Not RatedMultiComplete

Take It Off

Warnings
Creator chose not to add warnings
Fandom
Batman - All Media Types
Main relationship
Oswald Cobblepot/Selina Kyle
Other relationships
Jonathan Crane/Jervis Tetch
Main characters
Oswald Cobblepot Selina Kyle
Other characters
Jonathan Crane Harleen Quinzel Pamela Isley Jervis Tetch Edward Nygma Harvey Dent Joker (DCU) Clayface Killer Croc Victor Fries Music Meister
Other tags
The Iceberg Lounge Character Study Dialogue Light The Rogues Gallery as Family (Batman) Implied Relationships
Language
English
Originally published
on AO3
Stats
1,563 words4 chapters 72 sparks0 comments0 bookmarks17 readsUpdated 22 Jul 2024
Summary

The Iceberg Lounge is many things. To some, it's a silly theme club. To others, it's the center of a vast criminal organization. To Gotham's wealthy, it's a lovely place to bring a date or catch a show.

To Gotham's freaks, it's a haven.

(Points if you know which song I'm pulling the fic name and chapter titles from).

Notes

Any mention of drinks are non-alcoholic.

Chapter 1: There's A Place Downtown

The Iceberg Lounge was, for all intents and purposes, an honest establishment. It catered to the rich and famous, offering delightfully (yet tastefully) bizarre entertainment from around the world.

 

All without including some of the more... Disturbing interests typical of such clientele. Oswald Cobblepot was many things, and rumored to be many more, but he had his limits.

 

For all its posh exuberance, the Lounge was located in a rougher part of Gotham. Not the roughest part, but a place that would be considered the bad side of town in most towns. Gotham, for better and worse, was hardly like most towns.

 

Among the decaying brown and grey buildings, the Lounge shines in blues and whites and silvers, like a literal iceberg dropped in the center of the filth, but with bright lights reflecting inside it to make it seem almost magical.

 

Inside you'll find tuxedoed waiters and waitresses rollerskating across the shiny floor, like iceskaters performing just for the patrons. In the center of its grand space is a moat with a mini island, kept nice and cold for the penguins who live there.

 

While watching the penguins and the waiters dance under the shining lights, feeling almost as if you're actually at the South Pole, you can eat and drink a variety of the best food and beverages the world over. There's so many options, you won't even notice that it's mostly seafood.

 

In fact, there's a lot of things you probably won't notice, if you know what's good for you. Pretend that all high-class places have bouncers covered in scales, with teeth like a crocodile's. Pretend that the man eating at the next table over wasn't on the news last night.

 

Pretend you can't see the red lights in a few of the penguins eyes. Pretend you don't know you're being watched. Pretend you have no idea why the owner and a woman who you'll pretend isn't the Cat just went to the back room with large duffel bags.

 

Pretend everything is as it should be, and you'll have a delightful evening, with prices that aren't too high but certainly aren't cheap. Mr Cobblepot is, at his core, a business man, after all.

72 carried over from the original posting

Comments (0)

No comments yet. Be the first to send some love!

Comments carried over from AO3 (4)

These were left on the original AO3 posting and are shown as they appeared there.

Ooogooo (Guest) via AO3 on Chapter 4 · 2024-07-22

Hi, your Batman fics kick ass, they're short and sweet and you have a good writing style. Hope you keep writing and I also hope you have a nice day :)

Arukir Author via AO3 2024-07-22

Wow, this is one of the nicest comments I've ever gotten. Thank you so very much, I'm so glad you enjoy my work! I hope you have a nice day as well 😊

kaszn via AO3 on Chapter 4 · 2024-07-24

Love this!! it's so sweet and silly, I'm glad I got to read another fic from you!! 🤩🫶

Arukir Author via AO3 2024-07-24

Thank you!!! 😊 😁

I'm glad you enjoy my work!

originalmeepbird via AO3 on Chapter 4 · 2026-02-18

Nice fic and I feel that Keha reference in my bones

Pazymuk via AO3 on Chapter 4 · 2026-10-02

Penguin the punctual! Lol

Log in or join free to leave a comment. Guests can still send sparks!