Chapter 20: New face In Gotham

Authors Note: Okay, sorry for the delay my old computer finally gave out but now I got a new one and to celebrate here is a new chapter. Also thank you all for reading my last chapter love you all. Also this is Gauntlets story just letting you know. And be sure to read Tonycake's recent Arkham Hill chapter it is awesome and give her future support for her new story she going to write. Okay here we go. Oh and this (!) means scene transition.

Disclaimer: I do not own batman.

A cool swift breeze blew through the slums of Gotham. Fall was in the air and while most were home in soft beds a lonely old man was currently pushing a cart full of junk he was hoping he could pawn off just to make enough for dinner. He felt a small water droplet touch his cheek as he looked up to see that it was starting to rain. The old man let out a shudder as he pushed his cart into an old apartment building hoping to get out of the rain.

He pushed his cart into the main entrance of the main lobby and shook the rain from his coat as he started to hear clattering coming from the basement. His curiosity got the better of him as he wandered down the stairs and stumbled across what looked like a futuristic chemistry set. Vials were filled purple liquid and steam came out of strange looking machines.

He then looked over to see a wall filled with newspaper articles. The old man recognized one of the pictures to be Gauntlet one of the new super heroes around here. Not wanting to be here anymore he turned to leave when the exit was blocked by someone.

"Hello boyo." The man said.

He was a pale white skinned man in his late twenties with purple eyes blonde hair and a scar that ran down his left cheek. He dressed in an old army uniform and held a high-tech syringe in his right hand as he chuckled darkly.

"N-Now take it easy son," The old man said as he raised his hands in defense. "I was just trying to get out of the rain there's a storm."

"Oh there's a storm coming alright," He said as he slowly walked towards him. "You see I'm here on a little revenge spree. That chap right there is the one who gave me this." He said trailing his finger down his scar. "He cost me my face, my mission, my rank and my life. I would have killed him sooner but he got those damn gauntlets making it damn near impossible to beat him, but after five years of research I've finally created my serum." He held up the syringe filled with purple liquid. "This I call 'Hade's Serum' if my calculations are correct," He stuck the syringe in his neck and let out a grunt of pain and he pulled out the needle and dropped it on the ground. "It will give me control over dark matter and allow me to control gravity and with this power I can tear anyone apart."

He pointed his hand at the old man and fired a black aura at him. The old man was shrouded in black energy and started screaming as he felt like he was being crushed from the inside. The man started laughing manically as he clenched his fist and turned the poor old man into nothing but red mush.

The man's purple eyes glowed as he walked over to a nearby table and picked up a gauntlet of his own. It was black latex with metal knuckles and skeleton lines running down the length of the arm. He fastened it to his arm and wrist as three blades slowly extended from his knuckles. He walked up to a nearby picture of Gauntlet and slashed at the picture tearing it to pieces.

"Soon boyo, I'll finish what you started all those years ago." He said as he laugh echoed throughout the abandoned building.

(Three Months Later)

At the S.W. Headquarters Jayden, Jason, Sam, Blaze and Flynn were currently working out in the gym. Jason and Jayden were currently sparring while Blaze focused on his fire conjuring, Flynn was practicing his scythe techniques and Sam was just pumping iron. Jason sent a fist towards Jayden but was quickly on the ground causing everyone to look over at them.

"Woo," Jayden exhaled as he helped his younger brother up. "Who's up for a drink?"

Everyone cheered except Sam who was currently texting his girlfriend Kris on his phone. Jason looked over and leaned over his shoulder. Sam felt his presence and jumped when he turned his head to see Jason so close to him.

"What the hell do you want?" Sam snapped as he turned his phone off.

"Whoa, why so hot?" Jason asked sarcastically as Sam gave him a skeptical look.

"Dude, don't do my fire puns." He said blandly. "And you didn't answer my question."

"What, you're my friend," Jason said playfully. "I can't take an interest in your life?"

"Well, if you have to know I'm texting my girlfriend." He said as he walked away from Jason, but Jason being Jason decided to egg him on.

