The Black Widow takes over.
By Crohnsman Crohnsman67216@yahoo.com
The Black Widow catches Bruce Wayne cheating on his taxes, and beats him to a pulp.

Batman and Black Widow meshed together very well, and became a great
crime fighting team. Carla was happy to be part of the team, and help
clean up Gotham city so the citizens would feel safer. In just the one
year they had worked together, crime in Gotham city was down by 38%. They
seemed to know what each other was thinking, and what their next move
would be without speaking a word. Commissioner Gordon was so impressed by
her, that he fashioned a black spider calling card to flash along side
the bat signal. On the rare occasion Bruce Wayne was out of town on
business, the Black Widow answered the call alone. And easily handled the
problem.

In fact, everything was running so smoothly, that she let a few things go
that she didn't feel right about. Like last week when they stopped a
young boy from robbing a blind vendor on the streets of Gotham city. They
were out on patrol, when they spotted a sixteen year old boy robbing an
apple cart vendor. They thwarted his crime and Black Widow was ready to
drag him off to jail. The young man began pleading with Batman, and asked
if he would let him go if he gave them some information on the gang of
car thieves that were working the area. When he gave Batman the address
of the chop shop, he let the young man go with a warning. Carla was
unhappy about that.

They did manage to catch the car thieves and close down the chop shop.
But Carla felt the young man should have spent the night in jail. He
might change his ways if he were thrown in jail with hardened criminals.
Then he would see the type of people he would be forced to associate
with, if he didn't straighten up his life and give up crime. But she kept
her mouth shut. She even kept it shut when Batman pilfered an apple off
of the old mans cart as they were walking away. Although she felt very
uneasy about him doing that. Most of the old mans apples would probably
rot before he sold them all, but it was still stealing to Carla.

She kept telling herself to let it go and forget about it. They were
small matters, and unimportant in the big scheme of things. And maybe she
could have forgotten, had it not been for the next little thing that
happened to make her feel uneasy. They were running late for a formal
dinner that was being held in honor of the Mayor's Birthday. Bruce was
not paying much attention to the speedometer, and was pulled over for
speeding by a motorcycle cop. When he realised who he had stopped and
where they were going, he not only didn't give Bruce a ticket, he gave
them a police escort the rest of the way.

Ba tman had been a hero of Gotham city for years, and put hundreds of
criminals behind bars. Hell, he was a hero to Carla, and one of the
reasons she became the Black Widow. She admired the work he was doing,
and wanted to do her share to help out. But her hero was quickly losing
her respect, and his exalted high place of honor in her eyes. She wasn't
sure she could continue to fight by his side, knowing he was nearly as
corrupt as the men they were putting in jail. She was very unhappy about
the whole situation, and was trying to come to terms with it in her mind.

It all came to a boil a few days later. Carla showed up at Wayne Manor to
do some training with Bruce in the fighting arena. He was sitting in his
den doing his taxes, and told her it would be a while before he finished.
He ran off to tell Alfred to fix her some lunch, and keep her entertained
until he was through. While he was gone, Carla happened to glance at what
he was working on. Her eyes got as big as saucers, when she read the
deductions he was claiming. Some of the assets he was claiming on the
list, he didn't even own anymore. And some of the business expenses, were
down right lies. Carla got very upset.

She confronted Bruce when he returned to the den. "Bruce, some of the
things on this list are not true. You're cheating the Government out of
taxes you owe them. Why would you put criminals in jail for breaking the
law, and then break it yourself? I don't understand at all." "It's simple
Carla. It's just something people with money do. You hedge a little here,
you fib a little there, and mail in your taxes without a guilty
conscious. If we didn't, the Government would take large chunks of the
money we worked so hard to acquir e. Now run along and have some lunch.
I'll be with you when I'm finished here."

Carla left the den with a very uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach.
Bruce Wayne was a hypocrite. I'll stop you from breaking the law and put
you in jail, but it's OK if I do it. Because I'm a millionaire and want
to keep most of what I have. If that's the code of ethics he lives by,
then Batman is no better then a bank robber or purse snatcher. "HE WAS A
CRIMINAL!" She thought to herself. In that moment, Batman fell from the
high pedestal she had placed him on. The pedestal crumbled, and Batman
became a snake crawling around the debris. She had to stop him.

