Post by Batman (Bruce Wayne) on Jul 24, 2013 0:13:26 GMT -5
#1 Return of the Red Hoods
Story By: Batman and Terry
Heroes: Batman, Robin II
Villains: Red Hood Gang, The Joker
Plot: The Red Hood Gang has returned to Gotham and is hell bent on marking its territory for good.
January 2011…‘The city is so much different these days. Things have been changing. Ever since Metropolis, criminals have been coming out of the woodwork. Criminals not like the Joker, psychotic and insane. Criminals who are smarter, stronger, agile, and more durable, but not like Deathstroke.’ The Dark Knight swung from the rooftops to the next, a large black cape swirled around his form while his dark shadow came casting down onto another building while the line retracted and caused the wire to retreat into his gun. ‘Where’s Dick lately? Oh. Right, he’s in *Jump city* with his new friends. He needs the time to grow and meet new people…This world Dick and I are in is much bigger than what we can imagine. ’ “Help! He-…” “Shut up bitch!” “Shut up or I’ll stick this down your throat!” -Five men grabbed a woman by the neck and pushed her against the alley wall.-
‘Five men wearing blue jeans, and red hoods with red masks concealing their mouths. Armed with knives, a gun, and potentially other lethal weapons. The Police could take them down, they could catch them...but how many would get hurt trying to bring them to justice?’ “Listen bitch, you’re going to get on your knees and…” ‘I don’t need Dick for this kind of scum.’ “Everyone will know that the Red Hood gang is back and we got the best bitches…” ‘I don’t pay attention to their dialog, I know they’re threatening her, sexually harassing the woman. The worst thing you could in front of any vigilante.’ A swoosh of wind flew above the men causing them to look towards the rooftops above them. “What the fuck?” A roll of thunder caused two men to back away from the others while lifting their weapons. Two men jumped and turned around as a tap hit both of their shoulders.
“What the fuck?!” They swing their weapons behind them with large strokes attempting to strike an invisible predator. White lens narrow onto the remaining three and a pair of whip lashings whistle through the wind and the third man’s hand is bound to his hip and a gunshot goes off shooting himself in the knee while releasing a deafening scream that echoed through the alley. The fourth man aimed his gun towards the end of the alleyway towards the darkness. The fifth man was unzipping his pants but, quickly halted that action upon his partners freaking out. “What the fuck is going on? Bat Man? You wanna fuck with the Red Hoods? Huh? We will fucking OWN you, you little bitch!” ‘He’s the most fearless.’ A thunderous roll and the fifth man turned to realize Batman was standing behind him crouched down into the darkness of the alley. “The fuck?!”
The fifth man was quickly lifted off the ground by his ankle while a grappling line screamed yanking the man towards the rooftops. The fourth man turned to see Batman with two thugs behind him when suddenly they caught their flight. Snap flashes on their back shoulders blew out their thrusters hurling both men into the air and slammed them into the brick walls on the alley with a speed of 15 miles per hour knocking them out immediately. Batman lifted his arms into a martial art pose and waved for the man to come forth for battle. The thug armed his butterfly knife and slashed at Batman only for a swift kick to disarm the knife and then a solid punch to the thugs face forced the man’s mask to fall off and his jaw to crackle as muscles and bone snapped against the pressure thrown by Batman’s right hook.-
-The alleyway was full of moaning and groaning as the woman remained in her spot watching the whole scene. Batman took her purse and handed it to her.- “Call the police…” She immediately pulled out her phone and ran towards the streets while Batman collected his snap flashes and captured the fifth man for interrogation.-
Jason Todd: While Batman was making short work of five members of the 'illustrious' Red Hood Gang, two more were further along in more dastardly plans – armed robbery. The red ski masks easily gave them away, as well as the fact the taller of the two was waving about a simple hand gun within an otherwise peaceful grocery store. “The plan is get the money, make a name, and get out.” This was barely a mutter from the shorter of the two mask-wearing criminals. Jason Todd wasn't the best of kids, a street rat who was focused on trying to survive and avoid getting thrown into some ratty home for kids with no future. The Red Hood gang was like a chance at having a life, a family, and trying to stay out on top – but that didn't mean there wasn't any sense of worry or regret about what was being done. They were lucky, there were only a few customers out and about in the store and that meant the chances of someone getting hurt were even slimmer.
“C'mon, put the money in the bag! I don't have all day!” The taller gun-wielding Hood, Chris as Jason knew him, would be shouting out, gun in the air as if he were ready to fire a few rounds off in example. 'It's a good thing no one knows that it is unloaded.' Jason would think to himself, oblivious to the nature of the people he had gotten in with – or at least just how bad they really were at heart. A sound would catch the boy's ears and cause him to turn his attention toward a woman and her child, kneeling down together in a corner, whimpering each time the armed man yelled. Kids, women, the two things Jason stood against hurting even as he picked pockets or stole – they were like him, powerless, and he had seen what the street life required of them. In a bad neighborhood? The fact that the woman was there alone with a child spoke volumes to him. Approaching while masked a plea not to be hurt would drift up from the mother.
“I'm not going to hurt you. I promise, no one is going to be hurt.” He'd begin, holding both of his hands up as if to show he wasn't carrying, or at least had anything held ready. “Just stay on the floor and don't do anything stupid, okay? Me and Chris are just going to get the money and leave...” Oh you naive fool! In his good nature the young Todd had just made a fatal mistake – giving away names. Money in hand Chris would spin around, eyes wide and wild. “Did you just give her our fucking names?!” The gun was leveled at the woman who would clutch her child all the tighter. “I guess we'll have to make sure she can't say shit then, won't we?!” Jason could only protest helplessly as the gun went off, his voice drowned out by the shot and the screaming of the child. Blood stained his red mask, and left blue eyes wide in shock and horror. “C'mon man, we have to go!” A hand jerked at his arm and Jason was up, instincts firing off – flight instead of fight.
Soon as the two had left the building the sound of the alarm going off would be a signal for all in the area. At that moment Jason couldn't focus on it; his mind screamed at him to run, his lungs screamed at him to get a breath...And his heart? He wondered what the hell had happened. What had he managed to do to that family by trying to reassure them? 'The gun wasn't suppose to be loaded! It was suppose to be a clean job!' His thoughts began to process as he ran, and anger-filled eyes would fall upon his partner, Chris. 'A mother, an innocent fucking mother...A child, no...No, I'm not going to let him...' Around the corner they would go toward an alleyway both expecting the sound of cops at any moment to signal they were being watched, followed.
