Nyx got to work at the front desk computer, digging for info on David based on what Lucian had given her. While she was busy with that, Gomez and Matchstick were upstairs, gearing Lucian up for what was to come.
"You wanna pack some iron, kid?"
Lucian hummed, then replied, "Sure. I don't typically use guns, but better have one anyway. Show me how to use 'em."
He never wanted to use guns before, because they were annoyingly loud to him—that knowledge being courtesy of Academy experience. Yet, as it stood, carrying a gun would be prudent. There was also the secondary benefit of associating the Phantom with guns, while the Manticore would never use them.
As asked, Matchstick educated him on the basics of using a regular handgun. Meanwhile, Gomez was collecting items that he had asked for: two burner phones, knives, claw hammers, nylon cord, knuckledusters, and metal wire. None were essential, but great to have anyway.
The only things that the boys didn't have on hand were poisons and less accessible melee weapons, like longswords and such.
"This should about all you need." Gomez hefted everything up on top of a short crate. "Not counting the poisons and medieval weapons, anyway. Why would you want those?"
Lucian shrugged. "Flair? Flavor? Just wanted something that looked cool. Didn't hurt to ask in case you had any on hand."
Matchstick hummed, loading up magazines for all three of them. "If yer really hankerin' fer those kinds'a weapons, I might know a guy," he said. "Bit of a collector. He'd part with a few of his things if he thinks you deserve 'em. Really picky asshole, though."
Lucian tucked his handgun into his pants, the handle fully concealed by his hoodie. "Sure. Once this is done, I'll come by in a week." The rest were stuffed into his cargo pants' various pockets.
"Now," said Gomez. "Didn't think to ask this earlier, not even before, but what is your name? We've already seen your face, so why not tell us?"
"... I forgor," Lucian replied before telling them.
Matchstick snorted. "Yer name's opposite to yer whole schtick! Haha!" Gomez quirked a brow at him, prompting him to clarify, "Lucian? Light? The kid's aesthetic?"
"Ohhh...."
Thusly, Gomez was enlightened.
...
While the boys were busy upstairs, Nyx pulled whatever intel she could, stealing information and tracking David's habits. Because she learned the target's address from Lucian, everything was a domino's cascade from there.
Her best lead so far was this particular establishment that David frequented—one of the many 'legitimate' brothels that existed in Gotham, that wasn't also connected to any major crime groups. They operated all on their own in their little pocket of the city.
The subject of David's visits was one particular escort that he had been smitten with, whose work name was 'Roxanne.'
After discovering this particular escort, Nyx tracked her social media accounts and figured out her schedules and habits from there. Lo and behold, she was indeed that escort that David always asked for whenever he came by, almost exclusively. They weren't 'close' by any means, but that lady definitely had him wrapped around her little finger.
"I got something!" Nyx called out once she was sure. Lucian had been waiting on her for around half an hour by that point, watching and occasionally bringing her something to drink or snack on.
She explained what parts she believed would be most useful, and a plan formulated from there. While she wasn't very happy that she couldn't come along and participate in person, this was the furthest she'd ever gone to help out her uncle on a job. Not to mention that Lucian was nice to work with—he wasn't dismissive like everyone else she had to be around in the past.
As Lucian was preparing to leave with the boys, he had one last exchange with Nyx. "You did me a solid here. I'll swing by again next time, work or not."
Though she responded with less enthusiasm than she probably should have, this was the most accomplished that Nyx had ever felt in a long, long time.
...
"So, just to make sure: I'll keep overwatch from a distance," Matchstick clarified, kneeling at the edge of a rooftop using binoculars. In his lenses was a certain building that had neon signage hanging over the entrance.
Beside him, Lucian spied the place with no visual assistance. If anything, his mask hindered him. "Mm. And Gomez'll be with me on the ground. If shit goes south, he'll help me escape. If even that turns out bad, you'll make a distraction from a point that no one can ignore."
