Robin walked out of the stairwell, and took the back door to the streets, not wanting to be seen. He was dressed in civilian clothes, but still he didn't like people seeing him. Old habits die hard, and the habit of sneaking around–-in uniform or not-–stayed with him.

The night air was damp and cool on his skin. He breathed deep, savoring the taste of salt mixed with wind.

There was still a chill in the air that made goosebumps appear on his skin, despite the hoodie he wore. Burying his hands into his pockets, he trudged along the alleyways, navigating through the thin space before seeing the emergence of street lights break through the dimness.

"You're not fooling anyone, you know," said a sly, mechanical voice from above.

He knew that voice. Would know it anywhere. Angered, fists clenching, Robin looked up above him to see the figure of Red X perched on a fire escape above him.

"What do you want?" Robin asked him, not even caring to hide the fact that he was Robin. What would the point be? Besides, he couldn't take it back now. He'd admitted it; it was out there.

"Nothing at all," Red X replied.

"I don't believe that," he shot back at him.

"Doesn't matter what you believe," replied the same smooth, mechanical voice. Red X straightened himself, standing upright as he looked down upon the unmasked Boy Wonder. "Truth of the matter is, I want nothing at all."

A smile stretched across his face behind the mask.

"Because," he said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a flash drive, holding it up to the light, "I already have it."

Robin said nothing, but already was springing into action. Jumping forward, he grabbed the metal rung of the bottom section of the fire escape, pulling him up onto the barred surface just as Red X began to make his escape.

Instead of materializing himself away, he just jumped up higher, running up the ladders as if it were the most normal, most natural thing in the world. Robin was right on his tail, meaning to chase him until he had been caught and the flash drive returned.

For it had to be stolen. Just had to be.

As he ran, Robin pulled the black and white mask out from his pocket, pushing it onto his face quickly and securing it to him. With that settled, he began climbing up the fire escape landings, using complex acrobatic moves as he did so.

Red X paused to look behind him. The Boy Wonder was advancing quickly, but Red X wasn't about to give in so easily. He wanted a chase, and it was a chase that he was going to get. He let Robin get closer to him–-just a little bit more-–before darting away from his standing spot.

He ran fast, his cloak billowing out behind him. With a leap, he soared over the gap between the two buildings, landing perfectly on the brick and concrete roof. Red X didn't stop to look back, didn't have to. He could hear the pounding footsteps of Robin hot on the chase.

A smirk crossed his face, followed by a laugh.

Perfect. Just what he wanted…no sarcasm at all. This was going to be an eventful night, Red X knew. Already the games were beginning, and there was so much more to be said and done.

He allowed himself a small glimpse backwards. There Robin was, running behind him just as he had expected. Robin's face showed no signs of strain or pain or even sweat.

He's in good shape, Red X thought to himself, just as he darted in between two buildings once more.

Red X didn't make it onto the roof, for he wasn't aiming for the roof. He fell down, in between the brick walls of the buildings, before his hands shot up and captured the metal rungs of yet another fire escape. Spiraling, he balanced his feet upon the thin bars of the railing, and nothing else.

Robin landed hard, the metal clanging and echoing with the force of his footfall.

"Game's up, Red," he snarled. Holding out his ungloved hand, he demanded. "Give back what you stole!"

"Stole?" Red X asked, feigning offense. "Are you implying that I stole this–-?" He held up the flash drive once more. Robin lunged for it, but Red X moved out of his way long before he could reach it.

Robin's balance faltered, and already he was pitching forward into the open air. Just for added effect, Red X stuck his foot out to trip him.

"Hey!" Robin cried out as he fell.

He grabbed hold of the rungs, just as Red X knew he would. His body hung from the escape.

"Well, I didn't steal this, Boy Wonder." He spat the words at him. "This is mine. I own it."

The look on Robin's face said that he didn't believe him. Why should he? Literally everything else Red X had stolen, so why should this be any different? And the way he was safeguarding that thing, the way he mocked Robin at not being able to get it…

Had to be stolen.

