A/N:
Chapter Two: The Warning
Yesterday I dared to struggle. Today I dare to win. ~Devlin
Wally
"You're insane."
X just waves me off without a care as he continues to replenish his utility belt.
"You know these guys are playing you."
"Of course."
"And you're still going to help them?"
He pulls back with a grin. "No. Do try and keep up won't you, Wally?"
A dark scowl overcomes my face at the quip making my roommate laugh. I'd moved in with X after my run-in with Jinx and taken up full time thievery. For a few months thing were good, money was easy to get, good times were better with X leading the way and I had not a care in the world.
But now the Brotherhood was making a move, calling all villains, big and small, in for a massive strike against Titans who were similarly gathering young heroes to prepare them for anything the Brotherhood might have planned. X and I had been invited, he was going, I wasn't sure yet. I'd always made sure I was free to come and go as I please with no strings attached. Joining the Brotherhood definitely would have strings.
"It's like I've said before, the Titans aren't my best friends but I don't really hate them either. Just because I'm accepting one offer doesn't mean I'm signing a life time contract or anything."
I nod still utterly lost.
"Look, you and I both know that something's gotta change here. There's a power struggle and one of the two sides are gonna win. You and me, we're not on any side, we just want to get some thrills. I figure we work for the Brotherhood for a little while and if the Titans get us we just turn coat until the whole thing blows over."
"I guess so…"
"Besides I've always wanted to go to Paris."
"It's overrated."
"Only because you can't find anyone to make you appreciate it."
I kick the dented floorboards angrily. Nearly six months had gone by and I couldn't get her out of my head. No matter who I was with all I could compare them to was a memory of a pale girl with cotton candy pink hair, cat eyes and a temper to rival mine.
Jinx.
"Maybe if you're lucky you'll meet her on the battlefield and you can dramatically pronounce your love for her in front of heroes and villains alike."
I take a swipe at X but he dodges without even looking at me.
"A classic Romeo and Juliet."
"Y'know, for someone who's such a die-hard romantic you can't seem keep a girl either."
The next thing I know my face is buried into a moth-eaten, moldy couch cushion and I have one hundred and ninety pounds of muscle lying on top of me.
"What was that?"
"Gonna kill you." I growl around the stench.
"That's what I thought."
Jinx
CRACK! BOOM! BAM!
I love my job.
Three mobsters are lying on the floor, clutching their jewels while I pick my way past them. Sitting behind a desk, sweat shining on his bald little head is Baby Bobby. He took over the family business two months ago and things have gone south. There's a shooting almost every day, drugs are being traded in broad daylight and the gangs are claiming territories. I'd been hoping Bobby would get ahold of things, straighten them out like his brother had but no such luck. So I'd decided to make a call.
I stroll over to the desk and sit down, examining my nails. Some of the black paint is chipped. Damn.
"Hello Bobby."
"W-what do you want?"
"I just thought I'd stop in for a little chat."
The fat man whimpers pathetically. Behind me one of his guards overcomes the pain in his groin and reaches for his gun. With a snap of my fingers the gun breaks into a million little pieces and the man is knocked unconscious.
Bobby's eyes go wider.
"You see Bobby; you aren't mobster Daddy Boy was. No, he liked the nitty-gritty side of things; he was always right in the middle of the action. Of course that's what got him killed but that's not the point. Do you know what the point is?"
"N-no ma'am." he stutters.
I leap off the desk and smash it in with one powerful downward kick, aided by a tiny hex but no one needs to know that. Bobby yelps, trying to shrink away from me but he's trapped in his chair. I lean forward, my eyes glowing menacingly. Lightning crackles around my hands, racing up my arms and through my hair like a living creature. My grin, practiced hundreds of times in a mirror, might just rival Gar's death glare.
"Daddy Boy knew the rules. You want to play your little games with the other mobsters? Fine I don't really care who owns the money in this city. But I will not stand for violence, drugs or gangs in my city. Understand?"
He nods. Good Lord I think he's wet himself.
"Because if I have to come down here again. Your bodyguards won't be the only ones getting the business end of my boots."
"I understand Miss Jinx."
"Excellent. Well as pleasant as this little talk was I believe you have an appointment with some of your friends. Do give them my message won't you?"
He nods but I'm already half way out the door. I pass a crowd of mobsters on my way out; they stare at me in amazement but don't make a move to stop me. Nothing beats having a reputation like mine.
The night air greets me with a chilly embrace. I scan the streets then flit across the road into an alley. I'm up the fire escape and sprinting across the rooftops in the direction of home within two minutes. Baby Bobby may have been scared out of his wits but his tougher friends will send their boys after me. I don't plan on giving them anything to find.
