Red Hood and Company – My Life as an Outlaw –
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Chapter Three: Blood Enemies
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Damian Wayne sat in a large arm chair in the study of Bruce Wayne. He'd needed to change his attire and presently, all the young boy saw was a blue eyed and black haired duplicate of Grayson, which to him was a peculiar analogy of the man's life choices in the child's own mind. He'd known by his intel and training, his prying eyes seeing just who he'd be going one day toe to toe with. Thanks to his grandfather's praises on such a man, just as the one seated across from the grandson of the demon's head, he'd pry a bit but not so quickly. This character was a snake charmer by his bio. His mother had warned the boy about men like that, like Deathstroke for example.
"You know who I am, right Damian?" So different in appearance, a natural allure in how he spoke within a calmer fashion than the disgruntled bat. Damian nodded briefly before replying back, "I do. Mother had words for your kind, the kind that never seem to give back enough to those that need as much as you do. The less fortunate, the ones you've sworn to assist in times of strife."
"Did your mother or grandfather ever explain the mission of their organization to you, even the parts that seemed, unethical?"
Why would –
"They told me about how unifying the world in a way that made for a peaceful resolution is pointless. That to control the people's hearts and minds, action was not enoguh. That the wisest could always prosper for the sake of the growth of their power, yet that void and voice inside cannot be quelled by material things in the same way. As I see it, you hide your true motives to the world."
"I have to, the Batman can't give in to temptation. Not like you think."
"Just like how you hurt mother, when you broke her heart?"
Bruce pulled away. "Talia, she told you about what….I doubted you knew –
"I know a bit more than you would believe, Wayne."
"Bruce." The man lowered his eyes, thinking of what else the little spy knew about his personal files.
"I know, but do you know anything about what Jason was trying to tell you." The boy sat back, a leg crossed over the other, arms equally across his lean chest. "About Deathstroke's plan to ruin my family."
"There was a late report of activity near…. but no. nothing was –
"Some detective you turned out to be." Damian got up and rolled his eyes, Bruce shot up as the kid turned his head to the doorway. Feet making the stride, it was obviously a show. Just to see the Bat quake before any punishments could be given.
"Damian; we're not done here."
"I am." The kid sniffed, rather rudely. "The fact that your detective skills are sub-par at best, that makes this "interrogation" useless in saving my mother or in preserving and salvaging my grandfather's legacy from that coward. You're not going to be of a great assistance, so I'll take my business, elsewhere."
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There was a scuffle as the doors swung back. Dick, Alfred and Jason all were there, mouths zipped as Dami wrenched himself free from the commanding grip of the man that was definitely afraid to see he boy off. Jason's eyes moved to look at the clock. He had to think of a way. Even if he had to swipe a few checks off of Bruce. Anything to be sure that Dami was not going to get into more trouble or find out the truth.
"Are you sweating, Jason?" Dick frowned while noting that Jason looked petrified as stone by seeing the scene of Bruce nearly correcting his charge in front of the faux assassin. "No, I just sweat. I'm on the run from a maniac, and Dami?"
The snobbish prince looked at Jason, mouth opening a bit before he sputtered out a rather hectic protest.
"This man expects me to stay and sit quietly! I am not an object, I have rights! We shouldn't listen to this half – witted Bat any –
"He's who we've got." Jason snapped back. "As your current guardian while this is all going on, you need to listen. If he says you are making a scene, think about your actions or we're as good as joining Talia in a cell somewhere in one of Deathstroe's lairs. You got that, kid?"
"Jay, you're being to harsh –
"You're being too meek, Goldie." Jason bit back at his moody big brother. Perfect everything, but still fodder in his eyes. Not Dami, the kid was smarter than that. A spitfire, sure. But he wasn't an idiot, he knew what was at stake here.
"I…I am, s…sorr….sorry, Mr. Wayne."
"I told you." Bruce let go of Dami's arm as his demeanor was less threatening this time to the boy's ego. "I'm not going to be the enemy here, Damian. Though you're welcome to stay for now, we'll have to make sure you're not running off on your own. Deathstroke is a hunter, he's never lost a target before and you two are no exception. He sees you as royal only in Talia, but to that end, you'd be useful to him and we can't allow your family to be exploited for personal gain."
"Grim much, B?" Dick shuddered. "You're going to give him nightmares. Where is he staying? Jason? Should we disc –
"I want a safe house, temporarily set aside. We'll take care of ourselves –
"Not this time, Master Todd."
