Barbara cursed Sebastian from the bottom of her heart.
The fucking asshole hadn’t just fought to win, he had deliberately aimed for her face.
Every strike had been intentional, calculated to leave a visible mark.
He had made it very clear that this was her problem now.
If anyone asked, she would have to explain why her face looked like that.
And if his name ever came up, he would simply say he fought Batgirl, not Barbara.
It was infuriating.
There was nothing she could do about it.
Telling her father was not an option.
That would risk exposing her identity and worse, Batman’s.
Going after him legally was just as impossible.
Someone like Sebastian would not leave loose ends, he was a smart asshole, of that she was sure.
Which meant she had to endure it.
Wait.
Let Batman figure out what he really was planning, and whether there was any truth to the idea that he was involved in something bigger… like a drug operation.
And more importantly, how to stop him without everything falling apart.
For her father, she gave him nothing.
When he asked who attacked her, she simply said she had been ambushed on her way home.
“A weirdo in a mask,” she called him.
Someone who appeared out of nowhere, punched her multiple times, then ran.
It wasn’t enough.
He didn’t believe her.
After forcing her through hospital checks, where doctors confirmed there was no serious damage beyond bruising, Commissioner Gordon escalated things immediately.
Officers were assigned to keep an eye on her day and night.
He was terrified and she could see it.
By the end of the day, after endless checkups, repeated questioning, and an unbearable amount of attention, Barbara needed space.
So she chose the library.
Unfortunately, her father chose to come with her.
Now she was walking up the steps next to him.
He wasn’t leaving until he saw her safely behind that desk, inside a controlled environment, with nothing suspicious in sight.
There was no arguing with him.
After stepping inside and taking a few steps, she froze, her eyes locking onto a familiar figure sitting at one of the nearby tables.
Sebastian.
He was sitting casually, as if nothing had happened.
As if he hadn’t beaten her the night before.
Across from him sat Jenny, the two of them talking, relaxed, even smiling.
For a brief moment, Barbara saw red.
Her fists clenched.
Next to her, Gordon noticed her sudden halt.
His gaze followed hers and landed on Sebastian.
As if sensing them, Sebastian turned his head.
“Hello, Commissioner,” he said.
“It has been a while… is that Eris?” Jenny turned as well, and her expression changed immediately “Babs!!
What happened to your face?” Barbara’s jaw tightened.
“There was an accident.” Sebastian tilted his head.
“Someone attacked you, right?” Barbara stared at him, fury burning in her eyes.
Commissioner Gordon answered “Yes, you are right.
She was ambushed last night.” Sebastian went silent for a brief moment, his expression shifting.
“I am so sorry to hear that,” he said.
“There should be a law to execute rapists.” The words hit the room like a brick.
Everyone froze.
Barbara’s anger faltered, replaced by pure confusion “Rapists?” Jenny looked just as shocked.
“You can’t be saying she…” Sebastian frowned, as if their reaction was strange.
“Isn’t it obvious?
Ambushing a young, beautiful girl in the night?
What else should I think?” Barbara snapped immediately.
“Nothing like that happened!!
I was just punched in the face by a weird asshole, nothing more!!
Don’t start weird rumors.” Sebastian gave her a pitying look.
“I believe you,” he said.
“I am glad it was just a normal violence ambush.” Gordon cleared his throat, visibly uncomfortable.
“Let’s change the subject.” He looked at Sebastian.
“Where did you go?
You disappeared from the hospital months ago, ended your rent, and no one has seen you since then.” Jenny answered before Sebastian could.
“He was abroad for the past few months and you would never guess what he was up to.” “Oh?” Gordon said, surprised.
“Out of the country?” Sebastian nodded.
“Yes.
I was in Colombia.” Gordon gave a small nod.
“I assume it was work?
It has been months after all.” Sebastian considered that for a moment.
“I wouldn’t call it work,” he said.
“It was more of a drug tourism that ended with a religious faction formation.” The father and daughter stared at him.
Jenny spoke from the side, almost helpfully.
“He is not joking.
It is real.” Commissioner Gordon stared at Sebastian for a moment, then rubbed his forehead as if trying to process what he had just heard.
