Big shake up chapter people, prepare for angst
Waylon groaned as he took a bite of the hamburger. "Thanks again kid. Nice to get some variety other than just whatever wild animals I can snatch out here."
"Not a problem. I had some extra money left over and Pamela, Barbra, and Harley are still at school. Be a waste not to give food to someone that needs it." The kindest, if strangest, boy he's ever met in his life responded as he bit into his own pile of greasy meat, which seemed to disappear in an instant. "I know how hard it can be to hunt down your own food."
"I bet you do." Waylon looked to the quickly disappearing pile. "Three years later in all the time I've known you.. and your stomach is still never full."
"I personally think being full is a myth." Iruma nodded. "Like rainbows, blue skies, and the sun."
"You really need to get out of this city one day." He deadpanned.
"Why haven't you?" The boy asked. "You could follow the river and head to any swamp you want, but you've stayed on the outskirts of the city."
".. I guess I didn't see the point of moving." Waylon muttered. "Anywhere I go, I'll always have the fear of needing to look behind my back. Didn't seem like it was worth the effort to move further for the same result."
"I guess it makes sense, everywhere you go it's a bit dangerous and someone's trying to murder you for one reason or another." The kid nodded. "For the last three years the Ratcatcher Two wanted me dead for her dad moving."
".. That's a really lazy name."
"That's what I said, but apparently I'm the uncreative one." The kid rolled his eyes. "But everytime she attacks me, I get enough food for two days with all the rats attacking me. And Pamela really knows how to make the perfectly roasted rat ... and squirrel, and mouse, and that one time with the chinchilla and swan.."
"And dog?" Croc laughed.
"Nah, Barbra gave me pouty eyes when I suggested it, so I've made sure to avoid dogs like how I avoid Plants around Pam." Iruma said. "Like how I avoid crocodiles around you."
"… You got an iron stomach kid."
"That's what you get when you eat anything you can find." He smiled. "So if you're going to stay in the swamp and sewers for the long haul, what're you going to do?"
"Not sure. I was thinking about robbing a bank or two, maybe set up a little man cave in the sewers and get myself comfortable." Croc shrugged. "Finally settle down a permanent home."
"Sounds fun." Iruma grinned.
"What about you kid?" Waylon asked
"I see no problem being a street kid for the rest of my life." The kid shrugged. "It's ... comforting, always having a place to sleep, even if it's not on a bed or sheets. And from what I hear, taxes are the worst to deal with."
"Ooooh, it's driven many to villainy, my friend." He agreed. "Some even the crime of snapping and murdering."
"I still don't fully get that. We kill animals all the time. What makes that different from killing people?" The kid asked.
"It just is. Animals don't have the thoughts and feelings of people, at least not to the level we have em." Croc nodded. "Gotham stinks as a city because people don't see the value of life, but I guarantee you, when someone's on the edge, when death in inevitable and you can't escape it… the fear and desperation comes over them.. the shock on their face is horrifying, especially when you can't do anything about it." When he did it … the screams and blood wouldn't leave … even three years later the pain never faded, only dulled.
"… I'll take your word for it." Iruma nodded as he finished up. "Anyway, I should get to work. Ms Mooney needs me to move boxes at the edge of town."
"You sure you want to get involved with that broad?" Waylon asked. "Once you're in deep, you can't really dig your way out."
"I've spent three years working for her, and she's been relatively nice." Iruma shrugged. "Lately she's been making a lot of private meetings and having me move around a lot of gunpowder. Pretty easy work all things considered."
"… Just keep an eye out before she makes you do something you'll regret, alright?" Waylon asked.
"Barbra and Harley keep telling me the same thing and I don't know why." The kid shrugged as he got up. "My life is great. I don't really have regrets."
"That's exactly why you need to watch out for it kid." He sighed. "Believe me, everything can change in a blink of an eye before you know it, and there'll be no stopping it." For the kid's sake, he hoped that it didn't happen anytime soon.
Barbra groaned as she slammed her face on her desk. "Ugggggh, school… why does it always have to be schooooool…." She moaned in exasperation.
"Cause misery loves company, Babsy Wabsy." Harley muttered as she patted Barbra on the back. "All the kids suffer so it hurts less." Her BFFEAEAEAE solemnly nodded. "Especially with no holidays in sight."
"Just be glad it's not valentines … so many letters." She had no time for finding love, not when there was bad guy butt to kick! "Days like this I wish I was homeless like Iruma ... no school getting in the way."
"Oooh, we can finally ditch your cop dad, and I can ditch my bossy mom!" Harley grinned.
"Harleen, we can't just ditch our families." Barbra argued.
"Why not? You and Iru are already more family to me than her anyways."
"Awwww."
