Everything is different. Somehow, everything has changed so much over the last month and a half everything that happened before almost feels like some sort of sick fever dream. It's all very real and all of it happened but everything is different today. At least, to Jason it feels different.

Gotham itself is pretty much the same. Bruce has been back and doing his whole Batman thing. The only difference is he doesn't have a Robin now but his methods remain the same, it's the same routine for him, same big bads. It's the same for him. The businesses that were boarded up during Crane's reign are up and running, everything looking to be the same just as it was before. The air around the city is still smoggy and the rain is still cold and wet. The streets sound the same just as they always did and the gargoyle keeps Jason company just as it did before. So much is the same but he feels like everything is different.

Instead of him and Bruce butting heads over him being Robin, they're butting heads over his methods. Bruce has no issue with Red Hood but he does have a problem with the killing part of it. And Jason won't budge. He swears he's not bitter about what happened but he is firm in his belief that change needs to happen. It stops with him and Bruce can either fight him or get on board. They are trying to come to some sort of agreement which is significantly better than how it would have went before. Bruce keeps the Robin suit in the case. He won't tell Jason why.

Their relationship is different now. Jason thinks it might be for the better.

He hopes it's for the better.

His living situation is different than it was before. He has his own place, the main safe house he used while Crane ran the city. It's not anything too special yet and Jason doesn't have too many things that are his but it's coming along. And that is his. It almost feels like it did when he was on the streets but this time, it is his choice. It is his choice to be alone here. And he owns it. No one can come and kick him out, no one can come and arrest him for trespassing and breaking and entering, it is his. It might feel lonely sometimes after living with Bruce and the Titans for so long but it is his and it brings him some sort of pride in a way.

He works with Barbara mostly now. Whenever something a bit more dicey pops up or Bruce is busy, she calls Jason. It's his literal job now and he would be lying if he said he didn't like it. Him and Babs get along better now. Actually, him and the Titans get along better now. There's still plenty of work to be done but his relationship with them has been on the mend, something he is eternally grateful for. He still owes them.

Then there's Sam.

Things are different with Sam.

"I will be back as soon as the threat is taken care of." Bruce states as he grabs a few things from the Batcave. "Are you sure you can handle this?" Bruce asks, not because of his lack of confidence in Jason's abilities but rather his general mental health.

"I got it, man." Jason brushes him off. "Nothing I haven't done before. You've gone with the Justice League plenty of times." Jason holds back his snippy attitude, trying his best to level with Bruce and not let his anger get the best of him.

"Before you were..." Bruce trails off. "Robin." He nods once, sternly and hard. "That was before."

"I'm fine." Jason nearly whines. "I got it." He gestures his arms out casually.

"Okay." Bruce states with a sigh. "Do not blow anything or anyone up again." Bruce warns.

The touch of a smirk pulls at his lips. "I don't know what the fuck you're talking about."

There may have been an explosion near Harbor last week with some gun runners inside. Jason may or may not have been in the area patrolling. And that group may or may not have been the group Jason had been tracking over the last few days. Jason does think the explosion really helped though. They got all the guns and all the people involved in one sweep. Seemed efficient. 

"I know it was you." Bruce states easily.

"Nope." Jason shakes his head but the grin is tugging at his lips, knowing damn well he's guilty.

Bruce lets out a sigh, not bothering to argue with him over it. "Just...keep it down, Jason." Bruce states and he's gone out of town a hundred times but something about this being the first time since Jason died and has been brought back almost makes him nervous. Jason can handle himself. He's been doing it. This is only his second time in the Batcave over the last month and a half and only his third time back at the manor. He's doing well on his own, all things considered, but he is Bruce's son and Bruce does worry even if he doesn't show it.

"It'll be fine, just go. I got it all handled. Pick up your job you're working, almost got the one from Babs and..." Jason pauses feeling his mouth run dry. "Molly said Sam's got a few she's working."

Bruce eyes him, knowing very little but knowing enough about the situation between the two of them. "You should call her." Bruce tries to say it casually.

"No." Jason states simply. "And you're not allowed to give me advice here. The one that got away? Seriously, man?" Jason lets out a scoff.

