Renegade 2:2
Renegade Part 2: Part 2
Series Title: Renegade Part 2: Under the Hood
Part Title: Should Auld Acquaintances Be Forgot.
Author: cat_13145
I finally have a beta (does little dance) Green Galands
Rating: Pg-13
Disclaimer: If I owned them, you think Battle for the Cowl would have happened?
Summary: Renegade makes his move
Author's Notes: This starts about three years after the end of the last arc.
Part 2 Should Auld Acquaintances Be Forgot
Marie groaned and cursed in Italian, as the sun came though the blinds. Next to her Jason stirred, but did not wake up, as she pulled herself out of bed and dressed. She was glad. It had been four in the morning before he returned last night, and while he hadn’t mentioned anything specific, she knew from his body that it had not been an easy night.
Ever since the gang wars, when Black Mask have taken control of the city’s underworld, things had got harder. On their own, both Black Mask and Penguin were formidable opponents. Together they were pushing Gotham to its limits. While they had gained allies, Catwoman and Spoiler, Jason, and Marie if she was honest, knew these alliances were temporary at best.
She sighed. There was nothing she could do, except keep her ear to the ground and patch them up after it.
Carefully she grabbed her books from the table. Her professors at Gotham University were amazed at how quickly she managed to get ahead in class and the amount of reading she did. She didn’t think that explaining to them that it was a way to stop herself going mad during the long nights.
“Hey.” She must have made some noise because Jason was standing in the door way, hair still muffled from the bed.
Her heart contracted.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“You didn’t.” They both knew that was a lie. “about Yesterday.” She lifted her eyes to meet his. “Thank you.”
Marie flushed, “I didn’t do nothing. Alfred did all the cooking, and kept Bruce there.”
“you know what I mean.”
And she did. For her and Bruce to manage to be in the same room together for more than twenty minutes, without either of them making a sarcastic comment, was an effort in will.
Jason stepped over, taking her head in one hand. She leant eagerly into the kiss, as a horn sounded from the Street below.
“Jack has impeccable timing.” She muttered breaking apart. Jason snorted.
“see you at Maz’s for lunch.” She nodded, grabbing her bag off the chair and running down the stairs.
*****
“So how did your date with Stan go?” Dinah asked, as she attempted to attack Oracle. Babs rolled her eyes.
“It wasn’t a date.” She said, wishing that she’d had the courage last night to tell Roy she’d already said yes. Then at least he might have tried to talk her out of it. At Dinah’s snort, she amended, “and if it had been, it would have had to go down as the worst first date in history.”
“why? What did he do?”
Oracle sighed. “Nothing. He really tried to be sweet. You know that old poster I’ve got in my office for Haley’s circus?”
“The one Dick gave you?”
Oracle nodded. “he saw that and thought I might like to go. So he booked tickets, picked me up and drove us about 3 hours to where they were based.”
Dinah nodded, sinking down beside the chair, the attack forgotten.
“It was the elephants. They were leading them by as we arrived, and that…and the smell of sawdust…it all came flooding back to me, and I started crying there and then.” There were tears on her cheeks now, but she quickly pushed them away. “Stan had to take me home, I was in no fit state for a date. And what made it worse was that he was so sweet. Do you know what he said when he dropped me off? After I’d sobbed all the way home and ruined the magical evening he’d planned? “It’s O.K. I can see you’re not over this guy yet. Just remember I’ll be there when you are.””
“oh Babs.” Dinah said, hugging her, while she tried to dry her tears.
“It’s stupid. Dick and I weren’t even together when he died, he was with Kory.”
“and first chance she got after the funeral, she took off into Space.” Dinah said, calmly. “Bats mess people up, when they get under your skin, trust me.”
Babs laughed slightly through the tears as Dinah and Bruce’s one “Date” was not something anyone talked about.
“you take your time honey. One day You’ll be ready.”
“and if I’m not?”
Dinah shrugged, picking up her weapon and resuming the attack. “You’ll still us.”
*****
Maz’s was a cheap restaurant, about half way between the campus and garage.
Who Maz was, no one had any idea, as the owner was called Becky. She was one of Jack’s numerous exs, pregnant with her first child and had no objections to Jason turning up either covered in oil, or in an Armani suit, treating both with the same rolled eyes.
For once, Jason was early to Maz’s and grabbed a table and a paper. He had just finished the sports, and was about to start on the serious news when a shadow fell across the table.
“Jason.” The voice was metropolis, but the hints of summers in the Sicilian Mountains were strong.
“What do you want James?” he growled at him.
James Beterelli always looked impeccable. He had been Marie’s father’s second in command, his Consigliere personale, a role he still held in Metropolis. He remained convinced that Marie’s and Jason’s relationship was merely a fling, and that she would return to take her rightful place eventually, if they just were patient.
