Gotham City—
A place where, supposedly, the "people are simple and honest."
City Hall.
This world didn't belong only to the Hero Alliance.
There were others—
Heroes who moved in the shadows.
Five figures slipped inside.
Fully armed.
Bulletproof vests.
Combat helmets.
M4A1 rifles in hand.
The Red Hood Squad.
They moved carefully—
Scanning every corner.
Searching for something.
Something valuable.
"Beep—"
A faint sound.
"…Did you step on something?"
"I don't know, boss…"
A sensor.
Triggered.
The staircase ahead—
Sealed shut instantly.
Metal doors slamming down.
"…Great."
The boss sighed.
"Umbrella really had to send us to steal biotech from City Hall…"
"We better get a raise after this."
"…So what now?"
The boss looked at him.
"…Are you stupid?"
"We cut the door."
"Oh."
"BZZZZZZ—!"
A chainsaw roared to life.
One of them stepped forward—
Pressing it against the steel door.
The sound—
Metal grinding metal—
Was unbearable.
The others stood guard.
Scanning.
Alert.
Because this was Gotham.
Mess up—
And you don't get arrested.
You disappear.
"Boss… come look…"
"What?"
"There's… a big bird outside…"
"…A bird?"
The boss walked over—
Looked out the window.
A figure—
Descending rapidly.
Hook attached to the wall.
Cape spread wide.
"…You idiot—that's not a bird—"
"IT'S BATMAN!"
"I'M Batman!"
CRASH—!
Glass shattered.
Bruce Wayne burst in—
And in one clean motion—
Knocked one of them unconscious.
Grabbed him—
Fired a grappling hook—
Gone.
Silence.
"…Where's Red Four?"
"He's gone!"
"Where is he where is he where is he—"
"SHUT UP!"
The boss snapped.
Why were his teammates all idiots?
Red Two stepped forward—
Trying to calm everyone.
"Guys, don't panic."
"Think positive."
"…He's probably just been dismembered."
"…?"
"…At least the ugliest one is gone, so we're not losing much."
Silence.
"…That… actually makes sense."
"Yeah…"
"True…"
Somewhere—
Red Four's soul cried.
"Alright. New plan."
"Red Two, Red Three—right corridor."
"Got it." x2
"I'll stay here and watch."
"…Boss, what about me?"
Red Five raised his hand.
The boss stared at him.
Long.
Hard.
"…You."
"Stand there."
"And shout 'OH MY GOD' nonstop."
"…To attract Batman."
"…Got it!"
"My god my god my god my god—"
"…Perfect."
They split up.
Not because of teamwork.
Because Red Four still owed each of them 100 dollars.
Priorities.
The rifles swept across dusty corridors.
"Gotham's mayor really needs a cleaner…"
"Boss! I found Red Four!"
"Oh good—come here, I'll untie you."
"And don't forget my 100 dollars—"
"…Wait."
"…Why is he upside down?"
Before he could react—
A hook caught his leg.
"AH—!"
He was dragged—
Across the floor—
Into darkness.
"HELP—!"
"RED TWO!!!"
"My god my god my god—"
"…Why are you crawling backwards?"
"DOES THIS LOOK LIKE CRAWLING?!"
Gone.
Another one.
The boss screamed.
"My toothpaste… he still hasn't returned it…"
"Boss, look on the bright side."
"At least Red Four is back. We still get paid."
"…You're right."
"…Let Red Two go."
"…???"
Before that thought could settle—
WHIP—!
Red Four—
Gone again.
Dragged upward.
"…HE'S GONE AGAIN!"
"Everyone—close formation!"
Three remained.
Back to back.
Watching everything.
This was bad.
They were elite mercenaries.
And yet—
They were being toyed with.
"Batman!"
The boss shouted.
"I'll give you 1 dollar—come out!"
"…Boss, that's too little."
"…Fine."
"…1.1 dollars."
"…Boss is generous."
Above them—
Batman stood.
Silent.
"…I'm Gotham's richest man."
"…Do I look like I care about $1.1?"
Below—
"My god my god my god my god—"
"…Can you STOP?!"
"I'm attracting him!"
"I can do this for an hour!"
"My god my god my god—"
Batman covered his face.
"…Do I really need to fight these idiots?"
But duty—
Was duty.
Umbrella couldn't get that biotech.
Not in Gotham.
He sighed—
And dropped—
A smoke bomb.
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