Hi guys, I realized when I was trying to post the seventh chapter that I had actually skipped a chapter! I posted 7 as 6 and you were probably really confused and I'm SO SO SO SORRY! AAAHH! When I found out I totally flipped I'm so sorry. Anyway, this is the real 6, chapters 7 and 8 will be up today. Again I'm really sorry for the confusion!

Chapter 6: Opportunity

A week later, they still had no lead on the venom connection. Scarlet's less than normal life continued. The Titans seemed to trust her more now, which was good. She didn't trust them, not by a long shot, but that wasn't gonna happen for a long while, if ever. Probably the latter.

All Scarlet wanted now was a normal day, and today seemed to be that day. Hopefully. She got up at six o'clock, went through her exercise routine, then grabbed her backpack and headed out to school.

She got there at exactly eight o'clock, thus avoiding having to talk to anyone, then sat down at her desk and pulled out a math test she'd almost finished the night before, but had fallen asleep.

She felt something flick the back of her head. She glanced behind her. One of the boys in her class, Logan or something, sniggered. She rolled her eyes, returning to her test. A moment later, something else hit her head. She closed her eyes a moment, then continued her test. Only seconds later, she got hit again.

She threw an eraser over her shoulder, not having to look to know it hit it's target.

"Ow!"

She smirked but didn't look back. She could feel his pitiful glare on her and ignored it.

Sorry kid, I face the batglare every night. Your glare, is pathetic.

She couldn't help the satisfied smirk on her face.

She was just leaving her last class, when the teacher called her up to his desk.

"Ms. Madison."

"Yes sir?" she asked in a questioning tone.

"Your grades have been excellent," he said.

"Thank you," she said uncertainly.

"And your record is spotless."

"Yes…"

He handed her an envelope with a smile. She took it. It was addressed to Kara Madison. She looked at him, he nodded encouragement.

She opened the envelope, but was barely short of shocked by the contents.

To Miss Kara Madison,

You have been accepted to Gotham Academy on a full Wayne Scholarship for your performance in math, gymnastics, and swimming.

You will be provided with all the supplies needed for school. Including a uniform, books, and a lunch card. Please respond to the Headmaster by the date of August 14nth.

Sincerely, Headmaster Jason Rame.

"Miss Madison?"

She snapped up. "I-I don't know what to say."

"You deserve it," he said. "If your parents agree, this could be the chance of a lifetime."

"Thank you," she said sincerely.

"Don't thank me, you did all the work."

She nodded. "I'll talk to my parents," she said for good measure.

She hurried out, her mind focused on the invitation. This could either be amazing, or horrible. But she was pretty sure she knew who was responsible for it. She couldn't believe he found out her ID. Already! She shook her head to clear it. She'd decide, just not right now.

That night Red Kite met Batman on patrol. As Batman observed movements on the docks through binoculars, she asked the question on her mind.

"Where's Robin?" she asked.

"He's not here."

She rolled her eyes. "Thanks Captain Obvious. I meant, why is he not here?"

"Homework."

She nodded slightly. They met on the top of a roof. "Speaking of which, how'd you find out my alias-no, stupid question. Why'd you give me the scholarship?"

He barely spared her a glance. "You earned it. Besides, you could use it."

"I'm not some charity case," she snapped. "I'm doing fine on my own."

"Living in the rafters of an abandoned warehouse isn't what I would call fine," he said dryly.

"I'm doing fine. I have a job," she grumbled

"Indeed. On Wednesdays and Fridays from eight to eleven at the Ice Burg Lounge where you use a fake I.D. and put on makeup to make it seem like you're twenty-one, which doesn't really work by the way. And then on Tuesdays and Thursdays at a fast-food joint from two a.m. to four a.m. You get barely two hours of sleep every night," he rattled off.

"I take naps during the day, sometimes," she grumbled. "And are you monitoring me?"

"No."

"Then-" He abruptly jumped off the roof, signaling the end of that conversation. She blew out a puff of air in annoyance and followed. She'd gotten good at working with both Batman and Robin without having to speak.

She dropped down on someone with a gun, hitting another one with said gun while dodging gunfire.

