Roman Sionis had finished getting himself ready "Hey boss you okay?"

"Yeah." Roman answered "Just putting my face on." His mind often took him back to when he first met Oswald Cobblepot. Oswald stabbing his friend in the neck was more than just a unpleasant memory it was a recurring nightmare. After being tortured to death by Oswald Roman found himself revived by Doctor Hugo Strange he was on the bus to he was disoriented for a while unlike the other freaks on the bus though he did not follow Mooney in all honesty he kept a low profile and steadily built himself an empire.

Unlike most of the idiots in Gotham however he didn't operate out in the open he found it easier to control Gotham from the shadows. It was easy he owned the docks and most shipping companies, so he controlled what came in and out of Gotham, and because he was often a silent partner nobody not Penguin, not the Sirens, not even the washed-up Falcone Family knew how little power they really had. Yeah, he had his hands in everything and could crush any of the trash in Gotham the only reason Roman didn't was because they distracted the GCPD. Yes, Roman was almost the most powerful man in the city.

He and his guards walked from his pent house to his building's elevator from there they went to the first floor and exited the building. He got into his limo and he was driven to his company building Sionis Industries.

He had an Asian secretary named Kelly "Mr. Sionis I thought you should know Mr. Cobblepot has arranged a meeting and is waiting in your office."

Roman paused clenching his fists "So the little bird knows about me does he?"

"There's something else Mr. Sionis word has come from…the Saint."

Roman paused for the longest moment just staring out into space "The Saint." Roman looked over at her as his limo driver took a left turn "What's he want? I thought he didn't like to descended from heaven and associate with the common folk. My business with him concluded a long time ago. I've held up my end of the bargain and he as always does made things happen. Did he give any specifics?"

"Yes he informed me of an unsavory man connected to the United States government operating new task force in Gotham. The man's name is Rick Flag an old associate of your favorite gun for hire. Coincidentally your favorite gun for hire is also an old war buddy of James Gordon. According to The Saint your human weapon, Rick Flag, and James Gordon were quite the team in their military days. However The Saint said that James Gordon and his two friends had a falling out of some sort James Gordon left the military and that was when Gordon went to the Saint for help."

Roman nodded listening intently while watching his driver "Sounds like the Saint let me guess Gordon needed something only the Saint could provide. This is hardly shocking Gordon's not exactly the good cop the public thinks he is. Besides this is Gotham good cops are rarer than unicorns shitting rainbows."

"Gordon had a face to face meeting Mr. Sionis."

"Are you kidding?" Roman acted as though he heard the impossible "Nobody gets a face to face meeting with the Saint. That's why so few even know about him whatever the Saint asked of Gordon must have been huge."

"Oh it was." Kelly replied "According to the Saint, Gordon was dishonorably discharged making it impossible for him to become a cop. So Gordon went to the Saint and the Saint agreed to make things happen for Jim Gordon under one condition. However, given recent developments the Saint has lost faith in Gordon's ability to honor his agreement. So he's…"

"Giving me permission to kill James Gordon I get it." Roman sighed he hated when the Saint interfered with his business.

"Yes but there's something else the Saint understands you will be reluctant to do this however he's willing to compensate you immensely."

"What does he want?"

"The Saint asks that you not harm Tabitha Galavan. He also asks that you let him deal with her and Jim Gordon personally."

"Fine doesn't mean we still can't send my favorite gun for hire after them besides he might consider it a decent challenge." Roman smirked.

"Why do you adhere to the whims of the Saint if I may ask Sir?" Kelly asked hesitantly.

"Because I may be the most powerful man in Gotham, but the Saint has just as much power as I do." Roman answered.

Gotham City Hotel…

Tabitha and Jim were sitting in Jim's car neither had been in contact with their friends and coworkers as Flag instructed them they each made up excuses for being absent. Jim let out a sigh "So are you ready?"

"Bite me." Tabitha hissed "I can't believe we are doing this."

"It's the most believable cover story." Jim then added "I'm sorry."

Tabitha didn't say anything to Jim at first. She looked over at the hotel entrance her gaze then drifted back to Gordon "For what?"

"For everything it's not lost on me my actions have influenced your life. I convinced you to try and talk to Theo then you got stabbed I was even the one that killed him the first time."

"What are you doing?"

"I'm apologizing."

