Jason laid on his stomach looking into the sight of his rifle. It was loaded with rubber bullets, as per Bruce's orders. We'd been paired together to stake out the perimeter of a bank while Tim hacked into the security feeds. Bruce and Damian were on another potential heist halfway across the city.

"How much longer before you're in?" I leaned against a brick structure.

Tim glanced up at me from across the roof, sitting crisscross near the edge. "Harder than I expected. The bank must have outsourced outside of Gotham."

"Can you do it?"

"B trained us with hacking the pentagon." Tim deadpanned, cracking his neck.

I hummed, kicking at the gravel rooftop. "You know the little demon visited me in Metropolis."

"What'd he do this time?" Jason asked, acting as uninterested as ever.

Like he didn't care.

"Nothing much, asked for my help. Apparently, biggest brother isn't his favorite right now." Tim snorted, never looking away from his screens. "What'd you do to annoy him so much that he came to bother me."

Jason waved me off and resumed watch on the building.

"That's Jason for 'I'm not gonna talk about it'." Tim offered. "But they've been arguing since-"

"Code names Replacement." Jason interrupted. "It's not something we need to talk about so shut it."

We descended into silence, I lightly kicked at the gravel again, eventually making my way to the edge, while holding my arms out for balance, I walked along it like I was on a tightrope.

Dick used to do it all the time.

I didn't fear falling. I suppose it would be an end to a rather miserable life and though I was finally in a place I objectively knew I was safe, I couldn't help but feel like the other shoe was going to inevitably drop.

Again.

Just over two months ago, I was stuck under Slade's thumb, I wasn't myself, I couldn't be. I was just playing a part.

It ate me up inside, how easily I could pretend. It's what I had to do in Metropolis.

I could disappear, pretend the whole thing didn't happen.

No one but Tim would really miss me. The rest of the hero community hated me because of what started at the mountain two years ago and because of my stint as Slade's apprentice, the villain community feared me.

Well. They feared the Apprentice.

"Hey E." Tim approached me cautiously. "Can we maybe step back from the ledge."

"Why?"

"You're making me nervous and you don't have a grappling hook to catch you." He held his hands out as if confronting a wild animal.

"Just get back onto the roof before he pulls something." Jason huffed.

"Shut it Hood."

"Seriously E, you look like you're contemplating jumping." Tim stressed.

"Well not anymore." I half-joked, reluctantly taking his offered hand. Tim pulled me away from the edge and didn't let go until we were near the brick structure again. "It really wasn't that high, Red"

"I'm trying to keep you alive, okay?"

I set a hand on his shoulder. "I can take care of myself, promise. I lasted a full twenty years without anyone's protection."

"Were the other four, the years you stole Nightwing from us?" Jason snipped, his temper on the tip of his tongue.

"There's a lot about that you don't know, Hood." I shot back.

Jason got up, crossing his arms. "Then explain it to me."

"No."

"And why the hell not?!"

"It's none of your business, Todd."

"Names." Tim admonished.

"You made it my business when he came back dead after going on a trip with you." Jason stalked toward me and Tim got in his way, holding him back. "You and Dick were always weird together. Like you knew something the rest of us didn't. All you really did was steal our older brother." He threw back bitterly.

My throat felt tight. No. I absolutely would not allow him to see me cry. "Of course we had something to hide! I know everyone's identities." As much as I hated it. He was what stood in the way of me being the apprentice. I took a breath. "Dick knew what he was doing, he died protecting everyone."

"And there. It. Is." Jason spat, throwing his hands up. "The real truth behind his death. Not what really happened of course, that's some huge secret."

"Jason-"

"No, I don't want to hear it. Dick died. What could've possibly made you worth it?"

Ouch.

"Stop." Tim stepped between us. "You both need to cool off. Hood, maybe you should just go find B and Robin."

"No, it's okay Red. I'll go back to the house. I think I'm done playing hero for the night." I fiddled with my sleeves. Why did I let them convince me to come out with them again?

"That's fine." Tim sighed tiredly.

I set a hand on his shoulder. "Maybe next time buddy." Before I could leave and figure out my own way back to the mansion, Tim stopped me, tapping on his screen and showing me a route.

"It's already on its way." He gestured to the little motorcycle graphic heading toward us.

"Text me if you need back up okay?" I sent Jason a nasty glare and tried to quell the hurt in my chest.

It was my fault that Dick had spent the last few weeks of his life in agony. If I could've realized Titans Tower was a trap earlier..

My gut twisted and nausea rolled in my stomach. All I wanted was to get home so I could curl up on my bed with my bunny and perhaps one of Dick's pillows so that I could..

Wait.

Where was my bunny?

It wasn't in the manor and it certainly wasn't in any of the compounds. Panic began drumming through my veins, making my skin itch. Where on earth was it?

The only other place it could be is the mountain. With all the craziness, I wouldn't be surprised if I accidentally left it there. I can't believe I forgot about my bunny.

It was one of the few prized possessions I had.

Seems I was making a trip to the mountain, as risky as that was.

Joy.