Jason sometimes wondered if what kept them together was a desire to prove people wrong.
“A word with the Bella Maria.”
Jason snorted. “Thought you’d already had your meeting for this year.”
He got a small stab of pleasure out of seeing the immovable face flinch.
“Circumstances have changed.”
“Not here.” Marie joined them, kissing Jason, and sitting next to him grasping his hand. “I gave you my answer, James. I know how much I owe my godfather, and I will keep the Omertà, but I will not be his heir.”
“He merely asks for appearances.”
“The answer remains the same.” The eyes that bored into the consigilere were as hard as flint. “If that is all, then we have nothing more to discuss. I believe you can make the noon train to Metropolis if you hurry.”
James sighed. “I came with a proposition.”
“There’s nothing you can offer us.” Jason snarled softly.
“Really?” James had leaned slightly back, smiling at the pair. “Not even information about a new player in the game.”
*****
“He’s calling himself “Renegade”” Jason said, dodging a kick at his head. “Apart from that, No one seems to know anything about him.”
“Including Oracle?” Bruce asked, flipping Jason. As he landed, Jason nodded.
“Including Oracle, not that’s any fault of hers. The Guy doesn’t seem to have existed till a couple of months ago.”
Bruce frowned and Jason fought the desire to roll his eyes. He knew people didn’t just appear, but he’s shaken down all his contacts, and Oracles, and with James Beterelli’s added to list, he thinks it’s fair to say that this guy is doing a pretty good job of appearing that way.
“She’s virtually nothing to go on.” Marie had come with him that evening, officially cos she needed to gets some medical supplies from Alfred. While that was true, she also wanted to be there, when the deal was explained to Bruce. They both knew he wouldn’t like it. “No one has seen the guy’s face; we’ve even just going on the assumption that it is a guy. He’s been wearing a” she gestured with her hands, “Helmet like a jar. All in red. Costume is Black with a red V shape on back and chest. Or at least that’s what Beterelli associate said.”
Bruce moved off the mats, pulling the cowl on over his face.
“And what did Beterelli want in exchange for this information?” Marie and Jason exchanged a look. Well here went nothing.
“Me.” Marie said softly, but her voice seeming to echo in the cave. “Or my company more accurately. First week of June. “
Bruce isn’t stupid. “The Don’s gathering.”
Marie shrugged. “All Uncle Tony wants is for me to turn up and sit there, while they talk business like I’m not even there. It seems a small price to pay for some information about this SOB.”
At Bruce’s expression and Alfred’s eyebrow, she explained. “According to Samson, Beterilli’s associate this guy calls together the eight biggest dealers in town. Offers them a deal, claiming he can protect them from the Mask and Batman.” That had annoyed him, and she felt a small piece of pleasure. “One of them asked why they should listen said that he was crazy. Renegade opened a duffle bag containing the heads of their lieutenants. He claimed it took him just two hours to gather them.” She picked up the bag Alfred had silently filled. “Samson’s lieutenant’s name was Vinnie. He used to work for my father. He was good. A Scumbag, but good. His wife is having to arrange a close casket funeral. Forgive if I think we’ve had more than enough of those.”
Her eyes rested on the case with its costume in there for a moment before she headed back up the stairs, side stepping to avoid Tim, who was on his way down.
“What’s that all about?” he asked, getting a firm “Nothing.” From his mentors. Rolling his eyes (Bruce made a note that Tim was evidently spending too much time with Jason) he asked. “What’s up tonight?”
“Something Big.” Bruce said, heading out into the night.
******
“Something Big.” Turned out to be an understatement. Jason personally would have classified Amazo as huge. Plus an exploding boat that soaked them all to the skin.
It started simply enough. They arrived at the docks and took out Black Mask’s (he assumed it was Black Mask’s) goons.
It was then things got fun.
The crates, that these goons were working so hard to protect, contained Boomerangs from captain Boomerang, Bombs from the Joker, Penguin’s umbrellas, and a ton of stuff like that. O.K. it was lethal, but nothing that they hadn’t encountered before.
He’d been joking about Bruce having to build a new trophy case, when Tm had opened the lid of the second one.
“Aww Hell.”
He’d turned to remind Tim that “well brought up young gentlemen do not swear.”, when he saw what was in crate number two.
A bomb. And not just any bomb. Too complicated to diffuse quickly, non conventional explosives. He barely heard Bruce’s “MOVE!” before he was grabbing Tim and tumbling back, hitting the floor.
The boat went up like the fourth of July, flaming debris falling all around them.
