Author's note- This is my first Batman Fanfic. It is an AU story with my own original character. It picks up after the ending of Batman: Under the Red Hood. This first chapter is short, but if there is interest I will post the next chapter very soon. Standard disclaimer applies

Chapter 1

Jason felt the presence as soon as he entered his hideout. It had been a week since his showdown with Batman. He figured it would be longer before he would see him or his golden boy, but then again Dickie had always been the optimistic one. Maybe he thought he could save him. What no one understood was he was tainted and he should have never been a part of the bat-family.

He took another step into the apartment, waiting for the "presence" to make its move. When a figure emerged removing its dark hood and stepping into the slight light from the street below Jason would admit he was surprised. Not a lot surprised him, but this did.

"Hello Jason." He just stood there staring at her for a minute. Bruce or the golden boy, he was ready for, but her… she had certainly grown. Her light brown hair was longer and more tame then that wild ponytail she had sported growing up, mostly from being raised with all boys and having Alfred to do her hair. He let a small smile touch his lips at the thought, but soon composed a stern look.

"What are you doing here? "

"I didn't believe them."

"They don't lie."

"I know, but I had to see you for myself."

"Well here I am. You can go now. If they didn't tell you, I'm the enemy now. "

"I don't believe that."

"I thought the Golden Boy was supposed to be the naive one?"

"What happened?"

"Oh you know, dug myself out my own grave, ran around mindless for a few years, go tossed in the Lazarus Pit. Then when I come back to Gotham find out my killer is still alive and I've been replaced."

"It wasn't like…"

"Don't try to defend him!"

"I'm not, but you don't know what it was like after you … died. It was lot more painful and complicated then you may think. It changed all of us, including him."

"It wasn't painful enough for him to avenge me now was it? "

"He put that madman in a body cast for six months. He would have killed him."

"Then why didn't he!" She bowed her head.

"Because I showed up." With that she exited the window.

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