[Jason Todd's POV]
The evening began with me on patrol, overseeing a territory I had recently claimed as my own. As I scanned the area, I noticed the unmistakable figure of Tom stepping out of a sleek car. His shock of white hair marked him clearly in my memory. I couldn't forget the times we had clashed when I was Robin; he possessed an unbelievable strength.
Normally, I wouldn't concern myself with his daily activities, but standing beside him was a criminal who didn't belong in Gotham. This was Central City's problem, not ours. "What the hell is their relationship?" I muttered, observing as they entered a nearby bar.
From a distance, I watched them drink and laugh, appearing as old friends. I had never seen a genuine smile on Tom's face before. Usually, he wore a sly grin or a mischievous smirk, but this time, he seemed to be genuinely enjoying himself with Captain Cold.
If I wanted to understand the nature of their relationship or uncover the purpose of their meeting, I had to follow them. Carefully stalking them at a discreet distance, I stumbled upon them by chance. But uncovering Captain Cold's activities in Gotham couldn't be left to chance.
As they turned a corner and their car came to a halt, a sense of unease washed over me. "Hello, stranger." A voice, dripping with mockery, came from behind. It was a voice I knew too well, one that sent a familiar chill down my spine as my helmet was flung from my head.
I turned to see Tom and Snart, the latter pointing his cold gun directly at me. I was clearly at a disadvantage if I engaged in a fight with the two of them on equal footing. So, I shot my grapple hook, utilizing my expertise in rooftop maneuvering to gain an advantage. Surprisingly, Tom intervened and asked Snart not to attack me. I couldn't fathom why, but the Tom I knew would have taken me down before I even reached halfway up the building.
"Hey, kid, what's your business with Snart? Are you two related or something?" I questioned Tom, who lazily stared back at me.
"Kid?" He snapped. "You're only a few years younger than me, Jason. I should be the one calling you 'kid.' Just because you've got a cool-ass costume doesn't automatically make you part of the grown-ups." His statement left me puzzled. How did he know my name? It was a complete mystery to me. "You know this guy?" Snart inquired, but Tom brushed off the question.
"How do you know my name?" I asked, attempting to maintain composure. "Do you think just because Boy Wonder has a new get-up, I wouldn't be able to recognize him after I kicked his ass twice in a row?"
"Wow, you kicked his ass? Maybe he's here to settle the score. His new outfit does give off a rogue vibe," Snart remarked.
I was speechless. There was no way he could have known my identity as Robin, let alone recognize me beneath the red mask. Unless he had X-ray vision too. Given the display of power he had shown me years ago, it wouldn't be surprising if he did.
My cover had been blown, both as Jason and as Red Hood. Nothing was going well for me that night.
"Why don't you come down from there, and let's head back to my place to talk this over with a few bottles of beer. Leo and I have already had our fair share tonight, but you seem like you really need a drink," Tom suggested, tapping Leo before both of them started walking toward their car.
Returning to Tom's place didn't sound like a terrible idea. We needed to get off the streets before Batman took notice. He should be on patrol at this time. "No thanks, I'm good," I replied, attempting to vanish into the night.
"I wasn't asking," I heard Tom say before losing control of my motor skills. I was frozen in place, unable to move or even open my mouth. Slowly, I was lifted into the air and carried down the alley toward Tom's car. "Leo, ice this sucker," Tom ordered, while a narcissistic smile played on his face. "Finally, I thought you would never ask." Those were the last words I heard before being engulfed in an extreme cold, leaving me numb and unconscious.
...
[Leonard Snart's POV]
I always knew Tom was wild, but I never realized he was this crazy—a level of insanity that surpassed most villains in the world. As Ace, he had created chaos throughout the country, performing acts almost on par with the Joker's madness.
On our way back to Tom's place, we encountered a minor obstacle. The way Tom spoke about certain information regarding the foolish boy who had been foolish enough to stalk us made me wonder just how much Tom knew that I hadn't bothered to find out myself.
He possessed knowledge that most people would consider a closely guarded secret, yet he remained silent, never revealing how he obtained such information. Perhaps it was through the extensive network he had built in the criminal underground. He had become known as one of the most reliable brokers in the underworld.
Strangely, I felt a sense of pride when I first heard top bosses praising the work of Ghost. I had played a part in bringing that persona to life, and his growth exceeded my expectations.
Now, this once seemingly fragile bartender had casually asked me to "ice" someone, without a hint of hesitation. We stowed the frozen body in the trunk of the car and drove straight to his place, though I didn't know why.
Later that evening, we arrived at Tom's home, where he effortlessly used his powers to levitate the frozen corpse. It hung in the air, suspended like a frozen artifact of a bygone age.
"Damn, we forgot to get some beer because of that little detour. I could really use a bottle right about now," I commented, turning my gaze toward Tom. "Why did you bring him along? He's already as good as dead."
