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"Anni? Baby!?"

Selina marched through the apartment and quickly left you to search the rooms. The entire apartment was destroyed: furniture was flipped over, glass littered the floor, and the cats swarmed you as you entered. Unbelievable. Your friend's muffled voice was calling out for her lover, growing ever more desperate. Staring ahead in shock, you pet the nearest cat numbly as Batman shuffled through some papers.

"Jesus, what're they gonna do to her? She didn't do nothin'." Selina sighed as she took her place beside you. "Shit, they took my phone..."

"-the killer posted the following message on social media. We should warn you, the video is very disturbing." Focusing your attention to the TV that was left on, it cut to a self recorded video with heavy breathing.

"Hello, people of Gotham," the video started. "This is the Riddler speaking. On Halloween night, I killed your mayor because he was not who he pretended to be." Batman was transfixed. "But I am not done... heeeree is another-" The camera flipped around to reveal a bound, naked man with a rat-cage contraption imprisoning his head. "-who will soon be losing face. I will kill again, and again, and again... until our Day of Judgment, when the truth of our city will FINALLY be unmasked." The Riddler gleefully said goodbye as the news reporters started talking again. "Commissioner Savage served a distinguished 30 year career-"

"Holy shit, I seen that guy too," Selina shakily said.

"Yeah," you noted, "At the club."

"The Iceberg Lounge?"

"44 Below," you corrected Batman.

"What's that?"

Selina rolled her eyes. "The club within the club-the real club... It's a mob hangout."

"Is that where you work?" Batman inquired.

She paused for a brief moment. "No, I just work the bar upstairs so I see 'em come in, but she," gesturing to you, "works below."

The man glanced at you before prodding Selina. "Who?"

"Everybody. Lotta guys who shouldn't be there, I can tell you that. Your basic, upstanding citizen types."

"You're going to help me on this," he claimed, glancing back and forth between the two of you. "For your friend." You and Selina shared a look.

"You got a lot of cats," commented the man after your lack of replies.

"I have a thing about strays," your feline roommate confessed.

Batman turned to leave, "You're not safe here," he concluded, giving you one last look before stepping out of the broken door.

Selina called after him, "We can take care of ourselves."

"Can we?" you whispered.

"Of course. Wouldn't be the first time."

"-with two public figures now dead in just the last two nights, and only days before the election, police and city officials are left searching for a killer, and hoping to find him before he kills again..."

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"Ow-I don't know about these things."

"I need to see in there, this hunting ground," Batman mumbled to Selina, too engrossed in setting up his equipment in an abandoned diner. Putting in the contacts he had given wasn't much of a challenge, nor too painful. Squeezing your eyes tight, you made sure that they slid comfortably into position.

Selina looked bothered as she picked lint at her trench coat. You both were wearing your typical club uniforms, although you had on a full length faux mink coat over yours. "Why am I starting to feel like a fish on a hook? I'm just looking for Annika-"

"That's why you're staying upstairs," Batman interrupted, only sparing a glance in her direction, "and she's going down." He pointed at you but didn't take his eyes off his surveillance equipment.

"It'll be just like a normal night, Cat," you reassured. "Can't be too different from what we already do. You remember the plan?"

"Yeah, yeah," she waved off. "I stay upstairs and look out for trouble while you go downstairs and scurry around like a rat. Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome here will, uh, do whatever it is he's gonna do."

Done setting up his tech, Batman turned around with his attention directed to Selina. "Look at me," he ordered. She faced him and he inspected the lenses very closely, checking for any imperfections. He nodded his head slightly. "Looks good." He took a step in your direction, "Now you. Look at me." Facing him, you looked into his eyes, trying to find anything. His hand cupped your jaw as he scanned them, although judging by the length of time it took compared to Selina's, something had to have been wrong.

"Everything okay?" you wondered.

He tilted your head side to side before answering, "Perfect." He took a few more seconds before finally looking away and reached into his pocket. Earpieces. You and Selina each took one and made your way to the building.

"He better find Annika," Selina growled.

"I'm sure we'll find her," you replied. "We just have to get through this tonight."

She sighed, " Yeah, I guess you're right." Making your way into the club, you both strutted in silence until Selina broke it in the dressing room. "Rat?"

"Yeah?"

"Be safe, please," she muttered, taking a hold of your hand and squeezing it. "I can't lose both of you."

"Oh, Selin-of course I'll try. Stay safe too," you soothed before taking a turn to the 44 Below entrance, leaving Selina.

The bouncer, Kenzie, smiled at you, "Long time no see, baby, how'sit goin'?"

"That's one of the guys I got into it with the other night."

Hearing Batman's voice in your ear made you jump a little, you forgot he was there.

"Oh, I'm sorry honey, I didn't mean to startle you."

