Gotham City: Eariler Years
"I...I don't think I can do this." Young Jason Todd says to as he surveys the city, sitting up on a ledge, having a nice view of Gotham City's skyline.
"Not that THIS is bad, it's just...a lot. To live up to, y'know? Bruce says I shouldn't worry about being like Dick, but I do. Because what if I screw up? He's the original after all. Everyone loves him. And you probably already know this but me and him got off on the wrong foot. During the whole "Gauntlet" thing. I thought for sure I failed but he...vouched for me. Not sure why, but he did. Maybe there's hope we can get to know each other. Bond, even...*sighs* Who I am kidding? He doesn't want to get to know his replacement." Jason finishes and looks to his side, who he was talking to.
A gargoyle...yes, a gargoyle. A regular gargoyle made out of stone.
"Thanks for listening." He says, unaware of a figure sitting on the other gargoyle on his left, with a amused smile on his face.
"Is that what you think?" The figure says and Jason snaps his head, looking to see Dick getting off the gargoyle.
"Di-Nightwing! How did you find me?" Jason asks and Dick smirks.
"BG. She told me you come here often. Didn't know the reason why, but now I do." Dick says, chuckling and Jason sighs.
"Great..." He says then Dick sits down the ledge. He then gestures for Jason to do the same thing. And the 2nd Robin does so.
"Jason...there's a hundred percent chance you'll screw up. You're bound to fail. To make mistakes. To jump to conclusions. And to fail spectacularly." Dick starts and Jason slumps his shoulders, now slightly glaring at Dick.
"Great confidence building skills, there." He remarks and Dick chuckles.
"I didn't finish...being Robin isn't about being perfect. It's about doing your best. Learning from your mistakes." The original Robin tells him and Jason's expression softens.
"Bruce and I...are mending things right now. But all the times we went out on patrol, and the times we've bonded...he's learned to let loose once in a while. So another thing would be making Bruce a better person. By just being with you." He finishes and turns to Jason with his usual smirk.
"So...is that you, Jason?" Dick questions and Jason stands, extending his hand to his brother.
"Name's Robin." He states and Dick smiles and takes hold of his hand, shaking it.
"An honor."
Present Day
"Dick? Dick?" A voice calls out, snapping Dick out of his flashback about Jason and he stops at the light and looks back to answer Tim.
"Sorry, Tim. My mind was somewhere else. What did you say?" He asks and Tim looks out the window.
"Where exactly are we going? I've never been in this part of the city." Tim says and Dick gives him a small smile.
"This is the Hill. Or Cherry Hil now. An old neighborhood that used to be filled with crime and is now...less...filled with crime. You could say..." He answers.
"The Hill? I read about it in Bruce's case files. Wasn't this the place when he took down Demitrius Korlee?" Tim questions.
"Yep. But since then the community here has gotten more local businesses to open up. All of them have been doing great." Barbara answers and Stephanie looks out the window, seeing murals and kids out playing in the street.
"This place looks like fun." She says and Dick adjusts his mirror to make eye contact.
"Trust me, it is. But before we get into that...who's hungry?" He asks, and in response, Tim and Stephanie raise their hands, even Cassandra, but she did it, slowly.
"Okay. We'll be there in a couple minutes." Dick says and keeps his eyes on the road, and Barbara looks at him, smiling.
"I know what you're doing." She whispers and Dick gives her a soft smile.
"I figured they needed to get out the Manor for a bit." He tells her and Barbara gives him a look.
"Dick...you can talk to me." She assures and he glances at her.
"Later, babe. Promise." Dick states, and Barbara raises an eyebrow but doesn't press the issue further.
The Cauldron: Noonan's Bar
"So one of the Bats stopped Black Mask's job? Knew boss was smart enough to NOT throw in with that guy. He can't even pull off a simple stick-up." Lieutenant of The North Trade states, and takes a sip of his drink, as he was sitting in a booth with the other Lieutenants of the Drug Trade.