"And they have each other so the two won't get lonely either."
"Ewww, don't put that image in my head." Barbra laughed as she semi-gagged. "I'm still attached to my mom, thank you very much."
"The mom that gives you those pills you dump down the drain cause they make your head fuzzy?"
"Eh, I can blame hunting criminals on said pills." She shrugged. "So what'll be on the agenda today? Comic book binge? Twelve hour monster movie marathon, or a game of connect four broken pieces of glass on the ground to make a new picture?"
"I was thinking a night camping in the slums and pranking the jerks with a pie in the face." Harley grinned. "That or sneaking into the Gotham backers guild and sneaking in a box of poprocks into each cake for an explosively tasty time."
"I could go for a camping trip." Barbra nodded. "Maybe we could set up campfire ghost stories for Iruma to give him the experience."
"That's gonna be a hard one. The kid can't be scared by giant gators and literal Zombies." Harley snickered. "I think the scarecrow would lose his straw headed mind trying to find something ta scare Iru."
"Not true ... he's still scared of losing food." A sad and realistic fear that he's had to live with.
"Eh, fair point … what about 'the ghost that ate everyone's food'?" Harley snickered.
"Nah, he'd just call the ghost rude." Barbra figured. "Ooh, what about 'the food that ate everyone back'?"
"He might view that as a challenge." Her BFFEAEAEAE giggled. "Oh; what if we tell him Hansel and Gretel, except end it with the witch eating the kids!"
"Actually the original story was the kids eating the witch." She pointed out.
"Ooooh, so that probably wouldn't help with his confusion on what a cannibal is." Harley smirked.
"We seriously need a talk with him at some point." She muttered as the bell rang. "Finally, we can get out of this dump!" She seriously had no idea who invented the idea of school, but she wished they had gotten punched in the face for every failed homework assignment she's ever gotten. "Okay, I'll grab the tent and wood, you get the marshmallows."
"It's gonna be a big campfire bash!" Harley exclaimed, as they bursted out of the doors. "It's going to be the bestest best night in Gotham ever-"
SLAM
Harleen stumbled backwards as she got slammed into a bulldozer. "Harley!? You alright?!" She screamed.
"Can I has more mellows?" Her first ever BFFEAEAEAE smiled in a daze, looking like she was seeing stars. "What kind of idiot puts a bulldozer in the middle of the street?"
"The idiot that needs you to scram." The construction worker driving it grabbed their attention. "Best you girls steer clear of the streets. We're going to occupying things up for a while."
"... But we just left the school." Barbra said. "Isn't there supposed to be a school bus parking lot the city prevents people from using?"
"Look, I don't make the rules, you have a problem with it, take it up with Roland Dagget."
"... WHY IS Roland DAGGET ON THE SCHOOL!?" She exclaimed.
"Wow." They both turned to the principal, who was carrying a large suitcase. "Best purchase ever."
"... Honestly more surprised that didn't happen sooner." Harley titled her head. "On the plus side, Yay, no more school!"
"No, school's still open." The principal noted as they began getting into a freaking limo. "I just gave Mr. Dagget permission to … renovate the property around it."
"Awww." Harley pouted.
"Harley, we have more important matters than just our disdain for the poorly managed educational system of Gotham!" Barbra cried out. "If Dagget's involved, then he clearly has more than just 'renovation' planned. You remember what he almost did to Crime Alley."
"Right, but no one we care about lives near here." Harley pointed out. "So what's the harm?"
"Harley…"
"What, I'm just saying. He's not affecting Crime Alley this time, so we don't have to worry about Iru's safety-"
"Actually, we've been ordered to clear the streets from here all the way to the edge of Crime Alley." The construction worker clarified.
"... Okay, new plan." Harley cracked her fingers. "Gonna repeat last time." She pulled Barbra to the edge of the sidewalk. "You distract them, I'll hijack a bulldozer." The girl whispered.
"You think that's going to work?"
"Of course. Rich people are idiots, it's not like they learn from their mistakes." Harley chuckled. "Ready?"
"Grappling hook is in motion."
"Then, three, two, one-!"
"Is there a problem here ladies?" A big buff man with a taser in his hands looked down at them from behind them. "Because you look like two of the four faces Mr. Dagget said to watch out for in terms of protesters."
"... Nope." She pulled Harley away. "Okay, new new plan, wait for night, then make a move." She looked into her Bestie's eyes seriously. "It's obviously what we got to do now."
"Yeah." Harley grinned with a wide smile.
"Beat Dagget's butt in and blackmail him!" They shouted at the same time.
"... Wow, we were totally on the same page for once." Barbra noted with surprise.
