Chapter 309 – The Birds of Prey Disbanded
Allen walked into a narrow alley.
A faint stench of rot occasionally drifted through the air.
After all, trash cans were placed in inconspicuous alleys to maintain the city's appearance.
"Don't move!"
As he reached a corner without surveillance, he was "lucky" enough to encounter a mugger.
A true slice of Americana—crime lurking in every city.
Especially in these hidden corners, perfect breeding grounds for criminals.
Bang!
Allen turned around and looked at the mugger pointing a gun at him—at the same moment, the metal case on his back slammed into another mugger on the side.
Huh?
Confused, Allen instinctively turned to check what was going on—
Bang!
The metal case once again smashed into the last mugger.
With sixty times the physical strength of a normal person, Allen carried the two- to three-hundred-pound case like it weighed nothing. But to the muggers—ordinary people—it felt like being hit by an unforgiving sledgehammer. They collapsed instantly, unconscious.
Out of kindness, Allen nudged one of them with his foot. "Hey, no sleeping here. Cops will be patrolling soon."
When the guy didn't wake up, Allen sighed, "Can't believe the folks in New York are just as bold as those in Gotham. All that just to show off their seductive sleeping poses? Even I, a certified lunatic, wouldn't go that far."
"Or maybe… you knocked them out?"
Allen looked up slightly and saw a familiar face.
Batgirl was standing atop a utility pole, the full moon casting a glowing silhouette behind her. Her entrance was nothing short of cinematic.
"Barbara, don't be ridiculous."
Then Allen tilted his head and asked, "Shouldn't you be with Dick?"
With a stylish flip, Batgirl landed on the ground and replied, "Don't bring that up. We broke up a long time ago."
She didn't look the least bit heartbroken—it seemed she'd long since moved on.
Of course, it could also be the American-style take on love: if it works, it works; if it doesn't, move on.
"At least you loved each other once."
Allen's tone turned melancholy. "Unlike me… Sometimes I just fantasize that someone might love me."
"…"
Suddenly, the air grew heavy with a sense of sadness. Barbara was left speechless.
After all, who would love a mentally unstable man with no one to rely on? All he'd ever gotten were cold shoulders and contempt.
There was a time when even she had looked at Allen with a trace of disgust—saw him as someone "not quite normal" and tried to avoid him.
When Barbara still didn't respond, Allen quietly turned around, ready to leave.
"Where are you going?" she asked instinctively.
"I don't know."
Allen smiled faintly, his tone desolate. "Just looking for a place out of the wind."
Hiss...
In that moment, something tugged at Barbara's heart. She couldn't bear it and said, "If you've got nowhere to stay, you can come to my place. I've got a spare room anyway."
With his back turned, Allen smiled brightly—then quickly masked it with a conflicted expression as he turned around and said, "I don't think that's appropriate. A man living with you… people might talk. Besides, I don't have money to pay rent."
"Don't worry about what others think."
Barbara stepped forward, took his hand, and said gently, "Food and housing are on me. Just treat it like home."
"Thank you so much… No one's ever treated me so kindly."
Allen's eyes brimmed with humility and gratitude. He looked reluctant to accept her kindness—exactly the kind of pitiful expression that triggered every ounce of maternal instinct in Barbara.
She said with conviction, "I'll always treat you like family."
"Family…"
Time to turn on the acting.
With a convincingly emotional look, Allen's wide, teary eyes shimmered as if he was about to break down.
"Yes, family," Barbara repeated firmly with a nod.
Boohoohoo…
The mood was perfect. Naturally, tears were necessary to complete the scene.
Allen threw himself into her arms, sobbing, while Barbara gently patted his back to comfort him.
But really, behind that fake crying, he wore a shameless smirk and thought, Sucker. I've got you now.
Free food, free lodging, and emotional manipulation? Check. You mad or nah?
"What the hell are you two doing?!"
Suddenly, a furious voice rang out.
Barbara quickly shoved Allen away and looked nervously toward the source.
"Pammy…"
Allen turned in confusion and saw Poison Ivy—Lillian—someone he hadn't seen in ages.
What was going on today? First Batgirl, now Ivy. One familiar face after another.
Apparently, Barbara and Lillian had a "special" relationship.
Not surprising, given both were from Gotham and had crossed paths more than once.
But judging by Ivy's angry expression… it was like he'd just cheated on her.
Cheated?!
In an instant, Allen understood. He remembered something crucial:
Poison Ivy swings both ways—and ends up with Harley Quinn.
But why did Barbara look so guilty? Could it be... she turned Ivy?
"Pamela, it's not what you think…"
Barbara tried to explain, but Allen cut in first: "Pammy, you can't force love. You have to respect personal choices."
Bring on the drama—heh heh heh…
Tsk, tsk, tsk…
At the mouth of the alley, Harley Quinn sauntered in with a baseball bat slung over her shoulder, enjoying the spectacle.
"Pammy, I warned you. We're villains. There's no 'happily ever after' with heroes."
Batgirl. Poison Ivy. Harley Quinn.
Seeing all three women together surprised Allen.
"You guys are the Beast Squad?"
"Shut up! It's the Birds of Prey!" Harley snapped.
In DC Comics, the only all-female team was, in fact, the Birds of Prey.
"Close enough," Allen shrugged, unfazed by Harley's glare. "I'm a beast myself. Can I join your beast squad?"
"Absolutely not."
Harley pointed her bat at his crotch and explained, "You're not a woman. Unless you get surgery."
Allen immediately protested, "How dare you assume my gender! That's extremely politically incorrect."
"…"
Harley snapped, "I said no, and that's final."
"Allen's had it rough," Barbara tried to reason. "Let's just let him join."
"See that, Pammy?" Harley jumped at the chance to stir the pot.
Sure enough, women and their endless drama.
"I should just go," Allen said, acting all dejected. "I've caused discord between sisters. I never should've come here…"
With that, he fled the alley in tears.
"If you don't let him join, then I quit!"
Barbara declared and ran after him. "Allen, wait!"
Poison Ivy and Harley were left staring at each other in disbelief—Barbara actually quit the Birds of Prey over a man?
Once the two women were gone from the alley…
The two muggers abruptly opened their eyes.
"Good thing we played dead. Damn unlucky running into the Psycho Squad."
"They're vicious. Always beat the hell out of men."
Truth was, the muggers had woken up long ago. But terrified by the Birds of Prey's fearsome reputation, they didn't dare move—worried they'd be pummeled into oblivion.
Rumor had it, the Birds of Prey had suddenly shown up in New York over the past two months, taking down major criminal gangs and quickly building their notoriety.
Legend had it, only women who'd been hurt by men could join.
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