God she hated shopping, there were too many people, everyone stood in the middle of the ailes blocking the flow of foot traffic. Soccer moms chatted and laughed as loudly as possible, while their kids pulled items from the shelves, people touched every piece of fresh produce then didn't even take any. None of the check outs were ever open, and you were reduced to checking out your own items, it was bullshit. Marley hated it but she really didn't have anyone but herself to blame for having to come back out in the middle of the week and restock on her baking supplies. Between her panic baking to forget about the whole 'Red Hood is Jason' thing and making batches of cookies and other confections for Robin. She'd run out of everything she had on hand, something that had never happened before. She was pretty sure she looked ridiculous buying nothing but baking supplies, eggs, two gallons of milk and canned cat food. If the concerned look an old lady shot her at the self checkout was anything to go by, that is. She wasn't crazy, with the way her life was going she was surprised she wasn't losing her mind at this point in time though.

As she flagged down a taxi Marley ran over her life in the last eight months, from dragging Hood into her place, befriending the vigilante, meeting Jason at the Poodle, befriending him, the panic attack, Gotham Heights. Hood bleeding out on her floor, meeting the Bats as a result of that, finding out Batman is way scarier than she originally thought, then finding out Jason and Red Hood were the same person and everything in between. Most people would have moved to a different apartment or city or, you know, at least stopped opening their damned window, but not her. She couldn't for the life of her figure out why at the start of it all, now, she had reasons, she actually liked Robin. He was a snotty little shit but she was picking up his subtle ways of showing that he really did care about people. He'd brought her some crazy expensive chocolate when she'd mentioned off handedly about making chocolate truffles. She'd looked up the brand since she'd never heard of it and nearly had a heart attack at the price when she saw it. It was fifty dollars a bar and Robin had brought her four of them, they had sat on her kitchen counter for nearly a week. Until the boy had asked her why she hadn't done anything with them, she'd told him she didn't want to mess up two hundred dollars worth of chocolate. He had scoffed at her and told her if he didn't have faith in her ability to use it properly, he wouldn't have wasted his time. He'd sat at her kitchen table with Jasper on his lap as she finally made the truffles.

He would also bring random things for Jasper, some fancy cat nip or a toy or gourmet cat treats the boy spoiled her cat more than she did. Maybe she just liked feeling useful, or that she was making a difference no matter how small. She always had something ready for the boy and she tried to keep him in her place for as long as she could. Trying to keep him safe for at least a little while, even if him and the others thought he was safe, he was still only a little boy. She figured he was only twelve or thirteen from his voice and how short he was, she didn't like the idea of kids fighting bad guys. She didn't like the idea of Batman and the others being okay with the young boy doing what he did. Honestly, she hated the fact of all the young kids, teenagers too, who helped fight crime. Of course she knew most of the other young heros had some sort of power, Metas, she was sure they were called Metahumans. Some of them were even aliens like Superboy and Supergirl or Amaozonian in Wondergirls case. It didn't take away the fact that they were children -superpowered or not- and in Marley's eyes, too young to be out getting hurt by nutjobs. Marley still didn't want to bring up the fact to Robin, because she was nearly one hundred percent sure he'd take offense to her telling him that what he did was dangerous. He would take it as some sort of jab at his superheroing abilities and his ability to keep himself safe and he'd avoid her. That's something she didn't want, she liked the little brat and if sweets kept him safe for a few hours a week, well, then she'd keep doing what had been working for the past month or so. She couldn't keep the other superkids safe but she sure as hell could keep Robin out of trouble for a little bit.

The taxi stopped in front of her building and Marley paid the man and grabbed her bags, pushing the cab door shut with her foot. She made her way to her apartment, balancing her bags and fishing her key from her purse took a little more effort than she wanted. Kicking her front door closed Marley made her way to her island dropping her bags she went to hang up her coat and purse. Her phone chimed as she was putting her groceries away, finishing her task before grabbing her phone. Opening the message she saw it was Kimmy.

'Marcus wants to know if you're working tonight?'

