The Game Cafe in Marvel and DC

40 – An Alliance between Villains

[A/N: Just before this chapter begins, I have an announcement to make: for the next three weeks, there will not be any chapters, as I will either be working, or recovering from my surgery on the 3rd of next month, see you all then]

[Earlier that Night]

Deep within an abandoned building covered in overgrowth was a beautiful garden, one that looked straight from fantasy with how vibrant and colorful life was inside the garden, it was a place strong with the power of the Green, and, at the center of this garden, was Poison Ivy, one of many Avatars for the Green.

Standing around her, were various creatures and people that could only be considered to be 'Villains' or 'Criminals.'

There was Swamp Thing, another Avatar of the Green.

Killer Croc, King of the Gotham Sewers.

Catwoman, arguably the best thief in all of Gotham.

Harley Quinn, a Crazy Clown and Ex-Lover of the Insane Clown, the Joker.

Mr. Freeze, a man desperate to save his wife.

"Why did you invite us here, Ivy?" Killer Croc asked with a growl.

"I gathered you all here today to ask for your help," Ivy started only to be interrupted, "I'm not interested, leave me be," Mr. Freeze answered, turning around to leave.

"Even if what I offer can help save your wife?" Ivy asked, a smile on her face as Mr. Freeze stopped in his tracks.

Turning around, the stoic face of Mr. Freeze could be seen through the glass of his exosuit staring at Ivy.

"Speak," He commanded.

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"Not too long ago, Catwoman, Harley, and I started visiting a store. Operating this store...is an inhuman entity that offers a wide range of services and goods. Weapons, Medicine, Food, Water, countless things that could very well change Gotham forever, and I need your help."

Not convinced, Mr. Freeze asked, "Why should I believe you?" 

Not even replying, a vine suddenly extended from the ground holding a device and stopped just before Mr. Freeze's face.

"What's this?" Mr. Freeze asked, examining the item before grabbing it.

"The entity that runs the store calls it a 'Stimpak,' a Syringe containing some kind of medical solution that rapidly heals a person's body and injuries, even helping set bones back into place," Ivy stated, before freezing when Mr. Freeze pulled off his glove and pulled out a knife which he ruthless slashed over his sickly pale arm.

Not even flinching, he then stabbed the Stimpak into his arm and pumped half of its contents into his wound.

He watched with apt attention as the wound began to slowly but surely heal.

Everyone looked at the man as if he was crazy.

"Are you stupid? What if it was poisonous?" Killer Croc asked with a deep growl.

"Even if it was, it would not have harmed me. Due to my change in physiology, most venoms and poisonous materials no longer affect me,  and if it were to be dangerous, I could just freeze it and extract it from my arm before it does any real damage," Mr. Freeze calmly spoke, eyes focused on his healing injury.

Looking up, he asked, "Are there more things like this offered by this...Entity?" Mr. Freeze asked.

"Yes, though that is not the main point, the Entity offers a service that lets you experience life in another world, one of the worlds available to for choice has significantly more advanced medical technology than ours, if luck has it, then there's a chance they have something that can heal your wife," Ivy explained, thinking of Fallout and the myriad of medicines she had already come across.

"And what exactly are you offering? What do you want?" Dr. Freeze asked, as stoic as ever when it comes to matters of healing his wife.

"Simple, we work together. The Wasteland is a dangerous place, and if all of us work together, we will have a much easier time learning how to earn points and learning everything we can about the wastes and the Pre-War technology," Ivy explained, only for Killer Croc to speak up, "Then why am I here? What do I get out of this?"

"That is also simple, I know of those little communities you protect in the sewers, what I offer is a Symbiotic relationship, I will give them fruit-bearing plants and fresh water, and in exchange, they shall do no harm to the plants and they shall treat the plants with the respect they deserve," Ivy offered, only to continue with her offer, "And, as a cherry on top, I'll even give your little communities protection."

Killer Croc just continued to glare before eventually growling and answering, "Fine, but you will need to include a variety of plants for consumption, if they have only one type of thing to eat they will not be able to receive the other vitamins and minerals they need."

Surprised by the intelligent words that came from the Killer Croc's mouth, everyone stared at him.

"Fools," He growled in anger and annoyance.

"No offense, teddy bear, It's just that we were not expecting that! You typically just prefer beating up or eating your way through a problem!" Harley commented.

Killer Croc just huffed but did not comment on the nickname Harley had long since given him.

"And...us?" Swamp Thing finally spoke.

Ivy looked over at it and smiled, "I found a way we can heal this world, and with hope, restore it to what it once was, a Paradise."

"Then...we...will...help," The giant avatar of the Green stated.

"We have a few hours before the store opens, and unfortunately the services of the Entity can be expensive, so, for the first day I will foot the bill, after that, we will see," Ivy told them.

"Then what shall we do in the meantime?" Mr. Freeze asked.

"I will be going over what I have learned so far about the world of 'Fallout,'" Ivy told them.

...

Hours later, all five of the villains gathered outside of the cafe.

"Don't antagonize it," Ivy warned once again.

"We know!" Harley replied.

"Not you, I already know you will antagonize it already, it's them I am worried about," Ivy told Harley while gesturing to Killer Croc, Swamp Thing, and Mr. Freeze.

"Oh, why didn't you say so!" Harley asked, causing Catwoman to groan.

Stepping into the cafe, the two rather large villains, Killer Croc and Swamp Thing had to crouch and duck under the door.

Once inside they had to slouch a bit to avoid hitting the ceiling.

Staring at the new arrivals, was Zeref.

"Welcome..." Zeref greeted before whispering to himself, "Note to self...raise the ceiling in future expansion."

"Greetings...I have brought a few...friends along with me," Ivy stated, hesitating when mentioning her acquaintances.

"I...see," Zeref answered before continuing, "I assume they are here for the VR experience?"

"Correct," Ivy answered, to which Zereif replied, "Then I assume you will help them with setting up their accounts and paying for their sessions?"

Sighing, Ivy nodded before approaching the counter with a bag in hand.

Placing the duffle bag on the counter, she opened the zipper to reveal quite the amount of money.

"Will you be placing this money on tab?" Zeref asked, curious, but not asking where the money came from.

She looked briefly surprised before nodding.

"Enjoy your time in Fallout, and before you walk off, do please inform your friends that they shall be quite human when they play any of the games we currently offer, also, there is a new game available to play, Stardew Valley, if you are interested," Zeref informed her.

Looking surprised, she turned to look at Killer Croc and Swamp Thing, imagining them in human forms.

Shaking her head, she walked back to her group, with Mr. Freeze, Swamp Thing, and Killer Croc having to push the computer chairs out of the way as they would not be able to fit in them.

Ivy could swear she heard a sigh come from the store owner behind her, but she simply ignored that and treated it as her imagination.

Luckily, Harley was already helping them set up their accounts, so, without further ado, she grabbed a computer, but not before looking at the only other customer in the room who was here every hour the cafe was open. Frowning, she wondered if he was playing Fallout or if he had any experience in Fallout, little did she know.

Once the others were back in their games, with Harley and Catwoman jumping back into Project Zomboid and Infamous, Ivy jumped right into Fallout.

No matter what, she had to get her hands on that G.E.C.K., she had no idea if the G.E.C.K. would ever appear on the system store again, and she would not risk it.