By the time Ashley Al'Ghul arrived in Abigail Hobbs's room, it was already overflowing with people, including Freddie Lounds. Her green eyes narrowed at the conniving redhead. "Is she allowed to be here?"

Ashley got two simultaneous answers, one no, one yes. The brunette smiled widely. "Well, then, I guess that gives me the right to kick her...I mean kindly escort her off the premise."

The reporter opened her mouth to protest to which Ashley firmly responded in Ancient Greek: "Γιούχα εσύ πόρνη." (Pronounced: Geia sou pórni. Loose translation: Boo you whore.) This has earned her sharp and yet amused glances from both adults — although Will wasn't even aware she had switched languages — and a confused look from Abigail.

Will cleared his throat awkwardly. "Abigail, this is Doctor Lecter, and Ashley Al'Ghul, a trainee. Do you remember us?"

She nodded after a second. "You killed my dad." Her eyes flitted to Ashley, who had found herself standing in front of Will and Hannibal. An almost flirtatious smile crossed Abigail's face. "And you're the girl who saved my life."

The other teen's brain seemed to short circuit at the statement. She was almost tempted to look around confused at the statement, but it was obvious that the teen wasn't talking about either of the adults. Ashley noted that the remaining Hobbs was far cuter awake than comatose.

Half of her whispered she's a murderer, pull yourself together. The other half of her response was simple: so are you. She's cute, go for it. Murder Girlfriends.

Ashley returned the smile, which she had decided, was in fact, flirtatious. "Well, I approve the way you remember me."

Will awkwardly cleared his throat. "Well, you've been in a coma for days. Why don't we go for a walk?" That was enough to pull the brunette girl back to the situation at hand. Gods, what's wrong with me? I've never lost track of my goal before, so why now?

Ashley was the last to leave the room and skipped a step so she could walk beside the other teen. "We're sorry for your loss. By the time we got there..."

"She was already gone, I know. I saw him kill her. He was loving right up till the second he wasn't."

That silenced the brunette. Abigail reminded Ashley of herself. She had bared witness to her Mother kill more people than she wished to count. At some point or another, violence and cruelty had become expected.

Talia Al'Ghul had claimed to love her daughter, and perhaps that's why she stayed as long as she had. Yet the woman's actions couldn't help but betray her. She didn't love me...she wanted me gone. I defeated the purpose of her firstborn being a male heir, after all. I simply fulfilled her wish.

"I believe you." Her voice came out as a horse whisperer. Ashley opened her mouth again before closing it. What was she supposed to say? They always are? "You're not to blame for your Dad's actions and there is no use questioning the causes. 'What if' scenarios are the best way to drive yourself insane."

The second the words left her mouth, Ashley couldn't help but regret them. Despite her tired — and almost airy — voice, her simple words probably sounded harsh and unforgiving. Assassins show no mercy, and the concept was foreign in the underworld. She could feel rage. She could feel sorrow and her entire past seemed like one big regret at times. But other than that, Ashley's emotions had been snuffed out like a campfire, leaving only cinders behind.

Yet, despite all of this, Abigail Hobbs let an almost ironic smile slip onto her face. "I know. I'm gonna be messed up, aren't I? I'm...I'm worried about nightmares."

Ashley answered automatically. "I'm sure we can get you something for those." I'm not sure about these two clowns, but Apollo seemed fond of me last time we talked. He'd know what to do, right?

Will cautiously sat down beside her. "There's no such thing as getting used to what you experienced. It bothers me a lot. I worry about nightmares too." Each word was hand-picked and carefully strewn together, almost like popcorn on a Christmas tree.

"Not sleeping makes them go away. That's what I do, and I'm doing great, no matter what Hannibal tells you guys." This got several concerned looks. "On a side note, I'm probably addicted to expressos, so there is that unfortunate side effect."

She couldn't help but roll her eyes at Will's skeptical and judging gaze. "I probably still get more sleep than you, so stop looking at me like that."

Abigail's gaze flickered from the uncomfortable brunette to her teacher. "So killing someone... even if you have to do it... it really feels that bad?"

Will glanced down. "It's the ugliest thing in the world."

