86 Theatrics #86

'Still, on my ass I see... but will you follow me here too...?' I mused, grinning as I landed in front of an empty theatre house, pausing for a second to check my pigeon drone's video feed.

Merlyn was hot on my tail, jumping from roof to roof, while Deadshot was chasing behind me on a motorcycle, and there was no sign of Lady Vic anywhere.

I waited for the two contract killers to arrive before I entered the theatre house without giving them the chance to take a shot at me.

'Smart...' I smiled as I made my way inside the theatre hall. The two mercenaries were cautious enough to wait outside and not follow me blindly.

I'd chosen this spot to conclude the shit storm that was the bounty on my head, and I'd already filled the theatre house with sentry guns and traps, ready to shoot down anyone dumb enough to inter.

The assassins and thugs flooding Gotham's street were here for one thing and one thing alone; the price on my head. For them to claim their prize, they'd need two things: my head, of course, and Black Mask, who would give them the payment.

And now that both those things were in one place, they'd have no choice but to come here to claim it, where I can gun them all down before they can even say what the fuck?!

My plan was simple. Get everyone after my head in one place and beat the living crap out of them with my sentry guns. That way, even if someone puts a bounty on my head, people would think twice before coming for me to claim it.

I wasn't cocky enough to assume my sentry guns would work on everyone, but all assassins I've identified so far were regular baseline humans. And even if a superhuman showed up, I was confident in my ability to beat them down or flee if it came to that.

There were still people like Deathstroke, who I'd rather not mess with no matter how strong I get, and I made sure that none of such people were in the city before I started preparing my plan.

"Now, how about a smile for the camera?" I asked with a chuckle as I turned to Black Mask, already tied to a chair on the stage and still unconscious.

...

Nightwing heaved in exhaustion as he beat the umpteenth thug for the day, aware that he was only removing a drop from an ocean of bloodthirsty contract killers prowling Gotham's streets for a payday.

"There's just no end to the bastards..." Nightwing muttered between labored breaths as he leaned on the wall behind him and slid down to sit on the ground.

With Batman obsessively burying his head in whatever secret project he's been cooking up for a while now, Nightwing, Robin, and Batgirl were left to handle the mess on their own.

However, they were helpless against the endless tide of criminals as two more would show up for everyone they beat. They were the best of the best, handpicked and trained by the caped crusader himself, but they were only humans.

Though their wills were tougher than steel and indomitable, their bodies were still those of mortals, limited by their humanity.

Nightwing's expression turned depressed as gunshots and screams echoed in the distance, reminding him that he wasn't done just yet for the day. There were still people in danger and criminals roaming the streets.

'Looks like we're gonna need some backup...' Nightwing sighed as he took out a communication device from his pocket, preparing to call some old friends for help.

He didn't already call for help because Batman hated anyone unaffiliated with him interfering in Gotham. The city had a delicate balance, and a single wrong move might mean all-out war.

Nightwing agreed with Batman, but the ungodly number of mercenaries and criminals in the streets would demolish the city sooner rather than later if they weren't stopped.

He sighed and prepared to call for backup. However, he stopped as he saw the tv screens on display on the electronics store's facade before him, showing videos of fish swimming underwater turn static.

The static disappeared, and a recording of a dark theatre stage appeared to replace it. Nothing happened for another second, and suddenly, a spotlight shined over the center of the stage, revealing the seemingly unconscious Black Mask, tied up on a chair.

Another spotlight shined next to Black Mask, revealing none other than Wraith, standing beside the gang boss with a relaxed posture.

"Greetings, scum of the earth. Many of you have come a long way to claim the bounty this piece of shit put on my head..." the vigilante blankly said as he moved two steps to the side towards Black Mask, the spotlight shadowing him.

"Unfortunately for you all, I have captured Black Mask and will soon hand him over to the authorities," Wraith said as he put a hand on the unconscious gangster's head, causing Nightwing to sigh in relief.

The contract killers would have no reason to stay in the city if Wraith hands over Black Mask to the authorities, as the latter wouldn't be able to pay the bounty.

"But don't fret, your trip to Gotham was not in vain. I'm willing to give you all a chance to get what you came for," the vigilante added as he stepped forward to stand between the camera and black mask.

"What kind of asshole would I be if I didn't give you that much after all the trouble you went trying to get here?" Wraith added, spreading his arms as the spotlight over Black Mask turned off, leaving only the vigilante himself visible on the stage.

"I will be staying at the abandoned theatre house in the diamond district, and I will be there for the next four hours before taking Black Mask to the authorities," the vigilante remarked, relaxing his arms and bringing them back to his sides.

"Your prize awaits you, and who knows? Black Mask might even be grateful enough to his knight in shining armor to throw you all a bonus..." Wraith said, his tone clearly amused as he chuckled at the end of his sentence.

"The only question is... do you have the guts to come and claim it?" Wraith concluded as he stopped laughing, and the spotlight over him died out, indicating the end of the broadcast.

"Well... shit..." Nightwing remarked with a sigh, scratching his head in frustration as he retrieved the communicator he'd just put away, thinking the situation was about to resolve itself.

"It would be easier to deal with this way, at least..." he muttered, shaking his head as he began fiddling with the communicator, putting it to his ear after a moment.

"Hello, Kara. I need your help..."

...

"A bit theatrical, don't you think?" Selina asked as she approached me on the stage while I was doing a last-minute checkup on my prepared sentry boxes and equipment.

"Well, this is a theatre..." I replied, chuckling as I raised my head to look the leather-clad brunette in her eyes. "But what are you doing here?" I skeptically asked, tilting my head.

"Am I not welcome here?" Selina asked with a sly grin as she stopped before me, provocatively stretching her arms to emphasize the fine lines of her body under the black leather.

"Not one bit," I blankly replied as I turned away from the brunette and resumed working. "I said I could handle this on my own, and you being here might give some people the wrong idea," I added, dismissively waving my hand to the side.

"Oh, and what idea is that?" Selina asked, her tone amused as she raised an eyebrow. However, she understood I was in no mood to humor her and dropped the provocative posture.

"That we're friends, that they can get to me through you," I replied, scoffing as I shrugged my shoulder. "I'm sure you understand," I added as I briefly looked up at her and buried my head back in my work.

"Awe, and here I thought we were getting along after the cemetery incident," Selina said with a grin. "But is that concern I detect in your tone?" she asked as she sat in front of me.

"You can take my words however you like," I blankly replied without bothering to look at Selina this time. "You and I get along well enough, but not enough for me to risk my life for you," I concluded as I finished checking the motion sensors I set up on the stage.

"Well, no need to worry. I made sure no one saw me sneak in, and I'm only here for the show..." Selina replied with a smile.

"This is a theatre, after all, and I figured you'd need an audience."

...

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