Blind Sided
Chapter 10
Crane basically had almost every part of his body touching mine, pinning me to the wall.
"It's because you're not scary. I've seen old lady's scarier than you, Pretty Boy." I said between clenched teeth. He glared, and the drug made the fear in me sky rocket. Thankfully the emotion didn't show on my face. Pretty Boy's expression became emotionless, and he moved a little bit closer towards my face, squishing me between him and the wall (it was getting uncomfortable as the drug wore off, and my sense of feeling came back).
"What are you afraid of?" He asked softly; wow way to be repetitive Pretty Boy. I grinned shamelessly, for what seemed like the hundredth time.
"Not you Pretty Boy." I said gruffly, and my smile stayed. Crane glared, looking beyond frustrated before sighing heavily through his nose. His eyes closed briefly, before snapping open and leaning towards me some more. Pretty Boy's nose was close to touching my cheek. He smiled softly before slamming him mouth down on mine.
Déjà vu, much? Not to mention he still had the fucking mask on, which felt weird and really gross. So I tried to jerk my head away, and knee him in the balls, but the asswipe moved so that I couldn't kick my legs out. Crane leaned away from me, lips parted some (kind of gross), and he ripped off his mask.
"DON'T YOU EVEN DARE-!" I started, struggling violently and trying to shift my body to slug him in the face. He kissed me again though, and I clenched my teeth together and thrashed my head back to get him off, or maybe head butt him. Crane just pressed up against me more, to the point where it was getting uncomfortable.
I could tell the drug was wearing off some more, because I actually felt his skin, instead of some invisible barrier. His hand slid up to my hair to hold me still, and I tried to bite his face off. Pretty Boy's eyes may have been closed, but mine were open and glaring at him hatefully.
I kneed him in the stomach about three times before he backed up off of me, then I punched him in the face. I was livid.
I lifted my arms up, and slammed them back into the wall. They sunk in up to my elbow's, before I pulled them out, flinging fifty pounds of rock at Crane. His eyes widened, and he rolled out of the way. I slammed my heel into the floor, turned my body to the side, crouched and threw my arms out before snapping them back.
Crane was down the stairs as rock rose up to trap him, and slabs of cement thundering into the wall where he should have been. I straightened up, and he was already out the door and on to freedom. I sighed, and fixed the huge gashes in the floor and walls I had made.
I walked up the stairs to Arkham's office. He was looking over some papers and looking very, very stressed. I knocked once, and walked in. The old man grinned, and looked up at me through his glasses. I crossed my arms uninterested, and leaned against the door frame.
"Can I help you Ms. Taylor? I hope you've been enjoying your employ at the asylum." He said grandly, and it was painfully obvious he was hoping that I wasn't here to quit.
"Crane escaped. We battled it out for about five minutes, before he knocked me down and ran. I believe he killed or severely injured two other guards on the way out, and Kana and Boomi are missing. I think I'm going to take a few days off to secure my apartment, and a word to the wise? You've got a rat who helped Crane escape." I said, my voice emotionless, slow and clear.
Arkham looked shocked, and I waited for him to respond.
"Of-of course, Ms. Taylor! I'll be expecting you back in three days, stay safe young lady." He said, shocked as he looked, before smiling. He walked towards me, and put an arm around my shoulder. I shrugged it off, and walked out. The doctor looked a little bit regretful, but I didn't care. I went to the first floor, and changed back into my normal clothes.
I stopped, right as I touched the door.
Because there was someone breathing on the first floor, aka the floor I was just on. I walked back up there, and there was a tall girl sitting in the corner with rectangular glasses on. She had long wavy hair, and was thin. I hadn't seen her anywhere before.
I walked up to her cell.
"You weren't here earlier, how'd you get here?" I asked her gruffly. She looked up at me silently, and shrugged.
"I don't know. Are you, um, okay?" She asked, kind of monotone.
"Eh, they're only flesh wounds. How do you not know how you ended up in a loony bin?" I said suspiciously. She shrugged again.
"I don't know, I just ended up here. I'm not crazy." She said, and I gave her the 'of course you're not crazy' look.
"What's your name?" She asked, I shrugged.
"Max. Yours?" I said, turning to walk away.
"Uh, Speedy." She answered, and I was almost to the stairs.
