33. Ten Thousand Fists

The Street Demonz were having a party, hosting charters from Blüdhaven and Metropolis. Apparently, the club was much bigger than Dora initially thought. There were charters all over the United States; in Star City, Central City, National City, and even Dakota City. Jason was the leader of just one of them, the Gotham City charter. Dora had no idea exactly why the Blüdhaven and Metropolis charters were in Gotham. Jason, Jessie, and Reilly didn't fill her in on that, but she didn't push for an answer because it literally wasn't any of her business. Jessie at least let her know that the business wasn't too serious, hence why they consummated negotiations with a huge party.

Which was massive. At least to Dora's standards; she had never been to a bigger one. She wasn't a super social person, but she wasn't especially shy or timid either. After all, she was a bartender and worked as a nurse for over two years. She could be social. But she never went out of her way to hang out in a big crowd. Too many strangers, no one to talk to meaningfully. People usually had to drag her to these kinds of events. But all Jason had to do was pout a little, and she agreed.

And she had to admit, she was having a little fun.

There was a huge charcoal barbecue cooking every animal and vegetable off the farm, a food truck to back it up, a wider assortment of beer kegs than she had at her own bar, and huge coolers of soda and other drinks. An impromptu car show had started on the curb; tires screeched and engines roared through the air as people street-raced around the warehouses. A makeshift fighting cage had been set up with salvaged chain-link fencing and guys were using it to wrestle.

Holly was attending and so were all the Vermillion Girls, who brought with them a caravan of campers. It was so popular, Holly had to quickly devise an ad hoc waiting list, texting johns and their dates when it was their turn to use the facilities.

Jason was sitting with Reilly and a group of other bikers near the waterfront. Dora could tell they all held high ranks by the patches on their leather vests. Jessie told her official business had concluded, but the party was when backroom deals were made, so Jason was still "working." Throughout all this, he continued concealing his identity with a ballcap and sunglasses, looking like a poker player. It still amazed her how effective it was. After all, concealing his eyes was all it took to fool her.

"These guys are awesome, thanks for recommending them," Jessie said, bobbing her head to the music and drumming on her thighs.

"Sure..." Dora mumbled, absentmindedly taking a sip of her beer.

Dora was with Jessie. Together they were sitting on a picnic table, situated at the back of a crowd enjoying a local metal band playing on the loading dock.

Jessie grunted with disapproval and elbowed her. "Hey, we're supposed to be enjoying good music here, supporting the local scene. Where's your head at, girl?"

"Sorry," Dora said, not turning her eyes away. "I'm just..."

One of the Vermillion girls passed by Jason, waving coyly. Dora crushed her cup in frustration, the beer dribbling through her fingers.

That was six. She had kept count. Were they all taking fucking turns? Trying to see who would catch his eye?

Jessie noticed what Dora was glaring at. "Chill out, will you?" She took Dora's broken cup and threw it away. "You've got Red locked down. Trust me. Which is kinda fucking amazing, let me say."

"What do you mean?"

Jessie handed Dora a beer bottle. "Who Red Hood is, is the best kept secret in Gotham. And that's saying something considering we're all a bunch of criminals."

"No one has seen him unmasked? Like fully? No sunglasses, no hoodie, no hat?"

"Sometimes he takes off the hat and the hoodie, but he almost never takes off the sunglasses." Jessie handed Dora a bottle opener. "And if he does, he replaces it with that fancy little mask. Y'know, the one with the glowing eyes." She wiggled her fingers in front of her face.

"Yeah, I know the one." Dora got the bottle open and took a sip.

"The mask has some spooky tech, doesn't it? Like he scans things with it. Has night vision, infrared, and whatever. The guys think he stole it from WayneTech or Kord Industries."

"I was thinking the same thing," Dora said. "But you're saying you've never seen him unmasked? Aren't you in his inner circle?"

"Nope," Jessie said. "Not even Reilly, and he's supposed to be his second-in-command. As far as I can tell, only you and Ma Gunn have seen his full face and know his real name. Me and Holly got a theory she's his mom or something. How cool would that be? Your mom supporting this lifestyle." Jessie eyed Dora carefully, and she knew she was searching for a confirmation.

Dora looked down at the rose gold promise ring on her finger, Ma Gunn's words echoing through her head. If you hurt him, I will kill you.

"Perhaps a little too supportive," Dora said under her breath, sipping her beer.