"I'm not an idiot I am asking you why you are apologizing. Do you think apologizing absolves you? Do you really think if you apologize you can go back to being Jim Gordon the golden boy?" Tabitha grew even more frustrated "I know how you treat Barbara throwing a bottle to the floor when you get upset like you did when you came asking questions about Tetch and treating her like she was never your fiancé. It's hard to believe you ever loved her."

"Yeah that bottle thing wasn't my… it wasn't my proudest moment." For a moment Jim just looked off into the distance "I get my temper from my mother. You remind me of her a lot actually."

Tabitha laughed "Oh please is this you trying to get into my head?"

"You know I was in the military right?"

"Yeah it's common knowledge."

"Yeah it makes a good story what most people don't know is how I ended up in the military. After my dad died my mom ended up with this real nasty piece of work. He abused her in the worse ways imaginable and she became darker she closed her self-off from everyone even me she I won't say she became a shell because a shell is hollow no abuse made my mother someone else entirely maybe it just woke up something darker inside of her. One day I got so angry at the bastard for hurting my mom and I beat him so bad I put him in the ER he made my mother send me to military school and that was how I ended up joining the military it was the only way I could channel my anger.

"However, while I was in military school something happened to the man who had been hurting my mother the official story is my poor mother woke up next to him with his throat slit but after finally seeing her after I heard the news after seeing how cold her eyes were, I knew she had killed him and I knew she probably did it because she enjoyed it. It didn't stop there either my mother got worse." Jim paused briefly "She got so much worse. She wasn't even like Barbara or Lee when they were at their worst. My mother became hollow inside and capable of anything and I mean anything.

"My Mother, Tabitha took her family business which involved making and selling guns legally and turned it into a very profitable international enterprise. Despite dealing in guns though her preference is using a blade I heard she once slit a man's throat and his blood was covering and her reaction was so disturbing to her so called colleagues that they began to call her Red Claw."

Tabitha grew quiet not out of sympathy but fear "Wait… Red Claw? Thee Red Claw as in the international arms dealer so ruthless not even Theo, Falcone, would dare think about crossing her? The Red Claw that deals with every big player in Gotham via a middle man because she's busy dealing with terrorists and world leaders that Red Claw?" Tabitha's breathing became heavy Jim had never seen her so visibly frightened "Your telling me I've tried to kill you multiple times and all this time you've been the son of one of the most dangerous people on this planet? Does anyone else know I mean who else knows?"

"Just you and someone I promised a favor to. I know what your think to your thinkin if Red Claw found out you tried to kill me she'd have you gutted and skinned but she's not nearly that nurturing as mothers go. I joined the military mostly because fighting and killing on the battle field was preferable to letting her groom me as her successor. Little did I know my mother was influencing my time in the military I used to be part of a black ops group with Rick Flag as I'm sure you guessed Rick and I along with someone I'd rather forget about we did terrible things and I enjoyed it I was probably the most blood thirsty of the trio I just had all this rage inside me and what I called my work was how I let out my rage. I eventually learned my team and I hadn't been working for Uncle Sam but for my mother. I left the military soon after finding that out but that hasn't stopped her from influencing my life though."

"What does that mean?"

"Ever wonder why I am always able to get back my position as a GCPD officer? Did ever seem strange that I was even able to become a GCPD captain? Sofia thought she made that happen, but I knew the truth I knew my mother was the real reason I've had so much success and luck. It just has her blood covered hands all over it. I know why to, when I'm finally at the top she's going to have me doing her dirty work and she knows I'm not going to be able to say no. She could ask me to kill Barbara, Lee, Penguin, anyone and I'd do it. I'm like Sofia when it comes to my mother part of me would do anything for my, Mother and my Mother knows it in hindsight I suppose I was attracted to Sofia because I saw in her the person I could have become the person I could still become."

"Wow." Tabitha said unusually visibly shocked then she became angry to deflect "Look I'm not some sad battered housewife okay I…"

"Oh please look at your dating history Tabitha. Your brother mistreated you, Butch cared more about fixing his appearance then actually trying to make things work, and Barbara has completely and abused you on every level. Yet you still keep going back because you love them. Even though all they do is hurt you and you take your rage and helplessness out on others because if you didn't you would have to admit."

"Shut up Gordon." Tabitha interrupted him to make him stop but he continued, and his next words made her snap.

