Authors Note: Alright, it's coming along but here is my sequel to Death of the Joker.I promised myself I would hammer this out, it may be a slow process but it shall happen!
Things to know; You should probably read my previous story, Death of the Joker. and by probably, meaning yes do it. Also this is preboot. Somewhere ending after the return of Bruce, not sure if Batman Inc will have happened or not.
And without further ado enjoy!
***I also updated DoJ just the prologue cus it kept bugging me.
Warning for ALL chapters; DC related characters belong rightfully to DC, this is just a fanfic made by a lonely robin fangirl living in a lonely world.
The Sway of Evil
Chapter One: Fierce Reunions
Stephanie Brown crashed into the wall, shock written all over her body. She had been simply coming back from making a small trip to the grocery store when her assailant advanced.
He was quick, he wore all black so she assumed her was a ninja of some sorts. He slipped a sword out and swung it into the air to strike her.
She ducked, rolled and threw the nearest object she could potentially use as a weapon close to her.
Now it was his turn to be surprised. The four litre jug struck him in the face, and splattered the ground with the white fluid.
He snarled but she aimed a good kick then stomped on the wrist that held is sword. she kicked it away from him as he kneed her in the groin area.
She groaned but managed to get herself up faster then he expected. She grabbed him by the ankles and pulled him down to her fallen level. He turned himself to kick her only to find himself pinned, a knife to his throat.
'So, tell me who you are and what the fuck you want from me? she demanded.
He grinned, 'Fine, but at least let me sit up, Girl Wonder.'
Stephanie's eyes widened in shock; she was floored, to the point where she allowed him to sit up, mind you, she was still sitting on his lower half.
'How do you know who I was?' she whispered.
'It's merely a game, you know one where-' his voice cut off into a cry and Stephanie barely managed to roll off of him to avoid the bullet that shot through his neck. Her shoulder winced in pain as it grazed and she looked up, knife in hand, at where the shot came from.
A figure was on the lower roof to a building nearby. He wore a dark trench coat buttoned up and large black shades. His blonde hair glowing in the sunlight.
Because it was fucking three in the afternoon.
'Who are you?' She screamed. He didn't raised his gun but easily answered, his voice clear as day.
'Gotham has recently lost some key players of the night.' The man said, he had a soft voice, it almost seemed familiar to her. But not enough to place a name.
'So you decided to move in?' She supplied standing now. He gave a grin and spoke once more.
'Well yes, I figured why not start with a game? Catch the birdies and make them hurt. let the city see you are just like the scum you try to put away.' He said. He gave a sly smirk.
She tried to launch herself towards him, but he was gone within seconds after making a shot towards her already injured arm. She had barely a reaction time as the shot hit, she felt the pain and with a groan hit the ground.
Stephanie groaned moments later, no cops had arrived yet and she managed to get herself upwards. Her arm was hit but it didn't seem that bad. She paused and knelt, feeling woozy now but she placed a hand at the ninja, to see if he was alive. But she knew he wasn't. So she fled, took off down an alley. Once some distance was put between her and the body she pulled out her cell phone and hit speed dial. She didn't even realize which selection she made, her eyes glued to the red on her hands.
She choked back tears as her body slid down the wall, and the gruff voice sounded on the other end, but that moment, she knew she was safe.
Cassandra had been reading. She had felt pride upon returning that her ability to read and speak had grown immensely. Even being in Hong Cong, old audio books she had scoured from the manor, lulled her to sleep. Her lips forming the words as the voice read to her.
She was listening to one now as her head slipped from her palms and onto the table.
A figure stood before chuckling softly as he slipped the head phones from her ears. Tossing them aside he gently lifted her into his arms, bridal style and carried her towards the bed.
She had been visiting his apartment more so after her own patrol up until more frequently now. She instead would somehow end up on a roof top in his area near the end of the rounds waiting. He would follow her back to the manor. He still avoided the place during the daytime, but often would find his extra clothing and personal items arriving in her bedroom. He suspected good old Alfred.
Her hair kept above the shoulders in a neat bob, was messily fanning out against the soft pillow. Her chest gently lifted with each breath she made in her sleep. Her eyes fluttering gently with whatever she was dreaming about.
He sighed and stood. He had come back from his own patrol, of his own side of town, towards the Narrows. Stripping into more comfortable pyjamas, Jason placed his gear quietly in the closet before laying down on the bed himself. His last visit with Bruce, they had agreed upon giving a small area for Jason alone to patrol. He would there, do as he please and run crime the way he does. It took a lot of arguing but it seemed for the best, and to keep at least some of an image for himself as the Red Hood.
His hand laid on his cigarette package and took a glance towards the helmet laying on the top of his gear pile. The red glittered almost demoniacally back at him.
He chucked the package in the closet as well and went to slid the door closed.
Although the earlier morning was nearing, and most vigilantes were ending their own rounds, a solitary figure hurried along the shadows of the city.
It did not take long for him to return to the head quarters. His jacket soon was thrown off revealing him in a simple black shirt and slacks. As he entered the main room, his glasses went from shades back to their usual form.
He entered the room where they met, he stood in the centre of a ring of chairs that held faces, looking at him expectantly.
'I had to take a detour.' He explained to the crowd, 'One of our members sadly could not wait and got killed in action.'