Reading the message Marley let out a groan of frustration, ever since everyone in the club through her and Jason had 'broken up' Marcus had been asking her to have drinks or to grab lunch. At first she didn't think anything of it and declined because she needed to save money for the upcoming holidays. Then Sable and Kimmy had cornered her in the dressing room at the Poodle and told her she was an idiot, she'd been confused and Sable had laughed. Pinching her cheeks and cooing at her, before she had told Marley that Marcus had been hinting at dates. Marley had denied it, saying Marcus was only being nice, but the offers just kept coming and soon she knew they were real. She'd panicked slightly at first, because she didn't want to date anyone, she didn't want the offers of dates, she was done with that mess. It had taken her a few days but she had approached Marcus about it and had told him she wasn't interested in dating at this point in her life. He'd rubbed the back of his neck and gave her a sheepish smile, before telling her that it was okay and they could go to lunch as friends. Marley had accepted that and it was fine for the first few days, then it was an everyday thing, asking for drinks, and lunch or to go to a movie. It seemed he was still trying to turn this into what he had wanted, and Marley had put a stop to it all the day before. Telling him that they could spend time together at work or with mutual friends, but spending time alone seemed to give him hope for something more.

Sighing Marley sent back her reply. 'No, I took the day off. Karri wanted to talk to me about something important.'

The older woman had called Marley last night and asked if she would be able to take the day off so they could talk about something really important. Marley had added up her bills and other expenses and found she had a little more wiggle room for lazy days. She'd told Karri yes and had put in for the day, wondering what it was that her friend wanted to talk about. Marley wondered if it was about her and Derick? They seemed to be getting on really well, and Karri had hope for them lasting, Marley really hoped they did. The two of them were adorable together and Karri had mentioned talking to the twins about them meeting Derick. She'd mentioned that the twins were curious about who Derick was and why he was always coming by and taking her out. Karri had talked about bringing it up with Derick, seeing if he thought it was too soon for the twins to meet him and explain to them what was happening.

Looking back to her phone when it chimed again, she read Kimmy's message and sighed.

'Okay, I'll let him know, I still say you should give him a chance, Marcus is a sweetheart.'

Marley rolled her eyes because they had all said the same thing about Jason and well, that had turned out badly. Not that the girls would ever know the actual reason why she was mad at the man, all they knew was that it was over a lie. She loved the girls, she really did but she was annoyed with their pushing and hinting of her love life or lack thereof. She would have to talk to them about it, let them know that she would take her time to find someone worth taking the risk of heartbreak over. As it was right now Marcus was not worth the risk, not to say Marley didn't agree with Kimmy. Marcus was sweet, he was funny, he cared about them, he was even what some would call handsome. He was short for a man at only about five foot six with short cut brown hair and wide shoulders and hazel eyes and an infectious smile. He was helpful and would take Marley and the other girls home if they needed a ride or pay for a cab. He cared for his elderly mother, even moving her into his apartment so she would always be close to him. Marcus would even help at other clubs when the need would arise but the Poodle was his main job. Marley didn't think the man had a mean bone in his body and she could understand why the girls tried to push her into dating Marcus. She truely only saw him as a friend, or a close work associate since she didn't want him to feel as if she would one day feel the same.

'Kimmy I've told you all it's not gonna happen.' Marley sent back before tossing her phone to the couch.

Running her fingers through her hair she went to change into sleep clothes, since she wasn't planning on leaving again. Making it back to her couch she dropped down and Jasper took up residence on her lap, as she rubbed his ears. Grabbing her phone she checked to see if Kimmy had sent anything back or if Karri had. Kimmy had messaged her back, swiping the lock screen open Marley groaned at the other woman's words.

'Is it because of that jackass Jason? Don't let him get you down, he was pretty but didn't deserve you.' Marley sighed, she knew Kimmy meant well the blond did care about her but Marley was getting fed up with telling them why she didn't want to date Marcus.

'No Kimmy, it has nothing to do with Jason. I don't feel that way about Marcus. Like I've told you all before. I don't want a relationship with anyone right now, so stop pushing the issue, please.' Marley typed out the message and sent it with an annoyed huff tossing her phone to the end of the couch.

