The Penguin
As Tony flew through the sky, his helmet's interface constantly scanned the streets below him, simultaneously sifting through live CCTV footage, looking for any decent criminals, and alerting the police for the more minor ones.
While he unconsciously scanned the surroundings, his mind wandered.
For the past few years he had been observing this world's events in order to deduce which DC universe he was in. But it was of no luck, even though he wasn't the biggest fan of DC, he still watched most of the movies and shows.
However to no avail could he recognize where he was, this universe seemed completely unfamiliar in terms of the plot, or rather it seemed disorganized.
For example, the current year was 2010, and signs of Batman started approximately 4 years ago, 2006. And as he watched more, specific events such as him fighting the joker arose, strikingly similar to what happened in The Dark Knight. Namely the hospital explosion, the bank robbery using school buses, and much more.
Yet he also noticed the existence of Clark Kent living at a farm, who currently was still there working in a diner, but he presumed that soon he would go to metropolis city and obtain the title Superman.
While this may seem normal, these two movies, among various other events should not be in the same world. The Dark Knight Trilogy and The Man of Steel, both different DC universes entirely.
And after further research, he saw signs of varying existences such as Martian Manhunter, Wonder Woman, the Green Lanterns, etc. Though it seemed they haven't met yet, so currently the Justice League was far from being created.
Not to mention the so-called Particle Accelerator which was supposed to give birth to the Flash, still hasn't been finished.
In conclusion, Tony had no way of knowing what would happen, or when it would, he could only make deductions and do his best to use the information he has.
Another thing weird thing was that even places like New York didn't exist here, among other minor states...
Beep!
[The Penguin, Oswald Cobblepot: Has Been Identified]
In the midst of his thoughts, a notification abruptly flashed across his screen, revealing live CCTV footage of a fat man in a suit making his way into a club.
'I always wondered why he was called The Penguin...' Tony suddenly changed trajectory as he dived left, going even faster with a boom.
****
[The Penguin POV]
Oswald Cobblepot, known as the Penguin in Gotham's underworld, strutted into his luxurious establishment, the Iceberg Lounge.
An entourage of security guards in suits following him in as they spread out.
His sharp eyes surveyed the empty club, illuminated by the soft glow of neon lights, with a mixture of pride and anticipation. He nodded approvingly at the pristine tables and elegant décor, a testament to his meticulous attention to detail.
As he made his way to the lounge area, a waiter approached him with a deferential bow. "Good afternoon, Mr. Cobblepot. What can I get for you today?" the waiter asked, his tone tinged with respect.
Oswald flashed his trademark smirk and replied, "My usual, Gregory. And make it quick."
The waiter nodded and scurried off to fulfill Oswald's request. Moments later, he returned with a crystal glass containing a rare vintage whiskey, setting it down with a flourish. "Here you go, sir. The finest whiskey in the house." He announced with a small bow.
Oswald accepted the drink with a nod of thanks, taking a moment to savor the aroma before taking a sip. As he relaxed into the plush couch, he gestured for the waiter to join him. "Tell me, Gregory, how are our profits looking this month? Any issues with staffing or upcoming events I should be aware of?" Oswald inquired, his voice laced with authority.
The waiter nodded, eager to provide his boss with the latest updates on the club's operations. "Profits are steady, sir, but we've had a few complaints about the new security measures. Some patrons feel they're too intrusive." He reported, his tone respectful but concerned.
Oswald listened intently, nodding in acknowledgment as he processed the information. "I'll look into it. And what about the upcoming gala? Is everything on track for that?" He queried.
Before the waiter could respond, a loud rumbling noise echoed through the club, causing Oswald to furrow his brow in confusion. "What in blazes is that?"
Boom!
The question went unanswered as something suddenly crashed through the lounge, sending shockwaves of panic through the room.
As the dust settled, Oswald's eyes widened in disbelief at the sight before him—a lone figure standing amidst the wreckage, clad in a suit of armor unlike anything he had ever seen.
It was Iron Man, the superhero who had just made himself known for his high-tech armor and fearless exploits. Even though his press conference was mere moments ago, Oswald had been paying special attention to the sudden appearance of this hero.
And judging by his hostile presence, he had come with no good intentions.
"Well, well, well, looks like I crashed the wrong party." Tony joked, his robotic voice dripping with amusement as he surveyed the stunned crowd.
Oswald's mind raced as he tried to comprehend the situation. What should he do?Can he win against this so-called Iron Man? As he pondered his next move, a surge of anger coursed through him.
