[Oswald Cobblepot's POV]
Wrapped in nothing but a towel, I emerged from my luxurious bath, the cold marble beneath my feet a stark contrast to the warmth I'd just experienced. The air in my opulent bedroom was thick with opulence, fitting for someone of my stature in Gotham's criminal underworld. As I entered, the dimly lit room felt odd; even with the lights on, an unusual darkness lingered.
"That's odd," I muttered, surveying the room cautiously, approaching the light switch. Click! Click! The lights stubbornly refused to comply, casting an eerie glow. Reaching into a small locker in my wardrobe, a voice dripping with menace, broke the silence.
"Looking for this?" The lights flickered back to life, revealing the unmistakable silhouette of Batman. In his hands, he held my own gun, an unsettling authority in his stance. "I think it's indeed impossible for you to make a proper entrance, Batman," I quipped, attempting to conceal the unease beneath my composed exterior.
Disregarding my banter, Batman methodically disassembled my gun, the metallic parts cascading onto the rug. Tension thickened as I reached for another weapon from my drawer but it was nowhere to be found, a silent standoff playing out in the dimly lit room.
"You've been discreet, Penguin, but not enough to escape my notice," Batman declared, his gaze unwavering. I draped myself in a luxurious night robe, maintaining my composure in the face of the caped crusader.
"I know I might and might not have done a lot of illegal deals lately, but do well to specify on which of them have you standing so rudely in my bedroom this late at night." I said as I wondered what he knew because I ensured to tighten every loose ends on my activities in the underground.
But he remained silent, just glaring my way as I wore my rob.
That brief moment my mind thought on a lot of things because I found a Batman with few words to be more scary than when he threatens to smash my face-in for information.
"You've been way more discreet with your illegal operations over the past few months, but not enough to keep from me." He replied, taking slowly steps towards me. "I know Ghost is an acquaintance of yours." He added, complete certainty in his tone.
"Who the hell is this Ghost fellow and why would you assume his an acquaintance of mine?" I replied, feigning ignorance because it was not gentlemanly to sell out a business partner just like that.
"Do not play dumb with me, I assure you am in no mood for games or cheesy remarks." He replied, following his words with a low but threatening growl.
"Could you be a bit more specific? It's possible he might have done business with me using a different name." I poked a little, grasping for what little clue I could get from him regarding his knowledge on Ghost. I knew the day Ghost get caught up with the Bat would eventually come.
"It's getting a lot harder to hold back my fist. We both know nothing passes by you in the underworld, I don't have a lot of patience so stop testing it or else I might stop holding back and interrogate you so harshly that you would desperately want to tell me what I want but I bet it would be difficult to speak with a crushed throat." He threatened, reminding me of his usually messy methods of getting inform.
He and I have an understanding which prevents him from being violent with me when it's uncalled for. Looking at the situation it was best I don't tempt him into using his usual methods, something I bet he's just itching to do.
"Okay, but not a word about my involvement if this gets out." I said, calmly taking a seat upon the edge of my bed as I light up my smoke pipe.
"Not much is known about him. All I know is that Ghost is one of the top crime lords in the underground, not only in Gotham City but is believed to have a vast network across major cities." I said, wanting to end it there but Batman was convinced I knew more than I let on.
"Go on." He insisted. I might be doing you a favor by putting him behind bars, if I were you I would start spilling."
Having Ghost get taken down would cause a major shift in the underground, leading to a more intense power squabble than we've ever seen, giving me the opportunity to acquire it all for myself.
"Apart from his quick rise among the ranks of the criminal underworld, he his known as a trusted broker who deals unlawful contracts and firearms in the black market. Dabbling in all forms of crimes except from human trafficking, he takes on numerous deals of which it either interests him, or is presented with an excellent pay."
"That's why no one really knows what exactly it is he does." Batman pointed out.
"Ever met him in person?" He asked.
"No one has, you have to be referred by someone he has worked with, they send him your request then he reaches out to you through encrypted mails."
"Show me." He demanded and I did according, handing him a computer I use for taking on deals, opening my chat room with Ghost.
"Continue spilling, I know there's more, reasons people are either too loyal or too scared to snitch on him." He demanded once more, plugging a drive into my computer.
"What are you doing?" I asked, pretending like the information on that system were actually valuable. Meanwhile I made it an habit to wipe clean every history regarding any completed deal.
"None of your business." He immediately cut me off. "I'm not currently interested in your shady activities, I know plenty already." Batman said to me without batting an eye my way, gesturing for me to answer him as he copied what he needed.
