The Usual Suspects [Brook]

[jasont]

Mithridatism. Its practitioners used small amounts of poison, applied on themselves, to gradually build up immunity. Though many within the general public believe it is impossible, Mithridatism actually works, it just grants different degrees of resistance depending on the venom’s violence and constitution. To Jason, any amount of resistance was a great amount of resistance, so he’d been making use of the technique for the last few months. That meant that tonight he once more found himself in Jackie’s studio, in an unmarked building in East Gotham. It was hard to describe her, mainly because they didn’t talk during those sessions. She was hot-headed and opinionated, but liked to keep personal details to herself and actually preferred if other people did the same in general, which worked just fine for him. And possibly other clients too, as Jason had his suspicions that she was the one that gave many of the local criminals their gang-tattoos and irezumis.

As the vigilante patiently waited, she gave his dark red tribal serpent tattoo its final touches, using a Burmese mix of Ink and Copperhead venom that Jason was basically immune to already. Those tattoos usually lasted a couple of days - but could be washed off with special non-damaging, and expensive, chemicals - so Jason usually got them in more discreet places. Today, though, it was part of his cover, so the design covered the left side of his face in a vague crescent shape. After Jackie was finished, he got off the chair and examined the new art in a nearby mirror as she cleaned things up. – “I think we’re about done with this one... Do you still have the list?” – She pointed to a piece of paper on a table, the first couple of names crossed off. – “Great. I’ll be going then.” – Jason got some cash from his jacket and put it on top of the list. Jackie would find the venom needed, whichever it was, and though he had no idea how, no plans to ask were in place. – “Will I find out your name tonight?” – The artist sounded rather indifferent even when showing curiosity, and he paused with his hand on the door, looking back with a slight smirk. – “No, not tonight, Jackie. See you whenever.” – And the vigilante was off. That process wasn’t too damaging, but it’d take a few hours for the redness to go away, which wasn’t a problem as he still needed some things. Jason got on his Harley Davidson Night Train, looking around for a moment before speeding away.

--------------------------

[With the right amount of confidence and that one, distracting, feature, you can fool anyone. Bruce taught me that, he told me about the large scar his plainclothes thug persona used to have, and how that was the only thing anyone ever remembered about him. Well, this is cooler than a scar, and serves other purposes too, so… Advantage Jason.] – The vigilante made his way between the various tough-guys and criminals, planting bugs on all the ones that seemed promising. After all, crime wasn’t fought just against the most dangerous lunatics, and word got around a lot on the lower levels. If any of them used a few keyword combinations, his ear-piece would kick in. He finally crossed the bar, sitting with his back against the wall on the farthest table with the least amount of light over it. Fortunately the place had a lot of people around his age, or Jason would probably stand out a bit too much. He obviously had the Kris with him, and a few bombs and shuriken, but the DEagles were a bit harder to completely conceal and too good for a nameless kid, so Red Hood had brought a pair of black Beretta Ninety-Twos crossed at the belts back. The chosen location was one of the East’s worst bars, though that was debatable as they filled the area and many claimed to be between the worst. Anyway, now all that was needed of him was patience.

But with the soundtrack of sirens and gunshots and the “glorious” view, it might just be too much to ask. – [I knew I should’ve brought a ps vita or something.]

[sparrow]

It's been almost a year since she went into hiding. And it was a year wasted. Just about chased out of town and hiding from the Feds. All that time with the Joker had definitely brought out a lot of clear situations around her.

One. Don't run with lunatics and their crew. Too much unwanted attention for being like the vigilantes chasing them down.

And two. If they had a crazy clown lady who seems to not understand the difference between love and abuse, it wasn't worth the constant attempts of her trying to get you out of the group.

Like she would ever be interested in someone like the Joker. Psychos just weren't her type. Not after the last one decided it would be fun to try and see how many people they could kill with a few darts against a gang with guns.

