The Belfry — Gotham City
Rain hammered against the windows of the Belfry. Gotham looked soaked in neon and dark cloudy sky outside. The skyline glowed through fog and rainfall while distant thunder rolled across the city every few minutes. Inside the Belfry, the atmosphere was more tense than the weather.
I leaned against one of the support beams with my arms crossed, while Batman stood in front of the central monitor. The massive holographic display illuminated the room in pale in a bright blue light.
Nightwing stood beside him while Batgirl typed rapidly across at a computer terminal. Batwoman leaned against a support beam near the back with her arms folded as well. She was ready for this whole meeting to begin. (Tim Drake) Robin sat in front of another console already analyzing footage independently before Bruce even started talking.
The was typical Batfamily behavior. Everyone knew they're roles and took initiative without batman saying anything most of the time.
That's when the screen shifted again. As images of Red Hood filled the monitor. There were crime scene photos.
Pictures of dead local or affiliated gang members. Destroyed drug labs and dens. Intercepted weapons shipments. More piles of bodies local gangbangers, and corrupt GCP. Either shot through the head or filled with bullet holes. With occasional destroyed body from what looked like explosion.
Security footage showing a red helmet moving through gunfire like a ghost.
Batman spoke calmly.
"Red Hood appeared in Gotham approximately one week ago. He has systematically targeted high-ranking members of Gotham's organized crime structure. Several are either dead and absorb into organized collective. Or a they are in current conflict with him. So far eight different groups are part of his collective, and two have been eliminated. "
The screen changed again. Bodies. Like a lot of bodies.
Another image appeared.
This one showing Black Mask and his operations. From burned shipments. Dead mercenaries and ruined safehouses.
"Specifically Roman Sionis. He and Red Hood, are currently in conflict. "
Batwoman snorted lightly. "Honestly? Sounds like Gotham finally got a criminal with standards."
Nightwing glanced toward her. "Kate."
"What?" she asked flatly. "The guy's killing traffickers, dealers, and child predators. Half the people he's taking out should've been locked up or killed years ago."
"Look I'm not disagreeing with you. But that's how escalation starts," Nightwing replied seriously. "First it's people everyone agrees deserve it. Then eventually innocent people get caught in the middle. Plus we were building RICO cases on some of these guys. They were tide to a large organization that has been trafficking Meta's and teens. We were gonna use them to follow the pipeline to it's source."
Batman nodded once. "He's correct."
Bruce enlarged another photo. A Black Mask convoy completely destroyed.
"He continues targeting Blackmask's operation publicly. Eventually Black Mask will retaliate with more dangerous assets."
The footage shifted again. This time it was surveillance video of a nighttime street battle. Rain poured heavily across the recording while Red Hood fought Sportsmaster beneath flickering streetlights.
Even through the grainy footage, Rood Hood moved like a demon. Violent like a angry man. Efficient like anyone trained by Batman. And ruthless like he naturally is but I bet the League of Assassin's helped him hone that killer instinct.
Every movement was trained aggression.
Sportsmaster attacked with a metal spear while Red Hood countered with a mixture of guns, knives, elbows, grapples, and brutal close-quarters strikes. Jason fought like Sportsmaster was just a sparring partner to him. To anyone else they would have looked equally dangerous. but I could tell Jason was holding back, but why he was I had no idea.
Since there was no audio, and both men were wearing mask's. It was hard to tell if they were talking to each other.
But that wasn't what caught my attention. In the background shadows another figure moved.
It was fast, almost too fast. The footage could barely keep up?
The shadowy figure flipped across rooftops and through alleyways with unnatural agility while fighting Black Mask mercenaries simultaneously. Small glowing red explosions burst wherever they moved.
The person vanished repeatedly between shadows almost unnaturally. Like they were teleporting.
My eyes narrowed immediately. What the hell was that?
Batgirl paused the footage. "We've been trying to identify the second individual. But so far no luck." The hologram zoomed closer toward one of the small red explosions.
" The Forensics recovered traces of Xenonthium, at all the scenes Red Hood struck. "
Tim looked up sharply from his computer. " Shouldn't that be impossible for just anyone to have?."
Batgirl nodded. "Exactly."
She enlarged the chemical report. "Xenonthium is a highly volatile, and extremely rare chemical compound. When properly made it can be in a wide range of tech and can be used to power a small town for years. But most governments barely have access to stable quantities. And restrict it's making and disruption, because accidents occur to often. So how did our second individual get their hands on it. "
Nightwing frowned. "And their throwing it around in explosive form during street fights and in drug dens and labs?"
