Veronica Vreeland was chatting amicably to some of her socialite friends. The conversation was shallow and the smiles were vapid.
"Did you hear that Janice just broke it off with Bruce?"
"Oh that poor man must be heartbroken; maybe we should help fix it." The girls giggled.
"Oh look there he is now!" The girls giggled again and Veronica led the group over to Bruce who had just arrived with his ward, Dick Grayson.
"Oh Brucie!" Veronica called waving for his attention.
"Ronnie," Bruce said with a smile. "How are you?"
"Fabulous Bruce, you're one of the last ones to arrive though. Just waiting on a few more VIPs to arrive."
"A VIP me? You flatter me, Ronnie."
"Oh but of course Brucie, you're always a VIP to me."
"Who are the others?" Bruce asked taking a champagne glass from a passing waiter.
"The VIPs? Oh well mainly just the usual friends though there is an old friend of mine coming that I can't wait to see, you might even call her tonight entertainment."
"Entertainment? What are you on about?"
"Oh, just a little surprise, I think you know her too," Ronnie leaned in as if telling some great secret, "Elizabeth Howard."
"What!?" Bruce grabbed Veronica's arm and pulled her away from the rest of the group who were fawning over Dick. "Veronica Miss Howard is dangerous."
"I don't know what you mean Bruce, sure she's gotten some bad press lately but that will make it all the more exciting when she turns up."
"Veronica, she has an arrest warrant out for her."
"Bugger, that's right, do you think she won't come then? I was quite looking forward to it."
"Didn't you learn your lesson when you invited the Penguin to a party; he kidnapped and tried to kill you."
"Oh but Elizabeth loves me, we were great friends as children, sure we had our differences but she always made me laugh."
"I'm sure." Bruce gave a small smile and told Veronica he'd catch up with her later, that he needed to circulate. He was friends with Veronica but sometimes the woman's idiocy got on his nerves. Elizabeth Howard was a criminal after she had left Batman on the roof she had gone underground and hadn't been seen since. He knew she was still operating though her blood found on the docks last week was proof of that. Whether she had killed them for revenge or some other reason Batman didn't know but had told the Police to keep an ear out for any news on her. He had seen the footage of her rescuing the cashier at the grocery store and because of it he still believed there was some good in Elizabeth. That her behavior was just because she was confused and had been led astray by the Rouges and maybe she could still have a chance at a normal life.
The party went along for another hour or so without hassle a few more guests arrived, drinks were thrown back without care and women shamelessly vied for Bruce Wayne's attention. As the night went on Bruce started to enjoy himself and Veronica had forgotten all about Elizabeth after Jack Ryder and his cameraman had shown up to interview her about her planned trip to South America.
"…just going to be an extension of the charity I'm doing here in Gotham to help those orphaned by crime."
"But why South America?"
"Well I had heard about the vicious warlords and dictators that run the countries there and thought if I could help the children there, stop them from falling into crime and drug trafficking. You see, South America is where a lot of drugs in America come from. If I could help them, then things could be better both here and there."
"Excellent," Jack Ryder said closing his notebook. "I think that's all for now Miss Vreeland."
"Alright Jack, if you think of anything else just come and find me. Oh and call me Veronica, please." Veronica moved away to carry out a conversation with Mr. Baxter of Wacko toys.
"Veronica," Jack said hotly, looking her up and down as she walked away. "Maybe I should thank Summer for being sick tonight; boring as these parties are meeting her is worth it. Whaddya say?" He clapped his cameraman around the shoulder and the other man hastily agreed.
"I just wish something more exciting would happen." Jack Ryder was about to get his wish. Just outside the ballroom doors Elizabeth and Edward were lining up their men up, having already silently disabled the guards.
"Remember," Edward said sharply to the thugs, "five minutes exactly. If anyone tries to leave stop them but don't enter for ten minutes." The thugs grunted the replies and Edward looked at Elizabeth. "Ready?"
"Of course."
"Then let's party." Heads held high and both with cocky smiles they entered the ballroom. It took about half a minute for the first people to notice the entrance of the costumed criminals and by that time Elizabeth and Edward had already spotted Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson, and Veronica Vreeland. Within a minute the entire room had fallen silent except for the tinkling sound of people dropping glasses of champagne.
"I didn't think we were that important." Elizabeth said to Edward, though loud enough for the hall to hear.
"They are simply struck dumb by your beauty, I'm sure" Edward replied. The words were rehearsed, as they had planned for several possible reactions, but that didn't prevent Elizabeth from blushing. The pair walked forward the crowd moving aside to let them through.
