Hey this is something new I`m trying out. I`ve always wanted to write for this fandom but never really had any good ideas. Now, I think I`ve got something pretty solid, so I might as well see how it goes?

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Myra felt especially stupid today.

Truth be told, she had been feeling stupid since she was first tasked with such an impossible task. All the brash things she had done, silly, dangerous attempts in solving a mystery that simply couldn`t be solved.

Still, that wasn`t a good excuse for why she was here. Lying on her stomach in the sewer with one ankle most definitely twisted in the worst possible ways. All thoughts of running had fled her mind when she awoke to the agonizing pain. Now that pain had subsided to a more bearable ache, as long as she didn`t move that is.

How did she get here? In this situation?

Well, it had all started last week. The news agency she worked for, Atlas, was one of those top-notch, multi-millionaire companies. All thanks to their domination of the digital, news world. Of course, no one gets so powerful without making negotiations, and the directors of Atlas were no different. In their past, the company had made some questionable deals, occasionally turning their head away from certain stories, altering the content of others. They weren`t exactly corrupt, but they weren`t obligated angels either.

After busting her ass on internet forums, Myra had found the makings of a story. Apparently, Mr. Cobblepot, better known by his alias 'The Penguin', had something special planned for Gotham`s drug trade. Myra wanted nothing more than to expose him, not out of some self-righteous duty, but simply for the fame and recognition it would bring her. Apparently, her boss wasn`t too fond of the idea, and quickly rejected it, telling her to leave Mr. Cobblepot out of her research.

That was when she made a mistake.

She published it on her own blog, and after a bit of promotion it was practically viral. Needless to say, her boss was irritated. Knowing he couldn`t fire her for expressing a public opinion, he did the second worst thing. He gave her a job, an impossible job that no one in their right mind could accomplish. The stakes for failing this job? Immediate termination of her career.

Either she found out who was hiding under the Batman`s cowl, or she says goodbye to everything she had worked for. Her job, her home, her city, her life. Everything.

That one act of ambition cost her everything, and ever since that day she felt as if she was getting stupider and stupider. Chasing after crime lords and villains, trying so desperately to catch a glimpse of the Dark Knight. How could she ever get a peek behind that mask? She couldn`t even get a peek of his shadow.

Yet he was probably the only reason she didn`t feel entirely defeated, considering all the research she had done, she had faith in the caped crusader. He`d come save her right? He always saved everyone. This would be no different.

Everyone? The cynicism in her mind teased her, you know that`s not true. Lots of people have died on his watch. And it would be fair for you to die. You who want to expose him? Reveal him to all his enemies? Why would he save you?

Myra attempted to answer her own fears when a noise cut through the rooms silence. Instinctively she glanced up at the shuffling figure that moved closer. It wasn`t really hard not to notice considering just how huge he was. The smell hit her first, the disgusting scent of rotting flesh and death. The girl resisted the urge to turn around and vomit, not that she had the strength to turn around really.

The next thing she acknowledged was his teeth and scales, the way they reflected the light in a mockingly beautiful way. In no way was this creature beautiful though. Terrifying, definitely. Disgusting, oh yes. Repulsive, without a doubt.

Once again, a darker thought entered her mind. This beast, she had researched him once for an article, she had also read about him too. He was known for eating his victims, their remains never to be found. He had cannibalized people before. People that the Batman couldn`t save.

Myra bit back her fear, trying her best not to break into sobs and pleads. She wondered if his other victims had pleaded, doubting it did them any good.

"Awake?" the creature growled the words out, his voice guttural and loud. Myra said nothing, as he walked right up to her, his body towering over her much smaller form. She did, however, cringe when he lowered his head to her, opening his jaw in a low growl and exposing her to the horrible smell of his breath. If death had a smell, this would be about it.

"Pretty." He almost purred the words, his tongue rolling down his mouth as he licked her. Licked. Her.

The girl shuddered, biting her lip to hold back a disgusted scream. She wanted to squirm away, to at least attempt an escape. But how could she? He had messed up her ankle when he first attacked, a memory that was quite blurry now. All she could remember was trudging around Gotham Docks, following a lead on some of Black Masks activities. She had hoped that if she caught onto the villains plans before Batman, she would be able to find him.

So much for that idea.

"Know who I am?" the creature thankfully moved his head away a little, allowing the girl to inhale a shaky breath. The overall scent of the sewer was no better, but it sure did beat his breath.

