Justice League And The Hounds Of Hell

Chapter 25: Nothing more, nothing less

I came to a screeching stop in the Batcave and hopped off the bike in one swift motion. The cape swung around and echoed my movement in a satisfying fashion.

The girl was tied down to a chair. Robin stopped the work he was doing at another table and smirked upon my entrance, trying to hide his project with his body. It was too late, I'd already seen it. He was designing Ace's suit, based on my drawing. He was adding his own elements to it, in translating it from paper to material, his tech-inspired mind figured out upgrades to place in.

I pretended not to notice it and made a mental note to act surprised when he unveiled it to me. Not that it would matter, he probably knew that I'd seen it by now. But he would appreciate my attempt to be shocked.

I tore the tape off the girl's mouth. "Hello, Olivia. Any last words?"

Something like fear flashed over her face for a split second, but it quickly hardened. "Piss off."

I pulled up my own chair and straddled it in front of her, so that we were eye level. I could see directly into her eyes, but from her side, all she saw were thin white spots on the cowl. They gave her no indication of my thoughts or feelings. She couldn't peer into my soul like I could hers, and that made this intimate interrogation all the more unnerving for her and effective for me.

"I'll give you another chance because I'm supposed to be a hero."

She spit. "What do you want?"

"For you to pacify the animals that are digging up Gotham."

"Why should I?"

I studied her. She was playing the tough card. She wore a devil-may-care face and leaned toward me fearlessly. I couldn't see her hands, or the rest of her since she was tied under three layers of rope thanks to the twins. I needed to be able to see the rest of her body, I wouldn't be able to tell how much I was getting under her skin if I couldn't see the way she was moving.

I nodded to Robin. "Untie her."

If he doubted me, he didn't show it. She was free seconds later and he backed away with his arms crossed, watching the two of us closely. She twisted her head to look between us. I could see her trying to figure out my plan, weighing the pros and cons of each option I had and trying to decide which route I would take so she could prepare herself.

What's your game? Her face was saying.

She could try to figure it out all she wanted. I wasn't playing games anymore. Not even I knew what I was going to do next. Whatever happened from here on out was up to her.

I adjusted my gloves. They itched, and while I was used to their weight sometimes I was struck by how heavy the leather and kevlar actually was.

"You were born with nothing, given nothing and made to believe you are worth nothing." She hadn't moved, I studied her. "If you believe that, then they're right. You're nothing and we have no need of you."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Her voice had dropped to a forced whisper, and a vein protruded from her neck with the strain. "A threat?"

"The truth." I stood and walked around to her back in a slow circle. She stood and turned to face me, never letting me out of her sight.

"You're like those animals. Abused, mistreated, starved of every chance to be something else. You make them nothing and you make yourself nothing!"

"Fuck this!"

She lunged for me. With a quick sidestep I grabbed her by the elbow and whirled her away. Momentum did the rest and she stumbled to Robin's feet.

"You can't fight." I stood over her, my shadow looming high above her. "Try all you want and you'll end up in the dirt. Just like now, just as you've always been. Never winning, not even making a dent. Why? Because you're nothing!"