"Got a hot date tonight," He said as Sam glared at him again. "No pun intended."

"Yes, her step dad is having an 'I'm rich' dinner party and she lied to him saying she had plans with me."

"Aw, she's using you." Jason teased.

"No…okay yes but she wants to give us another chance." He defended. "Now if you will excuse me my hot headed friend I've gotta go get ready."

After showering he dressed himself in a black hoodie halfway zipped to reveal his Greatest American Hero T-shirt, he also threw on a pair of jeans and a pair of leather gloves to hide his gauntlets. After he made sure he was ready he went to Jayden hoping to get a ride. Jayden agreed and drove his young friend off to Kris's house. On the way Jayden decided to tease his friend.

"So you and the misses finally patch things up?" Jayden asked.

"Yeah, this is the first time we actually went out on a date since we met." Sam said.

"Alright, treat her right, no funny business and be back by nine." Jayden said in a false authority tone.

"Jayden…" Sam growled.

"Okay, ten no need to tell the misses." He chuckled.

"Jayden I swear to god…" Sam growled.

"Hey, don't you take that tone with me young man I swear I will turn this car around." Jayden joked.

"Ugh…you are so annoying." Sam sighed in defeat.

"I know," He said in his regular tone. "Seriously though how are you gonna impress a classy girl like Kris being driven around by your guardian?"

"Well I could drive her myself if someone would lend me a car." Sam stated matter-o-factly. Jayden pulled over and stared at Sam and back at the steering wheel.

"You know you're right," He said as he opened the driver's door making Sam look at him questionably.

"Wait, you mean…no you can't." Sam said as he opened his door and looked over at Jayden to see Marcas. Jayden must have had this planed already as he was getting inside of Marcas's Ferrari ready to leave Sam. "Jayden, this is a million dollar car!"

"Yeah, and if I see so much as a single scratch, dent or gets stolen well…don't bother coming back." Jayden said as he hopped in Marcas's car and sped off before Sam could protest again.

Sam looked over at the Lamborghini and slowly hopped in the driver's seat. He closed the door and sat in the seat of the car for a minute getting the feel for it. He started it up and slowly drove off careful not to damage the car.

He smiled at the fact that Jayden let him borrowed his car. He was also glad that he had met Jayden in the first place and not just Jayden, but Jason, Ally, Flynn Hilary and all the other warriors. Then he thought back to his friends from his childhood. He thought back to Otto his buddy, Lockpick who could pick any lock with the use of a bobby pin and Mark his mentor the man who taught him all he knew about martial arts.

He missed his old friends with every fiber of his being but he knew that he had to move on. It was like Jayden said what's the point of living if you're just gonna be miserable for the rest of your life. With that he arrived at Kris's house in the suburbs and turned the car off. He admired the house it was a classic rich guy suburban home perfect for Kris. He walked up to the door when he saw his hand started to glow purple. He took off his leather glove and saw a purple hue on covering his gauntlet. He shook it off and did a quick check to see if it would be a problem for his date. He was broken from his thoughts when he heard the door of the house open. He looked up and smiled as he saw his childhood crush.

"Hey." She said as Sam walked up to her.

"Hey." He said as the two stared at each other awkwardly before Kris leaned in and planted a small kiss on his cheek. She leaned back and Sam gave her outfit a look over. She was wearing black jeans and a black blazer which she wore over a purple shirt. "Little too formal don't you think, we are just going to the movies right?" Kris just shrugged her shoulders as she walked back in her house.

"My step father doesn't want me going out looking like a floozy," She said. "At least that's what he implies."

"Well either way you look fantastic." He complimented causing her to smile as she fixed her earrings.

"Thank you." She said sweetly.

"Yeah, you're really on fire!" He said as he threw his hands up and created a small flame between his hands. She laughed but soon stopped as she looked over next to Sam.

"What the hell is going on?" A monotone voice said.

He turned to see Kris's step father leaning against the door frame of the dining room sipping a glass of wine. "Speaking of fire." He mumbled.

"What was that?" He asked.

