Alexandera trudged down the stairs, checking that all the lights were shut off as she passed each door. Edward had already packed up what little food his girls had brought into the still sandy cooler. He even made sandwiches to snack on for the drive home.
Home. The thought still made The Chef frown at the idea, but that gripping urge to run wasn't there anymore.
"We should make good time, the traffic into Gotham is always light." Edward stated once Alexander stepped into the living room. "I'm going to shut the breaker off, would you please unlock the gate?" Alexandera yawned her agreement. They had stayed up well into the night, drinking shitty beer and talking, at one point dragging him into the stumbling footsteps of the time warp, but she was eager to return to her diner. Edward looked as tired as she felt, but he didn't push her to stay longer. Grabbing the keys as she passed, she shielded her eyes from the rising sun. It'd be nice to be back in the overcast of Gotham's gloomy skies.
It took a solid five minutes to walk to the end of the sloping driveway, to the gate locking the rest of the world away from the lighthouse, keys jingling in her hand, behind her, she could hear the rumble of Edwards cars engine. As she lifted the key to the lock, something caught her attention.
Snatching it from between the chain link fence, Alexandera dragged the well oiled gate to the side, letting Edward pass. Closing the gate, clicking the lock back into place, she climbed into the passenger seat, Edward passing his phone over, a music app already opened.
"The Diner is already aware of our expected arrival."
"Oh? How-" a Twitter alert flashed on his phones screen. "Pft. Right." Alexandera rolled her eyes fondly. Edward slowly made his way down the overgrown switchbacks. She toyed with the idea of trolling his Twitter account, but decided against it
"Did..." Edward started, pausing a moment before continuing. "Do you feel better? After being here?" Alexandera hummed, settling on a soft lofi playlist.
"Yeah, this was nice, Puzzles. Kinda sucks, leaving so soon, but I gotta make sure the diner doesn't burn down." She rolled her window down, resting her arms on the sill.
"Well... Should you ever find yourself needing reprieve, you are more than welcome here." Edward softly said. "I'll have a copy of the key made for you."
"Thanks, Edward." Alexandera smiled.
She opened her hand once they made it to the main road, the wind picking up and blowing her hair around.
The origami bird fell to the road.
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Hodgepodge had not burned to the ground, but Arkham did have a mysterious fire break out. Alexandera has shocked, truly, at the news of several convicts breaking out as well. Including Joker.
God rest her poor egg stash, she'd need to double up her next order with Andre.
Jarvis had stopped by at some point while she was gone, and left her a bouquet of roses in her work office, a letter attached that started eloquent and sweet before devolving into ramblings of awkward love confessions, a spill staining the ink. She'd need to check up on him.
The biggest surprise was Todd. He'd apparently convinced a few of her patrons to try out his clothing. Mouse looked ridiculous in a cream colored knitted sweater, but then he'd pulled the collar down, exposing a dark lining inside.
"It's reinforced with a lightweight Kevlar weave! Not enough to stop a bullet, but a knife will have a hard time puncturing it!" Todd proudly gushed, adjusting the sleeves.
"Couldn't ya have made it... Less glitzy?" Deker shouted from his seat, feet resting on the table. Alexandera threw a sanitizer rag at his face, and he sheepishly moved, wiping the dirt from the table. "Sorry, Mama."
"Why are you making cottage core armour?" Alexandera asked, Marcus topping off her coffee with whiskey. Todd cheeks flushed a deep red, and he averted his eyes
"Well after you brought me here, I did what you said, started talking to people. I said I wanted to make clothes anyone could wear, but Gotham's... A lot scarier than I realized!" Alexandera grunted, she supposed it would be for a goody two shoes. "And it got me thinking that everyone wants to feel safe, right? Why not make fashion, function!" He gestured again to Mouse, who looked wholly uncomfortable. The Chef hummed, thinking.
"Darker colors, hoodies especially." Todd blinked. "You need to market to the masses. The masses here don't want to stand out. Well, most of them, anyway."
"I'll make note of that! Thank you so much, Ma'am." Alexandera choked on her coffee at his too innocent blinding smile.
"It's Chef, dumb ass."
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"Thank you for coming, Miss Fox. Master Damien is currently at school, before you ask." Alfred slid her an import beer across the kitchen island. "He mentioned you took a little vacation? I trust you enjoyed yourself." Alexandera nodded, the beer wheat heavy, mildly sweet.
"Yeah, it was nice. Never been to beach before, so that was fun." Alfred smiled serenely. "So, what's up Al?"
