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You had a long night. Like, terribly long. You’re a bartender most nights at the Iceberg Lounge, and it is exhausting taking orders from drunk rich people and wearing the dumbest high heels on the planet. The only perk from your job is the tips, so you put up with the crappy hours.
It was around three in the morning when you finally began your long walk home, never letting go of the pepper spray that you keep inside your bag. You passed a few empty allies, saw a few drug deals, and kept to yourself like you learned to do from the first day you moved to Gotham. You went through your nightly routine of cursing the Gotham City Department of Transportation for shutting down buses and trains at midnight and at yourself for refusing to take a cab because they always costed more at night. Luckily, you didn’t have too long of a walk and you had managed to get glimpses of Batman and his team of vigilantes because of the walk, so it wasn’t too bad.
You had rounded the last corner when your apartment building came into view. Thankful you had made it home safely another night, you slid your heels off your feet, shoved them in you bag, and half jogged the rest of the way. You made it to the door and dug into you bag, feeling around for your keys.
“What the…” You dug in further. “Come on goddamn it.”
You took out your shoes, then stuck your head into you bag as you dug around again. You took out you wallet, then your snacks, then your pepper spray, but still no keys were to be found. Finally, you gave up on your bag, put everything away, and took out your phone. You had received a message from one of your co-workers, a picture of your keys attacked that read ‘these yours?’.
“Shit.”
You then did the next logical thing someone who doesn’t know anyone in their building does.
You started climbing the fire escape to the twelfth floor.
In your defense, you were tired, slightly delusional, and there was no chance of you walking all the way back to work for your keys. You had your trusty army knife and lived in an apartment with old windows, so why not give it a shot.
Dreadfully out of breath by the time you reached your floor, you dug into your bag once more and produced your army knife, thank god, and examined the window latch.
Jason wasn’t one to judge. He knew how hard it was on the streets and how worse it was when nothing was going your way. And those feelings were reintroduced to him when he saw the shoeless woman with a knife on the twelfth level of a fire escape, looking like she planned on breaking in.
Had it not been for the fact that Jason was grounded under Wayne house rules, he would not have been on patrol tonight. Bruce was pissed off at him after he gave an unapproved interview with the press after a huge drug bust over the weekend, so he marked down Red Hood for ‘on patrol’ all week.
“Stupid Bruce,” Jason muttered as he moved roof to roof, trying to get through patrol as quick as he could. “He couldn’t have forced me to stay home like he does with the devil spawn when he gets in trouble.”
“I heard that, Master Jason,” Jason reflectively put his finger to the ear piece, “and I do believe it was because he knew your favorite show was premiering tonight as to add to your punishment.”
“I knew it!” Jason’s face scrunched up in fury under his helmet. “I knew it wasn’t just a coincident!”
“I’m afraid not,” Alfred continued, “but you should be happy to know it is being recorded and your route is almost finished.”
Sighing contentedly, Jason thanked the butler and returned to his building hopping. Tonight was one of the more quiet Gotham nights. Only a few drug deals he had to break up and the mandatory Iceberg Lounge check-in to make sure the Penguin wasn’t up to any bullshit. He probably only had a block left when he spotted her.
She wasn’t dressed like any prostitute Jason had ever seen, nor did her outfit scream of homeless junkie, so he couldn’t be too sure what she was doing there. He watched her for a bit, kind of amused by how hard she was trying to unlatch the window. He heard a cuss or two every once and a while, but she was determined.
After she took her second break, Jason grappled his way to the escape landing above her. He leaned over the railing so he was upside-down, but about eye level when she stood.
“So, whatcha doing?”
She screamed an lashed out with a knife in one hand and a high heel in the other. Jason flipped down to her landing and put his hands up defensively.
“Woah, woah, woah. Calm down there Cinderella. Didn’t mean to scare you,” Jason cocked his head like a puppy, “I just want to know what you’re doing?” He smiled, forgetting the fact he was wearing his helmet.
Your heart was trying to come back to Earth after the man in the helmet scared you half to death.
“I could ask you the same question,” you huffed. “Who the hell do you think you are? Batman?”
You watched him tense up. “I am NOT Batman,” he growled. “I’m Red Hood, but I do work with…Batman.”
“Right. Sorry.” You could feel the fatigue getting to you. “Listen, Red Hood, I’m just trying to get inside, so if you could just leave me alone, that’d be a big help.”
He shifted to stand in front of the window. “Now why would I do a thing like that?”
“Because it’s my goddamn apartment and I’m locked out and I just want to sleep,” you started crying, “I’m just so tired.”
You could see Red Hood get slightly uncomfortable as he watched you cry. “If this is your apartment, why the hell are you breaking in?”
“I left my keys at work,” you sniffled, “and I don’t know anyone because I’m new,“ you sniffled again, “and it’s been a long night and all I want to do is go to bed.”
Again, you watched Red Hood shift uncomfortably. Then, he took off his helmet. Underneath was a mop of black hair, with one white streak in the front, and a mask. You watched the way his lips curled into a troublemaker smile. “What’s your name?”
“Y/N.”
“Well Y/N, hand me your knife.” You flipped it around and handed him the handle. “I’ll get you in in no time.”
Not even a minute passed and Red Hood had unlocked your window, threw it open, and lead you inside. A rush of relief flooded over you as you were able to plop yourself onto your couch and take a moment to relax.
“Thank you so much.” You got up and went over to Red Hood, he seemed to be examining your photos. “Is there anything I can do to repay you?”
He turned to face you and then he got that troublemaker grin going again and playfully put his finger to his chin. “I’m sure I can think of something…”
You giggled at that. Then, without much thought, you gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Well, I hope one day you figure it out.” You watched as a blush crawled up his face.
His voiced came out a little strained this time, “I’m sure we’ll be seeing each other around.” You nodded. He nodded back. “Right. Well. I’m gonna…I’m gonna go. I got other…hero things I gotta do.”
You gave him a mock salute. “Right on, cap’m.”
You watched as he returned to the window you both crawled in. “Well, uh, bye!” He waved at you then turned and disappeared out of the window.
You strolled over to the window, looking into the nothingness of the ally.
“Goodnight, Red Hood.”
Jason couldn’t stop blushing the whole way home.