Blind as a Bat

"All Units respond to a robbery in progress at Gotham First."

The crackle voice came over Red Revenge's com-link. It was Актёрское искусство Police Commissioner James Gordon's voice. Revenge knew who he was calling: Бэтмен and his friends.

"Batman, Ты pick that up?" Revenge asked, picking up his radio while turning the jet towards the crime scene.

"Yes. I've got Static and Batgirl with me." Бэтмен replied. "We'll meet Ты there."

Revenge cut the comm and groaned at the mention of the punk from Dakota City. The kid would've driven Red Revenge over the edge of sanity months назад had he been around that long.

Revenge set his jet to autopilot and jumped, silent rocket boosters in his feet slowing his descent enough so he wouldn't get hurt.

Police cars screeched up and Revenge turned from the shattered Стена to them.

"Commissioner."

"Where's Batman?" the reply came.

"Right here." A new voice said. Бэтмен and Batgirl swung down, closely followed by Static on his pad.

"Who're the kids?" Gordon asked.

"Static Shock, the coolest kid this side of the Mississippi." Static said.

Revenge rolled his eyes. "That's the punk from Dakota. I'm-"

"The brat from New York." Static said. "We all know."

Revenge growled and Static made mocking faces.

"Cut it out Ты two!" Бэтмен snapped. Revenge frowned and Static stuck his tongue out. "What's the issue Commissioner?"

"Someone blew a hole in the Gotham Bank and украл, палантин every penny out of the safe. We've got security footage. It looks like firefly, but these weapons aren't his M.O."

Revenge walked over and examined the smooth hole in the side of the building. He rubbed his fingers on it before turning to the police commissioner.

"I need a glass of water."

"What?" Jim asked.

"Just give it to him." Бэтмен sighed.

The commissioner ushered for a glass of water and handed it to Revenge. Revenge scraped some of the edge off with his нож and put it in the water, mixing it together. He stuck his gloved fingers in it.

"It's a protein called aquaporins. It allows water to travel into and out of cells extremely quickly. Too much water, they burst; too little they shrivel. Someone took the вверх secret creme from the Wayne/Grant вверх Secret project and smeared it along this Стена in a perfect circle. They kicked the Стена out and got away." Revenge said. He grinned, switching on something in his mask. "For now."

"You Остаться в живых me at "protein." Static said, squatting on his disk.

"So let me get this straight." Harvey Bullock said, walking forward, munching on a donut. "Spandex boy-"

"It's Kevlar." Revenge growled.

Bullock looked taken back. "Now Ты listen here Ты snot nose little punk-"

"The punk is on a disk and has dreadlocks." Revenge replied, rubbing his fingers on the ground of the dark alleyway.

"Hey!" Static protested.

"When will Ты two just get along with each other?" Batgirl asked, shoving her face in her hand. "You're making me look bad."

Disgusted Ответы came from Revenge and Static.

"Revenge." Бэтмен interrupted the arguing. "Do Ты have a lead или do I need to take over?"

"East, fast pace, afterburners took effect at the end of the alley. Sending the transmission now."

"Well?" Bullock asked after a moment.

"Complete mental control." Revenge said, tapping the side of his head and grinning. "I just sent it."

He walked past Bullock and snatched the donut away. "Lay off the snacks, Bullock."

Bullock was flabbergasted.

"I think I know who the punk is." The Commissioner said, taking off his glasses and wiping them clean. He slid them back on to see the Dark Knight and his accomplices were gone.

"Batman?" he looked around for a секунда more. "One day, I'm gonna find out how he does that."

"Was that really necessary?" Бэтмен asked.

"What are Ты talking about?" Revenge asked.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about." Бэтмен growled, steering the Bat-Wing around a passenger jet.

"If you're asking why he got in an argument with Static," Batgirl said. "I wouldn't ask."

Robin laughed softly.

"And why do I have to ride with him?" Barbara demanded, folding her arms over her chest.

"You and Virgil talking?" Robin asked. "Batman'd kill Ты both!"

"Har. Har." Barbara said.

"What?" Revenge asked. "Don't like to admit I have a magnetic personality?"

"Amazing." Barbara said. "You сказал(-а) that without one drop of sarcasm."

"Cause Ты know it's true." Revenge replied carelessly.

Barbara hissed through her teeth and clenched her fists. Revenge laughed silently as he flew above Gotham's облако line.

"Sharp right." he said, following his own order even as he сказал(-а) it.

"Approaching New York City." Barbara said.

"That's funny." Virgil said.

"What?"

"Thought this was Firefly, he's Bruce's criminal."

"Don't. Call. Me. Bruce." Бэтмен growled.

"Sorry." Static said. "But still, why is Firefly heading to New York?"

"He's stupid или crazy." Revenge said. "Especially if he thinks he can take on me."

"Look, if I tell Ты Ты have an ego," Virgil said. "You have an ego."

"At least I can back it up." Revenge said.