"Can't a girl just want to be single and happy? Jeeze, you're lucky Jasper cat's don't have these types of problems. Your problems extend to where you should nap all day." Marley sighed, scratching the cats ears, smiling at him when he yawned and rolled over on her lap.

A key rattling in the door caught her attention and she looked over as Karri swung the door open and stepped in. She was wearing a large, puffy tan coat, a black scarf wrapped around her neck, purse clutched in her gloved hand. Marley let out a snort at her friend, who looked over as she shut the front door, tugging her scarf down and she stuck her tongue out at Marley.

"We live in Gotham Karri not Antartica." Marley quipped watching as the blond stripped off her outerwear to show she was wearing a thin long sleeved forest green sweater.

"It's cold out Marley it is November, you know." Karri told her, hanging her things on the coat rack on the wall and made her way to the couch, grabbing Marley's phone up before dropping down to take its place.

"It's not that cold, it's not even snowing yet." Marley said, poking Karri in the side with her socked toes.

"Not everyone can be a weirdo who revels in the arctic temperatures like a penguin, Hon." Karri said with a smirk swatting Marley's foot away.

"Not all penguins are from the Arctic." She said, pulling her knees up with a laugh when Karri grabbed for her foot. Jasper huffed as he was jostled and jumped to the back of the couch where he promptly curled back up.

"Look here you." Karri laughed brandishing Marley's phone at her, before the device chimed and Marley groaned.

Karri flipped the phone over and opened the message, reading over it she rolled her eyes before handing it to Marley. "They're still on that?"

"Yeeeess." She whined looking at the message. "I've told them, God knows how many times that it's not happening."

"They just want you to be happy is all." Karri told her, shifting back into the couch. "But I can see your side too, if you said no then they need to respect that, I'll say something to them about it too."

"I know they do, but I don't want to constantly feel like the bad guy for saying no everytime they bring it up." Marley huffed as she typed her reply to Kimmy.

"Don't ever feel like the 'Bad guy' for saying no to something you don't want, Marley. No one can tell you who you need to have in your life, unless they're bad for you or they hurt you." Karri told her poking her foot for emphasis.

"I know it's just... hard when it's practically everyday, and he is a nice guy," Marley trailed off and Karri scowled.

"You listen to me Marley, if you don't want to date Marcus then don't, Kimmy and Sable can date him if he's so amazing. Don't you dare let them bully you into something you don't want just to make them happy, do you understand me." The older woman growled. "Marcus is a sweetheart but that doesn't mean he automatically qualifies for your perfect match. Trust me on this one, okay, from experience don't let anyone talk you into dating someone you don't love."

Marley let Karri's words sink in and smiled at the older woman, because she was right just because Marcus was nice didn't mean she had to date him or give him a chance. They didn't have anything in common besides liking Thai food and animals and working at the Poodle.

"Okay, you're right I won't let them bully me into anything or feel bad for shooting them down." Karri nodded.

"Good girl, and I'll say something to them about it later, they need to stay out of other people's love lives." The blond muttered the last part and Marley laughed before gently jabbing her toes into Karri's side again.

"Speaking of love lives, how goes it." Marley asked wiggling her eyebrows, earning a snort from the blond she was nudging with her toes.

"Derick and I talked about it and we've decided that the twins should meet him and we'd explain what was going on." Marley dropped her foot as Karri went on. "I was thinking about it and the twins need to like and be comfortable around Derick also, and he agreed that the twins should be a part of everything going on. He said their opinion of him should count, that he would be a part of their lives too and even if they're only five they should have a say." Marley watched as a soft smile lit Karri's face as she talked. "So this weekend we're all going out for lunch then maybe to the park so we can all talk about it." Karri's eyes shifted to Marley and she grinned at the blond.

"I think it's a good idea, the twins have been curious about him and you've been on a few dates, and obviously think it's okay for him to meet them, and like he said they should get a say too. If he's as sweet as he seemed when I babysat the twins then Deck and Layla will love him."

"I hope they all get along, I really think this can go somewhere Marley, and I'm happy and excited and terrified all at the same time." Karri said, picking at the sleeve of her sweater.

