Child's Play
Author's Note: I loved the episode Kid Stuff so much I had to write a story with little Justice Leaguers. They're just so cute!
Full Summary: Gorilla Grodd and some of Gotham's most deadliest villains are teaming up. Grodd has created a Time Altering Device to go back in time and warn his past self of the Justice League so they don't ruin his plans and Gotham's most deadliest are in it to get rid of the Batman. But when a flying Bat-a-Rang hits it the wires a time warp goes over the Justice League keeping them in the present but reversing their age…
Disclaimer: I don't own the Justice League… though I wish I did.
Chapter 1: Dead Ends
Batman gritted his teeth. The thought of dragging the team into his city was enough to make him cringe. He knew he was being over territorial but he felt that he could handle his villains on his own.
As Batman instructed the League around Gotham he looked around the dark city. The damp, dark city of Gotham sat almost in the darkest shadow of night as the moon shown upon it. Buildings looked like black mounds' reaching to the sky, not even stars were bright enough to get through the darkened city. Gargoyles lined the buildings, like guardians as glared fearfully to all those walking home on that cold Halloween Night. The traffic, busy as any other night, was heard rumbling at the bottom pit of the city.
He jumped roof-to-roof, feeling more at home on this mission than any other, since he was home. Gotham could always get him ready, the beat of guns and crime kept Batman coming back making the dark city have some hope.
"Batman," came a female voice on the end of his communicator link.
"Yes," Batman answered as he took a pair of binoculars and looked in an old candy factory. If rumor was right, Joker was making a deal with a dangerous mind, and knowing the Joker, he figured an abandoned candy factory was his style.
"I think I've found something," answered the voice of Wonder Woman.
Batman pulled his binoculars away and answered the Amazon, "What?"
"I've found some fur near the docks," she told the Dark Night, "I'm not sure if that means Grodd came from the docks or is at them. How about you? Any luck?"
Batman would have liked to tell her yes, but the sad fact was he hadn't, "No. But then again, it's been that kind of night."
"Indeed," she answered, "I'm at a lost as to why Grodd would even think of joining your Joker as you call him?"
"Yes," Batman answered.
"You tell me he is not funny, then why is his name Joker?" Diana asked curiously.
Batman knew the Amazon Warrior had meant no harm in her question, but Batman hated talking about the Joker after what he had done over the years. But he would answer Wonder Woman's question for her. He felt that if anyone else had asked it would have been no, but for Diana, he couldn't say no.
"He thinks he's funny," the Dark Knight said coldly, "He's just insane."
"If he is insane then why would Grodd waste such time on a lost mind?" Wonder Woman questioned.
Batman sighed, "Wish I could answer that," he told her, "But that's why were on duty."
"I suppose," she said letting their conversation drift off slowly.
Batman narrowed his eyes as he hoped the rooftops looking for a sign. The Joker was certainly not a quiet man. He would make an appearance sooner or later; Batman knew that.
But what he didn't know, was why the Joker would be after highly valuable equipment from Wayne Enterprises. This was the other part of his mission. To figure out why the Joker wanted such technology. It simply wasn't his style. Perhaps this was Grodd's doing.
Shooting his grapple and latching it onto a near by gargoyle he swung off into the night looking for a giant talking gorilla with a high IQ and a mad man who laughed.
-On Main Street-
"Okay…" Flash sighed as he met up with Superman, "I give up! We've searched everywhere… I mean… you think that a giant gorilla that can talk would stick out a little more."
The Man of Steel sighed, "Well I guess not in Gotham."
Hawkgirl flew down looking angry, "Batman said that freaks and weirdoes were common in Gotham, but that's stretching it."
"Any luck?" asked Superman.
Raising an eyebrow, Hawkgirl crossed her arms over her chest, "Does it look like I had any luck?" she growled.
Superman knew when Hawkgirl came to a dead end she got a bit cranky. He took her comment lightly.
Wonder Woman soon landed on the pavement next to Flash.
"Hey Princess," he grinned, "Did you find Lady Luck?"
"I haven't had any luck," she informed her partners, "But I did find some fur."
"Join the club," Flash grumbled to her first comment.
Superman took more interest in the second comment, "So you did find something."
"It's only fur."
"Alright Bats," Flash said in his communicator, "I want your caped butt back here! I keep getting lost in this creepy old city and why is Diana so concerned with this fur stuff and—"
Batman jumped right in front of Flash.
"ACK!" Flash screamed, "Don't do that!"
Batman neither apologized or looked sorry.
Flash grinned a weak smile the point his finger a Batman, "You know, this so called city… isn't a city… it's a dark maze! I can't find crud!"
"Sometimes you need to look less with your eyes," Batman said hearing something off in the distance.
He turned his head and saw a figure lurking about in the corner crawling up the building… almost cat-like.
