A/N: CRed1988-Interesting! Curing Mr. Freeze eh? I have the ask is his wife technically alive? If so, can she be save as well?
MarioCatjr-Will Sandra's Company Be Able To Cure Victor Fries Mr. Freeze's Wife Nora Fries
Settle down, children. Settle down. Dinner... is served:
Lady Shiva was walking down the halls of Arkham Asylum, the inmates either licking their cells, rocking back and forth at the sight of her, or just plain out of it due to their insanity. Then, she stopped in front of the bolted doors of the High-Security Wing, or what the staff likes to call the Bat's Wing.
"You do realize I can take care of myself. There is no need for an escort, Detective Yin," Shiva said as she looked at the beautiful officer.
"Apologies, Mrs. Wu-San-Wayne."
"You can call me Mrs. Wayne for simplicity's sake."
"Very well. However, this is the most dangerous area in all of Gotham, if not all of America. You are now the wealthiest woman in America, officially one of the top ten wealthiest women in the world."
'Add another title to the collection,' Shiva thought.
"It's too dangerous to have such a high-profile individual enter this hellscape alone."
"Very well. However, do you truly believe your side-arm is enough to handle whatever lies within," Shiva asked as she looked down at Yin's standard-issue handgun.
"Don't worry, Madame Sandra," Yin said as she took out her gun. "I have faith in my 9mm. Besides, I'm confident in my hand-to-hand abilities."
'Mm, I think I like that,' Sandra thought.
Shiva analyzed Yin. She had a muscle tone that made her stronger than most, including some of her fellow officers. She isn't physically stronger than Gordon, but Shiva could tell she's the more skilled fighter between her and the Commissioner. Yin was nowhere near the same level as one of her Shadows, let alone Shiva herself, but a bit more training would easily fix that.
Shiva smiled. "You know, you could always become stronger."
"Hm?"
"I wouldn't mind training you. I need trusted officers in GCPD to help my plan succeed anyway."
"Plan?"
The doors then opened. "To clean up Gotham and turn it into something as close to Utopia as possible."
Yin's eyes widened as Shiva walked in, the detective following her.
The pair of beauties walked past some of the worst of the worst. The first cell held Scarecrow, the psychologist stitching a burlap mask, the evil man looking up to see Shiva walk past and snickering. "The legend herself."
"Hello, Crane," Shiva said offhandedly as she passed him. That still caught Yin's attention.
Shiva then stopped in front of a cell to look into. Yin stopped behind Shiva, hearing a coin flip. That alone let her know who it was. She looked to see the non-scarred part of Harvey Dent's face.
"Need something from me, Miss Wu-San," Harvey asked, still flipping his coin.
"Not yet, Harvey. But one day soon. Gotham needs Harvey Dent back, and I WILL get him back. Also, it's Wu-San-Wayne."
Two-Face chuckled. "You shouldn't have told us that, WAYNE. When I get out of here, and I WILL get out, I'm coming after you."
"Still... I'm glad he finally found someone," Harvey said.
"You always were the weaker one between us," Two-Face said.
"Bruce is still my friend."
"HE LEFT YOU TO ROT IN HERE!"
"HE'S BEEN TRYING TO HELP ME!"
"THAT'S MY JOB, DENT! WITHOUT ME, YOU'D BE JUST A SNIVILING COWARD!"
"AND WITH YOU, I'M A CRIMINAL SURROUNDED BY LUNATICS!"
Two-Face then showed his face to Sandra and Ellen, the women unbothered by his face. "Enjoying the show, ladies? Get out of my sight."
"How about you flip your coin to see whether I leave or not?"
"I'd rather see if you LIVE or not." Two-Face then flipped his coin. He caught it and revealed... the clean side. "Tch. Lucky bitch."
Sandra stared at Harvey, seeing how sad that side was, before walking away.
"So Wayne got married." Shiva glanced to see she was walking past Ivy's cell. "Maybe I should try my luck with him again. After killing you, of course, Shiva."
"Shiva," Yin asked. Her eyes then widened. "As in LADY Shiva?"
"Mm, I'm surprised any officer knows that name," Shiva answered as she walked past the cell.
"Sandy! Long time, no see," Harley said as she flipped around her cell. "Say, remember that time you almost broke my neck? It was scary, you know? Hearing that loud pop, feelin' like my spine was about to shatter, being paralyzed for an entire month. That was the scariest thing to have ever happened to me. DO IT AGAIN!"
"No," Sandra said as she walked away.
"Aw, you're no fun, Sandy."
"But you're fun, Yinny." Yin sucked her teeth at the found of Joker's voice. "Come on, girlfriend. Let's talk Bats. You know, you and Batsy did a real number on me and Harley. My poor girl has a boo-boo on her wittle thumb."
"It hurts Mista J."
"Come on, Yinny. Kiss her thumb to make it better. Please? For the children," Joker said as he clasped his hands together with a pleading look before he and Harley laughed.
"It is REALLY hard not to shoot that lunatic in the face," Ellen said.
"I understand, but quel your justified annoyance. You know about Jack Napier, don't you?"
