My music played faintly from my speakers as I pulled on my dark cargo pants and black shirt, I always prepared for a mission better when I listened to my music, it helped me concentrate. I secured my hooded cape next; it was much like Damian's except it was coloured black in place of his yellow. My twin pistols fit securely in the holsters on my upper thighs and I ran my fingers over the familiar cool metal which I had fought with so often. Finally I pulled my mask out from my bedside table and covered my eyes, I had always been worried that wearing a mask would impair my vision but that wasn't the case. I smiled slightly as I relished in the anticipation of this mission, I was sick of all the small time jobs we had been doing. I needed a challenge.
"Ready?" Jason asked, poking his head around my door, not even bothering to knock, I nodded, walking towards him, he wore his blood red domino mask and carried his red hood in his right hand. He surprised me by pulling me into a deep kiss and when he finally pulled back he wore his crooked smile that I loved so much. "This is going to be fun" he said cheerfully and I followed him into the lounge room where Roy and Kori were. Roy was dressed in all red, including his bow and all of his arrows, I did however, find it strange that he still wore his cap on his head but I didn't question it. I had to do a double take on Kori who seemed to be wearing next to nothing, only an outfit that slightly resembled a purple bikini.
Roy who had been studying one of his red arrows replaced it back in his quiver, seemingly satisfied. "Let's head out." He said simply and we all followed him downstairs where he had parked his motorcycle next to Jason's. I looked around for Kori but I couldn't see her, I felt Jason tap on my shoulder and when I looked at him he pointed up and I saw she was flying about ten meters above us.
"Holy crap." I murmured and I heard Jason laugh faintly at my astonishment. I quickly got on behind Jason on his motorbike and held on tight as we sped off towards the dock. My cape and hair flew wildly in the wind, I leant forward, my face slightly touching the cool metal of Jason's helmet. I noticed while we rode there were many police cars speeding in the opposite direction to us, too preoccupied to deal with two speeding motorcycles. I remembered Roy mentioning the distraction the criminals had organised; I didn't even want to know what they had done.
When we finally arrived at the docks, Jason silently directed us to different places where we were to stay to await further orders from him with our communicator earpieces. I stealthily found my way up a nearby shipping container, whilst sticking to the shadows and got into a position where I could clearly see the large group of people surrounded by crates. Roy wasn't lying this was a huge shipment and a lot of people were involved. Of course Black Mask was at the centre of it yelling at everyone. I smiled, hopefully I'd get a chance to punch the bastards face in. "Hold your positions everyone; I'd like to see if anyone else is showing up before we make our move." I heard Jason say, I could faintly see his outline in the shadows nearby.
Lighting lit up the sky above, followed by the sound of thunder, I groaned silently, it was going to rain soon, I always had the worst of luck. I stood quietly on the roof for a further half an hour before Roy's voice broke the silence. "Heads up guys, there's some more cars coming in." Sure enough three more black cars drove into the area. I looked over at Black Mask who had stopped yelling and was now staring intently at the cars, whoever had just arrived was important. I watched closely as the door opened and my breath caught in my throat. It was Two-Face. Rage swelled up in me as I saw my parent's murderer for the first time since there death. Without thinking I drew out my pistols and made a move to get down from the shipping container. Suddenly Jason's voice rang in my voice loudly.
"Midnight, do not leave your position. You'll get your chance, stay put." I froze for a moment and looked over to where Jason stood. I could feel him staring at me intently, watching me. I glared back at him even though there was no way he could see my face.
"Hurry," I growled menacingly, "before I go down there and blow that son of a bitch's brains out." I cocked my guns and tensed my body in anticipation; I was going to get my revenge tonight. I could finally kill the man who destroyed all the happiness I had known. Jason took my threat seriously as he immediately started issuing orders to us but I wasn't listening, I no longer cared.
There was a massive explosion as Roy fired an arrow which hit a nearby gas cylinder and the whole area turned to chaos. Kori swooped down from her place in the sky, setting fire to the crates which held the weapons whilst Jason and Roy took out as many men as they could from their vantage points. They had made sure to burst all the cars tires so they could not drive away. My eyes spotted Harvey Dent make a cowardly run for it, away from the action and without thinking I pursued, despite Jason yelling in my ear. I tore out the earpiece as I chased after Two-Face.