That had been the last time she took on any positions as hired help for some time. After that, she had fled further south. Avoiding hurricane season by a few months and spending the winter in the tropics. That's to her persuading a wealth small down business man to let her have a vacation. Oh, how she loved to be able to give people a few suggestion with her powers.

She did what she had to to get the information she wanted. Reading minds. And finding out someone's past. She had hit a new low for herself. Before all this, she had simply gone off the vibes she got and slight visions of someone's mind. But now she would dig for the information. And most would not know it.

Well one year, down and nothing but a good amount of money and tired of the old scene. It was time she repaid the city and it's fellow criminals a visit. And she wasn't going to go around with gifts for everyone. She had a score to settle. If Joker was going to use her like that then leave her for the Feds. Then she was just going to cause trouble on his business deals end of the line.

What's a clown without his props. Besides a mad man with too much makeup it would seem. Sure the Bats would catch news of her appearance in Gotham fast. But let him attack. If he wanted to fight fire with fire she would.

She was going to do it her way. And she had a score to settle with a few gang leaders as well after all that time and how they treated her. As well as the death of a few of her friends on their hands. Brook was starting to twist Sparrow back.

No longer the lovely little song bird that worked for the Joker once upon a time. But now something that would work against those in systems they should not mess with. Besides, she had time for a little more fun. With no school and all to go right back to at the time. She had all the time in the world.

And she had thought long and hard. All she had to do was get a hold of a few people. A certain Thorn and possible Mask on her list along with the clown freak of crime.

Brook had come to a smaller lesser noticeable place by the better of Gotham's populations. But the underworld knew of it. It was where she would fine that dear friend of her's the rat named Jay Hunter. She had a bone to pick with him.

He'd know her if he remember right. He had set her up at a point in trying to make it look like she had made a deal behind the Joker's back. Something could have gotten her killed at the time.

Brook ditched her ride a while back and walked the block to the mildly hidden entrance to the rough looking bar. Though short, her appearance deceived those around her. She strolled on in. Knowing where and when Mr. Hunter would be.

She wore a pair of tall black heeled boots. That stopped short of her knee. The faded pencil jeans she wore tucked into them. And a black fitted halter top with a few light chained necklaces hung from around her neck. Her long blond hair down and cascaded behind her back to about her shoulder blades. Her eyes lined with black liner and shadowed with a light dusting of a darker shade of grey. And a soft color to her lips.

She wasn't like the other women in the bar. She wasn't out for attention. She was out to make a statement. Her eyes telling most of her rage, but hidden by the way she carried herself.

As she strolled across the bar, a smirk came to her face as she notice Jay across the way enjoying drink or two. She was here to leave a message and made note that she may looked weak, but she wasn't someone to mess with. And the great thing about it, if someone recognized her as a civilian, she could change their minds for them.

Her eyes caught glimpse of a young man leaning up against a wall. The tattoo standing out the most. She wondered is she knew him at all. Something familiar about his appearance. But no she had not meant him. Though that tattoo looked similar to something she's seen before. And as she passes, hardly glimpsing at him she uses her mind energy to get inside his head.

It was there she pulled a memory of the slightest with so much horror, it make her stutter in her step passing him. A slight gasp of her breath sent out within her mind. Something that could be picked up by someone if paying attention to their surrounding.

Brook could usually control herself. But that was a first in a place like this. Most of the people in her at worst got shot by someone maybe at some point. She moved along, catching herself and continuing.

She found the man she had been looking for as he was drinking with a few of his pals and two girls sitting near the group. She stopped short and looked over at him with slight interest in her eye.

"Care to join use sweetie," Jay said rather loudly. And one could tell he had too much to drink.

"A scumbag like you? You're lucky to be alive," she says flatly.

"What's the matter? Don't like what you see," he says with a bit of a laugh. "Cause, I'm liking what I am seeing."