"Yeah, no division of opinions or anything." Her BFFEAEAEAE nodded. "Should we bring Iru on this action? He's gotten really good with his Super Evasive Crisis Maneuver tactic."
"Hm… nah, I want to make a surprise, a fun story we can tell him all about tonight when were' sitting by a trash barrel fire eating marshmallows." She smiled. "Besides, he's in enough danger as it is most of the time."
"True enough. If anything, he's probably doing something more dangerous than we're about to do." Harely chuckled.
"Probably, which is why we're going to save his home!" If there was anything that got Harley to act more heroically, it was always protecting Iruma.
Harley hummed super quietly. Stealth mode MAX! After all, they were going to deal with a crime boss and take him out for good! And then maybe the Joker would take over the turf. Or maybe it'll just dissolved into chaos, which would make the Joker celebrate with a massive party! And then she'll get her besties to see just how amazing Mr. J was and they'll all be one big happy and laughing family! "What've you got Babsy?" She asked quietly.
"A recorder. We just need to get close enough to hear him admit his crimes, and we're in the clear." Her BFFEAEAEAE grinned.
"Awesome… and how are we going to find him?" She asked.
"Oh that's easy. I placed a tracking device under his limo the last time this happened." Barbra grinned.
"... Wasn't that three years ago?"
"Yep."
"And the battery lasted THAT long?"
"Remember all those blackouts at my house?" Barbra explained. "This is the reason. I WAS trying to reverse engineer one of Batman's bat trackers, but that exploded as I began messing with that tiny circuit board."
"Oooh, so you created unlimited energy, nice." She grinned. Harley knew the girl could be explosive when she wanted. She was super smart! Not smart enough to recognize that Batman was lame compared to the Joker, but it was an uphill battle she was willing to fight for in the end.
"Anyway, we just need to figure out where Dagget is and listen in on him." Babsy nodded as she looked to her scanner doohickey magiggy. "It could be anywhere, like an old abandoned warehouse, or a secret underground lair at the zoo, or the ice cream parlor, the one NOT run by Mr Freeze… unless it IS his lair and the man's going on a relapse-"
"He does make the best clown hair snow cones." Harley smiled.
"Or it can be…" Babsy blinked in confusion. "Ten blocks away from Crime Alley?"
"... Guess he's goin for a burrito?" Harley guessed.
"Nah, I don't think so …" Babs muttered as they walked and walked into the familiar slums of Gotham. "I've tracked down and mapped out this place so many times that I could navigate with my eyes shut." She ran into a lamppost. "...Eyes HALF shut… and the street it's parked in." They turned a coroner into a dark section of the streets. "Is a place I marked on my maps as a place my dad's had to visit hundreds of times during his time as a detective."
"The donut shop?" She asked.
"Harley, that's a stereotype." Babsy glared.
"You've seen that Bullock guy in the trench coat, you can't tell me that cops don't go digging through their fair share of the baker's dozen."
"… Anyway." She didn't deny it. "If's it's in crime alley, and it's where Dad use to squeeze out his information on the underside of gotham, than it's has to be.." The tracker beeped as they stopped in frot of a brick wall with a door and a neon sign. "Fish Mooney's club, the full moon Lounge."
"… Iru's workplace …" Harley deadpanned. "… Okay, maybe you had a point about the kid getting involved in way too much. It almost feels like fate wants him to get involved."
"I told you we should've pulled him out of this when we had the chance." Her bestie grumbled before shaking her head. "No matter, we can't change the past, so we just go to work on breaking through now… now with my brand new and improved Grappling hook mark thirty three! We'll sneak in through the roof tops and-"
"The door's unlocked." Harley turned the knob.
"...Dang it, I'll never get the chance to actually use this as a grappling hook." Babsy pouted. "Wait, we can't use the front door anyway, It's probably surrounded and guarded. We go in their, we'll probably get shot."
"Yes, but it doesn't mean we can't cause a distraction with is." Harley grinned as she pounded heavily on the door. "HEY STINKY FISH PEOPLE! GET OUT OF THERE AND SHOW ME YOUR UGLY MUGS!"
"Harley, what are you doing!? You're going to bring all the guard out here!"
"Exactly!" Harley chuckled as she took the grappling hook and send it into the brick wall, lifting the two of them up.
"Yeah, it actually works!" Babsy chuckled as the mooks came crawling out.
"Yeah, it did, now ssssh." Harley held her finger. "If everyone's outside, sneaking inside becomes a lot easier." The two of them moved to the vents, slowly crawling inside. "Wow, Iru was right. He really does dust the inside of these things." She blinked at the cleanliness.
"The things they'll pay children." Babsy shook her head. "Now, look for a small and isolated room. Spot anything."
