(~Arkham City~) Chapter 5

You know, I used to think things weren't that terrible—well, aside from the obvious Eldritch horror I have next to me and the clear signs of it.

There was a moment when the power abruptly cut out, and I spotted a metallic centipede-like creature in Cyn's place. But then the lights came back on, and Cyn reappeared, looking bewildered yet somewhat amused.

I asked Alfred about it, and he simply shrugged, stating it was 'normal around here' and that Cyn did it intentionally to scare people.

Honestly, I believe him. A few hours later, while exploring the mansion and trying to ensure there weren't any hidden basements, I focused on figuring out if this Cyn was indeed different.

I reached the conclusion that this Cyn IS different. Just then, she requested to talk privately.

Knowing I wasn't in any danger—at least I hoped—I took her hand and suddenly found myself in a new area. Oooh, this must be one of the secret locations I'd been searching for, but there were no drone components, no oil, and it didn’t feel ominous.

Cyn then grabbed a chair and managed to sit down across from me after a bit of struggle.

"*Giggles* So, how would you like this conversation to go, big brother... N?"

"In what way?" I asked, intrigued by the maid-like drone.

"*Laughter* I mean, what's your REAL name? You're not N; you're someone else~"

S.H.I.T.

"I, uh... what do you mean, little buddy?"

"*Annoyed expression* It's quite simple, really. *Amused expression* You're not N because I haven’t created sentient AI yet, nor do I plan to. So, 'N,' what’s your real name? If you share yours, I’ll share mine! *giggles*"

Wow, that was... intriguing. I hadn’t planned this far ahead in our conversation, and lying to her wouldn’t be wise at this moment.

"My... my name is... Lucas. I was a man, and I still am, fortunately." I blurted it out, hoping I hadn’t messed up.

"*Giggles* My old name was Joe. I used to be a man, but now I’m female in this form. *Amused expression* While I could create a male body, I've grown accustomed to this one," Cyn—no, Joe—explained.

"O... oh? So, you’re not the Cyn I thought you were?" I asked.

"*Tired expression* Yes, but it gets increasingly difficult to maintain my sanity and uphold some morals. There are two others who are like us," she said, her weary demeanor catching my attention.

I know the Solver isn't to be underestimated, but at least she genuinely wants to experience this life, unlike the Solver life.

"So, you have the Solver?" I inquired, curious.

She regarded me as if deliberating whether to answer.

*Guilty smile* "No, more accurately, I AM the absolute Solver—not just a Solver drone. I discovered this over time and, well, I have a rather possessive nature regarding Bruce."

"And why is that?"

"*Annoyed expression* You don’t need to know that. *Happy face* But I can tell you who the other two people like us are."

"Alright, who are they?"

"*Giggles, head tilt, happy face* Well, I’m glad you asked! It’s Uzi and J."

"Huh...? Not V?"

"*Bored expression* I'm unsure and don't really care. It could be a direct fusion of someone like us and V, or it could actually be the real V." That was an intriguing revelation.

"So, I guess I continue being N, just with some differences, like not being an idiot but understanding what’s going on?"

"*Smile* Yes."

"Can I know their real names before I go, just so I know who to expect besides Alfred and Bruce?"

"*Thinking expression* That’s fine. *Happy face* Uzi’s real name is Gabe, and J’s real name is Pam."

Pam...? There’s NO WAY... I tried to stifle a laugh, thinking about a certain incident that’s quite funny.

"Uh... quick question, how did Pam die?

"*Giggle* she mentioned something about a plan coming to her office," and as she confirmed what I had heard, I couldn't help but burst into laughter. 

The joke about 9/11 being an inside job feels more real than ever, haha! 

Cyn, looking surprised, asked, "*confused expression* What’s so funny?" I just laughed even harder, and when she frowned, a glint of mischief appeared in her eyes. After a moment, having looked into my head from what I felt she seemed to struggle to contain her laughter. 

Imagining Cyn having any sort of dignity is like asking a Discord moderator if they've ever showered. I’m not really sure if she has any, but it’s all pretty hilarious.

She giggled, as she continues, "*laughter laughter* Oh my god, that was absolutely outrageous and amazing!"

"I know, right? It’s funny because while they made memes about the planes and towers, I know people losing their lives isn’t a joke. But the fact that one of the people involved is right here is kind of amusing," I chuckled a little too. 

"But I’m curious… you seem distracted. I can tell you’re listening, but it’s like you’re preoccupied with something else. What’s going on?" I watched her yellow eyes shift from small to wide—was she really contemplating this? 

"No," she replied with a giggle. 

"And why is that?"

"*Giggle annoyed expression* Well, I’m currently a bit frustrated with something that’s not related to this, and I doubt you’d want to be caught in that chaos, right?" she laughed. 

I laughed nervously, "Hah… what kind of frustration are we talking about? You know how the original Cyn behaves…"

She took a moment to think and finally said, "*happy face* It’s like when Tessa was transformed into a skin suit. Cyn was very angry about someone hurting what belonged to her." That thought sent chills down my spine. 

