This one shot is very topical, especially with everything going on, i.e. Corona Virus. This is something we all need to tackle TOGETHER as a worldwide community. The number of people who try to get out of wearing a mask (excluding the ones who truly are exempt from wearing a mask due to a medical condition)or trying to get around the rules that shops and restaurants put in place is very disturbing. The aim of the chapter is to inform. I'm not saying that everyone is not doing this, because they aren't. This is aimed at the minority who are being intolerant and are acting selfish instead of saving lives.
Sorry for this rant but I'm fed up of seeing Karens and Kevins argue with employees who are only doing what they've been told to do and is apart of their job. I urge everyone to follow their government guidelines (for me, I'm following the England's government's guidelines) or ones that have been scientifically proven (like wearing a mask). This isn't only a matter of just protecting yourself; this is about protecting our loved ones, our friends, our families, our peers and the vulnerable. We need to fight this together. Thank you for actually reading this if you have and I apologise for ranting, but it needed to be done.
Pairing: None - this includes all of the batfamily and the villains
Prompt: The current situation we're in - a pandemic.
At Wayne Manor ---
Alfred wandered through the manor and into the main living room, where the majority of the family was residing for the day. The old butler was finding it difficult to keep himself sane, especially since he wasn't able to leave the manor. The pandemic had not only forced him to stay on the manor's grounds, but the others had been making sure he had been staying on the grounds.
Bruce, Tim, Damian and Duke were in the living room, watching the depressing news that was going on. The father sighed, knowing that it was affecting all of them in both of their careers. He had to make changes to how they patrolled and how they could protect themselves during this. Jason, Duke, Cass and Stephanie were the only ones he didn't need to worry about a mask - they were fully safe in that department.
"Don't even think about it, Pennyworth. We all agreed that we would take turns doing the grocery shopping each week. We want you to remain healthy and safe." Damian commented, not bothering to turn his attention away from the television screen. He could sense Alfred's presence and his comment made the butler sigh.
The whole family took extra precautions when it came to protecting everyone. Dick, Jason and Tyler all had their own apartments and used each other as support bubbles, especially since Tyler and Jason lived next to each other. Cass and Stephanie were living in Stephanie's apartment and Barbara was staying with her father, only going to the clocktower during patrol times. All decided to do a zoom call with one another every Friday evening, before going on patrol. Everyone made sure to update each other during this time too.
Bruce made sure that all his loved ones had everything necessary: hand sanitizer, hand cream, food, water, etc... Patrol had some improvements also. Everyone was required to wear masks, keeping at least six foot away unless they lived together, but even then the others made sure to keep their distance just to ensure their identities were safe. They used the same routes for patrol, reversing the way every two or four days.
This, brings us back to present day. Damian stood up and looked at the elderly butler, "Have you read everything in the library? Have you read each and every file in the batcave?" He asked only to receive silence, "I recommend you read those before we get stuck at the boredom problem." With that, the young Wayne left.
Today was Bruce's turn to go grocery shopping. He stood up and wandered to get himself ready: latex gloves, mask, hand sanitizer, hand cream. He had it all. The elder Wayne bid farewell to the group before he hopped into his car and drove out of the manor's premises. As he was driving through the city, he took in every single change.
The once busy streets were now quiet, almost abandoned but with a few cars on the road and a few pedestrians either jogging or walking. The criminals that lurked in the darkening alleyways were no longer there. The air that once held sickening clouds had now opened to a crystal clear diamond sky that only held dusts of clouds. People honestly felt safe during this scary times.
The billionaire pulled up into a parking spot before he got out, masked up, in hand with the family's reusable shopping bags. He got into the queue, making sure to follow the signs of floors. However, what surprised him was that just in front of him was Joker. He knew that there was still the sane man behind all the chemicals and insanity.
He watched as the queue slowly moved along and eventually, after 15 minutes he was allowed into the store to do the family shopping. As he followed the signage that was displayed on the floor - he heard a commotion from the next isle. He pushed the shopping cart around to that isle to see a woman, around the age of 50, without a mask yelling at store employees as well as a younger woman with ginger hair. He didn't need to think twice about who the ginger haired women was...that was Tyler.
