10. Crossroads

Toji looks at his computer and finds a new contract has been sent specifically for him. He reads through the details with a grin before heading out. It's already midnight, but the city's thick clouds stops him from seeing the night sky. Toji sighs and jumps the alley walls until he reaches the rooftop. Training is such a hassle but I'll need it if I want to survive in this world, he thinks to himself. 

He runs through the rooftops, jumping over entire streets until he eventually reaches the meeting point. Looking at the spot, he sees a large flood light with the Batman's insignia over it. Next to it, he sees an old man smoking a cigarette, Commissioner James Gordon. According to the files, he's the Batman's closest associate within the GCPD. Next to him stands a rich man in a suit. Bruce Wayne, Gotham's richest man. The man was wrapped in rich perfume which irks the mercenary's nose.

'I'm here', he says getting both their attention. 

Both men face him with the commissioner standing somewhat in between Toji and the rich man. 

'You're the Meta Killer', spits the commissioner with venom. 

Bruce places his hand on the old man's shoulder. 'Uh, yes, Mr. Meta. I'm the one who sent the contract', says the man with a hint of nervousness.

'Who do you want me to kill?' Toji asks. 

'You lowlife. You think you can just come-' Commissioner Gordon was ready to pull out his gun but Bruce Wayne immediately stops him.

'No assassinations. We'd like to hire you as a bodyguard', he says, now with a bit more confidence. 'A mutual friend of ours gave us a tip told us that the League of Assassins had just put a kill order on Commissioner Gordon and he's family'. 

Toji groans, realizing where this is going. 'And you want me to stop them from killing the commissioner?'

Bruce Wayne shakes his head. 'No. Batman says he'll take care of the commissioner and his wife. We need you to protect their daughter, Barbara'. 

Immediately, Toji realizes something was fishy. 'And why not have the Gotham Knight protect you're whole family instead'. 

Bruce and Commissioner Gordon looks at each other. 'We don't know', says the commissioner. 'Batman says he has a plan but he didn't tell us anything else'. 

Toji watches the two. 

'Look-'. Bruce moves towards him and reaches for the mercenary so Toji grabs and twists his arm, throwing him to the floor. The rich man grunts while the old man reaches for his gun.

'I'm willing to pay however it costs', Bruce yelps through gritted teeth. 'Batman says you're the only one who can take this job. Please. An innocent girl is depending on you'. 

Hearing that, Toji remembers the little schoolgirl, Riko. He lets go of the man and walks to the edge of the building. 'Ten million now and ten million when the job's done'. Toji leaps off the building and disappears. 

---

The mercenary jumps over the rooftops, enjoying the breeze. His strength is slowly returning. He needs to be at full capacity soon. He's already attracted too much attention and he can feel himself being dragged into something far larger than a simple squabble between heroes and villain. Even when he was on that roof, he was already suspicious of that rich man. There was something to his scent, something he was trying to hide. But no perfume in the world would be capable of concealing the scent of blood, not from him anyways. 

He leaps over an alley when he notices something moving towards him. Toji dodges to the side but manages to grab the thrown object, a throwing knife.

'You're much better than I thought', says a voice. Then, from the shadows, the mercenary sees a dark-haired Asian woman dressed in a sleek red outfit. Her muscles are toned, shaped in all the right places for martial arts. She had a sword on her waist and many other hidden weapons all over her body which blended nicely into her outfit. 

Toji throws the knife, which the woman catches with ease. 'I've not come as fighter but as a messenger', says the woman. 'You've been invited to join at my master's table. You've stayed neutral for far too long and the people I serve have lost their patience. You will come with me willingly, or you will come with me bloody and broken'. 

This is such a hassle, Toji thinks with a sigh. He pulls out his weapon and points it at the woman. 

The woman pulls out her own sword and smiles viciously. 'So be it'.

---

Bruce stands up with Commissioner Gordon's help. He starts moving his arm and flex his sore muscles while the commissioner runs to the edge of the building and check on the mercenary. 

'The bastards gone', the commissioner spits out. 'The face on that guy. Coming here and asking for that amount of money. You're not really gonna pay him, are you?'

'It's done. I already sent him what he asked', says Bruce, holding his phone. 

'What? We can't just give him whatever he wants. That bastard is a criminal. He's a-'

Bruce grabs the older man by the arms. 'Commissioner. This is much bigger than the both of us. Bigger than you or your family. Batman said he'll make things right. We just need to trust him'. 

The commissioner looks at him intently and nods. 'Alright. I'll go get my family. And I suggest you get away from Gotham, Mr. Wayne. At least, for the time being'.

Bruce watches the commissioner leave the rooftop. He then taps on his earpiece. 'Toji took the job. Are the safehouses ready?'

'Yes', responds Nightwing. 'Everything's ready. How did it go with the Meta Killer?'

'Better than expected'.

There was a long pause on the other end of the comms before Nightwing speaks again. 'Bruce, are you sure this is a good idea? It's not just gonna be us you're exposing with this plan. If it fails-'. 

'It won't fail. It can't', is Bruce's only reply. 

He hears the young man sigh before the feed disconnects. Bruce looks at the city, his city, and leaves.