Red Hood: The Lost Days

Chapter 28 - Necessary Evil

"For most people, its history now.

But for me, whenever I close my eyes, it all comes back clearly." - UNKNOWN

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Third POV

4 months later, February 2013

Prague, Czechoslovakia, 2:18 pm

The National Theatre is a neo-Renaissance building and a national monument of Czech history and art. It is located in Prague, the capital of the Czechoslovak Republic.

As the Iron Curtain fell during the early 90s, the Czechs and Slovaks remained united as one country, which was a good move, because today they are one of the best European countries according to statistics.

Because of their continued unification, in the last 30 years they had many significant events, such as winning the European Football Championship in 2004, entering the EU in 2000, NATO in 1995 and holding the UN meeting in Prague in 1998 when the war in Kosovo broke out.

Today, the country has advanced so much in industry and economy that last year (2012) it became the eighth member of the G7, which today is called the G8 (or G9 counting plus the Russian Federation).

Right now in Prague, in front of the National Theatre are Shiva and Y/N.

They've been invited by the close associate of Shiva to attend the Orchestra's night of ballet. Well, that's what shiva told Y/N.

They both were wearing appropriate clothes for the event. Shiva wore a long sleeved red jacket with black top underneath, a short brown dress and red heels

Unlike her, Y/N wore the basics: a black tux and black pants.

This was his second time ever wearing the suit, first time being when Bruce took him as his ward.

Y/N hated wearing suits. To him, only rich people wore them to the galas to talk about their rich stuff while people like him were freezing from the cold on the streets.

Knowing this, Shiva did not force him to wear anything fancy and also to not attract any attention from the bat. Y/N also told her that Alfred occasionally watches the orchestra on TV.

They arrived by limousine driven by Rip. He has dropped them at the entrance for VIPs.

Entering the theatre, Y/N could immediately sense something was off with the place. Golden colour dominated the architecture of the building, with floor and gaps on the columns filled with red coloured carpets and tiles.

Y/N was already familiar with golden walls of Wayne Ballroom, but red was typical European style which in Europe was related as a war colour. The colour of blood.

Before Y/N can throw any remark at the place, both of them come to a stop when an old lady walks over to them and greets them. She was about 5"7 in height and had a white bob hair. Shiva tells Y/N she is the owner of the Theatre and oddly, she was only referred to as Mother.

While they were talking, Y/N sensed another thing. Being trained by Batman, he adopted the technique of knowing when you're being watched. Y/N turned to Shiva and studied her.

By holding her body, he found out that she too knew they were being watched, but she tolerated it. Like she knew that would be the case when they arrived. She had a secret and she was keeping it from him.

Turning back his glance at the mother, he noticed that she already knew that both of them realised they were being watched by someone. Even more suspicious considering she was just an old lady which now she definitely wasn't.

Later, both Shiva and Y/N were seated in their lodge, awaiting for the first act to start. But Y/N wasn't interested in the ballet at all so no wonder he didn't hesitate to confront Shiva about the true reason they were here.

Shiva: "I thought you would be interested in this kind of stuff considering that you are into literature."

She calmly stated to her student.

Y/N: "I'm not because there are many variants of the one story turned to theatre that it ruins the true meaning of the plot. Most times used as propaganda material."

Y/N says, a bit of annoyance in his voice to his master.

Y/N: "This trip to Prague wasn't actually a gift by "friend" of yours to enjoy the event, was it? And Mother isn't just an ordinary lady, is she?"

He asks as he crosses his arms on his chest while Shiva gives him a side eye.

Shiva: "You're correct in both ways."

She replies as Y/N is a bit shocked but he hides it. Shiva then explains to him who Mother really is.

Mother was one of only survivors of Gardevia, a small principality on the border of Czechoslovakia and Hungary. It was Switzerland of eastern europe, because it didn't choose a side in time of great divides. That was until the Soviets occupied it because of their statement that a western spies were hiding there.

Citizens of Gardevia were tolerated when Soviets entered the state, well, until an incident of one of the Soviets soldiers choking to death. The Soviets, thinking that he was being poisoned, opened fire on the civilians, which started the Red Spring of 1956.

