Chapter 15 : Shadows in the Moonlight
Inside the interview room of Arkham, Johnathan Crane sat in a straight jacket. His face was frail and ashen from the torment waging in his mind. His arms felt like Jello due to the tight bounds of the straight jacket as he was cursed to wear.
Behind his dark blue eyes was the hidden world of angst - haunting memories of torture he gave to his victims and the nightmares that coated the very thoughts of a human mind.
Outside Vedette Countess - wearing business attire and a briefcase in her one hand - buzzed the gated door as one of doctors of Arkham met her inside the dead space of a yellow brick hallway.
"Miss Countess, the arrangements have been prepared just like you have asked." The doctor affirmed not knowing that she was under one of Vedette's mind spells that clouded the thoughts.
"I trust the fees meet your expectations, doctor."
The doctor gestured a nod as she opened the door and allowed Vedette the access to enter. The witchy woman entered the room and placed her briefcase on the steel table.
"Hello, Doctor Crane."
Crane twisted a grin. "That's not my name anymore. It was taken from me by the so called Protector of Gotham. The Batman." He replied with a glint in his eye.
Vedette exhaled with a faint smile. "I understand that you've had a few encounters with the Batman in the past. He maimed you and left you to rot in a cage."
Crane gritted his teeth. "He is a man that can turn fear against you."
She laughed. "All men have fears that come then awake in the night. We just need to dig a little deeper into his mind and find out what concealing horror he keeps hidden under that cowl."
"What do you want?" Crane asked.
"I have an offer for you, doctor. A little job that I know feels fit your lifestyle."
"I'm listening."
Vedette opened her briefcase and handed him a vial. "Fear is your power, doctor." She leaned forward and looked at Crane in the eyes. "Power that you love to control. I know that you've grown restless being trapped in this prison of debased minds."
He nodded slightly - looking at the vial. "What kind of job?"
Vedette handed a code for a Swiss bank account.
"Something that brings the worst fears out of people. Make a little performance that brings out the Batman. Let him come find you at this address." She pulled out a piece of paper with a labeled address.
"Leave the rest to me." She arose. "The vial is a new form of fear toxin. I studied your news and tweaked the formula into a recipe that I found fitting for the occasion."
Crane looked at the vial studying the mixture. "What will you do to the Batman?" He asked showing interest in the demise of his foe.
Vedette sneered with motionless eyes.
"His fate will be far worst than death."
Crane smiled. "When do I start?"
The bleak cold air nipped the bridge of Commissioner Gordon's nose as he leaned his sheltered body onto the cement ledge of the Gotham Major Crimes Unit. In his hand was a cup off luke-warm coffee that was prepared a half an hour before hand by one of the female officers downstairs who worked in the office.
A surge of torment entered his mind. Thoughts raced about all the missing children that had vanished in the last few weeks. He spent most of his days talking to the victims' parents and taking down statements. He knew the fact of the hidden truth, the children were deceased and their bodies were removed either by cremation or they were dumped into the cold unforgiving waters of Gotham Bay.
Watching his good friend , the Mayor of Gotham shed tears as he watched the coffin that held the body of Victoria being lowered six feet under .
A fluttering sound came from the shadows as the searchlight switched off.
Gordon's wary body felt jolts of panic as he slowly turned to see a tall dark figure standing next to the bolted down searchlight. Under the slits of the cowl showed the ghostly darken eyes of Batman.
"I prefer to be kept in the dark." Batman bellowed.
Gordon placed the cup on the cement ledge.
"Two Jane Doe victims were found at the east end reservoir this afternoon, cause of death unknown. But this was found on top of their chests." Gordon handed Batman the plastic bag that held an image of a black jackal printed on a thin piece of paper.
Batman flipped the bag and gazed at the inked in address.
"East end foundry," Batman grunted, analyzing the evidence.
Gordon nodded. "The forensic team is examining the bodies right now. So far no leads on the murder weapon."
Batman moved to the mantle of the roof and undid his grappling gun, hanging from a hostler hid on his right back side. He expelled the grappling wire to another cement ledge on the building across. Placing both booted feet on the cement, his lips moved as he replied.
"I'll look into it."
He swung his body into the night air as Gordon looked at him with a leery gaze.