"Hey, that was just one bad job! Everything's else has been smooth so far. And it wasn't a Bat!" The Lieutenant of The East Trade defends.
"Then who else? I may not like Black Mask, but I admit he's got most of the small timers scared. No one but a Bat is bold enough to stop a job like that." Lieutenant N says.
"I hear it was some new player...and guess what he calls himself?" The Lieutenant of the South Trade informs catching the attention of the other Lieutenants.
"What?" They all ask, intrigued.
"The Red Hood. A bit nostalgic, right?" He says and they all nod.
"Very nostalgic." Lieutenant E states as they all continue drinking, while watching the news.
Then the door to the bar opens, and everyone's attention turns to the room, as they see Red Hood.
He was given looks by people in the bar, but he paid them no mind as he scanned the room and his eyes landed on the Lieutenants.
Red Hood starts walking over towards them, and the Lieutenants look at each other before glancing at the approaching figure.
"Heh. Took me a lot of skulls to crack, but I found you guys. Though, this should've been my first guess. Noonan's known for having scum like you holed up in here." He starts and Lieutenant N raises an eyebrow, annoyed.
"I take it you're the Red Hood? We were just talking bout you." He admits and Red Hood chuckles.
"Word travels fast. Good. Then you won't mind me asking (demanding really) That you all set up a meeting with your bosses for me." Red Hood tells them.
"Any particular reason?" Lieutenant E questions and Red Hood folds his arms.
"Yeah, I'm gonna kill every single one of them." He states, flat out and everyone's eyes widen in shock.
The Lieutenants look at each other, surprised before laughing, as does everyone in the bar.
"HAHAHAHA! You're a funny guy! Real funny! Now get lost, punk." Lieutenant N dismisses, but then gets his face slammed into the table, and thrown away from the booth and crashes into a pool table.
'Punk? Long time ago, maybe. But I got something I never had when I was 16 years old..." He thinks to himself as everyone in the bar starts charging at him in every direction.
'Experience.' He finishes his thought and smirks under his mask, cracking his neck, readying himself.
The Batcave
"Bruce. Bruce, you down here?" Kate asks as she walks downstairs and sees him working at the Batcomputer, and she sighs.
"Of course you are. When would you not be?" She says, sarcastically and Bruce's eyes remain on the screen.
"Hello, Kate. How's Renee doing?" He asks and his cousin sighs.
"Up and about. And already putting herself back to work." Kate informs, and Bruce raises a eyebrow.
"You don't sound too happy about it." He states and Kate chuckles.
"Not really, no. I just wish she would take a break sometimes. But then again I'm not one to talk..." She says and notices the images on the Batcomputer.
"Murders from last night?" Kate asks and Bruce nods.
"Yes. It seems Renee's mysterious figure is also responsible. Gordon's sent me the crime scene of the shootout near City Hall. And the bodies from the Hall's rooftop. Then the one of Killer Moth. He's dead. Decapitation." Bruce informs as he shows her the images and Kate becomes unnerved.
"Jesus. This guy's brutal. Drury might have been a bad guy but...he didn't deserve that." Kate points out.
"I managed to secure footage from the traffic cameras. It's not perfect but we have a clear view of the suspect." Bruce adds and pulls up the traffic feed of the suspect landing in the streets after decapitating Killer Moth.
The suspect sheathes his sword and goes over to his motorcycle. Bruce pauses on the frame and zooms in, getting a close-up of the suspect.
Kate examined the image, thoroughly, before her eyes landed on the suspect's chest.
"Bruce...his chest." She tells him, and Bruce leans back in his chair sighing.
"I know." He says and Kate crosses her arms.
"Any idea on who he is? Or his apparent connection to you?" She asks and Bruce shakes his head.
"No. But one of his few victims he let live was able to confirm on his name." He states, earning interest from Kate.
"What?" She asks and Bruce narrows his eyes, locking onto the figure's symbol.
"...Red Hood."