"How have you been, dear?", Rex asked as she growled. "I was doing really well with you not in my life, Rex...", Selina spats back as she was praying that Bruce would hurry up and return.
Rex chuckled, "Oh, come on, dear, you can call me Dad, like you used to call me, or perhaps Father.", and Selina sneered at him, "You aren't my father anymore, Rex, not after you abandoned my mother and me. She fought for a better life, and I'm damn proud that she did for me.".
"My, my, wouldn't want your son to get into cursing as soon as he gets into thinking, hmm? Yes, it was a regret that Maria died when you were still young as I didn't expect that she was in the throes of cancer until it was too late...But look at you, dear. 25 years old, smart as a whip, and lovely as an African rose. And oh, before you call security, you better think twice about risking your dear Bruce in danger at hidden gunpoint, and of course, stress yourself into high-risk labor. I didn't come alone, you know. Take a look at the side tables where your dear Bruce is.", Rex replied.
"You bastard...", Selina growled as she looked to see that Bruce was indeed in danger, thanks to a nearby attendee that obviously was keeping their eyes on him at all times. Rex's hired help, obviously.
She and Bruce locked eyes for a moment across the clearing, over people's distracted conversations and laughter on the makeshift park clearing's dance floor and such, and she immediately knew that Bruce hated that the charity event is in public, and he can't change into Batman, even with the sun still a few hours from sunset. Selina should have listened to Martha about going to host the charity event in the manor ballroom, but she wanted fresh air from being in the manor, having cabin fever throughout the winter and all.
Selina took a deep breath, stroking her baby bump, feeling Damian's distress, hoping that Poppy's feeling the same back in the manor over the long distance, and she looked back at Rex, "Why are you here?", hating to obey Rex on his advice, not wanting to put Damien into high-risk labor with her stress, and knowing that Rex's hired help aka his goon is armed, next to Rex, of course.
"Ah, blunt to the point, dear. Well, I am here to bring you to my home, to make a deal with the Wayne family for a very wealthy ransom price for Bruce, you, and your child. If you call security, I have more hired help hidden in the crowd here, and well, do you want to risk many innocent lives in those soft-hearted people including those pitiful animals you are sponsoring for?", Rex raised an eyebrow carefully, hinting that he would go far to get what he wants, including a public intimidation of a shootout.
"So, blackmail and extortion? That's what you've been reduced to? On your own daughter too? Now, don't get me wrong, we stopped being family a long time ago and I don't give a damn if you sired me, you're just some man that I know, nothing more...", Selina crossed her arms as she stared Rex down.
Rex frowned sharply, "You have forgotten how the Falcones work, Selina...Manor life certainly has made you soft. Yes, I kept tabs on you, and I was very surprised to see your photo quite a few times with the heir of the Wayne family...I truly thought you have planned to steal from the manor with some magnificent jewelry and such while breaking up with him or make him fall really fast for you to get some of his inheritance upon marriage, but no...I have seen you putting up walls with lovers and such, but not Bruce Wayne for some reason I couldn't make out...And then I saw this.", slipping a newspaper clipping of Bruce and Selina dancing at one of Martha's charity events that was last month, love in their eyes and their hands embracing around her baby bump.
"It wasn't the riches or the lush life, it was the devotion and love...Did he declare that he would never leave you when you got pregnant?", Rex smirked, and Selina narrowed her eyes at him, almost wishing that she had her suit's claws to maul that smirk off his face, "How you dare imply that our child isn't conceived with love! Bruce loves me and our son as much as I love him and our son, and Bruce isn't you!", feeling a sharp, defensive kick in her womb, showing that Damien is agreeing with his momma.
"Clearly hit a nerve there...", Rex chuckled as he took a sip of his drink. Selina closed her eyes and sighed as she tried to calm down, "How much do you want? I'll get it to you, easily... just... just leave us alone...".
She obviously wanted to fight but Rex wasn't one to joke around with his threats. He tended to back them up and she didn't want to live with so many innocents gunned down at the event; not to mention putting Bruce in danger along with herself and Damien.
Rex hummed, "Now that's better, dear Selina...Let's see now, with your Bruce being the crown heir of the Wayne family, that's worth 1 million dollars...no, 1.3 million dollars, yes, that's even more perfect...".
Selina widened her eyes, "But that's worth at least three banks! That'd take some talking and all!", and Rex smirked, "Then it's time for some leverage.", before snapping his fingers in a signal, glancing at where Bruce is, and Selina saw another attendee, no, it's another henchman right on Bruce, seeing him stiffen up, his eyes darting behind him, realizing that there's a hidden gun pressing on Bruce's back somewhere.
