Dropping Off Carrie Before Heading For Home

Walt sat in the parking lot looking at the nondescript apartment housing in front of him.

"Well nondescript upon a surface level examination anyway," he muttered looking at the fence, check-in station with guard, camera surveillance of multiple view points and a few other things that stood out. "And those are just the things that I can see from here," he said with a sigh as he glanced at the slumbering form of Carrie Kelley snuggled up in the old but warm blanket he kept behind the seat. "Of course she lives in a PWBI section housing complex... and of course it has security in place. And of course it would be bad for her to be seen being carried in and worse by someone she'd already investigated..." he sighed. "Not that we can't do it but it's too many risks for her as is if anything should go wrong. Sometimes I swear someone out there has it in for me... What do you think Fri?"

(("Not inconceivable. Even with your penchant for eliminating threats you do have a tendency to make more enemies and delight, rather juvenile like at times, I'm rubbing others the wrong way at times, Boss."))

Walt rolled his eyes. "Noted but I was asking about our current situation actually... and you know it." He smiled though. "Don't think I didn't notice you taking a dig at me though. Nice one. Your thoughts on this particular situation?"

(("Understood. Well you do have some personal infiltration gear and other resources at your disposal but sneaking Ms Kelley into her dormitory while unconscious without raising alarm or suspicions does seem to be a particularly difficult prospect from the outside."))

"Thank you, Friday for stating the obvious," he grumbled.

(("My point, Boss, is perhaps it would be better and simpler to engage an accomplice from within. Also I would suggest not leaving the portrait with her. Difficulty of sneaking it inside aside it would also doubtlessly raise suspicions about your further involvement with one another."))

Walt smiled looking at the portrait he'd commissioned from that particular Ruby Rose. She was good... and fast! It had only taken her a very short while to paint a picture of Walt carrying Carrie like a princess. He smiled. "Hadn't planned on it. It'll stay with me for now. I sent a picture to her phone so she can enjoy it that way. But what do you mean an accomplice? I don't have any accomplices or contacts within the PWBI that I can-"

(("That's just it,"")) Friday cut in. (("I believe if you think it through that you'll find that you do."))

Walt blinked and thought... and snapped his fingers as it didn't take long for him to piece it together. "Of course! Mihoshi Kuramitsu! She'd be willing to help, I'm sure! Good thinking Friday but I don't know how to get in contact with her. I don't think she ever did give me her card in all that confusion."

(("Maybe not... But Ms Kelley surely has her contact info in her phone."))

Walt grinned. "And once we're in getting back out is the easy part!" He reached in Carrie's pocket and pulled out her phone. "PWBI issue and it's locked of course." He placed it next to his on the trucks dash. "Friday, dear you're a wonder... do you mind?"

(("Not at all,")) Friday said with something that almost sounded vaguely like delight. (("I'll have it broken into in just a moment. Third rate Government issue garbage... done. We're now hacked into the PWBI system. Should I also look up yours or other files while we're here or-"))

"No. I meant just break into her phone, Fri. Not a secure government network," he sighed facepalming. "Nevermind. My fault for not specifying. Just call Mihoshi's Contact number please?"

(("Understood Boss. Calling Ms Mihoshi Kuramitsu..."))

"Unngh... No... Gib me back muh coat Commish Yindel!" Carrie mumbled sitting up next to a large duffel bag in her own bed. "Uhh... Just that wierd dream again..."

Walt chuckled. "Oh you're awake now, huh? Well go back to bed," he said adjusting a fireman's helmet and kissing her head.

"Mmmmm," she intercepted his lips and took in his outfit. "Still dreaming and its the one where yer a fire fighter... nice! Want me to help unkink your hose? You know I like it when you hose me down!"

Walt blinked then blushed. "Uhmmm... what?"

Carrie blinked and blushed too a deep red. "Oh! Oh shit...Shit-shit-shit... not a dream?"

Walt took the fireman's helmet off running fingers through his hair. "I uh, I don't think so... Sooo... Fireman huh?"

"I uh, I don't wanna talk about it! Cool?" She said feeling like her face was on fire.

