A/N: Hey everyone, so I've added a new character, one of my own and I hope you like him. I just didn't have the guts to break the original pairings from the show... In other news a lot of you have been asking me if Alex would be moving to Starling? Be patient a chapter regarding that will be next!
Disclaimer: I do not own anything Arrow or Batman related, except my characters.
Chapter 3
Alex shot up in bed gasping for air. Her back was sticky with sweat and her t-shirt clung to it. She reached down to grab a pair of underwear and pulled it onto her body as she stepped slowly from under the covers. The soft snores coming from her companion was proof that he was still out like a light. Alex walked to in front of her window and gazed out at the garden three stories below. She was on the top floor in the mansion and the full moon's rays filled the room in silvery light. Her mind jumped to her nightmare, they had been getting worse over the past few months, more frequent. Alex couldn't sleep on the second anniversary of the Gambit's death, the nightmares had plagued her all the way 'till dawn. She breathed deeply to control her rapidly beating heart. When it calmed down and she felt like she could survive the rest of the night Alex slipped back into bed.
She stared at the man lying on his back beside her, his golden locks looked sliver in the moonlight. Alex reached a hand and softly combed his hair out of his eyes. She paused when he shifted and turned to face her. The snoring had stopped. Alex bit her lip when the moon's rays caught the black tattoo on her wrist and arm. She balled her hand into a fist and stuck it underneath the covers. Alex took a deep breath, but regretted it the second her companion stirred and opened his eyes. Eyes, the colour of fresh cut grass in the summer, greeted her with a worried expression,
"Nightmare again?" He asked, his voice gruff and barely above a whisper. Alex nodded mutely. Aiden sighed and rolled over to grab his boxers from the carpeted floor and pull them on before rolling back to face her.
"You want to talk about it?" Alex shrugged and turned her gaze to the ceiling. Aiden's gaze kept her locked in place as he waited patiently for her to talk. Alex took a deep breath,
"It was the same as usual. Same place, same knife… different person." Her voice grew softer with each word until it drifted away in the midnight void. Aiden sighed and popped his elbow up so he could look at her.
"Do you ever remember their names?" Alex scoffed and shook her head, "I wish, it would make me feel less guilty, but there's a reason why these things bother me in my nightmares and not my waking moments." Aiden nodded, he knew that reason. She had gone through a massive trauma as a kid and blocking them from her mind was easier when the sun was shining. When she didn't say anything else, he knew she was finished discussing her horrors tonight. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her to him. They were chest to chest and Alex's head was snuggly resting under his chin,
"Don't worry, go to sleep, I'm here now." He murmured as he kissed the top of her head. It was funny, Alex would be tied into knots for months, but when her boyfriend shows up after gruelling training in the army and deployment, he could untie her with those simple three words, I'm here now. Her fingers traced one of the new bullet wounds on his skin. He hadn't said anything about Afghanistan yet, but it had taken Alex three years to open up about her past so she could wait, he had only been home for a day and she was just grateful to be engulfed in his arms. She didn't really sleep, but drifted between the world of the living and an unconscious state, her mind not wanting to forget that she was in Aiden's presence.
Alex huffed as her fist hit the punching bag. She sighed when the satisfaction of hitting something didn't flow through her body. Catching the bag when it swung back she turned to Aiden. He was sitting on the floor with a bag of chips in his hands. His excuse was that he hadn't eaten anything unhealthy in eight months. She rolled her eyes when he held the bag out to her.
"I don't want any. Are you sure you won't spar with me? It's boring to just hit this thing." She pouted as she gestured to the bag. Aiden pursed his lips in thought, looked down at his bag of potato deliciousness before looking at her. He shook his head and popped a chip in his mouth,
"Sorry, Babe, food wins this round." Alex scowled and punched the bag harder than necessary. Aiden's laugh echoed around the cave.