‘He’s tough…I cracked two of his ribs. They He wants to scream for help, but the gag in his mouth prevents that from happening.’ The gangster hung upside down whimpering in pain. “Why are you hurting me?! You’re a hero…You don’t do this shit!” Batman leaned closer to the man’s face grabbing the hair on top of his head.- “I want names…I took down the Red Hood gang before. What’s another blow to a wanna-be group?” “Hey…Hey, listen. I got a girlfriend and a daughter…They’re in my wallet…Please let me go. I promise I won’t-…” Batman’s fist punched into the man’s stomach causing him to gasp. “Fuck you! You can go suck on my di-…” Batman’s attention shifted upon hearing gunshots. He clutched his teeth and released the punk causing him to scream.- “HEY!! HELP ME YOU ASSHOLE!” A dark figure barreled across the rooftops, a large cape swam behind him as he traveled across the city blocks until he arrived at the scene. Two teenagers rushing to leave the store with leader wielding a gun.
Batman followed the pair, watching them intently, already calculating how he would deal with them. They were younger, more agile and most likely slippery. The oldest who was wielding a gun had a pack of cigarettes outlining his back pockets indicating that he was a smoker, his lungs would be a significant weakness to him. The bitter air of winter stung his exposed chin while the moist air caused his lips to burn. ‘I can follow them, lead me to their headquarters. Find out who is running the operation.’
Jason Todd: Oblivious to the dangers above, and not carrying about the fact cops may be fast behind, Jason would come to a stop hand reaching up to tug off the mask. “Jason, what are you doing?! We have to keep going!” Chris's voice was anxious, though the fact he was panting out of breath already killed some of the authority in his voice. “...You killed her, right in front of her kid. You said no one would get hurt, you promised me the gun was unloaded!” Voice was raising as he spoke, storming toward his partner. “You told her our na--” The statement wouldn't have time to finish before the right hook caught the taller teen in the face. A left jab would follow to the stomach, doubling him over. Jason didn't care, didn't hear anything or think about the fact he could soon be caught on the scene. “She's dead, you shot her!” The yelling continued as readily as the blows, the gun having fallen from the masked man's hands during the start of the assault.
Shoving his shoulder into the man's body, Jason would take him down and follow after, slamming his opponent down hard and keeping him there. “You won't hurt anyone else though, I'll make sure of it myself.” Terror was visible in the Chris's eyes, and Jason felt almost high from it, from being able to make sure the scumball wouldn't get a chance to ruin another family.
‘Let them wear each other out. Then I can take them both down.’ Like a predator stalking he watches the scene unfold the depth of the situation wasn’t as cut and dry as one would think. He watched as a fight broke out, the oldest of the pair caught in surprise and horror that a younger man…no…boy had beaten him to the ground even with a gun that had somehow vanished. He watched as Jason seemed ready to finally take down his partner. His rage was apparent, his rationale justified, his means…primal. ‘I’ve seen enough…’ A batarang would hurl towards Jason and Chris but, it would click against the ground and slide next to Chris’ head revealing a solid piece of metal in the shape of a bat. Sharp edges while the distant faint lighting from the street made the outline of Gotham’s protector.
A roll of thunder rang throughout the alleyway and the path they came from was suddenly blacked out by a dark figure. A monster with white eyes, demon shaped ears pointing towards the sky, a cape flowing behind him as he drew closer with silent steps.
Jason Todd: The sound of metal hitting cement would grab Jason's attention as well as his partner's. There were few Gotham natives who didn't know about Batman, and the sight of metal in that shape, well the boy knew it was time to back off and fast. Pushing off of the fallen and half-conscious Chris's shoulders Jason would stumble backwards. Right foot would catch the gun that had fallen at the start of the assault and cause him to trip up, body slamming into the side of the alleyway. Eyes were cast skywards, wide and fearful, though determined. He hadn't spotted the figure yet, though by time his head turned back toward the opening of the alley he would realize that Batman had already dropped down. Shoving off the wall he would do what any scared criminal or boy might do – run the opposite direction. Lungs were burning, adrenaline fueled his flight even as he jumped over his fallen partner. It was probably a futile effort, but he didn't want to be captured.
To be caught meant either time behind bars, or worse – being shoved into a foster home where he would be unwanted, where he would be unable to get out and find what happened to his family and to get on with his own life. Jason was a head-strong and angry youth, and damn well would rather live on the streets than be given the pity of strangers! A pity for the youth the alley would come to a dead end, though it was unsure if he would even get the time to reach it to find that out.
His eyes watched as the first boy ran, Jason…The second scrambled to pick up the money and grab the gun, but a clad black hand gripped the boys wrist to begin crushing it causing him to grind his already bleeding teeth, grasping the boy by the back of his head Batman slammed the kids face into a nearby trash can forcing him into an unconscious state. Picking up the gun, Batman quickly detached the barrel of the M9 berretta, quickly pulling out the pin and springs within the device he dropped the pieces and ejected the magazine onto the ground for the police. His footsteps would then begin walking to follow the last thug as he fled. He followed the alleyways, tapping his cowl forcing the detective vision to engage he would watch the boy stop in a dead end only a few corners away. He followed calmly walking, reserving his strength and speed while allowing his prey to panic and squirm.
Jason Todd: A dead end, the worse thing ever when you're running for your life. Chest rose and fell, eyes were wide and filled with both panic and determination. He wouldn't be caught this way, he wouldn't go to some house to be pitied, and he sure as hell wasn't going to jail for what Chris did; even if he knew it was wrong to have been robbing the joint in the first place. There was little to go off of, no fire escapes to grab, or a ladder to clime and the wall had nothing he could get his hands into. So what does the boy do? Grab the nearest fallen bit of pipe and get ready for what was about to happen. 'I didn't kill her, I didn't do it...' He would remind himself, eyes narrowed as he tried to put on his best tough guy act and keep his confidence going. This was Batman he was going up against, sure...But he only needed one opening to slip past, one chance to get away and hopefully find a way to solve the issue of Chris with the rest of the Red Hood Gang.
-Batman arrived turning around the corner to see Jason holding the pipe. A Darth Vader like moment of his cape might’ve sent chills down Jason’s spine as the dispute of Batman being ‘good’ didn’t seem to hold water as his face was concealed by darkness only allowing white eyes that seemed to trap light within them preventing any kind of glow escaping them. His voice growled at the kid. “Going to hit me and run? You’re better off giving up. Turn yourself in.” Batman’s raspy voice growled as his hands underneath his cape made preparations for the likely hood the boy would attempt to lash out and fight.- ‘He’s a punk, he’s got hormones raging out of control, his mind races with all of the possibilities. Should he run or fight? He had luck taking down someone older. He had luck escaping the heist without getting caught by the police. He had luck running into the Dark Knight of Gotham.