"Nothing, hey Mr. Parker." He said as he held his hand out. Parker held his hand out and shook it as he turned to Kris. "Are you sure I can't convince you to stay. It's not all that boring."

"Sorry, we had this planed all week, and we haven't seen each since we were kids." She said. "We'll be back later."

Before Sam or Parker could get a word out she had taken his arm and dragged him out the door. Parker shook his head as he turned to see a pale man with blonde hair swirling his own glass of wine.

"What was that about Mr. Parker?" He asked in his superior tone.

"Nothing Mr. Simmons my step daughter is just going on a date with a dimwitted boy." Parker said as he rejoined his guest.

"You should just kick the little gutter urchin to the curb and leave it at that." He snickered as Parker glared at him.

"Hey, she is a good girl and a hard worker she just has low standards when it comes to boys." He said as he continued into the room. "She has the makings of greatness and I'm not just going to say the hell with it and throw her on the streets. Now I bid you a good evening."

With that Parker left Simmons as he went to attend to his guest leaving Simmons alone. He finished the rest of his wine as he pulled out his cell phone. He dialed a number and held the phone up to his ear as he looked at the rest of the guest in disgust.

"Do you have them?" He asked.

"We are tailing them now sir," A voice modulator said on the other line. "What are your orders?"

"Just tail them for now I need to confirm that it's him." He said.

"Understood sir." The voice said as the line went dead.

"Soon boyo, soon." He said to himself.

(!)

Sam and Kris were currently walking out of the parking garage and to the theater as Kris wrapped her arm around Sam's and held him close. Sam raised an eyebrow as he looked down at her.

"What wrong?" He asked as she shivered.

"Nothing, but…well when I called you earlier and asked you out it was mostly because of this guy that showed up at my house." She explained.

"What guy?" Sam asked.

"Some blonde haired guy with a scar on his face." She said. "I don't know why but I just got a weird feeling from him."

"I felt something act up with my gauntlets when I ran up to your house earlier." He said. "Who knows maybe it's just us. I mean we used to live underground away from humanity surrounded by other weird people."

"True, let's forget about it and enjoy our date." She said as she pulled him into the theatre.

Sam paid for everything as they went and saw Cat's Cradle. Kris wanted to go but Sam could have cared less as long as he was with her he didn't care. All throughout the date he was trying his best to avoid thinking about that man Kris mentioned. It was also hard for him to not think about it when his gauntlet glowed purple every time he thought of him.

He shook it off as he led Kris out of the theatre and back out into the streets. The two stared in confusion as they saw construction workers digging up the streets in front of them. Sam checked his cellphone to see that they had only been inside for an hour and forty five minutes. Sam pocketed his phone and walked up to a nearby worker.

"Hey buddy, what gives?" He snapped as the worker gave him a phony smile.

"Sorry son, we are just doing our job," He said. "You want to get over to that garage you'll have to cut around the alley behind the theatre." Sam raised an eyebrow at the worker as he stepped forward.

"I didn't mention anything about the parking garage." Sam said in a stern voice.

"Well I just assumed you were going to take the little lady home and that maybe you drove here." He said not breaking his false politeness.

"Well thank you, we'll be going now." He said as he grabbed Kris's arm and led her down the alley.

Sam then pulled his hood up and took off his gloves and zipped up his hoodie. Kris noticed and decided to ask what was going on.

"Sam what's wrong what's happening." She asked in a frantic tone as he slipped on his motorcycle goggles.

"Call me Gauntlet and do me a favor and keep your head down." He said in a stern voice as their way was blocked by three workers. "Evening ladies."

"Evening yourself boyo." A voice said behind the two.

Gauntlet turned to see a man dressed in a black suit and red tie standing between his two goons. Gauntlet's hands started to get covered in a purple hue again as he looked up at the man.

"Who are you?" He asked.

"S-Gauntlet, that's they guy from earlier," Kris said. "The guy from the party."

"Yes, that was me," He said. "The name's Johnny Simmons. You probably don't remember me because of this." He said trailing a finger down his scar.

"I would remember any face that was that repulsive." Gauntlet joked.

