Snapped [open]

[Deleted]

Adeline rushed through the nineteen year olds veins as she scaled the rooftops, the spring breeze caressing her athletic build as she patrolled. Gotham was surprisingly peaceful this evening, though Batgirl wasn’t convinced that the crime has ceased. It was all a facade, and she waited eagerly for some kind of announcement to surface from the comm-link that sat silently on her hip. She surveyed the vulnerable city before her from this newfound perch, her eyes scanning its undisturbed silhouette. Her costumed adorned with the familiar bat signal was so tight it almost appeared to spray painted on her body which it fit very snuggly. With the security of her mask a familiar confidence returned that empowered her, making her feel practically invincible.

Her long red hair danced in the breeze as she looked down in the alley, finding it unusually vacant. There was not as much as a whisper from the streets, but perhaps that was just because she was in the wrong place. Determined to leave, she reached for her grapple gun and aimed it accurately at a stone ledge before boldly propelling herself down the length of the building. An overpowering sensation of freedom as scaled the length of the building caused her to linger for just a moment, suspended in air with her heels touching the bricks.

It wasn’t until a horrible ‘snapping’ sound that she was propelled from her thoughts, and an unpleasant slack brought a brief flicker of worry to her ice blue eyes. Before she could grasp what was going on, she was falling toward the ground and landed unceremoniously on the alley pavement. Because she was not too far up, the damage was minimal. The wind had been knocked out of her, causing Batgirl to grasp for air as she tried to regain it. After only a matter of seconds she jumped to her feet to investigate. The grappling line had been cut. “How could this be?” She said to herself, holding both ends in her gloved hands as she glanced up angrily at the rooftop.

That wire was tested to be practically indestructible; a gift from Bruce himself when he had initiated her into the Bat Family. She knew that it wouldn’t simply snap on its own – no, this was intentional.

ooc: join me please! I am up for anything.

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

Old ways and habits would lead such a person to return to the town they knew. And all too much lately, he was finding himself back in Gotham more than a couple of times in a week. That is given between his patrols and with in Bludhaven.

There was only so much one person could take care of in a night. And that goes location wise as well.

Though he managed. He was Nightwing after all.

When it came to the Bat-family, rest and down time was a foreign experience to them, unless strapped down to a bed at the words of Alfred. Even then it was hard to keep the bat-family down on bed rest.

Nightwing was in town just finishing up dealing with the details of a mission down the road with the Outsiders. The detail only know between him and Arsenal. There was no need to raise attention to the subject just yet with everyone else. Batman would already know of it by now.

Some logging time was need in patrols through Gotham though. And what better way then spending it with the members of the family.

Nightwing caught wave of the sounds coming from a few alleys over. That and the gps signals they could keep on each other showed that one was near by. It wasn't that hard to track someone unless they shut off all their systems. Only the Bat-family could access these tech programs. And Nightwing knew how to shut his down from the others.

He went over to check out what had happened. Only to see the red-head down in the alley recovering from a fall.

As she looked over the damaged equipment, Nightwing descended into the alley way. Landing silently, only to speak as she looked to the rooftops.

"Having some tech issues," he said.

[Deleted]

Gasping for air, she quickly found the breath that had been knocked out of her. While she was not seriously injured, a red blush formed on her cheeks at the embarrassment of landing so ungracefully. Used to landing strategically on her feet, she had clearly not prepared for such a malfunction. Relieved that the mask had hid the red tinge on her high cheekbones, she simply glared up at the rooftop. Rubbing her sore tail bone, she stretched as she recollected the pieces of her grapple-gun.

A voice called out from behind her, causing the redhead to whip around at its familiarity. “Something like that.” She said, managing a smile despite her anger. It was always good to see Dick regardless of how unfortunate the situation was. He was the closest thing to a sibling she had ever had, memories instantly flooding her memory back when he used to align himself more so with the bat-family rather than the group he was parading around with now. While she was fond of each key member of said group, she still couldn’t help but be a little bit that they had stolen him from her.

Drawing in the cord, she raised it to eye-level to examine it. “Some had to cut my line. But that’s impossible…isn’t it?” She glanced back up at the rooftops. “Could you imagine- someone wanting to kill me of all people? Surely they have me confused with someone else.” Batgirl said, her voice laced with sarcasm. She quickly began to scale the building rapidly, headed for the roof top to see who had it out for it. “You coming?” She called down to Nightwing, assuming he would be quick to follow.

