It Takes 5 Rogues To Raise A Piper
Chapter 1: Kidnapped Part 1
When he had become a villain several years earlier Captain Cold had developed his rules and code of conduct. No killing (although there were a few exceptions), no hurting women or children and once a Rogue, always a Rogue. He was beginning to consider adding kidnapping to that list as well. Currently he and the other Rogues, Heatwave, Mirror Master, Captain Boomerang and Weather Wizard were standing in a deserted warehouse, facing their client, one Osgood Rathaway.
"So you want us to kidnap your son?" Cold broke the silence, his voice sounding unusually harsh in the empty building.
"Yes," Osgood nodded. He was an ugly little man with thin features and, quite frankly, was making all of them look remarkably handsome. However, he was the richest man in both Central City and Keystone, quite possibly the state. "You will be paid three million dollars for your trouble."
"Three million?" Captain Boomerang straightened, instantly sobered.
"Why?" Weather Wizard looked confused. "Why do you want us to do this?"
Osgood scowled. "I don't answer to freaks wearing spandex."
All of the Rogues stiffened and Cold's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Watch your step, Rathaway," he warned. "It doesn't really matter why so we'll do it. But know this; if you insult one of my men again you will never see your son again."
"Fair enough," Osgood nodded and he stretched out his hand. After a moment's hesitation Cold took it and the two men shook.
"So which one is Rathaway's?" Mirror Master asked curiously. He and the other Rogues were in a van, spying on a playground where, supposedly, their client's son was playing.
"Give me a minute," Heatwave said absent-mindedly. "Hey, Len, I think I've got him. Red hair and green eyes?"
Captain Cold looked at the picture they had been given. "Yep," he confirmed.
"He's underneath that tree," Heatwave pointed.
"Boomer, Mark, you're up," Cold ordered.
"On it," Weather Wizard flew out of the van and hovered in the air, making sure to get everyone's attention. Then Captain Boomerang followed him, tossing a few of his signature exploding projectiles, forcing everyone to seek shelter.
Mirror Master took advantage of the distraction and he and Cold used the opportunity to pop out of the swing set. Cold ran across the grass as fast as he could and grabbed the boy then returned to Mirror Master. "Rogues, fall back," he ordered. "We've got what we came for."
With that the Rogues retreated. Weather Wizard flew up high in the sky, disappearing from view while Captain Boomerang returned to the van as Heatwave revved the engine and they took off. Mirror Master and Captain Cold (along with their hostage) disappeared into the swing set.
They met as planned at their hideout. After depositing Captain Cold and the boy there Mirror Master had retrieved Heatwave and Captain Boomerang while Weather Wizard arrived shortly after all of the others had arrived.
"You know," Mick said, breaking the silence. "I thought he'd be more scared than this."
Seven-year-old Hartley Rathaway just stared up at them, his green eyes wide with curiosity. He didn't seem the least bit afraid as his legs dangled, being too short to touch the ground even though the couch was old and sagged. "Hi," he said quietly.
"What kind of kid says 'hi' to his kidnappers?" Sam demanded.
"Tom Sawyer," Mark murmured.
Hartley turned to him. "You've read Tom Sawyer?" his eyes were even wider now.
"It's one of my favorite books," Mark sat next to the boy and within minutes they were discussing their favorite characters in the book.
"Well that takes care of that," Len sighed.
"What are we goin' to do with 'im?" Digger asked in a whisper. "We ain't exactly equipped to deal with little kids. I was expectin' a teenager."
"At a playground?" Mick said incredulously.
"I thought 'e might be a babysitter, not a bloody kid 'imself," Digger defended.
"This situation isn't ideal but we're getting paid a lot of money to do this," Len sighed. "So let's just make the best of it."
"Do we have any food for little kids?" Sam asked worriedly.
"I don't know," Len frowned. "Hey, kid, what do you eat?"
Hartley blinked up at him. "Whatever the maid cooks," he said.
"Have you ever had chicken nuggets?" Mick asked.
Hartley shook his head. "Father says only poor people eat those," he informed them.
"Sam, go get some chicken nuggets and milk," Len ordered. "And maybe something for the kid to watch; all the movies we've got are definitely not appropriate for little kids."