Of all people, Jason does not want relationship advice from Bruce. Bruce had a solid chance with Selina and apparently, he's still hung up on her and is doing nothing about it. He could have had something great with Talia, too but that didn't end well. Jason is not looking to take advice from Bruce and he's thinking he shouldn't be taking much relationship advice from anyone he knows. No one seems to be getting that department together anytime soon. The way he sees it, this is fine.

It's fine.

"How did Tim know that?" Bruce questions Jason plainly.

"He stalks us." Jason nearly chortles.

"Well, that is all my advice. Call her, Jason." Bruce nods once at him.

"I'm good." Jason shakes his head. "Now go before Clark shows up and drags you back with him."

Bruce lets out a sigh, making his way through the living room. Bruce offered to let him stay at the manor which Jason declined. He's on his own. He can't come back here. If he's even being honest, he's only thinking Bruce called him to "look out over his jurisdictions" just to check up on him, make sure he feels useful as if Jason doesn't have his own work he's doing. Somewhere in his chest he wants to be mad and fight back over it, swear it's because Bruce doesn't think he can handle it so he's setting him up to prove a point to get him back. But Jason bites it all back, deciding to tell his mind to shut up for fucking once and let this just play out.

He sees Leslie once a week and that helps. He thinks he'll just tell her about it.

Jason finds himself back at the place he's calling home, enabling the alarms once he's safe inside. It's messy and somewhere in the back of his head, he can hear the echo of your voice telling him he should clean because he's not busy now. And he looks at the stuff on the floor, almost willing himself to listen, and then he heads upstairs anyway.

If Jason Todd is good at anything, it's being alone. He's been alone almost his whole life. Even when his dad was around, he was drunk or mean...so he was alone. Even when his mom was alive, she was usually high. She wasn't really with him very much. He adapted to what it's like to be alone. To fend for himself always and somewhere deep in his broken heart, he wishes it weren't this way but he's good at it. He has always pushed until he was alone. He is a natural disaster ripping through the hearts of people who love him so maybe being alone has always been better for him. At least the only thing left to destroy is himself.

Even if being lonely is some of the worst kind of hurt. But this is his penance.

One day, he swears, it won't be like this. That's the point of talking to Leslie and getting along with Bruce and being himself today. One day it won't be like this. A day will come when he won't have to punish himself for all the hurt he's caused. He won't have to punish himself for all the scars he bears at the hands of others and himself. One day he won't have to punish himself for the person he could have been. It just has to be like this today. So, Jason goes up to his room where he keeps his training equipment and monitors and he starts to work on the cipher until it's time for patrol.

The city is warm tonight. Cars are crowding the streets while people walk home from their Saturday night out and a smile pulls at Sam's lips from under her mask as she watches the people below her. Patrol has just started and she's mostly waiting and listening, knowing something is going to happen because it always does on Saturday nights. But, she'd be lying if she said she doesn't like the view from where she is. Something about Gotham always being pretty at night.

The smog isn't visible, it doesn't look dreary as it usually does during the day. It's just street lights and busy people walking about. A part of her can't believe just a few months ago she was terrified of heights and now she actually enjoys the view.

Things have changed a lot since then.

She lives with Molly now, probably how it always should have been. They share a small apartment, this one has better locks on the doors and windows. And every night Sam teaches Molly some self-defense, just in case. If Sam has learned one thing, it's that she cannot save everyone but she can help them. At least if Molly is somewhat prepared, she has a chance though Sam could tell by how she moved and certain things she already knew that Jason had taught her a few things before San Francisco. Living with her is nice though. She understands her and there is no judgment. Sam isn't alone.

Gar and Tim talk to Sam every single day, updating her with whatever is going on. At first, it was fun stuff on the road trip like sightseeing and museums and bowling. Now, it's the hell Metropolis is currently under. Sam has never been so happy she stayed behind. She does not want to fight a demon. She'll never admit it, but she wouldn't stand a single chance against Rachel let alone Mother Mayhem and Brother Blood. Though, she is disappointed she missed the whole zombie situation. Sam's just glad the boys keep her up to date with everything and she talks to Dick and Kory all the time, too. That doesn't feel too different. It feels almost like tidied when she first came back to Gotham and she likes it this way.