"CALL ME THAT AGAIN... and I'll throw a Shoofly pie in your face! THE WORST OF ALL PIES!"
"Mista J, that's too cruel!"
"Is it, Harley? Is it? Okay, it is." He and Harley laughed again.
"I can't believe Napier is that lunatic," Ellen said.
"Believe it. Just like you should believe I'll bring him back."
"What?"
"You heard me, Detective Yin. But before I try that daunting task, I need to start here," she said as she stopped in front of the frozen cell, a chair in front of it, which Sandra sat in, crossing her legs to get more comfortable as she looked at the prisoner.
Victor was sitting on his bed, reading a book, before he looked up at his visitor. "Sandra Wu-San, the legendary Lady Shiva herself. To what do I owe this surprising visit?"
Shiva stared at Mr. Freeze, analyzing him. Without his suit, he's just a man who would die at room temperature, yet he's still one of the most brilliant minds in Gotham. Batman's files show that time and time again, he could have easily destroyed Gotham. He had the power to destroy thousands if not millions of lives. He was literally a force of nature.
There was only one thing preventing him from taking such drastic, evil measures.
"What if I told you I could cure your wife?"
Victor's eyes sharped as he slammed his book shut, the man standing and walking over to the barrier keeping him sealed. "I would ask you not to try my patience. I would also tell you to leave my wife out of this."
"The wife I have in my custody?"
Victor's eyes widened in shocked anger. "You're lying."
"You know who I am, Freeze. We crossed paths in Antarctica and Alaska, Batman stopping both of our respective plans in the Arctic, but I stopped you in Alaska. That gave you a glimpse of my power. Of my influence. You know I'm the leader of the League of Shadows, the only organization that truly rivals Ra' Al Ghul's League of Assassins. Do you honestly believe I couldn't locate your hidden wife," Shiva asked with a raised eyebrow.
Freeze punched the frame sealing him in. "IF YOU DO ANYTHING TO HER-"
"Does that include curing her of her illness?"
Freeze's glare hardened. "You can't cure her. I've spent years trying to find a cure to her illness, but I've always come up short."
"Due to lack of funding." Freeze didn't respond. "Funding is the only obstacle that stood in your way. It's why you went down the path of crime in the first place. Why you were betrayed and turned into Mr. Freeze to begin with. Before you sits one of the wealthiest women in the world, who funding your research would be no different from popping a quarter into a gumball machine. Maybe you're right that I can't cure her, but YOU certainly can."
Freeze stepped back, still glaring at Shiva with a doubtful gaze. "Why do this, Shiva? What do you stand to gain from helping me cure my wife?"
"You."
"What?"
"You are the foremost expert in cryogenics. Your brilliance could change the world for the better. Your research on Nora's illness alone makes you worth your weight in gold. Your cryogenics could help improve medical science by leaps and bounds. What's more, you're a living breathing cure for glacial meltage. You could greatly improve climate change."
"And make you a fortune in the process," Freeze said coldly.
"Indeed. You could make me quite a bit of money. Now that you see the monetary gain and greed in this plan, you'll trust me slightly more, yes?"
"Monetary gain and greed," Freeze asked with a raised eyebrow. "You're wording this... as if the money is secondary. You're after something else entirely."
Shiva giggled. "Quite clever, aren't you? Yes, the money is a consolation prize. In the end, Victor, I'm after your mind. Your brilliance will help me do what many find impossible. You will help me cure Gotham."
Freeze just stared at Shiva.
"Also, I have a theory... about curing your affliction," Shiva said as she switched her legs. "Just know that it is nothing more than a theory. If we attempt it, I estimate a twenty percent chance of success at most. It does improve. If it works, you'll be able to feel the warmth of the wife YOU cured. If it fails, you die."
". . . Either way, my Nora gets to live. . . And I'll be free of this damned curse. But no matter what, my Nora will finally be free of her disease?"
"That depends entirely on you, Victor."
Victor stared at the beautiful assassin. "How do I know you won't betray me like so many others before you have? How do I know you won't try to kill me once you have what you want?"
Shiva laughed. "Oh, Victor. You silly man. If I wanted you dead..." Victor then felt a tingle down his spine. A sensation he hadn't felt in years, and it was all due to the beauty before him. "I would have killed you already. You are well aware of that, aren't you," Shiva asked with a dark expression, letting Freeze know... that even fully equipped... she could have easily killed him.
That was enough of an answer for the scientist. "I will work for you, Mrs. Wayne."
Shiva then raised her hand and snapped her fingers.
Yin jumped when she saw assassins walk out of the shadows, carrying Freeze's cryo-suit. "When did they-"
"Don't underestimate my Shadows, Detective."
Freeze's cell opened, the Shadows giving Victor his suit. It didn't take him long to put it on, the man stepped out of his cell, looking down at Shiva.
She stood up from her seat, Freeze still towering over her, but the woman not showing any sign of intimidation. If anything, Freeze was intimidated by her. "Shall we?"
"Please."
"Wait, I can't allow you to take out a convicted criminal," Yin said.
