"Alright. Sounds good.", Bruce nodded; glad to know that at the very least the others were already on the move. Still, the situation was very tricky. For starters, Bruce knew there was more men around that Rex had brought but he had no idea who was who.
Suddenly, there were two dogs barking and people began shouting on the sidewalk, moving back into the grass or on the edge of the curb as an enraged, annoyed voice was heard, "Get back here, that's my net!".
Bruce held a hand over the phone as he glanced, recognizing Chess and Bandit under the splattering of mud and holding a dogcatcher's pole net in a side-by-side tug of war, growling and barking with the dogcatcher chasing them, with the dogs seeming not to notice the net jamming into the goon's groin as Bruce moved back to avoid, "Whoa, whoa, sorry, Mom, a wacky couple of dogs came through!", as the goon was holding his groin in pain, with the dogcatcher replying, "God, damn, you mutts! Sorry!", while discreetly passing a comm into Bruce's other hand before leaning in to help the goon with citizens gathering in concern and confusion, "Are you okay, sir?! They just grabbed my net out of nowhere, and they are tricksters, those two!".
Bruce quickly turned around people as he held his phone over to his other ear with his hidden comm set in swiftly, as the goon waved a hand, glaring at the dogcatcher, "Leave me alone! I'm fine!", wincing as he got up.
"Okay, okay, back up, people! He's up! But you better get some ice on that, sir!", the dogcatcher said before the dogs ran back, around, teasing and barking at the dogcatcher, "Oh, that's it! I'm getting you mutts if I can help it!", running after them as the dogs ran through the park.
Bruce heard Poppy's voice laugh through the comm, "Good job, Bruce! Turn the comm to our line, and they won't pick us up!", as Bruce pretended to glance at the phone, "Mother, hello, can you hear me? Ah, good, yeah, we're fine. I guess even with the charity, there's still stray dogs getting in trouble...Selina would be emotional about this, I tell you...She's glaring at me, yeah...", while flickering a secret component of the phone to turn the comm into almost silent mode where no goons can hear their voices in the comm except for Bruce.
Poppy's voice replied, "Excellent! And Wally did it in time too for the Bat tracker, right into one of the tight spots, from the sewer lid under the vehicle, and one of the mini trackers into one of your laces! Brilliant, Wally, Bruce didn't even feel that!".
Waylon's voice smirked in the multi-comm line, "Something that my claws are good for...Now, I gotta really get a really good shower...The sewer stink's killing my croc scent...Looks like I'm making that myth true...Crocodiles in the sewer...".
Bruce saw the goon looking at him as he replied, "Oh, Mother, I better calm down Selina, I think she's having enough excitement...Give us a walk to settle down before we call for a pickup, eh?", the phone still on.
"Alright, of course, don't keep yourself waiting if we are a bit late for dinner. Love you, Mother, bye!", Bruce smiled before putting away the phone and glanced at the goon before looking at the bank, seeing that the line Selina and Rex is in, has reached the desk now, with Selina smiling and making up a story for probably the most money out the limit in her and Bruce's shared account, since banks has a rule of cash limits for taking out, which would be at least $400,000 dollars.
"Come on, Selina... don't do anything foolish; we'll get out of this...", Bruce whispered under his breath. The situation was bad but nowhere as bad as it was back when the family was captured by the League of Assassins.
Bruce glanced back at the goon and cleared his throat, "You know, it might be better if I was there; could make things a lot easier for you and your boss in terms of a payment transfer.", with a nod. "What, you planning to just write us the check and have it cashed in there?", the goon scoffed.
Poppy replied in his comm, "Bruce, I know it sucks that Batman can't be in the daylight, that's a given fact, but we can't risk She-Hulk either into this situation if the bank gets antsy and of course, having She-Hulk there would attract the police to come, and that increases the danger for all those people. The trackers in your laces and under the vehicle of theirs would lead us to their hideout, containing the situation, less people to put into danger, and we can bash Rex Falcone and his leadership from the chain of the crime families out of commission once night settles down. No one messes with the Wayne family aka the Bat family, you hear me?".
Bruce obviously couldn't say anything in response to her as a number of seconds had passed since the goon spoke to him; meaning a nod or saying yes would look weird. The closest he could be to subtly rub his ear which gave her the signal.
The goon smirked, "I don't think so...And besides, the boss doesn't fuss about killing a pregnant hottie if you make trouble by going into there by shouting or anything.", and Bruce glared at him before exhaling deeply.
Thomas's voice spoke on the multi-comm link, "Got the dogs cleaned up and sneaked them back into the tunnel. Waylon, almost here?", and Waylon's voice responded, "Hold on. Got an abandoned apartment...Thank god, shower's working! Unless you want me to stink the whole way, Pops?".