"The twins are a good judge of character. They'll love him and don't be terrified. You deserve to be happy, Deck and Layla deserve to have a father figure if it gets to that point. So grab your happiness and keep ahold of it." Marley told the blonde as she sat up and set her phone on the table.

"You and your Sage advice." Karri breathed. "Oh, where did you get that?" She wiggled her fingers at Marley's neck.

"Huh?" Her hand shot up and her fingers touched the locket Nightwing had given her, and her mind scrambled for an answer, because she hadn't thought of something to tell everyone, since she never wore jewelry. "Er, this it's something I found at a little thrift store." She finally got out, and Karri leaned forward to look at the locket closer.

"I don't think I've ever seen you wear any jewelry before, it's pretty, it suits you." Karri hummed and Marley gave a mental cheer at her accepting the answer.

A short silence hung between them before Karri spoke again.

"Sooooo," She drug out the word and Marley looked at her, a brow raised at the way Karri was stalling her sentence, Karri pursed her lips before nodding and going on. "Jason came by the Poodle, to pay off his tab."

Marley blinked slowly because she knew that, she had traded days with Maya and was talking to Kimmy and Jazmin right before Kimmy clammed up. Glaring across the club and Jazmin had done the same before dragging Marley off. Muttering angrily to herself about the audacity of some people and how she hoped he got kicked in the balls. Looking over her shoulder she saw who the girls were trying to keep her away from and saw Jason as he reached the counter and Kimmy jabbing her finger at him viciously. Before she was pulled into the dressing room where Jazmin kept up her angry muttering, to Marley's amusement. Until Kimmy came and got them, her face still holding a scowl that she tried to smooth out when she looked at Marley.

"I know, Kimmy and Jazmin saw him and spirited me away." She said with a small laugh.

"Mmm, I saw him too. I went and talked to him." Marley's head snapped over to the blond, who was looking at her.

"Why?"

"I wanted to know what was going on between the two of you, since you seemed to be getting along so well, then just out of the blue you hate his guts? It was something I wanted to check into because you're my friend and like a little sister to me." Karri said, waving her hand. " I didn't ask what the lie was since it's not my business but I wanted to try and help. So I talked to him and asked him if he was honestly and truly sorry, he said he was. The way his face twisted into a sad grimace and the way his eyes dulled as he spoke I really believe he meant it, Marley."

Karri had talked to Jason behind her back, she scowled. " Of course he said he's sorry but he still lied to me Karri, you know how I feel about being lied to, no matter the lie. A lie is a lie."

"Marley the lie couldn't have been so bad as to end your friendship over, you two have been friends for nearly a year. What could he have possibly lied to you about that would render your friendship null and void?"

Oh, beginning a superhero and not telling her about it, until she thought he was a murdering psychopath, maybe. "It was bad Karri, almost like our whole friendship was based off the lie."

"Well, did you let him explain his side?"

Marley looked up in confusion. "Huh?"

"Marley, I love you Hon but sometimes you get a little emotional, especially if someone hurts your feelings. You tend to snap at them and chase them off and won't let them explain their side of things." Marley opened her mouth to argue the point and Karri cut her off. "Ashley and the 'Cake' incident." Marley's mouth snapped shut and her face flushed at the reminder and Karri sighed scooting closer to her on the couch.

"Look I'm not excusing Jason lying to you, you have the right to be upset that he lied to you, but you also have to let him explain the reason behind it. Maybe it was something he didn't think you would understand or something he didn't think would bother you." Karri smiled.

Marley thought about it, no matter it was still a massive lie and if she could tell Karri she would see why Marley was so mad! She was right about this, she was. "He still lied to me, even though he knew I don't like liars."

Karri sighed heavily. "Okay I didn't want to do it this way but you're being stubborn and leaving me no choice. Don't you think you're being a hypocrite about the lying thing, Marley?"

The question stopped her retort and she looked at Karri, and she went on.

"I've seen you lie to people before Marley, hell you've lied to me before. That hideous sequin shirt Kimmy loves, the silver one, you told her you though it was cute. You've lied to Kurt about call ins."