Shiva then held up an envelope. Yin took it, opening it, half expecting a bribe, but was surprised to see: "A legal warrant?"
"I'm prepared for next to anything, Detective. Now, let's go."
Shiva, Yin, and Freeze then walked out of Arkham Asylum.
"Hey! Freeze! If you're going out for groceries, don't forget the ice cream this time," Joker called.
"And make sure it's rocky road," Harley called.
"Ooh. Good choice, Harley."
"Thank you, Puddin."
"I will not miss this place," Freeze said.
"Agreed," Yin said.
Outside of Arkham stood Alfred, waiting for the party with the Wayne limo at the ready. He opened the door, closing it after Freeze entered last, then drove to Wu-San-Wayne Tower.
"My Nora is here," Freeze asked.
"Indeed," Shiva answered.
After Alfred parked in the building's garage in the Owner's Parkin Space.
"Apologies, Detective Yin, but this is where we must part ways," Sandra said.
"What? But-"
"Wu-San-Wayne Towers is among the most secure buildings in all the world. Not even Mr. Freeze can escape. Place your trust in me," Sandra said with a smile.
Yin stared at her before she sighed. "Yes, ma'am."
Sandra nodded before looking at Alfred. "Do make sure our friend makes it safely back, Alfred."
"Of course, Madame," Alfred said with a bow.
Shiva then led Freeze to the garage's elevator. When the door closed, she pressed the elevator numbers in a specific order, and a hand scanner appeared, which she activated. The elevator then went down, despite already being on the ground level.
When the doors opened, Mr. Freeze was shocked at what he saw.
His beautiful Nora, in her cryo-container, with Batman in front of it, typing away at the console.
"You're late, Freeze," Batman said, not turning around at all.
"Batman?! Why are you here," Freeze yelled.
"Doing what I should have done years ago: helping you cure Nora. All the time we've wasted, all the people you needlessly killed, the hell you put yourself through, and I have the power to save you. It took my wife to show me the true path I needed to take."
Freeze looked confused. "Your wife?" The realization then struck Freeze as he looked at Shiva, who smirked back at him, before turning back to Batman.
The Dark Knight stopped typing on the console, turned toward Victor, and took off his cowl.
"Wayne? Bruce Wayne? . . . The advanced technology. Wayne Tower. I once attacked your mansion to get to that bastard, Boyle, and you were there faster than the police ever could. It all makes perfect sense when you think about it. . . Why reveal your identity to me, Wayne?"
"To convince you to trust us. We want to help you, Victor. We CAN save Nora," Bruce said as he stepped out of the way.
Victor walked up toward the container, looking at his beloved Nora. He then looked down, his eyes widening. "This data. These readings. I-It's all here. Everything I need is... My God. After all these years. After all these long, hellish, horrid years," Freeze said with a breaking voice. He then laughed painfully. "I want to cry so badly out of joy, and I can't do that because of this damned body. But it doesn't matter. Nora. I can finally save you."
"And when she's saved, you're next," Shiva said, Freeze turning toward her in confusion. "There is a hero we know. One who can manipulate the molecular structure of all. It is extremely risky, but through his power, we may be able to cure you."
"What hero could that possibly be," Freeze asked.
"Someone you've met before," Batman said. "A young, promising hero with the power to literally change the world."
"Firestorm," Freeze said. "He is just a boy. He is powerful, yes, but his skill is lacking."
"That is exactly WHY I claim it to be risky," Shiva said. "Just being in close proximity to Firestorm could kill you without your suit, Freeze, which is how we would need to do the procedure. One mistake on Firestorm's part, one moment of hesitation on your part, one minuscule miscalculation on our part; and we would cause your death right after we reunited you with your wife."
Freeze stared at the married couple before looking back at his wife. Then, he looked down at his suited hands, before looking up his arms at the rest of his suit. He then clenched his fists before he typed away at the console. "We'll cross that bridge when we reach it. For now, I need to ask you to help me save my wife."
"Of course, Victor," Batman said as he and Shiva went to work.
And what grueling work it was. It took an entire month. Bruce and Sandra had to keep up their guises as the Co-CEOs of the Wu-San-Wayne Conglomerate during the day, but Shiva was able to work at night while Batman patrolled the city. Shiva may be the Bat's wife, but she isn't one of Gotham's heroes. The Bat family had enough members to keep the city safe without her anyway.
However, she did have problems working with Freeze... due to her pregnancy. She even had a baby bump, something that concerned Victor.
Shiva even caught his attention when she began to cough. "A pregnant woman shouldn't subject herself to such strain."
"I know. But we're close to completion. I gave you my word that we would save your wife, and I intend to keep it."
Victor looked at Sandra with thankful eyes before looking down, his eyes widening. "We've done it. Call Batman!"
Sandra didn't even hesitate. Mere moments later, Batman and Shiva were watching Victor deactivate the cryo-container, Nora gasping to life before gasping. Freeze opened the container, catching his wife and gently lifting her.
She looked up at her husband. "Victor," she went before panting.