Who put him up to this? Why is he here? Where are his parents? These are the questions I think about while giving him time to consider his next move. I allow the silence to deafen him in between answers and responses. Right now he is distracted by the thunder in his heart reaching to his ears, the burning within his lungs escaping through his throat, and the raspy and feral growl of my voice.’
Jason Todd: Fear, fear and anger were coupled together with the adrenaline from the running and the fight with the other masked Hood. Adrenaline was the only thing that kept him from trying something stupid, that kept him from lashing out then and there without an opening presenting itself. Jason Todd was a kid who grew up on the streets, had run into demons and monsters all his life – and survived. Batman? Oh you can bet your ass he was scared, but that didn't mean he wouldn't try to use every trick in the book he had to escape. “Turn myself in and what? Get blamed for something I didn't do, or get thrown into some house for kids that Gotham doesn't want? You're crazy. . .” Sound tough, keep firm – and while Jason was proud of his performance it would be easy for any detective to pick out the fear in his tone. He was a scared kid on the streets faced with one of the legendary creatures that was said to take people like him down. Could anyone blame him?
Still Batman's voice did keep him where he was, the pipe in place though he wasn't yet lashing out. “He shot her! Not me! I'm not going to be taken down for what that fuckup did! I didn't want anyone to get hurt.” He'd snap. “If you want to pick on someone, go deal with Chris and the rest of the Hoods and leave me to my own!” Yeah like that would happen but he was buying time, trying to get the Dark Knight to give him an opening – be it fake or otherwise.
“And you won’t get caught now? You’re not going to escape. You’re tired and running on adrenaline…With each passing moment you’re becoming more and more desperate.” ‘Adrenaline isn’t true…Adrenaline only remains active for 15 seconds before the body goes into a survival mode and primary systems shut down and secondary engage forcing stomach, bowels, and brain rationale functions to shut down. It allows for the body to transfer strength to its muscles and react on emotions. In moments of pause and preparation, psychologists believe you can reason and tone down someone who is in such as state and bring them back to rationale thinking, suicide negotiators do this to make a bad situation better. I’m using it to create a weakness and perhaps help the kid do the right thing.’
Jason Todd: “Better to go down fighting than go down like some fucking chump.” Jason would snap, swinging the pole up and down in front of him a little – barely a bob and in no way a threat though it did elude to a planned attack. “I'm not going to go down for that slimeball murderer, and you're not taking me to the pigs so they can shove me into some home for unwanted children.” A step forward is taken, the weapon held ready. “So either get the hell out of my way, or I'm going to make you move.” Oh god what was he getting himself into. Jason knew he was talking big, was doing what anyone on the streets had to do to survive – be ready to go down swinging. If Batman didn't react from the step forward Jason would strike first, jerking out and aiming the tip of the pipe toward the masked man's gut. Jason never thought it would connect so either way, once he got close enough the weapon would be released as he tried to step around Batman and take off down the alleyway.
It was a rookie move but it was obvious that the youth was more concerned with trying to get away, to escape, than to actually stay and fight. And this way, even if he did go down, at least he'd get to keep some of his pride in the fact he didn't go down in tears, and tried his best. Determination wasn't as big of a flaw as his temper was it?
“And making sure your “Partner” wouldn’t kill anyone again doesn’t make *you* a murderer? Two wrongs don’t justify a right, kid.” It was then a prod came at Batman and the kid didn’t seem to recognize that it stopped dead against his abs, not even moving as the pipe was jabbed at armor plating reinforced by 210 pounds of body weight and muscle. The weapon dropped to the ground and Batman watched as the kid ran away, his detective vision watched the boy, studying him curiously. He began walking once more to follow him. Allowing his words to sink into the Jason, knowing where the kid lived would help him, but his words came back to Batman. ‘A home? Doesn’t he have one? I’m about to find out…’
Jason Todd: Luck, it had to be luck but Jason wasn't going to stop to think about how he had managed to slip past the infamous Batman. Jumping over things as he went, the young man would stumble out of the alley and take off down the street. The run wasn't too long, and once he felt that he had managed to 'escape' the youth would begin to calm himself, to go from a run to a jog, a jog to a brisk walk. Eyes were all over the street, watching, alert as he could be to his surroundings. It was another night on the streets, it was another night filled with crooks and criminals – that's all, Batman would be too busy and he had escaped. So oblivious, even as he approached the run-down apartment building. There wasn't anyone really 'living' in it except those who had no where else to go. The homeless, the gang bangers, all of them would find a haven in the old building. Jason? Jason would climb up the side fire escape toward the room he had made his own after his mother's death.
The place was littered with different things, mostly stolen, though not once had he complained. Settling inside he would set his back to the wall, eyes closing and chest heaving in and out as he tried to get his breath. 'And making sure your 'partner' wouldn't kill anyone else doesn't make *you * a murderer?' The words played back in his mind, and caused him to slam his fist into a wall. “What else could I do...” They had to be taken care of, they had to stop hurting the innocent, the women and children who only wanted to be happy...And it was all he knew how to do that.
“Do you live alone?” Batman’s voice spoke from the entrance to Jason’s home. His gaze looked around the place, his voice likely startling the kid as Batman stood with his cape wrapped around his body like Dracula His head craning to look around while he stood tall and like a watchtower. His eyes fell onto Jason with his detective vision feeding Jason’s vital signs to him indicating his heart rate was at a calm 30 bpm to likely 45 - 65 as fear would probably strike up inside him again. His voice was no longer raspy, it was a calm and deep whisper that held some curiosity to it. He could hear the sound of people within the other rooms arguing, shoving each other, nothing that was too out of hand but it wasn’t ideal conditions. It wasn’t even what anyone would considered humane.-
Jason Todd: Okay yeah, this time Batman had him, and Jason would jerk up and sideways, trying to push himself away from that voice as his heart rate skyrocketed again. “Jeeze!” The word left him without warning or thought, eyes wide and fearful falling upon the man. He could have bolted toward the door, but by time he got the locks off he knew the man would be on his back. The window wasn't a likely option, since Batman was closer to it than Jason. “So what if I do?” Challenge crept back to his voice, that stubborn determination coming to life. The place was in shambles – some cushions made into a makeshift bed, a few odds and ends, and some tires made up the 'crib' of the youth in the small apartment. “Better to live alone than to be thrown into some fake care center where all they do is pity you.” Tired, the rush of adrenaline gone and the run having left him drained. The fight was still there though, just less violent...Not to mention those words still teased his thoughts.
“You would rather live like this and do what? Throw your life away? Rob another convenience store then back stab your partner when things don’t go to plan? Wake up kid, you’re living in a fantasy. Your “friends” lie to you. They steal to line their pockets while you live like this! They steal from innocent people while inciting fear and gaining profit off of it. You know what they do every day, you watch it unfold. Think about that child who is now without a mother because “Friends” like your partner get ready for another heist, another robbery, and another chance at killing more people. The Red Hood gang believes they can control Gotham. They control this area that you live in and does it look any better before they came? Have things really changed for the better?”
