A/N: Hey guys, sorry this took so long! I hope you all are well. Thank for the comments and critiques on the last chapter. I hope you enjoy this one! So someone asked me how many chapters were left in this story and it brought up an important question I need to address with you all. So to start, I think to properly tell this whole story from complete start to finish that I'm gonna have to do it in three parts, this obviously being part one. So my question is would you all want me to break this down into three separate stories, or, would you like me to keep it intact and keep all three parts here? To answer the previous question, if I break it up, then this story will be roughly about 36 chapter in total give or take (I already have it written to 26, so I'm getting close to the part one conclusion). Either way part one his basically laying out the ground work for part two, which I'm already outline as we speak so as soon as Part one is through, we'll just be going right into two. So let me know what you think, you're the reader so your opinion matters to me. Thank you for the love guys and please feel free to approach me with any question, both serious and not so much, I love talking to you all :D
With Love -Ophelia
Chapter 16
I'm Cheap to Rent
This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood;
The words expressly are "a pound of flesh." The Merchant Of Venice Act 4, scene 1
Water fell over him in hot streams, running across deep faded scars, each one tethered to a story from a different time and place. His fresh cuts stung, the heat of the water seeping into the pierced flesh that hadn't quite healed yet. He realized the time, placing his hand on the dial, turning it till water ceased. He ran his hand over his forehead, brushing damp strands of dark hair from his face and green eyes. With the other, he pushed back the curtain, the bathroom filled with a thick rising steam that clung to the cool surface of the tile and glass.
"Hey, coffee's done!" he heard Rose call from behind the door.
"Kay, be out right out!"
He pulled the towel off the bar and blotted his face and neck, then wrapped it around his waist. He opened the door, greeted by the cold air of the drafty apartment. He spotted her white hair first, the untamed locks cascading around her thin, but well-formed shoulders. She looked over at him and smiled softly, taking a mug in her hands and bringing it to him.
"Here, black, no sugar—just how you like it," Rose said handing him the cup.
Jason took it with and smirked at the sight. "Thanks, that was awfully domestic of you. You feeling okay?"
He reached out his hand, placing it on her forehead as though she were running a fever.
She laughed and swatted his hand away playfully. "You make it sound like putting a K-cup in a Keurig machine is a difficult task."
"Well for someone who could fuck up a bowl of cereal—" Jason laughed, but stopped as Rose punched his arm, not even realizing her own strength.
"That was one time, douchebag," she giggled, "and I was really drunk."
Jason placed his cup down and tried pulling Rose closer as she playfully tried to fight back. He finally got his arms around her and leaned in to kiss her, Rose still coyly trying to resist.
"You're cute when you're annoyed," Jason teased, trying to persuade her.
"And you're cute when you don't get what you want."
"Is this cause I insulted your cooking or lack thereof?"
"Asshole."
"Sounds like me."
Jason pressed his lips to hers for a moment, which did not last long. The sound of a generic ringtone echoing through the thick of the air.
"Shit, that's me," Rose said picking up her phone from the counter where it instantly called. "Dear old dad," she sighed, looking at the burner a moment. Her hands not really willing to answer.
"You gonna get that?" Jason asked noticing her resistance.
She looked up at him and bit her lip. "It can wait a few minutes. I'm sure he just wants to know how last night's detour went."
Jason nodded and took a sip of his coffee then took her hand in his. "If you were in trouble, or you thought that Slade was gonna do anything, you'd tell me, right?"
Rose smiled, feeling the genuine protectiveness in Jason voice, nodded. "Yeah."
"I really hope you mean that."
"Me too." She smiled and ran her thumb over his knuckles, the two both sort of questioning her sincerity.
Her loyalty to father was something she was always teetering on.
"I gotta go," Rose said, giving the Outlaw a kiss and grabbed her coat.
He lit a cigarette and took a drag as he followed her to the window, smoke billowing from his questioning lips. "You know you can use the front door, right?"
Rose turned and walked back toward him as he met her halfway. "And invoke the wrath of the pink-eyed rattle snake first thing in the morning? I'll take my chances with the fire escape, thank you."
"Just say'n."
"I know," Rose said and swiftly plucked the cigarette from his mouth before planting one more kiss him.
She pulled away, placing the cigarette between her lips and climbed out the cracked window frame. Before taking off, she looked back at Jason one last time and removed the still burning coffin nail from her mouth with a playful puff of smoke.
"Oh and thanks for the light, JT."
Jason smirked as he watched her slip out of view, the scent of ash lingering like the warmth of breath on the word of a memory. He placed his hands on the window sill and took a deep breath before closing the glass pane and sighed. He permitted himself one last look as she continued to make her way down the old metal later.
"Yep, I'm doomed."
The brunette inhaled the smoke from her cigarette, the burn filling her throat and delving deep into her lungs. She held it a moment then blew the smoke into the air where it billowed above her head in curls. She looked across the table, one ice blue eye staring back at her, leaving her with a dark memory.
"Must you do that, Adeline?" her husband asked gruffly.
She raised a brow and took another drag, he hated when she smoked at the table. His dear Addie never cared before, why start now?
"So my cousin paid me a visit yesterday," she said.
Slade's lone eye lit with curiosity, and his lips moved quizzically. "Why would he do that?"
"He needs my support; I told him I'd trade. He backs up my plans for the clinic and I back him up on his youth center."
"A youth center?" Slade questioned. "Why would he need you to back that?"
"Because," Adeline began, still puffing on her cigarette, "he wants to build it on top of that tragic old opera house."
"Not the one where his parents were killed?" her husband mused astringently.
"That would be the one," she droned ironically glancing at her tea. "I can't say I blame him for it though. He must hate having to look at that place every time he ventures into that part of town. It must be quite the slap in the face?"
She sighed and tapped her cigarette on the side of her ashtray and took a sip of her tea. She could see the alarm and anxiety boiling to the surface of her husband's aging face, his posture becoming unbearably tense. It wasn't very often that she saw him like that, but when she did, it reminded her that he was indeed—human.
"Addie," he finally scoffed, "how can you back him on this? If they start digging that place up, Wayne will have reason to dig deeper. And we can't have that! Not now!"
Adeline kept her face cool and collected, she wasn't about to let her baser instincts get the better of her. She was shocked her husband's had.
"It will be fine, Slade. The Red Hood owes you a favor as of last night." She laughed and shook her head. "It seems, for once, one of your little mishaps may actually right the course." He glared at her bitterly, resentment lit in his cold eye. "I'm sure he and his little band of misfits will be more than willing to go clean up the mess that's waiting down there in that God forsaken pit. Plus, that little bastard of yours is more than likely catting around with that hood rat, so you can use that as leverage."
"Don't talk about her like that, Addie."
"Don't Addie me," she snapped. "I had one rule and that was what happens on missions stayed on missions. They do not show up on my God damn doorstep 14 years later and bite me in the ass!"
