Sell you a Bridge chapter 109

Gotham City October 30th 2010 8:30 PM EDT

"What  the FUCK just happened?" Not the most eloquent response to things sure,  but this was completely out of left field...except it wasn't. She'd  basically TOLD me it would happen. Told me how jealous she was, how she  wanted to get stronger, and I'd ignored it. Hell I had a fucking road  map to this exact situation in the form of the game itself, which was  probably where she got the fucking idea, and I'd just dismissed it. I  climbed to my feet, looking around to see at least a dozen other people  doing the same. It seemed Kit had emptied the whole dungeon when she  took over.

I didn't see any of  the heroes or Talons, which gave me the impression everyone got dumped  out of their own entrance. Honestly I was pretty glad, because I was in  no mood for their shit right now. Zee, Artemis, and Reggie all got up,  groaning and brushing dirt off themselves. They all looked pretty  saddened by what happened. I turned to Zee. "Can she do that? Just take  the soulstone like Aiden did in the game?" I didn't know what the fuck I  was supposed to do here. I could theoretically just re-run the dungeon,  but I'd seen her aura, she wasn't evil just insecure and sad, and I'd  JUST executed my first girlfriend, I didn't want to kill my cousin too.

Zee  just shrugged. "Apparently. I think the soulstone is just some kind of  carrier for the energy while the ascension process is ongoing. I'm  guessing there was some power lost when it changed hands but yeah, Kit  should be fully in control now. The question is, what are we going to do  about it. We only beat Annabel so easily because we blitzed her. She  sacrificed short term power to draw more people in and it left her weak  in the short term. When Kit took over it kicked everyone out and I'm  pretty sure it shattered the portals. Everyone has to start all over and  work their way back down and she's going to be WAY stronger when they  get back to hell."

I  punched the wall in frustration, my enhanced body cracking the brick on  the building next to us rather than vice versa. "No. We're done. Kit  may be insecure but she isn't nuts like Annabel was. If she wants to  stab us in the back to become a goddess she can go wild, I hit fifty and  I'm guessing with Annabel's death you did too." I got nods from them.  "Then we're done. I'm sick of the Labyrinth, let the heroes deal with  it, if they even can. Let's head back to the base. Which is closer, the  docks or the teleporter at the tower?" I was too friend to even remember  where this stupid entrance was, we usually just used the portal.

Zee  stepped up and wrapped an arm around my waist. "The docks are closer,  and a boat ride might clear your head. I'm sorry baby, I know you wanted  to help her." She laid her head on my shoulder and we started walking  in a direction I assumed was the shore. Artemis and Reggie followed  behind, both quiet and both most likely blaming themselves somehow for  my fuck up. Because it was my fuck up. I just couldn't see what I could  have done to help her. Anything I tried would have just made it worse.  I'd hoped Artemis and Zee could make friends with her, but even their  charisma couldn't break through her shell.

In  fact, looking back, she might have started planning this after our  talk. The signs were there, she'd been pulling away from us, not out of  anger, but because she didn't want to feel as bad for what she did. The  worst part was I wasn't sure I would have said no if she just asked. I  wasn't a superhero, I didn't give a fuck if someone became a god, as  long as it wasn't my psycho stalker ex who had threatened to murder my  girlfriend and tried to turn me into an undead thrall. But I knew if she  had asked it would have been like I gave it to her, and she just  couldn't take that. I'd failed my cousin, and I had no idea how I could  have helped.

I  sighed, putting my arm around Zee's shoulders as we walked, people in  armor and wearing masks were hardly unusual in Gotham but we still drew  looks. I just ignored them though. "I...I'm not even that mad. I'm just  sad she felt like she had to do it. Having the rug yanked out from under  us is annoying sure, but...fuck it, I hope she finds what she's looking  for. Maybe once she becomes a god she'll stop being so insecure.  Somehow I doubt it works like that but hey, I don't know everything  clearly." I just shrugged trying my best to force the thoughts of  betrayal and hurt down. She was on her own path now. I turned to look at  the others. "How about you guys? I don't make all the decisions, what  do you think we should do?"

Reggie  sighed. "Well the labyrinth isn't under the Court's control anymore, if  it ever really was I guess given how unstable your ex was." I glared at  him and he grinned sheepishly. "Sorry dude, but it's just true. But  honestly I'm with you. I'm burnt out from constantly killing monsters. I  had so much gold I couldn't count it all in a day and Arty can make  weapons anyway. We got into this to make up for what happened with  Madame X mainly, and I'd say clearing out Darth Barbie evens us up  there. Let the heroes deal with Kit's power trip." Zee nodded her  agreement, but Artemis just seemed so listless I had to whistle to get  her attention.