“Now I am curious,” he said slowly.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Sebastian answered with a completely straight face, as if he were discussing something entirely normal.
“Before the concert incident, I heard news about a new cocaine variation in Colombia.
It is used to make a strong, non-toxin, non-addictive, nice smelling perfume.” Gordon blinked.
“A what now?” “We will get back to it later,” Sebastian replied.
“So anyway, after the incident and since the ugly face might annoy me, I figured I should leave Gotham and check if that rumor was true.” He spoke as if this was the most reasonable decision anyone could make.
“I went to Colombia,” he continued, “and there I met Snowflame, a local drug lord who worships cocaine as his god.
Naturally, cocaine granted him superpowers for his devotion.
So we hit it off and became friends.
I discovered that cocaine variation, along with many others, is real.
For the past few months, I was helping Snowflame unite Colombia’s drug operations into one mega cocaine operation.” There was a pause.
Then he added, almost casually, “Afterward, we started a new religion to worship cocaine.
We also have a church.
The Church of Cocaine.” Gordon and Barbara stared at him.
Neither of them spoke for a moment.
“I thought,” Gordon said slowly, “for a second you were serious there.” “Oh, but I am serious,” Sebastian replied without missing a beat.
Jenny nodded from the side.
“I didn’t believe him at first either,” she said.
“But let me show you.” She moved quickly behind the desk, leaving the father and daughter standing there in silence.
Moments later, she returned with her laptop and set it down in front of them.
She played a video.
Snowflame stood on a stage, speaking with wild devotion.
The crowd responded like true believers, their energy was unsettling.
The speech escalated, the context growing more extreme, more absurd and yet the people listened, absorbed every word then applauded.
Toward the end of the video, Snowflame raised his hand and called for someone.
Saint Sebastian.
The screen showed Sebastian walking onto the stage, waving casually at the crowd as if he belonged there.
The video ended.
Silence followed.
Gordon slowly turned his head to look at Sebastian.
“Is this real?” “Yes,” Sebastian replied.
“I became a saint of a religion that worships cocaine, and the spiritual brother of its prophet.” He reached into his jacket and pulled out a small white book, handing it to Gordon.
“This is our holy book,” he said.
“The Gospel of the Great Snort.
Signed by me and Snowflame.” Gordon took the book without thinking, staring at it, then back at Sebastian.
His mind clearly struggled to keep up.
Barbara, standing beside him, felt even more disoriented.
She thought this asshole was part of a criminal activity related to drugs, but this is much worse.
He had gone and created an entire religion.
[How the hell did this asshole do it?
Who would follow a religion that worships cocaine?] Barbara thought, her mind having a hard time keeping up.
“I have so many questions,” Gordon said finally.
“But most importantly why?” Sebastian shrugged.
“Why not?
It sounded interesting.” He looked at Gordon with genuine curiosity.
“I am curious to see how the law and the world would react when a new religion spreads that encourages people to worship cocaine.
Would it become a hate crime to stop cocaine distribution or devotion?
What do you think, Commissioner?” Gordon stared at him.
“I think you should go to an asylum.” “No, thank you,” Sebastian replied.
“I am totally sane.
Just a little curious about how things will play out next.” “I should put you in prison.” “On what grounds?” Sebastian asked.
“That I am part of a religion that views escapism as the solution to human suffering?” He shook his head.
“I don’t plan to operate in this country.
Not until the new religion is acknowledged worldwide.
Colombia is already full of devotees.” Gordon exhaled sharply.
“This is so fucked up.” Sebastian shook his head.
“No, you are overthinking it.
Actually, in Colombia, there is no crime left.
Everyone is living in a chemically induced ecstasy, with small episodes of existential self-realization and despair.” Barbara finally snapped.
“You are a supervillain!!
The worst I have seen!!” Sebastian blinked at her.
“What?
How could you say that?
What did I do?” “You are talking about a country full of addicts!” “No,” Sebastian corrected immediately.
“It is a country full of devotees.
‘Addicts’ is a derogatory term used to describe unproductive members of society.
Our devotees are quite the opposite.” His face became completely serious.