"No, have at it, be quick. We have to stay close in the tunnel.", Thomas' voice replied, and Poppy's voice reported, "Ah, looks like Selina's story of building a playhouse for the kiddos worked. $400,000 dollars, and they're doing an id check and all on Selina as procedure...If I am in Rex Falcone's feet, I would keep the couple together, with threatening Selina next for Bruce to do the next bank in 12 hours in a different district of the city, to keep suspicions low. Let's hope I'm not wrong as soon as they walk out of the bank, and they just put Bruce and Selina into the vehicle with cuffs and such to behave, and head for the Falcone's true location. They evaded the police somehow for the past 20 years, always two steps ahead, but they don't know me or all of us...", as Bruce can feel the hopeful smirk in Poppy's voice.
Martha's voice replied, "Yet $400,000 seems low for a desperate man...After all, we've been diminishing the crime families here and there. Selina will give us the number if she's tied next to Bruce in a dark room.".
"More than likely, it's much more... probably hit up more and more until he gets as much as he wants.", Thomas said. "Won't the banks eventually start taking notice at all the withdraws? Eventually, they're going to have to hit a pause with things if they feel something's off.", Waylon asked.
Poppy replied, "Yes, it's true that they would notice soon enough, if the pattern holds up the next couple of days, but I'm hoping that they would just head out to their base location after this...Hold on, the bank is handing Selina a few envelopes, will be full of 100s each, no doubt...Putting them in her purse. People are distracted by their business issues...Rex looks a bit happier, less tense, but keeping close to Selina...Yep, they're leaving the bank. No alarm, so the bands around the money are nonexistent which means the account worked.".
Bruce, sure enough, saw Selina, walking casually with almost a bit of discomfort, realizing that the weight is aching her down, with her hand stroking her baby bump, as Poppy's voice replied in his comm, "Damien feels less distressed too, that's good...that's a relief...".
With Rex keeping close, they crossed the sidewalk light, and Rex signaled to the goon who grunted, "Get in, now. They will join us, so behave.", and Bruce grimaced, opening the door to the car, seeing that it's a half limo, half casual car, feeling the gun poking at his back as he headed to the front limo seat, latching a seat belt across his lap, with the goon sitting next to him with the gun on his lap.
He heard Rex's cool, collected voice, "After you, my dear.", and Selina came into the car, locking eyes with Bruce who inclined his head with a small, relieved smile, watching her sit down tiredly, watching Rex warily who came in, closing the door with a smile, knocking on the roof.
Selina immediately latched a seatbelt gently around her yet firmly, as Rex hummed, "Now, your purse, if you please.", and Selina handed him the purse with distaste, as he opened the purse. Bruce heard Poppy's voice, "Thank goodness that it's truly their car, and with Bruce's tracker too in the same place, they're heading south...Normally ask Selina if she's alright.".
Bruce saw Rex counting the envelopes as he glanced at Selina, "Are you alright, Selina?", and Selina was about to respond when Bruce felt a hand slap the back of his head, "No talking!", from the goon.
Selina whispered, "You said you couldn't hurt him, Rex!", and Rex replied, "Calvin, we need our ransom prize to be unscathed for now, is that clear? Let the young Wayne heir talk to his lover. But I trust that you will not raise your voice at me if you are mad, Mr. Wayne, or shall I say, Bruce?".
"I'd prefer Wayne...", Bruce growled as Rex chuckled. "Is that any way to talk to your future father-in-law?", Rex gave a smirk as Bruce oh so wanted to knock the smug look off of his face.
"I see the resemblance.", Bruce said. "Perhaps it was good and bad you weren't in Selina's life... she'd possibly not be the woman that I care for today.".
"How touching.", Rex rolled his eyes. Bruce glared at him, "So, I'm your ransom prize, and I presume Selina and our son is just an added incentive to you, then?".
"Ah, you're very clever. Looks like the apple hasn't gone far from the tree. I worry about the rich patronage these days, considering that some are...ah, getting dumb and lazy. Anyhow, yes, you are absolutely correct...Your dear Selina has brought $400,000 as a first addition to my goal, $1.3 million.", Rex replied.
Bruce widened his eyes, "1.3 million? Ignoring the amount for the moment, that is our hard work of generations, from my great-grandfather to me. We give those to the worthy ones who work hard and deserve chances to live, but not shady crime mongers like you! You're Rex Falcone. I'm not blind to the rumors and gossip from my people at Wayne Enterprises about you. Heck, Commissioner Gordon has been upset that you are slipping them at every corner, like you are two steps ahead.", as he heard disgusted and shocked gasps and confused groans in the comm, as they heard the number that Rex was aiming for. "And again, just over a million dollars?"