"Looks like I broke his nose."

You played it off with a short laugh, "It's alright, I was just spacing out. I'm here for my shift."

"Kenzie, Williams. He's an off duty cop."

"Yeah, I figured," he smiled politely. "Have a good night tonight, drain those men of their tips, am I right?" Sharing a laugh, he let you into the elevator that takes you underground. The doors shut.

"Friend of yours?"

"No. He works here most nights so I see him often."

"Hm."

The doors opened up to reveal the party; it had a relaxing vibe with the techno music and dim lights. Unfortunately, you had to pass by a valley of men who sized you up like meat.

"Don't look away," Batman ordered when your gaze lowered. "I need time to make I.D.s-"

"Great," you huffed. Lifting your head, you walked slowly and smoothly while trying to analyze all their faces.

"These guys have a little trouble with eye contact, don't they?" You noted the irritation in his voice.

"What? You don't like men lookin' at you like candy?" He said nothing back. You strolled around the area a bit, not picking much up, before heading to a more secluded part. It was lined with booth tables and small lamps.

Pausing to lean on a wall for a break, a man nearby called out, "Excuse me?" Following the sound led you to a tall, average man with glasses that sat at a booth. You've only seen him a couple times before-a quiet type-but you strolled on over. "I was, uh, wondering where the bathrooms were?" He played with his hands nervously; he looked as if this was his first time talking to a girl before. It was a little cute.

"Parker, Patrick. A nobody. Leave him"

Ignoring the man in your ear, you smiled sweetly. It was literally your job, after all. "Of course, sugar, it's down that hallway, second door on the left."

He bashfully looked away, "Do you mind showing me? I went that way earlier but couldn't find it."

You gave it a quick thought. I mean, he didn't look like a drop head-why not? "Sure thing," you volunteered. He rose from his seat and waited to follow you patiently. Hooking arms with him, you led him away. His face went a deep red.

The man pulled out $10 and tried handing it to you, but you gave him a weird look. "Oh, am I not supposed to tip you?"

"For showing you the bathroom?"

"Er, yeah?"

You laughed, genuinely. Poor baby must not get out much. "No, hon, you don't need to do that. Keep your money."

The man's smile faltered before his awkward demeanor came back. Playing with his hands, he asked, "Would you mind keeping me company for a while? I don't really know anyone."

You entertained the idea before Batman intervened, "He's wasting your time. Leave him now."

"I'm sorry, but I have to go. I'll make sure to look for you throughout the night, though," you apologized. He was already starting to grow on you.

His face went a bit pink before responding, "O-oh, that's alright. I'll keep an eye out as well. Have a goodnight." He slipped behind the door and into the bathroom before you could say anything else. Sighing, you made your way back towards the booths and perused the aisle, continuing to I.D. people. A man, mid-drop, looked at you starstruck so you quickly avoided eye contact.

"Wait. Who was that-?"

"I got plenty a good look-"

"-Look back-"

"If I do that, It's not gonna-

"I need to see his face-"

Sighing with an eye roll, you stop in your tracks and peered over your shoulder. The man took it as an invitation to stumble over.

"That's the D.A.... Gil Colson."

"God, happy? He's comin' over."

"Talk to him."

"Hey, how you doin'? I'm Gil," Colson said with a dopey grin.

Throwing on a plastic smile, you fawned, "Oh my- aren't you the D.A.?"

"Yeah-!"

"-wow! I've seen you on TV!"

"Is that right? I've seen you work here a couple times when I come in. It's nice to see a familiar face 'cause people are a little on edge."

"Oh, don't worry, I live on the edge."

"That so? I like that," he chuckled. "Do you want to come over?"

"Sure," you purred. He led you to a group sitting at the table and offered a seat.

"This is Travis, Ritchie, Glen," he started.

"That's half the D.A.'s office."

"And you know Carla here, right? That's Cheri-don't mind her, she's taking a break." She had droppers in her hand. "We're just here to drown our sorrow," he concluded before offering you some drugs.

"Oh, no thank you-but don't mind me, sweetie, you go ahead and enjoy."

"Thanks. I got a lot on my shoulders with that psycho running around."

"He's wasted."

"No shit," you blurted out in response.

Gil Colson looked at you for a second before chuckling, "I like this girl." He thought you were responding to him. You giggled. "I mean, this Riddler, he's-he's going after the most powerful people in the city. He knows so much-"

"He doesn't know shit, man," his buddy hissed.

"What're you talking about? Yeah he does! What about that rat-"

"Hey, hey, Gil, come on. Think you maybe had a little too much. Slow down," a different buddy chimed in.

"The rat. Ask him about the rat."

