Crossbow at the Crossroads

Helena Bertinelli. Huntress - Let's just say that my tactics aren't as....restricted as that of Batman's..... - "...I wonder what the import rules are for lethal weapons?"

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Barbara sat there shocked for a minute. What the heck had just happened? Her head was throbbing, she couldn’t think straight.

Helena offered her hand to Barbara, and Barbara accepted it. She let Helena help her back on her feet. Am I alright? She thought to herself. Heck, no.

“Yeah, I’m — I’m okay.” She lied. “Is that the last of them?”

[crossbowhunter-blog]

“Yeah, that’s the lot,” Helena said, pulling Barbara back onto her feet. She frowned. Barbara had seemed off all evening - not as composed as she usually was - and honestly, it was probably going to get her into some deeper trouble than it already had.

Helena sighed. “Alright,” she said, facing Barbara. “Spill it.”

[milliondollardebut-deactivated2]

“Spill it” Helena told her.

Barbara wanted to say, “Spill what?” and act as if she had no idea what Helena was talking about. However, she knew that Helena wouldn’t fall for that.

Barbara sighed heavily. “I’ve hit a slump, Huntress.” She admitted. “I — I am totally off my game and I was trying to fix it. I’ve been off for a while now.”

[crossbowhunter-blog]

Helena quirked an eyebrow. "I'm pretty sure you haven't 'lost your game', Babs," She said, "Is it even possible to lose your game?" She thought about it for a moment, before shrugging.

"So you've hit a wall - so what?" The edges of her mouth twitched up into a smirk. "You've got a grappling hook - swing over it."

[milliondollardebut-deactivated2]

[milliondollardebut-deactivated2]

Barbara followed Helena closely, as Helena obviously knew how to get in. While she followed Helena to the window, she tried to mentally prepare herself for this. Clearing her mind of all thought except for the mission on hand. Maybe that was her problem all along. Letting her mind fill up with useless thoughts.

Barbara ducked through the window with Helena, only to be warmly greeted by a couple of thugs.

You ready for this, Barbara? She asked herself silently.

[crossbowhunter-blog]

Helena felt her lips twitch up into a smile as soon as she landed onto the glass covered floor, facing the group of thugs that had startled and turned towards them. She wasted no time in lunging forward between them, knocking guns out of hands and sweeping her legs under stumbling feet. A few of the men swore at their sudden appearance and scrambled to reach their guns.

As she whirled and twisted around the larger bodies, she couldn’t help but break out into a grin as she counted the unconscious bodies that begin to fall. One…..Two….She couldn’t stop herself.

She was having fun.

[milliondollardebut-deactivated2]

Barbara immediately focused. She wasn’t going to make the same mistakes. This was going to be easy.

Jumping toward a thug, dodging the bullets coming at her, she gave him a swift kick in the jaw, teeth flying out of his mouth. Another one came up behind her, she punched him in the stomach.

Losing her touch? She didn’t think so anymore.

That is, not until the first thug came up and pounded her on the head, knocking her to the ground.

Grabbing her head, trying to ignore the pain, she looked up at the thug. His gun was pointed right at her chest.

[crossbowhunter-blog]

Helena jumped over a table to kick back an advancing man, and twisted to shoot an arrow into the hand of another who was holding a gun towards her. The man yelped and dropped the gun, clutching his hand, as Helena took the opportunity to punch him in the face.

He fell backwards, knocking his head against the wall and falling into unconsciousness. Helena turned around just in time to see Batgirl on the ground with a thug pointing a gun straight at her chest.

Huntress quickly pointed her crossbow towards the man, shooting the gun out of his hand and drawing his attention. The man turned away from Batgirl adn lunged towards Helena, who quickly dodged out of the way and flipped behind him, kicking him in the back of the head.

She jumped towards Batgirl and offered a hand towards her. “You alright?”

[milliondollardebut-deactivated2]

Barbara sat there shocked for a minute. What the heck had just happened? Her head was throbbing, she couldn’t think straight.

Helena offered her hand to Barbara, and Barbara accepted it. She let Helena help her back on her feet. Am I alright? She thought to herself. Heck, no.

“Yeah, I’m — I’m okay.” She lied. “Is that the last of them?”

[crossbowhunter-blog]

"Yeah, that's the lot," Helena said, pulling Barbara back onto her feet. She frowned. Barbara had seemed off all evening - not as composed as she usually was - and honestly, it was probably going to get her into some deeper trouble than it already had.