And then there's Jason.

Things are different with Jason.

"Robbery in progress in the East End, convenience store." Molly says through the comms.

"Got it, send the address." Sam grins wildly behind her mask before she uses her grappling hook to lower herself down the backside of the building.

Molly helping out has been new. Sam isn't too happy about that part but...Molly was insistent and to tell her no would make Sam a hypocrite. Molly stays back and is Sam's eyes in the skies kind of deal which has been very helpful when it comes to patrol. At least that's nice.

Sam takes the bike and heads to the address Molly sent her. Patrolling is different now, too. Sam has always patrolled with Bruce or Jason or the Titans. Even when Jason died, Sam wasn't patrolling. She had set targets and that's who she went out to grab. This is patrol. This is different. She is alone with Molly in her ear. Sam thought maybe she wouldn't like it, Iike maybe she'd actually be really bad at it being alone. But, if she were being honest, she actually really enjoys it like this. Sam is good at it. And it's fun and she doesn't have to worry about anyone else. It's just her. Her life. That's it. And she likes the thrill a little bit.

Jason shoves the last of four men to the ground, his hands zip-tied behind his back and the man lets out a groan. He glares up at Jason with blood streaming down his nose, his friends all a bit battered but have learned to keep quiet. This one is annoying.

"You broke my fucking nose!" He screams up at Jason.

Jason never quite understood why people committing crimes who get caught, like in this instance for example, are confused by their injuries. They showed up to rob a local small business and expect to get away with it. They're here to possibly ruin something that someone has earned and worked very hard for just because they can. A broken nose seems to be a pretty good deal.

He's not even a stranger to robbery but these guys walked in there armed and prepared to shoot anyone who wanted to get in the way. Jason was also a teenager and desperate. These four men don't seem to be in the same boat and the way Jason sees it, there was no reason to hold a gun to someone's face for a hundred dollars in a cash register. These are not master criminals.

"You're lucky I'm in a good mood or your nose would the last of your worries." Jason says casually through he modulator.

"Good mood?!" The man yells back as if he's the real victim in this situation.

"Yeah, good mood." Jason echoes back about to make another smart comment unti he hears the sound of a motorcycle pulling up.

Jason turns around just in time to see it stop and he'd recognize the bike anywhere because it's the same one as his. He'd recognize the blue and black suit anywhere because it's hers. 

Sam pops the helmet off and Jason swears his very heart just burst into flames into his chest and it might just burn through his ribcage. The corner of his lips starts to tug into a shielded smile at the sight of her and his only thought is that he misses her. He asks about her to their friends, not too often but...often enough for them to know. All of them say the same things, she's doing okay but they're worried. She's working with Barbara, too, running different jobs for the PD and she checks in on Tim's parents every single day.

Molly always says the least about her.

Every single bone in his body feels hollowed seeing her. But when she locks eyes with him and she doesn't look happy, the guilt comes back baring its teeth and digging them right into his jugular.

It has been a month and a half and he is trying his best. It hasn't been easy and some days he doesn't try but generally, he's trying. It's hard whenever every breath he takes is haunted by the day he took his last. It's hard trying to figure out his footing. Jason Todd is Red Hood. He knows that. He is Red Hood. Red Hood protects innocent people and uses any means necessary to make sure they stay safe. But he is not a hero. He is doing what must be done and that is all. Jason Todd is Red Hood but outside of that, he doesn't know yet. Instead, he wraps himself in a straightjacket of guilt and remorse and agony and hopes that'll be enough to repay his debts to misery and happiness.

Sam eyes him and it's like she's being exposed to the entire city in an instant. It's as if her suit and mask have been ripped from her body and every scar and insecurity and vulnerability is being displayed in some sort of sick museum as she sees him. They have separate sections of the city. Her, him, and Bruce. This is Bruce's section but he's out of town with the Justice League. It would have been Jason's to pick up but Sam didn't even question it when Molly mentioned it.

She wishes she would have questioned it.

