Chapter Text
It was rare Gotham had slow nights. Barely any crime, all the most dangerous rogues locked away. Of course, most of the time it was due to them coming up with plans, though in those nights, that’s the most Bruce has to worry about, and with that he could investigate other cases, like one of several people of different ethnics, ages, genders, going missing all around the same area. Bruce wished to investigate the case more though most nights he was too busy to do so- but tonight was the perfect night to investigate.
“Hey Bruce, you think you can pick up bat burger for us when you come back?” Jason asked through the comm.
“You can get it yourself.” Bruce huffed as he looked at the abandoned building, a flashlight in hand as he was about to enter.
“But you’re out and I’m in the manor.” Jason replied.
“… We’ll see.” Bruce said, knowing full well he would pick it up.
Bruce tapped out of the comms after that before he entered the building, though there was nothing too out of place in Gotham so far- he was grateful Jason never found this place as a kid with how many people went missing around here. Bruce took a step into another room, his eyes narrowing. In there, was an older computer and a VR headset, though what was odd was how compared to everything else there was noticeably less dust. Bruce quickly looked to see if there were any lingering fingerprints on either of them, before deciding to take both the computer and the set back to the batcave with him, unplugging both from the wall and picking them up with little to no effort bringing them back to the Batmobile.
The drive back to the batcave was like most nights, quiet. Damian had returned to the cave earlier with Dick and Jason, with Tim also having returned on their own. Bruce… Bruce would say he liked the quiet- even if he, while never admitting it, preferred to have a happy and chipper Robin next to him. Still, Bruce drove to bat burger and ordered everyone’s favorite, giving the people there an extra large tip before returning home.
Bruce let out a small huff as he grabbed the computer and VR set and placed them next to the batcomputer, which compared to the older one, was much- much bigger. He then grabbed the bags of food and put them down- almost instantly almost all his sons flocked to it like hungry birds- besides Damian who just silently judged everyone. Bruce had a small smile as he shook his head before deciding to investigate the computer and VR headset.
———————————————-
It was a few days later, Bruce had managed to get into the code and after noticing some… odd details, he had changed a few pieces of the code, and had even managed to give him admin permissions as well. Though there was only so much he could do and so he had asked Alfred to cancel all his plans as Brucie for today so he could investigate, Bruce then chipped into Barbara comms.
“I’m investigating some old technology that could be linked to several different disappearance cases- if I do not respond in a week, tell the others to investigate for me.” Bruce said as he spoke his voice as gruff as always.
“To investigate… the thing that could be directly linked to you disappearing?” Barbara repeated as she spoke into the comms herself.
“…Yes.” Bruce said before tapping out of the comms. He looked up at the batcomputer in silence for a moment before removing his cowl and placing on the headset instead.
Immediately his eyes are graced with a purple rabbit in pink overalls punting a ribbon with masks across the room.
Bruce had been expecting to see anything but that, and immediately tensed upon seeing this quickly going to block from getting hit by… whatever was thrown at him.
The ribbons fall just before hitting Bruce, mask shattering on impact. The rabbit immediately laughs. Had it noticed the newcomer? Yes. Did it care? No. Not his problem. The ringmaster would be here to greet the newbie any moment now.
Bruce shot a glare at the rabbit before kneeling down to investigate the ribbons with the now broken mask.
The sentient coil of red just let out a sniffle, sitting up slowly and gathering pieces of their mask… only to be startled by a set of teeth with floating eyes and a red suit popping up out of nowhere, dropping and further shattering her mask. The ringmaster didn’t seem to notice, too focused on the new person. “Wowie! Another human? And so soon? Why, I didn’t even have time to prepare!” It stuck its tongue out as if to try and come off as humorous, its eyes orbiting each other weirdly.
“Who are you?” Bruce growled out as he glared at… the thing, already tense and prepared for anything.
“Me? My name’s Caine. And this is Bubble.” Caine pointed to the sentient bubble with sharp teeth beside him. “And I’ll call you… uh…. Steve. That seems like a fitting name for someone as bland as you! Welcome to the circus, Steve.”
The rabbit from earlier held up a hand. “Wait wait wait, why does HE get to look like a human, while we’re stuck looking like… this? Not that I mind. I look great regardless.” It pretended to flip its nonexistent hair.
“I’m Batman.” Bruce said as he glared up at… Caine. He decided for the time being to keep quiet about modifying some code.
“Mmmmm no, I’m pretty sure you’re Steve.” Caine replied. The rabbit snickered. “Yeah, you heard the man. You’re Steve. Besides, what dweeb names himself after a vigilante? Nerd much?”
Bruce was debating on if he should leave the rabbit - of course, he would actually bring him back to the real world, but the thought still occurred on if he should leave him here. Still, for the moment, Bruce ignored him, “I’m Batman. Not Steve.” Bruce stated again as he glared at Caine.
