Part ten: Truth and Lies

Gordon: One would think that a villain would learn from his previous experiences. That when he got out, that he'd change his patterns and thwart the efforts of the authorities and vigilantes seeking to apprehend them. Yet when they did get out there they were, doing the same ol' song and dance. It could have been because it was a mark of pride and a spit in the face of establishment. You may lock me up but you can never hold me back sort of thing. Or it could be out of simple laziness or lack of utilities to alter their schemes. No matter what it was, though, Batman took full advantage of this tendency, and was prepped and waiting outside the Black Mask's favorite hide out as the foul minded creatures inside hatched their plots.

From his ledge on a building adjacent to the warehouse, Batman squinted through a pair of heat sensing binoculars at the green figures moving around inside. He watched as the rounder figure moved to talk to a taller one, whose face registered a bit hotter than those of the others in the building, and the shortish figure whose warm hand was obscured by a cold hatred.

The Batman wasn't the only person stalking the inhabitants of that warehouse, though. A gun barrel gleamed as it's bearer slipped from moon-cast shadow into light, and back into shadow. The trench coat was lost, but still sweat soaked into the fabric of his shirt, pulled tight by his shoulder holsters. The revolver was held up, poised and ready by his head in case anyone barged out the left back entrance.

James Gordon may have had doubts placed in his head by the Batman about what he was after, but he was sure that he did want answers. And really all the answers he needed would be the look on Arnold Wesker's face when they saw each other again. Whether it was distain or regret. That's when his trigger finger would know what to do.

Wesker: " So gentlemen? Is everything under order? Are we sure that this most momumenties of occasions is going to go down without a problem? " Penguin's cigarette stick swiveled as the round little villain checked and double checked one of his favorite umbrellas. This one would pack an extra punch. Enough explosive charges in the tip that it could perhaps take out a wall.

The second criminal, the one mostly in charge Black Mask nodded and glanced over toward the forty or so odd goons they'd managed to gather up for this breakout. Ten from Penguin. Ten from Roman, and twenty on lone from Boxy. " You twenty. " Black Mask grumbled, pointing a thick finger toward Penguin's men and half of Boxy's. " Get going to the bank, Make sure you trip ever alarm in the place, we want the Batman on you faster then that fat cop to Duncan Donuts. " The Muscle nodded and then began shuffling out the front door. The rest of the posse would be assisting the trio at Black Gate.

The final piece of puzzle, Wesker and his Dummy stood near the back door. Scarface was busy loading a fresh clip into its 9mm. Its unlit cigar was nashed down upon and it gruffed out. " Yah were ready already, we were ready twenty minutes ago, we's just geen waiting on gird grain here tah quit spit polishing his geak. "

" I'll remind you, Woodentop, that just because you choose to look like you've fallen out of a trash bin, I take a certain pride in the way my feathers glint, even when rubble falls around me. " Penguin's monocle gleamed as he shot Scarface a nasty clench of his sharp teeth and began to move toward the front door.

" Enough of this bickering, we've got a city to take over. " Black Mask growled and waved the rest of the Goons out ahead of them. He took began to head for the door. There was a van waiting out front for the lot of them.

Scarface prodded Wesker. " Get moving, Dummy. " Wesker slowly got off the wall. The little guy hadn't even said a word since he'd woken up from his spill the other day. Not a single word. Seeing Gordon's coat on the ground had made all the hurt he'd tried to swallow down flood right back to the surface. And what happens when you do run into him again? What will you do then? Will you faint again? Or will you shoot him? Wesker lowered his head as his heels sounded across the floor of the warehouse, and set one foot out the front door.

Gordon: Like shooting stars they whizzed down. Four small little bat-shaped throwing stars that imbedded themselves in the tires of the waiting van, making it leak out an ominous hiss of air. A grappling hook shot out from the buildings dark profile, clanking onto the roof of the warehouse. Had the emerging goons the time to shoot at the figure that swung from the taught line, they wouldn't be able to aim properly. Bats flung three large smoke bombs down as he descended into them.