"Cr… cro.." for some reason the ability to form words was failing her. Probably had something to do with the inexplicable fear she was currently feeling.

"Killer Croc!" he yelled the words before snapping his teeth in a fierce manner, forcing the girl to whimper in dread. For a moment, he watched her, his yellow eyes lighting up with sick joy as he laughed a broken and strained laugh.

Myra placed her hands against his chest when he leaned over her again, his large body dwarfing her instantly. His face was suddenly bent in the crook of her neck as he inhaled her scent, travelling along her shoulder before coming to a stop.

"I like my dinner with a show." He mumbled before a sharp grin spread across his features, "So do scream your heart out."

Myra did scream. Unable to stop squirming and crying as his teeth sank into her shoulder, piercing the flesh ever so easily. Her body thrashed desperately. She didn`t care if her ankle was hurting, or if her movements were only making it worse. She just wanted to escape, to get away, to survive.

She didn`t want to die.

"Please!" she screamed again, this time unable to resist sobbing as she slammed her fists against his chest, arms, head, whatever she could reach. She even tried to claw at his eyes, but that only resulted in him sinking his teeth in further. "Let me go! I`ll do anything, please!"

It was futile. She was going to die. All of her hopes, her naïve dreams, her silly desires, they would all die with her. Would anyone remember her? She couldn`t honestly think of a soul. Maybe her parents would, once they found out that is. They were still back in her homeland though, only sending her away so she`d have a better chance at a better life. So much for that. All she managed to do was get herself killed.

Myra wasn`t able to hear much over her own crying, screaming, and pleading. But when the creature suddenly tore away from her with an agonized roar, she noticed. Unable to really understand her blurry surroundings, the girl tried to make sense of the scene in front of her. The creature had a gaping wound in it`s back, and dark, thick liquid trickled from it. His eyes were no longer on her, but instead were focused on someone else. After that she heard gunfire, roaring, grunts, the sounds of a struggle, until finally; silence.

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Jason was struggling to stay still, the urge to simply tumble onto his side and rest was quite tempting. He had been out patrolling for 18 hours straight, a feat he owed entirely to caffeine. Usually he wouldn`t overextend himself, but lately, after everything that had happened, he was eager to impress his once mentor. He had almost finished patrolling Gotham Dock, ready to call it a night when he happened upon the shoe.

That goddamn shoe.

It was almost like a Cinderella story, a dark, bloody, Cinderella story.

Anyways, it was a purple, woman`s jogger. It was pretty decent too if not for the fact that it was stained with blood. He had found it in an alley, and knowing all too well what often occurred in the alleys of Gotham, he began searching for clues. It didn`t take long for him to find signs of a struggle, more blood, and a partly opened manhole.

Naturally, he wouldn`t bother with every missing broad in Gotham. But then again, he was trying to impress Batman. So, he found himself trekking around the sewer, ready to give up when he found no leads. That`s when he had heard her screaming, her pleading, her desperation. And, so here he was, leaning over her body as he pressed his jacket into the wound around her shoulder. After finally putting Croc down, he had to stop her bleeding, or else she`d die and this whole expedition would have been worthless.

Well, maybe not entirely worthless. He did catch Croc after all, that must have been worth something, right?

He sighed, focusing on the wound as he applied more pressure.

At least she`s hot. Ah, how he loved his occasionally insane and perverted mind.

"Mom…?" the girl breathed the words out, her eyes still closed as she shifted a little.

"Wake up." He said the words like an order, hoping to get her up and out of this sewer soon. Once she was safely tucked away in a hospital, and Arkham was called to collect Croc, he could go to sleep. And how good that sounded. He could practically picture his bed, all open and venerable, begging to be slept in.

"Five more minutes." She mumbled, turning her head away.

Jason was not amused.

"I said," he huffed the words out, "Wake. Up."

"Mmm?" she moaned groggily, but her eyes did open slightly.

Damn.

Her eyes were a brilliant shade of green, showcasing just how intellectual the mind behind them was.

Definitely hot.

"Where am I?" she asked slowly as her eyes darted around the place, trying to make sense of things before coming to rest on him. "You`re that vigi… vigilante. I… augh." She winced slightly, acknowledging the pain she was in.

