010

— whatever help you need, come to me —

March 27, 2021

CRACKS AND SCREAMS ECHOED FROM THE SPEAKERS, LAST NIGHTS AGONY FILLING THEIR EARS. Hazel stood to the side, her eyes turned away from the computer that played both pedestrian and security footage of terrible and unhinged violence. Cole stood beside her, his eyes darting between the violence and his sister's blank expression.

Dick reached over the computer and paused the video, letting the others stay silent as they collected themselves. "A dozen dead in under two hours," Dick relayed, "Crane and Red Hood were only doing a trial run."

"Crane is weaponizing anybody willing to take his drug," Kory deduced. "It's turning people into violent psychopaths."

"That's what he did with Jason," Gar spoke up.

"Jason's gone," Dick said and Gar lowered his gaze. Both he and Cole looked at Hazel, but her expression remained the same as she kept her eyes turned away. Dick took a breath, "He's Red Hood now. It's time we all accept what he is. Now that Crane has the multiplier, he's going to start mass producing this drug."

"This was the damage with only three inhalers," Cole sighed, taking a step closer to the computers. "Gotham will implode if he gets more than a hundred out."

"Did you do scans on the machine yet?" Dick questioned, looking down at Conner who sat at the computer.

"Cole and I tried to trace the multiplier's heat and power signatures, but so far, nothing," Conner sighed and glanced back at Cole. "It's like he's hidden it."

"Keep looking," Dick ordered, stepping away.

"Where are you going?" Hazel questioned her gaze snapping up.

"There's another computer. The GCPD does this sort of thing. A bit better hardware," Dick explained.

"Why haven't we been using it?" Kory asked.

"Because it's illegal," Dick answered before walking off.

There was the light echo of the door closing and Kory sighed, her hands twisting the rings on her fingers. "Well, if we're breaking laws, I've got an unhappy mobster to track down," Kory said, dropping her arms. "Hazel?"

"I've got a few things to take care of," Hazel answered. Kory nodded and went upstairs, Blackfire steps behind her.

Gar looked between the stairs and Cole, his eyebrow raised, "Mobster?" Gar squeaked.

"It's Gotham," Cole said with a shrug. He looked over the computers before taking a seat. He pulled up dozens of files and Conner sat next to him, both reading over it as they looked for any sign of the multiplier.

Hazel looked at Gar and he followed her upstairs to the kitchen. He tried to question her, but Hazel held her hand up, urging him to be quiet as she listened to Kory and Komand'r leave the manor. She stayed silent a moment longer and Gar raised an eyebrow at her. "Jason called me last night," Hazel said in a quiet voice. Gar's eyebrows shot up, but Hazel quickly shook her head, "He didn't say anything. But it was his contact, like, same number and everything."

"You're serious?" Gar questioned and she nodded. He sighed, his lips pulling tight. "All right, c'mon." Gar nodded and Hazel followed him up to Jason's old room, the door still closed. "There's gotta be something in here," Gar said as he pushed the doors open.

The room was similar to many other bedrooms throughout the house; old wallpaper, golden lights, the decorations and furniture styled to look very old money. Jason had some things hanging up, a framed Flying Grayson's poster over the bed, and a few graffiti style paintings on the far wall, but other than that his room was pretty band.

Hazel sighed and scratched the back of her head. "Any clue on how we find him?" Hazel questioned, looking over the posters on the walls.

Gar paused. "Yeah, butthead, figure me out," Gar said, mimicking Jason's voice. "Could've at least cleaned your damn room," Gar snapped, speaking in his normal voice. He walked to the side table and picked up some of his old clothes. "Sorry I didn't cram it full of pinball machines and cat food." Gar tossed the clothes down and looked up at Hazel. "You wanna help?"

Hazel shook her head, a smile growing on her face. "I'm getting a kick out of this," Hazel shrugged. Gar glared at her, and Hazel huffed, looking over the room. "Also, this room is impeccably clean compared to his old room." Hazel paused and turned to the bed. "Why is it clean?"

Hazel hopped onto the bed and pulled down the Flying Grayson's poster, revealing a small bag taped to the back of the framing. Hazel dropped it on the bed and knelt beside it, Gar walking to her side, sitting next to her. Gar ran his fingers over the tape holding the bag down before carefully pulling it off, turning it in his hand.

"Why does he have flowers?" Gar questioned, looking at the yellow petals inside.

"I sent them," Hazel explained.

