░▐ ❛ ハローキティ ❜

His eyebrow arched under his helmet and Red Hood pulled the picture away, tucking it back in his jacket. Why did Cat always have to be such a smartass? 

Red Hood was tired of always being one step behind this criminal, and this was his chance to finally get ahead of him. But this was all just a game to Cat. Luckily he knew how the game was played.

“So what’s it gonna take for you to remember?”

Everyone had a price, after all. But Cat’s was constantly changing.

      Exactly what Saylon wanted to hear. He had a job at an upcoming benefit that would be made substantially easier with a partner in crime. While partners wasn't exactly his style, getting paid was and Red Hood, he felt, was just a tad less likely to screw him over than any of his other options.

       ❛ You got plans this Saturday? I'm in need of a...decent looking I.T. guy. ❜

Had he been expecting enthusiasm? No. Hell he hadn’t even really been expecting cooperation. But the sarcasm he could do without.

“No, just anybody’ll do,” he drawled, then shook his head and dug a picture from his pocket.

Holding it out for the Cat to see, Red Hood shifted on his feet. “M’lookin’ for this man. Seen ‘im around?” He was an older gentleman, bit on the heavy side, and Jason particularly remembered busting his expensive custom watch last time he encountered the criminal. The shop Cat was casing was the only place this side of Gotham that had the means to fix such a piece.

       Carefully, Saylon studied the photo. Yeah, he'd seen someone who may have looked like this guy 'bout the day before. He hadn't really had his eye on that place in particular until he saw the man go in. Seemed like any other hoity toity jewelry store. But the pieces they had were much more unique than any of the other shops in the area. 

       ❛ I can't say that I have... ❜

       In a manner completely against what he knew to be true, Saylon shrugged. The smirk on his face, however, called his bluff. He didn't too much care. Even though this was more than likely the same guy, what other information could the Red Hood need? Not much that the Cat could think to provide.

Jason waited patiently, a little smirk curled on his lips beneath the helmet. Strong arms crossed over his chest and he shifted his weight, nodding his head toward the building across the street.

“You’ve been casin’ the place, right?”

A rhetorical question. He already knew the answer. Especially since that was so obviously what the Cat had been doing. 

“Just gotta ask you a few questions. M’lookin’ for someone.”

        With the most dramatic eye roll he could muster Saylon wordlessly answered the first of what was already way too many questions. Still, favors were among some of the most valuable things you could owe someone in this city and under the pretense that he was indebted, the thief nodded once.

       ❛ Anyone in particular? ❜

       ❛ Not to get on your c a se  or anything          LITTLE MERMAID, but you DO know          that this ain't exactly the friendly side          of town? ❜

Red Hood let out a low whistle, the sound somewhat distorted by the helmet encasing his entire head. Well that wasn’t exactly the warm welcoming he’d been hoping for. But then, that warm welcoming was more than a little unrealistic. 

“Relax, kitty cat. M’not here to clip your claws.” He took a few steps closer, hands held up in a placating gesture. “Just wanna have a little chat.”

        Eyes narrowed at the sound of the other man's voice. Whether or not he meant it, his tone almost always came across as condescending for one reason or another. The same reason prompted a quiet groan before Saylon took his time to stand and face the guy.

       ❛ Even if you were, I promise, you wouldn't get far.  ❜

       Out of habit, or, maybe reflex, The Cat's fingers curled and uncurled in anticipation of a fight that he assumed wasn't going to happen but would be damned if he weren't ready for.

A grin that was equally playful as it could be dangerous was spread across Saylon's face. He was sat at the very, very edge of a tall building pushing his luck just for the heck of it. And besides, even if he DID fall, who’s to say he wouldn't, somehow, land on his feet?

Perched quietly at the edge of the rooftop, The Cat didn't have to turn around to hear someone behind him. The distorted reflection in the vent of a building across from him gave a decent hint as to whom he was about to have what he could only imagine would be an unpleasant conversation with.