Chpt. XXXII: Bloody Fire
Dick sat in the passenger seat of the large Hummer that he had hot wired out of Bruce Wayne's garage. Victor was behind the wheel, while Logan, Conner, Kori & Rachel sat in the back of the vehicle. Dick struggled to find a car that would fit all six of them. Logan had suggested that they steal a four door sports car, but Dick reminded him that the four in the back would be squished. Rachel was entirely against that.
They had driven out early in the afternoon & got pizza for lunch. They had Dick & Conner get the pizza, seeing as everyone else had an alarming attribute to their appearance. They then drove the Hummer to the back of a nearby parking lot & ate the pizza in the car. It wasn't what a group of people would normally do, but it was good enough for the moment.
After a few hours, the sun began to set. The group had started to drive their way to the Iceberg Lounge in the Diamond District of Gotham. The drive took them around 30 minutes with the oncoming traffic. By 8:00 PM, they had reached the club.
Victor parked the Hummer across the street & turned back to look at everyone. "Okay, we're here," he announced.
"Sweet!" Logan cheered. He attempted to open the door & climb out of the car when Rachel yanked him back by his collar. "Ack!"
"Not yet, dipshit," Rachel said. "You still look like a booger."
Logan sighed. "Come on! I wanna go!"
Dick shook his head. "Not yet. We have to let Rachel cast her spell on you guys before you get onto the street."
Victor nodded. "Alright man, I trust you."
Rachel nodded. "It'll be painless."
Dick began to climb out of Hummer. He opened the car door & went around to the back door to let out Kori & Conner. They both stepped out of the car & began to cross the street. Dick held the door open for Rachel & Logan as well, while Victor exited out of the driver seat. Logan went to Victor's side & the two began to chat.
Dick pulled Rachel aside. "So you can cast the spell?" Dick asked softly.
Rachel nodded. "Yeah, I can. It's not too hard, actually."
Dick smiled. "Good," he said. As he spun to turn around, Rachel grabbed his arm to stop him. He glanced back at her.
"There's a catch," Rachel says.
Dick raised an eyebrow at Rachel. She continued. "What I'm casting is called a Mist. It's a concealment spell that will provide a sort of disguise for the boys. No one will see the green skin or the machine limbs. But the spell is going to attract...supernatural forces."
"Supernatural forces?" Dick asked.
"Demons," Rachel simply said. "Demons & supernatural people, like me & Zatanna & Constantine, we'll be able to see through the Mist & feel it's presence.
"So people who have powers," Dick said.
Rachel shook her head. "People who practice magic," she corrected.
Dick raised his eyebrows. "There's a difference?"
Rachel nodded. "In a matter of speaking, yeah. But this spell will attract those things. So Victor & Logan are going to be in danger if I cast this spell."
Dick let what she was saying sink into his head. Rachel continued. "I just wanted you to know what would happen. This is up to you."
Dick looked back at Logan & Victor. The two stood by the hood of the car, entirely oblivious to the discussion Dick & Rachel were having. They had no idea what the cost of this spell would be. Dick wanted them to be safe. That's why he had brought them into the mansion to begin with; to protect them.
Dick felt, however, that what the boys needed more than protection was happiness. He felt that's what Rachel also needed. He felt Kori needed that as well. He felt Conner needed it more than anyone else. They deserved a night out to have fun. If this spell was the only way Dick would be able to give Logan & Victor the fun they deserved, then he should do it.
"Cast the spell," Dick said. Rachel stared back at Dick with raised eyebrows, as if to ask if he was certain. Dick nodded, & watched as Rachel walked over to Victor & Logan. She began to explain the process of the spell. Victor nodded in agreement. Logan smiled. "I may not be smart enough to do everything, but I'm dumb enough to try anything," he said.
Dick smiled at their enthusiasm. He nodded in relief, & began to walk towards the entrance of the Iceberg Lounge. He noticed Conner & Kori waiting by the line, but not exactly waiting IN the line. Dick sighed & began to make his way to the two.
"Hello, Dick," Kori called as Dick approached them. "Are we ready to enter the nightclub?"
Dick shook his head. "Not exactly," he said. "Rachel is still doing her thing, but... you two are supposed to wait in the line to get in."
Kori & Conner both glanced at the line. It stretched all the way down the block & around the corner. "But it's long," Conner said.
Dick shrugged. "That's how it normally works. I figured you two would've already been in line."
"Oh dear," Kori began to say. "I sincerely apologize. I should have known better. Do you believe we will need to wait a long time in order to get in?"
