Yay! I updated after 69,000,000,000 years! Yay! And Tank yoo newsiesgirllaces for being awesome~! Look out for my new series with Ali and Livy together! It's called... Idk yet! But I'm working on it!

Rule number 18: Talk It Out

"What are you doing here?" I asked as I walked through the door of my room. He stood there, leaned against my bed. His Red Hood helmet was on my bed, his face soaked from the rain, blood, and sweat. His domino mask was still on, thought. His clothes was tattered and filled with blood, dirt, and debris. He had cuts and bruises all over his torso and arms. His face looked pained, but he still forced a smile when he saw me. His arms were wrapped around his stomach-which was bleeding-and his black hair was plastered to his forehead. Clearly he crawled through my window. It had been two weeks since I last saw Jason. Two painful weeks of me thinking he was dead. AGAIN.

"You look happy to see me," Jason's smiled bared his teeth.

"You're injured." I closed the door and locked it.

"You know how it is on the streets. You gotta fight for your life. Well, in my case, fight to protect other people's lives."

"You kill," My voice cracked.

"I have to." His smiled faded.

"No you don't." I pulled up his hand and yanked off his gloves. I did the same with the other.

"Are you gonna take me a bath like you used to when I was little?" Jason asked as I took off his jacket. I placed everything on my bed.

"You're old enough to take a shower on your own." I didn't smile. Or frown. I didn't show any emotion. I couldn't. Not now.

Just as I unzipped his vest and opened it, I saw that his chest and stomach were sliced up. I gasped and looked at the horrid mess that covered his toned body. But then again, I probably couldn't see the WHOLE situation since the only light that I had in my room was coming from my personal bathroom. Everything else was dark.

He smirked and patted his wounds. "Yup, nothing says 'ouch' like a couple of flesh wounds on her tummy."

"Jason," I said, my eyes still wide, "Who-?"

"Black Mask's crew; thought I could handle it. Underestimated my opponents. Bone head move." Jason shrugged.

Black Mask; he was holding a ransom for anyone who brought the dead body of Red Hood. The Ransom was five hundred thousand. So gradually, every bounty hunter, hit man, assassin, and amateur killer were going to be after Jason. I felt the tears fill my eyes as I looked up at his bloody body, "You need to stop this."

"I'll stop when crime does."

"You know that'll never stop."

"Then neither will I."

I looked down, tears spilling over, "I don't want to be standing over your grave again." He placed his hand on my face. It was rough with a hint of softness. He used his thumb to wipe away my tears.

"Do you trust me?"

"Yes," I nodded.

"The trust me when I say that I will not die again. I promise you that."

I looked into the white lenses of his eyes. I could tell he was looking into my eyes as well. "Please… Be safe."

"Can't promise that. But I do promise that I'll waste all your hot water while I take a shower."

I couldn't help but giggle at his statement. He always knew how to brighten up certain subjects.

He got off the bed and moved toward the bathroom; pulling off his pants and boxers. I heard the water turn on. I gathered all his clothes and walked out the door; making my way to the laundry room. I shoved everything in the washing machine and dunked a cup of bleach in there. I then walked back into my room and into the bathroom. I thought Jason was still in my shower. So I couldn't catch him naked. I went into my cabinet looking for bandages and the equipment I needed to stitch him up. Suddenly, the door closed behind me. I turned around just as Jason walked up to me and wrapped his arms around my waist.

"Ja-."

He leaned down and kissed me. I felt my whole body leap. He quickly pulled back and looked down at me (mind you, now, he was still naked) and placed his forehead on mine. "I love you, Alastrina."

And that's all it took for me to burst out in tears while I was in his arms. I was glad Bruce was out on patrol and Alfred was downstairs cleaning the Batcave, because what happened next…well, let's out this together: naked man + Crying girl x running shower=… well if you can't put that together, I'll say it: he made love to me. I know it sounds corny. But that's what he did. He was so gentle and full of love and passion. It was a long time since I've felt this way. But my love for Jason was blossoming even more. I loved Jason Peter Todd. And no one could tell me other wise. Not even Batman.

"You know Master Bruce would be more then displeased about your private affair with Master Jason." Alfred said as I put up the Bat-a-rangs in the Batcave.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Playing dumb. It was something I wasn't too good at.

