It was a long, angry, and messed up trek back to Joker's underground headquarters. Never mind the logistics getting there with Gotham City on complete lockdown. I have my ways to traverse the city undetected believe me. But man… what the hell happened tonight?
My mind was clouded with questions, doubts, and bad feelings. Trying to understand what exactly went down tonight and what the hell was going to happen to me when I returned to Joker were all weighing heavy on me. A ton of shitty bricks on my shoulders.
I know what you're thinking. Joker threatened me on that chopper and yeah I'm a nutcase for coming back.
But Harley… this was my only lead to who had her shot and why. And hell I needed to see her if this was her last night alive.
… If she was even alive.
"Hey Lawton, boss says-"
Boom! I bashed the 'bouncers' face in with my fist before words were exchanged, not in the mood for any of this shit. He slumped to the floor knocked out cold as I made my way through the club portion of the Joker's hideout, other guards letting me through without a fuss after the fact. I made a beeline through the corridors, knowing my around here like I was one of the 'clowns'…
Yeah I'm one of 'them' now I guess.
A large group of Joker's goons were gathered in the entrance to the infirmary, apparently waiting for treatment. One of the guys I was looking for standing right there in the middle of the pack overseeing the recovery of his men. His snug look was only making me even more pissed off.
"Deadshot, surprised you had the guts to show up after-"
Wham!
Guess it was a good thing Frost was next to the infirmary now. I kicked Johnny hard enough in the chest to cave it in, the henchman hitting the wall unforgivingly, pulling my revolver right to his forehead as he came to. I heard a bunch of guns click as the entire room probably had their scopes on me. Johnny looked more than surprised, clutching his sternum. I wanted him to know this quick.
I'm not here to play games.
"Don't shoot. Everyone stay calm." Johnny reassured the crew. "We don't need any more losses today."
"You're right. It's been a pretty shitty day." I pressed the gun into his forehead so hard it was probably denting his skull. "You're not a kid and you may be a lady. But I doubt it. Know this, I'm not going to think twice shooting you so answer straight or you're going to be another loss."
"Put the gun down Lawton…" Frost didn't seem too concerned for a guy close to being shot. His eyes motioned to the dozen or so clowns ready to fire.
"Shut up. I ain't scared to die… but you are." I pushed the gun into his even head harder, Johnny's skull hitting the drywall hard as he yelled out.
"Argh!"
"Will Evans… that name ring a bell bitch?" I shoved the clown mask of Harley's shooter into his chest just as hard.
Johnny was in pain for sure but eyed the clown mask closely, looking back at me defiantly. "We already picked up the body. We know about this and we're going to get to the bottom of it."
"The bottom of it?" I was not in the mood for 'bad guy plans' talk. "Tell me that you didn't order a hit on Harley with a straight face. Was it because she helped me disable that bomb you guys didn't tell me about in the first place?!"
"... Are you dense?" Johnny asked with indeed a straight face. "That is the Boss' girl. Why the hell would I call something like that?"
"Easy. All ya'll are nuts." I gave him the obvious answer. "I wouldn't be surprised if Joker himself is behind all this…"
"You know that's bullshit." Johnny refuted. "That girl is his world. Do you know what kind of resources he spent? How much time he allocated? How much of his operations were affected just trying to find Harley and save her from Belle Reve?"
I knew the words were making sense. Deep down I didn't think Joker would turn on Harley… but my anger wouldn't let me take these answers calmly. They weren't good enough. I wanted to find out why Harley was shot. I needed to know the truth now.
"Damn Frost, I'm back for one second and you're already at gunpoint when I find you. Hah, nice to see this place hasn't changed a bit."
That sultry voice belonged to an even sultrier woman. We all turned seeing a beauty. A killer beauty. A red head with a greenish tinge to her pale delicate skin. The stunning but dangerous 'flower' that Gotham knew all too well. The plant girl. The real life venus fly trap. The hostile hippy.
Poison Ivy is someone that leaves an impression. On my jobs years ago I'd run into this girl quite a bit before she became the Joker's lead general. That little revealing outfit bikini of leaves, and vegetation makes you kind of not forget a girl.
"Welcome back Ivy." Frost acknowledged her, still at my gunpoint.
"Hah, that you Deadshot?" Ivy recognized me too. "Oh Johnny, you picked the right gun to be in front of."
Nothing's changed. Ivy was always so relaxed in the tenses moments just like Harley was. She high heeled up to us, the entire room stopping just for her, watching her every sway and step. Even I kind of lost a bit of my tension… like she exuded good 'high' vibes like pollen in the air. Didn't hurt that this girl was a fine lady. Flirty was a good way to put our relationship in the past.
