AN: I'm sorry for being late. But I had a lot of stress. The assignments just kept on coming. You can look forward to a double-upload this week though. I'll get something up on Sunday as well. (Sunday my planned upload-day.)
Also: As a belated Christmas-present (or a normal present in case you don't celebrate it), I have something some of you have been asking about: The return of our beloved Suicide Squad-baddies: Killer Croc and Harley. Let's see what they have been up to :D
I'll also answer your comments in the next few days. I'm not letting you guys hang.
DarkOwl23: They were so close indeed.
Poor Donna. She tried so hard but it wasn't enough. At least she found an ally in Talon.
7. Justice
Waylon Jones had never been a frequent visitor of the Iceberg-Lounge. The decadence disgusted him and usually Waylon preferred to keep to himself in his sewers. But there had been too many rumblings in Gotham lately for him to ignore – not to mention a golden invitation that someone had thrown through a manhole cover to reach Killer Croc. So, Waylon reached the Iceberg-Lounge on a rainy Thursday at the stated time.
The bouncer looked up at Waylon with wide eyes and wordlessly opened the door. Waylon grunted his thanks as he entered. The Lounge looked like it was still closed. No wonder. It was only noon. Usually not a time for villain-meetings.
Waylon was led to a backroom and a glass of champagne pushed into his hand. He downed it in one go and took another one from the tray. He needed alcohol if he wanted to get through this. Not that a few glasses did much to his reptilian physiology.
A round of villains sat crowded around a glass table. Waylon took stock of them. Penguin at the head, Poison Ivy, Riddler, Two-Face and Mad Hatter. Waylon scowled at seeing the Hatter. Who had invited that crazy bastard in here? He belonged to the same tier of villain as Zsaz and Joker. Too crazy and deranged to cooperate with. Waylon may be a sewer dweller but don't lump him in with those guys.
Waylon sat down between Ivy and Riddler. Ivy was the most reasonable out of all of them and she nodded at him when he sat down. She liked Waylon because he wasn't fully human and because of his eco-friendly lifestyle. Waylon was glad she did because pissing of Poison Ivy wasn't a pleasant experience.
Riddler was annoying but mostly harmless. The lesser of all the other evils around this table.
"What do you want, Cobblepot? I don't have much time", Waylon growled.
"What is keeping you occupied? Sewer happy hour?", Penguin smirked, "Is the sewer water that delicious?"
Waylon glared at him.
"As for your question: I did not invite you, Waylon. Our secret host chose my humble establishment for their meeting without consulting me."
Ivy tensed: "And you couldn't have mentioned that earlier, Penguin? This could potentially be a trap."
Penguin shrugged: "I had to ensure that the champagne is cold."
Ivy sighed: "Great. So, someone invited us here and we don't know why."
She looked around as if she was expecting a threat. Plants were wound around her wrists. She used her powers to make them grow larger – ready to attack any moment.
Justifiably as it turned out.
Shots rang out from the foyer of the Iceberg Lounge. Waylon stood up, growling. Riddler raised his question mark-staff as if that thing would do anything in case of an attack. Shot after shot echoed through the hall and Waylon could smell the tang of blood. Penguin scoffed in annoyance at whoever was making their dramatic entrance.
The door opened and Ivy's vines shot out. The newcomer dodged them through a series of flips.
"Harley?", Ivy sounded surprised.
"Heya, Ivy", Harley smiled widely, "I missed ya. We should definitely do a girls' night out someday. If Mr. J allows."
Ivy looked frustrated: "You are still with him, Harley. What the hell-"
Harley took out two pompons. Waylon couldn't for the life of him tell where she had gotten them out of her costume.
"I'm here to announce the baddest, the biggest and the most handsome man in the world. Mr. J himself", Harley raised her pompons to the sky, "Let's hear it for Gotham's prime villain."
There were some scoffs at that statement. Mostly from Penguin and Riddler. Waylon rolled his eyes at that arrogance. It had been a terrible idea to come here. Maybe Waylon should just chomp Joker's head off. It had been a while since he had tried clown.
