Jason sat on the edge of an abandoned building in the middle of the Narrows, taking a quick break. His helmet sat next to him, a lit cigarette in his hand as he looked out over the area, from where he sat he could see the few ships that sat in the docking area of the bay. He wasn't worried about them, he'd done a check, the ships were legal in all since of the word, no shifty business there tonight. He watched the smoke from factory smoke stacks rise into the chilled November air, before finally dissipating. Adding to the smog already covering the city. His night had been pretty quiet with only a few muggings, a carjacker. Then a handful of kids trying to do a B and E he'd heard them a block away. Snapping and barking at each other, he'd rolled his eyes as he watched the two boys and girl argue over how to bust out the store window.
The blond boy with the metal bat said he should do it, the girl was snapping that they needed a brick. The smarter one; if one wanted to give him the credit, was trying to keep them quiet and saying they would draw attention. Too bad they already had, Jason strolled out of the alley and across the street to the fighting group who were too caught up to notice him.
"Amatures the lot of you." He told them casually and they all screamed in various decibels.
The boy with the bat who jumped, swinging it in Jason's direction nearly got a laugh out of him but he pushed it down. The girl looked at him in open mouthed shock or amazement he couldn't really tell. The last boy 'Smart boy' looked ashamed of the high pitched squeal that had come out of his mouth.
"We ain't amateurs!" Slugger barked.
"I heard you loud little shits a block over." He'd told the boy and his face flushed but he doubled down.
"You did not."
Jason rolled his eyes and pointed lazily at Slugger. "You wanted to use the bat and Princess over here," He pointed at the girl. "Said and I quote 'A brick would work better; you inbred jackass.' That sound about right?"
Slugger's mouth worked as he tried to defend himself and the other two.
"So what cha gonna do to us, huh? You gonna call The Bat?" Jason looked at the girl.
"The fuck would I need him for?" She shrugged.
"Word is you and the Bats are all buddy buddy now, s'all." The other two nodded in agreement.
"Look here you little shits, I'm not buddies with the bats." Kind of a lie, he still disliked Bruce but that was beside the point.
"People's been sayin' you're lettin' the Bat's walk all over you, Red Robin's been seen runnin' round pretty often." His eyes narrowed at the girl's words.
"Look they ain't taking over all of this," He made a broad gesture with his arm. "Is mine, got it."
"Then why are the Bat's always around?"
"That's none of your Goddamn business, Princess." He growled and the kids shrunk back.
"Amy, don't make him mad." Smart boy hissed elbowing the girl.
"Don't tell him my name, you idiot!" The girl, Amy snapped back slapping the boy in the back of his head.
Jason sighed, he didn't want to deal with this. "Look!" He barked and the kids jerked to look at him.
He pointed at them as he spoke. "I'm not calling The Bat or anyone, your all gonna go the fuck home and not do this again. If it wasn't me who found you idiots, you'd all be on your way to juvenile right now." As an after though he added. "Also, try not picking buildings with security cameras." He waved above the awning at the small black dome, and the kids looked abashed.
"Told you this was a bad idea." Smart boy muttered.
"Shut up, Alvin." Slugger hissed.
The group devolved into them arguing with each other again, and Jason groaned, running his hand down the front of his helmet.
"You all got to the count of five to get your asses in gear and gone, before I change my mind about juvie." At his words the kids looked back at him before they turned and bolted down the street.
As he sat on the building thinking over the encounter he snorted, thinking over his own shit childhood on the streets. The kids were only doing what they needed, but he had to keep up his appearance so he'd sent them on their way. Hopefully the next time they paid more attention to what's around them, because it might not be someone so forgiving of the situation catching them. Pitching his cigarette butt over the edge of the building Jason grabbed his helmet, pulling it on as he stood. He had about an hour of patrol left before he went home to change and wait for Marley to get done with babysitting the hellions.
Since their talk last week, they had fallen into what Jason thought was an almost back to normal friendship. He'd been slightly nervous when he knocked on Marley's door and she didn't answer, not that anyone would ever know. When she finally opened the door, looking torn and unsure it made his gut twist in, guilt? It was something and he'd shoved his hands in his pockets to do something to distract himself from it. He had expected for her to snap at him or start off the conversation demanding to know everything. She had fidgeted and chewed on her bottom lip before blurting out the most ridiculously hilarious apology he'd ever heard.