There is a look of distaste on her face at his comment. She wasn't going to waste her time her. She lunged forward at him and grabs him by the collar of his shirt. And uses her other arm to pin his neck against the wall. The other people jumping back at first.

"Need I remind you last time you saw me, you ran like a chicken while I took the beat down," Brook said through gritted teeth.

His friends standing back and wondering over the matter before them. Now almost a bystander affect going on between the people.

"I don't know what you're talking about lady..." he started. As she pressed her arm against him harder.

"Oh, you remember. You remember just fine," she says looking into his eyes pulling the thought out of his memory. "And you thought you could get away with it."

"Come on, it was just a game," he said.

"Oh, so my life is a game to you? You think you can leave me to repay a debt for yourself," she says.

[jasont]

Jason silently sighed, getting angrier by the minute as absolutely nothing at all happened. He could go all night that way without calling unwanted attention, so that wasn’t an issue, but that didn’t mean it would be enjoyable. So he started analyzing every single person in the bar to kill some time, trying to reach for some useful information through the way they carried themselves and their group’s dynamics. It was pretty easy to gauge who called the shots in the group to his left, all the guys laughing whenever the big blonde with an ace tattooed on his neck said something. It didn’t take long to realize the man sitting alone on a corner hadn’t been to that kind of place before, as he nervously looked around then down whenever someone made eye-contact. And discovering that the guy to his right was a complete prick proved the simplest thing in the world, as he loudly bragged about some story, having obviously gotten too acquainted with the alcohol to use his inside voice. – [That one’s gonna get shot before the night’s over.] – There were also a couple of “big” names there. Lucky Rodriguez was somewhere among a group on the far side, and Joe “Hammerer” Childs downed his fifth whisky shot while sitting by himself, not a single sign of change in him at all.

As that “game” went on, a new figure walked into the bar, however. It was a girl, not much older than him. An extremely attractive girl. And short too. Jason raised an eyebrow at her appearance. She seemed even more out of her element than the nervous guy. As in she was kind of above that place’s league. He watched as the blonde made her way through the people as he had done before, apparently with a clear objective in mind. Was she some gangster’s girlfriend, falling for the “love” thing these types usually fired in all directions? Wasn’t quite right, that look in her eyes suggested something a little more. Jason could see she had a nice body as well. As in fit and well-built for physical activities - not that the other meaning didn’t apply. The new girl walked past him, and something immediately felt wrong. He thought about the Joker then, without any reason to do so, and watched as the blonde seemed to lose her pace for a second before resuming the previous speed. Jason’s eyes narrowed, and he decided she needed some more of his attention. The young woman finally found her intended target – the loud idiot. – [What a shock.]

They obviously knew each other, and the vigilante watched with mild interest as they traded a few words before the girl jumped the prick out of nowhere, pinning him to the wall and surprising everyone around her. – [Fierce. I like her.] - She hadn’t thought that through, though. Jason could see no gun or weapon, she obviously had no super-strength and even if the blonde was a complete martial arts master – which by her body language he could tell she was not – heels were not a good option when entering a physical dispute. The “scumbag’s” friends were also starting to realize the situation, and from their posture they were just waiting to take her down, one of them and even one of the girls both reaching into their clothes for something. Jason stepped between them and the fiery miniature at that moment, pushing the guys aside as if they were children. He was tired of the undercover thing for tonight, anyway. – “Now, let’s calm down.” – All eyes in the bar were on them at that moment, though he was mainly hidden by the bigger men’s body-wall. – “I believe we should all take a moment…” – He sounded serious and commanding, keeping all of them at bay. – “… To appreciate how many of you I can kill in one move.” – Red Hood’s right hand flew into his jacket, and the Kris flashed through the air in his usual lightning-fast draw, finding several throats while he rotated himself then disappearing from sight back into his jacket in a single moment.