Jason gave the man a questioning look. "Todd? You know me, Al. You all…. oh…" He swallowed. "You don't want us to go back."
"You could, but…that means you'd be dead again. Why risk it?"
Dick's words were the harshest yet as Jason tugged the male's arm and dragged him off to have a nice long talk.
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"Stop it, right now. I know what you're doing."
Dick frowned, acting the innocent in front of me. How dare he! Mother f –
"I'm serious. You're trying to get the kid to cozy up, and me too? What is this?? Mentally derail Jason's career week?"
"Not about you, Jace." Dick tutted, sounding so fucking right about everything. "I've worked with kids who need to know how the system is, and yeah. I'm sorry Slade went after Talia and took out Ra's…which is interesting because…What about the pool? His perfect plan B in the caves??"
"He didn't make it in time, I told you."
"Why should any of us really trust you again, when Bruce fought to save you twice??"
"I…Can't deal with his crying over me dissing the clan. That was my choice –
"You aren't even sane!"
It, was on.
"You. Are such an asshole, you know that?" I snap, I throw my hands up. He's so, so so close to getting shanked! I don't care if I gouge HIS eye out too….
"You will NEVER take my brother from me; you'll get off our backs and move it. Now."
"Make me."
If I hit that smug bastard, I lose. I lose my trust with Dami and Talia. I lose my promise in myself to ruin this family to build my own. I lose, but who even benefits but the man that made it all possible in the first place?
"No." Spitting and swallowing my disgust would teach this prick to push me. I tense up, my muscles are hard to look away from. Dick grew an ass though, not because he is one.
"Thought so." Dick acted the hero, even when he's acting this way to take what's mine. Always to take. Whether it's B's affection or a friend…. I swear, I'll never become this prefect. Damian won't even look his direction.
"You haven't changed, Jay."
"Neither have you, Dick." I spit the last part. An insult, and I hope he keeps his name as a brand. A brand of all of his mockeries and failures till his last days as a creep who insists on driving me to keep killing. He knew Slade, he thought I was unaware of their truce. Fuck, he's just watching out…. for number one.
How ironic….
He's changed. He doesn't give a flying fuck about me. (Recall, Dick even said that Jason's delusional mind was never saved but kept away shortly by Talia. Now that she's not here, he's going to fall apart unless Dami stays as his anchor. In a way, if he loses his brother, he'll literally lose his own mind to madness.)
"Let's see what the verdict is. If you let Dami stay, because he really has no place better to stay but here, you too. You could, go clean. Just like we all have." He's getting sappy on me, shit! Abort!
"I'll make the call, even if it goes your way. Kay, boy scout?"
"I may have to keep you on house arrest." Lilts the little shit.
"I make have to deflate your fat ass with my blade to shut you up." I sing song back. Making his face go red and then back to pale.
Oh yeah, that one left a shiner I am going to preserve for a long, "ass" time.
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Dami has to get out, I have to leave first though. I can formulate a plan to get his innocent tush to the only safe house I do know that Bruce left. Door is probably not unlocked, but I can find some loser willing to sell a shitty grenade, or I'll take it. This city owes me that much. I used to be its crime boss once, a killer of crime bosses that caused so much pain. Two face, Black Mask, J –
"I'm not staying behind."
The noise in the hall is easy to decipher. His footsteps are soft, a given curiosity and a worry in his movements as he touches the wall for some sense of security, he is just a kid. Maybe…
NO.
Talia and I both know what he is, he's a prodigy. Something I wish I was.
"I won't see you off, you are…are ordered to stay here with me, Todd!"
That, is very interesting. He's clingy?
"I won't be out long. Just going to scope out the view, but you and I don't wanna bring attention to ourselves, right? Alfred won't pry, right?" I raise my brow to be certain. How can it be in this household? They all love secrets, keeping them mostly from each other.
"I shall see to the young master Damian as I have you and Master Dick, Master Jason. You both have my word; no harm shall befall this boy while under my master Bruce's care."
"Excellent." I grin and pluck up a few things. Only a few things I still fit in from the attic. "You'll be going in that? Should I cover –
"I need to go do this."
"You don't need to run off alone again, Jason." Bruce moves through the door way. My fists swap to adjusting my hoodie straps. "You still look like a teenager. It's not ok."
"I am, in a way still getting the hang of facing that fact." I snip. "I won't take all night. Watch him, be safe."