"It's not hard to put a mask on and keep it on! Seriously! I understand if you have a reasonable medical condition that exempts you from wearing it but, if you had a single brain cell and some common sense, you wouldn't be outside - you would be shielding!" Tyler yelled at the woman, who in response was about to yell but the younger beat her to it, "And belittling store employees, who are enforcing policies that have been brought in by their employers, isn't going to change anything so. Back. Off."
"A mask takes away my freedom and breaches my constitutional rights!" The elder argued, walking towards the girl, who stepped back, "Oh give over, you snowflake!"
"I don't know where you've been! For all I know, you could be dumpster diving! I, like most people, don't want Covid and I certainly don't want any germs from you." Tyler retaliated. At this point, Bruce decided to step in. It was his daughter figure after all.
"Excuse me ma'am, but if you really can't wear a mask then I recommend leaving. I'm sure that the police would really like to know that one of their citizens are breaching the policies and laws put in place to keep everyone safe." Bruce spoke up in a calm voice. The employees seemed to let out a silent sigh of relief - they weren't paid to deal with ungrateful ignorant people like this. Bruce sent a silent command to Tyler, who was ready to throw fists with this woman.
The elderly woman stuttered, speechless for words. I mean, no one really couldn't argue with the billionaire Bruce Wayne on a matter such as this. If the billionaire was capable of wearing a mask without any complaints, then so can an elderly woman. With a huff, she stormed off out the store before everyone went back to their own business in getting groceries.
---Time skip---
It was around midnight and Gotham was quiet. Crime had reduced in recent months due to the pandemic and about a fifth of the crime was the working class getting essential items from stores after hours. All the heroes and vigilantes were taking a more lenient approach when it came the criminals.
However, the other four-fifths of crime was due to the super-villains of Gotham. For example, like now. They teamed up to breakout of Arkham once again...for the sixth time this month.
The heroes, who were masked up (Red Hood as a message and a joke wears his eye mask, general face mask, his helmet and another mask), had split up during to prevent everyone from escape. What they noticed over the pandemic was that the villains were following the laws and policies for Covid, which surprised them.
Spoiler and Batgirl (Cass) were fighting Harley and Poison Ivy, who both were wearing masks. They knew that they had to break the social distancing to actually fight them so they tried a different approach, talking. The female's went on for about 10 minutes, where it became intense whilst there was some banter between them. Eventually, they agreed to return to their cells, on the idea that they were less likely to contract the virus from in their isolated cells.
Batman and Signal were fighting Joker and Punchline, there was no negotiation with these two so it was pointless trying to talk. However, the two heroes came up with the idea of remaining at 6ft apart from the two villains. They used their grappling hooks, grappling the hook around their legs and pulling them to the ground so hard that it knocked the two out.
Nightwing and Robin were fighting Killer Croc, Ra's Al Ghul and Black Mask. Now, it may seem like they were outnumbered physically but they had a plan. It was similar to their mentor's plan but instead they grappled solely around Killer Croc and slammed him into the other two, who all three were knocked unconscious.
Red Hood and Red Robin were fighting Professor Pyg, Two-Face and Penguin. Now, these two's dynamics was like rocks and water - they just sink. They couldn't really come up with a decent and safe plan. Both ended up with cuts to their bodies and overall, it was just a messy situation but they did knock the three villains out.
Weapon was left alone with Scarecrow, Riddler and Bane. Three against One is never a fair fight but if someone was to use the fear toxin against one of their own, maybe it was a possibility of winning. Which is what happened. Crane sprayed Nygma on accident and Nygma lashed out at Crane, thinking it was someone else. Weapon swiftly disabled Bane and knocked out, before she slammed the other two's head together - knocking them out.
I'll leave this here. But do take the message before you read something else. We are still in the middle of a pandemic - help everyone by wearing a mask, if you can (i.e. medical exemptions) and help the community if you see someone struggling.
Thank you for reading!