Chapter Text
Moving to Gotham with the idea of saving money for my brother's treatment was never a good idea, especially now that there's an unknown figure groaning in pain on my balcony.
The loud bang outside my claustrophobic apartment woke me up in the middle of the night. Living in Gotham guarantees you two things: one, explosions, gunshots, and evil clowns are commonplace; two, nothing prevents a superhero from fighting on your roof right now—well, I hope it's a superhero.
I jump out of bed delicately, my cautious steps clashing with the racing heartbeat that feels like it wants to jump out of my chest at any moment. The path to the small balcony—if you can even call it that—seems longer than usual, but the walls feel tinner, like any loud breathing could catch he attention of the beast waiting outside.
When I finally reach the large glass door that separates the kitchen from my apartment outside, I sneak through the wall and take a deep breath. The still groans of pain, now replaced by heavy breathing and some low curses, indicate to me that it's a man. He's injured.
So injured that he can't stand up properly. That's good for me, right? If he can't stand up, it can't be that dangerous to take a look, unless he has a gun.
My thoughts are interrupted when I notice the silence outside. Has he left? I need to check.
I run to the kitchen, grab a metal frying pan, and grip it tightly like a weapon. I hold the doorknob, take one last deep breath, and slowly open the door.
The first thing my eyes see is his black boots, his khaki pants, and then... blood! There's a pool of blood under the guy, he's wearing a jacket with a symbol on his chest, and a red helmet that covers his entire head. I'm paralyzed for a moment.
I can't leave him here to die, he's unconscious, I've never heard of him, I have to do something.
After stopping the bleeding on his waist, he's now lying on my couch. With great, great difficulty, I managed to drag him to my living room. I'm standing in front of him, my breathing irregular from the effort I made. I stare at the helmet he's wearing... I've never seen anything about him in the news. I wonder what he looks like. For a second, the possibility of removing his helmet seems reasonable... but suddenly he moves abruptly, groaning in pain.
- Hmmm... Goddammit.
I quickly pull the gun from his waistband, and the object feels weird in my hands; I've never held a gun before. I throw it on the counter and take a step back, grabbing my frying pan again and holding it in front of my body so I can hit him on the head if he lunges. I hold my breath and watch him regain consciousness.
It takes a few seconds, but he seems to wake up from a nightmare and gets up abruptly, and I realize how big he is, about two heads bigger than me, and his physique is quite strong. If he tries to kill me, he can do it in a second, but he's injured, so maybe it'll take five.
I take another step back, and he finally looks at me, and then at the pan I'm holding. He realizes he's unarmed, and even though I can't see his eyes, I feel them piercing my soul.
- Where's my gun?
I freeze, his voice is deep and even a little robotic because of the mask, he seems impatient but my voice dies in my throat, I can't speak.
He clenches his fists angrily and shouts again, which makes me take another step back.
- I said. Where. Is. My. Gun?
He notices his gun on the kitchen counter and dashes to grab it, but on the way he grunts in pain and leans against the counter, gripping its side.
- You were bleeding on my balcony...I...I patched you up but I don't know if it turned out very well... - My voice is trembling and low, he turns to me and looks me up and down, suddenly I become very aware of what I'm wearing.
A worn-out pair of Batman sweatpants that I got from my parents for my birthday, and an old tank top stained with various things that can't be removed in a washing machine. He doesn't say anything, and I feel awkward for a moment. He picks up the gun, and I freeze. He puts it back in his belt and looks at me again. It's hard to decipher what he's thinking with the mask covering his face.
He takes a step forward, and I almost trip. My heart feels like it's going to explode.
He opens my fridge, grabs some ready-made sandwiches, stuffs them in his pocket, then heads towards the exit, and just when I think he's leaving, he touches the bandages on his torso and, without turning around, says:
- Thank you.
And he leaves, slamming the door shut, leaving me alone in my apartment again. awesome. i lost my dinner.