He'd laughed at her and she's snipped at him before they sat down and actually talked about him being the Red Hood. He was actually shocked that she'd taken it so well, that she didn't necessarily agree with his methods but understood. In all honesty; that was all he could really expect from her, concerning the way he did what he did, acceptance. She'd understood that holding reign over the gangs gave him the ability to control the flow of drugs into Gotham. She didn't like the fact that he had decapitated the crime lieutenants, looking back he maybe could have done it differently, but couldn't argue with the swift results. Jason was fine with her dislike of his methods, as long as she could separate the two sides of who he was.
She'd seemed pretty determined to do just that, over the week it was fun watching her mention something concerning Hood good or bad. Offhandedly then flounder for some validation for what she'd said before flushing and muttering about it still being weird. Jason wasn't gonna lie, he was enjoying it more than he probably should, Marley was an animated talker, he'd noticed over time. When she was excited or flustered she talked with her hands, flapping them around and pointing, or waving. He enjoyed needling her with leading questions and she wouldn't catch on right off but when she did she'd huff and call him a name. He was glad that they were talking and hanging out again, it gave him something to do with his down time. Marley had been a consistency in his life, and having that taken from him? Well, it had shown him how much her presence meant to him. How it could affect him and he was torn on the fact, he had outed himself, telling her who he was under the hood.
Something not many outside the Bat's and Roy knew but he'd told Marley because she had hated Red Hood. She had still been talking to Jason at that point but it hadn't been enough, he'd wanted, what? For her to know, to not hate Hood? To accept all of who he was? He wasn't sure and it was something that would bother him until he figured it out. With a shake of his head he continued on his patrol, twenty minutes in he landed on a roof when his com came to life.
"Nightwing to Red Hood." Jason rolled his eyes.
"What?"
"Come to the Cave when you're done with patrol."
"The Cave? Don't you have your own city to prowl? Besides, I can't, busy after I'm done." He told Dick.
"This is important, I need you to stop by." Dick said and his words had Jason stopping on the next building.
"What's so important that you need me to stop by so soon."
"It just is, Littlewing." Jason froze at the nickname, he hadn't been called that in a while.
"Breaking out old nicknames, fine I'm on my way." He sighed as he changed direction and headed towards his bike.
As he went he sent Marley a message letting her know he'd probably be late.
XXXXXX
Marley waved at Karri from the main door of her complex before making her way up to her apartment. Dropping her purse and coat she stopped in the kitchen to feed Jasper who had met her at the door meowing. Giving his ears a quick scratch before she went to change, she was tugging on a sweatshirt when her phone chimed. Grabbing her phone she saw it was from Jason, telling her he'd be late, but he'd be there, she sent back a quick reply. Tucked her phone into the pocket of her cotton shorts before unplugging her TV and dragging it to her living room. She really did need to get a second TV so she didn't have to relocate her current one so often. Once it was set up Marley went back for the old DVD player, grabbing the movie of the week from her purse and setting it on the player.
Dropping onto the couch she checked the time it was 11:37 she put in an order for a pizza from the 24 hour place down on eighth street. After she ordered the food she sent Jason another message.
'Ordered pizza, should be here about the same time as you. Also the movie I found is called Gangs of New York, it seems to be right up your alley.' She grinned as she sent it.
After her and Jason cleared the air, so to speak they had slowly gotten back to how they were before, hanging out and talking. Marley was glad for it, that their friendship didn't seem to take a hard hit from the argument. She had learned a lot about him through the week, like he was, according to him a master of over half a dozen fighting styles. She'd told him she'd believe it when she saw it. He was good with a sword, knew how to fly planes and helicopters, could speak fluently in several languages, and she had tested that. Using an online translator, she'd pouted when he proved his claims to be true. Like every other person on the planet, that she knew at least, Marley only knew her native language and a handful of Spanish words. At her grumbling Jason told her that he could teach her French since it would be the easiest to learn. He'd said as long as her speaking skills were better than her fighting skills, she had swiped halfheartedly at his head.
Despite all of that she still had a hard time remembering Jason and Hood were one and the same, Jason seemed to love it. He would always smirk or chuckle when she would say anything about Hood, like the newspaper article that came out after Imposter was caught.
The article was written by slimy Vikki Vale, Marley hated the way the woman spun stories, she embellished more than was necessary and she seemed to have it out for the Bats and Hood. The Imposter story gave her plenty to go with. Who's to say they didn't just frame the man? How could the Bat's be trusted if they were aligning themselves with someone like Red Hood?