Mother was just a young girl when that happened. She witnessed as her parents, friends and neighbours were massacred on the spot. That day,she changed, although she did not understand the change.

Something inside of her broke. Watching the bullets tear through the bodies of her parents, it was as if the third bullet tore through her mind as well. Her life was over. She could feel nothing. She was blank. Empty.

That night she would kill several soldiers as she stood on the bodies of many dead civilians.

It wasn't the girl from before. It wasn't a child trapped in a life of fear and responsibility. It was a blank canvas. Horrible and white, ready to paint a new story. Her own story. Not shaped by the world but by her own will. Her own fury.

She then started killing the parents of many children in a nearby town. She told the children she was freeing them. Like she was free. Making it so they could become anything they possibly want.

As she killed their parents in front of them, she said she would make certain they had that chance. That she would be their Mother now.

Realisation dawn at Y/N that moment. Mother was a human trafficker who moulded young children into her ideal image, orchestrating tragedies within her victims' lives to traumatise them, so she could take them under her wing and train them into her soldiers.

Shiva: "I know what you are thinking and I know what are you gonna do."

Shiva responds all sudden, taking Y/N aback by the comment.

Y/N: "But - -"

Shiva: "NO Y/N! No!...We came here only to watch, not to kill. Be civilised men."

Shiva yells at him. Y/N shuts his mouth as he leans into his seat with head lowered.

Y/N: "Yes, master."

He responds apologetically. Shiva sees how his posture has instaly changed. From angry and eager to quiet and guilty. She mentally slaps herself, while physically she sighs.

Shiva: "Y/N, you need to control yourself and not go after every person who has done a sin. I mean, everyone has, some worse than others."

She starts as she turns towards Y/N.

Shiva: "The league also considers Mother as one of their enemies, but she is so far stretched that it's impossible to remove her from the map. Maybe she is the head of her organisation but she isnt the one who's doing the dirty work. Her's right hand man and her favourite child is the one behind all those murders."

Y/N brings his head up and turns to her.

Y/N: "Who?"

He asks as Shiva places a hand on his shoulder.

Shiva: "Do you remember when I told you how I became Lady Shiva?"

Y/N eyes widen in shock.

While they were with the All Caste, considering that Y/N had told her the story of how he went from being a street rat to becoming the 2nd boy wonder, it was only fair for her to tell him her life story.

Lady Shiva's original name was Sandra Wu-San and she had a sister Carolyn. Sandra and her sister grew up in Gotham. They practised martial arts constantly in a local bar, and people would travel to watch them spar together.

The former member of League of Assassins and current right hand man of Mother, , observed them, and noticed that Sandra was holding back out of love for her older sister.

Cain brutally murdered Carolyn and left her body for Sandra to discover. This allowed Sandra to explore her true potential. Sandra sought out David Cain looking for revenge and tried to kill him. The defeated her, but she forgave Cain when she realised that he had set her free. That was the moment when Sandra died and Shiva was born.

Cain allowed Sandra to live if he would bear her a child. But there was a problem. She unexpectedly was pregnant with the child of one of her close friends. It probably happened when both of them were drunk at her birthday party. And worse, her friend already had a girlfriend who was Sandra's best friend.

So when the baby arrived, Cain commanded to kill the baby because it was unperfected, but the last of what remained of Sandra decided against such a thing and instead she gave the baby to her best friend to be with his father.

She left as her best friend holded the tiny baby in her arms at the doorway. That was the last time she ever saw the baby or her best friend ever again. She believes they are both dead because Gotham was unkind to poor people like them.

After she bore the baby Cain demanded for, she also had to give it away to be taken by David. After that she went to become the best fighter/martial artist in the world known as Lady Shiva.

And now, everything is pieced together. Both Mother and Cain were in the building. Both creating an army. And both plan to create a perfect vision of their world.

Before Y/N can respond, the light turns off and the shows begin. And with it, both forgot about the conversation.

It's easy to say that Y/N was bored by the event. He hides it pretty well, but nearly got caught when he nearly fell asleep.

But he noticed something about the show. More specifically, about the actresses on the stage.