"You would have to admit that deep down you are afraid of being alone and that all you want is to be happy and in love." As soon as he finished Tabitha slapped him. Jim didn't even have seem surprised unlike Tabitha. Tabitha didn't understand what got into her she was usually better at controlling her feelings.

Tabitha never felt like she did in this moment she was angry, confused, and afraid all at once and unlike her usual tendency to be violent her first instinct was to cry and took everything she had not. So, to avoid water works Tabitha took a deep breath "How could you possibly even think you know anything about how I feel?"

"Because Tabitha it kills me to say this, but I think we have more in common than either of us care to admit."

"Yeah maybe we do Gordon." Tabitha's attention then turned to an Asian man in a suit he was chubby, partially bald, with glasses, and wearing a brown suit, with a white shirt, and red tie.

"What's this guy's name again Tabitha?"

"Chang. He's a foreigner and he manages Sionis's money. According to your buddy Flag, Chang always gets the same room when he comes to town."

"So, we just maintain our cover story Tabitha, we get a room on next or on the same floor as Chang and all we must do is sneak into Mr. Chang's room then grab him. We hold him for the duration of our stay which will be for the night and then stuff him in a bag or suitcase we make sure he's able to breathe and we give him to Flag. Then our first Job is done and hopefully not many will follow." Jim explained while speaking in a methodical manner Jim soon noticed the shock look on Tabitha's face "Tabitha what is it?"

"I'm a little freaked out by how well you thought about this Gordon."

"Well this is not my first kidnapping and I doubt it's yours now let's go over the cover story."

Sionis Industries…

Sionis had just arrived with his secretary and after taking the elevator the arrived at the top floor where his office and Penguin were located Sionis had waited for this moment for a very long time "Ah Mr. Cobblepot so good to finally meet you." Sionis forced a smile wondering if Penguin would recognize him.

"Ah yes." Oswald stumbled out of his chair before shaking Roman's hand he paused studying Roman he looked familiar and something about his face seemed off "Do we know each other I swear I feel like I've seen you somewhere before."

Roman paused and pretended to think about it "Perhaps we met at a charity event. The truth is I don't go out much you see a few years ago I… experienced a trauma." Roman gradually moved to his bottle of scotch located on his desk "The truth is a few years ago a friend of mine was killed and I was kidnapped held for ransom by a very disgusting and unsavory fellow."

"Oh my." Oswald placed his and, on his chest, "I'm deeply sorry you had to experience something so horrible. I swear the crim in this city… it's out of control."

Roman for a brief second stayed quiet then nodded before pouring himself a drink "Yes, it is. I remember him making the ransom Mr. Cobblepot now granted I've always been a bit of a…" Roman paused yet again wondering if he should give Penguin more hints "scamp. Yes, I was quite the scamp in my youth." Roman, turned forced himself to smile.

"Oh yes well aren't we all." Penguin spoke playfully "Still regardless of however you conducted yourself no one should ever commit such a horrible crime. Did they catch the perpetrator?"

"No. To be honest I went through quite the ordeal to get back home. My poor father was accused and arrested for a terrible crime. I almost didn't have enough to rebuild my family empire and start Sionis Industries." Roman having already moved to look out his window looked out to view the city of Gotham. His eyes shifted to look at Oswald who now sat in one of the two chairs in front of Roman's desk "Now what can I do for the former mayor of my beloved city?"

"Well as you know I'm in the middle of rebuilding my empire and while in the process of that your name came up. I understand that a lot of shipping companies are managed by you. I'd like to offer you protection seeing as Gotham can be a dangerous city." Penguin spoke in a chipper mood.

Sionis paused for a long time "So you want me to pay you protection when I own the businesses the land they are on etcetera you get the idea. Is that about, right?" Sionis stepped closer to Penguin placing his drink on his desk "I used to be like you, I was entitled I thought I owned the world."

"I'm sorry I don't think you understand how this works Mr. Sionis you see-" Oswald stopped talking when Roman rushed him getting up in his face Penguin felt pure terror.

"You think I don't know how this works?" Sionis asked clearly being threatening "You think you a pathetic maggot who got where he is by stealing and backstabbing and hiding behind others can come into my place of business and order me around?" Sionis grabbed Penguin by his suit coat and threw him against the wall.