Helena sighed. "Alright," she said, facing Barbara. "Spill it."

[milliondollardebut-deactivated2]

[milliondollardebut-deactivated2]

Barbara followed Helena closely, as Helena obviously knew how to get in. While she followed Helena to the window, she tried to mentally prepare herself for this. Clearing her mind of all thought except for the mission on hand. Maybe that was her problem all along. Letting her mind fill up with useless thoughts.

Barbara ducked through the window with Helena, only to be warmly greeted by a couple of thugs.

You ready for this, Barbara? She asked herself silently.

[crossbowhunter-blog]

Helena felt her lips twitch up into a smile as soon as she landed onto the glass covered floor, facing the group of thugs that had startled and turned towards them. She wasted no time in lunging forward between them, knocking guns out of hands and sweeping her legs under stumbling feet. A few of the men swore at their sudden appearance and scrambled to reach their guns.

As she whirled and twisted around the larger bodies, she couldn’t help but break out into a grin as she counted the unconscious bodies that begin to fall. One…..Two….She couldn’t stop herself.

She was having fun.

[milliondollardebut-deactivated2]

Barbara immediately focused. She wasn’t going to make the same mistakes. This was going to be easy.

Jumping toward a thug, dodging the bullets coming at her, she gave him a swift kick in the jaw, teeth flying out of his mouth. Another one came up behind her, she punched him in the stomach.

Losing her touch? She didn’t think so anymore.

That is, not until the first thug came up and pounded her on the head, knocking her to the ground.

Grabbing her head, trying to ignore the pain, she looked up at the thug. His gun was pointed right at her chest.

[crossbowhunter-blog]

Helena jumped over a table to kick back an advancing man, and twisted to shoot an arrow into the hand of another who was holding a gun towards her. The man yelped and dropped the gun, clutching his hand, as Helena took the opportunity to punch him in the face.

He fell backwards, knocking his head against the wall and falling into unconsciousness. Helena turned around just in time to see Batgirl on the ground with a thug pointing a gun straight at her chest.

Huntress quickly pointed her crossbow towards the man, shooting the gun out of his hand and drawing his attention. The man turned away from Batgirl adn lunged towards Helena, who quickly dodged out of the way and flipped behind him, kicking him in the back of the head.

She jumped towards Batgirl and offered a hand towards her. "You alright?"

[crossbowhunter-blog]

I think we might have somethings in common huh? I'm Kate AKA Batwoman. Have we met before? I don't remember. I see you've met my cousin Bette.

A few, yes.

Helena - Huntress.

I don't think we have, but Bruce and Dick have told me a lot about you. And yes, I have met Bette. She seems nice.

[milliondollardebut-deactivated2]

[crossbowhunter-blog]

Helena would admit she was mildly surprised when Barbara didn’t question her motives or lack of thereof, but of course, she wasn’t going to pass up an opportunity to take these men down, whether it was mostly based on gut feeling or not.

She lead Batgirl to a spot along the fenceline where the sandstone had started crumbling years ago, leaving a sizeable gap that extended low enough for them both to squeeze through. Landing on the other side, she pulled out a set of night-vision binoculars and peered through to a window near the bottom edge of the building.

She passed the binoculars to Batgirl, murmuring, “There’s a window near the bottom edge that leads to the basement. Most of the operations have been conducted from there. That’s where we’ll go in.”

[milliondollardebut-deactivated2]

This was a bad idea, wasn’t it?

This was no time to be second guessing her willingness to go along with Helena’s impulsive attitude, though. It was too late for that and the sooner this was over with the better.

She followed Helena through the fence line and gave a good look through the binoculars as Helena explained where they needed to get to. She nodded in response, handing the binoculars back.

“Let’s go then.” Barbara said as she headed off.

[crossbowhunter-blog]

Helena ducked and crept towards the window, feeling Barbara follow her close behind. As they got closer to the window, she began to hear voices of men come from inside, and her fingers started to twitch with adrenaline.

They came up to the window and she unhooked her crossbow from her belt. She crossed over to the other side of the window and gaved a glance at Batgirl, before kicking in the window and ducking through it.

[milliondollardebut-deactivated2]

Barbara followed Helena closely, as Helena obviously knew how to get in. While she followed Helena to the window, she tried to mentally prepare herself for this. Clearing her mind of all thought except for the mission on hand. Maybe that was her problem all along. Letting her mind fill up with useless thoughts.

