With These Hands

With Penguin's empire at my beck and call, Faris Thompson wasn't a hard person to find. He was one of Black Mask's men but I couldn't just let him go free. I did eventually compel a lot of information out of him before dosing him with more of my venom. 

In the meantime, I'm well aware that Cobblepot will try something. It's only a matter of time but until then, I'll keep a close eye on him. I'd put some layers of compulsion but as proven with the assassin's it wasn't foolproof so I'm being cautious. 

Other than that, things have been calm so far. I'm selling euphoria directly through Cobblepot's channels. He usually sold at high prices in order to gain profit after buying from me at my usual rates. With me selling directly, I'd almost doubled my steadily growing income. 

Of course I don't plan on selling Euphoria forever. It's only until I can get my feet off the ground and get myself set up properly. Then I'll slowly ease out of the business. 

"So, how are you holding up?" I'm currently at an arcade with Vincent. The music and other sounds blaring around us made it the perfect place to talk, our enhanced senses able to carry us through the conversation. 

"It's been quiet. Thankfully there are no more ninjas trying to break inside in the middle of the night. Mom and Dad are kind of taking it easy and taking some time off to be with Valerie." Vincent said, as we watched said girl play at the pinball machine. 

Vincent's parents are unaware of what happens and I'd like to keep it that way. I have half a mind to go the vampire route, turn people like I did Vincent, emphasizing on the loyalty sire bond and having them keep watch over them. It's a thought but I'm holding back on that idea for now. 

"That's good." I muttered. 

"It's not over, is it?" He asked solemnly. I could lie and say that I was but what's the point of that. A false sense of security that would cause problems later on. 

"No, it isn't. But don't worry about that. Worry about taking her to school on time and getting her to her playdates." I joked, partially serious. 

I couldn't help but feel that this was on me. The Light has ended their pursuit for it for the moment but that doesn't mean they've given up. With me putting Sportsmaster out of commission, I can only wonder who their new enforcer is. 

"You know I can't do that." Vincent finally said, his eyes narrowing. 

"If you say one more thing about you owing me I'll smack you in the head." I scoffed, causing him to click his tongue, holding what he was about to say. 

"They're my family. I can't just sit back and do nothing while you fight on our behalf." He argued as Valerie ran towards us. 

"If you're looking for how to use up that pent up energy then go and get laid. Though, I'd hold back my strength if I was you." I said, causing him to sputter as Valerie now got to us, a pep in her step. Her arrival halted any comeback he had. 

"I won! I won!" She cheered, hopping in place. 

I let out a smile, ruffling her brown hair. "Nice job, Val. Why don't you play one more game before we go and grab lunch." I suggested, causing her to gain a thoughtful look. 

It only lasted a moment before she shot off to the crane machine to attempt to win a stuffed toy. 

"So how's the blonde chick? You never properly introduced her." Vincent said as we trailed behind Valerie. 

I rubbed the back of my neck for a moment. "It's…complicated."

"What's complicated there? She's hot!" He said, getting a look from me that only made him smirk. "So it's like that, huh? I can't say I'm surprised. You two looked pretty close."

"She'll put an arrow through your shoulder if she hears you saying that." I warned jokingly. 

"Feisty."

Xx-Xx-Xx

Merging multiple items together is something that's become very normal to me, something to pass the time and discover more things. 

Today, I took a leap to see what would happen if I kept on merging keys together. Even after multiple merges gave me a key that opened all mundane locks, I wasn't satisfied. 

The cashier's face when I bought over fifty keys from her shop was priceless when I look back at it. I didn't stop until I merged all the purchased keys together before appraising it. 

+++++

-[Traveler's Key]

•[A mystic key that fits into and opens any mundane lock.

•[By inserting this key into any door, you can open it as a portal to another door at a different location.]

+++++

That is amazing! I can basically go anywhere as long as I can find a door on both sides. Of course I want to test it right away. The key was a thin black key that seemed to absorb all light around it. It was obviously not normal. 

Just as I went to use it on the bedroom door, a knock from the front door had me pausing. Stashing it into my inventory, I unlocked it, looking in surprise at who was out there. 

"You actually came through the door this time. I'm surprised." I muttered, seeing the towering form of Bruce Wayne standing there. Rather than his usual costume or an expensive suit, he was dressed in casual concealing clothes, probably to help him blend in. 

"We need to talk."

-[???]-

He's close by. She could feel it in her bones and magic. This putrid city had seen better days but its darkness did well in masking him from detection. 

Each one of her siblings that her father had spawned were potentially ticking time bombs waiting to be set off. She didn't know if there was some prophecy or predetermined fate about their family but they never ended well. 

She learnt that after the near collapse of Rome, she was there after all, looking no younger than she currently did. 

Even in his centuries of life, her father had learnt nothing about responsibility and the importance of restraint. There were two she sensed in Gotham but she chose the more intense one, it seemed almost feral. 

'Wait for me brother, I'll put you out of your misery.' She thought, disappearing into the darkness.