Post by lizity on Sept 8, 2011 19:06:56 GMT -5
Two days earlier had been the engagement party, the day following it was spent with his regrets and a hangover. Bruce could only curse himself a fool and then put it behind him. He'd gone to get answers and he'd received them as plain as day. He couldn't afford to live in the past, all he could do was look forward and that's what Bruce did.
Bruce pulled his cowl over his head and grappled onto the roof of a dilapidated apartment complex that'd been condemned years ago. It's only inhabitants now were the junkies and the rats. He wasn't sure which was worse. He'd used his communicator two hours earlier to alert Huntress and give her the meeting place; The building he was now on top of. Huntress had beat him there and was standing at its edge her hair and cape billowing out behind her as she scanned the street below.
He stood on the opposite ledge behind her wreathed in the shadows of the taller building standing next to it, blocking the silvery moon from view. He stood in silence for a moment, she hadn't heard him yet. Helena was focused on some point below her, the wind drowning his foot falls. Batman stopped a few feet from her, his cape, more like a cloak, wrapped around his body.
"Good, you're already here." Bruce stated breaking the silence, Huntress whipping around at the sound of his voice. He stood regaled in his costume, icy eyes flicking over her. Finally he moved to join her at the ledge she'd been standing on a moment earlier. "That restaurant." Bruce stated simply, pointing at Bellicimo's down below on the opposite side of the street.
"They never guard the roof," He told her, brushing his cape aside, the rocket propelled grappling hook in his hand. He held his arm out to her, once again they'd have to grapple together across the street.
~~
Most of her engagement party wasn’t easily unremarkable and easily forgotten. She knew only a half full of people that had attended it and really the whole event had been more for Travis and his father than for her which she was fine with. That was just the way things went. She was the new girl on the block now, having lived in another country for so many years that people had forgotten her name. The one part of the whole night that she did remember was the rain and the kiss. She couldn’t get the feel of his lips pressed against hers out of her head. Even when Travis kissed her these last few days she could feel it. She hated and loved it, she felt guilty about thinking of another man like that when she was supposed to be planning her wedding.
She was glad when the call from Batman came in. She needed a break from it all, needed to get out and punch a few faces in. She’d sent Travis home early with the excuse of a headache and wanting to go to bed before dressing in her uniform and slipping out of her apartment the way she had a few nights before. She’d been half a block down the street by roof top when she looked back at her place and noticed the car sitting down the block away from where she’d left her place so they thankfully hadn’t seen her. It looked like a Family car. They just had this look that screamed it which she always thought was amusing. Did Travis have someone guarding here? Odd…
Shaking the thought out of her mind for the moment she kept moving, stopping to pick up her bike were she was storing it and moved to the place where he’d told her to meet him. She’d gotten to the roof a few minutes before he’d showed up and stood with one foot on the edge of building, staring down at the men milling around outside the restaurant. She recognized a few of them, and worse, recognized the plates on a few of the cars.
She didn’t jump when he finally spoke but turned her head to look over at him, her blue eyes bright in the darkness around them and the holes of her mask. Her lips were pressed into a thin line. Her easy mood from the night before didn’t seem to have carried over to tonight. She nodded once and stepped close to him when he fired the hook, one arm around his neck, the other holding herself to his chest. When they landed she stepped back from him and glanced around.
“Are we going in or listening up here?”
~~
"Back door. No skylight. I scouted last night." Always a step ahead. Batman never went into a situation blind. He released her and made his way to the back of the building over the roof. Huntress in tow a step behind. Batman was keeping things short and to the point, which seemed to be typical of him. As though he didn't have much use for words that didn't indicate a directive or clear answer.
Bruce Wayne, however, would not keep nagging the edge of his thoughts, Helena, the engagement party, what a mess he had of things. Batman shook his head and the images vanished. He looked back at Huntress and nodded.
"Down below is a staff door. I can get us in." It seemed he had a gadget for most any situation; whomever batman was he was a man with access to seemingly limitless supply of high tech gadgetry. He dropped off the roof and landed silently on the pavement below. Huntress landing nimbly a fraction of a second later. he had removed the same pocket laser he'd used on the door at the Punchinello mansion and held it to the much tougher metal door. it took longer but the laser burned through the metal creating a small hold Batman was able to work his arm through to unlock the door from the inside. It swung open and the pair crept into the darkened kitchen. Even from there they could hear loud booming voices laughing, the clink of glasses.
Batman held his finger to his lips indicating silence as they crept to the front past stoves and grills, different ovens of varying size and shelves packed full of dry stock. The kitchen was completely blocked from view, separated by a thick wall that opened to the dining room through a western saloon style door that swung both ways.
He then used the long thin filament camera that she'd seen three days previous, bending it around the corner.
