Clayface

Sunday 22nd March 2009, 07:00.

New Jersey,

Gotham City,

Gotham Heights.

Unlike the streets of East End which were quiet and empty in the early hours of the morning, Gotham Heights was different with a large number of people moving about. Each and every one of them was intent on making a start on their day, completing the tasks they had set themselves and the plans they had.

Esau was one such individual.

But much like always, he moved through Gotham Heights without paying attention to anyone around him, even ignoring those he partly knew from his time working for them or with them in part-time jobs. Even now, when crime was taking a short break from last night's activities before beginning anew for today, people still followed the rules of keeping their heads down and not acknowledging anyone around them.

Entering inside a small coffee shop, Esau ran a hand through his damp hair, noticing a much lighter air in the shop than the doom and gloom of what it was like outside. He ignored it though, moving toward the counter to order a cup of coffee as he turned to look around the shop, to see a few people already inside getting a small bite to eat before heading back outside in the heavy downpour.

But his eyes focused on a slightly overweight, middle-aged man in a tailored suit and slicked-back black hair. He was fidgety, eyes flickering around the room and to Esau, he couldn't have looked more shifty if he tried, even the people around him noticed his looks and gave a wide berth. Ironically, it seemed to make the man even more fidgety and nervous, his gaze becoming more erratic as he looked around.

No doubt the man had felt someone watching him and turned to see Esau, his eyes widened slightly behind his glasses before he gave a stiff nod in his direction.

Esau returned it slightly, taking the cup of coffee from the young waitress and moving towards the man.

"David, I'm guessing?" Esau greeted as he sat down at the table.

The man across from him nodded, his eyes still showing signs of shock as he realised just how young the vigilante was. "I never expected you to be so young," David muttered in shock and Esau gave a smirk.

"Yeah." Esau shrugged his shoulders, gently taking a sip from his still-hot drink. "But don't get the wrong idea, I'm not Black Hood, I'm just the middleman. I wanted to help because like you know, kids aren't exactly off limits to thugs like Black Mask." David winced at the reminder of his young fifteen-year-old daughter who had been gang raped by a group of Black Mask's thugs.

When he heard about Black Hood and his vendetta against Black Mask, David jumped at the chance to help the vigilante by reaching out to other people whose lives had been ruined or knew people whose lives had been ruined by Black Mask. Using his moderate wealth and those people, David had managed to establish a small little communications network to help raise favour for the vigilante and to provide him with information.

It was this group who had been keeping an eye out for anything to do with Black Mask.

Esau had found out about this a few weeks ago and had reached out to David as Black Hood and organised this little meeting. Acting as the middleman, Esau would meet with David and find out what information he and his little group of Black Hood supporters had found.

"Here." David placed an envelope on the table and pushed it towards Esau. "Everything me and like-minded people has found out." Esau picked up the envelope and just as he went to leave, David stopped him. "Please, tell Black Hood to avenge my daughter. She's a sweet girl and she never deserved her fate, I want her to be safe and as long as Black Mask is out there, I'm afraid that she never will be."

"I will." Esau nodded his head and David let go of him. "Black Hood has no intention of letting Black Mask live. Especially not after what he has done and allowed to happen in this city. His days are numbered."

David looked relieved and smiled sadly. "I'm glad." For the first time since Batman first arrived, David felt hope once more. Batman had proved that he was not going to kill, yet Black Hood was the opposite. He was willing to kill and David was fine with that. As long as he made Gotham a safe place for his daughter, David would always support Black Hood's actions, as would many people.

-X-

Tuesday 24th March 2009, 13:15.

New Jersey,

Gotham City,

Gotham Academy.

Resting her cheek on her hand, Barbara looked out the window of Gotham Academy with a little smile on her face. It was safe to say that the past few days had been a stark difference from the past couple of weeks when she had been nothing short of depressed. She had never really understood how much Esau had become part of her life, he had been there with her ever since they were kids and she really couldn't imagine life without him.

The past few weeks when she and Esau had their argument and had gone their separate ways were difficult for her. On numerous occasions, she had gone to call Esau about something stupid that had gone on at school while berating him for not turning up and had also started walking towards Esau's apartment subconsciously only to remember why she was angry with him.

Ever since they had made up, things were definitely much easier and actually made dealing with Gotham's true colours much easier.

Sure, Black Hood was still out there and killing people, but she really couldn't find it in her to care as much as she had done when she had her best friend back.

In fact, they spent most of Saturday together when he got back from the gym and had met up Sunday and Monday as well.

They just did simple things, walking around Gotham Heights or spending time at each other's homes and just watching a movie or lounging around. It was nothing different to their old routine, but it was something she had definitely missed. She also knew that Jim had appreciated and enjoyed Esau being back over again, the two had sat down to watch a baseball game together like they always did.

"Look it's Batman!" One of her classmates shouted as he looked out the window with wide eyes.

As a result of his exclamation, everyone rushed to the window to get a look, effectively ignoring the teacher. Though she didn't seem bothered and in fact, moved over to look out the window and watch Batman as well, just like everyone else.

Taking a look, Barbara saw Batman duck and weave around numerous strikes from a sludge-looking creature in the form of a grotesque and deformed man. 'Clayface? What is he doing here and attacking in broad daylight?' Despite these questions running through her mind, Barbara rushed out of the room and after finding a secluded area, rushed to get changed into her Batgirl costume.