The sounds of punching. Kicking. Cries of pain. Though through the thick smoke not a damn thing was clearly visible. Batman didn't need to see, though. Even without the goggles the shift of feet of a goon behind him landed the perp a foot to the face. A grunt would lost them a few teeth to an oncoming fist. All in the confines of a synthetically produced cloud.

Gordon's attention perked as his hand gripped the back door handle. There was a commotion out front, meaning Batman was making his move, and maybe James could make his. He pushed the latch down and swung open the door, bringing the gun down to aim at any goons that might be guarding the other side. None? They must have left to help stop the Bat.

Wesker: " What the HELL? IT'S THE BAT! " Black Mask actually roared as Goons began falling in front of him. The entire trio halted in there steps and looked up toward the high rise of the buildings. They'd been had? Caught? What the hell? Roman slung his automatic off his shoulder and began firing into the air. Trying to find the Batman amidst the clouds of smoke.

Wesker paused in his stepping and hunkered down a bit. The Dummy was less then pleased and it was it's voice that snarled across the threshold first. " GATMAN? WHAT THE FUCK? Whose the no good dirty double crossing gastard? I'll glow yer freakin' head off! "

Penguin ducked out of the way of a few Bat Boomerangs and actually danced ( and it's amusing to see a man of his girth dancing away from items, most ungraceful ) and came right up to Wesker and The Dummy. His sharp pointy nose actually jabbed Wesker in the Chest.

" One to talk, Scarface, you're the one whose always double crossing everyone, What's you secret take here? I have a half a mind to throw you into a wood chipper. "

" Get outta my face, Gird GRAIN " Scarface actually snapped his teeth onto Penguin's nose and the rounded little bird backed up with a patented. " Wauuugh! "

" I anit done did anyone no dirty double crossing this time, mayge it was crispy over there, he's out for ALL He can get after all. " A wooden hand was shot toward Black Mask, who was still firing in the air like a lunatic. Yet, when he heard Scarface, he turned around and rattled the ground just feet before both Penguin and Scarface and shook his fist in anger.

" Someone's the Rat... It anit me.. But whoever it is.. they're gonna PAY! ONE OF YOU BETTER OWN UP! " Oh this was a scene, ha, villains, they were going to make Batman's job easy.

Gordon: The scene outside became eerily quiet in the middle of the argument. Had the Black Mask not been wildly firing his gun, they might have heard the lack of noise. After the final accusation, though, the silence would become eerily evident. Mainly because Batman would let it linger as he slipped unseen up the rafters.

"You did very good, Scarface," his deep, gravelly voice came, bouncing off everything and echoing through the spacious building. "You were right, I didn't think they'd be stupid enough to buy that story about Wesker sleeping with Gordon. He'll be sure to give you that lenient sentence now."

He knew Scarface's history with betrayal. Penguin and Black Mask undoubtedly had a previous suspicion. Batman knew he could play off that paranoia and turn them against one another.

Gordon couldn't quite make out what the hero was saying, but he continued up a set of metal stairs onto a grated walkway. He hunched down below the metal guard rails that ran along the sides of it, making his way toward the voices. He couldn't pinpoint where Wesker was at yet, though. He held his breath and tensed his hand around the revolver's grip.

Wesker: Scarface actually barked out a " Whaaaaaaaaa? " As Batman's voice echoed out over them. The other two villains turned toward Wesker and the Dummy and seethed murder from both their eyes.

" I KNEW IT. " Black mask growled. Penguin snapped his teeth so hard down on his cigarette stick the item split. " As I though, you're a two-timing double crosser, Scarface. This is the last straw, You're termite bait, here me? TERMITE BAIT! "

Wesker's mouth had fallen open and he was trembling. Not because the other criminals were starting to advance on him with guns and umbrella's drawn. But because what Batman had said. What? He didn't know about this. What was Batman talking about? Was that was Gordon told him? What's going on? Why is my relationship with James being used as a rouse? When did Scarface talk to Batman? Wesker could feel his throat catching. But this didn't stop Scarface from screaming.

