Chapter 16: Ghost From The Past

Authors Note: Okay thank you all for the reviews and the feedback and oc's. Okay, my progress is gonna be slow as my laptop is being a dick and the keyboard won't type certain letters and symbols. So bear with me and here's hoping I get a new laptop or a portable keypad either way I'm good. Okay, let's get this ball rolling.

Disclaimer: I do…not own Batman.

Batman and Batgirl were currently standing in front of Joker who was currently looking at the photo of Red Hood. Batgirl felt a little uneasy being this close to him again, she could have stayed outside but if she was serious about being Batgirl she needed to confront her fears. She was broken from her thoughts when Joker started to chuckle.

"These kids these days," He mused. "They slap a mask on and they think they are to be feared. When I wore it, it meant something."

"Who is he?" Batgirl asked.

"I couldn't say I don't have x-ray vision. My guess is he just wants to make a name for himself. Poor kids they are so neglected that they will do anything for attention." Joker said in false sorrow.

"Don't toy with us Joker," Batman growled. "If I find out you had anything to do with him."

"You'll what put me in a body cast again?" He asked playfully. "By the way I like the new Batgirl she has spunk, tell me sweetie do you know what I did to the last Batgirl?"

Batgirl fought the urge to gulp for she didn't want to show any fear. She knew that if he saw even a bead of sweat he had already won.

"You put her in a wheelchair after shooting her in the back." She said as brave as she could. "Did you know that the last Batgirl was the one who sent B-Man the location to your hideout?"

Joker grimaced at her as he turned back to Batman. He then brightened right up as the two made eye contact.

"Speaking of replacements how's the new Robin doing, seeing as he's not six feet under I would say fine hmm?" Joker teased. "What about Sparrow did you find his replacement yet, I don't think the old one will be of much use since he's probably drooling in a cup."

Batman let out a roar as he wrapped his hand around Joker's throat and slammed him against the wall of his cell. Joker let out a grunt at first but then started to chuckle.

"Go ahead do it," He encouraged. "You could end it in one swift move. Hell you could probably snap my neck in half like a twig."

Batman let out another grunt as he let go of Joker. He slumped to the floor as Batman stormed out of the room. Batgirl glanced at Joker once more before following Batman.

"See ya around kid." Joker hissed sending chills down the girl's spine.

Batman and Batgirl went to their vehicles as the two went over what had happened.

"Are you okay?" She asked.

"Yeah, just need to figure out what's gonna happen if Jayden finds this guy." Batman said.

"He'll try and kill him." Batgirl said.

"I don't know I get the feeling there's something more to this." Batman said.

The two then started up their rides and drove away. Meanwhile on the top of the roof of the Asylum Shadow, Ronin and Dusk were listening on the conversation the whole time. Whether Batman knew or not made no difference they found nothing. Shadow wanted to go in and waste Joker for those crude comments about him and his family but he decided against it.

"So what now?" Dusk asked.

"We look for Hood." Shadow stated.

"Yeah, how?" Ronin asked.

"Simple, this guy is going after the major crime lords of this town." Shadow started. "So, he's obviously going after the ones who are still out of prison. Two-Face, Joker and now Cobblepot he's going after the king of organized crime. That's how we'll catch him."

"You're talking about Blackmask, I thought we arrested him already?" Ronin asked.

"He had the trial postponed he's using us as fall guys saying we threatened him if he didn't come to that sanctuary."

"What a loser." Dusk said. "So now we wait for him to make a move?"

Just then an explosion went off across town as Shadow grinned under his mask.

"Yup." He said as he and his friends moved out.

The trio made it outside of one of Blackmask's drug dens which was currently burning to the ground. It was a nightclub in the middle of the town very populated and very expensive. No one would ever think to look here.

No one except Shadow and Batman.

They currently looked around the burning building to see if Hood was anywhere in sight.

"Shadow up there!" Dusk exclaimed.

The team looked up to see Red Hood running along the rooftop edges. Ronin pointed his wrist gun at the roof and fired a cable launching himself to the roof as Shadow and Dusk used their grappling guns. Once at the top Shadow pulled out his gun and pointed it at Hood.