Nothing had changed on that end either.
"So how you been my cocoa cutie?" Ivy smiled, suddenly patting my rear end like it was routine. "Looking good in that tight Deadshot getup. Been working on your ass huh? Yoga? Stair master? Pilates?"
Huh. I took a glance at her blankly and back at Johnny who could only do the same to me. Did she really give me a butt tap while I had someone at gunpoint ready to shoot someone in the face?
"Nice to see ya Pam." I answered the only way I could think of... "Hands off the merchandise while I'm interrogating please."
"Hah, fair enough." Ivy flirted with a wink. "I'll just look…"
This was indeed Harley's partner in crime when Joker wasn't around. She and Harley were known as the sisters of destruction in Joker's gang and for good reason.
They're both dangerously nuts.
"Sorry fellas for being inappropriate. I haven't seen a good looking man in about five months and I'm horny as hell." Ivy playfully put a finger to her mouth. "Last cute guy I saw was in a strait jacket and I think he might have been shanked to death. Totally FML."
Me and Johnny were still frozen. Actually the entire room was frozen with painted faces agape. The bad thoughts all these clowns were getting are understandable. We were still stuck at that 'horny as hell line'.
"Speaking of inappropriate and horny? Where's my bae?" Ivy perked up.
"… She was shot and was in critical condition." Johnny was always the bearer of bad news but made it sound common place. "She's in the ICU."
"W-what?!" Ivy gasped, all that playfulness gone in that instant.
I was disappointed in myself, realizing I didn't even ask the most important question on my mind. Damn, maybe deep down I didn't even want to know. My life has been full of bad news… I really… really didn't want this question about Harley to be answered by bad news.
"How is… Harley?" I asked still fighting the urge to say the words.
"Emergency surgery on the chopper, we had the best meds on her quick." Johnny recollected. "It was close but I think she'll be fine. She's resting now… she should recover by tomorrow... hopefully be normal in a few days"
Damn… thank god…
Wait…
Tomorrow?!
"… That was a nasty gunshot wound to her chest… how in the-"
"You don't survive in Gotham with that Bat around without dabbing deep into human anatomy Lawton." Johnny shrugged. "… You think Joker and Harley are alive by chance? We've had close calls before… nothing this bad but nothing our medical staff couldn't handle…"
"Is that how you made your clown trio become superhuman? Dabbing into 'anatomy'?" I was only thinking of what they injected into Harley… to get her stable... let alone an expected full recovery. That Venom stuff?
Is that why maybe Joker and Harley look like walking zombies sometimes?
"Ugh, I always gotta take care of this girl don't I?" Ivy complained with a huff, walking off angrily. "I'm gone for a little bit and the bitch can't help but get shot and almost die? Grrr..."
The red head exited as she entered. With loud and attention grabbing sexiness. A room loses its appeal instantly when a girl like Ivy leaves it.
Johnny looked like he finally was getting agitated. "Mind putting the gun down yet?"
I was giving it a thought. Hearing Harley's condition made me soften a bit.
"No, please hold the gun there Floyd." The clown's voice was never 'soft'. "Heck, I won't even mind if you shoot him and blow his brains out. I don't need worthless sacks of crap workin' for me."
The room loses even more appeal when a guy like Joker enters it instantly. Bad fung shue.
"Boss… I-"
"One of our own snipers shot my queen. Fucking embarrassment Frosty!" Joker stormed over eyes as red and angry as I ever seen. "I pay you a lot to make sure things go smoothly Johnny…"
"Evans was one of our best guys boss… he's been for years… I-"
SLAP!
"Then what the fuck happened?" Joker slapped him hard… and I mean HARD. Making the convo just go dead cold. Watching a grown man get slapped by another dude never ends well.
"I… I'm not sure…" Frost grimaced, being degraded and messed up in front of his own crew but taking it. "We're looking into it… possible pay off…"
"Unless it was money to close fam… I don't think so." I still held my gunpoint as Joker turned to me. "Dude blew his own head off before I could take him in. What kind of money goes with you to the next life?"
"Family is a possibility… psychosis… it could be a lot of things!"
"… Possible payoffs to family? I'll kill his entire family… psychosis? Obviously if he messes with Harley!" Joker was digging for answers with gritted shiny teeth, looking as serious as he's ever been. "I want fucking answers not guesses. And I want them now…"
"We're looking into it boss I just need a little time-"
SLAP!
