Chapter 7
So this is Metropolis. That is what is going through the mind of Jason Todd as he walks further into the city. Jason had visited Metropolis time to time with Bruce when a villain would make his way into town but now Jason started to look at the city differently with a new found look. He now took in the sight of the world's mightiest city. In fact the deeper he got into the city the more intrigued he became. Sure Gotham City had its amazing spots but to Jason nothing Gotham had was beating Metropolis at the moment. Not only did he not have to worry about some crazy madman trying to take over the city thanks to a certain red caped superhero but he also didn't need to wear a mask anymore. He didn't need to be a hero and could focus on what he really wanted in life. To live a nice normal life. Live a life with the girl of his dreams.
As Jason comes up to a street light and starts to wait patiently for the cross walk traffic light to blink green Jason lets out a chuckle when he sees a large billboard on a building across from him. A picture of Metropolis's greatest hero Superman. The man of steel and arch enemy of Lex Luthor. A known billore hellbent on destroying Superman and Kara. Over his dead body Jason thinks in his head.
Once the light turns green on the street light walking with a small crowd of Metropolis's citizens Jason makes his way across the street before walking with the group down a long sidewalk. As he continues to look around the city taking in his new home a smile comes to Jason's face when he sees a small gym coming up down the sidewalk to his left. Breaking away from the group that has continued to walk down the sidewalk Jason makes his way inside before his smile returns at what he sees. Inside as he looks around Jason notices that this isn't some kind of normal gym.
All around in the main room of the gym Jason sees a few rows of punching bags with men and women alike practicing some form of martial arts. Something that Jason already started to like about this gym. But that is not the only thing that catches Jason's eye. Off to the other side of the large room Jason sees a large area separated by some see through glass for people who seem to doing some sort of yoga stretches. Something he deemed to be a nice exercise room. A little warm up room for all the martial artists before getting down to the real work.
His thoughts are snapped when he feels a hand on his shoulder. With a moment of hesitation Jason quickly grabs the unknown's arm before flipping him over his shoulder to the ground. Right as he brings his right hand down to strike Jason suddenly stops when he sees the man below him putting his hands up in mock surrender.
" Woo easy man. Didn't mean to spook you."
Unclenching his right hand Jason slowly stands up as he extends his hand down towards the man on the ground. Within a second of feeling his hand being grabbed Jason helps the man to his feet before he watches the man dust himself off.
" The name is Chris Maxwell. I'm the owner of the gym."
Hearing the news that he had just dropped the owner of the gym makes Jason's eyes go wide before he starts to scratch the back of his neck as he looks over towards Chris with a sheepish smile.
" Oh man. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to…."
Jason suddenly stops speaking when he sees Chris raise his hand up towards him as he shakes his head.
" It's fine. It's actually the first time anyone has ever knocked me down. You must have some serious martial arts skills."
" What?"
" Come on kid. I saw the look in your eyes. You acted on instinct. I have been a martial arts trainer for 5 years. I know an martial artist when i see one. So how many years have you studied the arts?"
" Oh well i've studied the martial arts ever since i was young."
" Well i'll have to say whoever trained you did very well. I've never seen anyone move that fast."
" Yeah. I did have a good teacher in some things. I guess you can say martial arts was one of the only good things he did for me."
" Well kid if you are looking for a job i'm looking for a new trainer. A trainer to help train a new generation of martial artists. You interested?"
" What? Just like that?"
" Yeah pretty much. Like i said kid, I know a martial artist when i see one. You are in my opinion more advanced in the arts than anyone in this building. I can tell if you were to fight anyone in this building in a real fight that they would end up dead. So you interested?"
" Yeah?"
" Good. If you will come with me to my office. We just have some small paperwork to fill out."
Seeing Chris heading to a small side room towards the back of the room Jason follows after him as he glances around to see everyone looking at him before he closes the office door behind him. After just a couple of minutes of filling out some paperwork Jason exited out of the gym as it's newest martial arts trainer. Something Jason did not expect to happen once he had arrived into the gym but it gave him the same results he wanted. Even more now that he in his mind had taken the next step towards having a normal life. Of getting a job to help Kara pay the bills. A job that he would not only be able to stay in fighting shape if a threat too great had presented itself that forced himself and Kara to come out of retirement but also a job he wouldn't be clueless at.
But as he gets just a few blocks away from Kara's apartment a sudden noise from a nearby alleyway forces Jason to suddenly stop his advance to the apartment. As he listens closely Jason's eyes suddenly go wide when he hears a woman screaming out for help. With the hero side in him taking action Jason quickly rushes down towards the alleyway before his blood boils when he sees one man holding down a woman to the side of a building while another attempts to remove her pants. Quickly rushing over as he sees the man start to remove the frightened woman's pants down Jason jumps up into the air before he proceeds to superman punch the man in the face with all of his might. Without giving the rapist friend to react Jason proceeds to elbow the other man in the face before finishing him off with a spinning back kick that sends the man flying into a few nearby garbage cans.