"Master Damien's birthday is fast approaching, and I believe he would be delighted by your presence, and possibly a dish." Alexandera was taken aback.
"He never mentioned his birthday before..."
"As you are aware, his upbringing..." Alfred trailed off, and The Chef nodded in understanding. "Master Bruce has attempted to celebrate his birthday in the past, but his efforts have thus far been rebuked."
"And you think I can change that." The Chef stated, grimacing.
"You have done a remarkable job at teaching Damien to... Be a child. He respects and adores you," Alexandera flinched slightly. "I believe a joint effort on his next lesson of childhood should be the joys of a birthday celebration."
"Joint effort, huh? Al, how down right Slytherin of you." Alfred scoffed.
"Miss Fox, I look better in blue." Suddenly, his serene smile dropped a fraction. "I have already ordered the petting zoo, I do hope you are not allergic to dander."
"Petting Zoo?!"
"You weren't aware? Master Damien has a way with animals." Alexandera kept her mouth shut against the joke threatening to break free.
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The streets of Gotham were silent. Not a gunshot or scream to be heard for miles. It set The Chef's teeth on edge and hair on end. It was uncanny how calm the streets were, yet the air was oppressive, and not just with the usual mist that clung to the city.
Kyle took point, Gary to her left, Marcus a step behind her as they led her through the winding back alleys of Upper Gotham.
"So what exactly is going on?" Alexandera murmured, hands in her pockets. The little vial of fear gas bumping her fingers.
"There has been worries about Red Hood, his rise, Falcone's death, Hodge-Podge, and you at large." Marcus supplied, his tone stony.
"Me?" A pause. "Wait, his fucking name is Red Hood?" The Chef laughed breathily. No one else laughed.
"Whether you like it or not, Boss, you've got sway and power. Rules were broken rescuing you, and The Stewards are getting worried." Kyle led them to a dead end, before kneeling down. Gary scrambled next to him, and together they lifted the covering to a manhole. "Careful going down, the ladders get slick." The Chef wrinkled her nose, the faint sewer smell raising from the manhole making her stomach flip, but started down the ladder. Surprisingly, no raw sewage flowed in the channel. Her boys followed after, and the sound of the cover being slid back into place echoed near deafeningly in the caverns. The flashlights Gary had given them glowed a faded yellow.
"Old sewer system, huh?" Kyle nodded as he passed, leading the way deeper and down.
"Yeah, we struck up a deal with Killer Croc for the area years ago. Rumor has it the original plans were lost when the Old Wayne's went gentrifying Gotham, so even the city workers don't know about them." Gary's voice bounced around the walls. "Only the homeless and Goonion members can navigate down here without getting lost." He sounded strangely proud and The Chef coughed to hide her snickering. Goonion. What a ridiculous name.
"You're all members, then?" The Chef side stepped a dead rat.
"Marcus ain't, but me an' Gary are." Kyle stated, taking a left, his flashlight flickering briefly. Alexandera cocked her head towards Marcus, who shrugged.
"I was pretty indispensable to Joker, I was lead toxin maker." Marcus said nonchalantly, The Chef frowned. "Didn't need to join."
"I can't believe I forget you idiots are criminals sometimes."
"We ain't been criminals since joining your crew, Boss." Kyle tossed over his shoulder.
"And that's the problem..." Marcus muttered under his breath. They came to a stop In front of a rusty steel door, Kyle doing a series of elaborate knocks and pauses then stood back, waiting. The door squealed open, light blooming from the entry, half blinding The Chef as her and her boys walked in.
The first thing she noticed before her sight adjusted to the well lit room was heat, it was far warmer than the tunnels. Then, it was the hushed voices surrounding her. As her vision cleared, she took stock of the folding poker chairs and barley held together couches crowded together. People filled the room, many she recognized from her diner, many more she didn't. Those closest to Alexandera and her Boys greeted them quietly, the exuberance she was use to from her diner gone. Marcus gently grabbed Alexandera's elbow, leading her to an alcove off to the side. There, she saw Bob, Joker's right-hand man, dressed in a fitted suit, briefcase at his feet.
"Miss Fox, good to see you again. Glad you could make it." Bob reached out and shook her and Marcus's hand. "I'm here representing Joker's men tonight, hope you don't mind me stealing them for the night." The Chef shrugged.
"To be fair, I don't know what going on, Marcus won't really tell me outright, and I'm not about to make assumptions." Bob eyed Marcus, nodding.