"I've done my research. There's a bank across the street from this park and event...They really underestimate a pregnant woman, especially when she is accepted into her lover's account...So, unless you want Bruce to be shot in the heart where I presume my man is currently placing his gun at, and don't ever think about calling the cops, for some of my men will watch you when you go in and out of the bank.", Rex said.
"Please... don't... don't hurt him...", Selina whispered. "He'll... he'll get you the money...", with a frown. "I know he will, but then there's the issue when we get it...", Rex leaned back. "What exactly will stop you from having the police come after us?".
Selina gulped, trying to stroke her baby bump, feeling Damien's distress, and exhaled, "You won't hurt him or shoot him if I get you the money?".
Rex nodded, "On my word.", and Selina replied, "Very well...I'll technically rob this bank...", taking a deep breath, "I have to inform the event manager that I need to use the bathroom and Bruce's taking me to the bank that has the disabled stall.".
"I'll walk you then, to make sure you're not spilling the word of this.", Rex nodded, and then Selina replied, "I'd rather not have your hands on me, Rex, but I understand.", getting up carefully, heading with a fake smile, to one of her friends, and the manager was fooled as he was distracted by some other conversation, nodding to her.
"Remember, Selina... I'm not above shooting a pregnant woman, much less my own daughter, if you try anything...", Rex reminded. "Don't worry, you won't have any need to worry about me trying anything...", Selina sighed.
Selina went to the bank, crossing the street at the sidewalk light casually and carefully, glancing to see Bruce still in danger, close to the public, away from the event, but there's still people walking and all to be in danger too, by perhaps a van or a truck that belonged to the goons.
Bruce slightly shook his head, and Selina glared at him slightly, glancing back at Rex on her side, and Bruce sighed, knowing immediately that Rex is armed secretly, putting his love and his son in danger too, unable to fight as well.
Selina stroked her baby bump, walking with Rex into the bank as Bruce prayed like Selina that Poppy is feeling the distress within Damien, and indeed, despite the long distance of several miles, in the manor, with the staff distracted by Alfred, the family is down in the Batcave.
"Are you sure that Damien isn't impending for labor, Poppy?", Waylon asked worriedly as Poppy worked on the computer, "I'm positively sure. His distress feels different...Thank goodness that we got the Bat system linked into the city camera system. Let's see here, there's the borders of the park, there's the charity event...".
Martha replied, "Wait, hold on, go back one camera, on the left. Is that Bruce?", relieved that the little ones are napping in the playroom nursery under Caroline's supervision, not knowing what's happening.
"Looks like it.", Thomas said. "Don't recognize that man that's close to him...", with a frown. "Too close.", Martha bit her lip. "And he's not like he's in a position to really talk to him even if it was whispering.".
Waylon replied, "Where's Selina? Bruce would never leave her alone for long, even with fetching drinks and snacks.". Poppy nodded, "What Bruce is looking at, it's across the street. Let's see the cameras...No, not that direction at the restaurant, oh, ok, that's the bank...Give me a second.", configuring the buttons on the computer, with some shortcuts, and grinned, "Bingo. We're in the bank camera system... where are you?...There! Hey, I know that guy from the files of the crime families...".
Martha growled lightly, "That's Rex Falcone, and he sure seems familiar with Selina...", and Poppy widened her eyes, "Damien doesn't like him as Selina looks uncomfortable yet familiar with him...You don't think...?".
"That it must be her estranged father?", Martha replied, "Yeah, I do.", with a nod. "So, what exactly is going on there then?", Waylon asked as he crossed his arms, "Rex asking Selina for money or something?". There was a pause for a moment.
"You might be more on the nose than you think, Wally.", Poppy said. Thomas exhaled, "What can we do? It's not dark yet for at least a couple of hours, and She-Hulk might make things more complicated with those people in public, saving and protecting Bruce and Selina at the same time..".
Martha nodded, "Definitely complicated...And the police can't be called either since Rex must be armed and that man next to Bruce as well... Poppy, is there a license plate or some kind of mark on the exterior?".
"Give me a sec..." Poppy said as she went to look; obviously, her mind was racing now as it was very clear that Bruce and Selina were in trouble and they both probably knew it. The issue was, of course, that Bruce probably could escape his situation but that would cause a lot of issues, mainly in terms of Selina's safety.
After a few seconds and some fast fingers, Poppy responded, "The license plate is a dud, but if we patch this vehicle with a Bat tracker to their base, we could contain the situation and get them out after bashing Rex's leadership and his goons out of commission.".
Waylon widened his eyes, "Is there a sewer lid under the vehicle, Poppy? Draw up the sewer map in conjunction of the street.", with a hum. "Good idea.", Poppy nodded as she quickly went to work.
"Odds are their lives are being threatened, no doubt about this now.", Martha said as she closed her eyes. She hated being unable to do anything but just watch.