Jessie nodded slowly, then said, "Don't tell Red, but the whole crew has a pool going around on what his eye color is."

Dora chuckled a little. "Really?"

"Yeah. Reilly's playing smart odds and betting they're brown, but my money's on baby blues. Well?" Jessie looked at Dora with an impish smile.

Dora rolled her eyes. "Don't get me wrong, Jessie. I trust you, but it's not my secret to tell."

"Fine, fine." She held her hand up, assenting.

A thought scratched at Dora and she frowned. "Speaking of... does anyone in the club know about me and Red Hood?"

Jessie's expression turned serious. "I was wondering when you would ask that. Only me, Reilly, and Cali know."

Dora mentally ran down her list again. Those people—plus Holly, Ma, Lily, and Rochelle.

And the cops weren't sure but suspected.

And so did Batman, and he knew she had at least kissed Red Hood.

That list was getting too long, and every time she thought about it, it made her anxious.

Jessie noticed Dora's mood and squeezed her shoulder. "After that night we showed up here trying to get your car back, people suspected. I mean, how could they not? Twenty minutes alone with him and you ran out of here, tears in your eyes, make-up smearing your face..."

Dora cringed, taking an extra-long sip of her beer. "Don't remind me."

"But when I joined the club, Reilly and I spun up a cover story." Jessie anxiously scratched the label off her beer.

"Yeah, and what was it?"

"Okay, just... let me apologize in advance," Jessie said, gripping her shoulder earnestly.

"Oh my god, okay, what is it?" Dora asked, imagining every worst-case scenario and how her reputation would be ruined going forward.

Jessie took a breath. "We told everyone you're my girlfriend."

Dora gawked. "What?"

Jessie grimaced, looking like she was slowly peeling off a bandage. "Everyone thinks we're dating. That we're girlfriends."

Dora blinked.

Rambling, Jessie continued. "Well, everyone knows I'm bi. And they bought the lie mostly because I'm so butch, and you're so... Not saying you're my type, not saying you're not... But, um..." Jessie paused, sipped her beer, took a few breaths, and collected her thoughts. "It just made the most sense. We showed up together that night and whenever the club members happen to see you around, you're usually hanging out with me or Reilly, and not Red. Like now. That's on purpose. Bonus, the guys thinking I prefer chicks gets them off my ass."

Dora thought about it, recalling all the interactions she had with Jessie, Jason, and Reilly and the rest of the Street Demonz. Jessie was right.

"Yeah, we just leaned into the skid and here we are," she went on. "It's easy to push a lie people are already telling themselves. Plus, half the club assumes you're Reilly's daughter. . . and the drama that happened that first night was you vouching for us to get promoted to VP and secretary. Soooo, between him and me, you've got a free pass to do whatever the fuck you want around here except openly disrespect a patched member. How do you think we got you that bike for free?"

"That's actually pretty damn clever," Dora admitted. "Thanks for covering my back."

"You might not be so thankful about this next part..." Jessie said with a pained expression. "We had to come up with something for Red too."

"Oh god, what now?" Dora demanded, rolling her eyes and taking a sip of her beer.

Jessie blurted out quickly, "Everyone thinks that Red and Cali are a thing."

Dora spat out her beer. "WHAT?!"

"Sorry..."

"Why didn't you tell me this before?" Dora yelled. "And why her of all people?"

Jessie grabbed her shoulder and pulled her close, whispering, "Calm down. And we only just thought of it today. It was convenient and believable, just like your cover."

"What do you mean?"

"Cali's been all over Red since he took over. Following him around like a lost puppy. And seriously, what single straight guy would pass her up?"

Dora scanned the party and quickly found Cali tending the makeshift bar by the kegs and coolers. She wasn't proud to admit it, but Dora harbored a little resentment for Cali... and it wasn't just because she was the closest female to Jason that she wasn't on personal terms with.

Cali was drawn along the same lines as Jessie—tall, fit, with numerous tattoos and piercings—but with the bimbo factor dialed up more than a few notches. She had two-tone blonde and red hair, delicate facial features amped up by skilled make-up, full pouty lips, a tight but curvy figure, and large breasts Dora now was certain had to be fake.

Black Mask was suddenly not at the top of her blacklist.

"Look over there." Jessie pointed at the roiling mosh pit in front of the band they were supposed to be listening to. Then at the queue of johns waiting for a turn inside Holly's campers. Finally, she pointed at the fighting cage. "Look at all the toxic masculinity around here. It'd not only be strange for the president to be abstinent; it'd be bad for his P.R. Cali is the perfect decoy. Plus, if the False Facers were to rip through here, who would Red rather have them take for ransom, you or her?"

