Warning: Strong Language here and there . . .
In the end, they opted for Jason to accompany Elle as the Red Hood. It was a compromise. Someone from the family was with her, and as the Red Hood, Jason's presence would be accepted as her bodyguard without it seeming to the board members that Elle was in need of coaching. Not that anyone ever meeting Jason Todd-Wayne would ever confuse him with a savvy businessman; his adopted, successful businessman-father notwithstanding.
It really wasn't very far to Chicago from Gotham City by plane. Jason knew that Elle's family was loaded, but climbing onto a private jet brought it home. He's been on Bruce's company jet a few times; it was all beige leather and blond burl wood. The Hamilton jet had crème-colored leather and rich mahogany wood throughout. It reminded him of a box of chocolate candy with caramel centers.
As the Red Hood, Jason sat down across the aisle from her and buckled up as the pilot finished the last checks and began to coast out onto the runway. There was a table in front of Elle's seat and she set her briefcase on it and immediately opened a file. He sighed. This was going to be a long and boring day.
"Not up for any chitchat, hm?" Jason asked; taking off his helmet. He wore a red domino mask beneath the helmet, so he wasn't compromising his identity by getting comfortable. He didn't know why he was even asking her this. He had no desire to talk.
Elle glanced over at him and smiled tightly. She looked great in a navy blue business suit over a beige boatneck sweater and a simple string of pearls. She had tossed her camel-colored, cashmere coat across the seat beside her. Her hair had been sleeked back into a smooth ponytail at the base of her neck.
"Sorry, Jason," she said. "Nerves. Once we're up you can get something to eat in the galley and watch a movie."
"What are you going to do?" As if he didn't already know.
"Go over my notes. Review a few items that are on the schedule that needs to be addressed. I'm fairly certain my brother made sure that everyone knows about my competency hearing," she made a face. "I have to go in strong and show them I can make the right decisions for the good of the company."
"How's that going to work; running your own business out of Chicago from Gotham? Are you and Dickhead going to be moving to Chicago when once we locate and neutralize whoever is out to get you?" Jason asked casually as he played with the controls to his seat.
Damn! This thing has a butt-warmer? Bruce's jet didn't have seats that warmed people's asses! Seemed like one of the richest men in the world should have a plane that kept one's bottom toasty . . .
"We hadn't really talked about it yet, but I have no plans to move back," Elle told him.
"You're staying in Bludhaven or Gotham, then?" Jason withheld his snide remarks, but barely.
"Dick loves it in Bludhaven. He was already on leave, so the Gotham move hasn't changed anything, but we have friends there; his job . . ." Elle shrugged a shoulder. "He wouldn't want to move."
"So, you're going to fly to work every day?" Jason wondered how Dickface felt about that.
Elle sighed and turned in her seat a little. "What are you doing, Jason?"
He held his hands out in defensively. "Hey, I'm just making small talk, that's all!"
"Did Dick put you up to this?" She stared at him suspiciously. "Are you supposed to sound me out or something?"
His eyes widened. "No!" he snorted. "Why the hell would I do that?"
"I'm as open and honest with your brother as he allows me to be," she snapped. "He doesn't need to use you to find out what I plan or don't plan!"
"I promise! I'm not here to pry," he assured her. Jeez.
She stared at him another moment, and then shook her head; turning back to the paperwork in front of her.
"Right. Enough small talk," she murmured, already distracted.
"You will need to do everything I say when we arrive," Jason told her.
Elle sighed heavily. He was pissing her off. He didn't really mean to, but he had agreed to do his part to keep her safe. He needed to know she would listen to him when it counted and not panic and run off from him.
"Dick's already gone over this with me this morning. Even Bruce had put in his two-cents on the drive to the airport," she groused.
She had arranged for transportation, only to have it canceled by her future father-in-law in a high-handed move. Alfred had driven her, and Bruce and Dick had sat in the back with her going over the 'plan' which boiled down to 'stay close to Jason and do everything he says'.
"Hey, just want us to be on the same page here," Jason said. "I don't want to lose track of you if things go south."
"I've had bodyguards all my life, Jason. I've had things go south more than once," she admitted. "I know what to do if it should happen again."
Really? He didn't know that. Dick had told them his theory about her brother having it in for her as well as the possibility that the threat might come from some as yet unknown adversary, but he didn't mention that all this was old hat to Elle.
"You've had people come after you before?"
"I don't know if it was personal or not," she finally admitted reluctantly. "I just always assumed it was someone out for my father's money."
She kept her mother's murder to herself. Last thing she needed before a big board meeting was runny mascara. She was wearing waterproof, but understood that waterproof didn't actually mean sobbing-your-heart-out kind of waterproof.
