At the Iceberg Lounge, Batman finishes his meeting with the Penguin when they get an unexpected appearance from Iron Man.
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The smoke in the office was clearing now, thanks to the open window and the breeze blowing through. It was enough for Cobblepot to see the Batman standing over him.
“Last week someone stole from you,” the vigilante began in his intimidating growl.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Cobblepot said while trying to squirm away. He knew he’d never break Batman’s grip, but it was worth the try. “But I’m surprised you let it slip through your pointy fingers!”
“I tracked it down to some out-of-town Russians,” Batman continued. “They were selling to the Heavy Playas.”
Cobblepot sneered. “Mask’s boys.” His expression turned to one of relief. “Well you’re not here to bust me, so can we cut the theatrics and be civilized?”
Batman’s lips curled into a scowl, but he released Cobblepot. The Lounge owner waved his hands in front of him for effect, shooing away the remnants of smoke from Batman’s gadget.
His way clear, Cobblepot moved to his seat behind his desk. Batman watched him closely every step of the way.
Cobblepot reached for a rectangular wooden box on his desk. A Batarang pierced his desk between his hand and the box. He stopped short, looking at the sharp object and then to Batman.
“I keep my Chesterfields in there,” he explained.
Batman’s expression of disgust didn’t change, but he nodded to Cobblepot.
The Lounge owner moved the box to the side past the Batarang defacing his desk. He reached inside, grabbed a Chesterfield cigarette and his cigarette holder.
He attached the cigarette to the holder, then pulled an ornate, bird-themed lighter from the box and lit up. After a few puffs, he leaned back in his chair.
“So what do you want with me,” Cobblepot began, “understanding that I have nothing to do with whatever it was you say these men stole?”
“The items were from a SHIELD armory,” Batman explained. “How did you —”
Cobblepot waved his cigarette holder to emphasize a point. “Those are not my —”
He felt the sting of a blunt Batarang slamming into the wrist of the hand holding the cigarette holder. The pain forced him to drop the holder. He grabbed the wrist with the other hand.
“Was that necessary?” Cobblepot demanded.
“Stop wasting my time,” Batman said in a dead voice, “or it will get worse.”
Cobblepot glared at Batman. “The items weren’t stolen! It was arranged to look that way!”
“By whom?”
“The Russians! They’re ex-KGB!”
“I saw them. They’re too young for that.”
“Well their boss, the one I dealt with, was ex-KGB. Something about needing the parts for research.”
Batman stalked toward the desk. “What research?”
“I didn’t care, so I didn’t ask!”
“Then tell me about their boss.”
“A female, sexy —”
“Red hair?”
Cobblepot was genuinely surprised. “If you knew that,” here he motioned to the room, “why all of this?”
Batman stared at Cobblepot. He moved to the desktop and retrieved his Batarang, then picked up the one from the floor. Turning to Cobblepot, he said, “Make sure all of SHIELD’s stolen weapons gets back to them.”
The Dark Knight headed toward the window. Before he slipped out, he turned back to Cobblepot. “And stop using off-duty police for security. It’s beneath them.”
“At least I take care of them,” Cobblepot shot back. “Unlike this city! Such low pay to have to deal with the likes of you and all the crazies!”
Batman glared at Cobblepot.
Then he heard small rockets from the rooftop above.
Looking out, Batman saw Tony Stark jump from the roof. A second later, parts of Stark’s Iron Man armor flew out and assembled about the man.
Before he reached the second of the Lounge’s five stories, he flew away as Iron Man.
“Jealous he made a better exit?” Cobblepot shot at Batman.
The Dark Knight dipped his head, then slipped out the window on his Batline.
To be continued…
While writing this fanfiction, I used Green Ronin’s Mutants and Masterminds, 3rd Edition RPG, to leave some things to chance. Check it out!
Like this fanfiction? Check out Mark’s original “Shadowdance” saga books!
Copyright Info
DC Adventures, Copyright 2011, Green Ronin Publishing; Author Steve Kenson. Now it’s Mutants and Masterminds, 3rd Edition
Advanced Player’s Manual, Copyright 2005, Green Ronin Publishing: Author Skip Williams.
The characters Iron Man, Tony Stark, Pepper Potts, Vanko, Black Widow and Nick Fury are Copyright Marvel Comics
The characters Batman/ Bruce Wayne, Batgirl/ Barbara Gordon, Black Mask, the Penguin/ Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot, Renee Montoya, Commissioner Gordon, Alfred Pennyworth, Robin/ Dick Grayson, KGBeast and Bane are Copyright DC Comics
The character Juri Han is Copyright Capcom
None of the characters belong to me as this is fanfiction, done for fun, and as a creative exercise.