"You guys make this way to easy," she said. "Oh look out, oops, sorry about your broken nose." She knocked out another gunman with a spinning kick, dodging one guy, allowing him to slam into another one, using his back as a springboard and doing a backward handspring to land on another guy.

That said, it only took a few minutes to subdue the rest of the men. They retreated to the rooftops as Batman had already called the police.

"Back to our conversation," she prompted, crossing her arms expectantly.

"Gotham Academy will be a good switch, and getting to know Robin will allow trust to build," Batman answered evenly. She raised an eyebrow. "You do want him to trust you right?"

She looked away. "So you told him my identity?"

"He figured that out on his own," Batman replied in an obvious kind of tone.

"Why do you want him to trust me so much?" she asked.

"Trust in a team is essential, without trust there is no loyalty, and without loyalty the team will ultimately fail and most like result in either serious injury or death," Batman said.

She bit her lip, taking in the double meaning. "Do you think he will?"

Batman nodded. "With time, yes."

"Do you trust me?" she asked.

"Depends on what it is," he said.

"Say I didn't know your ID, would you trust me with it?" she asked.

"Maybe. But seeing as you know it, it's a pointless question."

She rolled her eyes. "Just tell me. Even knowing my…past," she started carefully. "Do you trust me."

He studied her for a brief moment. "I have intel on a drug tradeoff on Saturday night at the docks. Be there. Right now, go home and get some sleep. You need it."

Then he was gone, disappearing into the night. She stood there for a few moments, contemplating his words. Trust was a fundamental part of every person, but it was something she had never been good at having or earning.

And if she knew anything, it was that it always came with a price.

Dick sat at the Batcave computer, doing some research on the new human-trafficking issue. He was pretty sure it was based in Mali, but couldn't be positive. They might have to do a recon mission. Maybe he'd pull the team in for it.

Batman drove up in the Batmobile. Getting out and heading over to the changing room without a word.

"Long night?" he asked. Batman came out, Bruce once more.

"Fine."

"Sooo that was just you being your normal broody self?" he asked.

Bruce grunted, wrapping up what little injuries he had.

"And I take that as a yes." He turned back to the info he'd collected. "Stop it," he said suddenly, turning back to his mentor.

"What?" Bruce asked.

He rolled his eyes. "You're analyzing me."

Bruce smiled. Well, his lips turned up slightly, Bruce's equivalent of a smile.

"You don't like her," Bruce remarked. It wasn't a question, it was a statement from someone who knew Dick quite well.

"Who?" he asked, though he already knew exactly 'who'.

"Red Kite."

"I don't trust her," he said. "Or like her much," he added as an afterthought.

"And you're upset that I didn't tell you first," Bruce said.

"Would you quit it with the analyzing?" he snapped.

"I wanted you to get your own first impression," Bruce explained. Explained? Since when did Bruce explain? Bruce or Batman?

After a moment, he turned to face his mentor. "She's brutal. Really brutal. Like, you in a mood kind of brutal."

Bruce nodded. "As expected."

"I want to know who trained her," he said. "It doesn't say on her file."

Bruce looked him in the eye. "Her parents are ex-FBI agents."

He studied Bruce for a moment. "Fine. Don't tell me." He turned back to the computer. "I'll find out on my own."

A few day later, Scarlet had made her decision. She was going to Gotham Academy. It would make things a lot easier. She didn't have to spend money on books and supplies anymore. She might even be able to get an apartment soon.

August 14 was only a week and a half away after all.

Her comm beeped. It was the comm connected to Batman and Robin. She'd disabled the tracker.

"Red Kite."

"Titan's meeting. We have a mission."

"Be there in five. Red Kite out."

"Robin out."

She quickly suited up. Before teleporting to the tower, she left her safe house and went a good ways away, so she wouldn't be traced when she teleported. She pressed the black button on a small black remote-like thing. It was directly linked to the tower teleporter.

When the light faded, she was in the tower. It took her less than a minute to get to the briefing room. Everyone but Wonder girl was already there.

"Where's Cassie?" she asked.

"Wonder girl can't come," Robin answered. "Something about family."

"Ah."

