The next night, Jason and Flare met up again on their usual patrol. This time, though, Flare had something tucked under her arm. Jason didn't notice it at first, but when she handed him the small, leather-bound book, he raised an eyebrow.

"What's this?" he asked, flipping it over and reading the title. Hearts Entwined. It was unmistakably a romance novel.

Flare's eyes twinkled mischievously as she nodded toward it. "Thought you might like it. It's one of my favorites."

Jason gave her a skeptical look, his lips twitching into a smirk. "I don't read romance."

Flare laughed softly, crossing her arms. "Uh-huh. Sure you don't."

"I don't," Jason insisted, though his grip on the book tightened slightly. Truth was, romance was his guilty pleasure, but there was no way he was admitting that. "I'm more into... action, you know?"

Flare shrugged, still smiling. "Right. Well, read it anyway. You might surprise yourself."

Jason stared at the book for a moment, then sighed, tucking it into his jacket. "Fine, I'll give it a shot. But if it's cheesy, I'm blaming you."

"I'll take the blame," Flare said with a grin.

They moved through the dark streets, their usual route, when Jason finally broke the comfortable silence between them. His tone was more serious, as if he'd been weighing something for a while.

"You know, I've been thinking..." he began, his gaze fixed ahead. "I control a pretty big chunk of the gangs in Gotham. But honestly, I don't know what to do with them. Feels like they're a tool I can't really use right."

Flare glanced over at him, her curiosity piqued. "What do you mean?"

Jason sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I've been trying to keep them in check—keep them from causing too much damage—but they're still criminal organizations at the end of the day. I've got power, sure, but I'm not sure how to make it into something more... useful."

Flare slowed her pace, thoughtful for a moment. "You want to convert them."

Jason raised an eyebrow. "Convert them?"

"Yeah," Flare said, her voice more animated now. "I've been doing it myself. Remotely, though—keeping control from afar. What if you took your gangs and shifted them from being criminal organizations into something more like... I don't know, guardian organizations. Separate from the law, but still protecting the people, making sure no one takes advantage of Gotham the way the crime lords do."

Jason stared at her, his mind racing. "You really think that'd work?"

Flare nodded. "It's already working for me. I've got an empire, and I don't even have to be hands-on all the time. You could do the same. You've already got the power and the people. All you need is direction."

Jason considered this, the weight of her suggestion settling over him. She wasn't wrong. He had influence—more than he liked to admit—and if he played his cards right, he could actually use it for something better than just survival.

"I could see it," he muttered, almost to himself. "A network of... protection. Vigilante justice. No red tape."

"Exactly," Flare said, her smile turning sharp. "The city already sees you as a threat, so why not use that fear to your advantage? Reshape it."

Jason's lips curled into a smirk. "You really think you can help me pull that off?"

Flare grinned. "I know I can. Besides, with both of us working together? We'll make it happen. Gotham won't know what hit it."

Jason laughed under his breath, shaking his head in disbelief. "Alright, I'm in. But if it crashes and burns, I'm blaming you."

"I'll take the blame for that too," Flare replied playfully, her voice a raspy purr he found himself loving.

After a moment of silence, Jason's gaze flickered toward the coffee shop they'd visited the night before. "Speaking of blame... I think I need another hot chocolate."

Flare raised an eyebrow, her smile widening. "I thought you didn't like coffee?"

"I don't," Jason said, smirking. "But that hot chocolate? Best I've ever had."

Flare laughed, and together they made their way back to the small café. The owner's eyes went wide as they stepped through the door again, but Jason and Flare ordered their drinks without missing a beat.

As they waited for their orders, Jason glanced over at her, the book tucked safely in his jacket. "So, this fall blend—what's in it exactly? Or is it just a secret recipe?"

Flare chuckled. "It's not a secret. Cinnamon, nutmeg, a little bit of ginger. The perfect mix for a cold night like this."

Jason shook his head with a grin. "Yeah, I guess that fits you."

They took their hot chocolates and slipped back into the night, finding their way to another rooftop, overlooking Gotham's skyline.

Jason sipped his drink, feeling the warmth seep into his chest. "So... you really think this empire thing will work? Turning criminals into guardians?"

Flare glanced at him, her eyes reflecting the faint glow of the city lights. "I think anything's possible, Red. As long as we don't let anyone else define what we are."

Jason nodded, taking another sip of his drink. Maybe she was right. Maybe they really could reshape Gotham—one step at a time. And if anyone could help him pull it off, it was her.

Unnoticed, far below in the shadows of the city, Bruce watched again, his sharp gaze never leaving them. He didn't make a sound, but his mind raced with thoughts of the future they were so casually planning. And he knew, one way or another, he would have to intervene.