"Hey, looked suspicious if I got tens or hundreds of millions. A few small million gifts here and there for the next few years is more than enough to get things rolling for me and my people again. I'm not an idiot, Wayne.", Rex scoffed. At least the number made sense now; a million would go quite a way in terms of criminal activities to get money flowing. It was practically an investment on crime, seed capital of the sordid sense.
Bruce heard Thomas's voice snarl, "How dare he?! He's going to ruin all the years of work we did together on saving Gotham, and it's bouncing back just like in the stories of my great-grandfather!", in the comm.
Waylon's voice replied, "Wish you were here, Martha, to calm him down...Even the dogs are terrified of Pops right now...And I thought She-Hulk was terrifying...", and Martha's voice came over the comm, "Thomas Dorian Wayne, take a deep breath! You're spooking Waylon out!".
Bruce heard Thomas taking deep breaths as he looked at Rex, "You are going to heft Gotham over. They don't deserve more darkness from you and your people, especially when they have been recovering from the recession and having hope again, due to She-Hulk, and Batman's work over the years.".
Rex sneered, "Ah, yes...The amazon freak and the bat-costumed hero...They have ruined quite a few crime families like the Bertollini family, the Maroni family, and heck, even that pathetic Cobblepot family. My people is rather bothered when their favorite trades of work are diminished...Granted, some of them had suspected Catwoman as she seemed to have the hots for Batman, as his spy, but no one has seen or heard of her for ages, something about a botched-up job and caught by the Batman, and left Gotham for better opportunities, I suppose...And then there are the rumors as of late that some kind of Batgirl has been tying up some of my people in multiple muggings as presents to the cops.".
Bruce blinked when he heard that. Batgirl? He hadn't heard anything about that but then the idea hit him for a moment. Was Poppy out doing a little fighting herself when no one was looking?
He replied curiously, "Oh, so, the foiled muggings failed in getting your people to have money. That must be a blow to their ego.", with a smile as Calvin, his guard goon flinched with a glare.
"Not me, Bruce! You well know that I am going to be a different sized She-Hulk. Must be a well-meaning citizen who wants to put matters in her hands. Batgirl, huh? Must be looking up to Batman as a role model... without permission...", Poppy's voice said in the comm.
Bruce knew he was going to look for some answers once they got out of this. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. "Anyway, desperate times call for desperate measures, huh?", he addressed Rex.
Rex scowled, "Indeed. Now, excuse me. I have to count your dear Selina's offering.", before ignoring the couple, and Bruce glanced at Selina who smiled a bit at him, "I'm really alright. Just a bit tired from lugging Damien around. He's behaving even if he's a bit sad about not getting some cake, through mostly focused on me.".
Bruce frowned, hating that he didn't have the chance to pick up some fizzy juice and some yummy cake for both Selina and Damien.
"Selina, I'm sor-", Bruce started to say. "Don't apologize. You didn't know that Rex was going to pull this all off.", Selina sighed. "I'm sorry; I thought I was going to come into this family with almost no family drama.".
Bruce replied, "Everything is going to turn out just fine, I promise.", with a firm nod. Selina saw the look in his eyes and smiled.
Bruce heard Poppy's voice saying on the comm, "Okay, trackers are keeping strong. A couple of turns this car took, west, and then south again. Should be soon.".
Bruce took a deep breath, "At least the event is safe, though will have to make some apologies about leaving early there.".
"I still can't believe all this. I never thought that Rex… would do anything like this. Even threatening my own life and that of Damien… it's… unforgivable…", Selina shook her head with a scowl.
Bruce inwardly growled lightly, feeling like a black panther in rage mode instead of feeling like Batman, and for once, he is agreeing with Selina that Rex needs to be rid permanently, for he didn't just threaten Gotham with supplying the sordid activities of crime, bringing darkness that the city can't afford, but also threatening his family, and even if Rex didn't know, he threatened the entire family.
Bruce nodded with a dark glimpse of vengeance in his eyes, and Selina shivered slightly in delight, being a bit turned on due to her hormones.
They remained quiet, behaving as Rex counted the money, and then maybe in 20 minutes, they felt the car stopping altogether with faint sounds of people calling out and the clanking of some heavy doors, maybe steel.
"What the hell is going on?", Selina whispered to Bruce as he had an idea and hoped it was the one he was thinking of. "Not sure, but I have a few ideas.", Bruce turned to give her a small smile.
Selina exhaled, seeing Bruce tug casually at his ear without the comm, and she instantly realized why Bruce reassured her that everything was going to be alright, for somehow, without her knowledge, the family has snuck some aids, and knowing Poppy to be a whiz on the computer, they must have followed Poppy's gut since the familial connection through Damien truly had reached the manor despite the long distance, and she recalled that the streets has cameras and all.