Note: not that anyone cares, but Dexter Soy's artistic portrayal of Jason/RH is the only valid one in my eyes

2. He Could Be the World's Ugliest Man Under that Helmet, You Know

He didn't take this job without due process, of course. Jason and Roy dug up anything and everything they could find on the DeKnight family, looking for signs of ulterior motives or inklings of corruption and evil that would turn the vigilante off from the gig. Regardless of all the drama with Sabina, Jason wasn't going to do a damn thing for someone who might be just like the very villains and crime lords he and his friends work tirelessly to take down.

"Is he clean?" Roy asked last week after Jason spent hours combing through news articles and various data streams.

"He and his wife are. His parents? Not so much," Jason said.

One reason Ariel DeKnight is so highly regarded is that he completely overturned his family's previous legacy. According to old biographies, numerous interviews, even closed GCPD cases, Ariel's parents and their parents ran crime organizations that rivaled the likes of the Falcones and other syndicates. Their underground drug and smuggling operations were hidden behind the falsehood of being rich philanthropists and other shiny pretenses. (Can you say "predictable"?)

The DeKnights were outed by some unknown whistleblower and sentenced to life in prison while their only son went on to live a very different story. Ariel DeKnight became an Ivy League graduate, entrepreneur, businessman, everything in between to atone for his family's sins. His and Carmen's kids were born in Italy, and while he hasn't spent a whole lot of time in Gotham since leaving as a teenager, he's gone out of his way to give back to the community whenever possible. In fact, it seems like the man talks about Gotham almost every chance he gets.

So he's a boy scout compared to his parents, fine. Jason can give him the benefit of the doubt. He supposes that's what gets you sports cars, high net worth, and front page features like Bruce does.

Or this mansion that's almost the size of the Wayne Manor.

He's seen blueprints and photos of the fancy property the DeKnights acquired and still, Red Hood is kind of impressed. It's more modern than Bruce's with polished, marble floors, high ceilings, and… windows. There are a lot of floor-to-ceiling windows, which is kind of strange, but he'd be a lot more concerned if he didn't already know they were bulletproof and capable of one-way technology. He follows Miller, Troy, and Sabina through the foyer, smelling something tropical in the air.

Some unintelligible expression of enthusiasm from Troy catches Hood's attention, making him watch the young man whisper something to Sabina before he grabs her hand. They head towards the indoor pool that sits in the middle of the U-shaped home with glass walls separating it from Gotham's outdoors.

Hood finds himself watching Sabina's facial expressions, waiting for a smile or something other than that scowl, just as he feels a presence at his side. Miller and a woman dressed in a pantsuit (Ariel's assistant, Francine) are looking at him.

"Mr. DeKnight is requesting that Miller show you the property while he greets his daughter and Troy," Francine tells him, gesturing towards the other bodyguard with her tablet. "Then you can depart for the penthouse and lunch."

Hood glances at Miller, who's waiting with a comically blank look on his face. "After you, man," he says.

The informal tour is pretty short, which is fine because he wasn't all that interested in looking at rich people's stuff. It's nothing he hasn't seen before: thick rugs, random yet absurdly-expensive pieces of art, a refrigerator with as much tech as modern smartphones, perfectly-cut grass that half of Gotham hasn't known in decades. Still, it's not the amenities that matter anyway; Miller makes note of logistical details, like where Ariel's office faces, the hidden weapon cache inside the false drawer, and the panic room that's in the basement that technically doesn't exist in the floor plans.

Aside from the fact that Ariel DeKnight is oddly prepared, something else occurs to Red Hood as he scans the empty second bedroom that neither Sabina nor Troy are staying in. "So, given DeKnight's urgency to keep his family safe… Why isn't Sabina going to live here? Why the penthouse?"

"Miss DeKnight is perfectly safe staying on her own at the penthouse," Miller says with a ghost of a smile. "But you're not here to ask questions, Mr. Hood."

Jason creases his brows beneath his helmet at the bodyguard's retreating back. O… kay. He gives the room one last look before following after him and making a mental note that the brawny, ex-military dick gets two strikes instead of three.

Sabina, Troy, and her parents are waiting in the foyer when Miller and Red Hood return. Ariel is dressed up in a pressed, light blue suit, which is no different than the attire Jason and Roy saw in the video calls, with salt-and-pepper, thinning hair. Beside him, Carmen wears a long-sleeved dress that seems to come equipped with a cloud of expensive perfume. (Hood couldn't help noticing that the woman acted a little too eager to grip his hand in both of hers, one almost reaching for his forearm as her eyes ran him up and down not once but twice. It's a little flattering.)