"Not really. I see a room full of drinks, a room full of dead bodies, a room full of prostitutes, a room full of male prostitutes… oh, now I see Solomon Grundy.. Aw, he's playing with a ball like a big baby." She cooed.
"Wait, Iruma said that Grundy's Fish's bodyguard. Is he standing in front of a door?" Barbra asked.
"Yeah, big fancy smancy one too." Harley nodded.
"Good, move past that." The two of them slowly began crawling past the barrier and into a tiny room …
Where Dagget sat in a chair drinking wine, a smug look on his face. "So, the rumor's spread out?" He asked.
"Yes." A woman who just oozed confidence Harley wished she had answered, tapping a metal finger as she stared at him. "All the 'super' criminals are aware that you'll be offering your lawyers to whoever causes the most chaos."
"Babsy, start recordin." She whispered.
"On it it." Barbra snickered.
"And when they began destroying the streets out of nowhere, no one will question why Crime Alley and every other street within a fifty miles radius suddenly goes 'kaboom'." The slimy creep of a man chuckled.
"Helps that the Batman's too busy to give you another black eye, doesn't it?" Mooney smirked.
"The man is resilient, I'll give him that… but he's just one man." Dagget smirked. "Bane was once able to break the bat… I may not ever gain such an illustrutious trophy, but I can still outsmart that flying rat." He took a big drink of wine. "Now, you're sure the explosives will do their job?"
"I've tested them before." The woman said, eating a fish with a fork as she sliced it with her finger. "They'll do the damage, enough to knock out any competitors, but will leave any property you own as well as my own completely untouched. My umbrella boy will hold onto the detonator until the deal is made." She pointed to a man who was literally leaning on an umbrella.
"Umbrella man." The penguin looking goon grumbled bitterly.
"Excellent." Dagget smirked, sliding over his briefcase. "Here's your payment."
She raised her eye to the penguin looking goon, who reached forward and slid the briefcase onto the desk, opening up a large sum of cash before the woman. "It appears to be all in order. 50 million as requested."
"With all the money I'm going to make blowing up those rickety buildings and driving up the rental prices, that's going to be chump change by comparison when it's all said and done." Dagget laughed.
"We have what we need, let's go." Babsy whispered.
"Haha, no blowing up people today, Daggey." Harely chuckled as they began moving backwards. "So I'mma guessing ya gonna take that to your dad?"
"The man has Grundy on his side Harley." Barbra whispered. "I've heard that guy takes hits from Superman. And as a Batman fanatic, even I'm willing to admit I can't fight that."
"Aw, I'm sure you could take him someday… with my help of course." She giggled.
"Maybe, but l'm not eager to test it out anytime soon." Babsy nodded. "So lets just get out of here before anything pops up-
Clash
The two of them fell through the vent grate they were standing on, following through… right in front of the big hulking gray guy. "… Thought Iruma fixed those things up." Barbra said.
"I guess we're just heavy girls." Harley shook her head. Probably didn't help that ¾'s of their diet was burritos and candy. "Plan B?"
"… Are you Mr Grundy?" Babsy asked. "We're friends with Iruma and were wondering where the bathroom is."
"Grundy go in backroom… Grundy told to catch little pests running through halls… grundy make friends…"
"Great, we got the dumb child personality." Harley muttered.
"It's the only one that probably won't kill us in a split second, just play along.." Barbra whispered to her back. "Yep, we're friends of your friend Grundy."
"Friends of grundy give food to grundy. Friends only friend when food is given."
"… I got half a hotdog I was gonna give Iru." Harley offered. "But if you want it-"
"Grundy love hot dogs. Grundy take hotdog from small doll girl." The big brue took it up and ate it in one gulp. "Grundy eat half hot dog, now we're half friends." The big man began reaching for them. "Grundy have fun while capturing you. Grundy do this all with half friends."
"… You got a plan B?" Babsy asked.
"Don't worry, mom taught me one trick that always works when you get caught." Harley nodded … before kicking the giant oaf in the nads with her heels.
"... Grundy can't feel hurt."
"...Right, Zombie." Babra nodded. "Okay, one last thing… GRAPPLING HOOK!" Barbra took it out, shot it-
"Grundy, what the hell is going on-"
Clank
… And it hit the penguin looking guy right in the hood as he was walking out of the room, causing him to fall to the ground. "...One of these days we're going to just get you a bunch of those and have you fire at a mob." Harley nodded. "So now let's try to outrun a zombie-!"
"Grundy, grab the girls." The woman's voice ordered
"Yes Fishy Moon." Grundy responded as with no time at all, the two of them were stuck within the zombie's grasp.
"Well … that could've gone better." Harley deadpanned as the rest of the adults came in. "I don't suppose you-"
"...You two…" Dagget growed. "Don't think for even a SECOND that I forgotten about the brat's that cost me 60 million dollars to cover up my involvement the LAST time I was in crime alley!"