" He's LYIN' GATMAN IS Lyin' I done told yah the truth. That fuckin' cop musta geen sneakin' around. I anit let the cat outta the gag. " Scarface had to move as a bullet shattered into the brick just beside it's head. " Gut since were on the getray subject, talk tah peckpeck there, Crispy, I overheard him last night talkin' agout havin' yah iced during the elections so he wouldn't have tah play second ganana to gurn victim! "

" He's Lyin! " Penguin snarled, just as Black Mask let out another vicious scream. " Everyone's a backstabber! " And he swung his fist at Penguin and caught the little round fatso in the face, shattering his monocle.

" Now's our chance, RUN DUMMY! " Wesker just stood there for a moment. His brain hurt. Who was saying what? What was going on? James? Hello? He felt himself getting dizzy. The Dummy suddenly reached up and slapped him across the face. " GO Dummy, Gack inside, we'll take the gackdoor. Go gefore they turn gack on us. "

Wesker let out a whine and then took off back into the warehouse. His shoes clanked hard on the bare floor and echoed into the empty long space. He headed for the stairwell, but had to skid to a stop as he heard someone else coming up it. He froze.

" Shit.. " Scarface bit, and yanked out the 9mm from Wesker's suit

Gordon: The sound of the cape was surprisingly loud as it's owner stretched it out over the spread of his arm span and leapt down, landing on the rail behind the Black Mask while he was occupied with punching the Penguin. He lifted his heel and brought his booted foot down with a hard stomp to the back of the Black Mask's head.

Before he could fall, though, he grabbed the Black Mask under the chin in a headlock and dropped to his feet, using him as a shield as he punched at Penguin, not that he could have done a better job than the shiner that Roman left him with.

"FREEZE!" Gordon blurted out before he even saw who it was, holding the gun out in front of him with one hand gripping and another white-knuckled as it tried to steady it.

His expression was stone. He had to see, had to know how he'd react. Light quivered off the gun barrel though, betraying that strong face and confident stance.

It can't be true, James. It can't be true.

He looked at the puppet as it held it's weapon, glancing at it's lifeless face, then back at Wesker's. Maybe the glimmer of moonlight was being as kind to Gordon as it was to Wesker. Hiding his eyes behind a concealing gleam.

Even after all of this....

He had to purse his lips to keep them from quivering. He needed to see what his face did. He needed to know before he took the next step.

Wesker: It was always a full moon in Gotham wasn't it? At least on nights like this, were all the world was coming to an end and every heart in the city felt like it was going to break. Such betray. Even though the gleaming light across Wesker's glasses hid his eyes, it would not hide the immediate trail of wetness that began to slowly seep down his cheeks as Gordon stood before him, gun aimed.

The tiny mousy little man had completely frozen. Standing there with his Dummy the only moving part of him. Scarface did not lower it gun, in fact, the puppet seemed mighty pleased with itself at this sudden silent display. " Well Looky, Looky who it is, Dummy. It's yer Guardian angel... or shall we say 'guttguddy' "

It was James. Wesker felt utterly light headed. His chest was hurting so bad. Just staring at the man before him, the way James's lips were pulled into a hard line. Even though he couldn't see his eyes. Gordon looked.. hurt and angry. But Wesker.. he didn't know anymore.

I loved him so much.

Wesker's shoulders started to shake and his head slowly began to drop. He couldn't look at Gordon anymore. He just hoped the man would shoot him right now and end his pain. He couldn't take this. Not at this moment. His lips parted, at first nothing came out, but then, as a stressed whisper.

" I . loved.. you.. why did.. " and he couldn't finish, because Scarface cut him off.

" Hey Gordon, 'member what I promised yah? " Scarface sneered and cocked his pistol.

