Hours Later
"Everything and Everyone is there, sir. Well except Master Dick and Ms. Gordon. They are still making their way from Blüdhaven to Gotham." Alfred informs Bruce, as they were in the limo, driving towards City Hall.
"And Kate?" Bruce asks and Alfred looks at the mirror so he could look at Bruce.
"Miss Kane actually wanted to give you information on a possible case. But she will be in attendance." Alfred informs and Bruce raises an eyebrow.
"What kind of case?" He questions, intrigued and looks at Alfred.
"I believe she also sent you the data, sir." Alfred follows up and Bruce then uses his Darkwear hud.
"Everything and Everyone is there, sir. Well except Master Dick and Ms. Gordon. They are still making their way from Blüdhaven to Gotham." Alfred informs Bruce, as they were in the limo, driving towards City Hall.
"And Kate?" Bruce asks and Alfred looks at the mirror so he could look at Bruce.
"Miss Kane actually wanted to give you information on a possible case. But she will be in attendance." Alfred informs and Bruce raises an eyebrow.
"What kind of case?" He questions, intrigued and looks at Alfred.
"I believe she also sent you the data, sir." Alfred follows up and Bruce then uses his Darkwear hud and sees the new file sent to him by his cousin.
"Nine men murdered outside of the city after a botched prison transport. Only witnesses were Renee and a bus driver, and the tenth victim. They both say one man did it..." Bruce lists then his eyes narrowed as he read the last section and Alfred noticed his look.
"Something wrong, sir?" He asks and Bruce leans back in his seat.
"Then he must be an exceptional fighter for her to make that comparison." Alfred says to ease Bruce's mind.
"Maybe. But whoever he is, he killed ten people. once the Gala is over, I'll talk to Gordon." He says and Alfred gives him a light smile.
"I'm glad you and the Commissioner are able to still together. Given the otherwise...new circumstances." Alfred says, and Bruce sighs.
"With Mayor Sharpe's new policy on vigilantes, and his new Task Force, you mean?" Bruce states and Alfred nods.
"Yes, I do sir. Their gear is quite impressive. They may have the means to just catch you, but the others aswell." Alfred expresses his concern.
"I won't let that happen, Alfred. Never." He assures and Alfred smiles at him.
"I know you won't, sir." The butler tells him, and Bruce has a light smile, then finally the car comes to a stop as they arrive in front of City Hall.
"Now...I believe you have a gala to host." Alfred tells him and Bruce chuckles.
Then the billionaire steps out of the limo and puts on his entrepreneur facade and starts making his way inside whilst smile for the paparazzi and reporters.
"Mr. Wayne! Smile for us!"
"Bruce, what is the purpose of the gala you're hosting?"
"Come my way, Mr. Wayne!"
"Mr. Wayne! Jack Ryder, here! About that exclusive-!"
Bruce ignores them and heads inside City Hall, straightening his suit out.
He lets out a breath and keeps up his facade before going over to greet Gotham's Elite.
City Hall District: Abandoned Apartment Complex
"We got everything ready?"
"Yeah, the bosses wants us to regroup with the others once they all head inside City Hall."
He lets out a breath and keeps up his facade before going over to greet Gotham's Elite.
A group of thugs working under the Misfits were holed up in a run-down apartment complex, prepping themselves before heading out to City Hall, following their orders.
Then Thug 3 whistled in awe and picked up a new gun that they had been supplied by an unknown dealer.
"Whoo! These guns are nice! Who did Chancer say we get these from?' He asks and Thug 2 answered him.
"Some new player in town. Big deal. Everybody's been dealing him. Even the other crime families. Also, nobody's seen him...but they know his name...Black Mask." Thug 2 explains and Thug 3 starts aiming the gun away from the others.
"Black Mask, huh? Well, whoever he is, must be loaded with cash! Or well connected...maybe both." Thug 3 finishes his sentence, turns looks to see an unknown shadow on the floor.
Confused, he quickly turns to a window, and sees a hooded figure perched on the fire escape.
"Oh crap!" He exclaims and fires the gun, startling the other Thugs.