The Joker entered. He carried a purple walking stick. Waylon could see the blood clinging to it. He assumed that no one in the Iceberg Lounge was alive anymore.
"What do you want, Joker?", Ivy sounded pissed, her vines circling Joker like sharks.
There was gossip that something was going on between Harley and Ivy. Waylon could see it. Ivy seemed more emotionally involved than the cool-headed villain usually allowed herself to be. Only pollution and Harley could get her going like this.
The clown didn't seem bothered by Ivy's threats as he approached them with a skip.
"You owe me reimbursement for the clean-up and the lost money for the dead personnel", Penguin said.
"Smile, Cobblepot", Joker's face was twisted into a sickening grimace, "I will find a way to pay you back soon enough."
"Mr. J has an amazing plan", Harley looked at him with heart eyes.
Even from here, Waylon could see a bruise in the form of a handprint around her biceps. The clown hadn't changed.
Ivy seemed to notice the handprint as well: "Harley, I'm begging you to come to your senses. He is treating you like trash. You deserve better."
"I'm sorry, Ivy", the smile fell from Harley's face for just a moment, "But I'm his girl. I'm a ride or die."
She raised her chin in pride. Ivy sighed in frustration. Waylon knew this conversation well enough. Ivy now belonged to the same category of people who had also tried to get Harley to see the light. A long list consisting of the whole Suicide Squad (even Boomerang) and most prominently Zombie. He had tried to convince Harley with his quiet kindness and puppy eyes. The same eyes that had gotten Waylon to stop eating people for the last six months. Waylon didn't know how Harley could resist those eyes. No one wanted to make Zombie sad.
"You may ask yourself: Why has the Joker graced us with his presence?", the Clown continued his show.
The other villains stayed still, observing the Clown.
"Easy: What is a fresh-faced, annoying and gun-crazy upstart?"
"Red Hood", Riddler blurted out, triumphant as if he had won a quiz show.
"Exactly", Joker rubbed his hands, "The ten-dollar question goes to the idiot with the question mark-staff."
Riddler's face fell and he deflated. Served him well enough for being annoying.
"Red Hood has killed Black Mask and Zsaz. And most importantly, he is sucking all of Batsy's attention onto himself", Joker's voice turned dark, "I don't like it when other people suck up Batsy's attention. I'm his number one."
"We know about your obsession with Batman", Ivy sounded annoyed, "What is your plan?"
"Someone needs to weed out the Hood. I'm going to do it and you will keep out of it."
Waylon tensed. He remembered Red Hood from the final Squad-mission. He had liked the man. Not enough though to draw the Clown's ire though. Waylon wouldn't draw the Clown's anger for anyone. Not even for Nightwing. Forget it. The little hero could deal with that car crash himself.
"Fine", Ivy put her feet onto the table, "Deal with Red Hood. Be my guest."
"Are you implying that I need your permission, Ivy?", a dark undertone crept into the Clown's voice.
"I have control over plant life itself. I am not scared of a clown with a knife", Ivy looked at Harley while she said it - ignoring Joker.
The clown bristled. Ivy stood up sauntering through the room.
She stopped next to Harley: "You know that you can always come to me if you change your mind?"
Harley looked sad for a moment, her smile dropping: "I know, Ives. I love my Puddin' though."
Ivy left the room with slumped shoulders. She reminded Waylon of a wilted flower. Rejection hurt.
"Wow. What a debby downer", Joker cackled.
The only one who laughed with him was Hatter. Same brand of crazy.
"What about Nightwing?", Penguin asked, "He's close with the Hood."
"I don't care for the bird – at least for now", Joker's smile widened, "But I have hopes that he might lose it once I kill his beloved Red Hood."
"Having Batman's partner go on a killing spree", Two-Face muttered, "The ultimate joke."
"You always were a smart one, Harvey", Joker clasped Two-Face's shoulder.
The villain didn't seem impressed.
