Garfield: Finally, we are back with a new chapter. I swear I was going to murder someone.
Gwen: Murder is no good.
Miles: I totally agree with the no murdering thing.
Jinx: Could be worse. Well then guys, Let's get to it!
A Symbiotic Bond: A Venomous Titan Reborn
Chapter Twenty-Two
Flashback – Gotham City
The Jazzy Bird
Jinx
"Drinks all around!" Shatterstar shouted as he held a beer in the air. "To Jinx! The Clayface hunter Witch of Squad B!"
"To Jinx!" The squad yelled before clashing their drinks together. Jinx let out a small laugh and shook her head before she drank down her beer as well.
The team had just finished taking down Clayface after a ten hour chase through the city. That was another Bat-Villain down and now her and her team was enjoying themselves at their favorite spot.
"Man, this feels so damn great to just relax after a long day," Jinx said as she put her feet up on the table. Beside her sat a Caucasian teen with dirty blonde hair, a army green sleeveless shirt, army green pants, black army boots, a red guitar strapped on his back and red angel-like wings, who was currently taking a sip of his beer.
"I agree. You did great out there Jinx," the teen said softly as a smile graced his face.
"Thanks Icarus. I didn't really do much," Jinx admitted.
"Using your powers to bury him in cement was ace," Icarus replied softly. "Besides, who else had that idea? No one but you. Face facts Jinx, you saved the day."
Icarus raised his beer to her and she Jinx responded by raising her bottle and tapped them together but Jinx couldn't help but feel the guilt build in her chest as the teen smiled at her.
Out of everyone in the squad, Joshua "Jay" Guthrie or "Icarus" was the one she was partnered with the most and they had built up a semi-good friendship.
Despite her objections and forced distance, it felt like she was naturally drawn to him and him to her and they often found themselves bickering playfully during mission assignments and talking outside of them.
The thought of betraying him was starting to eat away at her.
But why?
"I better get going, I have an early shift tomorrow and you do to," Jinx told him before she sat the beer down and gave a nod to Archangel, Boom-Boom, X-23 and Shatterstar, who all nodded back.
She quickly placed a few bills on the table and began to fast-walk to the door until Icarus shouted "I'll see you tomorrow then!"
Jinx turned around to see Icarus smiling so despite herself; she gave him a hesitant smile back, that guilty feeling growing ever larger in her gut. "Yeah tomorrow!" Jinx shouted out as she quickly rushed out the door before her guilt swallowed her whole.
Flashback – Gotham City
Gotham Royal Apartments
Jinx
After parting from her group, Jinx walked into her apartment with an exhausted look on her face.
She always had shitty luck.
She would be the first one to tell anyone that but all things considered, things were honestly going wonderful for her right now. She had the civilians on her side, her teammates liked her and for once, she felt a part of something bigger than herself.
But she knew that this all was coming to an end. She would soon be back with the Thieves and everything she had come to love, despite trying not to, will cease to exist.
But wouldn't she be happy with that?
She had a life with the Thieves and she was in the relationship with one of them, her partner on this very mission and when she first started it, she didn't even want this role for this mission but now…
Now…
'What the hell are these shitty feelings building up in me?' Jinx thought to herself as before she suddenly let out a groan.
She forgot her damn jacket at the Jazzy Bird again.
"Aww damn it," Jinx cursed out. She was in such a rush to leave that she left her favorite jacket. "Ah well, I guess I'll grab it tomorrow," Jinx said with a bitter sigh.
Jinx then took off her uniform top, revealing a simple black tank top beneath it, and tossed it into the closest and as she was removing her wrist communicator, she heard a familiar voice say "Watch where you're throwing your stuff, Beau Ange."
Jinx turned around to see Gambit walking out of her closet with her shirt covering his head and face. "Gambit?" She whispered out in surprise as Gambit removed the jacket and tossed it into the closet behind him.
"The one and only Ange," Gambit replied, his Cajun accent thick with emotion.
Jinx ran to him excitedly and wrapped her arms around him tightly before the two shared a soft kiss. "I haven't seen you in a month," Jinx murmured against his lips.
"I missed you too," Gambit replied with a small grin on his face.
"How did you get in here?" Jinx asked curiously.
"I am a Canaille Capon. You should know this by now my Canaille Gaienne," Gambit said as he swaggered forward and sat down on her chair. "I came bearing good news. I managed to narrow the location of the Infinity stone down to five museums that Bruce Wayne owns. I came to nab you so we can check them all out."
If it had been a month ago, she would have been excited to see him and hear this news but now, all she could feel was dread.
