laia

your head was still hurting a little from the bright light that shone during the earthquake— or what you thought was an earthquake. you have no idea what happened, or why it happened. all you know was that you fell unconscious when your room shook and you woke up with a terrible headache in the worst possible cities to ever not exist.

bludheaven.

unbelievable. one moment you were on your bed, next moment you were on the streets of bludheaven. you saw some shop that had the city's name on it. at first you thought it's some joke, but then who could set up a whole city to look like a fictional city you're familiar with? you're not dreaming, maybe you were reality shifting? is that even possible? you didn't really have time to ponder because it was slowly getting dark, you need to find a place to stay safe. obviously you can't go to a motel, you had no money. even if you did, would this place accept the money? too many questions but from what you've read about bludheaven you have to find a safe space.

you started walking on the streets where it the street lights were on to keep check if your surroundings. yoh must have walked for an hour, you had no idea where you were headed, but you knew that if you kept walking you'll find something—it was almost like a force of nature that guided you during your walk. and thank the force of nature because you did see something.

a man, his back towards you but he has sticks behind him. two escrima sticks. you immediately knew who he was, of course you knew it. you've read a lot of about this guy, and from what you've read, you know that he was your safe space and the one to get out of this mess. a part of you wanted to jump—not just because you found a way home but also because you're about to talk to the nightwing.

he was several feet away from you, you had to run to catch up to him. "nightwing!" you yelled, but he didn't stop his steps. you yelled again and again until you reached closer to him.

finally, he stopped and turned to face you, you who were bending down slightly, hands on your knees catching your breath from the running. "finally, you wal—" you didn't get the chance to finish what you were saying. nightwing's face scrunched up with anger? why is he angry?!

and why did he grab his escrima stick and pointed it at you.

"you." was all he said before trying to buzz you with the stick. you immediately ducked, trying to defend yourself but he was skilled. you won't be able to keep with him, you didn't keep up as his stick reached closer to you making you fall on your back.

"dude! not cool," you said from the ground. "i thought you were the good guy who helped random civilians, not try to hit them randomly?" you huffed slightly. those nightwing writers were so wrong about this guy.

"“random civilian? you?” he scoffed, stepping closer with his stick still pointing at you on the ground.

"yes, me. who else? its an empty street right now, isn't it?" your eyes looked around.

"this isn't funny. whoever you are, I'm not playing this game." nightwing said with fury, his face told a sad story, you couldn't point out what. maybe batman died? but why is he mad at you? what game does he think this is?

"sir, could you please put the stick away and let me explain. i need your help." your words rushed out, not wanting to get interrupted by him or his stick.

your words made him frown slightly, "help? you want my help? again, I'm not playing whatever this is."

"i wish I knew what this was— please, you have to listen to me. you're my only hope right now." you tell him honestly.

it was true. you somehow fell into a dimension where bludheaven and nightwing were real. you know no one here, if nightwing is here then that means others might be here, people who could send you back to your dimension. and nightwing knows these people, so he was your way back home. but only obstacle is that he is not friendly here.

"hope." he repeated as if that word meant nothing to him anymore. he put his stick away finally. "you have 5 minutes to explain why you look like that."

you frowned... what does that mean? "um, thank you?" you said. maybe you look different in this universe and hence that comment. "anyways," you tell him your name, he looked like he already knew it. "i somehow fell into your dimension. you see, i know you are nightwing, etc because in my world you are a fictional character I've read about, you're a comic book character. i don't know how I got here but i know that you know people who can help me get me back to my world. and in my world, the fictional nightwing is a good guy, he'd help me. so please—help me, dick."

when you said his name, his real name out his face flinched. "you know my name," his stick was facing you again.

"woah, no need for these!" you pointed at the stick with your eyes. "i just told you, ive read your comics. i also know you have a dog and other stuff." you said with a smile, hoping he'd act friendly.

"my dog died." he said blatantly.

"oh," you didn't expect that. "im sorry about that... uh."

he waved his stick. "how can I trust you saying the truth?" he asked.

"i honestly don't know. intuition? look at me, why would I waste my time trying to convince you I'm from a different dimension and have to get back?"

"many reasons. but if you were having any negative reasons for this... you wouldn't be dumb enough to look like that." he said, lowering his stick.

not that again. you chose to ignore it, you need his help. it doesn't matter what he thinks you look like. and why does that even matter?

"so you'll help me?" you asked with hope in your eyes, slowly getting yourself up, dusting your jeans and palms. he looked like he wanted to give you his hand but he didn't.

"no."

"no? you won't help me?!" you asked with frustration, scoffing through your nose. unbelievable.