"Betraying him would result to a fate worse than death. He says death is a way of showing mercy, it's either a notorious mercenary shows up to kidnap you and deal you physical pain worst than death, or he takes his time in destroying his target emotionally, inflicting traumas that would break their mind and spirit." There are lots of rumors as to how he deals with traitors, and evidence to instill a kind of fear that shakes a person to their core.
"What evidence?" He asked, finally turning my way as he pulled out his drive then closed the laptop.
"It's not much of a concrete evidence but word in the underworld says what happened to Black Mask and his entire crime family was all he's doing. That's because Black Mask kept poking at him until one night his whole empire was brought down and even in death he was still humiliated. Such level of unpredictability and malicious creativity makes no one want to be on his bad side, in the end people fear what they do not understand and have no control over."
"That's all… For now!" He said as he walked by me, headed for my window.
"Goodbye, hope to never see you again." I replied to him. He turned around and stared me in the eyes without saying a word, the lights flickered for about two seconds and he was gone like some shadow ninja.
Closing my window and ensuring it was locked, a smile found it's way across my lips as I realized Batman just embarked on a possibly wild goose chase.
For my own amusement I left out a thing or two, especially one which could either lead to him getting himself tangled up in a web of confusion, leading himself down a rabbit hole if he kept chasing the shadows presented by the rumors rather than the light source casting the shadows.
Depending on the gang or family, Ghost was referred to by many names within the members as they work with him. Names such as Shadow master, Cipher Kingpin, Nocturnal Puppeteer, Obsidian Overlord. Leaving only the heads to know him by the name Ghost.
LAUGH
A laugh escaped me as it began to sound like some mythical legend in the world of crime. Of course Batman would have trouble finding anything about him, a lot of underdogs have worked with him without their knowledge of his identity as Ghost.
This was my chance to see if he was worthy of the power he had acquired. If he could keep this up without Batman tainting his clean records so far, then he had successfully lived up to his hype. But if it goes the other way around, just like quick sand everything he had manage to build for himself would crumble to dust.
[Tom Hendricks POV]
Monday mornings, my least favorite morning of the week days.
Waking up to the chirping birds and the bright radiant light of the morning sun, I closed my eyes, still exhausted from the previous night.
I came back pretty late last night after fulfilling my purpose for setting up that meeting at the League's headquarters. I was so tired that I headed straight for bed, mainly because today I had to be somewhere later in the morning.
"Just as I suspected, the Spear of Destiny wasn't at their Headquarters back at Metropolis, I snooped around in search of it but only came across a document indicating it was at the League's Watchtower." I mumbled to myself.
"The thought came to me that they wouldn't keep it so close, but yet not too far." I muttered to myself once more as I continuously stared at the ceiling while I lazily reclined into my bed, feeling too tired to get up and go prepare for my appointment that morning.
RING!!! RING!!!*
The annoying ringing sound of my alarm clock engulfed the room, leaving me to wonder why I bother setting an alarm when I literally wake up five minutes ahead of time whenever I decide to set an alarm before going to bed.
Rolling over to the side I reached out my hand, summoning the alarm clock into my hands as I put a stop to its annoying ringing.
"Good morning Master Tom." Gwen greeted. "Your schedule for the week is ready sir."
"Got it, thanks Gwen." I said as I walked out my room's door and down the stairs.
"You're up early." Jason said to me as I approached him. "Yeah, I've gat to head out in an hour." I said to him, as I took a seat directly opposite him at the dinning table.
"How about you? You usually find an excuse to sleep-in late in the mornings." I pointed out, the only thing that motivated him from getting off his lazy ass in the mornings are training sessions and Red Hood related activities.
"Oh, I am just going to tend to some business later." He said, hinting that it was Red Hood stuff.
"Oh…I see." I replied, reaching my hand to the fridge at a distance from us. The door swung open as two glasses made their way to the table, with orange juice following right behind.
"Telekinesis do come in pretty handy." Jason remarked as he watched the orange juice pour itself into our individual glasses.
"Of course, my mundane activities are done with little to no effort." I replied as we both sipped from our glasses.
"Now, that's a surprise." Jason said to me, using an upward nod in directing my attention towards the stairs where I saw Leo heading down stairs. It was a bit weird getting up before Leo, he was often at the living room by at least seven o'clock every morning.
"Morning boys." He greeted, grabbing an extra glass as he poured himself some juice . Neither Jason nor I gave a reply but simply gave a subtle nod as we raised our glasses in cheers motion.
"That reminds me, how'd your meeting with the Justice League go?" Leo asked while going through the fridge's content so he could decide on breakfast.