It would destroy Gotham city and it's citizens, if Batman was exposed as
a criminal. Crime would run rampant, the citizens would fear leaving
their homes, and Commissioner Gordon and his police force would lose
every ones respect. Using Batman as a crime fighting weapon, while
allowing him to break the law himself, would be their undoing. So she
needed another answer for this colossal problem. Because she knew she
couldn't look the other way any longer. It just wasn't in her.

Carla was still pondering possible solutions to the dilemma she was
facing, when Bruce showed up at the battle arena to train with her.
Seeing him dressed as Batman the crime fighter, and knowing what she knew
about his own petty crimes, made her realise what had to be done. The
only answer was to force Bruce to see the error of his ways. And the only
way to accomplish that, was beat him into submission until he agreed to
obey the law. With her mind set on her mission, the Black Widow put her
plan into action.

They faced each other in the battle arena like they had done a countless
number of times. But this time was going to be totally different then the
others. In Batman's mind, they were training to keep their bodies in peak
condition, and their fighting skills honed and sharp. He had no idea that
the Black Widow had a completely different agenda in mind when they
began. In her mind, she was bringing a criminal to justice with the only
tools she had available. Her hard hitting female fists, and her deadly
striking leather clad feet. Batman would soon find out, this training
session was for real. Painfully real.

The 5 foot 5 inch, 120 pound female gladiator eyed her opponent. The 6
foot 2 inch, 238 pound Caped Crusader, stared back at his competition and
attacked. Batman went at her and threw a right cross. The Black Widow
ducked under it and landed a hard left to his chin. "SMACK!" He gave her
a questionable look, but let the matter slip from his mind. Maybe she had
pulled her punch, and he had been to slow reacting. He attacked again,
with both arms swinging punches as fast as he could. The Black Widow spun
her feminine body in a tight circle, while she squatted down and extended
her right leg out.

"WHACK!" Her leg struck the back of his calves, and swept him off of his
feet. He landed hard on his back.."SLAM!"..and his head bounced off of
the floor.."BAM!" Batman shook his head, and felt the knot rapidly
growing on the back. "What the hell has gotten into you Carla? You didn't
pull your punch a few seconds ago, and that maneuver you just pulled off
is one we agreed was to dangerous to use during practice. So what are you
doing?"

"I'm forcing you to change your criminal ways Bruce. To many things in
the last month or so, have made me feel uneasy about being associated
with you. Like accepting the police mans generosity the other night, when
you should have insisted he write you a ticket. You clearly broke the law
by speeding, and should pay the price for that mistake like anyone else.
And cheating on your taxes is unforgivable Bruce. I can't look the other
way any longer. Batman the great crime fighter, is nothing more then a
common criminal. And it's going to stop."

"You're blowing little things way out of proportion Carla." The Caped
Crusader replied. "Now stop this nonsense and lets get back to training."
"I'm afraid I can't do that Bruce. You'll change your criminal ways, or
I'll beat you black and blue and force you to. You have no other choices
Batman. Change or fight." "This is ridiculous Black Widow. We're talking
about a speeding ticket and a little fibbing on my taxes. You're acting
like I'm a bank robber or a murderer. Now drop it." "Defend yourself
Batman. It looks like you choose to fight." Carla warned.

Batman was able to avoid or block her first three punches, but the fourth
found it's way to his chin. "SMACK!" "Damn it Black Widow, that's enough.
Now come to your senses before I have to hurt you to stop you." "You're
wasting your breath Batman. Fight or stand there and take the beating.
Either way, you're going to be in a lot of pain until you do as I tell
you to." "Have it your way Black Widow. If you want a beating I'll give
you one. It was nice working with you this past year, but our partnership
is over. Think about that when you're on the streets alone."

Batman set his mind to fight mode, and prepared to dispatch with the
crazy woman that had been his crime fighting partner for a year. The
Black Widow looked in his eyes and smiled. He finally realised this
battle is for real. She thought to herself. I'm glad I didn't have to
beat him silly while he stood there perplexed and confused. The two
battle tested warriors faced each other with determination written all
over their faces. Gotham cities finest crime fighters, in a battle of
wills. One would be victorious, and the others will would be snapped and
trod upon.

Batman was cautious. The Black Widow may be a female, but he had seen her
in action quite a few times over the one year period. He knew without a
doubt, she was a very formidable opponent. It wouldn't pay to get
careless. He advanced and snapped a jab at her beautiful face. The Black
Widow slapped it away and waited for her chance to strike. They circled
each other like two wolves fighting over a carcass, looking for an
opening. The Black Widow went into action first.