Jason Todd: Jason would go quiet as the man began to speak, eyes widening a little as if to signal his surprise that an attack came with words and not fists. Batman's reputation was that of a wild card, someone who came in, beat the bad guys down, and then left them for the criminals. So witnessing the man trying to talk to him, to get him to think? So many confusing emotions, so many thoughts. “Why do you care?! All you're going to do is take me down so I can be thrown into the system, to get spit on or pitied by people who don't understand.” He'd fight back in the same manner, right arm jerking out though it was in expression and not threat. “Better to steal what I need to survive than to do nothing. What would you know about the streets?! What it's like to do what you need to survive?!” Pain laced his voice even against the anger and fear. “No one was suppose to get hurt. Steal enough to survive, and get the hell out...I didn't stab him in the back, he lied to me!”
A fist hits the wall, quivering there as Jason's anger played into it, his anger and guilt over what had happened. “We can't do anything against them, we have to either listen and live, or risk getting killed or worse...” Because yes, oh yes there were things worse than death on the streets of Gotham City.
“Survival? People getting hurt? Why do you care who gets hurt and who doesn’t? Survival is a selfish act. Did you plan on sharing your loot?” Batman watched as Jason was becoming agitated, confused, and self doubting, his questions and aggression towards Batman was ignored and only given responses to incite the boy’s doubt. “An innocent woman was killed tonight and your idea of remembrance is to kill another person. Haven’t you seen enough blood for one day? Shouldn’t her murderer face trial and walk a whole new path of hell that you think is about to face you?”
Jason Todd: “I only take what I need to survive.” He would repeat toward the idea of sharing his loot. He didn't steal in excess, he only took a meal at a time, a few dollars to get by, hell his first big 'break' was tonight and well...It was easy to see how that was going! Still, there was truth to those words and it was hard for Jason to argue, more so with the anger, doubt, and fear that still clouded his mind. “He doesn't deserve to get a quick end.” The words were harsh and darker than the boy had meant them, and it did well to cause his eyes to light up with rage – a rage that had yet to find a positive channel in his life. A path of hell, suffering for what he had done...If that was Chris's fate then Jason had no logic to argue against it, and no reason to. “She didn't deserve that...She didn't deserve to die...” The words were softer, that emotional side and doubt starting to filter in just as quick as the anger had. “I was only try to keep her safe, honest...”
It was his fault for saying their names in a misguided attempt to keep her from doing something stupid, his fault for believing some crook that the gun wasn't loaded. It was all his fault the woman was dead and a child was motherless...Even if it hadn't been him who pulled the trigger.
-Batman watched him and came to kneel before him.- “Help me. And I will do everything in my power to make sure the police won’t put you in jail. Help you find a job, and help you live on your own where you won’t have to steal another night to get dinner. This is a second chance at redemption, Jason…” -Batman’s voice became soft despite a deep tone in his voice. His shadow casts from the window with an alley light behind him making him appear as though an angel was plunged into darkness as a veil of shadows concealed his body. Batman held out his glove to Jason offering the exchange.-
Jason Todd: Jason would go tense as Batman knelt down, the street rat's instincts telling him to be ready though when no attack came the boy would begin to relax just a little, watching the man as he spoke searching what he could of those masked features as if trying to see if the other was yanking his chain or not. “Help you, and you keep me out of the pity house and get me a job huh...” He'd mutter, seeming as if he wasn't sure – but there was one thing he did want. A hand reaches out to grip Batman's own, squeezing down firmly as he had been shown to do when trying to strike a deal. “I help you, you make sure slime like Chris don't get to hurt ma's and children without regretting it.” It was already what Batman did, but he wanted to be sure...To know that he would be giving other people a chance for what he never had. “Not sure how a street kid can help the big bad Batman but it sounds like a better deal than getting locked up. . .” Or killed by the Gang he had betrayed.
-Batman gave Jason a gentle squeeze after allowing the boy time to consider the offer. He was young enough to make stupid mistakes, but old enough to know when he screwed up and how to fix them, with a given direction. He stood up and said.- “First thing…I need to know where the Red Hood Gang is going to meet next. If all of their leaders are together, I can take them all down at once. They won’t terrorize this neighborhood any longer. Do you know where they meet or someone who does know? Your old partner is probably in police custody at this point. And the hood members I busted earlier are also in police custody. There can’t be that many left with six out of the way.”
Jason Todd: The deal was struck and Jason Todd wasn't someone to go back on a deal unless the other party did first – it was why he really didn't feel 'bad' for back-stabbing his partner who was suppose to be carrying an unloaded gun and making sure not to hurt anyone. “I don't k now nothin' about numbers 'cause I wasn't that important, but I do know their next meeting is gonna be in one of the old buildings up the road from here. Gonna be doing it on the top floor 'cause they figure that'll give 'em the best chance of knowin' if the cops come.” Now that he had calmed some his speech patterns had become more relaxed, eyes set in determination as he tried to remember everything he had been told. “Dunno anything more than that, honest.”
-Batman narrowed his eyes towards the wall.- “It won’t be a matter of time until they hear their buddies have been caught, take me to their hideout and we’ll plan our next move…” -At the apartment building, there were men already forming outside wearing black dress pants, white dress shirts, black jackets, and red bandana masks concealing their mouths. There were four men outside as groups of two or more at a time went into the apartment. On the top floor sat in a room of six men.- “What the fuck happened tonight? We got the shit beaten out of us! Now we look like jokes!” “Keep calm everyone…the plan is simple…” “Plan? We got six guys busted. Two of them were recruiters.” “It’s easy, we break into the police station and get them out.” -It was then another voice, foreign to all six men.- “You know…there was a lot more class back in the day…now you’re all just a bunch of rip offs.” -The leader of the group stood up.
“Who the fuck are you?” the leader pulled a gun from his jacket and pointed it towards the back entrance to the apartment. A shadowy figure walked out wearing an apron on top of a purple and green tuxedo, the apron had a large yellow smiley face on it. “Me? Why you can just call me Uncle J, and I’ve come to you deliver presents.” “Holy shit…That’s the fucking-…” -Another would jab the man silencing him.- “What presents?” -The Joker exampled his gloved finger nails.- “Hmm, well you want to break into Gotham Police station, I say forget about that…You need vengeance, you need to get that man who put you in this doggy-style position from the beginning! Don’t you see?” -The Joker wrapped an arm around one man.- “The Bat-Man caught *your* people. So, for a limited time offer I will offer you a Bat-Buzzer!” -The Joker held out his hand to reveal a buzzer attached to it.- “it works like this……”
Story By: Batman and Terry
Heroes: Batman, Robin II
Villains: Red Hood Gang, The Joker
Plot: The Red Hood Gang has returned to Gotham and is hell bent on marking its territory for good.
