Return to The City Of Scars

Can't Do It Alone

Brianna glared at her brother as she slipped into the limo. "What are you doing here, asshole?" Ethan smirked, "Mom didn't want Ecco and me being left alone. Considering she trusts absolutely no one other than father." Brianna gritted her teeth, moving over to make room for Jack and Grayson. Delgado and Cierra were the first to get into the car and were seated between the twins. Ecco giggled, jumping up from her seat next to Ethan to tackle her elder sister. "Brianna!" She squealed happily, "I missed you today!" Brianna smiled, embracing her younger sister. It was here Jack saw bit and pieces of genuine and non genuine happiness. She was confused, not knowing how to feel. Wanting to be both happy, but also upset from the events from Mexico to the present. When the car started moving, the tension between father and daughter only increased. It hadn't even been five minutes before the lecture began. "You were completely irresponsible, Brianna!" Joker snapped, "You disobeyed me not even a month after the first time. What do I need to do to make you listen?" Brianna sat up, a wicked smirk on her face. "What makes you think I'll ever listen?" Her emerald eyes flashed with a dangerous glow. Jack suddenly butted in, "She's had a bit much to drink today- she's not thinking clearly." Grayson nodded, "He's right! We went to Amusement Mile-" Brianna hissed, "Both of you enough!" Jack's eyes locked on hers, a silent challenge to her order. "Brianna-" Winter, who had been silent, spoke up. "Speaking of Amusement Mile- we should have someone go grab the hyenas. We picked them up earlier today." Joker nodded, "We already sent someone to get the boys, but on another note-" He looked at his daughter, "You ditched school today. Why?" Brianna shrugged, "I got bored. So I got the group together and left." Ethan scoffed, "Sofia wasn't very happy you ditched her at lunch." Brianna rolled her eyes, "Did you really think I wouldn't manipulate my way out? I played her game and then when she thought she could trust me- I bailed. Its easy E. You used to do it when we were kids." Ethan growled in annoyance, sitting back. Joker sighed, "Enough. Both of you. We already have enough problems. Brianna being put in a holding cell alongside her former crew is only making that bigger. How do you think Lex will react to the future heir to the throne being caught no less than a week before her coronation?" Brianna was silent. Joker growled, "Exactly. Now rules are simple princess, don't leave the designated areas. And play nice." Brianna, now finally backing down looked up, pouting half sarcastically. "What if I don't want to play nice?" Joker sat back, "Try."

It didn't take long after that for them to return to the mansion. Harley gave the new guests their room assignments while Joker went to bed, still slightly ill. Ethan took Ecco to bed before going to see how his chances with Cinder were. Brianna had gone to bed, as had the rest of the squad. Jack stopped Harley for a moment when everyone else had left. "Something's wrong." He said, "Brianna- she won't admit it, but she needs help." Harley frowned, "Help? How so?" Jack sighed, "Belle Reve messed her up. She's been faking that it didn't affect her. She's a mess. Now I want her to become heiress as much as anyone else- Ethan lead us to war last time. But Brianna can't fix herself alone." Harley nodded, "I'll see what I can do."

By the time dawn rolled around, Jack had gone down to the gym, the guards that followed him previously were pretty much gone, at the command of Harley. Jack had been in the gym for nearly an hour when Winter walked in. Jack paused his training to greet her. "What's up?" He asked, pushing a stray strand of brown hair from his sweaty brow. Winter shrugged, stretching, "Figured I'd give regular combat training a shot- I've only ever used my powers." Jack nodded, "I could give you some pointers?" He offered. Winter smiled, "That'd be great." Jack grinned, walking around to stand behind her before helping her to maneuver her body. "The trick to hand to hand combat is balance," He started, "If you have no balance, you'll lose and if you were anything like me, get beaten to a bloody pulp by your stepfather." Winter frowned, "Your stepfather beat you?" Jack nodded, "When I was a kid. Last time that asshole tried to beat me I pistol whipped him. Had the mark on his face for months." Winter pulled her bleach blonde hair into a braid, some strand falling loose. Winter sighed, "If I'm being honest, my mom wasn't around much. And I didn't have a dad. Guess my mom just wanted an heir or I was an unhappy accident." Jack frowned, they were silent for a moment. Jack cleared his throat and stood, "What I like to do with all the pent up rage is I come down to the gym every morning, get a workout and try to imagine I'm beating the shit out of my step dad." Winter smiled at this, "I used to run away as a kid, practiced my powers by pretending my mom was the target. She wasn't the stay at home and bake cookies type." Jack chuckled, "My mom was. She would've made me cookies if we could've afforded it." Winter raised an eyebrow, "I thought you always came from money?" She asked, Jack shook his head. "Nah, My biological dad chose work over us. Mom and I traveled til I was about ten, then she married the step asshole." His face fell, hurt washing over him as he recalled the childhood that had been destroyed by his mother's new marriage. "She never spared me a second glance after she had her rich husband and kids." Jack laughed sadly, "What really hurt though- was her getting back with my dad one time. She was angry at my step dad, and left. She left me with him for a year. When she came back, she introduced me to my brother and sister. She'd had an affair with my biological father. Needless to say I wasn't her special boy anymore. She chose everyone but me." Winter watched as the tears began to fall. Jack choked a sob, "My own mother- abandoned me when she got what she wanted. And to this day- I never found out who my father was. if I had- I would've gone to live with him a long time ago." Winter sat beside him, rubbing his back comfortingly, "Did you ever try?" She asked gently. "Jack nodded, "When I shot the kids that bullied me, the cop who brought me in- Espinoza, he promised to look for my dad. If he finds anything he said he'd call." Jack wiped his eyes, "I haven't heard anything in five years." 