She let fly with two left jabs and a right cross. As Batman was focusing
his attention on defending himself from her hard hitting fists, she drove
her right leg into his chest. "WHAM!" Batman stumbled back and was off
balance. Carla took advantage and att acked. "SMACK!" "SMACK!" She
managed to land a straight right to his eye and a left cross to his
mouth. Batman found his footing and batted the next two punches away.
They both retreated and stalked each other in circles again. Damn woman
is cunning and fast. He thought to himself. Must concentrate harder.

The Black Widow attacked again. She sent three left jabs at Batman that
he easily avoided. She faked the next jab and landed a right left
combination to his mid section when he fell for it. "THUD!" "THUD!" His
six pack abs absorbed the blows and allowed him to fire a few of his own.
Carla ducked and dodged his thunderous attempts and backed off. They
circled again, looking for a weakness or a mistake. But they both knew
there wasn't one to be found. Their peak conditioned bodies were still
fresh after the brief sparring they had been through. It was going to be
a long and tough battle for either fighter to win.

They leaped at each other throwing punches with authority. Each well
conditioned fighter was able to block the others attempts while trying to
strike with their own. After ten punches were thrown and blocked by the
two gladiators, they backed off again to study their adversary. Neither
one spoke a word. Their minds were totally concentrated on the job at
hand. They went at it again, throwing punches with reckless abandon.
Firing and blocking, chucking and avoiding. Each fighter looking for the
chance to land something solid, and gain the upper hand.

The Black Widow dodged Batman's right cross, and surprised him by
stepping in instead of back. She grabbed his right shoulder for leverage
and drove her right knee into his stomach. "WHAM!" The blow was
sufficient enough to bend him over for the elbow strike she delivered to
the back of his neck. "WHACK!" Batman dropped to the floor slightly
dazed, and was stomped in the back and ribs before he could roll away and
get to his feet. "STOMP!".."STOMP!" From the pain in his side, it felt
like she had broken at least one rib. He knew his movements would be
restricted and slower now. Things didn't look good.

Batman ignored the pain and went at her. They parried each others blows
again, while attempting to land their own. But neither warrior was having
much luck. Carla smiled when she saw him grimace after dodging his
straight right. I did inflict some damage when I stomped him while he was
down. She thought to herself. You're in a world of trouble now Batman.
She attacked with enthusiasm. Batman batted away four hard thrown
punches, and fell for the next right she faked at his head. When he
dodged the fake right, the Black Widow drilled him in the ribs with a
left hook. "THUD!" Batman winced in pain.

The punch caused him to lean slightly to his right, to try and relieve
the pain. Carla took advantage and opened up.
"SMACK!".."SMACK!".."SMACK!" "SMACK!" Her four punch combination snapped
his head back and knocked him off balance. He was defenseless against the
flurry of devastating blows that followed. Carla kept after him.
"SMACK!".."SMACK!".."THUD!".."THUD!" His ribs were on fire.
"SMACK!".."SMACK!".."SMACK!" Her last right dumped him in the floor on
his back.

"Give up Bruce." The Black Widow pleaded. "You're in bad shape and can't
possibly win this fight now. I don't want to destroy you completely, but
I'll do what I have to. So give up while you're still in one piece." "It
doesn't work that way Carla." The Caped Crusader replied. "I can't allow
you to dictate to me how I should live. I'm my own man, and taking orders
from a woman just isn't my style. Besides, I'm not beaten yet." "Yes
Bruce, you are. You may not want to admit it to yourself, but you are.
And it's only going to get worse, if you don't come to your senses. Now
please, give up before I really hurt you."

Batman climbed to his feet and raised his muscular arms. The Black Widow
shook her beautiful mane of black hair, and stepped up to meet him. Why
are men so damn stubborn? She asked herself. They're to pig headed and
mule stubborn for their own good. I guess I'll have to prove to him, that
he's making a big mistake by not doing as I ask. With that goal in mind,
the Black Widow went after her quarry with the fiercest of determination.
Batman tried to meet her head on, but was soon overwhelmed by her speed
and agility. The pain in his side was to much of a handicap to overcome.

He managed to avoid the first two punches she threw, but his reflexes
slowed when the pain in his side hit him. The Black Widow took over then,
and never looked back.
"SMACK..SMACK..THUD..THUD..SMACK..SMACK..SMACK!"Batman was stumbling
backwards and helpless. His face was rapidly swelling, and his ribs felt
like a knife was rattling around in there, cutting him to pieces. He
could no longer avoid or block anything she threw. His nose was broken
and wheezing, his mouth wa s split open and bleeding, and both eyes were
beginning to close up on him. And the pain in his ribs was unbearable. He
knew his cause was lost.