January 2011…‘The city is so much different these days. Things have been changing. Ever since Metropolis, criminals have been coming out of the woodwork. Criminals not like the Joker, psychotic and insane. Criminals who are smarter, stronger, agile, and more durable, but not like Deathstroke.’ The Dark Knight swung from the rooftops to the next, a large black cape swirled around his form while his dark shadow came casting down onto another building while the line retracted and caused the wire to retreat into his gun. ‘Where’s Dick lately? Oh. Right, he’s in *Jump city* with his new friends. He needs the time to grow and meet new people…This world Dick and I are in is much bigger than what we can imagine. ’ “Help! He-…” “Shut up bitch!” “Shut up or I’ll stick this down your throat!” -Five men grabbed a woman by the neck and pushed her against the alley wall.-
‘Five men wearing blue jeans, and red hoods with red masks concealing their mouths. Armed with knives, a gun, and potentially other lethal weapons. The Police could take them down, they could catch them...but how many would get hurt trying to bring them to justice?’ “Listen bitch, you’re going to get on your knees and…” ‘I don’t need Dick for this kind of scum.’ “Everyone will know that the Red Hood gang is back and we got the best bitches…” ‘I don’t pay attention to their dialog, I know they’re threatening her, sexually harassing the woman. The worst thing you could in front of any vigilante.’ A swoosh of wind flew above the men causing them to look towards the rooftops above them. “What the fuck?” A roll of thunder caused two men to back away from the others while lifting their weapons. Two men jumped and turned around as a tap hit both of their shoulders.
“What the fuck?!” They swing their weapons behind them with large strokes attempting to strike an invisible predator. White lens narrow onto the remaining three and a pair of whip lashings whistle through the wind and the third man’s hand is bound to his hip and a gunshot goes off shooting himself in the knee while releasing a deafening scream that echoed through the alley. The fourth man aimed his gun towards the end of the alleyway towards the darkness. The fifth man was unzipping his pants but, quickly halted that action upon his partners freaking out. “What the fuck is going on? Bat Man? You wanna fuck with the Red Hoods? Huh? We will fucking OWN you, you little bitch!” ‘He’s the most fearless.’ A thunderous roll and the fifth man turned to realize Batman was standing behind him crouched down into the darkness of the alley. “The fuck?!”
The fifth man was quickly lifted off the ground by his ankle while a grappling line screamed yanking the man towards the rooftops. The fourth man turned to see Batman with two thugs behind him when suddenly they caught their flight. Snap flashes on their back shoulders blew out their thrusters hurling both men into the air and slammed them into the brick walls on the alley with a speed of 15 miles per hour knocking them out immediately. Batman lifted his arms into a martial art pose and waved for the man to come forth for battle. The thug armed his butterfly knife and slashed at Batman only for a swift kick to disarm the knife and then a solid punch to the thugs face forced the man’s mask to fall off and his jaw to crackle as muscles and bone snapped against the pressure thrown by Batman’s right hook.-
-The alleyway was full of moaning and groaning as the woman remained in her spot watching the whole scene. Batman took her purse and handed it to her.- “Call the police…” She immediately pulled out her phone and ran towards the streets while Batman collected his snap flashes and captured the fifth man for interrogation.-
Jason Todd: While Batman was making short work of five members of the 'illustrious' Red Hood Gang, two more were further along in more dastardly plans – armed robbery. The red ski masks easily gave them away, as well as the fact the taller of the two was waving about a simple hand gun within an otherwise peaceful grocery store. “The plan is get the money, make a name, and get out.” This was barely a mutter from the shorter of the two mask-wearing criminals. Jason Todd wasn't the best of kids, a street rat who was focused on trying to survive and avoid getting thrown into some ratty home for kids with no future. The Red Hood gang was like a chance at having a life, a family, and trying to stay out on top – but that didn't mean there wasn't any sense of worry or regret about what was being done. They were lucky, there were only a few customers out and about in the store and that meant the chances of someone getting hurt were even slimmer.
“C'mon, put the money in the bag! I don't have all day!” The taller gun-wielding Hood, Chris as Jason knew him, would be shouting out, gun in the air as if he were ready to fire a few rounds off in example. 'It's a good thing no one knows that it is unloaded.' Jason would think to himself, oblivious to the nature of the people he had gotten in with – or at least just how bad they really were at heart. A sound would catch the boy's ears and cause him to turn his attention toward a woman and her child, kneeling down together in a corner, whimpering each time the armed man yelled. Kids, women, the two things Jason stood against hurting even as he picked pockets or stole – they were like him, powerless, and he had seen what the street life required of them. In a bad neighborhood? The fact that the woman was there alone with a child spoke volumes to him. Approaching while masked a plea not to be hurt would drift up from the mother.
“I'm not going to hurt you. I promise, no one is going to be hurt.” He'd begin, holding both of his hands up as if to show he wasn't carrying, or at least had anything held ready. “Just stay on the floor and don't do anything stupid, okay? Me and Chris are just going to get the money and leave...” Oh you naive fool! In his good nature the young Todd had just made a fatal mistake – giving away names. Money in hand Chris would spin around, eyes wide and wild. “Did you just give her our fucking names?!” The gun was leveled at the woman who would clutch her child all the tighter. “I guess we'll have to make sure she can't say shit then, won't we?!” Jason could only protest helplessly as the gun went off, his voice drowned out by the shot and the screaming of the child. Blood stained his red mask, and left blue eyes wide in shock and horror. “C'mon man, we have to go!” A hand jerked at his arm and Jason was up, instincts firing off – flight instead of fight.
Soon as the two had left the building the sound of the alarm going off would be a signal for all in the area. At that moment Jason couldn't focus on it; his mind screamed at him to run, his lungs screamed at him to get a breath...And his heart? He wondered what the hell had happened. What had he managed to do to that family by trying to reassure them? 'The gun wasn't suppose to be loaded! It was suppose to be a clean job!' His thoughts began to process as he ran, and anger-filled eyes would fall upon his partner, Chris. 'A mother, an innocent fucking mother...A child, no...No, I'm not going to let him...' Around the corner they would go toward an alleyway both expecting the sound of cops at any moment to signal they were being watched, followed.