"Table of twelve. every seat occupied. Man behind the bar, two guards at the door. We can't risk trying to get closer, remember, this is for reconnaissance" he hissed through the darkness.He hated having others in these situations, it was much easier to spy with a lone figure than with two. He seemed to be searching his head but drawing a blank, batman looked to Huntress and for the first time asked what she thought;
"Ideas?" Batman asked begrudgingly. irritated by the fact he was now having to contradict by what he thought earlier. it was one of many flaws. the belief that he never needed help and a near inability to admit to it. Especially to himself.
~~
She moved silently behind him though she gave him enough room that if something happened he’d have the room to react without her crashing into him or her catching his elbow. So far she’d shown that she could fight and well and that she knew tactical movements. It was easy to fall into this, easy to forget the troubles of her unmasked life and immerse herself completely behind the mask. Huntress’s life was easy. Hunt down the bad guys, beat them up if necessary, get the information she needed, leave them for the cops and move on. She’d been doing that through Italy, Gotham just had taller buildings and Bats.
She watched his back as he unlocked the door for them again and slid inside the shut down kitchen. At least they were meeting after hours and there wouldn’t be any kitchen staff to contend with other than the bartender if he happened to come back that way. She leaned against the wall next to him, listening to the muffled voices talking and laughing just yards away. There would have been something satisfying around busing through the kitchen door and putting all these men on the floor so she could take her time to question them all but she restrained. He was right, this was for recon and they needed the information they had.
Tilting her head she watched the little screen he had hooked the camera up too. If he didn’t know who all twelve men were she named the under bosses, most of which had been at her party.
“Sit tight and see what they’re here to meet about. If we need to step in we’re at a good place for it so long as the bartender doesn’t come back here.”
~~
Batman merely nodded in response, hands moving back to his belt pulling forth a circular object that he affixed to the back of the corral doors. The camera continued to feed images to the small screen and Batman handed here a pair of wireless ear buds. He didn't seem to need a pair of his own as he didn't retrieve a pair for himself.
The audio crackled some before tuning in properly, the pair peered into the dim light of the screen. At the moment they were talking of nothing inconsequential and then Batman realized someone was missing; Tommy Vercetti, young overlord of the Vercetti crime family. Contrasting Vercetti's youth was the older Don Punchinello whose beard was streaked with gray and eyes rounded by thick black glasses. He wore an amused smile over thin lips but never laughed aloud. He also noted Travis, his son and underboss was also missing. The front door jingled with bells above it and Vercetti made his appearance wearing a dapper black Armani and matching shoes. The two Don's shook hands and sat at opposite heads of the table.
"Let's get down to business" Sal began his eyes regarding the younger, more bravos crime lord. Cercetti had his feet on the table and was taking long puffs from a cigar, blowing a long stream of smoke from his mouth upward. Sal cleared his throat, and Vercetti looked to him now. "Now that I have your attention" Sal said rather stiffly.
"Perhaps we can talk about how your father's failure is about to come back and fuck us in the ass." Sal was obviously anxious, this was a matter of great importance to him, Vercetti on the other hand looked utterly indifferent.
"Of course. You'll excuse me if something committed in my father's era is not something of great concern" Vercetti countered with a wry smile as he took another drag from his cigar.
Sal merely shook his head and let out a frustrated sigh.
"Then I should make you aware, Vercetti, that we have rules. We all took an oath. And part of that oath dictates that whacking a boss is against the rules. Your father and I broke them and you should also know, Vercetti, that when your father's involvement is discovered the vultures will be circling before you even have time to draw that hand cannon cock replacement you call a gun. Breaking that rule also banishes any Progeny of the offender from ascending to Boss status. So, my young friend, you tell me, is this of motherfucking great importance now?"
Vercetti sat their shamed and fuming under the harsh words of a much smarter, more experience man. If it weren't for Vercetti being surrounded by far more intelligent men Sal would have wiped them out three years ago and the issue would have been put to bed. Fate had other plans it seems. Finally he was able to reign in his anger and answer Sal.
"I'm listening"
"Well Vercetti, let's get to the meat of the problem then. Someone is digging into the Bertinelli murder. Some reporter looking to make a name for herself. And not to mention the only member of the Bertinelli clan your dip shit father couldn't kill was an eight year old girl is now engaged to my fucking son."
"So? So what? Kill the bitch and be done with it."
Sal's head lowered into his palm, the boy was utterly dense.
"I can't send my own men to whack the fiance of my son, we have rules about that too Vercetti, did your father teach you nothing? Family members are off limits if my people discover the truth I'll be as fucked as you. This is why I'm meeting you here, Vercetti, it's time to bury the hatchet between our clans and work together. I need you, Vercetti, to get your best man and send him to whack Helena Bertinelli before this reporter can get to her. In return, I'll give you what you ask. But not now. When the task is done."
