Titans of Justice Classified Chapter 41 - Outsiders Pt. 2
Writer: White Wraith
Editor: Power Guy & Whirlpool


“Hunter? What do you say?” Blackbird asked with a scoff. He was merely staring back at her with wide eyes. Blackbird looked down at herself and smirked. Was it the costume? That’s what caught Nightvision’s attention in the beginning, too.”



“I think you’re crazy.” Hunter said with thin eyes. He watched her look down at herself and he noticed the quick smirk that peeled past her lips. She was pretty confidant in herself, something Hunter hated about anyone. His arms folded across his chest as Blackbird scoffed once more. She exhaled through her noise quite loudly and slid her hands to her hips. Hunter looked down at her hands, then back up to her eyes.

“Come with me, if you want to see your brother again.” Blackbird said as she turned around. The redhead jumped off the roof and landed softly on the ground. Hunter gasped and followed her quickly. He was very close to his brother and if she was holding him captive, she’d pay for every little scratch or bruise on his body. After Hunter’s mother and father died, he had to live with his brother’s mother and her girlfriend, a said Katherine Kane. It was hard for him to go from a normal family to having two mothers and brother you never knew about.

Hunter chased after Blackbird, her hair billowing behind her with the wind flowing through it. Not too far behind her, Hunter ran at full speed. His cape flew in the wind with every step he took and he could see himself catching up to her. Anger fueled his every step, his compassion and love for his brother pushing him to run faster and faster, move quicker and quicker. Finally, he felt himself close enough and dove towards her. He wrapped his arms around her and put all his weight on top of her. Hunter slammed her down and the two rolled a few feet before he came out on top. Hunter held her arms and legs down and stared deep into her eyes. Blood trickled from her nose and her eyes appeared to be watery. Hunter’s eyes scanned her face. The two merely stared for what seemed like eternity, both panting after the long chase.

“What have you done with him?!” Hunter heard his voice scream at the woman. Blackbird looked back up at him. She was confused and shocked by his reaction. He really thought she would kidnap his brother? He thought she, a hero, would kidnap another hero? Perhaps he’d never heard of her, or any of the other Titans for that matter, before? She reminded herself to clue him in later.

“Not me, Hunter, but them. The enemy, Hunter.” Blackbird stared up at him. He looked confused and genuinely scared for his brother. “The enemy.”

“If not you, then who, Blackbird?! WHO?! Tell me what you know!” Hunter asked. His voice was quiet and mysterious at first but then it elevated into yet another yell. He lifted her by the shoulders and shook her, as if the information would fall out somehow. Blackbird’s face stiffened and became more serious then it had ever been that night. She looked up at him, their eyes locking. Blackbird’s eyes were wide with fear.

“Get off of me and I’ll see if I still want to help you.” Blackbird said quietly. Her voice was barely audible but because of the short distance between their faces, Hunter heard every word. Hunter loosened up, both physically and emotionally. He realized what he did to the heroine, who was only trying to help, and slid off of her. Blackbird stood up and dusted off her uniform. She glared over at Hunter, who was standing vulnerably with his cape wrapped around his shoulders. Blackbird scoffed, but shook her head sympathetically.

“You care about him,” she said, “a lot. A lot more then I can even fathom. We’ll find him.” Blackbird said without looking over at the man. She wouldn’t let him see her crying. “I swear we’ll find him.” This time, she looked over at him with trembling lips. He could see the tears glistening on her cheeks. Before anything else could be said, thunder roared in the background and rain fell on Gotham. Hunter’s head fell. He was tough and never took any crap from the criminals but when it came to his family, he was very sensitive but this time, it got the best of him.

“I’m sorry,” he said quietly. The words barely reached Blackbird’s ears but she heard what she needed. Blackbird looked back up at him and walked over. She put her pointer finger under his chin and slowly lifted his head up. His cheeks were glistening as well, but Blackbird pretended it was merely the rain. Men like him needed to keep up an ego and she merely assumed he was the same way. Blackbird chuckled.

“Let’s get inside,” Blackbird said. Hunter looked at her and reached towards her face. With his thumb, he wiped the blood from her face and the tears at the same time. Blackbird smiled and, as much as Hunter wanted to, he forced the smile away and kept a straight face. Blackbird saw too much of his emotions that night, she wasn’t about to see anymore. Blackbird pushed herself away and walked to the opposite side of the roof. She paused at the ledge and turned her head so she was looking at her shoulder.

