The Long Halloween part VIII

As I read the message, Bruce send me, I texted him back for more answers, but he just replied with <Later>. Seeing that, I growled à little and began to intrude in the conversation happening in the car.

Apparently, Dick preferred to be adopted by us rather than Bruce because, well of childish reasons I would said

"Dick, I assure you that Bruce Wayne is totally able to raise you. You don't have to worry about anything" said my mother trying to persuade him "It's not because he never raised children before that, it's meant he can't. As for you preferring to stay with us..." she cast a glance at me, with a complicate expression on her face. Not knowing if she was probing my reaction at this statement or not, I just frown my eyebrows a little while I shook my head discreetly causing her to sigh.

"Well, I already have two kids and it's difficult to manage them even though I don't saw them that much. I don't want you to lack the attention you need right now, and unfortunately I can't provide you that, but Bruce can" finish my mother hoping that the kid will finally drop the matter.

But contrary to her hopes, his gazes landed on me as he snort "Don't say that Miss Trowser. It's not that you can't provide that, it's just that apparently some people discard your kindness even though you try to give them the best"

That statement from him was clearly a provocative one direct on me. And hearing what he said, he surely know that it's been a while since I got back in Gotham. But still, I couldn't figure out why since the past ten minutes he knows my true identity he keep trying to anger me. I kinda know that his principally upset because his parents died and the murderer is still outside, but why directing his anger on me ? We just officially met today if we don't count the one time in the circus where we barely speak to each other.

"Say Dig Diggle or whatever, you've got quite the nerve to come in Gotham, like your four years of absence was just a two days vacation. Your like it was normal for you that your mother should apologise for wanting to protecting you by sending you away. Tss, such a spoiled child you are" Dick comment, seeing that I didn't have react to his earlier comment.

'Stay calm, he just lose his parents. He just lose his parents. He just want to vent his anger. He's still a kid. Stay calm' I kept repeating to myself when hearing his bickering. I then take a long and deep breath before calming myself, but I still give him an annoying face. Which he replied by going farther away.

"You know if you didn't love your mother, why did you bother to come back" he asked with a smug face

That sentence snapped the hell of me, and I unconsciously prepare my my hand to beat that pretentious kid and turn him into plump. But just as I was about to move, Mallory who was just next to him went a step ahead of me.

She slapped him! And with so much force, that his head turned to face the window too quickly. I even thought that she killed him on the spot because he didn't react for a few minutes. In fact, be it Bruce, my mother or me, no body react too. That was too shocking!

'Isn't that little devil supposed to be sick in love with that kid?' was all I could think of not understanding why this happened until Mallory broke the silence "I can understand that you lost your parents, and you need to release your anger on someone. I lost my parents too, so I understand. But you went to far! You don't know Dig. Nor do you know his thoughts, so stop doing speaking ill of him like that, because you don't know him!" she said with anger "You call him spoiled child, but your behaviour right now isn't really better"

While listening to her, Dick keep looking at her with disbelief in his eyes. Like he couldn't understand why did she hit him. But on the contrary, I was quite proud of my little demon. 'I'm impressed that she can be mature sometimes. Unfortunately those times are to few' I thought as I let a sigh.

After rebuking him, Mallory snorted, crossed her arms and began to look before her without saying anything else. Before us I saw Bruce and my mom exchanging a smile of understanding silently.

And so, apart from the adults, at the back until we reach the Wayne Manor the mood was quite tense with the two side by side and the kid looking at me from time to time. Like he was accusing me for having created that situation.

When Bruce stopped the car in front of the main door, I immediately came out of it to escape that awkward situation. And without waiting for everyone, I enter into the mansion, and my mother followed after me. "Ah Dig honey, wait for me" she said as she pursued after me.

As she joined me, she keep staring at me, with suspicious eyes but said nothing. While I Alfred opened the door for us, she didn't leave but keep looking at me. Making me very inconfortable. I then hasten my step to the living room, but I could still feel her gaze on me. If I knew why she kept staring at me, I wouldn't have any problems, but having a mother staring at her children will make any sons uneasy. But by instinct I didn't want to ask, because it would feel like I'm guilty of something.

