Spring break has done wonders for my writing. I've managed to dish out a few chapters for a few of my stories and have gotten amazing feedback from everyone. Thank you all so much for your lovely comments, it's so good to hear from you all.
I had a reviewer ask if the "Haha's" I use are stylistic writing or if Lucy is actually laughing and the answer is that she's laughing in her head. She's a nut job and it's gotta show.
xxxxxxx
"Are you alright Mama? You seem wobbly?" I walked closer to her, inspecting her body for any injuries.
"Yup, I'm alright. I just landed on my head earlier." Mama giggled, mimicking with her hand something falling out of the sky and hitting the ground.
"That's the definition of not alright." I stated. She waved off my concern with an impish grin. Her leg kicked upwards, splashing some of the sewer water on Boomer.
"Are you off your rocker you dumb bimbo?! Don't splash shit on me!" Boomer shrieked in that high-pitched voice of his.
"Cut it out you two." Deadshot intervened before Mama and Boomer could start swinging at each other. "How much further Flag?"
"A few more miles. Keep moving." He replied before jumping forward to catch June who had stumbled. Both Mama and I groaned at his answer.
HaHaHaHaHa
I had the option of being carried through this sewage crap but I turned it down. I didn't want Captain Boomerang's gross hans coping a feel while he carried me. The other more trustworthy males turned me down when I asked them to carry me instead. Maybe I should reconsider Boomer's offer. This sewer is disgusting and smelly.
Besides, historically speaking, princesses were mainly carried around. I am a Princess and deserve that same right.
I looked up at Boomer about to ask him to carry me when he suddenly reeled back and screamed. "This flipping bonkers! We're slushing through sewage so a guy dressed like a bat won't spot us?!"
Deadshot got in Boomer's face. "You wanna head topside slick? Be my guest."
"Not a good idea Captain. You may not be familiar with B-man but he's a tough bastard." I informed the Aussie.
"Language Missy." Mama reprimanded, tugging on my cheek.
"Ow, ow, ow." I complained and rubbed the tender spot when she stopped pulling.
"Nah, we're practically there." Boomer conceded after seeing both Deadshot and Ricky's annoyed looks.
"Yeah, that's what I thought." Deadshot walked back to the front.
I walked a little faster to match pace with June. She looked much older and sadder since the last time I saw her. "Hey, how ya been June-Bug? I didn't expect to see you here."
"I didn't expect to be here. I thought I was done with all of this but I guess not. I'll never be normal again." June softly said.
"Why are you here? Ricky would never risk you."
"I can't tell you that Lucy."
"Quit pestering her and focus on the mission kid." Ricky snapped at me.
"Ouch. Someone's cranky." I taunted. "I was only trying to catch up with an old friend sour-pus."
"We're here." Ricky announced, disregarding me. He climbed the ladder and pushed off the lid.
"Finally. I'm gonna have to burn these clothes now." Mama tugged at her wet pants.
"Ladies first." Boomer winked, gesturing for for the three of us to go up.
"You're so sleazy it's pathetic. You just wanna stare at our asses as we go up." I glared at Boomer. He began deny my accusation but Mama cut him off.
"Nope. He wants to stare at the fish underwater." She said. Boomer looked confused about her statement. Instantly, her foot collided with his chest and sent him flying into the sewer water. Mama cackled evil while Deadshot sighed.
"This is where Lucy gets her pettiness from." He informed Mama.
"So? I'm being a good mother and showing my baby how to treat scumbags."
I laughed as I climbed up the ladder after June. Ricky was above, grinding his teeth in frustration and shouted into the sewer for the others to move. He was not impressed with the childish tendencies of his squad.
"Cobblepot's?" Deadshot questioned after seeing the bright blue sign for the Iceberg Lounge.
HaHaHaHaHa
I'm about to meet another Gotham villain. I wonder how this is gonna go since Penguin hates my family's guts. He and Papa have gotten into numerous territory disputes and Mama has caused substantial property damage to some of his businesses. I haven't met the guy but he's sure to hate me on principal because of my parents.
HaHaHaHaHa
It's not easy having such infamous parents.