That wasn't what was bothering Dora.

"Have Red and Cali ever..." Dora swallowed. "Have they ever actually hooked up?" Jason was in town for months wreaking havoc and setting up his criminal empire before they finally got together. She knew from Holly that a significant portion of Ma's girls, including Jessie, had flirted with him.

"I'm sorry, but I don't know," Jessie said solemnly. "You should ask him."

At that moment, Cali carried a handful of beers from the coolers to the table of ranking members Jason was sitting at. She was dressed in typical Daisy Duke fashion—leather boots, denim shorts cut off way too high, and a tight sheer tank top that left nothing to the imagination. She served the drinks, giving each man an eyeful, then lingered.

She lingered.

Right next to Jason, exchanging conversation with the men, her hand on his shoulder the whole time.

Jason made no attempt to remove her hand.

"Just look away, Dee. You're going to blow our cover."

But she didn't. She glared at Cali, wishing she had Kryptonian heat vision.

Cali finally left, but not before pinching Jason's chin.

And catching Dora's eye. And winking at her.

Dora jumped to her feet.

Jessie grabbed her shoulder and shoved her back down into her seat. "Cool it!"

From seemingly nowhere, Holly walked up and took a seat next to Dora. Jessie and Holly were flanking her on both sides.

"You finally tell her about Cali?" Holly asked Jessie, who nodded. "Thought so."

Of course Holly knew. "Why didn't you tell me about this sooner?" Dora spat.

"We did it for your own good, Dee," Holly said, rubbing her back. "To protect you."

Jessie went on, whispering. "If the public knew you're Red Hood's girl, all of his enemies would zero in on you. If the cops knew, they would have already arrested you."

Dora hissed, feeling a pang at that particular comment. They didn't need to know it already happened. "I know, I know. You're right."

"You've got nothing to worry about, Dee," Jessie said. "I've seen you two together. It's freaking intense. I wish anyone was into me half as much as he's into you..." Her voice trailed off, her gaze drifting away.

Dora followed her eyes and they landed on Lily walking up to them.

Jessie suddenly looked solemn. "Hey, Lily."

Lily smiled a greeting at Holly and Dora but returned Jessie's serious expression. "You ready?"

Cracking her knuckles and hopping off the table, Jessie said, "I was ready years ago."

Dora and Holly exchanged a look. "Ready for what?" Dora asked.

Jessie didn't answer, her head already in a different place. She steadily made her way across the lot, weaving through the crowd, to the cage of wire-link fencing where the men had been wrestling for fun.

A Latino man of medium height paced inside the cage, naked except for a pair of trunks. His heavily tattooed torso and arms rippled with taut, lean muscle. Dora recognized the distinctive Street Demonz tattoo on his throat. He was the man that had nearly executed Dora and Jessie the night they showed up to the clubhouse looking for her car. Alejandro, or Alex, was his name.

"Hey, babe," Alex called out to Jessie. "You ready for date night? Let's go dancing!" He blew Jessie a kiss. The crowd hooted and whistled.

Jessie didn't answer, she just unbuttoned her leather vest and stripped it off, revealing a simple black sports bra underneath. The men howled.

"Whoa," Dora said, noting the impressive tone of Jessie's stomach and back.

Next off were her boots, socks, and pants, revealing yoga shorts. The men catcalled again. Jessie handed all the garments to Holly.

As impressed Dora was with Jessie's physique, she still said, "Please don't tell me you're going to fight this guy."

"I am." Jessie's expression was chiseled from granite.

"Why?" Dora asked desperately.

Lily stepped in and started wrapping Jessie's hands. "It's a pissing contest," she explained. "Some guys from the Blüdhaven charter—"

"—and the Gotham charter," Jessie added.

Lily nodded. "—and the Gotham charter aren't so cool that Red Hood patched in Jessie."

Dora understood. "Because she's a woman."

"Because I'm a woman," Jessie spat. "Holz, could you check my braid?" Holly immediately did so, wrapping Jessie's long plait into a bun.

"They're especially not cool with the fact that she skipped being a prospect and went straight to being secretary. She needs to prove her worth to them," Lily said, waving a finger around. "All of them."

"Really? Everyone I met in the club seems cool with you," Dora said.