"Have fun not being crazy in an insane asylum Speedy," I said sarcastically, as I walked down the stairs. I couldn't worry about random patients right now.
Right now I had an appointment with the police….Great.
Thankfully there were no suspicious van's waiting outside with Twinkle Toes and random thugs in them. I shivered some as I through the supposed 'bad part' of the city. Hmph, that was bullshit. Every section of this city was as bad as the next; some thugs were just a little less concerned about being apprehended than others.
Yeah, there were some thugs eyeing me, and I grinned. I could use a fight. No one bugged me though, they just turned away when I smiled, and ignored me.
Sissy's. They'd be a waste of my time anyway. One punch and done.
I sighed, and reluctantly walked up the few stairs into the infamous police station.
I've got to say, I've seen a lot of police stations (and have broken out of them to tell the tale) and this one was downright morbid. It was crowded, everyone shuffling around with sullen faces, their ties loose and jackets discarded unprofessionally. Everyone paused, as soon as the knew the door was open, and an irrational fear spread out amongst them.
Damn, I knew the people of Gotham were scared, and the police were under stress, but I never would have imagined it was this bad.
"I'm here to see Jim Gordon." I said loudly, my voice as firm as stone. People glanced around, and someone called for him, before he finally walked down some stairs and up to me.
"Ms. Taylor, well, you're certainly not looking as well as you did this morning," Gordon said, sounding concerned on my behalf. I blinked in surprise, then remembered the fist fight I got into with Crane.
"Oh, yeah well Crane escaped." I replied gruffly, blowing the bangs out of my face. Gordon shook his head, and gestured me towards an elevator. We walked in, and he waited for me to push the button as the door closed. We stood there for a good five minutes until I glared at him, annoyed.
"I'm not going to be able to push the right button Gordon." I reminded, waving my hand pointedly in front of my face.
"Oh, right. We'll talk more once we get up to the roof." He said, and it would take a moron not to figure out that he was deep in thought. I sighed, man today isn't turning out to be what I thought it was. I had a feeling it was going to be a looooong elevator ride, so I tried to make conversation.
"So…this Harvard-I mean Harvey Dent guy is really popular these days, huh?" I said awkwardly. Gordon scoffed.
"He's got the right idea, but wants to start in the wrong places. He suspects everyone of being paid off by the mob. Dent wants to fire everyone, and still somehow lower crime rates and get rid of the mobs." Gordon replied, tiredly and annoyed. I was a little shocked, and I turned my face towards his.
Wow, I had assumed everyone was in love with Harvey Dent. Guess not.
I busted out laughing, and Gordon gave me a 'Umm, what the hell?' look before I calmed down.
"Man, I thought all cops were chum's with one another, guess not," I explained, and he sighed, closing his eyes.
The elevator dinged, and the doors opened, Gordon and I walked out, side by side. I'll have to give it to him; he was alright for a cop. Well…I wouldn't go that far, he was still a cop, and if he caught a whiff of who I really was, he wouldn't think twice about turning me over to my parents.
We walked into an office, Harvey and Rachel were standing by the window. Rachel turned and smiled warmly, while Harvey did a half-smile thing in my direction, and scowled in Gordon's. Oh, the joys of politics.
Rachel then playfully frowned in Dent's direction and he softened some. Well damn, I'd be subjected to more sissy lovey-dovey stuff. Ew. Gordon and I looked away awkwardly when they started sucking face.
A minute passed.
Then another.
THEY WERE STILL AT IT!?
Gordon tried clearing his throat a few times, before I got fed up with them.
"If I wanted to watch a porno, I wouldn't be here." I commented dryly, and the detached themselves. Gordon looked relieved to say the very least. Harvey smiled, and gave a dry chuckle, while Rachel looked embarrassed.
"Well, since everyone's been so talkative, I guess I'll start us off. Why am I here?" I said sarcastically, my face emotionless. They may have been respectable individuals, but they were still cops. I hated cops. They were all annoying; interfering assholes who never really knew what was going on, an only fucked things up.
"The Batman said that you were a reliable resource. We need you to help us take down the Joker. We can't trust anyone, with all the dirty cops-" Harvey started, obviously taking a dig at Gordon.
"What are you trying to say Dent? That my department is corrupt?" Gordon snapped, anger clouding his face. Rachel glared at both of them, looking really pissed.