Never once did she mention the fact that the man, Boris Linka, who was the man behind Imposter. Had been a disgruntled ex-employee from the pharmaceutical department of S.T.A.R labs. That he'd disregarded the guidelines for the testing of animals set by the IACUC and tested multiple drugs at the same time on a single animal. The drug Bliss was one such drug and that it had failed it's first trial run and had to go back though testing. Linka had instead modified the drug on his own, without the research team and again tested it, he had been terminated. On the grounds that he was costing the lab money and was putting the animals under unnecessary stress and disregarded multiple safety measures.
Jason had told her about it all two days after he was caught, she'd seen the article at work. And had told Jason about how it was bullshit how she tore into Hood and only glossed over the things Linka had done. He'd grinned as he told her he was touched by her concern over his public image and she'd stopped her pacing, as she was once again reminded that Red Hood and Jason were one and the same. She barked that he was her friend and she was allowed to be outraged about the mis-information, looking anywhere but at him. He poked fun at her, until she lobbed a sandwich cookie at the back of his head from the kitchen. Just like before, mostly.
She didn't have him pick her up from work, as she'd still not told the girls, since they were still pretty pissed at him. She'd talked to Karri and told her not to say anything to them about it yet. That she would give them some more time to calm down and then she'd let them know. She knew they would still be mad but the more time that passed could only help dissipate the anger, right? Karri had agreed that waiting for their hotheaded friends to cool off some more would be for the best, especially Kimmy. Marley was planning on telling them next week and she wasn't looking forward to the backlash, God the girls were scary.
A knock at her door had her looking at her phone. It was only 12:03.
"The pizza place must be dead, if they're here already." She unfolded from the couch, swiping her phone open to let Jason know to move his ass.
Holding her phone in her right hand she opened the door, twisting the lock as she did, her mouth opening to comment on how fast the delivery guy was. The words died in her throat as she took in the two men standing in the hall, black clothes, black ski masks covering their faces. The tallest man moved and snapped her out of her daze, slamming the door shut she heard a muffled shout from the other side. Panic building Marley turned and ran behind her couch, crouching down and with shaking hands she hit the phone icon on the text screen. Hoping, praying Jason was close or already here, it cut to voicemail. Hanging up Marley's eyes darted around from her hiding spot and landed on the island directly in front of her and the row of succulents.
The sound of something hitting her door made her jump, then it happened again, they were trying to kick in her door! Gripping her phone tighter she crawled around the island, grabbed one of the plants and crouched back down and tried to call again. The kicks to her door were harsher and quicker now, she was terrified that the door would give. Shaking fingers opened her screen and with blurred vision she hit the phone icon again, pressing the phone to her ear. She listened to it ring, each one more condemning than the last, the sound of splintering wood and something hitting the wall caused her to cry out and jolt. Shaking hands, dropping both the plant and the phone, she clamped a hand over her mouth and grabbed the potted plant back up with the other.
Looking left and right Marley waited, soft footfalls were coming up to her right, shifting on her feet she scooted back. Eyes locked on the corner to the right, as the man came into sight she sprung up, throwing the plant with as much force as she could. Before turning and running for her front door, the sound of ceramic shattering barely registered in her mind. As she focused on her door, it was closed but it had been broken, it would take no time to rip open. She made it past her couch before the back of her sweatshirt was grabbed, pulling tight before she was dragged back and flung to the floor. Hitting the floor she yelped as her head hit, rolling to her front she got her feet back under her and went to run and was bear hugged from behind, her feet came off the ground.
The man she had thrown the plant as was walking towards her, holding a syringe, with her breathing harsh and adrenaline pumping freely. Marley leaned her head forwards before snapping it backwards, she felt the man's nose shift, the back of her skull throbbed but it had the desired effect, he dropped her. The cry of 'stupid bitch' followed as she was twisting towards her counter she reached it grabbing the cactus from the line. Shaking hands held the plant out as the men looked at her, the shorter holding a hand to his face, the larger still holding the syringe. The man gave the smaller one the syringe before he moved, he was either fast or she was disoriented because his fingers dug into her hair. Twisting the strands and shoving her head down, taking her to a knee, she cried out in pain before she thrust the cactus into his upper thigh. He shouted, yanking her to her feet, before he flung her backwards she hit the back of her couch. The force the man used to throw her sending her over the back, hitting the cushions and then the floor. Her left leg folding wrong under her weight, she felt something pop and then pain blazed from her knee to her toes.