Jessie scoffed. "That's because everyone who wasn't cool with it quit Gotham in protest and patched into Blüdhaven after I was voted in. This charter has been hemorrhaging members since Red Hood took over."

"Did you think Red Hood taking over a biker gang and making changes from the ground up wasn't going to ruffle people's feathers?" Lily asked Dora.

"RRRWOOOF!"

Dora flinched.

Alex shook the cage right next to them, barking and growling like a dog. He did a backflip and landed while pounding his chest.

"What the hell is wrong with him?" Dora asked.

"He's trying to psyche me out," Jessie answered. "While pumping himself up."

Alex danced around the ring, shadowboxing, alarmingly agile. The fight hadn't even started, and he was already sweating.

Holly nudged Jessie. "How much you wanna bet he's on coke right now?"

Dora was astonished. He seemed more animal than man.

"Hey, eyes here." Lily lightly smacked Jessie's chin, grabbing her attention. She did it again, but this time Jessie swatted her hand away. Lily kept trying to smack Jessie, while Jessie continued intercepting her hands. In a few quick moments, the two seemed to be sparring with one another. Lily held up her hands as targets for Jessie to strike.

It was intriguing to watch, the fluid movement of the arms, elbows, and hands, like an intricate dance.

Then Lily turned it up a notch, feinting here and there, tapping Jessie's face. Jessie responded, her strikes lightning fast. Lily could not touch Jessie's face, although she tried.

"Whoa," Dora said. On pure reflex alone, Jessie seemed capable. But against a man?

As this went on, Dora noticed a steady beat resounding through the air. She looked around; people were stomping their feet.

"Demonz..." a voice echoed through the air. The beat grew louder as more people gathered, joining their feet to the rhythm. "Come out to play-ay..."

The beat permeated the air—Dora could feel it as much as hear it. The rest of the party had halted, and everyone gathered around the cage, stomping along to the rhythm. People stood on tables and car hoods to get a good view.

"Demonz, tonight we witness redemption."

Dora found the announcer standing on the bed of a pickup truck parked next to the ring. He held a microphone connected to a karaoke amplifier. He had long sleek hair with an excess of chains and zippers on his black clothing. It was Beau, the Vermillion's gothy manager. Dora had no idea his voice was so booming.

At her off-put look, Holly explained, "Yeah, Beau's a bit of a wrestling nerd. Once he found out this was happening, he begged to be here."

"How come you didn't tell me this fight was happening?"

Holly shrugged. "Didn't think we needed to? It's work stuff. I was surprised to even see you here. I thought you hated parties."

Dora fought back the FOMO bubbling in her gut. She wasn't a criminal like Holly and Jessie; she shouldn't want to be privy to all the illegal stuff they were doing. And this fight was obviously illegal.

"For the title of the Gotham Charter's Secretary, fourth-in-command..."

Dora peeked at Jessie. Her eyes were closed, and she was whispering something under her breath. She seemed to be meditating, tuning out the whole world.

"Are you ready?"

The crowd roared.

Beau leaped from the truck bed and straddled the top of the fence, his hair a mop covering his face. He cupped the microphone, and growled, "I said, ARE YOU READY?"

The crowd literally erupted. Dora had no idea Beau had this much stage presence.

"Alright, Demonz..." Beau whipped his hair back and howled at the sky, "Let's get ready to rrrrrrrrumble!"

The crowd surged like a wave, pushing Dora and her friends into the cage. Several people went out of their way to touch Jessie. Dora was worried for a second, but she saw that they were supporters, wishing her luck. When Jessie opened her eyes, they were blazing.

"Stacking up at five-foot-eleven, one-hundred and seventy-five pounds," Beau announced. "Fighting out of Blüdhaven, I give you... Alejandro 'the Wolf' Ochoa!"

Alex cupped his mouth and howled as the crowd applauded. Men rattled the cage.

"Coming in at five-foot-eight, one hundred and forty-five pounds, representing Gotham, make noise for... Jessica 'the Bullet' Tullagh!"

God damnit, Dora thought. Gender aside, Alex and Jessie still weren't anywhere near the same weight class.

Jessie climbed the seven-foot fence and vaulted over the top. Although feeling sick, Dora joined Lily and Holly, cheering as loud as she could, but it was nothing compared to Alex's applause. Dora peered across the ring, and saw Reilly and Jason were only modestly applauding. She couldn't read Jason's expression through his glasses, but Reilly looked nervous. The ranking Blüdhaven members next to them had their arms crossed, but were looking on with keen interest.

