Next chapter- kind of a cliffie, a little, a lot of Scarlet/Dick and Jason interraction, here, though she does have a serious conversation with Bruce towards the end. Please review!
She was sitting on a rooftop shrouded in light snow- she felt slightly worried, but more than anything else... happy.
She was heading home. Today had been the last day of classes, and her flight left tomorrow for Gotham at five am. She was going home.
It'd been forever since she'd been home to see Bruce and her brothers. Since Thanksgiving wasn't celebrated in the UK, she hadn't seen them since she'd been down with the flu in October. She couldn't wait to get back.
The stars seemed like thousands of tiny diamonds in the sky, and the snow fell- she'd stayed crouched at her perch on one of the rooftops for hours at a time, normally, just like Batman would... But occasionally she'd shake her head and roll her shoulders in order to make the snow that'd accumulated fall off.
There was a crackling sound, as the transmitter that was currently in her right ear came to life.
"You all packed?" Dick asked.
She quietly reached up and oressed a button before speaking. "Yeah. Flight leaves in a few hours- I'm just running a final patrol."
Dick sighed. "Is it snowing?". He still worried about his baby sister.
"I'm fine, Wing." she rolled her eyes. He worried too much in her opinion. "I just wanna make sure the place is clear before I leave."
"You dressed warm enough? Bruce is gonna suspect something if you come home with a cold..."
"Yeah-like the fact that I caught a disease that's incredibly common from being worn-down after staying up all night to study for the exams before break?" she suggested calmly.
"Wait- you're run-down?" Dick asked, sounding concerned.
"No, Wing. I'm good at lying- relax. It's almost Christmas, for pete-sakes. How's Haven?"
"Good. I nailed that pesky dealer who's been hanging around the docks."
"The seedy guy with the cousin I caught shipping narcotics a few weeks ago?"
"The very same." Dick grinned. "I have to admit, you're pretty useful when I need to figure out where these drugs are being trafficked from."
She shrugged. "What can I say? I can convince Bruce to buy me a plane ticket to nearly anyplace in Europe for a 'field trip' and figure out who's doing what. It's actually a nice break from schoolwork."
"Grades are up? Don't wanna get Bruce worried..."
"Grades are fine. I aced all my exams. Studied during the low points of patrol..."
"Good. Hey, why don't you cut patrol short tonight- you've got a flight in, what, two hours?"
"One and a half, actually, but close enough. I'm covering the last area now, Dick, then I'll head back to my dorm and grab an hour or so before I head to the airport, I'll sleep on the flight."
"Great. See you at the manor, Sparrow."
Scarlet sighed. She was getting tired of the old name- she felt like she'd outgrown the role of Sparrow- she was on her own, now, fighting her own battles. She didn't want the lingering title of a sidekick. But she couldn't think of a better name, so for now it'd have to do.
She headed back to her dorm, content to know she was going home.
It was three days later, Christmas Eve. She found herself wandering around the Bat Cave, sparring with Jason, and trying to keep herself up to date on the current Gotham criminals. Sure, their were the regular crazies, but there were also some newbies in town she wanted to get acquainted with. She knew Bruce would never let her out on patrol, of course, but she found if she just engrossed herself in files and training she could mainly forget that...
It was Christmas Eve, though, so she and Jason weren't engaging in their usual brutal sparring matches. Instead, they were hanging out in the Batcave.
To be honest, she felt more at home down here- Scarlet Grayson and life at the manor had meant nothing next to being a hero, and she wanted to take in every second possible down here.
Alfred had brought down cookies, of course, and she and Jason talked over them now. Jason was smiling, blue eyes bright.
"So, how's school?" he asked around a mouthful of cookie.
She smiled. "Great. Had a few interesting projects- coursework is really challenging their, sometimes Dick even has to help me with it- but I love it."
Jason smiled. He knew enough to read between the lines, and he knew what she meant. She'd had interesting cases, Dick's input helped her a lot, and she was loving london.
But if Bruce went back to check the security footage of the cave, he'd think they were having a normal conversation.
Jason's eyes darted to his phone, though. He was checking the time.
"Relax, Jay. Dick will be here in an hour or so, and Bruce texted a few minutes ago that he's on his way. It's Christmas Eve- everything is fine."
Jason shrugged. "Yeah. I guess. I just want everybody here, you know... I hate it when they're out late."
"I know the feeling." Scarlet said, smiling slightly. "How's Gotham?"
"Good- we got most of the crazies in Arkham, so the streets are pretty safe. Everything's been really smooth, actually..."
Just then their was the sound of someone running down the stone stairs of the Bat cave, and a moment later Bruce came into view. He turned to Jason, eyes serious. "Suit up. Their's been an Arkham breakout."
Jason nodded, absorbing the news surprisingly quickly and racing off to get changed.
Scarlet stood. "How many are out?"
Bruce sighed, running a worried hand through his hair. "Four. Killer Croc managed to get a hold of one of the guards- Two-Face convinced him to open his cell with the keys, and then he managed to let out the Joker and Scarecrow..." for the moment, he seemed to have forgotten she wasn't supposed to be in the hero business anymore. She took it as a sign.
"There's no WAY you and Jason can handle all those creeps on your own. I'll suit up..."
"No. Dick is coming, he can help us..."
Scarlet scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "Yeah, three of you against Gotham's most insane criminals. Good luck with that. Admit it, Bruce- even if I'd just keeping watch, I might be able to save a life. This is what we DO- are you so much of a coward to keep me in here and risk a civilian?"
Bruce hesitated. "You haven't trained..."
"No. I haven't patrolled." she lied. As far as Bruce knew, though, it was true. "I've still been training my ass off. Old habits die hard- you NEED me, Dad."
Just then, Scarlet's phone beeped. She looked down at the text- it was from Dick.
"Great. Dick wanted me to tell you- he's not coming, There was just a subway bombing in 'haven."
Bruce's jaw clenched. "If you disobey a single order, you'll be sent back here immediately. Understood?"
"Yes." she met his gaze unwaveringly, completely sure of herself. Her confidence was that which was only earned after nights of handling herself on the streets, alone, fighting for justice.
Bruce nodded seriously to her.
"Suit up."