It is almost a relief he wears a full-face helmet because Sam isn't entirely sure what she would do if she saw his face, saw his expression. Would he be happy to see her? Disappointed? Mad? Would there be anything left at all or would he just look at her like he would any other vigilante showing up a little too late to help? Sam isn't sure which of those would be easier to swallow.

Something builds in the space between them, something hard and damaged, sucking the air out from between them. It snarls back at them almost daring them to go ahead and try to move. Try to make the space less and see just how badly the teeth of grief will hurt this time. Go ahead and tempt death for old time's sake and guilt. Go ahead and try to mend this and pretend it's some sort of coincidence, as if fate has any hand in this. It bites and gnaws at them as water brims in their eyes, every emotion bubbling over to the surface and grief screams out to them.

Go ahead and try again, see just how badly this will all end again. It will only end in bloody hands and shredded agony. Guilt laughs in their faces, a devious crackle as if they are not worth the other. They do not deserve forgiveness for the torture they've caused the other. Walk away. They can hear it over and over again, guilt and grief and resentment and loneliness, walk away.

So, they do.

Sam pops the helmet back on her head just as Jason turns back to the robbers.

"Where are you going?" Molly asks through the comms as she watches the tracker on her screen start moving.

"You can see him here." Sam seethes. "I know you can see him, too."

Molly has all of their locations. She shares them with Bruce. It was part of an agreement with her doing this eyes in the skies thing and Sam being able to keep patrolling. It's how they all keep their sections of the city. Molly knows Jason is here.

"He wasn't when I sent you, I swear." Molly defends softly. It's not a lie, she just didn't mention when Jason happened to be moving towards the robbery. "He showed up but you were already on your way—"

"So you didn't tell me?!" Sam yells. "Seriously?"

Somewhere in the last month and a half, grief has metastasized into something resembling resentment. It's not him. She knows that. But, seeing him just now brings back too many feelings she's yet to deal with properly, she's trying but she hasn't gotten that far yet.

Grief bubbles back and transforms into something like resentment because they should be together. She should fucking happy and she isn't. She is, generally, but there is this void echoing in her chest. A burning pain right on her heart where his name was stitched. It sucks to be blind-sided into seeing him even if the resentment is towards herself. She just would have liked some fucking warning about it.

She needs to be prepared if she's going to see him and she isn't entirely sure she's ready. There's still a lot of shame even if missing him makes her feel like Atlas. Half the damn time it takes everything in her not to call him. Something will happen and he is still the first person she wants to tell. But, they're not talking. Instead, Sam gets updates about him through Molly and Gar and Tim. All of them have said he seems okay while sounding worried about him. It's hard not to worry about him. He's Jason. Sam thinks that's her only relief, knowing he's at least doing okay.

She just wishes she had it in herself to check in but he said space and she said space. They agreed and guilt and shame suck the very air out of her lungs to the point where she thinks this is her way of punishing herself for everything she's done to him. Forcing herself to not contact him first and check-in. She is punishing herself but keeping to what she knows and staying away from him. Maybe it was him who was always better off.

Molly sighs. "You have to talk to him eventually." Molly rolls her eyes on the other end and decides to drop it. She can hear the engine of the bike roaring louder than usual. This conversation is not one to have at the moment. "Mugging two blocks from you, take a right." 

She is thankful the two of them have not put her in the middle. The most that happens is them asking about each other. Other than that, they don't ask. They don't mention the other. It's as if they only know of each other through their mutual friends. Molly thinks that might actually be worse sometimes.

Jason gets back to his safe house and strips from the Red Hood gear. He heads right for the shower. Seeing Sam tonight, it feels like a lot. He never tried to kill her but somehow, she's the person he betrayed the most and dealing with that has been a lot harder than most of the rest of it. Her dedication and loyalty to him he thinks has made it so hard. To have someone so loyal and love him the way she did, sends his head fuzzy with regret knowing the pain he caused her.

At first, Jason thought it'd be a week or two. They'd cave and talk again and then one thing would lead to another. Maybe it wouldn't be the healthiest way to deal with their shit, but they'd be together and they'd figure it out. But then a week or two turned into three and then four and then six. The more time that passes, the harder it gets to pick up the phone. Maybe that's why he asks Gar and Tim and Molly about her. They all say she's good but they're worried about her. They're always worried about her. But at least she's been good and Jason is grateful for that. He just wishes he had it in himself to suck it up and just call her. But, he doesn't so he showers away the thoughts of her and drowns himself in his guilt and regret.

