An Offer

Short and portly.

Pretty fucking ugly with that rotund figure to be honest and that hooked nose…

I am quite confident that I know exactly who that man is.

"That was a magnificent display, young man."

I am not certain about the magnificent part, having to witness someone's face melting off is anything but magnificent. 

However, it was definitely a display.

"I was simply paying back what was owed."

"As you should," He announced, moving towards us with a tall black man following behind him.

Ivy certainly seemed shocked by the man's presence which assures me that it is exactly who I think it is.

"Anyone that dares to steal does not have any respect in my eyes."

I am not too certain if he meant it, given his history. But villains do have very twisted logic.

"Especially the man that you took care of… He is someone that a few of us had been wanting to remove for a while now," He smiled, "We were just waiting for the right time and because of you… I don't have to get my hands dirty."

"Sounds like he was quite famous." 

At my statement, Ivy finally spoke, "He was worse. He was a serial killer."

"Oh?" That was surprising, I don't remember many serial killers from DC.

"The markings that you saw on his body were the kill count, every kill he does he makes a tally mark."

That… is something. 

He had at least a few hundred of those markings.

Unknowingly I took care of quite a nuisance.

Good job me.

"But I see that you have already gotten introduced with Ivy over here," The man smiled, "I apologize for not introducing myself earlier.*

He smiled, extending his hand, "The name's Oswald but you may call me Penguin, as that is the name I go by in Gotham."

Penguin…

The criminal mastermind and a genius strategist. A businessman to the core managing various criminal groups and organizations within Gotham and beyond.

He is someone that has a name within the underworld and power even beyond that.

And to be noticed by him… 

This can go either very good or very bad.

"I know you might not have heard of me, but I have definitely heard of you." Penguin said, surprising me.

"I know about your fight with Scarecrow and how you humiliated him simply for a watch."

Ivy was shook by the news, "You fought Scarecrow? Didn't you say that you just got to Gotham?"

I shrugged, "Well it did happen within the same day of my arrival."

She found it hard to believe, but Penguin was grinning with excitement. 

"It's tragic that we lost Scarecrow but that was way past your fight so it has nothing to do with you. However, the fact that you were able to take down someone as prominent as Scarecrow is proof of your ability."

Technically it was.

After all, villains that usually go against Batman may not be physically the strongest but they are capable of defeating even Superman with their intellect and weapons.

Especially someone like Scarecrow whose toxins work on almost all heroes.

Yet it was useless against me.

"Leaving his toxins useless and now burning someone's face with alcohol… You are skilled."

Ivy was looking at me with utter shock, "You left out a lot of details about you."

"I told you the ones that mattered," I smirked, "Such as my likes and dislikes."

She rolled her eyes, making the crime lord laugh.

"You are skilled, skilled enough to make me want to give you an offer."

Huh?

"Pardon?"

The penguin placed his hands behind him, "As I told you, I am Penguin and I run a lot of casinos and business around here. Some legal, some illegal and because of that I am always at a shortage of capable men that I can trust. And you have already proven your capabilities, so I want to propose an offer to you."

He turned and looked at the man behind him, "Jamal."

The man, whose name was Jamal nodded and took out a briefcase. Penguin opened it, revealing a bunch of cash and a single card. He took out the card and gave it to me.

"That card has my contact details," He said, "I want to hire you. Don't worry, it won't be petty work but work similar to a personal bodyguard or at times a mercenary."

"I don't kill just for money." I said sternly, which was half true.

Kinda.

He chuckled, "Do not worry. It won't always be about killing. Mostly it will be about 'teaching a lesson.' And the ones that you might need to kill… Will be similar to the one whose face you just melted. Criminals that should not walk free."

Never did I expect to find a job just a day or two after getting here.

But here it was.

"I know it might be a lot to take in at the moment, but you don't have to answer immediately." He looked at the man, "Jamal."

Jamal nodded and extended the case towards me, surprising both me and Ivy.

"It isn't a bribe but a token of gratitude for taking care of Zsasz." He said, "It is something that you deserve."

Now, most people here would have immediately rejected the money.

But not me.

I grabbed the case and looked at the countless hundred dollar bills that filled it.

"Thank you."

At my antics, Penguin bursted out laughing. 

"You are quite straightforward, just how I like it." He grinned, "I will await your call."

I raised an eyebrow, "I haven't accepted yet."

He smirked, "I am a good judge of people. If not now, later I would receive a call. I know it."

Well…

He might not be that wrong.

"I will not hold you here very long. The ambience has been ruined anyways. And Selina is not here today to take care of the mess so it is best to leave."

I noticed Catwoman's absence as well. Otherwise, she would have appeared the moment the chaos started.

"It was nice meeting you, Jasper."

I gave him a small smile before shaking his hand, "Likewise… Oswald."

His eyes widened for a second before giving out a belly laugh.

"I'll allow it! I'll allow it!"

This place is wild.

You never know whom you might run into.

But oh well, it's Gotham.

…

…

"So…" I heard Ivy speak, a smirk visible on her face, "Defeating Scarecrow and Zsasz within a few days of your arrival. That's quite the feat, don't you think?"

"Is it?" I asked, showing a grin of my own, "Maybe they were just too weak."

She shook her head, "Zsasz? Maybe. But definitely not Scarecrow. He was a master of toxins and hallucinations, not even Superman would find it easy to defeat him."

The thing with Superman was that he could have clapped Scarecrow in a second but it was his morals and goodness that prevented him from doing so, which got him into many fucked up situations.

Otherwise, does someone like Superman lose to Scarecrow? Not even in the wildest scenario.

"Oh? Didn't feel like that."

She chuckled, "You are unbelievable."

"Darling, there are a lot of things that you don't know about me." I said, "Not many find it out."

"Then why don't you let me try?" She said, eyeing me out, "You never know, I might unveil some secrets."

This made me smile, "Oh, you can definitely try."

A response she did not expect.

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