"You're fucking useless!" Joker exploding at Johnny slapping him one more time even harder, then pointing at his gang. "In fact? You're all are fucking useless! Everyone get out before I have you all gutted and your insides Fed Exed to your families! GET OUT!"
Not a HA HA in sight. This was a side of the clown I haven't seen. The one that lost his 'cool'. There was no laughing or joking when it came to Harley's life and it was understandable. I stood there watching Joker berate his army like caged animals, seeing his minions slowly file away in fear. Johnny looked more fearful then he ever was at my gunpoint really, rubbing his cheeks and his ego to boot.
I didn't blame him.
"You don't move a muscle." Joker said it to me in a hiss. "You and I talk… man to man now."
I turned back to him. "You mean clown to man."
He was taken a back. He wasn't expecting a smart mouth from anyone but it was about time he understands this.
I'm not just anyone…
"Not in the mood Floyd…" Joker wasn't amused obviously.
"Now you know how it feels. Ha… ha… ha…" And I made sure to let him know I really didn't give a shit.
Joker looked like he would snap, but started to laugh a bit. Even the irony got to him. I was prodding at the king of Gotham. Ballsy.
After seeing the destruction today. After seeing so many people hurt. After being held out on about the bomb and the plans. After seeing Harley get hit? My fears… my concerns were all gone. I was angry. I didn't give a shit who Joker was at this moment. No one fucks with me like this. Not even him.
"Haha, you really are funny but let's get things straight." Joker stood up face to face. "You and I don't like one another."
"I kinda got that feeling when you kneed me and threatened to Griggs me." I wasn't impressed. "Got any info I don't know?"
"You put my girl at risk remember?"
"You put your girl at risk everyday just making her be around you. The fuck you talking about?"
"Dying isn't the problem Floyd… it's the way ya go out." Joker smirked in my face. "We'll go out on our terms… sooner than later probably… heh… Life is short…"
There's that corny saying…
"But it's even shorter if you're livin' it right."
And that's the Joker's 'jokerizing' it.
"You want to keep Harley safe? Let her go. Let her be what she needs to be. Not what you twisted her into."
"Hah… hahaha…. Hahaha…" Joker suddenly slapped his own hip, being insultingly hysterical. "Are you talking about us as if you know a damn thing?"
"I know that girl had a promising life before meeting your psycho ass."
"Careful Floyd… my patience with you is-"
"Infinite at the moment." I finished for him.
He looked at me questionably, threateningly and angrily… all three things at once. "What are you gettin' at?"
"Someone in your little clown cult just sold you out right?" I crossed my arms. "And this is probably the first time and it's making you sweat a little."
The clown kept listening. I was really… trying to figure it out myself.
"… Taking a shot at Harley was a warning to you." I began to dig. "I wonder as crazy and powerful as you are in Gotham… there's probably a bunch of dudes dying to be the next you. But they were too scared to do it because the King looked invincible… till now."
Harley… she was the key to this.
I was now officially thinking aloud.
"You spent money… time… probably threatened your entire operations just to get her back." I remembered what Frost said, along with the crazy means he'd go for Harley when we were in Midway City. "If I were a maniacal kingpin in Gotham and I saw that shit? … I smell blood in the water… I found a weakness."
They say behind every great man was a great woman. There was no exception to the rule in this case. Harley was Joker's strength… and his weakness.
"Well bravo detective…" Joker laughed, clapping slowly and mockingly. "I'm glad you're such a gum shoe because you're right and that's why I need to talk to you. I'm here to make you an offer you can't refuse."
"… You want me to figure out who put the hit on Harley because you can't trust anyone in your own damn empire to do it for you."
"Bingo! Survey says… Floyd is a genius!"
"So that same conscience that 'fucked up' everything for you? You're begging it to help you now when you were a few seconds from executing me?"
"… If you put it that way… sure." Joker sighed. "Come on Floyd! Don't take this personal! We all know that you want Harley as safe as I want her to be. Don't let your hate for me cloud your judgement! She really is a lovely creature."
When you're right you're right. Harley was my weakness around these parts… to be honest… if she wasn't here? I probably would've iced Joker by now and died from his gang's hands. That was a death I could 'live' with…
"Find the one who is responsible for this. I don't buy little Willy going rogue and doing it himself." He pondered. "I think you're the man to do this but this… uh… this… Deadshot lite that I apparently hired? This one has got to go."
… Deadshot lite?
"If you're going to do this, I need the old Deadshot that killed like a machine. Not this soap opera oil of olay bullshit version I got tonight that wouldn't kill a fly. Haha… no offense."