But again, why? She was so close in having her normal life again. Being a thief, traveling the world with her boyfriend, letting the wind be their guide as they steal anything and everything not bolted down.
The life she always had.
But did she really want it?
Gambit stood up "Come on. The sooner we can narrow it down to one, the faster we can get back to our maison and get paid…" Gambit then grew silent and asked "Ange? You alright?"
"I-I'm fine," Jinx said softly.
"Then why the tears? I would thing you would be excited but from that look on your face, those tears aren't of joy," Gambit answered with a frown.
Jinx placed a hand on her cheek and felt wetness against her fingertips. "Oh…I didn't even know…"
"Jinx," Gambit began with a serious tone. "You having second thoughts now?"
Jinx remained silent.
"Merde Pischouette," Gambit cursed. "You said you could handle this mission without getting emotionally drawn into it and know you want to have second thoughts?"
"You don't get it Remy," Jinx began. "I like doing this. I like being a hero. I didn't expect it at first but seeing the civilians cheer me on. Seeing the children around adore me and my teammates…They actually like me, despite me keeping my distance. All of this is making me realize that I made the wrong choice being a petty thieving villain."
"I can't believe that now is the time to have honneur," Gambit grumbled with annoyance. "That Vieux Snart had a feeling you would turncoat but I didn't believe him and now here I am, eating crow."
"I'm sorry Remy, I truly am," Jinx said sadly. "I just-"
"If it was any other situation, I would tell you to follow your heart Ange but I can't," Gambit told her. "You have an obligation to the Thieves. You can't sit there and turn away because you wanna go straight Pischouette."
"I'm tired of the villain life. It's all I've known Remy," Jinx replied. "I want to try and be a good person for once. Do some good like my goodie-goodie teammates…Hell, like the damn Teen Titans even…I want to give this a shot," Jinx replied.
"So that's then? Faire son idée?" Gambit asked before he shook his head and added "That means 'So you made up your mind then?'"
"Yeah…I think I did…" Jinx replied.
Gambit stared at her long and hard before he asked "And what about us then Ange?"
"I…I…" Jinx stammered. "I don't want to lose you Remy…"
"I know but if you are willing to leave this life behind, that puts us as opposites of the law Ange," Gambit replied sadly. "I'm glad you made up your mind but me? Je n'appartiens pas ici. I like to live on the edge and travel with the wind…I couldn't go straight like you…So I guess that means we should call it quits. At least you can get a clean break and start anew."
Jinx felt hot tears beginning to fall from her eyes. She knew that Gambit enjoyed his carefree life and admittedly, she did as well but now…Things had changed. She had changed…
"Je suis désolé Remy," Jinx whispered sadly.
Gambit placed a hand on her cheek and said "Right as we part, you speak my language," Gambit chuckled sadly and replied with "Don't apologize Ange. You want out. You have every right to follow your heart, even if it means I go at our assignment alone."
"This hurts so much Remy…I didn't want to lose you," Jinx whispered as the tears continued to fall down her face.
"Je suis si désolé, Beau Ange…" Gambit whispered as he held her. "No matter what, Je t'aime, Jinx..." The two shared one last kiss before Gambit murmured "This Misere…is like an avalasse…It's not stopping anytime soon for either of us Ange…But you're tough. You will heal…"
"So will you…" Jinx murmured.
"Not anytime soon Jen," Gambit mumbled before he brushed a stray tear from her face and murmured "Bonne nuit Jen…"
"Good night Remy…" Jinx replied before Gambit climbed out the window and when he did, Jinx's wrist communicator began to rang. Jinx immediately tossed her communicator hard against the wall, shattering it into pieces before she fell to the ground with bitter tears on her face.
It was then she heard Jay's soft voice ask "Jinx…Are you okay?"
Jinx turned her head to see Jay standing at her door, her jacket in his hands.
It was then she realized that she had left it at the Jazzy Bird. "Icarus…" she breathed out, tears still falling from her face.
"You left your jacket and the club I'm playing at is nearby so I thought to drop it off…You look upset, what happened?" Icarus inquired as he stepped into the apartment and walked to her.
"I-I just broke up with my boyfriend," Jinx said sadly as she looked down at the floor.
"Oh…I-I'm sorry," Icarus apologized.
"Nothing for you to be sorry about…I-I just…Wanted a better life and we b-both realized he wouldn't be able to stay in it," she sniffled out.
"I-I don't know what to say…" Icarus admitted.
"Just…Just stay with me for a bit?" Jinx asked him.
