On the outer edges of Gotham, hidden beneath the facade of Wayne Manor, lay the legendary Batcave. A vast cavern filled with cutting-edge technology, sleek vehicles, and an arsenal that could make even the most formidable criminals tremble. The cave's walls were adorned with the trophies of Batman's triumphs, a testament to the endless battle against crime that echoed through the shadows.
Seated in front of the Batcomputer, clad in her iconic suit, was Barbara Gordon—Batgirl. Her fingers danced across the illuminated keyboard. The soft glow from multiple screens reflected in her determined eyes as she sifted through data and analyzed the intricate web of criminal activities that plagued the city. Today's most pressing subject? A name: the Court of Owls…
And a few feet from her, sitting on the ground, was a packaged box.
The relative silence of the cave was broken by the subtle creak of the secret entrance opening; footsteps marked a new arrival. In full black and yellow uniform, Iron Fist made his way down the long set of stairs.
A week to the day since his meeting with the Dark Knight, he'd come to pick up his requested parcel, as instructed. He was pleasantly surprised to see Batgirl at his place in front of the massive computer.
"Yo, Batwoman," he greeted as he approached, glibly invoking another redhead's namesake as a joke.
Batgirl swiveled around in the chair, looking at Danny with an annoyed smirk. "It's not Batwoman. It's Batgirl, you dumbo."
Danny gave a good-natured chuckle. "Of course, of course. My mistake." He glanced up at the images and words spread across the computer screen. "Anything new on the horizon?"
"The usual suspects are making moves. There's also a new player in town, and they're causing quite a stir," she said, her voice going firmer.
"What have you got on 'em?" the blonde asked.
"Only a corpse of a man in a weird costume, with a goggled mask and all kinds of blades," Batgirl answered. "And a name… the Court of Owls."
"Hmm. Well, I know you guys can handle yourselves, but be careful anyway." Danny looked around. "Not that I'm unhappy to see you, but I was expecting the big man."
"Bruce is out catching bad guys," Batgirl said with amusement. "So my attention is all you get right now."
The corners of Danny's lip curled upwards. "Unfortunately, it's not for long. I'm just here for a quick pickup." He noticed the small box sitting on the floor to Barbara's left and walked over to it. "And I believe this is it."
"Yep, that's right." Batgirl's amused smirk appeared to grow. "Sure you don't want to stay?" she teased.
"Well, as much as I enjoy your dulcet tones," he teased back, causing her to roll her eyes and swivel back to the screens, "it'll have to wait for another time. I'm trying to track someone down at the moment."
"Are you now?" Barbara tapped a few keys on the Batcomputer as she listened. "And who might that be?"
"Oh…" The blonde's smile grew as he anticipated the reaction. "Lady Shiva."
The redhead didn't disappoint. Barbara's head suddenly snapped up. She whirled around in the chair, looking the furthest thing from pleased. She looked scared. "Lady Shiva?" she asked, sounding nervous.
"Yeah, you know," Danny said casually. "Part Chinese, mid-thirties, dark hair. Deadliest warrior on the planet? Or so everyone keeps telling me." he sounded alarmingly nonchalant about it.
Batgirl didn't look any more at ease. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "And why are you trying to find specifically her?"
"For a duel," he replied, still quite nonchalantly.
Barbara's eyes bugged under her mask. "...Danny, have you lost your mind?! You're aware that you are talking about literally the best assassin alive, right?" She asked, now visibly worried.
"I know, right?" Good god, he sounded excited. "It should be great."
"No, Danny, it won't!" Batgirl exclaimed, increasingly frustrated that he was being so arrogant. "That's the last thing you should be doing! You're gonna get yourself killed!".
"Debatable," he said rather simply. "Have I ever told you about my old buddy Shang Chi?"
"...No, as a matter of fact, you have not." She said in the same frustrated voice. She sighed. "Who is this Shang Chi person?"
"Another Chinese guy. Also considered the best fighter in the world." He touched his chin as if thinking about something for the first time. "Though, I don't know specifically if him and that Richard Dragon guy have ever gone one-on-one… eh, thoughts for later. Point is, I should be okay."
Batgirl was practically beside herself. "Danny, please… Don't take this the wrong way, but you should not be taking on Lady Shiva. Do I even have to explain why? She's extremely dangerous, and absolutely ruthless! She could kill you in a split second! Please, please don't try to fight her…."
