Chapter 15: A New Villain

Authors Note: Hey glad to see everyone is here. I am starting the story arcs in my story now. Like I said it's going to start with Shadow then Gauntlet, Phoenix, Thanatos, Hitgirl and so on. I hope it is to your liking. I also read Tonycakes new Arkham Hill chapter and it was really good for people who haven't read it yet the second your done reading this chapter and reviewing go read her story it is awesome. Now let's get this started.

Disclaimer: I do not own Batman.

Two boys were running around in the forest laughing and playing carefree. One was a black haired boy and the other was a small brown hair boy. They were currently played fighting with one another. They ran deeper and deeper into the forest as the brown haired boy noticed it was getting darker. He then noticed that his friend was no longer around.

"Jason…?" The boy called out.

"Jayden!" Jason screamed.

Jayden wasted no time running after him. He bolted deeper into the forest which only got darker and colder with every step. Jayden was starting to have trouble breathing as he fell to his hands and knees. He looked up and his eyes widened to see Jason lying on his back with his face covered in blood. The thing that stood out to him though was the Robin suit he was wearing. He then froze as a man dressed in purple suit and a white face hold up a crowbar. He let out a demonic chuckle as he brought the weapon down on Jason. Upon impact an explosion erupted wiping everything out in a fiery blaze.

Jayden shot out of bed panting fast as he looked around to see that he was back at home. He started shivering when he felt the cold air colliding with his sweaty skin. He shook uncontrollably as he felt two slim arms wrap around his waist. He looked behind him to see Ally in her black tank top and P.J. pants with her hair messy from sleep. He always wondered how even looking so bland she could look so good.

"Another nightmare?" She asked.

"Yeah, Joker killing Jason same as always." He sighed. "I still can't figure out why he is wearing a Robin suit."

"Maybe you think of yourself as Batman," She said. "You said he always fails maybe you think of yourself as him always failing."

"No, then I would be wearing a Bat suit." He said as he fell back into her arms. "I just don't know."

"You'll figure it out," She whispered soothingly as she ran a hand through his short black hair. "You always do."

Later that day Jayden joined Ronin and Thomas in the mediation chamber to clear his head. The three sat on the ground cross legged with an essence burning in the center. They each took deep breaths and focused on their thoughts.

Jayden took another deep breath as he started to see images. He's seeing Batman standing over him only instead of fighting he embraces him and ruffles his hair. He then looks over to see Robin laughing at him but only he looked different from the Robin he had met. This one had longer hair and a different body frame. He rushed over and started fighting him when Batgirl came over and twisted his ear. He looked over at her and he saw that instead of blonde hair she had dark chestnut brown hair.

He then pushed her off and saw a mirror in front of him. He walked in front of it to see that he was wearing a silver version of Robin's suit only instead of an R on his chest it was an S.

Jayden opened his eyes as his friends looked at him oddly.

"That was weird." He gasped.

"What did you see?" Ronin asked.

"I-I'm not sure," Jayden stuttered. "Either a memory or a dream."

"Dreams are often created from memories." Thomas said.

"But I was working with Batman," He snapped. "At least that's what I saw."

"I don't know what to tell you," Thomas said. "Usually when I see visions of my past I remember hearing 'Batman' and 'replacement' I am not entirely sure what it means but soon I will solve the mystery of my past."

"Ugh, I got to go." Jayden grunted as he left his friends in the chamber.

(Later that night)

Shadow cruised through the streets of Gotham heading towards a weapons deal between Cobblepot and Black Mask. It was happening in an old bird sanctuary that was shut down when they found out Cobblepot had been smuggling drugs using trained birds. It was a brilliant little scheme tie small bags of coke, meth and heroine to their little legs fly away come back with little wads of cash.

"Fucking brilliant." Shadow muttered.

Shadow had made it to the sanctuary and parked his bike on the outskirts of the building as he made his way in. He activated his cloaking and crawled through an opening on the side of the building. As he crawled in he started to hear voices.

"What do you mean he's late?" Mask asked.

"W-Well…I mean he is late not here." A thug dressed in penguin colors said.

"Look he said that he had some government weapons for sale," Mask yelled. "You said to meet him here and I'm here, now where is he?"

"He's not here." Shadow said as he walked into everyone's view.

"Crap, not him!" Mask growled as he held up a .45. "Wait what do you mean he's not here?"

"I mean that guy you're yelling at is a pawn," Shadow explained. "A man by the name of Slade gave you info that Cobblepot had military hardware for sale when in fact he set you up for a fall. I know this because this guy," He said pointing at the penguin thug. "Was the same guy who worked for Two-Face. Right before me and my crew took him down."

"God Dammit!" Mask shouted. "Kill them both, then I'll feel a lit-wait, you said fall but I don't hear any cop sirens."

"He didn't leave you for the cops." Shadow grinned under his mask.

Just then a crash was heard as everyone, excluding Shadow looked up to see Batman fall through the glass ceiling. Everyone let out screams as they prepared to fire when the ground men started to get knocked around.