[Zahira Ormarr - Black Serpent]

It wasn't uncommon for there to be a call out in the city, even just as uncommon for there to be many at once. Calls of course in some meaning of danger. Crimes. This city certainly wasn't running short by any means. Though there was one call though it didn't reach the media so high, it was still of importance. Least the creature The Black Serpent felt it was of every importance when criminals sneak. Manage to creep out of they're boxes and trying to hide back into society… Well, it certainly wasn't going to happen… Not tonight… Not by these goons. Not by long shot… The serpent you could say had did a little digging. Digging in the sense she'd least managed to catch their sent. It paid well to have heightened senses upon occasion. She caught them back at the cells, not the shadows played on top of building rooftops. Hidden to all, but dark eyes caught the movement. Least of the goons. There was four goons that was at least reported, there of course may have been more prior to this. As apparently this wasn't as uncommon as the Serpent had cared to learn, but these goons now, were her priority. Hell, targets. Call them prey if wanted, the results were all aiming in the one direction… The goon below was average built. Light blonde hair, perhaps those puppy dog brown eyes, that tricked women… Huh, right like he would play it off as a trick, more by forced Serpent could see right through the act. Smell it, perhaps he was already playing dumb, back in his routine, but that wasn't gonna end well for him this time. Following him down the street. From any average observer, he was just another stranger in a hood. Potentially ditching his attire or maybe it was hidden beneath. Then it hardly mattered. Following him down the darker streets at night in the southern parts. Populated enough it offered cover, but he wasn't fooling this snake.

With the ever subtle sound of a hiss, as her motions above came close at head. His head turned either way. On alert. Turning down another street. Serpent stayed on toe. Playing with the shadows. Before he turned into an alley. A overly closed off alley, but there was a stair case to an apartment complex, least one could hunch that was where he was headed. Only he wouldn't make it. Falling to the darkened walls. Feeling the space that the alley offered. Her growling hiss grew in-depth and bounced around the walls. Rolling in with the chills down the spine… Naturally he'd look behind. Checking nothing was tailing him… All the while not worrying what was, may be just above or even before. The Serpent dropped. Appeared, however you wish to make it logical. Casting faint shadows on the thick brick wall behind. Came to stand. Revealing the creature. The woman in black. With the ever enclosing eyes. That could snare almost anyone or anything… This could work either way, he'd feel the need to run or he'd take the bait…. Hmmm, of course. He'd choose bait… Perfect… His tongue of course came. 'With this little presentation… I'd imagine you were meant for me…' How could one attempt charming words from a mouth made of filth. Though in response she merely smirked. Kept her silence. Eyes played. Entice. Least one could assume… As the goon came closer. The space got a little smaller. If she was just a girl, she'd probably be a little foolish. A little helpless. He escaped a dark chuckle as she took a step back… Hmmm, really? Before the space got too small, the creature made her move. Turned and leapt to the wall. Using her reflex and strength, The serpent jumped in sort over his head. Landed in a dark crouch shortly behind where he had stood. She could sense the puzzled thoughts as she then came back to her feet. Not much was written on her dark features, nor behind her snake contacts. Though in one swift motion as the goon turned, there came her slightly gloved covered hand to his throat and pushed him back, up against the wall. Thumb pressing just in the spot to make it extra uncomfortable.

"Now I have your attention… Care to tell me where your friends are…"

Subtly. Slowly the words came, lips spoke by his ear. There was perhaps perhaps a bargaining tone in her voice, if you do this, I may be a little kind. That would be a lie… Well, not so much of a lie. If he had anything to cough up, cough it up… Momentarily she watched him squirm not under her hand. She wasn't super human in strength, but well, she did have a grip… His mouth moved, but despite his squirms, he did try to escape. Of course his legs were free, but Serpent counted by a sharp twist of his left arm. Perhaps there was a faint pop. Snap. Now, she wasn't going to wait. She was the patient kind, but then she could find the scents on her own…. The man's breath fell shallow in a whisper in her ear, was that a lead?. As her dark eyes played back upon the man that ached and screamed in pain. An added bonus perhaps as the fangs popped out. Twisted his neck to the side. Soon her teeth sank into his flesh and pumped the venom into his system. Loosening her grip ever so subtly as she could feel his nerves retreat. His pulse getting slower. Lingering in the at position in the darkened alley. The darkened figure of the woman. The creature. The faint visual of the sleek black ponytail. The black suit that encased the Black Serpent. The vigilante to some. A predator to others.