"We're closed. Private party." A hulking man said from behind the door slot.
"We're the private party." Ricky told him.
The guy huffed and opened the door, leading our group to the main area. "Your guests have arrived Mr. Cobblepot."
"Right, right. Come in." A bald man behind a desk beckoned us forward in a British accent. "Welcome to the Iceberg Lounge. I'm just finishing my supper." He took a fish from the large pile of seafood next to him and shoved it in his mouth.
Eww. He's eating those fish raw. That's just disgusting. I know Killer Croc ate his food raw because he was mutated but Penguin is an ordinary man. There's no reason for him to eat raw fish.
"Mr. Cobblepot." Ricky attempted to pull Penguin's attention off his wine and fish but the Brit ignored him. Ricky growled and was about to step forward until Deadshot grabbed his shoulder and stopped him, subtly glancing at the armed guards surrounding us. Without any weapons we wouldn't be much of a fight.
"Pardon me, Mr. Cobblepot." Deadshot tried next. Penguin looked up form his eating.
"Lawton? I never pegged Deadshot for a team player."
"Ah, things are tough all over sir."
Penguin burst out laughing. "That's a good one." He turned to speak to a guard behind him. "This man's the beat assassin I've ever seen. And I only work with the best."
"I aim to please Mr. Cobblepot." Deadshot accepted the praise with a professional air. "I was told you can get us into Arkham?"
"I can indeed." Penguin held his hand out and one of his employees handed him a folder. "I've made arrangements to sneak you into the crazy barn. Follow them to…" He paused, staring behind Deadshot where Mama was hiding.
"You!" I jumped when Penguin roared and slammed his hands down on the table. "Clown!" he pulled a rifle shaped like an umbrella out and aimed at Mama.
"You're not still mad about that truck are ya Pengy?" Mama timidly inquired, poking her head further out from behind Deadshot.
I tensed as the other guards cocked their guns and pointed them at Mama. The other squad members scooted closer, circling around Mama.
"It feels like you are." She pointed out.
"You cost me money, you funny girl. Her and her loony boyfriend nicked my truck of cigarettes and drove it into the river. Just for a laugh!" Penguin waved his umbrella-gun as he spoke.
"Hey, Puddin and I are married now! You can't call him my boyfriend, he's my hubby." Mama stepped out from behind Deadshot, angrily pointing at Penguin.
"Who cares about that?!" Penguin slammed his fist on the table again. "Nobody steals from me and walks away. It's bad business love."
Mama yelped and threw her hands up in surrender when Penguin cocked his gun. I was going to cause a distraction but Boomerang seized me in a tight hold. Deadshot glared at me with the "behave" look I'd become accustomed to him shooting me over the years. He then stepped forward to address Penguin.
"You should kill her. Hell, I'll kill her for you."
My screech was silenced by Boomer covering my mouth. Mama sent a betrayed scowl Deadshot's way.
"Aw, come on!" She objected. Deadshot's eye twitched but he continued speaking.
"Except you know what else is bad for business sir?" Penguin's eyebrow rose in anticipation. Shot's gaze hardened. "Double-crossing your clients. And I would hate for folks to say MR. Cobblepots takes your money and kills your operatives."
Penguin stared Deadshot down. "Get her out of my sight Lawton."
Deadshot pushed Mama back into our circle. Penguin put his gun down.
"There's your files. Memorize the content." He pushed the previous folder forward. "You can grab some shut-eye in the rooms above. You deploy tomorrow night under the cover of darkness. And then I never wanna see any of you on my turf again."
Like I'll ever becoming back to this icebox. If I do come back, it'll be with an army of goons to torch this place to the ground. Stupid Penguin!
"Get the hell outta here!" Penguin screamed.
Boomer let me go and pushed me towards the exit. I elbowed him in the gut for his man-handling. He grunted in return. I grabbed Mama's hand and she smiled, merrily swinging our enjoined hands.
"Ever the charmer, aren't ya Harley?" Boomer teased.
"Bite me." She hissed back.
"I can't believe that happened. He was really going to kill her over a truck?" June mumbled.
