Breaker Chapter 2
Disclaimer: I don't own DC nor do I own Percy Jackson.
East End, Gotham City
Wild Grants Gym
New Earth
August 22nd, 2014
Thudding is heard as a young teenager is pounding away on a punching bag seemingly doing drills. Sweat causing his shirt to stick to him we can see the outlines of muscles showing surprise fitness for a teenager that on a first glance many would assume would be a scrawny skater boy.
Classic rock blaring away from the beat-up speaker next to him the teenager is so focused he misses the door to the gym opening as Ted steps into the gym. Despite 4 years having passed he looks almost identical as to how he looked on that day in the alley where he had met Percy and saved his life.
Shooting a look at the box tv hanging in the corner Ted snorts as he sees its more coverage into the upcoming Mayoral Election through an interview with one of the candidates Armand Krol, who was working on his continued hatred of the GCPD for its ineptitude and their heavy reliance on The Batman.
"The GCPD will never be taken seriously until they prove they can handle the crimes themselves, and it all starts with the replacement of that fraud Jim Gordon and the arrest of the vigilante criminal Batman."
"Ted turn that crap off? It's ruining the flow of my workout. Plus, that guy needs to leave Jim the hell alone." The teen had turned to Ted as he heard the bell ringing above the door. Grabbing the remote Ted presses the mute button leaving Krol and his ranting to be soundless.
Looking at the teen who went back to punching the punching bag and trying to get lost back into the music blaring from Ted's speaker he's reminded of the day 4 years ago when he saved the kid's life in the alleyway and the bond that the two have with each other now.
"Percy it's already 9:30 your mom wanted you back by 9. She told me if I was late bringing you back, I'd get uninvited from Sunday night dinner with the Gordons." Turning to grab the speaker to turn it off Percy sighs but does what his mentor is telling him to. He doesn't want to piss off his mom.
Grabbing a towel and his water bottle Percy begins to wipe his face clean of all his sweat, also putting fresh water on the towel to rejuvenate himself some. Turning back to Ted who made his way over to the lights and began to shut them down the still muted tv flashes with a breaking news logo. The sudden flash grabs his attention as it cuts to a reporter covering a scene outside.
"Hey Ted mind hitting the mut button again. There's something important happening. Plus, we're already late, what's a few more minutes." Not even waiting for a response he turns his full attention back to the screen as Ted hits the volume from behind them letting the reporter be heard through the dark gyn.
"That's right Vicky, Police while they were heavily involved in a shootout, hostage situation have allowed criminals in other sections of the city to strike. Most notably was a bank robbery on 45th and 12th resulting in the robbery of an estimated grand total of around a quarter of a million dollars. Unfortunately, with the blindfolding and capturing of the security guards, and the security cameras being painted over with any sort of lead having been lost."
Ted walks up next to Percy as the reporter continues speaking. "Jesus kid, this city truly is on the path to going to shit."
Snorting Percy turns to him. "You say that as if this city could possibly get any worse. We both know that's impossible." Looking back at the TV the screen has cut away from the reporter and back to Armand Krol.
"Not this blowhard again." Ted moves to shut the TV off again, but Percy stops him.
"I know you don't like the man, I don't either, but he still makes some good points every now and then. Especially coming to the East End and how we live over here."
Shrugging Ted doesn't mut the Tv but does step away and head outside. "Whatever you say kid, just come out when he's done speaking so we can fully lock up and go get yelled at by your mom."
"Thanks Ted I'll be right out so we can leave." Percy turns back to the Tv as Armand Krol opens his mouth and begins to speak.
"Look at this, this is exactly what I mean every time I speak about Batman and the GCPD. Gotham is a drowning cesspool of crime. The GCPD are underfunded, unmotivated, poorly trained and rely on a Vigilante to actually get any work done. It's not up to some goddamn masked vigilante to patrol our streets and make our citizens feel safe and protected. No matter how good the intentions of those so-called vigilantes are. They'll always end up making the situation worse."
Rolling his eyes Percy gains a glint in them hearing what the mayoral candidate was preaching about. "Yeah sure, vigilantes only do bad. That's exactly why Ted didn't do it, that's why Batman doesn't help either. What a fucking blowhard." Shutting the TV off he steps back onto the street as Ted locks the door and pulls down the meta shutter in case of robbery.
"So, did he say anything of use for once? Or was it all just the same bullshit."
"Same bullshit as always Ted. I just enjoy hearing how dumb he can be."
The duo walk headed back towards the apartment complex Percy resides in, where his mother is probably angrily waiting for the two of them, shooting his mom a quick text to assure her he's alright she leaves him on read showing her true feelings towards them right now.
East End, Gotham City
Cutter Moran's, Hangout
New Earth
August 22nd, 2014
A figure clad in purple is crouched on the top of an abandoned building watching the criminals meet around a pile of money. Using surveillance technology, the figure stole off a GCPD van they listen in on the criminal's discussion.
A figure in a red suit with long black hair and an eye patch covering his right eye is counting the money stacked onto the table in front of him. Seemingly being happy he smiles at the criminal across from him, a man in an orange jumpsuit with long blonde hair tied back into a ponytail.