Other than as Robin, Jason never had to contend with kidnappers. He thought he had heard something about it, maybe, happening to Dick once when he had been younger, but no one had been willing to talk about it. And truthfully, Jason hadn't actually been interested as he had been jealous of Dick for most of his time living with Bruce. He and the first Robin had only just been moving past all that and beginning to get along both in and out of the masks when Joker had beaten the shit out of Jason with a crowbar and then blew his ass up.
As soon as the pilot gave the okay, Jason was out of his seat and checking out the galley kitchen. It must have been freshly stocked moments before they boarded. He eyed the salads, but dug into the deli sandwiches before checking out the videos on the opulent sofa and the widescreen television.
Might as well enjoy myself now, he thought. The day didn't look as though it would be improving anytime soon.
People began exiting the conference room six hours later. With the exception of a cart of refreshments entering, no one came in or out. So far, the entire day had gone without a hitch, and Jason was due a beer after this. Sitting around six hours was exhausting. He could never have done this as a day job.
He stood up waiting for Elle to come out as the number of people trickling out came to a stop. He had counted twelve people inside of the room plus Elle when they went in; so far, only eleven exited. After several minutes more, Jason moved over to the door and peeked in to see what was taking her.
She was in deep conversation with a youngish man; couldn't be more than seven to ten years her senior. Whatever they were discussing appeared serious, at least; that is, until he smiled and leaned in to press a kiss to her cheek. To Jason, it was rather close to her mouth, and the asshole's hand was on her elbow.
He frowned at the display. They obviously thought they were still private. He kept waiting for Elle to slap the shit out of him for his familiarity; after all, she was an engaged woman. About to marry his brother, in fact! So, when she smiled at him and allowed him to maul her in a hug . . . Okay, maybe maul was too strong of a word, but should she be allowing strange men, not Dick, to feel her up?
All right, so the guy's hands didn't actually stray anywhere truly inappropriate, but Jason still found himself seething on Dickhead's behalf. What. The. Hell?
"Are you sure about this?" the dark-haired man was asking her.
"Positive, Michael. It's the best decision for everyone involved," Elle assured him with a hand on his forearm.
Jason scowled.
"I still think you're making a mistake," Michael told her.
"No mistake," Jason growled as he stomped forward.
The two looked startled by his interruption. Good. Then Elle surprised him by smiling.
"J-oh, um, Michael Grassi, this is the Red Hood," Elle introduced him. "He agreed to escort me here from Gotham City and back as my personal bodyguard."
"Red Hood?" Michael tilted his head as he took in the mask, the red helmet under one of Jason's arms and the red bat on display across his gray armor. The hesitation was nearly non-existent as he stuck out his hand in greeting.
"A pleasure meeting you. I hope you take good care of Bella for us." Michael pulled Elle closer into a kind of one-armed hug.
The man obviously liked to live dangerously. Jason gripped his hand. If Michael was startled by the strength of his grip, he gave away nothing; merely increased the strength of his own to match. The man stood at least as tall as Jason; his dark blue eyes looking directly into the lenses of Jason's domino mask. But he had released Elle; just as Jason wanted him to.
If Elle noticed the male posturing going on, she didn't mention it. Instead she turned back to the table to finish stuffing a few folders into her briefcase.
"That's my job, Michael," Jason said as he finally released his hand and stepped back slightly in order to let Elle move between them. "I'm here to protect Miss Hamilton from all possible dangerous situations and importuning reprobates."
Michael's mouth quirked up. "Reprobates, eh? We wouldn't want any of those around."
"Definitely not," Elle agreed.
She slipped her hand through Jason's arm and gave him a little tug. He might have noticed her amusement had he looked over at her, but he was too busy glaring at the bum that was making advances at his brother's fiancée.
"I'm ready whenever you are, Red Hood," she smirked. "Time to go home."
Jason nodded. "Right. Home . . . Back to your fiancé who's waiting for your safe return." He glared a second more in order to get his meaning across. Maybe the guy didn't read the paper or watch the news, but the engagement had been announced a while ago.
Michael hummed pleasantly. "Have a safe trip, Bella. I'll have my secretary call you. How about you and I discuss our plans over dinner?"
Elle bit her lip to keep from laughing when she felt Jason stiffen beside her. Damn Michael for taking advantage of Jason's obvious misunderstanding to tease him a bit. The Red Hood didn't have a reputation in Chicago, so Michael didn't get that he was poking the bear.
"Sounds wonderful, Michael," she said; tightening her hold on Jason's arm.