To the bilnd eye, they moved as best trained ballerinas. But unless you are well trained in over 15 different martials arts, you would miss the fighting moves hidden in the dance.

Y/N realised that this is how Mother kept the low profile while also training the army of child soldiers. It reminded him of a certain circus boy who...

Y/N: "Stop. Don't go there."

Y/N thought to himself as he looked up from the stage. And would you know it, his detective instincts kicked in because now he felt the same presence he felt when they arrived here. Someone was watching them.

This time, he played it cool because he noticed that Shiva didn't realise that they're being watched as she was focusing on the ballet.

He scanned every inch of the place, this time eager to find his watcher.

When he scanned the highest part of the theatre, where a lightman would direct the lights onto the stage, right in the darkest part, the left corner of the floor, he saw two eyes directed at him. A small figure dressed in grey spying on him.

Just then, the first act ended and a 15 minute break began. Y/N used this opportunity to apologise to Lady Shiva as he told her that he needs to go use the bathroom.

When he was in the hallway and he was sure no one of the guests was looking up at him, he sprinted up the stairs and reached the final floor.

When he opened the doors, he immediately turned towards the spot where he saw someone watching him. To his surprise, the spot was empty.

He walked over to inspect it. He notices the different texture on the wall. He pushes his hand out and touches the wall.

On touch, the part of the wall opens, revealing it to be a small entrance into a tunnel. With no hesitation, Y/N walks in.

Walls of the secret tunnel were dirty, filled with dust and webs. It looks like nobody cleaned them in years. Well, of course they wouldn't. It's not like they knew about them.

He then spotted the sun rays a couple meters ahead of him. It looks like there's an opening. He slowly walks to it, the hole is about his height. He leans against the wall and peaks out and his eyes widen in shock.

What he just came upon was an underground building which had mediaeval architecture. It reminded him of a certain underground place in Gotham, but less old style.

Inside of the room there were different kinds of flying robots. They were talking about some "training routine" lines for some reason. He leaned even more - - his heart nearly stoped by what he saw.

The Children. A lot of them. All placed in 7 rows by 14 per row, practising fighting techniques how robots explained it to them.

Realisation hits Y/N like a fast moving train. He just found Mother's secret base. He couldn't believe his luck.

If his luck wasn't going to get any better, then his "unluck" will as someone's finger touches his back...wait, the fuck!!?

Y/N quickly turns to defend himself, but as quickly he does, he is as quickly pushed into a wall in sitting position, with hand placed on his mouth as it quiets his noise.

Y/N has a good view of the stranger. It's a girl with short black hair of asian appearance wearing a grey suit, around his age probably and definitely shorter than him, maybe 4"0" feet or 143 cm.

What stood out the most was multiple scars on her face and body. There were 4 scars on her face: one slicing right eyebrow, 2nd on the lips, 3rd one on the nose and last one on her left cheek. Something both had in common.

He could take her on easily if not when he saw her blank face, drained out from any emotion. He can feel how her two brown eyes are piercing through him as she puts her finger next to her lips, signalling to be quiet.. Like she is...reading him.

Y/N realising that she is reading his body movement, immediately relaxes under her grip. To prove his point, the girl removes her hand off his mouth and backs away from him.

Y/N massages his left hand as he moves a little to sit more comfortably.

Y/N: "She has a strong grip."

He notes to himself as he turns to her with a raised brow.

Y/N: "You were the one spying on us, right?"

He asks her, but she doesn't answer,as she just nods with her head. Y/N raises his 2nd brow at that.

Y/N: "You can't speak? Are you mute?"

He wonders as she nods again, but then moves her hands in front of her and waves with them in - - ASL! American sign language, Y/N recognizes it. It was one part of his Robin training. "My father didn't allow me to talk" was what she spelled out.

Y/N: "What is your name?"

He signed back because he is sure she doesn't know a lot of the hole dictionary, considering her father didn't teach her to speak.

???: "Cassandra Cain."

Y/N: "Oh...shit."

He cursed to himself. This made also a lot of sense actually, considering he was traumatising children, why the hell not traumatise his own!

Y/N: "Why...why did you bring me down here?"

Cassandra: "To, show, something, you."

Y/N noticed even with knowing how to sign, she couldn't make a full sentence.