Ariel's faint but clipped accent is a little more obvious in person as he reaches out and says it's a pleasure to finally meet him.

"The papers certainly make you seem… smaller than you actually are."

"I get it. Sometimes people are surprised that I'm this tall."

His comment earns a darting gaze from Sabina, who's standing nearby with Troy, and Jason can't help the smirk tugging at his mouth from beneath the helmet. And then he remembers no one can see him, so he allows himself a full-on grin as Ariel lets out a laugh. As a result, Sabina rolls her eyes.

"I assume your stature often intimidates people."

Sure, his appearance alone might draw some wary eyes if it's not the guns strapped to his hips and the occasional destructive entrance that sometimes freak people out...

"Hope it doesn't intimidate you, though, Mr. DeKnight."

The smile that the man gives him makes his insides twist a little for some reason. "Even if you did, I'd consider that assurance that I picked the right man for the job."

The penthouse is a forty-minute drive from where the mansion sits just on the outside of Gotham, not quite as far out as Wayne Manor does. He's seen the tall building plenty of times throughout his life but has never once stepped foot in it. And why would he? The apartment complex's monthly payments probably cost as much as Sabina's sneakers, if not more. At the top, the penthouse is just as expensive as he expected. Everything is shiny and some cool-toned shade of gray or white.

Why do people always pick so much white? Jason muses to himself as he watches Troy and Sabina go off to explore. You'd think it'd be a bitch to clean…

He and Miller are standing near the door and waiting when Ariel gestures from where he was checking out the balcony. A cool, afternoon breeze brushes the little skin exposed under his gear as he joins the man. This view of Gotham is one he's seen plenty of times before, but Hood still catches himself running a gaze over the gray skyline.

"Mr. Hood…" Ariel begins while pulling a cigar from the inside of his suit jacket. "This isn't something that warranted being written in the contract, so I hope you don't mind my telling you in person."

Red Hood waits, saying nothing.

"I know you're already well-aware of the complications and issues regarding my daughter… I just ask that you don't discuss them with her. She's a sensitive soul, and she's already going to have a hard time adjusting to life here. Bina doesn't need to be reminded of all that."

Jason catches a whiff of the cigar from beneath the helmet as Ariel turns to give him a pensive look. "I can do that."

"Great. I'm not paying you as much as I am for anything else," he jokes, though all he's looking at is a red mask with permanent, angry brows. "Now, if you would, fetch my daughter while I have a word with Miller."

Troy happens to be exiting what must have been the bathroom when he heads down the hallway, and the young man tells him that Sabina's almost ready and he'll be heading down to his own apartment a floor below. That's when Hood notices he's still in his sweats from earlier.

"You're not going with them?"

"Nah, it's their family-only dinner. Don't exactly need an assistant for that," he laughs. His teeth are really white, Hood notices, standing out against his smooth, bronzed skin.

"And you don't get to stay in the penthouse either, huh?" he says while pointedly glancing around at their flashy, pristine surroundings. "Bummer."

Troy smiles and shrugs. "Mr. DeKnight wanted me to, actually. I said no."

Hood forgets for a second that the guy can't see his face as he raises a brow, but Troy catches on to his silence. "I would never mind having Sab as a roomie, but I want her to have the place to herself."

Something flickers across his face, like a certain thought has occurred to him, and then he adopts another smile while adding, "She's kind of a private person."

The door at the end of the hall opens up then, and the two men look over in unison to see Sabina appearing. The casual, flight outfit has been swapped out for a mock neck sweater tucked into tight jeans and stiletto heels that are almost as dangerous as that look in her eye when she sees Red Hood. The shiny designer belt twinkles in the lighting but so do the numerous rings on her fingers.

Troy splits a gaze between Hood and Sabina before he calls, "Tutte le strade portano a te," and scurries away with his carry-on in hand.

"E tu," Sabina returns as she approaches the vigilante and slows as if she's going to say something.

Now that he's gotten a much closer look at her, he can confirm that yeah, she looks a lot like she did in that dumb lingerie ad Roy showed him when he didn't ask for it, except with actual clothing on, obviously.

(His dear friend insisted he doesn't follow her on InstantGram and that the ad "just showed up" in his feed, but Jason was quick to point out that ads don't "just show up" in anyone's feed for no reason. Then Roy countered him with a "Oh, as if you're so innocent," to which Jason mumbled an incoherent response and walked away.)