"I saw you walking from the laundry room to your room with Master Jason's clothes. I may be old, Ali. But I am certainly not stupid." I turned around to face him. Thought his back was turned to me. He was cleaning the Batmobile. "I will not tell Master Bruce, Miss Alastrina. But I will warn you, Master Bruce WILL suspect something."

I know, Alfie." I looked down and continued cleaning. "I just-."

"You're in love with him." Alfred stated.

I bit my lip. He turned around and gave me a soft smile. "Miss Ali, I have known for a long time now. When Jason had turned sixteen you had developed feeling for him. Watching him grow up and seeing him as he is now."

"You don't think it's wrong?" I asked.

"Not in the least." Alfred shook his head. "Your feelings are your own. And no one should be able to get in the way of them. Even though we both know Bruce WILL disapprove of your love affair."

I looked away and sighed.

"Beside, you're not the only one who's fallen in love with you."

My eyes widened and I looked up to Alfred; who had disappeared.

Two more weeks passed and Jason and I were doing our best to sneak around the city. I would give him a rendezvous point and meet him there late at night. Bruce noticed me going out and I would come up with excuses that I've decided to go out and meet knew people. Of course, Bruce didn't buy it, but he seemed not to care too much. As long as I wasn't moping around the mansion; mindlessly doing chores like before. He hated that. I would sit and wait on little roof tops for Jason until he came for me. And-of course-he did. He'd wear his little Red Hood mask and take me to a secret location to we could be together. Alone. He would tell me everything he went through since he came back to life and left Ra's Al Ghul's place. I was truly amazed. He ran from Ra's and began to find his way to civilization. Once there, he was taken in by a woman named Catalina, who taught him Russian and Spanish. He then started to learn how to use guns, bombs, and close combat fighting. His story amazed me. But also hurt me. Why? Well, how would you feel if the boy you raised died and came back a murderer? He would tell me everything. Sometimes after sex, which is when I love to talk the most, or sometimes on the roof. The important thing about all of this was the fact that he was back in my arms at night. Bruce, though, had noticed my more happier state and asked if I was seeing someone. I didn't tell a lie, I WAS seeing someone. And he seemed fairly pleased about this…. SEEMED.

Richard also seemed to be dropping by frequently. He had heard about the whole Jason/Red Hood fiasco and quickly came to my aid that night. Same with Tim Drake….

Tim…

Tim Drake was another child that I loved to have around. He wasn't like Dick; who was loud and jumpy when he was Robin. And he wasn't like Jason; who was reckless and angry. No, he was different. He was confident and skilled. Tim was smart and knew it. He was able to find out who Batman really was. No other kid could say that. Tim took being Robin seriously. Not like Dick, who saw it simply as a thrill ride; which is probably why he went out of his own-to seek more of a thrill. Not like Jason either, who just saw it as a game, which he ended up losing. Tim was actually able to break down the situation without using so much brain power like Bruce did. Hell, he made detective work look EASY. And he often went out on his own to uncover any case. Tim was determined, he was skilled, and he had wanted to PROVE to Bruce that he COULD be Robin. But in the end, he just proved that Batman NEEDED a Robin. Tim took detective work seriously. He WANTED to be the world's greatest detective. No, he didn't want to be BATMAN. He wanted to be greater than Batman.

When Tim wanted to be Robin, we trained him the best we could. And he proved that being Robin was more than just a thrill or a game. He was a fast learner, too. I taught him almost every language I knew and he learned them faster than fast. It took me six months to learn a language. It only took Tim Two weeks. I was proud of what he was. But now, he seemed to be with the Teen Titans and his dad. So I rarely got to see him. When he came around, though, he always showed compassion and was a little shy around me as well. Didn't know why, though. I missed him. I wonder when he's coming back...

"Alastrina," Bruce called as he entered the Batcave, "we need to talk."

"About what?" I asked as I turned to face him in the rolling chair.

"You going out late at night." He narrowed his eyes. "You seem sleepier during the day."

I laughed, "Bruce, you of all people know that I don't really ever GET tired."

He glared at me, "You know what I mean."

"No," I shook my head, "I don't."

