Night time.

The hour that most criminals would go around doing bad deeds.

Which is exactly what a group of thugs were doing right now in a warehouse.

Thug 1: "I still can't believe it's been a year since the Bat bit the dust! And even now, we're still having a tough time stealing things!"

Thug 2: "I blame the new guy going around town."

Thug 3: "You mean Red Hood? Ugh. That guy gives me the creeps."

Thug 1: "What's so bad about him anyway?"

Thug 2: "Well, unlike Batman, he has guns on him. Not only that, he has no problem with killing us! I heard he was the guy that freaking killed Black Mask!"

Thug 1: "No way."

Thug 3: "Yes way. I heard he got Black Mask begging when he got his hands on him. Even asked him to say hi to Joker for him as he threw the guy out a window."

Thug 1: "Man, I would hate to face this guy. The good thing, though, is that we can steal Black Mask's stuff without anyone bothering us now."

Unknown Voice: "You really sure about that?"

The group turned around to see a figure standing above them.

Fuck.

"It's Red Hood!"

It was a short, yet futile fight. Red Hood easily picked them off one by one in mere seconds. He was about to get the cargo that was there when someone suddenly struck him from behind and knocked him out.

He woke up in an alleyway. Two guys were holding him up by the arms, another two had his guns, a couple more were looking at him, and a man was currently walking up toward him.

What the hell.

It was Black Mask.

"Didn't I already kill you?" Red Hood asked.

Sionis laughed. "You think I would die that easily like a coward? I had a body double."

...That would explain why the guy he killed easily caved in.

"Anyway, I don't appreciate people who interfere with my business. No hard feelings?" Black Mask took out a gun and aimed it at the vigilante's head.

Red Hood remained emotionless. "Do your worse."

Black Mask was ready to shoot when a voice rang out.

"Not on my watch."

Roman looked up to see a figure on the rooftops. He couldn't make out who it was, but it was definitely female.

And she had butterfly wings.

He merely laughed at her. "A butterfly? Really? Is that supposed to scare me?"

Big mistake.

The female dropped down and hit Sionis with a flying kick, knocking him to the ground, unconscious.

Red Hood looked at the newcomer. She wore a black body suit with matching colored gloves and sleek boots, the symbol of an orange butterfly on a white background emblazed on her chest. She was the height of an average woman, with caucasian skin and long black hair. A domino mask covered her eyes, which was shaped and colored like a monarch butterfly.

She smirked. "The name's Monarch. And no, I'm not supposed to scare you. I just want you to remember me."

At this point, Red Hood had knocked the guys holding him and took back his guns. From there, it was just a short fight against the rest of Black Mask's group. Pretty much easy, as Monarch showed not to judge a book by its cover. She easily took out the attackers in a flurry of punches and kicks while Red Hood went in guns blazing.

Once the fight was over, Red Hood turned to the knocked out Black Mask. He held his gun at him and was about to shoot when Monarch grabbed his gun hand.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you. The cops will be coming any moment now." She told him.

He escaped her grip and dusted himself off before turning to her. "I didn't need you to do that, whoever you-"

She was already gone.

With police sirens approaching, Red Hood sighed and fled into the night.

Did she seriously just pull a Batman on me?

Talk about annoying.

Just in case you're wondering, I'm the guy with the red helmet. My name is Jason Todd.

I used to be Robin. Yes, that Robin who was sidekick to one of the greatest superheroes of all time; the Dark Knight himself, Batman, who the world now know was billionaire Bruce Wayne.

That all changed one night when a certain clown whose name I will not say kidnapped me.

He… tortured me in ways you couldn't imagine. I kept believing that Bruce would come save me.

Then the clown told me that I was already replaced. And he made everyone think that I was already dead before carving a "J" onto my face.

Now that… was cruel.

I managed to escape, holding onto the last of my strength and will. Not to mention I was VERY pissed. Mostly because Bruce couldn't find me and still held onto that "no-killing" rule of his even after what the clown did to me.

That why I decided to join Scarecrow's campaign as the Arkham Knight. And yes, I was the Arkham Knight. The very guy who led a militia and nearly got to kill Batman.

So you're wondering what happened with that.

Long story short, Bruce still managed to beat me.

And during this… he told me that I was Robin. Not what the clown made me to be. That he can help me.

And two words I haven't expected.

"I'm sorry."

Bruce never said sorry to me before.

So when he had his back turned, I left, leaving my mask behind.

I needed some alone time to think. Should I forgive Bruce?

Who am I kidding, I should.

This man was practically my father.

Which I why helped Bruce fight against Scarecrow.

Then, shortly after that, the unthinkable happened.

Batman… died along with his faithful butler, Alfred.

After some mourning, I made a decision.

I have to protect Gotham.

Which is why I became Red Hood.

Since then, life has moved on. I got involved with my family's life again, and they're doing pretty well now. Dick married Babs, my so called "replacement" Tim took on a new identity, Gordon became mayor, and Lucius became the new owner of Wayne Tech.

I've been doing a good job lately, although I don't know who's this new "Monarch" girl going around the city. Whoever she is, though, I hope she knows what she's getting into. Being a hero isn't all as easy as you think. I'm living proof of it.

And this city needs something to truly believe in.

This is how it happened.

This is how the Batman's legacy survived.

Magic Detective Presents...

Inspired by the Batman: Arkham series...

Wings of Fear and Hope