"Whoa! Dude, what the hell?!" Thug 1 yells and Thug 3 stops firing, breathing heavily.
"Did I get him?" Thug 3 asks and Thug 1 smacks him on the head and snatches the gun away.
"What are you thinking?! Now we gotta hurry and get out of here, someone will report shots fired!" Thug 1 states and the other Thugs start packing up the weapons and destroying any evidence they would leave behind.
"B-But I saw someone on the fire-escape! I think it was one of the Bats!" Thug 3 starts to explain.
"A Bat? What they look like?" Thug 1 questions, unholstering his gun.
"I-I couldn't see! He was wearing a-" Thug 3 starts but a metal hook pops out of the ground and they turn their attention to it.
"...hood?" He finishes and the floor collapses, causing Thug 1 and 3 to fall into the old apartment below.
"ARGH!" "SHIT!" They exclaim and the others rush over to check on them.
"What happened?" Thug 2 questions and the two stand up, slightly injured.
"Someone's here! Spread out and find em!" Thug 1 and the other Thugs nod at his orders.
Thug 1 goes back to back with Thug 3 and they aim their guns, whilst rotating.
With Thug 2, he had exited the room and was walking upstairs, readying himself to shoot anything on sight.
As he got to the upper floor, a hand grabbed his AR and pulled him forward, right into a elbow.
His rifle was taken from him, and just as he regained his bearings, the unknown assailant fired the rifle, unloading several rounds into him.
Thug 2's body. went tumbling down the steps, crashing into a wall, blood leaking from his chest.
"Check upstairs! Now!" Thug 1 orders then Thugs 4 and 5 rush upstairs and their eyes widen once seeing the newly deceased corpse of their ally.
"T-Tony?" Thug 4 stammers and Thug 5 goes over and sees the bullet holes, his breathing shaking.
"He's dead...TONY'S DEAD!" Thug 5 yells, alerting the others.
"Tony's dead?" Thug 3 questions and Thug 1 raises an eyebrow, confused.
"Are you sure?" Thug 1 says, projecting his voice.
"YES! WE'RE LOOKING RIGHT AT HIM!" Thug 4 yells, his hands trembling.
"Guys, we ain't dealing with no Bat! The hell is this?" Thug 5 exclaims.
'CREAK!'
Hearing the noise from in front of them, Thug 4 and 5 rushed upstairs and turned their flashes on.
Thug 4 went down the left hallway and Thug 5 went down the right.
Thug 4 then opened a door to one of the apartments and walks in, unaware of the figure behind him.
He passes through the living room into the kitchen, checking it, and moves out.
Just as Thug 4 was at the door frame, his eye gaze at the mirror and he sees the figure standing behind him.
His eyes widen, and he turns to shoot him but the figure grabs his gun and pushes it upwards, making him miss.
The figure then headbuts Thug 4 and kicks him against the sink, making him crash against the window.
The glass breaks, and the figure grabs Thug 4's face and grinds it against the glass.
"ARGHHHHH!" Thug 4 screams in pain before eventually the figure pulls him towards him and snaps his neck.
'CRACK!'
The figure then tosses the body into the tub and walks out the apartment.
Upon hearing the scream, Thug 5 rushes from the right hall just in time to see the figure, his light finally allowing him to properly see him.
The figure wore a leather jacket with red outlines and padding on his shoulders, and a hood covering his face. And black gloves with red padding and fingers.
He also wore grey combat pants with two gun holsters on the side. Also a belt with several pouches on it, with a red bat symbol holding it together. Then was black combat boots with red shin guards strapped over them.
But the main thing that drew Thug 5's attention...was his symbol. Grey body armor with a red bat combined with a skull placed in center.
A/N: I'LL CHANGE THE COVER, SO Y'ALL CAN SEE
"The hell?" He says and the figure turns towards him, revealing a red helmet, with white eyes narrowing at him.
Then Thug 3 rushes up and sees the figure, then proceeds to train his gun on him.
"Stand right where I can see you freak!" He orders and the figure lets out a chuckle.
