Shadows and Cards (a Batboys x OC)

Chapter 8

   Jason

Jason did not know why he stuck around. He despised everyone here, well except Damian, he was an exception. But his body would not let him leave, even as Bruce dismissed him, he stayed. Maybe it was for the girl, Athena, so she was called. Or maybe it was so he could keep an eye on Grayson. But he stayed, back pressed up against a wall, and watched Tim work. Tim was ok on his list, he didn't have any beef with him, just his personality made him gag. So bright and bubbly, he preferred Tim when he was on a mission. Much more serious.

He watched him forge a suit that was immensely tiny. He couldn't believe that Athena was so small. Yet it made her blend in and sneak around so much better. He watched Tim add strips of purple to the design, and the computer took the new design and add it to the suit that was being made in its printer. He pressed a button, and the strips of purple deepened in color, and then he pressed another button, and then the stips had a diamond pattern in them.

He sighed and turned away. Combat suits were useful, but they always made you a target with their noticeable designs. It's why he kept his suit minimal and used a helmet as an icon. It's why he's called Red Hood. His gaze swept across the cave, where he spotted Athena pressed up against the opposite wall, watching him. Her gaze was intimidating, almost scary. The shadows made her almost impossible to see, only a trained eye could spot her. She was like a demon. He shuddered. She grinned. She strode over to him, and he could see she had a slight limp.

"I couldn't help but notice you assessing the battlefield." she chuckled when she reached him.

"This isn't a battlefield, it's your temporary home." he shot back, seeming uninterested in her.

She darkened, "When you come from where I come from, everywhere is a battlefield."

"Well then, I'm guessing where you come from doesn't have a very tight-knit community. Or you just watch too much Game of Thrones."

She tilted her head, "What's Game of Thrones? Is it a test to see who will reign superior? Some sort of sport in which competitors fight to the death?"

It was his turn to laugh. "Oh boy, what rock did you crawl from? Everyone knows what Game of Thrones is! You and I are gonna have a binge this weekend. You need to catch up with modern society."

Her grin softened, and she didn't look so psychopathic like this. It made him stop. Maybe she wasn't so demonic on the inside. He could have sworn the green in her eyes pulsed.

"I'd like that."