Weeks go by and making money in Gotham is getting harder and harder. I need this money to pay for my brother's medical treatment. Rent in Gotham is cheaper and jobs pay more because nobody wants to work in them, but it's hard to stay in those jobs. Stores close or are simply blown up by some madman.
I've been working at a coffee shop for two weeks. It's quiet, but it's close to my apartment, so I always walk home.
Before leaving the store, I put on my headphones, my pepper spray, and my hood. I lock the store and leave quickly, wanting to get home as fast as possible. I walk through alleys and backstreets until I reach a street that is usually empty, but today there is a pair of hooded men leaning against the wall and smoking.
I hold the pepper spray tightly in my pocket and walk even faster, trying not to attract attention.
When I walk past them I feel myself relax, until I feel a movement behind me. Someone grabs my arm abruptly and turns me around. I come face to face with one of the men who were smoking. He's bearded and ugly, reeks of cigarettes and alcohol, almost makes me throw up. He has smile, then throws the cigarette away.
I quickly grab the pepper spray and spray it once.
Nothing.
twice.
Nothing.
My world falls apart. it should be working, shouldnt it?
He laughs, and that makes it all worse. He has terrible breath, and his friend approaches. I want to beat him, cry, scream, but my world seems frozen. I can't move.
- Let go of me. Please.
He laughs louder and I shudder.
- Relax, pretty girl, we're not going to do anything you won't like.
I try to break free, I slap his hand but he grabs me tightly, covering my mouth. I struggle but he's too strong. When I feel him dragging me away, a shadow covers us and the man looks to the end of the street and seems to shudder.
- leave the girl alone. i´m not asking twice.
It's a familiar voice.
Very familiar.
He seems static for a moment, but I can feel him trembling, then he quickly let go of me in a hurried way and takes steps back, trying to justify his actions; his partner left him a long time ago. The man with the helmet doesn't need to say anything more; seconds later, the men are gone. When they finally leave, I realize how much I'm trembling and crying. I look at the hooded man.
-T-thank you.
He falls silent and walks towards me. I stare at him, somewhat terrified.
- What is someone like you doing out here at this hour of the night? It's dangerous.
-I... I work nearby, I usually walk home... it's just that my pepper spray didn't work... you know...
- I saw.
We stood there awkwardly for a few moments, and then I took a deep breath.
- I should go, thank you, really.
He looked at me for a moment and said,
- I'll walk you home.
I stopped walking and looked at him, completely surprised.
- Wait, seriously?
- I don't like being in debt to anyone.
He walked past me and started walking towards my apartment. For a moment I forgot that he knew the way to my house.
Our walk was silent and awkward. My attempts at conversation were useless; he's like a door.
After a few minutes, we arrived at the building's door. He waited for me to reach it, and when I turned around, he was already leaving.
-Hey! Wait!
He stopped walking and turned his head to listen to me.
-You didn't even tell me your name!
He remains silent for a few moments, as if he were making a very difficult decision, and then turns to me completely.
- Jason.
The next few days pass torturously slowly; all I can think about is the hooded man from a few days ago. It's almost as if I can still hear the timbre of his voice or his penetrating gaze on my skin.
I get home at night, throw my work bag on the chair, and collapse onto the sofa. I don't usually watch the news, but billionaire Bruce Wayne is going to hold a charity auction, and I love seeing the values on the screen, absurd numbers that I'll never even come close to.
When I turn on the TV, the celebrities are already arriving, they give their rehearsed answers to the interviewers and leave, but the broadcast is suddenly interrupted.
Reports appear on television and show an image of a Gotham neighborhood, one very famous for drug trafficking and crime bosses.
But the large warehouse in the center of it was on fire. It looked almost destroyed; there are firefighters everywhere.
The reports talk about how the culprit will be caught quickly by the Gotham police, which everyone knows is a lie. The camera switches to the roof of the warehouse, where about 3 helicopters seem to be relentlessly searching for the criminal, but a silhouette appears.
A figure of a man, I can't see his face, but the cameras focus and I finally realize.
