CHAPTER 9: "The Greater The Power..."

Gotham as a whole was one of the wealthiest and poorest cities in the world. The stark contrast in wealth of the city could be seen especially on the East side of the city. There, massive skyscrapers such as the R.H. Kane Building, designed to be affordable only for the 1% dominated an entire block. But look around that and you would see rundown apartments, boarded-up shops, and a significant portion of the population sleeping on the streets homeless.

To be fair, East Gotham was nowhere near the worst. The Narrows took that honor, the Bowery took second, and the East took third, though in Gotham how different could they be?

Very different, as James could attest, the East was poor and crime-ridden, but the Bowery was a war zone and the Narrows resembled something more akin to a post-apocalypse film.

So while the East side of Gotham was a location to never travel at night or unarmed in. With muggers, streetwalkers, drug dealers, and just about every illicit activity being found in civilization. It could be worse.

The tenant apartments near the Sprang Bridge and a few blocks north of Iceberg Lounge had been James' home for nearly his whole life. Sitting on the fire escape right outside his apartment, James watched the city lights late in the middle of the night.

It had only been a few days ago that he had uncovered the location of the Blackwater chief, comfortably residing in the Narrows at the heart of one of Black Mask's headquarters.

'Comfortably might not be the right word,' he grimaced at that thought.

Black Mask was one of the worst when it came to Gotham's organized crime lords. Remorseless, psychotic, and with a smidge of delusions of grandeur made him one of the most dangerous of the gang leaders.

Even the Penguin, who many considered the unofficial King of Gotham, taking the spot from the imprisoned Carmine Falcone, was wary to start anything with him.

Though, the Penguin was willing to take steps to ensure he stayed in his lane.

A few months back, an informant in the GCPD tipped Penguin off on a major drug deal Black Mask was preparing to conclude. Penguin assigned James to hunt down the location of where he had been storing the drugs and to report back to him.

James took some liberties with his orders...

Since then, tensions had been high between the Penguin Mob and Black Mask. Various attempts had been made to uncover the identity of James for retaliation. Cobblepot had worked hard to prevent any leaks but it was becoming harder to keep James anonymous.

"Another reason why you need to leave the mob once this is done. You got too much heat on you, we have been lucky so far but the sooner you leave the less likely your identity will be discovered or snitched on." Cobblepot had told James after the East Bay docks incident.

Penguin was not sure which was worse, the underworld or Batman knowing the identity of the Hound.

'Either way, once people discover the boy it won't be long to figure out who his parents were, and the secrets his parents were running from..." Penguin had thought during their discussion.

James, as he sat on the fire escape was oblivious to Penguin's thoughts and was pondering his life when a voice startled him from behind.

"Surprise to see you out here," Jane said as she step out onto the escape and sat next to him.

She was still wearing her dress business clothes from a long day at the office. Since she took on the job of watching James she had been able to give up on the prostitution aspect of her life. But once her kids had grown up and left home, and James had grown to attend school and later dropped out for online classes she was left bored with a lot of time.

So with her new paycheck and time, she decided to get her associate's degree from Gotham City University in education. Afterward, she applied to a few teaching positions but her background worked against her with no school district wanting to hire a former prostitute. Finally, she managed to get a position at GCU as an admissions counselor.

A job that proved to be a great match with her experience living in the low-income region of Gotham and knowing the various tricks required to work the system. She had already helped several underprivileged in East Gotham attend the school, a fact she was particularly proud of.

For their part, James, Violet, Sarah, and Crystal had been so proud of her.

Jane swatted the back of James' head lightly, "Why all the moping?"

James rubbed the back of his head but kept silent.

Another swat, a little bit harder this time had him raising his hands to defend himself.

"Hey!" He said, giving her an annoyed look.

She just raised an eyebrow and gave him a mischievous smile, "How about we hurry up your decision to tell me what is wrong before I start really practicing my swing?"

James glared at her at that before mumbling, "I'm scar..."

"Sorry, speak up?" Jane interrupted.

"I'm scared!" James exasperatedly said, looking away from Jane to stare back at the city.

Jane took a closer look at the boy... no her son now feeling concerned.

James was still wearing his typical suit for when he did work for the Penguin, but it looked disheveled and slept in. His hair was messy and greasy, his face had lines of stress, and his eyes were ringed black from lack of sleep.