"I know right? Those cigarettes were crappy anyway. Mistah J and I did him a favor." Mama complained, throwing her other arm over a shocked June's shoulder.
"Get off her Quinn." Ricky ordered.
"Geez, lighten up. It's not like I'm choking her." Mama scoffed. "Besides, us girls gotta stick together. You saw how quick Shot was willing to throw me under the bus, right?"
"Yeah, that wasn't cool man." I added.
"Well if you weren't always running your mouth I wouldn't be so quick to rid of you." Deadshot retorted. He was getting cranky just like Ricky.
The hitman pushed open a pair of doors. The group entered what looked like a storage area.
"Grab what you need." Ricky opened a crate filled with guns. June looked uncomfortable but accepted the small firearm Ricky handed her. Boomer attached a bunch of boomerangs to his coat. Deadshot pulled his monocle mask over his face and loaded his wrist guns. Mama giggled and dragged me over to a crate with a harlequin on it.
Wall-block has no sense of originality. All of this is an annoying rehash of the past.
"Look at all of Mommy's toys, Lucy." Mama dug through the crate, showing off her love/hate gun.
"Why don't I have crate? I'm a villain just like all of you." I crossed my arms, feeling slighted.
"I dunno Puddin Pop."
"What more do I have to do to get some recognition around here?"
"Don't worry Puddin Pop. Your big debut will come."
xxxxxxx
"Lucia, it's Amanda." A horrible voice came through on my ear-piece. I pushed the thing in so I could hear better. "I have a special assignment for you. Something I'd rather keep between the two of us."
"Oh? What makes me so special Wall-Block?" I joked, leaning back on the couch. The little living room area was empty. The soft light form the bar cast a blue glow on the room.
"You were feeling left out so I decided to be nice."
I sneered. "Voyeurism doesn't suit you but I'm listening."
"When you get inside Arkham, I want you to kill Riddler."
I whistled. "Wouldn't Deadshot be more qualified for this hit?"
"He would but then I'd have to bribe him. You on the other hand would do it for free."
"Whatever. When I find the guy I'll be sure to kill him." I hurriedly responded, wanting the conversation to be finished.
"Good girl." The line went dead.
I sighed and sprawled out on the couch. Even though I took a shower, I suddenly felt dirty in the pajamas I'd been loaned for the night. I turned the ear-piece off.
"Lucy shouldn't you be in bed? It's late." June's worried face appeared over mine. Her hair was down and dripping over her towel. She was dressed in sweats and a shirt. "You definitively shouldn't be down here in those shorts, not with all these men skulking around."
"No one's gonna bother me. Not if they know what's good for them." I idly twirled a knife in my hand.
June gasped. "Where did that come from?"
"That's a secret." I tilted my head at the opposite couch. "Why don't you take a load off?"
June sat down and dried her hair off. I examined June Moone. She had changed. Gone was the timid girl, replaced with a tired husk. Something drastic had happened to make her this dreary.
"Why aren't you wearing your glasses? I thought you had terrible eyesight." I questioned.
"June was startled by the random question. "Maybe I'm wearing contacts."
"Nope. You told me you hated contacts because you don't like touching your eyes."
"I'd have thought you'd forgotten something so trivial. It's been six years and you still know those little details about me."
I sat up, leaning closer in June's direction. Eyesight wasn't the only thing that had changed about her. Without those bulky clothes on I could see June's natural figure.
"I don't remember you being so bodied before either. Your boobs are huge. Did you get an enhancement done?"
"W-What?!" June stammered. "I did nothing of the sort! How could you even ask me that?!"
"Then how'd they get so big?" June swatted my hand away when I tried to poke her chest. If they were fake then I'd have felt the silicone. "There's no need to be ashamed if you did June-Bug. Ricky is like any other guy, they love women with jugs."
"I didn't have surgery. I had a child!" She exclaimed.
"You're a mommy?! Is Ricky the daddy? Did you have a boy or girl?" My excited grin almost split my cheeks as I fired off question after question at June.
She looked horrified as she realized what she had blurted out and tried to back out of the conversation.
