The grimy, oily stench of Gotham filled Bruce’s head. He could finally relax. He was free.
BRAAAAAAP!
Bruce dragged himself up to his knees to see a man leaning onto his horn. He was laying in the middle of the street, having just clawed his way out of Riddler’s lair in the sewers.
“‘Ey pal y’ wanna git yer ass out the road?” the man hollered out the window.
Bruce dragged the manhole cover back into place, then crawled over to the sidewalk.
A few people walked by and offered him money, mistaking him for a homeless person.
Bruce smirked and turned them away.
It was no matter. He was back.
He needed to get back to work.
Riddler would calm back down from his rage, gather his thoughts, and get back to his own work. The little dance they were doing.
The deadliest dance.
If Riddler pulled the strings, he’d have the upper hand. He needed Batman to play into his tricks and riddles.
And Batman would have to. If he ever wanted to find him.
Bruce scurried over to a stopped cab and jumped inside.
“Wayne Manor,” Bruce instructed.
“That’s all the way on the other side o’ town. Out o’ the city matter o’ fact,” the cabbie said, “How much money y’ got on y’?”
“I am mother-#@$%ing Bruce Wayne,” Bruce said, “Step on it.”
“Jesus,” the cabbie gulped, speeding off with Bruce in the back, “What happened to y’?”
“This is my walk of shame,” Bruce said.
“Tabs said y’ was datin’ some unknown chick. She did this to y’?”
“Yes, actually,” Bruce nodded.
“She a dominatrix?”
“No more questions,” Bruce ordered.
The rest of the ride was spent in silence.
- - -
“Gracias!”
The cry was echoed through the streets.
“I like this,” Robin grinned.
“There is still one more town to hit,” Nightwing reminded him.
“They will know we are coming,” Robin said.
“Good. It’ll give them a fighting chance. Just remember-”
“I know. Pointing alien guns at you is not funny…. To you.”
Nightwing gave a quick salute to the people crowding the street, then raised an Escrima stick, raised it towards the roof of a chapel, and fired away with a grappling hook. He zipped through the air, hooking onto the highest roofs he could find, with Robin wrapping his arms around his waist.
“This is… fun,” Robin grinned.
“Adrenaline junkie, are we?”
“Hm?” Robin’s eyes widened in confusion.
“Nevermind,” Nightwing said, flicking his other Escrima stick out, and helping to propel them futher.
“Boogies,” Robin stated.
“Bogies, you mean,” Nightwing corrected, letting his lines go slack so that he and Robin were dragged back to the ground in the middle of the road. And right on top of a hired gun.
Robin held his knee against the merc’s neck.
“Sun gun as well?” Robin growled.
“Hey, bud, let’s maybe ease up on the torturous interrogation,” Nightwing said, stepping away from the goon.
“Answer me, coward,” Robin got down in the man’s face.
“Rob, he’s not answering because he can’t breathe!” Nightwing explained.
Robin loosened up on the pressure, “Where is you sun gun?”
“Sun gun?” the man warbled, “I just got this pistol. No sun gun. I swear.”
Nightwing’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. Every one of Riddler’s goons stationed on this island were equipped with the solar blasters. And this man wasn’t visibly worried. Just verbally.
“Get down!” Nightwing barked, tackling Robin. A blast of solar radiation seared the ground where Robin had been standing only seconds before.
“Set up,” Robin said, clearly pissed off. His face was beet red. He, the son of Batman, had been tricked. “You’ll die for this, scum!”
“But not actually!” Nightwing tacked on, “Cuz we’re not about that.”
Robin pinpointed the spot where the shot had come from. The roof of some old stables across the broken road. He charged forward, ignoring the original man they had attacked. He took the opportunity to fire off a shot at Robin. Nightwing flung his Escrima stick out to deflect the bullet.
“Trying to shoot a kid?” Nightwing said, sauntering over to the man, “That’s just low.”
The man fired away at Nightwing, emptying his mag. Nightwing flipped and twirled to avoid the bullets, only to be clipped by the last one. It tore through the skin on his arm, leaving a valley of bright red flesh.
“Now you’ve even managed to piss me off,” Nightwing said, dropping the cheery attitude, “Impressive.”
He rushed the man, jolting his ribs with his knee. He followed up with a quick swipe across the man’s face, only to finish the job by flipping the man’s body over completely.
Robin had made it to the stables, and was now climbing on top. He got to his feet, and was met with a woman aiming her solar gun at him.
