-Athena's POV-

Red Hood dropped down, his eyes meeting the stolen truck. He laughed and looked around. I stepped out of the shadows as his gaze shifted.

"I'm impressed," He smirked, "You managed to steal the cargo before I could. Now tell me, how did you manage that? I'm awfully curious." He stepped forward, but I drew my pistols and aimed them at him. He stopped in his tracks, raising his arms in the air mockingly.

"It's like you said. If I stop to listen, I can hear how loud you're being." I strode away from the wall and stood a few paces in front of him. 

His helmet tilted down as he glanced at my shoulders. "Look like you healed quite quickly. I bet Batman gives the best medical treatment available," Red Hood dropped his arms to his side. His fingers slowly inched towards his knife. I kept one gun pointed at his face as I pointed the other at his hand.

"I lost a lot of  blood on the drive home, you mother fucker. It's hard to perform a good stitch job when both of your shoulders are torn open." I glared daggers into his chest. He crossed his arms and tilted his head.

His voice got serious. "You didn't call for backup?"

I drew my eyebrows close together in anger. "I told you I don't work with Batman anymore." I pressed my teeth together. 

Almost forgetting his general surprise, he returned back to being cocky. "Well, you look peachy keen. So well, in fact, that you managed to set up this little trap for me."

"Wasn't a trap," this time I smirked, "I just took some drug cargo and you came after it. Finders keepers, losers weepers."

"Seems I have groupie now. How long have you been following me?"

"Since you stabbed me."

The tension grew as we both stared at each other. His smirk still hadn't gone away, but I just continued to sneer at him. My fingers twitched on the triggers as his inched toward his weapon. A nearby clock chimed and we both sprung into action. I fired two shots, but he dodged them. Mid-flight, he threw two knives at me, but I rolled out of the way.

I got to my feet as Red Hood jumped up above me. I rolled again to avoid his foot. He turned around and came towards me again. He threw a punch, but I grabbed it in my hands and tossed him to the side. His weight put a slight strain on my shoulders, making me cringe.

He combat rolled toward me, grabbing my leg. I was pulled to the ground and he took his advantage. Red Hood climbed on top of me, holding my arms down with his thighs. He punched me across the face while he reached for his knife.

As he reached around, I squirmed under him, but he was too muscular. I bent my legs and brought my knees straight up into his back. He fell forward, launching his thighs off of me and his chest onto my face. I scooted out from under him and prepared to attack. Before I could pin him down, he swept out my feet again as he stumbled to his. 

I got to my feet and we both charged forward. His knuckles met my ribs as I kneed him in stomach. He was wearing more body armor than I was, but I still managed to injure him slightly. He cracked me against the face again, making my nose bleed. I shrugged it off and kicked out his knees. He fell to one knee, but quickly stood up.

This time, he signature blade was in his hand. It was an exact copy of the one he had shoved into my shoulder. I had taken his knife as a souvenir of sorts. It sat on my work table in my safe house. 

He slashed at me, tearing a part of my suit on my abdomen. I hit Red Hood's shoulder blades with the butts of my guns, but he grabbed my wrists and tossed my guns from my hands. Without weapons in hand, Red Hood cut me on my arm and across my cheek. 

He went for another attack, so I ducked underneath his arm and unsheathed my swords. Red Hood cracked his neck to both sides in a taunt. I jumped in the air, shocking him. I landed behind him, slashing both swords down his back. I managed to cut through his leather jacket and into his armor. The white fluff in the armor was revealed. 

He swung around, hitting me in the side of the head with his knife. I bit down hard on my tongue to avoid passing out. Feeling even angrier, I slashed at his legs. Apparently, he didn't have any leg protection. It cut through his pants and skin, revealing the red blood underneath. 

I pivoted to the side and away as Red Hood charged. I dropped my swords and pulled out Thalia's dagger. Measuring up my shot, I flung my dagger through the air. With the velocity and how thick the dagger was, it tore straight through his body armor. Lodging itself into the cargo truck, Red Hood was stuck like a thumbtack. 

I took a moment to catch my breath as I marched up to Red Hood. I could tell he was in pain and holding back his screams. Blood streamed down, streaking the white truck. Red Hood chuckled.

"You did...all that..." He panted between speaking as he sniffled, "...just to get...revenge?" Red Hood laughed again.

I got closer to him. Our faces were a mere inches apart. "No, that's not the only reason," I gripped the knife in my hand, "but it definitely is one of them." I jerked the knife down a few centimeters, making Red Hood scream. 