Because Roy was right; Jason isn't all that innocent when admittedly, Sabina is the kind of woman that confirms he's a "thigh guy"... but seriously, that's not the point here!

Yes, she's attractive with jet black hair that contrasts nicely against the warm, sandy complexion he saw too much of in that damn ad, thanks to Roy, and her eyes, a lighter green than her father's, are very pretty… but none of that means anything when she's acting the way she is.

And Red Hood isn't sure how much longer he'll tolerate it.

It could've been three seconds, maybe just a single moment, that they stared silently at one another until he decided to say something.

"You should probably bring a coat."

Jade-colored eyes narrow, like she's surprised he spoke. "For what?"

"Gotham can still get cold during the day, even in the summer. You'll be freezing your ass off with the wind out there."

Sabina's jaw tightens visibly as she quips, "I thought my dad hired you to keep me from getting killed, not to give me fashion advice."

It's not fashion advice, he wants to say, but the perfect society smile she flashes throws him off. While it's a pretty one, it looks frighteningly similar to the one he's seen Bruce and his brothers wear in public, carved from diamond — hard but flawless.

"Besides, you're not really one to talk with a jacket like that, are you?"

Jason's so stunned that he doesn't even have the breath to formulate a response. She just insulted his trusty jacket for fuck's sake, right after commenting on his height this morning, yet there she goes, breezing past him and towards her waiting parents.

The hell is her problem?

He takes a second to gather his bearings before going after her. At this point, he's already planning on making a bet with Roy later.

If he got a dollar for every moment like this, maybe he'd make more than what her father is paying him in no time.

She'll never get used to the stares.

Reserving a private room in a restaurant does little to nothing when the room is separated from the rest of the establishment by windowed walls and people still shoot glances in their direction. And it sure as hell doesn't help when a known vigilante in all his red-helmet and packing-heat glory is standing casually in the open double doorway, propped up against the frame and people watching like he isn't stealing most of the dining guests' attention. Not even Miller and a second bodyguard standing at the other door leading into the private room are enough to split the whispers and ogling.

Their server also hasn't gotten used to walking past Red Hood each time he enters and leaves the area; Sabina has watched him avert his eyes as if the guy's going to stick out a boot and trip him or, who knows, suddenly grab him by the lapel and slam him against the wall.

"I still don't see how this is necessary, Dad," she speaks up, though not without preparing for a reprimand.

Ariel swirls the glass of wine — DeKnight Wine Estate is written in calligraphy on the bottle the server brought per his request — and looks at her above the dark red liquid. Beside him, Carmen does the same, closing her eyes at the scent as if she hasn't smelled it a million times before.

"We're not having this conversation again, Bina."

"Why couldn't Bo stay as my primary bodyguard?"

Her father sets the glass down and leans over the table, nodding once towards Red Hood. "You see how these people want to ask you for an autograph, but then they see him standing nearby? How they're fascinated by our presence yet intimidated by his?"

Yeah, she does, actually. She saw how bystanders on the street and in the restaurant reacted when they saw their family and then the vigilante (in broad daylight, mind you).

"That's how I want it to work, my dear," Ariel concludes, gesturing towards Hood and then Sabina across the table. "I want people to second-guess approaching you. Most importantly, if some lowlife scum even thinks about touching you or putting you at risk, they're going to quickly realize how unwise that would be once they set eyes on him. And I'm sure I don't need to point out that he knows this city probably better than I do; he knows where you should go, what you shouldn't do. Is that clear?"

Sabina does her best to relax her tense figure upon meeting her father's intense gaze. Carmen reaches out to touch her hand, a wordless but loud gesture that makes the young woman answer quietly, "Yes."

The server comes by again, interrupting any additional chances for Sabina to say anything, but that doesn't matter anyway. She knows she's reached the limit when it comes to questioning her father's choices.

When he asks for their orders, Sabina realizes she never did settle on an entree. Her eyes scan the page and fall onto the course listed with the least amount of calories. As usual, her mother gives a nod of approval when she reads it off to the server, and Sabina vaguely wonders if Troy managed to make that grocery trip they talked about earlier.

"I'm trusting you with having that penthouse to yourself."

A sarcastic remark rises in the back of her throat at her father's comment, but Sabina swallows it along with a large mouthful of wine. But probably not as much as you trust a stranger to protect me from... whatever. She still doesn't know exactly what or who her parents are afraid of.

In response to her silence, Ariel continues on, "Red Hood will be on the floor below—"

"I know, Dad."