Victor carefully placed her on a cot, lying her down as she coughed. "Try not to move, my love."
"For what? Another lifetime?"
Victor looked at her with surprise. "You know how long it's been."
"Too long. It was like dreaming, Victor. But all that time, I heard you talking to me. Oh, God, the pain in your voice. The agony. The sorrow," she said in a breaking voice as she reached out to him. "I've wanted to hug you, hold you, touch you for the longest time," she said as she placed her hand... on his helmet. "And I can't even do that," she said, nearly sobbing.
Victor held her hand. "It's alright, Nora. Finally. Finally, I can save you," he said as he gently placed her hand on the cot.
Victor then carefully inserted the IVs into Nora's arms, his wife watching the entire time. She then looked up to see a full blood pack and a second pack full of ice-blue liquid. "Is that-"
"The cure. Years upon years of hell, I finally have a cure," he said as he connected Nora to a heart monitor, the slow and steady beep sounding.
Victor then activated the IVs, the artificial blood he and the Waynes synthesized rushing down the tubes alongside the medicine. Moments later, nothing happened.
Then, Nora screamed in pain, convulsing as the heart monitor beeped like crazy.
"NO," Victor went.
"VICTOR, WHAT'S HAPPENING," Bruce yelled.
"NO, NO, NO!"
Beeeeeep.
Victor gasped. He stared at his dead wife before releasing a howl of agony, falling to his knees as he began to cry, the Waynes just looking at him sadly.
Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.
"Mm. Victor?"
He looked up, hope filling his eyes.
Nora looked down at him with an exhausted expression before she smiled. "Hey."
Victor didn't respond at first. He then began to cry once more, holding onto his wife's hand as he sobbed out of pure joy, Nora rubbing his covered head the entire time, the Waynes watching... and smiling.
One week has passed since Nora Fries was cured. She is now rehabilitated, completely healthy, and ready to live the rest of her life with her beloved-
"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?!"
That scream shook most of Wayne Manor, and they were in the backyard of the mansion.
"I JUST GOT REUNITED WITH MY HUSBAND, AND YOU WANT TO PUT HIM THROUGH A PROCEDURE THAT MIGHT KILL HIM," Nora yelled at Shiva.
"I understand your concern."
"DO YOU?!"
"But I gave my word I would cure your husband. We finally freed you of your illness. It's time we freed him of his curse."
"NO! ABSOLUTELY NOT! THIRTY PERCENT SUCCESS RATE?! THERE IS NO WAY FOR YOU TO INCREASE THAT?! IT'S TOO DAMN RISKY!"
"Nora-"
"Don't even TRY to convince me, Victor! For YEARS I spent frozen in that damned container! YEARS! But I heard every word you said! Every plea! Every request for forgiveness! Every time you begged me to be patient. Every time you said you needed more time," Nora said with a breaking voice before she wiped her tears off her cheeks. "Why can't we just be happy with what we have?"
"What we have," Victor asked as he placed his gloved hand on Nora's cheek, seeing how she slightly flinched from the cold touch. "I can't feel anything in this godforsaken suit, Nora. Not the hot Summer breeze on my face, the soft grass beneath our feet, or even the warmth of your skin. I have shown time and time again that I am willing to kill to see you free of your disease. To see you able to live in this cruel yet beautiful world. I am willing to die to be able to kiss you just one more time."
"Victor," Nora said with tearful eyes.
"This is something I NEED to do, Nora. All I want... is to be free." He then looked up. "I am ready, Mr. Wayne."
Nora looked behind her to see Bruce walk up with Firestorm next to him. He stopped as Firestorm walked up to the Fries couple.
Nora walked up and looked Firestorm dead in the eye. "If you kill him... I swear I will make your life hell," she said with tears still streaming down her eyes.
"If I do, I'd deserve it," Firestorm said before he sighed as he walked up to Victor. "There's still time to walk out on this. You've got your wife, a chance to repent, and a life left to live."
"Nora means everything to me. I am willing to make a deal with the Devil himself if it means I can be with her as a man... instead of a monster. One way or another, Mr. Freeze dies today," Victor said as he removed his cryo-suit. Nora almost ran to him, had Sandra not grabbed her hand.
Bruce then threw a heart monitor at Victor, who caught it and put it on. Victor took a deep breath before he looked at Firestorm with resolve-filled eyes. "Do it."
Firestorm immediately surrounded himself and Victor in a twister of fire, covering both of them.
Yet, despite the roar of the fire, Victor's blood-curdling screams were heard. It sounded like he was being tortured.
"VICTOR," Nora screamed as she tried to run toward the fire, only for Sandra to grab her. "LET GO! THAT'S MY HUSBAND IN THERE!"
"AFTER ALL YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH, I KNOW THIS MUST BE LIKE HELL FOR YOU, BUT YOU HAVE TO TRUST US!"
Victor screamed bloody murder again, the heart monitor beeping like crazy.
Bruce reached toward his earpiece. "Firestorm, Victor won't be able to take much more of this! Even without his condition, the heart rate, blood pressure, and neurokinetics are fatally high! He has a minute at most!"