The body fell limb and slid down to the ground. It wasn't along before the sirens would come. Not one to leave calling cards, but she was pretty sure she had left her mark. Before any eyes could jump upon her long enough to take a detailing, she disappeared… Drew down in a couple alleys, dusted off her darkened machine and climbed on. With a little lead for the other criminals. There was a scent, but with so many others, it could be harder with distance. Serpent kept to darkened alleys, much like the shadow on the road until she reach the other side of the city. With the deepened smooth sound, as she came to a halt in a small street, alley kind of section between two buildings. With the scent in the air, with a darkened smirk. She knew she was at the right place. Well, at least there was one. She couldn't quite pin point where the two were, but looking over her shoulder. Listening. Feeling the vibrations. The beating of a train track, a below the surface. A subway. Certainly could be the route they could choose. Serpent would just have to cease that. Wait… Serpent hooked a leg over her bike. Catching a different scent up above the building in front of her, it was a little different…

She's pay closer attention, but something caught her eye. Catching movement coming from the building to the staircase that wound up to it. The criminal. A little bulkier he was. Darker haired. Mean eyes. Potentially put a lot of lives in risk, if not to cause a couple to perish. Unpredictable, is what she recalled about his behaviour. Dangerous. Aren't they all… Black Serpent. The slithering creature that she was, could certainly be… Dangerous. Swiftly. Silently. Effectively. Serpent moved unknowingly among the staircase. Before she lingered on one of the landings in the centre of the staircase. As the goon was inches. Feet. Unknowing who or what he maybe walking into right now… Yeah, she tended to sneak up you. "Did no one ever tell you about Snakes and ladders?" Came from the dark curl of her tongue, with the faint hiss that lingered. Jolted the man, not expecting her, maybe someone else from the look! 'Who the hell are you?' Clearly not. Taking a dark step. "Why don't I show you?" Serpent threatened, the goon turned, but she was already there. Like a blink through the shadows. Exposed her fangs. Whether it was fear or not, the goon sped down the rest of the staircase… Guess no one told him, never run from a snake. Suppose the lesson, be now or suppose he was looking for a chase. As he ran to the building across, through up a line to an open window above. Lets hope this was an abandoned building… Serpent took charge, unwinding down from the railing of the staircase, missing the steps. She all but slithered to the ground. Not much of a beat unsung, as the creature moved through the darkness. The sounds, until her fingertips felt the bricks of the building. No staircase. As Serpent's dark gaze looked up the flat wall to the open window. Slowly began slithering up the walls. Feeling the wall ripple underneath her fingers. Her toes. The footsteps inside… A hiss grew from her lips. Low, etching soon as the black creature that she was, soon reached an open window. Though not only inside this building caught her attention, but sounds. Smells. More vibrations. There was someone else. Back from where she came. Stopping in the window frame as, perched in dark features, but nonetheless there would be some shape seen and the gleam of her dark eyes from the moonlight. Looking, up to that other rooftop. Criminal or hero? Catching perhaps a glimpse of a cape!

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Black Serpent Attire!

SPOILER: Click to show

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

Nightwing took the line in his one hand after Batgirl had taken a closer look at it. Her questioning how this could have happened.

"There is only one blade that would be able to do such a thing. And only those within the company that designed it would know most," he commented.

He left out the name of the company, figured Batgirl would know that he meant the Wayne company. And only those within that company would know of these lines weakness. Or someone tied to the Bat-family.

Not even the most reoccurring villains of Batman's would be know of this.

"No, I can't image who would try," Nightwing replied jokingly. A playful smirk came to the corner of his lips.

Which in seconds, Batgirl was already heading toward the rooftops. By the time she was calling down to him, he had shot a line aimed toward the building. Letting the zip-line take him back up to the rooftops, he disconnected it once he got close.

The line retracted as he used the momentum of the pull to get some air. Performing a flip and then landing along side of Batgirl knees bent to help take some of the force from the landing, before he stood tall.

"Are you alright," Nightwing asked in a bit more serious, concerned tone.

Sure she had taken hits, but to fall several stories was no easy task. Even the Bat-family had their days. And they were only human.

[Deleted]

A bit of movement from the building caught her attention, distracting her from Dick’s words as her keen eyes attempted to focus. Whoever had done this to her was still there, and if it wasn’t them than it was someone else that didn’t seem to want to be seen – which was guilty enough for her. The redheaded heroine nodded and knew exactly what Dick meant as he spoke in tongues. “Which is what makes it hurt even more.” She said lowly, hoping that no face she recognized was the cause for her pain.

Her body ached yet- though Batgirl was sure to push through the pain and pretend as though it was not bothering her in the slightest. “Whoever stabbed me in the back is going to find themselves missing a few teeth.” The raging redhead growled, though she couldn’t help but smile at Dick’s comment. There were dozens who would have paid – quite literally – to see her plummet from stories high in the hopes that it might be the end of Batgirl.

Once back on the rooftops, she was silent; though there was something there she was sure. It was almost as if she could sense it –as foolish as that sounded, though years as a vigilante would do that to someone. “Fine.” She said curtly, not wishing to be babied any more than she already was as the youngest female considered in the Bat Family.