Saving Jason

Red Hood

Red Hood rode through the streets. Ah, it's nice to be out in Gotham again. This time I'm gonna do it. I'm going to do what Batman never had the courage to do. This time, I won't fail. he thought as he roared along on his bike. It was time Gotham got a new protector. One who would kill if it meant that innocents would be safer because of it. And if Batman and Nightwing and his sister got in the way, he would kill them too. This time he'd allow no mistakes, and would stop at nothing to make sure he succeeded. This was his time. And no one would take it from him.

Batman

Batman roared along in the Batmobile, following the tracker on the bike Jason had stolen. Please let him not have killed anyone yet! he prayed silently. He had already notified Arkham to maximize security and to place extra guards around the Joker. Now he just had to catch Jason and distract him long enough for Nightwing and Scarlet Sword to get there so they could save him. He could only pray that they'd all be there in time. He couldn't lose Jason again. Not again. he promised himself. Never again.

Nightwing

Dick glanced over at Alli as she worked. He had to admit, she had as much passion as anyone he'd ever seen, her focus whole, completely determined. It was obvious she cared very much about this, and her brother. Jason was lucky to have such a loyal and passionate girl in his family to keep him balanced. He blinked. Just a few minutes ago he'd been determined to dislike her as much as possible, but now, knowing who she was to Jason, and seeing how much she cared for her brother, he saw more than just the hostile, unfriendly, glaring girl. It kind of surprised him. He blinked as she tensed and looked at him.

Alli

Alli had felt him sneaking glances at her for the past several minutes. She'd ignored it up to now, focusing on her work. But he'd now started just flat out staring at her. For two minutes, thirty-seven seconds. And counting. It was getting irritating. It was like he was waiting for her to start something. She watched him through her peripheral vision, never moving her head or her eyes. He didn't seem to be waiting for anything. Just...observing her? She let her hair fall shielding her face from him so he wouldn't see her smirk. He was asking for it. Might as well give it to him. She pushed her hair behind her ear, and pretended to tense up like she'd just realized he was watching her, and looked at him. He blinked and his eyes widened slightly beneath his mask. Gotcha.

"Is there a reason you've been staring at me for several minutes?" she asked in an emotionless, deadly tone. He flinched visibly, and looked away quickly, but not before she saw a hint of pink on his cheeks. Caught in the act. she thought smugly. Take that Mister Detective.

"Uh...no?" he said. She smirked.

"You don't seem too sure of that answer. Was that a question I heard?" He scowled. She laughed. He pouted. She laughed harder. "Adorable. No wonder you're Jason's favorite brother! You act like a little kid!" She pinched his cheek, knowing it would tick him off a bit more. Sure enough, he scowled.

"There wasn't a reason. Just-got bored I guess because I wasn't sure what I was supposed to be doing." he said. She noted the way he stopped before rushing on like he'd just thought up what to say when giving an explanation. Hmmm...

"Really?" She said, smirking. He glared at her.

"Yes really." He snapped. She resisted the urge to smirk even more. She enjoyed ticking him off, but she had a feeling she'd enjoy seeing him squirm even more. She leaned in close, so she could make out his blue eyes behind his lensed mask, wide and staring at her.

"I don't believe you." He squirmed, clearly uncomfortable with the close distance. She could almost feel the heat coming from his cheeks. What do you know? Son of one of the most famous playboys around, deadly crime-fighter, and a forced to be reckoned with, and yet, innocent and unsure when it comes to girls. she thought. "You want to know why?" He made a strange, almost strangled sound in his throat before managing a hesitant "yes." "You were thinking about something very hard. I could tell." He blinked in surprise.

"But you never even looked at me before-"

"Ever heard of peripheral vision?" She asked. He nodded, blushing, feeling stupid for underestimating her.

"Good. I perfected the technique of seeing from it several years ago. Underestimate me at your own peril." He cracked a small smile.

"I'll remember that."