If this newbie Iron Man thought he could disrupt his carefully laid plans, he was sorely mistaken.
"Fool! You would dare come into the enemy's nest all by yourself!" Oswald sneered.
His voice echoed through the chaos as men in suits appeared from all directions, brandishing pistols and AR's, their weapons trained on the armored figure at the center.
Tony remained calm, his gaze unfazed as he glanced around at the encroaching guards. "Well, what can I say? I've always been a fan of dramatic entrances."
As the goons closed in, their weapons trained on him, Tony's focus sharpened. "Let's dance." He muttered under his breath, activating his suit's defensive systems.
With swift movements, he unleashed a barrage of repulsor blasts, sending thugs flying in all directions.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
The sound of gunfire echoed through the club as Tony simply walked forward at incoming bullets, ignoring them as if they were irrelevant.
But just as he approached the nervous Oswald triumphantly, a sudden explosion rocked the room as an RPG struck Tony from behind.
Boom!
His armored figure was sent flying into a nearby wall.
The tension in Oswald's shoulders eased momentarily, "Is he dead!?"
Before his expression turned grim as he watched Tony emerge from the wreckage, scratches and burn marks marring his armor.
"Jeez, who the hell has an RPG in a club?" Tony muttered, his tone light despite the situation.
Shaking his head, he mumbled, "Enough games."
An instant later he deployed his shoulder-mounted missiles as a small box raised from his shoulders.
With no hesitation, they launched.
Phewww!
A whistling noise went off as the multiple missiles were sent in all directions.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
The room erupted in chaos as explosions rocked the club, scattering the remaining thugs.
With all the thugs dead or incapacitated, Tony advanced toward Oswald, who cowered behind a table, his bravado fading.
"Y-you can't do this to me!" Oswald stammered, his voice tinged with desperation. "I have connections! I'll be out of jail before you know it!"
Tony's expression remained impassive as he closed in on the trembling crime lord. "Perhaps," he replied cryptically, his voice carrying a note of finality. "But I have a feeling things are about to change for you."
With a swift motion, Tony restrained Oswald, his actions decisive and swift. As he escorted the defeated crime lord out of the club.
After a quick flight, he dropped off the criminal outside Blackgate Penitentiary. Many people recognized the criminal as he flew over Gotham, so the news about it was already spreading, causing his popularity to skyrocket as Iron Man.
Once returning from the Maximum Security Prison, Tony planned on destroying every single part of the Penguin's business, starting from his blackmarket operations, all the way to his Gambling and Organized Crime operations.
This would make The Penguin lose all his value to the corrupted political officials, not to mention they'll be worried on inciting the new hero's wrath.
And for the rest of the day Tony went from warehouse to warehouse, casino to casino, clearing out all of The Penguin's operations, not leaving anything for grabs for anyone.
Using his technology and technopathy, he was able to hack various databases of his criminal organization, allowing him to easily find the locations of each nefarious business as he found more and more incriminating evidence against The Penguin.
In only one day, was the infamous Penguin, defeated and contained.
****
In the depths of a dark cave, Batman sat before the towering monitor array, watching the news unfold with his trademark stoicism. The screen flickered with images of Tony Stark, now revealed as Iron Man, making headlines across Gotham.
His expression remained inscrutable as he absorbed the information, his mind working in silence.
Alfred's footsteps echoed softly as he approached from behind, his eyes also fixed on the screen. "Quite surprising, Master Wayne, to see someone like Mr. Stark take up the mantle of a hero." He remarked, a note of curiosity in his voice.
Batman's response was measured, his gaze still fixed on the screen. "The Tony Stark I've seen at social gatherings didn't strike me as the type to embark on such endeavors." He mused, his voice deep and analytical. "But his recent actions speak otherwise. Killing dozens in a single night, yet sparing the ringleaders— it suggests a calculated approach. And then there's Penguin, incapacitating his men but leaving him alive. It seems Stark is playing the careful game for now, avoiding unnecessary bloodshed to maintain a certain image."
He continued, "This makes me conclude that he possesses another side to him, one he purposefully conceals beneath his playful demeanor."
Alfred raised an eyebrow, his voice tinged with curiosity. "Doesn't that make you two quite similar, Master Wayne?"
Batman responded with silence, his attention already drifting back to the task at hand. With practiced efficiency, he started typing on his Batcomputer, leaving the question unanswered.
______________________________
Express your thoughts!