Opportunities

David woke up aggressively, snapping upright in bed. His first thought was to look around and identify where he was. The room he was in was bright and warm. The light that peaked in through the window was soothing.

David lifted the purple blanket over his body and hopped out of the bed.

He was in his boxers.

" Where are my clothes?" David asked himself. He was worried someone might have seen him in his outfit and now knew his identity.

Then as he was observing himself, the door opened and in stepped a woman that David recognized holding a clothes basket.

It was Helena.

" Helena?"

" Oh, you're awake!" Helena spoke.

David was quiet and weary as he watched Helena place the basket down on the ground.

" What happened? How did I get here?" David asked the woman.

" I was kind of hoping you'd tell me. I found you on the roof, in a puddle of blood. I brought you inside and tried cleaning you up. All I could see was that you had some shoddy stitching done, so I fixed you up." Helena explained.

" What did you see?" David asked the woman.

" Nothing much, just your arm. I didn't know it was... Like that." Helena told the man. " It was a bit of a shock. How did you get it?"

David's heart rate started slowing down. His fear of her discovering his identity started to relax itself in the corner of David's mind. But even relaxed it still remained.

" Military. Happened in war. A bomb went off and I just narrowly avoided it. Barely."

" I'm sorry. That must have been hard. Are you doing alright?" Helena asked. Her attitude at first was straight and kind, but it very quickly turned serious. " Sorry. I'm not trying to be rude, but if you're in any kind of trouble, you can let me know. I've had my fair share of problems."

" I appreciate it, Helena. But I'll be fine. Nothing I'm not used to dealing with, you know."

" If you say so. If you want you can spend a few days here to recover if you need. Your clothes are on top of the basket. I'll give you time to get dressed."

" I appreciate it, Helena. But I need to get home. I have some things; I need to take care of. But thank you. I really mean it."

" Of course. Take your time and leave whenever your ready. I have to go to work, so make sure you lock the door when you leave. And take the spare, it's in the kitchen drawer."

David nodded and waved at Helena as she started to leave the room. But before she did, she stopped and turned back.

" And yes, I will gladly see you Friday." Helena made one last bold statement, that made David chuckle, before exiting the room and a few moments later, as identified by the sound of a closing door, the apartment.

" Well, either she's a very good liar, or I just dodged a major bullet." David muttered. " Either way, now's probably not a good time to be sitting around. I need to move and figure somethings out. Like why Deathstroke's in Gotham. Maybe, it's time to pay another visit to Penguin." David spoke. He walked over to his clothing and picked them up off the top of the basket, but as he slid his pants on, he noticed that there was something in his pocket.

He reached into his pants, to figure out what it was, and he ended up pulling out a note.

" Hey Dumbass, took your suit home. Meet me at the Big belly burger- Actual."

" Heh, Thanks, Mike."

David shoved the note back into his pocket and finished getting dressed. If he knew Mike, and he did, the man was probably waiting for him as he spoke. So, best not to make him wait any longer.

After getting the spare key from the kitchen drawer and locking the apartment door, David walked outside, and as the bright light hit his eyes, he looked around for any sign of trouble. Checking the rooftops and any alleys nearby before moving another step.

Slade Wilson, A.K.A Deathstroke the Terminator- former military man himself, and failed subject of the super soldier serum. Failed being an operative word. One of the best assassins around,

David was no stranger to the man. In fact, their meeting occurred quite a few years ago, back in a small country known as Markovia, David met Deathstroke during an operation, that will not be discussed.

The two fought each other to a stand-still until Deathstroke was forced to retreat.

And now, he was hunting him down again.

But why?

David was determined to find out.

David walked down the crowded street, carefully watching each and every person he passed by on his way to the Big Belly burger shop, just a few more blocks away.

Some would say, David was paranoid. David would say he wasn't being paranoid enough.

David approached the Big Belly Burger shop, a small cafe shop that sold burgers mostly and also operated as a coffee shop, for some reason, and sitting just outside at one of the booths furthest from the door, was Michael wearing a ball cap, and a leather jacket. And he did not look happy.

David, sat down at the table where, Michael was sitting and sighed.

" Thanks for the help."

" Thanks my ass. I told you to take care of yourself, fuck stain. If I didn't see you falling on your ass, you might have been seen."

" Mike...."

" No, listen kid. You gotta be careful. You can't think that just because you're gonna heal a little faster than anyone else that you're invincible. You're not. I told you this."