"So, what’s next?" I asked, intrigued. 

"*Amused expression* Now you just need to survive Uzi and V's affections while I handle my own business with Bruce, and you keep being the lovable N everyone knows and cherishes," she giggled. 

Feeling somewhat reassured, I wandered off to explore the manor, but in doing so, I accidentally knocked someone over. 

"Ack! Hey! Watch where you’re going!—Oh?' Looking down, I saw a wild Uzi, her expression shifting from anger to confusion in an instant. 

"You're…N, right?" she asked as I helped her up. 

"Yeah, I’m N—well, I am N now. It's quite the experience, especially with V’s, um, advances," I replied, uncertain about V. 

"Oh? Trying to dodge V's advances, are we? Well, lucky for you, you ran into me," Uzi said, crossing her arms with an air of superiority. 

But something about the way she said that sent a shiver down my spine. 

"So, I take it Cyn has already explained what you need to do, right?" she inquired. 

"Yeah, she did… but I have a question for you," I said. 

"Go ahead," she encouraged, a slight smile on her face. 

"Do you also have the solver?" I asked, observing as her purple eyes flickered to the solver symbol for a brief moment. 

"Does that answer your question?" She grinned mischievously, laughing softly. 

'That’s RIGHT! I AM INVINCIBLE! HAHAHAHA!' I responded with a deadpan expression. When she noticed my look, her cheeks turned a shade of purple. 

"*Cough cough* Anyway, I should show you around and take you to the charging area," she offered, though I could detect a hint of nervousness in her voice. 

"Sure thing, short stack," I teased lightly, and she huffed, pulling me along. 

She led me to the charging room, which looked quite normal. She explained that they still operate on both oil and electricity. 

"So what else do you have for me?" I asked. 

"Well, V is just like the actual V from Murder Drones, and she told me that the 'you'—or N—in her world had a thing for me. And her Apparently, she’s very… uh, suggestive in her actions and words," Uzi shared with a slightly helpless smile. 

"How… uh… *gulp* suggestive?" I asked, feeling a bit concerned for my sanity.

“Things aren’t looking too bad so far,” Uzi remarks, her face filled with concern as she watches V, who appears to be more human-like every day. “But if we start adding more human features to our bodies, I’m worried it could push boundaries that haven’t been crossed yet.”

I can’t help but shudder at that idea, but honestly, it doesn’t sound all that terrible either—maybe Cyn could actually handle it.

“Why doesn’t Cyn just give—” I start to say, but she interrupts me.

“No, just no. Cyn can’t turn us into complete humans; if she did, we wouldn’t be any better than she is,” she replies, trying to dodge the subject.

“That’s not what I meant, Uzi,” I clarify.

“Then what ARE you trying to say?”

“Why doesn’t Cyn just give us the characteristics of males for Me and for you and V and J females, like breasts and so on?” I stammer, my mind wandering off to some enticing images of V, Uzi, and J.

Uzi stares at me for a moment, deep in thought.

“Wait… like those images?” she asks, ensuring she understands correctly.

“Yeah, exactly those images,” I respond with a grin.

As she contemplates this, I notice a vivid purple blush spread across Uzi’s visor-like face.

“W… would you… like those…” she mumbles, her voice so soft I barely catch it.

“Could you repeat that?”

“NOTHING! NOTHING AT ALL!” she exclaims, quickly dragging me around the manor and showing me various places, including where Bruce’s room is, the storage for cleaning supplies, and the Batcave, if necessary.

She also points out where we can clean up, specifically for robots, and during our exploration, we unexpectedly stumble upon an AK-47, complete with live ammo and spare weapons.

“What the heck!” I exclaim in bewilderment.

Uzi sighs and returns the AK to its hiding spot, concealing the stash once more.

“This belongs to Alfred,” she states, giving me a knowing look.

“Wait, it’s Alfred’s? Why would he—oh right, he’s special forces trained and has hidden so many weapons in the manor that even Bruce wouldn’t find all of them, even if he tried,” I realize.

“Exactly. And he doesn’t stick to the ‘no-kill’ rule like Cyn—well, not entirely like Cyn, but sort of,” Uzi explains, looking uncertain.

“What do you mean by that?”

“I mean that Cyn is capable of killing but doesn’t do it in front of Bruce—at least, she tries not to. However, she does show signs of frustration when she can’t release her pent-up tension,” Uzi recounts, remembering a specific instance when Cyn killed right in front of her.

(Flashback - Uzi’s POV)

“Are you sure this is the right place, Tessa?” I ask.

“Yep, I’m 99.9% confident this is one of Joker’s storage houses,” Tessa replies, smiling with her eyes closed.

“And… are you sure YOU are okay? You’ve been having these sudden bursts of anger lately…” I say, concerned for her well-being.

“I’m fInE” she responds with an ominous smile and her voice glitches a little. “Just a bit stressed and pent-up, but that doesn’t matter; I can handle it.” 

