With the speaking of a few words and the rush of magic, Zatanna teleported the trio halfway around the globe, and they were within seeing distance of the estate. Zatanna took a deep breath and leaned against a nearby tree, "Its been a while since I teleported a group of people so far," she chuckled a bit under her breath.
"Will you be ok?" Jason asked, concerned. If they needed too, Zatanna could still sit out on the mission, but he was moreso worried for her health. If they attacked the estate, any security or even police could search the perimeter and find Zatanna defenseless.
She nodded, "Yes I am fine," she responded, straightening her posture. She already looked better. "I just needed a second to recover. Teleportation magic is easy, but it can take a moment to recover from. "So, what's the plan?"
Before Helena could respond, a familiar voice came through her ear piece. "There will be security, but nothing you can't handle. However, I recommend you be careful, this could cause an international incident, especially with Z."
"Oracle, how did you know?" Helena asked. She could easily recognize the voice of her longtime friend Barbara Gordon. The previous Batgirl often served as the eye in the sky assistance on missions, but Helena was trying to keep this mission low-key. She did not tell Barbara she was coming, in fact, the only people who knew about the mission were Jason and Zatanna.
"When we marked the location on the map I sent it to her," Jason spoke up, crossing his arms looking at Huntress. Before she could protest, he continued, "The family helps each other, and you are a part of the family whether you like it or not. Besides, Barbara has done some research on the owner of the estate which could prove useful. You can hate me for this later, but I am very interested in not dying."
"He's right Helena, and you're working with a member of the League, so you need to be careful," Oracle chimed in through Helena's ear piece. "The estate is owned by Bruno Marino. He was considered a suspect in the murder of your family, but he immigrated back to Italy. He's had some large business deals that set him up nicely, now he's a prominent politician, where he has pledged to stop organized crime."
"He no doubt struck it rich when they bought his services and his silence," Helena gritted her teeth. This man had built himself an elaborate life off the murders of her family. She would have no reservations doing whatever she needed to do in order to retake what was rightfully hers. "Then what are we waiting for? Surely this old man is hardly a threat. We could probably just walk right in the front door."
"He's a politician Helena. He has security, four guards by the looks of it. Two on the outside patrolling the perimeter, and two on the inside. They are armed with guns, and will likely try to kill you. Besides, any irregularity will call result in calling in the police, who will also shoot on sight. I can try and jam Wi-Fi and phone capabilities, but I can't make any promises," Oracle explained. She was always a good voice of reason, and already knew the proper ways to talk Helena and Jason out of doing something too rash.
"Can't Z just teleport us inside? She can take us to the room with the ring and we take and leave without anyone knowing," Jason suggested, and that plan seemed logical to Helena. That would surely be the safest and simplest plan, but she was sure that Barbara would reply with a million reasons as to why that won't work. She always did, and Helena loved her for it.
"She could, but it would be risky," As if on cue, Barbara launched into her explanation, "But you don't know what you are walking in too. For all we know, the guards on the inside are there to guard the valuable. You could teleport into the room and be shot on sight. Or if Bruno is wearing the ring, you still have to engage in a fight without disarming your opponents. Besides, Zatanna's powers are too remarkable. If anyone in that house suspects for a second that Z was a part of this, it could ruin the repuation of the league. A Leaguer cannot be seen attacking a politician."
"Luthor would have a field day with that one," Jason joked, but nodded at Oracle's words. In this case, the simplest option was not the safest. They would have to take the direct approach and knock out security, before any one can suspect their involvement. "So we ambush the two outside, and then take out the two inside. Z locates which room the ring is in and we get out of there like nothing happened."
Zatanna nodded in agreement, "We can't risk anyone figuring out I am here." She pulled out a glamor charm and placed it around her neck. "To you, I'll look the same, but to everyone else I will be a completely different person. I'll stick with hand to hand combat and simple magic."
The trio agreed and slowly made their way to the estate. Helena knew this would be easy. The three of them easily outmatched four security guards, even with Zatanna's powers being sidelined. Even still, there was a part of her that was anxious. Would she get the ring back? How would it feel to see one of her family's murderers in person again? Nevertheless, she banished these thoughts from her mind. What mattered now was the mission.
With Oracle's help on the outdoor security cameras, they located the guards in the gardens behind the home. Jason and Helena took them out simultaneously, while Zatanna used a spell to point them in the direction of the ring. Using a key from one of the guards, the three made it inside the house. Since there were no security cameras inside the house, Oracle was unable to help them locate the other two guards, so they decided to just search for the ring. They were led to a door, and they entered into what appeared to be the main bedroom of the house. Bruno Marino stood with a security guard on each side. "I thought you might come for me," He said. He was now an old man, but Helena could still recognize. "When the cameras went down outside and our communications were cut, I knew something was wrong. Even still, I did not imagine today would be the day. I knew you had gone after the others."
