Chapter 3: The Reckoning
Red X crouched on a rooftop, his masked eyes fixed on the towering insurance building below. Through his visor, he mapped out the layout, memorizing every entry point and camera blind spot. His fists clenched as his target loomed near.
"Your end will finally come," he muttered, his voice cold and deliberate.
With a leap, he fired his grappling hook, the line pulling taut as he swung across the gap. His boots collided with the skulls of two unsuspecting guards, knocking them unconscious in one swift, brutal motion. He landed gracefully and adjusted his gauntlets before smashing through the glass doors of the building.
Inside, chaos erupted as he hurled X-shaped shuriken, disabling more guards with precise strikes. Alarms wailed, but he paid them no mind, striding down the dimly lit hallways like a shadow of vengeance. His resolve burned with every step.
Meanwhile, at the Titans' Tower, Nightwing grimaced as Cyborg worked furiously at his console. Bandages wrapped tightly around Nightwing's ribs were a testament to their last encounter with Red X.
"Victor, what's going on?" Beast Boy asked, his voice laced with concern.
Cyborg's human eye narrowed as his mechanical one scanned the feed. "It's X. He's hitting some kind of insurance building. Looks more like a front to me, though. He's tearing through these guys like they owe him money."
Raven crossed her arms. "What would he want with an insurance company?"
"I don't know, but we'd better stop him before things get worse," Cyborg said grimly. He turned to Nightwing.
Nightwing stood slowly, wincing but determined. "Agreed. Titans, GO!"
Red X dragged a struggling guard into a corner, wrenching the man's arm behind his back. The guard groaned in pain, his fear palpable.
"Where is he?" X snarled, twisting the arm further.
"Fifth floor! His office—it's there!" the guard blurted, desperation overriding loyalty.
Red X shoved the man aside and sprinted toward the elevator. His gloved finger hovered over the button before he pulled a device from his belt and jammed it into the control panel. The elevator doors slid shut and rocketed toward the fifth floor at a speed far faster than regulation.
When the doors dinged open, Red X stepped out into an eerily quiet hallway. At the end of it stood a door, its surface marred with streaks of red paint that almost looked like blood. He approached cautiously, pushing the door open to reveal an office adorned with knives of various sizes, each gleaming under the flickering fluorescent light.
From behind a chair, a low, sinister chuckle filled the room.
"I heard my men snitched me out," came a voice, smooth and mocking. "But I'm curious—who are you, exactly?"
The chair swiveled around, revealing the Joker in all his chaotic glory. His green hair was slicked back, his chalk-white skin almost luminous under the dim light. A wide, messy red grin stretched across his lips, splitting his face like a gash. He wore a purple leather jacket, unzipped to expose his pale, bare chest, with matching pants and green gloves.
"You know who I am!" X growled, his voice trembling with rage. "I've come to kill you!"
The Joker leaned forward, studying the masked intruder with theatrical curiosity. "Hmm... kill me, you say? I'm flattered. But you'll have to give me a hint. You see, I have so many enemies. Did I steal your lunch money? Or maybe... I ruined your life!" His grin widened.
"You tortured me!" X roared, his fists clenching.
Joker's expression shifted briefly before lighting up with recognition. "Ohhhhh, now I get it." He tapped his chin mockingly. "Do you have the slightest idea how little that narrows it down?"
Without warning, Joker ducked under his desk and whipped out a shotgun. The barrel gleamed as he fired a deafening shot, but Red X rolled to the side, the blast tearing through a line of mounted knives instead. X lunged forward, slamming a kick into the desk and flipping it onto its side.
Joker cackled as he pumped the shotgun, firing another round at Red X. The pellets shattered a line of framed photographs on the wall, but X was already moving. With a flick of his wrist, he hurled an X-rang. The sharp projectile sliced through the air and struck the shotgun, sending it skidding across the floor.
"Nice aim, kid!" Joker sneered, unfazed. "But I've always got a backup plan."
Before Red X could close the distance, Joker whipped out a revolver, aiming directly at his opponent's chest.
Instinctively, X dove to the side, expecting the sharp crack of a gunshot. Instead, a loud pop! filled the room as a tiny flag unfurled from the barrel, emblazoned with the word BANG!.
"You're really gonna love this part!" Joker giggled. He yanked the flag out of the gun's barrel and brandished it like a makeshift blade. "Who says I don't recycle?"
