Mockingbird #2
====The Batcave====
*It took ages before I managed to escape that nuthouse. I'm half surprised the butler didn't send one of the "soldiers" to retrieve me, but I suppose I ought not to complain. I spent the car ride home in thought, wondering what my next steps ought to be. I get out of that ridiculous automobile, and head straight to the computer, ignoring the pleas of my servant for medical attention*
Alfred- Master Bruce, look at the state of you!
Bruce- I'm fine Alfred. Had a run-in with Clayface, that's all.
*Alfred examines my muddied cape, now draped over the chair*
Alfred- I noticed. You do recall who cleans your suit don't you?
*I smile, nod, then continue my work. Good old Alf. Faithful as always*
Alfred- Master Clark called earlier, I tried to patch him into the cowl, but to no avail. Ms Gordon is the "computer whiz" after all. Something about a lead on those cosmic readings?
*Clark? What's he on about now?*
Bruce- Who-? Clark, you say?
Alfred- Yes, they believe it's something to do with the Society. I- Are you alright sir?
Bruce- Couldn't be better.
*There's a sudden rush of activity from above, someone's turning the dial on that clock of his, and sure enough, there she is. 'My doting wife,' Selina*
Bruce- Alfred. Give us a moment would you?
Alfred- Yes sir. Ms Kyle.
*He goes through the cave entrance and returns to the relative comfort of the manor above us. I place my hand on her shoulder to comfort her, and run my finger through that short black hair of hers. I'd forgotten how attractive she was*
Selina- Bruce? What're you doing back here, Arkham's a mess, and-
Bruce- Selina, please. Gordon can take care of the inmates, you ought to have more faith in the man.
Selina- It's not Gordon I don't trust. It's everyone else on the force.
Bruce- Heh. Perhaps we should take this upstairs, no?
*I move in for a kiss, but instead she leaves me hanging. I grasp my side-arm just in case. She looks me up and down. Then she slaps me across the face*
Selina- You're not Bruce.
*I smirk.*
Hush- No. But I'll think you'll find I'm the next best thing.
====Arkham Asylum====
*When I come to, Hush is gone. Hagen too. I on the other hand awoke on the ground, my skull bloody- I must have been thrown down. My belt's gone, and my cowl cracked on impact. I look up and I see the rotting carcass of some godforsaken animal and I realise where I am. They've dumped me Croc's Lair. I see the water ripple, I can feel the ground shake as he moves. And I know for a fact that he's starving*
Croc- Well wha' da we have 'ere? Is that a Bat I smell?
Batman- I don't have time for this Croc.
Croc- Shame. Ah guess we'll have ta reschedule
*Hnh. That never works. If I had my grapnel, I could simply travel up that chute. The only way out now is through Croc. There's got to be something I can use*
Croc- Tryna' hide? I knows yer scent Batman. Smells of sweat! You afraid boy?
*I pull on a rusted pipe, bursting it. Croc howls, temporarily blinded, I use that distraction to slide under his legs. If I'm right there's a way to the central pump room from here. As of a few minutes, or perhaps hours, Tommy is the priority*
Croc- I'll find you Batman! An' I'll rip you limb from limb!
*I'm beginning to remember. Tommy was talking to Hagen while they were carrying me off. What was it?! What was he saying?*
====Wayne Manor====
*Doctor Thomas Elliott. The pyscho currently chasing me through these halls. Calls himself Hush. I'll never know how Bruce was ever friends with him. The guy's insane, deluded and narcissistic. I reckon he hates wearing Bruce's face. It must burn him up inside, to wear the face of the man he hates so much. Considering what he's done to me over the years, it feels pretty good knowing he's in constant pain. But it also makes him even more dangerous to me, and to everyone living here. He's already fought off Alfred. I didn't even get a good look at what he was doing to the computer- transferring funds maybe? Tommy *has* been a little strapped for cash lately, but this head on approach doesn't seem much like him*
Hush- Selina-! Where are you? Where's "my" blushing bride? Say! What has it been Kitty? Two? Three years? To think I didn't even get invited! His childhood friend. Heck, I should have been his best man no? Who *did* he pick again? Grayson? Superman? Don't tell me he chose Alf! That'd be sad! Heh- How are those scars by the way?
