***

The lights in the speakeasy were dim, and it was clear that admission was limited as it wasn't overly crowded like many of the bars in Chicago. We had to leave Jason outside, due to his fake ID being obviously fake. Though I wasn't sure if he would be more trouble outside or inside.

"You know you didn't have to come." Dick stated as we made our way through the crowd of people towards the VIP lounge. Of course I knew that I didn't have to, in fact if everything went as planned Dick would ensure the safety of his old friend and we could focus on Rachel. And if it was any other murderer that Dick was facing I wouldn't have even bothered. But this wasn't just any murderer this was the son of the man who killed Dick's parents, a son who was seeking revenge for the murders of his own family. As much as I pretended not to care I realized the weight of this situation and couldn't find it in me to pretend.

"I know, but when you said we were going to a bar I couldn't resist." I replied dismissively. "Being around children for the last couple of days has become a bit much."

Dick didn't say anything, until he came to a stop a couple feet away from a man that I immediately recognized from the pictures Dick had shown me. When I turned towards Dick I noticed his sorrowful expression. Clearly this man meant something important to Dick and somehow it felt wrong to be a part of what was about to happen.

"If you need me I'll be by the bar." I told him before turning away. Although I was here with him I didn't want him thinking that I cared too deeply.

I leaned against the counter of the bar, looking down at my phone for any news from Kory. Oddly enough I was worried about Rachel and Gar, a feeling that I would have to rid myself of soon when all of this is over. Suddenly the bartender placed a drink in front of me. "That's from the gentlemen in the corner."

"Thank you." I replied with a smile as looked up to meet the expectant eyes from the man who got me the drink. He was handsome sure, a little older than me. Were it any other situation I probably could have used him for a night, only because I felt my walls begin to crack. And I knew how dangerous that could be.

Before I could think too much on the subject I felt a hand snake around my waist, followed by a familiar voice. "Miss me?"

"If you want to keep that hand you have three seconds to remove it." I stated flatly, and whatever Jason saw in my eyes had him removing his hand in an instant. Regardless of my words his confidence didn't falter as he looked around the bar in excitement.

"Why aren't you with Dick?"

I raised the glass of whiskey and smiled. "I was looking to get a free drink."

"That easy huh?" Jason questioned and I shrugged as I looked down at my drink, oddly enough not motivated to actually drink it. "Show me."

I took in them mischievous look in his eyes, a look that seemed to be common for Robins. Only that Jason's had a darker quality to it. Against my better judgment I found myself ready to play Jason't little game. Although I left Gotham the mischief that I had gained there hadn't left with me. "Alright." I stated as I slid the drink towards him. "Drink."

Jason didn't need to be told twice as he downed the drink quickly, and sliding the glass in front of me again. He was clearly attempting to show off, but he was young and I expected that behavior from a teen like him. "What's next?"

"Go to the other side of the bar. You'll know when you have to jump in." I told him, turning away I felt Jason move away. It was something simple, to get a man's attention. That was something Selina had taught me a long time ago. Most men liked to feel like a knight in shinning armor, there to swoop in if a damsel seemed to be in distress. They always looked for a way to boost their egos, at least the rotten one's did.

I faked an upset expression as I looked down at the empty glass that Jason left for me. My finger skimmed over the rim of the glass, and suddenly I was flooded with memories of Selina. No matter how much I attempted to pretend that I wasn't the shy and emotional girl I was before there were still shades of that still in me.

"Now why is such beautiful girl like you drinking by herself?" I almost rolled my eyes at how predictable some people could be. There were lines that were so overused that immediately expressed how boring the person saying them was going to be. And as I looked up to the owner of the voice it was as I expected, as the man I was looking it was clearly a bored suburban husband.

Sure enough when I looked down at his hand I saw the tan line around his finger where his wedding band should be. Pushing down the anger that suddenly flared in me I offered the man a sad smile. "Tell me why do men cheat?"

The man's face whitened slightly, guilt shinning in his eyes but he seemed to recover rather quickly. "How about we talk about it over a drink?" He questioned as he waved the bartender over ordering two drinks for the both of us. Once the drinks were set in front of us he turned towards me with what I was sure was meant to be a charming smile. "Now who would cheat on you? You're perfect."

Placing my hand on his wrist, I distracted him with a smile as I put to use another trick that I learned from Selina. There was a pleased look in the man's eyes, as he seemed to believe that he was going to be luck enough to take me home. "You're too sweet."

"There you are! I've been looking all over for you." Jason's voice called out as he sauced between me and the man. Hearing the man being to object Jason turned towards him with stern eyes. "A little privacy man."

The man coward away as he disappeared into the crowd. I had to say I was impressed that nineteen year old Jason was able to scare away a man in his late thirties. Now that the man was out of sight I lifted up the watched that I slipped off the man's wrist, wanting to get a better look at it wondering if it had any value. "Easy."

"You stole his watch?" Jason whispered as he looked down at the watch, he seemed both impressed and confused. Knowing the little that I did about Jason, the fact that he was practically raised on the streets of Gotham was obvious. "Why?"

