ʀᴇᴄʟᴜsᴇ! homesick

CH 23: Divide

Bruce was annoyed with me, to say the least. I had been so close to the Red Hood, and had stopped him from chasing after the only man who had slipped through his fingers multiple times.

But I was stubborn, and I stood by my decisions. I owed him, he saved me, and it wasn't very nice if we chased and captured the man who helped me. Of course, I could see Bruce's point of view. The Red Hood's hands were anything but clean, his ledger would be dripping blood for decades. He had the highest kill count out of anyone in Gotham, and that made him dangerous and illegal. I agreed that he shouldn't go free for his murders, but he had a larger plan in store.

Dick agreed that there was more to the Red Hood that he originally thought, because he had helped and save me. He wasn't the villain they all thought he was, but he was just as far away to being called a hero.

Damian agreed with his father, so he gave me the silent treatment. I was still mad at Tim and Damian for obvious reasons, so it felt more like a reward than anything.

Cassandra and Alfred stayed out of the dispute that easily divided the house hold.

Tim was just too tired to even care at the moment.

I sit on top of the Wayne Industries skyscraper, looking down thoughtfully at Gotham, the city that swallowed me up.

A familiar pair of military grade boots lands next to me.

I don't dare look up, but I still say, "I never got the chance to thank you."

His reply comes slowly. "For what?"

"For helping me, duh. Don't make this any weirder than it has to be."

"Web? Are you sure you're not dying any time soon? Is it really time to be handing out thank you's like this?"

"Shut up." I say and softly punch his arm.

He gives a mechanic laugh through his voice synthesizer.

"Besides, maybe I'll end up living. I have help now, so hopefully I've got a chance."

"Does Batman know your identity?" He asks.

"Yes." I say with a sigh, "There wasn't any other way. I wish I didn't have to."

"Batman knows everything."

"He didn't know my identity until I told him. He probably doesn't know yours either."

His voice synthesizer transfigured his voice. "And it'll stay that way. Is he even letting you out here?"

"What he doesn't know can't hurt him."

"He'll know."

"He can't do anything about it." I say with a smirk.

We're enveloped into the warm night, a light breeze is all the noise we hear throughout Gotham. Except for the regular voice of police sirens and gunshots. Such a strange switch in scenery.

I break the silence. "I don't believe you're as dark as everyone says you are."

"Maybe you should."

"I couldn't even if so wanted to. You helped me when no one else would."

"That's a little bit of a stretch-"

We're interrupted by shrieks that split into our shared night.

It's a woman. And a little girl.

I immediately web into the alley where the noises and the shuffling come from. The Red Hood follows me wordlessly.

A man is mugging the pair, demanding a wallet and any other valuables they have. Her purse is carelessly tossed to the ground, as the mother shields her daughter behind her.