"Yeah, you got home pretty late last night… we didn't get the chance to hear about how the meeting went, so spill every detail." Jason said with squinting eyes as he leaned his attention my way.
"Nothing much happened, we just had a normal conversation between heroes and a powerful dude they have no control over."
"Please tell me you threw hands with at least one of them, tell me you smacked the crap out of one." Leo pressed on, closing the fridge without concluding on anything for breakfast.
"We did have a small argument due to our differences in opinions, but I didn't get into a fight with any of them." I clarified, summarizing in the shortest and most efficient way I could, without giving details of the drama which it actually turned out to be.
"Let me guess, they tried forcing you to abide to their laws." Jason firmly said to me, fully aware of what the heroes were like.
"Don't tell me you agreed to even one of them."
"They actually tried to impose laws on me which I must abide to, but I refused and the meeting ended up more like a threat to the Justice League."
"It's no surprise, they are scared of the power Ace the Tyrant possesses, and want to ensure they keep you on a leash just so they can control you rather than fear you. That's exactly what they did to Superman, just that he's been a total Boy Scout right from the start."
"Good one kids, we are the outlaws for crying out loud. We aren't bound by rules that restrains our free will, or by societal opinions." Leo emphasized, almost sounding like some revolutionary.
"Of course I know that, why'd you think I created the fucking Outlaws?" I asked before pausing for a second to look at Jason, realizing I hadn't told him I was Ghost yet.
His expression remained the same, no hint of surprise or question why I didn't reveal that aspect of my identity to him. It could either be because he was yet to process what I just said or he thought it as a sleazy comment. "I don't claim being the boss, but I handpicked everyone for Ghost."
"Relax bro, I already know your our boss." Jason replied, shrugging my lousy attempt of a cover-up to the side.
"How did you…?" As I was about questioning, the only possible way he got to know my identity as Ghost was seated right next to him.
I looked over at Leo who slowly folded his lips and averted his gaze to a painting which has been on the wall for a couple months now, acting like he was avoiding eye contact with me.
"Leo…You didn't!" I exclaimed, shaking my head in disappointment.
"Look kid, don't get mad but I filled him in on a few things after trying him out a couple times.
"That wasn't your secret to share. Am not mad that you told him, I would have told him sooner or later. But I'm disappointed you didn't inform me before and after doing it.
"For that I'm sorry, kid." Leo apologized, giving a gentle tap on my shoulder as he did so.
"When did you tell him?" I asked Leo.
"The day Darkseid's forces invade earth. Right before we flew off to Metropolis, leaving him in Gotham, that was when I ripped off the bandage. Although I had been taking him on certain jobs before that, actually testing his loyalty and drive to accomplishing certain tasks for Ghost with whatever means necessary." Leo replied as he poured himself some more orange juice.
"I don't have much time, so tell me why you didn't flip up on me for keeping that information from you, and what you've been up to since learning it." I asked Jason who was busy taking a sip from his glass like he was excluded from the morning drama.
"Nothing much, just busy spreading and upholding a few rumors here and there about what would happen to those who betrays you, lacing it with a bit of truth by putting the case with Black Mask in the mix." He replied.
"Wait, what?" I asked, unsure of why he was doing that, but now I know why most criminal groups in my territory are more compliant since their visit from Deathstroke.
"I know you didn't tell me because you were probably being cautious and thought I might switch on you for being a crime lord yourself, but it's something I've always wanted." Jason said.
"Again…What?"
"Crime is something that cannot be extinguished, but can be controlled. As Ghost you've coordinated some crime lords who organizes their members and crimes according to your instructions, reducing unnecessary casualties like killing civilians or security men to get what they want."
"True, I do refrain them from killing during jobs. Well I have to go get ready, am really cutting in close on my appointment." I said to them, dropping my empty glass after taking the last sip, then headed upstairs to get ready.
…
[Barbara Gordon's POV]
"That was some test wasn't it?" Marie, my brunette friend said as she caught up with me. " Those questions were too unpredictable for a course this broad." She added as we continued to walk down the hallway beside me and with a couple of books in hand.
"That's why you have me as your study buddy." I replied her with an half smile on my face. "God knows I would be totally lost without you." She replied and we both chuckled over it but hers slowly faded out.
"What?" I asked her in curiosity.
"I think we have a new hottie on campus." Marie said as she pointed straight ahead. "You've got to be kidding me." The words I muttered as I spotted an odd guy with snow white hair and pale skin leaving the administrative office, earning himself a second glance from any girl who sighted him, except me. I knew what he really was like beneath that angelic mask of he's.