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Chapter 15 - Together at Last

Batman-

Sorting out the logistics of transporting three pirates left Batman with a headache he tried to hide from his passenger, who luckily was not Strawhat Luffy. The long nosed sniper, Ussop sat shivering in the passenger seat, clinging to his bag and trying not to draw Batman's attention as he gazed around the Batmobile's interior with wide eyes. The young man had declined to race across the roof tops of Gotham with Catwoman like his crewmates, claiming he had "I'll die if I try to keep up-itis". Since Gordon refused to let a pirate into one of his squad cars, Batman was the only option. Batman, while annoyed, was satisfied with the plan since it meant that he didn't have to suffer Luffy's curiosity for the time being. He had actually snorted with amusement when the pirate captain had asked if Catwoman had a tail and claws because apparently that was normal for him. The red-haired woman, Nami, had kicked him in the head while Selena tried to decide if she had been insulted. Batman wished her luck. Idly he wondered how Nightwing was fairing with his two charges.

Meanwhile, Batman stopped in an alley a few blocks away from the Concert Hall. "Come on," he ordered his passenger. "We're here."

Ussop gulped. "That was fast," he said, nervously. "I wonder what Franky would think of your car. He's our shipwright and a genius builder." Skittish as the man was, he did have a good eye. Batman was proud of his car and willing to accept praise for it. "You should see the stuff he built for our ship," Ussop continued.

"I'm sure I'll meet him later," Batman admitted as he led the way to the police blockade. Gordon was already waiting for him, since he didn't have to coordinate the pirates' escorts.

The Gotham Concert Hall was an older building, not quite historic but older than most of the structures around it. Bruce Wayne was a regular visitor and Batman knew every inch of it, including the basement storage and backstage. At the moment, a grease-painted thug was manning the ticket window while his partner stood guard. As Batman watched, a young couple, children of Gotham's elite who were convinced of their immortality, snuck past the police blockade and hurriedly bought tickets from the goon. When a police officer called to them to get back, the guard goon shot a warning shot into the ground in front of the barricade. The couple ducked through the doors and the police returned to their frustrating standoff.

"It's been happening all night," complained Gordon, pulling his coat collar up. "Dumb kids keep sneaking in to see this show because their friends called to tell them about it. We've been trying to keep them out, but as you can see we're not always successful. Also, the men I had guarding the back reported that they saw Poison Ivy and Harley Quin with another woman. The unknown apparently had the ability to make hands appear out of thin air."

Batman turned to Ussop, who was eyeing the police officers with distrust. "Does that sound familiar?" he asked, making Ussop jump.

"Ye…yeah," Ussop stammered before he regained his confidence. "Yes, that would be Robin. She's our archeologist."

Batman blinked but decided not to ask why a pirate crew needed an archeologist. "So you have two crewmates in there now?"

At Ussop's nod, Gordon groaned. "Two pirates and three rouges."

A commotion on the edge of the crowd drew their attention. A beautiful black Rolls Royce threaded through the police cars before stopping before the vigilante and police commissioner. Batman glared at the car because he recognized it and wasn't surprised when Nightwing hopped out of the driver's seat.

"Sorry," the younger hero said cheerfully as walked around. "I couldn't fit two pirates on my motorcycle so I borrowed a car. Pennyworth said I could take this one."

"You borrowed Bruce Wayne's car?" Gordon asked in disbelief.

Nightwing shrugged, stopping to lean against the sleek car. "I tracked a pirate to the Wayne Manor where he was having tea with Wayne's butler. He insisted I take the car as thanks for the times Batman has save Wayne. Do you think one of your officers can take it back to him?"

Gordon nodded, still unbelieving, but Batman was thankful that Nightwing had come up with a reasonable excuse without endangering their identity.

Nightwing turned and opened the back door, revealing two very grumpy men. The first was a tall man in a nice suit with blond hair covering one eye. He pulled out a cigarette as soon as he cleared the car door, lighting it quickly, and puffing on it in agitation. The second was a sturdily built man with green hair and three katana. This one had the policemen, who were nearby watching curiously, stepping back from the intensity of his one eyed glare.

"Batman, Commish'," Nightwing intoned with a barely hidden smile, "let me introduce the pirates, Black Leg Sanji and Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro."

Zoro growled, but Sanji displayed some manners. He bowed gracefully. "Pleasure to meet you," he said before bringing the cigarette back to his mouth. He turned and kicked his comrade. "Come on you shitty moss-head. Help me unload the car."

Batman watched impassively while the two pirates and his former protégé unloaded an alarming amount of food from the trunk of his car. Sanji, who he remembered was the ship's cook, directed them in how to handle the packages. Zoro grumbled the whole time but Nightwing was chuckling.

"What is all this?" Gordon asked, bewilderment showing on his face.

Sanji shrugged. "Our captain is a bottomless pit, if we don't feed him; I shudder to think of the consequences to your city."

Zoro grinned, which was scarier than his scowl, though there was a surprising element of affection hidden in the expression. "Luffy might leave the city standing, but you'd lose a few restaurants," he added. "What are we doing here?"

"Weren't you listening, shitty swordsman? Or did that moss on your head start growing in your ears?" Sanji snapped.

"Say that again, swirly brow!" Zoro retorted, his hand reaching for his swords.