“You O.K?” He heard Bruce ask, over the ringing in his ears.
“Fine_”
“There!” Tim yelled suddenly. “On the roof.”
Both looked up and saw a figure silhouetted against the Gotham Skyline.
“You recognize him?” he asked, shooting a grab line off.
“No. and at the moment I don’t care.” Was Bruce’s reply. Tim was trying to keep up with them; Jason guessed he’d been winded in the fall. For all that, his lighter mass meant that he arrived on the roof at the same moment as Jason. Just in time to see Renegade (it had to be. Chances of two costumed lunatics running around this town at the same time? Fairly slim) jump off. He landed on the metal cage on the roof next door, and used it for propulsion. Jason watched as he flip over, once, twice, three…No. He and Tim exchanged a look, as Bruce set off a line at him.
There was no hesitation. A curved dagger cut through the line before it had a chance to go taut. This was no rank amateur; this was someone who knew exactly what they were doing. Or got lucky, he thought, as the guy crashed through a skylight.
It was as he landed that he realized that it hadn’t been luck. It had been design.
It’s big. Bigger than Bruce who’s over six foot.
It’s got muscles like Clark’s and an angry red look in its eyes.
“Stay sharp.” Bruce warned.
“You are easily outmatched. I will end this quickly.”
“Wanna bet?” Jason asked jumping up. Three small charges arranged Ugly’s nose and mouth.
As he’d suspected, Ugly just brushed them away.
“You’ll have to do better than that.” He jeered. Jason smiled.
“I did.”
O.k. Bruce had a point, the thigh would have done just as well, but the bit of him that had loved been Robin, couldn’t resist sticking the exploding Batarang in Ugly’s backside. And it made Tim laugh.
“It’s Amazo. Highly advanced android that processes the powers and abilities of seven members of the Justice League. It won’t stop him.” Tim warned as they ran. Jason agreed.
“No, but it’ll slow him down a bit.”
“It’s an older model.” Jason wasn’t sure if Bruce was talking to them, or to himself. “Or maybe a prototype. There’s no sign of Plastic Man. And it’s been stripped down. No green Lantern ring or Golden Lasso. We got lucky.”
“Yeah.” Jason muttered in agreement, as Amazo jumped grabbing him in a hold that felt like steel bars were trying to constrict his chest. “I’ll be sure to buy a lottery ticket.”
Fortunately, Ugly had left his hands free; through it would be a struggle to use them, if his grip didn’t let up.
“You are merely a human being. Flesh and Bone. Your struggle is pointless.”
“And your boss needs a new script writer!” Jason yelled in response.
“Nightwing. Professor Ivo created with a human model in mind.”
“Well Bully for Professor Ivo!” Jason yelled. He was sure Bruce was leading up to something, but he was going to have to make it quick. He wasn’t sure how long he could stay conscious for.
“His functionality mimics that of a human being. His weaknesses are located at the same points.”
“Got ya.” Jason grinned. “Hold still you big lummox.” He continued, making good use of pressure points of the neck. It didn’t knock out Amazo, that would have been asking too much, but it did make him lessen his grip slightly. And that meant that Jason could reach his utility belt.
“This might sting a little.” He muttered, driving two batrangs into the android’s ears.
Amazo let go of Jason, who managed to maneuver himself on to a fire escape, while the creature fell down, down, landing with a deafening thump on the sidewalk below.
There was moment, while all three stood still, catching their breath and waiting.
“What did you do?” Tim asked, after a moment.
“Nailed his brain pan.” Jason said, still gasping slightly. His ribs hurt, but they were only bruised. Guess he’d be wearing a shirt in the garage for a couple of days. “And don’t give me that Look, Bruce. He wasn’t alive.”
“We could have taken him down some other way. The Bat mobile is on its way_”
“And by the time it got here, I’d have broken ribs and probably a punched lung and it would have moved on to you and Tim.” He shook his head. “Sorry, partner. Not happening.”
“The Bat mobile can help us have a look around,” Tim volunteered, nervously. His expression told Jason that he thought he’d made a bad call, but screw it! Jason had intention of ever putting Alfred through losing another soldier, not if he had any say in the matter. “Be nice to know who ordered creepy.”
“Two candidates.” Jason said, jumping down to land beside them. “Black Mask or this guy Renegade.”
“Or a new player.” Tim suggested, taking out a handheld scanner. “Someone who wants to expand or make a splash. James Beterilli could have told you about Renegade to keep us off his scent.”
Jason shook his head, as they reentered the warehouse.
“James Beterilli is a consigilere. Loosely translated, that means he’s got no ambition. He wants Marie back in the family, but he’s smart enough to figure out that attack us ain’t going to do that. Now if it was kryptonite_”
“It was.”