“Follow me,” she said and then jumped off the roof. Hunter sighed and shook his head slightly before running after the elusive woman.

Ten minutes later, Blackbird landed in the street and walked towards an abandoned gas station. Hunter followed closely behind, keeping quiet though he was confused by his current location. Blackbird walked into the run-down and seemingly burnt Mini-Mart and held the door open for Hunter. The Mafia Prince followed the skimpily dressed heroine into the Mini Mart and towards the counter. Blackbird reached over and pressed a series of numbers on the antiquated cash register. Hunter noticed that it appeared as though no had came into Mini-Mart in years, except for a trail of footprints Blackbird was precisely following. In front of them, the soda machine slid to the left with moans and groans, revealing two metal poles. Blackbird walked over and grabbed hold of the one to the left.

“Come on.” Blackbird wrapped her leg around the pole and bit her bottom lip before sliding down the pole. Hunter felt himself getting stiffer and tried to push away any unclean thoughts before following her down the pole. After he did, he was surprised to see the poles led to what could only be described as a bachelor pad. A 50’ high-definition TV hung on the wall and adjacent to the TV was a mini-bar complete with movie theater seats in the middle of the room. Up against the far wall was a large computer with many other smaller screens around it. That had to be super-hero part of the ‘lair’.

“Is this your idea of a secret lair?” Hunter asked, having to raise his voice over the head-banging club music. “Turn that down unless you want someone to hear!” Hunter said, now screaming about the heroine who apparently wanted to fit in with the young crowd. Blackbird looked over at him and sighed before turning the music off. Blackbird walked behind the bar and took out two glasses. She looked up at him and gestured towards the seats. Hunter rolled his eyes and plopped onto one of the cushioned seats. He secretly relaxed quite a bit, enjoying his time to put his feet up and kick back.

From the bar, Blackbird asked, “Care for a martini?”

“I hate martinis,” Hunter replied sternly. Martinis brought back bad memories of school.

“Oh, right. Martino, martini. I see what you mean,” Blackbird replied humorously. “Beer, then?” Hunter stood up quickly and looked at the red head heroine sternly.

“First of all, how do you know my name? Either of them, for that matter? I don’t recall ever telling you,” Hunter asked sternly. This time, he wanted an answer and if he didn’t get one, he’d be sure to get the information out of his mysterious new partner somehow. Blackbird saw his question coming and was prepared for the answer. Her body slumped a bit, as she was not ready to deal with that right now. She put the glasses down with a ‘klink’ and walked over to the seats. Blackbird slid into the seat next to the one Hunter was sitting in. He decided he’d rather stay standing, and showed this by crossing his arms over his chest.

“I was wondering when you’d ask, honestly. Look, Hunter—Hunter or Martino?” Blackbird began to explain but stopped herself. She looked up at the man, who appeared much angrier then earlier.

“Hunter. Keep it professional. Now, go on.”

“Okay, Hunter. A while ago, I don’t know how long, when I broke up with Nightvision I—“ Blackbird tried to being once more but was cut off.

“Woah, woah, who?” Hunter asked.

“That’s a whole nother story. Anyway, after he cheated on me with stupid Kitty Kat, I swore I’d form a team of heroes just like me,” Blackbird stopped and looked past Hunter for a second, into another world, “a team of Outsiders.” Blackbird looked back down at her hands before regaining her lock on Hunter’s face. “I had to do some research, you know, figure out who’d be best. Well, you were my first target and I figured your brother’s kidnapping would be perfect to lure you in. So, I took initiative and sought you out. Now, here we are.”

“How did you know my brother was kidnapped without even me knowing?” Hunter asked, still stern and strict.

“How did you not know?!” Blackbird asked, standing up as she did. “Didn’t you know, after you found your father’s old files? Obviously you read something you shouldn’t have and now they’ve got him!”

“Who has him, Blackbird? Who?!” Hunter questioned, figuratively leaning in closer and closer to the woman. Blackbird slumped back into her seat.

“I don’t know,” she said quietly. Her pleading eyes looked up at Hunter, who now looked disappointed. He ran his hand over his head, like someone would run their hand through their hair. A determined look formed on Hunter’s face and he turned and jogged towards the computer. Blackbird stood up and curiously followed him over. Lucky for him, it was already on and he merely wiggled the mouse to turn on the monitor. After a few minutes of typing, Hunter sat back and looked at the screen. Blackbird’s eyes widened.