Robin got down to business immediately. "Our mission is in Florida. A large amount of human trafficking is coming out of there." She tensed. "The traffickers are supposedly led by Grant Drage."

She froze, the name hitting her like a bullet. I'm gonna find him. I can actually find him. She smirked. Maybe joining this team wasn't such a bad idea after all.

She turned back to Robin, tuning back in.

"Though we don't know if he's actually going to be there. It's a high chance that his new second-in will be there."

"Are we going to fly there?" Kid Flash asked.

Robin nodded. "We'll probably get there around eight p.m."

They headed to the hanger, loading into the jet. Robin piloted, Superboy was co-pilot. Unfortunately, Red Kite had not yet gained their trust enough for them to let her fly co-pilot.

All well. Maybe if she survived Kid Flash's chattering she could next time.

Like Robin estimated, they arrived in Florida at around eight o'clock. Scarlet was out of the jet before it had even touched down.

"Crap that was a long flight," she said, stretching. "Ugh." The rest of the team got out in a more dignified fashion.

"So what's first?" she asked. Robin shot her an exasperated look. She shrugged. "What?"

"This is a recon mission-" he touched a button on his wrist, the jet turned invisible.

"Cool."

"-There are three different places we've been able to narrow it down to. The docks in Freeport. four of the warehouses are owned by a Josh Kane, one of Drage's known alias, Marsh Harbor, warehouse owned by Franklin Arden, and a privately owned ranch near the Wildlife Management Area. Beta squad is Blue Beatle and Kid Flash, you'll be investigating the Free port lead, Delta is Superboy and Cyborg, you're on Marsh Harbor. Red Kite and I are Alpha, we're on the ranch. Maintain radio silence unless absolutely necessary."

The Titans did as told, and Red Kite was left with the Boy Wonder.

"So why did you assign me on a team with you," she asked. He simply touched a button on his wrist, a bike zoomed out of the jet. She, likewise, got her own bike.

"You still don't trust me, do you?" she asked.

After a moment of silence, Robin finally answered. "I trust Batman."

"But you don't trust me," she pointed out. He was silent. "That's fine. It's logical. I'm new, but you can give me a chance," she said.

"I was taught to never trust anyone," he said finally.

She shot him a glare, zooming ahead and tossing a final sentence back.

"So was I."

"So was I."

Robin pondered those three simple words. It could have several different meanings. It could be a threat, a warning, a statement, it just depended. On her. It seemed like a lot of things nowadays depended on her.

"Batman told me about the League meeting," he remarked.

Red Kite glanced over. "Oh? And what'd you think?"

"I think it's impressive that you know so many languages, and that you used them to avoid the lasso's power."

She chuckled slightly. "You shoulda seen Wonder Woman's face. That was funny."

"You do know that the League hates you," Robin pointed out.

Red Kite shrugged. "Who cares? 'sides, I think Wonder Woman may have been impressed."

"So do you have all their ID's too?" he asked. "Carefully filed away for future use?"

Red Kite snickered. "Yeah, I didn't tell them that though."

"Who would?"

She glanced at him. "So have you decided to give me a chance?" she asked.

He gave a slight nod. "But this isn't baseball. It's one strike and you're out."

"I'll keep that in mind," she said thoughtfully.

"I found out your ID," he remarked.

A funny look ghosted across her face, but disappeared so fast that he wondered if he'd seen it at all.

"I know," she said. "Bats told me. Of course it didn't really surprise me."

"Kara Madison," he said aloud. "Interesting name. What I need to find out now, is wether it's real or not." He could see her tense. "It's probable that it's an alias. After all, there was no transport records for anyone by the name of Kara Madison that would be your age in the past few years, to or from Gotham."

"Can't get everything perfect," she said nonchalantly.

His voice suddenly became cold. "I'm telling you now, as a warning, if you betray us, you will regret it more than anything in your life." He paused, than added as an afterthought, "I'll find out your secrets. Eventually."

Her eyes darkened. "You may not like what you find."

They left their bikes on the edge of the property, camouflaging them. At the moment, they were crossing the enemy's corn field.

"I don't like this," Red Kite murmured. "It's to closed in, I can't see anything, and I don't like relying on infrared."

