Confessions Of A Convict
Ringing. The only sound going through her head was ringing. Like an explosion had gone off beside her but the ringing never went away. Her heart was pumping harder, faster, like her blood had become thicker. No piece of darkness was safe from the image that was engraved in her mind. Every time she shut her eyes, she saw that black and orange masked man- No, Being.
Raven's breath was shallow and her heart rate increased. As her heart beat faster, the memory of Slade -No, Deathstroke- struck her across the face again and again. The punches came faster and faster as her pulse rose higher. She could swear she could still feel it. The punches repeatedly connecting against her brittle skull.
Cyborg noticed Raven's discomfort. "Raven? You okay?"
Raven didn't look up from the floor she was staring at. She couldn't hear her friend. All she could hear was the ringing and all she could see was Deathstroke.
She was finally shaken out of her state by Starfire. Grasping her shoulders, she gently shook her friend awake. "Please Raven, you are worrying us," Starfire said timidly.
Raven's sharp breaths softened as her head rested in her hands. "I'm fine," Raven responded.
Cyborg wasn't convinced. If what he saw had gone on any longer, it wouldn't take longer until it became a panic attack. "Raven. If you're not okay it's fine to admit it," Cyborg assured.
"I'm just a little shaken up from what happened. It's just a headache. I'll be fine," she protested.
"We are here if ever you need us." Starfire smiled. Raven returned the gesture. "I know you are." Cyborg grimaced at what it would have been like to be pinned down by someone like Slade. To be beaten to within an inch of your life. Cyborg wasn't convinced with Raven's response.
"Friends. We are here," Grundy stated as he drove the limo into a dark alley by the docks. Shutting off the engine, all was quite. No one was around here.
Exiting the vehicle, Raven's powers circled the floor around them. Riding the black disk, the group was elevated to the roof of the building closest to the docks. The Titans and Grundy observed the shipyard.
The docks were loaded with hangers and piles upon piles of shipping crates spread out around the shipyard.
"Anyone see dock eight? Should be crawling with goons, no doubt." Cyborg asked, scanning the area.
"Found it." Raven pointed out. Multiple bad guys were patrolling around one of the hangers. The men up top were carrying very large sniper rifles.
"These guys aren't playing around. This is gonna be tough."
"I can take the ones up high." Raven dibbed.
"And I can take the enemies below." Starfire added.
"That leaves Grundy and I to take out anyone inside. Sound like a plan?" Cyborg asked.
"That not so good idea." Grundy shrugged.
"Why not?"
"Penguin have many friends. Many of Gotham's criminals be there to watch show."
"What show?" Raven asked.
"Penguin gonna make your friend hurt real bad. All payback against Batman."
"But that is wrong! Robin has not been involved with these criminals for years. Why must it be him to face judgement?" An outraged Starfire ranted.
"These are the worst of the worst, Star. They don't care whether or not this is fair for Robin. We just gotta get him out. Without being seen."
"I could teleport him out. However, everyone will be onto us and I don't like our chances of escaping in a limo…"
"That won't be necessary," Came a low, unknown voice from behind the group.
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"End of the line, Woods! Hope you know what you're looking for." Hudson announced through his headset. The chopper gently landed back down outside a house.
"We won't be long, Hudson." Opening the door, Woods and Jinx jumped out. Looking up at the house, Jinx glanced around.
"So this is Slade's house, huh?"
"Was." Woods replied, slipping his rifle onto his back.
"Are we expecting a fight?" She asked, looking at the gun.
"No. But this is Slade we're looking for. I don't know what to think about him anymore."
The pair walked up the path toward the front door and tried their luck knocking on the door. Nothing. "No one's home."
"Or a criminal assailant who just doesn't want to answer the door. Come on, let's find another way in."
Woods and Jinx walked around the house checking each window for a way in. They noted that no lights were on and found no one lurking in the darkness.
"Hold up." Woods ordered. Slowly creeping toward the backdoor, he pulled his rifle from his back and drew aim at the door. "Someone busted the lock. Stick tight, watch my six. I'm not taking no chances."
