Chapter 92

Law PoV

Jump City had been a pretty clean city when I first got here a little over a year ago. Well, everything looked clean when compared to Gotham, but still. It wasn’t bad at all. But there were still a few piles of trash left in the gutter that if left alone, would quickly fester. Like some sort of disease.

So, over the span of months on top of months of hard work and labor, the Titans had thoroughly cleaned the streets. There was still some grime left over that needed to be excised, but we’d cross that bridge when we came to it.

But of course, even if every bit of trash and dirt was eradicated in one day, it would eventually come back. Piling up day after day after day. Because despite every Titans effort, they couldn’t stop human nature.

The Justice League has likely also come to the same conclusion in their own cities. It would be even more surprising to learn that they haven’t. To know that their best was only a temporary solution at best. Or at the very least, that the problem would persist past their life.

It was a pretty aggravating way of looking at things, if I do say so myself.

Me personally? I didn’t particularly care about the problem in the slightest. You think I give a shit about human nature, society, and a bunch of other philosophical nonsense?

No.

But it does bother me to do something meaningless. To act in a way that has no purpose. No real significance.

Even moreso when I see it’s effects on the Titans.

…

Which is why I decided months ago to actually do something. Or rather, take a more reasonable and lasting approach to things.  

The Justice League was like antibiotics. Annihilating bacteria in the body with great effectiveness. But after they’re done, they live the body’s natural immune system weakened.

So instead of having the Titans follow in their footsteps, I planned to have a different solution. One that was more comparable to a vaccine than antibiotics.

I exhaled.

A large plume of smoke came out of mouth. Falling on top of the nearby table and spreading out in a cone. Leaving the already smoky booth area filled with filled to the brim. It was almost to the point that I couldn’t see Ravager’s unimpressed gaze from across the table after I had blown smoke straight at her.

Mostly just to provoke a reaction.

You truly are the worst~

…What? I wasn’t the asshole here. She’s been pressing my buttons for a few weeks now. Am I not entitled to press back?

Shouldn’t you be kinder to girls?

What’s this sexist stuff all about? I don’t remember subscribing to that. For that matter, shouldn’t she act more like a girl then?

Ugh. Why am I even arguing with you?

Despite no one talking, the booth wasn’t really quiet. The music in the background of the strip club echoed even in the backrooms where we resided. My left hand was currently busy, so I offered my right, which held some grade A stuff.

It was strong enough to affect me, and that was saying something.

“Want a hit?”

“…No.”

I shrugged, before leaning back into the seat. My left arm settling back over Jinx’s shoulders. Who was currently trying to not look embarrassed…for some reason. I wasn’t really sure why, but man was it entertaining to watch. Especially as she was getting a second hand high from all this smoke.

“Suit yourself. Got anything new to report?”

Ravager raised her eyebrow slightly before looking over at Jinx before extending a hand out towards her. Jinx on the other hand seemed to almost flinch at the soft act. Her eyes were already looking pinkish from the smoke.

Heh. Amateur.

“Seriously? You want me to do that with her here? Are you even thinking at this point!?”

A bit of frustration started to crop up in Ravager’s tone causing me to roll my eyes.

“Please. I’m intimately aware of what my limit is. I’ve had a lot of stress building on my shoulders. Moments like these are few and fleeting…so I’ll take them where I can.”

“…And her?”

I looked over with a smirk at Jinx. Who…looked completely baked. Blinking slowly as she attempted to discern as much information as she could. Hopefully to break out of the little position she found herself in, or maybe to just blackmail me.

Wouldn’t that be interesting?

“She’s baked but not stupid. Though obviously you’re not dumb enough to share anything of importance outside of the tower. So whatever information you’ll give isn’t going to be of much help to her.”

Not to say that she couldn’t use it. All information was useable to an extent. Unfortunately, her extent wasn’t all that good, considering to do anything of note she’d have to tell her superiors at H.I.V.E. all about what she’s been doing behind their backs. Peddling drugs straight from me to all of their students. Not to mention all the help and favors I’ve given to her in turn.

Meaning unless she was able to come up with something utterly massive, she’d just be getting herself killed just to spite me.

There was also the possibility that she could also use something to her advantage without getting H.I.V.E. involved, but that significantly lowered her ability to actually do something. And again, it’d need to be big to be worth turning on me, as well as going freelance from H.I.V.E.

Something they don’t quite allow until their students have worked off their debt to the school.

Ravager sighed.

“What, are you just picking up sluts now off the side of the road as a hobby now?”

Ravager and I both watched as Jinx bristled a bit at that comment. Her expression attempting to contort but obviously her body was a bit too relaxed to make such a hard face.

If Jinx had been a bit smarter or a bit less out of it, she’d have realized that Ravager was testing her. Intentionally provoking a response to see just how much Jinx was understanding.

…That or Ravager was just being a bitch. It’s a coin flip with her.

“What? Come on, don’t be like that. She’s not a slut, she’s more like…a pet.”

I commented, causing Jinx to slowly turn her head towards me. In response I simply held her closer to my side. Enjoying her expression as she internally seethed.

I wondered just how far I could really push her.

“What’s the difference if they don’t have a collar?”

Ravager stated, causing me to nod seriously. Rubbing my chin for a moment before snapping my fingers.

“You’re right. How’d you like a collar, Jinx?”

“…”

She said nothing. Instead staring at me with a look of disgust. Of course that was the worst thing she could’ve done, as that just made me chuckle. I grabbed her chin with my other hand with the blunt still between my fingers. Being only an inch or two from touching her lips.