By the time he's out of the shower, his phone is ringing and he's drying her hair with a towel, the white streak staring back at him in the mirror and he's still mad Dick didn't get the same thing he did.

"Yeah?" Jason answers the phone.

"I need your help." Dick states on the other end.

Jason pulls the phone from his head, looking at the caller ID before he puts the phone back to his ear. "With?"

"Training Tim." Dick states.

Jason almost laughs at the very statement. It's not that Dick is asking for help in the training department, he has before. That's fine. It's that Tim is supposed to be Robin out there and Jason knows they are actively fighting demons and zombies. Tim should absolutely be getting trained in between all of that.

"You haven't trained him yet?" Jason scoffs in surprise before he walks out of the en suite and into his bedroom.

"We've been busy." Dick scoffs back knowing damn well Jason knows what's been happening. Dick has mentioned it and Gar gives Dick updates about Jason meaning Gar talks to him plenty. "Between everything that's been going on since we got to Metropolis, we haven't had time."

Jason chuckles softly on the other end. "Yeah, uh, Gar was telling about me about the zombie shit. Fucking Deathstroke? Glad I wasn't there." Jason laughs softly and he can't see it but there might even be a faint smile on Dick's lips. He sounds good.

"Yeah," Dick huffs, running a hand through his hair. "You gonna be able to help?" Dick asks.

"Yeah, I owe you anyway." Jason agrees. "Not gonna go easy on him though. I'm gonna make sure he's ready when he comes back."

It doesn't take Jason long to have his decision. There's something...weird with someone replacing him in a way, as Robin. But, if someone is going to be Robin, they have to be prepared, more prepared than he was. Jason doesn't want someone else to end up like him and he knows Tim, kind of. He owes Dick for everything Jason has put him through and Jason did always like helping with the training. It's not a difficult decision.

"Good, that's what I expect." Dick nearly chuckles. "If he's going to be Robin, he needs a good teacher."

"Wouldn't go that far, man." Jason shakes his head, still getting used to Dick being nice.

"You trained Sam and look at what she can do. That is mostly on you. Do the same for Tim. I'll have him in Gotham tomorrow."

"You just gonna send him to me?" Jason's brows pull together as he puts a hand on his hip.

"No, I'm going to send him on a mission that is all just a ruse to get him there. You'll find him and go from there. Don't tell him." Dick explains simply as if Jason should have known Dick would have a...ruse?

"So, you're gonna send him here on a fake mission with no training as Robin?" Jason lets out a laugh. That's ridiculous and somehow Jason finds himself not entirely surprised. "Why not just fucking tell him, man?"

"I want to instill confidence in him." Dick states, almost defensively. He's trying his best and he also knows that Tim is very confident and maybe he needs to see he needs the help. "Should have done it with you and Sam. Not making the mistake again."

Jason clears his through. "Yeah, okay, deserved that." Jason shakes his head. "Alright, just let me know when he's on his way and where I need to be. I'll get him ready to actually be Robin."

"Thanks, Jason." Dick's voice is sincere.

"Yeah, don't mention it." Jason lets out a sigh before he hangs up.

He plops onto his bed, his eyes falling onto the helmet resting on the dresser on the opposite side of the room. Right after leaving the manor from talking to Bruce, this is not where he saw Red Hood being. Being a vigilante is now something Jason feels like he has to do, he likes it but he is trained to do it. He's trained to help people and if no one else is going to help them, Jason might as well. It's taken a little getting used to, rebranding Red Hood in a way. Red Hood is not a murderer. He kills really horrible people for the greater good. He targets people like Black Mask and Penguin by working his own circle to steal their business. He sabotages their work and steals their shipments. That part is always a bit fun. Red Hood patrols Crime Alley. He helps them. He is not a murderer.

He's still getting used to it but it's better than it was. Even if the blood on his hands burns from time to time.