"I didn't want to hurt Kimmy's feelings and I didn't want Curtis to worry about me." Marley mumbled.

"What did you say earlier 'A lie is a lie' or does that not apply to you?" Karri asked her voice hard, wanting Marley's answer.

Marley opened her mouth then closed it, because Karri was right she was being a hypocrite and childish. She had screamed at Jason and wouldn't let him explain why he had kept his secret from her, she might have ruined a friendship she genuinely enjoyed because of her stupid pride and hurt feelings. Shed didn't know she had started to cry until Karri gripped her face, thumbs wiping the tears away.

"Oh, Marley, Honey don't cry I didn't mean to be so harsh I just wanted you to see that you should let him explain." Karri pulled her into a hug. "I'm sorry, sweetie."

"No, you're right." Marley sniffed into the other woman's shoulder. "I was a child about it, what if he doesn't want to be my friend anymore? Because I'm an emotional crybaby?" The words came out choked as she tried to keep the tears back.

"He still wants to be your friend, you should have seen his face when I told him I'd talk to you about it all, like a kid in a toy store." Marley snorted out a laugh. "So stop your crying, okay?"

Marley sat back rubbing her eyes with the heel of her hands. "What do I do?"

"You apologize for how you acted then let him explain and talk about it, dork." Karri told her, before sighing. "Well, how about we watch a movie, make you feel better?"

"Okay."

Karri stayed and they watched a few movies before the blond had to leave and pick the twins up from her mom's. With a hug and a stern warning that she'd better talk to Jason soon Karri was gone leaving Marley to her thoughts. Marley sat on her couch and thought about her and Karri's conversation and the reasons for why Jason would keep it from her. As she thought Marley started to come to the realization that for all the time they spent with each other she really didn't know anything about Jason.

She racked her brain for his favorite color, favorite animal, his parents names, his fucking birthday, the cornerstone of friendships, nothing. She didn't know the basics of basics, about the man she'd spent nearly a year hanging out with. Jesus; no wonder he didn't want to tell her, he probably thought she was a shitty friend, she was used to the girls just giving up information through conversation. She didn't think to just ask, thinking it would eventually come up, but it didn't. Rubbing her face Marley looked at the coffee table where her phone still sat, biting her lip she grabbed it. Swiping the screen open she typed out a message, shaking her head, deleted it then typed a new one, her thumb hovered over the send button before she hit it, set her phone down and waited.

XXXXXX

Karen loved her job, really she did, she loved that she could work on her passions and help the scientific community and the betterment of combat. Making non-lethal weapons, seemed to be an oxymoron to some, but to her it was the best of both worlds, the criminal could be caught and there would be no collateral damages of either property or other people. It was something she excelled at and she had plenty of proof to that claim, her suit being the main one. She had happily relocated to the Gotham branch of S.T.A.R labs with her husband. He had said something about owing a favor and he needed to go and she had told him that he wasn't going without her. She wasn't going to let him go to Gotham, for who knows how long without her and she had been wanting to get into the Gotham branch for a while.

Since the Gotham branch had access to Wayne Enterprises technology, she was positively giddy about the idea of being able to work with it. Maybe she'd be able to upgrade her suit even, the possibilities were nearly endless, it was perfect! Or so she thought, she had been on paperwork and coffee runs since she had walked into the lab, like she was lowly intern and not one of the top up and coming developers! She had raged and complained to Mal the night after her first day, he had tried to placate her, telling her maybe they had more paperwork to go through or they were waiting for something from the New York branch. She'd huffed and grudgingly agreed but now, now she just thought they were giving her the run around to keep her out of the labs. It irritated her to no end but it was also a blessing, she was tasked with watching the lab for anything odd. After the kidnapping and murder of the chemists from the building, she had gotten into the camera footage and looked it all over and found that the group was taken from one of the break areas.