Barbara ducked through the window with Helena, only to be warmly greeted by a couple of thugs.

You ready for this, Barbara? She asked herself silently.

[crossbowhunter-blog]

Helena felt her lips twitch up into a smile as soon as she landed onto the glass covered floor, facing the group of thugs that had startled and turned towards them. She wasted no time in lunging forward between them, knocking guns out of hands and sweeping her legs under stumbling feet. A few of the men swore at their sudden appearance and scrambled to reach their guns.

As she whirled and twisted around the larger bodies, she couldn't help but break out into a grin as she counted the unconscious bodies that begin to fall. One.....Two....She couldn't stop herself.

She was having fun.

[milliondollardebut-deactivated2]

[milliondollardebut-deactivated2]

Barbara nodded in response to Helena and listened to her directions. They eventually made it to their destination.

Helena was right, the place was kinda ugly. It didn’t really look like it was maintained all that well, either. And on top of that, the vibe that came off it was a creepy one.

“So, you’ll have to fill me in.” She told Helena. “Do you have any idea what those goons were after and why they had the address to this place or no?”

[crossbowhunter-blog]

Helena wrinkled her nose as the mansion came into view. She had already come this way a couple of times over the past few nights, watching the late-night activity and waiting for the perfect moment to make her move.

“Long story short, this building has been used as a main transfer site for smuggling international weapons across the country for the past week or so,” she said, replying Batgirls question. “While the cops probably don’t have enough proof to take the down - no surprise there - and I don’t actually have much to figure out what their endgame could be, I’ve still been keeping an eye on what’s been going in and out of this place for a while.”

“And even though we don’t have much to go on, it can’t hurt to kick some butt of these guys anyway,” She shrugged, “Can it?”

[milliondollardebut-deactivated2]

Helena explained to Barbara what had been happening at this old place and Barbara listened carefully.

She kinda of cringed inside when Helena ripped on the police for not having enough evidence. Helena was right to an extent, but Barbara took it a bit personal, with her father being the commissioner.

Helena’s impulsive nature radiated from her and Barbara thought about what she had said for a moment. Usually, Barbara would argue and say that they needed a bit more evidence, but those guys didn’t seem to be up to any good and she trusted Helena.

“No, it can’t.” She responded. “Lead the way”

[crossbowhunter-blog]

Helena would admit she was mildly surprised when Barbara didn’t question her motives or lack of thereof, but of course, she wasn’t going to pass up an opportunity to take these men down, whether it was mostly based on gut feeling or not.

She lead Batgirl to a spot along the fenceline where the sandstone had started crumbling years ago, leaving a sizeable gap that extended low enough for them both to squeeze through. Landing on the other side, she pulled out a set of night-vision binoculars and peered through to a window near the bottom edge of the building.

She passed the binoculars to Batgirl, murmuring, “There’s a window near the bottom edge that leads to the basement. Most of the operations have been conducted from there. That’s where we’ll go in.”

[milliondollardebut-deactivated2]

This was a bad idea, wasn’t it?

This was no time to be second guessing her willingness to go along with Helena’s impulsive attitude, though. It was too late for that and the sooner this was over with the better.

She followed Helena through the fence line and gave a good look through the binoculars as Helena explained where they needed to get to. She nodded in response, handing the binoculars back.

“Let’s go then.” Barbara said as she headed off.

[crossbowhunter-blog]

Helena ducked and crept towards the window, feeling Barbara follow her close behind. As they got closer to the window, she began to hear voices of men come from inside, and her fingers started to twitch with adrenaline.

They came up to the window and she unhooked her crossbow from her belt. She crossed over to the other side of the window and gaved a glance at Batgirl, before kicking in the window and ducking through it.

[milliondollardebut-deactivated2]

[milliondollardebut-deactivated2]

Barbara nodded in response to Helena and listened to her directions. They eventually made it to their destination.

Helena was right, the place was kinda ugly. It didn’t really look like it was maintained all that well, either. And on top of that, the vibe that came off it was a creepy one.

“So, you’ll have to fill me in.” She told Helena. “Do you have any idea what those goons were after and why they had the address to this place or no?”

[crossbowhunter-blog]

Helena wrinkled her nose as the mansion came into view. She had already come this way a couple of times over the past few nights, watching the late-night activity and waiting for the perfect moment to make her move.