"That wasn't my fault, her mother thought she was in trouble and she was!"
"Yes, so you fixed that by taking in your illegitimate teenage daughter and turning her into a little psychopath like yourself." She laughed cynically, her faced filled with loathing. "You always wanted a sidekick."
Belittling her husband was something she'd taken a liking to; she was the only person who could get away with it.
"But that's all beside the point," she continued. "You told me to move forward, so that's what I did. You go be a man and keep up your end of the deal; go take care of the battlefield like you said you would. Now if you will excuse me, I have to go blackmail half the board at Wayne Enterprises."
Adeline began to walk passed him, but Slade stood up and reach out to stop her, hoping for one the last word.
"This conversation isn't over!"
She turned to him, a perplexed and sarcastic look on her aged face. "If you want my attention, Slade, do not talk to me as though you were addressing one of your little indiscretions. I'm not your mistress and I'm not your whore daughter, I'm your wife."
"And I'm your husband, Adeline. You want me to start talking to you like my wife, start acting like it," he demanded.
"I have helped you build and bury more secrets than I ever cared to know. Only a wife would do that. I even helped you bury our son! Then you have the nerve to replace him with that filthy slut's daughter!"
"I never tried to replace Grant!"
"Call it what you want," she growled in low disdain, "but all you have ever done since we put him in the ground is try to forget him!"
"Is that all can you see, Addie? After everything you and I have been through? After everything we've built together?"
"No, actually," she replied in a calmer tone. "When I look at you, I see only one thing—I am, and will always be—one hell of a shot."
She couldn't help but smirk crudely. Her husband's lone eye lit with rage, his white brows met with fury and loathing for her words. For the fact that she could never forgive him for any one of his failures. Though in truth, he too knew there were many sins he could never forgive himself for. But still, he had no words for her. There was nothing he could say to defend those past transgression and old bones that lay buried in his consciousness, or what was left of it anyway.
Adeline showed him no remorse or pity as she walked passed him, making her way to the hallway. She the man to his ruin as she entered the foyer; greeted by a very unwelcomed sight.
"Adeline." Rose said, addressing the woman with little feeling.
The brunette didn't say anything and put her nose up at the white haired girl. She hated how much she looked like him; she really was her father's daughter. Adeline approached her where she sat, catching the sight of her $2 coffee cup on the table beside her. She moved toward her like a lioness, picking up the scent of a wounded gazelle.
"That table you have your cheap Styrofoam on is an expensive family heirloom, use a coaster." Adeline picked up the cup and placed it on a piece of fine tile, created for such a task. "I mean for God sake, Rose. You act like you were brought up in a brothel— oh that's right. Turns out even my coasters are worth more than you."
Adeline smiled with superiority, taking in the sting of the girl's fractured ego.
"You're such a fucking bitch," Rose spat. "You think you're so much better than me because of who my mother was."
"Your mother earned her living on her back, you would have ended up the same way, but no, she brought you here and made you my husband's problem, which in turn, makes you my problem. Now you remember your place and pay me a little goddamn respect. I'd hate to see something happen to one of those pretty blue eyes of yours."
A sudden look of fear peaked on Rose's face. She had no doubt that Adeline would make good on that promise if given the motive and opportunity. The Teflon brunette gave her one last lipstick smile before leaving the room, clearly pleased with her method of intimidation.
The woman then too her leave, Rose watching her go as she stood there, unable to voice her protests. It didn't matter who or what she was, Adeline had and would always look at Rose as a second class family member, not even good enough to have her image captured or presented on a wall. God forbid that anyone of good standing ever know of her existence.
After a few moments of wallowing in the fearful loathing, a tall British man approached her.
"Well Rose, my girl, looks like you're still on the lady's shit-list," he said with a pretentious laugh, though Rose knew it really only came off that way as result of his accent.
"I live on that shit-list, Willy."
"That makes two of us, my dear," Wintergreen replied with a smirk and placed a hand on the girl's shoulder. "Come, your father wishes to see you now."
Raven entered the room where Schizo had spent the night, hoping to check his vitals and place a clean dressing on his wound. She stepped in a little awkwardly as the young man looked in her direction, unsure whether to fear her or not.
"Hey," she said, shutting the door. "I hope I'm not intruding, but I have to change that dressing. Wouldn't want you to die of infection and all."
The skinhead nodded, and Raven opened a bag of first aid supplies, placing it beside the bed. She pulled on some fresh gloves and removed the soiled dressing, examining the wound thoroughly.
"Am I gonna make it, Doc?" Schizo asked.
Raven nodded and gave him a slight smile. "Yeah you'll be fine. By the way, I'm not a doctor."
"You saved my life and you didn't have to," he replied, humbled, "that makes you a doctor in my book."
"Well I appreciate that, but it was really nothing," she said cleaning the small gash. "These bandages need to be changed daily. You also need keep taking your antibiotics, one every morning and night to prevent infection, un—"
"I'm sorry," he interrupted, taking the empath off guard.
She looked over at him, perplexed. "…For what?"
"Calling you a bitch and all that other shit," he said with shame in his eyes. "I'm just not really good with… people."
"Neither am I." She placed some fresh gauze pad over his shoulder and continued, "I said some pretty awful things too."
"Yeah, because I was being a shithead."
"It's fine. Apology accepted."
"I kinda get the feeling you don't forgive easy," Schizo said, "so why you be'n so nice to me? I don't even deserve it…"
Raven looked over at his tattoo, the number 14 staring back her from his neck.
"Your ink, it stands for 14 words?"
"Yeah," he said glancing down, taking no pride in the brand, "but you don't strike me as the kinda person who tolerates that kinda shit, so what?"
"So I get the feeling that those 14 words aren't who you are anymore?"
Schizo looked down again, this time at his hands, as though he were judging them for past actions they'd committed, stained with the sins and crimes they'd never be eradicated of.
"Yeah, I um… spent a lot of time hating others, but at heart, I really just hated myself. I think I was just trying forget that."
"You still hate yourself, don't you?" He nodded as Raven finished taping the bandage, struck with the inner turmoil. "I know a thing or two about hating yourself," she continued, pulling off her soiled gloves and moved her hair to the side, revealing the tattoo on her shoulder. "I got this because I wanted to remind myself that I was my own person. I put it on my back to remind myself that all that shit was behind me."
"Well aren't you clever," the skinhead laughed.
"Well I'm not that clever, I got the idea from Sons of Anarchy," Raven admitted with a laugh. "The point is we can't change what we've done, but we can change who we are. We get to decide who we become."
"I know, but sometimes the things we do, make us who we are, or least make us question it, but thanks for try'n, Doc."
"You're uh… welcome," she sighed, "but if nothing else, trying to be a better person, makes the world a better place. It hurts it less too."
He shrugged. "I keep telling myself that—the hurt part. Not sure if it's kicked in yet. But once again, sorry for yesterday."