She saw a gentle smile appear on Icarus' face before he replied "No problem…"
Flashback – Gotham City (One Month Later)
Gotham Bank
Jinx
"Miss Jinx! Miss Jinx!"
Jinx turned around two see two small children holding out a crude drawing of her standing on a pile of bank robbers, both children having large smiles on their faces. Jinx smiled and knelt down and signed both pictures before giving a hug to both children, causing them to hug her back with an excited laugh.
"Thank you for saving us!" One of the children said, which prompted Jinx to ruffle the child's head with a wink.
"That Killer Croc won't be getting a hand on anymore people so no worries," Jinx replied before she stood up and limped over to Jay, who watched as their fellow B-Squad members helped the Gotham police get the defeated villain into the reinforced police van.
"How you holding up Jay?" Jinx as she stood in front of him.
Jay had taken a hard clothesline that was meant for her from Killer Croc half way through the villain's rampage, which sent him into a house which caused the house to crumble into rubble around him. "I'll be fine," Jay replied softly. "My wings have healing properties that are working overtime. I should be okay after a few minutes."
"You're stupid for taking that hit for me Jay," Jinx admonished with a cross of her arms, a concerned look on her face.
On the night that she broke up with Gambit, Jay had inadvertently become her rock through it all. From late night jam sessions with his guitar to random movie night with some Chinese food to even talking all night on their communicators, he was there to bring her out of her heartbreak.
She knew that he had a crush on her since the moment the two met and after two weeks of having him around, she saw herself starting to look at him in a new light after he revealed his heartbreaking past to her but while the attraction was becoming mutual, Jinx didn't want to step into a relationship so soon after the Cajun thief.
But despite this, she was still close friends to Jay and hated to see him hurt, even if he could heal himself. "I didn't want you to get injured. I'm sorry," Jay replied with a small wince, which made Jinx sigh with a light smile on her face.
"I just don't want anything to happen to you Jay. Wings or not so be careful next time," Jinx told him with a wag of her right index finger, which caused him to chuckle faintly.
"Fine, fine…No more heroics from me," Jay said with a smile. "Anyways, our shift is done. Up for some Chinese food and Jackie Chan?"
"Am I ever! I just want to sink my ass into my couch and watch Jackie getting into trouble after today," Jinx sighed out with a wry grin.
Jay gave a small grin and said "Sweet. I'll pick up the Chinese and shoot over to your place then in an hour."
Jinx nodded with a smile and as Jay walked away, she shouted "No more heroics tonight!" Jay lifted his right arm up in reply as he continued to walk before he lowered it.
Jinx watched him for a little while longer before she looked to her Squadmate, Boom-Boom, and told her "I'm going to head home and grab some rest but you guys need me for anything before I go?"
"Nah, we're going to escort Killer Croc to Arkham. Shatterstar and I can handle that on our own. You get out of here," Boom-Boom said with a smile.
Jinx nodded and said her goodbyes before she walked away in the direction of her apartment.
Flashback – Gotham City
Gotham Royal Apartments
Jinx
"Where is he?" Jinx asked herself with a frown as she looked at her watch with a frown. It had been six hours since she last spoke to Jay and he was supposed to be over five hours ago. She saw that he had rung her briefly but when she answered, everything became static and then nothing.
Even when she rang him back, she never got an answer from it.
"This isn't like him…Maybe I should alert the others," Jinx said to herself as she paced in her living. Just then, she heard a loud bang at her door. Quickly, she rushed to her door and opened it only for Jay's body to fall at her feet.
"Oh my god!" Jinx screamed as she pulled him inside and held him in her arms after she knelt down to get a good look at him.
The first thing she noticed was his two red wings were seemingly cut off from his body, leaving two gaping wounds. She noticed that there were five puncture wounds in his chest. She looked and saw that his left eye was missing and there various cuts on his face and arms.
"Jay…Oh my god, what happened to you?" Jinx asked, on the verge of tears.
"I-I was on the way to our Chinese food joint…When I heard glass…Someone with red and black eyes busted into the museum down the streets. I-I went to stop him, thinking he was an ordinary thief but he wasn't…He was a mutant like me…" Jay panted out, blood dripping from his eye and mouth.
Jinx felt her heart grow cold at this.
There was only one person she knew who had black and red eyes.
"Did this person do that to you?" Jinx asked softly.
"N-No…That guy, I managed to subdue him enough to g-grab what he stole…I-It was this glowing green stone and it felt p-powerful…" Jay gasped out. "I a-arrested him b-but then you showed up…"
"I showed up?" Jinx asked with a frown on her face.