"Hold it!" Shadow said as Hood stopped in his tracks.

Dusk pulled out his glock and Ronin held up his scalers. Hood slowly stepped forwards as the three prepared for a fight.

"Guns?" Hood said in disbelief. "Since when do heroes use guns?"

"What gave you the impression that we're heroes?" Shadow said.

Good point, I like you guys already. You're like me." Hood chuckled.

"No, we kill if we have to and to ensure peace," Ronin snapped. "What you're doing is slaughtering people."

"No, I'm making a point," He said. "Crime is unstoppable you can't stop it but I found out you can control it."

"Making you the only criminal." Dusk snapped.

"So what, are you gonna arrest me?" Hood chuckled.

"Actually, we are assassins." Shadow said in a low voice.

Just then he fired a round straight into the center of Hood's head. He fell back only for his body to fizzle out revealing it to be a hologram. The real Hood dashed towards Shadow and smacked his gun out of his hand. Shadow quickly pulled his sword out, but Hood had already drawn his gun and shot his sword out of his hands.

Ronin swung down low with his scalers, but Hood steps out of the way and blocks the other coming for his head with his wrist. Hood sends his boot to the center of his stomach as Dusk charges in. He sent a few quick jabs to his head with his tonfa's but Hood blocked the hits with his wrist. Dusk brought down a heavy hit but Hood grabbed the weapon with his hand. Dusk let out a growl as he brought down his second tonfa only to have Hood grab it as well.

Dusk grinned under his mask as he clicked a button on the handle of each of his weapons. The blunt ends ripped off as Dusk took a swipe at Hood's chest landing a gash across his chest. Hood let out a growl as he saw that Dusk's tonfas were actually swords all along.

Dusk charged in again ready to cut Hood in half. He swung bot of his blades horizontally across Hood's chest only to reveal him to be another hologram. Dusk surprise was short as Hood appeared from the side and delivered his fist to his face knocking him onto the ground.

Hood stood there for a second as he pulled his knife out of his boot and slowly walked up to Dusk. He didn't get far when Shadow leaped in and kicked the knife out of his hand. Taken by surprise he quickly threw a punch at Shadow, which he blocked and was about to break his arm when Hood broke free.

He then used his holograms and threw three at Shadow distracting him so he could land a jump kick to his chest. Ronin fired a Shuriken at his head from his wrist gun but Hood drew his second knife and deflected it. He then ran over to his previous knife and picked it up. He did a few twirls with them as he readied for a fight. Shadow, Dusk and Ronin stood their ground as they prepared to fight Hood.

Hood then had multiple holograms appear all over as they each slowly attacked them. Shadow tried using his detective mode on his glasses but when he activated them all he saw was static. He let out a grunt as he threw his glasses off only to see Hood swinging his knife at him. Dusk intervened as the two started to engage in a small battle.

Sparks flew as Hood blocked with his knives and Dusk attacked with his blades. Hood eventually got the upper hand when the two locked blades and he sent and uppercut with his heel to Dusk's chin. Ronin who was standing still the entire time tried to figure out how he was creating holograms. When Shadow leaped in for an attack and ended up hitting another hologram Ronin saw the center of Hood's belt light up. Ronin wasted no time in throwing a small knife to the center of his belt. The small blade struck the center of the belt causing it to give off sparks as Hood looked up at Ronin.

"Bulls eye." Ronin said in his monotone voice.

Hood was not amused as he pulled out his glocks and fired at Ronin who had already disappeared into the shadows. He then pulled out a couple of grenades and threw one in Ronin's direction and the other towards Shadow and Dusk. They each took cover as the grenades went off sending them flying lord knows where.

Shadow stirred for a moment as he looked up to see Hood standing above him. His hands were behind his back as he kneeled down and pulled a small envelope from his pocket. He then placed it in Shadow's coat pocket as he started talking.