Tom Vercetti seemd to think on a moment before answering;
"Very well."
Without a departing good-bye Sal stood up and swept from the restaurant with his entourage in tow. When the door clicked shut, Vercetti swore and crashed his arm across the table sending glasses and plates flying against a wall.
Bruce's heart had caught in his throat; had Punchinello just admitted what he thought he had? He gave Huntress a sideward glance. Coincidence he told himself. Coincidence. He tapped her shoulder and hiked his thumb back towards the door indicating it was time to go.
~~
She slid the small buds into her ears while she watched the screen, kneeling on a cold kitchen floor with a man she hardly knew who at this point was offering to help her put someone behind bars for a crime that he didn’t even know exactly what it was. This wasn’t exactly how she’d seen this investigation going. She couldn’t say she wasn’t appreciative though. His gear was better than hers. She went bare bones really, all the high tech toys he had were out of her budget. Sure she had money but that money needed to last her for a long time. She didn’t want to have everything in a joint account. Call it personal safety if something ever went bad.
Vercetti came in and she leaned in closer, getting a good look at the Don’s face again. It had been a while since she’d seen the son of the man that had been in charge when she’d been a child and she’d missed him at the party thankfully. This put her face close to his as they watched and listened together.
The conversation started, or negotiation she supposed from the way things were going. As it continued though her brow furrowed and a frown crossed her face though it was hard to see for her mask save for the hard line of her mouth. She also paled which wasn’t hard to see. Tingles ran up her spine as she listened to two men talk about murdering her family and about murdering here. She was caught between deep rooted seething anger and terror though the anger was the one that was easier to hold onto and hide behind.
Before she knew it Sal was getting up to leave and so was she. Pushing up from were she knelt, throwing the ear buds back at him as she made for the back door to cut Sal off as he got into his car. She didn’t make it far though before Batman was grabbing her arm and hailing her back, pushing her back against the alley wall outside the dinner.
“Let me go.” Her voice was cold and hot at the same time. “He just admitted to murdering m- murdering a whole family and planning the murder of another woman.” Namely herself! At least she had warning, God help the man that they sent to come after her.
~~
he held her against the wall of the restaurant, hands gripping her shoulders. she was yelling at him, spitting the words and stuggling to slip from his grasp. he gripped harder and pushed until she was flush against it.
"Why are you chasing Salvatore Punchinello?" Batman demanded, he heard the mis-step and his heart plummeted from his throat to his stomach. No, a simple mispoken word, Bruce Wayne was refusing to allow himself to even suspect... But the doubt was there and he couldn't deny it. His eyes were burrowing holes into her
"I know that look." he said quietly, the roar of the cars leaving the parking lot prompting him to loose his hold on her. "It's blood you're after not justice. I know because I saw it my own eyes every day for thirteen years and when I finally got there, when I finally tracked the bastard down.. I..." he stopped and released her, his mind now shifting to Helena. He had to go to her and he had to do it now. It was only a matter of time and there wasn't much of it.
"it won't bring them back, Huntress" he said as he turned to walk away. "I know where the Bertinelli woman is. If it's revenge you want, if it's blood you're looking for, go after Punchinello and put a bolt between his eyes. Or... Or if you want to do what's right you'll come with me and get Bertinelli to safety. The choice is yours."
He wasn't waiting for an answer, he was already pulling himself back onto the roof of the Restaurant. His heart was beating a mile a minute and he chanced a look back at the alley. No. it wasn't her. Couldn't be. But his gut old him there was no such thing as anything this coincidental. It didn't matter, he had to check the Punchinello mansion and get her out. Anything to get out. He had a sinking feeling. he looked back but Huntress hadn't followed. he sighed, he had failed her, she would get her hands stained with blood and it would nearly destroy her just as it had nearly destroyed him. he never should have let her come; left her to her own devices. He would have had Punchinello in jail and out of reach long before she connected the dots.
he grappled back to the dilapidated building they met on and bounded from roof top to roof to, disappearing into the shadows of the night.
~~
She nearly tried to take a swing at him but in the end he was just trying to keep her from running into a bunch of guns that wouldn’t hesitate to fire at her. Getting killed in the process of getting revenge wasn’t exactly on her list of things to do. She’d survived getting shot once, she didn’t think she’d be lucky enough to survive it a second time and didn’t want to push her luck.
“I’ve been tracking these bastards down for five years. They wiped out and entire family save for one lucky girl, or maybe unlucky. And yes it is blood I’m after. Blood calls for blood and they spilled a lot of it. It’s time for some of theirs to be spilled.” He released her and stepped back and she watched his face, frowning still as he let her into a little piece of his world. Maybe it was the masks or the situation, or maybe he’d caught her slip of the tounge. Maybe he figured it out? But he wasn’t saying anything yet.