"God, I hate Ты Bruce." Barbara said.

Tim laughed until Virgil slapped him in the back of the head. "Ow! What was-"

"I've had to deal with him. Trust me, it's no пони ride." Virgil said.

"Approaching New York." Бэтмен said. Everyone went silent as the Dark City loomed before them.

"Revenge."

"What, Emerald?"

"A friend is here to see you."

"Can't talk right now."

"Okay, fine." The line went dead and Revenge sighed.

"Girl problems?" Batgirl asked.

Revenge glared at her. She raised an eyebrow.

"You're forgetting, I work with Batman."

Revenge sighed and nodded.

"So where are we going?"

Revenge grinned. "Somewhere special."

Barbara raised an eyebrow as Revenge walked down a ramp and into a bar. The секунда they entered, the noisy room went silent. Barbara heard whispers which inlcuded "Bat" "Make a run for it" and "Shit".

"Firefly. Where is he and who hired him?" Revenge asked.

Whispers went around the room. Finally, one guy stood up. "He ain't here."

"I gathered that." Revenge replied.

The man spoke in a strong voice. His brown beard and hair were buzz-cut. His figure was masculine and he stood a foot above Red Revenge. "We don't have nothing to do with Gotham trash."

Batgirl rolled her eyes.

"Then why did Firefly flee here?"

The men around the room got nervous.

"Tell me или else."

Оружие clicked and Barbara was suddenly aware of twenty Оружие pointed at her and Revenge while the rest of the men picked up weapons of every sort.

The man laughed. "You think Ты can take all of us?" he asked. "Especially since Ты Остаться в живых your precious suit?"

Barbara had noticed that Grant had Остаться в живых his suit of titanium.

"Let's go." Barbara whispered, placing her hand on the Black Hero's shoulder.

Revenge glared at the tall man before walking towards the door.

"That's right. Run Главная to daddy."

Revenge froze and slipped his hands into his utility belt.

"Damn it." Barbara said, hiding her face in her free hand.

Revenge whirled and tossed daggers at the man. They exploded in mid-air and smoke filled the room. Barbara tossed batarang after batarang, each one downing a man. Someone cracked a cue over her head and she cried out, falling to the ground.

"Batgirl." Revenge growled. He grabbed a man by the throat and tossed him across the room into three other guys.

"Thanks?" Batgirl replied, standing up and rubbing the back of her neck. Revenge didn't respond. The smoke was beginning to clear. About half of the fifty guys were on the floor unconscious. Most of them were swarming the Black Hero. Seven, however, had taken an interest in Barbara.

"Here, pretty girl." one of them called, pointing a gun at her stomach. She froze. It was the exact same spot. The one where Joker had shot her. "Come and get me."

Barbara remained frozen. Her conscious was trying to rip her body out of it's shocked state, but it refused to move.

"What's wrong with you?!" Revenge demanded, throwing a dagger into a man's chest. "Fight!"

Batgirl yelled and punched the man in the stomach. He was so close, his hot breath blew on her face before he collapsed to the ground, his gun firing a round into the ceiling. Barbara flinched. Five other guys were storming her and she took them out, one by one, using physical moves and martial arts.

Revenge grabbed the final conscious guy and dragged him up the stairs by the foot. The guy yelled, begging for mercy. Batgirl followed. Revenge dragged him onto the секунда story of the building and tied his foot on the empty flagpole over the highway.

"Now you'd probably survive the drop." Revenge said, squatting Далее to the shivering man. "But do Ты want to count on the hospitality of the drivers?"

The guy shivered and shook his head.

"Tell the pretty girl where firefly is."

The guy was still shivering in fear. Revenge sighed and pulled out a dagger. "There are forty-nine other guys down there. Someone'll talk. If Ты don't, I'll drop Ты and get another.

"You wouldn't." the guy сказал(-а) shakily. "You won't kill."

Revenge shrugged and dropped the line. The guy screamed and felt his cheek smash as he hit the ground. Revenge pulled him back up.

"One last time." he said.

"Okay! Okay!" the guy exclaimed. "It's someone named the Red Hood! He came in and wanted a suit like Firefly's. We just gave it to him! We didn't want no еще deaths!"

Revenge nodded and dropped the guy. He fell a story and a half before snagging. His leg muscles popped and he screamed.

"Uhm..." Barbara started.

"Come on, he's alive." Revenge said, going back down the stairs.

Barbara looked back at the man hanging before she followed the Black Hero out.

"Be on the watch out." Revenge said. Batgirl crept Далее to him.

"Who is this guy?" she asked. "Batman obviously has had issues with him..."

"Issues doesn't even begin to cover it, Batgirl." a voice called. Grenades landed in the alleyway. Revenge jumped on Batgirl as they exploded.

"You okay?" he asked, climbing off of her.

"Fine." Barbara replied. "Who was that?"