"Nah...I don't think so." He retorts in a distorted voice, scaring them.
Then in a swift motion, the figure throws a red batarang at the barrel of Thug 3's rifle.
As he fires, the AR backfires and he gets knocked back into a wall.
The figure then drops a pellet and smoke covers the hallway.
"AHH SHIT!" Thug 5 exclaims and fires his rifle, rapidly, trying to hit the figure in anyway possible.
But the figure does a front roll, dodging the gunfire and slices the barrel with his sword.
Thug 5 then dropped the rifle and tried swing at the figure. He however misses, as the figure dodges it and stomps on his knee, breaking it.
"GAH!" Thug 5 exclaims and falls to his left knee.
He looks up and sees the figure raising his sword, and quickly holds up his hands.
"W-Wait, Wait-!" He tries to plead but his throat gets slit and Thug 5 stops mid-sentence, his blood spilling.
He falls to his side, and the figure waves his sword, the blood comes off, then he sheaths it on his back, neck to his crowbar.
The figure then goes over to Thug 3 and unholsters one of his dual pistols.
Thug 3 stands up and takes out a knife, and swings at the figure repeatedly, but misses every one.
The figure then sidesteps the next swing and elbows Thug 3 in his head, making him stumble forward.
Just as Thug 3 was about to recover, the figure draws one of his dual pistols with quick speed and shoots him in the head.
His body drops to the floor, and the figure holsters his pistols and raises an eyebrow.
"Hmmm...One, two, three, four, five...I'm missing-" He starts and hears a 'CLICK!' sound behind him.
"Heh. Nevermind." The figure finishes and turns around to face Thug 1.
"Cool. You didn't run. Usually when goons like you experience a different situation than what you're used to (especially in Gotham) You run." The figure says, casually and Thug 1 steps forward, his finger pressing lightly on the trigger.
"W-Who the hell are you?!" Thug 1 demands but comes out a pathetic beg and the figure lifts up his hood, revealing the entirety of his helmet.
"Call me...the Red Hood." He admits and in quick speed disarms Thug 1 and aims his own rifle at him.
"And now that I introduced myself...what's yours?" Red Hood asks and Thug 1 let's out a heavy breath.
"K-Kenny." He tells and Red Hood tilts his head, raising an eyebrow before chuckling.
"I'm sorry. Did you just say...your name is Kenny?" He asks and Kenny nods, confused.
After a brief moment, Red Hood lets out a laugh, and starts snickering.
"HA! Kenny always dies right?" Red Hood jokes and Kenny looks at him in fear.
Red Hood notices this and sighs.
"That's a reference, I don't you think understand. And yeah, I'm going to kill you..." He states, matter of factly and walks down Kenny until he is against a wall.
"But not before I get info, of course. You guys were heading to the Wayne Gala. Let me guess, got something to do with the Misfits?" Red Hood questions and Kenny nods.
"Y-Yeah. The bosses wants the whole place locked down. Nobody getting in or out." Kenny informs and Red Hood face palms, while still aiming the rifle.
"A simple glorified hostage situation? That's the best they could come up with?" He questions and Kenny gulps, audibly.
"I-I guess so." He says and Red Hood removes his hand from his face.
"Okay. These guns. They can do some serious damage. You got em from a dealer named Black Mask?" Red Hood asks and Kenny nods again.
"Yeah, Yeah! New guy, already climbing towards the top! Heard he's got ton of money and connections! Even taken control of the entire drug trade." He reveals then sirens start blaring out side the apartment complex.
"Shit. Lucky you, Kenny! You ain't dying today." Red Hood states then punches Kenny in the gut, making him fall over.
"But listen good. Get out the game, while you still can. If I catch doing any shit like this again...I'll put you 6 feet under. Got it?" He threatens and Kenny nods his head rapidly.
"Good. Now...go to sleep!" Red Hood says and deck him with the rifle, knocking him out.
He hears the door being knocked down and quickly makes his way out of the apartment, by opening a window and grappling away to another roof.
"Sorry Bruce...time to crash your party."