"Don't worry about it, you weren't wrong," Raven replied, walking to the door and turned, "I am a bitch."
She smiled at the skinhead again, who chuckled at her crassness. "A funny one, that's for damn sure."
"Damn straight," she smirked and closed the door behind her.
She turned to find that Dick had been waiting for her in the hall, his arms crossed as he leaned against the wall.
"Offering the little Nazi some peace of mind?" he asked sarcastically.
She smiled and shook her head at the comment. "Yeah, I kinda got the feeling that his brand of hate came from a place of personal turmoil."
"Were you right?"
"Yeah, he's got a different set of words guiding him now," she replied with a soft smile. "He wants to be someone different."
"Isn't that what we all want?" Dick drawled, walking Raven down the hall.
"Well, self-acceptance is a virtue and not a very pleasant one."
"No virtue is pleasant, Rae," Dick corrected. "If it was, we'd all be above human nature."
"That's sadly the most profound thing you have ever said, Grayson," she said evenly. "I'm really starting to worry about you."
"Get in line."
Rose took a seat at the table, her father folding his paper with calloused hands, then placing it aside. After what happened with Adeline, she craved for her vice, but resisted as she knew her father wouldn't stand for her smoking at the table. He hated that she did it at all. He peered over at her with his solitary eye, the eye that looked so much like her own. Her stomach turned, but only because of Adeline's earlier threat. She'd already made good on that promise once, and with someone she'd claimed to have loved.
"So how did last night's little errand go?" Slade asked taking a sip of his coffee.
Rose pulled her attention back to him and replied in a removed tone, "Other than the little side show, peachy."
"Did you do as I asked with the collateral damage?"
"Yeah," she sighed, "I threw them in the river once we got to Blüdhaven. It'll look like they're just the result of residual gang violence from that shithole."
"Good, and you tagged them?"
"Yeah, cops'll think the Lords clipped 'em, just like you wanted."
"Good, we can't have any of this coming back to haunt us now, can we?" her father said evenly, raising his cup. "Speaking of which, I need you to talk to the Hood for me."
Rose's head perked up. "What about?"
"My lovely wife has made it imperative that one of our old dumping grounds be torn up, and well, there's a lot of collateral damage to found." Other than annoyance he seemed unaffected, sipping his coffee with little feeling. "And since The Red Hood is still permitted to breathe, I thought you could persuade him to help."
Rose let her brow crease at the tone her father was now addressing her with. To him, everyone was expendable.
"Y'know, if you just ask, he'll do it, right? You don't have to threaten him. He knows his place."
He glanced over at her again, his lone eye strongly expressive. "You say that, Rose, but I have dealt with plenty of Red Hoods in my time. After a while, they all get ambitious, that is why you need to remind them where their place is."
"So what, you're afraid of him?"
Slade chuckled, his temples creasing with amusement. "No. Not in the slightest. But that doesn't mean I underestimate him either. That boy has potential, and I'm not about to let that potential grow to kill me."
She grimaced. "He won't."
"You seem awfully offended," Slade surmised, "anything you wish to tell me?"
"No," Rose replied, her voice thick with disdain
Her father said nothing for minute as he took in the sight of her posture and the look on her face.
"If you even think for a moment, that I'm stupid enough not know that you're sharing a bed with that hood rat, then you are sadly mistaken."
Rose looked over at her father as her heart sank, fear clear in her pretty blue eyes.
"Daddy—I—"
Slade raised his hand, signaling her to remain silent. "Don't, you absolutely reek of that boy," he said callously. "And frankly, I don't care what, or, in this case, who, you do, as long as it doesn't interfere in your work. As for the matter of lying to me—"
"I didn't lie!"
"Shut your mouth, Rose!" Slade demanded, slamming his hand on the table, his blue eye lit with fire. The tactic worked, causing Rose to begrudgingly capitulate to the venomous request. "As for you lying to me, it's adorable that you thought Adeline or I wouldn't figure it out."
Rose crossed her arms, her eyes darting around the room with embarrassment. "What are you gonna do to me?"
She looked up at her father a moment, his stone face looking back on her with an unspoken judgment.
"Nothing."
"Nothing?" she queried, her brows risen skeptically.
"Yes, nothing. Like I said, I don't care who you dirty your reputation with." He reached out and lifted his coffee, placing it to his stoic lips. "But if you don't want anything to happen to your little secret, then you better convince him to do everything single last thing I say, or else, the next body you dump in the river will be his. We clear?"
She nodded, holding back tears, trying to look strong and unmoved, the way she always wanted him to see her.
"Good. Now get out of my sight. Wintergreen will fill you in on what need to be done," he said coldly.
She nodded and stood up to leave, humiliation nearly beating out of her chest.
"And Rose," he added before she could leave, "I want this done yesterday. Make sure your little boyfriend knows that."
"Mother of Christ," Clancy drawled. "Why do I put up with the lota'y?"
"Cause you love us," X replied as the Irish girl poured coffee into his mug. "Plus you can't go back home, so you're kinda stuck with us, but that's a story for another time."
"Don't remind me, boyo."
Jinx sat down at the bar as Clancy passed her a cup of coffee, her face still wearing a vial of fatigue from the night prior.
"Where's Jason? He's usually here by now."
Just as the words left her lips, Jason walked through the doorway.
"Ah, ask and you shall receive," X muttered, "and look who's not far behind."
Jason turned to see Raven and Dick stroll out behind him, the two making a slightly awkward entrance.
"Morn'n," Clancy greeted, "take a seat darl'ns. Can I fetch'y some coffee or tea? Also, I got muffins baking in the back if you hungry—"
"Cool it Clanc," Jason said, "let 'em sit down first."
He let out a breath and took a seat next to Jinx as Clancy poured him his morning coffee.
"Oh sorry," the Irish girl said. "I get overly excited is all."
"It's okay," Dick replied and sat down at the end of the bar. "And thanks for everything."
Clancy smiled and set a mug down in front of him. "Aye, you're welcome Mr. Grayson. You just earned yourself an extra muffin."
She turned happily and walked out back to put on water for tea and check on her baking, leaving the birds to their own conversation.
"See what happens when you're polite, Rae? I get an extra muffin," Dick chuckled.
However, Raven couldn't have cared less.
"Or she just wants to fuck you."
X spit his coffee back into his mug, stunned by her comment, but began giggling like a small boy only moments later. He wiped his face while Jinx smirked at the other end of the bar, both of them clearly amused with her crassness at such a young hour.
"God, I love her," Jason said and took a sip of coffee. "You really know how make Dick look like an asshole." He smiled at Dick mockingly. God, he enjoyed Raven's little rolodex of hate.
"Yeah, it's not hard," she added dryly, leaving Dick to glare at her helplessly. "So, um, no offence but… after last night I was kind of expecting something more…. I don't know—badass… not freshly baked muffins—which is adorable, by the way."