This is kind of nice though, the ability to train Tim. He does miss that part a bit, training with someone. Training alone only does so much sometimes. Jason liked helping train the other younger Titans. It made him feel important and now he gets to train Tim. He'll never tell Dick, but it means a lot for him to ask for help here even if it's just because the Titans have been busy.

This is the last one for the night. Sam's been tracking this group of people who work for a pretty bad pimp in the city. She's gotten a couple of the women to turn and Barbara has put them into protective custody, immunity from any and all charges. It's not them they want anyway. It's the pimp and his right hand but when women stopped showing up, he got wind and went into hiding. So, did most of his men and women. Until tonight when Molly grabbed one of them on a camera in Gotham Heights. Sam has wasted no time in trailing him.

The second this guy sees Sam, he takes off like a bat out of hell and the only thing Sam can do is roll her eyes and go after him. They always run. T's like they really think running is going to work for them. Between the cardio and the grappling hook and the bike, why do they think they'll actually get away? They always run.

The guy thinks he's smarter and quicker. Well, maybe he's quicker but he is not smarter. Molly is tracking him through every traffic camera he hits while Sam stays a good distance behind him until the opportunity comes for her to get onto a rooftop and continue the chance that way. He's heading somwhere, it won't be toward his boss. There's no way he's that stupid but he is heading into the perfect spot for her to grab him.

Sam turns off and then jumps a few more buildings before ducking down into an alley. She walks to the very end and then waits a few seconds for the running footsteps to come closer. She grabs a knife from her belt and then just as he goes to run past, Sam grabs him, spinning him and pinning him against the alley wall.

Sam holds the knife to his neck and presses it into his skin, not enough to cause serious damage, just enough o let him bleed. Blood gets people talking quicker and she's tired and hungry.

"Where is he?" Sam demands.

The man gulps and the blade presses into his neck further, his breathing heavy and shallow. "I don't know who you're—"

"Your boss. Yes, you do. You're all in hiding but you came out and for what? Where he is?" Sam questions again, not in the mood to even let him think for a second he's smarter than her.

He looks at her with terror. Somehow, he wishes it were The Bat that grabbed him and ye he finds himself thankful it's not The Red Hood. The Bat won't kill him but Red Hood would make sure his death was painful if he really wanted to. Sam is not one to be messed with either. But his boss? That's just signing his death certificate.

Sam pulls the knife away, kneeing him in the stomach before she lands a punch to his face. She doesn't want to kill him. She read his record. Wrong crowd at sixteen. He was probably manipulated into this, too. He's a victim, too. But, he needs to give up his boss.

The man groans, sliding down the wall as he holds his jaw. "Fuck!"

"Tell me." Sam grits her teeth.

"He'll fucking kill me! I'd rather you just send me to Arkham or Blackgate! I'm not a fuckin' rat." The guy seethes but there's a quiver in his voice.

Sam rolls her eyes. "Yes, I'm aware he'll kill you."

"What the fu—"

"So tell me and give me a reason to make sure he doesn't." Sam offers. "You think I'm here to kill you? If I wanted you dead, I'd kill you myself. Tell me and we'll protect you." The offer is genuine even if it comes out snippy.

"I don't believe a damn thing you say." The man gives her a weak scoff and diverts his eyes to the street.

"That's a you problem then. I'm trying to help you while you help me." Sam offers. "It's a real offer."

"Immunity then." The man fires back without even thinking.

Sam scoffs. Does he not realize that the whole vigilante thing is still a crime? She can't promise that. "No. And I don't have the ability to promise that anyway. Work out with the DA. I can get into protective custody though if you give him up."

Barbara has Sam working this case involving some sort of ring with sex workers. It's definitely more than just some guy calling the shots and dividing up money. Missing women, bodies turning up, drugs, it all seems to lead back to him. Sam's argument was that half the people working under this guy are victims, too. Some of those people are given the opportunity to flip and if they do, they're given protection. Barbara said the DA isn't too happy about it and some of the civilians will probably be pissed but Sam doesn't care. Not all of them have to go down with the ship.

"Look, he's going to find out you were with me and he's going to think you flipped or you're thinking about it. You're a dead man the second you walk out of this alley if you don't help me and we both know it."

