Chapter 16

From Bad To Worse

When evening came, in the criminal underworld of the harsh city, the Joker was at his desk trying to devise a plan for his revenge. He tapped his finger as he contemplated who to target first: the two heroines who had got him locked up or his ex and her witch of a girlfriend. He was tempted to go after Batgirl and Supergirl, but at the same time, Harley and Ivy were the ones who ruined him. A gleeful chuckle escaped his red lips as he imagined the four's horrified faces as he did unspeakable forms of torture to them and their screams of agony filling the air. He could practically taste the sweetness of revenge on the tip of his tongue. Suddenly, he was broken out of his fantasies by hungry howls.

"Oh, confounded mutts!" He stormed out of the office, heading towards the hyena room. The three spotted creatures continued to howl in starvation, hoping their twisted mistress would give them something. Lethal was in the room with the pets chained to the wall, reading the paper. A vicious sneer formed on her face as her purple eyes read the story of Superwoman. The ever-growing fire of hatred burned more furiously as she looked at the photo of Superwoman and Superman with heroic smiles on their faces.

"That two-faced whore!"

"LETHAL!"

She rolled her irritated eyes as he marched over to her. He pulled her up by the arm.

"Why are the hyenas howling? I can't concentrate when they're making noise!"

"Gee, sweety, maybe they're hungry." she sarcastically stated.

"Hungry? HUNGRY?! YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO FEED THEM!"

"Well, sorry, Puddin', but I haven't got the time to feed your mutts."

"What do you mean you didn't have time?! All you have been doing is sitting around!"

"Look here, Buster! I've got my own trouble! Thanks to you wasting time robbing the bank, I've missed my chance to get even with Clark and Lana when she was a sitting duck. Now she's Superwoman, which will make things twice as hard!"

"You think that's difficult?! Ivy has managed to make a plant strong enough to stop Superman! Think about what she could do to me with those?!"

"Oh boo-hoo, you poor man." She sarcastically stated before her tone shifted back to vexation. "Just grow a pair and kill the freaks, you twit!"

"Watch it, you ungrateful little slut!"

"UNGRATEFUL?! What do I have to be grateful for?! You beat the shit out of me for a week!"

"I gave you a new life. I've made you my second in command!"

"Oh yeah, it's such a great position, being only second best while having to dress in this ridiculous outfit!"

Joker was about to retort when the hyenas howled louder than ever.

"SHUT UP, YOU MISERABLE MUTTS!"

"Just feed them already!" she yelled.

He turned while letting out a frustrated growl, and then he grabbed her by her arms, holding her tightly. "YOU LISTEN TO ME! ALL YOU HAD TO DO IS FEED THE HYENAS! THAT'S-!"

Suddenly, she bit the tip of his pointy nose clean off. He dropped her as he covered his wounded nose.

She spat out the tip in the waiting jaws of Jim, who swallowed it before returning to the chorus of howls. Lethal twisted Joker's ear, almost ripping it off his skull. "Listen here, Buster. I don't take orders from you or anybody! If you want those slobbering mutts fed, do it yourself." She pushed him to the ground. The three hyenas charged towards him with hunger in their yellow eyes, only being held back by their chains. He scrambled to his feet, panting. He looked over his shoulder to find that his vile girlfriend had already left.

"I wish Harley were here," he mumbled as he held a paper towel on his nose before he fetched food for his drooling pets.

Lethal stormed past her boyfriend's office when a small green glow captured her attention. Checking that the coast was clear, she made her way over to the desk. She opened a small drawer to find a few small pieces of glowing green rocks.

"Kryptonite." she gasped before a twisted Grinch-like grin emerged. Making sure the coast was clear, she took two pieces and one of his guns.

Three of the goons were playing poker when Joker came in. Anger painted his face with a fresh bandage covering his recently shortened nose. They wisely choose not to ask.

"Are you ready, men?" Joker rhetorically asked.

They nervously nodded.

"What's the plan, Boss?" one of the goons asked curiously.

"Putting an end to the Man of Steel." A female voice interrupted.

Joker turned to see Lethal walking in.