When Brianna woke up, she was surprised to find her mother in her room. "Brianna," Her mother said, "We need to talk." Brianna frowned, "About what?" Harley Quinn sat on the edge of her eldest daughter's bed, a forlorn look on her face. "You need help. You haven't been yourself since you got back." Brianna opened her mouth to protest, but Harley stopped her, "Don't even think about lying to me young lady- it doesn't work on me." Brianna rolled her eyes. "I'm fine, I don't need-" Her mother cut her off, "Brianna, your just like your father. Do you know that?" Harley stood, "Your father has never been able to admit when he's wrong. And that is something you inherited from him." Brianna rolled her eyes. Harley could just see her partner in crime when she looked at her daughter. Brianna was a carbon copy of her father. Harley's eyes narrowed, "Brianna- you may be your father's daughter- but it doesn't mean you need to literally be  him. You may think that going it alone is a sign of power, but its not. Your father didn't learn that lesson for years. And its one he denies ever learning." Brianna gave a small huff of annoyance. Harley sat back down beside her. "When I met your father he was just like you. He thought being alone left him with no weaknesses. But in all honesty, it left him weaker than he initially thought. When your not alone, when you have friends or someone special," She tilted her daughter's face to meet her sapphire gaze. "Doing things alone won't bring you to victory, princess. It'll only bring you closer to your upmost failure."

After her mother left, the first thing Brianna did was FaceTime Damian. Her face fell when it went straight to voicemail. She texted him before tossing her phone aside and jumping in the shower and then getting dressed. Throwing on a pair of skinny jeans and a pastel pink t shirt, she made her way downstairs. Delgado and Cierra were playing Xbox with Grayson, the two staring at the screen in awe as they played. Brianna looked around the room, having expected to see Jack. He always woke up early. Brianna looked over at Grayson, "Where's Jack?" Grayson set down his controller to join her, "I dunno. Probably the gym or something. Why? Something wrong?" Brianna shook her head, "No. I just wanted to go over some things. Heir stuff." Grayson shrugged, a small friendly smile on his face, "I may not be an heir, but i'd be glad to help. Come on- I'll make us some coffee and then you can tell me whatever it is you need to get off of your chest." Brianna followed him into the kitchen, sitting on the edge of the counter watching as he started the coffee. Grayson turned to her, nodding for her to go ahead. Brianna sighed, "I need to get my ass in gear, I haven't exactly been the perfect heiress lately." Grayson nodded, "Okay, so what you gonna do about it?" Brianna frowned. "First things I need to start getting my head in the game. To do that, I need to get the crew back together." Grayson handed her a cup of coffee. Brianna took a small sip before continuing, "It'll be a lot more difficult considering the last time we were all together we got arrested. No thanks to me." Grayson nodded, humming thoughtfully. "I'd suggest taking your old crew and the squad. If you merged them together you'd be an unstoppable force to be reckoned with. Even the government would stop to think twice." Brianna thought for a moment. "You might be on to something. If I started making a claim with the use of a new crew that's got more power, I could be set up to become the perfect heiress." Grayson shook his head, "I didn't say that, princess. I think you should get an idea of the positions you want everyone in. I'd have Jack help you with that. But don't do anything stupid or really anything until after your coronation." Brianna sighed, "I guess you've got a point." Grayson laughed, "Yeah, I do make a good point, don't I?" Brianna set her coffee down and slipped off the counter, walking out of the kitchen to the adjoined living room, Grayson following as he sipped his coffee. As they entered the living room, Jack and Winter came out of the gym both with towels draped around their necks and both of them covered in sweat from their sparring session. Brianna frowned, "You two had fun." Jack and Winter both turned a bright shade of red before Jack shook his head, "No-" Brianna laughed, "Calm down- I'm only teasing." Grayson watched his best friend relax with a small chuckle. Brianna walked over to Jack, her emerald gaze now serious. "We need to talk." She didn't give him a a chance to protest before she dragged him away.

Brianna closed the bedroom door behind Jack. "Sit." She ordered, Jack obeyed moving to the seating area of the bedroom. "Brianna, what?-" he started before she cut him off. "I need you to help me with the crew. You were right. I can't do this alone." Jack was silent as she walked over, her emerald gaze piercing his hazel eyes. "I'm asking you to be my second."