Gordon: He stared down Arnold Wesker. This small man, this one little person, had the capability to crush his soul. Then they streaked. Like extensions of those rays tears reflected at him down pale cheeks. Somewhere in there Wesker had cared.

That dummy. It made the hair bristle on the back of his neck.

And he aimed.

And he lowered, his own tears starting to streak. Yeah, Even after all of this. It's true. His gun lowered and his fingers opened, sending it clanking onto the metal grating. He couldn’t shoot him if he wanted. No one could ever say that he didn't try. Because even after all of this, it's still true.

"I still love you, Arnold Wesker."


Wesker: When he heard those words, Wesker slowly lifted his head. A low straggled moan slipped past his lips as he brought his tear blurred gaze back up to Gordon.

He saw the tears. He saw the trembling hand. He saw Gordon not able to shoot him. He heard the gun clatter to the ground. He can't shoot you. He can't shoot you. He still loves you.

And it all hit him right there. It had to be Scarface. It had to be the Dummy. Somehow, it was all Scarface's fault. But why? And how? Wesker felt his whole body shaking, but mostly it was his hand inside Scarface, gripping to the Dummy's controls. It had gotten hot and was throbbing so much he almost wanted to cry out. Wesker clenched his teeth together.

But why would Scarface do that? To get back on top.

" What..did you... you lied... one of you is lying to me.. one of you.. " He suddenly turned his gaze toward the puppet. " Mr.. Scarface... did you.. "

" I'm tired of this game. Reality Check, Dummy. " Scarface suddenly nashed. " He didn't lie. You DID! "

" What? " Wesker jerked, but Scarface was suddenly whipping that gun up.

" G'night Copper. "

Wesker felt time go into slow motion. He saw those wooden fingers squeezing the trigger. He felt himself scream out " NOOO! "

He grabbed the gun with his other hand and jerked, the Hammer slamming next to his palm burnt him immediately, he jerked the gun's barrel, but he couldn't stop the bullet.

Gordon: He had somehow half hoped that somewhere in Wesker, there would have been the power to overcome Scarface. That if he truly still loved him back, he'd have been able to drop the wooden puppet, or at least make the puppet drop the gun.

It had been a lie. Scarface was behind it all. Gordon hadn't been able to save Wesker from the Black Mask, or himself. He wasn't able to save anyone. He should have just relied on the bat-signal from the beginning.

No, no then he wouldn't have known what it felt like. He wouldn't have known what it felt like to see that smile just because he told Wesker that he wouldn't mind if he called him. He wouldn't have got to see what looked like an aging tired stage actor be overcome with the joy of a child just from seeing him come home from work. He wouldn't have felt the stinging sweat that resulted in an orgasm that could have created another universe in the magnitude with which it struck.

He wouldn't give all of those up to suck that bullet back into that gun.

The commissioner's body jolted from impact and spun. It fell face first away from Wesker, sprawled across the walkway.

Wesker: " Nooo...! Noooooo! Nooo James... Nooooooo! " Wesker dropped to his knees as the Commissioner, James, the only man he'd ever loved, spun from the bullet and went limp on the ground. Oh god no.. no...

Wesker curled into himself. The arm holding Scarface the only part of his body that didn't crumble in oh himself. The dummy gave a vocal laugh and comically blew on the end of it’s gun. " Takes care of that.. "

" Noooo.. james.. noo.. " Wesker began to bawl. Sobbing so loud his chest was heaving. The Dummy's teeth nashed and it turned inward on Wesker. " Oh stop that gawlin' gagy. Stop lying to yerself. "

" j-james.. "

The moonlight gleamed off Scarface's nasty yellow eyes, for a moment they almost seemed alive. " Yah lied, Dummy. Yah LIED TO HIM. Yah know how yah lied? You DARED to tell him that you could get rid of me for him. Gut that was a mother of a lie if there ever was one. You can NEVER get rid of me. I OWN YOU. Yer mine. You're not allowed tah LOVE anyone, gecause I'll always ge there. I'll never leave you. Yer too weak. "

