An Unexpected Call

What I was doing was a dream to most – most teenagers.

Hand in hand with a beautiful girl and flying through the moonlit sky, enjoying the fresh and cool night breeze on our faces.

A fantasy romance scene.

But there was just a slight difference in this; this was truly a fantasy scene, minus the romance part.

Because Zatanna and I were in the skies, flying towards my 'base.'

The usual hour and a half from Bronx to Gotham was cut short to only a few minutes because of the straight, traffic-less route.

Flying over the skyscrapers, we could see the billboards of Gotham.

"It's like entering an entirely different world," Zatanna said, not being optimistic even in the slightest, "The gloomy atmosphere hits you hard."

"Sadly, not every place can be sunshine and rainbows," I said, "Gotham is like a giant magnet that attracts everything negative from all around it. Maybe that's why you can find villains from even other areas walking the streets of Gotham."

Gotham had just too many villains, enough that the moment Batman threw one villain behind bars, a new one popped out.

Only for that previous villain to break out of prison by the time Batman caught the new one.

And the cycle continued.

Now, I didn't dislike Batman. He was an icon, possibly the reason for the Justice League staying together. But if he were just a bit more stern in his situation handling, situations regarding villains wouldn't have risen that much.

Well, I ain't no hero.

So, him being a stickler for rules is possibly good for me.

"Well, we are here," I said, staring at the bridge that I fixed.

The place was cleaner than before, but it still lacked a lot of things.

For now, it is just a massive area under a bridge.

"Don't tell me that this whole area is yours…"

She was baffled looking at the sheer size of the area. And well, it makes sense.

From what I know, Scarecrow had expanded the area by taking over a few mini-bosses, and also by defeating a voodoo guy.

Which was all before I took the place from him after I 'defeated' him.

"None of this is legal, right?" Zatanna was a hero, but she was well aware that there wasn't much anyone could do about this place being legal or not.

No police were stupid enough to walk here and no government was going to claim this hell hole of a place.

There was the risk of them wanting a piece of it if they saw this place becoming famous. But it would still be difficult for them with all the villain population around.

Besides, I was going to make sure that no one could lay a hand here.

That could be achieved by force or by money. Both of which I was planning on increasing.

"Still willing to help me?" I asked and she didn't decline.

"Of course," She said, "I already took the step forward and behind me is only a massive ditch."

But as I was going to give her a tour of the place, I got a call.

Which was definitely surprising.

"You have a phone?" Even Zatanna was surprised, "Didn't you tell me your previous phone broke and now you were without one?"

"Yeah?" It did break after my last mission and I got this one just recently. As for sharing my contacts, I was trying to keep a separate sim card for business and acquaintances.

And as I took out the phone, I was surprised to see an unknown number.

Of course, Penguin had very specific channels and numbers through which he contacted his people. And while he changed numbers on an hourly basis, he had only one he used to contact the closer circle.

And it wasn't that number.

"I got it yesterday," I lied, "I'll give you my number later."

I didn't pick up the call but it rang again.

"You should pick it up, it seems important," She said, "You can talk, I'll look around for a while."

"You sure?" I asked and she nodded.

"Of course."

Which gave me the opportunity to talk to the person that kept ringing me.

"Hello?" I walked to the side a little, "Who's this?"

And never in my wildest dreams would I have expected to hear that specific voice from the other side of the phone.

"Jasper?"

If there was one person I didn't expect to hear from, it had to be Carol Ferris.

I took her through an emotional rollercoaster, which she probably didn't want to go through.

I let her guards and followers die.

So, I saw no reason for her to ever contact me again.

Until now.

"Carol Ferris?" I asked, amazed that she called me of her own will.

"Yeah, it's me," She answered, surprising me with the little hint of the sad undertone of her voice.

"I am surprised that you out of all people decided to call," I chuckled, "Or is it because your father liked me?"

She didn't seem to be in the mood for jokes, "If… you are free, can we meet this weekend?"

Woah.

Am I getting another mission?

Although, it feels like I am going to get into some annoying situations if I agree.

"Can I get a hint about what it might be?" I asked, "I believe you know that I am not exactly a free man."

"If… you are not busy with a mission, please can we meet?" She asked, "I promise your time will be well compensated."

She seems desperate, but for what?

"Do you mind telling me what's this about?"

To my question, she replied, "It is related to a job offer I have for you… which I hope you will take. But for the rest of the details, you will have to meet me."

A job, huh?

That might not be too bad if I am being honest. Because despite it possibly being a sticky situation that I was walking into, I knew there were benefits for me if I worked with Ferris.

And I could not be bound to only Penguin for connections. I had to make more.

"I can be there on Saturday," I said, "If that works for you?"

"It does," She said, "And I am sorry for disturbing you. I just got your number from Oswald."

Of course, it was him that gave her my number.

"It's alright," I assured, "Then let's meet on Saturday?"

"Yeah."

With that deal, I hung up, seeing a curious Zatanna walking around.

"Well, what do you think?" I asked the sorceress.

"It'll do," She smiled, "We can work on it whenever you say."

"Well then," I said, "We should better start with the architecture and the planning."

After all, I do want to move ahead with this project.

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[[A/N: Read 25+ chapters ahead on:

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(Sandman as in the sand guy, not the Endless.)

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