It was supposed to be a regular patrol that night for Red Hood. Crime was moderately average for a place nicknamed Crime Alley, surprisingly only a few muggers decided to play with his patience.

Now though, as he’s staring down an unconscious kid, he figures that no nights in his life were allowed to be normal. The dark headed kid, who was most likely a teen but Hood didn’t care at the moment, had an injury to his side along the rib cage. It looked like a deep cut, but it was already starting to scab over, though he wouldn’t be surprised if it was infected from how the teen was literally laying in a dirty alley. At least they seemed to be breathing still, even if it was dangerously low. What he really didn’t like was that he could barely detect their heartbeat. He couldn’t help but wonder what the twig of a kid had been through to end up like this.

Red Hood sighed to himself, knowing that he wouldn’t be able to leave the kid here where anybody could grab them. Rolling his shoulders, he picked up the scrawny kid, who was a bit too small in his opinion, and tried to get them settled on his back. It was a bit more difficult with the teen being asleep, but he managed. Then he began making his way back to one of his safe warehouses, trying not to jostle the hurt kid on his back too much.

The night was still early, the shadows only growing deeper into the city, claiming the gloomy city as it’s own once again. Red Hood took advantage of it, slinking in and out of one shadow to the next, making sure nobody saw him. If anybody decided to pick a fight right now with him having the kid, well, it probably would be more annoying than difficult, but he’d still rather not do that right now. The teen was beat up enough already without being in a middle of fight unconscious.

With the slow pace he was walking, he was around halfway to the nearest warehouse he knew was safe and had proper supplies at the moment. He probably wouldn’t ever admit it out loud, but he was hoping the teen would be okay. He didn’t want a dead kid on his hands, especially if the kid ended up dying on his back.

While Red Hood was debating on whether or not he should stop for a second to check on the toothpick of a kid again, he felt a slight shift and a small whimper. He froze, turning his head back slightly to try and get a look at them. He expected them to be confused, and most likely scared and disoriented, as what most people would be when they woke up being carried by a stranger. What he didn’t expect was the kid’s eyes to shoot open, showing toxic green eyes that were literally glowing, and to then get bitten in the shoulder. The kid’s teeth somehow even managed to get through the protective padding, sinking slightly into his skin. The once loose arms around his neck tightened, to the point that he was somewhat choking from the tiny arms. How the hell did a twig like this have that kind of strength?

Then the kid straight up jumped off of Red Hood and stumbled on the ground, but stood up nonetheless. There was a wild, panicked look in the short teen’s bright eyes, darting around anxiously. It almost reminded Red Hood of a wild animal who was backed up in a corner, except this was clearly a scared traumatized teen who was most likely a meta. Wasn’t this just great for Hood?

Sighing while rubbing his shoulder, because while the teen’s unnaturally sharp teeth weren't able to completely puncture his skin, it did hurt. “Calm down kid. I’m just trying to help, you’re obviously badly injured.”

The eyes snapped back to Red, and he couldn’t help the unsettling pit that grew in his stomach from what that dangerous green reminded him of. He didn’t want to think of that now however, so he forced himself to focus. Then the teen spoke, “It’ll heal.”

Red Hood snorted, looking at the kid in front of him who was definitely a head and a half smaller than him. He was leaning forward a bit, one arm relying heavily on the wall close to him and his other hand pressing into his wound. “You look like shit, and you probably got an infection from laying on the nasty ground. Seriously, what were you doing there?”

“None of your damn business.” The boy snarled, showing a bit of the sharp fangs that made holes through his suit. “I don’t know who the hell you are or what you want, but I’ll have you know I can and will fight.”

Red Hood had to say, he was impressed by how ballsy the very skinny kid was talking, but also a bit worried annoyed. Did this kid not have any self preservation skills? He could definitely kick this brat’s ass right now if he wanted to.

Wait, did this kid just say he didn’t know who he was? Then it clicked for Red, and he had to resist the urge to pinch his nose from not realizing it earlier. “You’re not from around here, are you?”

When the teenager didn’t say anything but show a few more of those pointed teeth, Red Hood knew his answer. This just got even more difficult. “Well, I don’t know how or why you’re in Crime Alley, but I sorta run this part. You can call me Red Hood, and let’s just say that I’m known as the person who takes care of this dump and the trash within.”

There seemed to be a spark of recognition in the kid then, and his face went from a snarl to a scowl, and Hood didn’t know if that was a good thing or not. “Red Hood, the Red Hood? How the hell did I end up all the way here, I- I.” The kid’s face of panic earlier began to resurface, and Hood took an instinctive step forward.

The teen staggered two steps back.

“Now that you know who I am, how about you let me help you? I can’t have you bleeding to death on me.” The anti-hero said, trying to get this kid to come with him peacefully, because he really didn’t want to have to drag him by force. That’d most likely cause the injury to become more agitated, and that’s the last thing they needed.

“I already told you, it’ll heal.” The young boy’s fear didn’t leave his eyes, but he tried to put on a brave front anyways.

“And I already told you, that I don’t give a shit because you’ll probably die if I don’t do something. Actually you’re already looking a little paler.” Red Hood remarked, folding his arms against his chest.

This time the teen snorted. Red Hood doesn’t know what part of what he said was funny, but he sure didn’t like it. “Alright, you coming with me or not? The quicker we can get you patched up and for you to explain how the hell you got like that, the quicker I can figure this out.”

“I’m not coming with you, and I am definitely not telling you anything. I’ll be just fine on my own.” With that the teen attempted to move off the wall, only to trip over his own foot and almost fall back on the ground.