"Ha," he chuckled softly, "at least I gave you means of stopping the bleeding."

"I'm not the sympathetic type," I backed up and got down to business, "Tell me what your business is being in Gotham. I know you want to run the drug trade, that much is obvious. But what is your end goal? To take over Black Mask's territory and completely dominate Gotham's under world?"

Red Hood's white eyes looked up. He let out a loud, long laugh. "I could care less about the drug trade. Or about Black Mask for that matter."

"Then why are you here?" I stepped closer, "Tell me or I put a bullet through your other shoulder."

"No need for threats, Athena," Red Hood relaxed a little, allowing the knife to return to it's original position. "Despite what you think of me, I am not a criminal. I came to Gotham for the same reasons you did. I'm here to get rid of the bad guys.

"But, all the other heroes-- like Batman, Nightwing, Robin, and as I thought, you--all try to clean criminals without violence. You can't clean up the city without getting your hands dirty. 

"I am here to get rid of the worst of Gotham. Including the man I know you hate," Red Hood reached up and grasped the knife, "Joker will be smeared off the face of the Earth once I am finished." He ripped out the knife and yelled. 

I kept my ground and thought on his words. He wanted to kill Joker? My uncle? I knew that was what I wanted to. More than anything. And he was right. When I first arrived in Gotham, I thought the same things he did. I did the same things. 

Ever since I started to work seriously with the Bat family, my beliefs about how crime should be handled had been changed. I never wanted to lose sight of who I was, but I had changed. I had stopped dealing my own justice and instead went with what Bruce thought was right.

But, I believed in what Red Hood believed in. I did. 

"I am joining you," I established. Red Hood gasped as he sat down against the truck. He reached down to pull something out, but I grabbed his wrist. I squatted down beside him and handed him the gauze he had given me weeks ago. 

"Pssh, I work alone." He pressed the gauze to his injury.

I rolled my eyes. "I thought you found movie cliches dumb?"

Red Hood looked up at me. "I told you before. I don't need nor want you to join me."

"Listen," I shoved him back by his injured shoulder, slamming him against the truck, "You can either have me as your teammate or your enemy. And I think we've both found that neither of us are good as enemies."

He studied me for a moment. I stood still, with my face like rock. I was dead serious. 

"Alright," He said calmly as he rose to his feet, "Welcome to my mission. But don't expect us to be buddy-buddy. We are strictly partners."

I nodded as he stepped closer. "We look like we just escaped a war. Are you okay?"

I stepped back away from him. "Yes, of course. Why wouldn't I be?"

"Well, for starters, your nose is gushing like a hose." I reached up and swiped at my face. Just like he had said, my nose was bleeding. I hadn't even felt it or remembered it. I ran my fingers over the slices he had caused, already thinking about the Nomex I would have to stitch up. 

"I cut your leg pretty bad," I remarked, pointing at the gash. He laughed.

"You also ruined my armor," Red Hood turned around. I laughed and shrugged.

We both patched ourselves up and picked up our weapons. I looked over my shoulder at the truck. "What do you even do with those?" I asked.

Red Hood gestured to me as he grappled. "I want to show you something," he said. I followed behind him until we came to a gigantic storage building. I dropped down beside Red Hood and he opened the door.

Inside was everything he had collected. Containers of every criminal cargo were scattered around. I had to admit, I was impressed. I knew Red Hood had been stealing cargo, but I didn't know he was that successful. 

"Woah," I mumbled, "so this is what you have stolen?"

He nodded. "We should probably go back to get that truck that you stole."

He turned to leave, but I grabbed his bicep. "Wait...you know my identity..." I reached up and let my fingertips graze his helmet. He grasped my wrist before I could press the button on the back, 

We stared at each other for a moment and I understood. Although, he knew my identity, I was okay with it. Red Hood wasn't. His identity was special to him. I remembered when I was like him. And I knew how hard it was to tell someone who you didn't quite trust. I dropped my hand and smiled. I understood.

"Well, it's getting pretty late," Red Hood said, raising his arms, "meet me here tomorrow and we can discuss the plan in more detail."

"I'll be there."

To my surprise, Red Hood actually grappled away first. I didn't bother seeing where he went. Instead, I returned to my safe house and went to sleep. 

~~~~~~~~~Another chapta you guys! Where I am, it is raining everday and it sucks :'( I am trying to write everyday guys. But it's so haaarrrddd I swear I will try harder. I love all of you guys and I'm so happy you are enjoying this book <3~~~~~~