The City in Pieces
Chapter Thirty-Five: Sooo How Are Yooou?
Chance had never told anyone about the secret communication she was given to speak to Bane. The mic-head set was a small piece that fit along the shell of her ear, an untraceable, undetected way of hearing her master's orders with little intervention. Chance didn't bother telling the members of the League of Shadows about it, mainly because she didn't know who would turn that piece against her. There had been a traitor in the League; he was running Gotham in a black mask with wings. Theatricality and deception are powerful agents, thought Chance. Looks like Brucie might have taken that a bit too literally.
Chance recruited Brute and Lick. Lick gave her a furtive look; Chance returned him a solemn gaze. He hadn't said anything to her since their last conversation. Although she felt sorry for his loss, Chance didn't want his vengeance interferring in plans, nor did she want him to be the cause of a failed mission to recruit Ace. Brute had been under the tutelage of Lick for the last 24 hours. Chance observed him. Lick, apparently, had adopted Bane's training technique, due to the massive bruising and several lacerations on Brute's body. Chance raised her eyebrows, impressed.
"I have to speak to Rachel Dawes," said Chance dutifully. She pointed to the outline of Gotham city, tracing a finger along the path of a line that was a street. She tapped along the apartment buildings, counting them to find the one that Rachel would be in, if she hadn't moved. "She's here," Chance resolved, tapping the square of a building with her fingernail.
"Since this is a more delicate issue," said Chance, "I can't have anyone tailing me in there with her. Rachel's a brave girl, but she'll think I've ordered an ambush. I mean, the last time I was in there, we had her gagged and bound, forcing information out of her," said Chance, further explaining the situation casually.
"We," said Lick darkly, "as in you and Ace..."
Chance gave him an off-beat glance.
"Yes. Ace and me...Anyway, I imagine Rachel has dialed down a bit. She used to carry a taser with her, but after all these years of mindless corruption and nothing more than a few mob bosses terrorizing the town, she's let up." A gentle gaze. "So I'm asking, as a woman, that you stay here when I go up to talk to her."
"What if she's dangerous?" said Brute curiously.
"She's a lawyer, not a mad doctor with a scalpel," said Chance sardonically. "Just do this for me."
The two of them nodded, though both held skeptical looks. Chance nodded with a grateful smile.
"Thank you."
Chance emerged from the manhole of the sewers. Darkness had fallen on Gotham. Seemed like only hours ago that she had strolling through sunlight. Chance ventured through an average neighborhood. Apartments where Rachel lived weren't like the Buckingham Palaces in Bruce's line of housing, but they weren't the slummy shacks in Old Town either. A well-off, standard issue for a well-off, standard lawyer, Chance thought grimly as she crossed the street. A few guys in a passing vehicle stuck their heads out of the window and made cat-calls at her. Chance rolled her eyes and walked on.
Chance's ignoring them apparently infuriated them. So when the car stopped, and four men filed out of the car, Chance turned immediately to gaze at them with an irritated pulse in her neck. She didn't want to break any bones; she simply wanted to get the deal done with Rachel and go home to sleep in her bed. Though these men seemed to think she was up for more.
"You got a cute ass, don'cha', sweet cheeks?" said one of them, stepping to the side to eye her bum. "Wanna come home with me?"
Chance stayed quiet.
"Ah, one of the silent types," said a second man. "Well, I like those too."
Chance said nothing.
"You don't want to talk to us, sweetie?" asked a third man.
"We'll treat you so nice," said a fourth man.
Chance sighed. "I'm tired of dealing with men who think they own every girl in sight," she said, crossing her arms.
"Oh, she speaks. Them are fightin' words."
Chance scoffed.
"You don't know who you're dealing with..." she warned.
"I know there's four of us and one of you..." A pause. "But I have been in those situations before, and I've enjoyed it all the same."
But as the four men closed in, Chance watched four more approach from the darkness. Chance recognized the extras from the sewers below. She gave an approving smile as Brute and Lick took two men by their throats from behind, holding a shining blade to their jugulars; two unidentified masked men took the other two bullies by their arms, sending the unexpected men to their knees.
"What—?"
"Oh, my God, we've messed with a prostitute!"
"Oh!"
"Ouch! Be fucking gentle!"
Chance watched their reactions. Then she turned to Lick.
"I told you to stay behind," she said.
"We know better than that," said Brute.
"Fine." Chance said, shrugging. "Men, do what you do if you were to avenge your loved ones." She smiled. "Just remember to clean up the mess when you're done."
"Yes, Ma'am, yes, Ma'am," Brute said cheerfully.
The men that Brute, Lick, and the two others arrested were calling out for help. But no one answered their pleas. Chance glanced around to see a few witnesses who were standing around, watching the scene. Chance shrugged her shoulders. That's Gotham, for you.