Inside the master bedroom of Wayne Manor, Selina sat in front of a vanity wearing a silk white laced gown dabbing a hint of makeup over her flawless skin that was the same color of the rich Irish cream drink called Baileys. Her dark hair - with a hint of bronze highlights - captured the light from the poorly lit room.
Isis the black Bombay jumped onto the vanity and rubbed her sleek body against Selina wanting to have the full attention of her alluring master.
Selina twisted a small smile and lifted off the black cat as she moved to one of the bedroom windows and gazed at the crescent moon as dark clouds passed by - revealing strange formations of shapes into the azure night sky. She rubbed her crimson lips together savoring the taste of Bruce's lips that lingered inside her heated mouth.
The old butler, Alfred entered the room with a tray of hot chocolate in his hands. He carefully placed the tray on the desk and looked at the beautiful woman whose face was etched with dark shades that she tried hard to conceal from the grim past she had grown up from.
"I thought you make like a little something to warm the bones on this cold night, Miss Kyle."
Selina turned and faced him with a hint of a smile. Her hand stroked Isis. "Men like you, Alfred are the ones I treasure."
Alfred smiled at her kindly comment as he handed her a cup of coco.
Selina placed her cat on the bed and grasped the cup with her gentle hand.
"What I said before..." She felt gutted with remorse for those words she had cursed herself, knowing that the desires of her melted heart was to be with Bruce and to share a life with him beyond the cave. She didn't want to a have a fairytale romance like the ones in storybooks but just a passionate bond that they would share through words, actions and pouring emotions that would devour the very ideal of taking life for granted.
"I know, Miss Kyle." Alfred answered with compassionate eyes. "You must know something..."
Selina prepared herself.
"You have brought life back into my master. Given him a chance to love someone that shares the same interests and pain as his own. And I thank heaven for you because he would have fallen into that abyss with no hope of ever climbing out. I have watched your love grow with these tired old eyes of mine. Both of you have gotten stronger by the choices you made. I fear that there is a challenge of the heart coming and you must ready to face it."
Selina recollected her memories of what she had been through. Almost losing Bruce to Vedette's toxin that would of destroyed every fiber of his body if she did not act and gotten the antidote in time. Then what the macabre monster the Joker did to her - treated her like a child's doll and abused her enough that she almost became shattered like a unwanted ceramic doll whose pieces would be hard to glue back together.
...what more can she endure...
Her dark endearing eyes looked into Alfred's with hope in the rim of the pupils.
She thought about the enticing romance they shared in the bat cave. It was still full of reluctance but deepening closer into a burning passion that both Bruce and she craved.
"Whatever challenges life throws at me Alfred - I will be ready."
Those were the words that had rose above the depths of her soul. She knew that loving Bruce could to be a test of fate. They would endure many battles together, losses of loved ones that they cherished and mend the inflicting wounds that the city cursed them with. She turned her gaze back to the window. "I am ready." She confessed to the butler. "I love Bruce, Alfred. And I will never leave his side. This is my choice." She looked at the vast room. "This is my home."
That was Selina's truthful promise.
Alfred placed the cup down and embraced her with a gentle hug. "Thank you, Miss Kyle. You have bought peace to his old mans soul."
In the cold vast shadows mixed with a Gothic approach of Old English bookshelves - the fire was lit kinderling its flame. A glass bottle of red wine, the color of spilled red, was placed on the center of the floor with two filled glasses.
Vedette Countess laid on the floor, admiring the glow of the fire as the Joker, with a well defined bare chest, was stroking her smooth back. His finger tips felt the surface that was like raven's ebony wings.
His soulless gaze hinted with an urge to lick her flesh. To taste the blood that followed through her veins. Vedette broke the wine glass and sliced her arm, revealing the maroon liquid that dipped slowly down the flesh.
The Joker lowered his head down , tongue ready to swipe the blood.
"Taste the pure nectar, my love." Vedette hissed with her eyes burning as she felt his tongue lick the blood off and swallow it down like fine wine. She took her hand and rubbed the blood off onto her fingers and dabbed it onto his scarred lips like gloss. Than she reeled herself upwards and moved her lips closer. The blood on his lips aroused her lust. Both lips opened as she pressed hard against his own. She bit fiercely making blood drip onto her lips as she tasted the satisfaction.
The Joker slid his body down as she was on top of him. He was grinning while feeling the pressure of her sleek body rub against him.