Sanji raised one leg threateningly. "I knew it, moss-head, your hair took root in your brain." Zoro growled like a beast as he threw himself at his comrade, a blade in each hand. Sanji met him head on, deflecting the first sword with the heel of his shoe before dropping into a hand stand that allowed him to kick with both feet right at Zoro's face.

The skirmish was unlike anything Batman had ever seen. The swordsman and the cook attacked each other with deadly intent. Sanji's kicks broke concrete and Zoro's swords cut through the metal of a police cruiser like a hot knife through butter. Their animosity was practically visible as they hurled insults at each other, most of which seemed to involve Sanji's eyebrows and Zoro's hair. Batman looked to Nightwing but the younger man was no help at all. He was grinning like a loon, watching the battle with rapt attention. Gordon was turning red as he watched the destruction, which now included two police cars (one sliced in half, another's hood caved in from a deflected kick), three lamp posts and about six feet of street and sidewalk crushed as if by a jack-hammer.

"You bastard!" Sanji screamed when Zoro nicked his coat.

The cook lashed out with a devastating axe kick that sent a shockwave which made Batman look away for a second. When he turned back, he saw Zoro with one knee to the ground, his swords crossed over his head, blocking Sanji's leg. All around him, the concrete was dented, creating a crater with the two combatants in the center. They struggled for the upper hand in a battle of strength, causing the ground to crack even more.

Batman decided this had gone on long enough. He reached for a pellet of anesthetic gas as he stepped forward but he had only taken one step when Nami walked through the crowd and up to the two men. Nightwing reached out to stop her but Luffy (when did he get here) held him back, his smile blinding as he took in the damage his friends caused.

Nami stepped up to the men and before they could acknowledge her, she punched him both in the head hard enough to raise lumps. "You idiots!" she shouted. "Look at what you've done! Do you want to be arrested? Do you want to turn every person in the city against us before we find the rest of our crew? What were you thinking?"

She hit them again and they both sat on the ground, nursing their sore heads, the earlier disagreement apparently forgotten.

"Nami-swan, please forgive me," Sanji gushed from the ground. "I lost my temper with the dumb-ass, but I've been so worried about you."

"Oi!" Zoro objected.

Nami hit them again. "Don't say a word!" she screeched. "Why do I put up with you meat-heads?"

"Meat?" Luffy perked up from where he had snuck up on Batman. The dark knight watched him warily, worried that the boy would try to get in his belt again. "Nami, I'm hungry."

Sanji got up and dusted himself up as Nami groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Come on, Luffy. I've got some pirate lunches for you."

"Yosh!" Luffy cheered. "Where?"

Sanji pointed to where they had left the car and stacks of food. The fight had drifted away so they wouldn't damage their lunches. Luffy strained on his tip toes to see the pile and his face lit up when he saw the mountain of food. He was so excited that he flung his arms out, stretching to include the entire party (Heros, thief, commissioner, and pirates) pulling them all into a tight embrace and sling-shot them all in the right direction. Catwoman yowled in protest, Gordon cursed a blue streak, Nightwing yelped in surprise and Batman snarled as they were all whipped into the air, right over the pile of food and into the front of the Concert Hall. They hit with a shuddering smack that left the poor Gothamites dazed. The pirates all turned on their captain, shouting with annoyance, frustration, and a little (if you listened hard enough) relief to be together again.

Nami grabbed Luffy's cheek and hauled him to his feet and, with the cheek stretching to comedic proportions, dragged him in front of Batman who was helping Gordon to his feet. "Apologize!" she snarled at her captain.

"Shi, shi, shi," Luffy snickered. "Sworry," he mumbled through his stretched lips.

"Is it always like this?" Nightwing asked Sanji while the man gallantly helped Catwoman to her feet.

Sanji sighed and lit a cigarette. "Afraid so. Sorry about earlier. I think the moss-head and I just needed to let off some steam. It's been a stressful night." He bowed to Catwoman and took her hand to kiss it. "It's an honor, sweet lady, to make your acquaintance."

Catwoman hissed at Sanji and jerked her hand away. "What is wrong with you people?" she asked rhetorically. "Your captain just threw us into a wall!"

Nami rejoined her friend and laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Don't be too hard on him," she said. "I think he's just happy to find more of his crew. He's a hand-full but he's still our captain."

"Fu, fu, fu," a dark chuckle came from behind them. "I knew this commotion could only mean the Captain had arrived."

They all whirled around to face the threat, the vigilantes and thief reaching for their weapons. Gordon was still dazed and just stared at the tall, dark haired woman who had appeared from inside.

The pirates cheered and rushed to greet the new comer, who Batman figured was the archeologist, Robin. She smiled sweetly as Luffy wrapped her in an enveloping hug and Sanji went to one knee to kiss her hand. As soon as Luffy let go, assisted by disembodied hands, Nami gave her a gentler hug. Even Zoro looked pleased. They were all chattering away and honestly, Batman couldn't make out a word if it beyond Luffy's occasional "Meat!" that didn't seem to fit into whatever the pirates were talking about.

Batman looked around, suddenly on edge. He counted pirates: Luffy, Nami, Zoro, Sanji, and the newest edition, Robin. Where was Usopp? He couldn't recall when he had last seen the sniper. It must have been before Nightwing arrived with the cook and swordsman. He groaned out-loud.

Nightwing turned to him, surprise at Batman's display of emotion visible on his masked face. "What's wrong Batman?"

Batman turned to look Nightwing with an emotion bordering on alarm and panic in his eyes. "We lost one."