“Hah…I didn’t say that just so you could-”

“Quiet, Ravager.”

I ordered, almost immediately realizing my mistake. As she immediately became hostile. I sighed before turning my head to address her before she gets even more frustrated and vitriolic.

“…Please. I don’t plan to interfere in your plans, so I expect the same courtesy.”

That seemed to work, as while she didn’t stop glaring, she stopped putting her body forward. Something she did to show that she was willing to start something here and now.

Of course she wasn’t, but I wasn’t going to call her out on that. Because that’d probably be one of the few things that could actually get her to follow through.

I then turned back to Jinx. The easygoing smirk on my face disappearing for my resting frown. Showcasing that I was now taking this a bit more seriously. Not only for her, but to satisfy Ravager as well.

“How about this? If you let me put a collar on you, I’ll throw in an extra case. One that won’t be on the shipment list, so you can do whatever you want with it, and keep all the funds.”

Jinx paused. Her disgusted look never leaving, but turning into one that was deeper in thought.

I truth it didn’t actually matter what I offered in exchange, only that it was something of value. What I was offering wasn’t actually a matter of sweetening the pot, it was giving her an out. That she still had the illusion of choice by accepting the altered deal. So, she could feel as though she still had a measure of say and power.

She didn’t, and it was entirely possible that she knew it.

But that didn’t mean she wanted to accept it.

“…Fine…”

“Ah, but pets don’t speak, Jinx. They bark.”

“…Fuck you.”

Ah, that was too far huh? Unfortunate, but I wasn’t too worried about it. It wouldn’t be too long until she was eating out of my hand. It didn’t matter that she was already an alright fighter, now that she’s tasted power outside her weight class…well, I didn’t even need to explain it.

She wasn’t going to stop suckling from that tit anytime soon.

…You’re not wrong, but please stop with the godawful analogies.

What? Not erotic enough for you?

Ugh.

“Jesus…this is some real degenerate shit. Does Starfire even know about this?”

Ravager commented, once again feeling the need to insert herself in my business. After the whole fiasco with her getting attacked by assassins, all of a sudden, she was interested in just about everything I was up to.

I get that she wanted me to help out and get information on Deathstroke, but good god. If she put this much effort into finding him herself, she’d have probably already found something. Even the Justice League wasn’t actively searching for him anymore, I wasn’t sure what she was expecting from me.

“There’s not a lot I don’t tell her. And what did you even want to report?”

She glanced at Jinx again before shaking her head. Taking a moment to finally open her mouth and answer.

“Everything…is going decent enough with the tasks you’ve assigned me.”

I cracked an eyebrow at her cryptic answer.

“…And you decided to tell me this…why?”

She rolled her eye.

“I’m also on a mission with Beast Boy, Starfire, and Raven to investigate your possible dad.”

Oh, that thing. I had already forgotten about it. Beast Boy and Starfire wasn’t very surprising, but Raven? That was unexpected.

I waved Ravager off.

“Alright. Just make sure to keep them safe when the trap is sprung on them.”

She nodded. As if that answer was what she expected.

“Understood.”

…What, was she a soldier now?

Ah, wait. Now that she brought that up…I turned towards Jinx, who met my eyes for a few seconds before looking away. There didn’t seem to be any panic in them, showing that she was either too relaxed, or that she genuinely didn’t know what we were talking about.

Eh, it was still better to play it safe.

My hand gently pressed against her face again. Her eyes narrowing slightly as I made skin contact and flooded her system while making circular motions on her cheek. It’d have been faster to press my hand against her gut but…well, we weren’t at that level just yet.

Ravager probably caught on to what I was doing, as she stood rooted in place. That, or she was secretly a freak who got off on watching.

I wouldn’t completely rule that out.

Eventually I spoke.

“Do you know anything about that? Of H.I.V.E. planning something against me and the Titans?”

“…No.”

Jinx spoke with what sounded like honesty. For what it was worth, I believed her. She was pretty decently well regarded as a student, and not only that but she was pretty much the one in charge of H.I.V.E. incidents in Jump City. Especially those involving the Titans.

So, if she didn’t hear anything, it probably wasn’t something on their side. Meaning there was probably just an individual behind this. Could also be a group specifically targeting me for revenge as well.

Queen Bee from Bialya maybe?

Either way it wasn’t worth worrying about.

“Then it’s probably just some nobody third rate villain trying to make a quick buck. Even if it’s not, that group is filled with some of our heavy hitters…and Beast Boy. I know you guys can handle yourselves.”

Ravager’s face twitched, as she tried to control her expression. Her back straightening up from my words. What, did she take pride from that or something?

…I bit back a snarky comment at her shift in attitude. Deciding that it was better to let her get back to it.

Boo!

“If that’s all…”

“…It is.”

Ravager nodded, before making her way to leave. As she exited the curtains and went out of sight, I couldn’t help but sigh.

I was good at understanding people, and that included Ravager. Or at least it did. She was someone who was very similar to me, but she’s started to change a bit. Some of her actions were starting to not make much sense, or rather, they were out of character.

She didn’t need to give some ridiculous report. She didn’t need to stay until she was dismissed. She didn’t need to suddenly get all pissy towards me at random.

Something was up with her. Something that was having an influence. But what? Or who?

Hah…and this was supposed to be my time to relax…

I took one more hit before tossing it to the side.

I was going to need something even stronger.