"James..." Jane said softly, pulling him close.

"We found out where Blackwater's Chief is holding up..." He said shakily, "I've been helping the turf war by hitting their warehouses and knocking out their guys... it was fun at first..."

Jane held him, not saying a thing. Penguin never really filled them in on what he was doing or what he had James do. But the ladies had their ways of finding out.

Through their contacts, they knew of his growing reputation as Penguin's Hound and his activities. He had really cut himself a nice bit of street cred.

"The other guys took care of the mess, even grabbing the gangsters... I knew that they were having Eddie force them to talk but..." He started to shiver, "I had never been to one of the interrogations."

Jane's grip on him tightened. 'Penguin wouldn't have... he wouldn't, not yet, James is still too young...' she thought terrified.

"A few days ago Penguin sent me to encourage Eddie to hurry up with his work. Penguin wanted me then to patrol the dock. He really wanted nothing to get in the way, he has been pushing hard to end this war as quickly as possible." James explained.

A feeling of great relief entered Jane and she let out a breath of relief, 'For a second I thought Penguin really assigned a 16-year-old to torture...'

"But I stayed with Eddie... I may have omitted exactly why I was there." James' words brought Jane's thoughts to a screeching halt.

"James," Jane said nervously, "What happened?"

James leaned into her hug, she now was holding him with a grip like iron.

"I watched Eddie yell at them, then take his bat to a few of them when I noticed one of the guys acting differently to the others. I just had a strong instinct he knew the information we wanted, and I just..." He stopped to think of the right words, "I just knew how to get it from him."

'It's okay Jane, it is bad he saw Eddie work but it could have been worse.' Jane though knew that they had yet to get to the worse.

James shakily then said, "I took control of the interrogation, Eddie... Eddie I think was feeling the stress and was willing to try anything. I took the guy and one of the others and brought them to sit together."

James broke the hug with Jane to look at her, his eyes no longer showing her adopted son. They had taken that hard gleam she had seen many years ago, the gleam that made her scared of a little boy.

"I tortured his friend in front of him and told him he was next if he didn't tell me what I wanted to know." His voice had gotten colder and more clipped as he described the method he had used to scare the man into talking.

'Oh my God, James what have you done?!?' Jane's thoughts were whirling with fear at what he was telling her.

"A vigilante showed up after we were done and I got away but that didn't scare me, made me nervous, but I remember not being scared." James' voice went to a whisper at this point, "I was feeling great like I was high on some rush. Pushing the coin into that guy's leg was disgusting but but... I loved it."

James had a slight smile on his face now, it was malicious with his eyes showing pleasure as he spoke, "Having that control, that power over someone. I felt it these past months as I beat gangsters but what I did then was a million times better."

Jane could do nothing but stare back, not sure what to say or do. Here she was looking at a young man she couldn't recognize, the malevolence from him was intense.

But as quickly as it came it vanished. The smile on James' face changed to one of dread and his eyes returned to the fun-loving brown eyes she was familiar with, but now this time with sadness and tears.

"I reported back to Penguin at the Lounge and then walked the streets to calm down a bit... Jane... I wanted... no I needed to do it again!" James choked out.

"What do you mean?" Jane asked quietly.

James put his head down and whispered, "I was feeling so good as I walked around, so powerful. Some homeless bum grabbed my arm and asked for a few bucks. I got so mad, this piece of filth touching me!"

"I blasted him into a wall, I probably cracked some his bones... then I lifted him against the wall and started cutting him..." James' tears began to fall.

"You had a knife?" Jane asked confused. She knew James avoided hand-to-hand despite being proficient in martial arts.

He shook his head, "No, I used my telekinesis. I learned a new trick that night. If I focus I can use it as a cutting tool... it works best against flesh..."

James started now fully sobbing, "Someone started shouting for the cops, it brought me back to my senses. I dropped the bum and ran as fast as I could back to our place."

His sobbing stopped and he took a deep breath.

"I have hurt a lot of people Jane, but all the past times was in fights that ended after I knocked them out. I have never purposely hurt someone who couldn't fight back... or someone innocent." His voice trembled as he spoke.