"Beautiful absolutely beautiful, Arthur, you got me over a quarter million." Turning to look back at the orange clad criminal a third guy, a short overweight man dressed in a ghastly lime green suit begins to collect the money. "But you didn't leave any stupid clues, right? I know how much you used to love doing that shit.'
Waving his hand Arthur dismisses the red suited man's concerns. "Don't worry about that Cutter. During my stay at Blackgate the prison psychiatrist helped cure me of my compulsions, but she didn't touch my criminal instincts." Turning to step away from Cutter Arthur begins checking his pockets while he continues talking to distract Cutter. "You see, I wanted to prove my intellectual superiority over everyone and everything, add into that a bad case of self-esteem and you get a self-criminalizing criminal. But thanks to modern psychology all I want to do is to be rich."
Smiling at Arthurs explanation, Cutter collects a couple of the stacks of cash before sliding them across the table to him. "Just what I want to hear. And here you got a full 25 grand and the 10% I owed you for scheduling this entire robbery. So, tell me what other genius plans do you have rattling around in that brain of yours?"
Arthur goes off into an entire rant about his next great masterplan all while unknowingly being spied on by this purple clad figure, thus giving away his entire plan.
East End, Gotham City
Jackson Family Apartment
New Earth
August 22nd 2014
"Just go off to bed now mister, and don't forget to finish your homework before you go to bed. Your English teacher reached out to me to tell me to remind you to finish your extra work for her." Sally looked down at Percy with a stern but caring gaze, her anger having melted away a good amount when Ted came to the door and apologizing for Percy being out late, taking the blame for the teenager Ted came up with a lie of Percy having just been wanting to vent to the man and they didn't realize how late it was until it was too late.
She accepted the answer before reminding Ted that he was still welcome to join them on Sunday for dinner along with the others. Ted let out a sigh or relief before bidding both of the Jacksons a good night and turning his way out of the apartment and back onto the streets.
"Of course, mom, I'll go finish my reading for Ms. B, and then I'll head to sleep." Giving his mom a quick hug, he tells her he loves her before heading back into his room and picking up his copy of a heavily annotated copy of Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar". Flipping through the pages before finding the speech he was looking for he turns to the speech Marc Antony have to the crowd outside of Rome after Caesar was murdered in the Senate building.
Working on his paper he has to give about the style of speaking Antony used when he spoke, mainly speaking in terms of blaming Brutus and the murderers without actually saying it while also continuing his praise of Caesar for the loss of his friend was hurting him truly.
Getting lost in time as he continues his paper, he's brought out of his work by someone tapping on his window. Turning to the window he doesn't see anyone outside on the fire escape. Shrugging he returns back to his work as the tapping continues once again. Slamming his notebook shut he walks over to the window opening it and sticking his head outside trying to find the location of the tapping.
What he didn't expect to see was the same purple clad figure that had been spying on Cutter Moran and Arthur Brown to be on the fire escape staring at him. Jumping back in surprise he moves to grab his pen Riptide from his pocket before the figure begins to laugh at him.
Recognizing the laugh Percy tilts his head in confusion. "Steph? Is that you? If so, what the hell are you wearing? And more importantly why are you wearing it while outside of my window? You're 2 floors up from me."
She motions to the window back towards his room. "I would love to answer your questions Percy, but could we possibly do it inside your room, I don't think you would want to be looking like that while you're talking to me."
Nodding he backs up allowing her to slide in through the window before drawing the curtains shut behind her. Looking over the room she notices the book of Shakespeare along with the notebook Percy had been doing his work on. Walking towards it she opens it and begins to flip through the pages seeing a ton of work for assignments she never had to do.
"What's all this? Have you been a secret nerd this whole time? I mean this is filled with nothing but quotes about Shakespeare and essays on him. Are you actually a fanboy for him?"
Percy can't see her face, but he just knows Steph is smirking at him under her mask. But he still walks over and rips the book out from under her before placing it back down onto his desk.
"It's work Ms. B has been giving me starting last year. She figures if I read and write more, I will improve on my skills to better manage my Dyslexia and she's not wrong. I've been able to read a lot better now." He trails off when he realizes how she managed to distract him from her suit by turning it against him and freeing her. "But that doesn't actually matter. I want the questions I've asked answered."
Pouting, she pulls her mask off revealing a mess of wavy blonde hair and her sapphire-colored eyes showing major enjoyment at how she could surprise him. "Fine be that way, but you know how they recently released my dad on good behavior right? Well, I knew he wouldn't be cured no matter how much the psychiatrists say, so I decided to follow him and see what he was up to."
"So, wait. Hold up. You? A 14-year-old girl decided on spying on the murderous criminal that is your father. Just on the hunch that you think he would still continue his criminal behavior?"
Percy throws on a fake look of anger as Steph begins to shrink away from him, thinking that he was mad at her before he continues speaking.
"You did all that. Yet you didn't invite me to join you? I thought we were best friends, plus I'm the one with actual fighting experience, unlike you who only took gymnastics."