"Veronica," Elizabeth said approaching the woman who was standing in a gaggle of finely dressed men with a very surprised expression. "You look as though you didn't expect me to come." A few of the men stepped forward blocking Veronica from view.
"It'd be wise for you to leave," one of them said.
"Leave? When we just got here?"
"You're not wanted. Leave now."
"Not wanted? But I was invited." Elizabeth pulled the invitation out from her skirt where she had tucked it away. "Isn't that right, Veronica?"
Veronica had finally pulled herself together and was smiling her bright and false smile. "Of course, Elizabeth so glad you could make it and with someone too. How…nice."
"Yep, a wallflower no longer. Oh! Hey! Mr. Wayne! Where ya' going?" Elizabeth yelled, pretending to just see Wayne who was trying to sneak through the crowd and out the doors. The billionaire stopped and turned around uncharacteristically sheepish, rubbing the back of his head.
"Miss Howard, how are you?" He asked as Elizabeth and Edward went over to him.
"Fine, fine. Life's been perfect recently. Here, I'd like you to meet my date."
"Edward Nygma," Edward said holding out a gloved hand, "though I know we've met before Mr. Wayne."
"Yes, Riddler." Bruce said with a dangerous tone.
"Come on now Mr. Wayne. No need for that tone, it was only 500,000 I stole from you."
"Hey Mr. Wayne, why don't you introduce me to your ward, you always talk about him, and I'd love to finally meet him." Elizabeth grabbed Wayne's arm and began dragging him into the center of the room.
"That's him there isn't it?" Elizabeth pointed to the college aged boy who was trying to sneak out the back of the hall.
"Uh, yes."
"Oi! Kid! What was his name? Oh, yeah. DICK!" Grayson stopped and much like his mentor turned around sheepishly. Edward went over and collected Dick with a smile on his face talking about how "sorry" he was Query had bashed him over the head last time he'd seen him.
"…you know she never was one for taking directions well."
"Yeah, sure." Dick said awkwardly.
"Well," Elizabeth said nudging Wayne in the ribs, "introduce us."
"Right, Miss Howard meet my ward Richard Grayson. Dick this is Miss Howard."
"A pleasure." Dick's tone was nearly dripping in sarcasm and his face held one of the cheesiest smiles he could muster. Elizabeth and Edward laughed.
"You were right Bruce, this boy is a wonder." Elizabeth grabbed Dick's hand and shook it, repressing a laugh when she felt his finger tighten around her own threateningly. "And a pleasure to meet you too."
"Come on Elizabeth enough chit-chat," Edward said pulling her back from the boy and squeezing her shoulder signaling to her that they only had a minute left, "this is a party after all we should be dancing and having fun."
"Edward you've never been invited to a ball before have you? The whole point is mindless chit-chat. These people love to talk, look at them whispering now." The muttering crowd fell silent. "Come on people this is a Vreeland Ball and two wanted criminals just showed up you should be talking more than this!"
"Perhaps they think this is a heist?" Edward suggested his fake confusion completely ruined by his smile.
"A heist? Just the two of us?"
"I know we'd need about twenty thugs to control a group this size."
"Don't worry people this isn't a heist." Elizabeth's timing was immaculate for the doors burst open at that moment and the thugs encircled the room. Edward quickly swung around pressing a button on his cane and releasing knock-out gas into the faces of Wayne and Grayson. They both fell to the floor with a thump.
"Now, this is a heist!" Edward exclaimed throwing arms wide with a triumphant grin on his face. Two of the thugs who weren't holding a gun to the crowd came over with bags and tossed two extras to Elizabeth and Edward. The costumed criminals caught them easily.
"You all know the drill," Edward said opening his bag.
"Hand over your jewels and all cash without a fight and you won't get hurt," Elizabeth continued. It seemed as if the guests really did know the drill as the women began to remove their jewelry and the men removed their wallets. While the thugs were working the front of the room Edward and Elizabeth worked the back.
"Having fun Veronica?" Elizabeth asked holding the half full bag under the socialite's nose. The woman dropped her diamond bracelet and necklace into the bag with a huff. "Oh don't be that way. You wanted something to talk about didn't you? Something exciting?"
"Yes, but I never thought you'd rob me. I thought we were friends."
Elizabeth let out a bark of laughter, "friends!? Really!? I always knew were an airhead but I didn't think that you were that stupid! I hate you. I thought I was over it but you just had to invite me, for what a laugh? You were always laughing at me." In her anger Elizabeth pulled out her gun and pointed it and Veronica. "Maybe I should just shoot you and do the world a favor."
"Wolf." The Riddler said loudly from across the room.
