Watching

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

Katalyn crouch on a rooftop, listening to the drug dealers below her, trading drugs, money, and tips about where the good cops and bad cops were, who was looking for a sale, and rumors of the Bats, the druglords, and the vigilantees. Every word they said confirmed the watcher's information, and she wondered when she'd learn to stop paying so much for the information she could collect for free right here.

But, as always, she reminded herself why. It was imperative that her information always be confirmed. She'd been caught with bad sources before, and to trust one never lead to a good situation.

Moving away from the edge she turned, and melted into the shadows. A while later she reformed on the top of Gotham's tallest building. There was no Bat here, but she shrugged, then looked around.

There was a rooftop with shrinking vines on it. Poison Ivy had been there. In back of her there were the remnents of the gangs she'd sent Batman after, struggling to reform and keep up thier bloody war. Then there were the average number of sirens, flashing lights, and fleeing crooks from other directions.

No sign of the Joker. Rumor had it Ivy had pulled him from a bad spot. He'd lie low a few days, licking his wounds, concosting his next scheme. Hardly a chance of finding him, so Katalyn wouldn't try yet.

For now she sat, playing with a knife she'd liberated from an old timer, picking on a young kid. A boy. The kid had been bugging him, sure, but still. She hadn't tried to keep it quiet. Katalyn never worried too much about being caught. She always liked meeting new informants, and those usually came about whenever a fuss was made.

Comments

[masqueraider.livejournal.com]

"I can do it on my own." He said, the humor out of his voice. He didn't get that she was trying to be friendly, it was just coming off the wrong way to him. And he didn't like his failings to be known so well, he knew he failed often enough and it felt like a salt rubbed in the wound.

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

"Puh," she said aloud, then stood. "Who are you after, tell me that much."

[masqueraider.livejournal.com]

"So you can warn them?" He scowled.

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

"I don't warn people unless they pay me," she said. Then she rolled her eyes.

"I'm trying to watch your back, you idiot."

[masqueraider.livejournal.com]

The anger didn't leave his face, but instead he shrugged. "Why'd you care about watching my back?"

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

"You helped me out, a little. I owe you," she said, face even.

[masqueraider.livejournal.com]

"You owe me?" He was obviously unused to the concept with this crowd.

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

"You gave me information regarding the Joker," she said, eyes flashing. "I'd almost lost him. Your battle relocated him, and I've got him pegged again."

[masqueraider.livejournal.com]

"Huh." He looked a little confused behind the mask, but then shrugged. "Well. Whatever works, I guess."

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

"Yeah. Besides, ask anybody. If I'm not going to tell the truth I won't open me mouth," she said, heckles up a bit. Her rep was one of the most important things she had, and she did not like it questioned.

[masqueraider.livejournal.com]

He had that impassive look on his face. But he understood how one's rep was important. In this job, it was important, very tangible. "Okay, sweets. Let's pretend I trust you for a sec. What if I need to get ahold of you again for stuff? Where can I find you?"

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

"You as a homeless person or two if they've seen the goldeneyed freak, and I'll find you," she said, looking at him. "Nobody finds me."

[masqueraider.livejournal.com]

"Ah, the mysteriousness of it all." A smirk. "I don't think the golden eyes are freaky. A little unnerving, yes. But not freaky."

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

"Well thanks. But tell it to the riffraff in the alleys who are largely paranoid skitzos," she said, rolling her eyes.

[masqueraider.livejournal.com]

He chuckled a little, then turned serious. "I'm thinkin' of taking your offer. But if this guy gets wind that someone out there is askin' 'round for him, he's gonna split."

He shrugged. "I know you'll figure out some fantastically mysterious way not to let him get known, but you don't know these guys, these people. They'll find ways. And if they bury him any deeper than he's already buried, I don't have a chance."

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

She looked around, then got closer.

"Who?" she said, watching him.

[masqueraider.livejournal.com]

He laughed, it wasn't really a humorous laugh but more like a release of energy. "Look, didn't you hear what I just said? I'm not gonna spill the beans. I don't know how you operate just yet. Maybe soon, we'll see. I know you say a lotta things, but I'll watch ya to see if they add up or not."

[dbattyones.livejournal.com]

*Thunk*

Her fist came up under his chin, and she snorted before she took a cigarrette out and lit it.

"The Batman trusts me," she said, and then was gone.

[masqueraider.livejournal.com]

He saw stars for a moment, and heard her words, but by the time he shook his head to clear it, she was gone. The acrid smell of a burnt cigarette and her mocking tone in his head was all that was left of her.

"Well, I don't trust him," he muttered, rubbing his jaw with his gloved hand. "Batwoman, yeah, maybe." He tramped off, scowling, hoping that no one saw him get socked by that woman.