The man lets out a sigh. "Crime Alley." He finally caves. "I don't know exactly where. I heard there are only a few women who know and then his right hand, that's it."

Sam nods accepting the response. It's way better than nothing. "Thank you."

"You're really gonna help?"

"Yeah, of course." Sam gets to her feet.

"Why?"

Sam shrugs. "You're not the big problem here." Sam answers casually. "My advice though, take whatever punishment is dealt to you and serve it and then get out. There's a program. The commissioner will give you information about it if they decide to try you."

"Thank you." The guy nods.

"Mhm." Sam hums, pulling out her own zip ties before she zip ties his hands together but before she gets Molly to call Barbara, Molly comes in through the comms.

"Hey, I've got Dick on the other line, you wanna take it?" Molly asks.

"Yeah, actually, I'm done here. Let the commissioner know he flipped and I got info on him so he's good." Sam answers.

"Got it." Molly answers before she patches Dick in.

"I need your help with something." Dick starts without wasting a single second.

Sam's brows pull together. "Uh, hello to you, too?" She questions as she gets back to her feet. "The fuck do you need my help with? I do not want to go to Metropolis." Sam lets out a chuckle before she looks out onto the street and then backs back into the alley.

"Superman?!" The guy on the ground yells.

"No, Nightwing." Sam scoffs. "Shut up. You're done talking."

"Are you on a job right now?" Dick almost yells and at this point, he expects nothing less.

"Oh, yeah, just wrapping up." Sam's voice is almost cheery on the other end.

"Okay..." Dick holds the bridge of his nose, not even wanting to unpack that. "I need you to help train Tim."

Sam cackles on the other end. "Okay, hold on, let me wrap this up. This shit needs my attention." Sam laughs looking back to the guy. "Alright they'll be here in a few to arrest you but I gotta head out so...sorry about this." Sam pulls her fist back, punching the guy and knocking him unconscious. "Anyway," Sam starts before she shoots her grappling hook at the roof and starts her jumping and walking to her bike. "You need me to do what now?"

"I need you to help train Tim to be Robin." Dick repeats.

"Is that not your job?" Sam quips back with a laugh.

Dick sighs, seeing as he is clearly going to have the same conversation twice. "We've been busy."

"Yeah, Gar and Tim said something about Zombie Deathstroke. Sounds fucking insane. Glad I'm not there." Sam laughs before jumping onto a neighboring rooftop. "Wait, okay hold on." Sam shakes her head. "You're gonna send Tim here?"

"Yes. On a fake mission to build confidence." Since he's already had this conversation, Dick knows exactly what to cut out and include in his response to get this conversation over quickly.

"Uh-huh." Sam nods, getting the feeling there's a bit more to this than Dick is leading on. "Right, yeah, got it. Fair enough, I guess. And why are you asking me?" Sam asks knowing Jason is right there in Gotham City as well.

"You're good at this, you're the newest member besides Conner but well..."

"Superboy." Sam finishes. "Unfair fight."

"Exactly. You also have your combat clairvoyance. Jason always said you were a good sparring partner because you fit." Dick's voice is casual and simple, Sam knows there's something he is not telling her. He's nicer than he was before. The stick is no longer up his ass, but he's being too nice.

"Yeah, he did." Sam rolls her shoulders before jumping to the next rooftop. "And uh, why are you not asking Jason?" Sam asks before it goes completely silent. And she knows immediately. "Oh, you did." Sam states.

"I did." Dick answers simply.

Of course, Dick asked Jason first. Sam isn't offended or hurt by it. Asking Jason to train Tim is smart. But, not immediately telling her means one of two things. Either Jason said yes and Dick is setting them up which makes Sam want to jump off this rooftop or Jason said no and Dick just wasn't going to tell her. Unfortunately, Sam is betting on the first option just because she knows Jason wouldn't send Tim to the wolves.

"And he said yes, didn't he?" Sam's voice is a little snippy this time.

"He did." Dick keeps his voice level, unsure if Sam is going to start yelling or not.

"And he said yes, didn't he?"

"He did."