"Come on, Boy Blunder," Red X said, his demeanor cocky once more. "Catch me if you can," he told him, and clicked a button upon his belt. Robin watched as Red X vanished before his sight…

…and then appeared again, thirty stories up on the top of the roof once more. He gave a small wave with his right hand, and then sent a giant, red x flying his way.

Robin's eyes widened, and just to avoid the capture, he dropped down onto the hard gravel ground just as the x glued itself to the wall. Another snarl tore itself from his throat, and again he went chasing after him.

Robin had no idea how long their game went on, only that it must have been some time. The moon had shifted positions in the sky, the shadows were getting longer and darker, and his body was starting to ache with fatigue.

I've got to end this, he thought frantically.

But every time he got close enough, was just about to catch him and put and end to this, Red X clicked down at his belt and materialized away, leaving Robin with a fistful of empty air.

Desperation was starting to grow within him.

All he needed was one slip up, one little mistake, and he would have Red X. But he was ashamed to admit to himself that he was hoping for a mistake on his foe's behalf. Because he hated that he couldn't catch him himself. Hated that he needed an easy out, because he couldn't do it alone.

Batman's words came back to him, long ago during a dark night in the Batcave. Words about how he still needed guidance, and wasn't ready to go out himself. And stupidly, he'd turned his back on him, told him that Gotham only needed one hero, and left.

"Oof!"

Red X had stopped, suddenly and without warning, and let Robin collide into his body and slam them both down onto the ground.

"The hell?" Robin asked, groaning in pain.

He looked down in the masked face of Red X, suspicion taking over where desperation had just been. This seemed a bit too easy; for Red X to just stop running and let himself be caught. This had TRICK written all over it, in beautiful calligraphy and edged with bright neon lights. Thinking nothing better of it, he slapped him across the face, just to make sure that he was real. His open palm collided with solid flesh and fabric. It was real, it was him. But what was his game? What was his angle?

"That hurt, you know," Red X told him, lifting his head to look up at Robin.

"My apologies," Robin said, but it was clear that he didn't mean it. His voice was too hard, too strict. Red X knew that, for he knew the Boy Wonder a bit too well. A chuckle rose up in his throat as he looked up into Robin's humorless glare.

"What's so funny?" Robin asked.

"Why should I tell you?" Red X asked coyly. The smirk on his face was apparent in the tone of his voice. Cocky, selfish, narcissistic almost. Anger flared up within Robin once more, and he wanted nothing more than to just slap the attitude right off of him.

Without a word, Robin reached for Red X's mask.

A gray, gloved hand clasped around his wrist, twisting it, and before Robin knew what was happening, he was hurdling in the air and then colliding with solid ground, his body letting out screams of pain with each collision. Clutching a hand to his ribcage, Robin looked up to see Red X standing up and dusting himself off.

"Sorry, kid, my identity's my secret." He paused. "Besides, you wouldn't want to know it, anyway."

Robin's growl turned into a scream, and he pushed himself his feet and practically flew at Red X, fists clenched and jaw set. His fist swung into the air, but Red X got out of the way before it could strike him. Robin threw more punches his way, but only was able to make a few of them connect.

Meanwhile, Red X threw his own, striking Robin hard on his chest, and the arms, and in the gut. Robin didn't let is show, though. He would come out the victor in this fight, that much he would make absolutely sure of.

Red X's foot spun into the air, the impressive force apparent with the swishing sound it made in the air, but Robin caught it in his hand before it could kick his face. Red X's eyes widened behind the mask as he realized he was caught. With a smirk of his own, Robin gave a hard pull and spun him into the air before slamming him down onto the ground.

Pain jolted through his entire body, and Red X felt all his nerves throb with a pained, growing ache that reached deep down into his bones and gnawed on the marrow. He didn't groan; he couldn't let any of his pain show. But he couldn't help but clutch an arm to his ribcage, trying to alleviate the dull, pounding ache that made him see spots of light in his vision.

Behind him, he heard Robin getting ready for another strike.

He rolled out of the way just as Robin's flying kick made contact with the ground, just on the spot where he'd been lying only one second earlier.