Batgirl nodded again. "Either they're incredibly smart… or completely insane."
My eyes narrowed harder. Why does Xenonthium sound so familiar?
Then realization hit me.
Wait. There's No fucking way. I knew exactly one person from my memories crazy and skilled enough to casually weaponize Xenonthium. And not die from it's use.
My expression changed slightly and Nightwing noticed it immediately.
"What are thinking about Caius?" he asked quietly.
I looked toward him carefully. "Just making theory's. Nothing solid yet. How about you?"
I can't say anything for now about Red Hoods identity or this second guy. But something tells me Batman already has a clue. Especially with all the evidence being shown, and after what happened last year with the whole Hush event.
Nightwing stared back toward the footage. "Back a few years ago. After what happened at the Tower…" he said slowly. "We had this kid show up on the streets for a while."
Batwoman glanced over. "What kind of kid?"
Nightwing crossed his arms. "Runaway government weapon type. He was trained to kill from a very young age. Said his parents sold him to them. Escaped some black ops program, and when he went back, they had started there family over. He made his way to the Titans not to long after. Kid had a serious chip on his shoulder. He was to violent and left the team two years ago after a mission went south."
Yeah that definitely narrows it down. But I need to make sure it's who I think it is.
I looked directly at Dick. "What was his name?"
Nightwing opened his mouth. "He called himself...."
Alarms suddenly screamed throughout the Belfry. Everyone turned instantly . The central computer flashed red warnings across the screen.
Batman already moved toward the console. " Red Hoods at Gotham Harbor."
Security footage appeared immediately.
It was Black Mask men at the docks. There was a lot of gunfire and explosions going off. Dead mercenaries were everywhere.
And standing in the middle of it all was Red Hood. Jason fired both pistols while moving between shipping containers as Clayface crashed through steel walls trying to crush him.
Batman moved instantly. "Nightwing. Caius. You're with me."
Batwoman stepped forward. "What about us?"
"Stand by," Batman ordered immediately.
Tim already began hacking harbor security systems while Barbara tracked police movement nearby. I reached for my Titan communicator immediately.
Nightwing glanced toward me while grabbing his twin Escrima sticks. "Who are you calling?"
I smirked slightly. "A Gotham local who can make this job a little bit easier for us."
The communicator activated. Eve appeared wearing a oversized hoodie while sitting upside down on what looked like a couch. "Caius?" she blinked. " Why are you using the emergency channel/ Is everything okay?"
I smiled slightly despite the situation. "Hey Eve. Mind giving me a hand with something?"
Gotham Harbor
Rain continued crashed violently across Gotham Harbor. As shipping containers stretched endlessly through the docks while floodlights illuminated the storm in harsh white beams. Black Mask mercenaries littered the ground all dead.
And in the middle of all of it... Red Hood sprinted across stacked containers while Clayface smashed through steel behind him like a monster from a nightmare.
Jason fired armor-piercing rounds backward while moving. But the bullets did absolutely nothing.
Clayface roared while forming giant hammer-like fists. Even though he was weaker in the rain.
"BLACK MASK WANTS YOUR HEAD, RED HOOD!"
Jason vaulted over a container gap smoothly. "It heard. Only five million alive?" he shouted back. "Honestly that's insulting."
Clayface slammed through an entire stack behind him.
"I can still get two million if your dead! I just have to suffocate you."
Jason flipped backward onto another container. The rain not slowing him down in the lsightest.
"I'm worth at least ten!"
Clayface lunged again.... Then suddenly pink energy exploded across the battlefield. A giant construct wall slammed directly into Clayface's side hard enough to throw the massive shapeshifter sideways through two shipping containers.
Clayface roared in confusion. "What the hell?!"
Red Hood froze briefly before looking upward. As two figures descended from the storm clouds. Atom Eve floated beside me while glowing pink energy surrounded her body. Rain evaporated before touching her aura.
Jason immediately recognized the constructs. "Nope," he muttered beneath the helmet. "I know those constructs anywhere. Which means they can take care of you while I see a old friend."
Eve floated casually beside me her hands held out as she held the construct.
"You seriously owe me a date after this."
I smirked beneath the black face mask Nightwing gave me earlier.
"Put it on my tab."