“No, it wont bring them back but maybe their ghosts will stop haunting Helena. I’ve known her for years. She still has nightmares about that day.” She tried to play it off like she knew, well herself, rather than that she really was who the men inside had just been talking about.
He gave her two choices and then he was gone, sliding back off into the darkness to leave her to make her own way. She wanted to go after Sal, she wanted to stand over him and watch him bleed out like her mother hand. What about Travis? Was he part of this too? Did he know? Had he just been sent to Italy to charm her and bring her home to her death? God she hoped not, she prayed he was ignorant to it all. She prayed that he was the man that she thought he was and not a monster like his father.
Pulling herself up onto the roof she made her way back across. Taking the fastest route back to where she’d stashed her bike. She needed to get back to her apartment before Batman got there and figured things out not that it would matter at this point. She knew who her target was now. A mask wouldn’t change the fact that she wanted him dead.
She actually beat him back though she wasn’t sure how since he had a head start. Maybe her address hadn’t hit the systems yet but she did note that the car that had been watching her building earlier that night was gone now. Pulling his men off so that Vercetti’s men could get in no doubt. Climbing back through her window she stripped out of her gear quickly, shoving everything in her closet under the floor boards where she hid it. She pulled her hair back, dressing in a t-shirt, underwear and a robe. She had guns stashed around the house. She was always paranoid and it would come in handy now. She dared an assassin to come after her. Give her someone to let it out on.
~~
he slid into his car and ripepd onto the street, beyond speeding, his engine tearing through the night like a bullet seeking its target. Inside Bruce tore his cowl back, his hair was matted to his head with sweat and his hand fumbled for Bruce Wayne's phone.
"Auto Pilot" he said, taking his hands off the wheel the car directing itself towards the Punchinello manor. There was no telling where she was now, there was only one choice. His other hand pulled the black book from his belt and flipped through the pages until he he found the place Sal had jotted Helena's number. the phone rang, once, twice...
"Answer.. Come'on answer" he said anxiously into the phone and it continued to ring, three, four times "ANSWER DAMN YOU" it rung for a final fifth time and then went to voice mail. Was he too late? was she already dead? He had failed her for the second time in as many days and threw his phone angrily across the car, it rebounded off the window and crashed tot he floor, remarkably unbroken. His hands were shaking now as he picked it back up and hit redial.
it rang once, twice, three times.. His heart sunk, and then, to his surprise she answered hurriedly, as though on her way out the door.
"Helena. It's Bruce, don't hang up! Just listen" he demanded, his tone worried and anxious, very much unlike Bruce, compelling her to listen despite the imminent danger she was in. "Where are you? you have to tell me NOW, I'll explain everything when I get there"
She answered and Bruce abruptly hung up the phone, his hands going back to the wheel, foot pressing the gas to the floor. There wasn't much time.
*******
The Batmobile careened to a stop outside her apartment complex he saw four cars that screamed Italian mob and he knew they were already there.
*******
Helena had dealt with the mobsters that had come after easily enough, they'd been ambushed and she was standing over them, a satisfied look on her face. Unseen by either Batman or Helen was a pair of eyes that watched from across the street with high powered binoculars. He lowered them and picked up his phone.
"initiate Plan B" The man said,raising the binoculars back to his eyes. On the roof of the building a sniper put Helena in his crosshairs and pulled the trigger. A dart sped across the street at an incredible velocity and hit its mark. The small dart dug into her neck. Helena raised her hand tot he dart and plucked it from her neck, looking at it ponderously before she collapsed to the ground.
The man lowered his binocluars and once more picked up the phone.
"You have Mr. Punchinello's gratitude and thanks, Mr. Hush."
The response came over the phone in a gravel, smoke voice
"He can save them. I just want his money."
*******
Batman beat a hasty path up the stairs taking two or three at a time, he burst through the door from the stairwell onto her floor. with a stroke of luck her apartment was the first at the corner by the stairs and he booted the door open, nearly tearing it from its hinges. batman burst into the room ready for a fight and found only corpses, among them, Helena.
"No.. No, no, no" he said quietly to himself as he ruched to her side, kneeling beside her and holding her limp body in his arms. He held his ear to her chest and there was a slow, quiet beat, but there was a beat. She was still alive. He spotted the dart that had hit her. He brought the tip to his eyes and he saw the glisten of green.
Hush he thought gravely, this was his signature, he used a rare poison that killed quickly, but there was still time. He had a remedy, but it was back at the lair, his mind raced. He'd have to move quickly. His phone was out again.
"Alfred. Go down to the lair, get a vial marked Tyrasid 0024. Alfred. Its Helena." Alfred immediately hung up and Bruce was picking her up in his arms, carrying her back down tot he car qand aying her gently beside him as he solid inside.