Dick bit his lip & surveyed the area. He glanced to the front doors of the entrance. He noticed the large club bouncer. He was standing by the doors, near the front of the line. He let the next few people with cash in, & then he stopped a group of girls. They were wearing skanky skirts & slutty length lingerie, or what they might consider to be a dress. They, however, managed to sweet talk their way into having the bouncer let them in.
Dick smiled. "No," he said. "I think we've got this."
Dick turned back to look at Kori. She was wearing tight jeans & a low cut purple blouse. He scratched his jawline in thought. "Do you mind if I adjust your outfit?" he asked.
Kori tilted her head at Dick, unsure of what he meant. Dick took a deep breath & slowly stepped to Kori. He grasped the bottom hem of Kori's bouse & began to tear it apart slowly. Kori gasped softly, but quickly silenced herself as she finally noticed what Dick was doing. "Are you attempting to make me more appealing to the man standing guard in front of the night club entrance?"
"Yes, Kori, I am. The club bouncer lets girls in who look hot, so I'm making you hot."
"But Dick, I am actually colder with the shorter garment."
Dick glanced up at Kori. Her big green eyes showed how serious she was. Dick fought hard not to laugh. "I'm sorry," he simply said as he continued to tear at it."
Dick finally removed a good three inches from Kori's outfit, then tossed the piece of cloth to the side. He ran his fingertips through her hair & tousled her bright red hair, creating a mix of messy & sexy.
Dick stepped back to look at what he had created. He nudged to Conner & nodded at Kori. "Does she look hot?" Dick asked.
Conner glanced between Dick & Kori, unsure of what to say. "Wait, what? Me?"
Dick sighed. "Never mind, bro. You're good," he said with a soft laugh.
Dick brought Kori & Conner towards the entrance of the night club, where Dick managed to subtly shove through the front of the long line. He pressed Kori towards the club bouncer, who turned & glanced down at Kori. He was a tall, muscular black guy with a body built for football. He had a stern face, but the second he saw Kori, his stern face melted & revealed a smitten young man's grin. "Good evening, ma'am," he said in a deep voice.
Kori smiled. "Good evening, sir. May my friends & I enter?"
"What friends?" the bouncer asked, glancing towards the line to try & find other women that Kori might be referring to.
Kori reached for Dick & Conner's hands & shook them in her hands. "These friends!" Kori called, with a large smile.
The bouncer glared at Conner & Dick. He turned to Kori & nodded towards the door. "You can go in, sweetheart. I'm gonna need to talk to these two right now."
Kori nodded. "Okay," she said before walking up the stairs & through the front doors.
Dick groaned to himself & shook his head. That didn't go as planned.
"I'm sorry," Conner said hesitantly, "but I really don't think we should be leaving our friend alone in there. She gets easily confused when she's by herself."
"She won't be," the bouncer said. "She's got 300 other easily confused girls in there to back her up."
Dick turned to Conner & patted him on the shoulder for making a good effort to talk the bouncer into letting them in. Dick turned to the bouncer & cleared his throat. "Please, sir, we don't wanna keep you busy."
"ID's, please," the bouncer said with a palm outstretched.
Dick raised an eyebrow. "Isn't it, like, 16 & over tonight?" he asked, trying to play it off.
The bouncer shook his head. "No, it's not. ID's, or leave."
Dick bit his lip. He knew he shouldn't let himself get angry, but the bouncer was really making Dick angry. Dick took one step back & looked up & down the bouncer. He smirked softly. "How about we go one-on-one, & if I beat your ass, you let me & my buddy in."
The bouncer reached for a gun holstered on his waist. "How about you leave the premises before I have to call the police?"
Dick grinned. "Go ahead. I'm cool with the police department."
The bouncer raised an eyebrow. "Kid, you better quit testing me."
"Lil' Dee!" Victor called out as he crossed the street.
Dick & the bouncer both turned around to look at Victor. Dick silently gasped as he saw Victor. Victor was no longer a cyborg; he was completely human. His robotic arm & metal plates were all gone. Trailing behind Victor was Logan, who's hair was suddenly orange & skin was pale. Both resembled...normal looking people. It was strange, but...they looked happy.
"Victor fucking Stone?" the bouncer called. Victor walked up to him & shook his hand, then embraced him in a strong brotherly hug. "I haven't see your ugly ass since that New Year's Eve party. Remember, you had that bitch all up on you?"
Victor rolled his eyes. "Yeah, man."
"What was her name, bro?"
Victor gave Lil' Dee a death stare. "I don't know, Dee. I'm just tryna have another night out with my friends."
