Temporary Insanity #7- Overdue Encounters

====Billings' Penthouse====

 

*The first thing that she thought of was "He doesn't deserve this". The second was "Christ that stench is potent" and her third thought was "Jesus this costume's tight". She was in his apartment, Spellbinder's, the best selling author. The very idea he could be adored sickened her. The place was enormous, there were strong oak bookshelves, a white, clean kitchen (evidence *he* never cooked), hell, even a hot tub, tiled in black and white slabs. The scented candles stunk up the place, probably to cover up something worse, and of course there were copies of that stupid book everywhere. She'd read a few pages, out of curiosity, none of it good. Several supervillains hadn't hesitated to call her all manners of names. She doubted his copy would give her husband much solace, even if Ten had meant well. Again she strained to move, a consequence of wearing the old suit, but it couldn't be helped. Twag and his goons had taken her newer gear when they attacked the house and raided the cave. How she wished Twag was here now. If only so she could torture him. Mercilessly. Soon, she thought. She just needed the right- Billings. He'd at last emerged from the bedroom, he had glanced her briefly and was now wearing his supervillain garb. Hideous, not unlike the man himself*

 

Billings- -You must be the stripper I ordered. Just make yourself at home won't- You. Times are tough are they?

 

Miranda- I'm not a stripper Billings.

 

Billings- Your legs say otherwise.

 

Miranda- It's an old costume.

 

Billings- Don't doubt it, very risqué. What's this about, Legs? Want me to sign a copy?

 

Miranda- I want to know your source

 

*Billings' sneer vanishes. In a way Miranda was glad, if she had to put up with any more misogynistic bullshit from him, she'd kill him herself*

 

Billings- Don't you bug buggers exchange notes?! I already had your husband come visit me in August.

 

Miranda- My husband?

 

Billings- Yeah, playing Batman in a black suit.

 

Miranda- Billings you idiot, that wasn't Drury!

 

Billings- Idiot! Idiot indeed. You can't just walk into my home and insult me! Me!

 

Miranda- Your source.

 

Billings- It doesn't matter Legs, she's dead isn't she?

 

Miranda- Dead- Pike? Pike gave you those files?!

 

*It all led back to Twag. He hadn't just sent The Wasp to frame Drury, he had been giving Pike details on him, information she gave to Billings. Just what she needed, another conspiracy against Drury*

 

Billings- Yeah! And I hope she's rotting in Hell for the trouble she put me through. I don't expect to be assualted here! This is my safe space, my hidey hole! To have a black suited insectophile attack me, Walker or not, is disgust-!

 

*Thwip*

 

Miranda- Billings-?

 

*Billings. Shit*

 

Billings- Fucking help me! It's-! It's-! Spider-Man?!

 

LaMonica- I'll take that as compliment, eh?

 

*Who the- Well, he's certainly not Eric Needham*

 

====Arkham Asylum====

 

*Hugo Strange is in his office, a cup of tea at his side. He's rereading some old patient reports. Interesting, he thinks to himself. Very interesting indeed. His train of thought is nearly broken by the loud rapping at his door. He growls, annoyed by this unwelcomed disruption*

 

Guard- Sorry to disturb you Professor-

 

Strange- Just get on with it Captain.

 

Guard- Of course... There's been an incident..

 

Strange- Of what variety?

 

Guard- Three inmates never returned to their cells after lunch. Lynns, Walker and-

Strange- Yes?

 

Guard- Paul Dekker.

 

*Interesting, thought Strange once more. Very interesting*

 

====Lunchtime=====

 

Inmate- Great show today Paulie!

 

Dekker- Oho! If you think that was good, tune in next week, I'll have Two-Face in tears haha!

 

Amygdala- Your lunch Mr Dekker

 

Dekker- Ahh thank you Aaron! Oh that looks good!

 

Amygdala- Made it myself!

 

Dekker- Well, aren't you a resourceful little one. One moment please. Drury! Drury Walker!

 

*Drury and Gar walk cautiously over to Dekker*

 

Gar- Yeah?

 

Dekker- Garfield, wait your turn. Drury, it does my heart good to see you. You heard today's show, yes?

 

Drury- Yeah, yeah, very nice, listen how many people normally listen to it? Anyone across the bay?

 

Dekker- Anyone across the bay? Oh Drury, Drury, Drury, where have you been? It's the talk of the town- paper Aaron, see?

 

*Drury looks at the newspaper, clutched in Amygdala's hand, and there it is, an article on Dekker's radio show, dated around the same time he got arrested. Figures. But the ratings are indeed good, great in fact, and a plan has started to form in that brain of his*

 

Drury- Do you have to book in advance for these?

 

Dekker- Well, of course, I have *hundreds* of requests each day! Why do you ask? *You* don't want to appear so you? Haha!

 

Drury- Actually, I kinda do.

 

*Dekker freezes. It takes Drury aback, seeing him speechless like that. Gar mutters in his ear*

 

Gar- You sure Drury? I share a cell with him, you don't want to spend time with him alone.

 

Drury- I am Gar. Trust me.

 

Dekker- I don't know... I've scheduled Harvey in for next week.

 

Drury- Well, why wait, why not today?

 

Dekker- ... today-?

 

*Drury nods. Dekker ponders for a second, twirling his moustache, Gar and Drury look at him in anticipation, then, frowning, Dekker looks up*

 

Dekker- No.

 

*No? thought Drury. No? Why not? He and Dekker weren't exactly close, like most sane people he knew when to keep his distance but all the same, he thought he could count on the man to help him out, so he could get out the legal way, so he could see his family*

 

Drury- Dekker-

 

Dekker- I said no, Norbert, good day!

 

*And like that, the man stormed off, Gar and Drury exchanged another look, this time of suspicion*

 

Drury- Norbert-?

 

====Now====

 

*This was hardly the first time Paul Dekker found himself tied up. It wasn't even the first time he had found himself hanging upside down, The Bat had certainly seen to that. But, for once this was the first time he was afraid. Not of his assailants; Killer Moth, Firefly... children. Handsomely un-handsome children. No, he was afraid of what might happen. What may already be happening. Because he blurted out something he shouldn't have. Oh how he cursed those drugs of his! He ought to quit, maybe it'll stick this time*

 

Dekker- This is a mistake, surely Drury?

 

Drury- Shut up. What do you know about Norbert?

 

Dekker- Hmm?

 

Drury- You called me Norbert today, why?

 

Dekker- Drury, Norbert, they sound so similar no?

 

Gar- Cut the horseshit, what the hell do you know? And please, answer carefully... I hear a hint of some kind of pass, you're dead

 

Dekker- Nor. Bert. Norbert. What *do* I know?

 

Gar- I'm warning-!

 

Dekker- No flair for the dramatics Garfield? I thought you'd understand?

 

Drury- What do you know about Norbert?!

 

Dekker- Everything you insensitive butthole! I worked on the damn project that created him! Created the Killer Wasp! And the funny thing? I'm not even the only one!

 

Strange- No. He isn't. Good evening gentlemen

Done