Waylon breathed in relief when Joker announced his intention to leave Nightwing alone. It would be a shame for Red Hood but the vigilante had decided to enter the game. What happened now was his responsibility. Waylon only cared about Zombie. The rest of world could suck his tail.
"Harley", Joker called her to his side like a dog.
Harley obliged. It wasn't like Waylon cared about Harley's brand of psycho. But even he had to admit that this display was sad.
Joker and Harley left the Iceberg Lounge. The atmosphere lifted once the crazy clowns were gone.
"Great", Penguin said, "The Hood-problem will take care of itself. No extra work for me. Hiring Deathstroke is always such a hassle."
"I'm not sure if it will be so easy", Harvey was already thinking through all the possibilities, "What if Joker succeeds?"
"Then, we're rid of that gun-toting madman", Hatter grinned, "And free to follow our daily work."
Waylon shuddered at the thought. Everyone knew what shady dealings Hatter was involved in. Dealings that even Waylon would never consider in his darkest moments.
Harvey shook his head: "What if Joker is right and Nightwing loses it once Hood is dead? Then, we are swapping a kid with guns for a crazed Talon with a healing factor that was trained by the Court and Batman."
"I still have Deathstroke on call in that case", Penguin seemed very uninterested, "He'll take care of that thing."
"Deathstroke lost to Cobb – infamously. His reputation isn't as impeccable as it used to be."
"He's still Deathstroke", Penguin said, "Cobb is nothing to sneeze at."
"If Cobb is nothing to sneeze at, what about his pupil then?"
The table fell quiet.
"Croc", Riddler spoke up, "You were on the Suicide Squad with Nightwing. Is he a threat?"
Croc downed another glass of champagne, wondering which answer would help the most. If he portrayed Nightwing as a threat, the others would try to take him down. If Waylon portrayed him as weak, the villains would take him down as well. He needed to find a middle ground.
Croc shrugged: "Nightwing is a mess after what the Court did to him. They screwed him up. He can barely speak most of the time. I still wouldn't piss him off. Say what you want about Cobb but the guy taught him how to fight."
Penguin frowned, putting on his scheming-face: "So, Nightwing is a pawn. Nothing significant for now."
The other villains seemed uninterested as well. Waylon could clap his own shoulder for a job well-done. Zombie better thank him.
"He's a tool for more significant players. Batman, the League and Hood", Harvey said.
"We need to worry about Hood and Joker for now. See who goes out on top. Profit from the fallout."
"Whatever", Waylon stood up, "Let those freaks rip each other apart."
"Are you going back to your sewers?", Hatter taunted
"At least I don't have to see your stupid faces there", Waylon growled.
"Typical Croc", Riddler muttered, "Always such a loner."
Waylon left the Iceberg Lounge. The glassy floor was tainted in blood. Wide smiles were cut onto the faces of the employees. Waylon couldn't get himself to care as he left the corpse of the bouncer behind who had let him through.
Nightwing would be disappointed by Waylon's lack of empathy for the dead. Waylon sighed at this thought. The other villains called him a loner but they didn't even know how much the little hero had gotten into Waylon's head. So annoying but Waylon couldn't get himself to be angry at Zombie. Not when the guy was one of the few people who cared.
Ever since his gang knew his real identity, Jason had walked around without the helmet more in his hideout. His people were hanging around in the common room, playing cards as usual and drinking way too much alcohol.
Jason crossed the common room on his way outside. He didn't have time to screw around. Finding out who was behind Nightwing's leak had the highest priority.
"Boss?", Harry – one of Hood's longest-running employees - stopped him.
"We got a problem?", Jason asked, "One of the dealers selling to kids again?"
"No. We shut that down", Harry said, "Dealers have been quiet lately and given us our cut."
Jason hummed.
"It's about your other activities", Harry exchanged a worried glance with the others, "There is word on the street that a lot of the higher villains are out for your blood. Apparently, there was a secret meeting in the Iceberg-Lounge that ended bloody. "
"They should be", Jason said, "Means they are scared."