*I make my move now, I throw the suit of armour I was hiding behind at him, then I pounce. My claws an inch from his face*
Selina- How are yours, *Tommy*?
Hush- My wounds have healed. A shame about yours.
*He's going for his gun. I kick it away, but in doing so I leave myself vunerable. Hush throws me off of him, and battles me for it*
Hush- You know it was me, right? The man who got you crazy kids to admit to those pesky feelings of yours!
*Like I said, delusional*
Selina- Please, we all know that it was Eddie's plan
Hush- And yet, how does it feel, to have a relationship built on lies and betrayal?
*He's got the gun again, but I've got the clip. He tries firing, but fails*
Selina- Seems like every other one I had
Hush- How very Shakespearean. It melts my-
====Arkham Asylum====
*By the time I get to the island's surface I'm cold, wet and angry, and no closer to figuring out Tommy's endgame. Not only that but- strange. Where's the car? Oh no. Then it comes to me, what Hush had said- "Professor Strange keeps a Batsuit in his office. Bring it to me. Don't worry, I'm not taking yours Bruce, I'm not going to give away your secret to a lowlife like Hagen. Not when we're... best friends." That can only mean one thing. He's at the manor. I see a nearby police officer, his arm in a sling, resting against a wall*
Batman- Give me your car keys.
====Wayne Manor====
Hush- -heart.
*He smiles again. He smiles Bruce's smile. It sickens me*
====The Batcave====
Bruce- Alfred! Damian! Selina!
*The car's parked. He's here. And then I hear the gunshot.
Bruce- Tim! Dick! Cassandra!
*I knock the clock aside and run. There at the end of the hallway is an image I've seen once before. Thomas Elliott dead on the ground. Killed by a bullet through his chest*
Bruce- Selina...
Mockingbird #2
====The Batcave====
*It took ages before I managed to escape that nuthouse. I'm half surprised the butler didn't send one of the "soldiers" to retrieve me, but I suppose I ought not to complain. I spent the car ride home in thought, wondering what my next steps ought to be. I get out of that ridiculous automobile, and head straight to the computer, ignoring the pleas of my servant for medical attention*
Alfred- Master Bruce, look at the state of you!
Bruce- I'm fine Alfred. Had a run-in with Clayface, that's all.
*Alfred examines my muddied cape, now draped over the chair*
Alfred- I noticed. You do recall who cleans your suit don't you?
*I smile, nod, then continue my work. Good old Alf. Faithful as always*
Alfred- Master Clark called earlier, I tried to patch him into the cowl, but to no avail. Ms Gordon is the "computer whiz" after all. Something about a lead on those cosmic readings?
*Clark? What's he on about now?*
Bruce- Who-? Clark, you say?
Alfred- Yes, they believe it's something to do with the Society. I- Are you alright sir?
Bruce- Couldn't be better.
*There's a sudden rush of activity from above, someone's turning the dial on that clock of his, and sure enough, there she is. 'My doting wife,' Selina*
Bruce- Alfred. Give us a moment would you?
Alfred- Yes sir. Ms Kyle.
*He goes through the cave entrance and returns to the relative comfort of the manor above us. I place my hand on her shoulder to comfort her, and run my finger through that short black hair of hers. I'd forgotten how attractive she was*
Selina- Bruce? What're you doing back here, Arkham's a mess, and-
Bruce- Selina, please. Gordon can take care of the inmates, you ought to have more faith in the man.
Selina- It's not Gordon I don't trust. It's everyone else on the force.
Bruce- Heh. Perhaps we should take this upstairs, no?
*I move in for a kiss, but instead she leaves me hanging. I grasp my side-arm just in case. She looks me up and down. Then she slaps me across the face*
Selina- You're not Bruce.