"Actually, Honey, we're..." She just walked past him.

"We're going to find him tonight and end his career." She beamed as she clenched her bleached fist.

"But what if we can't find him?" another goon asked.

"We'll lure him to come out."

"But what if he doesn't show up?"

"Then we'll try again! Every night until Superman and Superwoman are dead!" She spat as she slammed her fist on the table, causing the deck of cards to fall off the surface. Her eyes filled with pure red-hot rage – more red-hot than the hottest red rock in Death Valley during midday.

Joker gritted his teeth. He needed to remind her who the head of the gang was. "Look here, Lethal. I give the orders around here, not-"

She grabbed a nearby knife and held it to the neck just inches from his skin.

"I'm only going to say this once. If you so much as even suggest that we forget about going after them, I'll kill you." She threatened. As she spoke, one of the goons quietly got out of his chair and crept up behind her with an empty glass beer bottle. Holding the bottle up, he was ready to strike the back of her cranium. She shoved Joker to the ground before quickly tripping the goon with a swift kick. The bottle fell to the ground, shattering into sharp pieces. The two men got up, avoiding the glass on the floor.

"Anyone else got any objections?" Lethal asked the other two. They slowly shook their heads with fear in their eyes. "Good. Let's go."

She headed for the door, followed by the goons and her sorry excuse of a boyfriend.

Superman and his apprentice joined Batgirl on a rooftop. She looked down through her binoculars towards the street below.

"Evening, Batgirl." she greeted.

"Evening, you two. Glad you're here."

"Where's Supergirl?" he asked.

"She's on a mission with Stargirl." she clarified. "Anyway, we've got trouble." She pointed down to where a shady-looking figure was hiding. "Harry Wester. Local drug dealer. He's making a deal tonight."

"Any idea when the buyer will be here?" Superwoman asked.

"I think he's already arrived." He pointed to a man in black making his way to Harry. The dealer led him down an alleyway. Batgirl and the Supers followed secretly, moving as quietly as mice.

The two men entered his headquarters.

"No one followed you, right?" Harry asked.

"Of course not. Do you see any cops around here? Now, the cocaine."

He lifted a briefcase, opening it to reveal several bags filled with the forbidden white powder.

"Oh, come to Papa, baby."

"Money first," he commanded.

The buyer opened his case. It was filled to the brim with cold, hard cash. Just as they were about to exchange, there was a loud bang as something crashed through the brick walls. When the dust cleared, they turned to see the three heroes.

"Superman! Superwoman! Batgirl!" Harry cried.

"Give it up, Harry," Batgirl commanded. "If you surrender, then your sentence might be reduced."

Naturally, like any notorious criminal, Harry didn't give up so easily. He knocked over some crates before he turned and ran. The other man tried to leg it, only to be caught by the Supers. Batgirl chased after him through a maze of crates. Eventually, he came to a dead end.

"It's over, Harry," she stated as she corned him.

"Alright. I'll come quietly." He fibbed. Suddenly, he pulled a knife from his back pocket and charged. She dodged as he slashed wildly, trying to land a fatal hit on the hero. During the commotion, he managed to cut the lower arm of her suit, missing her skin by a few millimetres. Before he could land another hit, she managed to trip him with a hard kick. He landed with a loud thud. Batgirl cuffed him, taking the weapon out of his hand.

Outside, Commissioner Gordon and a few officers were waiting. The Supers handed over the buyer to the officers just as Batgirl led Harry out of the building.

"You have the right to remain silent. Anything you do or say will be used against you in a court of law." the officer stated as he placed the criminal in the car.

"Thank you for your help, Supers. We've been trying to catch him for months."

"No problem, but she did all the hard stuff," Superwoman stated, pointing to the heroine in purple.

"Is that true?"

She nodded.

Sensing the awkward tension, the Man of Steel spoke. "We'll give you two some space."

The Supers and the officers left the scene, allowing Jim and his daughter to chat privately.

"That was impressive." Barbara's dad said, timid in his posture and voice.

"...Thanks," Barbara responded tensely.

