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There was no speaking between the two of you as you parked your motorcycles. You didn't have to talk—it was like you could read her thoughts. Checking the clip in the gun that she took, she put it back into her bag after inspecting the rounds. Getting off the bikes, you undressed out of your catsuits, revealing your work attire underneath. Selina slipped on her wig that she had with her in her bag, taking only a few seconds to smooth it down. You made your way inside.

"Can you tell Mr. Falcone I'd like to come up?" Selina asked the man guarding the elevator door. He jerked his chin to the side and made a dismissive gesture to her.

"She can go, you stay. He ain't seein' nobody tonight," he said, waving you forward.

"Tell him it's about Annika." The man straightened his back, his face darkened. Mumbling into his ear piece, he finally let you both pass. Mr. Falcone greeted you both when the elevator doors opened to his floor.

"Heyyy, look who it is, huh?"

"Sorry to bother you, Mr. Falcone," you apologized, placing a kiss on his cheek as you met him halfway.

"Nah, it's fine, gorgeous. You're always welcome, you know that," he chuckled. "And please, it's Carmine to you."

"I was hoping we could talk to you for a minute?"

"Absolutely."

Selina eyed the other men in the room. "Alone?" He snapped his fingers and everyone cleared. He led you both into the lounge area to sit.

"What's this all about, huh? You need somethin'? Cash?" Falcone sat across from the two of you. "I'll get you anything you need, doll."

"Actually, Mr. Fal—Carmine," you gave him a weak smile. "My friend is worried sick and I didn't know what to do, so I brought her to the only person I thought could help..." Carmine had a sly look on his face as he leaned closer.

"Oh, is that right? Well you came to the right place. What you girls need?"

"We can't find Annika anywhere. It's like she just disappeared!" you exclaimed, faux tears in your eyes. Carmine leaned back into his chair. His face dropped for a second before he replaced it with a carefree facade.

"I'm—I'm just so worried," Selina choked out, letting out a few fake tears of her own. "I don't know where she is. I know you're a very important man from what she's told me—" Selina gestured to you, "—and I was hoping you could help me find her. I mean she's been gone so long, I'm starting to think she might be..." Selina let out a few sniffles as you patted her back comfortingly. "I'm sorry..." You looked at Falcone with pleading eyes.

"It's okay," he said. "I understand. Here." He offered her tissues but she declined.

"No, that's okay, I have a tissue." Selina slowly reached for the gun in her purse as you distracted him.

"Thank you so much, Mr. Carmine. Nobody knew anything or wanted to help—"

"Mr. Falcone?"

"Vinny!" Falcone yelled at the man who interrupted. "Didn't I tell ya?"

"I'm sorry, Mr. Falcone. I really think you're gonna want to see this."

Falcone looked back at you. "I'm sorry, beautiful," he apologized. "I'll be right back so we can continue." You and Selina gave each other a hardened look as he walked away into another room. So close.

The voicemail that Annika had left Selina could be overheard from where you were sitting. As if empowered by her voice, Selina carefully strided over to the man, gun pointed. You placed yourself behind the wall, hidden from the men's view, ready for whatever was about to happen.

"Hey, Dad?"

Falcone turned around to see her, mildly confused and surprised. "What?"

"I'm Maria Kyle's kid...You remember her?"

"Yeah...Just—just put down the gun, honey—"

"This is for my mother." The gunshot echoed as all the lights shut down and were replaced by shadows. The only thing to illuminate anything were the lights from outside peering in.

Quickly sneaking into the now dark room, you lunged for the guard that was about to attack Selina. With a yell, you managed to jump and wrap your legs around his neck, choking him. Selina went after Falcone as you fought the guard. More gunshots fired, each round making you jump in your skin. When you were finished with the man, you ran into the other room to see another fallen guard and Falcone choking Selina with a pool stick. Grabbing one off the table, you hit him in the back of the head as hard as possible. He shouted and got off of her, coming for you. Selina gasped for breath, blindly reaching around for the gun that was knocked away.

