"I'm sorry for not keeping in touch, Barbara," I smiled apologetically, sitting on the suite's sofa.

"It's OK," she sighed, her voice relieved in my earpiece. "I'm almost done combing through the data we've gathered on Scarecrow. I'll let you know what I find when you get back."

"Of course," I replied as Dick stepped out of the bathroom, drying his dark hair with a towel. "I'm gonna have some company, though."

"Nightwing's coming?"

"Yeah...Jason's coming, too. Dick found him and convinced him to help," I revealed, knowing how important the former Robin was to her.

"Wha...you're serious?" she responded, torn between excitement and apprehension. "He's really coming back?"

"Yeah," I chuckled tiredly, "Talking to him sure wasn't a cakewalk, but Dick got through to him."

"That's great!" Babs exclaimed, "Thank you so much. Jason was a close friend, and...seeing him the way he was…"

"I know," I murmured, glad that she was content. "We'll be over in a bit. We're just waiting for Jason to suit up."

"Alright. Be safe, Tim. I love you."

"I love you more," I grinned, "See you soon."

"Awww," Nightwing cooed teasingly as I ended the call. "You guys can be so mushy when you wanna be," he grinned as he strapped his outer armor back into place.

"Yeah, yeah," I brushed him off, rising to my feet. "Comes with the territory." Secretly, I was happy to see him in higher spirits once more. It made this grueling night a little more bearable.

"I'm still not totally cool with that deal you struck with him," I reminded the older man, walking to the kitchen and helping myself to a glass of water. I glanced at the bedroom door the Arkham Knight had disappeared into after accepting Nightwing's terms.

"I know, I pulled that one out of my ass," he replied, pressing his mask back onto his face. "I wasn't thinking, you know? It all just tumbled out of my mouth, so I rolled with it. I'm hoping that fighting alongside us again will convince Jay not to murder Batman the next time they meet."

I swallowed a mouthful of water. "OK, I get that, Dick. I'm not mad anymore, but I haven't seen Bruce since I put him into quarantine. His mind is unstable, and I don't think shoving his long-lost sidekick in his face will help him any; and Jason will freak out if he sees that the Joker is taking control of him."

Nightwing's face fell when I mentioned Bruce's irremediable affliction. I'd been doing a good job of repelling the hopelessness of our mentor's condition, but seeing Dick so forlorn put a crack in my defenses.

"Heh. Even after that crazy fucker kicked the bucket in Arkham City," Nightwing chuckled humorlessly, "He still found a way to torment us in the worst way possible."

I nodded in mute agreement. Watching the Joker's last hosts succumb to his twisted will was frightening enough; I had no idea how Batman had kept it hidden so well, and for so long. It was obvious by his recent behavior that his control over his psyche was slipping away. I forced myself not to picture Bruce languishing in his sterile, isolated cell, the Clown Prince's demented laughter his only company.

The bedroom door suddenly creaked open, and Dick and I turned to see Jason step out into the living room again. The Arkham Knight had dressed himself quite differently than before; he'd discarded most of his sleek, militaristic armor in favor of a lighter chestplate. A black and silver leather jacket with a red liner covered his bulky frame. Knee-high, metal combat boots, as well as stocked utility belts circling his waist and thighs completed the look.

I noticed Jason observing his shattered, red helmet in his gloved hands. I tensed up involuntarily, recalling our short, but arduous, battle we had in the derelict shopping mall. If Nightwing hadn't shown up when he did, there would've been no telling how our fight could've ended.

Dick whistled lowly, impressed by the former Robin's outfit. "That's a neat getup you've put together, Jaybird."

"Thanks. I have to mix things up if I want to stay incognito," he explained with a slight smirk. "I'm sure Deathstroke got a kick out of dragging my name through the mud after taking control of my army."

"Yeah...sorry about your helmet-face...thing," Dick apologized with a sheepish grin.

"Forget it," Jason grunted, placing the damaged object in a drawer underneath the television. "I was gonna tear your little bird apart. You had to act." He turned his stormy eyes on me, lingering on my bandaged arm. I didn't expect an apology, and I didn't receive one.

"That's in the past," I told him, the anger from our previous argument gone. "What matters now is that you're working with us to stop Scarecrow and his posse."

"Don't get too used to it, Timmy. Can I call you that?" he teased, an unfamiliar gleam in his eyes. I was, once again, put off by his rapid changes of disposition.

"You can call me Robin," I replied curtly, a chill descending upon us. My distrust prevented me from fully opening up to my predecessor. I fished a spare mask out of my utility belt, tossing it to the Arkham Knight. "Here. This will help protect your identity."

He caught it easily, turning it over in his hands. "Black? Really?" He shrugged, pressing it to his branded face.

"It's better than nothing," I told him haughtily. "Especially since we're heading to a precinct full of cops who are just dying to know who helped turn Gotham into a living nightmare. But they won't find out a thing if you play nice."

"Tim," Nightwing groaned in admonishment.

"You should watch yourself, kid," Jason growled lowly, rolling his broad shoulders. "Just because we're cooperating now doesn't mean I have to take your threats."

"OK!" Dick exclaimed, dissolving the tension in the air. "I'd say we've been cooped up in here long enough. Let's hit the road!" With that, he turned and walked down the hall to the front doors.

Shutting off the kitchen lights, I moved to follow him. I glanced at the Arkham Knight, silently warning him not to try anything while my back was turned. He rolled his eyes, following me into the dim hallway where Nightwing was waiting.

Jason shut the double doors behind us, punching some numbers into an attached keypad and securing whatever belongings he'd left in there. We climbed down to the empty hotel lobby in no time, the glass doors the only things separating us from the unfriendly city outside.

"Ready, Jaybird?" Dick smiled encouragingly as we stood before them.

The Arkham Knight bit his lip dubiously, looking over at the building's stairwell one last time. I raised an eyebrow, hoping to God that he wasn't having serious second thoughts about all this.

He took a deep breath, pulling his bright red hood over his head and concealing his face in shadow.

"Let's roll," Jason replied, leading the way through the door. And three brave Robins emerged onto the rainy streets of Gotham.