So here's chapter four, and it's actually the longest so far on this story, and there's only one chapter left.

Chapter Four

Flamebird had been a hero since she was nine, but she didn't always go by that name. Her hero name was Cardinal, half of the twin protégés to Batman. The girl is now in her mid-twenties, and her own hero in Gotham. When she heard about Red Hood, she knew she needed to be careful while out on patrol.

Even over the past five years, the heroine never stopped thinking about the young boy that took her brother's mantle of Robin. Jason was a great kid, and had street smarts, but when Joker killed him; her mentor, her brother and her own lives were changed.

Tonight, Flamebird was alone as Batman was in the Batcave brooding as usual over this new villain. She was about to head back when she heard someone land behind her. Flamebird turned around, and saw Red Hood, recognizing the figure from pictures on the Batcomputer.

"Well, you've grown up very nicely." Red Hood said.

"So, you're an old villain huh, why change your look and MO." Flamebird stated, not turning around.

"We know each other, yes, but I'm closer to you than you think." Red Hood said.

There was something in this villain's that got Flamebird to thinking, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

"If you know me so well, then fight me, I won't use my powers." Flamebird said, hoping to figure out who this person was.

"So, you think you can take me without your fire powers, well, that will remain to be seen." Red Hood stated, starting to remove all his weapons. The heroine got the idea and took off her utility belt and tossed it aside.

Red Hood headed toward the heroine and started off with an airborne roundhouse kick. Flamebird was able to block it, but somehow this new villain was able to punch her in the stomach as he back flipped off of her arms. It was weird but she knew that move, and only one person could pull it off. The only problem was that person who knew that move was dead, or so she thought.

"Where did you learn that move?" Flamebird questioned, and Red Hood realized that the girl was putting thing together.

"Just something I picked up from the streets of Gotham." Red Hood stated and with that, he decided to start fighting dirty. The villain pulled out a knife hidden in his boot and started toward the fire controller.

"If you know me from years ago, then you know what I'm about to do." Flamebird said as she created two small fireballs and they formed into eskrima sticks.

Red Hood tried getting in close, but from the combination of Flamebird's eskrima sticks and her gymnastics training, she was able to fight him off, even burning him a couple of times. This angered her opponent and he went for a cheap shot (don't all villains). Red Hood started to slice at her with his knife, and just as she got ready to block it, he jumped over her and as he did, he pulled her mask off.

Now revealing Flamebird to be Reiena, Red Hood stopped his attacking and just stood there.

"Well, I guess we should keep it even, huh Rei-bird." HE said and with that he reached up to remove his helmet. Once it dropped, Reiena's eyes widened in disbelief.

"How is this possible?!" Reiena said, he blue eyes still wide.

"Bruce's buddy Ra's, turns out that pit of his does more than help the dying." Red Hood said.

"Jason, please, why do this, don't you realize what you're doing." Reiena said.

"You don't get it, Bruce is the one that's doing it wrong." Jason stated. "If you come and fight with me, then we can finally avenge your parents."

"You really think that killing Zucco will make me and Dick for that matter feel any better. I can't believe you're like this now. You spent years learning from Bruce, and everyone knows that his number one rule is no killing." Reiena said, tears starting to form in her eyes.

"Bruce only saw me as a replacement for Dickie-bird, I will never be as good as your brother, but now, I can finally do what Bruce never wanted to do." Jason said, still unmoving.

"So you really think that killing is the way to keep the world safe, but it's not. Okay, I get that you're pissed off at Joker for blowing you up. But you don't get it, killing Joker won't solve anything." Reiena said, the tears that had built now streaming down her face.

Jason thought that Reiena would join him no problem. "Don't you see, Rei-bird, if you come with me, you don't have to restrain yourself anymore? You can finally use your skills to their top peak."

"You never understood, it doesn't matter what happens in your life, you just have to deal with it the way you're raised to." Reiena said, trying to fight back the tears.

The two just stood there, then Jason moved closer. "You know I only offer this to you because I always thought of you as more than a sister."

Reiena was shocked upon hearing this, and she just backed away. She knew he was serious, as she found his little shrine of her, but now she couldn't believe he's ask her to join him after he killed over a dozen people, even if they were crime bosses.

"I'm sorry Jason, but I just can't side with you. You're a criminal now, and I have to take you down." Reiena said, and with that, she put on a spare mask from inside her gloves, grabbed her utility belt, and headed out. "Don't think this means I'm letting you off the hook, just get out of here for right now. Next time, I will treat you like any other villain. You're not the same young boy that Bruce took in after you tried to steal the Batmobile's tires."

With that said, Flamebird jumped off the rooftop her and Jason was on and started flying off. Jason started gathering his weapons, and before he left the rooftop, he looked back over his shoulder at the girl that got away.

What do you think about Reiena, and the added twist with Jason liking her.