"The asshole was married. He deserves more than getting his watch stolen." I replied almost tasting the bitterness in my mouth. Married men cheating on their wives always brought me a sense on disgust. "I hope he doesn't miss it. It is a very nice watch."

"Nice. Well, watch me work my magic." He declared confidently as he moved to the other end of the bar where a blonde haired woman was animatedly talking to a tall, heavy built man. Jason hadn't even made his first move and I could already predict the disaster that was about to unfold.

For a moment I simply watched as Jason seemed to bait the man with his arrogance. When the man suddenly stood, towering over Jason I knew that I would have to get involved. "Do you want me to kick your ass?"

"I want to see you try." Jason replied, and in that moment I understood that this was what he wanted. He wanted to start a fight, that was why he chose the girl who was clearly already in a relationship. The eager look in his eyes told me that much as I stood from my seat and rushed to him. "Let's do this."

Stepping between the stranger and Jason I placed my hand on his shoulder slowly pushing him away. "Let's not."

Jason slapped my hand away, for a moment I was shocked at the force he had hit me with. The sting snapping me back to this moment as I looked into Jason's dark eyes. "Back the fuck off! I got this."

I stood my ground, blocking the man from him. When Jason realized I wasn't going to let through, I realized that his anger was now being directed towards me. His fists tightening at his side. Before I even had a chance to react Dick was coming between us pushing, Jason away. "Watch yourself Jason! Don't even think it."

A part of me wondered if Jason would have really thrown that punch, but the other part didn't want to know. Hoping that maybe Jason wasn't all that bad. Maybe that was only wishful thinking as I thought we were getting along. "Get out of my fucking way!"

The next instant a loud explosion interrupted our little fight, intuitively I turned away from the widows covering my face as I heard the windows shattering. My ears were still ringing as I straightened myself, Dick turned towards me running a hand through my hair as he pulled out a piece of glass. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." I replied as I looked around the bar. Although the explosion was small there were still some who got the worst of it, as they remained on the floor in pain from both force of the blast and the shattered glass. "Them... not so much."

As Dick, Jason, and I helped some of the injured onto the street we all seemed to lose track of time or the reason why we were here. That was until Dick received a phone call, we watched as he moved away his body visibly tensing as he took the call. It was then I realized that Clayton Williams wasn't with us. Knowing to well how the minds of Gotham's villains worked I knew Zucco's plan.

"Who was that?" Jason questioned, taking in Dick's dangerous eyes as he approached us again.

Seeing as he really had not choice Dick went on to tell Jason everything that he told me earlier about his attempt to kill Tony Zucco. This was clearly a difficult story for Dick to tell, though Jason seemed unfazed. In fact he looked impressed. "I killed his father."

"The guy who murdered your parents?" Jason said although it sounded more like a statement than a question. And although Dick had a grim look on his face, Jason's was all excitement. "That's a win either way you look at it. One less scumbag on the face of the planet. Man, that must've felt awesome."

"Yeah, that's the problem. Hey, you want my advice? Don't be Robin." Dick stated, the resentment filled gaze that seemed to be reserved for Bruce returning as he continued to talk to his replacement. "All those years Bruce was helping me? He was turning me into a weapon, his weapon. And he may have you convinced that you can get everything you ever wanted, but you can't unlearn what he teaches you and you can't control it. Believe me, the price is too high. I gotta go."

"Where?" I asked, though I already knew the answer and what came next.

He meant my eyes with determination, silently telling me that where he was going I couldn't follow. "I gotta take care of this by myself."

Jason and I watched as Dick walked away blending into the crowd that had gathered to take a closer look at the disaster that had just unfolded. "We're not gonna let him go by himself are we?"

"Absolutely not." I replied as I crossed the street where we parked the mini van, Jason's hurried steps followed as I opened the sliding door of the van. If Dick knew me as well as I knew him, I was sure he'd had to be aware that I wouldn't leave him on his own. Then again I had done it before. And I always made an effort in being unpredictable in his eyes, yet I wanted to believe that deep down he did know me.

"Back there..." Jason began, the struggle with his pride vivid in his eyes. It was nice to know that Robins seemed to share some of the same characteristics. "sometimes I lose control. I didn't...didn't mean to..."

"Forget it." I told him the situation at the bar already forgotten, there were bigger issues that needed to be take care of. Though I did appreciate that attempt of an apology. Grabbing my bag I pulled out my whip and wrapped it around my arm.

"Wait. You're..."

"Yes, I am." I stated simply as I reached over to get the case that held Jason's Robin suit before closing the door of the van.

"Aren't you going to wear your suit?" He asked and although he seemed initially shocked by the revelation, he didn't seem to care much about who I was. The fact that he clearly enjoyed his time taking down criminals with Batman had me believing that he might have been disgusted at the fact that I was one.

"Oh Little Bird I haven't worn my suit in a very long time." I replied which was the truth, but I also didn't plan on wearing it while doing anything remotely heroic. For some reason it simply didn't feel right, and then there was the fact that if I was seen running around with Robins wearing it I would lose some of my power in the streets of Gotham.