"Right now, he's just frozen at a cellular level. He's preserved, not dead. I can undo it and bring him back to life since it happened in an instant and without causing any damage," Tom explained, as he carefully placed the frozen kid near the bathtub.
"You can do that? You really are something," I remarked, eager to witness his ability in action. "But I have one more question that's been bothering me."
"Feel free to ask, Leo. I'll answer the ones I can," Tom replied, his focus shifting as he concentrated on melting the ice surrounding the boy.
"Good, because I have a lot of questions swirling in my mind," I said with a sigh, crossing my arms as I leaned against the bathroom door frame. "Why do you want to unfreeze him? He's literally Batman's kid, and he already knows too much."
"He was Batman's kid. Robin died at the hands of the Joker almost a year ago," Tom revealed, emphasizing the word "was."
"Died? Then how is he here now?"
"To make a long story short, he was brought back from the dead. Right now, I'm certain he holds a grudge against Batman for not avenging him by killing the Joker. But Ace did." As Tom uttered those words, a sly smirk formed at the corner of his lips, followed by a mischievous chuckle.
"Something tells me you want to recruit him as a member of the Outlaws," I surmised. Tom gave a subtle nod and placed his hand on the frozen kid.
"I like him because he doesn't care about what he does to criminals. He doesn't hold back at all. This makes him a more effective fighter, as none of Gotham's villains ever hold back. Jason isn't afraid to get his hands dirty for a cause he believes in, and he'll fight as brutally as necessary. He sounds like a perfect soldier to me. The only problem is that he is hot-headed," Tom replied.
I watched in fascination as the ice began to melt, reverting back to a liquid state. Tom closed his eyes, focusing his energy on thawing the boy. Just a few hours ago, I would have deemed such a feat impossible for him. But earlier this evening, I witnessed him using telekinesis, even experiencing it myself as we flew in the air. It left me wondering about the true nature of his powers and the extent of his capabilities.
============
Want more chapters? kindly visit my patreon to read ahead. 👇
patre*on.com/Maverick_DaSupreme
I needed to thaw the ice at a cellular level while simultaneously raising the heart's temperature to restore Leo's body to normal. Leo had gone to the guest room to sleep off the alcohol while I worked on Jason in the bathroom.
After a short while, Jason returned to normal, and I utilized his body's bioelectricity to stimulate his nervous system and restart his heart. After a few attempts, his heart finally started beating again, but he remained unconscious.
I carried him to my bedroom and placed him on my bed, confident that he would regain consciousness soon. I had Gwen check his vitals to ensure stability and instructed her to inform me the moment he woke up. I proceeded to my fridge to grab a drink, taking no chances, as I was aware of how cunning Boy Wonder could be.
Casually settling onto my sofa, I poured myself a beverage and enjoyed some late-night television. The show was engaging, but as the night progressed, drowsiness set in. Luckily, my sofa was convertible into a bed, so I decided it was time to call it a night. I could only wonder what awaited me in the morning, as this was my first experience hosting a sleepover with such contrasting individuals.
…
[The next morning]
I luxuriated on my sofa, embracing the cozy embrace of the early morning. The tranquil aura was shattered by the incessant chirping of those accursed birds outside my window. Who needs a chorus of avian musicians practicing their obnoxious melodies right at my doorstep?
I groaned in my sleep, lazily waving my hand to conjure a gust of wind that sent the bothersome birds fluttering away. Ah, finally, the sweet serenity of morning solitude. Leo had a lot to drink last night; there was no chance of him waking up any time soon, except with an atrocious hangover. As for Jason, he'd probably be attempting to maintain a facade of calmness while secretly plotting his escape, eager to evade our clutches without causing a ruckus.
"Hey!!! Is anyone here?" The first words that jolted me from the edge of slumber, yanked me back to reality. "Let me out, you coward, or at least have the guts to show your face!"
"Fuck, there goes my peace." I muttered. "Sir, Jason has regained consciousness." Gwen said to me. "A little bit too late, Gwen. I really wish I had a set of earplugs right about now." I groaned, exasperated.
Then, it struck me that I had one of the coolest powers in this world. I immediately nullified every sound from getting to me the moment they hit the field around me. Every noise bounced off, never reaching my ears. Blissful silence prevailed.
...
"Shut up, kid, or I'll gladly put you back on ice. I already have a serious case of hangover, I don't need your shouting too." Leo's voice seethed with a tinge of menace. Jason had been struggling futilely to escape his restraints.
"What the hell am I doing here? Uncuff me this instant!" Jason's voice echoed with frustration as he writhed on the bed.
"Well, well, we've got quite the sharp tongue, don't we?" Leo retorted, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "But don't worry, I know just the thing to silence you without ending your life." Leo strolled toward the room's exit, his hand gripping the doorknob, leaving Jason to writhe helplessly on the bed.