The Batmobile roared to life and he sped from the curb, going as fast as he could home.
Bruce pulled his cowl over his head and grappled onto the roof of a dilapidated apartment complex that'd been condemned years ago. It's only inhabitants now were the junkies and the rats. He wasn't sure which was worse. He'd used his communicator two hours earlier to alert Huntress and give her the meeting place; The building he was now on top of. Huntress had beat him there and was standing at its edge her hair and cape billowing out behind her as she scanned the street below.
He stood on the opposite ledge behind her wreathed in the shadows of the taller building standing next to it, blocking the silvery moon from view. He stood in silence for a moment, she hadn't heard him yet. Helena was focused on some point below her, the wind drowning his foot falls. Batman stopped a few feet from her, his cape, more like a cloak, wrapped around his body.
"Good, you're already here." Bruce stated breaking the silence, Huntress whipping around at the sound of his voice. He stood regaled in his costume, icy eyes flicking over her. Finally he moved to join her at the ledge she'd been standing on a moment earlier. "That restaurant." Bruce stated simply, pointing at Bellicimo's down below on the opposite side of the street.
"They never guard the roof," He told her, brushing his cape aside, the rocket propelled grappling hook in his hand. He held his arm out to her, once again they'd have to grapple together across the street.
~~
Most of her engagement party wasn’t easily unremarkable and easily forgotten. She knew only a half full of people that had attended it and really the whole event had been more for Travis and his father than for her which she was fine with. That was just the way things went. She was the new girl on the block now, having lived in another country for so many years that people had forgotten her name. The one part of the whole night that she did remember was the rain and the kiss. She couldn’t get the feel of his lips pressed against hers out of her head. Even when Travis kissed her these last few days she could feel it. She hated and loved it, she felt guilty about thinking of another man like that when she was supposed to be planning her wedding.
She was glad when the call from Batman came in. She needed a break from it all, needed to get out and punch a few faces in. She’d sent Travis home early with the excuse of a headache and wanting to go to bed before dressing in her uniform and slipping out of her apartment the way she had a few nights before. She’d been half a block down the street by roof top when she looked back at her place and noticed the car sitting down the block away from where she’d left her place so they thankfully hadn’t seen her. It looked like a Family car. They just had this look that screamed it which she always thought was amusing. Did Travis have someone guarding here? Odd…
Shaking the thought out of her mind for the moment she kept moving, stopping to pick up her bike were she was storing it and moved to the place where he’d told her to meet him. She’d gotten to the roof a few minutes before he’d showed up and stood with one foot on the edge of building, staring down at the men milling around outside the restaurant. She recognized a few of them, and worse, recognized the plates on a few of the cars.
She didn’t jump when he finally spoke but turned her head to look over at him, her blue eyes bright in the darkness around them and the holes of her mask. Her lips were pressed into a thin line. Her easy mood from the night before didn’t seem to have carried over to tonight. She nodded once and stepped close to him when he fired the hook, one arm around his neck, the other holding herself to his chest. When they landed she stepped back from him and glanced around.
“Are we going in or listening up here?”
~~
"Back door. No skylight. I scouted last night." Always a step ahead. Batman never went into a situation blind. He released her and made his way to the back of the building over the roof. Huntress in tow a step behind. Batman was keeping things short and to the point, which seemed to be typical of him. As though he didn't have much use for words that didn't indicate a directive or clear answer.
Bruce Wayne, however, would not keep nagging the edge of his thoughts, Helena, the engagement party, what a mess he had of things. Batman shook his head and the images vanished. He looked back at Huntress and nodded.
"Down below is a staff door. I can get us in." It seemed he had a gadget for most any situation; whomever batman was he was a man with access to seemingly limitless supply of high tech gadgetry. He dropped off the roof and landed silently on the pavement below. Huntress landing nimbly a fraction of a second later. he had removed the same pocket laser he'd used on the door at the Punchinello mansion and held it to the much tougher metal door. it took longer but the laser burned through the metal creating a small hold Batman was able to work his arm through to unlock the door from the inside. It swung open and the pair crept into the darkened kitchen. Even from there they could hear loud booming voices laughing, the clink of glasses.
Batman held his finger to his lips indicating silence as they crept to the front past stoves and grills, different ovens of varying size and shelves packed full of dry stock. The kitchen was completely blocked from view, separated by a thick wall that opened to the dining room through a western saloon style door that swung both ways.
He then used the long thin filament camera that she'd seen three days previous, bending it around the corner.