Jinx nodded and hung tight behind the veteran. Woods treaded carefully into the house going room by room. They found the house a mess. But no one seemed to be inside. Nothing was found on the first floor. Nothing except an old broken photo of Slade.
Jinx brushed away the broken shards of glass and studied the photo. Slade stood wearing his army uniform staring blankly into the camera. "So this is-"
"Yeah. That's him alright."
"I thought you didn't know about Slade's life in Jump. What made you come here looking for clues?"
"I didn't. When Victor first told me, I denied it to myself. I refused to believe the truth. But eventually I couldn't ignore it any longer. It was obvious that they were the same man."
"What if we don't find anything? What if Slade isn't here and we leave with nothing?"
"Then we fly over to the G.C.P.D and turn that Bat signal thing on ourselves. And if that doesn't get his attention, I'm sure unloading a magazine from this baby would get the Bats attention don't ya think?" Woods' joked, slapping his rifle. Jinx rolled her eyes and placed the photo back where she found it.
In the quiet of the night, the pair heard a noise. It was faint. But they both certainly heard something upstairs. Woods' eyes and rifle snapped toward the stairs. Looking over at Jinx for confirmation, she nodded. Oh yeah. She definitely heard that too.
The pair tip toed up the stair case, Woods' rifle aimed at every nook and cranny throughout the hall. Searching each room one by one, they had still found nothing. One final room remained at the end of the hall.
If someone one wasn't in this room they weren't in any of them. The pair looked at each other before Woods' stepped back to kick the door in. A flailing of hands stopped him. Raising an eyebrow at her, Jinx pointed at the lock and then at herself.
Nodding in understanding Woods held up three fingers and Jinx nodded. The pair silently counted back down together.
*Three*
*Two*
*One*
Jinx's magic ripped the lock out of the door and Woods' shoulder barged the door with Jinx right behind to face the threat of- nothing.
"Damn it." Woods groaned, slipping his rifle back on his shoulder.
The room was trashed but no one was present. Clothes were scattered around the room. Maybe Slade had been here but he wasn't anymore.
"Plan B it is. Let's go." Jinx said as she walked out the door. Woods followed behind her out the door.
He barely got one step out the door when the sound of metal echoed around the hallway. Woods' eyes widened at the sound of the knife but he had no way of stopping it.
Rose dropped from the darkness in the ceiling behind Woods and drew her knife against his neck. Woods went to make a move for his gun.
"Don't!" Rose threatened, pressing the knife harder against his neck.
"Let him go." Came Jinx. Her powers crackled in her palms as she looked for an opening.
"I make the demands here not you, Pinkie. What do you people want?" Rose ordered.
"Jinx. Calm down alright. Let me handle this and we'll be fine." Assured Woods.
"Unless you start answering my questions. No. You won't."
"We're looking for Slade."
Rose chuckled to herself. "Oooh that really does not help your situation. See I'm not a fan of my father. So if you're his pals then you best start thinking of a reason for me not to kill you right here and now."
"Because I knew him before he even had you and your brothers, Rose."
There was a brief pause there. "You think I'm supposed to be impressed? Knowing my or my brothers' names doesn't mean shit, you hear me."
Woods kept calm under pressure. He knew he could get through to her. He just needed to prove himself. "Your third birthday. You and your brothers went down to the beach for the first time."
Rose's eyes widened and the grip on her knife loosened a touch.
"You thought your dad wasn't going to make it back in time for your birthday but he surprised you on the beach. He bought you that huge straw hat with the white ribbon. You were so small you could almost hide under it, it was so big." Woods chuckled thinking back to that day.
"He had a friend there. Still in uniform. He bought you your favorite flavor ice cream remember? Is it still-"
"Mango…"
Gently pulling Rose's wrist away from his neck, Woods turned around to look at the girl he hadn't seen in eleven long years. The girl he knew was gone. Replaced was a visibly broken sad mess who stank of alcohol.
"Oh God kid, what did he do to you…" Woods asked pulling Rose in for a hug.
Rose dropped the knife and hugged Woods back. "I don't want to talk about it, Frank."
"Your dad. He trained you, didn't he?"
Rose nodded in reply.