"Where's K...Supergirl?"

"She was needed for a mission out of town." Batgirl's eyes narrowed under her mask. "What? Got a problem with it."

"No, no. It's just that..."

"That what?"

"Given how dangerous Harry is, I thought she would have been here with you. You know, just in case."

"It was a last-minute call. I thought you didn't want her help."

"Why won't I want her to help you?"

"What was it you said about her again? 'I knew there was a reason I didn't like her. She's a danger to you.'"

"It was just in the heat of the moment..."

"Oh, sure, just like calling her a…" Barbara couldn't say that dreadful word.

"It was a slip of the tongue," he stated, his voice begging to show a hint of irritation.

"Sure, it was. I wouldn't be surprised if you call us that when talking about me to your officer buddies."

"I would never call you that."

"Yeah, right. It's not just Kara you have a problem with. It's me."

"You're being ridiculous."

"Oh really? Because ever since you found out I'm a lesbian, you act like I can't be trusted."

"What? I trust you."

"So, you believe I can take on the Joker?"

"U-Um-"

"Or Ivy?"

"Well-"

"What about Harley?" Barbara sighed at the silence. "So, I need a partner for you to think I can be a hero? That's not trusting me."

"How am I supposed to trust you when you've been keeping secrets."

"So, I need to tell you everything that happened in my life?"

"No, just the parts that put you in dangerous situations."

"I'm an adult, Jim. I can make my own decisions."

"Your mother would be disappointed with your choices!" He unintentionally shouted. Once the words left his mouth, he instantly regretted it. His daughter's expression shifted from shock to sorrow, then to anger. "Barbara, I didn't..."

"Don't even bother apologising! I am done trying to make amends! I'm done trying to get your approval! I don't want to have anything to do with you! I don't want you in my life! I HATE YOU!" she yelled. Jim's face wore an expression of shock and sorrow as his daughter glared at him with hatred-filled eyes before she stormed off. She looked back, wondering if she should apologise before her expression turned stern, and she continued walking.

Jim sorrowfully walked back to his car. He sat down as tears built in his eyes before flowing down his face.

Superman and his assistant were chatting as they waited. "Bet you didn't expect to help take down a notorious criminal on your first night?" he teased.

"Can't say I did." she joked. "Then again, I never expected to be a superhero."

"I've got to say you're getting the hang of this quickly."

"What can I say? I have a great teacher." She joked. "I'm just glad the press isn't here."

"Thankfully, they rarely do during the night."

"Does that mean I can ask for night duties only from now on?" She quipped.

"Hmm. No."

"Darn."

He chuckled.

"Superman, are you there?" Kara's voice came from his communicator.

"I'm here, Supergirl. What's your status?" He answered.

"Just finished up with Stargirl. I'm heading back to Gotham right now."

"Copy that. How long do you think you'll be?"

"Five minutes tops." She said. She hung up before blasting off.

"So, I take it once Supergirl's back, we'll continue looking for Livewire's murderer?" Superwoman asked.

He nodded just as Batgirl arrived. They noticed her melancholy expression.

"How did it go with your dad?" Superwoman asked.

"Fine. Just fine."

"Are you sure?" He asked.

Batgirl just nodded.

"Batgirl, if something's on your mind, maybe we should talk about it."

"No, it's fine. Let's just get started with the killer search."

"Actually, Kara's done and should be here soon. Once she's back-"

"Hey, guys."

They looked up to see Supergirl as she floated down to the ground.

"So, what did I miss?"

"Not much. Just a small job." Superwoman stated.

"Well, small might be underplaying it." He added before turning his attention to his cousin. "Could you just check to ensure Batgirl's okay when you're out looking for the killer?"

"Why? What's wrong?" Supergirl asked, worried.

"We're not sure. She and her dad talked, and I think something happened between them."

"Ok. I'll see what I can do."

"Alright." He then called for Batgirl. "I want you and Supergirl to look over the east side of the city while Superwoman and I take the west."

"Got it."

The team split up. As Batgirl rode on Supergirl's back, they began to talk. "Hey, sweety, what's wrong? You know you can tell me."