"Oh don't worry cupcake, it's coming," Jinx sighed not looking up from her paper, "but my badass doesn't start till at least 10am." She glanced down and checked her watch. "It's currently 8:05… we got time."
"Yeah," X added, "relax, have a muffin."
"But don't get too comfortable though," Jason warned blankly, "we got shit to do and we still have to figure out who wants me dead."
"Everyone," X replied with a grin.
Jason winced sardonically. "Wiseass."
"Well I can't let Sunshine have all the fun."
He smiled at her, exchanging a subtle glance. Raven however replied with a glare, daring him to even attempt to look at her that way again.
Jinx shook her head and rolled her eyes at their childishness, sometimes she felt a little too much like their mother. "So I talked to Wally this morning, he said that the Expedition should be sold for parts, gave me the address for the place in Blüdhaven he suggested."
"What about the other Ford?"
"He said, it's a piece of shit, but he's gonna look at it."
He smiled at her tone, practically able to hear the speedster speak those words himself. "Yeah, cause Chevy would have held up much better under heavy gunfire? That little ginger's an asshole."
"Yeah I know, I live with him," Jinx replied, "but he's cute so I'll keep him."
Raven rolled her eyes at the sickeningly sweet comment, Dick giggling at how impervious she was to cute.
Clancy finally came out and placed a fresh cup of tea in front of Raven who thanked her, but was not rewarded with extra baked goods.
"See, I thanked her and I didn't get an extra muffin."
"That cause you're not very charming," Dick replied taking a sip of his coffee picked up a muffin.
"No. It means that she wants you to—"
"Don't even finish that sentence," Dick said appalled, cutting her off before she could embarrass him further.
"Then you better split that extra muffin with me."
"Jesus Christ," Jason sighed, annoyed. "You two are making me sick."
"Yeah you guys are put me in a diabetic coma if you keep that shit up," X added and took a bite of his muffin.
Raven glared at them, her brow knit. "What?"
Jinx glanced up at her, realizing the demon girl wasn't catching on. "What they're trying to say is, you two, are cute together." She got up and moved to the back of the bar.
The birds looked at each other a little awkwardly as though the thought were some foreign concept.
"We're just friends," Raven defended before Jinx could walk away, "we're not cute."
Jinx shook her head and giggled at Raven's oblivious nature. "Yeah, that's why you're jealous over another woman's muffin, right?"
The sorceress's mouth fell agape, her violet eyes for once filled with shocked humility. But before Raven could defend herself, Duela entered the scene with both Eddie and Enigma, following behind. The trio seemed a little off put with something, all three wearing a misplaced look on their face.
"You're gonna be pissed, JT," Duela said taking a seat at a table.
Jason stood up, his face falling from humor to annoyance as though he were asking himself, what the fuck now?
"So you know your policy on what gets wheeled and dealed around where and when?" The vibrant redhead asked, plucking a muffin from the tray.
"Yeah?" His brows grew together and his voice filled with disdain, knowing he'd be less than thrilled with the story he was about hear.
"Well Eddie got a call last night from our boy in blue, saying they busted a few girls last night."
"What were they selling?"
"Crystal, a bump, and some pussy," Duela replied reaching for an extra muffin, "all on your block—aw Clancy what the hell?" She spat as her hand was swatted away from tray.
"Great," Jason drawled. "So they were breaking all the cardinal rules in one hit." He paused, clearly ruffled at the information, frustration building in his eyes. "Any idea who they're working for?"
"Most of the girls wouldn't talk, but apparently one of them said she worked for you."
"That little bitch's got a death wish," Jinx groaned not even looking up from her coffee.
Jason crossed his arm with a scowl, clearly displeased with this information, "Did we get the girl's name?"
"Yeah," Duela replied and pulled out a piece of paper, "Her real name is Mia Dearden, she goes by Honey on the streets. Go figure, right?" She paused, waiting for anyone to laugh, but was left with nothing more than an eye roll. "Okay then. She's a runaway from Cali, has some class D and C misdemeanors under her belt, but prostitution's not one of 'em."
"She actually told a cop all of that?"
"Oh god no!" Duela laughed. "They went through her purse."
"Who needs civil rights," Raven shrugged, looking over at Dick who watched the exchange from the bar.
"She lost her civil rights the second she started peddling pussy in our territory," Enigma replied. "She should pay for that."
"Hey, before we start doling out punishments maybe you should consider that she's probably just doing what her pimp told her to do," Dick replied. "She's probably scared to shit right now, worried about who's gonna beat her to death first—Red Hood or her pimp."
Jason looked over at him as he looked up from the paper he'd taken from Duela and realized Mia's age. "Yeah, I don't beat up little girls, Dick."
He handed the hero the sheet of paper which revealed Mia was only 16 years old. Dick grimaced and looked up at Jason, who seemed upset with that idea that some underage girl was being pimped out on his very block at all. Better yet using his name. Dick's eyes fell on her picture, a pretty blond who barely looked like a teenager in the photo. Even so, Dick noticed the expression cast in the girl's eyes, which expressed that of an old woman's heart. A look that was cold and read of lost innocence. Those eyes had seen far too much for a girl her age.
Dick looked up as Jason who seemed to notice the same thing and handed back the paper.
"Little girl or not, we have to find her," Jinx said walking to the table.
"And do what?" Dick asked with urgency.
"Invite her over for tea," Jinx patronized and rolled her eyes, "we find out who she's really working for, and then we show that scumbag what happens when you try and sell little girls on our streets."
"Or in this town," Jason added darkly, slamming the paper down. "We gotta find her, before her pimp does."
Jason ordered Hogan to make copies of the intel and began doling out orders.
"Okay, Duela, Eddie, Enigma; you three go see if you can find any more information on our new vendor. Jinx, X and Dick, you three come with me. We're gonna go find the underage streetwalker."
Dick looked over at Raven a little worried, unsure what to expect from this little outing. Jason ordered everyone to get their "shit" and be ready to go in 5 minutes. The group dispersed, going about their rituals. Dick looked on at them feeling out of place, his confidence in the situation dwindling.
"You got a problem, Grayson?" Jason asked astringently.
Dick crossed his arms and straightened his back. "Only if we end up hurting this girl."
Jason placed his hand on his chin in frustration and his tone followed. "The goal isn't to hurt her, it's to get information."
"And what's gonna happen to her after we get the information, Jason?"
"You really think that little of me, don't you?" he scowled pulling on his gloves.
Dick didn't respond for a moment, a little dumbfounded at the statement and Jason's insult. It wasn't that he expected Jason to be cruel out of spite, but more of his reputation. Or at least that was all people talked about. It was his own personal stereotype. It was what people saw when they looked at him, and more importantly, what he want people to see. He wanted people to fear him, and he wanted them know what he'd do if they crossed him. Just like Bruce.
Before Dick could bring himself to speak, Jason spoke for him.
"Well if you're not too high and mighty, we're leaving. You in?"
Dick didn't say anything, he just knit his brow, and nodded, confirming he'd be tagging along, though he was reluctant to.