Shadow looked over to see Ronin and Dusk along with Batgirl and Robin beat down Mask's men. Shadow took the opportunity to strike as he drew his sword. He and Batman walked side by side as multiple criminals approached them.

Batman punched one guys across the face as Shadow swiped his sword through another guy's gun and head-butting him. Batman then kicked another guys in his face and Shadow using his super speed cut down the rest of Mask's men. He was careful to avoid any major arteries so they wouldn't bleed to death before the cops came by.

The only one left was the man Mask was talking to. Shadow sheathed his sword but pulled out his gun and shot the man in his leg. He let out a scream of pain as Shadow towered over him.

"Where's Slade?" Shadow asked in a dark tone.

"You think I know?" The man chuckled as he clenched his leg. "I'm expendable he would never reveal his true location to me."

Shadow was tempted to put a bullet in his head but disregarded it. He was an assassin not a murderer he should really be focusing on Mask. After knocking out the thug he casually walked over to Mask only to be blocked by Batgirl.

"Out of my way." He ordered as he waved her away with his gun.

"Not gonna happen bub." Batgirl said as he raised an eyebrow at that 'bub' comment. She kind of sounded like Harley. "You aren't killing him."

"He's in an organized crime and makes life very difficult for many innocent people." Shadow said. "He has to die."

"Shadow, you never actually fought Mask," Batman said. "Don't you usually warn them first?"

Shadow mentally cursed himself as he holstered his gun. He was right he gave them fair warning first then if he encountered them again he would end them.

"Hey thank the kid Mask she just saved your life," He said sarcastically. "Next time you do shit like this you die. Dusk, Ronin lets go."

He and his friends left as Batman chased after him.

"Jayden wait." Batman said.

Shadow let out a growl as he motioned for his friends to leave. Ronin left without a backwards glance as Dusk lingered back a little before finally walking away.

"What do you want?" Shaodw asked bitterly.

"You know I won't let there be a next time," He warned. "Dammit haven't you learned that you can't solve things by killing people."

"And haven't you learned that locking them away doesn't do jack shit? Just ask Joker let's count all the times he broke out!" Shadow yelled as he stormed off.

"Shadow, you're killing people without any remorse your nothing but another killer. Please let me help you." Batman pleaded as Shadow scoffed.

"Yeah, just like you helped Barbra when Joker crippled her or how about when you left Jason in the hands of Joker so he could blow him sky high. Your soft, that's always been your problem Bruce!"

Shadow stopped in his tracks as he turned back to see Batman was gone. Why did he call him Bruce?

"Maybe I should go meditate." Shadow said to himself a he left the sanctuary.

Meanwhile in a warehouse Cobblepot was currently cowering in a corner while a man wearing black combat armor a brown leather jacket and a red metal helmet that covered his entire head. A man was currently bleeding to death before the red man held his gun to his head and pulled the trigger.

"You should really hire better help Mr. Cobblepot." The man said in a dark happy voice. "It might save your life. Anyways here's what's gonna happen is this, you work for me you do what I say when I say. If you don't well," He trailed off as he looked back at the many corpses that lay on the ground. "You get the idea."

"O-Okay," Cobblepot whimpered. "Who are you?" The man chuckled as he leaned into Cobblepots face who looked away as he leaned in. "Gotham's new face of justice. The Red Hood." He snickered as he left Cobblepot to his fate.

Back at Jayden's home Jayden was meditating in his room as images started coming back. He saw more images of the batcave and Batman. What did they mean, what did they have to do with his past and how does Batman know his name?

Just then he saw another vision. He and Jason were in their Robin costumes with their mask off and were currently watching T.V. They were just flipping through the channels when Bruce came in and sat between them.

"What are you two watching?" He said as he leaned back.

"Nothing, just flipping." I said in my younger voice.

Time seemed to go buy when Jayden saw himself and Jason currently sleeping on Bruce's leg. Jayden's eyes widened when he saw that Bruce was wearing Batman's armor. Everything went off as Jayden came back to reality.

It was all clear the treatment, Batman knowing his name and why Batman always took pity on him. He always had a feeling but now he finally knew it for sure.

Bruce Wayne is Batman.

Meanwhile in the dank cave of Batman's lair Sarina was currently looking over Batman's trophies. She noticed them when she first arrived at the batcave all those months ago but still had more to observe. It was always fun to guess where B-Man had gotten them and how. Like the giant quarter from the time Two-Face almost got em then the broken Scarface dummy from the ventriloquist and a giant joker playing card. The thing that caught her eye though was the silver suit in a giant glass case. Sarina remembered when Bruce had given her the Batgirl suit that was in a similar case.

"It's Sparrow." A gruff voice said.

Sarina yelped as she turned to see Bruce in his armor but not his cowl. He let out a small chuckle as he approached the case and ran a hand on the glass.

"Who was he?" Sarina asked as Bruce looked a little hurt.