"It hurts doesn't it," He asked. "And those were just frag grenades try surviving a full on blast from a couple pounds of C-4." He said as he let out a dark chuckle. The sounds of fire trucks and ambulances started echoing throughout the city as Hood stood up. "You really have change Ja-"

He was cut off by the Bat jet's engines roaring up above. Hood let out a curse as he took off running. Batman, Robin and Batgirl jumped out of the jet and approached the fallen warriors. Shadow waved his hand at them as Batgirl tried to help him.

"Just go after him already we'll be fine." Shadow grunted as Batman and Robin took off after Hood. Batgirl was hesitant at first but eventually went after him. Shadow got up and staggered over to Dusk who was busy treating Ronin.

"Is he alright?" Shadow asked.

"Yeah, he has a piece of shrapnel in his leg but he'll be fine." Dusk said as he bandaged up Ronin's leg. "What the hell happened back there, it's like he knew our every move and every tactic."

"I don't know, but what I do know is that I'm getting you out of here." Shadow said as he helped Ronin off the roof.

Meanwhile the three Dark Knights pursued Hood across the rooftops. He must have had a good layout of the area because he was gunning it across the edges as if he were running down the street of his neighborhood. Batgirl and Robin almost fell a few times but Batman was dead on his tracks as he had almost caught up to him. Before he could catch him, Hood cut around another corner of the building and jumped across to the other building. Batman whipped out his Batclaw and fired his grappling hook at Hood's right ankle. Before the line could wrap around his ankle he had already pulled out his knife and cut the line in half as he landed on the ledge of the other building.

Batman was surprised as Batgirl and Robin threw a few batarangs at him. Hood pulled out his glocks and fired at the weapons turning them into scrap. The two young heroes let out grunts of annoyance as they followed him down into the streets and into the train terminal.

Hood then hopped on a bike that was in the center of the tracks as the three ran after him. Hood didn't even bat an eye as he pulled out a small detonator and pushed the button. Batman's eyes widened as he pulled out his Batclaw and fired it at his young friends. The cable wrapped around them and he pulled them back as an explosion blew up from above them and sent the roof crashing down on where the two were standing.

When the dust cleared Batman looked over and saw that Hood was still sitting there on his bike looking straight at him. The two locked eye contact before Hood finally spoke out.

"Nice to see you haven't lost your touch B-" Was all he said before a train passed by, when it passed Hood was gone leaving Batman to tend to his crew.

Back at Wayne Manor Sarina was currently in the shower washing off all the dust and grime from her latest crime fighting brigade. She was still going over everything that had happened tonight trying to figure out what that guy's plan was. It wasn't robbery since he burned the place down and it wasn't just reckless vandalism due to the fact that most of Black Mask's top goons were in that nightclub. It was obviously a hit but the only person who could confirm it was Shadow and he wasn't going to help them in any way shape or form.

"What an ass." She muttered as she rinsed her special shampoo from her hair.

"I'll say." A voice whispered behind her. She froze when she heard the voice but her heart stopped when she felt the barrel of a gun press at the back of her head.

Down in the Bat Cave, Bruce and Tim were currently going over any potential evidence as they went through multiple files on the computer.

"I'm sorry, but this guy was obviously leading us on." Tim said. "He wasn't running wildly, he knew every turn of that city block and had planted those explosives ahead of time."

"I know, and not to mention he beat down Shadow and his two top lieutenant's. No way was he an ordinary mercenary he took all three of them down with little ease and little equipment." Bruce pondered.

"I wouldn't say he took us out." An all too familiar voice echoed through the cave.

Tim and Bruce looked up at the entrance of the cave and Tim started to get angry as he saw Jayden holding a soak and wet Sarina in front of him while holding a Walther ppk under Sarina's chin. Sarina was currently wearing her silk bathrobe as Jayden wore a dark jacket with a beige fur outline on his hood, which he was wearing and the cuffs on his wrist.

"Jayden, what do you want." Bruce asked in a calm voice.

"You have something that belongs to me and I would really like it back." Jayden said as he kept his gaze trained on Tim.

"If you hurt her," Tim growled.

"It's not gonna come to that," Jayden snapped. "I just want my suit back and a suppressant."