"It's the least I can do," he followed up smoothly. "After all, we'll likely be working very late. It's only right that I feed you."
Jason slowed down, and Elle tugged him forward. She glanced over her shoulder at Michael and made a face; shaking her head at his ridiculous play even as she quickened her pace. Jason didn't say a word until they entered the elevator to take them up to the building's helipad.
When the door closed he rounded on her.
"What the hell was that?" He barked at her. "A few hundred miles and you forget you're engaged . . .? And to my fucking brother, no less!"
She smiled charmingly; completely calm to his fury. "That was you getting your knickers in a twist over something completely harmless."
"You let him kiss you!"
"That was a peck by someone who is a close, personal friend," she corrected.
"How close and how personal a friend is he?" Jason crossed his arms, eyeing her skeptically.
She raised her eyebrow at the offense he was taking on Dick's behalf. Jason had been acting as though he didn't like Dick, and even declared once that they weren't real brothers. She would have thought he wouldn't care one way or the other. As it was, she thought the snit he was in was adorable.
"We've been friends for years, not that it's any of your business. If Michael had been the man for me, we would have been together long before now," Elle declared. "Truly. I love your brother with my whole heart. No other man will be turning my head; I can promise you that."
"Uh huh," Jason huffed. He put on his helmet as they neared the roof. "I don't suppose Michael knows that, does he?"
Elle's smile returned. "I invited him to the wedding."
"Then, what was all that talk about dinner and working late?" He looked at her.
At least she thought he looked at her. The helmet didn't appear to have lenses like his mask did. Although a front of the helmet was molded into the shape of a face, it looked to be solid. How the heck did he see through it?
"Michael Grassi is Hamilton Industries' Chief Financial Officer," she replied. "I had just asked him to step into the position of CEO in my place. I trust him to run the company, and that allows Dick and me to remain in Bludhaven permanently. The meeting he was talking about will be to finalize it and make it official. I'll still have some say in how the company's run, but the day-to-day operations will be his domain. This will allow him to make most of the decisions on my behalf."
Elle grinned at him. "You know, Michael was only teasing you with his insinuation that there was more to it because he recognized your rather inappropriate possessiveness of someone you are only supposed to have a professional interest in. People eat together over business all the time. Dick may even join us. He'll need to get to know Michael anyway."
"Huh, well, he was lucky I didn't choose to take more offense than I did," Jason growled. "He'd be in for a world of hurt if I actually liked Dickhead. Not that I do, but it's the principle of the matter, you know . . . What with him being family and all."
Elle laughed and bumped his arm with her shoulder. "Aw, you love your brother."
He looked down at her. Elle came up to his chest. "I do not," he muttered.
The elevator doors opened and she moved to step out. "It's okay, Jay. I think it's very sweet."
Jason stepped in front of her and took her arm. "It's not sweet," he grumbled. "And I step out first."
"Oh, sorry," she told him. "Our arrival went smoothly," she reminded him. "Do you honestly believe anyone will try something?
She could almost hear him rolling his eyes at her.
Jason snorted. "I see why Dick asked me to escort you."
"What's that supposed to mean?" She thought she should be taking offense.
"You are a good person," Jason admitted. "And as such, you don't always see the bad stuff that people do."
She wanted to correct him, but other than a few incidents recently, most people had been, in general, kinder to her than some of her own family members.
"I watch the news," she muttered under her breath.
Jason snorted as he tugged her to a sheltered spot near to the door. "Stay here until I call for you," and then he proceeded to step out onto the rooftop. After a long moment, he stuck his head back in and waved her over. "Let's go, princess."
Jason tucked her under his left arm; keeping his right, more dominant hand free. Dick said that his brother could shoot equally well with either hand, but she figured the right side was more exposed than the left.
As they moved out, a redheaded man with a bow moved in cover her other side. She looked at him suspiciously. Why did he seem so familiar? A red mask covered his eyes and he wore a red and black suit of a superhero mixed incongruously with a backward baseball cap that had seen better days. She gaped . . . and then glanced at Jason in shock.
Had this been Dick's idea or Jason's? She rolled her eyes in exasperation. They were taking this protection thing too far. If this were really necessary, Elle could have arranged for Edward and Hugh to resume their duties. At least they knew each other and everyone's peculiarities enough to not get on her every last nerve.
"You going to introduce us?" She elbowed Jason lightly in his ribs.
He didn't bother looking at her as he answered. "Arabella Hamilton, meet Red Arrow. Red Arrow, this is Miss Hamilton."
Red Arrow was busy scanning the surrounding building for glints of metal or anything else that might hint at there being a muzzle of a gun present, but he acknowledged the introductions.