Lil' Dee laughed. "With these kids?" he scoffed with a snarky tone. "I guess, man." Lil' Dee stepped aside, allowing the group to entire the night club. Dick walked past Dee with Kori & Conner trailing behind him, then Logan & Rachel, with Victor shaking Dee's hand before entering the club.
Dick gazed up at the interior of the Iceberg Lounge. The color scheme was white & blue, with smoky fog resembling that of the fog in an icy environment. The turnout of the night was immense, as the dance floor was filled with the silhouettes of hundreds of dancing spirits. The music blared & resonated through the night club, humming & vibrating in the inside of Dick's chest. The strobe lights at the DJ's stage shone & flashed in all directions, emitted cool colors of the winter season. Dick smiled. He wish he had brought Barbara to the Iceberg Lounge.
"Whoa, dude," Logan gasped. "This place is sick!"
"Welcome to your first night out, kid," Victor said, patting Logan on the back.
Logan turned to Victor & Dick. "Where do I go?"
Victor raised an eyebrow. "Psh, anywhere, dude. Just don't be following me around like a puppy. I'm gonna try & score. You find something to keep yourself busy." With that, Victor swaggered off to the bar & took a seat next to a group of ladies & began to chat them up.
Logan turned to Dick helplessly. "Seriously, where would I go?"
Dick smiled. "Logan, do whatever you want. Dance. Relax. Take a seat. Meet somebody. It's your night to kick back & be finally free."
Logan smiled softly, & turned back to the crowd nervously. Dick watched as Rachel walked past Dick & Logan towards the bar. Logan noticed Rachel &, without a second thought, followed her to the bar. Dick sighed. Logan was probably too nervous to go out & go crazy. He would act friendly & outgoing in private, but in public, it seemed it was just a little shy still. Maybe it was too early to push him into a place like this. Maybe Dick had pushed this night too hard.
Conner approached Dick & nudged him. "So...this is what you guys do at night?"
Dick turned to Conner. "Apart from breaking into military bases & rescuing teenage test subjects, sure."
Conner smiled softly. He turned back to the crowd. "I see a few seats. I might just wait over there," he said before walking off towards the distance.
Dick felt a presence behind him. Dick glanced to his side & noticed Kori, holding her hands up to her head & pressing them hard against her ears. She winced as she opened her eyes to look at Dick. "It is quite bright & loud!" she cried.
Dick bit his lip. Even Kori was having a rough time. He glanced to the lounging area, where Rachel was already sitting with Logan beside her. Conner was sitting a few seats away, but near them still. The three were having drinks. The bar was directly next to the lounging area. Dick scanned the area for Victor, but noticed him dancing with a young woman.
Dick turned to Kori. "Want to go over there?" he asked, pointing at the bar.
Kori nodded her head frantically, squinting her eyes to avoid the flashing lights. Dick took one of her hands & led her through the crowd of sweaty dancers & brought her to the bar, where there were a few empty seats. Dick helped Kori up onto one bar seat, & he climbed up onto the one beside hers. He looked at her. "Is this better?" he asked.
Kori removed her hands from her ears slowly, but quickly pressed them against her ears. "It is still quite loud!" she cried.
Dick nodded. He turned to the shelfs on the wall of the bar. They were chrome shelves with drinks laid out all across them. The wall itself was a mirror with blue neon lights lit behind the mirror itself. Dick gestured to the wall. "But there's no more flashing lights," Dick mentioned.
Kori nodded slowly. "That is true," she said with a faint smile.
Dick smiled back. He turned to a nearby bartender & whistled. The bartender glanced at Dick & walked over. "What can I get you?" the bartender asked.
Dick smiled. "Can I get some Bloody Fire?"
The bartender nodded & walked away.
Kori turned to Dick. "What did you just ask for?" she asked in genuine fear.
Dick smiled. "It's just a drink, Kori. Don't worry," he said, reassuring her with a light touch on her thigh. He turned back as the bartender arrived with a bright red drink. Dick thanked the bartender & slid the glass across the counter & slowly stirred the liquid in the glass. Dick lifted the glass & took a slow sip. "Ahhh," Dick sighed in satisfaction. "Now THAT is fucking good."
Kori stared at the glass. "I do hope it is not real blood."
Dick grinned. He slid the glass towards Kori. "Have a sip," he offered.
Kori looked down into the glass with caution. She looked back up at Dick, who nodded to her. Kori smiled, convinced that the drink was fine & lifted the drink slowly. She took a small sip & smacked her lips, tasting the liquid across her lips. The red liquid left her lips bright red. Kori smiled. "Mmm! How sweet!"