No. He meant offense… but he was right. I'm not the same Deadshot I was years ago. When you have a kid it changes you. It makes you think twice… hesitate…
I wonder if I could be that guy anymore even if I wanted to.
"Don't change Shot! Don't even botha!"
… Harley?
"Harley!" Ivy growled walking behind her friend desperately motioning her to stop. "Get back to bed young lady!"
Harley ignored Ivy, walking out looking almost 'Walking Dead' like, kinda how Rick Grimes looked in the first episode of season one. She was in a hospital gown, clutching the wall, looking in pretty bad shape. How in the world is she even up? I don't care what medication you get… how tough is this chick?
"I'm fuckin' fine…" Harley wheezed, pushing herself to the limit just to walk towards us. "No stinkin' bullet by a coward is gonna stop me…"
The girl pressed forward with pure determination using the wall for balance, advancing slowly step by slow step holding her chest, suddenly falling forward only to be caught by the Joker. She was winded and hurting bad but wouldn't give up.
She was something else.
"You're one amazing woman." Joker agreed, admiring her spunk. "But I need you dear and you need your rest."
"… I got plenty of time to rest when I finally croak." Harley panted, struggling for deep breaths. "Now… I heard you two yappin' about me… and I need to talk to you puddin'… now…"
"Harley…"
"Fuck tryin' to find who did this if that's the cost. Don't you be tellin' Shot to change who he is to do it."
"It's just a fair warning dear."
"No… no… he shouldn't be the one that changes." Harley defended me. "It should be us…"
Huh… wasn't expecting that.
"… Come again?" Joker tilted his head, suddenly looking at me and Ivy that gave us vibes to just scram.
"Oh boy… this looks like this is gonna be one of them heavy talks." Ivy whistled, turning to me. "Hey Deadshot there's some tofu in the cafeteria. It's really good wanna go?"
"Y-yeah… totally. Right behind you."
By the way… I hated tofu… but really I didn't want any part of this clown drama. Even though I appreciated Harley standing up for me.
"No! You both stay!" Harley growled. "We don't have nothin' to hide right Mistah J? We're an open book!"
Me and Ivy let out a defeated breath. Joker for once stayed silent. Harley wanted our support it looked like. Joker wanted us gone like yesterday.
Dilemmas eh?
"Puddin' what are we doin'?" Harley frowned. "I mean… what's our end game here? Why are we doin' all this huh? Let's run. Let's run away from all this crap. We don't need it! We have eachotha!"
"Run…?" Joker twitched, pulling Harley up into his dark glare. "I built this empire… by myself… why the hell would I runaway? Do I look like a coward to you?"
"We know you're not a coward. There's nothing to prove…" Harley reassured him. "We don't NEED this. We don't need any of this..."
Joker looked beside himself. "… Harley… I worked hard building this life for you and me. This is for us! You don't need this?"
"No… you built this for you!" Harley shook her head, pointing at him. "I never asked for any of this! I was here for the ride. I'd be at your side even if you were flippin' burgers at Gotham Grill you know this."
"… You didn't mind it before, now we run into some turbulence and you're telling us to stop? Don't run away from your fear... dear."
"Look, I get where you're commin' from but we've done it all puddin'." Harley hugged him hard. "You've proven you're the greatest mastermind in the Gotham underworld. We've raised Hell! We've partied till we've dropped. I just don't see how this story ends where you and I aren't shot and put in a ditch somewhere rottin' with nothin' to show for it except some horror stories for friends to tell."
"Well… at least a nice ditch right?" Joker looked to the air amused. "Filled with roses and my favorite knives."
"Stop… I'm bein' serious." Harley was so amped and weak she had to just take a breather. Joker almost looked down at her with pity as she tried to catch her breath.
"Why so serious?" He indeed got a bit more serious. "This doesn't sound like my Harley…"
"This is me puddin'. Listen to me…" She was begging almost. "I've seen a life where you and I aren't runnin' all the time. Where we're not doing any of this shit… and we're happy as can be. It's not about fear… it's about what's important."
"…"
"I see it in my dreams. We wake up every mornin' at peace and without a worry. I give ya a kiss before I get out of bed and get our kids ready for breakfast… Jack and Lucy and they're 3 and 5… We sit at the table all nice and tidy… Your fav is French toast with eggs over easy and fresh orange juice just like Jack's. You kiss me and the kids before you go to work and there's even a damn picket fence with our two dogs Bud and Lou waitin' for you to feed 'em… I take care and love our kids while we all wait for you to return every night after you put in a hard days 9 to 5… its routine… it's our life… that's what matters to me."
