IN GOTHAM CITY:
A figure dashed across roof tops, sprinting hard at the beginning, but slowing down at the end, indicating slight fear. They had done this before, but must have been vaguely new to jumping over alleyways.
They landed on one particular roof, and instead of rushing to the edge across from another building, he made a right turn. Launching himself over the wrong edge, kicking off as far as he could, for a moment, he was gone.
For a split moment in time, he could live a lifetime. He hovered above the highway, at least thirty feet above the rushing cars and honking horns.
The head lights, neon signs, and searchlights from below made an odd glow that reflected onto him, making him feel like fire.
As soon as gravity began to do it's job, he immediately took out a small black bat shaped grappling line, and shot it. It wrapped around a flag pole, and he swung through the air, trying not to hit the edge of the building was a challenge, but he got past it.
At the right moment, he let go of the line, flying through the air, towards a rooftop. He landed, stumbling, and falling on his face, rolling onto his shoulders, and then landing hard on his butt.
He groaned, standing up, and rubbing said body part, wincing.
In the better lighting, you could see he was wearing black baggy jeans, a black leather jacket, a black muscle tee shirt with red stitching, a black domino mask lined in red, and thick black leather gloves.
"Wow, that was kind of funny." Came a sarcastic voice that sounded so familiar.
The boy whirled around, and for a split second, the man who had spoken had seem hope, before it shattered.
"No need to look so happy kid." The Red Hood said, smirking under his helmet.
The boy scowled at him, snorting, "Shove off."
The mad quickly took out a gun, and shot the spot on the concrete roof right in front of the boy's right foot. "Watch your mouth kid." He said, all joking gone from his voice.
The boy was obviously scared, but not surprised. "Nice threat." He said sarcastically. "To bad your kid hands out death threats and beatings like cheap party favors."
The man hesitated, "You that Raphael kid?"
"Yeah." He mumbled, glaring at the man, who wasn't the slightest bit phased.
The man chuckled, "Last time I checked, you're not supposed to be out here without a certain girl mentioned previously."
The boy jerked his head up to look at the man, "Yeah, well Justin isn't here! And everyone knows she's not coming back! She's gonna die-"
The man suddenly body tackled the boy, pinning him down to the roof, and pressing his wickedly twisted kris knife to his throat, pressing down dangerously.
"Don't you dare say that about my daughter." He said sternly, hate blazing in his eyes, and Raphael didn't have to see through the helmet to know that.
Raphael tried to push the man off, but all that did for him was get him a thing cut as the knife was pressed harder.
"If you ever say that to my face again, I swear to God I will kill you." He threatened.
The boy still seemed like he was used to this treatment. "Once again, cheap party favors."
How many times has Justin done this to him? Jason wondered for a moment, before getting off the boy slowly. "Has she ever hung you off a building by your foot?"
"No." The boy said, getting up and brushing his jacket off. "but trust me, she's getting to it."
The man just shook his head, turning away. "Have a nice night." He called half heartedly.
"Hey!" Raphael called.
Jason stopped, looking over his shoulder at the boy, "What? You want me to hang you off a building?"
"Justin… she is coming back, right?" He asked.
Jason paused for a moment, turning towards him fully. For a moment, he looked the boy up and down. He wasn't nearly as stupid and weak as Justin had been leading him to believe. Maybe that was just because losing his friend had pushed him to do better. Maybe it was Justin's teaching finally taking root in his mind. Maybe he was some kind of clone that had replaced the weakling Justin had described.
Either way, He seemed genuinely concerned about his daughter. The man glared for a moment, trying to decide if he should like that fact or not, before finally answering the question.
"You can bet your life on it." The man turned away once more, "Now go home, before Speedy finds out you split to go patrolling. She might seem like the nice one compared to Justin, but that kid can be scary as Two Face."
Raphael chuckled, "Yeah, trust me, that much I know."
Red Hood laughed to himself, before disappearing into the Gotham night. Raphael shook his head, "Like father like daughter. Literally."
AT WAYNE MANOR:
Kimberley sat down on her bed, curled up in a ball, just wanting Justin to be home with her family. Everyone missed Justin, missed seeing the little red head run through the manor from a fuming Bruce, or occasionally, Damian. Kim missed walking down to the bat cave to see Justin trying to teach Kenya to fire a gun, which Damian tried to put a stop to immediately, saying that she was better suited for a bo staff or a sword.
Justin had then given him quite an earful, Kim was only able to catch bits and pieces, "Shut up you… There's no way I'd ever… run around Gotham with a gay butter knife on her back… FREAKIN OVER SIZED CHOP STICKS AND DISCO COLLARS!"
Jason walked into the room, and frowned at Kim. He wanted to tell her that it was her fault Justin was gone, that if she hadn't let her go, she wouldn't be in danger. Jason knew that would only make it worse though, and he loved Kim to much to hurt her like that.
He walked over to the bed, coming up behind her silently and wrapping his arms around her, pulling her close. "She'll be OK." He lied.
Kim didn't respond, just shivered. Jason didn't know why, until he realized he was right against her neck, his breath tickling her skin. He smirked, kissing her neck lightly. "You cold Kimmy?"
He felt her getting tense, nervous. He smirked against her neck, chuckling, which only made her tense up more. How nervous could he get her?
He turned her around, just enough for her to see him smirk, and then dove at her neck, biting harshly. She cried out, and her next reaction caught him off guard. He never even saw her fist flying at his face. It was only when he was on his back on the bed, face throbbing did he realize she had hit him.
"Jason." She growled.
Jason chuckled, "Totally worth it."
WITH JUSTIN AND GABRIEL:
Gotta admit, the food was great, and the healing even greater. When Talia said our best medical treatment, I didn't realized she meant the best. Water from the Lazarus pit! When the water was poured over my wounds, it was like ice being injected into my blood stream, but almost immediately the ice turned into a pleasantly warm feeling, and when I looked down at my wounds, they were gone.
I smirked to myself, I might sneak a bottle home, might.
Gabriel was convinced that the Lazarus pit must be filled with holy water, claiming the sensations of healing were exactly the same. I ignored him for the most part. Maybe I really should have brought Kyler with me, she would have been more useful than him in the forest. But then who would have taken care of DR? Conan? No! Snow wasn't in tune with this time yet, she had some catching up to do before I left her in charge of anything bigger than fetching my a soda. Hot Shot? I nearly laughed out loud, right in front of Gabriel, who was reading from his Bible.
I shook my head, he had been praying and reading that thing since we came back to our room. I wonder who he was praying for? Maybe for us to live through the competition?
"Gabe?" I asked.
He looked up, "Yes?"
"What are you praying about?" I asked.
"Praying that they serve something vaguely American for lunch." He said, "I'm tired of all those clams and lobsters. I need a burger!"
I nodded, smirking. "Double bacon cheese burger."
His eyes gleamed, "Now you're just teasing me."
"Of course I am." I said, running a finger over what used to be a stitched up knife wound, but was now fresh new skin. "You're to much fun to tease."