"im not that guy anymore. i do basic patrolling at night because I can't sleep and having nothing to do. i can't help you, sorry." he said and started to walk away, you ran after him.

"wait! no, dick. wait, you don't understand. i know no one here, i having nothing. please, at least point me at the right direction for help— like batman or zatanna or anyone who could help me!" you grabbed his hand as you spoke to stop him from walking further away.

dick looked at where you were holding, once you noticed his eyes on your hands you removed it. "sorry, look. i get that you're not exactly like the dick grayson from my world that I've read about but I can tell there are some of him in you. are you seriously going to let me just be alone, i have no money, no identity in this world."

"you do have an identity, you have a name." he said.

you rolled your eyes. "i meant verfied one. i... please just help me, dick?"

he stared at you, his cold look softened a little. something shifted in him for a moment before he put up his shield.

"fine," he paused. "I'll help you. as in I'll get you to batman tomorrow. he can deal with you."

"thank you! that's more than enough!" you clapped your hands together.

he just stared at you again before speaking. "uh, you can stay with me tonight. tomorrow, first thing we're going to gotham. hopefully we'll never see eacother again."

"okay, deal." you gave him your hand but he didn't take it. just motioned you to follow him. "wait, we're walking to your apartment? do you not have a transport-wing?" you asked.

he glared at your complaint. your fingers made a zipping up motion at your lips and quietly followed him to his apartment. tried to follow him quietly at least.

_

his apartment was small and depressing. which isn't a surprise to you but everything was so bland... like he has no life. he asked you to not touch anything and offered you his bed and took the couch. but you were sure that he wasn't going to sleep. and neither could you. for most of the night, you talked his ear off. asking questions and answering them before he could—not that he was willing to answer. occasionally he'd glare at you but sometimes, rarely he'd soften up. you even made him smile a little! but he quickly retrieved it.

"was that a smile?" you asked. this version of dick grayson had definitely gone through extra hell. something extra terrible had happened to him. you don't know what but you can tell.

what a dick. such dick that even his name is dick. it was hard to believe the you were so close to settling down with dick grayson. at first, you met him at a park helping out a charity event for homeless children. he was kind and so charming. you couldn't believe that he had time to make space for someone special in a romantic sense in his life. the first month was obviously hard, but dick always made a way to make your relationship work.

until one day he stopped. the reason he gave you? “i can't do it anymore.”

you were furious, he had been missing dates. and important events in your life, bailed out at the last minute when you were supposed to meet your family, he had been extra avoidant with his feelings, but you put up with it all because you loved him. loved him for always caring even though sometimes his actions don't match, you loved him for how he tried to always help out people with his money, loved him for loving you despite your flawless… but a girl has a limit to which she can put up with missed dates and irrational excuses.

“i was at an event.” he would say, but he always informed you about these events he attended and always invited you whether you were free or not.

“i didn't know you had one day.” you replied.

“it was a sudden one. sorry, babe.” he stepped forward to kiss your cheek.

if it was one time, you would have let it go but no. it happened again and again. but at last he was the one to dump you.

-

you sighed as you exited the club. you just wanted a few drinks, and thankfully you drank til your limit because why was there a man holding a knife to his hand yelling at you?

“i don't have any—” you started but he took an abrupt step forward with his knife aiming at you.

woah. you needed to run, so that's exactly what you did. you weren't a slow runner but with your intoxicated state your body wasn't acting towards its full capacity. the robber chased you, screaming that you stop immediately and give him money.

you didn't look back, you weren't going to risk it but the words stopped and the guy… screeched? you heard a sound that felt like a punch as you slowed down. once your body turned curiously to see what happened, it was obvious someone punched the robber and helped you. you weren't surprised to see who, it was nightwing.

obviously, protector of bludheaven. you've never met him before, sure had seen him leaping around but not this close.

the guy was knocked out. so you stepped closer to the scene to thank nightwing.

“Thank you…” you said awkwardly. this is his duty, kind of.

“no worries,” he said, and noticed your state. was it obvious that you were slightly drunk? “you shouldn't get drunk and walk alone in a dimly lit street.”

“uh… well, i don't have a car for now. i used to use my boyfriend's car, or he'd drive me but wait i mean ex boyfriend, yeah ex. stupid ex, him and his stupid car. now since he's an ex —who by the way dumped me— i have no choice but to walk, alone.” you rambled.

nightwing sighed. “ex boyfriend, huh?” he said while bringing himself closer.

“yeah. stupid ex boyfriend.” you emphasised on the stupid part. “so uh, I'll just continue my solitary walk back home.”

