Marvel: Batman x Ironman

Words: 2440

----

[SHIELD's Base – One Week Later]

The fluorescent lights in SHIELD's containment room buzzed softly, casting a sterile glow over the array of monitors and equipment surrounding Jennifer Takeda. Her condition had worsened since Sinister's attack. The injection he had administered spiked her radiation levels to unprecedented heights, pushing her already unstable powers into overdrive. Even with her specially designed suit, the containment room had to be reinforced to withstand the energy leaking from her body.

Bruce stood at the center of it all, flanked by screens displaying Jennifer's fluctuating vitals and molecular structure. His brow furrowed in concentration, his gloved hands working with meticulous precision as he manipulated a holographic interface. A prototype vial of the cure glimmered on a nearby table, the culmination of days of sleepless effort.

"How's it looking, Brucie?" Harley's voice broke the silence as she leaned against the doorway. She was trying to mask her irritation, but the undercurrent of jealousy in her tone was impossible to miss. There they were planning on having a nice fun time together, but Jennifer's body began to destabilize again and her life was in danger.

Bruce didn't look up. "Almost there. The molecular structure needs one more adjustment to stabilize. Another twenty minutes, maybe less."

Harley folded her arms, her expression a mix of pride and annoyance. "You've been saying that for hours. You sure you don't need a break? Jennifer seems to be doing fine."

Jennifer, sitting nearby in a chair, gave a weak laugh. "Fine isn't the word I'd use. But hey, at least I'm not glowing uncontrollably anymore."

Bruce finally glanced up, his eyes meeting Harley's. "You know this is important. Sinister's injection didn't just destabilize her powers—it boosted her radiation output exponentially. If we don't neutralize it, her body won't hold up."

Harley huffed but said nothing, her eyes flicking to Jennifer, who gave her a faint smile. The tension between them was palpable, though Jennifer seemed more amused than anything.

Jennifer's suit did little to shield her from the radiation she emitted, but Bruce's enhanced physiology allowed him to withstand it. Despite Harley's protests, he had been spending most of his time in the containment room with Jen, monitoring her condition and working on the cure. "You know," She said softly as he adjusted a monitor, "you're as stubborn as ever. You haven't changed a bit, other than your face. I kinda miss the old one, but the new one has a unique charm to it."

Over the weekend, Bruce told her about his past life in DC. He didn't go into much detail, but enough to help her get a gist of it.

"What can I say? I'm a man of my word," He said, smiling. "I said I'd find a cure for you, and I will. You just need to hold on a little longer."

Jennifer gave a lonely smile. "I know. But it's hard when all I want to do is..." She stopped mid-sentence and looked away, her eyes distant. 'Hug you and maybe... Sigh!'

Bruce frowned, sensing her hesitation. "What is it, Jen?"

She shook her head. "It's nothing. Don't worry about it."

[Later that day]

Harley had been simmering with frustration ever since she left the containment room. Jennifer's attempts to cozy up to Bruce hadn't gone unnoticed, and while Harley trusted Bruce completely, she wasn't about to sit idly by while someone else made moves on her man.

"This is war," Harley muttered to herself as she stomped down the hallway, her boots clicking against the polished floor. "She thinks she's all cute with her little radiation problem and sad puppy eyes? Not on my watch."

She was about to fly away, but her eyes fell on the Quinjet in the hanger. "Oh, yeah!" She stole it. She had a plan—a brilliant, foolproof plan—and it involved calling in reinforcements.

Back at home, Selina was lounging on the plush leather couch, sipping a glass of wine and flipping through a fashion magazine. Morgan and Hela went out to the supermarket. "Huh?" She heard the sound of an aircraft landing in the garden. She barely glanced up when the window suddenly flew open and Harley shot in like a bullet.

"Selina! Emergency!" Harley declared, her hands on her hips.

Selina raised an eyebrow, setting her glass down with deliberate care. "Harley, darling, if this is about another shopping spree or redecorating the manor in neon pink, I'm not interested."

"No, no, no! This is serious!" Harley huffed, plopping down beside Selina and grabbing her hands. "Brucie's being hit on by some radioactive floozy, and I need backup!"

Selina blinked. "Radioactive floozy? You mean someone at SHIELD?"

"Exactly!" Harley nodded vigorously. "This Jennifer chick—she's all sick and glowing and playing the damsel card to get Brucie's attention! And he's being all helpful and kind and—ugh!"

Selina smirked and leaned back, her eyes lighting up with pure amusement. "And let me guess, you want me to swoop in there and remind her of who's boss?