“Long story short, this building has been used as a main transfer site for smuggling international weapons across the country for the past week or so,” she said, replying Batgirls question. “While the cops probably don’t have enough proof to take the down - no surprise there - and I don’t actually have much to figure out what their endgame could be, I’ve still been keeping an eye on what’s been going in and out of this place for a while.”

“And even though we don’t have much to go on, it can’t hurt to kick some butt of these guys anyway,” She shrugged, “Can it?”

[milliondollardebut-deactivated2]

Helena explained to Barbara what had been happening at this old place and Barbara listened carefully.

She kinda of cringed inside when Helena ripped on the police for not having enough evidence. Helena was right to an extent, but Barbara took it a bit personal, with her father being the commissioner.

Helena’s impulsive nature radiated from her and Barbara thought about what she had said for a moment. Usually, Barbara would argue and say that they needed a bit more evidence, but those guys didn’t seem to be up to any good and she trusted Helena.

“No, it can’t.” She responded. “Lead the way”

[crossbowhunter-blog]

Helena would admit she was mildly surprised when Barbara didn't question her motives or lack of thereof, but of course, she wasn't going to pass up an opportunity to take these men down, whether it was mostly based on gut feeling or not.

She lead Batgirl to a spot along the fenceline where the sandstone had started crumbling years ago, leaving a sizeable gap that extended low enough for them both to squeeze through. Landing on the other side, she pulled out a set of night-vision binoculars and peered through to a window near the bottom edge of the building.

She passed the binoculars to Batgirl, murmuring, "There's a window near the bottom edge that leads to the basement. Most of the operations have been conducted from there. That's where we'll go in."

[milliondollardebut-deactivated2]

[milliondollardebut-deactivated2]

Barbara’s head was filled as she tried to remember how she fought that battle. Assessing it in her mind, she tried to make out the mistakes she made that way she wouldn’t do them again.

Her concentration was cut off though by the sound of police sirens coming closer.

“I don’t have the Batmoblie.” Barbara responded. “I’ve got my bike. Will that work?”

[crossbowhunter-blog]

Barbara seemed very distracted to Helena - very unlike her usual self, but Helena just went with it. Babara was always usually good to work with. She’d snap out of it once they found a good fight.

“A bike is fine,” She replied, glancing again towards the sound of sirens. “we should probably run now, before ‘Gotham’s finest’, decides to turn up and spoil our fun.”

[milliondollardebut-deactivated2]

Barbara got on her bike with Helena and drove them out of there before the police showed up. Heading toward the other side of Gotham she shook herself out of her distracted mode. Well tried to, anyway.

She was no longer assessing her previous battle, but rather telling herself to focus. Which she really shouldn’t have to remind herself.

She was the same way back in Berlin. She got distracted, let herself get strangled by the assassin and then Dick had to come and try to save her butt, resulting in him being stabbed.

What was wrong with her lately?

“I’m heading the right way, right?”

[crossbowhunter-blog]

As Barbara drove them away from the shipping district, Helena busied herself with checking that her crossbow was still fixed to her belt and she was up on supplies. She tried to distract herself from the fact that she wasn’t the one that was driving them, because truthfully, she liked to be in control of where she was going and what she was doing the majority of times.

She vaguely heard Barbara shout out a question if she was going the right way and Helena leaned forward so it was easier to reply.

“Yep,” she yelled over the wind and motorbike engine, “turn right up here and go towards the high class district. The place where looking for is a big mansion. Like Bruce’s but uglier and all white.”

[milliondollardebut-deactivated2]

Barbara nodded in response to Helena and listened to her directions. They eventually made it to their destination.

Helena was right, the place was kinda ugly. It didn’t really look like it was maintained all that well, either. And on top of that, the vibe that came off it was a creepy one.

“So, you’ll have to fill me in.” She told Helena. “Do you have any idea what those goons were after and why they had the address to this place or no?”

[crossbowhunter-blog]

Helena wrinkled her nose as the mansion came into view. She had already come this way a couple of times over the past few nights, watching the late-night activity and waiting for the perfect moment to make her move.

"Long story short, this building has been used as a main transfer site for smuggling international weapons across the country for the past week or so," she said, replying Batgirls question. "While the cops probably don't have enough proof to take the down - no surprise there - and I don't actually have much to figure out what their endgame could be, I've still been keeping an eye on what's been going in and out of this place for a while."

"And even though we don't have much to go on, it can't hurt to kick some ass of these guys anyway," She shrugged, "Can it?"