Y/N: "What?"

This time Y/N whispered as he was curious now.

Cassandra: "Come, later. Show, then."

She spelled it out and turned to walk away. When Y/N tried to stop her, she was gone when he got up.

But, she was right. The 2nd act was starting soon and he needed to get back before Shiva got suspicious. Without thinking twice, he sprinted back into the tunnel.

LATER...

He opened the wall and entered the tunnel he found earlier. While the 2nd act was playing, Shiva nearly caught him because his suit was a little bit dusty.

He said that bathrooms were covered in dust because of renovation. Shiva bought it because that was true. Y/N checked the bathrooms before he returned. His luck was really high tonight, he thought.

When he arrived at the meeting spot, Cassandra wasn't anywhere to be found.

But he did find a piece of paper. On it was the map of the compound's tunnel system. He guessed she used them often. Also on it, a red circle was drawn, showing where to go. So he headed there.

On his way, there were even more dustier spots, making bathrooms look like a joke. But he didn't mind it. It wasn't anywhere close compared to the crime alley. Only con was that his suit is now completely ruined.

When he arrived, he could hear somebody talking in the room. Moving towards the vent, he peaked through it. It was a giant, spacy room. Or a hallway, he wasn't sure, with big renaissance styled windows.

In the room, there were four people. He could see Mother and Cassandra down there. Mother was talking to someone next to Cassandra.

He wore an all white suit with a katana on his back and a white mask with 2 big tubes going around his head. To the side he saw an black lady with short brown hair and wearing sunglasses on.

Mother: "- - plan didn't work. He nearly caughts us in Cairo. And far worse, he rejected our gift to him."

Mother spoke, anger noticeable in her voice to her companion.

Mother: "Unless you have something different in mind David, I will kill both you and your little pet."

She warned at - - David!? That's David Cain? If he spots him, he surely is in trouble.

Y/N: "Me and my luck."

Y/N sarcastically told himself as David started to talk. But the question still ponders, who did Mother talk about?

David: "Mother, I knew from the beginning that giving him the new sidekick was bad idea. He is still grieving and of course he would never break his code. If he didn't do it for his sidekick, he would never do it, never ever. He is too weak!"

David spoke. Why would they try to give someone one of their children if they plann - -

Y/N: "- -Those son ova bitches!

Y/N cursed as he nearly hit the wall which would alert the people he was spying on if he didn't hold himself back from lashing out. He just realised what they tried to do.

They tried to replace him! They tried to give a new Robin to Batman! Those motherfuckers! Give even more similar and traumatised kid to Bruce to become Robin!

Y/N: "I swear, if I had a gun right now, you would be dead already! You sick - -"

David: "But I think I have a solution for our bat friend. Cassandra please leave, go back to your "room"."

David ordered Cassandra, who without questioning, left the room. David turned back to Mother and kneeled.

David: "Mother, when Cassandra escaped when she first time ever killed a person, apparently, she came upon Batman and informed him about our plans. I'm sorry, Mother. I didn't know that when I had recaptured her."

He admitted. Y/N was surprised by this. Did Cassandra know who he was? He expected Mother to be even angrier, but surprisingly, she was very calm.

Mother: "That would explain how he knew that kid in Cairo would already be ours...I always respected honesty, David, but there's more to it, isn't it?."

David: "Yes Mother. I saw her escaping on the cameras and being gone for a few hours before returning. I believe she was delivering him information. But I think that's how we can lure him to us."

He stood back up as he explained.

Mother: "Go on."

David: "I'm 100% sure that Cassandra is going to deliver him the info about our project Ichthys. So why don't we use it on her instead."

He suggested. Y/N wondered what was project Icht...?!Ichthyornis!? was about.

Mother: "I thought you hated that project. That you rather use the old ways? Isn't that why you trained her?"

David: "I still do, Mother. But like you said: "We must adapt or perish". So we should use improved scarecrow gas on her."

Y/N: "Scarecrow was involved too?"

Y/N asked as he was shocked that one of batmans rogues would helped these sick people. But he shouldn't be surprised. They were all sick as them. They should be killed too.