"Come on," He dared
Vedette lifted her head up and licked her lips as her tongue grazed the indents of his chest.
"Now this is what I call a happy hour." He laughed as blood trickled down his throat.
Batman raced through traffic amidst honks and gasps of surprise as the civilians caught a glimpse of the caped crusader before he vanished from sight up ahead of them. His cape blew high in the wind, its fabric sounding furiously as its wearer.
Batman growled as he steered away from crowded intersection and into a vacant alley. Images of the Jane Does shifted through his mind. Their cold, pale and lifeless faces burned his fury as he hit the accelerator harder in his race towards the East End foundry.
He needed to get to the bottom of this madness and soon. Too many people - his people - were dying at the hands this evil witch and that crazed clown since they teamed up. If the Jackals were associated with them, then at least he could take out his frustrations on them tonight.
And he would.
He narrowed his eyes at the dark warehouse up ahead. He slowed his Batpod to a complete stop near a few storage containers outside the perimeter of the building. He set his gaze of the warehouse. A wall surrounded the perimeter with a security gate that held it closed - barbed wire wrapped about the top of it.
That wouldn't stop him.
He reached to his belt and pulled free his grapple gun. Taking aim, he fired at the top of a container and zipped up to the top of it. He stood high and observed the area beyond the wall. A few cars were parked outside the warehouse which would suggest that it wasn't empty tonight. He reached to his earpiece and spoke.
"Alfred. I'm at the warehouse. Inform Gordon. Tell him to keep him men back until I give him the go ahead."
"Understood sir."
Batman disconnected the call and stood tall before racing off the edge of the container and opening his cape into a rigid shape to glide over the wall surrounding the warehouse. He landed with a quiet drop behind one of the SUVs parked across from the main entrance to the building.
He would need to be as discreet as possible so his stealth training would be of much use tonight. He quietly skimmed behind the rows of cars, keeping to the shadows and avoiding line of sight of any of the windows overlooking the outside of the warehouse. If there were sentries they would be keeping watch inside since there seemed to be no one moving about the exterior of the building.
Batman engaged the frequency to his audio enhancer in he war of his cowl and could detect small hints of conversation occurring with the building. Some were conversing in foreign languages, but he had enough to feel encouraged to proceed. He moved the side of the building and looked both ways along the exterior before firing his grapple cable to the roof and zipping up.
He wasted no time in moving to the skylight.
The inside was dimly lit with but a few operating light bulbs hanging from the ceiling. The light was sufficient enough that he could make out five armed shapes moving about near the north end of the warehouse at ground level below him. Batman drew a small set of binoculars and spied on their appearances. Two of them wore noticeable tattoos on the side of their necks.
"Jackals," He muttered to himself.
They carried automatic weapons with a few noticeable empty handguns sitting on a few tables nearby under repair. They appeared to be henchmen in the matter of authority within their group. So their leader...
The Dark Knight noticed a door open on the upper level balcony and a man dressed in a black armani suit, stepped out of an office room and approached the railing to look down on his men. Batman immediately took notice of the weapon laced to his hand. A glove covered with sharp metal spikes with a black jackal printed on the front of his coat. His men formed beneath him and listened.
With the lack of lighting in the room and their small numbers, Batman decided now would be the best time to act. He could see or sense no trap of any kind. He reacted immediately and crashed - feet first - through the skylight and sailed down into the warehouse.
He was greeted to the sounds of startled voices followed soon by a hail of gunfire headed towards him.
"Its the Batman!"
"Waste him!"
They cried as they continued firing at the fearsome dark shape. Fortunately Batman landed quicker and immediately dashed into the shadows while the jackals and their leader scrambled in search of him.
Batman stood calmly in the shadows on the balcony above them, watching them fan out and search the area - weapons aimed. Their leader stood in the back, arms crossed waiting for them to uncover Batman's location.
Batman needed to wrap this up and get them into interrogation - their leader included. He set his sights on the nearest jackal and waited as he moved beneath his location. Batman connected a cable to the rail of the walkway then dropped and captured the hostile in a cocoon of black cape and armor.
The hostile gave a startled noise before Batman subdued him by hitting a pressure point. He pressed a button on the side of his grapple gun and the cable detached with the hostile hanging upside down from it. As he was lifted, his weapon fell from his grasp and clattered loudly on the ground.
"What was that?!"