Red Hood rushed forward, catching the arms of the kid and huffing. “Yep, you’re coming with me, whether you like it or not.”

When Red Hood wrapped an arm around the teen, keeping him balanced enough to walk, he didn’t complain. Instead, they both made it the rest of the way to the warehouse, Red Hood telling the teen to sit down and wait for him to grab some medical supplies. He could feel those disturbing green eyes on him while he was rummaging through the crates of stuff he had kept in here, and even though they seemed to have dimmed down a bit from earlier, they still reminded him too much of the pits. He didn’t like it, but that didn’t mean it was an excuse to not help the poor boy.

“So, does the mysterious kid who likes to bite people who are trying to help have a name?” Red Hood tried, not liking how awkward the silence was.

“Just because you gave me your fake name doesn’t mean I’ll tell you my name.” The boy replied coldly, and Red Hood rolled his eyes, though it wasn’t like the other could see it.

“Brat it is then.” Hood said as he strolled over to the boy and kneeled in front of them, a first aid kit and some other medical equipment in hand. He leaned forward. “I know you don’t exactly trust me-”

“I don’t trust you at all.”

The teen interrupted, but the anti-hero continued on like he never spoke. “-but I need you to take your hand off your side so I can check it, because I have a feeling it may need more than a band-aid.”

“Who said you’d be the one doing the medical shit?” Before Red Hood could point out that the teen was clearly on the border of being called disoriented, the teen kept going. “I can also perfectly take care of myself, as I’ve been doing that long before you arrived.”

“And that’s a good thing brat?” Hood retorted, yanking the first aid kit from the reaching hands trying to take it. “You’ve probably never been taught how to properly take care of your wounds, I bet that’s the reason you passed out in that alley.”

The teen winced, but quickly went back to glaring. “First of all, I was taught the basics of first aid, and second of all, that has nothing to do with how I ended up in this stupid city.” The boy practically spat out the last words, eyes becoming brighter again.

Red Hood started to look closer at the wound, seeing how it was a nasty shade of red, clearly agitated. He kept talking, noticing how it was keeping the half conscious, yet extremely stubborn, kid distracted. “This city may be awful, but as a foreigner, you have no right to shit talk it. Only fellow Gothamites have that privilege, after all, this city gives us something to complain about.”

Hood saw the brat roll his eyes, not even paying attention to the anti-hero as he began to clean the wound a bit, trying to at least get some of the grime off of it. “I’m sure y’all always love something to complain abou-” His words were cut off as he hissed in pain. “Damnit, can’t you be a little more careful?”

“Don’t be such a big baby, I was only just cleaning it a little. I’m pretty sure you’ll be fine, as it seems you heal pretty fast.” Actually, it seemed that from the time at the alley to now that the wound had somehow closed more, the scab forming into a more greenish color. Another sign that the kid was in fact a meta or at least something other. “I might not even need to put anything on it at this rate, though I’d advise not to aggravate it or go sleeping in alleys again.”

“I already know that, I’m not stupid.” Red Hood didn’t know whether he wanted to laugh or punch the teen at this point.

“Whatever, you’re good to go now if you want, I’m sure you have someplace to be.” Red Hood stood up, walking back over to the crates to put up the rest of the medical supplies and to throw away the dirty disinfection wipes.

It was quiet and there was no sound of movement from the boy, and it confused Hood, because he was sure that the kid would bounce as soon as possible. He was not expecting the words that came out of the teen’s mouth, quiet with a hint of bashfulness, but certainly sincere. “Thank you…”

Red Hood turned a bit and looked at the brat, who refused looking at him once so ever. “Whatever, just make sure to be more careful around here, and probably find your way out of Crime Alley. It’s not safe for you.”

Again, there was no movement, and the teen continued to look away. Red Hood felt like something was off.

It was quiet for a few minutes, and the teen broke it once again. “Danny, you can call me Danny.”

Red Hood would be lying if he said he wasn’t taken aback. This kid practically did a whole 360 from his earlier attitude. Maybe he should have checked for a concussion too. “Welp, Danny, I’m glad you decided to take that stick out of your ass, but is there a reason?”

More silence, Red Hood was starting to get tired of those, but he wouldn’t say anything, he could give Danny time.

“I was wondering if I could just stay here for the night, if you don’t mind.” Danny all but mumbled, the older boy barely hearing it. Though, he did hear the question, and the original unnerved feeling Red Hood felt returned, but this time it was different. It wasn’t caused by Danny this time, it was because the words made everything become somewhat clearer, the situation unsettling him. Danny wasn’t just sleeping in that alley for fun it seems. He can't believe he didn't realize it earlier.

“I don’t care how long you stay here, just don’t destroy anything and do not touch anything dangerous in here.” Red Hood managed to say after a few beats of silence, and Danny finally faced him, his eyes now an icy blue, no longer glowing. Red Hood knew that keeping a meta in Gotham who was not from Gotham was dangerous, but anybody could tell that Danny needed help, and Red Hood wasn’t about to ignore that. “I’ll be back tomorrow to check on you and your wound, if you stay that is.”

“Okay… Thanks I guess, but I don’t think I’ll be here long.” Danny whispered hesitantly, then tried and failed to stifle a yawn.

“There should be blankets or something in here somewhere, make yourself comfortable. I gotta go though, I haven’t quite finished my patrol earlier.” Red Hood stated, already beginning to walk away, a small part of him hoping that the brat would actually be here tomorrow.