David: "When Batman arrives, he will have no other choice, but to fight her and she will have no other choice but to obey you, Mother. She will kill him."

He finished as Mother smirked at him.

Mother: "I was right to choose you as my favourite child."

She caressed his cheek before turning and walking towards the exit.

Mother: "Do what you must. And don't disappoint me this time."

As David and a lady in the room also start to leave, in the vent, Y/N's teeth were clenching, his hands curled into fists. He was fuming. Anger radiating from him.

Y/N: "FUCK!"

He yelled out loud, punching his fists into the wall, creating a dent into a metal. He didn't realise it, but tears were building up in his eyes.

Y/N: "Why should I care? He didn't avenge me. Why should I feel angry about someone trying to hurt him?"

He murmured to himself. He sat down, his back leaning against the wall, while he put his face into his face. He sighs.

Y/N: "Did you hear all of it?"

He asked as he removed his hands away and turned towards Cassandra, who was standing next to him. He could see surprise written on her face. First emotion that he saw her showing.

Y/N: "You were trained well, but you could never sneak on a person trained by the bat twice."

He told her as he again sighed.

Cassandra: "You, Robin."

She signed which shocked him.

Y/N: "... Yes. How did you - -"

Cassandra: "Your, anger, same, batman."

She tells him which confuses him. Did she just say "Like father, like a son"? He nearly puked, but he didn't know why he felt like that.

Y/N: "What do you mean by same anger like him?"

Cassandra: "Same, anger, through,him, like, you.".

She spells out to him. Did Bruce get...more angrier after his death? Did he...was he really thinking about killing the Jo...no, he would never have the guts to do it. To kill the Joker. To avenge him.

Y/N: "You have that info about their project, don't you?"

He asked as she nodded, reaching into her cloth and taking out the USB with a bat symbol on it. Y/N looks at it for a moment.

Y/N: "...It was his idea to send you back here, wasn't it."

He asked. She responded by nodding with her again.

Y/N: "God dammit, Bruce!"

He cursed inside himself. He couldn't believe Bruce didn't learn the lesson of sending children out,the lesson of leading them into danger.

Using them as his little soldiers. Leading them to their deaths.

Y/N: "Okay then. I think you should go now and deliver the info t - -"

Y/N started but was stopped by Cassandra who grabbed one of his hands and placed the USB in his palm. Confusion was written all over Y/N's face.

Y/N: "Why would you...give it to me?"

He wondered as he stared at the child assassin.

Cassandra: "We, them, thinking, got, us."

She told him and he knew she was right. It was the only way to get an advantage over them.

Cassandra: "You, brought, this, Batman."

But he really didn't want to face him now. To prove him he was wrong. To prove that he will never stop.

Cassandra: "Save, children."

She reminds of the children he saw earlier. He wanted to help them, like he helped the ones in Germany. But was it worth it?

Batman would only put them away. And they would escaping and still use the kids as their army. Unless...

Y/N: "...Okay, this isnt the reunion I wanted with him, but for sake of the children."

He tells her at which she makes a small smile. First time he saw a girl, who was trained to be a killer, making a smile.

With that, she left as quick as she waved at him, sure he would do his part as she would hers. But the thing was, he lied to her. And he was surprised she didn't catch it. It seems her... wanting to do good, to see...

Y/N: "She wants people to be better..."

He said weakly to himself. She really started to remind him of...Batman...

Did her time with Batman, no matter how long, really had that much of an effect on her to be blind in the same way Batman was about killing criminals?

Then, another realisation dawned on him.

Cassandra would follow or will be following the same path as Batman does and she would do it without hesitation or disobeying it...

He knew that Bruce would never take him back after what he has done, but her, he would take her in because...she was perfect.

Perfect. Such a small word and he will never be it. He will never be perfect. Not to Batman's eyes. Not to his mothers eyes. Not to anyone.

To them, he wasn't perfect, like the golden boy. To them, he was a failure.

A STREET RAT.

WORTHLESS.

PATHETIC.

REPLACEABLE.

ZOMBIE.

CRIMINAL.

BETTER OF DEAD!

Y/N: "NO! NOT NOW!"

Y/N yells, breathing heavily as he gets up and starts to run into a tunnel.