"WE'RE TRYING BATMAN," Firestorm yelled. "BUT FREEZE'S MOLECULAR STRUCTURE IS EVEN MORE MUTATED THAN WE THOUGHT! IT'S ONE OF THE MOST COMPLEX STRUCTURES WE'VE EVER DEALT WITH! I'M NOT- WAIT! THERE!"
"Firestorm?! FIRESTORM!"
"WHAT?! WHAT'S HAPPENING," Nora yelled.
BEEEEEEEEP.
"NO! NOOOO," Nora screamed.
The fire was then gone.
Everyone looked to see Firestorm, panting heavily, barely standing, absolutely exhausted. On the other hand, Victor was on the ground, unmoving, the heart monitor still flatlining loudly.
"VICTOR," Nora screamed as she ran over to her husband. She practically slid to his side, lifting him. His skin... was back to a normal hue. He was no longer ice blue. If Nora had noticed, she would have realized she was touching him without it burning like holding onto liquid nitrogen as it should have. His body was cured. . . but at what cost?
"No. No," Nora sobbed as she hugged her husband. "After everything you did, everything you went through, you just leave me like this? Damn you. You can't just leave me again, you bastard."
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Nora looked at the heart monitor, her eyes widening.
Victor then gasped to life, his eyes no longer ice blue, but the deep blue color they were originally. He was gasping for air, panting heavily, eyes wide with fright.
"Victor?"
He looked toward his wife, his eyes widening even more. "N-Nora?"
"Victor," she asked happily.
Victor reached toward her... and slowly traced his fingers down her cheek. "You're... warm. You're so warm," he said as tears welled in his eyes with a smile.
Nora smiled before she kissed her husband, the two closing their eyes to enjoy the moment before hugging each other.
"You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that again," Nora said.
"I do, my love. I do. If this is a dream, I hope to never wake up."
"It's real, my love. After all these years, it's finally real."
Victor looked up from his wife's shoulder and smiled. "Firestorm, Mr. Wayne, Madame Wayne, thank you. God bless you. Bless you," he said through his tears of joy.
None of the heroes responded. They just watched with smiles as the Fries couple was finally reunited.
On this day, Mr. Freeze died, and Victor and Nora Fries were cured and reunited. This marked the day of the very first truly cured Arkham Inmate—the first true and great victory of House Wayne.
There was a crowd of reporters in front of Wu-San-Wayne Tower. Cameras were flashing, reporters were clamoring, and cameras were rolling. A major announcement was scheduled, and it was already promised to be the first big announcement of the young Conglomerate, supposedly even bigger than its founding.
"This is Vicki Vale with GCN reporting live in front of Wu-San-Wayne Tower, where billionaire couple Bruce and Sandra... Wu-San. . . Wayne." Vicki sighed.
"Vic, if you don't wanna cover this story-"
"I'm fine, Keith. Let's just start over." She cleared her throat. "This is Vicki Vale with GCN reporting live in front of Wu-San-Wayne Tower, where billionaire couple Bruce and Sandra Wu-San-Wayne have announced a spectacular reveal said to shake Gotham itself. The Co-CEOs of what is now the largest and most powerful company in America and Hong Kong are said to appear any moment now. Is it a medical breakthrough? Technological advancements? Keep watching GCN with Vicki Vale to find out."
The crowd went wild as Bruce and Sandra walked up to the podium.
"And here comes Gotham's, if not America's most powerful couple as we speak. Try getting a close-up for the viewers." When Vicki said that, Keith did zoom in, but he and Vicki were trying to get closer to the front so they could be ready to ask questions.
Bruce walked up to the mic first. "Thank you! Thank you, people of Gotham. Today is a historic day—a grand announcement. We can finally answer the question I'm sure many citizens of Gotham have asked: What is the use of Arkham? That building holds some of the most dangerous, powerful, and insane criminals this city, if not the entire country has ever seen. Some people see it as nothing more than another prison, no different from Blackgate. However, we finally have proof that the inmates of Blackgate can be saved."
The reporters started to clammer, many trying to ask Bruce questions.
Meanwhile.
"Uh, Selina," a cute girl who looked to barely be in her early twenties went.
"What's up, Holly," Selina asks as she walks into their living room, Selina squeezing toothpaste onto her brush.
"When was the last time you saw Bruce Wayne again?"
"A few months ago. Went to Russia for a job afterward. Why," she began as she began to brush her teeth.
"And you got home just about a week ago."
"Mhm," Selina says as she leans onto the couch to see what Holly is watching.
"With that in mind, I would like to hand the podium over to the one who made that fact a reality. Many of you know her as the Co-CEO of Wu-San-Wayne Conglomerate, others know her as the Wealthiest Woman in China, and some even call her the Woman who Tamed Bruce Wayne. I know her as my wife, Lady Sandra Wu-San-Wayne."
Selina spat out her paste. "His... WHAT?!" Sandra then walked up to the podium. "L-Lady Shiva?! . . . You... bitch."