Danny remained calm. "I've gone up against more than my share of top world warriors." He raised an eyebrow at her. "I did just fine against Bruce, if you recall."
Barbara exhaled. "Look, Danny. Don't take this the wrong way… Bruce is good, you both are, but Shiva is a completely different animal. I know you think you can take her out, but please, trust me when I say it's a bad idea. You don't know what you're getting yourself into here." She looked genuinely concerned for her friend's safety.
"This isn't about thinking I can take her out," Danny said.
Barbara's brow wrinkled. "Then what is it?"
Danny looked at her with an odd smile, then asked a question. "Would you consider yourself a warrior, Red?"
Barbara was a little confused by this question. She considered herself many things. Genius. Survivor. Hero. She thought about it for a moment before answering. "Yes… I guess I would. Why do you ask?" There was a new curiosity in her voice.
"Then you're in the same vein and tradition as the greatest," Danny said, his voice starting to swell with something. "The ancient Spartans training gruelingly in preparation for war." A glint passed in his eye. "Or the old, wizened samurai chasing perfection on the battlefield, polishing his technique in the blood of his enemies."
Barbara was slightly taken aback by the sudden monologue. "Well… I guess so, yeah," She said, trying to figure out what he was building up to. "What's your point?"
"The point is," Danny said, "I want to be the best warrior I can be. And I can't do that unless I fight those who are just as good or better than I am." Another small smile graced his lips. "'Iron sharpens iron', as the saying goes."
"Danny…" A sigh escaped Barbara's lips. "I get this is something that you want to do, but Shiva is not someone you should be messing around with. You can't underestimate her!"
"I don't intend to," the young man assured her, much as he did her mentor.
Barbara paused for a second, releasing another exasperated breath. "Is there any way I can convince you not to do this? Anything at all…?"
"Sorry, afraid not." He reached down and picked up the small box on the floor, resting it on the edge of the Batcomputer's panel. "Besides, I'm coming prepared."
Barbara looked even more worried than before, but she was determined to keep trying. "What could you possibly have that could help you win?"
"Not win, per se," he clarified. "A gift."
"...A gift?" She seemed confused. "What do you mean?"
"That's one of the things Bruce was helping me find. Something pleasant from her youth." He tapped his hand on the box. "Pur-ehr tea. An old favorite from her childhood home."
"...Tea? You're going to gift her tea?" She asked, clearly confused.
"What was it Winston Churchill said?" Danny said. "'When you intend to kill a man, it costs nothing to be polite.' I'm not planning to go that far, but I figure a little manners will go a long way for making a good impression."
Barbara couldn't help the small snort that escaped from her, nor the small smile that came to her own face. "A gentleman through and through." Her voice had a slightly sarcastic tinge to it. But she still looked a little unconvinced. "Okay, let's say she accepts the tea, then what happens?"
"I ask if she'll allow some time out of her day to humor me with some one-on-one," Danny said simply.
Barbara crossed her arms. "And if she says no?"
"Then… I may have to end up fighting my way out of a possible nest of ninja assassins while hoping for the best," Danny replied, again very simply.
"...That sounds like absolute madness." Barbara shook her head in dismayed awe of what she'd just heard.
"She could always say yes," Danny countered.
"And you're not at all concerned even if she does?!" Barbara asked sharply, her eyes narrowing as she went back to her previous point. "You realize that woman made a hobby out of hunting down the best fighters in the world and beating them to death with her bare hands?"
Astonishingly, Danny just smirked. "All the more reason she'd want to fight a stranger like me."
She paused for a moment, realizing he had a point. She touched her fingers to her forehead. "So, there's no way you're changing your mind, is there?"
The Thunderer of K'un Lun shook his head.
Barbara gave another deep sigh "All right, fine… Just be careful."
"I will." A look suddenly crossed his face. "I'd offer to take you somewhere worthwhile if I come back alive, but I believe you and Dick are back together, so I'm pretty sure that's off the table."
She seemed slightly caught off guard by his comment. "O-Oh... Well, yeah…" she said, blushing slightly. "He asked me out again last month."
He snorted playfully. "Missed it by that much."
Batgirl's face turned slightly more red, her lip pouting. "You think this is funny, you jerk?" She sounded annoyed, but it was clear she wasn't really angry.
"A little bit, yeah," Danny said with a small grin.
Barbara only stuck her tongue out at him. "Screw you, Danny."
The saga continues...
Next time: Iron Fist vs Lady Shiva!