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V - 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐨𝐧

𝚆𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐: 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚜 𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚙𝚑𝚒𝚌 𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚌𝚛𝚒𝚙𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚟𝚒𝚘𝚕𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎, 𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚕𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎, 𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚖𝚞𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗, 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚌𝚑 𝚖𝚊𝚢 𝚋𝚎 𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚋𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚐𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚜. 𝙸𝚝 𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚕𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚜 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚜, 𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚕𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚌𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚞𝚙𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗, 𝚖𝚞𝚛𝚍𝚎𝚛, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚙𝚜𝚢𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚘𝚐𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚕 𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚞𝚖𝚊. 𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚒𝚜 𝚊𝚍𝚟𝚒𝚜𝚎𝚍.

THE TWO VIGILANTES waited patiently as the computer ran its diagnostics. On the screen, the analysis results from the sample taken from Sionis were loading, inching closer to full completion.

Finally, the analysis came through, the details coalescing into a complete report on the substance's contents as Bruce leaned forward, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the list.

"Ethylene glycol, acetone, traces of synthetic alkaloids, and. . .a nerve agent component. Not exactly over-the-counter ingredients."

Y/N nodded, tapping his fingers against the table.

"The acetone, along with the glycol." He pointed out, "He's created something that sticks, something they can't wash away or spit out with a lingering burn."

Y/N turned back to the screen, deep in thought.

"This kind of compound, though, it's not common. Not something you could put together with any ordinary setup." He tilted his head, "I'd say we could try narrowing it down. There can't be that many places in Gotham with the resources or. . .authority to manufacture something like this."

Bruce nodded, "That's smart. If we focus on facilities with access to the chemicals and the—"

A shrill, electronic beep alarmed through the cave. Bruce's hand moved reflexively to the controls, pulling up the signal. The police band channel crackled as Commissioner Gordon's voice filtered through the speakers.

"Batman? Are you. . .a-are you there?"

Bruce exchanged a quick look with Y/N, his jaw clenching as he reached to respond.

"What's going on?" He said, changing his voice.

"We've got another body. Seems he was busy." Gordon mused, "Two in one night."

"Where?"

"Midtown, lower level of an old subway terminal." Gordon replied, "It's. . .V-Victor Zsasz."

Y/N's eyebrows furrowed. He shifted, visibly bracing himself, while Bruce's mouth set in a hard line.

Bruce cleared his throat, deepening his voice, "We'll be there soon."

The line clicked off, leaving them in the silence of the cave. Bruce straightened, casting a look at Y/N.

••••••••

THE LOWER LEVEL OF MIDTOWN'S subway terminal was suffused with a strange, damp chill. Batman and the Crow moved through the abandoned passageway, a step echoing. Gordon waited for them near the edge of the platform.