The other jackals were alerted to the noise. Batman retreated into the shadow again and waited as they ran in the direction of the noise. Two jackals came into view and stood looking up - incredulously - at their hanging comrade. One of them shook in fear.
"Oh crap! We're dead! You hear me! We got to get out of here! Now!"
"You gutless cowards! Its one of him against five of ya, and you're telling me you can't even see him coming?" Their leader berated them angrily.
Batman wasted no time in advancing on the two distracted jackals. He grabbed them from either sides of their heads then bashed them together, knocking them unconscious.
A fourth jackal advanced from behind and sees Batman standing over his fallen comrades. He fires immediately but Batman reacts in time to avoid the gunfire then threw a batarang at the jackal's weapon - sending it out of his hands to the ground. The jackal had a send to process what had happened before a hard fist to the head subdued him.
"Four down. Two to go." Batman whispered to himself.
He fired his grapple gun to sail back onto the balcony above him - into the shadows. He could see the last jackal and his leader standing at the front, listening to the still silence. Reaching into his belt he pulled free a round object them let it sail in their direction.
A cloud of smoke instantly engulfed the two remaining jackals as one of them coughed and fired his weapon blindly into the air.
"We got to get out here boss!"
"Let him come! I'm not running!"
"But boss I-" The fifth jackal didn't finish as he found himself locked into a sleeper hold.
His loss of speech was enough for his leader to react and strike blindly into the direction the voice was last heard. He felt his wrist caught by a gloved hand before it was followed by a kick to the gut. The smoke began to dissipate enough for him to see Batman's shape towering over him.
"Rest assured Dark Knight, I won't be so easy to defeat."
He lashed out his spike hand and felt it slash against the side of Batman's cape as the Dark Knight had expertly stepped backward to avoid contact with the blow. The Black Jackal began to throw a series of hard elbows and fists which Batman took considerable effort to block. The jackal leader was a man with brute strength and aggression. He would have to be evasive and quick with his attacks.
Batman blocked a kick to his side only for the Jackal to hit him hard in the shoulder with his gloved fist. He growled as he felt the metal get stuck in his armor. Any further and he'd be bleeding. Batman grunted as he kicks the Jackal from the back of the knee twice and forces him down to a one knee in front of him. Batman elbowed his exposed arm still held up by the spike in his armor.
Batman puts strain on the Jackal's wrist, forcing him to relax his fist so he can slip off his hand - disarming him.
"Damn Bat!"
The Jackal yells as he drew a dagger from inside his coat and lashed at the Dark Knight. Batman caught his grip as the Jackal stood on his feet trying to put as much strength into his efforts as possible. Batman narrowed his eyes at him.
"You work for Countess," He hissed.
"I ain't saying anything to you, freak!"
Batman released the grip and ducked expertly to throw a hard fist beneath the Jackal's chin, then a second across his face - sending him spiraling to the floor unconscious.
"Sleep on it then." He growled.
Batman stood over him and looked around the area and the subdued enemies. The light bulb above flickered hauntingly over his dark shape in the dimly lit interior of the warehouse. He reached to his cowl ear and spoke.
"Alfred. Send a message to Gordon. Tell him to proceed to the warehouse."
"Very good sir."
Batman disconnected the call then began to tie up the jackals.
In the Batcave, Alfred was watching the news report of the two Jane Does - the roaring sound of Batpod echoed off the cave walls. The bike rolled onto the platform, Batman slowly arose from the saddle.
Batman pulled off the hard cowl and winced - feeling the aches of his body.
Alfred took the cowl from his master and the cape. They both walked to the computer desk. "From the information that the police gave out the young women were poisoned with an odorless compound called arsine."
Bruce sat onto the desk stair and began to run his gloved fingers on the keyboard. He looked drained as his eyes felt heavy.
"Why don't you call it a night, sir."
Bruce nodded at his butlers request. He flicked off the screen.
"She's waiting for you."
The billionaire stopped dead and turned around looking at his butler. "Selina?"
Alfred gestured a nod. "I know that you've been through a lot sir, but right now there is a woman upstairs that needs you."
Bruce exhaled a sigh. "I was so close tonight, Alfred. I wanted to tell the truth of how I feel. But I'm not sure if she..."
"Miss Kyle loves you. Now go up stairs and tell her that you love her. She needs to hear those words."
