Author's Note: I use some swear words in my stories. Not excessively, put they're planted in my stories. I don't want to offend anyone but I tell stories the way I like to. Overall, I hope you're enjoying the story.

Red Hood scoped out the area in front of Janet's apartment complex to seeing anything was out of place or if any suspicious activity was taking place. He was about to head over to the emergency exit to Janet's apartment until he saw a man walking briskly after another innocent man who was simply trying to get home.

It was an elder man the criminal was after which made Red Hood's blood boil. An elderly person? Really? Gotham was definitely a crappy city indeed.

The old man tripped over his two feet and ended up landing hard on his hands and knees. Aching now, he tried scooting away from the scum who was about to take everything he had.

"Please, just leave me alone! I don't have anything!" the elder man pleaded.

"Oh, you have something alright!" the scum said.

He kicked the old man in the leg before snatching up a bag that the old man had dropped.

"No, please! That's a present for my granddaughter. Her birthday is tomorrow! Please, give it back. You can take my wallet and my money, I do not care. But please, give me that back. She's very special to me and I love my grandbaby dearly…please, give it back."

The scum placed his hand over his heart then poked out his crusty lips to mock the man.

"Oh, that is so sweet of you. But, guess what? I don't give a shit, old man." He took out a jewelry box and opened it. "Nice bracelet…I'm sure your granddaughter is a pretty lady. Where is she? I might pay her a visit!"

"I think not."

"What the f-"

The scum was silenced when a hard boot flew into his face, knocking out his front two teeth and sending him flying backwards into a dumpster. Red Hood quickly helped the elder man up and handed him back his gift before taking care of the idiot he just sent flying. The elder man silently rooted for his savior as he watched him take care of the man bothering him. The scum begged for mercy and actually received it, which was very rare, and ran out of the alleyway he was kicked into and onto the street. He disappeared with ease into the darkness as he wasn't trying to get hurt anymore.

Red Hood checked on the elder man to make sure he was alright.

"Thank you," the man said. "Thank you very much."

"You're welcome," Red Hood said. "You were on your way to visit your granddaughter?"

The elder man nodded slightly.

"Yes. It is her birthday tomorrow and I wanted to give her a present. I was about to head up to her home until I was attacked."

"I'll take you to her."

Red Hood then heard a familiar voice that made him jerk his head in the direction where it was coming from.

It was Janet.

"Grandpa! Red Hood!" she said. She dropped the garbage bag she was carrying to the dumpster and hurried over her grandpa. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine," her grandpa said. "He saved me from someone who was going to steal your gift from me."

Janet hugged her grandpa tightly as tears began to fall down her cheeks swiftly.

"Thank you," she said to Red Hood. "You've been nothing but helpful to me ever since you rescued me in that alleyway…" She then hugged Red Hood who squeezed her gently. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. Let me help you guys up to your apartment."

Janet sat on top of the roof of the apartment complex with Red Hood as she snacked on a Snickers bar.

"I wish I could kick ass like you," she said. "I feel so damn weak…especially in a city like this."

"I know exactly what you mean. I felt the same way…until I finally empowered myself."

"How did you do that?"

"I escaped from a bad place…did some things that I'm not too proud of but that shit is in the past. I made my own identity."

"Who taught you everything you know?" Janet took the silence that followed shortly after as a sign that Red Hood didn't want to talk anymore. "I'm sorry I asked…"

"No, it's…" Red Hood took a long deep breath before continuing. "It's fine. Batman taught me everything I know."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"What was it like?"

"Educational."

"You think you can teach me what you know? I feel so powerless…my poor grandpa…" Janet crumpled the Snickers wrapper into a ball in her hand and let out a small sigh.

"Trust me, I don't think you want me to be your teacher in any way, shape, or form. Believe me."

"What? You think you're a bad person or something?"

A strong gust of wind managed to knock Red Hood's hood off his helmet and he quickly moved his hood back on top of his helmet.

"I'm not the ideal guy for you. I'm nothing like Nightwing, Robin…Batman…or the others. Trust me when I tell you."

"Why do you think that? You've done nothing but been extremely helpful and you've saved my life and my grandpa's life. I wish I could see your face under your helmet so I can see who you are. I mean…you will show your face, right?"

"Yes. I haven't broken my promise to you. But Janet, I am going to tell you this and you need to take heed to my words. Trust me, I'm not someone who is your typical hero. I'm far from it. I want you and your grandpa to be safe and all but I'm not someone who's loveable."

"I disagree."

Red Hood sensed that there was no way in convincing Janet that he was not the type of person she wanted to fall in love with.

He never thought he'd even think about the word love at all as he wasn't interested in developing any type of relationship with Janet whatsoever. Was she gorgeous and just the sweetest person ever? Yes. But was he still pretty aloof and wanted to be alone all of the time? Yes. No way was he going to get into a relationship with someone who deserved better and he was not the person for her.

"I have a question for you," Red Hood said.