‘He’s tough…I cracked two of his ribs. They He wants to scream for help, but the gag in his mouth prevents that from happening.’ The gangster hung upside down whimpering in pain. “Why are you hurting me?! You’re a hero…You don’t do this shit!” Batman leaned closer to the man’s face grabbing the hair on top of his head.- “I want names…I took down the Red Hood gang before. What’s another blow to a wanna-be group?” “Hey…Hey, listen. I got a girlfriend and a daughter…They’re in my wallet…Please let me go. I promise I won’t-…” Batman’s fist punched into the man’s stomach causing him to gasp. “Fuck you! You can go suck on my di-…” Batman’s attention shifted upon hearing gunshots. He clutched his teeth and released the punk causing him to scream.- “HEY!! HELP ME YOU ASSHOLE!” A dark figure barreled across the rooftops, a large cape swam behind him as he traveled across the city blocks until he arrived at the scene. Two teenagers rushing to leave the store with leader wielding a gun.
Batman followed the pair, watching them intently, already calculating how he would deal with them. They were younger, more agile and most likely slippery. The oldest who was wielding a gun had a pack of cigarettes outlining his back pockets indicating that he was a smoker, his lungs would be a significant weakness to him. The bitter air of winter stung his exposed chin while the moist air caused his lips to burn. ‘I can follow them, lead me to their headquarters. Find out who is running the operation.’
Jason Todd: Oblivious to the dangers above, and not carrying about the fact cops may be fast behind, Jason would come to a stop hand reaching up to tug off the mask. “Jason, what are you doing?! We have to keep going!” Chris's voice was anxious, though the fact he was panting out of breath already killed some of the authority in his voice. “...You killed her, right in front of her kid. You said no one would get hurt, you promised me the gun was unloaded!” Voice was raising as he spoke, storming toward his partner. “You told her our na--” The statement wouldn't have time to finish before the right hook caught the taller teen in the face. A left jab would follow to the stomach, doubling him over. Jason didn't care, didn't hear anything or think about the fact he could soon be caught on the scene. “She's dead, you shot her!” The yelling continued as readily as the blows, the gun having fallen from the masked man's hands during the start of the assault.
Shoving his shoulder into the man's body, Jason would take him down and follow after, slamming his opponent down hard and keeping him there. “You won't hurt anyone else though, I'll make sure of it myself.” Terror was visible in the Chris's eyes, and Jason felt almost high from it, from being able to make sure the scumball wouldn't get a chance to ruin another family.
‘Let them wear each other out. Then I can take them both down.’ Like a predator stalking he watches the scene unfold the depth of the situation wasn’t as cut and dry as one would think. He watched as a fight broke out, the oldest of the pair caught in surprise and horror that a younger man…no…boy had beaten him to the ground even with a gun that had somehow vanished. He watched as Jason seemed ready to finally take down his partner. His rage was apparent, his rationale justified, his means…primal. ‘I’ve seen enough…’ A batarang would hurl towards Jason and Chris but, it would click against the ground and slide next to Chris’ head revealing a solid piece of metal in the shape of a bat. Sharp edges while the distant faint lighting from the street made the outline of Gotham’s protector.
A roll of thunder rang throughout the alleyway and the path they came from was suddenly blacked out by a dark figure. A monster with white eyes, demon shaped ears pointing towards the sky, a cape flowing behind him as he drew closer with silent steps.
Jason Todd: The sound of metal hitting cement would grab Jason's attention as well as his partner's. There were few Gotham natives who didn't know about Batman, and the sight of metal in that shape, well the boy knew it was time to back off and fast. Pushing off of the fallen and half-conscious Chris's shoulders Jason would stumble backwards. Right foot would catch the gun that had fallen at the start of the assault and cause him to trip up, body slamming into the side of the alleyway. Eyes were cast skywards, wide and fearful, though determined. He hadn't spotted the figure yet, though by time his head turned back toward the opening of the alley he would realize that Batman had already dropped down. Shoving off the wall he would do what any scared criminal or boy might do – run the opposite direction. Lungs were burning, adrenaline fueled his flight even as he jumped over his fallen partner. It was probably a futile effort, but he didn't want to be captured.
To be caught meant either time behind bars, or worse – being shoved into a foster home where he would be unwanted, where he would be unable to get out and find what happened to his family and to get on with his own life. Jason was a head-strong and angry youth, and damn well would rather live on the streets than be given the pity of strangers! A pity for the youth the alley would come to a dead end, though it was unsure if he would even get the time to reach it to find that out.
His eyes watched as the first boy ran, Jason…The second scrambled to pick up the money and grab the gun, but a clad black hand gripped the boys wrist to begin crushing it causing him to grind his already bleeding teeth, grasping the boy by the back of his head Batman slammed the kids face into a nearby trash can forcing him into an unconscious state. Picking up the gun, Batman quickly detached the barrel of the M9 berretta, quickly pulling out the pin and springs within the device he dropped the pieces and ejected the magazine onto the ground for the police. His footsteps would then begin walking to follow the last thug as he fled. He followed the alleyways, tapping his cowl forcing the detective vision to engage he would watch the boy stop in a dead end only a few corners away. He followed calmly walking, reserving his strength and speed while allowing his prey to panic and squirm.
Jason Todd: A dead end, the worse thing ever when you're running for your life. Chest rose and fell, eyes were wide and filled with both panic and determination. He wouldn't be caught this way, he wouldn't go to some house to be pitied, and he sure as hell wasn't going to jail for what Chris did; even if he knew it was wrong to have been robbing the joint in the first place. There was little to go off of, no fire escapes to grab, or a ladder to clime and the wall had nothing he could get his hands into. So what does the boy do? Grab the nearest fallen bit of pipe and get ready for what was about to happen. 'I didn't kill her, I didn't do it...' He would remind himself, eyes narrowed as he tried to put on his best tough guy act and keep his confidence going. This was Batman he was going up against, sure...But he only needed one opening to slip past, one chance to get away and hopefully find a way to solve the issue of Chris with the rest of the Red Hood Gang.
-Batman arrived turning around the corner to see Jason holding the pipe. A Darth Vader like moment of his cape might’ve sent chills down Jason’s spine as the dispute of Batman being ‘good’ didn’t seem to hold water as his face was concealed by darkness only allowing white eyes that seemed to trap light within them preventing any kind of glow escaping them. His voice growled at the kid. “Going to hit me and run? You’re better off giving up. Turn yourself in.” Batman’s raspy voice growled as his hands underneath his cape made preparations for the likely hood the boy would attempt to lash out and fight.- ‘He’s a punk, he’s got hormones raging out of control, his mind races with all of the possibilities. Should he run or fight? He had luck taking down someone older. He had luck escaping the heist without getting caught by the police. He had luck running into the Dark Knight of Gotham.
Who put him up to this? Why is he here? Where are his parents? These are the questions I think about while giving him time to consider his next move. I allow the silence to deafen him in between answers and responses. Right now he is distracted by the thunder in his heart reaching to his ears, the burning within his lungs escaping through his throat, and the raspy and feral growl of my voice.’