The words come out a little more harshly than she intended, and he knows it. Hardened, green eyes make her glance down at her plate to avoid them.

Clearing her throat, Sabina explains, "Miller and Bo told me everything as you instructed. I paid attention."

Sounds of quiet chatter and utensils against plates seem to amplify in the following silence. Her hands feel sweaty as she takes a sip of the ice cold water.

"I'm glad," Ariel says finally, the corner of his mouth lifting in a light smile. The tension in her chest dissipates a little and then even more when he changes the subject.

"Do you still remember the foundation ball later next week?"

"Yes."

"It's really important to me that we meet several associates while we're there." Her father puts his utensils down to level her with that gaze, the one that makes her freeze and not blink and show him that he has her undivided attention. "One of them happens to be someone your age, and I think it would be excellent if you met him."

Even though this isn't the first time she's heard this, the sinking feeling in her gut makes her queasy anyway.

Ariel flags their server down to request another bottle of wine before touching his wife's hand and turning again to Sabina. "And you got a gown for this event, yes?"

"I did."

Another smile crosses his face. "Good. I'm sure you'll look beautiful in it."

Sabina can't help sneaking a glance to the side where the infamous outlaw readjusts his position, straightening up from the doorframe and crossing his arms. He appears to be looking out into the main dining area… Suddenly he turns his head as if someone called to him, and Sabina swears he's looking right at her. Heat flashes under her skin as she tears her eyes away and busies herself with another sip of the wine that she grew sick of years ago.

Her father's words echo in her head, reminding her that even though Mika helped her settle on a dress for the event, Sabina didn't care for it. The only thing she can think about is what he's going to look like waltzing in looking the way he does.

She dares to glance in his direction again, seeing that he's raising a casual hand at a family across the room that's staring.

And I'm sure Red Hood will look just as nice beside me.

"Everything's clear."

Red Hood approaches from where he just finished walking through the penthouse after the less-than-pleasant lunch with her parents. It's just the two of them since Troy got off the elevator at his floor and Miller resumed his place at her father's side. From now on, it'll always just be the vigilante accompanying her everywhere unless some other occasion, like the upcoming ball, requires an additional operative from Darkwater.

Sabina simply nods and proceeds to drop her purse onto the coat hanger nearby. He's still standing in the same spot when she turns around, which is kind of irritating.

"You're dismissed," Sabina says.

He doesn't move for a second, making her wonder if he's going to say something, but then he's halfway through the door when she speaks up again.

"My meeting tomorrow morning is at eight."

If his helmet could mirror his facial expressions, she guesses it would be raising a brow at her because she can hear it in his modulated voice. "… And?" Hood asks.

"I'm not punctual. I'm early. So how long would it take to get there from here?" she responds, choosing to ignore the attitude lacing his tone.

"Thirty minutes if Miller drove you, twenty if you're with me."

She can't help the scoff that escapes before reaching for the door handle. It's something like reflex that makes her pause just as the snide comment rises at her tongue, but since he's not her mother or father, Sabina raises her chin and says,

"I'd rather not have my own bodyguard kill me because he was speeding. Be here at seven."

With that, she shuts the door in his expressionless, masked face.

"Do you think he might be hot?"

Even though she already knows who exactly Troy is asking about, Sabina mumbles, "Who?" before shoving a handful of chips into her mouth, gaze trained on the TV show before her in the penthouse living room.

"Red Hood. He's got that menacing, I-could-kill-you-in-two-seconds-but-only-after-you-let-me-hit kind of vibe going on."

"That's not a real vibe, Troy."

"It so is." Her friend joins her from where he'd been grabbing soda cans in the kitchen and sits down beside her. "Maybe it's my mask kink. Plus, you can tell he's big, like, not only in general, but—"

"Oh my god, please, that's… ugh," Sabina shudders and pretends to retch. She pops the can open with a hiss while adding, "He could be the world's ugliest man under that helmet, you know."

"Then we can fuck while he keeps it on." Troy shrugs and takes a gulp of the drink then adds, "Although it's obvious he's as straight as your grades were at Harvard."

He laughs when Sabina shoves his shoulder, gasping when the gesture nearly makes the drink spill out of the can in his hand. Troy is the only one who still mentions her time as a college student (and teases her about it), two years of her life that most people have forgotten by now. Getting a master of business administration degree isn't one of her fondest memories, so the only exception to poking fun at her for it or bringing it up at all is Troy.

"You do know what they say about him, right?"

