Chapter Text
Chapter 7
A Hard Day in Gotham
As the first rays of sunlight spread over Gotham, the city began to wake. At eight o'clock, Joker came into Lois' room where she was now wearing her new black and red outfit. Joker gestured with his finger for Lois to come into the light so he could get a better look at her in her new look. Knowing that disobeying the man known as the Prince of Crime would result in her getting beaten to a pulp, so Lois stopped just in front of her captor.
"Hmm, very impressive," he complimented as he circled Lois like a vulture flying down to feast on a fresh carcass. "I must say that it really brings out the real you." He stroked her left cheek.
Lois just glared at him without a word, knowing full well what he was capable of.
"Now then, are you ready?" Joker asked.
"For what?"
A cruel grin appeared on Joker's face. "Let's just say you'll be swimming with the fishes today." Then grabbing her by the wrist, he lead her to a room that had two tanks of cold salt water. Joker pushed Lois into the larger of the two and then two goons closed the lid. The water level was just high enough for Lois to be able to surface for air. She held her breath and her eyes began to sting from the salt. She saw Joker smiling and pointing to something behind her. She whipped around, her eyes wide in fear. There was a large pipe that connected the tank to the smaller tank which held a starving Great White shark. It had several scars along its right side and a small chunk missing from its left fin.
"I named him Bruce. I would be careful if I was you, he can smell fear," Joker laughed with a twisted smile. "See you in a few hours."
Lois looked at the shark, hoping that the predator wouldn't come to her.
Elsewhere in the city, Clark was walking out of the hotel to the museum. He had just arrived at a nearby bus stop when he saw Lana walking down the street on the other side of the road.
"Morning," he called out to her.
The woman in the grey cream-colored suit turned in his direction. "Oh, hey!" she greeted. She looked both ways and quickly ran across. She looked at his fine work suit and commented, "Looking dapper today, are we? So, where are you heading?"
"The museum, I'm going to interview one of the heads of the new research facility," he explained as they sat on a wooden bench.
"Mind if come with you? I'm heading there anyway."
"Um, sure."
After sitting silently for about twelve seconds Lana decided to speak. "So, how's Kara?"
"Good."
Lana noticed how anxious he seemed, even though she knew why. She took a deep breath before carefully choosing her next words. "Barbara told me about what happened to Lois," she commented in a genuine tone. Clark gave her a worried look. "Don't worry, you'll find her." Lana encouraged him.
"Thanks."
Lana smiled just as the bus arrived, which they both boarded, and headed off to the museum. She still noticed how Clark looked down at the floor.
"Is something on your mind?"
"Oh, it's nothing, I'm just worried about Lois," he clarified.
"You sure?"
Clark hesitated for a moment. He sighed, "We got into a fight the other day, she left to cool off and she didn't come back."
Lana thought carefully about how to word her next sentence. "Well just remember, it's nobody's fault about what happened."
Clark gave a small smile. "I just hope I can make it up to her."
"Of course, you will."
"You think I can?"
"I know you can," she reassured him.
"Thanks, Lana."
Back at Joker's hideout, Lois was still trying to get out tank after nearly three hours. She had managed to find a small door on the lid, however, it was heavy so, she had trouble pushing it open. To make matters worse the shark was working its way through the pipe. Lois had to constantly swim back under the water to make sure that the large creature wasn't in the same tank as her. As every second passed her heart thudded louder in her ears. She swam down again, and to her horror, she saw the tip of the shark's nose poke out of the pipe.
Lois froze in fear, trying to think of how to get the door opened. Just as the shark's dorsal fin came out of the tank the predator began to rocket towards her. She swam out of the way just in the nick of time. The speed and force of the shark's attack caused it to rocket to the surface and broke the small door clean off its handles. Lois swam behind the shark and waited for it to free itself, then before the shark even had enough time to turn around and try her, Lois bolted past and jumped out of the cold salty water. She ran to the room's door but to her surprise, it wasn't locked. She opened the door only to find Joker looking at his watch.
"You didn't take nearly as long to get out of that tank as I thought you would," he merely stated.
