The Silhouette and The Forge
Chapter 20

The man in question tried crawling away while everyone was not looking at him. He looked back at the mention of his name in fear before bumping into the legs of an agent and stopping cold before getting dragged onto his feet with a cry of fear escaping his lips as he fought and struggled. 

But the agent doesn’t care in the slightest as he is simply punched in his gut making him wheeze as the air is forced from his lungs.

Dragged before Silhouette and held up before being forced to kneel before them Jaina would secretly admit to herself that the sight of the man forced to kneel before her made her feel… good. She wouldn’t enjoy something like this with most others, but after what he did and she shuddered at what he intended to do with her she has no such issues seeing his gaze looking up at them in fear.

“Y-you can’t do this. I am a member of the Court!” He manages to get out as a shaky smile forms on his face as he looks between the two of them as they both turn to look at one another and despite no spoken words they both agree that this man can’t be serious.

Silhouette merely chuckles while Jaina pinches the bridge of her nose and shakes her head as his smile falters and one eye twitches not understanding or simply trying to weasel his way out of this. 

“Donovan, so is Miss Hudson. Unlike you, she is in good standing with the Court. And last I checked she isn’t the one who attempted to capture and torture before killing a fellow member. So do everyone a favor and for once in your worthless life fade away like a man with some dignity.” 

He breathes in and out of his mouth through clenched teeth before he fights in the grip of the agents who with a gesture from Silhouette refrain from harming him. “Who the fuck do you think you are?! You want in on our– no, my table in the Court! I and my family have been a part of it for generations and you two think you can tell me what to do. You are beneath me.” 

Jaina’s face felt like it was set in stone as she could only look down at the… boy, for he was no man. She almost pitied him for how sad of a life he has lived, so obsessed with constantly trying to prove himself. But it was a shallow pursuit and any sympathy if he could ever be given any is killed off in his arrogance. 

She glanced at Silhouette as they stepped forward Donovan was so caught up in his insane rant that he was silenced by Silhouette grabbing him by his hair and pulling him up the men let go of him and he let out a yelp before getting slapped with a surprisingly powerful backhand that sends him flying several meters back. Landing on the dirty floor on his side as he breathes in and out. 

“You are sadly mistaken if you think we are beneath you, both figuratively and literally. After all, with the stunt you pulled here, you are not living past this night. Even if Jaina is against it, you are dying. You are too dangerous and unstable to be allowed to exist in this city, let alone the world at large.” 

Silhouette turned to face Jaina as she stared back at the mention of what she wanted, “No need, I fully agree. After this, he must die.” She stopped the tremor that threatened to erupt in her arm as she grabbed it and turned to show her back to them, managing to keep her voice stable. 

“W-w-wait! No need to go that far… I was never going to do anything to truly harm– Aaargh!” His lies are cut short as Silhouette grabs his arm in the cast and sling and casually crushes it in their grip Donovan howls in agony as the agents return to his side hovering menacingly. 

His screams and sobs are cut off after a few seconds with Silhouette letting go and he hugs his harm as it looks to have been snapped in two as one part only hangs on thanks to his muscle and skin. 

“We will be leaving now. Anarky’s men will be keeping you company as they get medieval on you and what is going to be a very painful short life.” Silhouette turns around to walk away as Jaina looks one last time at Donovan and his men still being held down by the agents Donovan whimpers and reaches out a hand about to beg for mercy before the agents grab them and drag them into the shadows as they scream and beg for their lives.

“I think it best for you to leave,” Silhouette says offering her a hand as she looks at it for a moment before taking it and gently holding it and guiding her out of the warehouse into the cold night of Gotham as she shivers before a fine fur coat is draped over her as she looks over in surprise at Silhouette placing it on her after taking it from an agent waiting outside as she looks down at it. 

She can’t say she has ever seen a coat like it, and she was knowledgeable in fashion with her brief history of modeling when she was younger. But it was nice, better than any she had before, and well made as the cold is kept at bay with it. “Thank you…” 

Silhouette continues to lead her toward a black car with a few agents waiting around it. “No need. Regardless if I had anything to gain from this, I still would have helped you.” 

This made her look at them with an intense scrutinizing gaze as they merely stared ahead as she doubted that. “I understand. No one does anything in this city without anything to gain. You could say I did have something to gain if it helps, like your trust. Would you like a ride?” 