'So.' One person, a man with a thick Italian accent said, 'What now?'
'I am gathering a few more key players into our midst, then we play the game.' he said, giving a grin. He slung the rifle from his shoulder to the wall closest to him before speaking again, 'A game where we end Batman, and take Gotham as our own!'
It was one thing Jason never got used to, was waking up with a pair of dark eyes watching him. It was dinner time and the manor was erupt with noise, annoying noise. He groaned as Cassandra merely continued silently watching him, a small smile playing on her lips.
'What are you thinking about baby bat?' he murmured, pressing his face to her neck, inhaling her delightful scent. Cass sighed as an answer and he trailed kisses upwards along her neck and jaw, until he kissed her on the lips.
Of course the door would open at that moment, Jason groaned as he rolled off of her and sat up, a pair of bright eyes and blonde hair bouncing before them.
'Whoops, was assuming it would just be her in here.' Stephanie chuckled. Her arm bandaged.
'What's up?' Cass asked. She was then on alert seeing the wrapped arm and bruise starting on Stephanie's forehead.
'Emergency meeting in the cave.' Stephanie said, Jason groaned and groped the floor for his pants, thankfully he still had his boxers on. And Cass was still in her pyjamas.
'Here Bad Boy Wonder.' Stephanie said tossing him his pants. He wondered how they got that far towards the door.
'We'll be down in a moment.' Cass said.
'Yeah, and don't bypass through the kitchen. Alfred has food and drinks down in the cave, in less Dick ate it all.' Stephanie said, 'Or you wanna, you know, eat something else.' She winked and shut the door behind her.
Jason grumbled as he slipped his pants back on and grabbed his shirt, he glanced at Cass who had yet to get dressed. He gave a quirk of an eyebrow at her innocent stare.
'What is it?'
'Bad Boy Wonder.' She repeated, a wide grin tugging on her lips.
Jason cursed and threw a blouse at her. Stephanie would pay for this.
They entered the cave together to find it buzzing. Dick and Babs chatting in one corner. Bruce talking quietly to Alfred. Stephanie was beside Damian who merely ignored her and gave his attention to Titus.
Jason hated the cave. It was too cold and gave him too many memories he wished the pit had made him forget. He easily accepted Alfred's outstretched cup of tea. Cass meanwhile snagged an apple from a nearby bowl and sat beside Stephanie. Jason leaned against the wall nearest to Dick.
'Stephanie was attacked.' Bruce began with preamble. Since recent he had grown used to Jason's appearances at the manor. Jason still kept his apartment but frequent the manor (mostly for Cass of course, and to spar occasionally). But Stephanie's sudden appearance had them on edge. To make matters more serious, Barbara was on her other side as well.
'By some unknown ninja.' Stephanie continued, 'had the upper hand and was about to get the scoop but a sniper took him out. Young, probably my age roughly, blonde, blue eyes and rocks a trench coat like a loser.'
Dick sipped his coffee, 'Did he say anything as to why?' he then asked.
Stephanie shook her head, 'Except...the shooter said it was game. Other dude claimed the city was going to be his since some of the big players are gone now.'
'I assume he means Dent, Scarecrow, the Joker, Harley, and Hatter.' Bruce said as Babs wheeled to the computer and brought up several other files.
'There was also a recent break out from Arkham.' She said typing quickly, 'Ivy, Bane and Professor Pyg escaped. Bane was found injured later on but he won't give up who did it.'
'So some loser wants to take a bite out of Gotham, he does know there's more of us then them?' Jason said.
'Well,' Stephanie said, all eyes turned to her, 'I may have left out one bit until now.' She paused feeling her heart rate increase.
'Spit it out.' Bruce growled.
'I was called Girl Wonder.' Stephanie mumbled. She looked now even more uneasy. From Jason learned fairly recently, she had been a temporary robin as well, and ended up nearly dying as well as having her own trouble with the bat.
Then there was silence.
'You haven't been girl wonder in years though...' Barbara said slowly. She turned back to the computer and brought up footage from the nearby traffic light to where Stephanie was attacked.
'I might be able to get something from this, your attacker picked a good vantage point where the camera don't hit.' she said.
'And you were in civilian clothing.' Dick added, 'this isn't good if they knew who you were.'
'Someone coming after Robin's.' Jason said, 'sounds stupid. Don't they know they'll get wrecked?'
Damian tutted as Bruce watched as Barbara brought up a grainy shot of a figure, wearing something bulky, leaping to the nearest rooftop from another.
'He looks like he's hiding something.'
'Sniper rifle.' Jason and Stephanie both said at the same time.
Bruce sighed, 'Well our best course of action is too keep patrols close together, try to draw them out again.' he turned to Stephanie, 'when you're able to I'd like you to join as well.'
Stephanie looked shocked but agreed.
Jason then looked at Stephanie, 'Think you could remember the model of the gun? Could look into that angle too. I've got some lock down on most gun trafficking now.'
Dick snorted beside him and Jason merely shrugged.
'Sure.' Stephanie said, 'I can try.'
'Should we tell Tim?' Cass now said. Beside her Jason laughed, 'Obviously they're in Gotham, I think Tim's probably the safest one being half way across the country.'
'I will call Master Timothy this evening.' Alfred said giving a disapproving look towards Jason.