Lois didn't move a muscle as the saltwater dripped off her body.
"Guess you prefer the other Bruce," Joker snickered before leaning in a little with a raised eyebrow, "and maybe someone else?" Lois' eyes narrowed slightly. "Well come on, time for your next test!" He then took his mistress down the hallway to a room where her next form of torture awaited.
Clark had finished his interview at the museum. The black-haired man made his way to the cafeteria to meet up with Lana once she was on her break. He ordered two cups of coffee and made his way to a table with four chairs. He had only just sat down when Lana arrived.
"So, how did it go?" she asked as she took her seat next to him.
"Great." He slid Lana her coffee.
"Thanks. So, can you tell me anything about what they're doing?"
"That's classified information; you'll have to wait for when the paper comes out." Clark teased.
"Damn it," Lana joked. "Guess I'll have to cancel your visit to the workshop to see the new outfits."
"Darn," he retorted in a similar tone.
After a few minutes of casual banter, 'Work' Kara walked into the museum with her girlfriend who must have also just been released from her 9 to 5. They had agreed to meet up with Clark during their break, so were surprised to see their additional guest.
"Hi," Kara said.
"Hello, Kara," he returned.
"It's nice to see you again, Lana," Barbara greeted.
"And you too," Lana nodded.
"I'm just going to get us something to drink, I'll be back," she said on her way to the counter.
Before she spoke, Kara made sure that no one else was in ear range. "So, how did you guess about the identities of Batgirl and Supergirl?"
"Simple, Clark has a blond cousin who's dating a redhead." Lana plainly explained, then whispered, "and I already managed to figure out who our Superman is years ago."
"Bright one," she complimented.
"When did you tell them?" Clark asked Lana just as Barbara returned with two diet colas.
"Actually she only told me last night when I, briefly, mistook her for Poison Ivy," Barbara said in a slightly embarrassed voice as she sat down.
"How could mistake her for Ivy?"
"It was dark and she was wearing a green suit," she clarified, earning a chuckle from Kara.
"Hey, it was an honest mistake. Besides I think I could make a pretty convincing Poison Ivy," Lana said in a voice that must have been meant to mock the Queen of Green. The other three chuckled, and she rolled her eyes while making polite eye contact with Barbara. "Alright then, let's see you do better."
Barbara smirked and leaned over to Kara. "Oh, Harleen, you're so sexy in that dress," she said in a scarily good impression of Ivy, as she played with her girlfriend's long blonde hair, her other hand placed delicately on the Argonian's chest.
"Easy Babsy, she only asked you to do a voice," Kara blushed while she tried to hold in her laughter.
Barbara then looked back at Lana with a victorious smirk.
"Touche," Lana gave in, making Clark let out a small laugh.
Kara smiled seeing her cousin genuinely laugh for the first time in a long time.
As the four talked a woman clad in black walked by in nice casual wear, the only color from her dress being her neatly pushed back red hair. Poison Ivy, in white makeup, had heard about the upcoming charity event and formed a plan to steal some of the museum's rare flora. She walked into the Mammal's Hall where Harley was waiting for her next to a pair of stuffed tigers. She had on a brown jacket, boots, blue jeans, and a pair of dark sunglasses with her hair up in a casual bun.
Part of Ivy's plan was for Harley to disguise herself as a security guard who let her in during the event. While she looked for the plant, Harley had been tasked with looking for a guard who matched or came close to her physique for the event.
"Did you find one?" she asked, earning a nod of confirmation. "Which one?"
"That one," Harley nodded at a blonde female guard. "Do you think she'll work?"
"She'll be perfect."
"So, how should we get her?"
Ivy whispered her cruel idea to her partner.
The Clown Prince of Crime had just finished another form of torture for Lois. For the past three hours, he had locked her in a room with the heater stuck at one-hundred-nine degrees Fahrenheit. Joker arrived at the door with a bottle of water in hand and a smug grin on his face. Lois came stumbling out on her hands and knees. She was dripping in sweat and as she reached out for the bottle, Joker pulled away and slowly drank it himself.