"What are you looking at?" Flash asked plainly.
Batman smirked and started heading towards the dark alley. Diana followed next to Batman. Superman turned and followed with Hawkgirl and Flash close on his tail. Batman stepped into the shadows.
"Back to your old ways Catwoman?" Batman grinned.
A chuckle was heard and a woman in a black cat suit stepped out from the shadows, her claw like gloved hands on her cheek as she laughed, "Hardly…"
"Then what are you doing?"
"Can't a cat go for a walk?" she flashed a grin, "Or are only dogs allowed?"
Batman allowed his eyes to narrow, "What are you doing?" this time the question was more cold and directed.
Catwoman looked at her claws and shrugged, "Just thought I'd find out what all the fuss was about," she said simply.
"Fuss?"
"Oh the Bat hasn't heard," she said grinning ever still walking closer to Batman. Diana stiffened her posture. She didn't like this woman. And the closer she got to Batman, the more angered she felt.
"I hear a lot of things…" Batman told her.
"Obviously this wasn't one of them or you won't be coming over to the pretty kitty."
Batman glared back at her. He was growing impatient with Catwoman and grabbed her hand that was starting to head towards his chest, "Let me ask again."
"Oh all right," Catwoman frowned, "Kill joy."
"Another time," Batman growled, "Now where were you going?"
"I wasn't really 'going', as you put it, anywhere," Catwoman began. The other's listened intently. Shayera looked at Catwoman almost hatefully, as if Catwoman was going to eat her.
"I was simply out… since I am allowed… and I spotted Harley and Ivy," the rest of the Justice League, except Batman and Superman, looked puzzled.
Catwoman clarified, "A clown in love with Joker and a girl that's obsessed with plants. Harley and Ivy have been talking you know? And word is on the street about a deal. Joker of course wanted in, and apparently, as the talk goes, he's in. Although I'm not sure what it's about, Joker invited a few friends over to let them in. I wasn't invited but I plan to make my own entrance," Catwoman told Batman and the others.
Her story seemed to check out in Batman's opinion, so he decided to let her go, "Was that so hard?"
Catwoman placed a clawed hand to Batman's cheek, "It could have been more interesting."
Diana felt her hands ball up into fists, as this woman seemed to crawl over Batman. Batman on the other simply smiled.
"Is that all?" Hawkgirl questioned Catwoman.
"You suspect me of lying little birdy?" Catwoman asked.
Hawkgirl folded her arms again and made a face. Catwoman seemed satisfied with the end result.
"Anything else I can help you out with my Dark Knight?" Catwoman asked.
He grinned, "No."
She frowned, "Are you sure?"
Diana was at the point of hitting Catwoman right now. She was getting very frustrated with her. And the way she seemed to crawl all over Batman was making her madder by the minute.
"Alright!" Wonder Woman shouted as she grabbed Catwoman's hand as it moved towards Batman.
Catwoman raised an eyebrow unseen because of her mask, but confusion was clear on her face.
"Jeez…" she breathed, "Cat got your tongue?"
Diana narrowed her eyes and put her hands on her hips.
"Okay," Superman said breaking the silence the was between the two, "Let's find Grodd."
Superman started to walk before Catwoman brought up another interesting topic, "You don't even know where to start looking."
"Near the docks where Diana found the fur," Superman stated.
"Go there if you want to get caught," Catwoman said simply.
Flash looked over curiously, "And how would you know?"
"Saw Ape Boy planting it there," Catwoman hissed, "Smart for a zoo attraction."
"He's not a normal animal," Hawkgirl said darkly.
"Well I noticed," said Catwoman agreeing with Hawkgirl, "Most apes don't drive motorcycles."
Superman was also growing tired of Catwoman's beating around the bush, "Anything else we should know? Did you see where he was going?"
"What is this? Twenty Questions?"
"Just answer them," Superman said flatly.
"He was headed towards Pratt Street near the construction site. Probably hiding in that old Sub Way station that was blown up last month by Two-Face."
"Alright," Superman said, "Let's go."
"You're welcome," Catwoman said crossing her arms coldly.
The League started to head off. Superman, Hawkgirl, and Wonder Woman took flight and Flash started to speed off. Batman paid once last glance towards Catwoman before shooting his grapple and swinging off.
Standing there, alone again, Catwoman frowned, and climbed up the roof watching the Justice League head towards the Pratt Sub Way station. She gave a sorrowful glare before following the Justice League in the shadows.
-Pratt Sub Way Station-
"Kinda creepy down here…" Flash grinned.
Hawkgirl, who had just finished contacting Green Lantern to join them for backup turned her head towards the Scarlet Speedster, "It's an abandoned Sub Way station… what do you expect? A welcome mat and Hospitality Suite?" Hawkgirl scowled.