He looked away, "Look, Ali, I know what you've been doing."

Fear shot through my body, but I maintained a calm composer, "Yeah, I've been going out."

"You never like leaving the mansion at night. I know that for a fact." Bruce growled as he walked towards me, "You always used to complain about how you hated Gotham at night because of the horrible crimes that break out. And when you almost got mugged that one night."

"Almost," I countered as he got closer to the chair.

"And the time when the Joker was loose and Hush was back in town, he and his men shot up everything killing you and hundreds of people. It was AT NIGHT. And after you saw the death of Sarah Essen, Jim Gordon's wife, you vowed that you would never go out at night."

I looked down, I remember that horrible night. After the earth quake that destroyed Gotham City, I had gone to the hospital. Unfortunately, he had taken me and a bunch of infant hostage in a room. When Sarah came he told her not to move, then threw one of the babies at Sarah. She moved. He shot. She died in front of me and I quickly ran to her. He shot me, too, for moving. Right in my eye. I still have a small scar on my eyelid; barely noticeable. But that night still haunts me to this day. I did vow that I would never go out at night. Because that's when that happened. I've been shot many nights on the streets of Gotham. I guess, with Jason here, I felt safe. Protected. I didn't once think about the vow when Jason was here. All I thought about was being with him again.

"You broke that vow so you could be with Jason." He said as he slammed his hands on the arm rests at the side of the chair.

I looked up at him in shock. He wasn't called The World's Greatest Detective for nothing. I gripped my fists and furrowed my brow; giving him my angry look-which I didn't pull off too well since I didn't like getting mad too often; especially around Bruce-and glared at him. I didn't say anything, though. I didn't know what to say. I just stared at him.

"You've been having an affair with him haven't you!"

"Don't you DARE use that tone with me, Bruce." I shot back, "And so what if I have! It's none of your business!"

He gawked at me, "Are you kidding me! Of course it's my business! You're fucking Jason Todd!"

I wanted to slap him; but refrained. I never hit my children. "Don't you EVER use that term with me again! Do you hear me!" I shouted as I got up off the chair.

He stood back and glared at me, "It's true and you know it! Why the hell would you do something like that! With JASON of all people!"

"Oh, don't give me that, Bruce! I can name all the people you've messed around with that weren't exactly Little Miss Perfect!"

"That's different!"

"How the hell's that different!"

"Well for one, I didn't practically RAISE those girls! They weren't FAMILY!"

"Jason says he's no longer a part of this family-."

"Don't give me that shit! You and I both no what you're doing is wrong! And you WILL atop this affair!"

"I know YOU aren't telling ME who I should be with or not! You have NO say in what I do! You don't have the AUTHORITY!"

"You live in this house and you will do as I say!"

"Don't talk to me like I'm a little girl, Bruce!"

"Then stop acting like one!"

"I do not act like one!"

"What you're doing now is showing how naïve and vulnerable you are! And last time I checked, little girls act that way!"

"I am not vulnerable! And I am not Naïve! I AM NOT A LITTLE GIRL!"

"TO ME YOU ARE!" Bruce shouted as he grabbed my arms and gave me a shake.

I stared up at him in shock. "What?" I whispered as I looked up at him.

"You're a little girl to me. I've always seen you… as someone I HAD to protect. Even when I was little. It was a necessity to me. I.. I hate seeing you hurt." He said looking down. Not at me, but the floor.

"What are you-."

"I can't see you hurt. Not again. When Jason… You were so hurt. And it killed me. It was my fault." I felt him sob. And that's when I realized what he meant. He didn't care if I was physically hurt, but about being emotionally hurt. I hadn't been seeing what I've been doing to Bruce these past five years. My depression; it was dragging him down; making him feel more and more guilty about Jason's death. My emotions and actions were a constant reminder to Bruce that it was his fault that he couldn't save Jason. But I never ever blamed him. I couldn't. Wouldn't. He cried in my arms that night. And it felt like that night his parents died. On the floor, crying in my arms as I held him tight; reminding him that I was still here. And that I wasn't going anywhere.

Sadness! Yeahh, Ali's had an epiphany! Yay! Sorry it's short! Next chapter will contain danger and death! So watch out! Spoilers! :D