Chapter Five : Unhealthy Enemies
It was something about this night. He knew she was there. He sat atop a building, the only thing visible was his gleaming eyes under his mask. Robin looked out, watching people standing in line to get in a nightclub. Some were yelling and pushing, others were offering the bouncer thick wads of money to get in. He refused, his eyes hidden behind dark, professional sunglasses that reflected the neon lights all over the front on the building.
Robin was about to call it quits. He'd seen no signs of Keena all night. No one had. He wondered if she'd left the city. He couldn't recognize it, but he felt slightly disappointed. He shrugged it off and turned to leave until he heard trouble brewing in the line.
"Oh, no you didn't!"
"How's he gunna let her in?"
"Hold me back or this is gunna get messy!"
"She isn't even 21!"
Robin's heart leapt. He looked over and a young lady stood before the bouncer. Seven other men stood behind her. The girl caressed the bouncer's face and took off his sunglasses. He looked flustered. She looked back up at Robin. He panicked, but couldn't move. He'd been spotted. Keena smiled and winked one of her lime-green, coal-rimmed eyes. His jaw dropped. Keena nodded toward the club, insinuating him to follow her. She then put on the sunglasses and hurried inside. Some of the people in the line had recognized her, and cheered.
Robin hopped down from his perch and ran around to the back of the club. He wanted to bust the door down and go inside, but there was probably a bouncer waiting there. He knew he couldn't go in through the front door. He wasn't 21, and he was known for being a law enforcer, not a rule breaker. And he didn't have Keena's charm or her connections, and he figured either one of those had gotten her in the club to begin with.
Suddenly the back door busted open and Keena stood there in the doorway, looking like trouble. She wore a black halter-top and white, baggy capris. Her hair has been straightened and she even wore a navy blue bandana around her wrist. Her two swords still hung at her hips.
"We have to talk," they both said at the same time. La Zorra laughed, but Robin narrowed his eyes. He didn't trust her. She always seemed to be hiding something.
He followed her into the club, into a private room marked "VIP". Inside was comfortable couches, a pool table, and a private bar. Keena sat down on the couch and ordered her men to leave. Robin sat across from Keena and folded his arms across his chest.
"So. Why'd you do it?"
Keena looked puzzled, but Robin knew that she wasn't as clueless as she wanted him to think.
"Do what? Destroy the damn rock?"
"No."
Keena sighed and smiled. She looked away for a minute. "Oh Robin. Why oh why."
"If you're going to-,"
"No. No, don't leave. I saved your friend because I'm not a criminal. Not anymore."
At that, Robin had to laugh. He looked at her with scorn. "Oh, believe me. You are a criminal. I don't care how much you sugar-coat it-,"
"Who's sugar-coating anything? I've robbed people. I've overthrown people. Hell, I've killed people. What am I doing to sugar-coat anything?"
"By saying that you're the righteous, all-mighty savior for the underdog."
"I never claimed that."
"Like Hell you didn't."
Both of them were frustrated. Robin glared at Keena, who shot him the death stare.
"Listen," she said, trying to calm herself, "Whatever you heard… it's not true. Sometimes, yeah, I stick up for those who aren't being heard-,"
"A-HA!" shouted Robin, who leaned forward, "There you go. Right in front of me. Sugar-coating it."
"I'm not sugar-coating anything!"
"Well, you're justifying it."
"No, I'm not!"
"Then why-,"
"OK, I didn't bring you in here to argue. I brought you in here to negotiate. I don't want you baring a grudge against me, I want us to get along."
"Hell no," said Robin, standing up to leave.
"Robin, please!" she said as she got up. She grabbed his arm and looked him in the face with pleading eyes. He was tempted to throw her into the wall, but he resisted and dropped back onto the couch.
"Maybe I shouldn't have destroyed the stone-,"
"Maybe?" asked Robin with a smirk.
"Oh, c'mon. You know some psycho would have stolen it sooner or later and tried to-,"
"Yeah, heard that story before."
"Robin, you, I, and your teammates aren't that different when it comes to what we're trying to do. We're trying to keep people safe."
"You are?"
"Um… for the most part."
"You have to be completely devoted before you try to say that you and I are working for the same goal."
"… Whatever."
"Go on."
"So… I think it would be wise to make a… so to speak, an alliance?"
"An alliance?"
"Yeah… I help you, you help me… because the end, I'm trying to keep the city safe, too."
"Since when?"
"Since-,"
"And what kinds of things do you need help with?"
She thought for a moment, but then laughed sweetly. "Not what you think. And I figure you guys don't need the help. But… it just doesn't seem healthy to be enemies."
"I… go on."
"So, you see, if we can work on the same side of the river, wouldn't that be great? You know… you help the rich people, I help the po-,"
"Hold on a minute, I serve justice to everyone. I don't care if they're poor or rich!"
"Oh, you say that now. But, you see, Robin, the laws tend to leave the less fortunate kind of vulnerable and it leaves the rich heavily protected."
"Not true!"
Robin clenched his fists while Keena buried her face in her hand, exhausted in trying to convince the Boy Wonder that they should be fighting together, not against each other.
"OK, maybe you're right, maybe I'm right, it doesn't matter."
"Yes, it-,"
"Shu… never mind. I'm strong. You're strong. Your teammates are strong. We do not have to fight against each other. We're more civilized then that. And considering that I'm watching out for people, and you're watching out for people, regardless of who they be, I think that we should consider ourselves allies and not enemies."
Robin seemed to be silently considering the offer. As much as he hated her and mistrusted her… maybe he should just accept. He could always convince her to do things his way. He reached his hand across.
"I don't know but… alright."
She took his hand and shook it, then smiled.
"See? That wasn't so bad. I'm a human being, too."
Robin smiled too. He couldn't help it. As if on cue, the door opened and five brown hounds scurried inside. Keena backed away from Robin and the dogs leapt on her. She protested lightly.
"By the way," she added, "These are my alarm systems, my bodyguards, and my children. Otherwise known as my dogs. I'm sure you can't tell them apart but… meet Red, Chase, Kick, Jenna, and little Zimmer."
"You find time to have pets even while running from the cops?"
"Hey, who said they were pets?"