Wesker slowly began to raise his face. Scarface kept on talking. " Wanna know the real kicker here, Dummy? It WAS Me, I was the one who called in the Glack Mask Goys, you thought I was gone, so yah got yerself all sexed up. So while yah was snoozin' yer faggety ass off, I made a few phone calls... "

Wesker felt his heart nearly stop for a moment. Inside Scarface, he felt his fingers burning again. " Mr.. Sc.. "

" So I had to teach yah a lesson. You and Me. That's all there's ever gonna ge. You ever try tah replace me again, I'll cap yah in the fuckin' head.. you got that Dummy.. YAH GOT THAT? I OWN YOU! "

Scarface went to raise the still smoking gun to Wesker's head but the little guy suddenly caught that hand in his own. His fingers closed around the gun so tightly they went white knuckled. Scarface let out a curse and stammered. " Dummy what the.. "

" I HATE YOU! " Scarface's body would clank wood against concrete as the little man suddenly slammed him down onto the ground. The puppet bounced twice.

It was him. It was him all along. It had always been him. Everything. It was Scarface all along. Everything that had ever gone wrong. It was him.

" You ruined my life! " Wesker raised his head, his glasses gleaming in the moonlight. " You're a monster! You took everything from me. My Life, My Freedom, and now the only person I ever loved.. I HATE you SO much. "

" Yah.. " Scarface's voice rang out coldly. " What yah gonna go agout it, Dummy? "

Wesker straightened his shoulders and aimed the gun. “ T-this..”

The second bullet from the chamber slammed between the Dummy's eyes. " THIS! " The third Bullet torn out and caught Scarface in the mouth, shattering his wooden teeth. " THIS! " The fourth broke the rest of his face apart. " AND THIS! " The fifth dislodged the dummy's head completely and what was left of it clanked to the ground.

The smell of burning wood and gun powered was so overpowering it was sickening. Wesker dropped his head. There was one more bullet left in the chamber.

Fresh tears were falling down the little man's cheeks. He was a murderer now. He'd killed Scarface, because Scarface had killed James. There was nothing left for him.

I can't live alone, I can't live without you James..

The gun was lifted and pressed to his temple.

Gordon: A regulation type shoe squeaked against the metal as it's owner's leg moved. He hadn't even been able to cover his head during the loud sound of Scarface's demise. He had to cringe through the bullets, trying to get his breath back. It built up. It burrowed back into his chest with an ache.

Any ache was better than heartache.

He'd have a bruise under the Teflon when he removed the vest later. Though if Wesker hadn't interfered, Gordon would have had a hole through his head to worry about rather than some chest discoloration.

"Arnold..." he grunted out weakly, positioning his arm with palm flat to push himself onto his back. He breathed quickly with his eyes clenched, facing up. He forced his eyes open to look toward Wesker.

No please don't. Not after all of this.

He reached out and looked ill as he sat up. His fingers splayed. "No Arnold." He stretched, wanting him to come to him.

Wesker: It had to end here. There was nothing left for him. Just a quick squeeze of the trigger and it would all be over. He could rest. No more betrayal, No more Scarface, no more anything.

But then he heard the muffled voice. The pained call of his name. Slowly Wesker opened his eyes and saw the other man sitting up and reaching for him. He was alive. James was alive.

The gun clattering to the concrete was so loud it hurt Wesker's ears. He just sat there for a moment, his breathe caught, his heart nearly stopped in his chest. Staring at the other man.

" J-james.. "

He was alive. Wesker suddenly let out a panicked whine and literally scampered across the dirty ground to the other man. He lost his hat, he tore his jacket on metal grate. But he didn't care. He had to reach the other man.

And he did, the small man literary sank into Gordon's body. Arms clutched around the other's neck so tightly he might choke him. But not that James would be allowed to breath at this moment.