"Y-Yeah…You asked if I was alright and hurt b-but the thing is…I was in the p-process of calling your communicator…t-the one on her wrist w-wasn't ringing…" Jinx felt her face pale when she heard her friend tell her this.
"I-I knew then something w-was wrong…She kept trying to g-get the stone…asking me t-to give it to her s-so she c-could take it to Batman…But t-there was something c-cold in her eyes," Jay paused and coughed heavily, which caused blood to splatter against Jinx's cheek.
"W-When I refused, it was then she lunged a-at me with this dagger and stabbed me t-twice in the stomach…The other guy tried to s-stop her…c-calm her down but…She attacked him but I got enough time to get away…I hid the s-stone but as I was in the air trying to f-fly out of there, s-she knocked me out with a tranquilizer," Jay gasped out.
"She tortured you…" Jinx gasped out.
"W-While wearing your f-face…" Jay shuddered out. "Y-You have to find that stone…I tossed it on a r-roof of the Wayne Enterprises building down t-the street. Y-you need to get it b-before she does…"
"And leave you like this, no way!" Jinx yelled out.
"T-That stone…E-Even while holding it….I could feel its power…I-I don't know why but I k-know it's dangerous a-as well…Y-You have to get it…" Jay closed his eyes and began to take shuddered breaths.
"N-No, I'm not leaving you like this Jay," Jinx told him as she once again lifted her communicator but again, Jay stopped her.
"She knew w-who I was and t-the first thing s-she did was cut off my wings…S-She even said she knew about their h-healing properties…I-If she could disguise herself as y-you…She c-could do a-any one of us…" Jay explained, the light slowly fading out from his eyes.
"Jay…I'm so sorry but I don't care if she gets the stones, you need help," Jinx told him but Jay merely smiled at her.
"I-I'm done for…We b-both know this…" Jay told her softly. "B-But I know that if she gets them…I-I have a feeling things will get r-really bad, really fast…P-Please…Promise me y-you'll get it…"
Jinx shut her eyes and gritted her teeth in sorrow as more tears fell on Jay's face, mingling with his blood. "I-I told your ass…No more heroics! Why didn't you call for help? I would have come running!" Jinx yelled as tears began to fall from her eyes.
"I-I didn't think about it…I-I just did it…" Jay shut his eyes and murmured "I'm sorry Jinx."
"Jen…" Jinx said. "My name is Jen."
"Jen…Ah…That's a nice name. J-Jen and J-Jay…" Jay whispered softly. "J and J connection…I t-think that w-would have been a good c-couple name…"
"Yeah…Jen and Jay…It sounds great," Jinx told him tearfully as she cradled his head in her lap. "I should have just told you that I was starting to care for you and now it's too late…"
"N-Never too late…A-At least I g-got to finally hear it…" Jay whispered as he looked up at her weakly. "I-I'd like to think we w-would have m-made it…"
"We would have," Jinx told him. "I'll miss you…"
"Heh…I'll miss…you…too…" The smile on Jay's face froze as the light in his eyes died, his final breath escaping from his lips.
Jinx lowered her head and placed a tender kiss on his forehead and whispered "I'll find it Jay…I promise…" Jinx gingerly placed his head down and finally looked at her communicator and lifted it up and removed it from her wrist and sat it down beside Jay's head.
"Find the stone and then hide it in a safe place…" Jinx murmured before she stood up and looked down at the still smiling Jay and said "Don't worry…I'll keep my word." And with that, Jinx ran out of her apartment, closing her door behind her.
Flashback – Gotham City
Wayne Enterprises
Jinx
With a hard kick, the door to the roof flew off its hinges and Jinx ran out onto the roof. As much as she regretted her thieving past, it still had its perks. "Okay…He said that he threw it up here…But where is it?" Jinx said as she looked around.
She walked along the roof, feeling the tiny pebbles beneath her feet as she observed the area around her and it was then she noticed something shining green beneath a vent. She ran to the vent and knelt down and grabbed the stone but the moment she touched it, she heard feet land on the roof.
"Jinx," Batman's voice said, which caused her to turn to see the caped crusader staring at her in the shadows, his white eyes glowing in the darkness. Jinx grabbed the stone and slide her arm from beneath the vent and stood up.
"Batman," Jinx said as she placed the stone in her back pocket.
"Your former comrade gave you up," Batman said as he stepped out into the view, revealing his large body to her, which made her take a step back. "Remy "Gambit" Lebeau. He gave you up your mission. Honestly it was genius to infiltrate X-Force and even managed to kill one of our own in Joshua "Icarus" Guthrie and took the stone at that…Unfortunately, this is where your good luck ends."