“If you want,” he added, “I can take you there.
You can experience life there yourself.
It is one of a kind” Barbara stared at him in disbelief “This is so ridiculous!” Gordon let out a breath and rubbed his temple.
“And what about the perfume?” “Oh right.” Sebastian replied.
“You know how this fine hellhole we live in has a pungent smell?
Industrial pollution, smog, sewer, and general filth all mixed together.” Gordon frowned.
“And?” “By mixing that cocaine variation with certain types of perfumes,” Sebastian continued, “it amplifies the scent dozens of times and makes it last for months.
I am planning to sink Gotham in perfume and get rid of that bad smell.” Sebastian gestured toward Jenny.
“I don’t have the best taste when it comes to perfumes, and our devotees don’t have a good sense of smell for obvious reasons, meanwhile Jenny here is supposedly an expert.
I came to ask her for the best options we could use for everyone.
She is compiling a list for testing before we proceed.” Gordon blinked once, slowly.
“You are going to drown the city in a cocaine-enhanced perfume?” “Yes,” Sebastian replied without hesitation.
Gordon inhaled sharply.
“Okay.
That’s it.
I am sending you to an asylum.” “Don’t bother.
I brought no cocaine with me, and the devotees are responsible for the operation.
What you will get out of me is a report that Commissioner Gordon became paranoid after watching a strange video.” He shrugged lightly.
“Some questioning, and I walk free again.
Better wait until the perfume deployment happens, then come after me and try to prove I am responsible by the book.” Barbara turned toward Jenny.
“How could you help this lunatic?” Jenny didn’t seem particularly bothered.
“We live in a city full of lunatics,” she said simply.
“And it smells bad.
Sebastian wants to improve that, and I get access to high-end perfume samples, some I could never afford.” Gordon looked between the two of them, clearly losing patience.
“I don’t know why I thought highly of you before.” Sebastian tilted his head.
“I fail to understand the issue.
Do you not want to wake up in the morning and smell something pleasant?” “The problem,” Gordon said flatly, “is that I am hearing cocaine and perfume in the same sentence.” Sebastian considered that for a moment.
“Then call it chemically improved perfume.” Gordon stared at him in silence, then let out a long sigh.
“Another lunatic added to the list.” Sebastian spread his hands.
“Seriously.
Why does no one believe me most of the time?
And when they do, I am called a lunatic.” He pushed himself up from his seat.
“Well, Jenny, I got your list.
I will come back later once I collect all the perfumes.” Jenny nodded.
“I am looking forward to it.” Sebastian turned toward Gordon with a polite expression.
“It was nice meeting you again, Commissioner.” He paused briefly.
“And I don’t want to sound like an asshole at this point, but I told you so.
You cannot let your daughter walk alone.
She is cursed.” Gordon’s eye twitched.
Sebastian then looked at Barbara.
“If you figure out who the rap…” he paused, then corrected himself smoothly, “the ambusher is, let me know.
I am confident in my ability to beat up people.” Barbara’s eye twitched.
He gave a small smile.
“See you around.” Then he walked out of the library as if nothing unusual had happened.
Barbara turned immediately to her father.
“Dad, you should put him in jail.” Gordon sighed.
“On what basis?
The nonsense he just said and showed us?
It could all be an act.” Jenny spoke up from the side.
“I believe everything he said.” Both Gordon and Barbara turned to her at the same time.
Jenny shrugged lightly.
“Every time he says something that doesn’t make sense, it turns out to be true.” Barbara frowned.
“What are you talking about?” “For example, after the Bane bank incident, he said Bane was playing a modern-day Robin Hood.” She looked between them.
“a week later, news confirmed it when Batman stopped him.” She continued, almost casually.
“And there are many other cases.
He keeps finding the strangest things.
He once brought a real zombie here, saved a woman from the Holy Milk Church” She paused.
“And apparently, there is a half summoned demon god named Barbatos under Gotham.” Barbara stared at her, horrified.
“Did he give you cocaine?
Your eyes look normal.” Jenny sighed.
“This is why I don’t tell you things.” She shook her head.
“You are cursed to attract trouble, he is cursed to find weird things.”