She hesitated for a second. "My dad and I were talking, and... it turned into an argument."

"Oh. Well, I'm sure he didn't mean whatever he said."

"He said my mum would be disappointed in me."

There was an awkward silence. Kara was unsure of what to say. What could she say? She doubted that the commissioner would have meant it, but at the same time, he knew how much Barbara's mum meant to her. Eventually, Batgirl decided to break the awakened silence.

"How was your mission?"

"Nothing, honestly. Just a bunch of evil bots." Her girlfriend replied nonchalantly. "Didn't even break a sweat."

"How's Stargirl?"

"She's good. She liked your suggestion for a meal out."

"Did she have any ideas where she would like to go?"

"She was thinking about this new Italian restaurant."

"Well, I already know what I'm ordering."

"What's that?"

"Spaghetti for two." She playfully joked.

"Aww. I was hoping to have a pizza." Supergirl played along.

They chuckled as they continued to glide over the vast city.

Lethal and the gang arrived in a dark alleyway filled with abandoned crates and cans. Alcoholic puddles filled in the holes, causing a horrible aroma in the air. Rats scuttled in the darkest shadows, their glowing yellow eyes watching them.

"Why are we here?" Joker asked. "Superman won't waste time in a place like this?"

"Unless there's someone in trouble." Lethal corrected.

"So, you're just going to pretend I'm holding you hostage?"

She chuckled with a mix of amusement and annoyance. "My days of playing helpless little damsel are over. Anyway, I have a different task for you, Puddin'."

"What would that be?"

"I need you to rob a clothes shop. I'm tired of this foolish outfit. Get me a suit and a white shirt. No red and black this time. Get one's that's... purple."

"Now see here..."

"Just do what she wants, Boss." a goon nervously advised, noticing her threatening expression.

Joker groaned, gnashing his teeth. However, knowing she wouldn't hesitate to kill him if he disobeyed, he reluctantly obeyed, like a hunting dog taking orders from its master. He walked off, mumbling to himself.

"Go with him just to make sure he doesn't screw it up." She ordered the goon.

The goon followed him while the rest stayed with the vicious villainess.

"If you're not the one he's coming to rescue, then who is?" another goon asked.

"Somebody else. Man, woman, child, I don't care. The first person you find, bring them here, and I'll do the rest." They nodded before beginning their search. "Be back in five minutes and no mistakes."

"N-no, no mistakes." the third goon said nervously. "Got it, Loi- Ur, I mean Lethal."

As the goon left, Lethal began preparing everything for her plan. She barely contained her excitement. She could practically see the horror on his face, the screams of agony and pleas for mercy. He would pay for all those years of lies and humiliations. She would make sure he paid dearly for it all. And even if she could get it today, she would at least have some enjoyment with her unknown victim. She quickly chuckled to herself.

Sofie walked down the street. She had just finished drinking at a bar and was heading home for the evening.

"What does she see in that stupid blonde?" She complained to herself.

As she walked, she could not help but feel that she was being followed. Each step she took was followed by the loud beating of her heart. Sweat ran down her forehead while the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. Her eyes moved from side to side, looking around for any danger. Then she felt a shadow creep over her. She turned around, only for the goons to grab her. One covered her mouth before she could let out a cry for help. Sofie tried with all her might to escape to no avail. They took her back to the alleyway and dropped her hard to the ground.

"Please don't hurt me! Help! Somebody! Anybody!" Sofie cried.

"Don't worry, sweety." She turned to see where the voice had come from. Lehal walked into the light with her weapon ready. "I'm sure a hero is out there. They just need to find you."

"Who are you?"

"I'm surprised you don't recognise me. Then again, I had quite the makeover." Lethal came closer, flicking her green hair.

Sofie began to recognise her features and gasped in horror. "Lois Lane?"

"Not anymore. I go by Lethal Lynx." She grinned, showing her sickening yellow teeth. "Now you're going help me."

"W-w-what are you going to do to me?"