It was in the lower area of the lab so she was thinking whoever kidnapped them knew their way around the building, because she had found all the halls looked the same and she had gotten lost more often than she would like to admit her first week. She had never talked to the people who were taken since they were in different areas of the building and in different occupations but they were people she worked with that knew them. They had families, friends and lives that had been taken because someone wanted to peddle drugs, she wouldn't stand for that. So far the lab had been quiet and she had gone about her days filing paperwork getting coffee fetching USB's and such. She was actually on her way to the old files room when she heard the commotion, the scuffling of feet and the soft whimpers and cries. Karen ducked into the empty conference room down the hall and set the stack of files down before peeking out the door. She saw a group of four scientists stumble around the corner followed by two men with semi automatics.

'Well my night got a little more interesting.' She thought as she unbuttoned her long lab coat taking her name pass off as she did, tucking the plastic card into a pocket on her black and yellow suit. She tossed her lab coat onto the table next to the stack of files before fishing a small communication device from a pouch at her hip and tucking it into her ear and turning it on. Karen waited for the group to pass by her before pressing the center of her belt and her light carbon fiber wings came to life, with a grin she tapped her wrist and the sensation of shrinking covered her body. She landed on the doorknob and lifted her hand to her ear to activate the device.

"Batman this is Bumblebee, got a live one." She kicked off of the brass knob and darted down the hallway catching up to the group she stayed above them and followed.

The device crackled softly in her ear. "They've made their move?" Batman's gruff voice called over the link.

"Yeah, two goons, they got four more scientists, I'm overhead, following." She said softly landing on the overhead fluorescent light cover, letting the distance grow before following again.

"Stay on them, report when they stop for good."

"Will do, over and out." Karen dropped off the light and flew after the group.

The group was led down the halls and out a back shipping exit and into the empty parking lot and corralled towards a van. The men shoved the scared group into the van as they barked orders and shoved the scientists, Karen darted past them and into the van, she hid herself behind one of the boxes. She'd wait for the group to sit down before she picked one of them to hitch a ride on, soon the gunmen slammed the doors shut and Karen took in her options. She finally picked the woman with her black hair in a thick low ponytail, darting over she landed on the woman's hair tie, fingers gripping the soft strands. She listened as the group talked in panicked whispers.

"What do you think they want?" The woman she was standing on asked.

"I don't want to end up like the last group they took." A blond man said, his voice shaking.

"They probably need or want us to stabilize the chemical compound in that new drug." Another man said, running a shaking hand through his thinning hair.

"Right I, I saw that on the news, people have been overdosing on it pretty badly, so the synthetics must be off." The black haired woman spoke again.

"Do you think they'll let us go if we can fix it?" The last man asked, looking up at the others.

No one spoke after that, they all knew the answer, and it was no, they would most likely die or be taken elsewhere to make more of the drug. After a long silent hour long drive the van lurched to a stop and the engine cut off the group started to panic, taking in whispers again. Karen took the time to swing down and stand on the women's lab coat collar and hide under her ponytail.

Reaching up she pressed the com in her ear. "Batman, we've stopped, not sure where yet." She whispered and waited.

The doors were yanked open and Karen's mouth fell open at who was standing at the doors, the group of scientists screamed and jerked back.

"Oh, well, that's hurtful, after I went to the trouble to get you all here." The synthesized voice called out and the man pressed a hand over his heart. "Here I thought we could be friends." Karen had to remind herself that this man was not the real Red Hood but a fake, but he played a convincing one.

"Wh-what do you want with us?" The oldest of the group asked, the one who had theorized they were taken to stabilize the drug.

"Well you see my new drug is a little... off. It packs more of a punch than I'd like, can't make a profit if my clientele all end up in the morgue now can I?" Imposter asked.

"And if we can fix it, what happens to us?" The same man asked.

Imposter tapped the helmet where his chin would be. "Mmmm, well if you do it right then you get to stay with me and make a lot more of it, but if you fail me, well," He trailed off before making an explosion sound and waving his hands mimicking the sound.

The woman started to shake and cry and the blond man tried to comfort her.

"Aww, come on don't cry, I hate it." Imposter said patting the gun at his hip, and the woman bit her fist stifling the sobs. "Much better, now let's go, you all have some work to do." He stepped away from the door and the goons took over, pulling the scientists from the van, Karen leaned back, hiding herself in the woman's hair.