*I smirk.*
Hush- No. But I'll think you'll find I'm the next best thing.
====Arkham Asylum====
*When I come to, Hush is gone. Hagen too. I on the other hand awoke on the ground, my skull bloody- I must have been thrown down. My belt's gone, and my cowl cracked on impact. I look up and I see the rotting carcass of some godforsaken animal and I realise where I am. They've dumped me Croc's Lair. I see the water ripple, I can feel the ground shake as he moves. And I know for a fact that he's starving*
Croc- Well wha' da we have 'ere? Is that a Bat I smell?
Batman- I don't have time for this Croc.
Croc- Shame. Ah guess we'll have ta reschedule
*Hnh. That never works. If I had my grapnel, I could simply travel up that chute. The only way out now is through Croc. There's got to be something I can use*
Croc- Tryna' hide? I knows yer scent Batman. Smells of sweat! You afraid boy?
*I pull on a rusted pipe, bursting it. Croc howls, temporarily blinded, I use that distraction to slide under his legs. If I'm right there's a way to the central pump room from here. As of a few minutes, or perhaps hours, Tommy is the priority*
Croc- I'll find you Batman! An' I'll rip you limb from limb!
*I'm beginning to remember. Tommy was talking to Hagen while they were carrying me off. What was it?! What was he saying?*
====Wayne Manor====
*Doctor Thomas Elliott. The pyscho currently chasing me through these halls. Calls himself Hush. I'll never know how Bruce was ever friends with him. The guy's insane, deluded and narcissistic. I reckon he hates wearing Bruce's face. It must burn him up inside, to wear the face of the man he hates so much. Considering what he's done to me over the years, it feels pretty good knowing he's in constant pain. But it also makes him even more dangerous to me, and to everyone living here. He's already fought off Alfred. I didn't even get a good look at what he was doing to the computer- transferring funds maybe? Tommy *has* been a little strapped for cash lately, but this head on approach doesn't seem much like him*
Hush- Selina-! Where are you? Where's "my" blushing bride? Say! What has it been Kitty? Two? Three years? To think I didn't even get invited! His childhood friend. Heck, I should have been his best man no? Who *did* he pick again? Grayson? Superman? Don't tell me he chose Alf! That'd be sad! Heh- How are those scars by the way?
*I make my move now, I throw the suit of armour I was hiding behind at him, then I pounce. My claws an inch from his face*
Selina- How are yours, *Tommy*?
Hush- My wounds have healed. A shame about yours.
*He's going for his gun. I kick it away, but in doing so I leave myself vunerable. Hush throws me off of him, and battles me for it*
Hush- You know it was me, right? The man who got you crazy kids to admit to those pesky feelings of yours!
*Like I said, delusional*
Selina- Please, we all know that it was Eddie's plan
Hush- And yet, how does it feel, to have a relationship built on lies and betrayal?
*He's got the gun again, but I've got the clip. He tries firing, but fails*
Selina- Seems like every other one I had
Hush- How very Shakespearean. It melts my-
====Arkham Asylum====
*By the time I get to the island's surface I'm cold, wet and angry, and no closer to figuring out Tommy's endgame. Not only that but- strange. Where's the car? Oh no. Then it comes to me, what Hush had said- "Professor Strange keeps a Batsuit in his office. Bring it to me. Don't worry, I'm not taking yours Bruce, I'm not going to give away your secret to a lowlife like Hagen. Not when we're... best friends." That can only mean one thing. He's at the manor. I see a nearby police officer, his arm in a sling, resting against a wall*
Batman- Give me your car keys.
====Wayne Manor====
Hush- -heart.
*He smiles again. He smiles Bruce's smile. It sickens me*
====The Batcave====
Bruce- Alfred! Damian! Selina!
*The car's parked. He's here. And then I hear the gunshot.
Bruce- Tim! Dick! Cassandra!
*I knock the clock aside and run. There at the end of the hallway is an image I've seen once before. Thomas Elliott dead on the ground. Killed by a bullet through his chest*
Bruce- Selina...