“Gotcha,” she grinned, squeezing the barrel to release the power of the sun.
Robin sprang over the stream of heat, and tucked into a roll over to the woman. He popped out of the ball formation and she was met with an uppercut. She squeezed the barrel again, if only to keep a hold on the gun. The energy cut through the roof, dropping Robin onto a startled horse, while the woman landed just to the side of him. The horse jumped and let out a frightened cry. When the horse touched back down, its hoof slammed into the woman’s stomach, forcing out a grunt. The woman tried to burn the horse, but missed and tore away the wood keeping the horse contained. He ran free, Robin still gripping to his back.
“Nightwing, crazy horse!”
“The Lakota leader?” Nightwing called back in response, running towards the stables.
The woman had recovered, and was now focusing in on Nightwing, who was perfectly in her sightline… and not bucking around on an insane horse.
She let a blast loose, and Nightwing saw it coming before it ever left the gun. He threw his Escrima stick to the ground while vaulting himself into the air. The stick ricocheted off of the ground, to the supports of the stables, and finally finding its mark in the woman’s jaw. She stumbled back, dropping the gun.
Robin yanked on the horse’s mane, steering him back to the woman. He leaned over and scooped up the gun, then hopped off of the horse.
“Solid,” Nightwing said, putting a hand to his arm.
“More,” Robin said.
“There’s always more,” Nightwing nodded. Then he realized that Damian meant there were more goons. Here. Right now. Nightwing turned around to see an advancing line of seven goons, all with their guns drawn.
“Hey, fellas,” Nightwing said, “Let’s just put our weapons down and-”
Robin pulled the gun up and fired away with the might of a star.
Nightwing swatted the gun down and gave Robin a stern look, “I know that line never works, but I didn’t expect it to be you who disobeyed it. This isn’t who we are.”
One of the goons had been crippled by Robin’s beam, while the others prepared to fire.
“That might have to change if we want to survive,” Robin pointed out.
Nightwing pursed his lips, “Fine. Non-essentials.”
Robin nodded before blasting the goons’ limbs away.
Nightwing shielded his eyes.
A few seconds later, Robin spoke up, “Done.”
Nightwing pulled his hands away. There wasn’t much carnage. A few goons were missing a foot or a hand, but the wounds had instantly cauterized.
“We won’t speak of this to Batman.”
“Agreed.”
- - -
“You really pissed him off,” Selina said.
“You don’t want this,” Bruce warned.
He’d made it back to the Batcave, but Selina had beaten him there. She stood in front of his line of Batsuits, arms crossed.
“He’s ready to raze Gotham,” Selina said, “Just to beat you.”
“They always are. Now let me through.”
“You know I can’t.”
“What does he have dangling over you?” Bruce asked, “Family? Friends? What?”
“No family. And I sure as hell don’t have friends.”
“Then what, Selina? I want to help you. I’m a hero. That’s what I do.”
“The hero speech?” Selina scowled, “Spare me the theatrics.”
“It isn’t a speech. And the ‘spare me the theatrics’ line is just as clichéd as the hero’s speech. I genuinely think there is good in you, Selina. You’re just covering it up.”
“This is my life, Bruce,” Selina, “I live it how I see fit.”
Bruce paused for a moment. He approached Selina, and put a hand on her arm. She flinched away, her face wrinkling.
“I-” Bruce tried to say, “Please. Just trust me. If Riddler is truly going to tear down Gotham, you and I both know he has to be stopped.”
“A record wiped clean,” Selina’s shoulders tensed, “That’s what he’s offering me.”
“You see? You want to go straight! You’re a good person, Selina, deep down. Tim can help clear your criminal record.”
“No. Not so I can stop this life of crime. So I can continue without drawing too much attention,” Selina said, her body relaxing as she got this confession off of her chest.
“Oh.”
“Are you still ready to give it to me?” Selina asked.
Bruce thought long and hard about this, forehead creasing, “This is the only life you’ve known. Stealing. But there are other ways to make ends meet.”
“Like inheriting your family’s multi-trillion-dollar company?” Selina’s face had a strange expression. An unseen understanding. The understanding that… perhaps Bruce would never understand. His and her lives were so drastically distant. Born into riches clashing against being born into the grimy slums.
“You can- we can still- just-”
“Bruce, we are different people. Stop trying- stop trying to ‘fix’ me. Just have Tim hook me up with the clean slate. Then I’ll help you with Riddler.”