“Whatever you say, Steve!” Caine gave a thumbs up.
“Still not Steve…” Bruce grumbled as he pinched the bridge of his nose, annoyed at the ringmaster.
“Oh Steve, you’re so funny!” Caine laughed, pretending to wipe tears from his eyes.
“What makes you think you can decide my name?” Bruce said as he glared at Caine, already getting fed up with the ringmaster.
“Nobody remembers their names when they get here! It’s up to me to help rename them! And I deem you Steve.” Caine said obliviously.
Bruce wondered if this was what a pet being named felt- but at least pets couldn’t correct you with you just ignoring them- like with Caine. “So no one gets any choice in their names- even if they don’t remember their old ones?”
“Wh- uh… nuh uh! Pomni got to choose! Originally I was gonna call her Xddcc.” Caine tapped his bottom jaw. “But she asked for a new one! Do you want a new name, Steve?”
“Yes I do.” Bruce grumbled.
“Hmmm… okay then! Your name is…. Uh…. Chiroptera Male. How’s that?” Caine beamed.
Bruce let out a sigh at this point that was probably the closest he’d get, “Better.” Bruce grumbled, still annoyed.
The ribbons from before spoke softly. “Most of us will just call you whatever you want to be called… besides maybe Jax. I’m Gangle.”
Bruce gave a small nod in response, “Are you alright? That seemed like both a harsh throw and landing.” Bruce asked her, his voice gentler than when he spoke to Caine.
“I’m okay. That happens a lot more than you might expect.” Gangle mumbles. Jax let out a loud laugh. “HA! Suck it up, buttercup. What? You gonna go cry to mix n match?” He taunted, which was met with a slap to the back of the head from an amalgamation of parts. “OW! Hey.” Jax whined, to which the figure rolled its eyes.
“Is he always like that?” Bruce asked- though he had a pretty good idea on what the answer would be already.
“Pretty much.” The figure shrugged, making its way over to help Gangle gather the remaining pieces of her mask, not really bothering to introduce themself.
Bruce gave a small nod, he’d have a pretty decent guess on who his two least favorite people here would be- but either way he knew he’d have to try and help them all.
“For the record, Caine isn't very… intelligent. That’s what you get when you have an unmonitored ai and let them do whatever the %$!# they want. Don’t take it too personally if he doesn't exactly… listen to you.” The figure sighed. “I guess I owe you an introduction huh? Zooble is fine. Just call me that.”
“Right, well it’s nice to meet you Zooble.” Bruce said with a small head nod as he looked at them.
“Yeah. You’re taking all of this surprisingly well. You doing okay there?” Zooble asked. Jax raised an eyebrow. “Yeah. Too well.”
“While I do have… some concerns with things outside of my control, I also know I have a mission I must fulfill." Bruce stated.
“HA! That was sooo cheesy. You and ribbons will get along juuust fine.” Jax mocked, earning another smack from Zooble.
Bruce just let out a small grumble- he was not cheesy.
Zooble let out a groan. “Ignore him. He’s just attention seeking. Frankly, we give him too much time and energy.” They sighed, to which Gangle replies playfully. “But… didn't you just hit him?” Zooble simply snorts in amusement, gently nudging Gangle. “Touche.”
“You two seem… close.” Bruce mumbled as he observed the two of them.
“Huh? Oh they’re just… well… we’re just really close.” Gangle mumbles sheepishly, rubbing their ‘arm’. “You basically just repeated what he said back to him.” Zooble teases lightly. “Don’t worry about it, take your time. As for you,” they look at Bruce, “Yeah. Clearly.”
Bruce gave a small nod in response.
“Man, I can't believe gay people are real.” Jax huffed, earning a death glare from Zooble.
“Of course gay people are real…” Bruce mumbled quietly, not understanding Jax joking.
“How would you know? Got experience, Steve?” Jax taunts.
“I have plenty of colleagues and… family who lean both that way and both ways.” Bruce stated as he shot a small glare at Jax.
“Huh… weird. Good for them I guess.” Jax huffs. “Yeah, that is good for them.” A ragdoll spoke up from behind, entering the room alongside a small jester, smiling. “Oh! Uh… new member? Hi there. Nice to meet you! What’s your name?” The doll waved.
“I am Batman.” Bruce said as he looked over to the ragdoll and small jester.
“Oh! That… is… unique. I’m Ragatha, this is Pomni.” Ragatha said, with Pomni waving. “Uh… hi.”
“It is nice meeting the two of you.” Bruce stated.
“It sure is!” Ragatha beamed. “Kinger is… somewhere around. You’ll meet him eventually, I’m sure.”
Bruce gave a small nod in response, keeping a mental tally of everyone in his head, though he also made a mental note of how there were less people seemingly here than those who had gone missing.
