Tony Stark contacts Bruce Wayne, asking him to contact the Batman. Stark has a lead on the terrorists who attacked Gotham seeking his robot.
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Once in the back of his limousine, Wayne’s demeanor morphed from the playboy he presented to the world to that of the vigilante behind the cowl. Alfred pulled into traffic, headed back to the manor.
“Did Mr. Fox have something suitable for you?” Alfred asked.
“I knew it was something we had,” Wayne said in the dark tone that frightened many a criminal on Gotham’s streets. “I just needed Lucius to get it for me so when it turns up missing there’s a trail.”
“But it leads to you, sir.”
“It ends with me, Alfred. That way no one investigates to learn the truth.”
“Clever as always, Master Bruce.” While making a turn, Alfred said, “Mr. Stark has called twice while you were inside.”
“Was it a local number?”
“Surprisingly, no.”
Wayne frowned. “Call him.”
“Yes, sir.”
A few moments later, Stark’s voice came over the limo’s speakers.
He was still drunk.
“Bruce! What’s shaking in Gotham?”
Wayne answered in his normal playboy voice. “Quick trip to the office. Where are you, Tony?”
“Vegas, baby!”
Wayne’s shock was genuine. “What are you doing there? I thought you had that presentation today.”
“That’s what you get for waking up late and skipping the news,” Stark said. “A little more vodka next time, babe.”
“What was that?”
“Oh! Sorry, talking to the hostess. Anyway, there was a thing at the convention center last night. Repairs will put off the show for a few days. Figured I’d get in some gaming.”
“A thing?” Wayne asked.
“Nothing big. Except for that hole in the ceiling. Iron Man handled it. Ran into your not-so-friendly, neighborhood Batman too. Which is kinda why I’m calling.”
“Why? Not like I have a personal line to Batman.”
Wayne could feel Alfred’s smirk.
“I know you’re not the hero type,” Stark said between sips of his martini. “But you’re in with Gordon. Doesn’t he have a Bat-signal or something?”
“I’ve seen it used in extreme situations,” Wayne said.
“Cool! Because Gordon and I aren’t exactly on the best of terms. I was hoping you could get him to contact Batman. Better yet, contact his little assistant. She sounds great!”
Wayne partially patterned his playboy routine on Stark’s, save two differences. He wasn’t a lush, and he wasn’t a womanizer.
Though he knew Batgirl could hold her own, Wayne preferred interpersonal relationships that remained outside the cave.
Another reason he was glad to have Dick away while he took in Batgirl. The two had grown close; Bruce didn’t need that relationship clouding their judgment at a crucial moment.
“Fair to guess you need to talk to Batman about last night?”
“Yep! Hopefully, he doesn’t sleep in late like us and miss the call.”
“In that case, Tony, I’ll see what I can do.”
“You’re a good man, Bruce Wayne. I don’t care what sleaze they write in the tabs!”
The line went dead.
Wayne leaned back in his seat. “Alfred. Cancel any Wayne appearances for the next two days. Bruce Wayne is taking an unexpected trip to Vienna.”
“Shall I have your private jet prepped, sir?”
“Yes, but I won’t be on it. I’m taking alternate transportation to an alternate location.”
Out in Vegas, Tony Stark had hung up with Bruce Wayne eight martinis ago, which translated to roughly three hours in non-playboy time. His message should have gotten to Batman by now, but he hadn’t called.
Then again, was he the type to call someone back?
Tony guessed the worst-case scenario was Batman simply hopped a plane and headed to Vegas on the hunch that if Iron Man was out there, so were the bad guys.
Batman would be right.
Knowing Vanko was high rolling, Stark had hit the usual spots, but discretely. He didn’t want Vanko to know he was around. Stark finally got wind of Vanko at the Mandalay Bay Casino and Hotel.
Stark had a permanent suite over there. He had settled in for a few hours, called Bruce, and then enjoyed the view.
Despite no word from Batman, it was time to go to work. Not like Stark hadn’t operated solo before, though he admitted he wasn’t hip on the espionage angle he’d have to play.
Then again, if he was going to make contact with Vanko in the casino, what help would a six-foot guy dressed as a bat be?
Stark already checked with the private high roller suites to see if Vanko was gaming in any of them. No dice there. He later learned Vanko had a suite on the penthouse floor down from Stark, but he’d left there an hour ago.
Stark left his spare Iron Man suit in the travel briefcase in his room and headed down to the casino floor. He headed straight for the high roller poker room.
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. It’s now 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.