She screamed at the fire in her leg, with a sob she rolled to her back on the floor, propping herself up with her arms. The Tall man was standing in front of her and she clawed her way backwards, until she hit a pair of legs harsh fingers dug into her hair, dragging her back, jostling her injured knee and her vision swam. Her hands shot up, nails digging into the man's hand and forearm, she felt the tears pricking the corners of her eyes. the Tall man crouched in front of her. Waving the syringe, slowly side to side before uncapping it, Marley tried to level a glare at him but doubted it hit like she'd wanted, as the needle plunged into the side of her neck. The edges of her vision tunneled, and she hoped that someone would see her being taken, before blackness swallowed her.
XXXXXX
Dick sat in the Cave working on rearranging files and cases under the priority that they needed to be dealt with. As he did, he thought about the impending screaming match he was about to have with Jason, because it was going to happen. It was something that he'd been stewing over since the night he had given Marley the tracking device. The conversation they'd had at her kitchen table, the things she had said and asked him.
"Do you have people who know you as Nightwing and the man behind the mask?"
He'd thought it was a strange thing to ask him out of the blue like she has, but he'd answered. Her follow up question didn't do anything to help settle the stirring in his brain that Jason had done something stupid regarding Marley.
"What would you do... if someone you've been friends with lied to you and it was huge, like almost, life altering?"
He didn't know what to take from that but gave her an honest answer, and watched her face for a reaction. Her brow drew down and she'd bit the corner of her bottom lip, as she flicked her gaze to the small box. The movements didn't tell him much but she was thinking about what he had said, and the niggling at the back of his mind kept gnawing. He'd left with heavy thoughts about what her questions meant and a pouch full of fudge and cookies. Making it back to his place in Bludhaven after he dropped off Damien's sweets, he'd dropped onto his bed. Body tired but his mind still running, he knew Jason, even if his brother denied it, Dick knew to an extent how his brain worked. Knew he let his emotions lead him and that he didn't think before he acted on those emotions. That if he was hurt or bothered enough by Marley's -at the time- warranted fear or weariness of Red Hood, he could very well blab in a fit of him losing control of his emotions.
He'd kept his concerns to himself until he was certain that Jason had actually told Marley that he was Red Hood. Everything just lined up, for it not to be true, he'd not said anything to the others, especially not Bruce. He knew that would have gone down in a spectacular blaze of screaming, threats, and fists, mostly from Jason and a ban by Bruce on all of them seeing Marley. Not only would that hurt Jason, not that he would listen, but it would hurt Damien, who had taken a keen liking to the small woman.
Since he would no doubt listen to Bruce's order to stay away from her and he would take out the anger and frustration on Jason. No, he hadn't said anything because he didn't want to hurt his brothers, or Marley by extension. From the brief encounters they'd had, Dick had picked up that she had a soft spot for Damien or kids in general and the way she had questioned him about where he was, he figured she would miss him too.
Groaning Dick dropped his face into his hands, he was not looking forward to this… conversation. He laughed, he'd count himself lucky if Jason didn't punch him in the face or try to at least. The roar of Jason's bike sent a quick spike of panic up Dick's spine, then man and machine came into view. Climbing off the bike Jason took his helmet off, setting it on the seat, and walked over to Dick as he stood, show time.
"Where's everyone at?" Jason questioned and Dick noticed his domino mask was gone, he must have taken it off or didn't wear it out.
"They're still out on patrol, I came back early." Jason's eyes narrowed on him.
"Why?" Dick thought on how to do this, delicately. "Answer me, Dick what was so important I had to stop by but no one else is here?"
"Jay," He paused, shifting his stance. "Did you tell her?"
Jay's brow lifted in a questioning manner. "Tell who, what? I'm not as good with the bird puzzles Dickhead, I wasn't one long enough." Jason bit out.
God he hated when he brought up his death. Did he not know it hurt everytime he mentioned it, or did he not care? He al- No he's trying to distract you.
"You know who Jay." Jason's posture shifted.
"No." Dick groaned, because of course he would make this harder for him.
"Jay don't lie to me."
"Who said I'm lying, Dickface."
"I put it together Jay, when I took her the tracking device she asked if there were people who knew both sides of me. That knew Nightwing and Dick were the same person, I thought it was a random question out of curiosity. Then she asked me about a friend lying to me about something life altering huge, right after the first one." Dick said, crossing his arms.
"Maybe she was talking about one of the girls from work, she's sensitive, maybe someone said her cookies sucked." Jason quipped back.
Dick's finger dug into his biceps at Jason's flippant reply. "Jay," He growled out through clenched teeth. "Why did you tell her?"
"Why would it be any of your Goddamn business, even if I did tell her!" Jason snapped.
"Because it could affect all of us Jason!" He shouted back, arms coming uncrossed to jab a finger at his brother.
"How?"
"She could tell someone." Jason let out a bark of laughter.