Pushing himself to his feet, Red X feigned left, seeing Robin take off where he thought him to be going, then launched himself forward to the right. Robin's eyes widened as he realized his mistake.

Red X clicked at his belt, trying to make himself materialize again in someplace new. But he clicked the wrong button, and saw his costume turning transparent before his eyes. When he landed on the ground, pain rippled through his legs and up his spine, making him tumble down face-first into the dirt.

Still, he didn't let any audial clue of his pain escape his lips.

Red X held his hand out in front of him, seeing that it had–-for the most part–-disappeared. He'd activated the invisibility setting by mistake, in his fall from the rooftop to the thin alleyway street.

He'd using the invisibility setting plenty of times before, but never by mistake.

As Robin landed in the alleyway, the puddles splashing around his shoes and jeans as he hunched down, Red X found himself inching back slowly, quietly, to a place where he'd less likely be noticed.

He wasn't entirely invisible. You could still see the outline of his body, if you tried hard enough. And with the way Robin was looking for him, he'd definitely be found.

Red X stayed still and quiet as Robin looked for him.

Robin knew that he couldn't have gotten that far.

Red X waited for him to leave, for Robin to go searching for him someplace far away from where he currently was, laying on the ground and waiting for a break. But such was luck, he didn't. Robin stayed in the alleyway, his eyes scanning every puddled reflection and oddly-shaped shadow.

Damned kid, Red X thought to himself.

Gathering up his strength, Red X waited to strike. All he needed was for Robin to get close enough. Closer.

Closer.

Closer.

Red X could almost feel the heat radiating off of his body. Could have reached out and brushed his hand across his leg. Robin's eyes glanced around for a little while more before he made contact with the camouflaged shape of Red X crouched before his feet.

With a grunt, Red X kicked his legs out in front of him, sending Robin flying backwards.

Colors danced before Robin's vision, and the world spun before him as the ground reached up to collide with his legs. He saw Red X about to jump up and spring away, but he wouldn't let him. Not again. Not for the however-many-th time that night.

With a yell, his pain and determination vocalized, he grabbed Red X around the waist, ripping the belt from his body and slamming them both against the brick wall. Red X took the worse of the hit, but Robin's hands felt like they had been broken, or they'd had the skin scraped off of them.

Without hesitation, Robin reached down and ripped the mask from Red X.

"No," he said when he laid his eyes upon Red X. The unmasked Red X.

He took a step backwards, and then another, and then another, before his legs gave out and he fell down to the alley ground and splashed back down into a puddle of water. Unable to stand. Unable to speak. His mind spun before him, trying to figure it out.

How he was right here before him.

Black hair with a streak of white. Green eyes. A bit of blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, and a dark bruise spread across the left side of his face, running down along his cheek. A face he'd know anywhere.

"…Jason…?" Robin whispered.

Jason looked up. His breathing was ragged, and he still clutched at his ribcage. There was a savage look in his eyes, but one that Robin knew all too well. It was more than savage, knowing Jason. Robin seemed to slump down, his entire body giving out with the weight of the burden. The burden of what he currently saw.

"Good to see you too, Dick," Jason said, another smirk crossing his face.

Robin didn't even care. This was too much for him to handle.

"You're…" he swallowed hard, "You're supposed to be dead."

"Am I?" he asked with a dark chuckle. He stopped when more pain shot through his lungs, cutting him off. He grit his teeth, squeezed his eyes shut, and lowered his gaze to the ground as he tried to push past the pain.

"How…?" Dick tried to ask, but his words died off.

"Find out for yourself," Jason said, and tossed Dick the flash drive. Dick didn't catch it, but let it splash in the puddle next to him. Jason groaned as he struggled to push himself upright. When he reached down to pull the Red X mask free from Robin's hand, it slid away from him easily.

"Tell Bruce I said hi, if you two still talk," Jason said, and reached for the belt clutched in Robin's other hand.

Without another word, Red X–-Jason–-pressed the button upon his belt and vaporized away from Robin's sight, leaving him sitting in a puddle in a dark alleyway, beaten up and left to think over what he'd just seen.

I probably will continue on with this story...