[milliondollardebut-deactivated2]

[milliondollardebut-deactivated2]

Barbara’s head was filled as she tried to remember how she fought that battle. Assessing it in her mind, she tried to make out the mistakes she made that way she wouldn’t do them again.

Her concentration was cut off though by the sound of police sirens coming closer.

“I don’t have the Batmoblie.” Barbara responded. “I’ve got my bike. Will that work?”

[crossbowhunter-blog]

Barbara seemed very distracted to Helena - very unlike her usual self, but Helena just went with it. Babara was always usually good to work with. She’d snap out of it once they found a good fight.

“A bike is fine,” She replied, glancing again towards the sound of sirens. “we should probably run now, before ‘Gotham’s finest’, decides to turn up and spoil our fun.”

[milliondollardebut-deactivated2]

Barbara got on her bike with Helena and drove them out of there before the police showed up. Heading toward the other side of Gotham she shook herself out of her distracted mode. Well tried to, anyway.

She was no longer assessing her previous battle, but rather telling herself to focus. Which she really shouldn’t have to remind herself.

She was the same way back in Berlin. She got distracted, let herself get strangled by the assassin and then Dick had to come and try to save her butt, resulting in him being stabbed.

What was wrong with her lately?

“I’m heading the right way, right?”

[crossbowhunter-blog]

As Barbara drove them away from the shipping district, Helena busied herself with checking that her crossbow was still fixed to her belt and she was up on supplies. She tried to distract herself from the fact that she wasn't the one that was driving them, because truthfully, she liked to be in control of where she was going and what she was doing the majority of times.

She vaguely heard Barbara shout out a question if she was going the right way and Helena leaned forward so it was easier to reply.

"Yep," she yelled over the wind and motorbike engine, "turn right up here and go towards the high class district. The place where looking for is a big mansion. Like Bruce's but uglier and all white."

[milliondollardebut-deactivated2]

[milliondollardebut-deactivated2]

Her stomach hurt, bad. Now, normally she’d be able to deal with the pain a heck of a lot better, so why couldn’t she now?

She sighed heavily as she silently grumbled at herself, with a few minor swear words slipping into her mind. Sure, she knocked him out and won, but it didn’t feel like a victory. She might as well have lost.

She let go of her stomach again, trying to ignore the pain. “Nice job. I hope you don’t mind me jumping in like that.” She said to Helena.

[crossbowhunter-blog]

Don’t say a word, Helena told herself, her eyes catching the slight grimace on Babs’ face. “Not at all,” She shrugged, answering the former girl’s question, “nice job yourself.”

She stood up and smoothed out the scrap of paper she had retrieved from the jacket. She smirked as black ink on the crinkled scrap clearly spelled out a Gotham address. “It’s probably good that you came along anyway,” she said, showing the scrap to Batgirl. She smirked and placed a hand on her hip. “Wanna help me punish some very bad men?”

[milliondollardebut-deactivated2]

“Thanks.” Barbara said, though she knew her own performance was average at best.

Her hand almost grabbed her stomach again, but Barbara fought off the desire. She was tougher than this.

Helena commented on how it was probably good that Barbara had showed up and then showed Barbara a piece of scrap paper with an address written on it.

“Sure,” Barbara smirked, trying to act confident. “Why not?” At least she’d get another chance. She would do better this time.

[crossbowhunter-blog]

“Perfect.” Helena glanced again at the address noting that it was on the other side of Gotham. She gave a wary glance out of the shipping container as her ears picked up the sound of police sirens (because of course, the action was well over now, and that’s the point when the cop actually do show up).

She pursed her lips before glancing back to Batgirl. “You didn’t happen to nick the the Batmobile from the big guy, did you? Cause otherwise, this is going to be a long swing.”

[milliondollardebut-deactivated2]

Barbara’s head was filled as she tried to remember how she fought that battle. Assessing it in her mind, she tried to make out the mistakes she made that way she wouldn’t do them again.

Her concentration was cut off though by the sound of police sirens coming closer.

“I don’t have the Batmoblie.” Barbara responded. “I’ve got my bike. Will that work?”

[crossbowhunter-blog]

Barbara seemed very distracted to Helena - very unlike her usual self, but Helena just went with it. Babara was always usually good to work with. She'd snap out of it once they found a good fight.

"A bike is fine," She replied, glancing again towards the sound of sirens. "we should probably run now, before 'Gotham's finest', decides to turn up and spoil our fun."