"Get me out of here, you psychopath!" Jason's pleas intensified as he watched Leo step out of the room. "Tom!!!" he called out, dreading the potential atrocities that awaited him at the hands of Leo and Tom. As a sidekick, Jason had helped incarcerate many of Captain Cold's allies, making him the perfect target for their vengeance.
"I've experienced death once before, and it wasn't a pleasant affair. I have no desire to suffer that fate a second time," Jason muttered to himself, determinedly pulling at the cuffs with all his might. He didn't care if he injured his wrists or dislocated his thumb; all that mattered was escaping this dire predicament.
Leo returned to the room, a sly grin playing on his lips as he brandished a roll of duct tape. "As much as I'd love to sit back and watch you torment yourself, only to realize escape is futile, Tom wouldn't appreciate the mess you'd make of his bed. So, stop hurting yourself," Leo declared, closing in on Jason, who continued to resist despite his best efforts.
"Shut up, you prick, and uncuff me!" Jason spat out, his voice muffled by the duct tape that Leo expertly applied to silence him. "We really need to fix that insolent tongue of yours. Fortunately, I've got just the solution," Leo quipped, capturing Jason's enraged gaze. "Maybe I'll even pluck one of those adorable blue eyes out as a memento," he taunted, relishing his cruel jest before exiting the room, headed for the living room.
As Leo entered the living room, he found Tom peacefully slumbering, utterly unperturbed by the commotion Jason had caused earlier. "Damn, Tom, I can't believe you slept through all that," he remarked, marveling at his ability to rest so soundly, unfettered by any worries.
"Hey, Tom, it's time to rise and shine. Wake up so we can discuss what to do with the brat locked up in your bedroom," Leo called out, receiving no response from the sleeping crime boss. "Sometimes I forget he's a criminal mastermind. It's astonishing how he can slumber so soundly, free from any concerns," he mused aloud.
"Master Tom is currently unable to hear you. Every sound around him has been nullified completely. Even if a nuke were to detonate nearby, he would only feel the vibrations from the shockwave, but the deafening bang would elude him," Gwen's voice reverberated throughout the room. As Leo glanced around the room in uncertainty, unsure of where to direct his gaze while conversing with Tom's AI.
"That's a cool one." He remarked. "Maybe I'll ask him to grant me the same boon when the next the brat decides to unleash his incessant chatter," he mused, contemplating the idea with a chuckle before retreating to my room, leaving Tom to awaken in his own time.
…
[Lex Luthor's POV]
Lex Luthor sat in his lavish office at the towering LexCorp headquarters, surrounded by the opulence that defined his empire. The room exuded an aura of power, with sleek marble floors and walls adorned with prestigious awards and portraits of the wealthy and influential. The scent of money and success hung in the air, mingling with the faint hint of intrigue that always seemed to follow Lex like a shadow.
As Lex reviewed the various projects in progress, Mercy Graves, his trusted and capable personal assistant, entered the room. Her steps were as calculated as her words, radiating efficiency and loyalty. With a quick knock on the door, she approached Lex's imposing desk, where he commanded the attention of those who dared to enter his domain.
"Mr. Luthor," Mercy began, her voice laced with deference. "The head scientist has just informed me that the devices we've been developing have reached completion. We've finally discovered a sustainable power source, and now all that remains is to test it with Gorilla Grodd's psychic abilities."
A mischievous grin crept across Lex's face, mirroring the dark twinkle in his eyes. The prospect of harnessing such power was an exhilarating one for him. "Ah, excellent news indeed," he responded, his voice dripping with satisfaction. "But before we proceed, contact Mirror Master immediately. I have a special assignment for him."
Lex's command was authoritative, leaving no room for doubt or delay. Mercy nodded in understanding, her loyalty to Lex evident in her unwavering gaze. She swiftly turned on her heel, her movements both graceful and purposeful, as she made her way to the door.
The office buzzed with activity, a symphony of productivity and ambition. Lex reclined in his luxurious leather chair, fingers steepled beneath his chin, as he contemplated the grand design taking shape before him. With each passing moment, his excitement grew, fueled by the prospect of expanding his influence and solidifying his dominance over the world he called his own.
The walls seemed to close in, enveloping Lex in an atmosphere that thrived on secrecy and calculated risk. His mind churned with possibilities, each thought woven intricately into his grand tapestry of power. He relished the delicate dance he was about orchestrating, manipulating both heroes and villains like pawns on a chessboard.
As Lex's dark chuckle filled the room, its reverberation seemed to echo the very essence of his existence. He was a mastermind, a force to be reckoned with, and his plans were unfurling with precision. The air crackled with anticipation, as if the very walls were privy to the secrets that Lex Luthor held close to his chest.
===========
Want more chapters? Kindly visit my patreon to read ahead. 👇
patre*on.com/Maverick_DaSupreme