“ill walk with you… just incase. you're not in the right state to walk alone.” he offered, no demanded to walk with you.

“i… i guess I won't mind the extra company.” you said. he was right, you can't defend yourself right now. and something about him felt familiar.

you two walked in silence for a bit. “so you hate your ex?” he asked.

you looked to his side, “hm? i mean, hell yeah. he's stupid after all.”

“you say stupid a lot.” he pointed out.

“that's because i dated a stupid idiot,” you paused and then continued. “but i loved him. he was so good at times, you know?! perfect even, but then of course no one is perfect, he had his flaws but I was willing to work with it. but he didn't even acknowledge it, that I'm willing to work it out, but then he dumped me, nightwing. i thought there was someone else, but no. he just wants to be alone.” you finished.

nightwing was awfully quiet. then he nodded. “im sure he loved you. do you believe he did?” he asked you as if it's the most important question.

“uh, i guess. but the end… i… i guess he just didn't value the relationship that much.” you tell him softly. one more word about dick and you might actually cry.

“i don't think so.” he said.

“you don't even know this guy. he could be a fraud.” you tell him, blinking away your tears.

“well, i— i don't know. intuition.” he said.

“for a superhero, your intuitions are bad.” you rolled your eyes. of course, he's a man and he'll take a man's side.

“maybe, maybe not. do you think you'll give him another try, ever?” he asked, but this time he paused walking… coincidentally you two reached your apartment as well. huh, strange.

“um. id like to say no, but if he gives me a proper explanation I'll take him back, right that moment. I guess i still love him that much.” you shook your head, can't believe what you were saying.

nightwing nodded, then smiled. “stupid you.” he joked.

you rolled your eyes playfully as you chuckled. there was more familiarity with him now. the smile… you could swore it was like dick, but maybe it's your drunken state and the ranting to him about dick.

the rain was pouring heavily on your head, you're already soaked, you managed to run to the shop but unfortunately it was closed. the outside of the shop had some cover above it to protect you from the rain. with the rain, and running you totally missed the motorcycle parked close to it and a guy who is a couple feet away from you.

he was tall, like really tall, and was jacked. but strangely, he was wearing a helmet? oh wait! It's red! you've heard of him in the news. the vigilante who wears a red helmet and shoots the bad guys. despite growing up and living in gotham, you've never experienced and first hand interaction with a vigilante, you've seen batman from afar, read news articles about them, or videos online but never stood this close. 

red hood seemed to notice you staring, his expression was unreadable— well, duh! he is wearing a helmet but somehow you can sense that he's not pleased with the staring, if you're intuition was not sure, then red hood moving a step proved it. you quickly moved your head to your front. he probably thinks you're a weirdo or worse— those fan girls who stalk him. you may or may not have read about fan girls and boys stalking vigilantes, or setting up a fake robbery to get their attention.

“you're not exactly slick with the staring.” he spoke. he actually spoke, the voice was muffled through the helmet but was loud and clear. he's calling you a weirdo.

“i stopped! i mean, i didn't mean to creep you out by the way.” you told him, looking at him again, only this time his helmet was facing you, his head technically.

“well, i appreciate it. getting stuck in the rain is already bad, can't have a girl staring through my helmet.” he turned his head, back to looking at the rain.

“but… you're wearing a helmet.” you tell him, eyebrows pulling together a frown. his head was safe and sound.

“so…?” he asked. his attention was still on the rain. “i can still get wet.”

“you have leaks in your helmet?” you chuckled, couldn't help yourself with that one.

his attention was back to you, this time he fully turned his body to face you. it was intimidating, him. but he only beats up the bad guys! and you haven't done anything illegal. so you don't have to fear the red hood.

“thats not what i meant and you know it. and aren't you scared of me? people don't really joke around masked vigilantes with guns.”

“holy shit, you have a gun with you like right now?” you asked him. it was stupid, of course he had a gun. “i mean, tough shit, dude.” you play it cool, with a shake of his head he turned away again. “and do I need a reason to be scared of you? i mean, you're not exactly the bad guy, right?”

“a lot would disagree with you on, pretty girl.” he said with a chuckle.

you tried hard to not get flustered at his nickname. he was probably just calling you that because it had a ring to it. can he even see right with that helmet?

“can you even see me properly with that helmet? do i look green in colour?” you asked him exactly what popped in your head. 

he paused for a second, and then he the step he took back a little while go was taken front, and another one and another one until he was close. “i see it quite clearly, and not green. like i said; pretty girl.”

he was so close, oh lord! he was sort of towering. “can your helmet scan my face and tell you my identity?” you blurt out.