Dick let out a laugh & ordered a second glass of Bloody Fire for Kori. As the second drink arrive, Dick grabbed his glass & lifted it up. Kori followed suit. "To a night of freedom," he toasted.
Kori clinked the glass with Dick's. "To a night of freedom!" Kori slurped on the drink, confusing Dick. "What?" she asked.
Dick shook his head. "I didn't think you'd know how to toast," he said bluntly.
Kori rolled her eyes. "Please. I may be a foreigner to your planet, but I have similar celebratory customs on my home planet."
Dick sighed. He took another sip from his glass & swallowed. "I still can't wrap my head around you being a freaking alien," he said jokingly.
Kori looked at Dick with a confused look. "I don't understand," Kori started. "Are you mocking me?"
Dick's eyes widened in embarrassment & shook his head. He set his glass down & took Kori by her hands. "No, no! I'm not, I swear I'm not making fun or anything!" Dick looked at Kori with the most sincerity. He cleared his throat & sat up. "I just meant that...I don't know. Everything has changed so quickly. From me coming home to Gotham, to me having to fight thing crazy Nolan Drake bastard, to working with the Batman, breaking into Cadmus, meeting supernatural beings & people with superpowers & aliens. It's all just so much, you know? And I'm just...Dick."
Kori nodded slowly, carefully listening to what Dick was saying. When he finished, Kori looked up at Dick & placed her hand in his. "I understand now. You feel overwhelmed by the recent changes that have occurred in your life. If I understand correctly, you also feel threatened by the feeling of a sudden lack of power & control?"
Dick thought about Kori's hypothesis. He nodded. "I guess so, yeah."
Kori nodded. "Dick, I do not believe you deserve to feel this way about yourself. You have been a tremendous person ever since I have met you. You have been courageous & friendly & kind & heroic. All of these qualities in someone are more valuable than any given power or ability or gift. The most important power, I believe, is the power of the heart. You have that, Dick. Do not ever forget this."
Dick stared at Kori. A smile slowly grew across his face. "Gosh," he said softly. "That was...wow."
Kori raised an eyebrow. "What?" she asked curiously.
Dick shook his head. "Nothing. Just...thank you. For telling me all of that. I needed that."
Kori smiled. She reached for her Bloody Fire & raised it up. "To Dick Grayson's heroics," she toasted.
Dick clinked his glass with hers & took a sip. As he set his glass down, Rachel appeared next to him. "'Sup," she said, nodding to Dick.
Dick straightened himself. "Hey," he said with a smile. "Got away from Logan finally, huh?" he joked.
Rachel looked at Dick & nodded. She turned to Kori. "Are you okay?"
Kori nodded, sipping on her drink. She held it out towards Rachel. "Dick got me this wonderful beverage. Would you like to taste it?"
Rachel shook her head, then turned back to Dick. "You're feeding Kori alcohol?"
Dick shook his head. He reached for his glass & took a sip. "It's non-alcoholic."
Rachel glanced between Dick & Kori. She rolled her eyes & took a seat next to Dick. He turned back to Rachel. "Are you having a good time?" Dick asked her.
"No," Rachel spat. "I'm bored. It's loud as fuck in here, & I've already had three guys try to rub their cocks all over me."
Dick sighed softly. "I'm sorry," he apologized.
Rachel waved her hand. "It's okay. It's fine. It's whatever."
Dick bit his lip. He felt bad. He had only wanted to give a good night to the gang & let them be happy for a while. Dick turned back to Kori, who was turned back to the dancefloor. Instead of squinting, she was suddenly mesmerized by the lights. "You okay?" Dick asked.
Kori nodded with a smile. "Yes, I am. I am growing used to the lights & sounds."
Dick smiled. He nodded towards the dancefloor. "Do you wanna go up there?"
Kori turned to Dick with raised eyebrows, excited for the offer. Kori nodded happily & slid off of the bar seat, making her way to the dancefloor.
Dick was about to follow suit when Rachel gripped his arm. He turned to her. "What?"
"Dick, what are you doing?" she asked him.
Dick glanced from Rachel to Kori then back at Rachel. "I'm...going to dance with Kori?"
Rachel stared at Dick intensely, as though she were attempting to shoot lasers out of her eyes & into his skull.
Dick shrugged. "What's the problem, Rachel?"