I jumped off the crate, ignoring the pain that shot through my legs as I hit the ground, I broke into a sprint in the direction of Two-Face. All other thoughts were vacant from my mind, all I could think of was putting a bullet through his head. My grip tightened on my gun as I caught up to him. I aimed carefully and shot my gun. He immediately yelled out and fell down, clutching his right leg, cursing loudly. I stopped right in front of him, glaring at him as he finally noticed my presence; there was no fear in his eyes, only amusement.
"You're just another caped crusader, wanting justice. You're pathetic." He said through gritted teeth. I couldn't help myself; I kicked him in his injured leg. Hard. He cried out and clutched the leg close to his chest. "You won't kill me, all of you masks are cowards." He growled at me.
"Shut up!" I cried, both anger and anguish came through in my voice. "I don't follow the hero code, I will kill you for what you've done, for those you've killed you fucking bastard." I held the gun aimed at him, no matter what I said, however, Two-Face stayed relatively composed which made me angry. He should be begging for his life, asking for mercy, repenting! Instead he provoked me, mocked me. Rage took over me again and I shot his knee cap, he cried out and blood pooled under him. He was unable to talk through the pain now and I smiled, feeling some sick smugness out of this.
I raised my gun finally towards his head, the images of my parents being shot, them falling, blood pouring from their chests, the lifelessness of their eyes, the smile on Harvey Dent's face and then the flames that consumed my house. It was his entire fault, if it wasn't for him I would still have my family, I wouldn't be alone, I would be happy. I cocked the pistol in my right hand, it was shaking, from adrenaline or grief, I didn't know. My finger pressed lightly on the trigger, about to pull the trigger when I heard a yell behind me.
"Stop!" I had been so absorbed in Two-Face I hadn't noticed them approach. I didn't move, but I also didn't pull the trigger. I did, however, see Red Robin in the corner of my eye.
"Don't get any closer." I tried to sound menacing but my voice cracked. Tim obliged and stayed where he was, I could see from the corner of my eye that he had an extremely troubled look on his face. "Why are you here?" I muttered finally after a silence.
"I knew you were lying, I came to see what you were up too… just put down the gun… you don't want to kill him." Tim said watching me carefully.
"Yes I do!" I sobbed, tears finally falling down my cheeks. "He killed them! He killed them right in front of me! I'll never get them back… he's the reason I'm all alone!" The grief and anger that I'd hidden deep inside myself flooded to the surface. I had tried to forget about it, push the emotions away for almost a year to focus on my training but now I couldn't hold it back anymore.
"Midnight, I know how you feel, believe me but this kind of revenge won't help, it won't fill the void in you, it'll just make things worse, make you full of hate. Don't pull that trigger, if you do, then there's no going back. I'm here for you. Just put the gun down" He sounded kind of desperate, trying to stay calm. My hand began to shake even more, I was conflicted. Here in front of me was the man who had destroyed everything, why shouldn't he die. Why hadn't I pulled the trigger?
"He needs to die." I muttered, tears poured from my eyes blurring my vision, my chest felt tight as if the world were weighing down on it.
"He needs to be punished," Tim said softly, "but not like this, if you do this he wins."
There was a long drawn out silence, Two-face had passed out from both pain and blood loss. Tim stood beside me, waiting. I dropped the gun and fell to my knees, sobbing. I couldn't do it, I was a coward. I was vaguely aware of Tim embracing me, whispering words of comfort but I didn't hear them. I heard Jason call my name distantly and then he was there, next to me, pushing Tim away and trying to talk to me, when I didn't reply, he too held me there. My fingers gripped tightly into his familiar leather jacket, finding some comfort. He lifted me up and I saw Tim following.
"Let me come with her." He demanded as Jason glared at him.
"No way in hell", he growled but Tim stood his ground, still following us.
"Either you let me come with you or I come without your permission anyway." Tim said stubbornly and Jason stopped for a moment, and had a stare down with Tim. Finally he reluctantly nodded. "Thanks." I heard Tim mutter before I fainted in Jason's arms, falling in the welcoming arms of the darkness.