"Greetings, people of Gotham. As my husband just stated, I am Sandra Wu-San-Wayne, Matriarch of the Wayne Household and Co-CEO of Wu-San-Wayne Conglomerate. When I came to this city, I came with a goal in mind. Fortunately, my goals aligned perfectly with my husband's, making our marriage even easier than it already was. And through our union, we have already accomplished many great things, this latest accomplishment surpassing even the technological advances that will hopefully improve life for all in this great city."
"What my husband stated is true. In the walls of Arkham reside men and women capable of bringing this city, this state, or even this very world to its knees. There are villains all throughout America alone. From the Mirror Master in Central City-"
"Hah! Girl knows who the top dog is," Mirror said as he raised a mug of beer.
"Shut up," Captain Cold went.
"To the Hive Society of Jump City-"
"Ha-hah! If a big name like Lady Shiva namedrops us, that means we're on the rise," Mammoth said with a chortle.
"To the infamous Lex Luthor, whose political and financial power rivals that of the Wu-San-Wayne Conglomerate, preventing justice from reaching him."
"Watch yourself, Lady Shiva," Lex said as he leaned back in his chair.
"It looks like you were right to want to watch Wayne's announcement. Should we deal with her now, Lex," Mercy asked.
"No need to rush. Besides, Lady Shiva is too much for you to handle. That woman was always a threat. Being married to Wayne only makes her worse. For now, we'll just wait and see what the 'World's Deadliest Woman' has to announce."
"All throughout the country are powerful, brilliant, and dangerous villains. However, even they fear the villains that rise out of Gotham. Despite having no powers, The Joker is feared even within the criminal underworld due to his ruthlessness, brilliance, and sheer lack of sanity."
"Now isn't that something? A married woman is flirting with me!" Joker and Harley laughed.
"However, there is something unique about the rogues of Gotham. Many of them are broken souls. Joker himself was created after falling into a vat of Ace Industries Chemicals. Everyone here must still remember the few months Jack Napier was free to roam Gotham and improve the city as the White Knight, correct?" The reports responded positively. "Just like Jack, other inmates can be healed. Pamela Isley, Arnold Wesker... and of course, Gotham's first White Knight, Harvey Dent."
The reporters went crazy, trying to ask their questions. Sandra pointed at Vicki.
"Lady Wayne, this is quite the statement to make. How can you prove such a thing?"
"By showing you the proof. We have already accomplished this task once. I would like for the first cured Gotham supercriminal to take the podium," Sandra said as she stepped away.
A pair of shined black dress shoes were seen as someone stepped toward the podium. The person adjusted his tie, gulping as he wiped the sweat off his brow. He jumped when he felt a warm hand grab his hand and looked down to see a beautiful woman smiling up at him. "It's alright. This time, I'm with you."
He smiled. "I love you."
"I love you, too."
The man then took a deep breath before walking taking the podium stand.
"Ladies and gentlemen of Gotham News, I present to you Dr. Victor Fries," Sandra began. "The man once known as Mr. Freeze."
Victor was in a handsome black suit, wearing his prescribed glasses that he hadn't needed for years, not even a speck of blue on his face.
It was as if he was never Mr. Freeze.
All that stood before the reporters of Gotham was Victor Fries.
The reporters and photographers were losing their minds. No matter how you looked at it, that was a fully cured Mr. Freeze. Some even noticed the beautiful Nora in the background.
"Mr. Freeze, Mr. Freeze, over here," a reporter went.
"Mr. Freeze! How can you justify all those years nearly destroying Gotham?!"
"Excuse me, Mr. Freeze! Are we absolutely sure you're cured?!"
"Reporters of Gotham, I understand your curiosity. I would be too, in your shoes. However, before we begin the interview, I must ask you, nay, beg of you. Please, refrain from addressing me as Mr. Freeze. I wish for that man to die and remain dead. The legacy of Mr. Freeze MUST die. I am not asking for him to be forgotten immediately. As Mr. Freeze, I have committed countless crimes. Performed unforgivable acts." He then looked at his hand. "And... I have stained my hands with the blood of both innocent and guilty alike. However, I am not so foolish as to believe the guilty outnumber the innocent. Too many innocent lives have been stolen by my hands. Those must never be forgotten. Mr. Freeze SHOULD be forgotten. So please, on this day... let us KILL Mr. Freeze."
"Dr. Victor Fries!"
Victor looked down and pointed at the reporter. "Ms. Vicki Vale of Gotham News Network. First, let me thank you. I am grateful that you would respect my selfish request. Please, grant me the privilege of answering your question."
"You may want the criminal known as Mr. Freeze to die, but do you really think it's that easy? People DIED because of you. Yes, your motivations are reasonable, but your actions? There aren't many people who can just forgive that. How do you plan on atoning for such crimes?"
Victor sighed sadly. "It is as you said, Ms. Vale. I was willing to turn Gotham into an unsalvageable tundra in order to save my wife. I have aided in many a doomsday plan, freed criminals as dangerous as Joker himself, and taken many lives. Husbands, wives, parents... and children. The sins on my soul are incalculable. No words can express the sorrow for the pain I've caused my victims. Even the most evil of men I have killed had loved ones who cared about them. Even Ferris Boyle, the man who can be considered the creator of Mr. Freeze, had children who must have loved him."