There were no words Arnold could say, so he just kissed the other man. Mouth closing desperately and over joyous. Tasting so much like tears, regret, but mostly, if utter relieved happiness could had a flavor, it would have been the taste on Arnold Wesker's lips at that very instant.

Gordon: Gordon just let Wesker hold onto him. Having the wind knocked out of him by the bullet had been dizzying, the realization had been dizzying, the reintroduction of oxygen into his system had been dizzying, but nothing was quite so mind-blowing as the kiss that those pleased lips were giving him. His hand that had been reaching for Wesker reached around and settled on his back.

He still loved you. All along he still loved you.

He used his other hand to push Arnold's mouth away a little so he could speak, fingers going between their lips (though he was subconsciously so anxious to get back to kissing him that his own lips were pressed to back of his knuckles as he spoke, mustache prickling them). "I'm sorry I doubted you," he said weakly, still windblown and shell-shocked.

He let the fingers slip from between their faces and pressed their lips together again. Yeah, he'd have to take him back to Arkham. Yeah, he'd have to give him up. But at that moment, Arnold Wesker was all his.

Wesker: " I love you.. I love you so much.. " Wesker broke the kiss after another moment and finally rested his lips against the other man's forehead. Poor Gordon was wind knocked and sore, and Wesker was practically laying on him. But would they give up this moment for the world?

Tears began to drip down Wesker's face and rained onto the Commissioners. Arnold cried softly. But it wasn't one of despair or pain. Wesker cried out of relief. " I'm sorry.. I tried to stop him.. I'm sorry.. when I thought you were dead.. I'm so glad you’re alive.. I couldn't live without you. " Wesker slid.

His body slid so that his face could come to Gordon's neck, a place he'd always felt safe. Hot breath waft out in short breaths and Arnold just sprawled there. Neither of them seemed aware that a looming dark shadow was standing off just to the side.

" I killed him.. " Wesker swallowed. " He's gone. Please help me keep him gone.. " After all this, after everything, Wesker still believed in James Gordon.

Gordon: Gordon squeezed his eyes and worked on breathing again. "I've gotta take you back Arnold." He took a hard breath, then exhaled loudly. "But I'll still be waiting." He tilted his head down to look at the mousy man sprawled on him.

He figured with all the bullet firing that the cops would be there soon. Someone had to call in something that loud. It sounded like a big deal.

"You gonna pull through for me?" the commissioner asked, referring to another stay in Arkham.

Wesker: That's right. He had to go back to Arkham. He needed to. Though at that moment, the thought of being separated from Gordon hurt so much. But Wesker sucked it up and nodded his head against the other man's chest " Yes.. For you. "

He would. For James. He was going to get better. Without Scarface looming over him, it would only take a little while, and then they could be together.

The sound of wood against concrete jarred attention. The Dark Knight bend down and picked up what was left of Scarface and hide it under his cape. Batman straightened and narrowed his cowl covered eyes slightly and nodded at both the men at the ground. " You should get out of here. Take him back to Arkham. " Batman paused in his turn, cape rustling. " Good Luck. "

For what? Wesker? Gordon? Both of them with this thing they had? What ever it was. He didn't imply. He just vanished.


Gordon: Gordon, with another grunt, managed to make himself sit up, moving his arms to cradle Wesker as he did. Could he even really call him "the Ventriloquist" anymore? What's a ventriloquist without it's puppet? Or was Wesker always the dummy, just like Scarface said, and James got to play blue fairy and make him into a real boy.

In a way, those weren't really questions the mustached cop could handle. Too hypothetical. What he wanted to know was if Wesker would be of sound enough mind to handle Arkham on his own?

Maybe, just maybe. As long as it was Arkham and not Black Gate.

"C'Mon, we gotta get out of here before the 21st Precinct gets here. They've probably been notified by now." He reached up to catch hold of the railing and pull them both to a standing position.

Ah, maybe he was wrong, too. Maybe he did manage to save someone for once.

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