"I'm sorry kid. If I knew what Slade had turned into and what he turned you into I would have come sooner."
"Forget it. Nothing will change what he did. Just leave it." Rose replied stepping out of the hug. "And who are you?" She asked Jinx.
"I'm a friend of a friend of your dad's. You can call me Jinx and I'm not exactly fond of him either if it helps."
"Then what do you want with him?"
"One of our friends was kidnapped by criminals today… Actually. He was kidnapped by your uncle. Floyd Lawton. We need your dad's help to find him."
"So that's why he's doing it…"
"Doing what?" Jinx asked.
"My father was here a while ago. He came to get his equipment and a vehicle. Said he was going to join a fight he probably wasn't going to win. My advice probably doesn't mean anything but if I were you two, I'd turn around and go back to were you came from. Slade Wilson and anyone he's trying to save probably deserves to die too."
"Our friend's only a kid, Rose. Not much older than you. And he's worth saving."
"All that sounds like to me is his new apprentice wasn't ready for the job he never wanted."
"Apprentice?"
"Nevermind. Alright look. If this kid means that much to you… Follow me." Rose instructed, making her way down the stairs.
The three exited the house out the back and entered the basement outside, the light from Slade's workshop apparent from the top of the staircase. Rose swung the door open and walked nonchalantly through the room.
Woods and Jinx were far more impressed yet anxious at the vast collection of weapons on display.
"Take whatever you want. You're going to need all you can carry by the sound of it. I don't even think Dad is going to make it out alive." There was no worry in her tone.
Whatever Slade had done to her, Woods feared she'd never forgive him for it. He'd have to worry about that later. "How can we find your Dad?" He asked, picking out a ballistic vest and combat belt before slipping the two on.
"My father's old armour is installed with a body cam. I can watch the footage live and find out where he is." Rose explained and booted up an old computer in the corner.
Jinx wasn't planning on taking any extra gear. She had all she needed in the palm of her hands. Aimlessly wandering around the armory, she noticed a closed box tucked away in the corner beside Rose.
Walking over to it, she noted the photo on top of the box. It was of her and Slade, a long time ago. Opening the box, Jinx stared at what was inside.
"I'd rather you not open that." Rose asked not even looking away from the computer.
"What did he make you do?" Jinx asked as she shut the box.
"I try to forget. Not that the memories ever go away."
Woods had also made his was over toward the box after gathering his desired equipment. On his hip sat a shiny M1911 pistol along with extra magazines above his backside. Fitting his trusty M16 rifle with an under barrel grenade launcher and reticle sight. Woods also pocketed a hunting knife across his front. Topping off the load out Woods tied off a dark green bandana across his forehead. He may be old and out of the game for a while, but it wasn't the size of the dog in the fight that mattered. It was the size of the fight in the dog that was going to make the difference here.
Woods picked up the photo from the box, holding the piece of paper with care.
"Okay. The feed's loading." Rose announced.
Woods and Jinx walked over toward the computer and waited.
The feed opened to an overview look of a harbor. Shipyard cranes were spread out across the area with many shipping crates close by. Boats sat by the sides of long piers and from Slade's body cam it was obvious where he had gone to.
"He's at the docks. Go be heroes, I guess." Rose said leaning back in her chair with crossed arms.
"Jinx. Get Hudson to start the chopper. I won't be long." Woods asked.
Jinx nodded. "Well it was nice meeting you. Sorry your dad's an asshole and that we broke in and all." It was a half-arsed apology but it was something.
"Don't worry about it." Replied Rose.
After Jinx had left the armory, Woods walked over to the closed box and pulled it over toward Rose. She didn't even look at it. In fact, she turned away from it.
Taking a seat on top of the box, Woods spoke. "Whatever's in here, it ain't my business. But let me tell you something. When I first met your father, I hadn't met a badder son of a bitch in my life. Kid knocked guys twice his size on their asses like it was nothing. He had a nack of rubbing people the wrong way but the day he found out he was going to have you… I shouldn't laugh at this but seeing big bad Slade stress out like he did was pretty damn funny." Woods chuckled at the thought until he noticed Rose was still looking away from him.