"No…" Flash said ashamed.
"Quiet," Batman hissed as he walked along the broken tracks and was rubbing something between his gloves, "They've been here. Catwoman wasn't lying."
"Does she normally lie?" Diana questioned.
"No," Batman stated, "I was informing those who had doubts," he said darkly.
Wonder Woman felt taken back and remained silent as she and the others followed Batman down the Sub Way tracks.
Silently, the League went down the tracks and stopped as Batman stuck out a hand when he picked up voices.
"Oh come on Gorilla Man!" said a laughing man, "Just let me— OW!"
"Don't touch!" snapped another voice, deeper and angrier.
"Party pooper…"
"Aw come on Mista J!" snapped another voice, a woman's, "He's gots lots and lots of other toys we can play with!"
"I SAID DON'T TOUCH!" screamed the deep voice again.
"Ah!" cried the girl. It sounded as is she fell.
The Justice League inched closer until they saw shadowed figures. The girl who was talking was now on the floor getting helped up by another girl with long red hair.
"You know… you could be a little more nicer to us Banana Breath," the other woman snapped, "If it wasn't for us you'd be lost."
"She's right," said a short figure blowing a puff of smoke, "This is our home turf."
"Yea…" snarled another shadow flipping a coin in the corner, "With out us… you'd be dead."
"They're right you know," said a hulk of a creature.
The shadow they all were all talking to, large, and almost ape-like laughed softly, "I'm paying you all… is that not enough for your greedy hearts?"
"Yes… and about that money," said the laughing man. Batman moved his head out and pulled it back once he saw whom he was dealing with.
"Grodd is the brains behind this operation," Batman informed the League, "Joker and Quinn are taking part. Seems like they're second in command… or have deemed themselves second. Poison Ivy is the other woman with them… she's close to Quinn. Two-Face is in the corner with the coin and Penguin is the other man. Clayface is—"
"Is that glob like thing?" Flash asked.
They all ignored Flash's question, "Why are they teaming up with Grodd?" Hawkgirl asked, mace in hand.
Batman turned his head back to the conversation, "I'm going to find that out."
The villains began to talk more but they all seemed to be arguing.
"Alright!" screamed Poison Ivy, growing frustrated with the others arguing, "Shut up and let's get down to business…" she snarled.
"Yea!" said Harley agreeing, bouncing on a Pogo Stick playfully, her mask's bells bouncing with her, "I wanna play!"
"Calm down pooh," Joker informed Harley, "Ole Banana Boy needs to go through his plan for everyone else."
The large figure, who was Gorilla Grodd, smirked and pulled a helmet looking device placing it on a small table in the center of them, Two-Face was the only one who remained in the shadows as if he was guarding something.
"This," Grodd began, "Is my Time-X-Regulator. Using this helmet, I will travel back through time to allow myself to warn my past self of the Justice League's on coming attack so I can prepare to get around it. But, since you were all so kind in helping me get the pieces needed for my project," Grodd said thanking them.
Batman froze. It was all starting to make sense. The highly valuable products from Wayne Enterprise that were missing! Grodd was using them… he had gotten Gotham's most deadliest villains to get them, one, so he'd have a clean hand and two, since they knew the city front to back. It was all making sense. And the reason the villains were getting paid was for collecting the items he could not.
Grodd continued to speak, "I will spare Batman so you can have the last swing at him. The least I could do for you doing all my shopping for me."
"What about the cash?" Penguin asked, puffing on his cigarette.
Grodd chuckled, "I haven't forgotten… once you have your hands at Batman, you will be rewarded with all the cash you want."
"How?" Poison Ivy asked.
"Well, with no Batman to stop you, the Gotham Bank is free for your usage," Grodd said grinning.
Penguin nodded with a plump smile, "You've got style my friend."
"But!" the Joker said jumping on the table grinning like a mad man, "I get first cracks at ole Guano-Man! I owe him one…" he said before he started laughing madly.
"Fine," Penguin said, "But leave some for the rest of us."
"As wonderful as this is," Poison Ivy began, "Batman isn't just going to walk over to us you know…"
Two-Face, then stepped out of the corner. The Justice League was holding their breath as he came out holding someone by the neck, someone struggling.
"That's why I've taken the liberty of bringing Bats an invitation," growled Two-Face with a grim smile.
He stepped forward out of the cornered shadow and shoved a smaller figure onto the table with a painful expression from the figure. The figure looked up at the villains struggling to get free, but he was bound and gagged.
"Greetings Bird-Boy!" Joker laughed again before laughing hysterically.
Author's Note: So what do you think so far? Yea I know it was a little long but I had to build up the plot in this chapter, but next chapter they should be kids. If anyone has any suggestions or wants something in the story, I'll see what I can do. Please read and review if ya can...