Gomez grunted. "All set, then. Come on. Let's move."
The two of them descended the building from the fire escapes, mindful not to make too much of a fuss in the process. They then exited from different alleys. Gomez' route led into a more open part of the streets where he wouldn't stand out loitering, and Lucian made a wandering beeline for the escort house.
Before he left the alley though, he made sure to take a little bit of time... just to be convincing that he changed his clothes before exiting, instead of spontaneously swapping out to his normal clothes.
When he looked Gomez' way out the corner of his eye, he was surprised that the man didn't seem to be following his movements. Either he truly had vanished from Gomez' perspective, or the man was playing his role extremely seriously.
Lucian eventually walked up to his stop. The signage burned invitingly over the entrance. Its neon glow bathed nearly everything around it in bright blues and hot pinks. The scheme certainly set a particular sort of mood, though it wasn't anything that Lucian was a fan of. A hedonistic nightlife had never really been a thing that he was interested in.
He pulled his navy jacket tighter around himself, adjusting his posture and walking cadence just so, presenting as a nervous newcomer.
"Hey~ Now that's a face I haven't seen before..."
A sugary sweet voice greeted him almost immediately. It came from a cougar type—she wore only lingerie, but 'covered up' with a fluffy yellow jacket that barely concealed anything.
"Looking for some company tonight?" she asked.
Lucian made a show of his eyes awkwardly trying to find anywhere to land but her figure. "I uh... came here looking for someone specific, actually," he said.
The escort's expression shifted. She maintained a playful and teasing smile, but her eyes now carried a bit of an edge.
"Specific, hm...? Now, who might that be?" She pushed off the wall she was leaning against and approached what she perceived to be either an untouched newcomer, or a potential troublemaker.
"Uh, well—" Lucian hitched when she drew close enough for a regular person to catch her oddly sweet breath. At the same time, he willed his heart to pump faster, flushing his face. "It's stupid, I should just go."
It was a gamble, turning to leave right then. He would have to resort to sneaking around the building and finding 'Roxanne' the unconventional way instead. Thankfully, his instinct was right—the escort had locked in on him and wasn't about to let go.
"Hold on now, lover~" Her voice had gone fully playful now, her words coming out as a purr that would melt most people's brains through their ears. When she whirled Lucian around and pulled him back in, the edge in her eyes was gone. She fully believed that she had prey in her hands.
"Come on, we don't judge here, honey. Tell me who you're here for~ Don't be such a tease, hm?"
Deliberately making his breathing awkward, Lucian whipped up a story on the spot: some guy who liked the escort called 'Roxanne' had picked a fight with him, and he lost sorely. This was supposedly some time ago now. He eventually found out about 'Roxanne' and wanted to get back at the guy by getting with her.
Still a touch of danger in the implications, but the way he presented himself made the cougar escort sure of herself.
"Well, you're in luck... as it happens, Roxxie's here tonight! I'll let her know someone's looking for her. Buuut~ it's entirely her choice if she wants you. Understand?"
Lucian nodded several times like some lovestruck teenager.
The cougar smirked down at him and traced her long nails down his cheek, neck, and collarbone. "Well, if she spurns you..." She licked her lips, which were painted a glossy violet hue, "I'll still be here~ I can take care of your frustrations in her stead..."
She told him the fees for his options—he took the 'all night' package. It made a significant dent in the money he carried with him, but it should all be worth it. He'd get back at the guy who tried to hurt Maxie and her family. He could help more people in consequence. Lastly... it was an avenue to acquire more power.
The cougar took a quick picture of him and turned to leave, presumably to show Roxanne while they talked. During her absence, he settled on the closest available bench to rest and 'calm down.'
...
It wasn't long before the escort returned.
"You just made the jackpot~! Just so happens that Roxxie's been itching to try some fresh meat! Follow me, I'll take you to the room she's waiting in."