Jason still seemed confused and stunned. "So you're going to go against The Melting Man in a dress and heels."

"You have to learn to fight in anything Little Bird."

***

Regardless of Jason's little outburst against me, we were able to work together to help Dick in taking out Nick Zucco who was now laying unconscious on the ground. I wrapped my whip around my arms as I walked over to Clayton Williams, who from the pain of the acid used by Zucco lost consciousness.

"Oh, you're welcome, by the way, for saving your life." Dick commented, referring to Jason's near miss which Dick had saved him from only moments ago.

"And you're welcome for me saving your life." Jason quickly replied, and there was no stopping me from rolling my eyes at the two Robins. It was odd how alike and how different Dick and Jason were, although Dick had definitely lost the arrogance he had when we were younger. That arrogance seemed to have been replaced by something darker.

"If you both don't shut up you'll have to save each other from me." I stated as I bent down next to Clayton getting a closer look at the acidic burn on his shoulder. "Now how about you both grow up and help me with him?"

Dick nodded as he joined me on the floor, when we began to hear the police siren at a distance. They were close meaning that we had to leave the scene before they arrived. "We have to go." Dick ordered.

Jason shook his head as he began running towards the entrance of the old factory. "I'll take care of it."

It seemed that Clayton wouldn't be waking up anytime soon, and although I considered shocking him awake I wasn't sure his heart could take a surge of electricity. No matter how small it was. Suddenly gut wrenching scream rang through the building, one that had me standing in an instant. Dick was about to stand too, but I placed my hand on his shoulder knowing that his place was here with his friend. "Stay. I'll go."

I ran towards the direction of the scream wondering what could have gone wrong, but I froze when I saw all the police officers bloody and unconscious on the floor. My mind was slowly processing the scene in front of me, the realization that Jason had done this was like a slap to the face. Even more horrifying was the fact that Jason was relentlessly slamming his fist down at on officer's face.

And officer that was clearly beaten unconscious.

Getting a hold of my whip I lashed it out towards Jason, and when it wrapped around his forearm I pulled him towards me. He kicked at the air as he fell on his back at my feet. When he attempted to sit up I placed my heeled foot on his chest forcing him back down. "Bad birdy."

"Don't act like you're any better than me!" Jason replied with gritted teeth, blood lust clearly still rushing through his veins. The danger in his eyes was alarming, and I knew then that if anything caused the boy to truly snap he would wreck havoc in a horrifying way.

"You're wrong." I said as I pulled my whip back, stepping away from the clearly damaged boy. "I can be much worse if you catch me on a bad day."

Dick ran towards us just as Jason had gotten back on his feet. In an instant he was slamming Jason against one of the concrete beams, the anger and disgust in Dick's eyes was shocking. "What do you think you're doing? They're cops!"

Jason seemed unfazed by Dick's rage, in fact it seemed to boost his ego and self-entitlement. I couldn't see what Bruce could have possibly seen in this kid. In many ways I learned to understand Bruce over the years, and his impulse to apparently help strays hadn't changed. "That's the coolest part about being Robin. Wearin' a mask. I can do whatever the fuck I want."

"Did you not just hear what I said?" Dick continued his grip on Jason tightening to the point where his knuckles were becoming white. "There is no way Batman's cool with beatin' up cops."

"He isn't. But I don't see him here." Little Robin replied cynically, a chuckle forming on his lips. "The cops in Gotham kicked my ass every night. Now I get to kick back."

"You obviously have your own shit goin' on. But you're gonna wake up one day and have no idea who you are."

"Oh, coming from the guy screaming 'I'm not Robin, I don't wanna be Robin' standing there in a fucking Robin suit, carrying that case all over the country! Working with a Siren!" Jason yelled as his eyes strayed towards me for a moment, his gaze and words laced with poison. His intention clearly aiming to hurt anyone if he could. "You wanna know the real difference between us? I know who I am, man. I kick ass with Batman and I fucking love it. But who the fuck are you?"

Seeing as there was no helping the boy, at least not now when blood lust and rage were still running through his veins, Dick let him go. Jason was off in instant, stopping to kick one of the unconscious cops on the way. As I watched Jason storm of I crossed my arms over my chest turning towards a still stunned Dick. A part of me felt that he saw a dark version of himself reflected in Jason. "I take back what I said about Little Robin being smarter."

"But you don't take back what you said about him being better looking?"

"Not a chance. But only because it clearly annoys you." I replied as I placed my hand on his chest. Standing like this with him reminded me of all the times we did the same on top of the roof tops in Gotham. Expect those times we were on different sides, as he and Batman chased after me and the rest of The Sirens. The memory seemed to have touched him too as I saw all the anger drain from his eyes. As his hand reached out to touch the one I had placed on his chest I moved it away avoiding his touch. Knowing that if he did another piece of me would break away. And maybe preventing that was worth the hurt in his eyes as I turned away. "I'll see you back at the safe house."

***

^^^A/N A bit of a longer chapter, but we're almost coming to the end of this first book! Tell me an predictions you might have or what you'd like to see in these last couple of chapters. Love you all!^^^