LATER, OUTSIDE THE THEATRE

Rip was just a driver. He drove and brought Shiva and Y/N to the theatre as asked. He was sitting in the limousine as he awaited for the show to end.

He was reading the newspaper which had "Wonder Woman: A Friend or an Enemy?!" written on the front page. As he turned the page, a backdoor opens.

Rip turns his gaze to the rearview mirror and sees Y/N entering the vehicle and closing the door. He noticed how dusty and sporky his suit looked.

And Y/N had a dark look on his face, with hints of imminent regret written on it. He knew that Y/N was going to do something.

Y/N: "Rip, how many explosives do we have hidden in this limousine and in a trunk?"

Y/N asked as he returned the stare through the rearview mirror.

Rip: "How many do you need?"

Rip was just a driver. But he also was an expert mercenary.

LATER, UNDERGROUND COMPOUND

The show had ended and people were leaving satisfied with the performance. With that, Mother made her away to the compound below. She awaited in the hallway for her favourite child to arrive.

Next to her, black lady from before was holding a suitcase. What was in the suitcase? Inside was one dosage of new and improved scarecrow gas, ready to be tested.

Just then, David arrived, with Cassandra following behind him.

David: "Is the chemical ready?"

He asked. On command, the lady holding the suitcase lowered it on the ground and opened it, revealing the gas inside the glass bottle. Unlike the original fear toxin which was green, this one was a dark bluish colour. David smiled.

Mother: "If the plan fails, I made a contingency plan for you, my child."

She said as David turned to her.

David: "What must I do, Mother?"

He asked as he kneeled in front of her.

Mother: "Go. Kill the children."

She smiled evilly, while David smirked darkly. With a nod, he got up and proceeded to walk away until...

KA KA-BOOOM!!!

OUTSIDE

Multiple fires were raging into the night while firemen were trying to put them out. People were screaming, running, being treated by medics or helped to get out of the rubble while some were filming the scenes on their phones.

News reporters were reporting about the incident to multiple different channels. All saying their theories of what may have caused the fire to start, but all of them had one thing in common: There were zero casualties.

While police were trying to make the order in the street, Y/N was casually walking in the crowd, so he wouldn't be spotted by policemen.

Finally walking up to his limousine, he could see Shiva waiting outside, definitely searching for him. He was dead for sure, but he didn't regret what he had done...mostly.

Y/N: "Shiva."

He said, getting her attention as she turned and looked at him and immediately ran towards him.

He was going to get a slap to the fac - -

Y/N: "Aack!"

He yelped when shockingly Shiva hugged him.

Shiva: "You stupid idot, I told you not to do it."

Her voice wasn't angry or offensive, but instead it was worryingly and...caring. He has seen the softer side of the most dangerous woman in the world, but never at this angle.

Y/N: "I...had to."

He replied weakly with a lowered head.

Shiva felt as he placed something into her hand. She pulled the hand to her face and saw a mini record player on it. She pressed it and - -

David: "Is the chemical ready?"

Mother: "If the plan fails, I made a contingency plan for you, my child."

David: "What must I do, Mother?"

Mother: "Go. Kill the children."

Audio stopped. Shiva turned to Y/N

Y/N: "Children are safe and are being transported to the UN Embassy right now."

He answered. Shiva sadly glanced at her student. And he knew what she was going to ask him.

Shiva: "And...her?"

He didn't respond to that and rather said - -

Y/N: "Can we go?"

He didn't even face her as she sighed.

Shiva: "Of course..."

She led him inside the limousine. When she closed the doors, Rip drove them away from the theatre.

Once a Theatre famous for its history, turned into a training facility for traumatised and orphaned children, was now nothing more than a rubble.

But this day will forever scar Y/N, more than the crowbar did, because this was the day of his biggest regret.

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Words: (5329)

Long time no see?

Well this wasnt how I imagined my summer to go.

From my grandpa passing away to very tiredly and busy summer pratice job for a month.

Anyway, I'm back and that counts!

I'll try to write last chapter of this arc so we can go to the present timeline where shit needs to go down!

And also

Ahem

About this chapter

Ones who know, they know

Bye!