Carla was relentless. Everything she tried was getting through now. Her
solid punches and deadly kicks were quickly breaking him down. "WHAM!"
"SMACK..THUD..THUD..SMACK..SMACK!" He didn't stand a chance. Her hard
female punches were spearing into his face and body with extreme
regularity. And those devastating kicks of hers, nearly caved in what
ever part of his body they connected with.
"SMACK..SMACK..THUD..THUD..SMACK!" "WHAM!" Batman was groggy and wobbling
on unsteady legs.

"SMACK..THUD..THUD..SMACK..SMACK!" Carla didn't let up. She had her
adversary on the run, and she kept him there with precise punching.
"SMACK!" Her straight right landed between his swollen eyes, and Batman
crumpled to the floor at her feet. "Don't get up Bruce. Please stay down
and admit you have lost. You can't take much more, and you're helpless to
stop me from doing what ever I wish. Please Bruce, come to your senses
and admit defeat." Batman struggled to his feet, and staggered around
like a drunk. He tried to focus his eyes on the Black Widow, but the
blurriness wouldn't clear up.

Carla was furious with the stubborn asshole. A two year old could whip
his ass in the condition he was in. But he wouldn't quit. "DAMN IT BRUCE!
QUIT BEING SO HARD HEADED!" "SMMMMACKK!" Her right cross exploded on his
jaw, and sent him spinning in circles before he collapsed at her feet
again. "NOW STAY DOWN THERE BEFORE I REALLY GET PIS SED OFF!" Batman
tried to raise himself up, but blackness enveloped him like a blanket. He
slumped back to the floor out cold. The Black Widow walked away, and let
her anger cool down. He better listen to reason when I wake him up. She
said to herself. I've had enough of his stubbornness.

When she had sufficiently cooled down, she gently slapped him awake.
"Have you smartened up yet Bruce, or do I need to pick you up and beat
some sense into your hard head?" Batman knew he was beaten. Even if he
managed to make it to his feet, he wouldn't be able to offer any kind of
offense. Carla would slap down anything he threw at her, and continue to
beat him senseless. And the pain in his side would prevent him from
defending himself against those hard hitting female fists of hers. The
only option was to admit defeat. But the thought of doing that, sickened
him.

Carla could see he was mulling over his decision in his mind. She prayed
he would make the right one. He was definitely NOT in any condition to
continue. If he got up, she was afraid of what she might do to him. If
his stubbornness forced a confrontation with her frustration and anger,
she might lose it and really hurt him. "I'm only asking you to obey the
law like everyone else Bruce. Please don't make me hurt you anymore then
I already have. Stop this foolishness and agree to my terms. Please
Bruce."

"Alright Carla, you win. I concede victory to you, and I'll abide by your
wishes. Now help me up from this floor so I can take care of these busted
ribs you gave me. They hurt like hell ." "Thank you Bruce. I'm glad you
finally see my point of view. And I'm sorry about the broken ribs, but I
had to make you see things clearly." The Black Widow helped him up from
the floor, and placed his arm around her shoulders. "Come on, lets go
patch you up." She helped him upstairs, and called for Alfred to bring
the emergency kit.

Alfred stopped in the door way of the den with his mouth hanging wide
open. "Good heavens Master Bruce. What happened to you?" "Our training
just got a little out of hand Alfred, that's all. Bring me a double shot
of Brandy, would you please." "Right away Master Bruce. Right away." He
replied as he scurried off. Carla was taping up his ribs when Alfred
returned with the Brandy. "I suppose this is a bad time to tell you
Master Bruce. But Commissioner Gordon is flashing the bat and spider
signal in the sky." "Alright Alfred, thank you. We'll handle it."

"I'll answer the signals and see what he wants." Carla informed him. "You
sit there and take it easy. And while you're sitting there, redo those
taxes of yours so they will be accurate." "Yes Black Widow, you've made
your point. I'll probably get thrown out of the Men's Club for reporting
my taxes truthfully, but I'll do as you wish." "Thank you Bruce, that's
all I ask. And don't worry about anything that comes up. I'll handle all
of the problems until you mend." Batman looked at her and smiled. "Gotham
city couldn't be in more capable hands Black Widow." Carla strolled out
of the Manor to answer the call for help, feeling very good about
herself.