"… God, that's so fucking romantic bae." Ivy suddenly blurted out, wiping her eyes.
"Ain't it Red?" Harley turned to her. Both of them teary eyed.
Joker looked at me as puzzled as I was. That's all he could do which I could only give him a shrug like I always do. I wasn't touching this. He didn't seem as affected by this outpouring Harley was giving. I admired Harley's candor though. The conversation we had before the night started came roaring back. This was what was missing… she was changing.
She wanted that normal life…
"You've lost a lot of blood." Joker turned back to her, stroking her hair. "That's a cute story Harley but we're gonna put this behind us and continue where we left off okay? We'll pretend this never… happened."
Cute? Never happened? Oh no Joker. You don't brush off something like this. How to survive a woman 101 rule number one. Don't brush off emotional outbursts with indifference. Harley was the one twitching now. She poured her heart out and got nothing…
"Cute?!" Harley's eyes grew double in size. "When I thought I was going to die I saw the same thing. I saw YOU… and ME. Nothing else to cloud that. Why are you spittin' on this?!"
"Do you remember who the fuck I am? Do you remember who the fuck you are?!" Joker pressed his head into hers, growling. "And you come to me with a wish to be two nobodies with a Little House on the Prairie?" He gave a deep breath before lightening his tone. "I… saved you from your numb pathetic existence honey… don't you remember this?"
"Y-you're right… you did…. And I know it's scary… I know it's a lot to ask." Harley tried to calm it down a bit. "But when you told me to jump into that vat of whatever the fuck that was? I did it… no questions asked because I love you. I didn't know what was going to happen to me… to us… but I fuckin jumped! I threw away everything I knew… for you!"
"Oh for fuck's sake…"
"You asked me if I would live for you… and you know my answer." Her eyes pleaded. "Tell me now… straight up. You know you can erase our lives… and escape it! Give us a fresh start! I've seen you do it before!"
Erase… escape? Fresh… start?
"Tell me you'd live for me Mistah J! Would you live for me? Do you love me enough to do this? Would you give up everything you know for me?"
Silence. Joker looked like a statue now. Something you don't see very often. There wasn't a platinum smile on his face, and that pale skin really gave him the look of someone that was dead. Harley was frozen too… hanging on his answer. It was sad… we all knew what the answer was.
"You've had a tough day… we'll talk about this later." Joker said it calmly, in layman terms meaning 'screw you, no.'
Harley's eyes looked defeated. Her spirit crushed. I felt bad for her. I knew Ivy did too. "N-no… we won't talk about this later." She suddenly fought off his grip, struggling to stand. "I heard your silence… loud and clear Mistah J."
"Now baby-"
"Ahem…"
A throat clear is the perfect way to cut tension. Keep tabs kids.
"Sir," A Johnny with an ice pack to his cheek walked in. "They have arrived."
They?
Who's they?
"Harley..."
"Don't worry… I'll be a good girl… and smile by your side when I get bettah…" She pulled his hand up to hide her frown, that tattoo smile giving her the face Joker wanted to see. "See… it's all good now isn't it? Go on ahead… you and Shot play with your new friends…"
Harley turned sour quick, limping away, Ivy quickly running up to her to support her best bud. I felt bad for the situation I really did… but what did Harley expect? She chose the Joker as her soulmate. This was delusional.
"H-hey… I thought that was real brave of you saying this stuff hun'. You're my hero you know that?"
"Thanks… I missed ya Red." Harley sighed, using the red head as a crutch as they made their way back to the ICU.
"Missed ya too." She replied. "How was Belle Reve?"
"Just… okay… Arkham's way better. Décor is a lot cooler."
"Totally… love Arkham! Five-star Yelp review coming up once I get a phone again. I'm totally getting them a 'People Love Us on Yelp' sticker."
"Heh! Oh! They gave me an expresso machine though! And my cell was like electrified and shit."
"No way! Not fair! How? They just stuck me in a big dark ditch with no light… the guards even started calling me the big dark ditch bitch…"
I watched as Harley did what she always did. She morphed back into Harley mode even after laying her heart out on the line. She hid her pain with that smile. The strange thing was it looked like Joker was having the most trouble getting back in the now. He was staring at his 'boo boo bear' walking away, closing the door shut.
She shut it on him hard.
"Sir… they're waiting." Johnny reminded.
