❝ I LIE TO BATMAN. ❞

❝ I doubt that. . .  this is the best book on forensics I've seen published; so, really— go for it. I've read it before. ❞ 

With a smile, he plucked the encyclopedia off the bookshelf and— after dusting off it's binder— extended it out.

❝ I—I wasn’t…!                           I was just— ❞

< Wondering? Shut up, Tim, that’s weird. >

Only a little. Tim was still a hero, and he was still relatively close to a villain.

He muzzily listened to the scene going on in the kitchen area and worked at pushing himself up into a sitting position. The cape stayed firmly— perhaps even more tightly, now— wrapped around him to offer whatever warmth it could. He should have taken up Tim’s offer of a blanket. Too late now… Instead, he simply curled up against the arm of the couch and— surprisingly— felt well enough to graduate to watching the goings-on as well.

Tim returned, carrying soup and looking worse for the wear for it. Aaron reached out from his cocoon and grasped the mug, bringing the cup down into his lap instead of immediately drinking it.

❝ Don't mention it.                             —Really.                                          Don't. That kitchen is a nightmare. ❞ 

He extended a foot out as the guy's equilibrium was thrown off by the punch and watched as, sure enough, he lost his balance— back connecting with the concrete— more or less KO'd.  

❝ That really wasn't necessary. ❞ Red acknowledged throatily, while he took a moment to look this newbie up and down.

He knew all the vigilantes that patrolled Gotham; and this was not one he recognized.

❝ ...But thanks. ❞