Chapter 39 - “Got any good Jokes?”

Kevin's pov
Back at the Tower

I waited by the door as everyone walked into the Tower. I tried resisting the urge to hug them all when my team walked in. The urge to smile was greater. Part of me probably wanted Cass to walk in but I stamped that down, or tried, at least.

"I'm glad to see you, losers."

Beast Boy chuckled, his eyes red like he just did drugs. I guess in a way he did; against his will. "Isn't the first time bro."

"We should just give in and be recreational users at this point." Raven groaned, "Think that would make the headaches less bearable or more?"

"Я убью эту свинью!" Leo muttered to himself wiping at the tears still watering from his irritated eyes.

(Sounds like: YA ubʹyu etu svinʹyu! Means: I'm going to kill that pig!)

Arisia draped her arms around my neck in an unexpected embrace. Letting go she said, "I heard you were worried."

"Do you guys blame me?"

A twinge of pain washed over the group but it was gone as soon as it came. They probably had their worries as well. Hell, they were the ones actually kidnapped.

Next were the others who came as soon as they could. The non-fliers in our group who saved us. I strode towards Oracle and Terra, and expressed, surprised by the emotion in my voice, "Hey, thank you."

"All part of the job." Terra exclaimed with a handshake.

"It's the least I can do Kevin." Oracle said, giving me a fist bump.

I heard Orphan, typing on her new Bat-tech smart watch,

I wisecracked, "I already shared it on my insta though!"

Amused, she rolled her eyes and shook her head with a smirk.

We all sat down in the living room to give a debrief to Batman. I haven't seen Martian Manhunter again since that run-in with Solomon Grundy. I kinda wonder how both of them are doing.

After the debrief, Batman gave us our schedule,

"We still have the Pyg case as well as the Ventriloquist's gang for you to do but we're going to have a change in plans. Tomorrow, mostly everyone will have a sparring session with one another to test and sharpen the other. Tomorrow, we will be having a tournament."

****

Deathstroke's pov

I kicked the disemboweled goon through the double doors of the Iceberg Lounge. He was a zealous and dedicated soldier. Holding his guts he crawled with one arm towards the man on the throne saying,

"Joker I-I tried to stop him-"

I blasted the goon's brains out and then field stripped the stolen gun. Tossing the parts behind me as the hundreds of people in the room surrounded the de facto arena. I shouted up to him.

"Joker! I'm here to do business!"

"Boring."

I flung a knife whizzing by the man's head. His face was shadowed in darkness but I saw his outline clearly. He didn't flinch.

"I'm not in the mood for games, Joker!"

"Do you want to know why I use a knife? Guns are too quick. You can't savor all the… little emotions...you see, in their last moments, people show you who they really are. (The Dark Knight, 2008) Ohhhh Deathstroke!" He moaned, kicking his feet up dramatically as if swooning in his seat, "Why have you come to me so naked?"

"Naked?"

"No one is fully dressed without a smile!" Even from here in the dim lighting I thought I saw the yellow on his teeth and the green in his eyes. "No matter the situation, always wear a smile. (Joker, 2018) Smile, because it confuses people. Smile, because it's easier than explaining what is killing you inside. (The Dark Knight, 2008)."

"The Jackal. I want to find him. I'll pay."

"Hmmm, there is a teeny tiny little problem with that logic when making deals with me, Deathstroke. See, I'm a man of simple tastes. I like gunpowder...and dynamite...and gasoline! Do you know what all of these things have in common? They're cheap! (The Dark Knight, 2008) However, quality entertainment?" He let out an excited almost erotic laugh that truly disturbed me, "A good joke is priceless! When the joker leaves, the joke remains! So tell me…"

He leaned down in his throne that he stole from Penguin recently, red cancerous sores on his face now in the limelight,

"Do you have any good jokes?!"