9. Back to Gotham
A.N.
Hi all. Thank you for your continued support so far. I have read your comments and am now working on ways to improve my writing. I'll also try to slow down the pacing. I've reread the previous chapters and, yeah, things were going way to quick. I'm also going through the stories of Young Justice and JL Animated Series. It may not affect the overall story, but it would still be nice to incorporate something in the background.
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Thanks everyone and enjoy. :D
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Kara was stunned when he saw Batman waiting in her room. Even with all her powers, the guy still finds a way to freak her out.
'Kara, I need you to give me everything you have on the Meta Killer', he said in that gruff voice of his.
She nods as she hands him a small folder containing everything she found out about the mercenary. Although, she didn't learn much, she made sure to describe everything that happened in perfect detail. She knew Batman would get his grubby mitts on it eventually so she would just let him figure things out since she already did all the hard part. She also gave him a resealable bag containing the fork Toji used at the coffee shop and another one containing a strand of his hair.
'Just so you know, his name is Toji, not Meta Killer', she told him with a bit of annoyance.
Batman took all of it and when Kara turned her head, he was already gone. The girl pouted. 'Doesn't even say thank you'.
She then remembered everything she'd done for the day and she suddenly hugged her pillow and grinned. Annoying him was pretty fun. I should do it again next time I see him.
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Toji decided to head home early. He'd already attracted more attention than he'd hoped, bringing with them all sorts of trouble. Although, that thing with Supergirl had it's own merits, he still didn't like the idea of finally attracting the heroes, especially the Gotham Knight. Especially while he's currently staying in the man's city.
It's been another few days after his encounter with the Batman. So far, the hero hasn't decided to go after Toji yet but after looking through all the data he can find regarding the hero and his persistence for justice, it would only be a matter of time. The mercenary went through everything he'd gained from his last mission. The money, almost a quarter of a billion dollars, the weapon prosthetic from his would-be stalker, and all the info he managed to get regarding the Justice League. He also takes out a book, something the chattering blonde had given him.
The money disappeared in a flash. He didn't expect for things in the black market to cost as much as it did. However, in a world full of monsters, he wasn't surprised. He also managed to dismantle the prosthetic arm and although, he wasn't an expert, he was able to gain enough knowledge to be able to make some rudimentary weaponry. It wouldn't be enough to take down stronger meta humans but a good shot to the temple would be enough to take down most of his other targets.
Using his cursed weapons is already taking its toll on him. Back in his world, he could easily pay for a sorcery peddler to do the reversed curse technique on him to counter the negative effects caused by his weapons. But without them, he had to limit the weapon's use or it just might consume his vitality. Although, curses don't affect him, the more powerful weapons in his arsenal still consume a lot of his vitality and stamina, even making him bedridden when he used certain weapons excessively. In truth, the only weapons in his arsenal he's ever fully mastered is Playful Cloud and the Split Soul Katana. Unless he can find a way to mediate the effects of his other cursed tools, Toji will have to rely on this world's technology to do his work.
He looks at the other side of his room where he had placed a large metallic box the size of a small room. Based on what the black market trader told him, this was mainly used by metahumans to improve their strength. It's able to increase the gravity within the space, making everything inside heavier. Toji steps in and turns the thing on. Suddenly, he feels his body getting more and more cumbersome. He begins moving around, trying to get used to the weight. He remembers his training, following the movements of the kata taught to him in his youth and his body strains itself trying to keep up with his mind.
The man leaves the training room dripping with sweat. I used to be so much stronger than this, he thinks to himself as he remembers just how much he had to struggle against three 2nd class fighters. He pulls off his sweaty shirt and looks at himself in the mirror. He looks at his chest, seeing the much paler skin where the Gojo kid managed to land his attack. He then remembers his fight with the white haired Gojo bastard and feels the phantom pain in his side. He roars, punching a nearby wall and cracking it. I should have listened to my instincts, he thinks.
Ever since he woke up in that hospital, Toji already knew just how much weaker he'd gotten. If only he'd focused on getting better, he wouldn't have any trouble dealing with all those heroes. Still, he liked the thrill of knowing that any wrong move could have been his last. It made him feel vulnerable. More human.
But something changed. After his mission in Metropolis, Toji realized that there was more at play here than he thought. He should have died long ago. Whoever or whatever saved had brought him here for a reason. And other reason is there for saving a killer like him. Simple, they wanted someone dead. Toji has already been paid. The mission is set. Toji smirked. After all, the man isn't one to abandon a contract.
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Batman still thinks about what had happened that day in Metropolis. He had told Nightwing to head back home as he decided to return Mercy to Luthor himself.
He snuck into Luthor's office, carrying with him the unconscious woman. As he stepped into Luthor's range of view, he heard the man huff with displeasure. 'Well, I believe it's time for a security upgrade'.
Batman placed the woman on a couch earning some curses from the bald man. 'Did you do this?', he asked.
Batman looked at him with a blank stare.
'I see', said the other man. 'I expected Mercy to take a hit or two but I didn't expect our mercenary friend to break her this much'.
'What are you planning, Luthor?' Batman finally asked.
Luthor sighed. 'Don't play dumb, Batman. That might work for the boy scout in blue but it doesn't suit you'.
Again, Batman kept silent, letting the other man do all the talking.
'A new player has joined the board. What's more, he's currently on the fence. We've both seen what he can do. What he's capable of. People have no idea just how much the name Meta Killer suits him. So much potential in one person. The future of humanity might just depend on his very existence.
'He's exactly what we need to finally win this little game of ours. The key to tipping the scales, if you will'.
That was enough hint for the Batman. He walked out and disappeared. But before he left, he could hear Luthor whisper 'Let the games begin'.
And so Batman looks at the bat computer. In it, he reads the document containing every detail the Justice League currently has on the Meta Killer. And just below it, he looks at the readings on Toji's DNA. Batman stares at it for a long time and contemplates.