"Both of you stop it, this isn't the time!" She snapped, and even I had to admit, she was intimidating.
"Batman said you could help us catch the Joker. He said you had martial arts skills, and could tell when someone was lying. He also said you had connections with the Mobs. All of them." Dent continued seriously, looking me straight in the eye.
"I can believe that, she took on his thugs and helped save us at the party a couple of nights ago." Rachel said, backing him up. I sighed. Great, I guess Suit Boy wanted me to throw around my name to get answers from the Mob. But I couldn't be sure.
"So what is it exactly that you and Suit Boy want me to do?" I asked gruffly, my eyes narrowed some. I'd do favors, but I wasn't going to be manipulated or black-mailed by the cops.
"There's a parade going on tomorrow, we need you to be there. We're sure that he's going to make an appearance there when the mayor makes his announcement. You need to pull some strings and make sure the mob's stay out of it, and then show up at the parade disguised as a cop to back up Gordon." Rachel said, attempting to take control of the tense atmosphere between Gordon and Dent. She sounded demanding and rough.
I grinned.
"No problem. I'll need someone to show me where the parade's going to be though…" I said, defeated. Blindness sucked. Anyone who said differently, were ignorant assholes. I wasn't really smiling any longer.
"Batman said he'd contact you in the morning, and show you you're position." Gordon said, then he looked at me, like really looked at me.
"If you want, I'll send back up when you head out to talk to Maroni, Chenchen and Gambol." He said cautiously. Because he probably would say this to anyone going up against these people, I didn't bite his head off.
I shrugged, then grinned.
"Hey, I just got into a fist fight with Crane, who shot me up with his fear juice. I don't think mob member's are going to be much worse than that. Besides, I've got one hell of a punch." I assured him arrogantly. Rachel smiled genuinely, and Harvey frowned.
"I honestly don't think it's sane sending out one blind girl to chat with the mobs while we sit here and wait. What if they kill her on the spot? I don't trust this-" He said, shaking his head. I scowled, and Gordon gave me a glance that said he was having second thoughts on this plan too. I opened my mouth to yell at them, when Rachel beat me to the punch.
"Trust me, you weren't at the party. If anything, I think the mobs have to worry about her killing them on the spot. She saved my life, and all the hostages. She can do this." Rachel said firmly.
"If you and Batman vouch for her, and she said she can handle it, I'm okay with it." Gordon said, but his voice wavered some. I glared. Damn fucking skippy I can do this!
Did they think I was some gimp who couldn't do anything without help?! I could do this shit, IN MY SLEEP!
Harvey sighed, and snuck a look at Rachel. "Alright. And I want to say thank you for keeping Rachel and I safe…especially Rachel. She means the world to me." I shrugged.
"No problem. Could you tell me the time?" I said dismissively, Gordon laughed, and muttered something about stubbornness and modesty. I wonder exactly what Suit Boy told him.
"It's about six, now." He said, and I nodded.
"Thanks." I said, walking out the office. Gordon followed me, and we got into the elevator.
"Batman said your name had pull over the mobs, all the mobs, everywhere. Can I ask how?" The man said, looking somber. I crossed my arms.
"You can, but I'm not going to answer." I said flatly, he said, pinching the bridge of his nose then pushing the button.
"I need to trust you, I can't go on their word alone." He said, raising a valid point. I wanted to help these people against Twinkle Toes, but was I willing to give up my name? I huffed. I must be going soft, first saving thugs and now this.
"If I tell you, I'm going to need something from you so I know you won't turn me over." I bantered. He sighed again, and I didn't move. My expression was as expressionless as stone, giving nothing away except for indifference.
"I'll tell you what they're really planning." He said finally, facing me.
"My real name is Maximille Bei. Yeah, that family," I said, answering the question I knew he was probably going to ask. Gordon gaped, before inhaling sharply.
"I'm going to die, well as far as the public and the Joker are concerned. That's why we need you there, in the ambulance, you can get me down to the caves under the city and I'll go underground long enough to catch the Joker. I didn't even tell Batman the details." He said quietly. I nodded once.
"Don't worry, I'll keep this between you and me, just as I expect you to do the same." I said gruffly, walking out of the elevator as it dinged. I saluted him as I walked away, and he smiled wryly.