Harry sighed: "These aren't your run-of-the-mill villains, boss. What if we attract the attention of Joker?"
"The Clown can come. I'm gonna get to him eventually."
"With all due respect, he already kidnapped you once, Boss. It was Batman and Nightwing who freed you. And ever since that leak-"
Jason felt irritation flare up in him: "What about the leak?"
"Gotham knows all about Nightwing now. They know that the League is containing him", Harry bit his lip.
"Spit it out, Harry."
Harry sighed: "We know you are capable, Boss. But the threat of a Talon getting you if you hurt Red Hood was a strong one."
Jason halted. He knew that Nightwing had done a lot of the heavy lifting regarding intimidation in Red Hood's early days. But Jason didn't need him for that anymore. Not when he could cut off heads and murder scumbags like Zsaz himself. Still, Gotham's villains would get desperate eventually and try to snuff out Red Hood. Jason wasn't foolish.
"You're right. It's only a question of time until we get attacked. I want you prepared at all times and I want the kids moved to a secure location. No more poker. No more alcohol until we have snuffed this out."
There were some groans from the poker table but Jason shut them down with a glare. Red Hood might be one of the more merciful gang leaders but he couldn't allow himself to get soft.
Harry nodded: "Very well. I'll arrange it."
"Get the kids to Safehouse 6", Jason said, "Anything else?"
Safehouse 6 was Red Hood's most secure location.
"How is Nightwing?", Mark asked from the side, "I haven't seen him for a bit."
Jason turned to Mark. The boy had been training in the last year. Trained by Jason, Nightwing and even Batman once. He was a far cry from when Jason had taken him in – but still a kid regardless.
"Shitty ever since the leak", Jason said, "I'm on the case. There are two locations I'm investigating today."
"Can I help?", Mark asked.
"You're leaving with the other kids", Jason said, "And do your homework."
Damn. Jason was only 18 and he was already talking like a Dad. Did he feel so old?
Mark's face fell but he didn't talk back: "Just tell Nightwing that we are thinking about him. Please?"
"Sure", Jason said.
He left his hideout.
Jason checked out the internet café the mysterious contractor had used first without any success. The mystery person had stayed out of view from the cameras this entire time and had paid in cash. There was nothing to trace them with.
So, Jason went to the street corner that had served as a meeting place between the hostage taker and the contractor. Jason inspected the bench on the sideway. It stood in front of a laundromat and was tagged with graffiti. Jason turned around. There was nothing special about this place. Nothing that would mark it as a meeting place between someone with highly classified information and a future hostage-taker.
Jason entered the laundromat, glad that he had opted for street clothes instead of his Red Hood-get up. Jason tried his best smile when he asked the owners – a nice elderly couple – if he could see their camera feed. He served them some story about being a private detective.
The couple let him into the backroom – no intimidation necessary. Jason smiled at them and went through the feed. Nothing. The cameras had only a little view on the street and what little Jason had was blocked by the tree next to the bench.
Jason sighed and left the laundromat. Both of his leads had been dead ends.
It had turned dark in the meantime. Jason put his hands into his pockets and opted for a dive-bar next door. He needed a drink after this.
The people seemed to be Jason's crowd. He spotted three drug deals going on under the table after he had entered. Jason ignored them. Not his problem. He wasn't the Bat. Deals only interested him when they were to kids.
Jason ordered a whiskey with his fake ID wondering if he was on the right path. It ached within him to do what Bruce always asked of him: To come home and be the son Bruce wanted him to be. It would make Nightwing happy. His brother could use some cheering up.
Jason had resisted because of his principles but he didn't feel so high and mighty now. He had sworn to be Gotham's dark protector, but he couldn't even avenge his brother after someone had torn his life apart. Maybe he could help N more by being with him. Support him through this nightmare. But he would prove Bruce right by coming back and Jason didn't know if he could stand that idea.
Jason sighed and downed the whiskey. He ordered another one.