[milliondollardebut-deactivated2]

[milliondollardebut-deactivated2]

Her stomach hurt, bad. Now, normally she’d be able to deal with the pain a heck of a lot better, so why couldn’t she now?

She sighed heavily as she silently grumbled at herself, with a few minor swear words slipping into her mind. Sure, she knocked him out and won, but it didn’t feel like a victory. She might as well have lost.

She let go of her stomach again, trying to ignore the pain. “Nice job. I hope you don’t mind me jumping in like that.” She said to Helena.

[crossbowhunter-blog]

Don’t say a word, Helena told herself, her eyes catching the slight grimace on Babs’ face. “Not at all,” She shrugged, answering the former girl’s question, “nice job yourself.”

She stood up and smoothed out the scrap of paper she had retrieved from the jacket. She smirked as black ink on the crinkled scrap clearly spelled out a Gotham address. “It’s probably good that you came along anyway,” she said, showing the scrap to Batgirl. She smirked and placed a hand on her hip. “Wanna help me punish some very bad men?”

[milliondollardebut-deactivated2]

“Thanks.” Barbara said, though she knew her own performance was average at best.

Her hand almost grabbed her stomach again, but Barbara fought off the desire. She was tougher than this.

Helena commented on how it was probably good that Barbara had showed up and then showed Barbara a piece of scrap paper with an address written on it.

“Sure,” Barbara smirked, trying to act confident. “Why not?” At least she’d get another chance. She would do better this time.

[crossbowhunter-blog]

"Perfect." Helena glanced again at the address noting that it was on the other side of Gotham. She gave a wary glance out of the shipping container as her ears picked up the sound of police sirens (because of course, the action was well over now, and that's the point when the cop actually do show up).

She pursed her lips before glancing back to Batgirl. "You didn't happen to nick the the Batmobile from the big guy, did you? Cause otherwise, this is going to be a long swing."

[milliondollardebut-deactivated2]

She had hit a slump. A plateau.

It was bound to happen. After a huge leap in her abilities and strengths she knew that she would reach a time where she wouldn’t be making any progress, at least for a while. It happened to everybody now and then, no…

[crossbowhunter-blog]

Helena glanced up from her current grapple with a man that had decided to pick up a semi-automatic that was supposed to be in the weapon swap to look up at the redhead that stood at the mouth of the open container. She grinned, brought an elbow down onto the skull of the man that was pointing the unloaded (idiot) gun at her, and caught a glance of a previously felled goon staggering up onto his feet and lunging between them.

She shrugged at looked up and Batgirl. “He’s all your’s,” she said, searching around the container for any more movement.

[milliondollardebut-deactivated2]

Barbara watched as one of the goons tried to lunge at them. Getting into a fighting position, she waited for just the right time to strike at him. As he went to punch her in the face, she dodged and punched him in the jaw.

He growled at her and threw another punch at her, this time getting her in the stomach. Dang it. She held on to her stomach for only a second, letting go in order to fight again. Reaching into her utility belt, she grabbed a batarang and threw it at him. Missed. She dodged it as it came back to her.

The man came at her with more force, but she dodged him again and tripped him. Flat on his back, she took the opportunity to knock him out.

There. That battle was over.

Her “A” game was not there tonight, was it?

[crossbowhunter-blog]

There was no-one left up apart from the guy that Batgirl was fighting, so Huntress took the opportunity to tie the majority of unconscious goons up and search around for any clue as to where and who the guns were being handed off to. Her hands searched over the jacket of the man who had been leading the smuggle, rummaging through pockets among packs of cigarettes, nicotine gum and lint. The man groaned as her hands kept dipping into his pockets and she muttered a “Shut up,” to him, resisting the urge to give him another wack over the head as her hand grasped onto a small scrap of paper.

She looked back at Batgirl, who was seeming like she was struggling a bit, but Helena decided against jumping up to help. She knew better than to get into someone else’s fight, and she knew that if their positions were reversed, seh would certainly not want Babs bounding up to help her if she was struggling.

She did however, raise a single eyebrow towards Babs as she finished off her fight, panting and holding a hand over her stomach. While anyone else would have questioned Batgirl’s state, Helena figured it’d be better if she kept her mouth shut about it.

[milliondollardebut-deactivated2]

Her stomach hurt, bad. Now, normally she’d be able to deal with the pain a heck of a lot better, so why couldn’t she now?