Glancing to the ground seeing the two men down on the ground groaning in pain Jason takes a deep breathe before he looks over towards the woman. As he sees the woman reapplying his pants Jason watches her slowly back away from him before he crouches down next to her with a smile on his face.
" Hey it's okay. They can't hurt you now."
Looking up towards her savior feeling nothing but safe the woman slowly gets up to her feet before a smile comes to her face. Just as she opens up her mouth to thank her savior the woman's eyes go wide when she sees one of the men on the ground reach into his jacket before he slowly pulls out a gun.
" Look out!"
Snapping his head towards where the woman is looking Jason slowly sees the man raising a handgun up towards him. Quickly side stepping to his left Jason pushes the woman down to the ground as the man fires off a round that just misses Jason. Without allowing the man to get off another shot Jason quickly jumps on top of the man and grabs a firm hold of his arm with the gun as he hears the woman shouting out a scream. As he hears the woman's screams getting further and further away Jason struggles to point the gun away from himself as the man below him pulls the trigger. Bullet after bullet strike against the building next to him before Jason wins the battle of control and sends a vicious right punch down towards the man's face that results in the man going unconscious. Slowly rising to his feet Jason takes a look over his shoulder to see the other man still on the ground groaning in pain before he slowly starts to move out of the alleyway.
As he rounds the alleyway and starts to head back in the direction of Kara's apartment suddenly a laugh starts to enter into Jason's mind. A laugh he always hears in his nightmares. The laugh of his greatest enemy to date. As the laugh gets louder and louder Jason slowly starts to lose his footing until he suddenly stops at a street post. Gripping onto the post with his left hand Jason quickly reaches his right hand up towards his head as he sees pedestrians walking past him with looks of confusion across their faces. After a couple of seconds of closing his eyes Jason suddenly looks down when he feels a small tug on his jacket. Looking down Jason sees a young girl no older than 7 looking at him with a concerned look across her face.
" You okay mister?"
Feeling the laugh slowly dying down to even less than a whisper Jason nods his head at the young girl as he kneels down to her eye level.
" Yeah i'm okay. I just had a headache. Where's your mommy?"
" Oh my mommy is home. She is really sick and i went out to get her some medicine."
" Oh you did. Does your mommy know that you went out by yourself?"
" No. My mommy is really sick and was sleeping on the couch when i decided to go out to get her some medicine. I told her that it was my job to help her get better. Just like how she does it for me."
" Oh okay. Can you tell me where you live?"
" No i can't. I'm not suppose to talk to strangers."
" Good girl but i think it would be a good idea then if you call your mommy to let her know where you are. That way she knows that you were taken by a complete stranger. I can take you home after once i have a talk with your mommy."
" But mister you're not a stranger. You live in the same house as me."
" What?"
" The big story house. Kara lives there too. She plays with me all the time. Even brings me to the park sometimes. She's really nice."
" You know Kara. Well i'm Jason Todd. I'm Kara's boyfriend."
Jason watches as suddenly the little girl's eyes go wide before a wide smile appears across her face.
" What? What did i say? Do i have something in my teeth?"
" So you're Jason! Kara talked about you all the time. How was your trip?"
" My trip?"
" Yeah Kara said that you had to go on a business trip and wouldn't be back for a long time."
" Oh that trip. I missed Kara too much so i decided to quit that job so i could see Kara more. Best decision that i have ever made. Now i get to see her everyday."
" That is so cool! Well since you're not a complete stranger can you bring me to a store. I need to pick up some medicine for my mommy."
" Oh okay. Do you know what medicine you need to pick up for your mommy?"
" Of course silly. I need to pick her up some chicken and noodle soup. That always helps me get better when i'm feeling sick."
Jason lets out a small laugh before he gives the small girl a nod.
" Okay. Which way to the nearest store?"
" It's that way."
Jason looks in the direction that the little girl is pointing before he slowly starts to stand up. As he feels his right hand being grabbed a smile comes to Jason's face as he feels himself being lead down the sidewalk by the little girl.
Author's Notes: Sorry about the long delay. Been doing a lot of writing for another story as well as planning out other chapter for other stories including this one. This story will be updated weekly as my That 70's Show story is from now on. I will also be going back to do some edits for the first 6 chapters of the story to have a few scenes extended as well as show why the story is rated M.
Pootamis
NoLaurelNoArrow,KillOlicity