Ashley kicked aimlessly at the ground, sending a pebble flying off to who knows where. If she hadn't been trained in concealing her emotions, she might have even winced at Will's simple statement. Gods, he would hate me if he knew the truth... I don't think he'd understand. No one ever does. And if he doesn't hate me, he'd treat me like I was the victim, not the people I killed.

She kept her face passive as her mind prattled on. Slowly she raised her gaze to glance at Abigail. She understands, but I can't talk to her about it without compromising myself. Typical.

≈§≈

Ashley couldn't help but be reminded of being sent to the principal's office as she found herself sitting in between Will and Hannibal as Jack Crawford scolded them all. She tilted her head and tossed him one of her signature cold smiles. "Well, in all fairness, I probably would've said something far worse if Professor Graham hadn't spoken up."

Jack raised his eyebrows. "Something worst about thinking about killing for a living? Somehow I find that hard to believe."

Ashley shrugged. In the godly community, she was notorious for pissing people off and being ridiculously reckless. In 2012, it had been her idea to send Medusa's head to the gods. In 2013, it had been her who had jumped off a cliff to stab Polyphemus in his eye. She had no problem fighting titans or monsters or even gods. If you got in her way, you were asking for it.

"I have several choice words I would wish to share with Miss Lounds as well. And as for bringing Abigail home, well nothing is ever as controlled as you think it is. It should be her choice. Whatever she chooses, we need to be there to support her through it. But if she does choose to go home, we should do it as discreetly as possible. Can I go to class now, or am I still needed for this conversation?"

Agent Crawford sighed and the brunette teen took that as her answer. "Well, then, this has been fun. See you guys later."

Ashley Al'Ghul was not, in fact, going to class. For the most part, she was done for the day, or at the very least, the next few hours.

Instead, she returned to her dorm room and pulled an old locket out of an iron case. In seconds, the familiar presence manifested beside her. Lizet grimaced slightly. "Was the iron case really necessary?"

The green-eyed girl nodded firmly and crossed her arms. "I told you that I was putting you in a time out, didn't I?"

The ghost huffed in response but otherwise didn't reply. Instead, she settled for following the young demigod out the door.

"Where're we going?"

Ashley fished out the keys to her motorcycle. It had taken her ages to find a way to efficiently repurpose it so that it was "green". She had to construct it practically by scratch. The part that usually consisted of painted metal was fashioned out of solar panels. It was one of her favorite modifications by far and it was her main source of income seeing as she sold the blueprints to Wayne Enterprises.

"I'm getting Abigail a new scarf because her current one doesn't match a majority of her clothing and then you and I are headed to Minnesota."

Lizet tossed her an unimpressed look. "Are you sure it isn't because you like her?"

Ashley ignored their comment completely as she started the engine and took off.

Time skip:

"Are we going to reenact the crime? You can be my dad, you can be my mom, you can be the FBI agent that saves me, and you can be the man on the phone."

Ashley almost stiffened at the last line and turned to Hannibal. Lucky for him, the line seemed to go completely over the heads of Will Graham and Alana Bloom. Of course, it was him. The suddenly rather obvious observation didn't stop her from narrowing her green eyes into a hardened glare that could but Batman to shame.

Abigail hadn't let that slip by accident. It was very intentional. Ashley knew that and so did Hannibal. The Hobbs was trying to hint that she needed help, but no one was picking up what she was putting down.

Ashley found herself left with the adults as Abigail ventured outside with her friend. Part of Ashley yearned to follow. It had been nearly two months now since she talked to someone her own age, let alone hung out with them.  Besides weapons, battle strategy, and, on occasion, boys, she had no idea what people her age talked about. The brunette wouldn't even know where to begin.

It wasn't until Abigail reentered the house — both Will and Hannibal standing protectively behind her — that Ashley realizes she had zoned out entirely.

She takes a step towards Abigail before pausing. No, it'd be best if I warn her when Hannibal ISN'T present.

So instead of trailing the older teen and pulling her aside, the small brunette held her tongue and let herself blend in with the shadows, but never becoming one with them. The stern voice of her mother chimes through her head. A proper assassin knows when to make their move Aretha.