Nobody moved or said anything as the bodies fell down, reacting only when the light above the victims exploded with a shot from one of the Berettas. Many went for cover, and an equal number went for their guns, though they still couldn’t tell what had happened or what to do regarding Jason. His face was hidden in the shadows now, as the area he and the other two were standing in received only partial lighting. The vigilante looked over his shoulder. – “You better make it fast, we have to go.” – Hammerer had gotten up, and stared blankly at them, and Lucky Rodriguez wasn’t a complete stranger to that kind of situation, he’d soon make a move.

[sparrow]

It was then that someone else stepped in. She heard the man's voice, but did not look back at first as she continue to been Jay to the wall with her arm.

She knew she would cause a problem. Good. Let them know not to mess with her. If she really had to use her powers to protect her, she would in a way they would not notice as much. But it would leave them baffled by the event.

But it was when he had said about killing people in such a short time, that she turned. Keeping Jay pinned hard to the wall as she turned to look who this modern day Hercules trying to stand up for a possible damsel in distress. Like she needed the help...

At a quick glimpse, she could see it had been the guy she had passed just moments ago. Those visions. Then now he stood firing rounds at people standing by. Ok, so maybe what she saw in him was now being explained a bit more by his actions.

Before she could do or say anything, he fired off several rounds. And bodies fell. The lights dimmer in the place because of his rounds.

It was at the sound of the man's voice again that pulled her away from her work as she focused on Jay.

"Fine," she replied flatly to the strange as she hardly turned to acknowledge him this time.

As she held Jay against the wall she took her other arm and with her hand grabbed his wrist. "Alright Jay, I'll let you live this time. But the next...you won't be so lucky," she said. And with that she twisted his arm in away to dislocate his arm and slammed it against the table hard enough to break his wrist. Of course using her powers to help her strength against him.

She turns away as the man is crying out in pain. It doesn't faze her as she walks away. She knew this place. She knew of the back exit they could leave.

"You got a ride," she says as she walked passed and behind the stranger.

She glances over and sees a few of the bigger guys getting up. Ready to take them down in a moments time.

"Lets go handsome," she says as she grabs onto his arm to pull him with her. He had helped her and she was going to return the favor for the moment.

[jasont]

Jason certainly gave her points for keeping her cool in that situation, most people wouldn’t. Maybe he should’ve toned down the violence of the attack, sure, but the vigilante had seen that scene a million times before. Those people weren’t psychotic murderers, but they were criminal scum who knew how to shoot someone and had the intention to go with it, so that’s exactly what would’ve happened had he not intervened. Knowing that, why not kill them first?

Before having much time for anything else, though, Jason was forced to act once more, as Rodriguez’s group decided sooner rather than later that they did not appreciate his way of dealing with the previous situation. But the thing about shooting it out – or even indicating the intention - with someone that didn’t hesitate, had perfect aim, lightning-fast reflexes and could read people through body language was that it was not a good idea in any way. Meaning “Lucky” got a bullet to the face at the first sign of aggression, and by that moment the second target was already being picked at the same time that several flashbangs were being drawn by the vigilante. The following second Jason had covered both eyes with his right arm, the two people behind him being protected by his body - especially the mini-blonde who was facing the other way. The grenades went off and basically brought down all foes in the bar, while from memory of their positions he kept shooting down the more dangerous ones, finishing off Rodriguez’s group and Hammerer. Flashbangs, even though being named the way they were, were not merely flashes of light, but also designed to cause temporary deafness and attack the inner ear to take away balance.