"You bitch!" Falcone yelled as he lunged for you. Dodging, you dealt him a few blows yourself and even managed to leave a nasty scratch along his face. "I'll kill you!" He sent a powerful kick to your legs, sweeping you off your feet. He was on you instantly and wrapped his hands around your throat. "You made me do this, sweetheart. You were my favorite! You're making me do this!"

"Help—" you choked out, suffocating. Struggling, he had a hard time keeping his hands around your neck, but he managed. Your mind froze—this has happened before, hasn't it? Instead of Falcone above you, digging his nails into you, the image of Batman with his own hand around you appeared instead...just like he did at the mayor's house. Black was creeping into your vision as you let out shallow gasps before Falcone was harshly pulled away. Your eyes squeezed shut in anguish as you coughed out.

Your savior, the caped crusader, immediately reached for Selina and aimed her gun away when he noticed she was about to shoot. "He has to pay!" she shouted.

"You don't have to pay with him." He assured her. Selina, crying, looked at Batman. "You've paid enough." She relents and drops the gun, defeated and emotionally drained.

Batman was by your side in an instant, cradling you. He tenderly brushed his fingers against the marks on your neck made by Falcone. "Rat?" The way he said it reminded him of how he called out to you over the contact lens camera system: pathetic. Vision blurred, you recoiled quickly after seeing who it was, weakling pushing him away.

"Please," you pawed away at his hands, trying to get them away from your head. "Not again." His eyes held a great sadness in them as he instead held you closer, moving his hands from holding your head to your lower back, waiting for you to calm down. Struggling more, your breathing quickened as you flung your hand towards his face. His hand caught yours quickly and held them firm against him. He looked anxious, eyes searching over your body for more potential damage as you calmed down. Realizing the situation after seeing Carmine on the ground, you raised yourself to hug your dark knight. He wouldn't hurt you again, right? You were soothed as you felt him let out a heavy sigh into your hair.

"Please," he whispered into your ear. "Don't scare me like that, please..." Gingerly, he helped you up, arm wrapped around your waist.

Reluctantly, he let go when Falcone started coming to his senses. Picking him up roughly, he led the man through the club where onlookers watched with curiosity. You and Selina followed.

"Jesus," Carmine laughed. "Look at you. Whattaya think this is? You think you're gonna scare me with that mask and that cape? I'm gonna start crying, and all of a sudden some big secret's comin' out? Let me tell you something?" Carmine stopped walking and leaned in close to Batman. "Whatever I know, whatever I've done, it's all going with me to my grave." Batman shoved him forward and into the hands of Gordon. "What, you with Zorro over here? Don't you know you boys in blue work for me?"

Gordon took him outside to reveal the dozens of police officers waiting to arrest him. "I guess we don't all work for you." Gordon read Carmine his rights as another officer handcuffed him. "Do you understand?"

Carmine looked straight at you, almost admiring your tears and the marks he left behind on your neck. "Yeah," he turned back to Gordon. "I'll see you when I walk out."

"Goddamn rat."

"What'd you say?" Carmine asked Oswald.

"Enjoy your night at Blackgate, Carmine. Probably be your last."

"Oh-ho! So you're a big man now, huh, Oz?' Carmine scoffed.

"Maybe I am," Oz challenged.

"Really, Oz? Because to me, you were always a gimp in an empty suit."

Oz reached into his jacket, pulling out a gun. "I'll spray paint your ass!" A single shot fired and Carmine hit the ground. The crowd roared as officers tried to get a handle on the situation. Oz was tackled to the ground. "I didn't shoot! I didn't shoot!"

You walked over to Batman as he hovered over Falcone, watching him take his last breath. You spat on his body, satisfied. Batman, however, looked above him to see the flickering street light. "Bring him into the light," he muttered. "And you'll find where I'm at."

"There!" An officer yelled. "The shot came from up there!" Following where the man's finger pointed, you saw an apartment window open with a gun pointed out. No one was there.

"It's Riddler!"

Majority of the officers left Carmine's body to get to Riddler; only a few stayed back. Selina strolled over and stared at his body for a bit. Also satisfied, she linked arms with yours and walked away. "Let's go home."

You made it to your motorcycles in silence. The only thing you mumbled after putting on your helmet was 'Karma's a bitch' before returning to your apartment.

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