"You shouldn't have told him," Helena remarked, tending to the injuries he had received on that night's patrol.

She had come to know of Richard's decision to reveal Lavina's connection to the Court of Owls to Bruce Wayne through Barbara and she didn't approve of it.

"And then what? Keep on listening to him persuading me to visit Lavina? Take pity on her because she's feigning death? Not happening."

At times he was no different from a stubborn little child, the frown on his face and the annoyed spark in his eyes indicating that fact clearly.

She sighed, knowing he was in a terrible mood and arguing further would be futile, "but still. It was not your secret to tell."

"Tim's life was not hers to take either," he snapped back, as always having a remark to justify his actions no matter how reckless he had been.

"Richard," she had placed aside the bandage, stepping in front of him so that he could see the concern in her eyes, "your recklessness will one day cause you extreme trouble."

He broke off the gaze, taking the bandage from her as he tried to patch himself up without her help, stubbornly swatting her hands away. She sighed wearily, stepping back to sit on the other chair, watching him try to wrap the bandage with difficulty.

"You are one stubborn asshole," she mumbled in a rather resigned tone, "you make things harder for yourself. Just like you've done so right now."

He chose not to reply, ignoring her presence.

When she got fed up with the silence and his forced ignorance, she stood up to leave. But before she could do so, his hand had closed on her wrist, stopping her.

"Do you really think I should not have told Bruce Wayne about her? Would that not be allowing another person to get fooled by her and used for her own gain?"

His voice by then was regulated and not the agitated tone he had used earlier. His voice was almost convincing, stating those questions as a justification instead.

"I may not be particularly fond of him to go out of my bounds to help him but I don't want anyone to go through what I had due to Lavina. Not even Bruce. And suppose I didn't tell him anything and just forced him out with no reason. It would make him sympathize with her more and try to help her out using any means possible. Then do you really think it would be any easier for him to find out the truth about her later? After he had served whatever purpose she had chosen him for and then discarded him? Would that be fair?"

Helena knew he had always been good with words, holding the power to persuade people when he wanted to. And right then he was persuading her that what he did was the right thing to do, despite seeming a reckless decision at first.

"Lena, I may be reckless but I'm not heartless," he remarked, reading her thoughts through her expression but not intending to speak any further.

His message had gotten to her clearly, all that was left was for her to accept it.

He let go of her hand at last, indicating that he would not stop her if she left then as she had heard all he wanted her to.

But his words had pushed her into a conflict.

At times it seemed as if Richard himself was a collection of paradoxes. Kind but dangerous, thoughtful but reckless, caring but manipulative.

At times, he seemed no different than the woman he so hated for ruining his life. And those were the times when Helena would get worried lest he end up doing the same to all of them subconsciously.

He was Richard Grayson and not Lavina Vikander. But when one really looked deep into the two personalities, there wasn't much that could set them apart.

They were both unnervingly alike.

And that was what irked Helena most of all.

***

Dark irises flickered towards the piece of paper burning in the hearth, the words written upon it dissolving into ash shortly after. She had to admit that Samantha was much more resourceful than she had initially expected.

For her to trace the link from the Court to Reginald Jenkins was truly a remarkable feat.

And by then she must have found out all about Silas March's plan of overthrowing the Grandmaster and claiming his power. She might also have found out why Lavina was indirectly targeting the Court and trying to get rid of it by severing it from the roots.

Reginald was the key to half the truth that Samantha must have uncovered through fair means or foul, the other half lay in Lavina herself.

The remaining part of the truth Samantha was chasing after would not be revealed until or unless Lavina chose to tell her by herself.

"Miss Vikander," a familiar voice shook her out of her thoughts and she looked up to see that Christopher had returned.

His eyes swept over the burning hearth and the owl perched upon Lavina's right arm, understanding that she might have received a confidential message.

"Mister Hendricks, thank you for looking after the sanctuary in my absence," she remarked, setting the owl free to soar out the window.

"That was my duty. It is good to have you back here," he remarked gently, "your birds missed you immensely."

Lavina suddenly recalled the cuts on Samantha's face from that one sentence and she turned to face him. "Why did they attack Sam when she came to visit last time? I met her a few days ago, she was injured. She said my owls tried to pluck her eyes out. That has never happened before."

The expression on the old man's face hadn't changed in the slightest, almost as if it wasn't something to be worried about. "Owls are wise creatures. They might be associated with death and ruins but are truly a symbol of wisdom and endurance. They have a strong sense of deception and warn against it. I believe that's just what your owls were doing. They were looking after you."

"By hurting Sam...?" Her eyes were narrowed in deep thought, pondering over what Christopher had told her.

"By scaring her enough not to come back here again," he remarked, "birds, unlike humans, do not have the intention to kill."

Lavina was silent but it was evident that the recent discovery had made her upset.

Christopher could easily see through her expression as he spoke up, "why do you worry for Miss Vanaver? You know she is no longer on your side so why do you still care?"

"I made her into the woman she is today," her voice was low and full of regret, "so I feel it is my fault and responsibility for whatever happens to her. Even if she is turning against me, I can't abandon her."

He did not probe further and merely nodded, taking his leave then stepped out. While Lavina kept pacing in her room, thinking carefully about what should be her next move.

The game of chess she had started had begun to turn in the favor of the other side so her next move counted for a lot.

She had to regain her control over the game as she couldn't let it pass down to Samantha just yet.

***