"Heh, yeah right," a reporter snickered.
"When Batman took out Freeze and arrested Boyle, it was a freakin' buffet for us."
"The dirt we pulled up on that guy. Is it any wonder he was shivved in prison?"
"I swear on my license, I saw his kid spit on his grave."
Victor heard none of this. "I beg for the forgiveness of all whom I have wronged. It was another life, though that is hardly an excuse. I can only promise you this, Gotham: I will do the best I can to make reparations to everyone I have ever hurt."
"And how do you plan to do this, Dr. Fries," Vicki asked.
"By pouring all of my work, all of my knowledge, and all of my power into the projects... funded by the Wu-San-Wayne Conglomerate. Despite my many sins, the many ways I could betray them, the many ways I could bring shame to them, the Wu-San-Wayne family has generally opened their doors to me. However, this cannot be compared to normal employment. In every possible way, this can be compared to mandatory community service. As of today, I am an employee of Wu-San-Wayne Conglomerate, all of my earnings going to the charities of my choosing."
"Mr. Wayne, a word," a reporter called.
"Mr. Wayne, isn't it too dangerous to hire a master criminal like Freeze?!"
"Are you prepared for the consequences should Freeze ever snap?!"
"This is an extremely controversial decision, Mr. Wayne!"
Bruce took Victor's place on the podium. "I have heard these arguments many times already. I have to say that they're all valid. However, I have seen time and time again that good people NEED a trusting hand in order to truly redeem themselves. Believe it or not, I've seen men and women who needed second, third, and fourth chances in order to walk down the proper path. I consider those people to be my friends," he said as he thought of Star Sapphire, Plastic Man, and Catwoman.
"Yes, Dr. Victor Fries has a past, but so do many others. I myself have skeletons in my closet that I fear will reach the public. Maybe you will learn from truly talented reporters like Ms. Vale. Maybe they will be revealed at my death. I am well aware that Victor himself can reveal them. However, even if my sins are revealed, that would not stop me from doing what I believe is right. From helping those less fortunate than I am. From trying to save the very soul of Gotham."
"My fellow citizens of this great city, I ask you to not look back at Victor's past, but imagine his future. This is the man who was able to cure his wife's disease virtually alone. Should we truly allow such a brilliant mind to waste away in prison?"
The reporters spoke among themselves.
"Remember Jack Napier?" That got the crowd's attention. "No one could believe that such a great man was hidden deep within The Joker. In mere months, he greatly lowered the crime rate, and his actions are still being felt to this day. Sadly, we lost Gotham's Second White Knight, but with Dr. Fries's assistance, we may be able to reclaim both Napier... and Harvey Dent. These two great men lived long enough to see themselves become the villains, but with the power of good men like Victor Fries, we can bring back the heroes this city needs and deserves!"
The reporters couldn't help but applaud Bruce, virtually all of them ready to give Victor a second chance.
Victor placed a hand on Bruce's shoulder. "Thank you, Mr. Wayne," he said, a tear threatening to fall.
"Of course," Bruce said with a smile.
As Victor smiled, the tear finally falling, it was revealed that he was being watched through a scope.
"No hard feelings, Freeze," Deadshot said as he placed his finger on the trigger, ready to snipe the cured scientists. "But the old man doesn't want you to make Lady Shiva look good. He began to squeeze the trigger.
The scope was then covered.
"What?"
Deadshot's sniper was then yanked away, the assassin looking to see it get caught by Black Spider. "Yeah, can't let you do that, Floyd. That'd piss off the boss lady. You understand, don't ya," he asked as he broke the sniper over his knee and tossed the parts away.
Deadshot looked at his ruined gun before looking at Black Spider. "You're going to regret that, Eric," he said as he aimed his gauntlets at Black Spider.
Spider took his stance. "Bring it."
ALTERNATE SCENE:
"No hard feelings, Freeze," Deadshot said as he placed his finger on the trigger, ready to snipe the cured scientists. "But the old man doesn't want you to make Lady Shiva look good. He began to squeeze the trigger.
BANG.
Deadshot was looking down at his sniper before looking down to see what was left of his scope.
BANG.
He looked down to see his empty hands, his destroyed sniper smoking next to him. "Son. Of. A. Bitch." He then stood up. "Those things aren't cheap, Hood," he said as he looked toward Red Hood, the anti-hero's guns still smoking.
"Send me the bill some other time, Lawton," Jason said as he spun his guns before aiming at Deadshot.
"Better idea: Black Mask still has that bounty placed on your head. How about I kill you and cash it in so I can get some new guns," Deadshot said as he aimed his wristguns at Jason.
The two stood still, staring at each other down, guns pointed at guns, just daring the other to make the first move.
BANG.
(A/N: Choose which version you like more in the Reviews)
Victor and Nora looked around in shock.
"This... This is too much, Mr. Wayne. I can't have this," he said as he gestured to the nice, yet windowless room.