“We get Riddler first.”
“How do I know you’ll keep your word?”
“At this point, Selina, I’m not even sure I will,” Bruce said, his face stormy and his eyes determined, “Now step aside. Gotham needs the Batman.”
Bruce strode past Selina. She stumbled away. Bruce examined his suits. With his current suit in Riddler’s possession, he opted for his jet black armor he’d used when Dick was Robin. Less mobility, more protection. And with Riddler packing alien tech, he needed protection.
While Bruce began to wrangle himself into his janky suit, Selina considered the disaster that would be Riddler letting loose on Gotham. As much as she hated this place, it was her first home. She’d fled it for as long as she could, trying to escape memories of her mother being abused at the hand of her pimp. But now, she had a chance to protect it. To stop the cruel and evil man, Edward “Nygma” Nashton, from abusing this city.
“I’ll- I’ll help,” Selina finally said.
“Good,” Batman said, adjusting his cowl, “Let’s go.”
- - -
Tam looked down at her body. Small metal rings were hooked around her ankles, wrists, and neck, with a bulky steel girdle around her torso.
“Comfortable,” she said, incredibly unimpressed.
“Not the point,” Dr. Holt responded, messing with a panel on the back of the girdle, “These shackles should restrain the Phantom Energy. You’ll live.”
“And would that mean we can finally leave?” Tam said, looking through the panel of glass separating her and Tim.
“Yes,” Amanda Waller said, strolling into the room, “Gotham is about to need Timothy Drake. And he won’t leave without you. So. You are dismissed. We will keep tabs on you and your wellbeing.”
Tam smiled, and rushed over to the glass, slamming her face against it. It left her in an interesting position. Face smushed against the glass, looking like lasagna, massive steel restraints all over her body, while her body still shook with excitement.
“We’re going home!” Tam exclaimed.
BRAAAAAAP!
Bruce dragged himself up to his knees to see a man leaning onto his horn. He was laying in the middle of the street, having just clawed his way out of Riddler’s lair in the sewers.
“‘Ey pal y’ wanna git yer ass out the road?” the man hollered out the window.
Bruce dragged the manhole cover back into place, then crawled over to the sidewalk.
A few people walked by and offered him money, mistaking him for a homeless person.
Bruce smirked and turned them away.
It was no matter. He was back.
He needed to get back to work.
Riddler would calm back down from his rage, gather his thoughts, and get back to his own work. The little dance they were doing.
The deadliest dance.
If Riddler pulled the strings, he’d have the upper hand. He needed Batman to play into his tricks and riddles.
And Batman would have to. If he ever wanted to find him.
Bruce scurried over to a stopped cab and jumped inside.
“Wayne Manor,” Bruce instructed.
“That’s all the way on the other side o’ town. Out o’ the city matter o’ fact,” the cabbie said, “How much money y’ got on y’?”
“I am mother-#@$%ing Bruce Wayne,” Bruce said, “Step on it.”
“Jesus,” the cabbie gulped, speeding off with Bruce in the back, “What happened to y’?”
“This is my walk of shame,” Bruce said.
“Tabs said y’ was datin’ some unknown chick. She did this to y’?”
“Yes, actually,” Bruce nodded.
“She a dominatrix?”
“No more questions,” Bruce ordered.
The rest of the ride was spent in silence.
- - -
“Gracias!”
The cry was echoed through the streets.
“I like this,” Robin grinned.
“There is still one more town to hit,” Nightwing reminded him.
“They will know we are coming,” Robin said.
“Good. It’ll give them a fighting chance. Just remember-”
“I know. Pointing alien guns at you is not funny…. To you.”
Nightwing gave a quick salute to the people crowding the street, then raised an Escrima stick, raised it towards the roof of a chapel, and fired away with a grappling hook. He zipped through the air, hooking onto the highest roofs he could find, with Robin wrapping his arms around his waist.
“This is… fun,” Robin grinned.
“Adrenaline junkie, are we?”
“Hm?” Robin’s eyes widened in confusion.
“Nevermind,” Nightwing said, flicking his other Escrima stick out, and helping to propel them futher.
“Boogies,” Robin stated.
“Bogies, you mean,” Nightwing corrected, letting his lines go slack so that he and Robin were dragged back to the ground in the middle of the road. And right on top of a hired gun.
Robin held his knee against the merc’s neck.