Gar glanced at her before opening the zip lock bag, the familiar scent of cannabis filling his nose. "Oh my god, is that-?"

"Weed? Yeah," Hazel confirmed, snatching the small bag from Gar. "Jay was having nightmares and asked if he could get something to not freak out as much. Somes missing so either he used it or... he used it to deal with Scarecrow."

Gar sighed and pushed himself off the bed. He closed the bag and tossed it back on the bed. "That's one stash down," Hazel mumbled. Gar glanced at her, and she pushed herself up. "Juvie 101, always have multiple stashes just in case one gets compromised."

"You went to jail?" Gar questioned. 

"Juvie and that's not the point," Hazel said quickly.

"He has another stash," Gar mumbled. Gar's eyes went green as small growls ripped from his throat as he looked around the room. He sniffed in the air and walked towards the fireplace, his ears twitching. Gar ducked down and ran his hand along the wood.

Hazel quickly moved to his side, looking over the rivets in the wood. He looked up at her before pressing one of the wooden details and a small drawer popped out. He pulled it open and grabbed a black box inside. "Bingo," Gar said in excitement.

Hazel pulled the lid off and rolled her eyes at the cutout picture from a porno magazine. She tossed it aside and pulled out a blue piece of paper. Hazel's eyes scanned the paper and she smiled at Gar. "Jay, it's Molly, you've been ignoring my calls and texts, so I went old school," Hazel read aloud. Her eyes skimmed over the page, "Whatever help you need, come to me." Gar smiled and they ran from Jason's room, Gar slamming the door closed.

"Hey," Cole said, looking over the pair, a cereal bowl in his hand. Gar turned, snatching the note from Hazel and hiding it behind his back. Cole took another bite, his eyes darting between the two. "I'm a telepath Gar, I know what you're holding. And no, I won't tell Dick."

"Could you tell us who Molly is? Like if you went into Jason's head could you tell us who she is?" Gar asked, his tense shoulders dropping.

"No. I haven't been in Jason's head before," Cole said, pulling his lips tight. "It's like looking for a needle in a pile needles."

Hazel cursed under her breath but then she suddenly grabbed the note. "What if I pinpointed the energy? Could you tell then?"

Cole shrugged softly, "I don't know, I've never done that before." Hazel held out her hand and Cole grabbed it, his eyes glowing red as he looked at the note. He tilted his head as if the tiniest crease on the page would tell him the answer. Cole took his hand back and the others stared at him. "It's from a girl named Molly Jenkins, she lives on Hallows, the apartment block. Number seventeen, third floor."

❁

Snowy Cone, Ice Cream Factory

HEAVY SOUND OF MACHINES AND ELECTRICITY ECHOED THROUGH THE ICE CREAM FACTORY. Cole, Conner and Dick tracked the multiplier down to the old snowy cone factor. Cole was correct, it was a chemical replicator, and it was currently copying thousands of the anti-fear gas, dozens of men standing guard near the machine.

Cole was connected to the comms, leading the Titans through the backdoors and side hallways of the factory to stay unseen. Nightwing had placed trap mines, hook wires and flares near the entrance and ordered Cole to set them off if anyone was close enough, which he was very excited about.

Two men set the hook wires off, Nightwing's symbols digging into the backs and yanking them high into the room. Another two blue symbols were thrown out, piercing the metal steam pipes, the thick steam pouring out over the floor. The dozens of soldiers raised their guns, their eyes frantically searching the surrounding area.

"Over here fellas!" Dick shouted. The men spun; their guns raised at the Titan's standing by the back entrance. A man shouted for them to shoot but Hazel was already sending a bright flare out, blinding the men and melting the stray bullets. Hazel lowered her hand, the flare disappearing, and the Titans split.

Hazel ran forward and jumped up onto the metal framing encasing the machine. She stopped to smash the protective casing around the equipment before running along the framing where another dozen men had run out of the doors, aiming their shots at Conner and Blackfire. Hazel waved her arm and vine crept along the floor to encase the heavy Ice Cream trucks. Hazel whistled through her teeth and the men looked up. Hazel smiled and threw the trucks into the lines of men.

A large explosion, followed by a massive wave of fire erupted as Kory sent her fire at the generator. The metal framing shook, and Hazel quickly jumped down, rolling across the ground to avoid the orange flames. Hazel turned, facing the men that had jumped out of the way of the tossed trucks.