"Good. Raven, can you please keep an eye on the skinhead?"
Raven nodded in agreement, though part of her wanted so badly to join Dick and assure he and Jason didn't accidently (or purposely) kill each other.
Jason uttered a thank you and told Dick to meet him and others out back, then left before they could argue any further.
Dick turned to Raven, her eyes tangled with worry and her face dripping in unmoved concern.
"You gonna be okay here?"
Raven nodded, her jaw falling slack as she took in a breath. "Yeah, I'm worried about you though?"
Dick took her face in his hands and met her eyes, still plagued by upset. "I'll be fine, Rae."
"What do you think's gonna happen to that girl?"
Dick took deep breath, trying to overcome his own worry. "I don't know, but I honestly think Jason doesn't wanna hurt her."
"He doesn't, but what if she tries to hurt you?"
"I don't know, she's just a kid…"
"And that's why I'm worried."
The three Outlaws waited on a rooftop, all three looking at Dick, who clearly didn't fit in. It was kind of ironic though; Dick had, at one point, prior to current events, worked with each individual. He'd teamed up with Red X to take down Slade, he served (for a short time) as Jinx's leader during her brief stint as a Titan, and when it came to Jason, Dick was whoever he had to be for the little boy he was put in charge of.
However, now, he appeared to them as something small, something that didn't quite fit and they couldn't look past it. Dick resented this feeling, but he knew it was warranted and if he were to outgrow such a thing, he'd have to forget what made him a Titan in the first place. Though part of him wondered if he were already doing that.
"So who's this informant we're waiting for?" Dick finally asked, bored with watching Jason smoke his second cigarette.
"You'll find out soon enough," Jason replied, "I don't wanna ruin the surprise."
Dick rolled his eyes with a small laugh as he replied, "I don't know, this is Gotham. The fact that you pay off a few cops doesn't shock me."
"Oh you just wait," Jinx added looking down at the info of the young blonde.
Before another word could be said, they heard the door open behind them. Dick turned, unsure of who'd he see in the doorway, and to his surprise, he actually was shocked.
"Montoya?" Dick blurred, forgetting himself.
"Grayson?" the young detective said. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Wait you two know each other?" X asked from behind his mask.
"Yeah," Jason snickered from under his helmet, "Dick used to date the police commissioners daughter back when Montoya was a rookie."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah," Dick sighed with annoyance, "I know a lot of the law enforcement in this town… or at least I thought I did."
Montoya grimaced at the statement, annoyed the young man would even say such a thing. "Well things change, kid. We all do what we have to, especially in this town. You should know. Speaking of change; does Gordon know you're in town?"
"No."
"You may wanna keep it that way."
The words took the young hero by surprise, unsure why Montoya would say something like that. But before Dick could inquire upon her advice further, Jason pushed to the next subject.
"What's the news on our little friend?"
Montoya's eyes fell from Dick and to the Red Hood. "Probably skulking her way back to the pig who's tricking her out."
"And do we know who that is?"
"No. I've been asking around a little, but no one seems to know anything other than the few girls they've seen working your territory."
Jason frowned. "Exactly where did you pick her up?"
"Three blocks down from your bar. She was right under your nose working the corner of Wolfman and Perez."
"Shit," he scoffed under his breath. He looked back at Jinx and Red X, an unsavory thought crossing his mind. "Montoya, I need you to do some digging."
"Okay, what about?"
"Last night we did a run and we got ambushed. I'm not completely sure, but I don't think they were after the shipment. I think they were after me."
"You think someone's look'n to push you out?"
"Yeah, or take me out."
Dick winced at the statement, the words not sitting right with him, mostly because he thought they were true. He looked over to at the three other Outlaws, who seemed to not be as surprised by the revelation.
"Okay, I'll see if I can pick up any intel, in the meantime, try to be safe. Oh And Grayson," she added glancing at him coldly, "your little secret's safe with me."
Dick smiled at her sarcastically, not really taking comfort in the idea of her knowing who he was currently running with. But somehow, even though her newfound coldness, she was still the Montoya he remembered.
Jason pulled out small roll of cash and shook her hand, the rolled tucked in his palm. She took it in the firm hand shake and placed in her pocket, out of sight. She looked back at the group one more, then turned to leave.
Once the detective left, Jinx and X began to move forward, leaving Dick and Jason behind a moment. Dick crossed his arms and walked toward the anti-hero, knowing the young man was experiencing a little unrest.
"You really think someone out there is trying to kill you?"
Jason glanced over at him, his face emotionless as he said, "There's always someone out there trying to kill me."
Dick shrugged, somehow not surprised. "So then why do you seem so shaken by this one?"
"Because at some point, one of them will probably succeed."
Dick furrowed his brow as reality hit him right in the chest. Jason meant what he said, and he knew that the life he chose would eventually be the end of him. And once again, he would be nothing.
"Now come on. We got a hooker to find."
The grungy looking boy moved down the sidewalk, keeping an eye out for a pretty blonde whose picture he held in his hand. He looked down at it, wondering what kind of tragedy a face like hers told, her blue eyes sorrowing as they looked back at him. Eddie was a bit of a sucker for girls like that, girls he wanted to help. He wasn't really sure why, but he liked to think it was because he liked to give them the benefit of the doubt. That they, too, were inherently good.
He heard his pre-pay ring as he reached the end of the sidewalk. He stopped at the edge and flipped the phone open, placing it to his ear.
"Yeah?"
"Eddie, we got a possible location on our girl. Montoya said she busted her at the corner of Wolfman and Perez," Jason said over the sloppy connection.
"I'm only a few blocks down from there. Where are you guys?"
"We're headed there now, but keep your eyes peeled. Odds are she's probably gonna try make some quick cash before heading back to her pimp."
"Rather show up late than empty handed?"
"Maybe, we'll have to see. Get the other two redheads on it."
"Got it JT."
Eddie closed the phone and looked across street to flag down a pale girl with short red hair. She noticed him and stayed put as he jogged across the street to meet her.
"You find anything?" Duela asked as he reached the sidewalk.
Eddie shook his head, a few strands of his chin length hair getting caught in the wind. "No, but Jason called, he wants us to check out Wolfman and Perez. Apparently that's where she was working."
"You really think she's dumb enough to work the beat she got picked up on?" she asked texting Enigma the location.
"Well I guess we'll found out. Now come on."
They began to walk the stretch of concrete, passing by people, trying to keep themselves hidden. Eddie noticed Duela looking passed him, her eyes trying to catch something that probably wasn't there.
"You see something?"
She shook her head no, a dwindling look covering her face.
"You're looking for them aren't you?" Eddie asked as he'd seen this look a little more often than Duela had thought.
"Yeah, I guess?" she grimaced and placed her thin hands in her pockets. "It's just weird to think they could be out there. I mean, they could walk right past me and I'd never know."