Suddenly a demon doll thing drops from the ceiling with a loud “OOF-!”, landing face first, sprawled out directly in front of Bruce. Ragatha winced. “That… is Ace.”
“Are you… alright?” Bruce asked as he kneeled down in front of Ace offering a hand up.
She held up a shaky thumbs up, Jax grinning smugly as if he had something to do with this. Ragatha sighs. “Jax, did you convince Ace she could stick to the ceiling again….?” “Mmmmaaaaaaaybe.” He smirked.
“Again?” Bruce questioned.
“She uh… does this a lot. At least, she has since I got here.” Pomni sighs.
“I see…” Bruce mumbled quietly before turning back to the rest of them, “is there anyone else here?” he asked, noting how even with Ace there were several missing people who weren't accounted for here.
“Uh… yes… and no…” Ragatha said nervously. Jax forced a snicker. “You looking for the abstracted ones?”
“Abstracted?” Bruce questions as he raises an eyebrow.
“They’re basically dead.” Jax shrugged.
“I see…” Bruce said quietly, he’d… he’d made mental notes to reach out to the families of everyone who disappeared that were apparently ‘abstracted’.
“Ooookay now what? This is dragging on and our VIEWERS are losing interest!” Jax gestured to the air beside him.
“Viewers?” Bruce questioned- he was used to being watched, came with being a rich playboy in Gotham still he was at least used to knowing he was being watched while it happened.
“Ignore him.” Zooble reminds Bruce, at which Jax scoffs. “Rude! We’re in a circus, my mismatched mate.” “I am not your mate. We are not friends. And you are not Australian.” Zooble’s eyes narrowed. Jax rolled his eyes. “I was once.”
“How can you be Australian once…?” Bruce questioned. You either were or weren't Australian.
“Adventure.” Jax shrugged, kicking the still sprawled out Ace.
“That still doesn't explain much.” Bruce said with a huff.
“You’ll learn.” Jax shrugged again before turning on his heel. “Welp, see you guys around.”
Bruce gave a simple nod as he quietly watched Jax.
Pomni sighs and drags Ace a little bit back before just leaving her there.
Bruce lets out a small sigh before picking Ace up and putting her on her feet.
Ace narrowed her eyes at him, glaring. “Who said you could do that?”
“Would you prefer to be put back on the ground?” Bruce asked as he looked at her.
“Do not touch me, old man.” Ace huffed. “I was happy down there. So rude.”
“I apologize.” Bruce said before dropping Ace back down. He wasn't that old… right?
Ace gives a grateful thumbs up. “Sorry for calling you old.”
“It is alright.” Bruce said quietly as he looked down at her.
Ace then stands up again. “I wanted to do that on my own terms.”
“Right.” Bruce mumbled skeptically as he looked at her.
“... Okay I’m gonna go find the rabbit. Bye!” Ace skips off in search of Jax.
“Is… is she also always like that?” Bruce questions.
“... Unfortunately.” Zooble sighs. “As much as MOST of us try to look out for her, I think she’s determined to be as difficult as possible.”
“I see…” Bruce said with a small sigh as he shook his head.
“She seems to be a lot closer with Jax than any of us…” Ragatha muttered. “One can only speculate as to why…”
Bruce gave a small nod as he noted that down in his head.
Bubble floats down to their level. “It’s OBVIOUSLY because she wants to-” Caine pops Bubble immediately, eyes darting around nervously.
Bruce let out a sigh. This place was… something, alright still Bruce knew he’d have to find out more.
“Want us to… show you to where you’ll be staying?” Ragatha offered.
“That’d be wonderful, thank you.” Bruce said with a small smile.
Ragatha beamed, gesturing for him to follow. Pomni tags along, rubbing her arm. “Sooo… what did you do for work?” The jester asked gently.
“When I wasn't out crime fighting I ran a very successful business." Bruce stated simply as he looked down at the jester.
“Oh..! Like a superhero..?” Pomni questioned.
“I prefer the term vigilante.” Bruce replied.
“Is there a difference..?” Pomni asked.
“Superhero implies you have powers a normal person does not.” Bruce stated.
“Why not just be a hero then?” She asked, eyebrow raised curiously.
“I… suppose that is true.” Bruce said with a small sigh.
Pomni just chuckles. Ragatha cleared her throat. “Well, here we are! Uh.. the room with your face on it is where you stay. Obviously.”
“I see, thank you.” Bruce said with a small nod.
“Yup! Well, we'll leave you to it. Get settled in, and you know where to find us.. Technically.” Ragatha smiles.
Bruce gave a small nod and wave before entering his room. Bruce looked around his room before sighing and going to take off the headset- only to touch his head instead of the real headset. Bruce came to the realization he should’ve came to earlier- he was stuck here with everyone else, and the worst part was that he knew he’d only have a week to try and escape before his sons would also become trapped in here.