that you want."
"So true Bats, but I live staring at death. It's just something that always makes me laugh." He moved to the balcony of the stair well, Batman followed pulling out a few of his Bat throwing stars from his belt.
Diana stood below the balcony getting her arms ready to catch Devon once the clown threw her down.
Batman reached the position of the Joker; his eyes were focused on the Joker's weapon that was pointing at Devon's temple.
"Drop the gun!" He said in a rasp. "And let her go."
"If you insist," The Joker dropped Devon from the balcony but Diana flew up with her arms opened and caught the teen.
"I've got you; little sister Diana said as she settled down to the bottom and gently helped Devon to her worried mother.
"Thank you," Devon said wrapping her arms around Diana.
Diana nodded.
Batman looked at her from the balcony. "Good girl," He said as he punched the Joker in the jaw bone to knock him out.
"Enjoy your life while you still can Bats." The Joker laughed. "From what I heard you're not going to exist."
"We'll see." Batman punched the Joker again and walked down the stairs as the eyes of the crowd clapped as he passed them. Devon Hill ran up with her big brown eyes staring at his armor.
"Thanks, for saving my dad."
Batman nodded. "You don't have to thank me."
Devon wrapped her arms around him. "Yes, I do, from what I heard from my father you don't get thank enough."
Batman gave the teen a smile and then pulled her away from him as he walked away.