"Hmmm. What should I do to you? Beat you? Hold you hostage? It doesn't matter, just as long as you scream loud enough to bring Superman to me." The villain said before holding her rusty crowbar high and bringing it crashing down upon Sofie's hip.

Joker and the goon were in the women's section at a nearby clothes shop, looking at a line of suits.

"Who does she think she is? Ordering me, ME?! She was supposed to be second in command. She follows me, not the other way around." Joker ranted as he tossed the suits across the room. "Once she gets rid of Superwoman or Superman, I'll get rid of her forever."

"Will this do, Boss?" the goon held a purple suit and white shirt. It looked like a woman's version of his own suit.

"As long as she doesn't hurt us, it will do," Joker muttered before they left.

"Stop it! Please." Sofie cried as another hit from the rusty metal made contact with her upper thigh. Her body now had serval bruises and deep cuts. If it weren't for her broken coxal, she would have run for it."

"I can't." Lethal mocked. "Superman isn't here." She reached into her pocket and took out the gun. "Maybe this will make him come." She held the gun to her hostage's head, just inches away from pulling the trigger.

"Now call for him in your loudest voice or else." She threated.

Just as Sofie was about to cry out, a bleached figure grabbed Lethal's arm.

"Oh no, you don't!" Joker yelled as he wrestled Lethal for the gun. "You already got to murder Livewire. I'm not letting you kill anyone else without my say-so."

"I wasn't gonna kill her, you moron. I was only threatening her to get him here!"

They fought for a few seconds. Then Lethal managed to shove him to the ground, but in the process, her finger pulled the trigger."

BANG!

Sofie felt cold as she drew her final breath and her eyes shut for the last time.

"Now, look what you made me do!" Lethal yelled in frustration.

"It wasn't my fault you pulled the trigger, Ms. Butterfingers!"

Just then, the sound of sirens filled the air. With no choice, they rushed out and headed to the Joker Mobile.

Not too far away, Batgirl and her girlfriend were patrolling. They heard the gunshot and rushed towards it.

They arrived at the spot and gasped in horror.

"Sofie," Supergirl said.

Batgirl checked to see if there was a pulse. "She's dead. Gunshot." As she examined the body, she began to recognise something familiar about the wounds. "She was beaten with a metal object, similar to Livewire."

"Do you think it's the same person?"

"Definitely."

A police car pulled up, and two officers emerged.

"What happened here?" One of the officers asked.

"Not certain, but I think our killer just got their seconded victim," Batgirl stated.

"Get Commissioner Gordon ASAP." The officer ordered his co-worker.

Batgirl shook her head. "I don't think that's nece-"

"Honey, I know you two don't see eye to eye at the moment, but you can't let it get in the way of your professional work." The blonde whispered to her girlfriend.

Batgirl signed in irritation.

"Look, why don't I talk with him, and you continue looking?"

"Ok." She agreed. Batgirl grabbed her grappling gun and made her way to the rooftops.

Commissioner Gordon arrived about thirty minutes later, along with paramedics, to take Sofie's body away. He talked to the blonde in private.

"So, she's one of Barbara's co-workers?" He asked.

"She was? Does that make Barbara a suspect?" Kara asked.

"No. However, I do think you two are linked to the killer."

"Why's that?" Supergirl asked.

"Both victims knew you and Batgirl. However, I wonder why they went after them. Livewire knew your alter egos while Sofie only knew you as your true selves."

"Do you think they're trying to get us then?"

"It's possible, or they're just going after random people. Either way, I'm putting this case as the top priority." He stated.

"Well, thank you," Supergirl said.

"Don't mention it. Just doing my duty." He said.

They parted ways. Supergirl flew to the rooftops. As she looked for her partner, she informed her cousin about what had happened.

She had just finished her conversation when she found Batgirl looking down upon the city.

"Beautiful view."

Batgirl turned in surprise.

"City looks pretty, too." Supergirl joked, earning a playful eye roll.

"Anyway, how did it go with the Commissioner?"

"Pretty good. He's made it his top priority to help catch the killer."

"We've already got Superman on the case. We don't need his help."

"Does Bruce want him on the case?"

"He told me to have him get a team together." the redhead admitted.