" Yeah, I know."

" Apparently not.... Did you heal?"

" Yeah, the wounds are closed up. And my lung is doing good. Thanks for the stitches by the way."

" Well, what the fuck happened? Huh? Who showed up and kicked your ass?"

David gestured for Michael to lean close. David then leaned in and whispered to Michael. " Deathstroke."

Speaking of Deathstroke nearly gave Michael a stroke.

" Ah, fuck. What'd ya do to get his attention?" Michael asked.

" Don't know. But I plan on finding out." David replied.

" How?"

" I know a guy in Gotham, that keeps the dime on everyone who enters and leaves this city. He's gonna tell me everything I wanna know. But he isn't the only problem. I messed up, Michael. When I was fighting Deathstroke, Batman showed up. He's on my tail now. I can't afford to get caught with my guard down again, I need my suit back."

" Yeah, yeah. I got it. Come back with me and we'll get things straightened out. Fuck, Davey. You really stepped in the doghouse this time didn't you." Michael cursed. " Here, your pistols." Michaels placed a small black bag on the table, and Michaels nodded. Taking the bag into his hands and sliding it under the table.

" Thanks, Mike."

" No problem. Now, let's go." Michael told David.

" Not yet I need to go back to my apartment." David told Michael.

" Are you chock full of stupid?"

" Look, I have sensitive information that I need to get from there. Okay? This isn't a pit stop. This is important. Look, I'll swing by the apartment, grab somethings, and then meet you, at your place later to talk strategy, alright. until then, keep your head down and don't use anything you haven't had your eye on."

" Yeah. Yeah! I know, just hurry up and go. Before some sees us."

" Right." David stood up from the seat and walked past Michael, with the black bag in his hand,

............

An hour later.

David made his way all the way back to his apartment, safely. He poked his head around each and every corner and checked every single rooftop, and surprisingly, the coast was clear.

But that didn't mean, David was going to let his guard down. Even as he entered his apartment building, he checked each and every door, checking them slowly for any kinds of tripwire booby traps, and other explosives.

David did the same to his own door, especially to his own door. He slowly creaked open the door and stared into the apartment. He looked from the top of the door frame and followed it all the way down to the floor and even checked through the side of the door that was closest to the wall.

" Okay." After affirming that there were no traps connected to the door, David slowly opened the door with one of his guns, held firmly in his hand. David scanned the room quickly and then jumped into the room and pointed his gun at the back of the door, to make sure no one was waiting for him to come in.

Thankfully, as far as he was aware, the room was empty.

" Okay. It's safe." David muttered.

" You're anything but safe."

David immediately turned around and pointed his gun at the two figures entering the living room from the bedroom.

" Batman. And... Sorry, I don't know you." David told the young woman next to batman. Her suit was black with gold trimmings, and a stitched-up mask. Quite intimidating.

" It's over David."

" I don't know what you're talking about, Bat."

" Let's not play dumb with each other. I might not have concrete proof, but if you keep up doing what you're doing, then eventually I'll be forced to put you behind bars. I don't want to do that, especially not to a hero with a decorated military record like you."

" Hero? You think I'm a hero? Do you know what... I've done Batman? No... No, I'm no hero. I'm just a man. A man who's killed more men than he can count. Not all of them were bad, batman. Some of them were just men, doing what they thought was right for their country. Does that sound like a hero to you, batman?" David asked the man.

Batman narrowed his eyes.

" I want no problems with you, Batman. I simply want to try and relax in retirement. I've earned that much. Now, if you have nothing else to say, please, et out of my apartment."

Batman grunted. " Fine. But remember, David. We're watching you. You take one step out of line, you give me one reason to believe your slipping back into the life, and I promise you, We will come back."

David glared at Batman, and Batman glared back.

And then after a moment, Batman and his apprentice both slipped back into the shadows and disappeared, leaving David behind to watch and wait.

................

As Batman and Orphan made their way to the rooftop of David's apartment building, batman stopped and looked at Orphan for her opinion.

" So, what did you think?" Batman asked the young woman.

" Strong. Can't read." Orphan told the man.

" What can't you read?"

" Arm. No muscle..."

" His arm is metal and lacks the natural muscles and movements of a regular arm, meaning you have nothing to identify when he's going to move it. Could present a minor problem. Can you handle it?"

" Yes."

" Good. Let's go."