The bar was crowded. People were dancing to grunge-music. Rubbing against each other on the dance floor. It didn't appeal to Jason. He had never been a party animal. A good Jane Austen-book with a cup of tea was his kind of party.
A burly man walked up to the bar. He had his arm laid around a girl – not much older than Jason. She wore a tight red dress with high heels and seemed more than a bit tipsy.
"One shot", the man pulled out a crumpled bill and pushed it onto the bar, "Dealer's choice."
The barkeeper gave him something. Jason barely paid attention at this point. Maybe he shouldn't have come here. The air felt too thick and the club too small. He sighed. Why was he so uncomfortable by a run-off-the-mill bar? He was the fucking Red Hood. He was supposed to be a tough guy. Maybe because it reminded him of how alone he was when he saw the people dancing with each other. It would be so easy to forget about all his aspirations and go back to Bruce and Nightwing…
But Jason couldn't give up. He owed it to all the poor and weak of Gotham who faced injustice every day. Jason had been one of them and he had to protect them now that he was strong enough to do so. Those villains had to go no matter what Bruce said. Red Hood had to bring Gotham justice.
"Open up, Sweetheart", the man held the shot out to the girl.
She downed it and giggled – leaning into the man. Jason frowned. The man didn't seem drunk at all and his insistence that the already-tipsy girl drank the shot was concerning. The man whispered something to her and pulled her through the crowd. Jason could see where this was going and he didn't like it at all.
Jason stood up and followed them. It was hard with the overcrowded club. Jason had to force himself through the crowd. By the time he had reached the door, the couple had already left.
"Shit", Jason exited the club, cold wind hitting his face.
He looked around, trying to spot the girl's red dress. But he couldn't see it. Jason jogged towards the nearby alleys, peaking into them. He had success at the third one.
The man had the girl pressed against the wall, kissing her with his hands roaming over her body. The girl's head lolled to the side. She seemed barely conscious. Jason looked around for a weapon. He picked up a brick, sneaking closer. If he could just knock the guy out before this went any further-
The girl's eyes met Jason's. They seemed surprisingly aware suddenly. Jason froze, unsure of what was going on here.
"You like filling girls up with alcohol?", the girl asked, giggling.
The tone of her voice didn't fit her keen gaze. A gaze that was still lingering on Jason, cutting into him. The man didn't pay any attention. His hands wandered under her dress.
"It's more fun this way, Babe", he laughed.
The girl tensed suddenly. Jason was about to step in, but the girl raised her hand, indicating him to stop. Her frizzy black hair was wild as her eyes burned with intensity and vengeance.
"Someone should teach you a lesson", the girl let all pretensions of sweetness drop.
The man froze. He looked up at her. Frowning when he saw that she wasn't drunk at all.
"What the-"
The girl's hands shot out and pressed into the man's temple. The man froze, his face twisting up in horror. She seemed to pull something out of the man. A black-ish energy.
"Let's see how many innocents you've hurt", she said.
The man screamed suddenly as the black poured out of him.
"You've hurt a lot of people", the girl said, "You see how dark your conscience is? I can see how many you've hurt. Their pain. It's sickening. You are a disgusting piece of shit."
"I- I'm sorry", the man cried out.
"You are sorry you got caught, you scumbag", the girl's voice cut like glass, "You don't deserve anything."
"I- I- Please", the man tried to shove her away, but the girl tightened her grip around his head, making him scream out even more, "Have mercy."
"You've never shown mercy to anyone. You don't deserve it. This is pure justice."
The man sank to his knees. His face grew paler until it looked like all life had been sucked out of him. The girl kept pushing.
Jason stood there. Frozen. This situation had turned on its head completely. He wondered if he should step in. But why should he? This man must have done this to many girls before. He was a rapist. Rapists didn't deserve any protection. So, Jason stood there while he watched the girl torment the man to death.
His voice gave out eventually. Hoarse from all the screaming. His body crumbled and landed on the concrete. His skin paper white. His lips greyish. His eyes ripped open in pure terror. Jason didn't feel an ounce of pity for him.