Gar crept up behind the four men, tapping the furthest one on his shoulder. The man spun but Gar slipped around him, spinning and kicking the man in front of him across the face. Hazel raced forward, kicking back one man and blinding the second, her vines dragging him to the floor. Hazel turned to the man Gar slipped past and she knocked him back with vines.

"Duck!" Hazel rolled under Gar's swing, sending a kick to the man behind him as Gar spun to slash the third man across the face, his green claws tearing through his skin. Hazel stood and faced Gar. "Nice roll," He teased.

"Nice swing," Hazel laughed. She glanced up at the large Snowman face on the factor office building.

"Haze. Three more, to your right." Hazel turned as Cole's voice echoed through the comms. Vines sprung from the ground barrelling through the group of oncoming men. Gar jumped back, stepping behind Hazel as she pulled them all into a bundle. 

Gar looked up at the building and tapped Hazel's side, "C'mon." He urged her onwards and they ran to the building, meeting Kory and Dick as they ran up the stairs.

Dick looked through the open office door and nodded. "All clear," He called, looking over his shoulder and they stepped inside. "Let's check the exits. They're on the move." Dick rushed through to a back door, Kory close behind.

Gar walked toward a chair tucked tight in the corner, thick, torn duct tape half tapped to the front legs and arms of the chair. Hazel walked to Gar's side, her fingers ghosting over the grey tape. "Is it him?" Gar asked, glancing sideways at Hazel. Hazel nodded softly. Gar let out a heavy sigh, "We need to talk to Molly."

"Once we get back," Hazel promised.

They returned to the manor a few hours later, Barbra joining them for a round of drinks to celebrate. Hazel and Cole sat shoulder to shoulder on the kitchen island, Cole leaning back on his hand. Gar walked to stand by Hazel, handing her another orange flavoured pop. The group laughed at something Barbra had said, another joke about ice cream. "One more?" Dick asked, motioning to the beer in Barbra's hand.

"Um, I think one's my limit," Barbra said. "Thanks, though."

"One day Cole, we'll teach you to fight," Kory spoke up, smiling at the boy. "Maybe one day you'll be as good as Hazel."

Cole laughed softly and Hazel shrugged, "Don't give him false ideas," Hazel teased, sipping on the drink. The group erupted in laughter again and Cole faked a terrible pain in his heart, his hand pressed to his chest as he fell back against the counter. "Though you did do very well on the computer."

"I am not your guy in the chair," Cole complained, slapping Haze's arm.

"Three hundred thousand nebulizers destroyed tonight," Conner said, part of an apple in his mouth. "His whole operation."

"And dozens of Gotham's mobsters in jail," Komand'r added.

"And a few in the hospital, thanks to Hazel," Gar nodded with a smile. Hazel pulled her hand up and blew a bunch of petals down at his face. Gar laughed harder and swatted the petals away, his arm moving to drape across her knees.

"Might I say, not a bad night," Hazel hummed with a smile.

"It will be better when we bring down Crane and Jason," Dick spoke up and Hazel's smile dropped slightly. "They're on the run now. They're getting sloppy. That's when we win. But good work."

Hazel's eyebrows shot up and she leaned forward slightly, "Did you just give us a compliment?" Hazel laughed.

"Yes I did, cheers." Dick raised his bottle and an echo of cheers sounded through the kitchen.

"Congratulations," Barbara smiled. "I'm gonna hit the road."

"I'll see you out," Dick said with a nod.

"Um, I know the way. It's okay," Barbra said, with a slight shake of her head. "You kids have fun. Goodnight."

"Goodnight," Kory called.

"'Night," Gar called.

"This might sound insane, but I am dying for some ice cream," Kory groaned.

"Did anyone think to grab some when we were at Snowy Cones?" Blackfire questioned.

"DoorDash," Cole suggested, still leaning against the counter. "Mint Choc."

"I can beat DoorDash," Conner spoke up, pushing himself off the counter. He set his apple down and sped off, accidentally bumping Gar's shoulder.

"Thanks, Conner," Kory called after a moment.

Gar cleared his throat and set his drink down, tapping Hazel's knee softly. "You know what? Save me some," Gar requested before walking off.

"Ditto," Hazel added before rushing after Gar.

They walked out to the garage, where Hazel's bike was parked just outside the doors. Gar grabbed a helmet, spinning it in his hands. "Do we have to take the bike? Can't we just drive?" Gar asked, turning to Hazel but she was already pulling her helmet on. Gar sighed and did the same, zipping up his jacket.

— rage —