"You mean besides attempting to kill a child?" Babsy asked. "You're a crooked man-" And a gun was placed in her mouth.
"Give me one good reason not to blow your brains out here and now!" He shouted, pulling back on the hammer.
"Cause she's the Commish's daughter and you killing the daughter of Batman's best friend will likely make him snap every single bone in your body before her daddy comes in to finish the job with a bullet to your head?" Harley offered quickly, trying to stay as calm as possible.
"Oooh, no. Not now." He grinned madly. "Cause I'm gonna bury BOTH YOUR BODIES in the rubble when I'm done beating the life out of you." He growled, pulling on the trigger-
"Not in my Lounge, Dagget." Fish Mooney pulled him back before it could be pulled.
He stopped, but raised an eyebrow. "Don't you kill people in here all the time?"
"Yes, but I just had the carpet put in, don't want to mess it up." Fish Mooney rolled her eyes. "And you killing Gordon's daughter here would only make me a witness, which, if things go wrong, I WILL use against you, and you're not the one that has the Zombie on your side." The woman pointed out.
"Grundy like Ms Mooney." He growled.
"... Fine." He stored it away. "Just have him drag them to one of the buildings, we'll tie the brats up and let the falling rubble crush out the rest." Good, good. They could totally get out of being tied up.
"Grundy tie up half friends." The big oaf nodded like a giant puppy.
Iruma stretched his neck out as he walked back into Ms. Mooney's lounge. "A day full of cargo shipment … really stresses the legs." It was a weird day, most of his daily tasks were switched up with dock work and other various things around the city, almost like she didn't want Iruma to be at work … which made sense if she was doing one of the 'behind the door' stuff Mr Cobbelpot said no one wanted him to look at. He wondered if that meant all the sex stuff. The prostitutes that worked for Ms Mooney were pretty chatty when he was doing their laundry. It was really skimpy stuff to … they must not make a lot of money if they can't cover themselves up.
Iruma walked through the front door, showing off his ID. Which he didn't understand the purpose of. Didn't existing prove he existed? Why would a picture on plastic matter? "What is it now-oh, it's you kid." Mr. Cobblepot nodded as he looked down. "Did you get down with all the deliveries already?"
"Yeah, it wasn't that hard, Just moving about five hundred boxes of gunpowder in random spots around town, not like I haven't done something similar before." He shrugged.
"... I can't tell if you get more or less naive as you grow up." The man deadpanned. "Anyway, Mooney says you get one of the beds for the evening for your loyalty." He handed Iruma a key. "Enjoy it."
"Wow, a whole bed to myself… awesome…" His eyes sparkled at the keys. "Usually the only time I sleep on a bed is with Harley and Barbra whenever they sneak me into their house for a sleepover." Those were very warm and fluffy nights.
"Barbra.." The man muttered. "So.. you're friend's with the Commissioner's daughter?" Mr. Cobblepot asked.
"Yep." Iruma nodded. "Maybe I can introduce you two sometime." They were both nice people at the end of the day. Well, Barbra was nicer than Mr. Cobblepot, but it's not like he judged people on every nice gesture they gave him. If someone was nice once, it was proof they were nice deep down. "I never see you around anyone other than Ms. Mooney and Solomon."
"Well, when you're caught between someone that knows where you live and someone that can pop your head like a grape, it tends to limit your options." The man grumbled.
"Why do you work for her if you don't like it?"
"Like I said, limited options." Mr. Cobblepot groaned. "Mother was a Hungarian immigrant that had to do menial jobs for people like Ms Mooney her entire life just for the bare minimum. The same pretty much applies to me."
"... I'm a chinese immigrant according to everyone, so I guess we're in the same boat."
"Japanese." He clarified.
"Huh?"
"Your name. Iruma. It's the Japanese word for Human." The man explained as he began walking off.
"... Well I guess now I can correct a lot of people around me." He muttered, making his way to the room … where he would sleep in a BED! Oh, imagine how soft those sheets would be? Is this the reward of hard work? Cause it ruled! "Ooh, maybe now I can invite Harley and Barbra over for a sleepover now." He gleamed as he began walking over to his room number. "I bet they'll get a real kick out of this when they finally see this place."
"THIS IS THE WORST PLACE EVER!" The shouting of Harley's voice called out into the air.
"Eh?" He tilted his head in confusion. Barbra and Harley never came to where he worked … Barbra wanted to beat up 'criminals' and Harley thought it was too boring. Why would they be here all of sudden? Were they trying to surprise him with one of those 'birthday' cakes he kept hearing all about?