"The name was Robin. или Jason." the figure said, leaping down Далее to Revenge and pointing double pistols at him. "But Ты can call me Red Hood. And my associate-"

"Please!" another voice called. "I can introduce myself."

A black, caped figure landed in the alley. "Name's Red X. I украл, палантин your boyfriend's suit." He aimed the last part at Barbara. "So, whatcha say, babe? Wanna Присоединиться me for a night?"

"Euw!" Barbara said.

"Ah, suit yourself." Red X said.

"If he ever stops flirting." Red капот, худ said. "We can get to doing something with Ты two."

"Now wait." Barbara said. "Red Hood, Red X, Red Revenge, and umm... I've got red hair. I really don't see a reason for this to get out of hand."

"Oh, but I do." a third voice said.

Everyone turned their attention to the roof of the warehouse. A female figure in cape and капот, худ stood there, glaring down at the figures below.

"Knightfall." Batgirl hissed.

"Batgirl." the female figure returned. Revenge could see nothing of her. He could tell by the venom in the two girl's tones that they were горький enemies.

"Too rich to get your hands dirty?" Barbara called. "Or do Ты reserve taking blood to your own family?"

"For you, I'll make an exception." Knightfall said. "Take out the boy, but leave the girl to me."

Red капот, худ fired at Revenge who shoved Batgirl out of the way. Red X pinned the female to the Стена with some sticky projectiles. "Just hang there for a while, babe." he said.

Barbara growled.

Revenge punched Red Hood. The boy stumbled back and glared at Revenge. Red X leaped on the Black Hero's back and stabbed him several times. Revenge threw the thief off and looked back up in time to see a перфоратор, удар, пунш come straight at him from Red Hood. Revenge groaned and stumbled back. He was punched again and again until he fell on the ground, wheezing.

"Uncle." he said.

"Who says 'uncle' anymore?" Red капот, худ asked.

"The guy with explosives on each of his enemies." Revenge replied.

"DAMN!" Red капот, худ exclaimed. Explosions sounded and the two villains flew back.

"I just ironed that suit!" Red X exclaimed.

Revenge stood up unsteadily. "So why dress up as Firefly?" he asked.

"She wanted Batgirl's attention." Red X said. "Ambush her. Kill her."

"I thought Ты didn't kill." Batgirl said.

Red X shrugged. "I don't know you. I'll let her do the dirty work."

"How much is Knightfall paying you?" Revenge asked.

"You can't buy us off. We've got еще class than that." Red капот, худ said, walking forward.

"Couple grand." Red X said.

Red Hood's glare went right through Revenge.

"She's a Gotham billionaire." Revenge said.

The two villains froze.

"Liar!" Knightfall hissed from the roof.

"Please," Batgirl said. "Everyone knows you're Charise Carnes. Ты murdered your family and escaped justice."

"Then why don't Ты prove it?" Knightfall hissed venemously.

Red капот, худ and Red X looked at the villainess on the rooftop.

"I remember you." Red капот, худ said. "You little-"

"Silence!" Knightfall hissed. "I have what I want! Ты may leave and will find what Ты deserve tomorrow!"

"I don't like that wording." Red X said. Red капот, худ looked at Red Revenge who was still staggering and holding his stomach.

"What was your offer again?"

Revenge grinned. "Fifty thousand to the first one who brings her to jail." he paused. "Seventy-Five for her head."

Knighfall hissed and fled. Red капот, худ and Red X fired a grappling line at the building before ascending and following the villainess. Revenge groaned and stumbled over to Batgirl, ripping her free.

"Thanks." Barbara said.

"That was...a surprisingly...uneventful evening." Revenge got out. He fired a grappling hook at the roof of the небоскреб and hauled Barbara up with him. As soon as they were on the roof, Barbara removed her cowl.

"I'm sure I'll be free Далее Friday."

Revenge grinned and pulled off his mask as well. Barbara was struck by how calm and steady his face looked. There was strength in his blue eyes. His sweaty, mangled, messy, dark hair only added to the look.

"Thanks for your help."

Barbara smiled. A chime came on her comlink.

"Yes?"

"Red капот, худ and Red X are heading for Gotham. They appear to be chasing someone. Meet me on the Wayne Enterprises Building." Batman's voice came through the speakers.

"Right there." Barbara said. She turned to Revenge who was watching her with an expression she couldn't read.

"So are Ты mild-mannered Samuel Grant who puts on an act to fight criminals, или are Ты the gruff Red Revenge who puts on an act for the public?" Barbara asked, sliding her cold, hard обтекатель, капот, вырез "водопад" firmly back over her head.

"I'm not sure." Revenge replied, firing his grappling hook at a building across the улица, уличный before following Barbara's example and sliding his mask on as well. "Let me know when Ты figure it out."

And with that, the Black Hero swung off into the night, leaving Barbara smiling and shaking her head in disbelief. Then she scowled, realizing he had made her smile. "Damn him." she muttered and swung in the direction of Gotham City.