"Well, Dick, first off, I'm really not sure about this whole night to begin with. We shouldn't be out in the open like this. Like, at all. But I understand, you're trying to make an effort to allow us to be happy & have fun, lay back, whatever the fuck it is. It's okay. What's REALLY pissing me off is whatever it is you're trying to do with Kori."
Dick raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?" he scoffed. "This is about Kori?"
Rachel rolled her eyes. "Yeah, Dick. Way to keep up."
Dick sighed. "Look, I don't know what it is that you're pissed about. I'm trying to give a good time to you guys after the shit that's happened in the last few weeks."
Rachel shook her head. "Asshole. You're only occupying yourself with Kori."
Dick took a step closer to Rachel. He was close enough to see the small specks of color in her dark eyes. "Rachel, please. Stop it. I'm doing the best I can for you, guys. I really am. I'm trying to not make you all into prisoners stuck in a mansion, but I can't cut you all loose & leave you in the open with all of the danger around us. I'm trying to find the line between it all."
Dick began to lose breath. He was suddenly feeling panicky. He didn't know why. Rachel stared back at Dick, eyes suddenly without judgement, but with concern. Dick continued. "Kori said that...what I've been doing for you, for her, for everyone...is heroic. I'm TRYING to be heroic. I'm trying to fulfil my duty right now. Protecting you guys, stopping Nolan Drake & Cadmus. I'm trying. I'm doing the best I can. But suddenly...I don't know. After meeting you all, & seeing your powers & abilities...I can't help but feel so powerless compared to you all."
Rachel shook her head. She grabbed one of Dick's hands & held it tight. "Look at me, Dick." Dick looked up at her. She sat forward, close enough for her to speak softly to Dick. "It's okay, Dick. No one can be super all the time."
Dick let the words sink in. He looked up at Rachel, who gave a soft smile. She slowly removed her hand from Dick's & sat back against the bar. "You're trying. I guess the effort is what counts, right?" Rachel waved her hand up in the air. "Go dance. Do whatever. Go relax from being a hero, Dick."
Dick nodded with a smile. He turned & began making his way to the dancefloor. He surveyed the exterior of the crowd to find Kori, then began to worry about Kori began stuck too far inside of the crowd. Dick began to shove his way past the various dancers, from skinny stoned ravers to shirtless & pantiless women, until finally he saw her bright green eyes shine as the strobelights reflected off of her eyes. Her tanned skin was more noticeable as it contrasted with the rest of the pale & cool colored Iceberg Lounge.
Dick approached Kori, but before he tapped her shoulder, he stepped back to get a better look of what she was doing. Kori was slowly swaying her hips around to a beat entirely unsynced with the music playing. Kori swung her hands up into the air, completely immersing herself in her own beat.
Dick noticed a dude with a man bun & a tank-top approach Kori & began to dance with her. He began to rub his crotch all over Kori's thighs. Kori glanced at him, but continued to dance in her own beat.
Dick clenched his fists. He approached the man & spun him around to face Dick. "Get lost, dude."
Man-Bun scoffed. "Who the fuck are you?"
"Dick!" Kori called. She shoved past Man-Bun & hugged him. Dick wrapped one arm around Kori's waist & swung one arm up, flipping his middle finger off to the man.
The man threw his arms up in frustration & turned around, disappearing into the shifting dancing crowd. Dick stepped back to look at Kori. "What were you just doing?" he asked.
Kori stared at Dick. "What do you mean?"
Dick shook his head, laughing softly. He nodded towards a nearby girl. "You see her?" he asked Kori. "Watch her movements."
The two watched as the girl shook her hips from side to side in a rapid tempo, moving according to the music's upbeat rhythm. She pulled a nearby man close to her & threw her back against him. She took his arms & wrapped his arms around her waist, & the two of them swayed to the beat together, in synchronized formation.
"Do you notice the pattern?" Dick asked.
Kori stared at the couple, then looked up at Dick with her bright green eyes. "I do not understand."
Dick bit his lip, smiling. He grabbed Kori's hands & squeezed them. "You said you're not bothered by the music anymore, right?" Kori nodded in agreement. "Okay, listen to beat carefully. Listen to the rhythm. The beat within the music. Listen for the kick in the drums. Listen to the beat carefully & feel the beat."
Kori shut her eyes, listening to the beat carefully. She moved her body softly, making small movements with her hips & neck. "I think I am getting this," she said, "but I am not sure."
Dick nodded. "Okay, here." Dick took her hands & placed one on his chest. "Can you feel it?" he asked.
Kori opened her eyes & raised an eyebrow. "I feel your heartbeat," she said. "It is beating at a very fast pace, Dick," she pointed out. "Are you feeling alright?" she asked.