Sighing, he placed a hand on her shoulder. She shuddered at first but didn't fidget any further than that. "What I'm trying to say is I know your father, Rose. He was one of my best friends. He and I would die for each other in a heartbeat. And I shit you not your father would have gone through hell and back if something had even happened to you. I don't know what happened to him when he went missing in Russia. But I promise you-" Woods stood from the box and placed the old photo of Slade and Rose in front of her. "The Slade I knew, the brother I fought with, only ever wanted the very best for you."
With that, Woods slid the box back into the corner of the room and walked toward the door. "I hope you find a way out of whatever hell you're in, kid. You deserve better. Try and stay safe." Woods looked back at Rose but she wasn't returning the glance. Her gaze was locked forward toward the computer screen. Leaving her to sit alone, Woods followed Jinx back to the helicopter.
Was this what she was going to do with her life? Sit around this house, brooding over being mistreated. What kind of life is that? One where she'd never make the mistake of trusting anyone again but… maybe. Just maybe. Her father was telling the truth. That he did want the best for her after all.
Her gaze left the screen and down toward the closed box by her side. What was in that box was meant for pain. Nothing good had come out of that box with her father in charge of it. But perhaps things would be different if she took control of her life.
Rose timidly walked over to the box unlatching the lid. Everything was still how it was left. Rose didn't know what to do but she knew it didn't involve this place. She had to leave. If what Woods and her father said is true, that he does want the best for her, he was going to have to prove it to her.
"There you are." Came Slade's voice.
Rose jumped and spun around in fright. Thankfully Rose could breathe a sigh of relief when she realised the voice came from the live feed of his body cam.
Rose stood back up and looked at the feed. A boat was entering the docks. She couldn't make out who was on the boat. She assumed her uncle and whoever he kidnapped.
Her eyes shut tightly as she weighed her options. Stay here and live a life of anger and regret, or leave and seek redemption. Who was she kidding. She didn't have a choice.
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This was without a doubt the worst headache Robin had suffered through. Eight or so hours of being hung upside down, and bouncing up and down with the waves. On the bright side, he had at least kept hold of his dignity by not throwing up over the boat.
Robin had endured hours upon hours of threats against his life from Frost and Croc, mild attacks from Boomer and just plain annoyance from Harley Quinn. But out of all his captures, the man he thought would be providing the worst torture out of the Suicide Squad was sat at the edge of the boat staring out into the moon lit horizon.
Deadshot didn't have a single care in the world for Robin. This man tore through his city, hurt those he loved and was sending him to his death and he's not the least bit upset or happy about what he's done.
"Why?" Robin asked, growing upset. This man's responsible for tearing him away from his family and he doesn't even care.
Deadshot didn't even respond. He didn't even look away from the light glistening off of the waves.
"I asked you a question."
"And I ignored it."
"You don't even care about what you did. You shot a teenage girl and your actions resulted in the endangerment of hundreds of innocent people. You aren't even feeling the least bit guilty. How can you care so little about what you do? About who you hurt to finish your mission?"
Deadshot didn't even have to think about that. His folded arms swung down to his sides as he walked over to Robin. The two were at eye level despite Robin being hung from a rope.
"Let me put it simply, Robin. The one thing I cherished the most, more than anything else despite being born with a crippling disability that would have taken his life far earlier than he deserved, was taken away from me by a drunk driver. A drunk driver that was handed a pathetic three year jail sentence and got released on good behavior in two because 'It was an accident'. The way I see it, the way any man should- That man murdered my kid and practically got away with it. He chose to drink and drive that night and yet he walked away from that the accident while my innocent boy was killed."
Deadshot was breathing heavy. He was certainly getting worked up over what he was saying. Robin didn't think trying to defuse the situation was going to help. Letting Deadshot rant seemed like the best option.
"You know how I got caught? How I became a part of this team? When I found out the man that murdered my son was a free man. I looked his ass up in the phone book, drove to his house and killed him. It was far more merciful than he deserved. I could have tagged him from across the street and got away with it. But I walk up to that asshole's front door and kicked it down. He came running at me with a bat but I shot him between the eyes before he even had a chance to say he was sorry. Hell, he probably didn't even know who I was. I stayed there till the cops showed up. They took me away and I got a seventy year prison sentence. For killing a killer. That's the justice system you're siding with, Robin. Why's my kid only worth two and that piece of shit's worth seventy? Huh?! Answer me that!" Deadshot yelled.
