Follow Batman's investigation: The Shaggy Encounter

People and their characters looked up from their meals as a semi-unusual vehicle entered the parking lot of a small 60s to 70s style diner . It was a batmobile from the classic Batman The Animated Series and while it wasn’t usual to see a fan of Batman driving around in one, this one was noteworthy due to the ‘PWBI’ emblem on its side. A few of those with less than legal connections quickly returned to their lunch hoping to avoid drawing the Prime World Bureau of Investigation’s attention with some quicking leaving money for the bill and exiting.

Inside the batmobile, the Batman inside was looking over his notes and made sure to cross off both Miss Campbell, her Batman, and her grandchild Jimmy the Lemonade gang kid as suspects in James Gardner’s disappearance. Miss Campbell figured that she would send her visiting grandkid to pull his lemonade stand scam/hustle at Gardner’s house as retribution for his rejection. Batman has already passed that bit of harassment over to local PD.

Batman got out of his batmobile and headed inside the dinner, giving a few friendly waves and nods to a few kids giving him looks of awe. They were likely fans who haven’t seen many Batmen before so the magic is still there.

“Hello Shaggy,” Batman said politely without saying Shaggy’s universe number. Batman already knew that he has never encountered this Shaggy both in his universe nor in this universe.

“Hello Mister Brucey,” the Shaggy at the counter said cheerfully. “Whatcha doing in my neck of the woods?” Batman raised an eyebrow at the familiar attitude but from his posture and facial expressions it was a Shaggy being Shaggy. Batman took a seat at the counter.

“I need some information on a Mister James Gardner,” Batman said, passing a photo to the Shaggy wearing a fry cook’s apron over his green shirt and brown pants. Shaggy looked at the photo, turning it one way then another. Finally he snapped his fingers.

“Oh right Mister French Fry hoarder, man he really didn’t wanna let them go,” Shaggy laughed a bit. Shaggy sniffed a bit and quickly turned back to the grill and flipped the patties before they could burn. He looked back at Batman, “Like what do you wanna know?”

“He’s gone missing,” Batman said while Shaggy slid the finished burgers down the counter perfectly down to their appropriate customers. “Do you know anything about that?”

“No siree, I haven’t seen him since he came by a few weeks back when he came by with a basket of scooby snacks for me,” Shaggy accepted payment from a sketchy individual who kept their face away from Batman. Batman made sure to flag that person’s biometrics for investigation later. “Not sure why but he brought me some primo stuff.”

“James’s characters mentioned some anomalous stuff that happened after he refused to share his fries,” Batman explained to see Shaggy’s reaction. “Do you remember why you wanted his fries?”

“He had ordered the neverending fries and like had an entire basket left at his table after eating three without sharing, so I asked if he was gonna eat them,” Shaggy shrugged. “He said that he was going to take them home for a ‘Pixel’? But he left the go bag at the table and I was hungry so I started eating them.”

“So the encounter ended there?” Batman asked, wondering why Shaggy was even included in the enemy list. “No argument or issue.”

“He came rushing in like a bat outta hell like five minutes later and saw me eating them and got a bit mad; I just made him a fresh batch and set him on his way,” Shaggy said, cleaning up the plates of a customer and accepting the tip they left.

“So you didn’t use any ultra instinct-like abilities to mess with him afterwards?” Batman asked, causing Shaggy to fumble the plates and drop them in a shower of porcelain. A Daphne Blake and Josie (from Josie and the Pussycats) in waitress uniforms showed up with brooms and dustpans to help clean up.

“Third time this week Shaggy,” Daphne complained. “The boss is going to end your triple double double sandwiches if you continue.”

“I’ll smooth it over with him later,” Shaggy reassured as he scooped up the entire mess into a single dustpan and threw it away in a trashcan. Shaggy then turned back to Batman who got very tense when Shaggy fell. “Now if I had ‘ultra-instinct’ stuff I would I’ve dropped them like that?”

“Considering that trash can is now empty?” Batman said while tapping the side of his mask. “And the fact that my power level scan is returning an error message?” Batman gave Shaggy a look.

“Like man, you really shouldn’t have said anything and gone on your way,” Shaggy said, shaking his head as Daphne and Josie quickly ran off. Batman saw and felt the counter shaking and the windows cracking. “I was really enjoying my vacation in this universe and I really don’t need people interfering with that.” Batman felt the intensity of the energy coming off of Shaggy and quickly gave an explanation.

“I just need to know if you had reason to hurt James and I will be on my way,” Batman explained quickly. Shaggy looked at Batman carefully before nodding his head.

“I never had any issue with the guy, he got upset over fries, I gave him more and he later gave me a nice basket,” Shaggy said as customers in the diner blinked and robotically returned to their food without comment. “I don’t know anything about reality warping or why he disappeared.”

“Then I have a problem,” Batman said, causing Shaggy to tense again. “Who messed with him that night?”

“Pixel? Where are you?” Katara called out as she checked under a table. “I know that you’re upset about James but you can’t hide all the time.” Katara fell as the rug moved under her.

“That’s it!” Katara said as she blew a strand of hair away from her face. “Bath time is getting moved up!” Katara got up to get water and had to dodge out of the way of furniture that started flying everywhere as childish cries filled the room.