Dick removed her hand from his chest, feeling a slight blush. He shook his head. "It's just the adrenaline, I guess. It's nothing." Dick took Kori's hands & placed it on her own chest. "Can you feel YOUR heartbeat?"
Kori grasped Dick's hand & shut her eyes again, focusing on her own heartbeat. "My heartbeat is slow & steady," she said. "But I feel it slowly increasing."
Dick nodded. "Alright. Move along to the beat of your heart. That's the beat that you'll never mess up."
Kori nodded with a soft smile. She began to sway her hips again in a slow pace, but Dick noticed she was beginning to slowly match the pace of the beat of the music. She had unconsciously reverted to the rhythm of the song. Dick smiled & began to dance with her.
Kori wrapped her arms around Dick's neck & continued to shake her hips, rubbing up close to Dick. He couldn't help but compare her to a belly dancer he used to work with at the circus when he was younger. He had always gotten nervous around the belly dancer. She scared him in a certain way. He was sort of intimidated by her, but also somewhat aroused by her. Dick suddenly felt the same way now, dancing with Kori.
The two danced for a while, dancing & vibing to the DJ's electronic music mix. Dick tried to recognize some of the artists that the DJ played, but he couldn't pick any of the vocalists out. Besides, Dick was somewhat distracted by Kori & how she managed to look so calm & full of energy, but still look so sweaty without being worn out.
Kori swung her head back & breathed heavily. Her chest rose high & low as she gripped the back of Dick's neck tight. He held onto her lower back to keep her from falling. Suddenly, Kori brought her head back, close to Dick's. Her forehead touched his, & their faces were inches away from each other. Kori's eyes were shut, but she wore a wide smile. "Dick," she breathed.
Dick felt his heart beat fast. He didn't know what to do. He stiffened nervously & pulled his head back a few more inches. "Yeah?"
Kori opened her eyes & tilted her head to the side. She stroked his cheek with one hand, then brought it up to tousle her hair. "Oh, I was just reminiscing, Dick. I enjoy this place very much. It reminds me of a place back on my home planet that I used to visit late in the day. My older sister, Komand'r, would take me to a place similar to this & we would dance to the performances they provided as well. The only difference, I think, is the general tone of the music. Ours is much more calmer & soothing. Yours appears to be very loud & aggressive."
Dick laughed. "That's big-room house for you," he joked.
Suddenly, over all of the noise & the chatter & the loud music, a scream was heard. Dick quickly turned to the direction in which the sound came from. He turned back to Kori. "Kori, get back to Rachel & help her find everyone else."
Suddenly there was another scream, followed by two gunshots. The music was quicky cut off. Dick & Kori both turned to the direction where the shots came from. People began to run around frantically. Dick turned back to Kori. "Go!" he called.
Kori nodded & ran through the crowd, towards where Rachel was. Dick shoved through the crowd, shouting for everyone to leave & find a nearby exit. He saw a young woman being trampled on by people panicking & running right over her.
Dick reached down & grabbed the woman's arm & slid her closer to him, away from the path of the frightened people. Dick hoisted the woman up & looked at her. She had blood oozing from cuts & bruises all over her body. She could hardly hold her head up.
Dick stopped a nearby man who was largely built. "Hey, man!" Dick called. The man glanced towards Dick, & nearly slipped when he saw the injured woman. "Oh my god," he called as he ran towards them.
Dick moved towards the man. "She needs medical attention. Get her outside, okay?"
The man nodded. He took the woman from Dick's grasp & lifted her up over his shoulder. Dick began to run towards the gunshots when the man called out for Dick. "Wait, where are you going?"
Dick turned back to the man. "Go!" Dick cried. The man shook his head & turned towards the nearest exit.
Dick sighed & began making his way towards the gunshots. They came from the entrance of the Iceberg Lounge. Dick managed to make his way easily, as the club had cleared out fast. Dick felt his chest tighten as he saw dead people across the club floor. There was one man who was bleeding out from his gut. He kept his hand on his wound, but the blood kept coming. He was hardly able to keep his eyes open, but Dick could see his chest heaving. Suddenly, the man was shot in the head.
Dick cried out as blood splattered across Dick's face. He turned to find where the shot had come from, & noticed the man with the gun up above on a catwalk across the upper level of the Iceberg Lounge.
Suddenly, down on the dancefloor, another armed man approached Dick. He held the gun up to Dick, attempting to frighten him. Dick clenched his fists tight in preparation for a battle.
"Hey, man," called out a familiar voice. Dick felt his heart skip a beat. He knew that voice.