Unfortunately, after five minutes waiting for the others to come while my mother keep her mouth shut as she keep looking at me, I just couldn't endure it anymore.

"What is it?" I asked with an exasperate tone.

"Oh, nothing" She replied with a mischievous smile "It's just... How can I put? I'm just really surprised that you took it that well"

Saying that, she confused me "What do you mean? What do you even talk about? The Grayson kid and the scene he put earlier? It's fine" I said like I really didn't care as I drink 1 cup of tea, but my mom just starred at me with a knowing smile.

"I'm not just talking about that, but surely notice that he took your Mallory away right?"

I was so far away from that question, that I spurted the tea I was drinking. "S..Say what?! How the hell it's my problem? I don't like Mallory like he does! What's the hell mom? She's practically my sister!" I almost shouted due to my embarrassment and the childish side of my mother, who just keep smiling like she just ask the weather or something "Besides, this is not a question you ask to your son! Just imagine your right? It will be the worst thing for your son to talk about it with his mother!" I couldn't help but add, which make my mother laugh.

Annoyed by that, I just keep drinking my tea and acted like I was alone. But unfortunately after my mother calm down she made me spurt tea again by asking "Then I assumed that you found your girl in France. I hope that the reason you didn't talk to me about it wasn't because you went to far with her" she said with concerned on her face.

"Mom! For god sake I'm eleven! And they're kids! And, and you're my mom so stop talking about that with me!" I cried more embarrassed than ever. Not to brag, but I am quite popular with girls but unfortunately they're all kids. And because I died in my teens, I still have the teen standards regarding girls. Lower was just a no for me.

But that, was clearly not a problem for my mother as she was preparing to press on the subject. Fortunately it was at this moment that the others came. I eagerly stood up and went directly to Bruce "So, you had the time to show him everything?" I asked as I was thinking of a way to talk with Bruce in private. "Yeah, we show him the house in general and we'll get in the details later" replied Bruce before pointing me the stairs "For now enjoy the snacks Alfred will brought and Diggle I need your help in my office for something"

'well, looks like I don't have to come with an excuse' "Sure, let's go" I replied hastily. Bruce nodded his head before leading the way. As we start to take the stairs Bruce didn't wait and start talking "So, do you know who that Kid Flash is?"

His question surprised me, but knowing the character I still replied without hesitation "His here for Holidays from Central City like all the speedsters. Name's Wally West" hearing my answer, he stared at me oddly "How can you know so much about him? Didn't you just met?" he asked which make me sigh from exasperation "Haha, I know right? He just talked to much. But don't thought about recruiting him for our mission. We had enough kid to handle here" I said as a warning which made him laugh. I don't understand why adults keep laughing when I'm talking to them.

"You do realise that you're a kid too right? But I get your point. And beside, if he's from Central then he can't fight in Gotham" he said to me "unwritten rule of heroe territories?" I asked with a smile which he replied with a faint one,before entering in his office "By the way, nice outfit. Do you have a name already?"

"Thanks, and not yet actually. But I was thinking about something like Skylord" I said as I follow after him. "Skylord huh? Quite a presumptuous name you've got here. Almost reaching the superman one" stated Bruce with a faint smile before suddenly turning serious

"Well leaving all that aside, we need to talk about our current situation. I told you before that I Anarchy and the Joker were killing one after another members of the underworld and that Holiday killed Zucco. And the fact that the former Mayor is the target leads me to think that Holiday true goal isn't to kill the underworld members but all people who were part of the Arkham projects four years ago. More precisely, those who were there that night" announced Bruce in a solemn way giving me a great chock.

"Didn't you said that that event was over? And why would that person would act just now anyway? He could have act way before now" I said unconvince. "The reason he didn't act earlier, was because he was Waiting for the underworld to weaken. With the appearance of the Joker, me, Poison Ivy and others; the old powers of Gotham from the underworld started to weakened over the years. Because some people alone could resist or killed an entire mafioso family, the later start to loss in credibility, territory, power and prestige. As for why I'm sure that Holiday want to kill every single person present that day, it's because of Alberto Falcone" he start to explain

"We both noticed that all Alberto was a very careful guy. If so, it's normally impossible for him to leave evidences where his brother and sister could have access to. But it's still happened, why?" he asked to see I follow which was the wase "Because he wanted them dead. He intentionally leave evidences to have a mobile to kill them in case he was caught. But that still doesn't proof anything" I replied hoping that I was right.

