The next day I go back to the park. This time it's just me. I sit on a bench and I wait.
I hear Dick in my head. “Roy these guys are just a bunch of thugs. Here’s the plan we steak ’em out, we find out who they deal with. Work our way up the ladder. Until we get to the main supplier and we take down the whole operation.”
I shake him out. You see, I don’t care. I’m not thinking a big picture. I’m thinking about my daughter. I’ll let the Outsiders handle the big picture. This isn’t a hero thing. This is a Dad thing. I’ll do anything to keep the poison that nearly destroyed me away from my daughter. I’m protecting my girl. I’m protecting my ‘hood.
Ollie’s voice echoes through my thoughts. “Roy, you damn fool. Stop rushing into things without thinking. This gig is 90% mental and sometimes you act like you ain’t got the tools.”
Man he used to get so mad. He taught me well and I was no easy student. He got through and did a great job. I know what I’m about to do. I’m sending a message. I’m keeping my immediate area clean. I’m going to mess these guys up bad. If more come back I’m going to do it again. Then they’ll have to make a choice. Keep multiplying until your numbers out do to the Royster. Which will never happen. Or hire someone who can take Arsenal down. Which could be pretty costly. Or, and this is the one I’d bet on, cut your loses and stop dealing this crap around me.A man stands in a kiddie park where there is no one left playing. A glimmer of the setting sun just catches the edge of his red sunglasses.
They’re here and I’m ready.The man marches into the group of thugs by a car. He walks over to the car’s window, pushing through the small crowd.
Oh, Harper, you tough guy.Thug 1 overcome by the audacity mutters, “Yo, what the fu…”
Roy quickly interrupting, “Don’t make me add bad language to my list.”
Swallowing his laughter thug 2 is able to squeak out, “Who’s this guy think he is?”
Thug 3 replies, “Yo, it’s that Arsenal guy. You know the Outsider. The one who was nearly shot to death.” (pauses briefly) “The one who almost died.” (Again waits for his boys to react). “No powers. Come on, man. You know that wannabe Nightwing guy.”
There was a time where that would set me off. That time was not that long ago. I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t bother me anymore but I made peace with it. They all love Grayson. I made peace with it when I realized I love the little bastard too.“Damn, you’re right,” thug 1 slowly acknowledges.
“Wait! Wait. Didn’t they used to call you Speedy?” thug 4 says while his laughter gets harder.
The crowd of them laughs simultaneously.
I didn’t even flinch. I was thinking how unfair this fights going to be. I was thinking these guys have no idea how fast I was going to take them down. I was thinking about respect and how little of it I get. How much that lack of respect used to get to me. How sad it is that I’m used to it now. Well, I guess it’s not completely their fault. I blame the media.Thug 3 in an awful attempt to be funny breaks the laughter, “I guess he’s the first to run the other way.”
But most of all I was thinking how much fun this was going to be.Before the crowd can react, Roy rips the driver thru the open window. While still in motion and flashing a creepy little smile he utters, “I wore Speedy like a badge of honor.”
Hits a thug reaching for a weapon with the driver. Two guys rush him. He does a split simultaneously kicking them both in the head. In the air he has his bow knocked with three arrows already.
“Speedy was…” Roy begins to say.
Three thugs stand dumbfounded with guns drawn and red arrows sticking out the barrels.
“…a complement. See I got three arrows off before any of you could pull a trigger. Get it. Speedy,” Roy continues while tripping the next guy with his bow. “I thought you boys would like that. Being, I noticed your passion for humorous antic dotes,” with his other hand, he shoots a cord from his wrist. It finds a thug’s shoulder. Electricity pulses through it and his target goes limp. One tries to sneak up from behind him with a bat. Roy back kicks. A pole extends from his boot heel. It smashes the bat and hits his target in the chest. He sweeps the other while picking up the handle to the broken bat. He throws it. It imbeds itself into the back of the one who was trying to run away’s knee. He takes them all down.
So I politely explained what Speedy meant. How it was more of a compliment then a nickname. I also went on to update them on my newer persona. Just a summarized briefing on why I decided to go with Arsenal.Roy walks over to the one who’s still awake but immobile from the bat. “Arsenal now. Get it? All the weapons, kinda like that bat,” explains Roy.
Struggling to hold back his tears the thug slowly huffs out, “I get it man! I get it!”
Roy just continues with a soft inquiry, “Nice shot? Wasn’t it?”
The thug just moans from the pain.
Roy cocks his head, flashes a sarcastic bewildered look and then speaks, “I SAID,” emphasizing his first two words then whispering his question, “wasn’t it?”
The thug now completely giving into his terror and pain cries out, “Yeah! Yeah, man!”
Roy glowing with pride brags, “I placed that shot perfect. I could’ve placed it anywhere. Get it?”
The thug whimpers, “Yes, sir.”
Now removing his sunglasses sternly staring him eye to eye, Roy demands, “Not in this park! Not near my pad! No peddling with in eye shot of me! GET IT!?”
With out hesitation the thug replies, “Yes, sir.”
^