Dick turned to look at Nolan Drake. "You son of a bitch," Dick growled.
Nolan Drake smiled with his arms crossed across his chest. He stood up above Dick on top of the stairs, looking down at Dick. Behind him came a five more men with weapons. Nolan glanced back at the men & made a gesture with his hands. The men lowered their weapons & began to survey the perimeter of the building. Nolan began to walk down the steps towards Dick. "I didn't expect to catch you here tonight at this fine establishment, my brother. How do you like it?"
Dick stared back at Nolan, readily posed to engage in combat. Nolan continued to speak as he walked towards Dick. "I really only meant to come here to play with other people, not you. I honestly didn't know you'd be here. Why ARE you here, Dick? You DO know that I own this club, don't you?"
Dick raised an eyebrow. "No, you don't," Dick challenged.
Nolan shrugged. "Okay, no. Oswald Cobblepot does. But we're business partners, man. What's his is mine, & what's mine is his. We're like family. We're like a married couple, actually. He's the sugar daddy, & I'm the trophy wife."
Dick blinked in confusion. He shook his head, ignoring the strange analogy. "Drake, you & Cobblepot are far from partners. There's friction in your work with him. I know it."
Nolan Drake laughed a maniacal laugh. "Of COURSE there is, Dick! But that's what married couples have! Friction!" Nolan sighed, then ran a hand through his hair. "But it's fine. There's been some issues, lately. He couldn't get his hands on my order from Cadmus the other night, so naturally, I was unhappy with the son of a bitch. I stole something else. Of course, I do need to test it, you know. But I've come to the conclusion that testing it on the public during the day in public may not be the smartest solution. So instead, I was gonna test it here, in the private business of Oswald Cobblepot. It was meant to be a lesson to be taught to him & his men. But you'll do just fine, Dick Grayson."
Suddenly, four canisters were tossed at Dick from all different directions. Each one began to release a green gas substance into the air. Dick lifted the collar of his shirt up to cover his nose & mouth, but the gas still managed to get to Dick. He began to cough enough to the point where it felt as though he was hacking up a lung.
"This is something special," Drake started. "This is something new. I realized, Dick, that I was going all about this the wrong way. If I really wanted to make a statement to the scum of the city, I couldn't just blow them up. That would just mean I'm like every other piece of shit in Gotham. I'm not making a real change. I need to really make the city SEE their hell. I need to really SCARED them, Dick. Introduce a little anarchy, upset the established order, & everything becomes chaos, right?" Drake bent down & grasped one of the canisters. He shook the canister to emphasize its importance. "This is going to save Gotham City, Dick."
Dick slowly removed the collar from his face & exhaled, coughing up the gas filling up the night club. Dick felt somewhat light headed, but there wasn't much of a difference in how he felt. He stood up straight & clenched his fists tight once more. "I'm going to kill you, Nolan."
Nolan tossed the canister to the side. "Oh, isn't that sweet?" Nolan approached Dick with his fists held up to his face. "Come at me, Dick. Mano a mano, right? Just like in the Underground. No weapons, just you & me. We'll keep it intimate."
Dick didn't hesitate. He lunged at Nolan in two quick strides & slide underneath Nolan's legs. Dick swung back around as he appeared behind Nolan & swung his leg up, connecting his foot to the side of Nolan's head.
Nolan cried out in pain as he fell onto the ground. He quickly stood back up, however, & turned around fast enough to counter Dick's next hammer kick. Nolan blocked the kick with his forearm & shot his fist outward into Dick's chest. Dick stumbled back, but quickly charged back to Nolan. He burrowed his head into Nolan's abdominal area & hoisted Nolan up into the air & dropped Nolan back, slamming his back onto the ground.
Dick & Nolan were on the ground for a brief moment. As Dick laid still for a moment, he heard gunshots being fired again. He heard Kori & Rachel calling out to each other up above. Dick sat up on his elbow to see Victor two armed men in close quarters. Victor was winning. On the opposite side of the club was Conner, fighting with another group of men. Conner was managing on his own alright, but Dick couldn't help but notice Conner holding back. Dick turned to the DJ's stage, where he saw Logan fighting with one man. Logan was moving in an inhumanly fast speed. Logan clawed & scratched & howled at the man, as though Logan was suddenly an animal.
Dick heard Drake stir beside him. Dick quickly crawled up onto his feet. As Nolan struggled to climb up onto his feet, Dick swung a leg up into Drake's face. Dick hear a crack somewhere in Nolan's skull.