A few minutes later, Bruce made his way down the hall. Alfred followed with a towel as Bruce hit the bottom of the stairs. He turned around and looked into his butlers pale blue eyes. "How is she doing?" He asked with concern.
"She's been upstairs all the night."
Bruce shifted his gaze to the stairwell. "The doctor told me that she would be experiencing the effects of post-traumatic depression. I thought I wouldn't have to worry about Selina. I assumed too much... after what she had been through. What that clown did do her."
Alfred placed his hand on Bruce's broad shoulder.
"It takes time."
Bruce agreed.
Selina sat on the bed - her long brunette hair covering her slender shoulders. She only wore a Victoria Secret lace satin slip. She stared at the faint shafts of moonlight off the glass of the windows. There was calmness to her soul when her dark eyes gazed at the blue tinged light.
The blood was pumping through her veins as she recollected her thoughts of the time she shared lust, passion and desire to the man she was in love with. The man that she gave her heart to even though she knew that the shady past that haunted her would never fade away.
Tonight the tears were running dry.
Her eyes drifted to the dim shadows of the room. The picture frames of Thomas and Martha Wayne and Rachel Dawes - shadows of Bruce's past that he kept as a collection to remind him of the faults he caused his life to endure. She understood that there was so much turmoil in his life that she wished she could just give him the freedom that he craved behind those sparking hues of hazel.
The piercing eyes that saw right through her restless shell and knew that she was more than the woman that she had cursed herself, and that she believed to be, in the shadows of which she walked every night.
"Dammit Lina," She spat. "You're condescending yourself again."
She moved to the window and placed her hand on the glass to feel the cold air that was blanketing all of Gotham. The moonlight captured the shades of her uncovered flesh. The mixture of crimsons dark and light that made her lips look like the colors of a winter red rose surviving in the frozen prison of snow.
Inside, her heart beat a rhythm as she thought about the Joker's cold hands touching her flesh and reaching to grasp her breasts. Her hands felt shaky as his scarred pale face entered the depths of her mind. She could smell the stale stench of death pouring out of his grimy flesh. The taste of blood dripping down her throat as he slapped her in the face and laughed as the crimson poured.
In her mind she tried hard to bury that demon's face in the hollow walls of her thoughts. She narrowed her gaze down at the bruises on her arms. The marks that he inflicted on her without mercy.
Selina was ready to break down and shed the tears that she tried to conceal. She shook her body. "No. Big girls never cry." She regained her composure as her throat became dry from her hidden vexation that was surging through her veins. There was no contentment in those dark chocolate hues.
The words that Alfred spoke to her entered like a bleak sound that she tried to block out as it replayed.
"...I fear that there is a challenge of the heart coming and you must be ready to face it..."
Selina was never one for her own destruction. Tonight she was feeling the power of rage coming for her. She fell to her knees, pounding her fists hard into the wood as tears streamed down her soft cheeks. She was pouring out her grief-stricken emotions.
The morbid images of coffins flashed as her eyes flickered. She knew that dark days were pulling her forward. And the truth that Alfred had revealed to her, telling her that Bruce and she would face a challenge that would test their love or defeat their mortality.
She tried grasp strength and show no weakness.
Deep down she felt defeated.
Bruce stood at the doorway of the master bedroom of Wayne Manor. His hand grasped the metallic door knob. All he could smell was the stench perspiration that was covering his flesh under the black armani shirt that matched his emporio armani soft lounge pants. He heard the sound of faint whimpering coming from behind the thick oak door.
He turned the knob and slowly opened the door. The darkness of his eyes glanced at the dimly lit room and saw Selina on the floor holding her bruised arm. Her face was hidden by the shady shadows of her hair that covered the side of her face.
As he advanced closer, the shroud of sadness of her face is what his eyes focused on. He was seeing a different side of her without the elusive masquerade she always cloaked herself with in a bitchy attitude and a spiteful playful tone that made any man aroused by the untamed pleasures she could give with the charm she amused them with, only to be a heart breaker.
Bruce's heated gaze went to the black laced silk she wore revealing her flawless classy legs. Inside he felt the impulse to grasp her thighs. He felt weakness from of her sexy body that he craved to touch with the gentle brush of his hands.
He crouched down to her level and stroked her hair.
"Couldn't sleep?" His voice was calm. "You really are a child of the night aren't you?"