"I agree," Robin said. "But we'll be less likely to run into anyone. At least without hearing it first."

"What about arial?"

"It's too tall and dense," he said simply. He touched a few buttons on his glove and a hologram of, presumably where they were, popped up.

"So what exactly do we expect to find here?" she asked. He didn't look up from the hologram.

"This place utilizes a lot of electricity, most of it centering on this place." He pointed to a little red blinking dot. "It's a barn/lodging for the employees, supposedly."

"How do we get in?" she asked.

"There's a backdoor entrance, but the security is pretty good," Robin replied.

She smirked. "That won't be a problem."

"You good with tech?" he questioned.

She shrugged. "Yeah. My tech is some of the best in the world."

"I'll take your word for it," he replied. She looked at him in surprise, opening her mouth to say something, but he cut her off.

"Shh, we're here." They exited the corn field, crawling up to the crest of a hill that overlooked the barn. Several trucks were out front, they were unloading straw bales. Or at least what appeared to be straw. They were unloading the last of it.

"Can you get a wireless connection?" he murmured.

She nodded, typing in a few commands on her own glove computer. A moment later, a red warning label popped up. She bit back a growl.

"Damn it." Robin looked at her. "I can't do it without risking detection from here. But once inside, I can plug in and hack it."

"Then we'll just have to get closer," Robin said. "We'll have to wait until the trucks leave."

"I bet we can sneak in, it's almost dark," she said.

"And the trucks will probably be gone by dark," Robin said, sounding irritated.

She rolled her eyes, though he couldn't see it under the mask. "Fine fine, point taken."

About thirty minutes later, the trucks were gone and a sliver of a moon shown in the sky. Robin tapped a button on his mask to switch on his infrared. He spotted two men on the 'barn' rooftop, and three more on the ground. He turned on the night vision, giving a short nod to Red Kite, who returned the gesture. No words were needed. Robin moved swiftly and silently. He hated being in such an open area, but it was unavoidable.

They slipped through the side door quietly, successfully avoiding detection. They hid behind a crate as two men came by, chatting idly.

"I don't see why the boss has us patrolling this place, the security's supposed to do that," one said.

"Well you can question him if you want, but not me, I'd like to keep my head," the other replied. "You seen those scars he's got?" He shuddered. "Ugh."

"I heard that he was targeted by one of the best assassins in the world."

"Who?"

"Deathstroke. No one knows why though, or if there is any particular reason." The conversation turned to unconcerning things as the voices faded.

He looked at Red Kite to see a grim smirk on her face. Honestly, she sometimes scared him. She was sometimes too brutal, it made him wonder about her past. But there was something undeniably familiar about her. He sensed that her lighthearted demeanor was simply a mask, a facade, shielding the true Red Kite, or whoever she really was.

They came to a metal door. They looked at each other.

This is what we're looking for.

Red Kite plugged her wrist computer into the key-pad that popped up. He watched her out of the corner of his eye, assessing her hacking skills. He had to admit, she was pretty good.

"It was Strike not DS," she muttered. He didn't know what that meant, but didn't have time to question it. He turned on his infrared.

"Two guards coming around the side, ETA twenty seconds."

She pursed her lips. "Come on, come on. Yes!" The door opened soundlessly and they slipped inside, the door closing softly behind them. They were confronted by a narrow stair well, leading down.

He sensed that any words would echo. Red Kite pointed to the metal grate above them. The following conversation went something like this:

Red Kite: Air vent, could be our best bet

Robin: No, it makes to much noise

Red Kite: I'm willing to bet we can make it work

Robin (glaring): No

Footsteps sounded. Red Kite glanced at him, he grimaced, but held out his hands. She placed a booted foot in them and unscrewed the grating in a matter of seconds. She pulled herself up, then pulled him up after her, replacing the grate.

A man past, exiting through the door.

To close.

They crawled through the vents as quietly as possible. Red Kite tapped him on the shoulder, he turned. She pointed to a place in the map she'd downloaded, it was labeled 'merchandise'. She nodded grimly, confirming his thoughts.

Robin and Red Kite headed for it. They didn't have a definite plan for getting anyone out. This was supposed to be a covert op.