Jason blinked, glancing at Bruce. “Excuse me?”
“There’s been at least 100 pounds worth of Kryptonite sitting here.”
“o.k.” Jason muttered. “Maybe Beterilli did know more than he was telling us.”
*****
“Hello. Do you prefer I call Black Mask…Mr. Black Mask, Blackie?” the voice was heavily disguised, but that shouldn’t create a problem, Oracle thought as her fingers sped across the keys. The bug in Black Mask’s lieutenant’s phone had gone off a few seconds ago, and she was sending the triangulated location to Bruce.
Canary was on a date with Green Arrow, and no way was she disturbing that, Cass was in Blüdhaven, chasing up a lead there, Steph’s little girl had the flu, and Huntress had vanished off the radar, again.
The Bats would just have to handle this.
“Just talk. I’m listening. But when I say “I’m listening” I’m also thinking about killing you.”
“Not a great way to start off a relationship.” Babs muttered, and it seemed the guy on the other end agreed with her. She listened to them arguing, relegating it to background noise, as her fingers flew over the keys. The guy, Jason told her his name was probably renegade demanding fifty million. Wire transfer. Black mask offering forty in cash and ten in transfer.
“I’m sure I can get buyers to meet my price.” There! She’s cracked it and they can finally hear what this guy sounds like. Muffled, but the hood was mentioned.
“I’m sure there are hippos that can paint houses, but I ain’t seen one.”
There’s silence. “Deal. I’ll call in an hour with a location.”
“And in less than that,” Oracle muttered. “You’ll be in jail and that Kryptonite will be in Bruce’s cave with the rest of it.”
The idiot hadn’t turned his phone off. As another voice joined Black Mask’s she froze.
“Oracle to Batman.” She said softly. “It seems it might be getting chilly in Gotham early this year.”
*****
“It’s actually six inches of the Gotham Guardian.”
“Say what you like about Black Mask.” Jason mutters on Tim’s right. “He does always buy local.”
Tim nodded, not bothering to chuckle.
“What’s wrong baby bird?” Jason asks, turning to face him. Tim shifts.
“Back there. Renegade. He did a quadruple_”
He fell silent. Jason’s eyes were like chips of ice, boring into him.
“He didn’t do anything we haven’t seen before.” He said, softly, but with a silent force behind it. Tim had once overheard Marie telling Oracle that Jason would have made an excellent underboss (or was it he was an excellent Underboss?), and at points like this, he could see why. It was almost (but not quite) as terrifying as running up against the Joker alone. “Or done.” Jason finishes softly, as the shooting starts.
Bruce, as ever takes the lead. But Tim has to admit he’s impressed. Renegade is no amateur. He attempts to take Mr Freeze’s helmet. Unfortunately the glass is reinforced, and to quote the villain
“You actually succeeded in making me angry.”
Fortunately Bruce gets control of Mr. Freeze’s gun before he can turn Renegade into a Popsicle.
While Bruce deals with him, Jason and Tim go after Renegade.
“Nice to see you again.” Jason jokes. “We’ll be taking the kryptonite off your hands.”
Renegade leapt up, taking both of them down with a kick that Tim was sure he recognised. “You can have it. I got what I came for.”
“And what’s that?” Tim asks, as Jason and he fall into the correct attack stance.
“The lay of the land.” At the push of a button, the lids of all the crates in the warehouse popped open. Cameras, all with machine guns attached to them started shooting. Tim hit the deck, with Jason only a few seconds behind him. Bruce was also diving for cover, in fact the only people who weren’t were the man who set it off (who was fleeing) and Mr. Freeze, who uttered an unconcerned, “Good seeing you all again.” And vanished up a huge ice tower.
“Slick!” Jason observed, managing to drag out every syllable in that word.
“Mr. Freeze has more fire power than before.” Bruce responded, sounding unimpressed.
“Renegade has spilt as well.” Tim volunteered. “He’s good.”
“Yes.” Bruce echoed, in a strange voice. “He’s very good.”
*****
“Jason?” Marie’s voice came as she wandered sleepily from the bedroom.
“Hey.” He turned slightly, wincing at the pain in his bandaged ribs. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“You didn’t.” she stood for a moment hands on her hips, surveying him. “What’s the damage?”
Jason shrugged. “Some bruised ribs. Nothing a little rest won’t fix.”
“Then why are you out here?” Marie asked, wrapping her arms around his neck, careful not to touch the bruises and regarding the screen.
“I was serious about the rest.”
Marie kissed him softly. “I was too.”
He let himself be led by her into their bedroom, and it’s only later, much later, that he wondered if she saw the page he was looking at before she did that..
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TBC