"That's actually true, but if I intersects all the murders did by Holiday with the 'collateral damage' include, I see a list of all people from the underworld present that night with only seven missing" he stated as a matter of fact, making me depressed. "Three of the seven were killed by the Joker & Co today. Tony Zucco the fourth one was killed by the new Holiday. Leaving only two, the Pingouin and Wilson Klass, the former Mayor of the City"

Hearing that, I stopped him "Wait, you said that four people of the seven were killed, but what about the fifth one?" Bruce the silence for a moment before replying "Alberto Falcone. He killed himself today at lunchtime, and he was the fifth" Announced Bruce without emotions but shocking me nonetheless "What? He killed himself? Isn't there a way too much dead people today? And didn't you said that Holiday just kill once in a day, because technically he already killed twice and he's supposed to kill tonight too" I stated.

"Yes I noticed too. My assumption is that Holiday wants to finish it all today. Because he started that a year ago at Halloween, he'll just finish it at Halloween. This is why I texted Gordon by saying that he and Pingouin are Holiday today target. With that, Gordon will focus on Cobblepot and will be protected with his unit, while I will be in charge of the Mayor" said Bruce

"And Mallory and me what will we do? Because I doubt that Dent, Anarchy or whatever need my protection with his squad and himself" I stated with reason. "I don't want you to protect him. I want you to stop him. They know that they can't touch Cobblepot for now, but Sofia Falcone can be because she's still in a wheelchair and that surely their next target" replied Bruce calmly.

But I was everything, except calm. I surely trained to fight guys like them, and honestly with my power still growing, I thought that I technically could beat them easy, but with all the comics book I read on them I started to hesitate. As he could feel my hesitation, Bruce asked as frown look "You can't do it?" that was the surprisingly the motivation I need, because I hate to be looked down. "No. I can easily do it, don't worry. And so, when do we start?" I said with enthusiasm.

"Now. Because I don't know when Dent and the Joker will strike. It's better if you leave right now. Alfred will accompany you in car to the town while I will create a pretext for you to the others. Malory will go after Gordon's wife because she was also there that day, so she won't be with you "Bruce explained but that wasn't my main concern right now, because something bothered me

"That's not a problem, but who will protect my mother?" I asked nervously "Alfred will do it as soon as he return" ensures Bruce to me, and seeing that I didn't asked for his Curriculum he just ended like that. There was no need to, because I knew that Alfred Pennyworth could fight well.

One Hour later, I was flying above the building of the Falcone Family looking at Sofia Falcone who was shouting at some random mobsters. 'Well, it's seems that I went in time. It looks like, they won't come that soon' I thought as I was watching Sofia relaxed. But just to prove me wrong, windows of the first floor suddenly blown up like a popcorn announcing the arrival of my real Villains.

'Look like it's time for Skylord to make his first official appearance as a superhero' I thought as I was heading to the commotion.

When I came down, all the people were already out or dead, and the group of villains were already on the second floor. Seeing that, I speed up to reach them before it's too late. As I was getting closer and closer, I started to hear cries of people suffering and sound of triggered guns. Indicating that, there was quite the fight there.

But when I finally reached them, the fight was already over as they were on the movement to go upstairs. But that, wasn't gonna happen.

"Hey, you!" I shout while startling them. Like one man, they turn their head to me at the same time to see what could have possibly escape from their massacre. But when they saw me, they all give an interesting face, except the Joker who started to smile mischievously

"Who are you human bird? Birdman? Wingman? Oh it make me think of something, why do seagulls fly over the sea? Because if they flew over the bay, they'd be baygulls! Hahaha hahaha!!! I think that I just found your name! It's Baygulls right? Haha" Said the Joker, making me lost focus for a moment because of what he said before regaining my wits. I then point him and and said

"My name is Skylord, and today will be the last one you'll see while free!"