Jason sat on the edge of the nearby building, staring at the
dark city. He didn't know what to think, or do. Occasionally he looked back at the black charred building that was once his home, wondering if he would ever go back.

He wasn't sure if Night Dragon had left, Jason hoped so. If he hadn't been so eager to get into this vigilante business, his parents would still be alive. All he wanted was to get out of everything related to that girl, whoever she was.

The moon was no where to be seen in the sky, so everything was darker then usual. It fit the feeling in his heart. Dark, cold, and eerily still. He wiped the tears off his face with the palms of his hands. The last calls of his parents rung in his mind, replaying repeatedly.

"Go Jason!"
"We love you, that's why you need go."
"You need to get out of here!"

"How you holding up?" The Night Dragon sat next to him.

"Worse then you," Jason snapped, "how can you feel this way after two people died!?"

"Not everyone can be saved," she replied.

"You've never lost your parents!" Jason shouted, not really holding back his anger, "or anyone close to you!"

"Wrong."

"I don't care," Jason looked away, "this is your fault."

"You need to calm down Jason."

"If you hadn't come into this mess!" Jason hissed, "my parents would have never been targeted!"

"They weren't the target," Night Dragon said, narrowing her brown eyes, "you were."

"I'd rather it be me than them," Jason shut his eyes, flames still danced there when he closed them.

"They wanted you to live."

"I didn't want them to die!"

"You couldn't do anything," she shook her head.

"Will you tell me your identity now?" Jason pressed, trying to distract himself.

"No."

"But-"

"No."

"Tell me about your mentor."

"N-" she paused then sighed, "he's dead so I guess it won't matter."

"So yes for once?" Jason stared at the few stars shining in the city.

"Yes," she stared, staring off into the distance, "I met Skull when I was younger, 12 years old. I was alone, I ran away from home. My parents weren't the best...at being parents. He was 16 when I met him. Skull was so bold, brave, and wanting to make this city a better place. He saw something in me, something no one else ever had. Potential. For a year, Skull trained me, every skill, every art of fighting. I was a sidekick to someone who was so close to my heart. He was the older brother I never had. Eventually it turned into something more, but we both set it aside. There was this case that kept showing up, fires. They became so frequent we knew someone or thing was causing it. But one thing distracted us from that thing we needed to do more. That thing was love. We discovered the pyromaniac who was setting all the fires, The Incinerator was his street name. I-I wasn't ready, he was injured from a fire. The two of us trapped him in a freezing cold warehouse. Somehow, The Incinerator knew we would do it. He managed to get Skull and I separated. Trapping himself in one of the ice rooms with Skull. I watched as Skull put up one last fight, managing to get Incinerator pinned up in a corner. Skull's scythe was pointed at him, ready to finish the job. A blast of fire hit him in the chest, causing him to fly backwards in an explosion. Afterwards, I managed to get into the room, picking the lock with my sai. When I got in there, only Skull's scythe was left, the rest was gone, disintegrated. That's it, from there was my story."

She had the only look of emotion Jason had ever seen on her. It was remembrance, and that twang of loss Jason was feeling. He felt the need to give her a hug, but he felt the gesture wouldn't be appreciated.

"You lost your parents," she said, her face going back to emotionless, "it's something you can recover from, but you have to want to do more."

He preferred her when she wasn't emotionless and shut everyone out. Jason wanted to cry in someone's shoulder, but he didn't know who's he should cry into. Brian would probably start sobbing with him. Alina...she might be able to comfort him. Plus if she was there he would know she wasn't Night Dragon.

"I'm going to go see my friend," Jason stood up, "goodbye Night Dragon."

"Farewell," she said, already gone from where he just saw her.

"I...might see you again," he walked away, "might."

Jason had no idea where she lived. Alina had given him her address, but it most likely was burnt in the fire. His other options were to go to Brian's, or search his old house. He felt the need to check if his parents were still alive, even if he knew they probably weren't.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

He could barely recognize his old home. Everything was scorched beyond recognition or had yellow police tape wrapped around it. Jason took the stairs up to his apartment, dodging rubble or climbing over it. The scent of smoke still lingered, reviving memories of the night before.

After Night Dragon landed on the roof with him, he collapsed. Grief, hopelessness, and exhaustion took over him as Jason passed out. He didn't awake until the next night. For a moment that morning, he forgot everything, that happened but he quickly remembered.

Jason pushed rubble out of the way, searching for any remains. He pushed again on his parent's bedroom door, yet it was still jammed. Another wave of mourning passed over him, but he shook his head.

"I've cried enough," Jason muttered to himself, "it's time to do something."

He went into his room, kicking stones off the burnt wood floor. Another nostalgia feeling washed over him, but it felt...different. A sudden urge tugged at his mind as he opened his closet. Every clothing item in it was disintegrated or badly burned.

Jason didn't exactly know why he was looking in the closet. Nothing of importance was in there. His eyes glanced at the back of his closet. A small, almost impossible to see, gray button was sticking an inch out. He slowly reached out and pushed it.