CHAPTER 97

[Tom Hendricks POV] 

The meeting with DeathShot went well. As Ghost, I contacted DeathShot and recruited him to work for me as a member of the outlaws. I used the same 3D holographic system as I used with Deathstroke and had him sign a contract with me as his benefactor. 

Now I have Deathstroke, DeathShot, I could recruit Captain Cold at any time but I would like to wait a little longer first. Selina is on my list but I still don't trust her enough to recruit her, also I haven't seen her in a while. Maybe I'll pay a little visit to her bar, I am sure she misses my unusual demeanor already. 

"Crap!" I spluttered, realizing I was going to be late for my date with Rachel, popularly known as Raven. Normally this would just be an ordinary date, but this time it was the first since I arrived in this bizarre and dangerous world. Rachel was a half-demon who had an inexplicable allure that had captured my attention. Her presence was unlike any other woman I had met before, and I was looking forward to getting to know her better.

With a calm sense of urgency, I quickly freshened up and prepared for our outing. As I gathered my things and headed out the door, I checked my phone to make sure I had the correct address. She had recommended that spot and I couldn't afford to get that evening. 

As I made my way to our meeting spot, I couldn't help but . This wasn't just a friendly outing with a new friend; it was a chance to explore the unknown with someone who had caught my interest. 

I arrived at the spot and strangely enough, I found myself fidgeting a little bit with my shirt collar as I waited for Raven to arrive. I had never been on a date with a superhero before, and I wasn't quite sure what to expect when people started staring if they recognized her. But there was something about Raven that drew me in. Maybe it was her dangerous aura or her unique personality, but whatever it was, I didn't really care. 

I sat at our destination, and as I caught a glimpse of Rachel, my heart skipped a beat. She was even more stunning in person than I could have imagined. The dress Rachel wore for our date was a stunning piece that accentuated her every curve. Its deep, rich color and flowing fabric seemed to move with her every step, like a second skin that highlighted her beauty and confidence. But what really caught my eye was the gemstone on her forehead.

As Rachel moved, the gemstone glittered and gleamed, casting a soft, ethereal light over her features. Its colors shifted and danced, catching the light in a thousand different ways, just like the fabric of her dress. And as Raven smiled, the gemstone seemed to sparkle with joy, like a beacon of happiness that shone from her very soul.

With an alluring smile she approached our table. I tried to maintain my cool demeanor, but I couldn't help feeling a bit anxious. 

We sat down at a small table, and I ordered some drinks. As we sipped our wine, we started to chat, and I was surprised at how easy it was to talk to her. She was smart, funny, and had a unique perspective on the world that I found intriguing.

"The steak here tastes amazing." I said, complementing the stake before taking a piece into my mouth. 

"That's true, I've heard a lot of good reviews about it." She replied with a warm chuckle as she took a bite from her salad. 

"How'd you get to know about this place, been here before?" I asked her out of pure curiosity, it seemed like a discreet manner of knowing a little about her dating life. 

"No, not at all. I told a friend about our date and she asked me to pick this spot, saying this was the best restaurant that she and her boyfriend, 'Dick' had ever visited here in Gotham." She said with a timid pitch as she looked down on her table and was totally blushing. 

"Her boyfriend's name is Dick?" I asked her, I tried to change the topic to one that might help her ease her nerves a bit. 

"Yes, everyone calls him that." Rachel said with a slight giggle accompanying her pitch. 

'Dick huh, if I am not remembering wrong. Then Dick was NightWing's civilian identity, that means her so-called friend (imaginary air quote) must be StarFire.' I thought to myself.

"Am sure you have some really interesting friends." 

"Yeah, I do. Normally they usually kept their distance, putting up a fake smile around me and pretended not to be terrified by my presence. But my friends love me for who I am and they are all dear to me." Rachel gave a heartfelt reply that brought calm to her nerves. 

"For what it's worth, I am not scared of you nor am I intimidated by your presence, I actually find you to be quite fascinating and I enjoy my time with you." She blushed at my statement and gave a smile so warm that it might seem like I had made her day. 

As we walked through the park later that night, Rachel and I continued our conversation, laughing and joking around like old friends. I could tell that Rachel was starting to let her guard down, and I was grateful for the opportunity to get to know her better.

As we reached the end of our walk, Rachel turned to me with a shy smile on her face. "Tom, I had a really great time today," she said. "I don't know what it is about you, but you make me feel like I can be myself around you."

I felt a strange warmth spread through my chest at her words, and I knew that I had made a connection with Rachel that was unlike any other I've had so far. With a smile on my face, I leaned in to give her a kiss on the cheek, and I could feel her blush deepen.

"Thanks for the great date, Rachel," I said. "I hope we can do it again soon."

"Me too." She replied before teleporting out of there with a dark warm hole that appeared behind her. 

Getting to know Raven personally had shown me another side of her that I never knew existed in her. The comics and TV shows didn't do justice to her character. I will definitely go on another date with her, it wouldn't hurt to have the princess of darkness by my side. A smile appeared on my lips as I deliberated on the thought of getting closer to her. 

… 

[Talia Al Ghul's POV] 

Talia entered the chamber, bowing respectfully as she approached the edge of the Lazarus pit. Her father, Ra's al Ghul, was reclined in the pit, the restorative waters seeping into his body, his eyes closed in meditation. She stood silently for a moment, watching him, waiting for him to acknowledge her presence.

Finally, he opened his eyes and looked up at her. "Talia," he said in a deep, resonant voice. "Report."

Talia took a deep breath and steadied herself before speaking. "Father, I have located the white-haired boy who put the Joker in his current state. His name is Tom. He appeared to be a solitary figure and did not show any signs of being either a hero or a villain. It is almost impossible to believe that he could be responsible for such a heinous act."

Ra's al Ghul's eyes narrowed as he replied, "Impossible? Nothing is impossible, my dear. It simply means we must investigate Tom further."

Talia nodded in agreement. "Yes, Father. However, I believe he may be innocent, and not the boy that Harley had referred to. He seemed to genuinely keep to himself and does not associate with others, almost like he is antisocial."

Ra's al Ghul leaned back into the pit, his eyes closed. "Then we shall put him to the test. We will see how he reacts when confronted with danger and fend off the assassins that will attack him."

Talia bowed respectfully. "As you command, Father."

Ra's al Ghul's voice was a warning as he added, "Do not fail me."

Talia left the chamber, her mind already working out the details of the test she would have to put Tom through. She knew that her father's methods could be extreme and dangerous, but she also understood that he would not tolerate failure under any circumstances.

Talia decided to approach Tom and gain his trust. She observed him closely, learning about his behavior and patterns. She knew that she had to be careful, to ensure that Tom was not harmed in any way, but also to make sure that he was tested to his fullest potential.

As Talia left the chamber, she pondered over how to test Tom without causing him any harm. She understood that her father's methods could be extreme and dangerous, but she also knew that she had to ensure that Tom was not put in any danger.

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