SEL Chapter 14

The Iceberg Lounge might be a better fit for Harvey Dent than the Penguin, given that duality is his theme. It’s a big building that’s undergone extensive renovations. Upstairs is the beautiful, spacious, upscale restaurant that attracts serious live music and acts like Zatanna, who will be there tomorrow night for one of three shows in Gotham.

Below is the club. While the restaurant is for people of means, almost anyone can make the cover to get in downstairs.

Oswald Cobblepot has two offices. At the moment, he occupies the downstairs one, which has a lovely view of the club. Blue and yellow lights flash, people dance, drinks spill, and beautiful waitresses in slutty bedroom tuxedo costumes move around distractingly in stilettos.

“Are you quite well, my dear?” Oswald asks.

Aki holds her coat shut, sweat shining on her face.

“I’m coming down with something,” she replies uncomfortably. “This couldn’t wait until tomorrow?”

“The early bird gets the worm.”

“I've had a long night and I’m sick, Oswald.”

“Are you?” Oswald is only as tall as Aki, but he gets to his feet and waddles around the desk to stand in front of her. “Look at them,” he says, indicating the club with his beaklike nose. “Look at my lovely employees.”

Aki is trying to avoid that. The blonde beauties working for Oswald as dancers, waitresses, and bartenders are distracting. Aki is an openly gay woman, but it’s never been like this before.

“You really believe none of them fell victim to that dastardly Seed?” Oswald asks around his cigarette mouthpiece. “You think I don’t know it when I see it? Don’t lie to me. Not now that we’re friends.”

Aki wipes her forehead. “What do you want, Oswald?”

“Only what I’m owed.”

“My wife isn’t mayor yet.”

“My little birds in Wayne Enterprises are burned now,” he reminded her. “Getting you the proof you needed to avoid libel and slander allegations. That’ll cost me, Ms. Aramaki.”

“It’s costing me too,” she bites out. “And it didn’t work. Not well.”

Oswald sighs. “No, I suppose not,” he admits. “After all, who among us can be too surprised when someone wants to wet their beak with Pamela Isley. If anything, we’ve made her more relatable. Still. One mustn’t put all his eggs in one basket.” Behind Aki, Gotham Insider plays on the TV. Summer Gleeson looks radiant. “I’ve some ideas. In the meantime, we have an arrangement. And this is beginning to feel decidedly lopsided, Ms. Aramaki. It’s time to make good.”

SEL

Stephanie is sore, and not feeling very rested. The day has flown by.

Kate had the sense to be gone before Stephanie woke up in the other room, so that spared them both some awkwardness. It’s unlikely that Kate remembers much from last night, but she’ll know they had sex. She’s a competent detective, but all she needs is her nose to have a good idea of what happened in that bed. It’s not a big deal, but it’s best if it’s not talked about. At least not today; Stephanie doesn’t feel up to it.

TV is a lot of talking heads speculating about last night’s election drama, and Stephanie wants no part of that either.

She can’t help but understand Bruce more and more as she finds herself in the Cave in daylight. She and Alfred stand before the Computer with a big visualization of the city on the screen. The Computer is hacked into everything at GCPD; it’s programmed to collate all the filed reports and calls from each borough, then show the areas with the highest concentration of crime on the map.

“This is not great,” she says, taking an angry bite out of her sandwich. Alfred makes amazing sandwiches. “Coventry and The Bowery are getting killed out there.”

Alfred’s silent, and that’s telling.

“I’m not as efficient as him,” she says. “We aren’t getting any patrols in because I’m busy getting my ass kicked by Roxy. There’s no deterrent. That’s why we’re seeing this.”

“Possibly,” Alfred says finally, his hands clasped behind his back. “But you mustn’t expect deterrence to the same degree as Master Bruce, even if you were patrolling all day and all night. No one makes them afraid like he did. Not even Master Dick. Meanwhile, not long ago, Barbara had a similar problem. It goes back some time, Ms. Stephanie. You needn’t blame yourself. Nor should you view yourself as having to stand in for the Batman. That would be an impossible task.”

“If they weren’t afraid of Batgirl, they sure as hell won’t be afraid of Spoiler,” Stephanie says with a sigh.

Alfred says nothing. He’s very sweet.

“Can’t bring Kate back in. Times like this, I miss Cass even more. You know where she is, don’t you?”

“Yes. But her wish is to remain undisturbed.”

Stephanie groans, then shakes her fist. “Honoring wishes! Sucks!”

“Quite.”

“Well, I need help. Babs can’t, Kate shouldn’t, and Cass is a cowardly deserter.” Stephanie crams the last of her sandwich into her mouth. “Dick is doing Titans stuff. I hate everyone. I should be a Titan. I should be in the Justice League. Why am I in a cave? What am I doing with my life?”

Wordlessly, Alfred passes her a tablet.

“Cute,” Stephanie says, her eyes lighting up. It’s a dress boutique site.

“For this evening,” Alfred reminds her.

That’s right. Stephanie’s going to a magic show. She needs to choose a dress from this Seed-friendly tailor. But dresses don’t matter. What matters is that while she’s chasing Roxy, street gangs are causing trouble. And if she patrols, Roxy gets to do what she wants. Just because there aren’t any Batgirls with time on their hands, that doesn’t mean that Stephanie has to be alone out there. She’s not looking to start anything, but she can use a hand with patrolling. And there are at least two people in Gotham who might be able to help.

Stephanie isn’t about to make the election her business, but the worse crime is, the more of an advantage that is for Viti Saxena, the prosecutor.

“I’m gonna ask for help,” she announces. “Just with patrol. I need these gangs to remember that there are psychos in costumes stalking them. That they’re never safe. Cowardly and superstitious. You know the drill.”

“Master Bruce would be very proud,” Alfred says dryly.

“I’m humble enough to know when I’m out of my depth.”

Alfred looks relieved. “Very wise, Ms. Stephanie.”

But who should Stephanie turn to?

Approach Selina?

Or approach Helena?