Walt smiled though and nodded as he squeezed her hand. "Yeah always... Anytime you change your mind we'll still be cool too," he said reassuringly. "Want to talk about the other one before I go?"

Carrie shrugged. "I have a recurring dream the Commissioner chases me demanding her coat back but it's my coat." She sighed. "But that's easy to explain."

Walt smiled. "Work stuff?"

Carrie nodded. "Work stuff. I dream about being pursued by a childhood detective because it's not really about a coat... it's the job now that I'm a detective too."

Walt put his arm around her. "So when the job stress builds up you dream about Yindel in a dream symbolic of you taking her job and/or place? That makes sense."

Carrie smirked and looked to where her coat hung. "That... and I unconsciously bought the same damn coat... or close to it anyway! Probably says a lot too."

Walt nodded but smiled. "Probably. I bet other Robin's dream about Gordon and own similar coats. The noir detective in a trenchcoat look." He looked at his hands. " I uh... have similar dreams every so often."

Carrie smirked. "You're being pursued by other detectives in your dreams. Should I be jealous?"

Walt snorted a short laugh. "Not hardly! My grandfather was a detective of sorts in his time. Well more a rural sherrif actually. But he Instilled a love of the classics in me. No better way to learn the detective fundamentals. So when RealDreams needed someone to explore one of their settings..."

"They tapped you for one of them?" She asked and seeing him nod she did too. "So they pursue you in your dreams sometimes?"

Walt shrugged. "Not unjustified. They were a master detective and of disguise. It would have been impossible to shadow and follow them around so... yeah..."

She caught on quick thinking it through. "They had you take their place instead... That'd do it. You stole their life for awhile."

"I prefer "borrowed" myself but yeah," he said, smiling. "So sometimes, not often but every once in awhile, I dream about them chasing me in ever changing disguises."

She squeezed his hand and leaned against his shoulder. "We're all fucked up in our ways, aren't we?"

Walt nodded squeezing back. "That's the human condition. You could probably dress up as your old Batwoman, Catgirl or even Robin costumes and do your job you know?"

Carrie nodded but shrugged. "It'd be easier for sure... But... it just feels "wrong" to me to do that doing this job. Those "personas"? They're on the otherside of the law... and the PWBI force me to be on this side, doing this job.",

"Sounds rough," he said sympathetically.

She shrugged but smiled. "It can be but it's not all bad. I met you doing this job after all!"

He grinned. "True enough!"

She leaned back. "Anyway changing subject. None of that explains why you're dressed up like a fireman."

Walt winked. "And not fulfilling some other kind of dream?"

He watched her ears turn red but she shook her head. "Oh no. You're not getting out of it that easy! Fess up and how did we get in... here? No wait..." she let go his hand and rose from her bed to look outside her window. There were fire engines and other service vehicles and a suspicious flood of bubbles foaming out the buildings ground floor doors and windows that playfully bounced around the colors of the flashing lights in a rather chaotic scene. She sighed. "Mihoshi?"

Walt nodded smiling. "Mihoshi."

Carrie shook her head... Then started to laugh. "Ahahahaha! Of course! Heheheh... and so you what? Stuffed in me that huge duffel bag and wearing that disguise just waltzed right in?"

He grinned. "You got it in one!" She had a giggle fit and he shrugged. "The key to most successful heists are deception and distraction... Well the good ones anyway. And in some ways it's much easier to put something, or someone, back than it is to take something away. Especially in the end stage."

She arched her eyebrow but kept smiling. "Spoken like a true master thief or a spy."

He shrugged with a grin. "I wear many hats."

She crossed her arms but was still grinning, amused. "So now you what? Just walk right out the front door?"

He winked and put the fireman's helmet back on completing his dusguise and took her hand. "That's the idea. The princess has been returned to her castle."

She smiled and cupped his cheek. "Alright fine... This time! But one of these days..." She drew him close and kissed him.

"One day?" He asked when they finally parted.

"One day," she grinned. "I'm going to play the Prince who comes after you... and you can play the "Princess"!"