Just like that, Lucian was led into the deeper parts of the establishment. Music could be heard through the walls, if muffled. The air itself was thick and heavy with the musk of alcohol and smoke from various sources. The walls and floors were stained with echoes of sorts. Energy that lingered, left behind people passing by with their carnal desires and actions. It all bouncing endlessly as a faint, constant energy that was palpable yet difficult to place.
The first floor that Miss Cougar led Lucian through was a nightclub, which was typical. That was where the music was coming from, punctuated by cheering and footsteps in varying degrees of rush and sobriety, or lack thereof. Some of the people they passed got a bit handsy, but thankfully, the escort he was with swatted them away.
The second floor was somewhat of a casino, but mostly a place for 'entertainment' that was meant to be exclusive. Parties and the like, but only for those with invitations. It didn't seem to be busy at that moment, as very few voices and movement could be heard. They didn't have to go through it like the first floor—there were stairs just outside the entrance to the venue proper.
The rest of the building's floors—three in all—were there the escorts worked, and sometimes stayed. Lucian's destination was somewhere on the fourth.
Miss Cougar opened a door and peeked in first. "Roxanne, honey? I just brought you the cutest young man I've seen in weeks~"
"Let him in," a voice said from the other side.
"Before I do," said Miss Cougar, "would you mind if I joined in~? I've just been so sick and tired of the usual guests..." She rubbed at Lucian's shoulders with her hands, purring the rest of her thoughts. "... and I figured he deserved a 'double special' for his first time..."
Roxanne sighed. "As a matter of fact, Marlene, I do mind. Now scram before I sic people your age at you."
The cougar, whose name had just been made known to Lucian, rolled her eyes with a smile. "Well, that's it for me. Good luck, sweet cheeks~" she ended with a wink and a smack to his ass. "And Roxxie, you owe me a favor. Toodles~"
Lucian flinched on instinct when his butt was attacked, then fumbled his way into the room, locking the door behind him.
Roxanne was lying on the small bed in the middle of the room, bathed in pink-tinted lights. She was younger than he expected now that he could see her in person. Past all the makeup and camera angles, she looked to be just a little bit older than him. Likely mid-twenties.
As for her attire... her clothing was a bit more 'conservative' than what Marlene had been wearing. She wore the same type of dark lace lingerie, but it was teasingly hidden behind a cropped letterman jacket. Her thong was high-strapped like Marlene's, if thicker, and was paired with low-hanging joggers to show off a dangerous amount of pelvis.
She eyed Lucian up and down as if assessing some new exotic meal that had just been served to her. A low chuckle left her throat, followed by "This really is your first time in a place like this, isn't it?"
Lucian replied, "Gee, I wonder what could've given me away..."
Roxanne just shook her head, a lazy smile overtaking her. "Well, why are you just standing there?" She laid back down and stretched languidly, spreading her wavy brown hair across the pillows beneath her head. "Come get what you paid for..."
Lucian did approach, but stopped at the bed, only sitting at the edge of it. "I'll pay more if you do something for me that isn't... this," he said vaguely.
Beside him, Roxanne shifted. "What might that be?" she asked in a measured tone.
He took a deep breath. "I just want you to get someone to go somewhere. After this, you won't have anything to do with me."
No words were spoken for a short time. Lucian didn't move from his spot, not even the slightest shift besides the steady rise and fall of his chest. Roxanne, meanwhile, sat up at some point. She pulled her joggers higher, and zipped up her jacket.
"Who?" she asked.
"David."
"Oh... him." Her voice sounded despondent. "What would you do if I turned you down...?"
The answer came out with measured slowness. "Bribe you to forget I ever existed. After that, I'll just grab him from his place," Lucian replied. "My plan only involves getting him away from his home turf because it's the safest option for everyone. If I didn't have to lure him out, then I wouldn't be here."
Roxanne gulped, then moved to sit at the edge of the bed with Lucian. "Okay... I'll accept your offer. Do you have a place in mind?"