"And odds are that others are being threatened too.", Thomas added. "That has to be the main reason neither of them has tried anything.".
Martha nodded, "Yeah, Bruce mainly investigated about the crime families for Commissioner Gordon, and Rex Falcone is brutal. He wouldn't have one single man on Bruce, he never comes alone without a group of security enforcement. With the event nearby, the walkers on the street, and the bank, they are unknowingly threatened in danger.".
Thomas winced, "Damn...", as Poppy grinned, "You're right, Wally, there's a sewer lid, right smack under the vehicle, but we must not make noise carefully with some distraction for the goon, like a dog...".
Waylon replied, "Chess or Bandit!", and Poppy replied, "Yep...With the recent weather, it can be excused if Chess or Bandit has been rolling in mud, and perhaps chased by the dogcatcher...Bruce has his phone, so, we must be precise in the moment to call him to be on the alert for the retrieval of the comm, and then confusion and annoyance when Chess or Bandit coincidentally shakes his fur next to the goon, Bruce can swiftly put the comm in before anyone knows, and during that, the Bat tracker can be patched into the vehicle.".
Martha nodded, "We better be quick! Check the bank camera inside, is the lines annoyingly long?", and Poppy replied, "Yep. I will be right here at the computer.".
Waylon replied, "I'll take the sewers, be guided by you, Poppy.", and Thomas grinned, "I'll go with you, while you plant the Bat tracker, I will do the comm sneak while being a bang-up disguised dog catcher!", and Martha said, "I will stay here and help Poppy while I call Bruce myself. The goon would tell Bruce to talk normal with me, of course, but good thing that we're trained in code.".
"Let's do it!", Poppy nodded, and the two men split up, to get the prep fast for their jobs, taking up the motorcycle, with the sidecar for the dogs, taking the secret tunnels and such, after getting their comms, changing into a room of disguises planned for infiltration and picking up a couple of Bat trackers.
"Alright; let's hope that guy isn't listening too carefully...", Martha said to herself as she rang up Bruce. "Don't do anything too crazy, Bruce... you're not bulletproof like me...".
Bruce was watching directly on Selina and Rex in one of the longest lines that he would curse at as he prayed that Selina isn't too sore on her feet to wait that long, or that some of the customers only were having short deposits or something.
As far as he can see is that Damien isn't giving too much trouble if a bit distressed if he can read Selina's face right from that far...He then heard his cell phone ringing, and he glanced at his guard goon, "It must be one of my folks calling. They will get worried if they call again and all.".
The guard goon grunted, "Go ahead, but watching ya.", and Bruce took his cell phone out, remarking, "My mother.", before picking up the call to his ear, "Hi, Mother. Good thing that I'm out of the dance floor. Music was getting a bit loud for us, especially Damien.".
"Can't fully blame you.", Martha responded. "At least Selina wasn't trying to dance; I think you'd be scared out of your wits.", she chuckled. Right now, she was trying to act normal over the phone just in case the other guy could hear.
Bruce chuckled, "Nah, she rather went tame for a bit awhile, now we're settling down on a bench. She's having some of those yummy little cakes that Damien is rather crazy about...I swear he got my sweet tooth, metaphorically, of course.", using a few of his words as part of their code.
Martha knew that tame meant that Selina is forced to behave, bench meant that Bruce's grounded from being Batman, crazy meant being greedy for cash, and tooth meant armed.
"Sounds about right, considering that he's your son...", Martha laughed as she was trying to think of what to say next in just the right way. "So, how are you doing right now? Everything good with things? The charity all cool and collected? You haven't made any friends that I'm interrupting, am I?". She hoped her coding could let Bruce know that she wanted to speak without being heard and that he could say whatever while she would explain things.
Bruce replied, "Selina's not too tired yet, though we might think about a night out, unless you know what Alfred's cooking. Charity's going well, made a couple of friends who has been surprising us by both donating some money and adopting a few dogs.".
Martha recognized that Rex was asking for a ransom in cash to let one of them go, if not all of them, otherwise if Selina made trouble, she, Damien, and Bruce would go into the fire, that is, the fire of bullets. And that the one goon wasn't the only one as there are more goons hidden in plain sight keeping an eye on both the bank and Selina and Bruce.
"Well, we were having a vote to go for Italian or French, and well, since you and Selina hasn't voted yet, your father is keeping count of the votes. So far, we've voted in a tie, and to be honest, Alfred and Caroline figured with Selina eating for two, it should be a combo of Italian and French.", Martha replied, telling him that by Italian is noodles, and noodles meant sewer pipes, and that keeping is the dogs, tie is emergency comm transfer, and combo meant that the plan is commencing right now.