Sam nodded. "On it," he said cheerfully then dived through a mirror.
"Cool," Hartley looked fascinated. "I want to do that."
"Maybe later," Len decided. "Mark, keep him entertained. I've got to write a ransom letter."
"So how much is my dad getting this time?" Hartley asked.
"How did you know it was your old man?" Digger demanded.
Hartley shot him a disbelieving look. "Well who else would it be? This is the fifth time I've been kidnapped and all of those were arranged by my father. He always does this when he needs it for something," he sounded far to grownup for his age.
"He's paying us three million," Mick informed the little boy. "But he told us to demand at least ten million."
"Shut up," Len hissed as he stalked over to the kitchen table. "I need to concentrate and you shouldn't be blabbing everything to the kid."
Mick grumbled but fell silent as Mark and Hartley moved on to a different book while Digger just shook his head in dismay and grabbed a beer from the fridge.
Sam returned less than an hour later with what appeared to be several days' worth of groceries and Disney movies in tow. "These were the only movies I could find that were definitely kid approved," he explained after seeing the looks of disdain on the other Rogues' faces as they stared at The Little Mermaid in horror.
"Just tell me that you at least got some food," Len thought it best to just pretend that the children's movies didn't exist.
"Right here," Sam unloaded the food for Len's approval. "I wasn't sure if he liked juice so I got him a couple different kinds," he explained.
"If this kid is our hostage why are we bein' so bloomin' nice to him?" Digger demanded as he finished his third beer can of the day.
"Because we're not monsters," Len stated. "I don't hold kindly to hurting kids and I don't think his old man would appreciate it if we roughed him up too badly."
"Where is he going to sleep?" Mick asked suddenly.
"I hate being a kidnapper," Len sighed heavily as he sank down into a chair. "It's too much work."
"You guys aren't very good kidnappers, are you?" Hartley observed as he and Mark walked in.
"This is our first time actually," Mark told him. "Hopefully it will also be our last."
"You're much nicer than my last kidnappers, I like you," Hartley smiled.
"So how do you cook this?" Sam eyed the package of chicken nuggets as if it was going to bite him.
"I can do it," Mick offered eagerly.
"No," Len said firmly as he took the package from Sam. "It says either the microwave or the stove. But which is better?"
"Call Lisa," Digger advised. "She'll know what to do."
Len looked from the package to the little boy then back again as he debated. A few moments later, his decision made, he grabbed the phone and started dialing. "Hi, Lisa, it's Len. Can I ask you something?"
Eventually dinner had been cooked (it was slightly charred though thanks to their lack of cooking skills) and they wound up on the couch watching Disney films. Hartley was quiet as he seemed to be fascinated by the fact that he wasn't allowed to use his fork and by the movie that was playing. Mick seemed to be horrified by the fact that it was completely underwater and hugged his lighter close to his chest. Len and Digger had claimed the armchairs while Mark and Sam sat on the floor.
About halfway through the film Len noticed something. Every time one of the characters on the screen raised their voices Hartley would wince. Len was more than a little curious and wondered if Hartley had sensitive hearing. Deciding to put his theory to the test he coughed loudly and watched Hartley wince again. But the clincher came when Digger finished his beer and threw it into the trashcan. The clang was a little loud even to Len but Hartley curled his hands over his ears and it looked like he was trying to hide inside the couch. Len sighed and paused the movie.
"All right, kid, what's wrong?"
"Huh?" Hartley looked up at him in confusion.
Len just shook his head in annoyance then crumpled up his own can of beer. Hartley winced again. "Anytime one of us makes a noise you start trying to hide. So, what's the matter?"
"I had some sort of surgery done on my ears and now I can hear a lot better than anyone else," Hartley explained.
"Cool," Sam was already peering into Hartley's ear. "Hey, Len, check this out, he's got cybernetic implants."
"Leave the kid alone," Len ordered then re-started the movie but he did turn the volume down.
A/N: Hope you guys liked! Please read and review!
A/N/N: So what did you guys think? I hope you like it as much as you did 'The Rogues'. If there's anything you want to see in this story let me know and I'll try to make that happen. After I've covered Piper's younger years then it's going to merge with my other story and will include a missing scene or two and what happens to all of them (including James) afterwards.