"I'm not done. What were you thinking that required you to stare at mr so hard?" She demanded. He glared at her defiantly and she responded with her best intimidating glare. He shuddered. That look seemed a bit too much like Bruce's, a bit too close, so he gave in. He sighed.

"I was thinking that you're one of the most passionate people I've met. The way you were doing all your work, and that Jason is lucky to have someone like you in his family." He relented. She leaned away, satisfied, a smirk on her face. He visibly relaxed now that she was no longer a couple inches away from him. He regarded her appraisingly. "You know something," he said. "There's much more to you than what meets the eye. A short while before now, I was determined to hate you as much as was possible." She laughed drily.

"Oh I knew that. What was your wording? 'Irritating, uncooperative, arrogant, and hostile?' I'm pretty sure that's what you said. I may have messed up the order." She smiled at the look on his face.

Nightwing

"You heard that?" He asked quietly, unable to look at her from embarrassment and shame. She nodded, sobering slightly.

"Yeah. I was just up in the rafters." he glanced at her. "What? The warehouse is basically the closest thing to a home I have! You were intrud-er, visitors. I'm allowed to eavesdrop!" she paused. "Don't worry those feelings were mutual." He nodded, relaxing slightly, but still unable to look at her.

"In my defense, I had-"

"Relax. I don't blame you. Not the first time I've been described like that. Most people see that and label me as someone to avoid." He sighed.

"You're not helping. I don't want to be making the same judgements and mistakes that other people make. It's their loss though, if they keep their distance and don't get to see beyond that." He managed to look up at her. She was looking at him, slightly confused and giving him a questioning look. He laughed slightly. "You don't see the remarkable traits in you, do you?" The look on her face was answer enough. She looked genuinely flattered. "Don't worry, it probably runs in the family. Jason never seemed to realize that he had strengths I'd never be able to even hope to have. And with both of you it took me a while the good hidden in what can look like just plain flaws." she was silent. "...You're going to make me name them aren't you?"

"I'm not forcing you or making you do anything. But it would be nice to hear someone think positively of me for once." she said, a sly look on her face.

"That's playing dirty!" He complained. "Appealing to my sense of morality and pity." He sighed. "You're brave and bold, and you're determined and fiercely loyal to your family and those you care for. You have a feisty spirit. You're passionate about what you believe in. You're intelligent and clever and you don't take crap from anyone. You're strong. And-" he stopped. He almost said you're pretty.

"And...?" She waited. Crap.

"You irritate the heck out of me." He said using the first thing that came to mind. She blinked.

"Isn't that a bad thing?"

"Not for me. Usually the ones who irritate and agitate me the most are the ones I get along best with in the end or am attracted to." he blurted. His eyes widened. She raised an eyebrow. Shit! I did not mean to say that out loud! Crap, oh-shit! Me and my big mouth! He turned to bright red. She smirked and laughed a little at his reaction. He sulked at her response.

"Interesting. Guess I'm not the only oddball than." she was quiet for a moment. "And...thanks. It's nice to know someone saw past all that crap for once." He nodded, smiling slightly.

"No problem. What about me? Has your opinion of me been altered?" He asked, half joking, half serious. She considered it.

"Hmmm...put it this way: you're no longer arrogant in my eyes, and I no longer will try to hate you deliberately." He nodded, smiling.

"Fair enough." He paused as he realized something. "Hey what did you mean someone saw past all of that 'crap' for once?" he asked. She sighed.

"Let's just say it doesn't happen to often. Most people just avoid me in general. They're scared of me or hate me or both. I don't try to freak them out, but growing up living on the streets in the back alleys of Gotham...being tough and strong became an instinct, a natural habit, something necessary to my survival. But most people don't appreciate it." She shrugged.

"I'm sorry that you never got the opportunity Jason did." She waved it off dismissively.