"That's right I'm not allowed to kill anyone with giving them a riddle." Elizabeth put on a thinking a face for a few seconds. "Nope can't think of one, guess you get a pass this time. So why don't you just give me those lovely earrings and we'll call it even."
Her hands shaking Veronica reached up and removed the earrings and dropped them into the bag. Elizabeth gave a mocking bow and moved on to the next guest. Money and jewels filled her bag and no one caused any fuss until there was a cry from across the room by Edward.
"You look familiar," Edward said to a woman leaning close, "have we met before? I know it wasn't at one of these functions."
"Leave her alone," a man said stepping in front of the woman.
"Move buddy, I'm trying to talk to the lady," he said pulling out his gun.
"Tony!" The woman cried. Elizabeth, who had been focused on collecting, looked up at this. No way. There was no way that Victoria was here. But there she was cowering behind Antonio Costa. Throwing the now quite heavy bag over her shoulder she went over to the three as fast as she could without looking worried.
"Gun down Riddler."
"You're one to talk," he said lowering the gun but not putting it away.
"Well I would prefer it if you didn't point a gun at my sister's boyfriend."
"I knew I'd seen her before. Victoria Howard a pleasure to see you again."
"You bastard," Victoria said from behind the safety of Antonio, "what have you done to my sister?"
"I haven't done anything to her."
"Yes, you have, this isn't my sister. You've got some mind-control device on her or something."
"I'm not Mad Hatter, so unless you count good looks and a fine personality as mind control, I think not."
"'Fine personality?' You're a thief and a murderer."
"That's rich, seeing how you're standing behind one of the Costa boys."
"Stop it you two." Elizabeth said sharply. "I'm surprised that you're still in Gotham Victoria, I expected you to long gone after you found out your boyfriend was a mobster. Great to see you again none-the-less."
"Elizabeth what are you doing? What had he done to you?" Victoria looked pleadingly at her sister and Elizabeth laughed.
"He hasn't done anything to me."
"See there's proof that he is controlling you, Eliz—"
"Shut up." Elizabeth snarled viciously putting a hand on her gun. "Unlike you I don't let people control me. Now hand over your jewels like a good little victim and we can move along."
Victoria pulled off her necklace and dropped it inside the Riddler's bag with a disgusted look. "Now I remember why I hated when you came home." Elizabeth was walking away already though ignoring her sister. "Because you're a fucking bitch!" Her sister screamed after her. Elizabeth threw her hand up in the air as if to say "I don't care". The rest of the goods were collected in a hurry and there were no other disturbances. As planned most of the thugs left before their bosses to start the vans leaving only a few to keep the socialites in check.
"Thank you all for your cooperation," the Riddler said tipping his hat.
"Thank you for the invitation, Veronica. It has been a pleasure." Elizabeth gave a mocking bow. The criminals had just turned to leave when there was a crash of glass and something flew through the window.
"Stop right there Riddler," Batgirl commanded, "You're going back to Arkham."
"Batgirl?" Edward said with a sneer, "As impressed as I am that you managed to figure my riddle, I'm afraid you're too late, we're already finished here."
"I just need to stop you and…who are you?" Batgirl asked pointing at Elizabeth.
"Wolf. Charmed to meet you Batgirl."
"I'm sure. Give up now or you'll be meeting my fist."
"Not very clever is she." Elizabeth said to Edward though loud enough for Batgirl to hear.
"Smart enough to figure out his riddle. Now give up!" Batgirl began to run at the Riddler thinking that if she took down the mastermind his goons would flee. She hadn't counted on Elizabeth though. Tossing her bag to a thug she slid in front of Edward and caught Batgirl's kick. She grunted with pain but managed to toss the girl's leg away throwing Batgirl off balance. Batgirl's training kicked in, though, and she quickly recovered. Throwing a punch Elizabeth dodged and threw her own punch which Batgirl avoided as well. Hit for hit they were able to counter each other.
"You're good," Batgirl said as they pushed each other away yet again.
"As are you." From behind Batgirl Elizabeth could see Wayne beginning to stir. They needed to get out of here.
"A shame you're on the wrong side." Batgirl kicked again and this time instead of catching or dodging the kick she blocked with her forearm. As soon as she felt the flesh hit her gauntlet Elizabeth ripped her arm down. The serrated blades inside the fur ripped through Batgirl's suit and flesh. With a cry of pain Batgirl fell down clutching her leg.
"I'd stay down if I were you," Riddler said to Batgirl. "Come along Wolf, who knows if the Bat will show up soon." The costumed criminals left leaving Batgirl and her steadily forming blood pool behind.