"Nice to meet you, ma'am," he said.
Elle's eyes nearly bulged out of her head. "Roy?" It came out a little louder than she had intended, but it got the two men's immediate attention. "Roy Harper?"
Red Arrow's head swung around and he glared, not at her, but at Red Hood. "You told her?" He hissed angrily.
"I didn't tell her nothing!" Jason looked down at her. "Did Dickhead tell you everyone's identities over dinner or something?"
Terrific. She'd just pissed everyone off. "No! He didn't tell me anyone's identities actually . . . Well, except maybe yours," she clarified, ruefully.
"How the hell, then, did you just . . .?" Roy snapped in disbelief.
"I-I have a gift," she answered weakly. "I have an ear for voices. I recognized yours."
"Are you fucking kidding me?" Roy practically bellowed. "Like I'm going to believe that! I only met you that one time, and you met dozens of new people that night."
"It's a gift," she exploded defensively.
"I was disguising my voice . . ."
"You were trying to disguise your voice," she countered, dryly. "But you weren't succeeding at it."
Roy looked back at Jason. "You told her, didn't you?"
"I did not tell her anything! She didn't even know you guys were coming," he growled.
"You guys? There's more than one of you here? Where's the other one? Have I met him already, too?" Elle stopped to glance around the rooftop. She didn't see anyone else. Maybe he was in the helicopter?
Jason spun around in a one eighty; putting his arm around her waist to get her moving. "Jesus, Elle, don't stop in the middle of an open area like that! Are you trying to make yourself a target?"
"S-Sorry," she stammered and began looking around for whoever Jason believed was out here to get her. "You don't really believe Nameless is out there, do you? There is no way he's healed enough to make another attempt after everything; not yet, anyway."
"Nameless? Who's that?" Roy . . . Er, Red Arrow asked.
"The first guy who went after Dick and Elle. That's what we've been calling him for lack of an ID." Jason sped up; forcing Elle to break into a jog to keep up. No easy feat for a girl in heels. He put a hand on top of her head as they neared the waiting chopper; its propellers already spinning.
"Wait! What?" Red Arrow gaped. "You never said anyone was after Dick, too! Who's watching over him?"
"He doesn't need anyone watching over him," Jason snorted.
"But as Dick Grayson, he won't have the same kind of options going into a fight as he would as . . ." Roy argued.
"Batman! Batman will be watching over him, okay? Now fucking pay attention!" Jason barked.
He yanked open the door to the copter and helped Elle climb in. Elle stumbled over and sat in the seat near the other door. Jason immediately yanked her up and practically slung her into the seat behind the pilot.
"Gah," Elle yelped startled. "What are you doing?"
"Sit there," he pointed at her. "Less of a target." He sat down in the seat she had chosen. "Fasten up, sweetheart. We're taking off."
Red Arrow climbed in and sat down by the other door as Jason tapped the ceiling to let the pilot know to go. The helicopter immediately lifted off the roof of Elle's company building.
"What's going on," Elle asked. It wasn't too loud in the helicopter, being designed for wealthy passengers as it was. They could still hear each other if they talked a little louder than normal. "You didn't take this many precautions on the way here."
He glanced at her. "Of course, I did! You just didn't see them, then" he told her. "You're seeing them now."
Elle slumped back, annoyed, and she hated to admit it, a little motion sick already. "I hate sitting backwards," she grumbled.
She'd be feeling nauseous for the rest of the day at this rate. She almost wished someone would have taken a potshot at her. At least then all this cloak and dagger stuff would have been worth it.
REACTIONS? Pretty please?
I'm back! That took a lot longer than it was supposed to, and I apologize for that. But the other stories were great fun and all but one of them is over and has been ended happily. Check them out if you like reading about a younger Dick Grayson as Robin or even part of the Young Dick Grayson series where a good portion of those stories occur before he even learned his new guardian was Batman.
I have a poll going if you haven't bothered to check out my profile. It has been suggested that I post some of the deleted scenes and excerpts that I have written for my other posted stories (Including Last Chance - and I even have one already for this story that I couldn't make fit) in a collection. They were a little too good to just get rid of permanently, but for some reason couldn't be used; whether it didn't fit the plot or I didn't have room or some other reason. If you are interested in seeing some of these, vote YES. I have options for everyone, so check it out and put in your two cents.
I am still working on Derailment, but as I'm usually working on at least two stories, it shouldn't prevent me from getting you out a new chapter once a week or so, if not more. I have some free time this summer, so I'll be writing a LOT! Check in often - Hit up my profile for what's new. I update regularly several times a week and date the posts so they're easy to find.