Disclaimer: All characters belong to DC, with the exception of Magda, Jim, and Danny. Everyone who is still sticking with me, Thank you! A slight depiction of violence, but a loving end.
It was around one in the morning when I was woken up by some rustling. I got up and took the flashlight with me. I searched the house to make sure it was just some lonely drunk who was searching for a place to sleep. But the place was still empty. I turned off the flashlight and went outside. Just to be safe I checked the side alley. Empty. I turned around to go back inside, and made it to the stoop when I heard light footsteps behind me. Panic shook through my body. Shit! I lunged for the door, but before I could grab the handle I was pulled by the back of my shirt violently, and hit the ground with a painful thud. The street lights above me only revealed the shadow of a man.
I let out small gasps as he dragged me back to the alley by the collar and pushed me up against the building. I froze in terror, staring him in the face. He was blonde with a very short haircut and wore a plain grey shirt, jeans, and combat boots. I felt the cold edge of a blade against my neck. Noticing the little cuts all along the length of his arms and neck, my face went flush and I began to sweat. Zsasz. I struggled, but his grip was strong.
He got real close and licked the side of my face. Pulling back he gave a psychotic grin, "Do you remember me?" I didn't give him an answer. "I caught your stares at the warehouse. You looked a little hopeless. I asked the Joker if I should put you out of your misery, but he denied me. I guess you were special. So special in fact that he wanted me to check up on you tonight." His blade traced my collar bone, and slowly pushed down the neck of my sweater. I began to hear ripping fabric and squirmed. He made a nice slice down to the top of my left breast. "I'm not allowed to kill you." He hissed. I let out a small cry as the knife tore my skin open deeper. "But he didn't say I couldn't leave a mark." He lifted the blade away and licked my blood off the tip. "This is a reminder that if you fuck up, that mark will be on me. And when it's on me...I'm sure you know what that means for you." He let me fall back against the wall, then leaned down and held my hair with his hand. I felt a tug and heard an odd noise. He let go of me and showed his handiwork. His hand held a small portion of my hair. He gave a smile, "A gift for you, and a gift for me." He brought it up to his nose and gave it a sniff. I felt disgusted. He got up and left.
I waited until his footsteps had disappeared. Now shaking, I clutched my torn shirt together, and stumbled to the nearest mini mart in a rush. My eyes constantly darting around in a paranoid state. When I arrived the clerk didn't bother looking up from his magazine. My nervous hands grabbed some cotton pads and a bottle of peroxide from the shelf. I felt someone tug on my sleeve and I jumped.
"Woah there. Magda? Mags? What happened to you?" Looking at me was a man with a cut down the right side of his face and a clouded eye to match. He had dirty blonde hair with some length and brown eyes. There was a five o'clock shadow outlining his jaw and upper looked familiar.
It couldn't be him. "Da...Da...Danny?" Tears welled up in my eyes and my voice became loud. "Where were you? You said you'd wait for me!" In a frenzy, I gave him a couple hard hits to the chest before I gave up exhausted and slumped into his arms. Burying my head in his chest. Dropping everything from my hands the clerk finally looked up.
"Hey she needs to pay for that!" He gave Danny a death stare.
He shot back with venom in his voice, "Can't you see she's having a rough day man!" He propped me up against the shelves and picked up the items. He whispered, "I'll be right back." He paid for everything, then came back to me. With a plastic bag in one hand, he lifted me up with the other and put me over his shoulder. I fought him a little then stopped. When we got a block away he put me down, back against a wall to stabilize me.
Tears now streaming down my face, I looked up at him and lifted a hand to traced his scar. With concern I asked, "What happened to you? Who did this to you?" He smiled at me.
He looked down at me lovingly, "Just some battle scars hun. We need to be more concerned about you right now." I heard the bag rustle as he brought out a pad and soaked it with a splash of peroxide. He gently pushed back part of my torn shirt and inspected the area, "Good. It isn't too deep." Bringing up the square he gave me a "matter of fact" look, "This will sting...a lot." He pressed it against the cut.
I let out a loud swear feeling the burn. "Mother Fu…" He took that moment to place his mouth on mine to shut me up. And it did, a little too well. When he pulled back I fell silent.
"You were always a screamer." He smirked and threw the used cotton pad on the ground and got out another. I grabbed it from him, and applied the peroxide myself. "You never would ask for help either. Some things never change."
My mood turned to anger, as I held the new pad on my chest. "So what's your excuse?"
He took both my hands in his and looked into my eyes guilty, "I'm sorry Mags. Let me walk you home and I'll explain everything."
I picked up the plastic bag. "Fine." We went on our way.