"I advised him not to tell you. Your genuine reaction might help out in the long run." Bob picked his briefcase up, opening it to reveal a thick binder of papers, and a small bottle of vodka. The later he held out to The Chef. "Long story short, be prepared to pay some dues." Taking the offered liquor, the sound of wood striking wood washed over the din of the room. People scrambled into chairs, as five men, and four women walked single file to a long table before the crowd, waiting until the room was silent.
"Will the Representatives please step forward." Several people stood and walked to the long table, even someone still in the split suit Two-Faces gang wore when "working." Bob clapped his hand on Alexandera's shoulder as he passed. Tazer stood at the front as well, wearing all black. Echo and Query dressed in Edwards green. A roll call was done, Bob being the Joker's Rep. Deker was standing as well, apparently representing non gang affiliated criminals. The man doing the call locked eyes with Alexandera, setting his price of paper down. "Will you step forward, Ma'am?" Alexandera scowled, but began walking.
"It's Chef." She crossed her arms once she was In front of the long table, making note of the names on the little folded sheets of paper. Ricky.
"Right. Miss Chef, you have been summoned by The Goonion Council to hopefully clear up some worries we have regarding your rise to power." The Chef could feel the pinch in her brow, could hear the whispers behind her. "While I'm sure we all appreciate a safe place in public, we can't ignore the fact that a large scale gang war was started to simply rescue you."
"I didn't ask to be kidnapped or rescued, asshole!" Alexandera spat, Marcus fingers touching her elbow as if to hold her back. "Red Hood did that himself, and my patrons saved me, I didn't ask for that!" Ricky nodded, scribbling on his sheet of paper.
"'Patrons'... Noted, we'll have our records updated to refer to your goons as such." The Chef flinched.
"My goons?!" Ricky ignored her, continuing.
"Many unaffiliated goons and those a part of Gallery member gangs have made note they wish to join your crew. While The Joker lent you your men, there is a process in place to ensure that a power vacuum is avoided, you cannot exceed a certain number of members with your ranking in Gotham. Trading is not uncommon, but you don't have the members to offer such a trade, and should you take in another Gallery Members goons without trade, fees are to be paid per goon taken to both the Goonion and the Gallery member in question."
"The Unaffiliated are willin' to join." Deker piped up from The Chef's right. "Our numbers won't tip any scales, and won't step on Gallery toes." A woman at the table, name card reading Elana, spoke.
"Was this vote unanimous?"
"After the fuckers who joined Red Hood left, yes." The whispers grew louder.
"How many left?" Deker answered '63.', Elana frowned, pulling out her phone and tapped away on it. "That brings his numbers up to 272. He is close to exceeding The Joker. If we account for the Mafia Lords under his umbrella, he exceeds the Top Three." Elana looked to Ricky, who shook his head.
"We will address that later. Miss Chef, should you hire the Unaffiliated, you will need to pay the dues expected of Gallery Members. Insurance, death dues, which we waived during the rescue operation as that was when you were not a Gallery associate."
"Hold the fucking phone!" The Chef growled, hand running through her hair in an effort to calm herself. "What the fuck are y'all going on about? Dues? Gallery? I run a fucking diner, not a gang!" Ricky frowned, looking as confused as she felt.
"You have had tribute paid in the form of goods and money by the Unaffiliated and by hired Goons. You have been sighted with Gallery Members Penguin, Joker, Quinn, Riddler, Hatter, and Scarecrow, and have well known dealings with them. You have had operations ran under your name. The blackmailing of Glitzies at the Wayne Manor Party being your largest, purposeful, one. And now have a burgeoning rivalry with a new villain that has already led to many deaths, and now Goons asking to transfer to your... Patrons." Ricky punctuated each point by counting on his fingers.
"Half those 'dealings' we're fucking dates!" Alexandera sputtered, her ears hot as she flushed at the admission. Half the table before her looked impressed, the over half shocked. "I'm-I'm a fucking chef. I hired my Boys after Joker gave them to me, but that's it! I'm not a Gallery member!"
"If you haven't joined the Gallery officially then we will happily bring you into the Goonion." One man at the table grinned widely, his name tag reading Dan. "It be a nice 'fuck you' to them." Some in the crowd laughed, others defending their 'Bosses'.
"Are y'all fucking deaf?! I'm not a crime lord!" Alexandera turned to Marcus, grabbing his arm pleadingly. "Help me out!" She hissed as people began talking over each other. Marcus inhaled, then bellowed.
"Boss would like to call a recess!" It took a moment for the room to quiet.