"Yeah," Eddie sighed as they crossed the street.
"What about your parents?" she asked to the rhythm of their footsteps.
"What about them?"
"Well, you never talk about them."
"That's cause there's nothing to talk about," the grungy boy replied. "They live in Syracuse, my dad's a mouthpiece for a billion-dollar company, my mom plays tennis at her leisure. They're good people, I guess?"
"You say that like it's not entirely true," she said watching as he said nothing, like part of him may have agreed. "But if they're such good people, why'd you end up here?"
He shrugged. "Because I chose to be. The hero thing didn't really hookup."
"You didn't fit in?"
"Yep, just like everything else in my life. I was kind of a freak."
"Welcome to the club," Duela smiled.
"Speaking of the club, I think we found the member we're looking for," Eddie added, spotting a thin girl leaning against a car, flirting with the man out of counterfeit attraction.
"Shit," Duela sighed. "Call Jason, I'm gonna get closer."
"Got it, just try not to scare her," Eddie added, already dialing his phone. "Hey man, where are you?"
"We're coming on Perez now, why?"
"We found our girl. She's working on a potential john now."
"Jesus Christ," Jason drawled, "don't let her leave, we'll be there in a minute."
"On it."
He closed the phone and texted Duela as he noticed the girl getting ready to get in the man's car. He saw Duela look down at her phone and approach the scene, thinking quick on her feet.
"Hey bitch, where do you get the balls to eat out of my dish?" the redhead said, closing the door before the blonde could get in.
The man quickly sped away, the girl calling for him to wait.
"What the fuck?" she snapped, frustration etched on her underage face.
"I just did you a huge favor, Honey. Be grateful."
"What! How did you—" the young girl began, then noticed the black panel van pull up and the Red Hood get out "—Shit!"
She tried to take off, but Duela caught her by the arm. The girl turned in protest and slugged her captor in the face, loosening her grip. Once free, she bolted, followed by Jason, Eddie, X and Dick. The men darting after her like wolves on the hunt.
Jinx stopped to make sure Duela was alright, then took off after her pack, leaving Duela to wipe the blood from her mouth.
The girl ran into an alley, losing her heals as she made the corner, she tossed something in a dumpster and attempted to climb up a fire escape.
"Hey—Stop!" she heard the man in the red hood yell, a young man with dark hair barreling toward her. She tried to take off again, but was cut off by another in a strange skull mask. He caught her and placed his hand over her mouth, muffling her screams as he pushed her against the brick wall.
He began to say something in a synthesized voice, but before he could finish, she threw her knee into his groin, knocking the wind clear out of him. She sprinted away again, the dark haired man not far behind. She turned another corner, but was met with a locked gate, throwing herself against it in defeat. She cried out in vain, breathy curse words repeating themselves as she couldn't find the strength to climb the tall gate.
"Wait!" Dick called slightly out of breath. "I'm not gonna hurt you."
The young girl turned, her makeup from the night before leaving her with a cheap aesthetic. Dick could see the fear in her eyes, and the split in her top lip. She reminded him of Cyndi, the woman from the motel, and unfortunately, the two were probably not very different. They both lived in a world where they were only as good as the money they earned, their souls sold with every dollar.
"Then why are you chasing me?" the girl questioned frantically.
She sounded so young, like a frightened child. The thought made Dick sick as her face clearly showed that this life was far from her choice.
"Because I wanna talk—"
"Bullshit!" She screamed.
"No, I swear," he urged, holding up his empty hands, "I just wanna talk, Mia."
The girl's eyes widened as she heard him call her by the name she'd nearly lost with her humanity.
"How did you know my—"
"Dick, get her!" Jason called as he and Jinx came barreling around corner, X slowly stumbling behind with Eddie.
The girl tried to claim the chain-link behind her, her hands and feet trying frantically lift her frail body.
"Mia wait!" Dick called, but to no avail.
Mia got herself nearly halfway up, but was quickly pulled down, kicking and screaming by Jason who was pretty much done with her shit.
"Listen, you kick me in the nuts, you'll be sorry. Got it, darl'n?" he said pushing her back against the fence.
"Jason, what the fuck?" Dick scoffed, forcing himself between Jason and Mia. "She's just a kick and she's terrified!"
"Because she knows something. Now move."
"No!"
Dick looked back at Jason, keeping his eyes pinned firm on the faceless hood staring back at him.
"Grayson, don't make me move you myself," the Outlaw warned and stepped closer to him.
"Like you could."
Before Jason could act upon the dare given to him by his supposed elder, Jinx stepped in to break up their bickering.
"That's enough you two!" she spat. "You both have a point, now stop measuring dicks before I cut them off."
"And I thought Raven was bad," Dick replied looking over at Jinx.
"Yeah, well Raven's not the only one with a sharp tongue. Now, both of you, move."
Jinx quickly pushed Dick out of her way, so she could meet Mia face to face. She noticed the tears running down her face and how they seemed to trace both fresh and faded bruises. She had no question who'd given them to her.
"Your pimp did that to your lip?"
Mia looked up, and wiped a few tears from her face, trying to avoid her cat-like eyes. "It's nothing."
"It doesn't look like nothing," Jinx replied. "Let me guess, you got a little mouthy and you deserved a good smack?"
"No…"
"Then what really happened?"
Mia refused to answer. She crossed her arms and looked down at her filthy bare feet. Jason shook his head in frustration, looking at Jinx with a vexed look under his helmet.
"Your bullshit motherly touch isn't working, Jinx."
"Maybe if you weren't acting like such an asshole," she replied sharply. "Listen Mia, we really don't wanna hurt you, we just need to know who you work for."
The girl rolled her eyes and cocked her head. "Well then I guess I'm getting my ass kicked, cause I ain't telling you shit."
Dick noticed the blank look in her eyes. She held far more fear for the man who only saw her as a means of profit then she did from the ravenous pack of wolves ready to tear her apart.
"We're not gonna do that, Mia," Dick said in a light voice. "You're just as much a victim in this as anyone."
"You're still not getting shit out me. I'm not a rat."
"Yeah well you're about to get torn up like one. Now talk!" Jason snapped, losing patience with girl.
A few tears ran down her face at his tone, making Dick's heart sink to the pit of his stomach. He turned to Jason and pulled Jinx from Mia, signaling her to follow him.
"Can I talk to you," Dick asked addressing Jason, "You too X."
Jason looked over at the terrified girl, her arms wrapped tight around herself as though she were hoping they were that of another's.
"Yeah," he replied and nodded for Eddie and Duela to watch Mia.
The three Outlaws gathered around the hero, waiting to hear what he had to say.
"This better be good, Grayson."
Dick rolled his eyes at Jason, speaking in a low voice, "She isn't gonna tell us anything because as far as she's concerned, she's gonna get a beating either way. She's not gonna bite the hand that feeds her, not unless we offer her one."
"What, like offer her protection?" X asked, his voice still a little sore.
