Already in the fire

"Argh!" A man's voice  screamed out in pain. The voice echoing out fruitlessly within an alleyway of the city. The disgusting narrow alley amplified the scream, thus reaching the ears of nearby citizens who happened to be walking by. 

Sadly it was for naught.

Any of those that heard the scream simply ignored the sound. Knowing it was for their own good. Such was the way of  Gotham.

Inside the alley three white men in black suits stood over a single man.  This man was in bad shape with various broken bones and a freshly made wound across his chest, one made by the butterfly knife one of the men held; the evidence presenting itself as the red blood dripping from the edge of the blade.

With the amount of blood pouring from his chest it would be only a matter of seconds before the man bleed out.

"Shut it! You're hurting my ears with all that yelling!" Shouted one of the men, the hypocrisy well known to him as he yelled. Evidenced by the grin that came upon him when he shouted.

Both his partners shook their heads in light of their teammates antics. They were rather used to it now.  Ever since they first met him he liked to play with, "his prey" as he said. 

It didn't really matter much though. Usually they had a rather empty plate, meaning he could "play" as much as he wanted. But this had gone on for a couple hours now, and both of them were getting tired of watching him "play".

Plus with the amount of people actually hearing this from outside the ally, it's only a matter of time before a certain caped crusader showed up.

"Hey man I think it's time to wrap it up. We've been here a few hours already." Said the man holding the butterfly knife.

" Same here. It's only a matter of time before  Batman gets word  of what you'rer doing. Especially with all the civilians around." Agreed the last man who's stature towered over the other two. 

Giving his companions an annoyed suck of the teeth the man nodded before turning back to the injured man. Raising his foot the man gave a hard stomp to the downed man' ribs. Inciting a pained groan from his lips.

Crouching down the the man pulled a gun from inside his suit and put the muzzle up to his "prey's" face.

" I will admit you lasted longer than expected. I thought you'd croak once knife man over there cut ya. Either way it doesn't matter. Because a bullet to the head, no matter who you are will kill you. So nighty night." Spoke the man in a dramatic, arrogant tone, his villainous speech spewing from his mouth with unnatural ease.

In another world this man would have become a villain feared by heros across the globe. His natural villainous talent leading him to beat some of the greats.

But in this one? In this one he is mere cannon fodder for a newly reincarnated and highly pissed off soul.

Faster than what should have been possible from a half dead man the previously arrogant villain found his gun slapped from his hands, and a hand wrapped around his throat. 

The almost villain didn't even get time to react before the one grabbing his throat spoke the last words he'd ever hear.

"Die." 

In that moment the man who would have become a legend was turned into dust.

…..

-Seconds ago-

It was strange living through the memories of the body I'm essentially hijacking. I wasn't a passive bystander during the memories either. Everything the previous owner felt I did as well. 

Every emotion, every sensation, everything. 

That would be why as I took over the body in his last moments all I felt was anger. Anger at the men who took his life. Because that's what he felt in his final breath.

Normally I wouldn't care to embody such an emotion, especially one so hindering. But to show respect I will. Thus when I finally took over the body the anger didn't fade. 

But instead resonated with my being.

My eyes snapped open. The previous brown replaced by a violent red. The glint in my eyes no longer of despair and agony, but rage.

I already knew of the situation due to the memories of the previous user, so I acted quickly.  

Faster than the man crouched in front of me could react I slapped his gun to the side. The gun skidding to somewhere in the ally. Then gripped his throat tightly, cutting off his air ways before speaking the last words he'd ever hear. 

"Die.'" I said with venom.

The two men with the previous owner's killer stood stalk still as the man I held was atomized. The faces they held indicated what emotion they felt at the way their companion was killed. 

Horror. They were so scared in fact that they were paralyzed, unable to move due to fear. Something I took full advantage of.

Mind still plagued with rage I quickly stood up and went for the nearest one of the two. The one with the butterfly knife.

As I came within an inch of touching him  he made a last second attempt at stabbing me. Futile as I wasn't a slouch in my old world and heavily practiced martial arts. With a single hand I caught his wrist stopping the knife a whole five inches before it reached me.

The only reaction he could get out before he too turned to dust was a split second scream of horror before it was cut off abruptly.  

This seemed to satisfy me because the anger that filled me seconds ago faded to the back of my mind. My full logical reasoning was back in full swing.

"It seems that the power is instinctual. That' helpful." I said to myself.

*clank* 

The sound of a knife dropping on the concrete ground drew my attention away from my musings. The man who was apart of the trio stood in front of me shaking with fear. His eyes showed clear unmistakable horror at what he had seen.

'I had forgotten about him.' I thought idly as I stared at the trembling man. 

'Unlike the other two this one didn't actually harm the previous owner. But even so…"

Taking a step forward the soul saw the man's fear increase ten fold. Causing him to fall on his ass because of how scared he was. Tears began to build up in his eyes, and then the begging started.

" Please spare me! I-I'll do anything. You want money? I g-got a whole stash at my apartment!" Rambled the man, desperately trying to buy his way out of his death.

Pausing, the thought did cross my mind. 

'I do need money for both my short term and long term plans . Having a head start instead of starting with nothing isn't a bad idea. But first I need some answers.' I thought while staring at the man in front of me.

Stepping directly in front of the man I leered down. I didn't realize how tall this body was until now.  

' I'm at least six feet and four inches' I mused.

With little resistance I grabbed the man by his face watching as his eyes closed, readying himself for death.

' Overhaul's ability isn't just disintegration of something. But the resembling of it in any way the user wishes as well.' I began.

' And with this improved version I wonder how much I can change when I resemble something? I wonder if I can make him willing to give up who hired him to kill the previous owner. I doubt I could get it out of him through traditional methods. Well even if I could he's a good test subject.' I finished. 

Taking another glance at the man I activated my ability erasing him from existence. Only for him to appear again, but this time looking different.

Previously the man looked average in all aspects. He had brown hair, grey eyes, forgettable face, and a slightly muscular body.

But now he was an Adonis of a man. All aspects were improved. 

' I always thought that Overhaul's power had potential beyond what the show showed. If you could reassemble things in anyway, who's to say you can't improve the physical condition of the disassembled?' I thought.

However I did not just change his physical condition. But mental as well.

"What is your name?" I asked.

"Carl Wesley, sir"  The newly named man stated.

"Good it seems everything is in working order." I spoke.

Now it was time for the real question.

"Now tell me, who hired you to kill me." I finally asked.

"Don Falcone."