“I have some friends, too. Well, I know of some heroes, okay?” Hunter said confidently. On the screen was the profile of the Titans of Justice member Nucleus. Hunter intertwined his fingers, turned his hands inwards towards his chest and pushed forwards, cracking each and every knuckle on both hands. He stood up and walked towards the poles, closely followed by Blackbird. She put her hand on his shoulder, stopping him.

“Thought I should let you know the exit is this way.” Blackbird pointed towards an elevator and began walking towards it. Hunter sighed and followed her towards the door. Blackbird pushed the button that pointed upwards and waited for the doors to slide open. When they did, both heroes walked in and Blackbird pushed the “1” button.

“You know, when do I get to find out who you are behind the mask?” Hunter asked, looking over at Blackbird. She merely smiled and let the doors shut.

***Meanwhile – A Catholic Monastery Somewhere in Gotham City***



Footsteps echoed through the empty monastery as a lonely woman walked down the aisle towards the alter. She wore a long brown cloak that covered her whole body with the hood pulled over her head. The woman approached the alter and kneeled down in front of it. Her body was soaking wet, dripping water all around her. She removed the hood, revealing short brown hair and a small red mask. The woman folded her hands, intertwining her fingers, and looked up at the alter.

“Lord, forgive me for I have sinned. Take my sins and make them a thing of the past. I’m giving up my ways of killing and torture. I’m turning a new leaf!” The woman stood up and removed her robe, revealing a costume containing various shades of red. She dropped the sword that had been in the holster at her side and threw her hands up. “The assassin in me is no more! I am following in the foot steps of my mother. I will make you both proud!”

***The Secret Address of Nucleus***

“This is his is place? Something about this just doesn’t scream ‘brilliant scientist by day and Titan of Justice by night’,” Blackbird said, looking up at the apartment building that was listed as Nucleus’s current residence. Hunter looked at the apartment building, noticing broken windows and faulty bricks, and shook his head a bit.

“That’s what it says, but it just doesn’t make sense. Only one way to find out, though,” Hunter said. He walked towards the entrance into the building, closely followed by Blackbird. The duo walked into the lobby and asked for the residence of a “Jason”. The clerk smiled and directed them to his apartment number. Hunter assured the man he was in no trouble, hoping to avoid police involvement. Hunter and Blackbird took the elevator to the third floor and walked down the hallway until the approached his apartment number. With a sigh from Blackbird, Hunter knocked on the door and the two waited patiently. Finally, someone answered.



“Hello— Oh. Come in, come in!” the man said, quickly filing them in and shutting the door quickly. “Not like the Titans to get a hold of me like this, but nonetheless. What’s going on?” the man asked and both Hunter and Blackbird assumed he was Nucleus.

“Well, we’re not exactly here on Titan business— Jason is it?” Blackbird explained. Jason cocked his head a bit to the left and looked the both of them over.

“Yes, I’m Jason a.k.a. Nucleus and if you’re not here for the Titans, then why are you here. And who are you?” he replied curiously.

“I’m the Hunter and that’s Blackbird. I figured you’d know her. Anyway, we need your help,” Hunter paused, “for a team.” Jason sighed and sat back. He did recognize the woman, now that her name was stated.

“Don’t bother asking. I’m too busy with school,” Jason’s eyes shifted from Hunter to Blackbird then back again, “and the Titans. I wish I could help but I just can’t.” Blackbird remained silent, knowing what Hunter was going to say.

“Can you at least help my find my brother. You may know him as the Solution,” Hunter found himself pleading. Jason stood up and sighed. He walked over to the door and opened it. Jason turned back, sorrow filled his eyes.

“I’ll let you know if I find anything out. I hope you find him,” he paused, “I really do.” Hunter and Blackbird stood up and walked out of the apartment. Blackbird had other plans and other people they could turn to for help but she was counting on Ray Palmer’s protégé to give them a hand. Did he really know nothing of Solution’s disappearance? Or was he covering something for the Titans of Justice? She’d never actually know.

“Don’t worry, Hunter. I’ve got another lovely lady and I know she’ll help us. C’mon,” Blackbird said. The two costumed heroes walked out of the apartment building and took off into the night, searching for their next target.

To Be Continued…