Two Faces

"Who are we waiting for here, anyway?" The young man minding the souvenir stand was bored enough to start chatting.

"Don't ask. Just do what we were told," an older man said. "Danilo, stop being so curious."

"Cousin Simon, I just don't get what we're doing here..." Danilo frowned. "They told us to wait, but apart from a few kids who tried to come over earlier, nobody's shown up."

"Why do you need to know?" Simon snapped. "Do you know why the Godfather only told me the details? Because he was afraid you three would let something slip and ruin the plan."

The other three laughed awkwardly and said nothing.

Simon went on lecturing them for a while before he noticed a priest walking toward them. The priest asked, "How much for this little seal badge?"

"Not for sale. Get lost." Still smarting from the lecture, Danilo answered impatiently.

"I see. If you're not selling anything, then make room for me to do business." Danilo's attitude had irritated Roland too, and his voice came out sharp.

"Piss off," Danilo said.

Without another word, Roland stamped down on Danilo's foot, then struck his chin with a palm. The force of the blow knocked him out cold.

"He's looking for trouble!" It had happened so fast that Danilo was down before the other three could react.

By the time they reached into their coats for their guns, Roland was already on them.

Elbow strike, knee strike, Iron Mountain Lean.

With barely any effort, Roland dropped all three.

"Well? Still want to try me?" Roland took their guns and addressed the only one still conscious.

"Fuck..." The man raised his middle finger at Roland.

"Still not convinced, huh?" Roland punched him in the head and sent him peacefully to sleep.

"Boss, you took them all..." His underlings didn't look surprised. This was how people took over someone else's business in Gotham City.

"Enough talk. Get the stand set up," Roland ordered. He dumped the four unconscious men in a nearby flower bed and covered them with grass.

"Got it, boss." His underlings moved aside the cart left at the spot and began setting out the souvenirs they had brought.

"Wait. What's in this cart?" Roland could hear liquid sloshing inside it, though the merchandise on top was all dolls, badges, postcards, and other souvenirs. Something felt off.

He pulled the cart open. Inside sat a row of test tubes filled with green liquid, along with something that looked a lot like a water gun.

"What's this?" Roland took out a test tube and examined it.

There was no label, but whatever was inside didn't look like anything good.

"This isn't some kind of biological weapon, is it?" Growing uneasy, Roland went to the restroom, filled a bucket with water, and splashed it over Simon's face to wake him.

"Talk. What is this?" Roland demanded, gripping Simon by the collar.

"...Ice cream ingredients."

"Do I look like an idiot to you?"

"Yes."

Roland flicked the test tube open with his thumb. "You don't want to find out what this is firsthand, do you?"

"Do whatever you want."

With that, Simon shut his mouth and refused to say another word.

"Tough guy, huh? Then don't blame me." Roland brought the test tube close to his face. Within half a minute, Simon had passed out again.

"An anesthetic?" Roland stared in surprise. He had thought this was a terrorist attack, but with an anesthetic this effective and a space inside the cart just large enough to fit an adult, it looked more like human trafficking.

At that thought, Roland called Commissioner Gordon.

"Hello, officer? I'd like to report a crime."

Ignoring Roland's strange way of addressing him, Commissioner Gordon asked, "What happened?"

"I was visiting Gotham Zoo when I witnessed a criminal organization in action. I've subdued them all, so get over here."

"What a coincidence..." Commissioner Gordon was driving and could already see the Gotham Zoo ticket booth. "I'll be right there. Watch your back in case they have accomplices hiding nearby."

"OK."

After hanging up, Commissioner Gordon glanced at his wife in the passenger seat, guilt in his eyes. "Barbara, I..."

"Go do your job, Commissioner Gordon," Barbara said coldly.

"...I'm sorry." Commissioner Gordon parked the car, opened the trunk, changed into the police uniform and gear he kept there, and ran into Gotham City Zoo.

A few minutes later.

"I have to tell you, one vigilante in Gotham City is more than enough for me. I can't take a second." Looking at the four men in black who had clearly been beaten unconscious, Commissioner Gordon felt a headache coming on.

"What else did you think I meant by 'subdued'?" Roland shrugged. "I didn't go overboard. I stopped once they couldn't fight back."

"...Fine. At least you didn't leave anyone's testicles swollen to the size of tomatoes like last time." Gordon rubbed his temples. "If I had to guess, they're members of an Italian-American crime family. I just don't know which one."

"They're involved in human trafficking too?"

"I don't know, but it wouldn't surprise me," Gordon said. "I'll take them in. Stay out of this. Gotham City's crime families are dangerous, especially Falcone..."

"I know what I'm doing." Roland nodded.

"Don't brush off what I'm saying." Gordon frowned. "Even if you aren't afraid for yourself, what about your family?"

"I have as much family here as Batman does," Roland said.

"...Then forget I said anything." Gordon called for a patrol car. The four unconscious men were loaded into it, and he prepared to leave with them.

When he looked toward where he had parked, Barbara was gone. Gordon gazed at the empty passenger seat with a rueful smile.

He shook his head and headed for the patrol car. Lost in thought, he walked straight into someone.

"Sorry... Harvey? What are you doing here?" The collision had knocked Gordon to the ground. When he looked up, he saw a familiar face.

Harvey gave Gordon a cold glance and walked on without a word.

"...Mistook you for someone else. Sorry." Gordon shook his head. The man really did look like Harvey, but his demeanor was completely different.

I've never heard of Harvey having a twin... Could that be a long-lost brother? Gordon couldn't help wondering.