"Protection, a place to stay. If we can offer her a way out of the life, she might talk."
"It makes sense," Jinx added and looked over to X and Jason.
"If she promises not to kick me in the balls again, I'm in."
All eyes fell on the man in the red hood. None of them able to see the look of grief he held for the young girl, but he also had to look out for the big picture.
"I don't know?"
Dick's heart sunk a little as the vague words pushed their way passed the emotionless front painted in red.
"She needs to feel safe, Jason. You know what that's like."
"Jesus Christ," Jason muttered as his head feel back. He took a moment to pull himself back together, shaking off the vulnerable feeling. "Okay, but she needs to show us an act of good faith. I'm not taking her in so she can spit in our faces later."
Dick nodded in agreement, knowing that taking her in would be meaningless if they didn't get anything out of it.
"Let me handle it, she'll talk."
Dick pulled away from the group and set his sights on Mia, hoping his plan of salvation would work.
"Your name's Mia, right?"
She nodded but said nothing, the man's tone calm and gentle.
"Okay Mia, what if I told you that we wanted to help you?"
She glanced up at him with a broken look, years of horrors reflecting in those nearly empty blue eyes. "I'd say the last time somebody said that I ended up on my knees."
"That's not gonna happen," Dick reassured. "We can get you off the streets, you just have to help us."
"You say that like it's possible."
"Do you know who he is?" Dick asked pointing to Jason. "He's the guy you don't cross in this town. Nothing here happens without his say so. If anyone can keep you safe, it's the Red Hood."
"He also wanted to kill me a whole 5 minutes ago," Mia groaned, her arms still crossed.
"It's my go-to, sorry," the Hood shrugged.
Dick rolled his eyes at Jason's response, though he full-heartedly knew it was the truth. "The point is, we can help you, give you a place to stay, food, keep you off the streets, keep you away from whoever it is you're afraid of." Dick paused, looking back at girl, her eyes looking back at him a little conflicted, but all she needed was a push. "And all you have to do in return is help us."
"And let me guess, by taking care of you and your friends?"
Dick grimaced at the jaded statement a little disgusted. "No, by helping us find who's been hurting you."
"Why?" Mia asked, her cheap dress hardly keeping her covered. "Why is finding him so important to you?"
"Please don't tell me you're actually that stupid?" Jinx groaned. "If you have any idea what block you're on, you should know why you even being here is a problem."
Mia glanced over at Jinx who seemed to see right through the façade. She wasn't buying it.
"You promise that if I tell you, he won't find me, right?"
"He won't even have the opportunity," Jason said flatly, letting it be no secret what he intended to do to her tormentor.
She looked down a moment, her eyes holding some odd guilt. Dick recognized it as not quite Stockholm syndrome, but something a little like it. For Mia her very survival depended on this man, whoever he may be. Her loyalty to him ensured that she'd live to see another day and meant any chance of having a life beyond her current nightmare. There was also the matter of trust. Yes the people affronting her promised to free her, but would they? The man she served may not have been a good one, and as much as she hated him, he was the devil she knew.
"He goes by Ricky the Doll Maker, but his real name is Richard—Richard Walker. He brought me and few other girls here from Blüdhaven, specifically for this territory. He's not the only one."
"Did he say why?"
"All he'd say was that he was paid a lot of money by some big Gotham player to start "doing business in the Hood's hood." That's all I know, I swear."
Dick glanced over at Jason, assuming he was foaming at the mouth, but kept himself together for the moment.
"Jesus Christ," the Hood drawled and stepped forward. "Okay Mia, a deal's a deal. Jinx is gonna take you back to the bar, get you some reasonable clothing to wear, a hot meal. We have a girl there who knows a thing or two about medicine, she'll patch up that lip for you. We're gonna keep you safe."
She nodded wearily, a dejected smile breaking on her face with irony. "The last time a man said that to me, he turned me into a whore…"
Jason paused a moment as his skin crawled from the comment. "That's not gonna happen this time, I promise you. You don't have to do anything that you don't wanna do, starting now."
He could tell she didn't quite believe him, though she really wanted to. However, Jason didn't take the distrust to heart. He knew she'd been conditioned to hate men and the fact she was even complying with them was a miracle.
Jinx approached the girl as Dick removed his coat and tried to place it over her shoulders in an attempt to salvage some of her lost dignity. He noticed her flinch, such an act of kindness had been foreign to her for so long it was like she'd forgotten such a thing exists.
"Well, I'll call Clancy and give her a heads up that we're adding another tart to the mix," Jinx said looking back at group as she left, Mia quietly demanding that she not be called a tart. Jinx, however, didn't care.
"Hang on," Duela called, and ran up to Jinx and Mia, "Gimme your phone."
"It's just a pre-pay," Mia said lifelessly.
"No shit Hun, but I'm gonna need to contact your ol' man, so give it."
"It's in my purse, the one I threw in the dumpster. The grungy kid's holding it."
"Good, what's his contact?"
"What are guys gonna do to—"
"You don't wanna know," X said, cutting her off and took the dime store bag from Eddie and pulled out the Hello-Kitty burner, proceeding to go through it.
"Let's just say, you don't have to worry about that sick prick anymore, blondie, you're gonna be free to be a kid."
"That's never gonna happen," she sighed dejectedly. Whatever was left of her childhood had already become a perversion of her innocence, it was clear by the choice of her phone.
"Well, then settle for not flat-backing it through college," Duela smiled crassly, Jinx looking back at her with daggers.
"Words to live by, Duela. Thank you." She pulled Mia away and went on her way.
Duela shrugged and turned around to find Eddie, Dick, and Jason all staring at her questionably.
"What, I never said my sense of humor was tactful?"
"No one said it was funny either," Jason added as she walked back, letting his eyes drift away. "You find anything yet, X?"
"Yeah," the masked boy replied and looked up. "The last text she sent to him was this morning "Hey sorry, I got hassled by the cops. I'm working on making up for it now." And he replied with the classic, 'Bitch you better not have said anything. And if I find out you did, that pretty face of yours is gonna be staining the pavement.' He's a real Romeo, right?"
"God, no wonder why she's scared shitless of him," Eddie said sadly, feeling pity for the girl.
Dicked sighed heavily, feeling something similar. "So what do we do?"
"Shoot him a text," Jason replied, "tell him The Red Hood is out looking for him and she's scared."
"Why the ego boost?" X asked sarcastically as he typed.
"Cause I want him to get desperate and make a few mistakes. If he's scared he's gonna ask Mia to meet somewhere discrete, somewhere that only she would know about."
"Like the mill?" X questioned, moving the phone in Jason's view.
"Oh Mr. Walker you are just gonna make this way too easy, aren't you?" Jason droned reading the text that demanded Mia make her way to the location ASAP. "Eddie, call Jinx and tell her to ask Mia what mill she meets Walker in. X tell him we're on our way."