She hesitates at the offered ride in the car as the agent holds the back passenger door open for her. “Why would you want my trust? I don’t have much pull in the Court. So why?”

Silhouette stops and chuckles, “You invested in companies that have been providing jobs and decent income without abusing their workers. You constantly try to better the people of Gotham only being behind Bruce Wayne with the help you try and provide. This city needs people like you in positions of power Jaina.” 

“You're the owner of those companies, aren’t you?” 

“Maybe. Maybe not. Does it truly matter?” They say with a shrug.

“It does for me. Why bring the drugs into Gotham that destroyed so many lives?” She demands with heat in her tone as she has a steely gaze staring at Silhouette, and despite her belief they are a metahuman with the display of strength they showed with Donovan she still was utterly horrified by the gang war that Silhouette profited off of and despite knowing how she is at their mercy, she couldn’t and wouldn’t back down from that. 

“Money.” They say simply as she just stares uncomprehendingly at the answer. 

“Money? All of that for money?” She says quietly. 

“When making an omelet a few broken eggs are to be expected. Without that money, none of this would be possible and Gotham would not have a chance at real change.” 

She stays silent as Silhouette goes on, “I never intended for Gotham to be embroiled in the gang war of such size and scale that it quickly grew to be one of if not the worst gang war in this city's long history. But that is the nature of the beast I suppose, and I should have known better. But it was necessary to wipe away the gangs that controlled the city into something more manageable for what is to come next while generating enough revenue to aid in helping rebuild this city.” 

She wouldn’t ever openly admit to it, but she would acknowledge privately to herself that with the destruction of so many gangs from the small ones to the big ones run by supervillains, the city was more peaceful if that is the right word to describe it. In her time with the Court, Jaina had come to realize that sometimes acts of necessary evil are needed to achieve things for the good of all. 

Despite the things the Court has done, she has seen a few things that did benefit the people of the city and made life just bearable enough for them. 

She lets out a tired sigh before speaking, “Alright. Let’s say you are telling the truth and I am willing to let go of what you did to so many innocent-”

“No one is innocent in this city Miss Hudson, didn’t your parents ever tell you not to throw stones when you live in a glass house?” 

Ignoring the jab and continuing, “-people go, what are you after? Why join the Court?” 

“I already gave my reason. A meaningful change to this city. With the Court that becomes much closer to reality.” 

Digesting what they just said she finds her words, “The Court wouldn’t go along with whatever it is you have in mind even with your contributions. You would have more sway than some members but it would simply be suggestions.” She says knowing better after embarrassing herself with the Court in the beginning with her suggestions for helping the people of the city.

She stares confused at them not understanding what they are getting at for a moment before she thinks she begins to realize what Silhouette is getting at. 

“You're going to try and take over the Court…” She says quietly as Silhouette claps lightly.

“Ding ding ding. We have a winner, boys! Give her a round of applause.”

The agents clap lightly as she looks around at them before facing Silhouette. “If you are telling me this then I am…” 

As she realizes that she starts thinking of a way out of this as her gift is ready to be used, but she doesn’t know if it will be enough to get her out of here. 

“No. You are in no danger, and if you want you can call a cab if need be or other form of transportation and we will stay around long enough to make sure you are safe. If you want.” 

Their words give her pause seeing the agents make no move to stop her from backing away as she much to her berating for being so stupid comes back to them. “Then why tell me?”

“I want you as an ally when we take over the Court. You care for the people of this city and you are smarter than most give you credit. I want you to lead the Court.” 

Instead of letting the shock or surprise of this revelation, she instead latches onto this. It’s something that Jaina had in the past contemplated if it ever came to be. She did not know if she fully trusted them but so far they have gained some of her trust. And Jaina would be a fool to not take advantage of this. She had heard the Court’s whispers of Silhouettes resources and them guessing at the extent of them. 

If they are enough, they might just be able to do this. “As your puppet?” 

“No. You wouldn't work with me otherwise.” 

“You are correct in that regard. I have long since grown tired of being beneath others. So an equal?” 

“Yes. I have a plan to ensure the subjugation and hijacking of the Court. If you are interested we can discuss more in the car to wherever you wish to go. I would recommend the charity event but if you wish to go home I understand after what almost happened…”

“No!” She says louder than she meant to, not wanting to pass up an opportunity like this, “No. I am more than able to make the charity event.”