He slowly made his way to the noise, trying to figure out where he heard it from. Did it echo from the vents? Why would they be in the vent-"What the, I just fixed that vent." Iruma grumbled as he saw it broken from the grating.
"JUST SO YOU KNOW, THE SECOND I'M OUTTA HERE, YOU'RE GONNA TO BE MINCED MEAT, DAGGET!"
"Dagget!?" Iruma blinked in shock from hearing what was now Barbra's voice shouting. Not wasting any time, he climbed up the wall and into the vent to follow the trail of where the voice was coming from. "Please let it be a misunderstanding, please let it be a misunderstanding." He wasn't afraid of guns because they couldn't touch him, the same couldn't be said of Barbra and Harley! They didn't live in constant danger like he did!
He continued to make his way to the vents where he saw Dagget handing over some bills. "Thanks for the rope Mooney. It's been a … well wouldn't exactly say pleasure, but you still are the best thing to look at this night."
"Don't try to flatter me now, Dagget. If you're looking for light night company, take it up with one of my girls." Miss Mooney said as she looked accepted the Money. "Do you really want to poke the bear by offing Gordon's daughter?" … By WHAT!?
"You and I both know that the bastard has had it coming for FAT too long."
"Besides, you really think that little girl is gonna keep quiet?"
"EVEN IF WE FALL, JUSTICE WILL TAKE VENGEANCE ON YOU BOTH!" Barbra shouted.
"Fait point." Ms Mooney shrugged callously… shrugging… at the idea of his friends…dying.
"You suck lady!" Harley growled as they were being dragged out of the room and into the alleyway. "Iru said you were a good boss but you're just as crummy as anybody else in this city!"
"Nothing I haven't heard before." She waved off. "And last I checked, you two were the ones poking your noses were they didn't belong." Ms Mooney said as she walked to them. "What, did you think you were going to do some good? Or let me guess, you're so delusional you think two girls can actually help Batman?" She ripped off Barbra's batman pin. "Well guess what …"
Crunch
And stomped on it. "You two … will never amount to anything."
"...You will die … slowly and painfull one day…" Harley growled as Iru, for one of many few moments in his life … felt rageful ... In the exact same way.
"Maybe … but today ain't that day." She snapped her fingers as they were dragged away. "Cobblepot, the detonator?"
"Right here, Ms Mooney." Mr. Cobblepot held something small and black up.
She tossed a device over to Dagget. "One flip of the switch arms the bombs, and the button detonates them. If my boys don't make it out before the explosion …" She raised a bladed finger at the man's neck. "We'll have problems."
"Just have them clear out of the streets before midnight, which gives them about… less than an hour." The man shrugged at the blade to his neck. "And everything's been planted perfectly?"
"Of course. I had my best lackey plant the bombs all over crime alley and beyond." Bombs… lacky….
He… he planted bombs all over crime alley … Iruma did that … and his friends were going to die…because of him…. Because HE worked with a criminal like Fish Mooney.
"NO!" He jumped out of the vent, tackling Dagget.
"What the-!" The man shouted. "YOU-!" And Iruma proceeded to bite the man's finger. "FUCKKK!"
"Iruma, what the fuck is wrong with you!?" Ms Mooney shouted. He ignored it all, and Iruma began running … clutching the detonator in his hand. "You idiot, you're going to kill us all!"
"You're trying to kill my friends!" Iruma shouted as he avoided several rounds of gunfire coming after him. "Gotta find them, gotta find Harley, gotta find Barbra! Got to find someone to get rid of all those bombs!" Dang it dang it dang it! Was this what Barbra was trying to warn him about!? About working with something in over his head…. Suddenly the job felt like a nightmare! A trap that he put himself in.
"Grundy, grab him!" Ms Mooney shouted.
"Grundy grab friend." Iruma heard the man call out to him, walls smashing in around him as the giant chased him.
He couldn't let anyone else hold the detonator. Iruma held it tighter as he ran to the fire escape, climbing to the rooftops. "Grundy!" He shouted. "You have to help me! Please! I can't lose them!" He couldn't lose the people who gave him happiness.
"..Grundy want help friend…. But Grundy love Ms Mooney…" The gray man responded.
"Then… then just tell me where they are! Tell me and you can keep chasing me for Ms Mooney!" He was confident enough to believe he could outrun the man.
"... Building next to crime alley." He groaned out. "Half friends give grundy half hotdog… so me half help half friends."
"Thank you!" Iruma cried out as he climbed. He needed to get to Barbra and Harley, he needed to help them. And he needed to make sure the detonator wasn't pushed!
