The Docks
Red Hood and Batman were now face to face, staring with intensity and examing each other. Batwoman was in a defensive position, preparing for any sudden attack from the new vigilante.
Looking back at the destroyed cargo, Red Hood ponders to himself in thought, narrowing his eyes at the Dark Knight.
"Not time, yet. But soon, Bruce."
He mentally says then quickly turns around and starts running away fron the scene.
"And we got a runner." Batwoman states and the two start their chase on Red Hood.
They grappled up to his previous position and continue to keep on the trail.
As they did, Batman took note of his movements and examines more throughly than in his report.
"The way he moves. He's fast. Agile. Not quite like Dick, but he mimics his style. And he doesn't think. He just does. And he somehow makes it."
He thinks as he watches Red Hood parkour over rooftops with impressive show of agilty and speed. The vigilante had done a side-vault over an air unit and a front flip off to the next rooftop.
"But his movements. There's something else. Something familiar about them. He's been well trained. By skilled teachers, no doubt."
Batman, once in range, unholsters his grapple gun and fires, aiming for Red Hood's ankle, mid jump.
But in swift and surprising motion, he unsheathes his sword and cuts the line, then lands into a side roll through a building under construction.
"He's...good." Batwoman states and Batman turns to give her a look.
"Right, don't compliment the bad guys." She retorts and the two jumped towards the construction, landing gracefully.
Then Batwoman threw three batarangs at Red Hood only for him to make a swift left turn inside, dodging them.
"Okay, playtime's over." He states then grabs a fuel tank and unholsters one of his pistols. Red Hood then charges through a wooden wall and speeds up towards a window, seeing his exit.
Batman was getting closer and closer to catching up to him while Batwoman was getting behind, but it allowed her to spot the fuel tank Red Hood currently held in his hand.
"Batman, wait-!" She tries to warn but it was too late.
He then jumps through the window and twists his body to toss the tank back to the room.
Batman eyes widened in shock then Red Hood fired off a shot as if it was slow motion.
The bullet hit the fuel tank and it explodes. Batmam uses his cape to cover himself from the fire but some pieces get lodged into his sides and legs.
"Urgghh!" He lets out a pained grunt and the smoke clears, Batwomam rushes over, kneeling down beside him.
Batman was injured, but not too badly as his cape protected him. But remains of the tank had gotten stuck deep into the side of his body, and a large chunk, lodged into his quad.
"I'll be fine! Go!" He yells and Batwoman rushes towards the window, hoping to catch up to the Red Hood.
But she stops once she is there, looking around to see he had completely vanished from her view.
Batwoman then turns her head towards Batman with a dissapointed look.
"He's gone?" He questions, surprise somewhat seeping into his tone.
"Yeah...you're hurt pretty bad. We need to get back to the cave." She informs and goes to his side, helping him up.
"Alfred? Alfred, are you there?" Batman asks, putting two fingers to his cowl.
"Sir, what seems to be the problem?"
"Prep the medical bay. And contact the others. Tell them to meet us at the cave."
"Right away, sir."
Wayne Manor
Pulling up to the driveway of the manision, Dick, Barbara and the others were laughing in the car, even Cassandra showed visible expression of enjoyment.
As they parked and Tim, Stephanie and Cassandra were the first ones to exit the car and head inside the manor.
Dick watched them with a smile, and Barbara mirrored his with her own.
"That was...a nice of pace." She informs and Dick chuckles.
"Yeah. It was. It's been a while but...I missed it. Anyway, Bruce wants us down in the cave. Most likely to do with that newest psycho in town." Dick says and was about to open the door but heard the lock click.
He was confused and turned to see Barbara looking at him with a knowing expression.
"...I never did finish why Jason was looking for his mother, did I?" He says, rhetorically.
"Yep." Barbara replies and Dick lets out a breath, glancing at his girlfriend.
"After the..."incindent" with that guy Felipe, you know how Jason got more...proactive?" Dick questions and Barbara nods.
"You mean agressive? I remember. Then Bruce benched him. And so he ran away for seemingly no reason..." Barbara recounts before glancing back at the Original Boy Wonder.
"Until you said differently." She finishes.
"Yeah, he...found out that Catherine Todd wasn't his real biological mother. But instead a doctor. By the name of Shelia Haywood. Who was located in Bosnia at the time." Dick explains.
"That's why he was surprised when we had info on Joker being in the area. He didn't know." Barbara guesses and Dick nods.
"Then the rest is...history. Jason...died. Because...I didn't go with him. Like he wanted me to." Dick reveals and Barbara's eyes widen.
"Dick..." She says in a whispered voice and takes note of Dick's faltering expression.
"He called me right before he left. Wanting me to "get on board" but I said no. And...sometimes I think if I did go with him then maybe...maybe he'd-" Dick stammers, tears sliding down his face, but is soon engulfed into a tight hug by Barbara.
"It's okay...just let go...I'm here..." She assures as Dick lets out years worth of guilt into quiet crying.
The Batcave
"Red Hood...did that to you?" Tim asks in shock as he watches Alfred stitch and remove the sharpnel from Bruce's thigh.
"Yes. He's...ugh...more than what we expected." Bruce informs and Steph glances at the Batcomputer.
"He's going after Black Mask? Bold." She states and Kate glances at her.
"And dangerous. Not that he seems to care." Kate adds.
Tim then glances at the monitor and examines footage of Red Hood being displayed, and frowns.
"Is...he using your symbol?" He questions and Bruce looks at him.
"In a way. He's merged it with...a skull it seems." Bruce tells him and Tim folds his arms.
"He's twisted it, is what you mean." He says, and looks at the footage again.
"But I will say...he's good. Real good. He manged to cut the line before it went taut. That's not something you do. It's practiced. Learned. And his sword. It-"
"Can't be a normal one? I figured soon as it cut through my line. I'll have to see what it's made up..." Bruce states.
"After you've healed, sir." Alfred informs and Bruce sighs.
"Of course, Alfred." Bruce says then looks at the others.
"Until then, all of you, including Dick are charged with looking into him. Find anything that we can connect to his identity or background. And more importantly, his targets. He's going after Black Mask. Took a few of his guns and blew up the rest."
"So focus on Black Mask and Red Hood will show?" Tim questions.
"Most likely." Bruce answers and Kate speaks up.
"And make sure you have back-up. He's good. Well trained. So don't try to engage him alone. Be paired up with each other, me or Nightwing. Exception being Cassandra. For obvious reasons." Kate adds and they all nod.
"That's...it for now. Go upstairs." Bruce orders and they do so.
As they do so, Bruce turns around and looks at the monitor, with narrowed eyes, examining Red Hood.
Alfred notices this and raises an eyebrow.
"Sir? Is there-?"
"There's something about him. Something I can't place. Something familar but I don't know what..." Bruce states and Kate narrows her eyes.
"Think it's someone you have ties to?" She questions.
"Maybe. Not sure. He fights like us. But it's also mixed. With a different style and moveset. One I seen before..." Bruce states and the two share a confused glances before Bruce turns around and finishes his thought.
"The League..."