The woman was led to a separate area then the others and the man guarding her, barked out orders. Karen leaned forwards, then seeing her chance she kicked off the woman's collar and darted up towards the ceiling. Landing on a light cover she took in the building, it looked like an old warehouse, she quickly found the other three scientists and counted the guards, thirteen in total and then Imposter made fourteen. Karen reached up and touched the com again.

"Looks like an old warehouse, about an hour away from the labs, scientists are scattered, thirteen guards, Imposters here." She gave the information and waited.

"Fire power?"

"Looks like semi autos and hand guns, nothing too big."

"On our way, stand by."

"Got ya' Bats." So she waited, and watched as the scientists worked and the guards walked the building and Imposter moved from scientist to scientist checking on their work.

Suddenly an explosion rocked the building and Karen had to grip the light to keep from falling off of it. The first was quickly followed by a second and half of the goons moved to run outside as the ones with the scientists grabbed their wards.

Karen's hand shot to the com before she snarled out. "Who the hell is using explosives."

"Three guess's Wasp and the first two don't count." Came the synthesized voice of Red Hood, the real one.

"You do know you're supposed to save the hostages right!?" She snapped back regaining her footing on the light before looking at the group again.

"Calm down Yellow Jacket I'm not a hero but I know a thing or two about explosives." Karen bristled at his words and for calling her the wrong name.

"Hood enough, breach the doors, be ready."

Karen poised herself on the light, turned towards the woman and her guard, the door was blown off its hinges and Karen sprung into action. Kicking off the light cover she dove down towards the guard, his gun aimed at the woman's head ready to fire. Karen pulled her body up and tapped her wrist, growing back to her full height of five foot six and delivered a full force, mid air roundhouse kick to the guards temple. The man dropped to the ground like a sack of bricks and the woman stared wide eyed at Karen who grabbed her and pulled her behind the desk she was working at.

"Stay here and keep your head down." She told the woman as she pushed her under the desk.

Shrinking back down Karen took to the air again and looked for the other scientists. She saw Robin fighting one of the guards, another one seaking up on him before she could intervene. Nightwing dropped down on the man's back taking him to the floor. She scanned the chaos and saw Imposter or she hoped it was running out the back doors.

"Imposters making a break for it, I'll get him."

"Nope, you stay the fuck out of this Carpenter Bee that asshole is mine." Red Hood snapped over the link.

"That's not my name!" Karen growled.

"Whatever you say Honeybee." Karen pinched the bridge of her nose before bombdiving a guard and growing to full size before planting her foot square in his face, smiling as she imagined it was Red Hood.

XXXXXX

Jason was out the doors of the building and chasing the prick who stole his identity before Bruce or anyone could try and stop him. Because he was going to hurt this man, and it was going to be with the utmost joy for ruining Hood's mostly good name. Jason rounded the edge of the building and jerked back and the corner of the building burst into red brick dust from the bullet. So the fucker wanted to play it that way, fine more fun for him, grabbing the Desert Eagle from his hip Jason twisted around the corner and didn't see the man. Slowly he made his way through the maze of old crates, shipping containers and busted forklifts, hearing a sound to his right Jason rolled forwards and the ground where he'd been was pelted with bullets, coming up on his knee Jason fired back. Then taking cover behind one of the crates, he crept to the other end before making his way around it and called out.

"Come on don't you wanna talk, you have no problem using my face, don't you wanna talk to the man you're trying to fuck!" He leaned around the next crate before moving on.

Imposter didn't call anything back, Jason went on.

"You know it kinda hurts," He checked the next corner. "That people actually thought I would do something like that, I mean I'm not that lowbrow. I mean you decapitate a few corrupt politicians and leave their heads on the front steps of the GCPD and everyone thinks you're a monster." A scrape to his left had him spinning towards it and following the trail. "I'd never kidnap innocent scientists to make drugs, of all things, you know the one thing I've worked on getting out of Gotham. I've put in a lot of God damned effort into making Red Hood into someone, semi respectable and for you to come along and try and fuck that up." Jason laughed as he followed the scraping and thumps. "It really pisses me off, and I'm a motherfucking handful when I'm in a bad mood asshat."