The group started to act, getting ready to charge into battle mode. Dick, though disgusted with Mia's treatment, still had his reservations about actually taking care of the man.
"You coming Grayson?" Jason asked, fixing his gloves as he spoke.
"Yeah," Dick replied hearing Eddie hang up the phone.
"They meet at the abandoned paper mill on the west Gotham boarder—north of Bludhaven."
"Good, let's go," Jason ordered and everyone took off down the alley.
"Jason wait," Dick said before he left with the others. "Are we really gonna kill this guy?"
He shook his head. "Do you really have to ask that question?" he replied in a scolding voice.
"Can't we just get what need from him, beat him within an inch of his life, then hand him over to Montoya?"
"Okay, I'm gonna humor you for a minute," Jason replied signaling the other three to move ahead. "Let's say we do that and he's processed and the DA wants to take his ass to court so he answer for his crimes. You and I both know Mia won't testify. We'll be lucky if he even gets convicted and if he does, he'll do 5 years tops, and then he's free to do this shit again. I'm not gonna let him ruin some other girl's life, Dick, especially not on my goddamn block. Now you can help, or you can go back to Jump. It's up to you."
Dick was taken aback by the venom in Jason's voice, the disgust he held for the man he sought to end. Jason may have been a criminal and a murderer, but he liked people to believe he was a criminal with scruples. He didn't kill innocent people and frowned upon selling drugs to children, or recruiting them into gangs and other criminal actives. And he hated those that forced women, especially young girls, into sex trafficking, never mind on his turf. And as far as Jason was concerned, Richard Walker had to die for that mortal sin. That's what people expected of him and that's exactly what he would do.
"Fine. Let's go."
The Bentley pulled down the old dirt road, traveling out of the city's heart and to the very edge of its exterior. This part of Gotham was reserved for only the few and powerful. A sentiment Oswald Cobblepot resent, greatly. However, if this meeting were to happen, it had to happen on his terms. And Cobblepot was in no position to delegate.
They arrived in front of a nearly hand-built wooden structure. The face of the building having a quaint pine porch, dressed with handmade cedar tables and oak chairs. A great sign read high atop the awning: Wilson Wood Crafting & Carpentry.
The vehicle came to a stop and parked out front. Neither Butch nor his employer had ever been to this establishment. And though, at face value, this seemed like a great privilege, one could only fret its unthreatening appearance.
The two slowly exited the car, both eyeing the seemingly charming structure as though it were just waiting to bite. The door suddenly swung open. A tall, white haired man stepped out, a lonely eye patch leaving him with a solemn blue eye. His face seemed hardened, but he somehow managed to smile through it, leaving his guests with little comfort.
"You look like the cat got your tongue, Cobblepot," he said removing his old gloves, covered in fine sawdust.
"Slade, is that you?"
"Who were you expecting," the man replied, still standing on the porch, "Walter White?"
The chubby man frowned, unsettled. In an odd sense he felt like Heisenberg or Keyser Söze was exactly who he'd found.
"Why'd don't you gentleman come in—have a drink?"
Butch looked over at his boss who nodded cautiously and stepped forward.
"I wouldn't have taken you as a working man, Slade," Cobblepot said waddling up the stairs, his meaty hands grasping the railing to support his stiff knees.
"Well I've never been one to idle," he replied. "My grandfather taught me wood working when I was a boy. I took it up again after I was discharged from the military."
The men followed him into the shop, the interior kept clean and well cared for. The ceiling was pitched, supported by pine beams, their rustic character still present as they held the treated planks in place. The floor creaked, an obvious sign they were also made of pine. The cabinets on wall were made of a fine grain oak, carved with beautiful detail and stained in a rich pecan color to compliment the pine.
"Did you build all this," Cobblepot asked, a little impressed with the level of craftsmanship present.
"Everything but the foundation," Slade replied, pulling a decanter of brand from one of the stunning cabinets. "I built this place after I lost my son… apparently carpentry helps me cope."
"Impressive," Butch muttered letting his thick hand run over the raw surface of a table.
There were also trinkets on the wall, mostly taxidermy, a few buck heads, some coyotes, one bob cat and a black bear.
"Do you taxidermy too?" Butch joked, looking at the reasonably sized bear before him.
Slade laughed and shook his head. "No, I just hunt them. I take my daughter sometimes, she's quite the shot."
"Well with a reputation like yours, I wouldn't expect anything less," Butch added. His boss still a bit uneasy.
Slade handed them each a glass and motioned for them to take a seat at the table. "Well we should probably get down to business." The two men sat across from him as he began. "Now as we all know, the run didn't go according to plan, as far as I know, no one suspects your involvement and we need to keep it that way."
"Once again I'm very sorry," Cobblepot began. "I guess what's left of Cosa Nostra isn't much?"
Slade took a sip of his brandy, savoring it for a moment. "For 20 years, I've watched as the sun has set on the Five Families and I can tell you, there's nothing waiting for them beyond the horizon. A couple trips around the sun ago, they may have had a chance of taking out the Hood, but not in the little daylight they have left."
"I guess we should have thought of that," Butch added, glancing into his glass.
"You should have," Slade agreed, "but I understand why you chose them. They have nothing to lose and everything to gain. They also don't have the pull or the power to retaliate when you turn on them; that made them a logical choice."
Cobblepot frowned. "But?"
"But they don't have the skill, and at this point they never will, and if we're going to take out the Hood, then we'll have to play a wildcard."
"Just one question," Butch asked, "you're the one who put the Hood in power to begin with, why take him out now?"
"Because of ambition," Slade replied. "At the time I needed ambition, I needed someone who was hungry enough to go after the giant, and Red Hood was that man. He wanted to make Gotham a safer place for good people and keep the bad things as far away from them as possible. He was what this city needed at the time."
"And by this city you mean you, right?"
"That was awfully bold of you, Cobblepot," Slade smirked, "but I would be lying if I said I didn't benefit from the rise of the Hood. I needed him to get rid of Black Mask and run every last memory of his existence out of this town."
"And now that he's done that?"
"I have no need for him," Slade said, washing the words down with another sip of rich brandy. "There's nothing left for him to do but dethrone me… and if left uncheck, a man of his metal will do so. He won't just sit back and be part of the machine, he needs to be the one pulling the strings."
"He sounds a lot like you," Cobblepot smirked wickedly.
"That's exactly my point." He finished his brandy, eyeing the empty glass.
"But—and this is just figurative—but at some point, won't you retire? Won't you need someone to take over?"
Slade looked up from the empty glass, a cold smile curly at the corners of his mouth. "I may be old, but I still have a fight or two left in me. And though you're not wrong; the Red Hood is not the kind of man I want to leave my legacy to, he's far too feral for my liking."
"One can't really argue with that," Cobblepot agreed. "So who would you suggest we get to put him in checkmate?"
"Someone who's cut from the same cloth, someone who's no stranger to feral things, someone who's not afraid to put them down."
"You don't mean?"
"I do."