I heard the buzz of the streetlamps, and I paused when I got out onto the street. I frowned, everyone who had ever consorted with any mob knew where the head honchos' were. They were usually at a nice bar run exclusively by them. It was open to anyone…but it was crawling with thug loyalists who had more muscle than brains.
I clenched my jaw and got on with it, walking towards the bar. It took me about a half an hour to get there, and I walked in boldly. Falcone and Chenchen were sitting at a table. Chenchen I had dealt with before, but Falcone was different. He was stubborn and more conniving, more subtle than the Russians. All and all, if I had to choose, I'd pick the Russians any day.
I clenched my fists, and walked over to their table. They both smiled, and I didn't.
"It seems your down one man." I pointed out. Lets face it, I don't have much respect for Gambol at all. He was a greedy pimp that lucked out and got some followers.
He was pretty spineless, and tended to bend the rules of conduct the other two had. He also was living the high life, and was too cowardly to get his hands dirty. Chenchen frowned, while Falcone's smile lessened.
"Who are you and what do you want?" Falcone said coldly, and Chenchen stared at me for a moment. He smacked the table as he recognized who I was.
Took him long enough.
"Max, she used to pull some jobs for me in other cities before she came here." He said in his irritating Russian accent.
By pulling jobs, he means I was usually his body guard. I never sold drugs, or was a prostitute, or a pimp. I never killed anyone, just usually put them in a wheel chair for the following nine months. It was actually a pretty fun job, beating up random cops/civilians. The fight club was more fun though, but I don't think he knew I was the one stealing from him. That would make things a bit awkward.
Falcone backed off some. I pulled up a chair and sat down. I felt some thugs fingering their guns and knives.
"What I have to say to you, I need to say to all of you. Where's Gambol?" I stated gruffly. Falcone narrowed his eyes.
"The freak in the clown get-up took him out. It's just us and him now." He said reluctantly.
"Who?" I asked, and Chenchen motioned to my eyes. Falcone noticed, and clenched his teeth.
"The Joker," He elaborated, and I clenched my teeth. The chatter abruptly stopped around the bar, before resuming again.
"That's just fucking great." I spat sarcastically under my breath. "Look, I need a favor." I started gruffly, leaning back some in my chair. The Russian shrugged, and Falcone laughed.
"What the hell makes you think we're going to do you any kind of favors? Look at you, you're cute, but not that cute; especially being blind with all those bruises on you sweat-heart." Falcone said, and I grinned like the devil.
"First off, it's in your best interest. We've got a common enemy; Giggles. And chances right now are that you won't be able to off him, and neither will the cops or Batman. All I'm asking, is one simple favor." I stated, my expression plain and my grin falling off.
"I think we should listen to the blind girl." Chenchen said, and Falcone gave him a dirty look.
"Isn't that what you said about the freak." He argued, and I waited. Chenchen turned to me, gesturing for me to continue. Good, cause I could never really understand his horrible English anyway.
"All you have to do, is tell the cops that work for you to cooperate with the police tomorrow, and keep the rest of your men away from the parade." I said simply. Chenchen and Falcone both snorted.
"You must be crazy. I don't think so, the Joker wants us to have the place surrounded tomorrow, I'm not going against him. Let him and the cops fight it out, what does it matter to me if the mayor gets shot. Not like he's doing anything anyway." Falcone said dangerously.
"I have to agree. I'm not putting my neck on the line for that. You don't cross the Joker." Chenchen agreed.
I really didn't want to do this. I narrowed my eyes.
"My name is Maximille Bei. I'm not asking for a favor anymore. Grow a pair, and suck it up, and fucking do it." I growled lowly, when I mentioned my name, their eyes bulged. I waited patiently, frowning with my eyebrows drawn together.
Who knew that the mobs would be so fucking spineless? I mean seriously, did they have any cajones at all?!
"It'll be done." Falcone said reluctantly, and Chenchen nodded. Good. I grinned, and got up.
"You know, he'll come after you. He doesn't care what name you have, doesn't care how much money your family has. He'll find you." Falcone called out as I reached the door.
"My old man used to say 'The end always justify the means,'" I replied, and walked out the door. Damn it was cold out, but the cool sidewalk chilled my sore feet. I heard thunder rumble, and I disregarded it. If it rained, it rained.