He's wearing black boots, khaki pants, and a red helmet.
He looks at the camera for a moment, almost as if defying the authorities, and then disappears into the shadows.
I feel my heart pounding in my chest, the TV resumes showing the Bruce Wayne auction, but suddenly, Bruce Wayne himself doesn't appear at any point in the broadcast. weird.
I almost jumped in fright when my phone rang, I picked it up and sighed with relief, it was my friend back in Bludhaven, I answer.
- Hey girl, how have you been? We haven't talked much since you moved to Gotham, I thought you were dead.
- Yeah, work is driving me crazy, I forgot to text you, how are you, Madelyn?
-Well, I'm okay, the college is on break because some crazy person broke in and wanted to blow everything up, luckily THE hottie Nightwing showed up.
We laugh together, Madelyn has a huge crush on Nightwing ever since he showed up in Bludhaven a few years ago, she swears she saw him at her window, I don't really believe her but I feed her fanfics, for a moment, I forget that I didn't tell her about the incident on the balcony last month and when the words form in my mouth they die right there, he's not a superhero, he just blew up a warehouse. Nobody can know I helped him.
She continues talking about college and boys until she realizes the time and that I'm probably tired, then she says goodbye and hangs up.
i AM really tired, so i just take a shower and go to sleep. the fact that the man that blowed up a warehouse knows the way into my apartment creeps me into my dreams.
I visit my family in Bludhaven two days later, my brother is better because we started treatment, thanks to the money I made from my job in Gotham.
My father tries to convince me to go back to Bludhaven, says we'll figure it out, but I know that's not true, and that the money I send home really makes a difference, and honestly, I'm growing fond of Gotham City. Can it be horrible? Yes, the most dangerous in the world? Also, but so far nothing too dangerous has happened besides the incident with the Red Hood in my apartment. From what I saw in the news, that's his name.
And I made a friend, he's new to the waiter job, he invites me to parties but I'm usually too tired to go, but I decided to go to one this weekend.
I need to buy some nice clothes.
I take the opportunity to go to a clothing store in Bludhaven, try on some basic dresses, but I realize how plain most of the pieces in my wardrobe are. I understand that I have to change; it's a night to meet new people, I can't go unnoticed.
The next day I take a shower, fix my hair and do my makeup, I risk a red lipstick.
The outfit I bought is a boot that goes almost to my knees, a red leather skirt that for a moment I think is too short but I remember that I'm in Gotham, everyone dresses like this, and then a black lace blouse on top, I put on my oversized jacket in case it gets cold and I stop in front of the mirror for a moment before leaving.
I feel weird, like those clothes don't belong to me for a moment.
I think about staying home, calling my friend Alexy and making up an excuse, but I can't do that anymore, being stuck at home alone and feeling sorry for myself. People my age go out and have fun, I'm too young to be rotting in my bed.
So I grab my keys and leave.
When we get there, we're in a nightclub. It's kind of hidden down a street, but when I go in I realize it's much bigger than it looks. Besides being dark and crowded, I smell cigarettes and alcohol everywhere, in addition to the music playing from the DJ booth in the background. At least everyone there is my age. I stay outside for a while waiting for my friend Alexy to arrive with his group of friends, whom he insists on introducing me to.
I see him turning the corner, his black hair and Asian features are impossible to mistake, I wave to him and he comes smiling towards me, his three friends coming behind him.
- y\n! there you are! come, I'll introduce you to my friends
I look at the three people behind him and smile, also analyzing their looks.
The first person I see is a girl a little taller than me, she has blonde hair down to her elbows and a very friendly smile, she's wearing a purple top and a black skirt, she smiles at me and I smile back.
The second person my eyes meet is a boy with very black hair; he seems to be a little younger than me, maybe a year or two. He looks a bit annoyed at being there, but he greets me normally.
The third one is a girl with dyed blue hair; she smiles calmly at me and shakes my hand.
- Okay! My turn to introduce you all!
