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It had been quite the eventful night for Jason. When he had agreed to cover for the big man, he was expecting a low key kind of night. Not a run in with the Riddler, Penguin, and Scarecrow. It was like they all heard Red Hood would be working and decided to band together to give him a hard time.
Jason had finally managed to get a moment to himself to take a breather, and grab a snack from the twenty-four-hour bodega on fifth street. He was seated on the edge of a rooftop, enjoying his sandwich, his helmet set down beside him.
Surveying the street below from behind his domino mask, Jason can’t help but notice a hooded figure keeping to the shadows and walking down the street. The figure wasn’t doing anything wrong per say, but something about their posture and gait had Jason’s gaze fixed on them. The figure looked suspicious, and the hoodie looked familiar.
Groaning, Jason shoved the end of his sandwich in his mouth, and pulled his helmet on. He stood on the ledge, and leaned over, free falling off the building for a moment before sending out a grappling hook. He swung to land directly into the hooded figure’s path. The lurker released a squeak in surprise.
“And what, pray tell, are you doing out?” Jason drawls knowingly, crossing his muscled arms across his chest and spreading his feet shoulder width apart. He tilts his head as he waits for an answer from the individual.
Jason’s baby sister slowly removes the hood from her head, clearing her throat and throwing her brother a sheepish look.
“Red Hood, hello.” She greets trying her best to act natural, and not like she was out wandering god knows where in Gotham streets at one in the morning. Way past her curfew. If Bruce found out, she was dead meat walking. Jason smirks beneath his helmet.
“Hello, young civilian.” he humors his sister’s greeting. “Wanna tell me what you’re up to?” Jason asks again, his voice full of laughter, and a hint of concern.
“Not particularly.” responds his sister, pursing her lips and looking up to the sky. She shifts back and forth on her feet anxiously.
Jason hums in response to her answer, growing more entertained by the second. “If you can’t explain what you are doing in the bad part of town at one in the morning, I am going to be forced to choose between two decisions.” Jason holds up two gloved fingers to emphasize his point. “One, I can either call the big bad Bat, let him know you’re out here for him to find, or two, I will follow you around until you decide to go home.” Jason is not even fighting the full blown out smile he is sporting underneath the hood, unable to keep it from his voice. He watches in amusement as his sister’s shoulders sag, understanding her defeat.
“I’ll just go home now.” Jason’s little sister grumbles, and he laughs at her.
“Aw come on, you can’t tell me what you are doing out and about? I am dying to know!” Jason pushes teasingly, he can tell his sister doesn’t want to talk about it, but if he were to let her off the hook so easily he wouldn’t have grilled her to begin with. Jason’s sister releases another bone weary sigh.
“I was just out with a friend.” she reluctantly responds, avoiding Jason’s eyes. There is more to the story it seems. Jason enters Older Brother Detective Mode, scanning his little sister for any clues. He takes note of her ruffled attire, her puffy eyes, lips especially swollen and red even for the Gotham night chill. Jason trails his eyes down to stare at her neck, and…yep.
Just as predicted, there was a fresh mark there glaring back at him.
“Not just any friend, huh?” Jason asks, knowing the answer. He felt his blood begin to boil in agitation. “The little shit couldn’t even walk you home? He just left you to wander the streets of Gotham in the middle of the night?” Jason was full on growling in frustration now. his little sister looks away from Jason’s growing agitated state sheepishly, and he releases more of his anger onto her.
“I thought we taught you to be smarter than that.” He scolds. His sister says nothing in response. Jason opens his mouth to continue berating her for her stupid decisions when he pauses, noticing the unshed tears in his little sister’s eyes. He curses softly, relaxing his shoulders and taking a few deep breaths to release some of his anger. His sister didn’t need that from him right now. Jason releases a frustrated grunt before speaking.
“Did he hurt you?” he asks quietly, afraid of the answer. His little sister shakes her head animatedly.
“No.” She chokes out, lifting her sleeved hand to wipe away some of her cold tears. “Nothing like that. I just was expecting it to be a different experience than it was.” She confesses, a soft sob escaping with her words. Jason sighs heavily, understanding forming a lump in his throat. “It was nothing like the books I read, or the movies.” she continues sadly.
It takes Jason a moment to collect his thoughts, and swallow down some of the lump in his throat before he responds.
“I’m sorry.” he says hoarsely, pulling her into a quick hug before releasing her. He was still in uniform, and it was dangerous for his sister if any baddies saw Jason caring for her. “Let me take you home.” he says gently.
“Okay.” his little sister says in a soft voice, wrapping her arms around Jason so he could grapple them out of the street and back to the manor for some much needed comfort.