More of an exciting chapter here!
WARNINGS: Nothing.
The Penguin's first hideout resembled a giant birdcage, made of tough but rusted iron, the plants having gone wild and growing out through the gaps in the bars. The outside was practically a mansion, made up mostly of bricks. A few parts had decayed. The twenty years hadn't been very kind.
"Blasting it would be faster" Red Hood muttered.
Red Robin rolled his eyes "Yes. But we don't want fast, we want quiet. Don't! Say anything about that" He quickly added.
Jason's shoulders slumped, letting Tim know he was a little dejected, but Tim didn't doubt he was smiling under that ridiculous helmet. The lock opened and Tim quickly pulled the large door to the oversized and overgrown aviary. Inside the grassy cage, there were no birds, barely any noises, only the crunching of the green beneath them. And occasionally little cracks.
From the bones of dead birds.
It made Tim feel sick, but he brushed the feeling off. Jason didn't really care, he liked animals and it was sad, but it was also just how life worked. He knew exactly what it was like to be a dead bird.
"I'm pretty sure this place is abandoned. Looks like you were wrong Little Red"
Tim gave him a brief look "Don't call me that"
"Why not? It suits you just fine. Maybe you should permanently change your name to it" Jason gasped quietly when Tim's elbow connected with his side "Ow!"
"Oh shut up, ya baby" Tim looked back slyly and mouthed "Or would you prefer the crowbar"
It took Jason a little to understand what he had just tried to lip read. And when he did, he felt like punching his obnoxious little boyfriend out. But decided against it. He had better self control now. And he didn't want to ruin what he had with Tim.
"Still. There's no one here. And I doubt anyone would want to be here. Except maybe Ivy. But she's clearly not or we would already be dead"
"You really are a pessimist, aren't you?"
"Well you try dying and coming back to find out the world barely misses you"
Tim went to say something, but stopped. Jason had heard the little breath that signified he wanted to be heard, and was confused when Tim didn't speak. But he didn't bring it up. He knew to wait for Tim to be ready to say it.
"How about we go back now?" Jason asked, a little flirty. But only Tim would've noticed that's how it sounded if they were in a crowd full of people.
Tim sighed "It's a pretty big area and there's probably a few actual rooms in this place. It is a mansion, after all"
"You're overworked and stressed. How long have you been working on this case?"
"A few weeks"
"Your definition of 'a few weeks' could be fifty two. How many months?"
"Maybe. Two? Little more"
"Tim!"
Tim turned and growled "Identities!" He whispered.
"I didn't say it very loudly, calm down. And besides no one's here. Now, obviously you've been working hard on this, but you'll never close this case if you stick to a broken lead"
"But! Ugh" Red Robin's shoulders slumped.
"Not to discourage you, but they could be holed up on the other side of the city. Maybe their leader is based in Metropolis. Hell, the leader could be in Alaska! The fact that this is a good place to hide in, doesn't mean it gets used as a hideout"
"Have a bit of an infestation, do we?" A raspy voice spoke, seeming to bounce off the iron bars "I think I'd better fix that"
"Scarecrow" Tim whispered angrily "I hate the fact that it makes sense!"
"Be a dear, and get those two for me"
"Who the hell is he talking to?" Jason whispered.
The two heroes spun around, hearing the grass and bones get crushed.
"Bane, apparently" Tim answered.
"Yeah. Got that, genius" Jason shot back.
Bane cracked his knuckles "Looks like two little birdies have come to play" He smirked "Which bones should I break first?"
"Told you" Tim glanced at Jason, hoping to read his body language. He got nothing.
"Yeah, yeah. You were right. What's new" Jason muttered the last part to himself. Didn't stop Tim from hearing it and smirking, though.
Scarecrow sighed "Bane. I need them to be intact"
"Fine" Bane grumbled, charging at the two.
Red Hood sidestepped the incoming man, but Red Robin just stood there. Jason didn't protest. He knew Tim could handle himself, that he knew what he was doing. He waited until the last few seconds before jumping up and onto the strong man's back. He sliced the tubes of venom to prevent Bane from activating them at any point and then planted a minor explosive on his back before jumping off.
"Will that bomb even do anything to him?"
"He isn't on venom, so it should knock him out"
The blast went off and Bane stumbled to the ground. Tim was about to say, "See?", but never got the chance when Bane began rising up.
"Dammit!"
"Good job Little Red. You've made him even angrier"
"Well at least I've given him some damage! What have you done!? Sidestepped the human bulldozer! Good job!" Tim yelled, even as he had to dodge Bane's fists.
"Well sorry for giving you more credit than you deserve!" Jason started shooting at the brawny man.
"You two sound like an old married couple!" Bane grunted, even as the bullets broke through his tough skin he continued to go after Tim.
Tim was clearly about to say something, when his reactions played up just a little too slow and Bane managed a lucky hit. Tim went flying until he hit a few of the bars and dropped back to the ground with a cry. Jason inwardly cried out in rage, though Tim was mostly fine. His body had taken most of the shock. And he was already trying to force himself back up.
Jason focused back on the enemy. With so much of him and no venom, he was an easy target. A tough and stubborn bastard though. Trails of blood leaked from the numerous wounds in the numerous areas the bullets had hit. Jason felt as if he would run out of ammo before the guy even felt the need to rest. He stopped using his guns at that point and switched to some shurikens. When they proved just as ineffetive, he pulled out his taser.
But he didn't get the chance to use it.
His attention was stolen again by Tim. More so, by the blue-grey whisps of smoke that exploded by him. Jason was about to run over and try to help (completely forgetting about Bane) when he was pulled back. Bane was smiling smuggly, his grip showing no sign of fading anytime soon. Jason was stuck helplessly, having to watch whatever that gas did to his boyfriend.
His lover.
His world.
I'm not sure about those last two sentences, but eh. They can stay for now.
So, this chapter any good? Also, told you it would be longer! 1,205 words in this one!
Anyway...
Review? Pwetty Pwease?