Alexy says cheerfully.
- Guys, this is Y/N, she moved to Gotham two months ago, we need to make a good impression.
He laughs and the others laugh too.
- Impossible to make a good impression of Gotham.
The blonde girl says.
-y\n this is Stephanie, I think you two will get along very well.
I giggle and she reciprocates, Alexy continues.
- the quiet boy over there is Tim, he doesn't really like parties so we have to drag him along sometimes, you two are very similar.
He rolls his eyes but smiles at me.
- And finally, that's Phoebe, she moved here about six months ago, you two will get along very well.
I looked at everyone, smiling.
- Hey, thanks Alexy for inviting me, but I think we should go in before a line forms.
- Oh, that's right, let's get started.
The five of us headed towards the door and finally entered the nightclub.
Alexy is quite well-known, so the walk to a table takes a while because he stops to greet several people. When we finally get an available table, we sit down. I sit next to Alexy while Tim, Phoebe, and Stephanie sit on the other side.
We drink, Alexy flirts with the waiter and we laugh, until a TV in the corner of the wall, which doesn't emit sound, shows the events of the warehouse from days ago. I squeeze the can I had in my hands when I see Red Hood again. Tim also seems lost in the report. Alexy notices and asks us:
- Did you guys see? There's a new outlaw in Gotham. They say he took down one of the drug lords in the suburbs.
- He seems to have some kind of rivalry with Batman; they're always fighting.
Then I realize something.
On our first encounter, I was wearing Batman pants, wasn't I?
He couldn't have been mad about that, could he? Otherwise, he wouldn't have helped me that day.
Jason.
That name rings like a loud bell in my head.
"- Right, y/n?"
I snap out of my reverie with a snap. Stephanie looks at me, a little confused and intrigued, but Tim's gaze pierces my soul. Did I stay quiet for too long?
- Y-yeah, sorry, I was focused on the news report. I saw it live when it was on TV, that's all.
Alexy smiles at me and continues talking about whatever other subject they were discussing. The TV also changes the subject, but Tim still looks at me throughout the night.
I drink a few cans.
Throughout the night we danced, drank a lot, and had a great time. I ended up losing track of time. When I realized it, Phoebe had already left, and it was just me, Alexy, Tim, and Steph sitting on some beanbag chairs in the corner. Tim was still sober. I realized he might be too young to be there, but who hasn't been to clubs when they were underage? At least he has the decency not to drink.
- Have you guys ever been saved by a vigilante? My dream was to meet Signal.
Alexy sais pouting
- I was saved last month.
The words came out of my mouth faster than I could hold them back; the urge to fit into that conversation was quick.
The three of them turned their heads to me with a snap. Alexy looked offended; it was almost funny.
-And you're only telling me now?!
- Well... I was saved by an outlaw, actually...
They seem even more surprised.
- An outlaw?
They say together.
I regret it instantly, but it's too late to go back.
- Yeah... it was the Red Hood... I was coming home from work, some men surrounded me and... well, he scared them away and walked me home.
- He helped you? But did he say anything?
Alexy speaks, still surprised.
Tim and Stephanie exchange glances.
- no actually, I didn't know he was an outlaw at the time, I thought he was a new vigilante. we didnt talk.
Alexy sighs and continues recounting some of his life experiences. Stephanie and Tim seem quieter than usual.
It doesn't take long for us to leave. Alexy and Stephanie go ahead to get a taxi, leaving just me and Tim a little behind. There was a comfortable silence until he stops and turns to me.
- Can I ask you something?
- Yes, sure.
- You said the Red Hood guided you to your house, right?
Oh my god.
- Yeah... that's it.
- How did he know the way to your house?
I stand there for a moment trying to connect the dots, he seems to notice my discomfort with his penetrating gaze but says nothing, I shake my head trying to force a smile.
- I... uh...
- y\n! tim! come on! we got a taxi.
Tim looks at me for a second or two but heads towards Alexy and Steph. They managed to get two taxis, one for me and Alexy, and another for Tim and Steph who live on the other side of town.