“you watch a lot of films?” he asked.

“are you calling me jobless?” you asked with a fake scowl

“no— what? i— i didn't mean it,” he genuinely thought he offended you. but when you chuckled slowly he realised you were just messing with him. “what the hell?” he laughed with you this time.

“i do watch a lot of films, yes. but that doesn't answer my question, pretty boy.” you told him. calling him pretty boy was a bold move, especially when you had no idea how he looked.

red hood turned away, you can't read his expression but his body language? it was telling that he might be flustered. “yes, my helmet comes with its perks. and don't call me that.” he said.

“you started it.” you shrugged, turning back to the rain yourself.

“thats because I can actually see you.” 

“i can see you too.”

he abruptly turned his head to you. usually he was the one who does this. messing around with people, getting a rise out of them for fun. but here's a random girl, doing it to him while not even being afraid of him, despite what the world has to say about him.

“you're pretty bold, you know?”

“i just like ragebaiting. and hey— look the rain has slowed down. i should probably get going before it flares up again. you won't have a problem though, with your helmet and all.” you tell him as you adjusted your hair.

he nodded, but he didn't really want the conversation to end, or this moment. it was nice, almost like a block out from the real world. “wait, its not safe to walk home alone. I'll drop you.” he offered.

“awe, thank you, pretty boy. but i am not getting on a motorcycle with you. ive seen videos of you driving on the news.” you told him with a polite smile.

“what if i promise to drive slow? come on, it'll be fun.” 

“fun, huh? i might start to think red hood likes me or something.” you joked. but you don't know that he's smiling under the helmet.

“so? what do you say?” he asked.

“only if you drive really slow.” your eyebrow raised while you spoke, to emphasise on the speed.

“deal.”

_

the ride was slow as promised, an advantage for jason to spend more time with this girl. he was bantering with you the whole ride back, it wasn't about any specific topic, it was everything, the rain was still there, drizzling on your head and tapping on his helmet. he was lucky that he was wearing a helmet or you could have seen him pout when you pointed to your apartment building. you thanked him and went inside, his eyes didn't leave your figure as you slowly disappeared into the building. he was still there for a while before driving back to his place.

the next morning he woke up a little late, he did it his usual morning routine and realised he needed a new book. something with romance in it, he's just feeling it. he was acting stupid, he had one interesting moment with a beautiful girl and now he was suddenly an hopeless romantic— he has always been a little hopeless though he wouldn't admit it.

the bookstore he usually goes to was closed, so he took the road where he met you, maybe he'll find a good bookstore there or a library or even pass by. he was one lucky man, because the first bookstore he spotted? its where he spotted you.

you were right, wearing glasses this time, focused on a shelf of books. your index finger moving from left to right, eyes reading the author's name, softly biting your bottom lips to focus. you were just as beautiful as last night. without realising he approached you. 

“hey.” he greeted with a soft smile.

you looked up from the shelf at him, he was hard to miss. “hi?” you asked confused, “im sorry, do i know you?” you asked him, blinking a few times. this is weird. you just came to buy a book or two. who is this guy? he looked like he'd judge you for the type of books you read.

“i—” shit, jason forgot that you saw him as red hood last night. he's so stupid. he looked around at you, at the shelf to say something. “i…uh…i um i like your taste, haha.” he said. way to go jason.

“uh… thanks but how do you know?” you asked him, okay this is a little creepy.

“i mean…” he was lost. fuck. “okay, you caught me. i've never tried… fantasy genre before, and i wanted to get into it, so uh I saw you here and you looked like you know what's up. haha…” please work, he prayed internally.

“oh!” her creeped out look was gone now. replaced with…excitement. “you've come to the right girl, buddy. do what are you in mood for? dragons? magic? folktale retelling? dark fantasy or high or epic fantasy?”

“um… anything interesting. im in for it all.” he told her.

“okay. nothing can go wrong with shadowhunters, right?” 

“got it!” shadowhunters? that fantasy series? really?

“its a long series. do you need the orders in which you can read?”

“absolutely!”

“okay, so you can start with…” she explained the couple of orders. it wasn't something jason was used to but he paid attention to it, she was really into this genre, huh?

“thank you, i really appreciate it.” he said with a smile. “im jason by the way.” he introduced himself, he was taking more than ten steps into whatever this is today.

you have him your name. “let me know what you think of them!”

wow, she said that? now he had another excuse to see her.

“when?”

“huh?”

“when can I tell you? and where too.”

“oh, uh next week? or whenever, im always here on the weekends. this is also like a library, right, so I just come here and chill.”

“oh. that's cool. i— I'll see you next weekend.”