Steph released the biggest sigh of relief at Percy's continued speaking before her eyes get that same glint that has gotten him into plenty of trouble before. "Well, if you're so interested in joining me, I do have a costume I designed with you in mind. I just didn't know how to broach the subject to you. It's not the easiest subject to suggest to people. But stay right here. I'll go get the one that I made for you."
Steph turns back towards the window and just as she's about to draw the curtains open and head back out Percy stops her. "Are you sure you A. want to be leaving the room without the mask on, and B. be leaving my room in that costume anyways? It kind of defeats the purpose of a secret identity."
Blushing Steph steps away from the window and begins to rub the back of her neck. "Yeah, I guess you're right. I really didn't think that out. Do you have anything I've left behind here? Or do I need to borrow some clothes?"
Checking his bottom dresser drawer, he finds a pair of jeans and a purple t-shirt for her to wear. Shrugging he turns and holds them out to her all clumped up in a messy ball. "This is the best that I can do for you. Take it or leave it."
Gratefully nodding she steps forward and grabs the clothes he was offering her before motioning him to turn around. Thankfully for her he nods and turns his back to her letting her get dressed and changed in peace while also providing a coverage to watch the door just in case Sally comes to check on him.
The air got a little awkward as this was occurring so Percy attempts to break the silence with some conversation. "So, your dad is still doing his giving up the clues to everyone bit? Or did he evolve from that?"
Steph for the countless time tonight felt grateful towards Percy, this time for an attempt to alleviate the awkwardness in the air. "He claims he got cured of his compulsion, but I don't fully know about that. But what I do know is what they're planning. Labor Day weekend there's a huge fundraiser at the new mall that's opening, crap what's it called? You know the one based around a castle."
Still having his back turned Percy chimes in once again with the answer to her question. "You mean the one over by Castleland Park? Damn that place is gonna be packed when it happens. So how are we gonna help stop it?"
"We are gonna alert the police in the same way that my dad would've done it. By sending clues, I've already sent a few into them and hopefully within a few more they'll understand what my dad has planned."
Sliding open the window back up the to fire escape with her costume tucked between her arms she motions for Percy to join her. Heading out and up the rickety fire escape they have to sneak past the next floor due to noisy neighbors before they reach Steph's room where she quickly ushers the both of them inside.
Making sure her mom is still passed out in the living room Steph silently retreats back to her room where she double locks the door before crouching down and grabbing a box tucked all the way back underneath her bed.
"And you're sure you want to help me do this? You can back out now and not get hurt." Steph is giving Percy one last chance to back out of his agreement to helping her, but ironically, it's what she doesn't know about him that is why he's agreeing to.
"Believe me Steph, I'm more than capable of helping you with this entire situation. You keep forgetting but I'm the one with actual fight training and I'm more likely to take a hit than you." Percy attempts to ease her fears but still manages to poke some fun at her expense.
Lugging the box onto her already messy bed messing the sheets up some more Steph blows at the top of it before slowly opening the box in an attempt to build some tension and seemingly raise the stakes.
"Alright Perce, here it is. I present to you. Want to give me a drum roll?"
"If you don't open that fucking box right now, I am going back down that fire escape."
"Alright fine, way to be a killjoy though. Anyways, I present to you the costume for Breaker."
Lifting the box top fully off Steph reveals a purple windbreaker type design combat jacket, mainly purple in design along with her costume its hood provides a deep cover with one way material allowing Percy to still see out through the hood if he needs extra face coverage, along with grey accents to better help dilute the staggering amount of purple she used in making it.
Picking up the jacket and feeling it through his hands Percy nods to himself before leaning over and giving Steph a hug as a way of showing thanks. A hug that she quickly returns before pushing him off her and gesturing to the box.
Underneath the hooded jacket were a pair of grey pants seemingly of a jean material but they look much more durable and ready to handle late nights out in Gotham. Along with another grey pair of boots seemingly of another durable material. Percy stared in awe of the items that he had received from Steph and that's when she tapped him on the shoulder with a much smaller albeit better taken care of box.
"I've got one more thing for you, well Ted helped me out with this one." Motioning Percy to open the box he is truly stunned at what is located inside of it. A dark navy-blue domino mask with a small wildcat etched onto the side of it as a symbol to the role that his mentor used to take up with the Rest of the JSA.
Tears welling up Percy brings Steph in for one more hug. This gift truly means the world to him especially for the first time that he ever met Ted as Wildcat. It was also the last day that he ever had to worry about Gabe beating either him or his mom.
"Thank you, Steph. This really means the world to me."
She just smiles back at him while the embrace ends for a bit longer before breaking apart the hug.
"Now go get some rest Percy, we'll meet back up here in the morning as we collect the next clue to turn in on my dad."
Heading back towards the window with all the parts of his new suit tucked away in the box he was firmly grasping in his hands; Percy had to stop and wonder about something. What the fuck would the Gods and the rest of CHB do to him if they ever found out he was doing dumb shit like this with a war brewing.