"It was my choice. A choice I've come to eventually regret. If I'd gone with, I may have been able to save him all those years ago. I may have been able to prevent all this. But it was too hard for me to believe he wouldn't harm us. So I let Jason go and stayed behind, too scared too lay down my armor. I'm fortunate though, to have my brother now. I'm grateful for that." She was suddenly pulled close by him and he wrapped his arms around her. She found herself, much to her surprise and annoyance that she was being hugged by Nightwing.

"What the- ommph." She was cut off as her mouth was covered by the material of his unitard on his shoulder. She shivered as she felt the hard muscles that defined his figure. "What the heck is this?!" She demanded.

"A hug. Most people find it comforting."

"I know what it is." She snapped. "You don't have to get like that. I meant what's it for?"

"It's just-you've gone through so much-God, your childhood was shittier than mine!" He sighed. "Now I feel awful for ever feeling sorry for myself." she laughed drily against his shoulder.

"Um, I survived on the streets with almost nothing, and learned to survive through hardship. I'm pretty sure that losing your family through a trapeze accident caused by some gangsters that you could have prevented, and even worse, seeing it happen, trumps that."

"But it doesn't. I spent my life in comfort. Yeah losing my family was painful, but I was well taken care of. I never had to learn how to be strong to survive until I became Robin, and even then it was just...fighting, generally not for my own survival. You had to learn to be strong and tough like that just to get food every day and survive, and you were shunned by others because of it. I was always accepted, even if part of it was because of Bruce and my status and all that. Your life, all the hardship you've faced, would break lesser people, but you've rebelled against it instead. Rather than ending up in some orphanage or something, traumatized and scarred, you became strong and tough, determined to survive on your own, even though it would make people be cautious and avoid you." Dick sighed. "I wish I could say I was that brave and strong when Bruce found me."

"This is all good and sentimental, but I'm starting to feel claustrophobic. Let go now." She said. He obeyed immediately. He felt his cheeks heat up slightly, but didn't mind. She opened her mouth, probably to make some remark, when the computer beeped. Alli ran to the screen to look at it. Her eyes lit up and she smiled.

"Yes!" She sighed, relieved. "It found something that could help bring Jason back and push Red Hood out. Red Hood the side that takes over in his rages not his abilities and skills as Red Hood. We just have to mix it up and then we can go!" Dick grinned.

"Than let's get started!" He sobered. "Do you think Bruce and Jason will be ok? That we'll get there in time?" She looked dead serious.

"They'll have to hang on. And we'll have to hurry." Dick nodded.

"Right. Let's get cracking."

Whooo! Longest chapter yet! I stayed up until 5:30 in the morning to get this done in one night to make up for not getting it up last night or the night before, but I really needed to sleep. Hope this super long chapter makes up for it! It was originally gonna be about twice as long, but I wanted to get this up. Aww, Dick and Alli fluff. I enjoyed writing this chapter. I was thinking of making their relationship go even further. There's clearly chemistry between them in how I've written them. At least I think so. They probably won't get serious about a relationship in this, but their relationship may develop a bit more, and their may be a few hints at them liking each other, but I was thinking in the sequel maybe they could start getting serious about their feelings for each other. Possibly even start dating? Tell me what you guys think! Anyways, it's that time again...

Mail Time!

GLOmP3R: I'm so glad that you like this so much! It means a lot! You've been one of the most constant sources of encouragement and support! Thank you so much! =D

Broken. Bird. Nightingale: He kind of is, yeah but not exactly! I'm glad you've enjoyed this. It really gets me excited when people like my writing 'cause I think that I'm not that great, and that my friends are better.

The plot is really getting thick! Next, Bruce Alli, and Dick face Red Hood. (Btw I'm not sure if you noticed or if its obvious since Alli pretty much said it up front, but I call him Jason when he's in control and Red Hood when he's not) I hope that I'll be able to update tomorrow sometime, but the update may take longer again since this one is gonna be another long chapter. Peace out! -lanamere