Dora sized up the two fighters again. Alex was of course larger than Jessie, with thirty more pounds of muscle on his frame, all of it tight and sinewy.

Never having noticed before because of the dark clothes and tattoos, Dora could clearly see now that Jessie was an athlete as well. There was no other way to be in such impressive shape without a rigorous gym routine. Dora would've killed for the muscle tone in Jessie's stomach and legs, if not her arms. Even so, her conditioning did not measure up to Alex's. He was going to maul her.

"Who thought this was a good idea?" Dora asked. "This isn't fair."

"She did," Lily said. "When the vote of no confidence came from the Blüdhaven and Metropolis charters, she knew who put it on the table before Red told us. She challenged Alex to this fight to overturn the vote. He couldn't say no."

Dora nodded. "Because it would make him look like a pussy."

"And in this crowd, having your manhood challenged is like declaring war," Holly said.

"Men," Lily groaned.

"Men," Holly echoed.

A bell rang.

Wait, that wasn't right. Dora had seen boxing and MMA fights. The Alibi played them all the time on the TVs. "Aren't they supposed to touch gloves? Where's the referee?"

Lily looked at her incredulously. "Dora, look at where we are. This is an unsanctioned street fight. No gloves, no mouthguards. No rounds, no referee, no rules, no respect. Anything goes. Fight ends by knockout."

"Who's going to call that if there's no referee?"

Lily shrugged. "You just hope the winner has enough sense to back off and not kill the other guy once they're down."

Dora looked horrified.

"Consider it a blessing we managed to set up at least mats and a cage," Lily said.

The crowd erupted and Dora's attention snapped back to the fight. She had just missed the first punch—Jessie bounced away from Alex, no worse for wear.

"Is this what you wanted, babe?" Alex said. "A chance to get me alone, one-on-one?"

"For years," Jessie spat back. "If you weren't such a limp dick, this would have happened a long time ago. You man enough? Come and get it!" She slapped her chest, egging him on.

"Bitch!" Alex lunged, sending a jab and reverse punch at Jessie.

She swatted away the first strike and backed off from the second. A surprise kick struck her thigh, stealing her balance. She stumbled.

Eager to follow up, Alex charged again, fists flying.

Jessie found her footing, ducked, and danced away. The momentum of his haymaker sent Alex face-first into the fence. With his back exposed, Jessie pounced. She elbowed the back of his head twice and kneed him in the ribs. Alex shoved himself off the fence, sending Jessie tumbling to the mat. However, she rolled gracefully back on to her feet.

Jessie's small group of fans cheered.

"Wow, she's quick," Dora said. "Is that why they call her 'the Bullet?"

Holly chuckled. "No, Beau came up with that nickname on the ride over here. He said it's cuz she liked to scare off johns that roughed up Ma's girls by shooting at them."

As they were talking, Beau commented on the action.

"Alex initiated with a quick combo, but Jessie slipped away and gave him a few love taps to the back. Respect points for contact, but she's gonna need more power to take him down."

Dora thought Beau was right. Jessie was agile and swift, but she was up against a comparative tank. Alex looked like Jessie hadn't even touched him.

"She's gotta keep striking and keep this fight on their feet," Lily explained. "As much as I love jiu-jitsu, it won't win her this fight. Alex is too heavy and too strong. On the ground, she stands almost no chance of overpowering him. She's gonna have to rely on capoeira and muy thai if she wants to win. Krav maga if she wants to get dirty."

After a few weeks training under Lily, Dora understood her for the most port. She didn't want to imagine what Alex would do once he managed to get a hold of her. Jessie had to win with strikes, not grapples.

"He's got power, but no discipline, Jess," Lily shouted at her. "Be patient, find your moment."

Alex and Jessie circled each other, exchanging feints and taps, light blows to the arms and shoulders... then Alex stepped back, putting his hands down. "Here's your moment then, let's go!"

"No!" Lily shouted. "That's the same thing you pulled on him!"

But Jessie went for it, leaping forward with a lightning fast Superman punch.

Alex side-stepped.

Jessie missed.

Alex swung.

His fist collided with Jessie's head, and she went down.

Voices from the crowd erupted.

"Jess takes a hit to the face! She's down! Is this it? Alex pounces to finish the fight—but no! Jess weasels away again!"