"Table of twelve. every seat occupied. Man behind the bar, two guards at the door. We can't risk trying to get closer, remember, this is for reconnaissance" he hissed through the darkness.He hated having others in these situations, it was much easier to spy with a lone figure than with two. He seemed to be searching his head but drawing a blank, batman looked to Huntress and for the first time asked what she thought;
"Ideas?" Batman asked begrudgingly. irritated by the fact he was now having to contradict by what he thought earlier. it was one of many flaws. the belief that he never needed help and a near inability to admit to it. Especially to himself.
~~
She moved silently behind him though she gave him enough room that if something happened he’d have the room to react without her crashing into him or her catching his elbow. So far she’d shown that she could fight and well and that she knew tactical movements. It was easy to fall into this, easy to forget the troubles of her unmasked life and immerse herself completely behind the mask. Huntress’s life was easy. Hunt down the bad guys, beat them up if necessary, get the information she needed, leave them for the cops and move on. She’d been doing that through Italy, Gotham just had taller buildings and Bats.
She watched his back as he unlocked the door for them again and slid inside the shut down kitchen. At least they were meeting after hours and there wouldn’t be any kitchen staff to contend with other than the bartender if he happened to come back that way. She leaned against the wall next to him, listening to the muffled voices talking and laughing just yards away. There would have been something satisfying around busing through the kitchen door and putting all these men on the floor so she could take her time to question them all but she restrained. He was right, this was for recon and they needed the information they had.
Tilting her head she watched the little screen he had hooked the camera up too. If he didn’t know who all twelve men were she named the under bosses, most of which had been at her party.
“Sit tight and see what they’re here to meet about. If we need to step in we’re at a good place for it so long as the bartender doesn’t come back here.”
~~
Batman merely nodded in response, hands moving back to his belt pulling forth a circular object that he affixed to the back of the corral doors. The camera continued to feed images to the small screen and Batman handed here a pair of wireless ear buds. He didn't seem to need a pair of his own as he didn't retrieve a pair for himself.
The audio crackled some before tuning in properly, the pair peered into the dim light of the screen. At the moment they were talking of nothing inconsequential and then Batman realized someone was missing; Tommy Vercetti, young overlord of the Vercetti crime family. Contrasting Vercetti's youth was the older Don Punchinello whose beard was streaked with gray and eyes rounded by thick black glasses. He wore an amused smile over thin lips but never laughed aloud. He also noted Travis, his son and underboss was also missing. The front door jingled with bells above it and Vercetti made his appearance wearing a dapper black Armani and matching shoes. The two Don's shook hands and sat at opposite heads of the table.
"Let's get down to business" Sal began his eyes regarding the younger, more bravos crime lord. Cercetti had his feet on the table and was taking long puffs from a cigar, blowing a long stream of smoke from his mouth upward. Sal cleared his throat, and Vercetti looked to him now. "Now that I have your attention" Sal said rather stiffly.
"Perhaps we can talk about how your father's failure is about to come back and fuck us in the ass." Sal was obviously anxious, this was a matter of great importance to him, Vercetti on the other hand looked utterly indifferent.
"Of course. You'll excuse me if something committed in my father's era is not something of great concern" Vercetti countered with a wry smile as he took another drag from his cigar.
Sal merely shook his head and let out a frustrated sigh.
"Then I should make you aware, Vercetti, that we have rules. We all took an oath. And part of that oath dictates that whacking a boss is against the rules. Your father and I broke them and you should also know, Vercetti, that when your father's involvement is discovered the vultures will be circling before you even have time to draw that hand cannon cock replacement you call a gun. Breaking that rule also banishes any Progeny of the offender from ascending to Boss status. So, my young friend, you tell me, is this of motherfucking great importance now?"
Vercetti sat their shamed and fuming under the harsh words of a much smarter, more experience man. If it weren't for Vercetti being surrounded by far more intelligent men Sal would have wiped them out three years ago and the issue would have been put to bed. Fate had other plans it seems. Finally he was able to reign in his anger and answer Sal.
"I'm listening"
"Well Vercetti, let's get to the meat of the problem then. Someone is digging into the Bertinelli murder. Some reporter looking to make a name for herself. And not to mention the only member of the Bertinelli clan your dip shit father couldn't kill was an eight year old girl is now engaged to my fucking son."
"So? So what? Kill the bitch and be done with it."
Sal's head lowered into his palm, the boy was utterly dense.
"I can't send my own men to whack the fiance of my son, we have rules about that too Vercetti, did your father teach you nothing? Family members are off limits if my people discover the truth I'll be as fucked as you. This is why I'm meeting you here, Vercetti, it's time to bury the hatchet between our clans and work together. I need you, Vercetti, to get your best man and send him to whack Helena Bertinelli before this reporter can get to her. In return, I'll give you what you ask. But not now. When the task is done."
Tom Vercetti seemd to think on a moment before answering;
"Very well."