The guards raised their guns, but with a wave of her hand, Zatanna had used a spell to jam them. Red Hood took this chance to take both of the guards out at once, leaving Helena and Bruno standing face to face. Without saying a word, or taking a step, Helena pulled out her crossbow and loaded it. In one quick movement, she pushed him down and aimed the weapon at at his heart. "Huntress what are you doing? You said you wer-" Zatanna started but what cut off by Red Hood wrapping his hand around her mouth. She struggled to break free, but was no match for Jason's strength, and without being able to speak, she could not cast a spell to escape.
"You killed my family," She said simply, the crossbow still aimed to kill, "Maybe I should kill you too." Helena had tracked down the mastermind of her family's murders and let him live, but it still left her unsatisfied. With one of the murderers laying helpless before her, she began to wonder if she made the right choice. Now she needed to decide if she'd make that choice again. With Red Hood detaining Zatanna, she knew she could do it, and no one would stop her. Justice needed to be served correctly this time.
"Please, please," the old man begged for his life, a mercy not even granted to Helena's family. "I was young, and I needed the money. Life in Gotham is hard, ya know? I had a wife and daughter to take care of." Pulling the trigger would be easy. She could kill this man, while Zatanna stood helpless, and no one would even know it was her.
"The ring you stole from my family," Helena said simply, as she had not fully made up her mind about killing him. She saw him pull the ring off of his finger and hold it out to her. The fact that he wore it like a trophy angered her even more. He had stolen this object in such a crime disgusted her. "You wear it?"
"Every day," he replied, his hands trembling as she grabbed the ring from him, "To remind myself of my past. As a politician I had dedicated my life to fighting organized crime, and this is my reminder of why I do it." She was still angry, and she would always be angry. She had accepted that, and he should probably be in jail for his crimes, or at the very least removed from his position, but she was tired. Tired of being angry. Too tired for revenge. Too tired to kill. Lowering her crossbow, she disarmed it, and put the ring with its companion in her belt. Without saying saying a word she exited the room, and went back into the hallway.
After Red Hood released Zatanna and she sent them all back to their original rooftop meeting location in Gotham. Helena was expecting some kind of lecture from Zatanna, maybe even a fight, or she'd snitch to Batman. Instead, Zatanna was silent, before speaking softly to Red Hood, "You knew she'd work it out for her own didn't you?"
"I had hoped so," Jason responded as the two of them watched Huntress stare down at the streets of Gotham, "But I knew whatever decision she made, she needed to make it on her own. If you stopped her, then she just wouldn't stop and she'd find another way. It would consume her even more than it already has. If it means anything, I am sorry for restraining you, but it was kind of fun," he teased and they both laughed a bit. "Sorry, I couldn't let the serious moment last too long."
Zatanna laughed and nodded, "I forgive you." Then, she walked over to Huntress and hugged her unlikely friend. "If you ever need anything, give me a call, and I will do the same. Don't forget, I have your number now too," Zatanna quipped and both women laughed, before Zatanna teleported back to wherever she was going.
Now, it was just the two vigilantes alone on the rooftop. Huntress turned to Jason and smiled, "Thank you. You're a real ride or die." Restraining Zatanna was never part of the plan. She had not discussed it with Red Hood prior to the mission, because in truth, she had not planned on killing Bruno until she saw him. However, in the moment, somehow Jason just understood her feelings, and acted accordingly. She should be weary that he was about to let her kill that man, but deep down she knew he had faith in her, and he was just trying to help.
"Listen, Helena," Jason started, pulling off his helmet to reveal his familiar face, "That dark place you were at, I've been there, and I have that same darkness that you have too. As much as Bruce and the others talk a big game about darkness and the abyss, none of them truly get it, not like you and me. Believe it or not, we are probably the only two people in our little club that truly understand each other." He took her hand in his and smiled, "We truly are birds of a feather."
She smiled at him and nodded. He was right in many ways. The darkness they shared was similar, and they could work through it together. They could help eachother and they had their friends to help them too. "If you call me an honorary Robin or something, I will throw you off this roof."
He laughed, "That title is not mine to give out, but I do think its strange you're in a group called the Birds of Prey and don't have a bird name. Anyway, c'mon, lets get those rings somewhere safe."