A/N: More filler. And a mega short chapter due to the fact that not much really happens. But, again, there's some important stuff for Elle's character here. The next couple of chapters are more exciting.

Warnings: language, violence

Part 1C Six: Life in the Fast Lane

Elle

Things really seem to be turning around. I'm becoming more comfortable with my soon-to-be family. I've become Red Hood's partner, sidekick, whatever. I've made friends outside of the Batfamily. Sure, I still get teased a bit at school, and my nightmares are awful, but overall, life is good.

But perhaps I'm focusing on the fun stuff – being Cougar, hanging out with others – too much. Maybe I should focus on actually overcoming my family's death, something I should have done years ago but haven't. Now that I have the support system I need.

…Or maybe not.

Monday, November 30

It was the last day of break and I was going to make the most of it. I grabbed an energy bar and then hurried to meet Jason for another training session. Unfortunately, because he no longer held back when we sparred, I kept getting my butt kicked.

After training, I showered at his apartment, grabbed a bite to eat, and then looked at my text messages, Jason grumbling the entire time about how I needed to start paying for his water bill.

JASMINE: Chance and I are going go-karting today. Wanna come with?

Now, this was something that could be fun. And it could be a good way for both Dick and Tim, and Chance and Jasmine to hang out at the same time with me.

ELLE: Can my adopted brothers come?

"That better not be another boyfriend," Jason said, glaring at my phone from where he was reclining on the sofa. I rolled my eyes.

"Relax, genius, it's just a friend," I replied. And then I had a thought. Jason was also one of my adopted brothers-to-be. And even though he didn't get along with the other Batboys, well, maybe he'd like to hang out? "You want to go go-karting with us?"

Jason snorted. "Nah, kid. I've got better things to do."

"Suit yourself." It was probably a good idea he didn't go, anyway.

JASMINE: Sure! That'd be fun!

I bade Jason goodbye as I texted Dick and Tim, both of whom agreed to go-karting.

I ended up winning, mostly because Dick and Tim were too busy trying to one-up the other, Jasmine somehow spun out onto the grass, and Chance was just a crappy racer.

That happened three times before everyone realized that go-karting wasn't working as well it should be. Well, I was having fun beating them, but still.

The five of us decided to hang at McDonalds for a while. Afterwards, we went our separate ways.

That night, I snuck out after the Batboys had left already. I was excited to do some patrolling with Jason again. It was quiet, though, and I was quickly becoming bored.

"A dumbass just kidnapped a kid," Jason said over the communications device he'd … acquired … for us. "I just missed him." He gave me the street he was on and I headed – by rooftop, and boy was that frightening – to try to catch up with him. Luckily, the kidnapper had no idea he was being followed and was going at a normal speed.

Jason shot out the tires of the vehicle. The car crashed into a lamppost. I heard a child screaming and crying inside it. Jason headed for the front seat while I went for the back. While Jason yelled and pulled out the man, I reached for the young child.

"Hey, come on, sweetie," I said as nicely as I could. "I'm not gonna hurt you." The child continued crying and mouthing the word 'help.' Jason was now beating the shit out of the kidnapper a few feet away from the car. "You wanna see your mommy and daddy? Yeah? You want that?" The boy nodded and reached for me.

I took him out of the car, careful to shield his eyes from the fight. Unfortunately, in doing so, I had my back facing them, so I had no idea that Jason had been kicked in the crotch and suckerpunched in the face. I had no idea that the kidnapper had a weapon of his own. I had no idea that he was coming back for the child – what the importance of one small child to a man who was just attacked by vigilantes? Shouldn't he just run away and hope we can't track him?

I was caught by surprise when I was hit out of the way. I tried to protect the child in my arms. He wiggled out of my grasp and tried to run. I turned my attention to the kidnapper, who held a gun in his hand. I kicked him in the wrist and in the stomach. I reached for my knife and slashed at his arms. Jason shouted as he ran at the kidnapper, arm cocked. The man raised the gun at me, but I hit his arm out of the way.

He pulled the trigger.

A thump.

Silence.

Everyone froze.

I turned.

The child.

The child was dead.

Killed by a stray bullet.

A lucky stray bullet.

No.

An unlucky stray bullet.

From a gun.

Held by an unlucky man.

An unlucky man who had just killed a child.

Before I knew it, I'd drawn my own gun and shot the man in the head.

And it felt…good.

The man fell. Neither Jason nor I bothered to catch him. I watched as he fell. I watched the blood pool around him.

I felt …

No regret. No regret at all. Just excitement and adrenaline and anger and a sense that justice had been served. A life for a life.

Jason put a hand on my shoulder. "You okay, kid? First one's the hardest."

"Yeah," I said, tearing my eyes off the body. "I feel fine. And that's the scary thing. I don't regret it. Shouldn't I? I just took a life, but I don't regret it."

"Shut up, you're rambling." I clenched my jaw shut. "Maybe it'll hit you later, maybe not. It doesn't matter. He was a criminal, okay? He deserved it."

Right. He deserved it. I knew that. I knew that all too well as I glanced over at the child that I had almost managed to save.