Without a departing good-bye Sal stood up and swept from the restaurant with his entourage in tow. When the door clicked shut, Vercetti swore and crashed his arm across the table sending glasses and plates flying against a wall.
Bruce's heart had caught in his throat; had Punchinello just admitted what he thought he had? He gave Huntress a sideward glance. Coincidence he told himself. Coincidence. He tapped her shoulder and hiked his thumb back towards the door indicating it was time to go.
~~
She slid the small buds into her ears while she watched the screen, kneeling on a cold kitchen floor with a man she hardly knew who at this point was offering to help her put someone behind bars for a crime that he didn’t even know exactly what it was. This wasn’t exactly how she’d seen this investigation going. She couldn’t say she wasn’t appreciative though. His gear was better than hers. She went bare bones really, all the high tech toys he had were out of her budget. Sure she had money but that money needed to last her for a long time. She didn’t want to have everything in a joint account. Call it personal safety if something ever went bad.
Vercetti came in and she leaned in closer, getting a good look at the Don’s face again. It had been a while since she’d seen the son of the man that had been in charge when she’d been a child and she’d missed him at the party thankfully. This put her face close to his as they watched and listened together.
The conversation started, or negotiation she supposed from the way things were going. As it continued though her brow furrowed and a frown crossed her face though it was hard to see for her mask save for the hard line of her mouth. She also paled which wasn’t hard to see. Tingles ran up her spine as she listened to two men talk about murdering her family and about murdering here. She was caught between deep rooted seething anger and terror though the anger was the one that was easier to hold onto and hide behind.
Before she knew it Sal was getting up to leave and so was she. Pushing up from were she knelt, throwing the ear buds back at him as she made for the back door to cut Sal off as he got into his car. She didn’t make it far though before Batman was grabbing her arm and hailing her back, pushing her back against the alley wall outside the dinner.
“Let me go.” Her voice was cold and hot at the same time. “He just admitted to murdering m- murdering a whole family and planning the murder of another woman.” Namely herself! At least she had warning, God help the man that they sent to come after her.
~~
he held her against the wall of the restaurant, hands gripping her shoulders. she was yelling at him, spitting the words and stuggling to slip from his grasp. he gripped harder and pushed until she was flush against it.
"Why are you chasing Salvatore Punchinello?" Batman demanded, he heard the mis-step and his heart plummeted from his throat to his stomach. No, a simple mispoken word, Bruce Wayne was refusing to allow himself to even suspect... But the doubt was there and he couldn't deny it. His eyes were burrowing holes into her
"I know that look." he said quietly, the roar of the cars leaving the parking lot prompting him to loose his hold on her. "It's blood you're after not justice. I know because I saw it my own eyes every day for thirteen years and when I finally got there, when I finally tracked the bastard down.. I..." he stopped and released her, his mind now shifting to Helena. He had to go to her and he had to do it now. It was only a matter of time and there wasn't much of it.
"it won't bring them back, Huntress" he said as he turned to walk away. "I know where the Bertinelli woman is. If it's revenge you want, if it's blood you're looking for, go after Punchinello and put a bolt between his eyes. Or... Or if you want to do what's right you'll come with me and get Bertinelli to safety. The choice is yours."
He wasn't waiting for an answer, he was already pulling himself back onto the roof of the Restaurant. His heart was beating a mile a minute and he chanced a look back at the alley. No. it wasn't her. Couldn't be. But his gut old him there was no such thing as anything this coincidental. It didn't matter, he had to check the Punchinello mansion and get her out. Anything to get out. He had a sinking feeling. he looked back but Huntress hadn't followed. he sighed, he had failed her, she would get her hands stained with blood and it would nearly destroy her just as it had nearly destroyed him. he never should have let her come; left her to her own devices. He would have had Punchinello in jail and out of reach long before she connected the dots.
he grappled back to the dilapidated building they met on and bounded from roof top to roof to, disappearing into the shadows of the night.
~~
She nearly tried to take a swing at him but in the end he was just trying to keep her from running into a bunch of guns that wouldn’t hesitate to fire at her. Getting killed in the process of getting revenge wasn’t exactly on her list of things to do. She’d survived getting shot once, she didn’t think she’d be lucky enough to survive it a second time and didn’t want to push her luck.
“I’ve been tracking these bastards down for five years. They wiped out and entire family save for one lucky girl, or maybe unlucky. And yes it is blood I’m after. Blood calls for blood and they spilled a lot of it. It’s time for some of theirs to be spilled.” He released her and stepped back and she watched his face, frowning still as he let her into a little piece of his world. Maybe it was the masks or the situation, or maybe he’d caught her slip of the tounge. Maybe he figured it out? But he wasn’t saying anything yet.