"Cut that out already." I demanded. "Tell me about the little monster."
June sighed deeply. "Ricky is four and he's a sweet boy. He looks like Rick but his hair's much darker."
I snickered. "Did you get that name from me?"
She blushed. "My son's name is Richard but I thought Ricky was a cute abbreviation."
I nodded in agreement with her naming choice. I was very pleased that my nickname for the father became the son's name. "So you and Rick got married and a kid. Sounds like happily ever after to me. Which makes me wonder why you two are here risking your lives when you've got a kid to look after."
"You make it sound like we're here by choice. We're not." June stopped talking when a bunch of men drunkenly stormed into the room. Boomer was among them and laughing at a joke. He perked up when he spotted us.
"Ello ladies, care for a drink with Captain Boomerang?" His accent had gotten thicker in his intoxication and I really had to focus to understand him.
"I don't think more drinking is a good idea." June commented, frowning at Boomer, who fell onto the couch I was sitting on after tripping on his sweatpants. The other guys sat around the table and bar, fixing up drinks and snacks.
"Aw c'mon, don't be like that. What about you Princess? Care for a sip?" He hiccuped, holding out his mug of beer to me.
"She's underage Harkness!" June fussed. Boomer shrugged nonchalantly.
"I'm not a child. I can make my own decisions, thank you." I snatched the mug out of Boomer's hand and drained the rest of it. He cackled form my actions while June bristled.
HaHaHaHaHa
Damn, it burns! I haven't had a sip of alcohol since my last life. Usually I refrained form indulging in any liquor temptations that surrounded me since Abigail had a glaring weakness for the liquid. She drank to run away from her problems, mainly her problematic boyfriend, Graham. I was afraid of her weakness transferring to me and avoided alcohol. But what the hell? I'm tired of feeling like a child today.
Princess Lucia is a young adult now. Her legacy is beginning and soon everyone will learn to fear her name.
"Eh, Lawton hoist a pint with us." Boomer waved his empty mug around. Deadshot shook his head.
"Can't it's a school night."
"Suit yourself." Boomer got off the couch and picked up a dart. "How about a friendly game of darts then?"
Deadshot smirked. June tried to convince me to leave with her but I decided to stay. I wanted to see the results of the game and I needed to speak to Deadshot. Boomerang took the first shot by tossing the dart with his back turned to the board. It landed near the center. The goons cheered for Boomer. Deadshot stepped up to take the next shot.
"You show'em Shot!" I encouraged.
"Hey, you're supposed to cheer for me Lu." Boomer whined.
"I don't cheer for pervs." I said with an innocent smile.
Why in the world would I be interested in George Harkness when I have Damian Wayne?
Deadshot faced the board but tossed the dart backwards. I ducked as the thing ricocheted off bottles, lamps, and a table before finally hitting the dead center of the board.
"That was really cool but made no literal or physical sense to me." I peeked over the couch.
"Lucky shot." Boomer dismissed.
"Right. Let's see you do it." Shot challenged. Boomer plucked a dart out of the pile and repeated Deadshot's toss. The dart flew all over until it was caught midair by Deadshot before it could impale his eye.
"Sorry mate. Looks like that one took a bad bounce." Boomer apologized mockingly to an irate hitman that threw the dart. It landed in the center of the board, right next to the previous one. Then Deadshot punched Boomerang in the face.
"Let's call it even, mate." He stepped over Boomer.
I laughed at Boomer's poor figure. He always seemed to be getting hit by someone. I suppose every squad needs a punching bag. Captain Boomerang is the lucky candidate that receives all the squad's violent love.
"Deadshot hold up. I gotta talk to you." I chased after him.
"What kid?" He leaned on the staircase leading to the upper floor.
"It's about Zoe."
HaHaHaHaHa
Deadshot is gonna blow up when I tell him what Waller's doing to Zoe. The witch will be lucky if he kills her quickly.
HaHaHaHaHa
Deadshot will eliminate Amanda Waller and then one will ever have to worry about her again. Din dong, the witch is gone.
Good one, Lucy. xoxoxoxoxo