"Okay so you're asking me to help Jason train Tim but Jason doesn't know you're asking me and you weren't going to tell me but because I asked you were obligated not to lie to me in fear I'd be pissed off enough to walk out and so would Jason?"

"When you put it that way." Dick states. "Look, I know it's complicated right now." Dick tries to reason with her.

"We're not fucking talking, Dick like..." Sam lets out a breath. "He probably doesn't want to see me, ya know?" Sam nearly whines at the thought because she really believes it.

She hurt him.

"I know but this is for Tim." Dick urges.

Sam might be giving Dick a hard time but they both know she'll agree. Not only is Dick asking for a favor but it's also Tim. Sam would never not help Tim especially with everything that's happened. She owes Dick and Tim for everything. But, that doesn't make the situation any easier for her.

"Jason is gonna be pissed if he finds out, ya know?" Sam asks.

"Yeah." Dick answers. "Tim will get the best training from the both of you though."

"Yeah." Sam rolls her eyes. "Fine. Yeah, I'll help and I won't tell Jason. Just when and where?"

"Tomorrow, I'll text you the rest." Dick answers. "Thank you."

"Mhm." Sam hums.

Dick feels bad for them. They've both been through a lot individually and together. It's two of the things that brought them together in the first place. They always seemed to make each other happy and they actually seemed really good for each other. Dick knows first hand it's not easy and it is always complicated. It's always going to be painful trying to work out the romance department while being a vigilante. It's why it didn't work with him and Barbara. It's why it didn't work with him and Dawn. It's not easy. But, he feels bad for them. It feels like they weren't given a chance.

"Talk to him, Sam." Dick states carefully.

Sam groans. "You're not giving me a fucking choice are you, Dickolas?"

"You know what I mean." Dick says right back.

While Sam appreciates the sentiment, she is not taking dating advice from Dick Grayson. As far as Sam knows, Dick's been in love with Kory for almost a year, at least and he has not said a single word to her about it. At least she told Jason. The way Sam sees it, Dick should be taking dating advice from her.

"You tell Kory how you feel about her and I'll have a conversation with Jason." Sam offers in a higher-pitched voice, offering a bit of bite in her words.

"Okay no—"

"Yes." Sam quips back. "Don't give me advice if you're not going to take the same advice." Sam jumps to the last rooftop. "She feels the same way anyway." Sam mutters softly.

"Alright, thank you, Sam." Dick cuts her off. "Talk to him. Tim won't know you're helping him."

"Gathered. Just let me know. I know to keep my mouth shut. I got it." Sam assures him.

"Thank you."

"You owe me." Sam laughs softly on the other end before ending the call.

After the run in earlier tonight, she wasn't sure when she'd want to see Jason again. At first, she thought about it all the time. Maybe they'd run into each other just as they did earlier and he'd make some quip about her being in his territory and she'd make fun of him for needing her help. Something would click and they'd be back to normal and it would feel good. The void in her chest will fill again and it will be normal. But that's not what happened because more time passed and she thinks about how maybe he's mad at her. He should be mad at her still. The more time that passed, the more she convinced herself it was what she deserved. So, she keeps her distance on purpose from him. Maybe that's her penance.

But now, she has to face him.

So, she heads back to the apartment to mentally prepare. Jason Todd is still the Jason she always loved and she has to act like she is fine. She has to act like it is not eating her away inside to think about him. Everything has been going okay and she is finding herself in this city. She thinks her feet are starting to land on solid ground for once. But, the thought of seeing Jason makes her feel like the earth is being pulled from under her feet. It's the one thing she has deliberately not dealt with. So, she knows she has to act like it's all normal. If she's going to be able to do this with him, it has to feel normal. She has to feel normal otherwise it'll be sad and awkward and painful. Maybe he won't want her help anyway. But, she tries.

In no way did she expect her first time speaking to Jason again would be because Dick asked for help. But, it looks like that's exactly what's going to happen. And maybe her bones are starting to vibrate with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. She might feel guilty and she might be worried but she misses seeing him. She misses the way his voice sounds. She misses him more than words could ever describe.

Maybe she hopes he misses her, too even if she doesn't deserve it.

Maybe as the night goes on and she gets ready for bed and tells Molly about it, maybe she can't wait to see him.