Roland grumbled as he watched the zombie chase the boy as he made his way to the top of the building. "Seriously.. Kids are the worst.." He grumbled as he tied up the two girls at the top of the roof. "Your little friend is causing me quite the headache you know." He tightened the rope around the two girls. "Children should be seen except heard… what bullshit, clearly children are better off dead."
"Weren't you a child at one point?" The blonde asked.
"Yeah, and I was an obedient little boy that did what I was told, and got rewarded with inheriting the company.
"Yeah, which leads you to killing kids and god knows who else." The red headed girl rolled her eyes. "I've read your files from my dad's police reports. Your hand's are as dirty as your money, you were only obedient in that you did every little shady thing in your dad's little black book of dirty laundry."
"Never found a problem with what I did." He chuckled. "People act so high and mighty, acting like lives matter. No, what matters at the end of the day is how much you have. Buying lawyers, goons … anything." He finished, pulling out a switchblade. "Alright, I think this has gone on long enough."
"You're seriously going to kill us right now?" The blonde asked. "No pizzaz, no fireworks? No parade?!"
"I'm not the Joker or any of the inmates at Arkham. I'm not an insane maniac that wants to feel validated through theatricality." He argued. "And for the record, it's not right now. Either that zombie crushes the boy's skull, or he's gonna slide over the little toy he stole before your clothes get drenched with your own blood."
"I have to ask." The redhead raised an eyebrow. "What kind of idiot lets an explosive trigger out of his hands and into a homeless child? I mean, you're a full grown man, you CLEARlY should have the advantage.
"Good question." He nodded …
Crunch
Before hurling his fist in the girl's gut. "Any more?"
"Yeah….do you bleed?" The blonde giggled.
"...What?"
"I said, do you bleed?" The blonde cackled madly. "Cause if we live through this, you WILL you hear me!? You WILL BLEED!"
"Well… good thing you're not going to live this then." He got the knife and pressed it against her face. "You're a joker girl, right? So… before you die… why don't we put a smile on that face-"
CRASH
"INCOMING!" The voice of that annoying and irritating boy called out as that Zombie criashed though the roof, before stumbling off the top of it.
"Grundy falling, grundy can't fly….!"
"Sorry Grundy, didn't mean for all that soap to spill on the ground!" The kid asked as the zombie crashed into the ground, marking a crater into it. "…He'll be fine, right?" The brat asked, turning to them.
"He's immortal." Dagget shrugged, placing the knife against the girls. "Now slide over that detonator or the bitches will lose their throats."
"Why are you doing this?" The kid shouted. "There's no point in threatening and kill people!"
"There is a point… money." Dagget pointed out. "I don't expect some Hong Kong homeless idiot to understand, but to keep cities like Gotham running, I need money to-"
"I'm japanese." The kid corrected.
"… Point is, these two little brats were gonna ruin the whole deal, so they need to go." He said. "Cause in the end, making a fortune is more valuable than their lives." He smirked. "Then again, you're kind of already doomed aren't you? You crossed Fish Mooney. You know how many goons she's gonna send after you?" Roland laughed.
"...Why would that worry me?" The kid asked. "That's my life everyday on the streets. Bullets and mobs aren't scary… that's just the average day in Gotham. Isn't that yours?"
"No, this guy's too spineless for that life, Iru." The red head laughed. "He doesn't have your guts.
"Yeah!" The blonde giggled. "He's just a wimpy guy who would lick shoes for a dollar-"
Smack
And he stopped on the girl's skull. "Decision time kid! Dettenator or death! My patience for games has reached the fucking limit!"
"We're not playing games-!"
"Then stop talking stupid!" He got the knife out again, leaning it against the little blonde bitch. "You can either see you're entire home blow up, or your friends splattered against the pavement, there's no other option!"
"But-!"
"NO other option!" He shouted. "Either hand it over or watch them die!" The kid stared at him, looking down at the detonator, then back to him. "I said-"
"How good are you at catching?" The Asian brat said.
"I said NO stupid questions-!"
Click
He flipped the switch … arming the bombs … of the building they were standing on. "Hey, hey, watch it, you're gonna kill us all-!"
"If it falls on the button, the bombs blow up right?" The kid asked, pulling back his arm. "And that's what you want, right? To blow everyone up?"
"Yeah, with me away from it!" The man shouted.
"Then you could just avoid it. I'll grab my friends and avoid it, and everyone leaves happy."
"Iruma, you can't just-" The red head spoke out.
"Shhh." The blonde shushed the red head.
"… You wouldn't." He chuckled. "You're not stupid enough to actually throw a bomb in the air and risk the lives of all your friends AND yourself. You're not that-" The kid tossed the detonator into the air. "NO!" He let go of the two brats and went for it. "Don't blow up, don't blow up, don't blow-" He caught it right in his hands. "Oh thank God-"
"AGGGH!" The blue haired brat climbed his back, putting his arms around his neck. "You're not going to hurt my friends again!" He bit right on the man's ear.