They came upon the room. He bit back an angry snarl. Children from five to fifteen were huddled in the corner of the room. Maybe sixteen in all. He glanced at Red Kite. Her face was focused on the kids, holding an infinite amount of pure rage.

He placed a hand on her arm, she jerked slightly, looking at him. He squeezed her arm slightly, giving her a reassuring nod. She took a deep breath, when she opened her eyes again, her face became impassive.

He gave a little nod, turning back to the scene before them. Two men stood by the door, guns resting in their hands. Red Kite gave him a slightly questioning look.

He typed something into his wrist computer, holding it up for her to see.

We need to contact Beta and Delta. Then make our move.

She typed something in.

They might be gone by then.

Robin: It's a risk we'll have to take.

She scowled. One I'm not going to take.

Before he could say or do anything, she dropped down, taking out the guards with swift cold precision. He followed her, grumbling under his breath.

"Not the smartest move Red."

Red Kite dropped down, taking out the guards quickly, Robin followed.

"Not the smartest move Red," he muttered.

"If you were me, you'd understand," she hissed.

The kids in the corner looked at them, hope shining in their eyes. She placed a finger to her lips. They all understood the universal gesture. She drew her sword, breaking the chains with ease.

"Follow us," she said softly. "But keep quiet." She knew she could make things a lot easier, but didn't. She didn't want to use them. Not here, not now, not ever. Not after what happened in Bermuda.

She typed a few commands into her wrist computer, opening the door through the hacked mainframe. They hurried up the halls, taking out any surprised guards along the way and finally coming up and out of the underground facility. Kid Flash zoomed up, Cyborg and Superboy crashed through the roof.

"Boy do you sure know how to make an entrance," Robin said. "You got my message."

Kid Flash snorted. "Duh."

"Alright, KF, Superboy and Cyborg get them out of here, Red Kite, Blue Beatle and I will hold off these guys," Robin commanded. "Civilians are number one priority."

They immediately obeyed. She dodged gunfire, throwing several explosives. She looked inside a blown-open crate. Her eyes widened.

"Oh shit."

Robin looked over. "What?"

She pulled out a vial of yellowish liquid. "Venom." Robin cursed.

"Alright, we'll take care of that later, right now we need to-" He was cut off by a loud explosion. She jumped up onto a crate, blocking bullets with her sword.

"Little less talking, lot more fighting," she said over the noise. Robin threw a bat-a-rang, it exploded on impact. She jumped down, slicing a gun in half and kicking another away.

"Where on earth did you get that sword?" Robin asked, clearly surprised at how good it was.

She smirked. "Who said anything about earth?"

"Look out!"

Robin's warning came to late, something slammed into her, making her hit the wall with a painful thud. She groaned, shaking her head to try and clear some of the bright spots. She looked up to see…oh crap.

She rolled out of the way of a giant fist. Four Venom-enhanced men advanced on her. Robin threw an explosive at two, drawing their attention. She flipped out of the way of another punch, back on her feet.

She weaved in and out, getting in distracting hits, aiming for pressure points. Blue Beatle blasted one of them back with a sonic blast. She needed to focus, but not tunnel vision. She jumped up onto one of their back, slashing the tubes connected to them, she jumped up onto the next one, dodging a punch that surely would have killed her.

It took them a very short time to subdue the men, and some woman. They exited the more than slightly broken building to find themselves surrounded by police cars.

Red Kite rolled her eyes, she somehow knew Robin was doing the same, their eyes met. Both threw down smoke bombs, covering their escape. Blue Beatle grabbed her around the waist while Kid Flash got Robin.

"Put me down," she ground out. "Put me down or I will cut off your arm," she threatened.

"Calm down Red," Robin said. She scowled.

"Don't call me that," she snapped. Both Robin and Red Kite were dropped near their bikes. She turned and hit the Beatle with a round-house kick to the head.

"What the hell was that for?" he exclaimed, cursing in Spanish. "Crazy chika."

She growled. "Don't ever. Ever. Touch me," she hissed.

"Stop Red," Robin said. "He was just trying to help."

She slid onto her bike, revved the engine and shot off down the road.

I really like reviews! Even if I kind of messed up (sorry) anyway, see ya next time!