She sighed heavily as she silently grumbled at herself, with a few minor swear words slipping into her mind. Sure, she knocked him out and won, but it didn’t feel like a victory. She might as well have lost.

She let go of her stomach again, trying to ignore the pain. “Nice job. I hope you don’t mind me jumping in like that.” She said to Helena.

[crossbowhunter-blog]

Don't say a word, Helena told herself, her eyes catching the slight grimace on Babs' face. "Not at all," She shrugged, answering the former girl's question, "nice job yourself."

She stood up and smoothed out the scrap of paper she had retrieved from the jacket. She smirked as black ink on the crinkled scrap clearly spelled out a Gotham address. "It's probably good that you came along anyway," she said, showing the scrap to Batgirl. She smirked and placed a hand on her hip. "Wanna help me punish some very bad men?"

[milliondollardebut-deactivated2]

She had hit a slump. A plateau.

It was bound to happen. After a huge leap in her abilities and strengths she knew that she would reach a time where she wouldn’t be making any progress, at least for a while. It happened to everybody now and then, no…

[crossbowhunter-blog]

Helena glanced up from her current grapple with a man that had decided to pick up a semi-automatic that was supposed to be in the weapon swap to look up at the redhead that stood at the mouth of the open container. She grinned, brought an elbow down onto the skull of the man that was pointing the unloaded (idiot) gun at her, and caught a glance of a previously felled goon staggering up onto his feet and lunging between them.

She shrugged at looked up and Batgirl. “He’s all your’s,” she said, searching around the container for any more movement.

[milliondollardebut-deactivated2]

Barbara watched as one of the goons tried to lunge at them. Getting into a fighting position, she waited for just the right time to strike at him. As he went to punch her in the face, she dodged and punched him in the jaw.

He growled at her and threw another punch at her, this time getting her in the stomach. Dang it. She held on to her stomach for only a second, letting go in order to fight again. Reaching into her utility belt, she grabbed a batarang and threw it at him. Missed. She dodged it as it came back to her.

The man came at her with more force, but she dodged him again and tripped him. Flat on his back, she took the opportunity to knock him out.

There. That battle was over.

Her “A” game was not there tonight, was it?

[crossbowhunter-blog]

There was no-one left up apart from the guy that Batgirl was fighting, so Huntress took the opportunity to tie the majority of unconscious goons up and search around for any clue as to where and who the guns were being handed off to. Her hands searched over the jacket of the man who had been leading the smuggle, rummaging through pockets among packs of cigarettes, nicotine gum and lint. The man groaned as her hands kept dipping into his pockets and she muttered a "Shut up," to him, resisting the urge to give him another wack over the head as her hand grasped onto a small scrap of paper.

She looked back at Batgirl, who was seeming like she was struggling a bit, but Helena decided against jumping up to help. She knew better than to get into someone else's fight, and she knew that if their positions were reversed, seh would certainly not want Babs bounding up to help her if she was struggling.

She did however, raise a single eyebrow towards Babs as she finished off her fight, panting and holding a hand over her stomach. While anyone else would have questioned Batgirl's state, Helena figured it'd be better if she kept her mouth shut about it.

[milliondollardebut-deactivated2]

She had hit a slump. A plateau.

It was bound to happen. After a huge leap in her abilities and strengths she knew that she would reach a time where she wouldn’t be making any progress, at least for a while. It happened to everybody now and then, no...

[crossbowhunter-blog]

Helena glanced up from her current grapple with a man that had decided to pick up a semi-automatic that was supposed to be in the weapon swap to look up at the redhead that stood at the mouth of the open container. She grinned, brought an elbow down onto the skull of the man that was pointing the unloaded (idiot) gun at her, and caught a glance of a previously felled goon staggering up onto his feet and lunging between them.

She shrugged at looked up at Batgirl. "He's all your's," she said, searching around the container for any more movement.

[milliondollardebut-deactivated2]

An All Time Low

She had hit a slump. A plateau.

It was bound to happen. After a huge leap in her abilities and strengths she knew that she would reach a time where she wouldn’t be making any progress, at least for a while. It happened to everybody now and then, no matter what the activity they participated in. It just happened.

After the plateau would come a mountain of improvement, and Barbara knew this.

So why was she so upset over this one?

It wasn’t like she had never hit a slump before. She had, so many times. It was fustrating every time, but she never let it bring her down.

Why was this so different for her?

She hadn’t quite figured that out, yet, anyway. She was determined to, though.