He shook his head. "None that I've figured. What about you? Any place will do, as long as it's isolated and he'll agree to 'meet you' there."
"I know a spot. I'll call him, say that I need some extra money. He's never turned me down before."
Lucian turned to directly face her for the first time since he sat down. "No second thoughts about this?"
Roxanne stared down at her phone, still at the lock screen. "I do have second thoughts," she said. "But... I know where he gets his money from. It's my chance to do something about it."
He nodded along as Roxanne finished her sentiments. "I imagine you have reasons for why you haven't done it before."
Her lips tightened. "Yeah... just don't make me regret this."
"I promise." Lucian pulled out a roll of money he had kept handy in his pockets. It wasn't the rest of the cash he carried, but it was still a lot. "Not sure how much that is, but it should be enough to tide you over for a while. Just tell me the location when he agrees, and I'll be on my way."
◎ ◉ ◎
David furiously kicked at his desk. The clutter that sat on its surface slid around, with less stable objects either tipping over or falling of the edge.
"They had one job!" He growled. "And they let themselves get punked by some no-name shitstain? What kind of bullshit..."
He'd sent two of his guys to the hospital just that day—the same hospital that one of his whores was sent to. They weren't his best, not by a long shot, but he knew for certain that they were in no way incompetent.
"If only that fucking retard didn't go apeshit on his wife..." He bunched up some notes from the desk into his fists, and threw them all around in frustration. "First, I get property damage... now I can't even get my hands on that slut's daughter to whore her out."
He'd wanted to sample her himself, too. After all that he'd lost, it was only right. Break in the new bitch before getting her to push product or sell herself for or to him. She would have made him a lot of money, too. All that his guys had to do was threaten her family and get the bitch to come back. Easy.
"Guess I should've just taken her while I could..."
David took some time to breathe, running a hand through his thinning hair. He'd bled a lot of cash because of the incident, and customers haven't been coming as frequently because of that vigilante visit. The purple one. He wasn't sure what the bastard was called.
Point was, he was down too much money for comfort. He couldn't go red-light to beat off some stress, so he'd have to settle for the subpar quality sluts at his own place. Hopefully, there were some that haven't been run completely ragged yet...
"I swear... when I get my hands on Connor's daughter, I'm gonna fucking savor making that bitch cry. I'd kill her, but she's too pretty to waste. Fuck..."
Just as he was about to leave and make rounds, his phone rang in his pocket, buzzing. His squinted eyes at the screen, and he was surprised to find that Roxanne was calling. He'd just visited her two days ago, and her contacting him so soon wasn't very common. Of course, he accepted the call.
"Well, good evening, sweetheart... why're you calling so soon?"
He listened attentively. Roxanne sounded distressed as she explained that she really needed some money. A debt she owed or whatever, and someone came knocking. David hesitated to give her an answer right away—he was broke, after all—but she insisted, adding that she didn't need too much money. Just enough to pay off what she owed.
"Can I take that to mean that you'll give me a discount, Roxxie?"
A wide grin broke out on his face when she said yes.
"Then I'll come right over... yeah. Just wait for me at—oh? Hmm... okay okay, alright. I get that. Sure. Gas station near the bridge, then. I'll meet you there in a bit."
When the call ended, David pulled out a cracked brick, exposed in one of his walls. Inside was a small portion of his emergency savings. "This should do for her," he mumbled, pocketing the cash and returning the empty false brick to where it was.
...
When David made it to the gas station, he didn't look for Roxanne right away. Instead, he went inside the station's convenience store to pick up a few things. Condoms, smokes, beer... maybe some after-fuck snacks, as a small favor to Roxxie. Selling one's body was hungry work, after all.
The only other customer in the store besides David was this kid... tall, pretty boy type, bit of an edge in his stance and eyes. Probably a street fighter judging by the roughness in his knuckles. No real callouses yet though, and no cauliflower ear. Likely a greenhorn to the cages.