"Hmm, you know I wonder were you cracking those jokes when I was killing your friends back at that sewer." He asked playfully.

Gauntlet snapped as he sprinted towards Simmons with his fist raised. It flared orange as Simmons waved his right hand casually emitting a purple hue. He was then sent flying back and landed hard on the ground. He tried to get up put he felt like someone strapped him to hundreds of pounds of weights.

"Are you alright?" Kris asked as she tried to help him up.

"Yeah, but this guy is about to feel the burn!" He said as he opened his mouth and fired a stream of fire out at Simmons causing him to break his hold.

He retreated as a thug ran up behind Gauntlet and attempted to hit him with a crowbar when Kris caught him by the wrist and twisted his arm down. She then wrapped her legs around his arm and her feet around his throat causing him to fall to the ground and lose consciousness. She got up from the ground and stood back to back with Gauntlet as they prepared for a fight.

"When did you learn martial arts?" He asked.

"After you left me at the museum." She said as they charged at the thugs.

One thug charged at Gauntlet with brass knuckles and attempted to land one across his face but his fist was caught by Gauntlets iron fist. The thug struggled to break free as Gauntlet squeezed tighter on his fist breaking a few bones. The thug let out a scream as Gauntlet held his fist back and delivered a hook to the side of his face knocking him out cold.

Another thug attacked Kris with a chain and took a swing at her head. She ducked as the chain crashed against the brick wall. She dived in and landed a kick into his gut and flipped up kicking his face in the process knocking him out. She dodged another man's fist and landed a punch to his throat. He let out a gag as she kicked a crowbar up and smacked it across his face knocking him out cold.

Gauntlet sent a fist into the center of the man's face breaking his nose while he fired a smoke screen at a group of men. One by one he knocked them out as the smoke cleared revealing himself standing over the fallen thugs. He made a mental note to thank Shadow for the silent take downs lessons later as he walked over to Kris.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine." She said still winded from the fight. "Where's that Simmons guy?"

"He gave us the slip." He said as he led her to the car. "Let me take you home."

He quickly led her to the garage and the car quickly speeding off into the night. He drove off to her house neither one saying a word as he drove. When they finally reached her house. They stayed in the car for a few minutes before Kris spoke up.

"Well, wasn't what I was expecting but hey I still had a good time." She said sheepishly causing Sam to laugh.

"Yeah…look just stay home for now and I'll call you when I figure out what's going on I promise." He said. She nodded as she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his.

"Sam, he mentioned the sewers that was our home." She said in a frantic tone. "He probably knows who we are especially since he knew enough to follow us."

"I know," Sam growled as he took a deep breath. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small rectangular device with a red button on it. "Take this, if you get in trouble press it and I'll come find you."

Kris took the device and smiled as she looked up at Sam. She leaned over and placed a small kiss on his lips causing him to freeze. His cheeks were red causing her to laugh as she got out of the car.

"Goodnight and good luck." She said as she got out of the car.

His eyes never left her as she ran up to her home and opened the door. The second she was inside and safe from the rest of the world Sam quickly pulled out his phone and dialed a number. He waited a few seconds before someone picked up.

"Hey lover boy how was the date?" Jayden's voice said on the other line.

"Fine, listen I need your help." Sam said in a serious tone. Jayden knew something was up as he cleared his throat.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"A black cat crossed my path." Sam said as the line went dead. It was a hidden message for the team to get together when they talk over the phone. Ally came up with it when Catwoman stole two of Jayden's Lamborghini.

"Did that bitch steal my car again," Jayden yelled. "Unbelievable, Sam you get your ass home right now! Use the back entrance to get in!"

The line went dead as Sam chuckled at Jayden's false temper. He started up the car again but stopped in his place. His eyes widened as he quickly dialed a number on his phone.

"C'mon, pick up pick up pick up!" He snapped as someone finally answered.

"House of Wong Home of the best Thai Food how can I help you." The nice lady asked. Sam's facial features brightened as he placed his order.

"Hi I'd like to place an order for a pick up please." Sam started as he succumbed to his major weakness. Thai Food.