"How dare you-" Before Oswald could finish he was thrown then pinned against the wall.

"You have never been the king of Gotham, Oswald. Don Falcone, Maroni, Theo Galavan, The Court of Owls, even the Valeska brothers. They, they more kings in this city than you ever were!" Sionis then started to violently beat Penguin "You like that? Huh? I asked you a god dam question answer me you little scamp!"

Sionis let go of Penguin who dropped to the floor Oswald looked up at his attacker and it slowly dawned on him why Sionis looked familiar "Oh god it's you I met you after Jim Gordon spared my life. How are you alive?"

"What can I say this is Gotham. Now to deal with you!" Sionis lunged at him and Penguin screamed.

Gotham City Hotel…

"I can't believe we are doing this." Tabitha grunted walking beside Gordon she dressed in a black dress the same she wore when she went with Selina to the Iceberg Lounge for the first time.

"Just grin and bear it Tabitha I don't like this anymore than you do." Jim then noticed her distancing herself he put his hand around her waist and whispered "At least try to act the part. Smile a bit more."

The clerk a shot elderly woman smiled at them as they approached "Hello do you have a reservation?"

"Yes we do." Jim forced a smile and looked at Tabitha "Don't we honey?"

Tabitha forced a smile and looked back and forth between the two "Yes of course babe. We're trying to keep it low key our family and friends wouldn't approve so we have to make these little trips who am I to complain though it adds to the excitement isn't that right muffin?"

"Muffin?" Jim repeated his expression pretty much asking Tabitha if she was trying to be funny "Yes of course. My little chocolate bunny and I we kind of like the excitement you know?"

"Chocolate bunny?" Tabitha now looked at Jim she was still smiling but now with angry eyes.

Worried for his own safety Jim quickly apologized "Sorry sounded more romantic in my head."

"That's okay dear." Tabitha spoke sweetly but as she took his hand she dug her nails into his hand.

"Ah." Jim winced in pain "We should be under either Gordon, or Galavan."

"Let's see." The Clerk looked through her records "Oh, it's under both names and you already have your luggage pre delivered for your weekend stay."

"Yes, that's absolutely right." Jim confirmed the clerk handed him his room key and he and Tabitha walked towards the elevator.

"I hope no one I know sees me." Tabitha muttered "I'm embarrassed enough."

"Yeah well there's only one person I'd be happy to never see again. The way this is going I would not be surprised if he popped up."

"Let me guess this mystery third guy you and Flag worked with who is he?"

"Tabitha all you need to know is that he's not someone you want to know."

"Is he that bad?" Tabitha Grinned slightly amused "I bet I could-"

"You'd be dead before you reached for your weapon I practically made him who he is." Jim interrupted her "Out of my old trio of black ops assassins he and I were closer to brothers. Flag was always a coldblooded ambitious bastard. My friend started out as the typical all-American dreamer and patriot where as I started out as… well I was like you Tabitha I got off on violence and had a thing about loyalty."

Tabitha laughed as he pressed button for their floor "I doubt that. You strike me as the type that has never broken a rule. Your probably just saying all this to get me to trust you. This boogie man of yours what's the deal? You make it sound like he something happened between all three of you something bad."

There was a long uneasy silence Jim just looked off into space his face had a haunting expression "Bad doesn't begin to cover it you remember when Barbara came back into your life? I heard about that whole hand thing."

"What's your point?" Tabitha's tone became sadder she didn't like thinking about the harder times with Barbara.

"My point is if he came back into my life taking a hand would not be good enough for him. Not after what I did. Being in a unit Tabitha is like being part of a family Flag and…" Jim started to choke up "The three of us had each other's backs we were like brothers. You don't betray your brothers in arms. What I did for to him in his mind cuts deep. He tried to talk sense into Flag and me said we were headed down a road to hell. What none of us really admitted at the time was our superiors let us be as clean as they wanted us to be after all we were just glorified killers for hire hiding behind a flag. The truth is we all are only as good as the world allows us to be. You, me, everyone is a monster waiting to tear off our mask. I did terrible things Tabitha on the battlefield I shot defenseless civilians, women, kids, the elderly, and I told myself they were collateral damage otherwise known as acceptable losses. That kind of thinking only lasts so long though. I guess deep down in my heart I've always known Slade would come for me one day I just don't know when that day will be."