“Anyhow, let’s go in,” she says, lifting me up by my jacket and teleporting us to the roof before quietly entering the building.

We find only two guards at the storage house.

“Heeey Uzi~ How about you check out what’s in that vault they’re guarding while I... deal with them? Sounds good?” There’s a gleeful, yet unsettling tone in her voice.

“Sure, that saves me the trouble,” I reply, creeping quietly into a vent that leads to the vault as I hear movement outside.

Not overly concerned, I begin searching the vault and discover a trove of documents, IDs, and enough money to make anyone rich in an instant. 

“Ooh boy, Bruce will definitely love this!” I exclaim with a wide grin as I open the vault door, only to be startled by the pained screams of a man in agony. My eyes widen in shock as I rush around the corner, spotting one guard lying unconscious on the floor.

As I gradually raise my head a little more, I spot either Cyn or Tessa perched on another criminal guard, noticing blood surrounding her and the unfortunate criminal. 

"*Giggles* You have no clue, do you? The amount of suffering someone endures, even the innocent. I wonder if you’ll succumb to shock first? Bleed out? Or will I have to take your life myself? *Laughter*” I hear her voice echo as I cautiously move closer. 

“P..P..PLEASE, NO MORE!!” the man pleads desperately.

With a *thoughtful smile*, she responds, “No~ how about we take off… this finger from your hand? I’m sure you wouldn't miss it, right~?" I hear her say, and then the unsettling crunch as I watch the finger being slowly severed from the man’s hand. His screams of agony fill the air, tears streaming down his face.

I instinctively cover my mouth, overwhelmed with shock and disbelief. Did her tension and pent-up feelings drive her to kill just to feel better? Or was it merely an outlet for her frustrations? I wish I knew, but she wouldn’t share anything with me.

I observe the man attempt to strike Tessa with his other hand, which still works, but suddenly, his arm vanishes. I see Tessa has bitten it off, and she spits it far away. It happened so quickly; I barely registered it.

“I’m sure you won’t miss this arm either, heh~ *sadistic giggle*,” she teases again, and the man screams even louder until his cries cease. 

Is he dead? Did he die from shock? Please tell me he just passed out from shock…

As I lean in closer to get a better look, I see Tessa’s hand embedded deep in the man’s neck, blood oozing as he chokes on it, yet he’s still alive.

After a few seconds, his movements stop, and Cyn/Tessa releases a satisfied sigh, withdrawing her hand as more blood spills out. She stands up and stretches lightly.

“Haaa... that felt good. Finally released all that stress~ Hmm, I wonder if Uzi is done now. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted... Bruce, why can't you just be mine and put an end to all this?” I hear her mumble as she begins to lick the blood off her hand with her unusually long, gray tongue.

As she turns mid-lick and catches sight of my horrified expression, she halts abruptly. After a moment, she finishes licking and utters a single word: 

“God f**k### da# it.” Her eyes, resembling X's, seem to bleed slightly as her words glitch out simultaneously.

(Flashback Ending, N's Perspective)

“And yes, I had to be the one to provide Tessa or Cyn with some therapy fun, right?” Uzi states with a surprisingly casual expression while I maintain a look of horror.

I expected it to be bad, but NOT THIS BAD!

“So, uh... how did the therapy go?” I inquire.

“Quite well, actually. At least now I understand the source of her tension and why she feels so pent-up,” Uzi replies.

“And what is it?” 

“She needs to get intimate with Bruce,” she informs me matter-of-factly, raising her eyebrows knowingly.

“Wait, so... she wants to have sex with Bruce, or more accurately, she wants him to have sex with her… literally?” I clarify, ensuring I understood correctly.

“Exactly,” Uzi confirms.

“What the FUC—”

(Bruce's Perspective)

I’ve obtained the blood sample from Ra's al Ghul, and I definitely won’t be seeing or talking to Tahlia again. I had to make my choice.

Exiting the hidden location, I notice Tessa waiting for me, eyes closed with a smile, hands positioned behind her back. It’s unusually quiet and feels odd; her demeanor is too calm compared to before.

“Tessa?” I call out.

“Yep, it’s me, heh~” she replies as she opens her eyes, which look unchanged except for the faint yellow X's that now glow.

“You didn’t hurt anyone, did you?” My curiosity gets the better of me.

“Nope~ Just a bit more excited than usual~” she says, and I let out a sigh of relief.

“Alright, let’s go. I have the sample. Time to head back to Freeze,” I say, pulling out my grapple gun and shooting upwards, preparing to leave the area.

Tessa trails closely behind, moving a bit slower than usual but still keeping pace. 

(No One's pov)

Tessa appears to be licking a bloodstained hand after nearly finishing her cleanup, all while she trails behind Bruce, occasionally licking her lips with her oddly shaped tongue. 

"*Happy face giggle* I'm so excited for the day when you will be exclusively mine, Bruce~," she murmurs to herself, adjusting her pace to match his.

TBC