"Rash mistake, but good recovery," Lily said, eyes intent on the match.

"Wait, what?" Dora asked. "She just got pounded in the face."

Lily smirked. "She didn't actually. Yeah, she took a risky swing and missed, but that punch Alex countered with didn't land well either. Everyone thinks it was a direct hit because she went down, but if you watched closely, she was already going down before the punch made contact."

Dora tried to mentally replay the blow. "She couldn't block it, so she softened the blow by taking a fall."

"Yeah," Lily said. "In a real fight, it's kinda hard to dodge everything, so you figure out smart ways to take a hit."

During the conversation, Jessie was still crawling on the mat, wiping blood from her mouth. As she tried to recover, Alex descended with a hammer fist.

But she rolled away and back on to her feet.

Alex swung at air for a second, but quickly repositioned himself to protect his back.

"Fooled him once already," Beau said. "It won't work a second time."

Both fighters circled each other, hands up, dancing on the balls of their feet.

"You just gonna run away from me all night, Jess?" Alex taunted. "That's what you do, huh? You can't handle something, can't get what you want, so you rabbit away, like a little bitch. Think you got the balls to ride with the Demonz?"

"Look were balls have gotten you, Alex. Nowhere," Jessie said. "It's brains you need, not balls. I don't run away from shit. I just plan my next move, dumbass."

"You fucking cunt!" Alex snarled, and unleashed a speedy punch, then another, and another, then a kick, then another punch. Jessie guarded her face and took the blows to her arms, shoulders, and sides.

"Oh, a vicious combination from Ochoa," Beau announced. "Jess turtles and takes every single blow!"

Dora and Holly both winced at the beating.

"Don't worry, none of those hits are critical," Lily told them. "This guy's a brute, just hitting whatever he can. It's the face, ribs, and stomach you gotta worry about."

"What the hell is his deal?" Dora asked. "Why's he hate Jessie so much?"

Lily and Holly both looked at Dora, incredulous. "You mean you don't know?"

Dora blinked. "Don't know what?"

Holly scoffed. "Alex is Jessie's ex."

Lily leaned in, emphasizing, "Ex-husband."

"Oh shit." Her eyes snapping back to the fight, Dora saw it in a whole new light. She pieced together all the little things Jessie had said about her ex. Alex had been the secretary of the Gotham charter, but apparently sucked at his job so bad that Jessie did it for him… while he got all the credit. When she left him, and it came to light that he didn't know how to do his job, he was demoted and replaced by Reilly. But since Jason took over and promoted Reilly to vice president… Jessie being appointed secretary without probation was insult to injury.

No wonder Alex was pissed. His ex-wife had stolen his job and challenged his masculinity.

Alex whaled on Jessie, beating her into a corner of the cage. Jessie ducked a blow, then speared his stomach with her fist.

Alex backed off, clutching his liver, looking nauseous.

"There, you got me." Jessie shook off her fist. "How do you feel?"

He didn't re-engage; he was too out of breath.

Dora realized what she was doing. Alex had power, sure, but he wasn't quick or agile enough to hit Jessie's critical areas, and whatever blows he did land didn't cause any real damage. She was tiring him out.

But Alex still commanded the most space in the cage because Jessie was on the defensive. Throughout his attacks, he backed her into a corner, where there was no room for her to slip away.

"You thought you would be the end of me, huh, Alex?" Jessie yelled. It wasn't a mere taunt; Jessie was laying it all down bare. "Well, I'm here, asshole! Better than you!" She sent him the bird. "Without. You."

Alex didn't answer, but his eyes were burning with rage. He simply barked… and feinted.

Jessie stepped back, but she hit the fence. Her eyes grew wide. She was cornered.

Sneering with satisfaction, Alex attacked.

But he was exhausted. His punch was wide and sluggish.

Jessie was quicker.

She thrashed him like a whirlwind: a blink-fast uppercut to his liver, another to his ribs. As he backed away, she yanked on his neck, and rammed her knees—once, twice, three times—into his face and ribs.

Alex stumbled back, stunned and wheezing, but Jessie did not relent. In an instant, her elbowsa crashed into his temple, then collided with his chin. Stunned, Alex covered up, taking the next barrage on his arms.

Jessie finally stepped back, arms down, shaking out her stiff hands.

Alex looked weary, but still focused. He saw Jessie's open stance and jabbed. Too slow again—her hands whipped back into position faster than a blink. One hand slapped Alex's punch away while the other chopped him in the throat.