"I thought you were supposed to be working? Not playing around?" Alex's head whipped to where the familiar voice was coming form. Her jaw dropped at seeing Dick, his hair wild and uncombed with a suit jacket hanging from his fingertips over his shoulder. She abandoned the bag and walked to give him a quick hug
"What are you doing here?" She asked as she stepped away from him. Dick shrugged as he turned his attention to Aiden who had left his junk food on the ground to greet his old friend. They shook hands and exchanged 'how are you's',
"I heard my old friend from high school was back from Afghanistan so I drove two hours to get here and say hello." Dick explained. Alex grinned, but she didn't miss the dark look that passed over Aiden's face at the mention of Afghanistan.
"You're lucky, Dad isn't here he left for a business meeting in England two days ago." Dick's grin was crooked as he lifted his eyes to study the Batcave,
"I know. I called Alfred to find out about his schedule." Alex narrowed her eyes and studied him. He looked different. His hair was shorter, but the tension in his shoulders was what drew her attention. Alex turned to Aiden and put her hand on his arm,
"Aiden, why don't you go upstairs and let Alfred know that Dick's here?" The message was clear I need to talk to him alone. Aiden's eyes shot to the back of Dick's head before nestling on her blue orbs. He was reluctant to leave her alone and Alex wasn't surprised. 'Talks' with her brother could lead to very harmful fights. Alex sent him a look. Aiden sighed, nodded and kissed her cheek before taking the steps that led to her father's study. Once he was gone Alex waited for Dick to elaborate on the real reason why he was here. When he didn't she scowled,
"Why are you here?" She demanded. Her voice wasn't as cheery as it had a few seconds ago. Dick only smirked as he walked up to the platform that held display cases, each holding a colourful or dark costume.
"I told you. I came to see Aiden."
"Bullshit. If you came to see him you would've been here yesterday. When calling Alfred to make sure dad isn't here the day Aiden comes back and you find out he isn't? Then you have no reason to wait until today. My guess? You didn't even know Aiden was home until you walked into the cave." She said crossing her arms in front of her chest as she glared at him. Dick didn't confirm or deny her accusation as he put his palm flat against the glass that held his old Robin costume. A costume he had shared with Jason in his early days of being the Dark Knight's partner. Alex's anger dissipated as she connected the dots and sensed where this conversation was going. Dick sighed,
"The Red Hood visited me last night." Alex nodded and turned away from staring at the back of her brother's head to staring at the Batmobile that sat two platforms down, ready to be used at any time of day.
"I haven't seen him around in Gotham."
"That's because he's been running amok in Blüdhaven. Gang members and thieves have been turning up dead all around town." Dick growled.
"And he came to see you?" Dick pinched the bridge of his nose and turned to her. She could see the frustration in his actions.
"I asked him to meet me and I told him he had to stop using guns or leave. He refused." Alex raised an eyebrow is disbelief.
"You honestly thought that was going to work? You know him, Dick. He believes he's found a better way of dealing with the scum in this world." Dick shrugged, his eyes were drifting away from her again. Alex watched him carefully: he wouldn't have come all this way to Gotham just to tell her that Jason was being a pain in the ass.
"What do you want me to do?" She asked sighing. Dick looked at her again, his icy blue orbs glinting with an emotion she couldn't recognize,
"You know, your detective skills have improved." Alex scrunched up her nose in displeasure; always trying to change the subject. "Dick, I really don't have time for your games, I don't have time to listen to you trying to ask for my help, and most of all I don't have time to deal with your relationship with our little brother. So unless you're here to make amends with dad or actually talk to Aiden, I suggest you leave." Alex said as she walked past him, heading for the steps. She wasn't in the mood for another fight.
"I need your help." He called as her foot hit the first step. Alex paused and inclined her head lightly to the side, signalling that she was listening.
"Come to Blüdhaven. Talk to Jason, he listens to you." Alex's gaze drifted back to the Robin costume, the stitches were still visible from where Alfred had fixed the torn costume. It was true, he did listen to her, but that was only because they had been really close before he had died. He had even confessed to her that the hardest thing about becoming the Red Hood was seeing her disappointment in him. Alex bit her lip. She tried to stay away from Jason as best she could. It was easier for the both of them. She sighed,
"I'll be in Blüdhaven in three days." Was the only thing she said before she walked up the steps, determined to take a nice hot shower and curl up on the couch with Aiden for a horror movie marathon, determined to be normal for one day.
