Greed God chapter 39

January 10th 2016 Gotham City 2:00 AM EDT

Looking  at the large dark skinned man looming over me I grinned. "So, how do  you feel Croc? It took, so that binding is in place, but I'll try not to  use it if you keep things cordial. Works out better for me if you  aren't constantly trying to weasel out of orders anyway. You have a  problem with something I ask you to do you let me know. Doesn't mean I  won't make you do it anyway, but I'll hear you out."

Croc  chuckled, a rough sound that seemed to be dragged up out of his barrel  chest through a bullhorn made of sandpaper. "It's Waylon, if you don't  mind boss. As for the rest." He shrugged. "It's a better deal than others I've had, and you actually followed through on what you  promised. As far as I'm concerned I work for you until the day I die."  He leaned his head back, letting the water dripping from a pipe above us  plink down on his forehead. That explained the towel from earlier at  least.

Despite  it being literal sewer water, Waylon didn't seem to mind it, he  shivered in exultation at the feel of the liquid on bare skin, something  I imagine felt much different than the same thing sliding across  scales. I motioned for him to follow me, and started making my was out.  "So, I have to ask, how did you end up with the scales anyway? Some kind  of lab accident? You wouldn't be the first person in Gotham to develop  powers from falling in a vat of chemicals. Though weirdly every person  I've heard of who tries it on purpose just gets cancer."

We  shared a dark chuckle at that, because the stupidity people are capable  of is always hilarious, before he responded. "I was born like that. It  wasn't too bad when I was a boy, bit of roughness on my skin, but the  older I got the worse it became." He held up a hand in front of his  face, marveling at it. "I never thought I'd get to do this. To walk out  into the sun a normal person, to not be stared at like a freak." His  eyes got suspiciously moist, though he didn't actually tear up. "Like I  said boss, you can count on me. No matter what you need."

Damn.  If I'd known his backstory was that tragic I'd have been less pushy  about the oath. He'd have made it willingly after and it would have won  me some brownie points. No big loss though, Waylon seemed to be grateful  as hell, so I just had to make sure to dazzle him with some cash and  luxuries early to keep this savior buzz going. "Glad to hear it. For the  moment though I think we need to arrange somewhere for you to sleep. My  place has plenty of extra room, and I think a live in bodyguard is  totally reasonable for someone of my station."

I  glanced him over. "I'll have to arrange some clothes for you, maybe  from a big and tall shop. You're probably hungry too." I paused. "Bet  you haven't had any pussy in a while either, after you clean up I can  order you a hooker or two?" I glanced over the size of him and took into  account how long he'd probably been pent up. "Maybe three. Though  unless you feel a pressing need maybe we can put that off until later?  Probably best to get you showered and changed first."

After  the Penguin's five hundred thousand I had north of a million in my  account. Money was pretty much useless to me since it didn't give me GP.  The only reason to buy things was to make artifacts and I could always  just steal for that. I stopped barraging thew poor guy with overwhelming  kindness and let him stew in it a bit. That much should be more than  enough to keep him loyal. Hell his first night sleeping on silk sheets  with human skin should seal the deal on its own.

We  climbed into the town car and I turned to look at him. "No offense here  Waylon but I'm going to give one order. You're going to be learning my  identity. No telling anyone who I am or any details about me unless  doing so will literally save my life or I give you instructions to the  contrary in a specific instance." I expected him to chafe at that but he  just nodded. Clearly he got the secret identity thing, which was nice  to know at least. "So, do I need to arrange an identity for you? I don't  know how easy it is for giant crocodile men to get a photo ID."

Another  bass laugh. "No, I don't have any documents. Well...a birth certificate  somewhere, from back when I was normal. But gods know where that ended  up. I guess I can send out for another one. I haven't used my social  security number for anything...ever. I have no credit and no bank  account. So technically I have an identity, and a clean one too, it's  just...too clean."

I  waved him off. "Please. I can take care of that. Forging a credit  history won't be too much trouble." My dad WAS a spy, I was sure he knew  people for that. "But even if I couldn't I'll be paying you in cash and  putting you up myself so it wouldn't be an issue. You'll develop your  own credit soon enough. I was mostly worried that using your real name  might associate you with your past."

The  laugh this time wasn't humorous, it was bitter and harsh. "No one knew  my name. No one cared. I was just Killer Croc. I was the monster in the  sewers that they used to bust heads when they could bribe or bully me  into it. Besides, lots of people share a name, it's not like I used  official documentation when I was living in the tunnels. Even if someone  did know it they wouldn't be able to prove the link." He smirked up at  himself in the car mirror. "No one will ever mistake me for Killer Croc  when I'm like this."