"Keep them waiting…" Joker growled, pacing a bit. "I uh… need to clear my head and finish my business with Floyd here." He turned to me, his energy level as low as I've seen. "So we… have a deal? Find Harley's-"
"Wait," I silenced him with a hand. "Harley said you can erase people's lives… fresh starts… what's she talking about?"
Joker gave me an amused look. "You want a fresh start? To erase all you built?"
"The nightmare of a life I have? Fuck yes." I nodded like it was a no doubt thing. "If you can do this and you let me handle myself the way I do? Don't butt in my business… don't tail me… don't stalk me… I'll find the one who put that hit out on Harley… You give me my freedom? I'll give you a name. Do we have a deal?"
The Joker gave it thought but I already knew his answer when it came to Harley. He scowled a bit, nodding, realizing for once he wasn't holding the cards. "Johnny. Deadshot is now operating outside our boundaries. Don't get in his way. Anyone who does… answers to me."
Johnny nodded as I did the same. I made a deal. I was gonna deliver what I said I was gonna do. That's who I am.
"Then get started now Sherlock." The Joker sauntered off, actually towards the ICU. He probably wanted to speak a bit to Harley… understood.
There was no time. I had to get a lead and get one quick.
My freedom… can I really free myself from the Deadshot thing?
- J – H – D –
It was scary how good I was at navigating the Joker's hq. It was becoming 'my casa' as he put it to many so many times. I was making my speedy exit to the premises when I started hearing young teen girls giggling around the corner.
"Who's that cute uncle of yours again? The guy that looks like Ryan Renolds kinda…"
"You mean Wade? Ew… cute? He's nuts."
"Whatever coming from the girl with one eye… he's a handsome guy."
"You got two blind eyes Tara… don't mention Wade in front of my dad… he gets angry okay?"
I paused as a blonde blue eyed girl dressed in a black and white hoodie and another snow white haired girl, armored black from head to toe got in my view. They had to be high schoolers, but they definitely didn't look like they were part of the normal student body.
"Wait…" I stared at the white haired girl, having an eye patch on her right eye. "Where did you get that?"
In her hands was something bring pink. Something… Unicorny… That was Pinky… Boom's little doll covered in blood.
No…
"I… I uh…"
"Whoa! Masked dude with a bunch of guns strapped on him doesn't look too happy." Tara blinked, suddenly taking off the other direction. "Good luck Rose!"
"H-hey! Wait! You bitch!" Rose reached for her partner, only to see me standing tall over her, she being alone. "Um…"
"Where did you get that…?" I repeated myself.
"I…"
"She got it where I got this." I saw out of the corner of my eye, a katana blade being tossed up and down playfully and glistening in the light. I felt the haunting vibes instantly… that was Tatsu's blade. It had that stench of death as Harley so eloquently put it. And that was of course… Boom's doll.
I didn't like the reality forming from my findings.
"I heard you've become the Joker's little errand boy." He laughed as I just stood there speechless. "What's the matter Lawton seen a ghost?"
That voice rang into my ears again and it brought with it some bad memories. Memories of a time where my life was a lot bloodier and fucked up than it was now. I saw his helmet caked in blood, split in half of gold and black. That one eye that made him famous. That heavy armor, swords, and guns that made people fear him. I used to work with him. I used to compete with him.
Slade… Deathstroke…
"I thought you were dead." I saw a part of my past come back that I never wanted to see again.
"No you and others wished I was dead." He corrected me. "The news of my passing have been greatly exaggerated…"
Sadly...
"Just tell me how the hell do you have that sword…" I scowled, starting to piece this nightmare together. Task Force X was deployed… probably at Arkham… these guys took out Arkham Asylum. I knew Deathstroke could do it by himself. There had to be a massacre.
"I beat it out of the hands of a determined young woman." Deathstroke said it so casually it made my blood boil. "The Japanese are admirable… honorable if not delusional…. She put up such a fight."
"You mother fucker…" I grabbed at my gun, thinking of him harming Katana… possibly killing her. Harming women… that's a no. Harming one of the squad? Fucking big no!
"Now you're not gonna draw that gun on me are you Lawton?" Deathstroke had a hand on his sword. "I guarantee you won't miss though because your hands going to be missing before you can even pull the trigger. Heh, I hope you've been enjoying all the big money jobs you've got while I was away. You must have hated being the guy who did the jobs 'Slade Wilson' wouldn't take."
It's true when they say I was the best assassin in the world now… but that was only because the dude with the one eye was deemed dead years ago. In our circles Deathstroke was the best by far. Untouchable because he was a genetic mutant freak… and would go through any means for a kill. How in the hell was he alive? He was literally 'blown up' and I saw it.
