The mighty daughter of the Demon's Head, the sinister mastermind behind Gotham's near-annihilation, the legendary Talia al Ghul—was currently shaking like a leaf in a hurricane, all because of Jack Kadere's verbal beatdown. Her breathing was so heavy it could've powered a steam engine. For a solid minute, she just stood there, wrestling with the urge to teleport through the phone and strangle him with his own shoelaces.
"You're unbelievable. You're absolutely—unbelievable. I swear, I'll—" She managed to choke out between gritted teeth, because apparently, threats were the emotional equivalent of popping a stress ball.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm great, you're great, we're all great. This isn't a motivational seminar, Talia. I don't even have you on my 'People Who Matter' list, so save the theatrics and just get me what I asked for." Jack cut her off mid-rant, effectively turning her simmering rage into a full-blown volcano eruption.
"I WILL SKIN YOU ALIVE AND TURN YOU INTO A RUG!" Talia's scream was so loud it probably cracked the phone's speaker.
Jack held the phone away from his ear, sighing like a man who'd heard one too many temper tantrums. "Hey, keep it down, will ya? I've got childhood trauma, you know. A Chihuahua barked at me once when I was six. Six, Talia. I've been emotionally fragile ever since."
Silence.
Then, from the other end of the line, came the sound of something expensive being thrown against a wall.
Jack smirked. "...Was that a vase? Sounded like a vase. You know, I charge for property damage."
....
"You calling me a dog? Did you seriously just call me a dog?"
"Dogs are loyal companions to humans," Jack Kadere replied with mock sincerity. "Why would good friends fight? Can't we just sit down and slap each other civilly?"
Talia al Ghul's chest rose with indignation. After a tense silence, she sneered, "The next time I see you, I will slap you. Several times."
"If you can manage it." Jack grinned, unbothered. Then, pausing for effect, he began calmly listing the specifications for the custom suit.
Talia listened, jaw clenched. She realized continuing the argument would only give this bastard more satisfaction. Like he said—why waste breath bickering when a dagger in the back would do? Next time she saw him, she'd just end him.
"Three days from now," she finally replied. "Send someone to drop the items at Frank Bertinelli's estate in Starling City."
Jack smirked. He knew full well she'd investigate who Bertinelli was. Frank wasn't exactly subtle—one of Starling's most notorious mob bosses. Talia wouldn't be foolish enough to walk in blind. But that was fine. Jack wouldn't be so foolish as to think she would obediently deliver the items without making any arrangements. Better to let someone else take the heat. And if Helena got caught in the crossfire? Well... she probably wouldn't mind. Much.
He hung up the phone and walked off into the night.
Meanwhile, in the Wayne Enterprises executive office, Talia—disguised as Miranda Tate—set down the phone and leaned back in her chair, eyes narrowed in thought. The measurements Jack provided were for a woman. That wasn't the problem. The problem was retrieving the blackmail material he had—and ideally, eliminating him.
Her eyes suddenly widened. She thought of someone.
The little cat.
Selina Kyle. Catwoman. She'd been locked up with Jack once before. That connection could give her a way in. If Selina could get close again—she might recover the materials. Killing Jack wasn't necessary. Not if she could simply reclaim the leverage.
As for why Catwoman would help? That part was easy. The woman had been looking for a way to wipe her criminal record clean.
Talia smiled. The bait was in place. Now she just had to wait for the fish to bite.
While the custom suit was being manufactured using the same material as Batman's armor, Talia tracked Selina down. It wasn't easy—Selina was elusive, her movements erratic—but Talia had resources. She found her, and under her Miranda persona, made an offer.
Jack Kadere had photographs. He was blackmailing her for a suit. She needed Selina to find him and retrieve the materials. In exchange, she'd provide software capable of erasing Selina's criminal record from every major federal database.
Selina hesitated. Her experience with Jack had left an impression. She'd once betrayed Batman under Bane's threat—but Jack had taken Bane out without breaking a sweat. She didn't want to provoke him. Then again, the opportunity to finally clear her name?
Tempting.
She agreed—though under her own conditions. No killing. No setup.
Talia agreed. She had other contingencies in play anyway.
Three days passed.
The finished suit and Selina Kyle arrived together at the Bertinelli estate in Starling City. The villa was a fortress, guarded inside and out by over twenty armed men.
Inside, Helena Bertinelli stood at her bedroom window, peeking through the curtain. She scowled as she turned toward the man lounging casually on her bed.
"How the hell did you get in here?" she whispered in disbelief.
Jack grinned. "You can't steal a kiss without slipping past security. Surprised? Unexpected?"
"When I came back last time, my father lost it," Helena said nervously. "He's been looking for you everywhere. If he finds out you're here…"
Jack stood and pulled her gently onto the bed beside him. "While he's hunting me across Starling, I'm sleeping with his daughter under his own roof. Pretty ironic, huh? He may run a crime syndicate, but even he can't stop what's happening in his own house."
Helena blushed. "There are bodyguards right outside the door."
"Then maybe we should keep things quiet," Jack teased.
Helena's eyes gleamed with a mischievous idea. She got up, walked to her wardrobe, and pulled out a sleek black gag.
"This should help keep the noise down."
Jack blinked, then chuckled with open admiration. "You had that ready? You're full of surprises… but I'm not complaining."
Helena fastened the gag with a wink. Jack's eyes darkened with interest.
The guards outside had no idea what was going on.