"Oh, I'm sorry, did you want some?" he mocked her.
Lois didn't have the strength to reply, she just wanted to get out of this nightmare.
"Now Miss Lane you shouldn't be ashamed that got yourself stuck in that room," he smugly commented. "Now let's have some more fun." A goon handed him a large rusty pipe. Just as Lois looked up, Joker swung the pipe hard across the back. She fell to the floor in pain with tears forming in her eyes. "Oh, don't cry, sweetheart, I'm sure Superman will be here to save you..." he once again mocked with sympathy. Then his tone turned deeply sinister, "That is IF he comes for you."
Joker laughed as he continued to beat his helpless victim.
As five-fifty came around, the museum closed for the night. Clark left with his old flame, their bantering never dying out even as they reached their bus stop.
"Thanks for walking me to the bus stop." she said.
"Don't mention it."
"So what are you doing tomorrow?"
"Probably going to get some pictures for the event."
Lana took note that Clark had an unsure look on his face. "Is there something you want to ask me?" she asked.
He hesitated before he spoke. "I was wondering if you would like to catch up sometime?"
"Oh sure, I'm free next Tuesday?"
"Great, well, I'll see you around. Night, Lana," he happily nodded before leaving for the night watch.
"Good night Clark." She said, waving goodbye until he was gone.
In the shadows of the museum, under the noses of Gotham's protectors, Harley and Ivy, now wearing their usual outfits, waited just outside for the guard to come out. In time, 'Tara' exited the building. The crime duo learned that her shift was to begin at eight and end well after the gala was supposed to end. Tara made her way to her blue car, feeling uneasy as if she was being followed by someone or something.
Suddenly a woman in a red and black jester's suit stepped in front of Tara. "Evening, Miss," Harley greeted with a wicked smile.
Tara quickly turned around to run away only to be met by a sexy green woman. "What's the matter?" Ivy taunted as she approached the terrorized woman.
Tara was about to scream but Harley covered her mouth. As Ivy went to grab the bag, she noticed her girlfriend's expression had changed to worry. She turned around to see Superman hovering in front of them. Ivy quickly summoned her special vines to attack the Man of Steel and grabbed the bag. Harley threw Tara to the ground before she and her partner made a run for it.
Clark management to dodge the vines. He flew off to catch the criminals but just before reaching them, a straggling vine grabbed Tara around her waist, so he quickly flew back to rescue her.
The two criminals escaped into an alleyway, just as they turned a sharp bend they came face to face with their doppelganger heroines.
"Nice suit, Bat-slut." Ivy teased the woman in purple.
Batgirl growled crossly at her. "Take that back or I'll-"
"What? How can you get us when you have something else to take care of?" she responded with a cruel smirk.
Suddenly, two vines shot out of the ground. Supergirl and Batgirl gasped in horror as vines began their assault. Ivy and her partner casually walked passed.
"Au revoir, madames," the femme fatale teased.
Meanwhile, Superman was still trying to free Tara from the vines. He tried to pull them apart but every attempt was met with a brutal whip from the vines. As he dodged yet another potential strike, he thought of something.
"I'll be back as soon as I can," he assured Tara.
"Ok, please hurry," she cried.
He jetted off.
Back at the alleyway, the girls were still fighting off their vines, dodging every assault that accosted them. Batgirl began to calculate the vines' pattern. She gave her girlfriend a few hand signals to communicate her plan and Supergirl nodded.
"Now," she commanded.
They ran at the vines as plants began another attack. The two heroines dodged past the attacks by zigzagging into the free spaces. Then Batgirl jumped up and her partner grabbed her before flying up into the sky until the vines couldn't reach them. They landed on a nearby rooftop.
"Supergirl," Superman called.
"What is it?" Kara asked.
"I need your help."
"But Ivy-"
"Don't worry honey, I can take care of them," Batgirl reassured her.
Supergirl nodded and turned to her cousin. "Alright, what's the problem?"
"Some of Ivy's vines trapped a guard. I need you to help pull her free," he requested.
"Got it," she nodded and followed him.