Jason Todd: Fear, fear and anger were coupled together with the adrenaline from the running and the fight with the other masked Hood. Adrenaline was the only thing that kept him from trying something stupid, that kept him from lashing out then and there without an opening presenting itself. Jason Todd was a kid who grew up on the streets, had run into demons and monsters all his life – and survived. Batman? Oh you can bet your ass he was scared, but that didn't mean he wouldn't try to use every trick in the book he had to escape. “Turn myself in and what? Get blamed for something I didn't do, or get thrown into some house for kids that Gotham doesn't want? You're crazy. . .” Sound tough, keep firm – and while Jason was proud of his performance it would be easy for any detective to pick out the fear in his tone. He was a scared kid on the streets faced with one of the legendary creatures that was said to take people like him down. Could anyone blame him?
Still Batman's voice did keep him where he was, the pipe in place though he wasn't yet lashing out. “He shot her! Not me! I'm not going to be taken down for what that fuckup did! I didn't want anyone to get hurt.” He'd snap. “If you want to pick on someone, go deal with Chris and the rest of the Hoods and leave me to my own!” Yeah like that would happen but he was buying time, trying to get the Dark Knight to give him an opening – be it fake or otherwise.
“And you won’t get caught now? You’re not going to escape. You’re tired and running on adrenaline…With each passing moment you’re becoming more and more desperate.” ‘Adrenaline isn’t true…Adrenaline only remains active for 15 seconds before the body goes into a survival mode and primary systems shut down and secondary engage forcing stomach, bowels, and brain rationale functions to shut down. It allows for the body to transfer strength to its muscles and react on emotions. In moments of pause and preparation, psychologists believe you can reason and tone down someone who is in such as state and bring them back to rationale thinking, suicide negotiators do this to make a bad situation better. I’m using it to create a weakness and perhaps help the kid do the right thing.’
Jason Todd: “Better to go down fighting than go down like some fucking chump.” Jason would snap, swinging the pole up and down in front of him a little – barely a bob and in no way a threat though it did elude to a planned attack. “I'm not going to go down for that slimeball murderer, and you're not taking me to the pigs so they can shove me into some home for unwanted children.” A step forward is taken, the weapon held ready. “So either get the hell out of my way, or I'm going to make you move.” Oh god what was he getting himself into. Jason knew he was talking big, was doing what anyone on the streets had to do to survive – be ready to go down swinging. If Batman didn't react from the step forward Jason would strike first, jerking out and aiming the tip of the pipe toward the masked man's gut. Jason never thought it would connect so either way, once he got close enough the weapon would be released as he tried to step around Batman and take off down the alleyway.
It was a rookie move but it was obvious that the youth was more concerned with trying to get away, to escape, than to actually stay and fight. And this way, even if he did go down, at least he'd get to keep some of his pride in the fact he didn't go down in tears, and tried his best. Determination wasn't as big of a flaw as his temper was it?
“And making sure your “Partner” wouldn’t kill anyone again doesn’t make *you* a murderer? Two wrongs don’t justify a right, kid.” It was then a prod came at Batman and the kid didn’t seem to recognize that it stopped dead against his abs, not even moving as the pipe was jabbed at armor plating reinforced by 210 pounds of body weight and muscle. The weapon dropped to the ground and Batman watched as the kid ran away, his detective vision watched the boy, studying him curiously. He began walking once more to follow him. Allowing his words to sink into the Jason, knowing where the kid lived would help him, but his words came back to Batman. ‘A home? Doesn’t he have one? I’m about to find out…’
Jason Todd: Luck, it had to be luck but Jason wasn't going to stop to think about how he had managed to slip past the infamous Batman. Jumping over things as he went, the young man would stumble out of the alley and take off down the street. The run wasn't too long, and once he felt that he had managed to 'escape' the youth would begin to calm himself, to go from a run to a jog, a jog to a brisk walk. Eyes were all over the street, watching, alert as he could be to his surroundings. It was another night on the streets, it was another night filled with crooks and criminals – that's all, Batman would be too busy and he had escaped. So oblivious, even as he approached the run-down apartment building. There wasn't anyone really 'living' in it except those who had no where else to go. The homeless, the gang bangers, all of them would find a haven in the old building. Jason? Jason would climb up the side fire escape toward the room he had made his own after his mother's death.
The place was littered with different things, mostly stolen, though not once had he complained. Settling inside he would set his back to the wall, eyes closing and chest heaving in and out as he tried to get his breath. 'And making sure your 'partner' wouldn't kill anyone else doesn't make *you * a murderer?' The words played back in his mind, and caused him to slam his fist into a wall. “What else could I do...” They had to be taken care of, they had to stop hurting the innocent, the women and children who only wanted to be happy...And it was all he knew how to do that.
“Do you live alone?” Batman’s voice spoke from the entrance to Jason’s home. His gaze looked around the place, his voice likely startling the kid as Batman stood with his cape wrapped around his body like Dracula His head craning to look around while he stood tall and like a watchtower. His eyes fell onto Jason with his detective vision feeding Jason’s vital signs to him indicating his heart rate was at a calm 30 bpm to likely 45 - 65 as fear would probably strike up inside him again. His voice was no longer raspy, it was a calm and deep whisper that held some curiosity to it. He could hear the sound of people within the other rooms arguing, shoving each other, nothing that was too out of hand but it wasn’t ideal conditions. It wasn’t even what anyone would considered humane.-
Jason Todd: Okay yeah, this time Batman had him, and Jason would jerk up and sideways, trying to push himself away from that voice as his heart rate skyrocketed again. “Jeeze!” The word left him without warning or thought, eyes wide and fearful falling upon the man. He could have bolted toward the door, but by time he got the locks off he knew the man would be on his back. The window wasn't a likely option, since Batman was closer to it than Jason. “So what if I do?” Challenge crept back to his voice, that stubborn determination coming to life. The place was in shambles – some cushions made into a makeshift bed, a few odds and ends, and some tires made up the 'crib' of the youth in the small apartment. “Better to live alone than to be thrown into some fake care center where all they do is pity you.” Tired, the rush of adrenaline gone and the run having left him drained. The fight was still there though, just less violent...Not to mention those words still teased his thoughts.
“You would rather live like this and do what? Throw your life away? Rob another convenience store then back stab your partner when things don’t go to plan? Wake up kid, you’re living in a fantasy. Your “friends” lie to you. They steal to line their pockets while you live like this! They steal from innocent people while inciting fear and gaining profit off of it. You know what they do every day, you watch it unfold. Think about that child who is now without a mother because “Friends” like your partner get ready for another heist, another robbery, and another chance at killing more people. The Red Hood gang believes they can control Gotham. They control this area that you live in and does it look any better before they came? Have things really changed for the better?”
