Chapter 07: the final countdown
Titan tower gymnasium. 18:30
Mr Wayne after having a thorough conversation with robin was preparing to head back to his temporary home away from home when he passes by the gym to notice someone was trying to make minced meat out of a standard boxing bag, that someone was beast boy, and key word for trying because at this rate he'll shatter his wrist and hand long before the boxing bag.
"Excuse me I know no one likes a critic but your punches have no form or affect for that matter" beast boy now turning to face him gives him a look that says 'what do you mean?' while keeping punching away, again with no style or form.
"Well for instance you take needlessly long swings." beast boy now looking at mr. Wayne like he came from the moon, which gave Mr Wayne a cue to elaborate on what he meant.
"Your punches should be like drawing a line on a paper or a map if you will, you could draw between two points an arch to connect them, but the most effective way to go about them is a short straight line,like you did to that Plasmus guy, got it?"
Doubt it, beast boy said give a quick straight jab into the punching bag.
"Good, lesson number two, don't over do anything, training included"
Surprised that the famous batman was actually lenient about training, beast boy decided to ask while stepping out of the gym and towards where Mr Wayne was going Why did you bother helping me back there?
Bruce Wayne in return gave him a quizzical look which prompted beast boy to continue, "its no secret that I'm the loose cannon on the team you know?, figured it's easier to be ignored or discharged all together"
Not surprised in the least by the question Mr Wayne replied, "I'll let you in on a little secret… it's not wise to let go of a loose cannon, especially if with a little concentration it can turn into a valuable asset… make sure to ask robin about that…. any way I'm heading to get my luggage… so as you were beast boy, with that said beast boy gave a small and respectful salute and headed towards his room.
Beast boy now nearing his room caught his second surprise visit of the day, this time in the form of his team leader Robin, waiting for him by the entrance looking like he's having a million thoughts running through his head, as always you know, however not to show complete rudeness he asks him.
"Hey rob, not that I don't enjoy the company but what's eating you?" Robin a bit confused that he was being read too easily by anyone other than raven replies with only the logical response.
"Recent events plus business as usual, speaking of which, tomorrow morning we got an early team meeting followed by a city wide patrol, and you're taking first shift". beast boy rolling his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose in irritation asks, "how early are we talking here?"
"06:30 at the very least", came a quick and almost automated response from robin, now feeling more tired and defeated than before beat boy tries to negotiate for leniency from robin not to mention save a little face "really?, now what will I get for the effort?" robin stops to consider what he could offer and starts chuckling a little, "how about I set you up with a good morning kiss from raven plus a date with her in the near future?"
Beast boy now in a rare moment of sarcasm filled comment replies back, "oh sure, is that code for throw me out of bed right through a window, or by date meaning kick my ass during training, am I close?" robin only smirks quietly in response. Beast boy now pretty much exhausted agrees, "count me in, but if raven tries to throw me out the window, I'm taking you down with me man".
Robin usually the dick in the group dynamics started to scoff, acting a bit like an asshole when he heard beast boy, that left beast boy arching one eye brow in confusion signaling him to elaborate.
"First, no offense but you're too easy sometimes, second, this is payback for your dick comments towards me", the old beast boy would grumble, whine or even sulk at what happened just now, current beast boy? Settled for a glare clearly indicating 'you're despicable' before entering his room leaving robin in the hall, now speaking of loonies
Slade Wilson mansion, dinning room, 19:30
'What more awkward than having dinner with three of the most wanted criminals in the states….. and one angry kid?' Mr Wilson noted to himself while sizing up his current guests, 'try having them attempt to stab each other in the back while being seated at the table as though it was The last supper?, either way it's a pain in the ass to deal with, loyalty to the objective or otherwise', acting as if he's used to this kind of circus Mr. Wilson now in his death-stroke mind set summoned his aid and lifelong friend wintergreen, which in turn paced into the room with a Walther ppk 9mm standard issue in toe, his guests far too preoccupied in their own egos have failed to notice, he lifted the gun towards the ceiling and fired of a round which in turn created a tense silence in the room.
Breaking the silence death-stroke began, "now that I have your undivided attention, we will begin the debriefing as soon as ravager will decide to grace us with her presence" as if on Que rose Wilson a.k.a ravager entered the room with an icy and unfriendly demeanor setting her sights only on her mentor and father carrying dossiers and ear pieces. Gizmo ever being the protege of not knowing when to shut the fuck up whispered to no one in particular "who's the ice sculpture?", not taking note of the comment ms Wilson remained laser focused on her commanding officer, "everything is running according to schedule as per your instructions major, mr wilson nods with a pleased disposition, "at ease soldier".