Clayface tried escaping immediately by liquifying himself.... Only for Eve to instantly trap him inside a massive pink bubble before he could move more than a few feet.
The giant clay monster slammed against the construct repeatedly. But nothing happened.
I stared with my eyes widening. Jesus Christ. Eve really was the best person to call for this.
Clayface punched against the bubble violently. "LET ME OUT!"
Eve floated downward casually. "Yeah no. You're absolutely not getting clay monster goop in my hair."
I landed beside her while staring at the trapped villain. " Your Basil Karlo right?"
Clayface snarled while partially reforming his face. His face shifted grotesquely. "Not anymore kid. The name's Clayface."
Eve tilted her head slightly. "...That's actually kind of sad to hear."
Clayface blinked. "What?"
Eve floated closer toward the construct bubble. "I'm a big fan of your movies. Basil"
Clayface froze. As the rain continued pouring around them.
"...Excuse me? Your a fan of me?"
Eve nodded. "When I was homeless your old movies played constantly in store windows and apartment TVs."
Clayface stared at her suspiciously. "...Kid don't do that pity crap."
"I'm being serious." Eve crossed her arms. "You were actually really good. I loved your movies, they were one of the few things that could make me feel good, when I had nothing good going for me."
Clayface slowly reformed more of his human face unconsciously. "...Yeah?"
"Yeah. I promise"
For the first time since arriving, I saw Clayface's aggression weakened slightly. Then his expression darkened again.
"Doesn't matter now." His voice lowered bitterly. "Nobody wants Basil Karlo anymore." His face partially melted unintentionally before reforming.
"I'm lucky if I can hold a face together for an hour."
Something painful flashed through his eyes.
"No studio wants a monster."
The harbor grew quieter around us. Then Eve said something that completely changed the atmosphere.
"What if I could fix you?"
Clayface stared at her.
His eyes widened slightly."...What?"
Eve shrugged slightly. "My powers work on a subatomic level." "I've been interning at STAR Labs too."
The look of hope slowly filled Clayfaces eyes. Actual hope flickered across Clayface's face so suddenly it almost hurt to look at.
Then suspicion immediately returned. "Don't screw with me kid. I'm a monster nothing can safe me."
"I'm not lying to you. I believe I can help you." Eve pointed toward him seriously. "With enough time and proper medical support? I think I could restore your biology."
Clayface's breathing became uneven. "I..." his voice cracked slightly. "You serious?"
Eve nodded. "And honestly? Going back to acting sounds way better than getting punched through buildings for Black Mask."
Clayface looked down quietly.
The rain kept falling.
"...I miss acting."
That admission sounded broken. I exchanged a glance with Eve.
Then Clayface looked back up carefully. "...Could you help someone else too, a friend of mine?"
Eve blinked. "Who?"
"Killer Croc."
That surprised both of us slightly.
Clayface continued quietly. "Waylon ain't a bad guy. Not really." His clay hands tightened slightly. "He just got dealt a bad hand."
Eve smiled softly. "If he wants help, then yeah. We'll help him too."
Clayface looked stunned by how quickly she agreed. I smiled slightly beside her.
"Good job Eve."
Further down the docks, Batman and Nightwing moved through Black Mask's shipment containers carefully.
Nightwing kicked open another crate. Inside sat advanced robotics components.
Batman narrowed his eyes. "Nightwing."
Nightwing walked over. Then he froze at what he saw. "...No way is that..."
Buried beneath tarps and steel restraints sat an Amazo robot.
Batman studied it carefully. " It seems to be a newer model."
Nightwing frowned. "Like the same one the League fought years ago?"
Batman scanned the machine carefully. And shook his head slightly. " No. The original model left Earth years ago. After gaining higher sentience. Green Lantern has been keeping an eye out for it, but so far nothing. This one appears more normal machine parts, then adaptable nanotech. Probably less independent. But still keeps the adaptable program design the original had. "
Nightwing's expression darkened. "You think Luthor's back at it again?"
"That's a possibility, but there also several other inventors who could build this. Like Professor Ivo who went missing a few years ago."
Batman touched the robot's shell carefully.
"It's fortunate it wasn't activated."
Meanwhile high above the harbor, I floated silently while focusing my TTK through my vision. The city sharpened instantly.
I scanned rooftops. From the docks. Cranes and containers.
Then, that's when I found him.
Red Hood atop a distant crane overlooking the harbor through a sniper rifle. And his sights were pointed directly at Batman and Nightwing.