The girl looked up, her eyes meeting Jason's again. They were still intense. This girl had a mission.
Jason raised his hands: "I'm not here to harm you."
"I know. You were about to come to my aid, Red Hood."
Jason tensed. How did she know? There was something off about this girl.
She laughed: "You should see your face. I didn't expect the Red Hood to be so young."
"How do you know?", Jason tried to sound tougher than he felt.
"Relax. My Dad used to work for Black Mask. He told me."
Jason frowned. He had killed Mask soon after the man had blasted Jason's secret identity. Apparently, he hadn't been quick enough.
"I'm glad you're safe."
"I had it under control the whole time", the girl said.
"Sure", Jason muttered, "So, you go into dodgy bars and get revenge on men who try to assault you?"
"You here to tell me off?", the girl's eyes narrowed, "I always find a scumbag who would love to take advantage of me. I get rid of them. The world is better off without them. I'm sure Red Hood would agree."
"I do", Jason said, "Go to town on them."
The girl smiled bitterly: "None of that reformation shit. Finally a vigilante who gets it."
"Most of these scumbags are far past reformation", Jason muttered.
"Right", the girl agreed, "And Batman just keeps going on about second chances. He doesn't care that we are far past seconds by now. I think he enjoys it. The eternal fight. And the ordinary people are just caught in the middle."
Jason frowned. She had voiced everything he had been considering for so long. Bruce didn't understand this. Not even Nightwing did at this point. Batman had gotten into his big brother's head. Batman would get Nightwing killed. It was up to Red Hood to protect his big brother now before this arms race between villains and heroes escalated.
"You got any training except those powers?", Jason asked.
"I don't need it."
"Believe me. You do", Jason said, "Gotham eats the people alive who aren't prepared for it."
"I'm prepared. I'm not some naïve, little girl", she said, "I have a mission. Same as you."
"I never said you weren't capable. What is it you did with that guy? It's impressive."
Jason would love to be able to make those scumbags scream like that.
"I can make them feel all the pain they have ever inflicted on innocents."
Jason frowned: "How do you define an innocent then?"
The girl shrugged: "I don't question it much. I can just feel it. I feel it when people are scumbags. Some are dripping with pain."
Jason froze. Thinking about the implications of this power. He was about to ask what the girl felt when she looked at him, but he decided against it. Jason didn't want to know.
"I never caught your name."
"Themis", she said.
Sounded Greek. Jason was sure it was a codename.
"Already a vigilante name, huh?", Jason asked, "You just need a costume."
"Don't make fun of me", she glared at him, "I have reasons for what I do."
Jason raised his hands. Themis was intense in her drive for justice. He wondered if Batman felt this way when he was around Red Hood.
"I'm not kidding. I get it. When I was a kid, everyone kicked me around. This city preys on those who cannot defend themselves. I'm here to weed out the predators."
Themis frowned. She looked surprised.
"You do get it."
"What about you? Anyone kick you around?"
Themis pushed herself off the wall: "We're not that close yet."
She handed him a slip of paper: "Call me if you really want to change something. I've been planning a big thing for a while."
"Which is what?"
"Justice", Themis said.
She left the alley and Jason behind. Jason shook his head in amusement. She definitely had the vigilante intensity down.
Jason looked down at the paper and a neat scribble. Nothing but a phone number. He liked Themis' style. A girl with what? Karma powers? Interesting. There was no purer form of justice.
Jason put the paper into his pocket. He didn't plan on calling Themis. Red Hood had his own people to fulfill his mission. Still, it couldn't harm to keep this contact.
Jason left the alley, ignoring the drained body of the scumbag. Today had been a failure regarding his investigation. He should go back to his hideout and plan his next steps.
AN: The way Nightwing has Croc wound around his little finger. Those two are adorable. And Jason is going through a lot right now… Strap in, people. It's not gonna be a pleasant ride from now on for Mr. Jason Todd. But when has it ever been?