Start of a New Job

I take a deep breath before knocking on the expensive wooden door in front of me, "Mr. Cobblepot, It's Fisk, you called for me?"

"Enter," I hear Penguin call from the other side of the door, and I enter his office.

"Grab a seat, Richard, We have some stuff to talk about," I nod and take the chair in front of his desk.

Oswald Cobblepot moves his eyes over a document in his hands, clicking his tongue multiple times at something he finds displeasing before he lowers the document and turns to look at me, his frown turning into a smile.

"Richard, you don't know how good it is to see you," He said as he leaned back in his chair, "Each day I'm getting more and more bad news from all the idiots around me, and then you come along with another successful job, and I'm no longer mad about what's going on in my territory,"

I nod at Penguin, "That's good to hear,"

"I'm instead mad at the incompetence of everybody else who's working for me!" Oswald slammed his hand on the table, "Each day, that albino fuck Tobias Whale keeps creeping into my territory, and my boys are too dumb to stop him!" He complained, bemoaning the incompetence of his workers.

"But you? Each job I give you, you come out smelling Roses, So I have a new job for you," I straightened my back as Penguin looked at me. 

"What's the job, Sir?"

"There's a new gang on the rise, Small time, nothing serious, but their leader is a Metahuman, I want him for myself, So here's what you're going to do, You are going to get in contact with this Metahuman, and you're going to set up a meeting between him and me, You'll organize it all. If things go well with this, we can finally start scraping the 100 out of Gotham," Penguin told me.

"Understood, And who is it that we're setting up a meeting with?"

"He calls himself Tusk,"

............................

"Good Morning and welcome to Bonjour Barista, How may I help you?" I smile at the wiry black-haired man on the other side of the bar.

"I'll be taking my Usual to go, A Cappuccino and an Almond Croissant," I smile at Jacques, Nephew of the owner of the little Cafe I used to go to while working for Delilah, "Also, Add a Chocolate Croissant and a cup of hot chocolate with that,"

He nodded at my order, "So you're taking care of Delilah's girl now?" He asked as we exchanged small talk while he worked.

"Yep, had to move and find a new job and everything, what about you? How's life treating you and Pops?" I asked as I grabbed the paper bag holding my almond pastry as Jacques started working on my second order.

"Uncle's been fine, His Leg's almost healed up so he'll return to work in a month or so, doctor's orders and all that," The Half-French man chuckled, "I also met this girl, Richard, and I think she's the one,"

I roll my eyes at my good acquaintance, "You say that about everyone,"

"This time it's different, Richard, I'm sure of it, Her name is Rachel Burnfield and she's perfect, I'll show you a picture," Jacques tried to argue but I shook my head.

"No time, I'd love to stay and chat some more, But I need to get this chocolate to Rose before heading back to work," I smile sadly at the Barista.

He waved it off, "Nothing we can do about it then," I nodded to him and grabbed Rose's food.

"Tell Pops I wish him well," I nodded to him as I turned and exited the small family-owned Cafe I hadn't visited in weeks.

"I'll tell Uncle you were here,"

And with our little chat done, and with brunch in my arms, It was time to get back to work.

..................

Rose Forrest stared blankly at the Paper Cup of Hot Cocoa and the Chocolate Croissant that Richard left on the table for her, and read the paper note he placed beside them.

"I know you're studying hard, High-School is an important time for every person, but be sure to take care of yourself," The note read, added with a little drawing of a heart near the end.

"...Damnit Richard..." Rose sighed tiredly as she sat down at the dinner table, holding her head in her arms, her orange hair dropping in front of her face as she closed her green eyes and rested.

Only to soon open them again, a smirk on her lips as she quickly ate the food, ran back to her room, grabbed the two feather-shaped knives and the Garden Spade she used as an instrument of Self Defense before walking outside the apartment, locking the door behind her, and climbing up the stairs to the roof.

Opening the door to the roof of the building, Rose stared for a moment at the small green-house of flowers Delilah used to grow, now cared for by Richard, before taking a few steps out onto the roof.

She didn't jump when she heard the door behind her close, simply smiling as her hand wrapped firmly around the Garden Spade.

"You said you can kill Tobias Whale," Rose said as she turned to look at the Door to the stairway leading back into the building, and at the black-dressed Owl-Masked figure sitting atop of it.

"..." The Man simply stared silently at her, his body still mostly hidden by the shade of the nearby buildings.

"So, why did you call me here?" Rose pointed the spade at him as if it was a knife.

"...I cannot Kill Tobias Whale," The man spoke up, still hidden under the Owl-Like mask he wore, "However, Nothing is stopping you from trying," He grabbed a bag that lay hidden behind him and tossed it at her feet.

"The Abandoned Subway Station beneath Sixth Street, in front of the Radio Store, You will be there tonight at Midnight," The Owl-man said as he dropped down to the roof, now standing in front of Rose, "I will teach you what you need to know,"

"And let me guess, I can't tell anybody? Really secretive, you know," Rose smiled smugly up at the masked man, her hand around the Spade tightening its grip.

"Why should I trust you?"

"...I used to work for your great-grandfather," He said before he pointed a gloved finger at the bag at her feet, "Do not forget to bring your gear,"

Rose turned to look at the black bag, Just for a moment, seeing a glint of Bronze shining inside the bag before she looked back up.

To find herself standing alone on the roof, the Owl-man nowhere to be seen.

"...Asshole, Fucking Secret Gotham Ninjas..." Rose scoffed before picking up the bag and walking back into the building.

Her softer side was starting to wake up again, it'll be annoying to deal with another panicked episode like last time.

"At least I got to eat the food this time, I was starving!" Rose said mockingly, hoping her other half could hear it.