Once I can see the streetlights flickering weakly below I stop running so hard and take my time to cool down as I run my perimeter. Every few houses there is a crudely drawn lightning bolt done in pink spray paint. That's my mark. When the walls have that mark the mobs know they're on my turf. The area isn't more than a ten blocks radius; I'd have trouble keeping up with much more. Robin and I talked briefly about setting up a Titans South here but the mayor's just as crooked as the mob and there's only a few people I'd trust to know what they're doing and most of them are either already on a Titans team or they dabble a little too much on the wrong side of the law for my tastes.
The gas station bathroom is unlocked and I slither inside to change into my street clothes. The adrenaline has worn off by now; I can feel bruises forming along my arms from where I blocked a few hits. One thing I learned about the Star City mob is they don't respect anyone with powers unless they've got the muscle to back it up. The first time I tangled with some of the small time boys they left me for dead. Red-X of all people found me and took me in, taught me some of the rules and told me to find someone who could teach me.
Come to think of it I hadn't seen the little mouthy thief in a long time. Almost a year. He must be lying low with all the Titans coming in and out of Jump City, if that was where he was still staying.
I jiggle my key in the lock and after some difficulty the door to my apartment opens. I grab a bowl of leftover salad and munch on that while I wait for my shower to heat up. After the shower I find some chicken pasta and wolf it down before heading into my room.
Instantly I know something isn't right. My bed is always made neatly, not a single wrinkle in place and it is, but someone has folded the blankets down and my stuffed animals aren't in the right order. On my desk a recent sketch has mysteriously gotten out from beneath a paper weight and is lying on the floor.
"Who's in here?"
"Hey Lady Luck. Miss me?"
I nearly scream but instead let a hex fly at the familiar face. X takes it like a champ, falling backwards onto my bed with a grunt as the front of his shirt smolders, now bearing a good sized hole in the middle.
"What are you doing here?" I demand.
X sits up and looks down at his shirt, "Damn it Jinx I liked this one!"
Lighting sparks and this time he's smart enough to dodge. I only end up destroying one of my pillows. Feathers float around my head as I glare at him.
"Madre de Dios, what is wrong with you?" he grumbles.
"How did you get in here?"
"Can't tell you, have to kill you." he sing-songs.
"What do you want?"
"Hey, hey take it easy. I'm just here to give you a friendly warning."
I gauge him for a moment then grab a brush from my nightstand and proceed to carefully extract all the snarls from my hair. "What kind of warning?"
He sighs quietly in relief and sits on the bed, watching me in the mirror. "The Brotherhood is recruiting people."
"Like you."
"Like me."
"Do you even have any morals left X?"
A shadow flickers across his handsome face, "It's not permanent."
"Of course. You're just in it for whatever you can get."
"Thievery has its kicks but I need a bigger high."
I roll my eyes. "So what's your warning?"
"They're going to be sending someone after you."
"What do you mean?"
"They're tracing the Titans' movements, I'm not sure how yet. But they've kidnapped a few of them. So far it's only been a handful, I don't know when the full out attack will happen but it's not going to be pretty let me tell you that."
"You're worried about me? I'm touched."
X's face goes hard. "This is serious Jinx. These guys down here, ya they're tough as nails and they'd just as soon shoot you in the head as look at you but they play by the rules. They respect you, they fear you. They know the score. The Brotherhood doesn't know you, they're not going to hesitate. They're going to take you down and make you suffer."
The harshness in his voice makes me turn around. I can see a few faint scars, criss crossing his right cheek and neck along with the thin line that runs through his eyebrow. X isn't afraid of anyone. I've seen him literally stare down the barrel of a gun and burst into hysterical laughter. But right now there is genuine fear in his eyes. Fear for me.
"I understand X but I can't just leave."
"I'm not asking you to."
He stands up and for a few moments I can remember why I was once so attracted to him. Tanned skin, muscles from head to toe, glittering teeth and a pair of brown eyes that express too much for his own good. But his heart was never mine, he guards that above all else. I tease him a lot but X truly does only have one solid moral rule: Don't lose himself unless he's absolutely sure she's The One.
"You gonna be okay?" he asks, breaking my chain of thought.
"Of course."
He looks doubtful but leans down to kiss my forehead tenderly. "Be careful baby girl. I'll be in touch."
And with that he's gone.
A/N: in case you couldn't tell this fic will be a bit darker in nature. At least that's what I'm hoping. Anyway Wally will be making a more detailed appearance next time. R&R!