"Fine, but I want Sarina released and the gun. Deal?" Bruce asked.

Jayden nodded as Bruce got up and retrieved a briefcase from off of one of his tables. He placed it on the ground and kicked it over to Jayden who let Sarina go. She rushed over to Tim as he wrapped his arms around her.

Jayden took the case and walked over to the display case that had his Sparrow suit in it.

"What about the gun?" Bruce asked.

Jayden looked down at his small shiny handgun and casually tossed it at Tim who caught it. Tim closely examined the gun only to find out that there were no bullets in it. Tim and Sarina looked up confused at Jayden who had already started packing his suit up.

"I don't like taking hostages." Jayden said as he placed his boots in the metal case.

"Why are you even here?" Tim asked.

"To get my suit back," Jayden said. "Like Shadow, Sparrow was my idea, my suit and my legacy. I want it back. That's all…but while I'm here I figured I lend a hand."

"What do you know?" Bruce asked as he sat back down at his computer.

"His name is Red Hood, just like that old villain that Joker used to be," Jayden started. "His goal is similar to mine but at a different cost. He says he's Gotham's new face for justice but really he's just another criminal."

"What does that make you?" Tim snapped.

"Call me what you want, but I don't bomb nightclubs full of innocent people just to take out a few button men." Jayden said. "Anyways, we fought him but he evaded us using a holographic imager belt which my companion destroyed. Not only that, but it could also scramble with your sensors as well. He was highly trained and he knew every one of my moves."

"You're not the only one." Sarina said.

"Take a look at this." Bruce said as Jayden walked over to the screen and watched Bruce's cable wrap around Hood's ankle only for him to cut it off.

"Your right," Jayden said in a small astonishment. "He cut it off before it could even attach to him."

"Not to mention that knife." Bruce said. "No blade could cut through my line except yours."

"Yup, we got ourselves on crazy son of a bitch." Jayden said as he placed a small manila envelope in front of Bruce. He looked up at the young man who gave him a nod. "We'll that's all folks, if you excuse me I have to go home and hang up my new suit."

He started out towards the door when Sarina stood in front of him blocking his path.

"Wait, why did you really come here?" She asked.

"I told you I wanted my suit back." Jayden said as he held up the case. "Oh, and the suppressant." He said as he pocketed the needle. "By the way Bruce, did you happen to lose one of these that night you and I rescued Sarina?" He asked playfully. Bruce remained silent before answering.

"Yes." He said in his monotone voice.

"Hmm, you know what they say, when the age starts to show the minds the first thing to go." He teased. "I wonder who will catch this guy first."

Just then he started to walk out when Sarina ran up and slapped him across the face.

"That's for interrupting my shower you perv." She grunted.

"It wasn't intentional, just poor timing. I am sorry though for tonight it won't happen again." He said as he finally left with briefcase in hand. "I honor your relationship with Tim as I do with Ally." He yelled down at her.

The three remained silent before Sarina finally spoke.

"You do know he came here to actually help right?" Sarina said in a chipper tone.

"Of course, he could have come over and get the suit in the morning but he wanted to help us with what we were doing." Bruce said. "I think some remnants of that costume are still lingering in there somewhere."

Afterwards Sarina and Tim left the cave as Bruce typed in his computer. He replayed the part where Hood talked to him before he left.

"Nice to see you haven't lost your touch B-"Was all he heard. He then chopped it down bit by bit as he figured out what he said. "Nice to see you haven't lost your touch Bruce."

Bruce's eyes shot open as he slowly looked down at the envelope Jayden left behind for the syringe. He opened the small slit and dumped the contents out in his hands revealing it to be a small crest with the letter 'R' on it.

Bruce quickly got up from his chair and went over to the display case that held Jason's old tattered Robin suit. Bruce held up the circular crest up to the white bleached mark on the left side of the chest.

They were a perfect match.

"I-It can't be…" Jayden said as he played back the recording from his glasses.

"You really have changed Jayden." Red Hood said as Jayden looked down at his old suit.

"Jason Todd…My brother?"