"I have an answer for you," Janet responded with a small smile on her face. She didn't want this night to end as she was enjoying Red Hood's company far too much but she knew that her wish would not come true tonight.

Red Hood laughed lightly at Janet's response then turned his head to face her.

"Do you like me?" he asked.

He knew the answer as he figured it out long ago but wanted to hear it from Janet herself.

"Yes." Her response was quick, genuine, and firm. "You've saved my life and my grandpa's life. Within a week. How can I not like you?"

"Makes sense."

"Now, if you want to know if I really, really, really like you…as in I have a crush on you…well, I do. Crazy I know, but…that's just how I feel."

Red Hood couldn't tear his gaze from Janet as he saw how sincere she was and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"It's okay. I'm glad I could help you and others close to you."

"Thank you. Also, it's my turn to ask a question." Janet lifted Red Hood's hand off her shoulder and wrapped her small hands around it. "Why do you think you're not lovable? Or even likable? I'm not trying to force you to like me or anything but I just want to know, Red. I mean, yeah you explained that you're not like Nightwing or Robin but what makes you that different?"

"It's my past…excuse my French, but I'm really fucked up. Remember that man that was chasing you?"

"Yes."

"Well, I took him up on the rooftop and killed him. See, I have a totally different way of dealing with the scum of Gotham unlike my former mentor, Batman. He didn't kill his enemies but I do. Sometimes. I want you to know that about me. That's why I say I'm not lovable…and I'm not likable…and I'm not someone who should looked at as a hero."

"But you're my hero. Killing is a bit extreme but…" Janet shrugged. "What can I do? I can't stop you. You have your way of dealing with the criminals of this city."

"Me killing some people doesn't scare you? Doesn't alarm you at all?"

"Nope."

"Well, that does it. I now know you are one amazing girl."

Janet blushed when she heard those words.

"Thanks, Red," she said.

"You've called me Red twice now."

"Sorry."

"No, I like it." Red Hood hesitated for a moment then reached into his pocket and pulled out a small radio. "Here. If you need me, just holler and don't be afraid to do so, okay?"

"Okay." Janet took the radio and clutched it in her hand. "Oh…one more question. Do you like me? I mean…I thought that after you had rescued me that night I thought you had taking a liking to me. Damn, I'm stupid. S-sorry I asked! Gosh, I'm embarrassing myself."

"Janet, relax. You're fine. And yes…I do like you." Red Hood definitely wasn't going to lie to himself as he like her a bit and he wasn't going to tell her that he didn't. Not after the way her and her grandpa had been nice to him. They were grateful that he rescued them and that warmed his heart.

Janet sighed a sigh of relief.

"Man, this has been one heck of a conversation. Wish we could stay up here longer but it's cold and I do need to get inside."

"Let me help you down."

Red Hood hoisted Janet onto his back and quickly glided down the ladder that lead to her apartment and helped her inside.

"Thank you for the radio and thank you for talking to me. I'll see you soon," Janet said.

"You're welcome. But there's one more thing that I need to tell you. I saw you at the restaurant up the street the other day with your friend."

"That crazy Olivia that I call a friend is who I was with. She's a sweetheart but a hot mess!"

Red Hood chuckled.

"Yeah, I could see that seeing as how I overhead everything she was saying."

"You…did?"

"Of course," Red Hood said. He pulled his hood down then took off his helmet and revealed his true identity to Janet.

She smiled big and wide when she saw who her savior was and reached through her window so she could hug him.

"Oh, my gosh! You're the guy from the diner! Wow! This is so cool!"

"Yeah, it's me."

Without thinking, Janet lifted a finger to the scar on Jason's face. He quickly grabbed Janet's right hand but didn't do anything else as he stared right back at her.

"I won't ask about this if you don't want me to."

"No, it's fine as I don't mind talking about it. I'll tell you everything about me soon. Okay?"

"Okay. Oh…there is one thing you still haven't told me yet!"

"What's that?"

"Your name."

"Oh, yeah. Right…sorry about that…it's Jason."

"Your name starts with a J, too!? This is a coincidence."

"Yes, it is."

"We can hang out sometime and get to know each other. I want to hear all about your time with Batman and how it was having him train you!"

Jason nodded his head at Janet's request as a little part of him didn't mind talking about Bruce this time around.

But the other story that had happened at Arkham Asylum…deep in the abandoned wing…not so much.

"Sure thing."

"Great! I'll see you around, Jason!"

"See ya. Oh, by the way…I took out your trash for you."

"Oh, so that's where you disappeared to earlier…oops! Thank you for taking out my trash! And oh, how about we meet at the diner?"

"Sounds good."

"Great! See you very soon!"

Janet gave Jason a huge hug which made him smile himself and hug her back. He put his helmet on, pulled his hoodie over it, then grappled onto the roof of the apartment building and flew into the night.

The more he talked to Janet, the more he realized that a little part of him did indeed like her back and he wasn't going to deny it.

Maybe Janet would be the one to melt some of the ice that still surrounded Jason's heart.