Nolan doubled back, but quickly straightened again. But Nolan Drake's face was dripping with blood. His skin had been peeled from his eyebrows to the lower part of his right cheek, revealing pure bone. Dick gasped, startled, & stepped back at the sight of the gruesome wound.
Nolan smiled. He reached for his face with one hand & softly massaged his exposed bone. He then suddenly ripped off the rest of his flesh, tearing off more skin & revealing more of his pale white skull. Suddenly, Nolan's entire face was a bleeding skull.
Dick blinked several times, confused & frightened. Dick wiped his eyes with his hands, smearing blood over his own face.
Nolan began to step towards Dick when a purple plasma blast was shot at Nolan, throwing him to the ground. Nolan groaned & looked up. "Hey, it's that bitch Raven!"
Dick looked up at Rachel, whose cloak flapped as she flew up in the air, shooting plasma blasts at other men with weapons up in the catwalk. Dick glanced back at Nolan, who was already up on his feet & approaching Dick fast. "I thought I had her taken care back in Chinatown," Nolan spat.
Dick stared at the ghoulish fiend. "You...YOU sent Constantine that night."
Nolan nodded, reaching for Dick with his right hand. Nolan grasped Dick's neck & began to choke him. Nolan lifted Dick up with his single hand. "I had been watching you, Grayson. Ever since you went topside. I've had my boys scavenge the city, looking for you & spying on you. When we overheard your desire to find Cheyenne Freemont, I decided to take action. I went to see my trusted dark arts doyenne, Zatanna Zatarra. I asked her to help me find someone who could take out someone with...abilities. She sent me John Constantine."
Dick's face twitched with rage. He felt his chest burn with a burning fire. His soul was crumbling into ash. He was in total despair. Nolan Drake killed Cheyenne Freemont. Just to spite Dick.
"Have I crushed your spirit, Dick?" Nolan teased.
Dick cried out in fury & raised his fist up into the air & brought it down into Nolan's face, punching in straight in the forehead.
Nolan dropped Dick & clutched onto his forehead. Dick stood up & began to make his way towards Nolan, but struggled as he was beginning to have trouble breathing. Dick raised a fist & tried to swing at Nolan, but Nolan countered his attack but gripping Dick's fist & twisting his arm back. Dick fell onto one knee, struggling to keep his arm angled in a non-lethal position. Dick tried to punch Nolan with his other fist, but Nolan grabbed that fist as well, holding Dick in place. Nolan leaned towards Dick, & suddenly small maggots began to squirm out of Nolan's mouth, nose & eyes.
"Ahh!" Dick cried out in pure fear. Nolan's sickening jaw crooked itself into a smile. Nolan raised his head back & slammed it against Dick's head, knocking Dick out briefly.
Dick laid back against the ground, attempting to crawl away from Nolan. He scanned the Lounge & saw Conner across the club backed into a corner, where two men were beating on him. Conner was screaming in fear.
Dick turned to see Logan pinned to the ground by another man. Logan was shielding his face, avoiding sight of the man. Dick saw Victor fighting one armed man, but also getting distracted by something else entirely. He appeared to be fighting an invisible entity.
Dick glanced up & saw Kori crying out as she swatted at something in the air. Dick was unable to see what it was that she was swatting at. Dick saw Rachel, calling out "Starfire!" to Kori, but was unable to reach her as she was flying across the ceiling, away from SOMETHING. Dick wasn't sure what it was that she was flying from.
Dick glanced back to Nolan, who was suddenly standing over Dick, pointing a gun at him. "I enjoyed our time together," Drake said, gripping the gun with his other hand, holding the gun with both hands now. Dick heard the barrel cocking sound. Before Nolan was able to pull the trigger, a police siren sounded.
"Shit," Nolan spat. "Fucking shit, god dammit." Suddenly, Nolan Drake's skull had bursted into a bright red flame. Nolan screamed out in rage. Nolan holstered his gun into the waistband of his pants & ran towards the back exit of the night club. The rest of his armed men followed suit.
Dick exhaled. He laid his head down against the floor, attempting to catch his last bit of breath. Dick couldn't fathom what he had just witness. Nolan Drake...decomposing. Was this the threat that came with the spell that Rachel had warned Dick about? Was Nolan just a form that a supernatural demon had used to frighten Dick? Or...was Nolan Drake harnessing a supernatural force & using it to fight Dick?
Dick shook his head. He didn't have time to think, as the policemen were already stomping their way towards the front door of the Iceberg Lounge. Dick struggled to stand up, & then called out to everyone he had brought with him. "Come on!"