Daughter of the Red Hood

Epilogue

A Few Days Later
Wayne Manor

The sun shone brightly over Wayne Manor, barley a cloud in the sky as the sound of an engine grew close to the manor's main gate. A red motorcycle came to a stop in front of the gate, two figures sitting a top it. The figure in the back got off and grabbed two bags off the side of the bike before setting them down on the ground. The two figures exchanged a tight hug before the driver sped off down the road. The figure watched the driver leave before they picked up their bags and walked towards the gate.

•••

Bruce Wayne, his black hair slicked back and dressed in a well pressed suit, calmly made his way towards the door with his briefcase in hand about to head off to the office. "Master Bruce." Alfred spoke, meeting Bruce at the door. "There is someone to see you in the garden, sir." Bruce shot Alfred a confused look before he walked out the door and headed towards the garden. He then paused upon spotting who it was waiting for him.

Ryder, aka Dice, sat silently on a stone bench with two bags next to her as she read a book. She wore an off the shoulder magenta crop top that showed off her stomach with flare styled sleeves, a black skirt with a white spiderweb design on it, black tights with matching flats, and finally a bottle necklace containing two dice that hung around her neck. Bruce gazed at Ryder in slight shock before he quietly made his way over to her.

"Dice." Bruce said causing Ryder to turn her purple colored eyes to him. She stared at him for a moment before returning her gaze to her book. "May I sit?" Bruce asked. Ryder said nothing as she moved her bags to the ground allowing Bruce to sit next to her. They sat in silence for a moment before Ryder closed her book and set it down beside her. She rummaged through one of her bags before pulling out a folded piece of paper and handed it to Bruce. Bruce glanced at Ryder before he opened the note and began to read it's contents.

'Take care of her' was all it said. "I can always tell when he's thinking about his past." Ryder suddenly spoke, Bruce turning his gaze to her. "He has a photo that I found with him. He'd stare at it for hours. So," Ryder rummaged through her bag again and pulled out a picture frame. "After Jason officially adopted me I took the photo, copied it, then put it in a frame for him as a present to celebrate." Ryder passed the framed photo to Bruce who carefully took it. "I thought you might like to have your own copy." Bruce gazed at the photo in silence.

The photo was of Bruce in his Batman costume to standing next to Jason in his Robin costume, both of them smiling. A small smile spread across Bruce's face as memories filled his mind.

Flashback
Batcave

Alfred walked calmly over to Bruce who was dawned in his Batman costume with the cowl down carrying a tray of drinks. "Okay let's go!" Bruce shouted to a child Jason who had yet to emerge from the changing room. "If you can't suit up quickly at home base I'm concerned how you would handle it in the field." "Perhaps he's primping." Alfred suggested as Bruce accepted a cup from the tray. "As I recall, Master Richard spent nearly half an hour admiring his reflection the first time he donned his cape."

Bruce smiled before he shouted for his new partner again. "Jason, get out her or I'm going on patrol without you!" Suddenly Jason, dressed in his Robin costume, leaped onto the computer console. His sudden appearance startled Alfred who dropped his tray in surprise. "My word!" Alfred spoke in surprise. "Ha!" Jason said in excitement. "Gotcha!" Jason jumped down off the console and landed next to Bruce who remained unaffected by his sudden appearance. "Would have..." Bruce said with a smile. "If I hadn't seen you slip behind the computer banks three minutes ago."

"No, I got ya!" Jason said with a smirk. "How does it feel?" Bruce asked. Jason proceeded to do a few punches and kicks at the air as Alfred picked up his tray and broken cups. "It feels AWESOME!" Jason said in excitement. "Check me out! I'm Robin, the Boy Wonder! Are you kidding me? This rocks!" Bruce just smiled as Jason turned to him. "Come on, old man, we've got bag guys who need chasing." Jason then ran towards the batmobile before flipping and landing a top it.

"This is the best day of my life!" Jason said with a smile.

Flashback Ends

Bruce caressed the frame as memories of the past faded. "Thank you." he said quietly before he reached into his pocket. "I also have something for you." Ryder shot Bruce a confused look before her eyes widened in surprise and shock as Bruce pulled out her golden locket and handed it to her. "My locket." she said quietly. "I thought I'd lost it." Ryder slowly opened the locket and stared at the two photos inside. On one side of the locket was a photo of Ryder when she younger hugging her mother, on the other side was Ryder smiling at the camera as Jason stood behind her with a smile on his face and his arms wrapped around her.

"Jason got this for me on my first birthday after the adoption." The two sat in comfortable silence after that, Alfred quietly observing the pair before smiling and going back to work. "If...If I am to stay here and work alongside you, there are probably a few things you should know about me." Ryder said nervously as she slipped the locket on. "It's alright Dice, you don't have to tell me now or ever if you want." Bruce said, placing a conforming hand on Ryder's shoulder. "We can take it slow."

Ryder gazed at Bruce in silence before she nodded. A thoughtful look then crossed her face. "We'll there is at least something we should share with each other." "Oh?" Bruce asked. Ryder turned to him and continued. "We haven't been properly introduced yet." A look of surprise crossed Bruce's face before he chuckled. "I suppose you're right." Bruce then stood up and held out his hand for Ryder to shake. "My name is Bruce Wayne. And you?" Ryder stared at his hand for a moment before smiling and stood up to shake his hand.

"Ryder. Ryder Todd."