"Boy howdy! It's a deal," he said making her giggle. "I've got a kilt somewhere so I'll dress the part!"

"Hey you're back already!" Mihoshi said peeking into Carrie's room. All the people finally through asking her questions about the washing machine being broken again. "How did the date go? Sorry I couldn't make a distraction. I was going to when Walter called as I was putting my laundry in the machine but I got distracted when it broke again!"

Carrie smiled and shook her head. Classic Mihoshi chaos... and as usual everything worked just fine for her. Her friend lived a semi-charmed life. "It's fine." She watched out the window as one particular firefighter simply hung his coat and helmet back on the truck and casually strolled away with an empty duffel. "It was pretty great!" She motioned for Mihoshi to come in as she pulled out her phone getting a text. It was from Walt wishing her a good night... and he'd sent her a picture of a painting of the two of them like something out of a fairytale!

She wiped away a happy tear. "Something pretty special actually... C'mere and I'll tell you about it!"

Walt was nearing his truck when he sensed... something off. He stopped and sniffed as his gut feeling told him something was wrong. That he wasn't alone. "I know you're there. I can feel your eyes. Might as well come out already and face me like a man... "Batman"," he said hazardous the most obvious guess.

The distinctive cape and pointy cowled figure seemed to almost rise from the shadows itself, looming shadow extended towards him. "Pretty good... for an amateur," the Batman said.

Walt snorted. "Well if you're going to be insulting about this fine. Two can play that game. Does Alfred know you're wearing the drapes again?"

Batman's eyes narrowed. "Cute. Real cute. You think you're something special don't you? Well I got news for you-"

"I'm gonna stop you right there, "Bruce"," Walt said interrupting.

"The name is-"

"I know. "Batman" comma "The"," Walt said rolling his eyes. "Or that's how you see yourself or how you "want" to see yourself. Probably more of a "need", really. To answer your question, no. I don't really. I'm just a genius, billionaire, philanthropist to paraphrase a friend. Just like you. I made myself who I am, just like you did... or did you? Like it or not somebody else made that story for you, didn't they?" He shrugged. "And maybe that doesn't matter. Maybe someone did the same for me or thinks they did in their reality? Truth is, the game may have been rigged from the start for both of us... or all of us. But that's metaphysical, existential crap. In this reality as we know it we have a lot of similarities, orphaned, driven to push ourselves and Excell, no... thrive against the odds! Except I didn't come from money like you did. I scrapped, clawed, fought and earned mine over more lifetimes than then all of the incarnations of you that exist put together, "Bruce". And here's another truth for you. I was something of a fan of the "Batman" when I was young because of those similarities... but you aren't all the same." Walt smiled nastily. "Some "Batman"s are just better than others and are leagues apart... and I happen to be on their level. Not yours. So deal with it."

"We're nothing alike!" Batman refuted. "I believe in the law!"

Walt smirked. "And I don't. I know. That's why I tell you this... the best Batmans don't. They believe in Justice. They are vigilantes and embrace it. They know that laws are fallable, temporary changing things and not immutable and they accept that. Once upon a time Slavery was illegal for almost the whole of Prime before it was Prime and just a little backwards place we called "the Earth". Things change... and you are just a servant, no- a slave, to that system in more ways than one... And I can see speaking with you is a waste of my time."

Walt opened his truck door, turning his back on Batman. "If you want to continue this discussion make an appointment with- hey!"

Batman had slammed the door shut before he could get in. "You don't serve "justice" so don't talk to me like you do! And you're hardly righteous or have anything resembling clean hands so don't give me your crap or I'll-"

"What?" Walt asked turning to face him smiling. "Assault me? A Prime citizen? Perhaps unlawful search and seizure of my person? Or my property? And if you find nothing will you do what needs to be done to serve your vision of "the law" you serve? To get "justice"? Will you plant evidence? Or tamper with it? And if that doesn't work will you do whatever you have to to take me down?" He spread his arms out wide, inviting with the obvious opening. "Will you arrange an "accident" for me? Will you harm me just because you don't like me? Because our truths are incompatible? Go on! Take your shot! Strike me down as the villain you see me as! Just you and me here "hero"! Mano a mano! Or man to "bat" as it were!" He reached for his belt and Batman reached for his but stopped as Walt took it off and threw it in the truck and disarmed himself. "No powers, no tricks! Just you... and me."