At that rose or rather ravager visibly relaxes a notch before leaving the room and slamming gizmo's head against the table full force before exiting, not giving him the chance to retort, still he had to lay off some steam. "Stupid fucking bitch, did she actually hear me?" Red x the stoic one in the group couldn't pass up an opportunity " oh really you think"? the joker not one to miss a great comedic timing, "I'm surprised that after that hit he could potentially think at all, not to mention his ears aren't gushing red with blood. Speaking of which, his eyes were blood shot with exhaustion. I suppose you've prepared a room for a weary traveler…. travelers I mean".
"One step ahead of you, as for the meantime you're all dismissed, we'll reconvene and deploy in 48 hundred hours time…. now get the hell out of my face all of you", with that none of the guests needed further invitation before dispersing. Well it would be the case if not for willson stopping the joker with a deadpan stare
The stare was ungodly drawn out, well at least in the joker's mind anyway so he decided to interrupt it with a gist or rather a funny quip.
"Something caught your eye by any chance"?, usually lines like that are the main cause of a trigger for some folk, especially those who come in contact with an homicidal artist such as the joker, however befitting an ex soldier and current mercenary slade wilson remained composed, calm, and stoic. However the joker did not let the moment to develop into another uncomfortable silence.
"let me guess you wonder where is the missing member that was supposed to tag along, am I right?, but before he could continue to speak Deathstroke cut him off, mid sentence that is,
"No, in all due honesty I don't give a rats ass about this little squad of misfits psychos or anti social pricks, what does get under my skin are people who force me out of my…. let's say for the moment sabbatical". And to further illustrate his point he swiftly and unexpectedly grabbed the joker by the throat, mangling his nice suit along the way.
Continuing where he left of… "so I'll give you one chance to convince me to stand down"…
"Or else"? Joker asks UN-phased and unimpressed, "or else I carve you into tiny pieces that could not fill a suitcase". the joker at this point and time couldn't help but burst into laughter
"Ha ha ha Well that's oddly specific, now taking a page out of your book, I couldn't care either way, now back on point our missing member turned out to be the missing link…. or perhaps even worse is a missing link who dares to try and think he has the right to let's say…. evolve?, so either way he had to be made an example of…"
Never losing is nerve the joker, before being set down to his feet sensed that someone was intruding on his and death stroke's conversation. You know it's rude and untactful even to ease-drop on another's private chat?". now the culprit being gizmo wouldn't give a shit either way, instead opting to find a snack and a drink in the dinning room.
The joker hating the notion of being ignored by anyone decided to rattle the cages once being released completely by now an apathetic death stroke. "Then again that's the trouble with genius level IQ's, brilliant in one major while being lacking in others, which seems to include basic manners in your case, isn't that right Micron old boy?". at this point Gizmo was un-moving and almost unresponsive.
'I've been insulted before that was nothing new, heck I almost expect it by now, but I'll be damned if I'll start getting shit by scum and rejects… no even worse circus rejects'. the atmosphere in the room got tense yet again like the three way duel from the most famous western spaghetti, drawing out time adding more to tension with every passing second until one sound broke it. It was a bottle of beer which Gizmo held, now one might think that it broke by accident but it wasn't, it was broke deliberately to make a makeshift shiv in which Gizmo could stab the joker to death, but before he could even make a move he felt a jolt of pain followed by excessive bleeding from the palm of his hand as the joker threw a switch blade from his jacket in a fashion that resembled a knife throwing act from a carnival/ circus show at such speed that it broke the rest of what remained from the bottle lodging into Gizmo glass shards as well.
Now if we're done mocking about gents I propose we divide the assets of our deceased comrade equally among ourselves and indulge ourselves to their own vices before we… how did you put it Death strike?… deploy if I remember it right?".
Remarkably on point was death strokes only reply to the whole ordeal which didn't bother the joker even to the slightest, however as if only noticing just now.
Come now Gizmo old boy, we already established time and time again that you have no basic manners the least you can do is attend to your wounds, it's incredibly inconsiderate to our more than gracious host….. not to mention it's a shame to deface such exquisite looking furniture…. he he he he… now I'm off to have my jollies…. Au revoir… ha ha ha ha". when the maniacal laughing stopped Gizmo noticed that deathstroke didn't bother to stick around leaving him alone in the empty dinning room tending to his bruised arm and more importantly bruised ego.