Chapter Sixteen

I started working immediately.

I'd never held down a 'real' job before but I'd wager it was pretty similar to working in Black Mask's drug lab. Every weekday I was expected to work at least eight hours and thanks to my busted appendages I spent most of that time sitting around keeping lists. This part of the factory was fairly lax; most of the workers were nice enough when they got their fix. Black Mask rarely visited this section other than to pass through to his play room. So that may have something to do with the calmer atmosphere.

I sat as far away from the chemicals and fume producing substances as possible while noting who took what from the supply closet. It was bullshit work but I would rather be here in the questionable safety of a thug filled factory than at home where a bat could just mosey on in. Trying not to doze off, I jumped awake when someone shouted for me. I looked up at a worker as he approached.

"Huh?"

"Come with me kid." I was too confused to put up a fight as he grabbed my arm and pulled me until we got to the shipping floor. He led me to what I'd thought was another supply closet before he pushed open the door, revealing a sewer hatch in the floor.

"Need ya to go get Croc," he shoved me towards the manhole. I stumbled, catching myself against the wall.

"Excuse me?" I balked, looking down at the porthole. "Down there?"

"Yeah, big guy disappears into the sewers every now and then."

"How does he fit?" I asked, staring at the sewer hatch. It couldn't be but three feet across. The man shrugged, "guess the guys pretty limber, ya know? Anyway, tell him we got some shipments to make and to hustle his green ass out back, now hurry it up kid." With that the worker hooked a metal tool into the cover and pulled the heavy thing off. Bracing myself with a few shakes of my good arm, I dropped onto my butt and scooted my legs towards the metal rungs leading down.

Maneuvering down the ladder turned out to be a lot harder than I had predicted. Slipping and falling a few feet before I managed to twist my good arm around the rungs, I wheezed out a panicked breath. Still a few feet off the ground, I looked around the surrounding tunnel. Dimly lit only from the opening above me I couldn't make anything out. In the dark, humid, musk scented air I couldn't help but be reminded of the first time I encountered Croc. I'd been almost sure he was going to kill me then but now I was confident he wouldn't do anything like that. It's odd, how much can change in a few weeks worth of time.

"Croc?" I called into the dark. I couldn't be sure but there almost seemed to be a rush of warm air, maybe a breath.

"Are you sleeping?" I asked, suddenly worried I'd be waking a grumpy cannibal.

"I was," answered a grouchy voice. I smiled apologetically into the dark, readjusting my grip on the ladder.

"Sorry, some guy says you're needed for a shipment. Or something. What're ya sleeping down here for anyways?" I chatted. Croc's large shape shifted into view, one heavy hand landing on the ladder near my stomach as he leveled a sleepy, irritated look at me.

"Ain't none of your business. Hurry up," he grunted, jerking his chin towards the open manhole. Extricating my arms from the ladder I began carefully pulling myself upwards, slipping a whole lot. I was so focused on not falling to the wet floor I jumped when Croc cupped a hand under my bottom and pushed me up through the opening. Blushing, I quickly dragged myself through and grabbed my crutch, getting to my feet. I watched in fascination as the huge man emerged from the opening, first his head and right arm, then his left arm and the rest followed. It didn't even seem possible something that huge could fit through something that small. Realizing what I'd just thought, I spun and marched away hoping he wouldn't see my dumb red face.

"The guy said to meet him out back. Have a nice day," I called without looking back. When he stepped in front of me I tried to veer off in another direction but he blocked me with an arm.

"What're you keeping from me?" he hissed. I froze in place, all color draining from my face. Looking up into his narrowed golden eyes, I gaped and floundered while looking for an excuse.

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

He growled through his chest, making me jump. "I don't play games, brat," he threatened. Looking everywhere but his face I desperately searched for something to say, besides the truth. I was just feeling a little too aware of him.

"I wanted to ask you to sign my cast but I thought you'd think I'm stupid," I blurted, locking onto his eyes. For a moment he said nothing and continued to glare, then he snorted and headed out towards the back of the shipping floor. Breathing a sigh of relief I shuffled back to my spot in the drug lab and continued on with my day, taking stock and putting sticky notes for which barrel of Janus Cosmetics went where.

The workweek went by slow. I almost wish I could do something more interesting and hands on than just sit in the back and get headaches from all the fumes. At one point I watched a chained trailer being unlocked and felt an intense longing for my old jailbreaking career. I glared down at my injured arm, flexing my fingers and toes as the doctor had instructed. It'd be months before things would be back in working order. Fucking thanks, BatAsshole. Until then I'd be stuck here in the drug lab and when I healed I doubted Black Mask would do anything but use me as his own personal tool. I really shouldn't have taken that job before Blackgate. If I knew now what I knew then I would've just taken a bus to Metropolis and treated myself to a month long vacation there.

I must've fallen asleep at some point because I woke up to something tugging on my leg. Frowning, I tried to pull my limb away as I reentered consciousness.

"You're messing it up," Croc snapped. I blinked rapidly, rubbing sleep out of my eyes. He sat on the floor beside me, his huge hands dwarfing both my leg and the Sharpie he was doodling on my cast with. I waited in a state of sleep-induced thoughtlessness until he finished his work and released my leg. Twisting the limb in front of me I saw a poorly drawn crocodile, chubby looking thanks to an oval shaped body and short fat appendages.

"That is so cute," I mumbled, trying to lean in closer to get a better look at the fat reptile on the top of my foot and ankle. Waylon huffed. I grinned up at him, warmth constricting my chest, and he looked away sharply. He almost looked embarrassed.

"Aren't you two cute together." My smile dropped. Black Mask was standing over us, hands held behind his back. Suddenly I was uncomfortable sitting on the ground. Croc must've felt similar, as he stood up and dragged me to a standing position using my jacket.

"I'm sending you to get a gun shipment, Croc. About time we get some new cold steel around here. And Dollface," Black Mask addressed me. I stood at attention, albeit a bit unsteadily without my crutch. "You'll be accompanying them. Just like old times," he laughed.

As he filled Croc in on the details my stomach ran cold. He was testing me again. Why? I haven't done anything to piss him off, at least I don't think I have. Then again this was Black Mask, the man didn't need a reason to want to bury me alive. The reality was I needed a reason to still be valuable in his eyes if I wanted to stay alive, and with my only talent squandered thanks to my injuries I was looking more and more like used goods. Shaking my head, I caught the tail end of Black Mask and Croc's exchange.

" – Dock E. The exchange will be at four, don't fuck it up," the boss growled. Turning to me he shoved something into my chest and watched while I fumbled to catch it. "That's our end. Get the guns first, hand that over, and it's done. Mess anything up and I'll be sure to make your last moments enjoyable, for me at least," he whispered. I clenched my hand over the small piece of plastic, a USB. "Yes Sir."

"Good. Now get out of my face," he dismissed us with a wave of his hand and continued into his torture room, two of his masked men dragging a screaming thug in clown paint in after him. I looked up at Croc, feeling weary.

"He's trying to kill me off."

"Are you going to let him?" Croc didn't seem too bothered.

I paused, rolling the question around in my head.

"Maybe it's my only way out."

/AN: DOUBLE UPLOAD TODAY WHOA /