ʀᴇᴄʟᴜsᴇ! homesick

CH 10: Problem

I was good at pushing people away, I'll give you that. Okay, I was extremely talented at it at times, but it was usually intentional. When Jason avoided me after the disaster of a gala, I couldn't comprehend why.

After that night, I texted him to make sure he was alright, and I got no response. Not even a read receipt.

I assumed he had been caught in the aftermath of it, just as I had. From the Museum's gala, after being checked by an EMT near an ambulance, I had been driven off to the police station, to give a statement as to what had happened.

And as Batman had promised, I had walked out of the police station only to be tackled by Dick. He asked me if I was alright, and I promised him I was.

A little lie never hurt anybody.

Alfred had picked us up, and so I asked Dick where everybody else was. He explain Bruce was helping compensate the museum for the damage that was done, and Tim and Damian were already home.

I texted Jason and asked him if he was okay, and I got no immediate response, I brushed it off. But it worried me when he didn't respond for days.

When I finished Little Women, I gave in, and texted him again, but I wasn't surprised this time when I was left on delivered.

I just didn't understand why would he do it to me, out of all people. He seemed genuine.

I go to the library almost daily, hoping, praying, that he doesn't come, and I don't die out of embarrassment.

And after I get bored of my "normal life" as the adopted daughter of a multi-billionaire, which is a lot, I go out as Dark Web. But I make sure to be so so careful to avoid my family. I think I've met the end of Damian's katana for a lifetime. I've memorized their patrol times and routes for the most part, but I've had to hide a couple of times when they wander around.

There's one night in particular, where I sit in front of Wayne tower, the tallest skyscraper in Gotham City, wondering how the city hasn't figured out their identities.

My mind wanders to their new enemy. I wonder if the Red Hood knows who they are. I've heard the rumors about the anti-hero for weeks now, that he's working with the Black Mask, trying to control the crime flow through the city. How many people he's killed. Some praise him as a hero, because children aren't being preyed on anymore, and he's cleansing the city of its unruly. Others fear him, because if Batman can't catch him, who will when he steps out of line?

A figure lands to my right, wrenching me out of my thoughts. I immediately pop up, ready to flee. I look over, and it's the Red Hood. I can't find it in my heart to run away, even if I know it's the right thing to do.

"Oh, it's you." I say, and I sit down again. I pat the roof, and he sits next to me, but further than I suggested. He hangs his legs off of the guiding, while I sit with my legs crossed, and my arms behind me to prop myself up.

It's a peaceful silence, one I don't mind. It's a quiet night in Gotham, only a few police sirens fading into the winter night.

The Red Hood's gravely, robotic voice fills the air. "You're not afraid of me?" I sit straight up, surprised at his comment.

"No, why would I?" I ask him, perplexed. Trying to calculate what brought this on.

He simply shrugs, and says, "Most people are."

"Most people don't have powers. Most people can't outrun Batman." I remind him, giving him a strange look.

"Yeah." The Red Hood answers, clipped, he wants to say more, but he decides not to say more.