"Don't worry, Fries. Except for the bedroom and lavatory, every room is under heavy surveillance. It may look pleasant, but it is still a prison cell."
"You even provided Victor with a laboratory to continue his work. Is this really a punishment," Nora asked.
"Don't forget, Mrs. Fries," Sandra began. "Every bit of revenue Dr. Fries's research and work generates goes directly to Wu-San-Wayne Conglomerate. Neither you nor any of your children will receive any of the money Dr. Fries earns until an estimated ten years from now if any of his inventions are even a fraction as brilliant as what he produced as the villain Mr. Freeze."
Nora's eyes widened. "Our... children?" She then looked down at Sandra's now more pronounced stomach before looking down and rubbing her own stomach. She then felt her free hand being grabbed, looking up to see her husband smiling down at her, Nora smiling back.
Victor then looked at Bruce with a serious expression. "Mr. Wayne, there is already a project I wish to work on."
"Which would be?"
"I would like to help in the rehabilitation of Harvey Dent." Bruce's eyes widened. "He's still there, Mr. Wayne. Outside of his madness, I've seen glimpses of the man once known as the White Knight. I've had intelligent conversations with Dent before Two-Face would interrupt them. He can be saved."
Bruce looked down before looking up at Fries. "You want to freeze him in order to perform plastic surgery."
"Yes, sir. Anesthetics won't be enough for his current condition. It wouldn't even be safe to operate on that severely burned scar tissue, even if he was under. Freezing him might be the safest bet. However, I regret to admit that I'm not qualified for plastic surgery."
"I knew someone who was," Bruce said sadly. "But... he's gone," he said as he thought of his old friend, Thomas Elliot, who was murdered by Riddler not too long ago. "He would have been able to fix Harv's face."
"And none of my Shadows are surgeons. We all specialize in medicine. We have plenty of methods to place someone into a coma, and we know how to slice someone to ribbons and perform minor plastic surgery for disguises, but nothing at the level Dent needs," Sandra said.
"So, there's no helping him," Nora asked sadly.
"Batman, you don't know any heroes who can help," Victor pleaded.
Bruce looked down sadly before his brow furrowed. Then, his eyes widened. "Michael Holt."
"Mr. Terrific," Sandra whispered so only Bruce could hear.
"Dr. Holt," Victor asked. "I've heard of him. He's considered one of the most brilliant scientists alive. His engineering skills are second to none. What does he have to do with-"
"He has a medical degree in nearly every field of medical science, including surgery. He's the only man I know who could rival Dr. Thomas Elliot in the surgical field."
"Then, that means," Nora began.
"Harvey CAN be saved. His face can be fixed."
Nora hugged her husband happily, Victor hugging her back. "I'll get to work right away, sir."
"Thank you."
"I'll make arrangements," Sandra said. "Victor was easy to get out of Arkham due to being the most sane man there. Harvey is going to be tricker due to his actual- Ooh!"
"Sandra?"
"It's fine. Our child just kicked. Had quite a bit of power," Sandra said proudly as she rubbed her stomach. "Healthy."
Bruce sighed.
"What is it?"
"I'm happy to know that our child is healthy... but now I have to ask you to stay at the manor."
"I beg your pardon?"
"I'm sorry, Madame Wayne." She looked at Victor. "But I have to agree with your husband. You're in your 2nd trimester. Judging from the size, you're nearing your 3rd. Under normal circumstances, the mother should be moving around as little as possible, and receiving as much rest and care as possible. Given who you are, Lady Shiva, the circumstances make it so you should stay out of the public eye until the child is born. I am certain you have more than enough enemies who wish to do harm to not only you, but the child growing within you, correct?"
Sandra giggled as she shook her head. "You have no idea. The tabloids have lost their mind ever since my pregnancy was too big to hide. Articles about the 'Heir of Gotham' and the 'Continuation of a Legacy' have been flooding the papers. My child is more famous than most Gotham celebrities, and most TV stations have been begging for an interview with me. Not going to happen. Too open for Assassins to get to me."
"Not even Wu-San-Wayne Tower is completely safe. This basement level might be the safest in the entire building," Bruce explained. "There's only one place in all of Gotham with the security needed to repel Ra's and his Assassins."
"Wayne Manor," Sandra said. "Well, at least I'll have good company with Alfred."
"And Dick. He decided to stay."
Sandra giggled. "How sweet of him. What about Jason, Barbra, and Tim?"
"They'll be around. Mostly helping me to keep the city safe. Along with Kathy and Luke."
"My Shadows are also nearby. I'm sure I'm quite safe."
"You are if I have anything to say about it."
Sandra giggled. "Well, with that, Duì nǐmen liǎ lái shuō dōu shì měihǎo de yītiān (A good day to you both)," Sandra said with a bow before she and Bruce left the room, the automatic door closing behind them.
"We owe them a lot, don't we," Nora asked.
"I doubt I will ever be able to repay them, but I will surely try."
"I know you will, Victor. . . Now... about that child," she asked as she glanced up at her husband with a sly smile.
Victor smiled back. "We did want to start a family."