Which  was true enough. I imagine lots of men named Waylon existed. Having  that name didn't automatically make someone secretly Killer Croc. We  lapsed into silence and I mulled over my next move. Having a bodyguard  was a good start. The best part was Waylon wouldn't even need a mask.  Killer Croc would be working for Mammon, and Waylon would be working for  me. Like the man said, no one would ever mistake him for Killer Croc  when he was like that, especially after his little upgrade.

With  that handled now it was time to think next move. I could make an E  grade artifact, but honestly I wanted to wait. Making one just because  seemed like a waste. Especially since I didn't even have any F grade  gear yet. Which meant I couldn't afford to make anything E grade, since  I'd need an extra twenty thousand GP to make the ingredients. No, what I  should do was start on my next conquest. It might take me some time to  get the next one, considering the different conditions for ownership.  Speaking of which.

[  Congratulations host! G rank superhuman Waylon Jones has surrendered his loyalty. One thousand Greed Points awarded.]

Yup.  I'd figured he wouldn't give me much. Since Waylon hadn't been part of a  team I hadn't had the organization bonus to bump up the rank of the  acquisition. Still, one hundred and three thousand six hundred points  wasn't too bad. However I was drawing a blank on who to conquer next. I  didn't have an in with any of the girls. Then my memory caught on  something from a day or two ago I'd seen in passing. Zatanna was doing a  show in Gotham.

It was a  tradition of hers left over from when she worked on her fathers magic  act, whenever she was in town she would do a magic show. They were kind  of a local thing, more for long time fans than tourists. She had one  running through the weekend, which meant today was the last day. I  smiled to myself and made a point to remember to pick up flowers. I  didn't know what her deal with Barbie was, but I was going to use it.  Who could blame for showing up to apologize for how rude my "girlfriend"  had been.

I  wasn't expecting a quick fuck, not with that kind of intro, but I could  be patient. She was a full member of the League and much stronger than  Dinah, I was betting Branding that fat ass was going to net me some  sweet, sweet Greed Points. It was hard not to lick my lips at the  thought of what that magic pussy probably felt like, but I felt weird  about getting a hard on alone in the car with another dude, so I decided  to shelve that fantasy for my next time in the shower, or in Whisper,  whatever came first.

Finally  after a sizeable drive we pulled into the parking garage under my  house. I turned to Waylon and took off my mask. "Ok, when I'm at home,  my name is Nick Lord. Just like you're Waylon when I'm out of costume.  I'll be expecting you to transform when we go out and I'm in a mask, but  I think a new name might be in order. After all, you're a foot and a  half taller and spiked. Mammon's bodyguard and Killer Croc are pretty  distinct from each other." He hesitated for a bit at that.

After  a minute though he sighed. "I think that would be good. Killer Croc was  someone I was forced to be. Now I'm Waylon, and I get to be someone  else when I want to." He shot me a wry grin. "Or when the boss says.  Point is, this is something I get to choose, so I should choose my name  too." He grinned, showing all of his still human teeth in a way that  would have been much more at home on a reptile face. "I used to read a  lot of mythology as a kid. Not much to do but read when you look like  me. I think when I'm all scaly, you can call me...Fafnir."

I  gave an approving nod. "Well then Waylon, we'll get you all settled in,  and Fafnir can have a vacation for a while. Come on, I think I have  some basketball shorts or something that'll fit you until we can get you  some real clothes." I'd texted the old man that I found a bodyguard, I  expected him to run a hundred background checks, but since I was paying  Waylon out of pocket he wouldn't bitch about it. He liked when I took  the initiative. I brought my new minion upstairs and put him in the room  across from mine.

I  had this hallway to myself most of the time. The guest rooms were  almost always empty, so grabbing one for my guard to sleep in was no big  deal. I brought him the shorts and a shirt I'd gotten a few sizes too  large by accident and showed him to the shower. His eyes were about  falling out of their head when he saw his new digs, and I was honestly  glad he was happy. Happy body guards didn't drag their feet when they  were protecting you, and he seemed like a pretty cool guy anyway.

Then  I headed back to my own room and flopped into bed with an exhausted  sigh. It had been a crazy day today, no doubt, but I was happy with how  it had gone. Made some new business partners, fingered a sexy assassin  girl, got myself a new minion and knocked up a superpowered milf.  Whatever else today might have been, it definitely wasn't boring. As I  drifted off to sleep I couldn't help but smile. I kind of hoped tomorrow  WAS a bit boring, at least in comparison. Living a life like min could  be damn tiring.