"A young boy with so much potential," He said in a sad tone as he looked back at Sarina. "He was a lot like you." She blushed at the comment as he continued. "Reckless, careless and always annoyed every villain he came across." Sarina then grumbled as Bruce chuckled again. "You see I had already had a Robin, you remember Jason Todd the boy I told you about? Anyways, the two were brothers in their own way and he wanted to work with us. So he fashioned his own costume Sparrow. He and Robin were the 'dynamic boy wonders' they always exclaimed." Bruce smiled at the fond memories until his expression dropped.

"I take it when Joker killed Jason things started to go bad?" Sarina asked sheepishly. Feeling responsible for her father's actions.

"Yes, and before you say anything, no you have nothing to be sorry for." He said as Sairna shook her head. Always one step ahead. "Anyways, after what had happened to Jason Sparrow sent mad with revenge. He blamed me for not being able to save Jason and hated me even more when I stopped him from killing him."

Sarina started to hear something familiar in his story about Sparrow. He sounded like someone she knew.

"B-Man, who is Sparrow?" Sarina asked.

"I think you already know." He said not looking back at her. Sarina's eyes widened as she said his name.

"Jayden Warney." She said. Bruce nodded as she looked in disbelief. She was gonna ask why Jayden couldn't remember him when the main computer started going off. The I.D. on the screen read unknown as Bruce walked over and clicked a button on the counsel.

"Hello?" He said.

"I knew it," A voice exclaimed. "I knew it I knew it I knew it!"

"Jayden?" Bruce asked as Sarina listened in.

"I knew it, I couldn't remember before but I knew it. That bullet made me forget but now I remember." He said frantically. "You're Batman!"

Sarina's eyes widened as Bruce glared at the screen she could just picture Jayden grinning like a mad man.

"That means Dick is Nightwing, Tim is Robin and of course your new daughter Sarina is the new Batgirl!" He exclaimed.

"Yes, you remember are you happy now?" Sarina growled.

"Oh, I'm not happy I'm fucking thrilled!" He exclaimed. "For so long you've known me but I didn't know you and now we are finally on even grounds! I just called to let you know that I know everything. I know who you are where you live and even how to get in the batcave. How does it feel to know that I know where you are and how to find you?"

"No different than yesterday you psycho." Sarina grumbled.

"You're right I am spazzing out. I gotta go take a breather but remember I know where you live." Jayden said.

"Jayden, wait, last night Cobblepot was hit by an unknown man," Bruce said. "When the police got there every one of Cobblepot's men were butchered. I need to know did you have anything to do with it."

"Me, no I came home right after dealing with mask," Jayden said in a more relaxed tone. "My friends were with me the whole time and if you're thinking Thanatos did it your wrong he was with me mediating. He was there when I finally found out who you were."

"Do you have any new members?" Sarina asked.

"No, we haven't found any new blood." Jayden said. "We've spent most of our time trying to find Slade. Do you know what this guy looks like?"

"All we know is that he is a weapons expert, highly trained and he wears a red metal helmet." Bruce explained. "And according to Cobblepot he didn't show any mercy when killing and he let Cobblepot go giving him a second chance. That's why I assumed he worked for you."

"Hmm, well we only kill when necessary," He explained. "We're keepers of the peace not monsters, though people often mistake us for monsters. Wait you said he wore a red helmet?"

"Yes."

"Didn't you take down a villain who use to wear a red helmet called himself, crap what was it…um…Red Hood that's it." Jayden exclaimed.

"Yes, but he took on a new alias since then and is currently under arrest." Bruce explained.

"It could just be another copycat," Jayden said. "I can't tell you how many purse snatchers and bank robbers I've beaten down who wore a red mask over their head saying they were the Red Hood."

"Possibly, but this guy is no bank robber he's after something other than money. I think he's trying to tell people that he is the new Red Hood." Bruce explained.

"Well, I'll tell you what when I find him I'll let you know what his big plan is." Jayden gloated.

"Sure, you can ask him during visiting hours at Blackgate after I catch him." Bruce gloated as he hung up.

Sarina laughed at what Bruce had done as he started going through files on the computer. She saw multiple pictures of men in red caps just like Jayden said. He then pulled up a file that had a man in a black tux and a red cape wearing a red helmet.

"Who is he?" Sarina asked.

"He was just a small time criminal who tried to make people fear him with magic tricks but failed. It was easy to stop him." Bruce said. "His career ended when I accidently knocked him into a vat of chemicals."

Sarina's eyes shot open as she looked up at the screen.

"You mean this guy is the Joker?" She asked in disbelief. "My father was this guy?"

"Yes, but I don't know who this next guy is maybe Joker hired him as a copycat or something." Bruce said as he suddenly heard a motorcycle revving. Bruce looked over to see Sarina in her Batgirl outfit grinning ear to ear.

"Well, let's go ask him." She grinned.

Bruce shook his head as he donned his Batman armor and hopped in his Bat-mobile. Sarina was willing to confront her psychotic father just to put down this new villain. He shook his head at her recklessness but admired her courage and free spirit.

She was so much like Jayden.