He began, "A week after the last night I saw you, I had an opportunity come up. I had been pickpocketing to make extra cash. Whatever wasn't strictly cash, I'd try to resell on the street. One day a guy accused me of stealing his watch. I slipped up. There was an engraving under it that had his initials. Him and his pals pulled me off to the side and beat me up pretty bad. They were going to shoot me, but didn't. Because I showed no fear in that moment, they let me live. They told me they worked for Mr. Falcone, and offered me a job. I didn't say no because I figured there was no better alternative to living on the streets."
"And what about the scar on your face? Was it from that day?"
"No it wasn't. Actually this scar and blind eye allowed me to move up in the ranks pretty quick. I got it from a scuffle with the Batman. My distraction allowed the boss to get away. Because of how badly I was injured and the loyalty I had shown, he began to trust me a lot. So much so, that I now accompany him on most of his important outings."
My mind began rationalizing. "You didn't happen to tag along a little less than a week ago. Delivering guns to the Joker?" Those windows were tinted. I wouldn't of seen him. I wish he would of noticed me.
"Actually yes. I was. But how did you know?" He looked at me questioningly.
"I was there that day. Manning the entrance. So I guess we had a similar situation in Crime Alley."
He looked worried. "So you work for HIM? Talk about bad luck. Mr. Falcone is usually generous when dealing with his men. I guess he feels sorry for you guys. I mean, I'm getting paid even if the boss get hauled in. But I know for a fact that the Joker can't seem to stay out of trouble for any time less than a month, and doesn't pay his people well." His face grew even more concerned. "Why would he hire a young girl?" He took a long pause. "He hasn't forced himself on you has he?"
I shook my head, "No, no, no. I don't think he does that sort of thing. Then again I'm not completely sure about anything these days." I continued cautiously, "Um...I'm more of a...play thing for Harley. A companion I guess. It's complicated."
"Ya it sounds like it." He reached into his pocket and started pulling out some cash. "I know your not getting paid much, but please take this." He shoved some twenties at me. "And don't say no. If you have this, then my mind can be a little more at ease."
I give him a growl. "Fine! But only this time. And my stop is up here."
He eyes focused on the building, "Still squatting in houses like I told you." He gave me a smile that quickly faded. "I feel responsible for your situation." He put a hand on my shoulder. "I mean. If I hadn't of gotten involved with Falcone, and waited for you instead...then we could of ran away from this place. At least as far as Metropolis." He gave me a hug and I winced in pain pushing him back. He looked at my chest, then stared me down, "And what happened tonight? Who attacked you?"
I looked down, my voice quiet, "Victor Zsasz. The Joker had him go looking for me. He cornered me, and said that if I fucked up, next time he would be allowed to kill me." I got chills thinking about him again.
His voice became angry. "No. No, no, no! That won't happen! Go inside and get your things! You need to come with me." He grabbed my arm, and I pulled away. Pleading he continued, "Come on Mags! You won't be safe here. I need to keep my promise. I can keep you safe!" He sounded so desperate now.
I took one of his hands in mine to try and reassure him. "I can't. I really can't. I made a deal with an...outside source. Trust me when I say that I have protection."
He cut me off abruptly. "Then how did this happen?"
"This was my fault. I wasn't prepared. I didn't have time to pull this on him." I knelt down, and took the knife out from my shoe.
"You still have my knife?" His face looked touched. He took it from my hands and examined it. His fingers slowly glided over the handle engraved with his letters DG. "And it served you well?"
"So far yes. I mean. I'm still alive right?" I tried to sound reassuring.
He gave a little chuckle, and handed it back over. "Yes you are. But what will happen to you after your "other source" uses you up? We can still be together. If you want." His eyes had a touch of longing.
I gave him a half hearted smile. "Maybe. But right now I can't have you around. Don't come back here looking for me. You'll just complicate things." He leaned in and gave me another kiss.
"Wouldn't be the first time." He gives me a smirk. I punched him in the shoulder. "And your still feisty. That hasn't changed either I see."
"I mean it! You can't come back here." My face felt warm. I did miss him. We had been through so much at the orphanage. He never felt like a brother. He always felt like something more. I slipped the knife back in my boot and went for the door. "You need to go now. I need some sleep."
"Fine. Then all I can do is hope that I'll see you again soon. And under better circumstances. Who knows. Maybe both of our crime families could work together sometime." He gave a light laugh.
I gave him a smile, "Wouldn't that be a sight to see. But I really doubt it."
He sighed, "Me too. Just hoping I see you sooner, that's all." He looked at me with fondness then turned to walk away. "Goodnight Mags."
AN: Never really know if anyone is actually reading this. Feel free to give me an answer.