Robin frowned. He really didn't have much to say to the man. "It's not about how hard life hits you, Deadshot. It's how you decide to take it that matters."
"Oh don't give me that crap. My only mission apart of the Black ops task force had me shoot a man in the head but you know what. I couldn't do it. I was like you. Too weak and pathetic to be a man and make a decision that mattered. Thanks to that murderer, I'm not scared to make the hard choices anymore. Killing that dirt bag gave me the confidence to aim a gun at other pieces of garbage and not hesitate to pull the trigger. You throw punks in cells for a few months, maybe a year, then they're out again. I hit them and they stay down."
"Look at you trying to justify what you do. You're not doing this for your sake, you're a prisoner. Forced to take part in these missions under some leverage I can't figure out. You think your daughter will be proud of you when she learns what you did? What you do?"
"Don't bring her into this. I mean it, kid."
"No. Let's talk about her. When did you find out about her, Deadshot? Was it before or after you murdered that man?" Robin interrogated.
"I said don't!" Deadshot hissed before striking Robin in the midsection.
Robin groaned but he bared the hit and carried on. "Let's elaborate on both sides. See I don't think you found out about her before you killed him. If you did, you'd knowingly be throwing away a normal childhood for your daughter."
Deadshot was clenching his fist, shaking with anger.
"I think, after you returned to the United States, you and your partner laid low for a while as you would have been a war criminal for abandoning your country in battle. You learned about Jump City, a new super city being built in San Francisco, and decided to make a life for yourselves there. After some awful luck you find out you're going to be a father again right after you were convicted for killing a man. I bet it haunts you every day that if you hadn't killed your son's killer, you could be at home with your daughter right now."
Deadshot grunted and walked away from Robin toward the end of the boat, still very upset.
"Admit it, Deadshot. The world doesn't have it out for you. You're just looking to blame everyone except yourself for this. And now your actions have put your daughter at risk- Her mother at risk."
Deadshot had looked away from Robin, contemplating on whether he should knock his teeth out or throw him overboard after shooting him in the head.
"Deadshot. Let me help you. I want Slade gone just as much as you do. You're flawed, yes. But me and my team can help you. Please." Robin pleaded.
"This is bigger than me kid. Bigger than my brother. Bigger than my family who I answer to. It is far more dangerous than Slade. Right now, I gotta play both sides. Mine and Theirs. Because if I don't, the wrong people are going to die and most importantly, my family will die. So putting my trust in a group of teenagers is not a smart move."
Deadshot and Robin's talk was cut short when a voice in Deadshot's ear spoke. "Deadshot. Are you nearing Gotham?" Amanda Waller asked.
"If I were you, I'd best keep my mouth shut. This will all run a lot smoother if you played along." With that, Deadshot left Robin alone.
It wasn't long after Deadshot had left that Robin started to see something in the distance. A faint yellow glow grew brighter until the glow was bright and vibrant city. There was no questioning it. Gotham city was welcoming Robin home.questhe was about to receive a homecoming he'd never forget.
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So for those of you that read the "Lost Chapter" I posted will know that this file was destroyed somehow. Thankfully I managed to find a back up that had about 80% of the chapter still on it so thankfully the wait wasn't too long.Thankfully I was able to get this chapter out relatively quickly all things considered. I'm not gonna lie I don't know how quickly I can get the next chapter done as it's going to be a very large action scene and we know how long they can beFor those of you that have seen that cinematic trailer for the game Arkham Origins that had Deathstroke and Batman fight each other. That setting is what I have in mind for future confrontations.I say this every chapter but thank you to those that have kept up reading for so long. It means a lot to me. Thanks again to Rose who pre reads these chapters for you guys.If there's anything you'd like to see in the next chapter let me know and I'll try and add it in. Other than that I'll see you all again when I finish the first chapter of the finale. Gotham VS The Good.DansaCharm