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“Hey, Pretender!”
Tim stifles a wince at the yell, the words.
Shakes his head before he responds “Jason”, calm and cool. Despite the fact that Jason’s eyes are glowing the faintest bit green that reminds Tim of flashes of black and red. An offer that he couldn’t accept.
He meets Jason’s eyes and sees determination. Not rage but not far from it.
They’d just come back from the Hotel. From Pentagram city. Tim had thought that the family would at lats give him a bit of space for a while.
Apparently not.
“I need your help. And maybe also your demon friend’s” Jason’s voice is plain. Factual. Still angry. But if he’d been planning on hurting Tim, he wouldn’t be asking for help and he certainly would have known better than to mention Alastor.
Tim can already feel the shadows crawling up his back. The name stirring up the tension in the air.
But Jason doesn’t back away like he would have if he’d meant harm to Tim. In fact, he looks borderline delighted.
Tim’s eyes narrow as they scan across Jason, trying to figure out what he needs Tim’s assistance with, specifically. Maybe to get to Alastor? But Tim doesn’t think that’s it. Something in Jason’s eyes says retribution more than anger and Tim…Well.
Tim has an idea of what that’s about.
“Is this about our darling Angel?” Alastor’s voice says from right over Tim’s shoulder, taking the words right out of Tim’s mouth. Tim doesn’t startle. He’d felt Alastor’s presence in the shadows long before he spoke. Knew that he’s been here since Jason mentioned his name.
Jason’s eyes harden at the question and that’s all answer either Tim or Alastor need.
Tim’s eyes meet his and he thinks.
“I have my own reasons for wanting to take the V’s down a peg” he says finally, a smile twisting onto his lips at the thought of a television monitor and the pure panic of a child.
“And, I think Carmilla has her own grudge against Velvette. Maybe there could be a bit of a…benefit for both of you” Alastor drawls, yellowed teeth stretching at Tim’s shoulder.
Tim leans to the side to give a nudge just as he says “We don’t kill them. Not like we could anyway”. Ignores the way Alastor’s smile stretches wider, more knowing.
“But, enough damage to their reputation would remove them from the hierarchy. Especially as the V’s have not made much effort to make friends amongst overlords. And if they were to be brought low by mere, human, mortal souls?”
Alastor’s voice drips with anticipation.
“I’ll even let you use the scroll. Just make sure Vox knows who it’s from, will you?”
-
Two shadows slip between the darkness of Hell, quiet and quick. Nobody sees them move. Because, just like any other place, nobody looks up. That’s where the Bats thrive.
“You get Valentino. I want Vox. Alastor said to speak to Carmilla about Velvette” Tim says into the comm as he splits off, heading to where he knows the weapons dealer to live.
It isn’t easy to break into any Overlord’s house. It’s harder to break into the house of Hell’s most prepared weapons dealer. But Tim’s a Bat through and through.
“Carmilla” he greets out of respect as he enters the woman’s study, her daughters jolting backwards in surprise. Carmilla herself seems rather unfazed.
“Alastor said you would be stopping by” she says, slowly looking up from some papers to meet Tim’s mask-clad eyes.
It’s not his Red Robin gear. Alastor only knows that he doesn’t want that persona mixed in with this whole debacle.
But it is something distinct. Red and black. It shows his colours but it also, in a way, binds him to Alastor.
“He said you would want to speak about Velvette” Tim says, slowly pulling out a chair before he sits down across from the demon woman, her daughters watching with rapt attention.
Carmilla’s hands fold on the table, her head coming up to focus on Tim as she moves to speak.
“She is rather brash” Carmilla says, and her words are measured. Careful. “She is respectless. But she is also the only one who called me out for my reaction. She is smart. Even if she does need to be taken down a peg”
Tim raises an eyebrow “You’re…defending her?” he asks.
Carmilla’s lips twist like that isn’t the impression she wanted to give “No. She needs to learn that we work together for a reason. That she cannot function as an island. But I have no respect for her compatriots. Too brash. Loud. Arrogant. Ignorant. But Velvette…she may be brash and loud. But she showed up to the meeting, which is more than I can say for the other V’s”
She lifts her chin. Meeting Tim’s eyes with purpose “I assume that I cannot dissuade you from challenging two of Hell’s Overlords. I assume there is nothing that I can do for either Valentino or Vox, at this point in time. Not that I would have if I could. But I ask that you teach Velvette a lesson. A very important one…”
“No-one in Hell stands alone. And her support is lackluster”
Tim swallows, staring into determined eyes that say more than she’d ever admit.
“You want her to turn to you” Tim says before he can turn back and Carmilla smiles like she’s proud of him. It makes Tim remember that Carmilla is a dedicated mother of 2. That she had challenged angels to protect them.