Alex spotted him first. Her hand flew to her earpiece as she took after the dark figure,
"Nightwing, I've found him: Corner of fifth and Malware." She reported to her brother, there was a touch of static as Alex dropped two stories and rolled into her landing.
"Got it. Keep following him until I've laid eyes on him." Alex rolled her eyes and changed pace to ensure the soundless night stayed that way,
"Rodger that, Tigra out." She turned her earpiece off and pulled her grappling gun out of its holster and shot it across the street. Alex followed Jason for ten blocks before the Red Hood turned and shot four rounds in her direction. Alex dodged the four bullets by rolling and slamming into the ledge of a roof. She hissed at the pain in her shoulder. She quickly made sure he hadn't shot her. A scowl crossed her face while she pulled a knife out of her utility belt. She peeked over the roof to find that Jason was gone. Her scowl deepened, the little brat. She threw her knife into the shadows to where she thought he was hiding. When no new rounds were fired, Alex stood up from her position behind the ledge and looked down into the street, searching for her little brother.
"Loose something?" Alex turned around to find a man wearing a bright red helmet with two machine guns strapped to his back, various explosives and guns all around his armour and her knife held high in his hand. Alex could just imagine the smirk behind the red. Alex scowled and moved to switch her earpiece back on. She stalked up to him angrily and grabbed her knife,
"What the hell is wrong with you? You could have shot me!" Jason laughed,
"Come on Sis, how was I supposed to know that you were in Blüdhaven. I thought you were Grayson following me around again." Alex scowled. She wanted to hit him, she really did, but the truth was she had missed him, his snarky comments and irritating smirk. She missed his mischievous wink and 'I don't give a shit' laugh. She instead shoved her knife roughly into its holster and glared at him from behind her mask.
"Yeah, that's why I'm here. What the hell are you doing in Bludhaven, you know Dick is like Bruce, all stay out of my city or else." Alex said mocking her brother's voice with a raised finger. Jason snorted,
"Like brother like sister, Princess." This time she did hit him. He just laughed harder. It was amazing how their dynamic had rarely changed since he came back from the dead. They still joked around and mocked each other. Alex still stood up for him against Bruce or Dick. Jason still had her back when he was in Gotham. Everything was the same, but it was different too. Alex couldn't see that mischievous fifteen year old boy anymore. Jason had this undistinctive darkness surrounding his every action. His laugh was more sinister, his eyes full of malice and his finger merciless on the trigger. A thump echoed behind her and she turned to find Nightwing, her other brother, his hair windswept, his suit all black except for the blue bird insignia on his chest and not looking happy. Alex internally prepared for the battle that was yet to come.
The mood instantly changed and Alex could see Jason's finger itching closer towards his gun. She rolled her eyes when Dick fingered his Ecskrima Sticks in retaliation. Alex growled out a warning as she stepped between the two,
"Nightwing, don't you dare, we're here to talk." Jason scoffed, his fingers now touching the gun. Alex snatched it out of his grip and held it behind her back. She knew he had tons more, but it was the principal of the matter. Jason swore underneath his breath and glared at her. Alex didn't care. She turned to Dick and handed him the gun.
"We're only here to talk. You've been running around town and killing again. We don't approve." Jason snorted and grabbed his gun from Dick as he walked past heading for the ledge,
"Good thing I don't do what I do to get your approval." He said as he twirled his gun around his finger. Alex scowled and stalked up to him, but Dick stopped her,
"Jason, we've talked about this. We don't mind what you do that much, we've made peace with who you are, but when it comes to our cities? That's where we draw the line." He said with authority. Alex mused on how in control he sounded, must be the new job as a cop, she thought. Jason snorted again,
"This isn't your city, Dick. This is the people's city and you can't tell me what to do. See that's the problem with the Bat's philosophy, everything is his and you have to follow his rules." Jason pulled off the helmet. He was wearing a black eye mask underneath. "Isn't that why you left? So you don't have to be under his roof anymore? Well I got a news flash for you! You've basically become the Batman, all you've done differently is moved to another city and got another name. People still see you like they see Batman." Jason snarled, a malicious smirk in place. Alex could tell the words had really pissed Dick off. He took a threatening step forward. Alex rushed to put her hand on his chest, she didn't give him any words of comfort: she didn't have any.