"Have you fucking met her, she won't tell anyone you paranoid prick!" Jason seemed to catch his wording, and cursed under his breath.
"So you did tell her." Dick said breathily, his mouth agape.
"Fucking shit, yes Dick I told her, you happy!"
"No, Jason, I'm not happy! How could you do something so, so stupid, do you ever think before you do something." He snapped, throwing his hands in the air. "What if she slips up and says something and someone figures it out! You could have put the family in danger, for the attention of a girl." As soon as the words were out Dick regretted them.
Jason closed the distance between them, his words clipped and sharp. "That's rich coming from you, Golden Boy. How many teams have you ruined cause you want the attention of a girl? And decided you wanted to bang one of your teammates, cause I can think of four right off."
"That's no-" Jason cut him off.
"Not the same? Bullshit, I know for a fact some of them didn't know who you were until after."
"They wouldn't have compromised us." Dick bit back.
"Neither will Marley."
"How do you know that Jason?"
Jason's reply was cut off by his phone going off, he reached for it and Dick snapped at him.
"Jay, focus! How do you know!"
"Because I fucking trust her, and guess what asshole, she ain't said shit to no one yet." He shouted back.
"Jay," Dick sighed trying to calm down. "What are you two?"
"Jesus, what is it with all of you wanting to dig into my life so thoroughly all of a fucking sudden?"
"Jay, you've gone out of your way for Marley in a lot of ways, you've gone to her when you're hurt, you used leverage and favors over Roy for her. I've never seen you so… trusting with someone who wasn't Roy."
Jason pulled back like he'd hit him, before his face darkened. "Like I told Bruce, regardless of what you all fucking think I can have more than Roy as a friend." Jason's phone rang again but he ignored it and went on. "I know it's hard for you fucks to process that a deranged, fucked up monster and psycho, like myself can have a 'normal' person as a friend, you know since Roy doesn't count apparently, but I like her and aim to keep it that way." He finished in a soft calm snarl.
Dick blinked, did he really think that. "Jay you're not a monster and Roy does count, he's my friend too-"
"Oh really? So where's all your defence when Bruce says something about junkies, huh? All you're self righteous bullshit is only around when Roy is."
"Because unlike you I don't want to argue with Bruce at every turn Jason!" Dick snapped, this was going about as well as he thought it would.
"You know what! Not that this wasn't super fucking important but I have somewhere to be. I gotta make sure Marley's not out telling all of Gotham's rogues who I am, and all that jazz." Jason snarled and turned on his heel pulling his phone from his pocket.
Dick sighed and rubbed his face roughly, and looked up to see Jason standing stock still, his back and shoulders stiff.
Walking towards him he called out. "Jay what's-"
Jason pulled the phone away and tapped a few buttons and held it up there was silence at first then the sound of something shattering, pounding feet, a distinctly female cry followed by a thud, more muffled struggling, a shout of 'Fucking bitch', a man's howl of pain, a yelp, then Marley's pained scream. Then a beat of nothing, a man laughing.
"Little bitch got you good."
"Think it's broken, she'll lose that fighting spunk soon."
"Let's go."
Silence fell over the Cave, Dick saw the tight, white knuckled grip Jason had on his phone, heard the soft crack of the screen break. The muscles in his back tightened and the set of his spine still ridged, Dick moved to close the space between them. He was ready to say something when Jason spun and Dick felt the brush of wind past his nose from the swing Jason took at his face. He was pretty sure only the years he'd spent honing his reaction time had saved him, as he dodged the no doubt jawbreaking punch Jay had thrown.
"Jay calm down." Dick called as he back peddled.
"This is your fucking fault Dick! I should have been there, I could have kept this from happening! No, you had me here trying to fucking control me, like always!" Jason bellowed, advancing on him.
"Jay, Jaybird we'll find her." Dick tried to placate the other man as he backed into the computer console.
"We'd better or I swear to God, Dick-" Jason left the threat to hang in the air as he spun and stalked to his bike, the squeal of his tires filled the Cave.
Dick dropped into the rolling chair next to him, trying to steady his breathing and stop the slight tremor in his hands. Once he got his barings back he grabbed the com from the console.
"Nightwing to Batman, respond!" The reply was instant.
"What is it?"
"We have a problem, a big problem." Because it was, it was a huge problem, the swirl of green in Jason's eyes had spelled that.
"What is it, Nightwing?"
"Marley's been taken."
XXXXXX
Look at me on a roll. I've wanted to write this chapter from the start.
Any guesses on who snatched Marley?