DC Universe- 2100

"I've had enough field fun for one day, actually," Angelica says with a cringe. "Maybe tomorrow...or next week."

Joseph chuckled. "Oh I'm not going tonight, I've got several hours of sleep ahead of me...then I have to check in with the Young Justice kids."

"Oh, right. How's that whole adventure going?"

"It's....interesting." Joseph said.

"Sorry you have to put up with the clown," she says. "That can't be fun." Then the pauses and looks over the both of them, turning around in her seat. "And now that the formalities are over and done with, what's buggin' you two?"

"Besides Sovereign, EW, Riddler, and the not one but two Deathstrokes? Not much." Joseph smiled. 

"Not to mention the League of Assassins." Elizabeth said. "That Kasumi chick showed up again."

Angelica absorbed that entire thing. As much as she resented the name 'Kasumi', her mind hung on Riddler. "Riddler? So now there's two riddle-happy psychopaths running around? What happened?"

"He's after us." Joseph said. "Anyone carrying on the legacy of Batman and his allies. And he says he knows our identities. He and Scarecrow showed up at Elizabeth's house tonight. He also killed several people."

"Well, don't I feel safe," Angelica responds. "And here I thought Gotham was getting better. Hush cleaned up the police corruption, Arkham got better at keeping people behind bars...and now this crap happens."

"Two words. Gotham City." Joseph said. "It never stays "better" for long."

"It coulda been Bludhaven," Angelica retorts.

"Good point."

"I suppose there's reason to smile. Clue could've been on the loose in the streets tonight. Seems he's laying low."

"Right, gotta love Clue." Joseph said. "Our regular Joker type."

"As accurate as that is, I always lumped him together with Deathstroke. Guy definitely knows what he's doing. Who knows? He may be as bad as em both. There's a scary picture."

"Least Slade has somewhat of a moral code." Joseph said.

"True that. Honor and all that jazz. Clue, on the other hand. Guy just has the worst of Joker with the worst of Deathstroke. Just a bad combination for everyone."

Twi wrote:

"Oh, come now, Lorie.  Need you treat me like the enemy?  I haven't harmed you.  Fact is, if I didn't steal you away, you'd probably have gotten killed by that souped-up tin-"  Suddenly she pauses then extends an arm up, grabbing hold of the grate and pulling it down.  "Welcome," she says as Batman comes tumbling down into the place.  She catches him and sets him down more gently before he hits the floor.  "You keep lovely company.  Your sidekick is very interesting."

"Partner," Lorie says from the background.

"Right."

Suddenly Mama leaps out from behind a curtain towards Batman, but Inque catches her and holds her back.  "Let GO, Haley.  I'm gonna-"

"What?  Violate your parole?  I think not."

Batman arches an eyebrow. "Parole, huh. Good for you. Oh, and your 'family' misses you.", he says and looks at Mama briefly, ignoring her attempt of jumping at him before moving onto Lorie and Inque. "I'm sure there are other ways to assemble group meetings. Tear away notes with phone numbers?"

"You clearly don't know how low the success rate is for that...especially in Gotham.  Besides, if I'd used your little spotlight, you'd have shown up.  And, frankly," Inque coils herself around him harmlessly.  "I have a bit of a...weakness, when it comes to men."  She retracts herself and walks back over to Lorie with a sigh when she sees the look on his face. "Cat Woman, right? My apologies."

"Wow," Lorie says. "Either you two aren't as discreet as you think, or she's good."

"I like to assume both," Inque says. "You can have her back, Bat. Not that I was going to hold her anyway. Your little bird of prey declined. C'est la vi."

"I haven't the faintest clue of what you're talking about.", Batman replies without any emotion in his voice. "Let's go. I have a hopefully rusting bucket to drag out of the water.", he says before looking back at Inque. "I'll admit, it was clever to stirr things up to make noise about your cause. Still, maybe a good old 'ask' will suffice next time. God knows there are those who want what you want."

"But of course...boss. I'll try to keep that in mind next time," Inque says, keeping sure to hold Mama back as she watches Batman leave, smiling.

"Oh, and I think I saw Mama's escort Play-Doh coming back down on the way here. Be careful. Wouldn't want that parole broken now, would we?", Batman says on the way out. He would be watching for Inque in the future, however for the moment there were other things left to take care of now that his building's saved and Missy's Mama's found.

"So you had no idea what she was talking about, huh?" Black Bat says as they leave.

"The whole 'girls run the world' thing? No, I think I got that.", Batman answers, pretending to be ignorant.

"Uh-huh," Black Bat says. "So now what?"