Abrupt silence between them is interrupted only by the action scene taking place on the screen. Troy holds Sabina's challenging gaze, and he gives a sigh that's followed by an eye roll.

"Yes, girl, we've already been over this. But that's why your dad picked him. And it doesn't mean you can't just wonder for a second if he's any good in bed."

A few minutes pass as they sit and eat the snacks that her parents would have a heart attack over if they saw her, Sabina unable to really focus on the show. It's only been a day since meeting the vigilante, but every time she's laid eyes on him so far, all she can think about are the headlines and photos of him saying some good but also very negative things about him.

And that symbol on his chest...

"I know you've had the thought cross your mind at least once, Sab," Troy suddenly speaks up.

"What?"

"What it'd be like to fuck him, mask and all."

"Troy!"

"Don't lie to me, bitch, I know you."

There was a short pause followed by a "I've imagined it twice but I'm not trying to make it a habit."

"Ha! I knew it."

"... Goddamnit, Troy."

"Thinking about it again? Yeah, me too."

It was a deliberate decision to put Red Hood and Troy on the same floor below the penthouse. Their rooms are across the hall from each other and next to the stairs and elevator. Coincidentally (not really), the apartment next to Jason's is vacant.

Ariel said he could outfit it in any way he wanted, which the vigilante was planning to do anyway, regardless of his permission. It's not the bunker he shares with Roy, but the best way to make it feel as close as possible is to treat it as such. Jason's taken the time to stash a few weapons throughout the apartment, bring along surveillance equipment, install a camera here and there, and, of course, stock the fridge and pantry with necessities. He figures he won't spend every night here, especially if there are things that need to be done elsewhere in Gotham… Besides, there's a part of him that still thinks Ariel's desire to hire him might be a huge overestimation, so this really might be overdoing it.

"Remind me how much we're getting paid for this."

At the other end of the line, Roy laughs, "That bad of a first day, huh?"

Jason, sans Hood gear and lounging across the apartment sofa in just a pair of sweats, lets out a tired groan. "Like I said, she's got an attitude that might just put the demon brat's to shame."

"Imagine dealing with her and Damian at the same time."

"Shoot me if that ever happens, please. With my own gun if you have to."

"You already regretting taking this job on, then? I mean, we both knew it wasn't gonna be like our other ones."

"It's fine," Jason answers while rubbing at his exhausted eyes. He's just now realizing how beat he is despite not even fighting anyone today. Who knew socializing — or rather, not socializing — with rich people and their standoffish daughter would be so draining? "Either she'll warm up to me or I'll figure out what her issue is."

Whichever comes first.

"Red Hood giving someone time to warm up to him? Sounds totally like you." The sarcasm is heavy in his friend's tone.

"Shut up. You won't be cracking jokes when she calls you short, insults what you're wearing, or gives you the death stare."

"I'm looking forward to it. Is this stare anything like the one she gives in her InstantGram pics?"

"You know what? I'm hanging up now. Go jerk off and call me back when your impromptu mission isn't making you all horny-stressed and shit."

"I take it back, I take it back!" Roy urges with a mild laugh, and Jason just knows he's just turning beet red in the face from wherever he is in NYC.

"Then stop fanboying and come help me out. I didn't add you to the contract for nothing."

It's true. He negotiated more terms before everything was finalized, including making sure that Arsenal would be considered a backup if not a replacement if, heaven forbid, something went really wrong. He wanted to call on his partner and friend without it being considered some breach of contract — and that was usually how their previous freelance jobs went anyway. You didn't just get Red Hood or Arsenal — you get both.

A little bit of finessing not only put him on the contract as a stipulation, but it also granted them a second deposit from Ariel, making the two vigilantes' pockets warmer with financial stability. (Not that they were hurting for money, but it was a nice moment nonetheless.) It might've been funny if the man saw the childish way in which Red Hood and Arsenal silently but enthusiastically celebrated his answer like kids who were just granted permission to have a sleepover.

It's too bad his friend couldn't be here to experience the first day of being Sabina DeKnight's bodyguard, seeing he's in NYC for some very last minute, short-term, Titans-related business. So much for being on-call for Red Hood, but it's all good. This is just the first day, and something tells him there will be plenty of opportunities for more... exciting encounters with the heiress.

And Jason is already looking forward to seeing her bright and smiling face the next morning.

Ha. Yeah, right.

"Tutte le strade portano a te" = "All roads lead back to you"

"E tu" = "And you"

*If these are wrong, i'm sorry, sadly I do not speak Italian so blame the internet!