"Rose… go play with Tara…" Deathstroke warned as I didn't move my hand. "It might get a little dangerous around here."
"Ugh dad… I wanted to see you two fight though!"
"Go…"
Rose. Dad… that's his daughter…?
"Fine…" Rose pouted, taking off out the corridor reluctantly.
"So how we going to do this? Want me to show you what we did to your two friends?"
"We… who's we?"
"Us we…" From behind me I heard another voice, a soothing calm voice from a young woman this time. She had a little accent... couldn't tell from where.
"Talia and Bane were also there having fun with your friends." Deathstroke was probably smirkin' behind his mask. "I think you'd probably want to shoot them too right?'
The girl named Talia stood next to me now, adorned in a black tunic and hood, swords and various ninja type equipment all over her. She looked of Asian descent, mysterious and with black lipstick to boot. Next to her was Bane, who I've seen before around Gotham before. He actually had a similar setup to Sweet Tooth and the bash brothers. Two tubes into the back of his neck… a gas mask covering his face. Now I know who was supplying Joker with this stuff…
Legend has it this dude broke Batman's back. He was no one to fuck with either.
"This is yours by the way." Deathstroke suddenly tossed Katana's blade, Talia catching it in her hand with ease.
"Mr. Deadshot, one of the heroes of the Midway City disaster…" Talia's beautiful smile was hidden a bit under her hood. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"That's my friend's sword…" I answered with no pleasantries.
"No your friend stole it from us…" Talia answered to burst my bubble. "She's a thief… just like her dead worthless husband whose soul is stuck in this blade."
I'm not a thief… I remember Katana saying to us at the bar.
These guys… did they kill my teammates?
Croc... Flag… Katana… Boom…
"You seem upset. Would you like to join your friends?" Bane walked up to me like a hulk, intimidation the key. "We can arrange that easily little man."
"Just say the word Lawton." Deathstroke egged me on as I was surrounded by the three.
… I was seething, thinking about these guys ripping into my teammates. I wanted to put a bullet through each and every one of them… but I'll probably be dead in the process. Ah well… fuck it. Let's-
"Oh so you all have met! Hah! And you're getting along! I'm so happy!"
The Joker saved me.
Yes… I said it. The Joker saved me.
"Joker…" Talia suddenly bowed. "Our victory today was glorious. We could not have done it without you."
"Good job. High fives… ass pats yada yada yada…" Joker seemed to be back to himself now, walking down with his cane swinging around.
"I heard about your Queen Harley…" Talia shook her head. "We are sorry that happened…"
The mere mention of Harley made Joker's façade crack… but only for just a second. "… Where's the man I'm looking for?" He ignored the sentiments.
Bane suddenly made a motion, a group of dark ninjas walking forward with an amber colored one leading the pack. They tossed a bald white dude on the floor still in orange jail overalls and cuffed. I knew this guy. He had long hair before… was on TV a lot screaming about propaganda against Superman. That whole battle to end all battles in Metropolis... it was his fault.
… LexCorp.
Luthor… they broke him out? Why?
"Ah Lex, nice to finally meet the man who killed Superman. Haha! You mind if I get your autograph later?"
"… The Joker… wow this is an interesting turn of events…" Luthor always seemed to stumble through his words. "Y-you freed me… I guess I'm totally in debt to you."
"That you are my boy! And I've been dying to ask you some questions so I'll take my payment now." Joker slowly lowered himself, smirking evilly. "Ya see Lexy, I've been havin trouble sleepin'. I keep having these nightmares and a name keeps popping up. When one of my spies caught you mumbling in your cell in Arkham this EXACT name… I had to talk to you."
"… Darkseid?"
Dark… side?
The name gave the clown back his sadistic smile. Joker slowly put his hand over Lex's mouth so they could match. "Hahaha. Tell me everything you know about Darkseid. Do it with a smile on that face."
"Stop… this information is for our ears only…" Talia spoke up. "You, Deathstroke, Bane and I are the only ones to be gifted to this knowledge… that was the deal."
"Ugh, fair enough little lady." Joker annoyed, looked at me waving me off. "Don't you have some detective work to do?"
"Y-yeah…" I pulled myself back together, trying to see what exactly Joker was doing. He was assembling a super cartel of some sort obviously… and he broke Lex Luthor out to be his shrink?
It wasn't adding up quite yet.
What of this dark side?