"I know you don't like it."

"Understatement."

"But it is his job."

"I know." She tried to hold her anger in. "Can we change the subject?"

"Alright. Did you spot anything suspicious while I was talking with him?"

"Nothing so far?" She clarified.

They walked across the buildings in silence as they continued their night patrol.

Back at his hideout, Joker was having another argument with his second-in-command while she was behind a dresser putting on her new suit.

"... If it wasn't for you, I could have killed Superman by now." She said bitterly.

"Perhaps you should explain your plans to me before you go off on a killing spree." He ranted.

"For the last time, I wasn't going to kill her. I needed her alive as a witness so the world would know WHO killed Clark Kent."

"Then why even bother to bring the gun then?"

"Look, Mr. J, I'm a busy woman. So how about you make yourself useful and don't interfere when I'm working? Got that?!"

Lethal walked out from the dresser. She took in her new appearance, admiring her reflection in the mirror.

"Not bad. Reminds me of my reporter days, only more villainess-looking."

"I think you looked better in the other one," he murmured.

"Too bad. I prefer this one. It brings out the real me."

She threw her old outfit away, discarding the costume like it was nothing.

"Good night, my Harley." She mocked before letting out a gleeful and twisted laugh.

A sneer formed on his face as her laugh echoed in his eardrums. He could feel the twitching in his figures, how he wanted to grab her by the throat and tighten his grip until the life faded from her eyes. He barely managed to control himself. He could wait. He could wait until she was of no use to him anymore.

Lethal walked out of the room, her laugh growing louder with each step. Once she was out of earshot, he began to rant and rave while going on a rampage. Anything he could pick up, he threw or knocked off onto the floor. His blood pressure was through the roof. His nostrils flared just before he let out another hateful scream.

His goons cowered in fear in another room. They knew too well that things had gone from bad to worse.

Clark and Lana arrived outside her hotel, now in their civilian clothing.

"Thank you for a wonderful day." She said.

"Don't mention it. Thank you for agreeing to it." He replied.

"We could do it again sometime if you like."

"Sure. Maybe in three or four months?"

"I'll keep a day open for then."

Silence filled the air as they stood there for a while.

"So, see you tomorrow then?" she asked.

"Yes." He stated. "I'll be heading off. Good night, Lana."

"Night, Clark Bea... Kent." Lana corrected herself. She blushed with embarrassment at almost calling him by the nickname she had given him when they were dating. She walked into the hotel, trying her best to avoid an awkward situation.

"Night...Bella Lana." He whispered, then began going on his way.

Barbara and Kara were in their apartment, getting ready for bed. Kara couldn't help but notice that her girlfriend's mood hadn't improved since her argument.

"Babsy. What's ever bothering you, you know that...

"I'm fine, Karwy." she lied. "I'm just tired."

"Alright," Kara said, not wanting to push her further. "Good night." She kissed her on the cheek before laying her head on the pillow.

"Night," Barbara replied. She looked at the picture of her and her father on the desk. Her expression turned to a glare. She turned the picture facing downwards before going to sleep.

Clark lay in bed, thinking about what Lana had called him. He smiled. He won't admit it out loud, but he missed being called Clark Bear. He thought back to the day that they came up with their nicknames. It was during their third date at the local fair. He had won her a bear plushie from a test-your-strength game.

He felt his cheeks getting warm. He shook his head.

Lana was tossing and turning in her bed. She couldn't believe that she had almost called him Clark Bear. Why had she done that? Why would she do that? She stopped and laid on her back.

She began to think back to that day they had given each other nicknames. She smiled as she reminisced about the days she and Clark were together. Those joyful moments of their youth when they lived in Smallville. She began to think about where they could go next. Maybe the magic carpet ride to China or a day in Paris, France or even Japan. Slowly, her smile faded away as, once again, the heat returned to her cheeks.

"It's... It's all in your head." They tried to convince themselves, unknowingly simultaneously, before they slowly drifted off into a quiet sleep.

Author's note: Special thanks to Pure Red Crane for helping me come up with Lana's nickname.