I head towards them, Steph looks at Tim with a worried look but he gets straight into the car.
I smile at Steph one last time and get into the other car.
I close the door to my apartment and take a long sigh, resting my head against the door frame. I take my cell phone out of my pocket and it's full of messages and newspaper notices. The Red Hood has done it again somewhere close to here, but now the police are working like crazy to find him, with helicopters circling the city and everything.
I turn off my cell phone and put it back in my pocket, the loud music from the party still crackling in the back of my head.
Does Tim suspect something? I should have given a better answer, it sounded very suspicious.
I feel a draft of air ruffling my hair.
How strange... I remember closing all the windows...
I turn around abruptly and find the fire escape window open. Could he have been here?
I run towards the window, lean against the frame and look all around trying to find any sign of him.
But I don't find him.
I must be going crazy, I'm so afraid of him that my brain is playing tricks on me.
I probably forgot to close the window. That's all.
I close the window, looking outside one last time.
I head towards the only bathroom in the apartment, take off my clothes and get in the shower, which is quite uncomfortable, I imagine someone watching me, but I silence those thoughts.
I finish my shower, put on my pajamas and head towards the living room.
On the way I stop in front of the small table in the hallway, there's a picture frames of me and my family and another of me and Madelyn, but something seems wrong.
I look at them and a strange feeling rises in my chest, I can't decipher what it is.....
And then... I understand, my body freezes in shock.
They're switched.
Usually my family's is on the left, now it's on the right.
That's impossible, I haven't touched those picture frames since I moved in!
So it's true, he was here...
I'm paralyzed.
Red Hood was here.
Red Hood, Jason, I don't know what to call him.
Why was he here?
Was he hiding from the police?
And did he stop to look at my family's photos?
My heart is pounding so hard in my chest that I feel like I'm going to vomit any minute.
I can't stay here anymore.
Not alone.
Not when a wanted murderer thinks he has the right to take refuge in my house.
I pick up my phone and call Madelyn.
I'm spending the weekend at Madelyn's house in Bludhaven.
She was scared when I called her in the middle of the night practically begging to sleep at her house. I'm not telling the truth, obviously; I say there was a leak in my apartment and I need to be away for two days.
I feel bad about lying to my best friend, especially because people I've just met already know what happened, and my friend of many years doesn't.
But I can't make the same mistake. Jason may be as awful as he seems in the news, but he helped me.
It may not be the smartest thing to do, but I have a feeling that we share something. He trusts me. He told me his name, and he feels comfortable coming to my house.
Besides the fact that if they find out that a wanted outlaw comes to my house regularly, they'll bombard me with questions or even kick me out of the house to set a trap for him.
And I don't want this, but I'm also very, very scared.
I try to distract myself as much as possible at Madelyn's house, we watch movies, we go out for drinks.
But honestly... nothing works, my thoughts are all on him, what is he like? Is he older? Ugly? Or dangerously handsome? I don't know, I can't keep thinking about it.
Did he come back to my house?
Madelyn definitely noticed that something is strange, she looks at me with those observant eyes, and I just don't look directly at them. One day she will understand.
The weekend goes by so fast, my thoughts seem numb as I'm putting my things back in my backpack. I hug Madelyn and she tells me I could tell her anything, I just say I know.
She seems disappointed,
then I get in the taxi and go back to my apartment.
Going back to my apartment wasn't easy; I imagined returning to my house and finding it completely wrecked, a sign that he'd been there.
But that's not what happens. When I arrive, the house is just as I left it. I check everything, looking for any trace that someone was there, but I find nothing. I sigh with relief, throwing my backpack on the sofa and locking the door.
The next few days pass calmly, nothing out of the ordinary. I go to work, come back, take some online classes since I dropped out of college to live here. I mean, there are colleges here, but they always go on strike because they're a big target for supervillains and have a poor education, so I prefer to finish what I need to do here and then start college in Bludhaven.