"Exactly!" Harley said again, this time with a mischievous glint in her eye. "You're all classy and intimidating and—you know—catty. She won't stand a chance!"

Selina sighed dramatically as though this were the greatest inconvenience of her day, but the sparkle in her eyes betrayed her amusement. "Fine. Let's go rescue your fragile ego, Harley. But if this ends with me wrestling a glowing woman in a containment suit, you owe me big."

...

[Back to the base]

Harley stormed into the base, her frustration crackling like static electricity in the air around her. She was dragging Selina behind her, who, for once, looked both amused and mildly concerned.

"Harley, slow down," Selina purred, trying to keep her composure. "You're going to pull my arm off. What's gotten into you?"

"What's gotten into me?" Harley snapped, glaring back at her. "That little green-glowing science project is making moves on our man, and I ain't just gonna sit here and watch her bat her radioactive eyelashes at him!"

Selina raised a brow but allowed herself to be dragged along. "Bruce has been single-mindedly focused on her cure, hasn't he? You really think he's paying attention to her flirting?"

Harley huffed. "Oh, he says he's focused on the cure, but she's laying it on thicker than a Gotham fog. I saw the way she was looking at him—like a kitten staring at a bowl of cream."

Selina chuckled softly. "You're adorable when you're jealous. But you're overreacting. Bruce isn't the type to fall for distractions."

Harley stopped abruptly in front of the one-way observation window overlooking the containment room. Inside, Bruce was hunched over a holographic display, his focus unbroken as he worked on Jennifer's cure. Jennifer sat nearby, watching him with a soft, wistful expression.

"See that?" Harley jabbed a finger at the glass. "She's practically undressing him with her eyes! And he's just sitting there all oblivious, being his big, brainy self."

Selina squinted, her sharp eyes taking in the scene. "Mmm, I see what you mean. She's definitely got a little crush brewing. But look closer, darling—Bruce hasn't even glanced at her. He's too busy saving her life."

Harley crossed her arms and pouted. "I know, but still! What if he does notice eventually? What if she starts playing damsel in distress to get his attention?"

Selina smirked and leaned in close, her lips brushing against Harley's ear. "If it ever comes to that, you have nothing to worry about, Harls," her voice dropped to a sultry whisper, "if she somehow falls for him, we might have an opportunity for a little… expansion."

Harley blinked, her cheeks turning pink as the implication hit her. "Wait, you mean—"

"A foursome," Selina said matter-of-factly, her emerald eyes twinkling with mischief. "You, me, Bruce, and Jennifer. Think about it. She's cute, smart, and glows in the dark. Could be fun."

Harley's jaw dropped, and she stared at Selina like she'd grown a second head. "Are you serious? A foursome?"

Selina shrugged nonchalantly. "Why not? Bruce won't say no. If anything, it'd be her who'd need convincing. But if it bothers you that much, I'll have a little chat with her. Keep her in check."

Harley let out a mix of a groan and a laugh. "I can't believe you, Kitty. You're just as crazy as me."

Selina grinned. "That's why we work so well together, darling."

Inside the containment room, Jennifer tilted her head slightly, glancing toward the observation window. She couldn't see through the one-way glass, but her heightened senses told her she was being watched. Bruce, oblivious to her gaze, continued adjusting the prototype cure.

"Bruce?" Jennifer ventured, her voice soft.

"Hmm?" he replied distractedly.

"Thanks for everything you're doing. I know I've said it a lot, but it means a lot to me."

Bruce finally looked up, offering her a kind but professional smile. "It's what I do, Jen. Helping people—it's part of the job."

Outside, Selina nudged Harley. "See? All business. You're overthinking it."

Harley sighed, her tension easing slightly. "Okay, maybe you're right. But if she gets handsy, I'm gonna lose it."

Selina wrapped an arm around Harley's shoulders, pulling her close. "Why? Don't tell me you don't want to experience something new. That would be such a shame."

Harley bit her lip, trying to keep herself from grinning. "Okay, I'm open to new experiences as long as you're there with me. The more the merrier, right?"

Selina smiled. "Right."

[The Next Morning]

It was finally done.

The serum, a luminescent green concoction in a reinforced vial, was in Bruce's gloved hand. Every calculation, every sleepless hour, every ounce of his brilliance had led to this moment.

"Alright, Jen," Bruce said with a smile, "This is it. The serum should stabilize your radiation levels and repair the damage to your cells. It might feel intense at first, but it's designed to adapt to your physiology quickly."