“Sun gun as well?” Robin growled.
“Hey, bud, let’s maybe ease up on the torturous interrogation,” Nightwing said, stepping away from the goon.
“Answer me, coward,” Robin got down in the man’s face.
“Rob, he’s not answering because he can’t breathe!” Nightwing explained.
Robin loosened up on the pressure, “Where is you sun gun?”
“Sun gun?” the man warbled, “I just got this pistol. No sun gun. I swear.”
Nightwing’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. Every one of Riddler’s goons stationed on this island were equipped with the solar blasters. And this man wasn’t visibly worried. Just verbally.
“Get down!” Nightwing barked, tackling Robin. A blast of solar radiation seared the ground where Robin had been standing only seconds before.
“Set up,” Robin said, clearly pissed off. His face was beet red. He, the son of Batman, had been tricked. “You’ll die for this, scum!”
“But not actually!” Nightwing tacked on, “Cuz we’re not about that.”
Robin pinpointed the spot where the shot had come from. The roof of some old stables across the broken road. He charged forward, ignoring the original man they had attacked. He took the opportunity to fire off a shot at Robin. Nightwing flung his Escrima stick out to deflect the bullet.
“Trying to shoot a kid?” Nightwing said, sauntering over to the man, “That’s just low.”
The man fired away at Nightwing, emptying his mag. Nightwing flipped and twirled to avoid the bullets, only to be clipped by the last one. It tore through the skin on his arm, leaving a valley of bright red flesh.
“Now you’ve even managed to piss me off,” Nightwing said, dropping the cheery attitude, “Impressive.”
He rushed the man, jolting his ribs with his knee. He followed up with a quick swipe across the man’s face, only to finish the job by flipping the man’s body over completely.
Robin had made it to the stables, and was now climbing on top. He got to his feet, and was met with a woman aiming her solar gun at him.
“Gotcha,” she grinned, squeezing the barrel to release the power of the sun.
Robin sprang over the stream of heat, and tucked into a roll over to the woman. He popped out of the ball formation and she was met with an uppercut. She squeezed the barrel again, if only to keep a hold on the gun. The energy cut through the roof, dropping Robin onto a startled horse, while the woman landed just to the side of him. The horse jumped and let out a frightened cry. When the horse touched back down, its hoof slammed into the woman’s stomach, forcing out a grunt. The woman tried to burn the horse, but missed and tore away the wood keeping the horse contained. He ran free, Robin still gripping to his back.
“Nightwing, crazy horse!”
“The Lakota leader?” Nightwing called back in response, running towards the stables.
The woman had recovered, and was now focusing in on Nightwing, who was perfectly in her sightline… and not bucking around on an insane horse.
She let a blast loose, and Nightwing saw it coming before it ever left the gun. He threw his Escrima stick to the ground while vaulting himself into the air. The stick ricocheted off of the ground, to the supports of the stables, and finally finding its mark in the woman’s jaw. She stumbled back, dropping the gun.
Robin yanked on the horse’s mane, steering him back to the woman. He leaned over and scooped up the gun, then hopped off of the horse.
“Solid,” Nightwing said, putting a hand to his arm.
“More,” Robin said.
“There’s always more,” Nightwing nodded. Then he realized that Damian meant there were more goons. Here. Right now. Nightwing turned around to see an advancing line of seven goons, all with their guns drawn.
“Hey, fellas,” Nightwing said, “Let’s just put our weapons down and-”
Robin pulled the gun up and fired away with the might of a star.
Nightwing swatted the gun down and gave Robin a stern look, “I know that line never works, but I didn’t expect it to be you who disobeyed it. This isn’t who we are.”
One of the goons had been crippled by Robin’s beam, while the others prepared to fire.
“That might have to change if we want to survive,” Robin pointed out.
Nightwing pursed his lips, “Fine. Non-essentials.”
Robin nodded before blasting the goons’ limbs away.
Nightwing shielded his eyes.
A few seconds later, Robin spoke up, “Done.”
Nightwing pulled his hands away. There wasn’t much carnage. A few goons were missing a foot or a hand, but the wounds had instantly cauterized.
“We won’t speak of this to Batman.”
“Agreed.”
- - -
“You really pissed him off,” Selina said.
“You don’t want this,” Bruce warned.
He’d made it back to the Batcave, but Selina had beaten him there. She stood in front of his line of Batsuits, arms crossed.
“He’s ready to raze Gotham,” Selina said, “Just to beat you.”