"I didn't steal the stone! Nor did I kill Jay!" Jinx yelled out. "He was killed by some shape shifter that looked like me!"
"As of right now, X-Force officers are in your apartment as we speak investigating. You will likely face the death sentence with this brazen betrayal," Batman said before he held out his hand towards her. "But I know you are telling the truth…Oracle overheard the conversation. Just give me the stone and we can wipe the dept clean."
Jinx felt conflicted.
If she didn't do what he asked, she knew she was going to have to fight the Batman and things wouldn't go very well in her favor. But if she gave up the stone, the debt she had would be wiped.
It was then Jay's words echoed in her head.
"She knew w-who I was and t-the first thing s-she did was cut off my wings…S-She even said she knew about their h-healing properties…I-If she could disguise herself as y-you…She c-could do a-any one of us…"
"How do I know you're the real Batman?" Jinx asked him with narrowed eyes.
"I assure you, I am me," Batman told her. "Now the stone before I am forced to retrieve it myself."
"Heh, unfortunately that doesn't absolve you. I'm not giving up this stone! I made a promise and I'm going to keep it!" Jinx shouted and that was when Batman leapt to attack.
End Flashback - Gotham City
Arkham
Garfield Mark Logan
"We fought and he whopped my ass from here to Steel Port city but I managed to get away by jumping off the roof and using my powers to help me. I hid out in the sewers all night and when I came out, they found Jay's body along with my DNA evidence. Not only that, there were some witnesses that saw "Me" stabbing him at the museum…I've been on the run since then," Jinx finished before she looked to a confused Gambit.
"He said I gave you up?" Gambit asked.
"Yeah, he said you folded on me," Jinx said hotly. "Because of that stupid mission, I lost a lot of shit that I had come to care about."
"Beau Ange…" Gambit began but Jinx growled.
"I'm not your "Beautiful Angel" Remy! You lost that chance when you broke up with me, robbed that museum, gave me up and caused Jay's death."
"But that's the thing, I didn't give you up," Gambit told her with a scowl. "Mal Pris…After I fought that red-winged Ange, you showed up and tried to get the stone and when he didn't, you stabbed him. I actually fought "you" in my effort to calm you down but was immediately defeated. After that, they sent me straight to Arkham. No questioning or anything."
"He's…telling the truth," Sym told Garfield, who eyed Gambit down with narrowed eyes.
"That can't be. Batman told me that you gave me up. Revealed the entire plan to me."
But it was then Garfield realized something. "Wait…You said that Batman offered you a choice. Be framed for the crimes you didn't commit or give you the stone and he'd wipe away the debt. Is that right?"
Jinx tilted her head and said "Yeah."
"That doesn't sound like him at all. Robin used to work with Batman. If someone was being framed, he would immediately submit the evidence and clear it up and if Oracle overheard it, she would have cleared you before Batman would even get it.
"And if you were guilty, Bats wouldn't even waste his time with ya," Harley said as she shockingly caught on to what Garfield was saying.
"You don't think the Batman I fought was the real one," Jinx realized.
"Not just that but something else has been bugging me," Garfield replied. "Batman is a loner. He's only had one apprentice at any given time and the only team he really belongs to is the Justice League."
"And not only that, he would never approve of these collars," Harley added on. "Before last year, Bats wasn't big on killing or any of his partners killing. And he heavily disagreed with these collars, something Amanda Waller made us members of the Suicide Squad wear to keep us all docile but last year, he killed my puddin' and implemented these collars for all criminals. He's also acting very sadistic…Like he would kill us with his bare hands. And the biggest thing is that since he got X-Force, he never appears in public anymore."
"What are you two trying to say?" Jinx asked with narrowed eyes. "That Batman isn't Batman?"
Garfield and Harley remained silent but his narrowed eyes told Jinx his answer.
"Oh my god, you both are serious," Jinx said with shock in her voice. "Then if he isn't Batman…Who is he?"
It was then Gambit said "I think I got a good idea…"
But just before anyone could ask him to elaborate, the ground beneath the mattress began to move before it slid to the left, startling the four into getting into a fighting stance. "Oh what now?!" Garfield yelled in annoyance but that annoyance soon turned into shock when Robin's head poked out of the secret area and stared at them, followed by Cyborg, Starfire and an unknown teenager.
"Robin?!" Garfield and Jinx said with surprise.
Garfield: Well that's a surprise
Jinx: A very welcome one
Robin: We found you. Now we can get in on this!
Starfire: And we will! See you then!