Jennifer sat on the edge of the reinforced chair, her containment suit glowing faintly from the energy that still pulsed within her. She met his gaze, her confidence wavering but her trust unbroken. "Let's do it. I'm ready."

From the observation window, Natasha, Harley, and Selina watched as the final process began. There were other agents and doctors on the standby, just in case.

Bruce inserted the serum into a specialized injector and pressed it against Jennifer's neck. "Deep breath," he instructed.

She nodded, inhaling sharply as he pressed the trigger. The serum entered her bloodstream, glowing faintly as it coursed through her veins. Her body tensed, her hands gripping the armrests of the chair. The monitors surrounding them spiked with activity as her vitals fluctuated wildly.

"Bruce..." Jennifer gasped, her voice strained.

"I've got you," He reassured her, his fingers flying across the holographic interface. "Your body's adapting. Just hang on."

Jennifer's breathing grew labored as waves of heat radiated off her skin, causing the room's temperature to rise. Her suit strained against the energy, but the reinforced materials held firm. The glow around her increased so much that everyone outside had to cover their eyes.

Then, suddenly, everything stopped.

Jennifer slumped forward, her breathing slow and steady. The monitors stabilized, showing a perfect set of vitals. Bruce leaned in, scanning her with a handheld device to confirm the results.

"It worked," he whispered, a small smile of relief breaking across his face. "The serum worked."

Jennifer opened her eyes, blinking away the disorientation. "I... I feel normal," she said softly, her voice tinged with awe. She glanced at her hands, which no longer emitted a faint glow. "It's gone. The radiation... it's gone."

Bruce nodded, stepping back to give her space. "The serum repaired the instability in your genes. You're safe."

She took off her suit and looked at her arms. She was back to normal. Her skin... There was no more radiation oozing out of her body.

From the observation window, Harley let out a cheer, punching the air triumphantly. "That's my Brucie! Always saving the day!"

Selina smirked, giving Harley a playful nudge. "Told you there was nothing to worry about."

"..." Natasha just smiled shaking her head.

But as Jennifer stood, her expression shifted. A sudden wave of energy rippled through her, and she stumbled, catching herself on the chair.

"Jen?" Bruce asked, his concern returning.

"I'm fine," She said quickly, though her voice trembled. She clenched her fists, her hands beginning to glow faintly again—but this time, it wasn't the uncontrolled radiation from before. The glow was concentrated, stable, and powerful.

Bruce's eyes widened as he ran another scan. "Your radiation levels are stable, but... your genes. They've... mutated."

Jennifer's eyes flicked to him, fear and wonder mingling in her gaze. "What does that mean?"

"You've awakened your X-genes," Bruce explained. "The serum stabilized your body, but it also triggered a latent mutation. You're a mutant now."

She stared at her glowing hands, the realization washing over her. "I can feel it," she murmured. "The energy—it's different. It's... controlled."

Bruce stepped closer, his tone reassuring. "This could be a good thing, Jen. You're no longer at the mercy of your powers. You can control them now. But we'll need to test the extent of your abilities. But sorry to say, for the next 72 hours, you have to stay in the containment room until we can make sure your body won't leak any radiation. And..." He pointed toward the table with a box of serum. "You gotta keep them close when you are out, just in case."

"Well, 72 hours. Got it. Thank you," Jennifer hugged him.

"No problem." He patted her back.

Harley leaned against Selina, grinning broadly. "Well, I think this calls for a celebration! I want chicken wings, coke, maybe some fries and a burger, oh and a jar of ice cream! A lot of it!"

Selina chuckled. "You gonna get a stomach ache like before."

"Arg! How do you know?" Harley pouted.

Selina grinned. "Who knows? Oh, by the way. Since we are here, should we look at the two new recruits? I heard one can transform into a cat or tiger-like hybrid girl and the other one is a fox girl. And..." She moved her lips near Harley's ears. "Sue says that foxy girl wants Bruce to train her personally. You know what I mean, right?"

"Oh yeah?" Harley cracked her knuckles. "Let's pay the newbies a visit, then we can have food."

As they were about to go toward the training hall...

"Hey, I heard that. They just got out of the hospital. Don't injure them, please," Natasha sipped on her coffee as she walked past them.

****[Reviews and PowerStones💎💎]*****

If you want to support me or read advance chapters, check out my Patr éon. 

Support Link: https://www.patr eon.com/XcaliburXc

⭐As of now, Pat reon is 17 chapters ahead⭐ [No double billing]