"Very well, we will take a short recess, then reconvene." Voices picked up again, and Alexandera shoved her way back to the alcove Bob had been, the small bottle of vodka downed before she made it.
"What the fuck, Marcus?! Gallery? Goonion?" Alexandera flinched when her hand caught a knot in her hair. "People want to join my gang?! I don't even have a gang!" Marcus pulled a mini bottle of whiskey from his pockets, and offered it to her. Her hand nearly left an after image with how fast she snatched it.
"Boss, it might be a good thing." He raised his hands in a peaceful gesture when she snarled at him, a stream of whiskey and spittle falling from her mouth. "You already got the loyalty for it. You'd have more protection if Red Hood tries to come for you again. And even if you don't want to go down the criminal route, plenty of people want to go legit, but have never been given the opportunity, not like you gave us." Alexandera jaw dropped.
"Oh my God... Am I a do-gooder? Did I fucking save you?" The very idea made her nasueas in an odd way, Marcus gave a sly grin.
"You're a good one, Boss." The Chef audibly gagged, shoving his arm when he laughed. "Think of it this way. Red Hood is gaining members, despite a lot of people unhappy with his power and his tactics. If you get The Unaffiliated under your power, that's less power he could get." The Chef floundered, hands flailing as she spoke.
"What about Batman? If goons are suddenly running around wearing chef's coats, I'm bound straight for Black gate!" Marcus rolled his eyes.
"We both know Baby Bird won't let that happen." Alexandera mouth clocked shit, teeth rattling.
"Jesus fuck... I'd be unstoppable..." A vision of her sitting on a pile of jewels sprang to her mind unbidden, and she shook her head hard, ridding her brain of the idea. "I just wanted to run my diner!" Alexandera whined pitifully.
"Then do that." Marcus smiled, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Since joining up with you, my girls are happier, I get to come home uninjured and read my daughter bed time stories, and now I'll have the chance to do that with my new daughter. Kyle and Gary actually have lives now. We don't worry about cops knocking down our door. We get to be people again. There are lots of fuckers in this room, and out there who want that chance, too." His voice was softer than she'd ever heard before.
"I wasn't trying to do that."
"But you did. And you should do it again. Insurance, in case Baby Bird can't keep Batman off your back." Alexandera picked up what he was trying to convey, the realization raising goosebumps down her spine.
"Batmans about saving people... Hard to lock me away when I'm giving them a legit chance, and not tossing them into the system." Alexandera whispered, eyes wide. Marcus nodded.
"Great idea, Boss, as always." Alexandera knocked his hands off her shoulders, scoffing.
"Ew. No. Don't do that again." Ricky and his people banged on the table, the crowd settling down. "That something from your Joker days?" She picked her way through the crowd, standing next to Deker and Bob.
"Something like that." Marcus said into her ear as he took his place behind her. Ricky stood, looking straight at Alexandera. She glared right back, breathing deep to calm her nerves.
"Miss Chef, do you have anything to say before we proceed?" Alexandera nodded.
"First off, I ain't a Gallery Member, I think I'd have to be caught by Batman to count." Some at the table nodded. "Next, I'm not looking to be the next Falcone or Joker. I'm not interested in robbing banks, or freezing half the city on a summer day. I'm a Chef, first and foremost. All I want to do is run my diner, and maybe even punch a few assholes who can't pay their tab." Laughter sprang up behind her, from the corner of her eye, she swore she saw Echo or Query covering their mouth as they laughed. The Chef turned her back to the table, looking into the crowd.
"If y'all idiots want to work for me, fine. But there's no big score, no cred to be gained. You join me, you're gonna be working in a kitchen, simple as that. Red Hood has been following me around, leaving his calling card to try and scare me, but I ain't afraid of some fucker with daddy issues... Not if I got y'all with me." She ignored Marcus's stare as she made eye contact with as many in the crowd she could, someone blew their nose hard as they cried a little. The Chef turned back to the table, meeting all their appraising looks with a scowl. "I'll pay the dues, even the ones waived. I'll join the Goonion if I have too. If y'all are gonna give me power, then fuck it, I'll use it." Ricky had an excellent poker face.
"And what of the fees due to Gallery Members should you-"
"I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. I don't like owing debts." Ricky frowned at being interrupted. "Anything else?" The Chef's challenged.
"Since you are open to recruiting, I must make aware that you cannot exceed a certain number of Goons under your command. As you make your way pp the ranks, your allotments will grow, as it stands, your ranking only allows 30 goons." Alexandera rolled her eyes, they had way too many rules.