They dashed off in different directions. The cousins arrived at the scene to confront the vicious vines.
"I'll pull on the right you'll pull on the left," he said.
Supergirl nodded then they flew down and grabbed the vines on their respective sides. With their combined strength they manage to loosen the vines just enough for Tara to free herself. They grabbed her and flew her away to safety.
Meanwhile, Ivy and her partner were still running until Batgirl dropped in front of them.
"Hand over the bag!" she demanded.
"Oh, how cute the brat thinks she can handle us all by herself."
"You have us at a bit of a disadvantage, Battybrat. There's two of us and only one of you," Harley agreed with a smirk.
Batgirl glared at her foes. The three had a stand-off until a sudden burst of energy led to them charging at one another. Soon they fought with vicious kicks, low blows, and spiteful dodges.
Batgirl tried her best, but it proved to be difficult for her to handle both villains at the same time, as soon as she had the upper hand on one, she got a surprise attack from the other.
Soon Batgirl was on her back after a hard kick to the round.
"Care to do the honor?" Ivy asked her girlfriend and handed her a rope.
"With pleasure," she replied, however, before she could tie her up, the Supers arrived and carried Harley up into the air.
Ivy spread her hands out to summon her new vines, however, her opponent sprung up and punched her in the stomach, soon giving her a roundhouse kick to the face. The Eco-Terrorist crumpled unconscious to the ground.
"That's for calling me Bat-slut." Batgirl bitterly retorted.
A few minutes later, the police arrived and returned Tara's belongings. The two villains were cuffed and put in a van while Commissioner Gordon talked to the superheroes.
"Thanks, we've been trying to get these two for months," he explained.
"Don't mention it, always happy to help out," Supergirl very politely nodded.
"So, how long will they be locked up for?" Batgirl asked.
"Hopefully, twenty years," Jim replied.
"Maybe forty."
"Maybe."
"Excuse me, Commissioner Gordon." Superman interjected, "I was hoping that I could ask for your help."
"What would that be?" he replied.
"Lois Lane has gone missing, do you think you could have a team look for her?"
"Of course, I'll get one together right away."
"Thank you."
Jim smiled and tipped his cap before they parted ways.
Clark, Kara, and Barbara, now in casual clothing, waited at the bus stop.
"Do you think they'll be able to find her?" he asked.
"Of course, they will." Barbara tried to reassure him. "My dad knows that the police force is better than anyone else. Trust me he'll send the best of the best."
"And even if they can't, we will," Kara added.
"I hope so." he somberly finished
She replied confidently, "Of course, we will."
"I just hope she's ok, especially given how dangerous Gotham's criminals are."
"Even if she's stuck with one, we'll save her. I know she'll be overjoyed to see you again."
"You could even use that as a reason to pop the question," Barbara added.
Clark just quietly hummed, leaving the two women very confused. Before either, one of them could ask what was wrong, the bus arrived.
Elsewhere, Harley and Ivy waited patiently as they always did for the right moment to make their escape. As quietly as she could Quinn slipped out a paperclip from her right boot which she used to unlock her cuffs. Once free, she did the same for her girlfriend. A few seconds later the van stopped at a sign. This was the moment they needed.
Harley handed Ivy a seed which the redhead used to grow a massive plant that split the van in half and knocked the drivers unconscious. They stole away to the shadows.
At Joker's hideout, the psychopathic man had finished his daily torture of Lois.
"There we are, done for the day wasn't that fun?" he asked rhetorically. Lois glared at him as she got up. "Now don't give that look, after all your cross face is too adorable." He took a long look at her before finally saying, "Well, time for bed, come along." He led her down the hall to her room. "Good night, Lois."
"Good Joker," she replied with a hint of anger.
Joker shut the door so Lois began to fall asleep on the uncomfortable mattress, muttering to herself what she would like to do to Joker.
The Clown Prince of Crime, meanwhile walked back to his office to get ready for tomorrow when a goon came up to him.
"Boss, what are we going to do if Superman comes?" he asked nervously.
"I thought of that," Joker said, revealing in his pocket a small piece of green kryptonite.