The sounds got louder and Jason stepped around the next corner and saw Imposter hunched over a crate shoving bags of what he assumed was Bliss into a large canvas duffle bag. Smirking to himself Jason stomped his foot on the ground and Imposter jolted and grabbed the gun off the ground at his side and spun as he stood. Before he could even aim Jason fired, hitting the man in his shoulder, Imposter howled in pain the gun dropping to the ground as he gripped his shoulder

Jason held his gun on the other man. Walking forwards he saw that the crate was indeed filled with Bliss so Imposter was trying to grab some bad product to take with him. As Jason reached the other man he reacted, Imposter's hand holding his shoulder shot down and ripped the knife from his thigh and slashed it up. Jason pulled back the blade slicing his shirt, Imposter took the moment of distraction to run, snarling Jason holstered his gun and ran after the man. He'd do this the brawlers way, Jason was faster and closed the distance with little effort before he grabbed the back of Imposters jacket. Yanking the other to a jaring stop before twisting the man around and planting his fist in the man's gut. Imposter doubled over, before he swung with his good arm, Jason blocked the swing knocking the man's arm away. Looking at the prick dressed as him, Jason's blood boiled and he struck out grabbing the helmet and ripping it from the other man, and flinging it to the side.

Imposter looked nothing like how Jason had pictured, he had shaggy wheat blond hair and brown eyes, a straight nose and looked nothing like the criminal he had pegged him for. The man looked like a fucking substitute teacher, and it only served to fule his anger that someone who looked mored suited to teacher pre-K kids colors, shapes and how to piss in the toilet had the fucking balls to steal his fucking face! Jason's hand curled into a fist the leather of his gloves cracking before he punched the panting man right in the face, Imposters knees shook and Jason grabbed the front of his shirt keeping the man up or at least on his knees. Then he punched him in the face again, this asshole ruined his name in the majority of Gotham, some of his contacts wanted nothing to do with him.

He punched the man again.

The League was up his ass again, because of this dickwad.

And again.

He would have to work harder to get the lower parts of Gotham to trust him again as some of their family and friends had taken or OD'ed on the drugs this prick had peddled.

And again.

Marley fucking hated him now, because this fucker killed a group of people with his face and made his life an even bigger shit show than it had been before.

Jason's fist swung down but stopped, taking in the bloodied man kneeling before him his split lip, broken nose, swollen eye and most likely slightly concussed now, he let go of his shirt and the man crumpled to the ground at Jason's feet. Breathing harsh and heavy Jason kicked the man before he took a step back, a fucking nobody had nearly turned all of Gotham against him. If it was that easy for people to turn on him, did they even really trust him? Did they even really think he was capable of turning over a new leaf, that he could be someone better? As the questions and doubt started to worm their way into his head the vibration from his burner phone snapped him out of it. Digging it from the depths of his pocket he looked at the string of numbers and his breath nearly caught in his throat. Opening the message he stared at the words, four simple words and they gave him a small bit of his hope back, maybe he wasn't the waste of space he thought.

Can we talk, please?

XXXXXX

Holy shit has this year dropkicked anyone else right in the fucking teeth? Or just me? I'm so, so, so sorry it's taken me nearly... five damn months to do anything with this story but fuck, life is like Bizaro Land right now. I pretty much live at work now (thanks panic shoppers and hoarders), my son's school district is doing remote learning for the first semester, so now I'm a freaking teacher. My laptop decided to crap out on me so I had to find out how to do a factory reset (thank you Google) and I lost almost all my notes for this story! So I had to find my hand written copies of the notes then had to rewrite this whole chapter. Just ugh!

But it's up and it's here, and I hope it didn't disappoint and I also hope you guys stick around with my hot mess of a self until the end of Marley and Jason's story.

Also the start of this story is factual, day shopping bites ass. I miss night shopping, I miss going to the store at three in the morning to buy my groceries.

Stay safe and to those of you who have to be your child's teacher, I feel your pain!