Jason Todd: Jason would go quiet as the man began to speak, eyes widening a little as if to signal his surprise that an attack came with words and not fists. Batman's reputation was that of a wild card, someone who came in, beat the bad guys down, and then left them for the criminals. So witnessing the man trying to talk to him, to get him to think? So many confusing emotions, so many thoughts. “Why do you care?! All you're going to do is take me down so I can be thrown into the system, to get spit on or pitied by people who don't understand.” He'd fight back in the same manner, right arm jerking out though it was in expression and not threat. “Better to steal what I need to survive than to do nothing. What would you know about the streets?! What it's like to do what you need to survive?!” Pain laced his voice even against the anger and fear. “No one was suppose to get hurt. Steal enough to survive, and get the hell out...I didn't stab him in the back, he lied to me!”
A fist hits the wall, quivering there as Jason's anger played into it, his anger and guilt over what had happened. “We can't do anything against them, we have to either listen and live, or risk getting killed or worse...” Because yes, oh yes there were things worse than death on the streets of Gotham City.
“Survival? People getting hurt? Why do you care who gets hurt and who doesn’t? Survival is a selfish act. Did you plan on sharing your loot?” Batman watched as Jason was becoming agitated, confused, and self doubting, his questions and aggression towards Batman was ignored and only given responses to incite the boy’s doubt. “An innocent woman was killed tonight and your idea of remembrance is to kill another person. Haven’t you seen enough blood for one day? Shouldn’t her murderer face trial and walk a whole new path of hell that you think is about to face you?”
Jason Todd: “I only take what I need to survive.” He would repeat toward the idea of sharing his loot. He didn't steal in excess, he only took a meal at a time, a few dollars to get by, hell his first big 'break' was tonight and well...It was easy to see how that was going! Still, there was truth to those words and it was hard for Jason to argue, more so with the anger, doubt, and fear that still clouded his mind. “He doesn't deserve to get a quick end.” The words were harsh and darker than the boy had meant them, and it did well to cause his eyes to light up with rage – a rage that had yet to find a positive channel in his life. A path of hell, suffering for what he had done...If that was Chris's fate then Jason had no logic to argue against it, and no reason to. “She didn't deserve that...She didn't deserve to die...” The words were softer, that emotional side and doubt starting to filter in just as quick as the anger had. “I was only try to keep her safe, honest...”
It was his fault for saying their names in a misguided attempt to keep her from doing something stupid, his fault for believing some crook that the gun wasn't loaded. It was all his fault the woman was dead and a child was motherless...Even if it hadn't been him who pulled the trigger.
-Batman watched him and came to kneel before him.- “Help me. And I will do everything in my power to make sure the police won’t put you in jail. Help you find a job, and help you live on your own where you won’t have to steal another night to get dinner. This is a second chance at redemption, Jason…” -Batman’s voice became soft despite a deep tone in his voice. His shadow casts from the window with an alley light behind him making him appear as though an angel was plunged into darkness as a veil of shadows concealed his body. Batman held out his glove to Jason offering the exchange.-
Jason Todd: Jason would go tense as Batman knelt down, the street rat's instincts telling him to be ready though when no attack came the boy would begin to relax just a little, watching the man as he spoke searching what he could of those masked features as if trying to see if the other was yanking his chain or not. “Help you, and you keep me out of the pity house and get me a job huh...” He'd mutter, seeming as if he wasn't sure – but there was one thing he did want. A hand reaches out to grip Batman's own, squeezing down firmly as he had been shown to do when trying to strike a deal. “I help you, you make sure slime like Chris don't get to hurt ma's and children without regretting it.” It was already what Batman did, but he wanted to be sure...To know that he would be giving other people a chance for what he never had. “Not sure how a street kid can help the big bad Batman but it sounds like a better deal than getting locked up. . .” Or killed by the Gang he had betrayed.
-Batman gave Jason a gentle squeeze after allowing the boy time to consider the offer. He was young enough to make stupid mistakes, but old enough to know when he screwed up and how to fix them, with a given direction. He stood up and said.- “First thing…I need to know where the Red Hood Gang is going to meet next. If all of their leaders are together, I can take them all down at once. They won’t terrorize this neighborhood any longer. Do you know where they meet or someone who does know? Your old partner is probably in police custody at this point. And the hood members I busted earlier are also in police custody. There can’t be that many left with six out of the way.”
Jason Todd: The deal was struck and Jason Todd wasn't someone to go back on a deal unless the other party did first – it was why he really didn't feel 'bad' for back-stabbing his partner who was suppose to be carrying an unloaded gun and making sure not to hurt anyone. “I don't k now nothin' about numbers 'cause I wasn't that important, but I do know their next meeting is gonna be in one of the old buildings up the road from here. Gonna be doing it on the top floor 'cause they figure that'll give 'em the best chance of knowin' if the cops come.” Now that he had calmed some his speech patterns had become more relaxed, eyes set in determination as he tried to remember everything he had been told. “Dunno anything more than that, honest.”
-Batman narrowed his eyes towards the wall.- “It won’t be a matter of time until they hear their buddies have been caught, take me to their hideout and we’ll plan our next move…” -At the apartment building, there were men already forming outside wearing black dress pants, white dress shirts, black jackets, and red bandana masks concealing their mouths. There were four men outside as groups of two or more at a time went into the apartment. On the top floor sat in a room of six men.- “What the fuck happened tonight? We got the shit beaten out of us! Now we look like jokes!” “Keep calm everyone…the plan is simple…” “Plan? We got six guys busted. Two of them were recruiters.” “It’s easy, we break into the police station and get them out.” -It was then another voice, foreign to all six men.- “You know…there was a lot more class back in the day…now you’re all just a bunch of rip offs.” -The leader of the group stood up.
“Who the fuck are you?” the leader pulled a gun from his jacket and pointed it towards the back entrance to the apartment. A shadowy figure walked out wearing an apron on top of a purple and green tuxedo, the apron had a large yellow smiley face on it. “Me? Why you can just call me Uncle J, and I’ve come to you deliver presents.” “Holy shit…That’s the fucking-…” -Another would jab the man silencing him.- “What presents?” -The Joker exampled his gloved finger nails.- “Hmm, well you want to break into Gotham Police station, I say forget about that…You need vengeance, you need to get that man who put you in this doggy-style position from the beginning! Don’t you see?” -The Joker wrapped an arm around one man.- “The Bat-Man caught *your* people. So, for a limited time offer I will offer you a Bat-Buzzer!” -The Joker held out his hand to reveal a buzzer attached to it.- “it works like this……”