It's not like I didn't have dry clothes back at my apartment. I could even go down to the caves.
I stopped by a takeout place, and got some cheap Chinese food, and then walked the short distance left to my apartment. I walked up the stairs, and things were still a bit muddled. Damn burn wounds.
I walked into my apartment, and set the takeout down. I locked my door, just in case Pretty Boy got any idea's, and ate my take out. Then I went into the bathroom, stripped and took my hair down, before jumping in the shower to get the blood off of me.
Dirt is healthy, you should always be covered in at least three layers of dirt.
But blood? Hell no. It's sticky, feels weird, and makes your layers of dirt smell bad. I leaned back in the shower for a moment, and really let the loss sink in. The loss of Kana, Boomi and Lee. We hadn't been separated in what, five years? I was thirteen when we met.
I sighed, and got out, drying off. I put on some short shorts and a tank top, put my hair up in it's bun and curled to sleep on the floor.
I fell into a half sleep, and couldn't move or wake up. Something was wrong. Was it the drug they gave me? I didn't have time to think about it, as I passed into a oblivion, and all sensations of the world left me, and all I had to ground me was the sound of my heart and breathing.
I was in that god damn graveyard again.
I knew Crane was here, but I couldn't sense him. I didn't want him sneaking up on me.
"Crane! Crane! Where the fuck are you Pretty Boy?! I know you're here!" I bellowed, getting really pissed. I was tired of him showing up in my head.
I woke up in a half-awake state, as my door opened. Someone walked in, and locked it back up, I couldn't sense who it was, or move. I was stuck.
THIS FUCKING SUCKED ASS. I couldn't even open my fucking eyes! The person walked closer, and stopped beside me, sighing. It was a man, but I couldn't identify his face. He leaned down, and lifted me up.
It was Crane.
And I couldn't move one muscle, not my eyes, jaw, vocal cords; nothing. I was absolutely unable to move, and I really wish I could. Pretty Boy would've had his arms ripped off and shoved up his ass.
I tried to yell at him, tell him to get the fuck off. But nothing changed. I was still immobile. He laid me down on the bed I never slept on, and pulled the blankets over me, smirking. Crane murmured something about how I was being much more agreeable. He walked to the opposite side of the bed, and crawled under the blankets with me.
It was downright infuriating. He slipped himself closer to me, until his nose touched mine. I really wanted to punch him, when he moved his arms around me, and pulled me closer, so we were touching. He closed his eyes, and that annoying as hell smug smile lifted up onto his face.
Funny enough though, I felt myself drifting away, the anger fading. Must be that fucking drug...
I couldn't hold onto that thought, as I abruptly passed out.
I remembered something though, something that made me laugh in my dream. The Batman was coming to my house, at some random hour in the morning, and hopefully he'll kill Pretty Boy. Problem solved.
Then all I'd have to worry about is Twinkle Toes….
Actually, I think I prefer Crane. At least he isn't setting my feet on fire, and kidnapping/stalking me. Wait, I'm making that decision on the things I learned and experienced when he was locked up. Pretty Boy's now (obviously) running free.
Shit.
I woke up again as Crane opened his eyes. I experimentally moved my toe. It wiggled. I grinned demonically. Oh Pretty Boy, I hope you have nine lives…
He didn't even have the time to notice my grin when I violently shoved him of the bed and punched him in the arm.
"GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY APARTMENT PRETTY BOY, BEFORE I FUCKING KILL YOU! I WILL CHOKE YOU WITH YOUR OWN BALLET RIBBONS YOU POOR EXCUSE FOR A POLE DANCER!" I roared, leaping off the bed and onto the floor. For each word, two rocks flew at his smug face, until he was out my door and on to freedom.
I clenched my fists, and took a deep breath. It was four in the morning, and I was still tired. I laid back down on the floor, and went into a normal sleep.
Yay! I finally put my friend Speedy in. I told her she was going to be a random character who made things more interesting and somehow always ends up in Arkham. HUGE shout out to DesdemonaEmo13 who keeps reviewing and giving me feedback! Also, please continue to voice answers to the poll, and tell me WHY you vote for that person. Also, there are guest viewer's and reader who review a lot, so whoever you are THANKS!