She says stepping into the car Silhouette steps inside as well as she notes how comfortable the inside is along with how clean it all is. It does nothing to fully settle her nerves to step inside the car.

“How are you intending to take over the Court?” Jaina says cutting to the chase since this is not something to beat around the bush and approaching it directly for how serious it is.

“By taking out and replacing several of its members.”

She pauses after hearing that as she raises a brow in response. Silhouette merely chuckles before pulling out a phone and calling a number. 

“Yes sir?” 

Jaina pauses at hearing the voice on the other end… It was Donovan’s.

Taking the phone and facing it towards her she saw the face of Donovan with his bruised face. “Say hello to your fellow Court member Donovan.”

“Hello Jaina, I hope this evening is going well for you.”

“I… yes it is.” She says now at a loss for words beginning to both be intimidated by Silhouette for what she had just seen and now realizing how easily they could have just replaced her. Before she wasn’t exactly trusting of Silhouette seeing how they showed up only when Donovan had her. 

But knowing they could have just as easily done this to her… maybe this will work out between them. 

She highly doubted it since working with the cape and cowl group tends to not end well for people deciding to try and gain something from working with them. The several high society people who had fallen from grace by trying to use someone like the Joker or the other madmen that call this city home can attest to how bad of an idea it was.

But for Jaina, this was too good of a chance to pass up and if it comes down to it she will simply distance herself and leave the city and go back to India. 

“I understand your hesitation at working with someone like myself. Especially something as risky as what we both are going to attempt. Donovan was just the first of many, as we subvert the members of the Court and use their assets and wealth to bring a golden age to this city and everyone gets to enjoy it regardless of them being poor or rich.”

“That I can get behind. Far too many of the wealthy in this city look down on and even blame the problems that plague this city on them when they are just as if not more of an issue.” She says having to agree with Silhouette so long as they hold true to what they are saying.

“So those businesses are yours?” She says wanting to try and get a grasp on how far their reach is.

They merely nod, “Of course. Got tired of seeing trash, graffiti, and all kinds of scum covering the city. So the business is willing to hire any willing to put their best foot forward in making a clean and legitimate income.” 

And on and on it went in the car as they discussed things and possible ideas that could be utilized in further increasing the rate of subverting the Court as Jaina began to believe they may be able to accomplish this. She even started to have some respect for Silhouette. 

She didn’t fully agree with the means they have gone to accomplish their goals and the cost of such actions but she also cannot deny the results it got. If the city prospers and those who live in it can enjoy prosperity, is the cost of so many gangs and criminals truly such a bad thing?

Not long after, Jaina was dropped off as a ride came to get her and she waved off Silhouette and the agents from keeping her company after what happened. While appreciating the gesture she refused to look weak, and having her dignity and pride tarnished she politely refused.

What could have been and the look in Donovan’s eyes remains in her mind as Jaina struggles to rid the image and her imagination running wild at what would have happened had Silhouette not intervened. The fear that gripped her heart and the adrenaline from it all left her on the car ride leaving her mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted but she persevered.

 Putting on a strong front to mask her exhaustion when speaking with Silhouette. A part of Jaina remains skeptical of her ally, but after that and then being upfront and mostly honest as far as she could tell she felt that maybe she has made an ally that is not going to simply use and toss her aside. 

Who knows she might just repay the favor when they are in dire need and her gift could be used to help them. As she steps out of her ride in front of Wayne Manor she pulls out a compact and adjusts her makeup-- she sees her reflection distort for a moment as her skin pales and her hair turns white with rabbit ears on top of her head.

The reflection smirks and tilts its head winking before a second passes and the reflection is just her normal reflection. She could only lightly smile at her companion’s opinion on the matter. Alright, Silhouette let’s see how this goes for all of us.

Moves being made and trying to gain allies. For those who may question why Silhouette would give such information to Jaina, she already has issues with the Court, and a chance to make a permanent difference in Gotham is too big of an opportunity to pass up. Add in Silhouette saving her with what Donovan had in store for her and was willing to share some valuable and dangerous information to extend an olive branch to her and she is willing to give Silhouette a chance.