Jason whispered quietly beneath the helmet. "Gotcha."
I appeared directly behind him midair with my arms crossed. "So who's the target?"
Jason didn't jump or even flinch. Guess that comes with the territory of being trained by Batman
He didn't even move the rifle immediately. Instead he answered calmly. "Grayson's my target. Since when did Batman start working with Meta's?"
I blinked once." It's a mutual partnership... My question is why are your sights on Nightwing?"
Jason's voice stayed perfectly serious. "Because he's a Dick."
I stared at him trying to hold it in, and then laughed despite myself. "Oh my God that's terrible."
Jason shrugged slightly beneath the helmet. "I had an old friend that use to say the same thing. But unfortunately I haven't been able to see him in a while."
"Yeah that's unfortunate." Then my expression shifted to more seriously. "We need to talk."
Jason kept the rifle lowered slightly. "And if I say no?"
I moved instantly. Before Jason could even react, I grabbed him and accelerated away from the harbor at extreme speed.
Abandoned Warehouse...
We landed hard inside a familiar warehouse. My old operation base from a few weeks ago. I paused at what I saw in the center of the warehouse.
Jason immediately twisted free once I released him."The hell was...."
Then he paused too.
Because tied to a chair beneath a hanging light sat the Joker. He was bloody and heavily bruised all over. I think he was barely conscious.
Jason crossed his arms casually. "...Well this is awkward....How did you even know we were here?"
I stared between him and Joker slowly.
"I didn't....This used to be my hideout."
Jason stared for a second. Then barked out a laugh. "Of course it did. That's the most Gotham thing I've heard all week."
I rubbed my forehead and then removed my mask. "Let's cut the games Jason, it's me."
Jason paused for a moment and then removed his helmet slowly. And for the first time in five years... I saw Jason Todd again.
White streak in his hair. He was older now. Nineteen. the same age as me. His eyes covered by the red domino mask. But I knew there was anger buried deep behind those covered green eyes. Not all of it from the Lazarus Pit. A lot of it from his past and from Batman. But still he's Jason. The man I called my friend and brother.
Jason smirked slightly. " Well I will say, I'm not surprised it was you. Besides your amber eyes, I had to make sure it was actually you and not someone else. But what gave me away?"
I smiled faintly. "Trade secret you know I can't tell."
Jason shook his head. "Still annoyingly mysterious after all these years."
"It wouldn't be me if it wasn't"
Suddenly my emotion hit me harder than expected. I stepped forward immediately and pulled him into a hug. I didn't think my body just moved.
Jason froze. Like he genuinely didn't know how to react.
Then slowly... His arms wrapped around me too. And suddenly we were both fourteen again.
Before Titans Tower. Before his death. And before our trauma's hollowed both of us out. "...It's good to see you again, Cai."
His voice sounded rough.
I tightened the hug briefly. "You too, J."
For a second neither of us moved. Then eventually I stepped back.
Jason rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "...Missed you too asshole."
I smirked slightly. Then my eyes shifted toward Joker tied to the chair.
"...So Jason, why on Gaia's green Earth is the Joker still alive?"
Jason's expression darkened immediately. "Oh that's a long story."
I crossed my arms. "And your mystery partner?"
Jason actually laughed softly. "...Also a long story. "But for you?" Jason said while finally relaxing slightly for the first time all night.
He pulled another chair over casually before sitting backward in it.
I leaned against the wall. "Good. I got all the time in the world."
Behind him, Joker slowly lifted his bruised face. Blood dripped from his smile while his swollen eyes shifted between both of us carefully. And for the first time since entering the warehouse...
I saw the Joker looked nervous.
His eyes caught mine, and he recognized me.
I smiled. Hey Joker remember me, I said with a cold expression on my face.
Jason seemed confused. "What's goings on here?"
"Well I guess it's not public knowledge. But after your death I tracked down Joker and beat him to a inch of his life. I made sure to break every bone in his body. That's why he has that slight limp in his left leg."
Joker chuckled. " Yup and if it wasn't for Batsy and the League you would have killed little old broken joker."
I smiled and said. " No neither of them are the reason why your alive to this day."
Jason and Joker both looked confused.
I continued the cold hot rage slowly building inside me. "I told you on that day before you passed out from the pain that your gonna live. I said I'll make sure of it, but the day my friend comes back that will be the day you die. I will make sure of it."
"Today's the day Joker. "
Jokers eyes widened in shock and awe.