Alex made a choking sound that was painful to hear. He staggered, grasping his neck, wheezing. Dora suspected for a second that Jessie had ruptured his trachea.

But before he could recover, Jessie launched into the air, screaming in fury.

She twisted her torso, spinning like a human tornado, and slammed her foot into Alex's jaw.

He didn't see the capoeira kick coming.

His skull whipped to the side, the skin of his face snapping into place a split-second later. And he went down, unconscious before he hit the mat, just a limp sack of meat and bones.

As Jessie landed, the crowd went silent in shock.

Her legs shaky, she kneeled, grunting and heaving for breath, her back and shoulders straining. She punched the mat beneath her in frustration. At first Dora didn't understand, but then she realized what was happening.

Jessie was crying. Triumph had brought her to tears.

Then Beau finally called, "K.O!"

His voiced echoed in silence for what seemed like decades to Dora.

But then she heard "Woo!" come from Jason. He leaped to his feet, onto his table, and applauded.

Dora followed, then Lily, then Holly, and soon a few dozen people clapped and cheered.

Reilly pulled out a ring of keys, unlocked the padlocked chains holding two posts of the fence together. He entered the cage and tended to the dazed, googly-eyed, and wheezing Alex while Beau jogged in and held up Jessie's hand.

"Street Demonz, Gotham Charter, I give you your reigning secretary… Jessie Tullagh! Make some noise!"

Another round of applause, and Dora noticed that even Alex's supporters were clapping for Jessie out of begrudging respect.

Jason hopped down from his table and went over to Jessie, pulling her into a tight hug. He wiped the tears from her eyes and kissed her forehead with fierce pride. Dora noticed that Jessie couldn't help but blush a little. Jason gestured at Beau for the microphone, who obliged.

"There!" Jason's voice boomed through the air, but his eyes were at the Blüdhaven and Metropolis brass. "Is there any doubt in your mind now? She's a Demon, like the rest of you. I know many of you have doubts about me, about how I run this charter, but before I took over, the Gotham charter was fucking pathetic. No leadership whatsoever. Just a bunch of pussies, ponying up to the False Facers. Is that what you wanted? A bunch of cowards, more afraid of Black Mask than loyal to the patch?"

The crowd was silent, intent on Jason.

"No more, I say. Gotham is ours! We are taking it back. Let the False Facers know that they are damned. Tell them to beware…. Because the Street Demonz have claimed their souls!"

The sudden crescendo from the crowd was deafening.

"Demonz, are you with me?"

Dozens of voices assented.

"I said, Demonz, are you ready to RAISE HELL?" Jason shouted.

Over a hundred joined the chorus.

Jason thrust his fist in the air. "Demonz, hell yeah!"

That, Dora knew, was the Street Demonz's rallying cry. Every single person in the crowd pumped their fists in the air, chanting, "Demonz, hell yeah!" again and again.

In the midst of the thunderous uproar, Dora took a moment and beheld the men and women in the crowd: the strength in their fists, the fervor in their eyes, and the passion in their voices. It gradually dawned on her what she was witnessing.

This was the revolution Jason was talking about.

This was his army.

Notes

Reference: "Ten Thousand Fists" by Disturbed

This was a fun chapter to write, but it took me WEEKS. It was originally much longer than this, with multiple characters fighting in a tournament, including Dora, but as cool as it was, I trimmed it down because it didn't add that much plot or character development. It was just spectacle.
I know some of you guys don't like it when I harp on during my author's notes, but I know some of my readers are also writers, and I'm an English teacher in real life. I'm hoping my commentary helps you write your own stories.

My first goal for this chapter was to present the first bump in the road to Dora and Jason's relationship, the possibility of infidelity or at the very least a romantic rival. Dora has midling self-esteem, which I admit is a typical Mary-Sue trait. To make Dora active, I want her to confront this insecurity head on.

The second goal for this was to explain and better establish Jason's influence as a gang leader in Gotham. The comics and the movie said Jason took control of Gotham from Black Mask, but then never elaborate how he held control, nor do what his reign as kingpin of Gotham's criminal underworld looked like at the street level. And as a fan of Sons of Anarchy, I knew Jason's most loyal henchmen had to be the Street Demonz biker gang.
Plus, power is sexy, isn't it?

Also, the Street Demonz rallying cry is a nod to Kite-Man. If you haven't read Tom King's The War of Jokes and Riddles, you really should.

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