She  jerked her head up. "Oh, sorry. Yeah I guess just let the League handle  it. I just...I really wanted to be her friend. She was a cool person  and we had a lot in common. I thought we were bonding at first, you  know?" I winced. Artemis was almost as lonely as I was before we became  close. She had me and Reggie and Zee and her mom now, but seeing Kit  would have reminded her of herself. A lonely girl with a father who had  screwed up her whole life and no one else to count on. Zee pulled away  and walked over to her best friend and now pretty much biological  sister, pulling her into a hug. Artemis wrapped her arms around her and  squeezed back with a wet chuckle.

There  was a sharp clap and we all jumped, turning to look at Reggie. "Nope.  No more of this mopey nonsense." My friend had a wide grin on his face.  "The dungeon is behind us, let's leave all the bad stuff down there. Kit  isn't dead, and maybe she'll find what she's looking for. In the  meantime we're sitting pretty. We're rich, powerful, and now that we  don't have a mission or whatever we can get back to doing what we do  best. Stealing everything that isn't nailed down, and stealing the nails  out of the things that are." That tore a laugh from Artemis and I,  though Zee looked dubious.

I  just smiled at Reggie. Out of all of us only Reggie had the mindset of a  true thief. He just enjoyed the thrill of stealing, and I couldn't say I  disagreed. Even if not to the same extent, planning and pulling of jobs  was just...fun. "You're right man, we're thieves not emo theater kids.  We've spent the last few months building ourselves up into a team of  real badasses, we could own this town. No valuables will be safe!" I  threw my arms out dramatically as I bellowed my declaration of thievery.  I was cut off by a pointedly cleared throat. I glanced sideways at Zee.  "I mean, most people's valuables won't be safe?"

She  made hmm of skepticism. "Well I'm not helping you steal anything. I'm  not a thief, even if I cuddle with one sometimes. That said consider me  Switzerland. I won't spill your secrets just like I won't actively help.  That's the best you're getting from me babe." Her voice was light and  happy, and I was warmed by the trust. Zee didn't care too much about is  taking some trinkets since she trusted we wouldn't hurt anyone  needlessly or do anything actually evil. I'd gotten so damn lucky. I  felt a short twinge as that line of thought led me back to Annabel, but I  squashed it down and grabbed my girlfriend pulling her against me.

I  reached down to grab a handful of her thick jiggly ass and squeezed one  cheek, nipping at her ear. "I bet I can get plenty of things from you  that are better than that." She giggled a bit and shoved me away,  rolling her eyes. She knew I wouldn't push her into anything and I could  see in her aura that she was just as turned on at the though as me,  though a bit embarrassed to have me say it so blatantly in front of our  friends. I felt my earlier worries melt away as I just enjoyed being  with my crew. I felt good, at peace. As we approached the docks I  couldn't help but look forward to what might be coming next.

Artemis  gagged as usual at our behavior. "Gods you two are nauseating. I'm all  for a little slap and tickle and even finding yourself a honey bunny  like I did with Wally, but you two are going to give as all diabetes  with how sweet you are. Plus poor Reggie has been taking it slow with  Bette because princess Kane doesn't think getting felt up is "dignified"  so watching you two paw each other has to be hitting him hard." Reggie  gave her an offended look but she just shrugged. "What, like we couldn't  tell? No one should be that obsessed with gold, and if there's a better  euphemism for being backed up than becoming an explosives expert I  haven't heard it."

Reggie  looked hurt. "For your information, I was the one who wanted to wait  thank you very much. I've rushed things like that before and I didn't  want to ruin things with Bette. Honestly I've been starting to regret  it. She didn't get mad or anything but she's taken my refusal to get  physical as a challenge and has been openly trying to frustrate me as  much as possible. I'd give you details but unlike these two I have some  sense of privacy and decorum about my lovelife." I gaped in shock at the  unprovoked drive by insult and was about to respond when we reached the  edge of the docks and I saw the horizon.

I  froze in shock and horror as I stared at the shapes on the waterline.  "So." I said conversationally. "Hypothetical question, can any of you  guys think of a happy occasion that would necessitate the appearance of a  fleet of greek triremes crewed by muscular women in togas carrying  weapons  off the coast of Gotham?" Their eyes, which weren't demonically  enhanced and were much weaker than mine with the sole exception of  Artemis with her high dexterity, widened as they tried to peer out into  the dark to see the invaders.

Seeing everyone else as disturbed as I was I felt the bottom drop out of  my stomach as they no doubt came to the same conclusions I had. "No? Me  neither. But I was hoping I was just being a pessimist." I swallowed  hard as I saw the ships draw closer and noted the hard looks and drawn  weapons on the faces of the women aboard. I didn't know why they were  here, but I knew who was knocking on out door. The Amazons had come to  Gotham, and from the looks of things, the reason for their visit was far  from friendly.