“No, it wont bring them back but maybe their ghosts will stop haunting Helena. I’ve known her for years. She still has nightmares about that day.” She tried to play it off like she knew, well herself, rather than that she really was who the men inside had just been talking about.
He gave her two choices and then he was gone, sliding back off into the darkness to leave her to make her own way. She wanted to go after Sal, she wanted to stand over him and watch him bleed out like her mother hand. What about Travis? Was he part of this too? Did he know? Had he just been sent to Italy to charm her and bring her home to her death? God she hoped not, she prayed he was ignorant to it all. She prayed that he was the man that she thought he was and not a monster like his father.
Pulling herself up onto the roof she made her way back across. Taking the fastest route back to where she’d stashed her bike. She needed to get back to her apartment before Batman got there and figured things out not that it would matter at this point. She knew who her target was now. A mask wouldn’t change the fact that she wanted him dead.
She actually beat him back though she wasn’t sure how since he had a head start. Maybe her address hadn’t hit the systems yet but she did note that the car that had been watching her building earlier that night was gone now. Pulling his men off so that Vercetti’s men could get in no doubt. Climbing back through her window she stripped out of her gear quickly, shoving everything in her closet under the floor boards where she hid it. She pulled her hair back, dressing in a t-shirt, underwear and a robe. She had guns stashed around the house. She was always paranoid and it would come in handy now. She dared an assassin to come after her. Give her someone to let it out on.
~~
he slid into his car and ripepd onto the street, beyond speeding, his engine tearing through the night like a bullet seeking its target. Inside Bruce tore his cowl back, his hair was matted to his head with sweat and his hand fumbled for Bruce Wayne's phone.
"Auto Pilot" he said, taking his hands off the wheel the car directing itself towards the Punchinello manor. There was no telling where she was now, there was only one choice. His other hand pulled the black book from his belt and flipped through the pages until he he found the place Sal had jotted Helena's number. the phone rang, once, twice...
"Answer.. Come'on answer" he said anxiously into the phone and it continued to ring, three, four times "ANSWER DAMN YOU" it rung for a final fifth time and then went to voice mail. Was he too late? was she already dead? He had failed her for the second time in as many days and threw his phone angrily across the car, it rebounded off the window and crashed tot he floor, remarkably unbroken. His hands were shaking now as he picked it back up and hit redial.
it rang once, twice, three times.. His heart sunk, and then, to his surprise she answered hurriedly, as though on her way out the door.
"Helena. It's Bruce, don't hang up! Just listen" he demanded, his tone worried and anxious, very much unlike Bruce, compelling her to listen despite the imminent danger she was in. "Where are you? you have to tell me NOW, I'll explain everything when I get there"
She answered and Bruce abruptly hung up the phone, his hands going back to the wheel, foot pressing the gas to the floor. There wasn't much time.
*******
The Batmobile careened to a stop outside her apartment complex he saw four cars that screamed Italian mob and he knew they were already there.
*******
Helena had dealt with the mobsters that had come after easily enough, they'd been ambushed and she was standing over them, a satisfied look on her face. Unseen by either Batman or Helen was a pair of eyes that watched from across the street with high powered binoculars. He lowered them and picked up his phone.
"initiate Plan B" The man said,raising the binoculars back to his eyes. On the roof of the building a sniper put Helena in his crosshairs and pulled the trigger. A dart sped across the street at an incredible velocity and hit its mark. The small dart dug into her neck. Helena raised her hand tot he dart and plucked it from her neck, looking at it ponderously before she collapsed to the ground.
The man lowered his binocluars and once more picked up the phone.
"You have Mr. Punchinello's gratitude and thanks, Mr. Hush."
The response came over the phone in a gravel, smoke voice
"He can save them. I just want his money."
*******
Batman beat a hasty path up the stairs taking two or three at a time, he burst through the door from the stairwell onto her floor. with a stroke of luck her apartment was the first at the corner by the stairs and he booted the door open, nearly tearing it from its hinges. batman burst into the room ready for a fight and found only corpses, among them, Helena.
"No.. No, no, no" he said quietly to himself as he ruched to her side, kneeling beside her and holding her limp body in his arms. He held his ear to her chest and there was a slow, quiet beat, but there was a beat. She was still alive. He spotted the dart that had hit her. He brought the tip to his eyes and he saw the glisten of green.
Hush he thought gravely, this was his signature, he used a rare poison that killed quickly, but there was still time. He had a remedy, but it was back at the lair, his mind raced. He'd have to move quickly. His phone was out again.
"Alfred. Go down to the lair, get a vial marked Tyrasid 0024. Alfred. Its Helena." Alfred immediately hung up and Bruce was picking her up in his arms, carrying her back down tot he car qand aying her gently beside him as he solid inside.
The Batmobile roared to life and he sped from the curb, going as fast as he could home.