If this young man tried to proposition Roxanne, she'd probably let him hit for free at least once. David had mixed feelings, but ultimately settled on grudging respect. Genetics wasn't fair to everyone, and the kid earned points for hard, painful work. God knew David would've never done anything like that in his own life, though he did at least do some lifting to stay relatively fit.
He settled at the counter, letting the cashier sluggishly scan everything as the pretty boy fell in line behind him.
"Marlboros?" the voice behind him asked. It was deeper than he expected.
"Man's brand," he replied. Then, he turned to check if the kid went to get his own cigs—and he did. Two boxes, different kinds. Brands he never thought to buy. "Those yours?"
The young man raised and shook them. "Green one's mine. Blue's for my girl. She likes a softer burn, and the menthol calms me."
David nodded along in understanding. Might as well play the polite stranger. "Well, don't overdo it, kid. Smoke if you want, but watch your habits anyway. Wouldn't wanna ruin yourself too fast."
Just then, he felt this... panic rising up in him. He was still half-turned, and a quick glance showed that the fighter boy was just playing with the cigarette boxes in his hands out of boredom.
'I thought I was gonna get fucking shanked,' he thought. 'Looks like the bullshit's getting to me. Thank God for Roxanne. I'll let her work all of my stresses away.'
David was soon out of the station's convenience store and back into the dark night. The air bit at his skin, the coldness pressing in like a cold knife. He pulled his grubby jacket closer around himself and made his way to the back of the gas station, where Roxanne was waiting.
He turned the corner, already anticipating seeing her again. Her slight figure... the way she dressed provocatively yet still evoked some dignity...
But instead of Roxanne, there was... a shadow there. A shape so completely black that David was sure he was hallucinating it.
'Is it the stress? Probably the stress. Is this what an anxiety attack is? What the fuck is going on?'
Then... nothing.
◎ ◉ ◎
As soon as the cashier finished scanning his cigs, Lucian paid and exited the convenience store. David was still turning the first corner as he came out. Good.
He speed-walked the opposite way, getting to a camera's blind spot before leaping over the building's roof. It wasn't very tall, so the task was near effortless. One dash was all it took to clear the distance from one side to the other, and he switched loadouts as he moved. By the time he landed on the other side, his masked face was fully encased with Blackwhip, bar thin slits for the eyes just so he could see.
Lucian struck before David could fully register his existence, clocking his jaw so hard that there was an audible crack. The cunt went limp immediately.
"Now, the hard part..."
His voice came out as a small chorus of voices. The effect was achieved by changing how he funneled energy into his Cloak of Distortion, but that hardly mattered at the moment.
Looking around, he noted that there weren't any surveillance cameras behind the convenience store. To make sure he had an alibi on the off chance that someone came looking for David, he vaulted over the roof again, switching back to his civvies. He made a show of vanishing onto the highway in view of the cameras before doubling back around, switching again, and grabbing David's unconscious body.
He carried the sack of shit over his shoulder, into the darkness that expanded behind the gas station. Along the way, he dialed one of the two numbers registered to his first burner phone.
"I got him," he said quickly, voice in chorus. "Move on to the next phase. I'm counting on you two."
"Hey, don't sweat it, man!" Matchstick replied. "We're gonna call in some help, but don't worry about suddenly having to pay, y'hear? This is volunteer work."
Lucian nodded despite himself. "I'll take my time with this thing in the woods. Good luck dealing with the apartments."
He crushed the burner phone and threw it as far away as he could, and hauled David deep into the trees.
—=—=—=—=—=—=—=—
[A/N]: Little hi, little ho!
DON'T WORRY IF YOU'RE READING THIS AS IT'S POSTED
IT'S ONLY PART 1 OF A DOUBLE CHAPTER DROP
I just had to cut this chapter into two because I don't want the chapters to get all bloated and clunky
Anyway, if you came as soon as you got the notif, you're a real one. Expect the other one in an hour as I make final edits. Toodles~