With surprising speed, Joker lunged at X, slashing with the sharpened pole. X twisted out of the way, narrowly avoiding the first swing, but Joker's chaotic movements were unpredictable. Another swipe tore through his suit, leaving a shallow cut across his side.
"Not so tough now, huh?" Joker taunted, his grin widening as he struck again. This time, the flagpole grazed X's mask, leaving a jagged crack across the lens.
X stumbled back, clutching his face. His breathing was heavy, his movements slower as Joker twirled the flagpole like a baton, advancing with wild glee.
"Let me guess," Joker teased. "You were hoping for a clean revenge story. Sorry, sweetheart—nobody gets what they want in my game!"
Before Joker could press his advantage, Red X surprises him with a left hook hitting his jaw.
"OUCH! That was not funny...That hurt!" Joker clentched his teeth wiping blood from his mouth, then quickly grabbed brass knuckles from his coat and punched X with them knocking him down on the floor barley able to move or breath.
Just then a swirling portal of black and violet energy erupted behind him, casting the room in an eerie glow.
"X, stand down!" Raven's voice rang out as the Titans emerged from the portal.
Nightwing was the first through, his escrima sticks in his hands. He locked eyes with Red X, his expression a mix of determination and shock.
Red X stiffened at the sound of his name but said nothing. Instead, he stepped back, his gaze flicking between the Titans and Joker, weighing his options.
"Well, well," Joker said, spinning to face the newcomers. "Looks like the gang's all here! Don't mind me—I was just about to figure out who our little friend is!" Joker exclaims grabbing X's mask
"Don't!-" X attempts to say but was cut off as Joker yanks the mask off him showing his scarred face and branded J on his cheek!
"Oh...Now I remember you...Jason Todd!" Joker says a more sadistic smile then the last on his face.
Just then Jason got a flashback to when he got the suit.
We see him stumbling out of a warehouse, wearing nothing but some ripped up pants.
His body covered in cuts and bruises, however he found a trash can with what seemed to be a black and grey suit.
He gets it out of the trash and sees it's the Red X costume.
"I am no longer Robin...he died in that warehouse..." Jason talks to himself as he suits up.
"Now I will take the name of this suit suit and avenge Robin...I'm now... Red X!" Jason yells as he is fully suited up with this new mantle. Almost as if fate lead him to it!
Back to the normal time.
"Jason...Batman and I thought you where dead...we had a funeral and everything! How are you alive!?" Nightwing asks surprised.
"Robin is dead...I am Red X...And I will fight for justice in my own way..." Jason says struggling to speak and breath.
"Well this was fun while it lasted...But it seems I'm outnumberd and even I know my limits." Joker says pulling out a detonator and activating it causing multiple explosions all over the building blinding the heroes and anti hero.
As the flames blind them they see both Joker and Red X gone.
"Titans! We need to get everyone out of this building fast!" Nightwing demands as he and the others rush around gathering everyone they can.
After some time outside they are making sure everyone is okay.
"Is that everyone!?" Nightwing demands.
"One more is still in their!" A worker yells.
However the building is to dangerous for anyone to enter at it's state, however just as it seemed done for. Red X jumps out of the flamming building, wearing his mask again, while holding the last person inside and landing with the rest.
"Their...your safe now..." X says exhausted and damaged.
"You...actually saved that person.." Nightwing says in disbelief.
"I did't do it for you! Or anyone...They just needed help. Nothing more." X says as he starts to walk away.
"Hey...You can be a hero with us if you wanted." Nightwing suggests.
X looks behind him and gives a soft chuckle.
"You wish." He says tossing down a smoke bomb disappearing once more into the night.
Nightwing understands why he chose that but knows he has a tough call to make.
Later on, he is in his room and calls Batman on his phone.
"Hey..Bruce... I have some news...It's...kinda intense."
"Okay...What is it?"
"*sighs* Jason Todd...He is still alive. But he is different...A very different person now."
The phone stays silent for a while till Batman says. "Thank you for letting me know...You may have to give me awhile. But thank you."
"Yea...Anytime Bruce...Talk to you later." he says hanging up the phone sitting on his bed still processing everything that just happen today...
The End. I hope you enjoyed this. And now this story finally has it's conclusion.