Once that was done, Barbara rushed out of the school and made her way out into the car park where she launched numerous Batarangs toward Clayface's back. The villain didn't notice, but Batman did and performed a backflip to avoid Clayface's wild strike while launching his own Batarangs.

They each beeped before exploding sending Clayface dropping to his knees.

"What the hell's Clayface doing here?" Batgirl asked as she landed beside Batman, who never took his eyes off Clayface.

"Found him robbing a bank." Was Batman's short reply and that surprised Batgirl. Clayface wasn't exactly known for robbery, more just attempted murder of the cast and crew who had tried to recreate an old horror movie he had starred in with a new actor in the role. An odd reason to make someone turn to murder, but then again, not everyone needed a tragic backstory.

"Okay," Batgirl replied as she turned to face Clayface before both she and Batman rushed forwards to take him out. But they both felt like something else was going on, especially with Clayface pulling a stunt like this so soon after his last bout with Batman.

Batman quickly took the lead being the faster of the two and Clayface instantly swung his left arm around, his claylike body changing the limb to be similar to that of a whip. Batgirl who had trailed behind used Batman's back as a springboard to leap over Clayface's head and land behind him. Clayface watched her, his gaze following her form as it landed on the ground and went to strike her only for Batman to come up, a metal gauntlet around each hand that buzzed with electricity.

He swung one fist round and Clayface roared out in pain as electricity coursed through his body.

Another two blows followed and struck Clayface's body forcing Basil backwards, directly onto the spot where Batgirl had placed two freeze pellets.

As soon as Clayface stepped onto them, they shattered and encased his feet in a layer of ice.

Stuck there, Clayface attempted to free himself only for his head to whip backwards as Batman landed another punch to his jaw, electricity once again coursing through his body.

Growling angrily, Basil thrust both hands outwards, the ends solidifying in maces as he attempted to take out his foes. While Batman managed to leap back in order to avoid the mace sent his way, Batgirl wasn't so lucky and was clipped in the side, flipping back and just barely managing to land on her feet. Even then, she fell to her knees, winded and wincing from the pain that coursed through her body as a result of the blow.

However, as Batman avoided the first one, Basil used this opportunity to swing the mace around that had struck Batgirl to try and strike Batman. Though he had just barely touched the ground, to avoid the follow-up strike he jumped straight back into the air, using his hands to push down on Basil's mace to propel himself further into the air.

While in midair it left him vulnerable to Clayface's next strike as his right hand extended further, the mace dissolving and smashing Batman into the floor. Grunting only slight pain at the rough landing, Batman struggled against the muddy grasp Clayface had against him only for him to be unable to escape, the mud further crawling up his body and hardening.

Getting up with a groan, Batgirl shook her head and looked to see Clayface had trapped Batman and sprung into action. From her utility belt, she threw a single Batarang that embedded into Clayface's hardened forearm and exploded.

With this distraction, Batman was able to break free from Clayface's grasp all the while Batgirl manoeuvred quickly to avoid Clayface's strikes.

-X-

Tuesday 24th March 2009, 13:15.

New Jersey,

Gotham City,

Outskirts.

"Man, this is so dull." One guard complained as he looked across at the rooftops across him.

"Quiet!" One of the other guards snapped. "Black Hood could turn up at any time so stop fucking complaining and keep an eye out."

As the guard turned away, he missed the immature face the thug he had been berating, pulled.

However, he paused when noticing how unusually quiet and empty the roof was.

There should be at least another three guys on here yet he couldn't see anyone else.

A thump behind him made the guard spin to see the guy he had been berating had dropped to the ground. His eyes widened in shock as he realised what this meant, quickly scrambling for his radio but it was too late as a bullet tore through his head.

Lowering his gun from where he had stood in the alleyway, Esau moved quietly across the yard, entering the warehouse and looking around the area. He could see a few cars parked here and there, with a large group of thugs gathered around in the centre, joking and laughing. Up above, he could also see a few men walking along metal rafters on guard duty, nursing assault rifles as they looked down at the ground, basically making it impossible to move without being seen.

'Looks like I'm going to have to do this the hard way.' It was a shame that the warehouse's windows had been boarded up with wood, it made it impossible to see inside and see which room held Black Mask. The good thing though, was that it made it impossible for the goons inside to see who was coming apart from a few guys on the roof.

Those guys had been dealt with easily with a few well-placed shots to the head.

Then it was a simple task of rigging a few pounds of explosive on each exit with a trip wire system.

The only way in or out safely was through the exit he just came through and Black Mask would find him waiting.

Moving behind cover, Esau pulled his M4 Carbine from his back and reached to his side and pulled out a grenade. Taking out the pin, Esau rolled it underneath cars straight towards the group of thugs that were too busy drinking. He was honestly surprised that Black Mask was allowing his men to drink like this, it was far too sloppy and unlike him.

But perhaps, Black Hood had finally managed to push Black Mask to the breaking point.

At the same time, Black Hood raised his M4 with a newly attached silencer and began firing up at the men on the metal platforms. It took Black Masks guards a few seconds to realise they were under attack and by that point, he had already killed the guards closest to him.

"Fuck!" One guard yelled as they began to look towards his position.

"It's Black Hood!"

"Kill him!" They were but a few shouts of shock as they realised that the man that had been hunting their boss had not only found their location but was killing their fellow men with ease.

This shock only lasted a few moments before they began to pull out guns.

Just before they could open fire, the grenade rolled to a stop at the foot of one guard who looked down to see what had touched his foot.