The night before, where she didn’t have a care in the world, had ended. She had been with Dick, he had made her a home cooked meal and bought dessert and they had watched Lady and the Tramp until they went to sleep that night. It had gotten so late that Dick had innocently spent the night. Waking up the next morning next to Dick had felt wonderful. She couldn’t deny it, she was in love.

But, he had left for home and Barbara had spent her day by herself like she did most days. And tonight, in order to, once again, try to get out of her slump, she was out on patrol.

Something. Anything would do. As long as it was a bit more challenging than your average robber, it would give her what she needed, a confidence boost.

Then again, maybe she should just talk to someone about it.

Nah.

[crossbowhunter-blog]

If anyone asked Helena what exactly she found so appealing about dropping a smoke bomb into a shipping container that was being used as a tranfers of weapons from one smuggler to another, using the smoke to disappear and reappear among the crowd of armed men, taking each of them down with swift kicks and punches, they would get one answer.

Because it's fun.

There was a kind of underlying giddiness that came with the power of being able to take down a man two times her size, before he was even able to blink, let alone warn his comrades of her presence; and with every man she knocked down, the confidence and sense of inner power rose. You're never underestimated while you're wearing a mask - no-one takes you as a joke, or believes you to be kidding around, and she relished in that.

She finally came face to face with a man in the center of the container, nervously holding a gun while his eyes were darting around the periphery of the container. He actually yelped when she popped up in front of him, and she resisted the urge to roll her eyes as she pull the hand holding the gun forward, bringing her knee to hit him in the diaphram, and allowing the gun to clatter onto the metal floor.

She winked at him. "I think your job is over," she said slyly, before smirking at him, bringing her arm back and swinging it forward, the heel of her hand smashing into him nose.

[crossbowhunter-blog]

OOC: guys I am legit just walking into work and I can't role play - just skip me.

[aceofjoker-blog]

Good evening Gotham!

Tonight we have an exclusive for you!! *snickers*

Filming live from warehouse 62…

We’re awaiting the arrivals of our beloved superheroes! Ahhahahahaaaaa

[sonofcrimealley-blog-deactivate]

Batman’s comm crackled to life. He held a hand up to Robin to stop and listen.

“Good evening…

[gunsnbread-blog]

Jason halted in his tracks as his communicator’s static started up again. “Oh, for the love of—” he yelled as he heard Joker’s broadcast, smashing a hole in the door of warehouse 48 with the end of his gun. Oops.

Swiftly turning on his heel, Red Hood redirected his path towards 62 and his thoughts to something other than shooting out the Joker’s brains. The bastard had valuable information tonight.

Great.

[ofthefittest-blog]

The asphalt beneath Robin’s boots was slick and held little to no traction as the dynamic duo wove their way up to warehouse number 62, capes fluttering wildly behind them.

As they neared their goal, his well trained ears picked up the sounds of their approaching comrades.

He smirked, wondering if the Joker knew what can of worms he had opened this time.

[bettebirdflame-blog]

“Don’t worry about the Hood - I’ll go after him.” Bette said to the remaining group members, “just find Batgirl and bring her home safe. That’s what’s important right now.”

Bette turned from the group and grappled off. Of course Jason would leave in the middle of things. But then again, considering his…history with the Joker this might buy Bats more time to save Cass without Jason’s ill-timed emotions getting in the way.

Bette paused for a moment, right above warehouse 48, where Red Hood was currently in a fight with a door. Her comm cracked with the Joker’s voice

“Good evening Gotham! Tonight we have an exclusive for you!! *snickers* Filming live from warehouse 62… 

We’re awaiting the arrivals of our beloved superheroes! Ahhahahahaaaaa”

Well, shite Bette thought. Jason’s gonna go nuts for sure now. Thanks for leaving me with your crazy son Bats. Bette did a quick check of her flare lenses, just encase, and turned towards the direction of warehouse 62 - it wasn’t far off.

Bette raced along the roof tops - keeping an eye on the Red Hood as she went.

[crossbowhunter-blog]

Helena ran along with Catwoman to the last warehouses where Batman had directed them, silently pleased that he had sent her off with someone who held views closer to her own. Her eyes continually scanned their surroundings as she ran, watching for any activity.

The comm in her ear suddenly crackled to life again, greeting her with the Joker's voice. As he finished his announcement, Huntress glanced over at Catwoman. If everyone had gone in the directions Batman had given them, that would make Catwoman and her the closest to the Joker.