“They always are. Now let me through.”
“You know I can’t.”
“What does he have dangling over you?” Bruce asked, “Family? Friends? What?”
“No family. And I sure as hell don’t have friends.”
“Then what, Selina? I want to help you. I’m a hero. That’s what I do.”
“The hero speech?” Selina scowled, “Spare me the theatrics.”
“It isn’t a speech. And the ‘spare me the theatrics’ line is just as clichéd as the hero’s speech. I genuinely think there is good in you, Selina. You’re just covering it up.”
“This is my life, Bruce,” Selina, “I live it how I see fit.”
Bruce paused for a moment. He approached Selina, and put a hand on her arm. She flinched away, her face wrinkling.
“I-” Bruce tried to say, “Please. Just trust me. If Riddler is truly going to tear down Gotham, you and I both know he has to be stopped.”
“A record wiped clean,” Selina’s shoulders tensed, “That’s what he’s offering me.”
“You see? You want to go straight! You’re a good person, Selina, deep down. Tim can help clear your criminal record.”
“No. Not so I can stop this life of crime. So I can continue without drawing too much attention,” Selina said, her body relaxing as she got this confession off of her chest.
“Oh.”
“Are you still ready to give it to me?” Selina asked.
Bruce thought long and hard about this, forehead creasing, “This is the only life you’ve known. Stealing. But there are other ways to make ends meet.”
“Like inheriting your family’s multi-trillion-dollar company?” Selina’s face had a strange expression. An unseen understanding. The understanding that… perhaps Bruce would never understand. His and her lives were so drastically distant. Born into riches clashing against being born into the grimy slums.
“You can- we can still- just-”
“Bruce, we are different people. Stop trying- stop trying to ‘fix’ me. Just have Tim hook me up with the clean slate. Then I’ll help you with Riddler.”
“We get Riddler first.”
“How do I know you’ll keep your word?”
“At this point, Selina, I’m not even sure I will,” Bruce said, his face stormy and his eyes determined, “Now step aside. Gotham needs the Batman.”
Bruce strode past Selina. She stumbled away. Bruce examined his suits. With his current suit in Riddler’s possession, he opted for his jet black armor he’d used when Dick was Robin. Less mobility, more protection. And with Riddler packing alien tech, he needed protection.
While Bruce began to wrangle himself into his janky suit, Selina considered the disaster that would be Riddler letting loose on Gotham. As much as she hated this place, it was her first home. She’d fled it for as long as she could, trying to escape memories of her mother being abused at the hand of her pimp. But now, she had a chance to protect it. To stop the cruel and evil man, Edward “Nygma” Nashton, from abusing this city.
“I’ll- I’ll help,” Selina finally said.
“Good,” Batman said, adjusting his cowl, “Let’s go.”
- - -
Tam looked down at her body. Small metal rings were hooked around her ankles, wrists, and neck, with a bulky steel girdle around her torso.
“Comfortable,” she said, incredibly unimpressed.
“Not the point,” Dr. Holt responded, messing with a panel on the back of the girdle, “These shackles should restrain the Phantom Energy. You’ll live.”
“And would that mean we can finally leave?” Tam said, looking through the panel of glass separating her and Tim.
“Yes,” Amanda Waller said, strolling into the room, “Gotham is about to need Timothy Drake. And he won’t leave without you. So. You are dismissed. We will keep tabs on you and your wellbeing.”
Tam smiled, and rushed over to the glass, slamming her face against it. It left her in an interesting position. Face smushed against the glass, looking like lasagna, massive steel restraints all over her body, while her body still shook with excitement.
“We’re going home!” Tam exclaimed.
We grow closer to the climax!
Go catch up on other corners of the Eternal Universe!
Green Arrow: Eternal by @Mechanist Gamma
Red Hood and the Outlaws: Eternal by @HydreigonBorn37 ... That's right ladies and gents- they're back!
Superman: Eternal by @Generation Sect
Also, @The Ultimate Lucky N is working on a V for Vendetta miniseries! Go check it out!
Go catch up on other corners of the Eternal Universe!
Green Arrow: Eternal by @Mechanist Gamma
Red Hood and the Outlaws: Eternal by @HydreigonBorn37 ... That's right ladies and gents- they're back!
Superman: Eternal by @Generation Sect
Also, @The Ultimate Lucky N is working on a V for Vendetta miniseries! Go check it out!