How they all look at me, I have no choice but to expect it. Like some deadbeat relative, I pull out my cell once I'm only a few miles out by cab. This city is big, but I'm no pushover. This is my hometown. It is trapped in time for life. Never a next time, never to next year. Bruce gave it away. Gotham is doing a lot of shit that I don't even think I've kept up on since.
The drunks in the alley ignore me as I make myself look like a threat. Touch me, and I get wired. It's a warning. You just let them know you won't take shit. The place is not far as the rain is coming down. The rain. Really…makes it feel too dramatic. Should I play that tiny violin yet?
The locks are secure, so I tug out a gadget from my days as Hood, actively. From the side…the window is definitely a better option.
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Dusty, but I can clear it out in time to keep us going... A working oven, toilet…. oh, and the fridge is clean as Al's own digs. I look at the walls. Room to put my stuff, a perfect display case canvas. A bedroom, a couch. I think of how mercs like Slade…
~ Shut it, brain. He's not worth a thought bubble. ~
I got a place. I just have to start the process. Talk to B. Get him on my side, then pull out the welcome mat.
I smile to myself and let the door shut behind me. "You are so going to work out for us, this is my town after all." I chuckle. " Not , the bat's kingdom to burn to the ground."
Not with me in it to raise even more fists into the air. I'm not a good guy, and Dick head is right. I could give him a run for his ego. Mine is far worse than any minor criminal's.
I'm a damn outlaw. Yeah, has a nice ring. Let's build on it.
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So, with Dami left to skulk, I can drag out a few of my old tricks. I haggle some gear off of a dude who's from the area. Ski mask, stupid cat burglar…I think of why B isn't after Selina, but heck. I'd tap that if he's too blind to see how having her around is a benefit for this city. We all have our doubts with working with criminals, but the greater good ain't so cut and dry. Dami is smart. He'd whip Bruce into shape the first chance, but being his age and status…
Nope, it's go - time. I get my grapple and make sure my brown contacts are in. Time to rescue the prince from his tall tower.
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The manor is quiet at night. No multiple dogs like the drug lords have. Just one mutt.
Ace isn't the new boy. Titus is, and he's no Ace. God, he's... weird?
He reminds me of Slade, if Slade were a damned pointy eared grunting sack of bone and pure –
Fuck it! FO – CUS!
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Right now, Dick is getting beat up by B in the gym. Dami is reading a book he's swiped from the manor's many libraries. I have to sneak in and treat it like a kidnapping. If I get that kid to cooperate, he'll love me for life. Or kick my nuts so far up my ass, I'll be saying "thank you my prince" for an eternity !
Not my style or kink, but Dick doesn't seem to sense my presence outside. I get in close, throwing the switch as I toss a distraction to that damned dog before stepping foot on to the room's Persian rug. The library is dark. But…this was –
A rod from one of the curtains gets at my spine, I cry out, arms up as Dami growls at me. I pull up the part of my mask that he'll get. "Dami! Stop, I'm here to get you outta here. Just, cooperate…. ow…"
"Todd??" He's baffled and drops the rod. "Is this the thing you said was so very important? To stage my capture??"
"Is it not the best plan ever? So, play along. Like your mom taught you. Through deception, 101."
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Yet a few seconds tick, we get outside. I treat him like he's conked out and he's a really good mannequin at this point. Titus, that yappy terrier, fucking barks me into a heart attack. Dimmit !
Dami and I hear Dick head revving up but I'm the best with a bike – minus Red X's loss to Ding Dong Daddy. Fatso in a Harley. Why is that turning me –
I duck. A rang thrown, a tracker…
I stop. They didn't. "Dami, did they try to…. touch you? I think –
Another shot, and my ass is his. Dami tugs at his hood and we chuck the dot into the road. Lost. Dick had better be long gone, as I grip and speed up with Dami held under my coat. "It's gonna be ok." I told him, now and even sooner than I'd been capable of. "We're going someplace temporary, safe. Then I have a surprise for us, so hang on tight to me." He's not my son, my brother and I'll go as long as I can to remember that. If Talia left him all alone, then we've at least got each other.
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So, the next part; this is just temporary. Red Hood needs cash at this point and a place for some nightly activities, all while Dami needs to pick up on his lessons. He's going to arm the kid long enough to be sure Slade can't touch them. Bruce however thinks that a real crook took the boy. Guessing that won't be enough, not while he IS a detective with security cameras in every room in the manor. And the city?
Find out!
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