“Some people are beyond saving. Some people I have no care for. But Velvette has potential that I would hate to see squandered just because Alastor’s little pet holds a grudge”
“I am anything but a pet. And I wouldn’t have gone after Velvette anyway. My beef is with Vox. And my brother’s is with Valentino. She is not a target”
“But her support would have fallen. Backbone of the V’s, she always says. And she is correct. She works in the shadows, styling and managing. But without Vox, there will be no more models or actresses to style. Without Valentino, there will be no more business on that side either. She will stand alone. And she will fall alone, whether by your hand or by someone else’s”
Tim nods. She isn’t wrong. It’s why the Bats are a team. Why Batman needs a Robin. Why Batman Inc exists. Because Oracle, as powerful as she is, needs the Birds on the ground. Because without Oracle’s information, they’d come home with far more gunshots and close calls.
No man is an island.
“She will be left alone and not harmed” Tim agrees, seeing Carmilla and her daughters relax their shoulders slightly.
Tim’s eyes flit between them. Taking in what he can see.
Relief, yes. But some excitement, and, as much as Carmilla no doubt wants to hide it, a smidge of resentment.
Tim wonders if her daughters are the ones who convinced her to do this. If her daughters stand with Velvette in some way.
But that isn’t his business. He turns and feels a cloak snap at his feet. More fitting to the environment but not hiding the way he’s obviously not demon.
-
The V’s have a lovely tower. It reminds Tim of Titans Tower, in some ways.
A big, bright target.
“You got a lock? Cause it’s all ready” he asks Jason at his side as he starts tapping at the computer on his lap.
Jason doesn’t bother responding before he pulls the trigger of the rocket launcher jammed into his shoulder.
There’s a large BOOM that rattles Tim’s teeth for a moment before all of the denizens of Hell below slowly look up, seeing the large hole in the side of the tower where the V’s have been conspiring since the last extermination.
And Tim knows they’re conspiring because he hacked their security feeds. After all, being a literal TV person does have its drawbacks.
The people below start to back up, one step after another but not before Jason pulls out another statement piece. Not quite as loud as the rocket launcher, but more…flashy. More like Red Hood when he just came back to Gotham.
A crane from nearby construction passes by the rooftop they’ve set up on, and Jason, as dramatic as he is, makes a point of it to step onto the platform and jump into the now cracking hole in the tower’s defenses.
Right before the hook of the crane also slams into the side of the tower with a muffled sound, the crane releasing its payload.
There’s the sound of rolled-up paper being unwound. A very large paper.
Alastor’s face hanging from the tower with a grin.
Tim smiles back almost instinctively before his grin becomes predatory.
“Hey shitbags. You’re on the news” Angel’s voice says into Tim’s ear, speaking to him via the comm as Tim shoots the grapple to also flit into the building.
Hopefully, they can remove Velvette as an obstacle before they get outside. Because Tim really doesn’t want to disappoint Carmilla.
Luckily, Jason already seems to have this covered, Velvette tangled in what looks like an abandoned grapple on the ground as she growls and struggles. Tim pulls the spear from his back and presses its almost heart-shaped tip against her throat. Her struggles cease immediately as she sees the angelic weapon.
“Be glad you aren’t the target this time” Tim says, making a point of it to bind the grapple line tighter around her with a few tugs “And, in future, I recommend you choose your allies with more care” he says to make a point before moving on.
Only then does he reply to Angel.
“Already?” He asks, voice cheerful and bright and Robin in such a way that it hasn’t been for years. “The fun’s just getting started”
“You blew up the V’s place. Of course that’s gonna get some attention” Husk says next and if Tim concentrates, he can hear Charlie’s flustered questions and Vaggie’s reassurances in the background.
“Well, if they didn’t wanna get blown up, then they should have been better people” Tim says, straightening his back, smile on his lips.
The best posture his parents ever taught him, the best stance Bruce’s training ever taught him. And the best grin Alastor ever taught him. All in one.
“You’re gonna upset the hierarchy a lot. You know that?” Angel asks, but he sounds almost bored. Doesn’t seem all that bothered by the issue.
Tim keeps his grin, stalks forward toward the sound of scrapping. Gunshots and smashing. It doesn’t sound like Jason is meeting all that much opposition. But then, the gunshots may be Valentino.
“Yo, Jay! You done playing around yet?!” Tim calls before strolling out into the main foyer of the V’s tower. Sees one gunshot from Valentino’s hand go wide as Jason whacks it with a crowbar.
The room goes still, both Vox and Valentino looking over at Tim at the same time as Jason stills to let the moment settle. Drama queen.