"Scorpion, take our men to the infirmary to treat injuries." Bane commanded, getting a nod out of his apparent lead ninja, the group taking off.
"Hey if you got the time, you mind picking me up some coffee Lawton?" I heard Deathstroke mutter as he was leaning in the doorway of my exit. "Let's see how good a lap dog you are now."
"… Fuck you." I replied the only way I knew how, walking off as the bastard closed the door shut laughing at me.
I fuckin' hate that guy. More than Batman now that I think about it.
"Damn… what a dick." I turned seeing Ivy standing there agreeing with my sentiments, smoking a blunt of some sort. The smell was uncanny... I blazed it up now and then for sure... early on in my life anyway.
"Yeah… totally." She caught me staring.
"My own strand… I call it Poisonberries. Want some? I don't have cooties."
I shook my head. "No thanks…" I thought about her instantly. It's always about her... these days. "Um… how's Harley?"
"Sleeping nice and sound." Ivy smiled in reassurance. "Girl is such a trooper. I love her. Strongest girl I know."
"Yeah… well… that's good." I appreciated the update. "Take care of her okay?"
"Sure slick…" Ivy took another hit, blowing 'os'. "Um, how good of friends are you two anyway? Didn't you just meet?" She said it with a mouthful of smoke.
"Good question." I turned, walking. "Enough for me to be asking you to take care of her I guess?"
"H-hey where you going? You're my only friend available right now!"
"To see if I have to bury more friends or not… catch ya later."
"Ugh… bury friends? What is with this doom and gloom shit!" I heard her yell as I walked away. "I should've just stayed at Arkham if it's gonna be like this! At least I'd have a view of the ocean now!"
- J – H – D –
It had to be around three in the morning by now. I walked out to the cold night, feeling the steam from my breath, seeing the sky still crimson from the firefighting going on throughout the city. I was thinking about my friends and Harley. I wanted to call Flag and see what exactly was going on but it wasn't safe to do so back at Joker HQ. Needed a safe spot.
"Hey, you're really Deadshot right?"
I turned seeing that Rose girl, Slade's daughter walking up to me as she trailed. This place was definitely not safe.
"Yeah… sadly." I replied. I wasn't in the mood to converse with anyone let alone this little girl and who she was associated with.
"Sadly?" She looked confused. "Dude, I think you're so cool. I mean the stories I hear about you are legendary."
"Hah… legendary? Just a guy trying to get by."
"Tell me." Her one eye looked so starry eyed. "Is it true had one time you had one bullet left in the chamber and there were two choppers chasing you after you assassinated a terrorist in Iraq. You shot a pilot through the head… but made sure the angle was just right so it ricocheted off the frame and hit the other chopper's tail? Bringing both down?"
"… Yeah… I did... probably."
"OMG. Please, you gotta give me a shooting range lesson one time…" She seemed like a fangirl.
"Huh, I figured you'd ask your dad. He's pretty good too."
"Yeah… but he's an asshole."
The girl was right and I could only nod. I looked at this young girl's face, thinking about what else she could've done with her life. And that eye patch.
"Tell me that patch is for show…"
"Nope… lost my eye. Kinda sucks huh?"
I looked closer. "Same exact eye your dad lost. Your right eye? No way… that's impossible."
"Heh… nah." She stared at me serious. "I dug my eye out with a knife to prove to my dad I can be just like him…"
Just like my dad…
It hit me hard. So hard.
I saw Zoe holding a gun against someone's head. pulling the trigger and watching someone's blood splatter all over her face. She smiles at me so 'sweet'.
'I just want to be just like you daddy…'
Fuck...
"Hey, no hard feelings okay?" Rose suddenly put the bloody Pinky doll in my hands, sending me crashing back into reality. "This world's just fucked up and we're living in it right? Nothing personal?"
I stared at the doll in my hand and then back at this young girl turned killer because of her own dad. That stabbed her eye out for her own dad. I turned walking away a bit shaken, holding the doll tight, pulling out my cellphone and dialing a number. It kept ringing… and ringing… and ringing. Felt like forever.
"'This is Flag." That redneck voice finally got me to smirk a bit. He was okay… he was alive.
"... How's it goin' coach?"
"Triangley bitch…" Rick laughed a bit weakly, almost like he needed it. I chuckled with him. "Heh what's up Deadshot? Glad to hear you're alive."
"Same. Intel on my clown's ass end has me a little worried though." I quickly got a bit more serious. "Please tell me the crew is alright. Boom and Katana… are they okay?"
I didn't get an answer. The silence was killing me.