(("Boss, I do not recommend your current course of action. Batmen are not to be undersetimated. Taking emergency action and activating "War God Mode"-))

"No! Noted, Fri," he said vetoing her. "But keep out of it... monitoring only and no "cheats". No intervention. This is between him and me."

Batman's eyes widened. "You're crazy!"

Walt smirked. "And you ain't? Hell the whole world is fucking crazy! Just some of us acknowledge that fact and use it to drive us. Bend crazy to our wills! You know that! Or the best of you do! Ruining around as a caped crusader is hardly well adjusted behavior so don't give me that crap. Now we've both said our pieces and spoken our "truths". The time for talk is over. Put up or shut up! The first hit's yours!"

The Batman clenched his fists and Walt grinned baring his teeth. The sound of tensing muscles and popping joints was audible in the gloom as they faced each other. Two opponents with similar but irreconcilable moral positions.

"No," The Batman said lowly and finally, the first to back down and turning slightly away taking a less than ready appearing stance.

Walt shrugged and popped his neck a couple of times before reaching in his truck to grab his jacket and hat. "Well that's disappointing, I'll admit. Could've been fun."

"I'm not here for your amusement," Batman stated.

"Then why the hell are ya wasting my time?" Walt asked irritated. "Friday, scan."

(("Front and rear bumper, under the driver side mirror and the driver's side frame below the door."))

Walt snorted removing the bugs and tossing them at the Batmans feet. "Amateur hour. You know I got footage of you planting those."

Batman smirked. "But you won't use it... because you don't have much faith in "The Law", right?"

Walt snorted but tipped his hat. "Touché. Friday... scrub the footage," he said climbing into the truck and lowering the window. "Am I free to go, "Detective"? Or do you have further questions to ask me for your "investigation"?"

"Oh no, Stark," Batman smiled. "Just a warning. I'm not the one looking into and building a case on you. For your information a different "sleuth" is... and for Carrie's sake try not to drag her into your shitstorm when they take you down. We Batmen take watching after all our protégés seriously," he added melting away into the shadows and gloom.

"Oh," Walt said rolling his eyes. "Letting me off with a "warning" and getting the last word, huh? Well that ominous shit don't bother me at all."

(("It seems you're actions are finally worthy of investigation, Sir. Congratulations."))

Walt sighed. "Thanks Friday. Thanks a lot! Well that's all I need! Fuck it. Not the first time I been threatened. Whoever they are will just have to take a number and get in line. Problem for another day." Walt started up the truck and headed for home.

[Walter Stark - Penny Polendina - F.R.I.D.A.Y - Neopolitan - Pyrrha Nikos - Nora Valkyrie - Yang Xiao Long - Blake Belladonna - Kali Belladonna - Sienna Khan - Willow Schnee - Glynda Goodwitch - Zwei - Ahnassi - Lifts-Her-Tail - Senko - Sayoko Shinozaki - Roberta Cisneros - Haruna - Sasha Blouse - Ilulu - Rachel "Raven" Roth - Manami "La Brava" Aiba - Tsuyu "Froppy" Asui - Haruhime Sanjouno - Anastasia "Baroness" Cisarovna/DeCobray - Demona - Raven "Mystique" Darkhölme - Pirotess - Lydia - Aela the Huntress - Serana - Mission Vao - Curie - Ada - PAM - KL-E-O - Merida - Gwen "Gwenom" Stacy - Jubilation "Jubilee" Lee - Jennifer "She-Hulk" Walters - Linda T. Duck - Shocket Raccoon - Lady Loki - Elizabeth "Betty" Brant - Gloria "Glory" Grant - Mary Jane "MJ" Watson - Emma Frost and Virginia "Pepper" Potts

Will Return In

Returning Home To Where The Ladies Are Waiting

Coming Soon]