Selina wiped the tears from her eyes. "You should talk." She breathed out as her fixated eyes matched the darkness of his hazel eyes that showed the burning intensity he kept locked away deep within.
He nodded at her response.
"I know what you need." Bruce used his hand to wipe away the remainders of the salty tears. "What we both need."
Selina looked deeply into his eyes with a tender gaze as he pulled his shirt off, threw it onto the floor and began pressing his warm soft lips onto her shoulders - tasting the sweetness of her skin.
She felt hot-blooded as his lips moved to her uncovered chest. He was pacing himself, taking in every surge of flavor she produced. His hands grabbed both of her shoulders. He tipped her back as she gently rested on the wooden floor.
Selina placed her hand on his six pack abdomen - feeling the scars of his encounters with switchblades, bullets and the shards of broken glass. They were reminders of his victories and also his failures. Her finger tips gilded against the smooth skin, enkindle of flame that was burning deep within his flesh and bone. There was no greater warmth than the human body. No sensation could compare.
Bruce rubbed his chest onto hers, absorbing the intense combustion that was flowing through her pumping veins. His hand softly ran through the silk dark strands as he breathed in the luscious aroma of her body.
She reeled her body up and pinned him to the ground playfully as her crimson lips curled with satisfaction towards his well-proportioned body.
The moonlight captured into the dazzling hues of hazel and green in eyes as she leaned in closer. His hand moved under the the slip feeling the sleek flesh of her back, as they moved down to the curved hips that was perfectly formed like an hourglass.
Time was frozen around them.
Overwhelming desires they both kept locked were finally breaking out. Tension was forming as his hand gripped her shoulder and squeezed.
Bruce felt his breath hitching as his body sizzled. He felt the tip of her nose press against his. Tenderly Selina pressed her lips on the edges of his m shaped mouth as his emotions wielded into sheer pleasure.
"Well what are you waiting for, Selina Kyle?" He said, rephrasing the same words that she had asked in the cave when he was so close to being intimate with her but refused.
Selina twisted her lips into a smile. "No being an escape artist this time,"
Bruce placed his hand on her cheek.
"No," He said. "This hour belongs to both of us, Selina." The confession was etching at the walls of his soul. "I was a fool for not giving you all I could give. You deserve so much more than a simple moment on a roof top." He gulped down ready to reveal the truth with his lips.
"I used to think that I would spend my dark days alone in this nightmarish world that I have confined my mortal being to be trapped within. I let the pain and guilt dominate my life. No more."
Bruce attacked her lips hard sucking the breath off her lungs. He pulled back.
"I love you, Selina."
There was a flight of emotions that entered her mind. Her soul was blazing. "You love me?" It was barely a whisper.
He nodded.
She positioned her curved hips over his as her legs locked onto his thighs. Bruce tilted his head back as she pulled off her silk slip and showed him the real woman underneath. Flawless to the human touch and shaped to the exceptions for any man's aphrodisiac. His hand moved upwards to the richer tone of her flesh.
"You're beautiful."
Selina leaned in closer, her chest touching his pecs. She moved her lips to the strong jawline, then the slope of his nose as he kissed her neck. The rise and fall of his chest is what she felt as the rhythm of his heart beat was racing.
Bruce arose from the floor. He wrapped his strong arms around her and lifted her as she rested her head on his chest. He moved closer to the bed.
"Not in the mood, dark knight?" Selina questioned, feeling the sheer bliss of the power she had over him.
"The floor wasn't romantic enough."
Selina looked at the bed. "Always have to be the gentlemen, don't you Bruce."
"I try not to be. Sometimes."
He placed her gently on the cotton sheets and marveled at her allure, the shadows darkened her features. He attacked her like a wild beast that he was inside. All the sounds that echoed in the walls of the bedroom were gasps - panting.
The moment that they shared took the pain away. He poured himself into her, showing her the thrills that he craved.
After their moment, both of them collapsed on the the sheets - breathless and looking flushed. His arms enveloped her and pulled her close. He embraced her tightly, not wanting to let go, before he settled her back down gently.
"How do you feel?" Bruce asked.
Selina rubbed her lips.
"Better. I think we can do a little more if you're up to it?"
Bruce slowly licked the flesh of his lips and then he answered.
"Oh yeah, lets go baby."
"Is that a challenge, Dark Knight?"
"You know it is."