"Gaaahhh!" He began moving backwards. "Let go let go let go let go!" Dagget tugged harder to get the boy off of him.
"NNNNN!" The kid growled, ripping his ear.
"FUCKER!" He screamed as he pulled out his knife and tried to stab them.
"Grrrreeaaaahh!" The kid pulled harder, pushing off him..
RIP
"GAAAH!" He yelled as he held the side of his head. "You ripped my ear!" Dagget stumbled backwards some more. "You ripped my fucking ear off-!"
TRIP
And… Dagget began falling.. Off the roof… from a forty foot building… head first into pavement. "No! Fuck no! No!" He screamed in fear as he fell.
He couldn't die. He couldn't die. He couldn't he couldn't-
Snap
Oswald grumbled as he was forced to walk up the forty flights of stairs to check on the progress of Dagger and the trigger. Grundy was off his leash and Mooney had sent him out to 'retrieve' him so to speak ... and tie up the Iruma 'loose end'. "This is why you don't use kids Fish." Too unpredictable, even if they were nice.
After finally catching his breath, he opened up the door … to see three kids on a roof, with no Dagget. The blue haired boy was silently gazing off the roof and down onto the street. This was either a good sign or a bad sign.
"I … I … killed someone …" The boy muttered to himself.
"Iruma, it-It wasn't your fault-" The commissioner's daughter tried to hold onto him, but backed away
"I killed him… I killed a man…"
"Killed …" Cobbelpot hobbled over and glanced off the roof, wincing at the sight of a man that cracked his head against a park bench. "Brutal."
"I'm a murderer… I'm a murderer…" The boy kept repeating.
"It's fine Iru." The blonde girl tried to pat the boy's head. "It was only Dagget…"
"…. No .. it's a life …'something precious.. and I took that from someone … I took that away… I killed somone and they're dead.. I can't take it back.. I can't take it back I can't take it back!l"
"Iruma, please, calm down-!"
He began breathing heavy. "I, I saw his eyes were afraid, I saw him look so scared, and now he never moves and I was an idiot for so long." The kid cried, falling to his knees. "You were right Barbra.. I got in over my head.. you were about to die and it was my fault because I helped Fish and he wanted to kill you-!"
"Iruma, no one's going to blame you! You saved us, and when we tell my dad, he'll make sure you won't get in trouble-"
"But I caused this!" The kid shouted as tears fell down his eyes. "I planted those bombs, and I worked for her, and I helped her do bad things, and I … I …" He cried. "I can't be here!" He ran to the stairs.
"Where are you going!?" The read haired girl.
"Away… away from Gotham, away from people.. away from people I can't hurt anymore!"
"No… No Iru, please!" The pigtail girl shouted. "We can all runaway together, we can be together on the run, please don't go.."
"… I… I can't.. " the kid cried. "I don't want that for you two… I'm a nobody, you two have lives.."
"You're not a nobody Iruma, you're our friend, our family!" The commissioner's daughter shouted.
"… I.. I don't have a family … you shouldn't be family with a killer ..." He cried out.
".. I can help you get out undetected." Cobblepot offered as the three finally turned there attention to him. "Fish has eyes all over the city, even in the gcpd. I can get him out without those eyes."
"But … but-" The red head started.
"The police aren't going to help him. She'll take the kid out even in a jail cell …" He turned to the boy. "I can get you out … but it'll only work if you never return to Gotham."
"No.. no-!" the pigtailed girl shouted l.
"Alright." The boy nodded.
"No, no no no!" The girl cried as she tried to hug him, only for the boy to slip away. "Don't leave Iru… Please! You're one of the few good things in this city and I can't lose that.. we can't live without your!"
"... You can … you can live." He said. "Please live … away from me."
"NO!" The commissioner's daughter shouted. "I'm going to help you stay in this city, and you can't stop me!"
"...Sorry Barbra…" The boy sighed as he took…what looked like a grappling hook. "But you can't stop me either." And he fired it.
Clank clank
And the two were knocked out cold. "... I'll move em somewhere safe first. Meet me in the sewers near the docks, alright?" Cobbelpot said.
"Alright…" The boy paused. "...Why are you helping me?"
"Two reasons. One , now we both hate Fish Mooney." He nodded as they began walking. "And two… for the umbrella." Oswald held it up.
"... Just glad I could help." The boy nodded. "... At least … someone …" He looked back to the body on the street. "I'm a murderer…"
"In this city.. who isnt?" Oswald shrugged. "That's just live in Gotham."
".. It shouldn't be.." the boy muttered as he went down the stairs. "It shouldn't be."