"Yeah, vigilante." He muttered dryly, now taking a step back as he tore the sleeve off his favourite jacket, wrapping it around her wounded shoulder. Batman`s a hero. Robin the boy wonder. And me? Vigilante. Fuck Gotham.

"Can you walk?" he asked on a more serious note, almost rolling his eyes when she shook her head in a 'no'.

Leave it to women to complicate things.

Quickly he wrapped an arm around her waist, hoisting her up before standing up himself. She squirmed a little, her teeth gritting in pain as he tried to move her.

"It hurts!" she cried out.

"I`m sure it does." He mumbled. It`s funny how citizens get annoyed at the slightest bit of discomfort. Try dying, then you`ll know real hurt.

She whimpered when he stepped onto a raised platform, but after that she remained quiet, the pain though, was still evident on her face. Jason tried his best to be gentle, but that was never his strong point. Still, he did his best to get back to the manhole he had crawled through, noting the ladder he`d have to scale.

After much struggling and complaining he managed to get back to the surface, almost dropping his damsel in the process. Now all he had to do was call a paramedic, and then Arkham. Surely this would please Batman?

Well, it would be worth a try.

He eased the girl back onto the ground and against a wall, turning his attention to the device he had pulled out of one of his many pockets. He hooked up to the bat computer and quickly texted oracle his location, preferring for her to deal with the `talking to the authorities' bit. With that done he gave the girl before him one final glance, suddenly remembering something. After a bit of struggling, he found the pouch he had stashed the shoe in, quickly pulling it out.

"Yours?" he asked coyly.

She nodded, mumbling a 'thanks' as he placed it beside her.

Considering everything was no in order, Jason turned away with thoughts of his warm, comfy bed in mind.

"Wait…" she said the words quietly, but he picked them up.

"What is it now?" he asked, crouching down so that they were eye-level.

"I… I want to thank you." She said the words a little too quickly, and he did notice how she didn`t make eye-contact. As if she was nervous about something. Well, he was quite an intimidating figure, he supposed.

"Thank me?" still, no one had ever wanted to thank him before. Thank Batman? Of course, everyone thinks he`s a hot, mysterious, hunk. Robin? Yeah, everyone always wants to thank the hot boy wonders. But him? This was the first time. "For what?"

"Saving my life?" she offered with a small shrug, before gritting her teeth in pain and realizing shrugging was a bad idea.

"Oh." Right, he had just saved her life. He supposed it could call for a little thanks. "No big deal, it`s whatever." He shrugged it off as casually as he could.

"No, I mean…" she paused, clenching her fist as another wave of pain washed over her. "I mean, properly. Over dinner, coffee, your pick. I just, I want to see you again?"

He stiffened a little, clearly surprised and uncomfortable. Sure he`d get some action now and then, after all he was pretty good looking. But here, as Red Hood? With his mask and reputation on display? Why would anyone care to see him again?

Anyways that didn`t matter. He wasn`t out to make any social connections, he had a job to do. Keep Gotham safe. That was all. That was it.

Instead of saying anything, Jason backed away from her, disappearing from the alley in a matter of seconds.

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Myra relaxed once he was gone, thankful that he hadn`t caught her. After scanning her surroundings, she slowly revealed the device she held in her hands, a small phone-like object, no doubt used for communication. She saw him use it earlier, so she presumed it was important. Lifting objects was a skill she had developed back when her family had fallen on hard times, who knew she would need it again.

Now don`t misunderstand. Myra wasn`t some ill-meaning thief.

Instead, once she realized just who her hero was, she knew she had a chance. Perhaps this near-death experience had a silver lining after all. If she could get close to the Red Hood, she could get close to Batman. Everybody knew that the two had a connection. This was her only chance.

Even if she had survived Killer Croc, her life was still over if she didn`t expose Gotham`s Dark Knight. She hated having to use anyone, especially someone who risked their life for her, but she had no choice. Everything she worked for depended on this.

Hopefully, once Red` realized his little toy was missing, he would connect the dots and return to her. Now that she had an excuse to see him again, she just had to figure out what to say, how to act. How could she develop a relationship with him? Quickly at that.

She remembered the day her boss had confronted her with this task, a smug smile on his face as he destroyed her career. She remembered pleading, begging for him to extend her deadline. He had given her a month. A month to expose the Batman. A month to win over the Red Hood. A month to save her life.

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Anyways, considering this is experimental, I`d love to get some feedback. So please review :3