"That night I tortured a man and enjoyed it... that night I beat a harmless homeless guy and enjoyed it... that night I wanted to kill that homeless guy for touching me... and nearly did. And I really nearly enjoyed that."

"I'm scared Jane... I haven't felt this out of control since before my sensei and powers. But now it is even worse... it feels so much more tempting, so much more!"

He looked up at her, most would see a growing psychopath, but Jane saw what he really was, a scared kid who didn't know what to do.

"What happens the next time when I lose control?" He asked in a pleading voice.

Jane immediately wrapped her arms around him and held him close. She brought her hand to his head and stroked his hair like she used to when he was younger.

"James," she said softly, "Don't be such a melodramatic idiot."

James' eyes widened in surprise and his body pulled back from her embrace in shock.

"Wait, what?!?" He said, his face still covered in tears giving a comical look of confusion.

Jane could help but laugh lightly at that, "James, do you think you are unique in what you are going through?"

Jane smiled at his dumbfounded expression, "Those with power will always be tempted to use it, for good or evil and everything in between. In most of your cases, you operate in a dark grey area, but let's not get too deep into the philosophy of what is good or bad. Being scared of what you can do or be is a very human emotion and one not to shy away from."

"You have some amazing abilities that continue to grow, and with that, you will be tempted more and more. Your past has also probably done a bit of a number on your psyche which certainly does not help. But deep down I know you, the fact that you are struggling with your actions now shows that you are still mostly in control" Jane said.

If there was one thing you could count on with Jane, it was the fact that she never pulled back on her thoughts. She was the greatest anti-bullshitter that lived in the 5 boroughs and always made sure to keep James and his other aunts on their toes.

Jane sighed, "I have never endorsed you working for the Penguin, the mobster lifestyle I thought was beneath you. When I learned he was going to push you out so you can go to college I was thrilled," she motioned behind into the apartment.

"Hell, all the ladies were happy to hear that. Our little boy going off to study, maybe leave the crime life behind forever, become a doctor perhaps."

James couldn't help but snort at that, "What is with you guys and Penguin, both of you have said I should become a doctor now."

"Well, perhaps because every family wants their kid to become a doctor," she said with another laugh.

"James, we want you to be happy and make your own choices. I can't agree with your decision to beat up gangsters, torture, and so on. But if you are worried that you are going down a path you don't like then change it!" She gripped his shoulders.

"You can leave the path you are on, go and maybe get some additional help, it's never wrong to ask for help. I certainly have had to go for some professional help with some of my personal issues." She said sadly, time had not always been great for her.

James at this point had managed to re-compose himself. Her words had brought a measure of confused comfort. Seeing an actual medical professional had never crossed his mind, and his pride felt sickened by the idea.

But maybe she was right. After all, the star gazing had been a temporary measure of his growing anger until his sensei had taught him meditation. James had originally thought it was simply to help focus him on his martial arts but it had far done more for his mental and emotional state. Such techniques helped him once, maybe some additional ones could be helpful and solve his problems.

Going to college had become a much more attractive prospect as time had gone on and after the last few days, the idea of just getting away from crime felt almost relieving.

'I almost killed a random homeless guy for just asking for money... perhaps getting away from it all is the answer... seeing a psych though, I will have to think on that.' He thought as he replied to Jane.

"I think you are right," he said with some confidence. "Maybe I am freaking out a little too much but just getting away from the temptation would solve the problem. Seeing a doctor about my issues though... I am not sure about that."

"You will think about it though right?" Jane pressed strongly.

"...I will think about it." He said quietly.

Jane gave a nod of approval, "You will always have us, your family as well. Don't wallow in yourself when you have people who care about you... and if you do," she swatted his head.

"Will make sure you remember how much we care," her face had a smile, but her eyes had blurred with tears.

Finally, she stood up, "Do you need anything?"

He shook his head, "No but I think I will stay out for a little while longer, then go to bed. I am tired."

Jane ruffled his hair, "Take your time, but before going to bed you better take a shower... you stink."

He pushed her hand away with indignation but didn't respond because she wasn't wrong.

As she stepped back inside the apartment she turned around, his back was to her as he had gone back to staring at the city.

"The greater the power... the more dangerous the abuse." She said with a pleased tone.

James still kept watching the city, "Who said that... Superman?"

Jane smirked, "Edmund Burke."