"Boss has encountered Batman twice, Robin many times, kidnapped by The Hatter twice, gassed by The Scarecrow earlier this week, and Joker held a gun to her head once." Marcus spoke from behind her. "She has won each encounter with no injury or being arrested." Jaws dropped at the table, voices raised behind her, Scarecrow's name being the most prominent. Ricky fiddled with his papers.
"I see... Well... That does put your ranking into question..." He held his paper over his mouth, the others at the table doing the same as they whispered to each other.
"What the hell, Marcus?" Alexandera muttered over her shoulder.
"Boss, you're too good to be the lowest ranking." Marcus said smugly.
"Do you have witnesses to these events?"
"Echo and I witnessed the after affects of Scarecrow's toxin." Query raised her hand.
"We were there for the Batman incidents." Alexandera heard Kyle's voice.
"And Robin!" Gary shouted.
"I drove her to Scarecrow's meeting." Mouse's voice softly called. She heard a slap, and a whimper.
"Pendejo!" Ah, there was Tazer.
"And The Hatter Incidents?"
"You wanna read the love letters he sends Boss?" Alexandera whirled around and slapped Marcus chest. He chuckled.
"It's also well known her roughing Riddler up." Echo said, laughing as she winked at Alexandera when she looked her way. "He fired a few people after that." Ricky's brow furrowed I thought.
"I suppose a few steps up in not undeserved. That is, after you pay your dues."
"I'll set that up on behalf of Boss." Marcus offered, the table nodding in agreement.
"Very well. We will settle the rest of this after our meeting. Miss Chef, if you would stay after today's proceedings, we'll get everything up to speed." Ricky banged a gavel she didn't notice before. "Now, for the next order of business, Freeze's Icer's have a greivance with Two Face's Attendants..." Marcus pulled The Chef away, and to a side door across the room. They stepped into a dirty bathroom.
"Congrats, Boss." Marcus pulled a cigarette from his jacket, lighting it up. "You're now officially a Gotham Rogue."
Alexandera could feel her head begin to pound.
"Shut the fuck up, Marcus." She pinched the bridge of her nose, her free hand outstretched. "Those better be menthol."
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There was an ungodly amount of paperwork that went into becoming a gang leader, apparently. even more stupid questions. She had to trade mark a colour for her gang. A colour! The Chef ended up just submitting the chef's coats she had ordered for Damien and her Boys as the gang uniform. Marcus snatched the bill of dues before The Chef could get a good look, but she did see a coma in the numbers and blanched. The Goon even asked what her Rogue name was, and Deker passed by quickly with 'Mama Chef!' before he was pulled away with a laugh at The Chef's blank eye roll. As they left, the Goonion member handling the paperwork gave her a warning that when, she does deal with the... Goon trading, that any fights that result are to be handled by her alone, and any goon hurt in the fighting is to be repaid out of her own pocket. Marcus, Gary, and Kyle ushered her out of the meeting room and back into the sewers, where Bob, Echo and Query, and the man in the split Two Face suit waited.
"I'm not in the mood for whatever your trying to pull." Alexandera groused, shoving her hand into Marcus's pocket to pull out another smoke, her finger brushing the familiar shape of a mini shot. She glared at Bob. "And fuck you, Bob! A warning would have been nice."
"It all worked out in the end. The Stewards needed to know you weren't actively trying to start a gang. They were far more lenient, especially with the worries about Red Hood." He opened his briefcase again, and pulled a paper out, offering it to The Chef. "Here's a list of Joker's men who are looking to join your crew. J will be by later to talk about it." Riddler's girls did the same, and Two Face's rep scowled as he offered his own list.
"Good Luck, Mama Chef." The Two Face Goon spat as he walked away, the soles of his dress shoes echoing in the tunnels.
"Dick." The Chef folded the papers haphazardly, shoving them into her bra strap.
"Don't worry about him, he's got a branch stuck up his ass." Query laughed. "Mr. Nygma sends his regards." The girls left, Bob trailing behind.
"I thought Joker goons wore clown masks and purple..." Alexandera said, smoke billowing from her mouth as she spoke.
"Bob probably came here right after work." Gary said, him and Kyle leading the way out.
"Work?"
"He's a big shot lawyer." Alexandera blanched.
"You're fucking with me!" Her Boys laughter echoed all around her.
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Just a note, my laptop is acting up again so i wrote this on my phones note app, is there is spelling/grammar mistakes, i do apologize t.t