She approached the apartment building, through open a door, then walked upstairs. Finding Rachel's room, she knocked. Chance waited. Rachel's voice was heard from the inside,
"Who's there?"
"An old visitor." Chance answered back.
"One moment."
Chance watched the door knob turn. The door cracked open; Chance saw a gun creep out from the slight opening. Well, Rachel, you are very prepared. Rachel's green eyes stared at Chance from within her barricade.
"What...?" Then Rachel recognized Chance. "What—You're supposed to be dead! How did you find me?"
"Easy, girl," said Chance, raising her hands slowly for a defense.
"Don't tell me 'easy', you bitch. You been gone for years. You came back. Why? To threaten information from me? Screw you. Get out...Get out."
"A bit of an overreaction from a new DA; congratulations, by the way." Chance said cheerfully, despite the circumstances. When Rachel didn't respond, Chance continued. "You haven't moved, I see; well, why would you: nice weather this time around, great rental prices—better than those slums in Old Town, I'd say. Not as quaint as the Wayne Manor, though." Chance added with a smile.
"Why are you talking to me like we are friends?" said Rachel, still aiming the gun at her.
"I don't intend on doing anything harmful to you, Miss DA."
"You can understand why I don't believe you." Rachel retorted coldly.
"Anyone could," said Chance lazily. "If I could just talk to you about something?"
"So talk."
"Well, I'm a bit uncomfortable."
"Why?"
Chance scoffed; she indicated Rachel's pistol.
"Well, I'm at gun point, Miss Dawes." Chance smirked. "Even for a gal like me, it's still nerve-wrecking."
Rachel sighed irritably.
"You just want to talk?" she said skeptically.
"I promise." Chance said whimsically. She made the movement on her chest as she said, "Cross my heart, hope to—well, you know."
Rachel frowned.
"I swear to God, I'll shoot you if you attack me," she promised.
"Fine by me, I hate this sweater anyway," remarked Chance.
Rachel opened the door all the way. Chance entered the room. The door closed behind her. Rachel still held the gun at Chance, who only looked around at the house.
"Hm, you made some changes." Chance said lightly.
"Necessary changes." Rachel said.
"I recall that the last time we talked," sighed Chance fondly, "you told me what Harvey was doing."
"He's reformed since then. Did you know that?"
"I do." Chance said. "Actually"—she plopped into a couch—"that's why I'm here."
Rachel lowered her pistol.
"What?"
"Harvey's been given a...generous...amount of money for a full-facial reconstructive surgery. It'll revitalize his senses, make him aware of his true self. What's incapacitated him for so long has been his alter ego, Big Bad Harv. Since he is his only enemy, battling him has long since been life's truest battles, but it has been easy for him to undergo treatment for such a disorder. Psychological fears are only present when the mind is fully convinced it is there; Harvey has been through that.
"He's frightened of his own shadow," said Chance, crossing her legs. "Once he gets this surgery, it rejuvenates his face to his handsome self; his bad side will go away, and he'll become once more, the dashing DA that Gotham deserves. Of course, the surgical instruments might toss around his memories. He'll have no recollection of being a bad man," said Chance. Then in a gentle voice,
"So he will not remember me."
"Why are you telling me this?" asked Rachel slowly.
"I'm telling you this," rephrased Chance sweetly, "because I know that you harbor some kind of crush on Bruce Wayne. How I know is irrelevant; I'm sort of intuitive when it comes to these things. Bruce is a playboy millionaire who lavishes himself with sports cars, movie stars..." Chance shook her head. "He hasn't got time for a love life."
"You can say that again..." Rachel muttered in agreement.
Chance smirked.
"But you and Harvey have always shared the disdain for the corrupt," said Chance. "I recall once that you and he were trying to put me away. So much luck yet?"
"No. But I thought you were dead."
"That's what everyone keeps telling me." Chance said, slightly annoyed. "Harvey's a good man, Rachel. Once he is healed, he will be a stronger person: all the more willing to do what is necessary. He isn't afraid of people, not of Joker, not of Ace...Not of me. Speaking of which, have you seen Ace?"
"Planning on killing her? Be my guest." Rachel retorted disdainfully.
Chance frowned.
"She's a dangerous witch," said Rachel. "Word on the street is that she's found out that you're not dead either." Rachel nodded. "If I were you, I'd sleep with one eye open."
Chance shrugged.
"I can handle her. Anyway, Rachel," she sighed, rising to her feet. "Do what you want. Bruce is a long-time billionaire. You might be friends, but a girl's got to eat. Just think about it. I'm only telling you this, girl-to-girl." Chance smiled. "Take care, Dawes."
Rachel watched Chance leave.