"Jason please, be rational. We don't want to fight and we don't want to drive you away." She sighed and fully turned to face him,
"Nightwing has taken the responsibility of protecting Blüdhaven. It is his duty to bring criminals to justice. It's his duty to bring murderers to justice. Leave the city, or he will be forced to fulfill his duty." She said threatening. She wasn't going to beg him to leave and she wasn't going to beg him to change, that kind of thing didn't get through his thick skull. Threatening him worked every time. Jason sneered,
"Nightwing can't beat me alone." Jason said as he took a step forward, his eyes narrowed into slits and an ugly scowl tracing his lips. Alex moved to stand in front of Dick, completely blocking him from any onslaught from their deranged brother. He wouldn't shoot her, but he would shoot Dick.
"That's why I'm here." She said darkly, her hand traveling to her sword and gripping the sheath. A flash of hurt burned in his eyes, but when Alex blinked, it was like the emotion hadn't even been there. Jason studied her for a few seconds, mentally calculating his options. It he fought them, he would lose, but if he walked away, he could return another day. He straightened out of his threatening stance and Alex smirked when he started walking backwards towards the ledge.
"You drive a hard bargain, Miss Wayne." He called as he pulled his helmet back on. Right before he jumped and disappeared into the night he looked over his shoulder,
"I'll be back." Then he was gone. "I don't doubt that." Alex murmured underneath her breath. When she turned around, Dick's scowl was still in place. Alex rolled her eyes and started walking away from him, going in the opposite direction Jason had,
"That's it? It's that easy? How do you know he'll leave?" Nightwing growled. Alex sighed and turned to him,
"Would you calm down? He knows you're no above asking me for assistance and now he also knows that I'll be taking your side in this matter." Dick gaped at her while she turned around and sauntered away, he couldn't believe that it was that easy.
"You can thank me later." She called over her shoulder before she disappeared over the ledge.
The third year was easier than she expected. There were fewer tears and fewer arguments. Alex had moved in with Aiden six months before the anniversary and they had spent it together in Starling. They had stayed for a week and Tommy couldn't believe that Alex had a steady relationship. Alex had snorted and told him it had been none of his business. Tommy had been offended for five seconds before he caught the attention of an attractive blonde across the bar. Aiden had snorted and downed his beer, thanking his father for raising him right. Laurel had slapped him so hard, Alex worried his ego would never restore. To say that the third anniversary had been easy would still be a lie though. Tommy and Alex had headed back to the Queen Mansion and had taken fourteen year old Thea for ice-cream. Alex worried about the young teen, her make-up was too overboard and her skirt too short. She didn't mention anything tough and years later she would regret her decision.
When they were finally back in Gotham and had been for a week, Aiden had walked into her office in their apartment, a crooked grin played on his lips, "You got the job?" Alex squealed in excitement. Aiden smiled and nodded his head as he held up the GCPD badge. Alex grinned and ran into his arms, her own wrapping around his neck and pulling him close,
"Thank you." She murmured, it had taken him a lot to withdraw from the army. He had wanted to be the SEAL his father had been all those years ago. It had been tough for him to let go of that dream when she had begged him too. He held her tight and Alex could tell from the wetness on her shoulder that he was finally realising he was never going to be able to follow in his father's footsteps. Alex swallowed down her guilt and stroked his hair, whispering soothing words into his ear as he clung to her. Alex wondered what the next year would bring for her and her friends.
A/N: Thanks for reading! I really appreciate it!