Tim’s eyes focus on the face- at least kinda- of Vox for a moment before there’s a flash of recognition.
“I know you’re all gung ho about beating him black and blue. But I suggest taking this outside” Tim says with a borderline snarl, smirk still on his lips as he rushes Vox, lifting both feet to kick him out the window at the side of the door.
There’s a shower of glass. The sound of a helicopter or drone above. Tim stands, barely winded. Looks up and makes a point of it to smile, exposing human features right as gunshots from inside drive Valentino out. His coat torn, his shoulder bleeding.
“Now, this isn’t personal, see” Jason says as he levels a gun at Valentino, forcing the man to dodge to the side with a curse. Tim takes the time to scoff and mutter “Maybe not for you” before he lunges at Vox again, spear-point held to the ground as he takes the staff of the weapon to the face and body as many times as he feels is necessary.
It’s therapeutic, seeing the one person Tim’s hated since he first landed in Pentagon City bruised and…well. Not exactly bloody.
TV’s don’t bleed.
And Valentino…Well, Tim’s just glad all the shots so far have been non-lethal.
“May I ask why you’re taking on the V’s?” Vaggie finally asks, her voice exasperated.
Tim smirks wider as he spins, putting his back to his opponent to smash the dull end of the spear into a corner, hearing the cracks start to form on Vox’s face rather than seeing it.
“Jay has a grudge. And so do I. Don’t worry, we’re not gonna kill them, B would freak” Tim answers, making a point of it for the drone above them to see how little effort it’s taking Tim to absolutely decimate.
Tim’s fairly certain Jason’s just playing with Valentino at this point and…well that should come across on camera.
“And you decided that taking on two of Hell’s overlords is the best idea?”
“Well, it’s not like they’re a challenge. They can’t even hold their own against two mortals”
Vox freezes, eyes shooting up to look at the drone, likely checking if its in distance to make out sound. Tim knows it is. Tim also takes advantage of the distraction to slam the spear into the side of Vox’s head and knock him clean out before leaning against the spear to watch Jason shoot at Valentino’s feet for a moment.
“Jay! We still have dinner to get to! Wrap it up!” he calls, tilting his head at his brother as he rolls his eyes, in direct view of the camera he can see.
Jason grumbles. Valentino starts to yell something, probably offensive. Jason snarls and there’s a final shot to Valentino’s hip that makes Tim wince.
“We’re not killing them, remember?” Tim reminds, stepping closer in case he has to step in and save the demon. But Jason doesn’t shoot again. Just straightens his spine and looks down his nose at the collapsed demon.
“Treat your employees better, fucker” Jason snarls “Not that you’ll have any left after this”
“He knows that Valentino literally owns my soul, right?” Angel asks, voice slightly giddy despite that.
Husk hums for a moment before Tim hears him answer “No, those two are right. Valentino’s probably going to have to drop his soul contracts just to keep a scrap of his power at this point”
Tim’s eyes narrow “Oh, he won’t be able to salvage anything, but don’t worry. I’ve already made sure that Alastor would pick up your contract in exchange for making sure Valentino has some measure of protection from us in the future”
There’s silence on the other end of the line “I’m sorry you did what?” It’s a perfect blend of Angel and Husk’s voices and Tim swings the spear back into its holster before nudging Jason, seeing the blood under Valentino bubble and boil and cover his form, disappearing right before Jason pulls the trigger again.
A perfect show that Alastor saved Valentino from the “Murderous” humans. And, even better, none of the three V’s quite know why everyone’s so scared of Alastor. If anyone is going to be dealing with Alastor, it’d be one of them.
“Oh don’t worry. Alastor’s a much more forgiving boss than Valentino. I even got him to promise he won’t lock you in the shadows forever like he did to some of the others”
“Shadows?”
“You think Alastor’s forgiving?”
“I think that Alastor’s better than you had and that he’s a lot better than you think”
Tim laughs. Turns his back to the tower right as Velvette’s head peaks out the side of the door. Her eyes flit from the bloodstain on the ground where Valentino was a moment ago, to Vox’s knocked out form, the drone and then to Tim and Jason.
Her jaw clenches. Her fist tightens around the edge of the door.
And for a moment, Tim thinks she’d attack him.
But she stops. Her expression falters as she pulls out a phone from her pocket, looking over the screen for a moment before her expression closes off.
Tim sees her chest expand for a moment before she meets Tim’s eyes.
She nods.
Tim turns to Jason and pulls out the scroll Alastor had “lent” them for this excursion. Like Tim’s revenge on Vox wasn’t enough for Alastor to take the deal.
Tim’s almost sorry he has to give it back.
“Let’s go, shall we?”