Looking through your lashes, you placed a hand on his thigh and caressed it with your thumb. "Hey, you got a vermin problem? What's goin' on, honey," you said, voice sultry.

He dragged a hand down his face before taking a deep breath, "I mean, there was a rat. We had an informant-we had big time information on Salvatore Maroni. That's how we got him out of the drops business."

"He's talking about the Maroni case."

"But if this guy knows, it's gonna come out. And when it does, this whole city is gonna come apart."

"Okay, I don't want to hear this," a girl said beside Gil. "This is the kind of pillow talk that got that Russian girl disappeared."

"Hey, what do you know about that," you demanded.

"Keep him talking."

"Does anybody want a drink," the girl asked as she stood to leave. You stood too, about to follow her, when-

"Stay put. I'm informing Selina right now."

You seated yourself and smiled politely back at Gil. He took another drop; you started to feel uncomfortable. Just as you thought it wouldn't end, a nerd in shining glasses appeared.

"It's you again," he exclaimed. He seemed less jumpy and a little more relaxed-confident. 'Maybe he had a drink to calm his nerves?'

"Hi! Did you need somethin', hon?"

"Uh, yeah, can you help me with something over here for a second?" He led you away from the D.A. and back to his original table. You both took a seat.

"What'd you need?"

"Oh, nothing," he confessed. He went a bit pink again before continuing, "I was keeping an eye out and saw how uncomfortable he was making you."

You gushed; how sweet was that? "Aww, honey, I appreciate that," you thanked. "Been a while since someone decent showed up around here."

Batman returned in your ear, "What happened? Where's the D.A.?" He sounded frustrated, but something told you it had more to do with Selina than you leaving Gil.

"Men these days don't know how to treat a lady right anymore," the man in glasses sighed. He extended his arm in greeting, "I'm Eddie." You accepted his hand. "I can't wait 'til this city finally undergoes real change."

"Oh, you talkin' about Bella Reál?"

"Even bigger than that. I'm waiting for some real, powerful, and lasting change-something that'll really open the water gate. All the powerful people in Gotham just lie and deceit people. Aren't you tired of that?"

"You're wasting time with this clown. Go ahead and leave."

"No."

"No? You like corruption?"

"What?" You realized that you had responded to Batman instead of Eddie. "No-I mean-Yes, the amount of criminals out here are crazy. There's almost more in office than there is on the street," you scoffed with a grin.

Eddie mirrored your grin, "Exactly! Man, is it refreshing to find someone so like-minded. Say, what did you say your name was?"

You didn't give him your name earlier, and you were about to when-

"Times up. Leave or I'll come get you myself."

Huffing, you smiled back at Eddie. "I'm sorry, sugar, I'm gonna have to call it a night. My feet are killing me."

"Oh, did you need help walking back to your-"

"No thank you! I got it. You enjoy the rest of your evening," you excused yourself with a wink as you left the table. Halfway to the exit you see Oz and Falcone.

"Hiya, baby."

"Hey, Oz."

"Hey..." Falcone crooned. "Been a while since I've seen you, gorgeous. How've ya been?" He reached out and caressed your chin with his thumb.

"I've-I've been okay... I was just, um, I was just finishing my shift."

Falcone smirked, "Well... don't be a stranger." You left for the bathrooms after he walked away.

"You know Carmine Falcone?"

"I work at the mob spot, of course I know him."

"You didn't tell me you had a relationship with him." He sounded angry.

"I don't have a relationship with him. What's your problem?"

"Well, that's not what it looked like."

"You really gonna be an asshole about this?" Your reflection stared back at a very pissed off self.

"Are you going to tell me the truth? You seeing another one of these mobsters? Some loser nobody?"

"Okay, I've had enough," you hissed. "I'm risking my neck down here-I've done everything you've said, and now you're turning on me?" You pulled out the contact case and reached for your eyes.

"Wait-what are you-?

"I've had enough of your bullshi-" Batman's camera immediately cut out as you took out the contact lenses. Taking a long, deep breath, you calmed yourself and pocketed the contact case. He could hear you mumbling curses, up until you remember you had the bud in your ear and took it out. Surprisingly, by the time you left the club you found Selina waiting and leaning against a wall.

"He piss you off too?"

"You could say that," you mumbled. Linking arms with her, you set off to find a taxi. Before you could, the door behind you slammed open.

"Hey! Lost you in there."

"Yeah, I gotta go."

"Oh. You-you need a ride? I'm right there," Colson pointed to his car just off to the side.

"No, thank you, we're good," Selina barged. "Taxi!"

"Will I see you 'round?" You glanced at him before rushing into the taxi cab that pulled over. The driver set off, leaving him in the dust.

Inside his car, however, was a very angry man in glasses. "You just don't know how to treat a lady right, do you?"

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