When Two Universes Meet (Marvel x DC Crossover)

Chapter 16: First Mission (II)

(i apologize in advance coz this chapter is wayyyy too long :/ 3000+ words is a bummer for a chapter)

Downtown Gotham, 9.30 am

"God," Bruce heard Tony gasp.

Minutes ago, the city was brimming with positivity and life.

Now, it was utter chaos.

The masses had long since disappeared, either managed to escape to safer boundaries, or trapped admist dust and smoke, unable to be freed. Bruce caught a small cat rushing into the disordered yet empty streets, that somehow gave him a flicker of hope.

But it was suddenly yanked into the misty dust beyond with a yelp.

Bruce felt his fingers clenching into fists.

The intercom in his headpiece buzzed with Fury's voice. "I've stationed the Teen Avengers and Teen Titans over the higher ground. They'll give us a briefing over your surroundings soon."

"What of the rest of the League and the Avengers?" asked Tony, head high in the sky as if he could see the Watchtower, where the rest are now, in orbit.

"I've just sent a notification," Fury replied. "But if they've seen it, I'm afraid I have no idea."

"I'm sure they'll be here very soon." Bruce didn't hold much high hopes for it. Even if they were teaming up with the Avengers, he'd never let any of his fellow teammates into his territory much, never gave them any authority over his city. There were rare moments when they'd came due to investigations of a larger scale even his family couldn't handle, but that was where he had drawn a line.

Perhaps even now, they would tread cautiously over this matter. No one would dare cross the Batman, after all.

"Until then, Bruce, your and Tony's families will have to settle this matter. I'll send in updates."

Green mist enveloped Bruce and Tony, scattering with a helpful gust of wind that happened to arrive by chance.

The intercom buzzed again, this time filling Bruce's ears with the soft, breezy yet stern voice of Starfire. "This is the Teen Titans and Teen Avengers. We are on standby, over."

"What do you see?"

"It seems as if either one of those two created those mist," Katiya's voice came in. "They're trying to confuse us. But they must be keeping some citizens behind as hostage."

Hostage, huh? "Did they try to contact us?"

"Nothing as of now," replied Katiya. "They've accounted five cafes, each with at least ten to twenty people inside. Everything seems fine with the hostages, and Riddler and Bane hadn't done anything brash."

"But they could be, at any time." Tony muttered, undertone laced with worry.

"I digress." Bruce voiced. "Can your teams keep an eye over them?"

"Will do." A moment of silence, before Starfire cut in, "Teen Titans and Teen Avengers, out."

~~

Rooftops of Gotham City, 9.40 am

Katiya gazed over the chaos, gray eyes never leaving the target.

Harper came next to her. It didn't matter how she came, by teleportation or walking, but Katiya just knew she was there. Maybe stealth isn't one of her best suits.

The young sorceress shook her head. "The mist's too thick. We couldn't catch anything, from this point of view."

Katiya's eyes narrowed. "Do you have any powers that can see through it?" She'd seen Doctor Strange do it before, magic parting the veils of illusion when a villain had once trapped them in a state of the Avengers' collective trauma. Perhaps it could work for physical stuff, too, like the mist before them.