From the sounds behind him Jason could tell that the fiery girl had dealt with the prick – painfully - and now they were the only people in there with sight and hearing intact, which was great since the guy with the Ace on his neck and his group had managed to mainly avoid the shots and were hiding behind a bunch of turned tables, waiting to regain their senses. And people would be coming in any time now, not many of them willing to forgive a random teenage marksman for shooting up their area. The blonde seemed to think the same, since she immediately moved past Jason, who followed while keeping suppressing fire on the criminals until the Beretta was empty. – “Yeah, my bike’s in an alley near here.” – He then allowed her to guide him to the back exit, realizing that was not the first time the blonde had been there. She sure had some weird connections to Gotham’s worst side. He’d ask her about it later, since there were more important things going on at the moment, such as the sound of people coming into the bar and barking orders to each other, meaning the criminal cavalry had arrived. – “Ok, we’re gonna have to run, and I don’t think heels will help a lot with that. Allow me.” – He put away the empty pistol, kicking open the door and throwing several timed bombs on the corridor behind them. Jason then picked the mini-girl up, gently but quickly, and got to the back street, jumping over a trash can with extreme ease.

She was as light as a feather. He smiled to himself discreetly with that thought, running up to a wall and jumping against it, kicking it off and reaching a fire-escape. – “Hold tight.” - Quickly climbing it up, Jason heard the small explosions back at the bar, not bothering to look back as he jumped from the rail to the top of the brick wall in front of them, getting down then to the alley where his Harley Davidson stood in all its glory. - “Here we are.”

[sparrow]

"Alright then. Lets move," Brook kept up a very fast pace. Even with heels on, she managed to get them through the building rather fast.

As they made it to the back. Brook noted some of the stuff he was doing. He definitely was prepared for an attack against someone. That brought up a few questions herself.

At his words, she crossed her arms a bit and gave him a look of almost insult. "You'd be surprised how well a girl can run in heels," she says flatly.

But by then Jason had already picked her up and was off. Some guys never really gave her the chance. That was another reason for Jay's misfortune on his part. He thought she wouldn't make it back a live. Well surprise, surprise.

She let it go for the time being. It was most important to get out of their first. She could make a point later. As young man carried her with ease, she hung on and shifted with him. He was quite fit for someone that was just standing around in a bar like that.

Most of the big shot thugs in there were the type they would be out in rain without someone hired to hold an umbrella. Really, the things some of those thugs did. The wealthier, the more they thought they were in control.

At Jason's words, she did the only thing she could do. And that was to wrap her arms around his neck. This was the only way to grip as he climbed the building. And then as soon as they were down on the next alley, she saw his drive.

"Nice," she said as her grip loosened after landing. "And would you mind?"

She gave him a knowing glance that he could put her down now. Now all she had to do was get a second where his back was turned once she was out of his arm, literally. This would be her time to use her powers to get away. Disappear into the night. She loved being able to faze through solid objects. But she couldn't do it while he was paying attention. She couldn't let him know.

[jasont]

Jason almost grinned with her comment about being capable of running in heels and the fact she apparently took offense at his actions, but managed to keep it to himself. – [Maybe I just wanted an excuse to carry you around.] – He obviously said no such thing out loud, continuing with his original plan and taking her all the way to his motorcycle with ease. The vigilante nodded slightly to her reaction to it, feeling kind of proud. He certainly loved bikes and loved riding them, especially Harley Davidsons and Ducatis - which was pretty noticeable if one managed to get a look at his collection - though a couple of Kawasakis wouldn’t hurt him. – [I’ll get some new ones later.]

Noticing it, Jason returned her glance and acknowledged it. – “Well, I would, but I guess I can’t.” – Any man would’ve enjoyed having such a beautiful girl in their arms, especially one holding onto them so tightly, but all good things must come to an end. He put the blonde down next to the Harley and got on it, starting the motorcycle and evaluating the girl once more to burn her face in his memory, not having forgotten at all what had happened back at the bar when she passed by. – “Sorry if I was a bit too intrusive, it’s just a habit. But after what you did to that guy I’m thinking maybe I was unneeded." – That part between the miniature and the prick was personal, he could tell, so not something he’d be asking about, people had enough problems of their own to deal with without anyone poking at them. – “Guess none of us can go back there anymore.” – At least not in that cover, the vigilante would have to change his appearance for the next time, maybe use his natural hair. He’d figure something out. – “But I must confess it’s my first time seeing a fun-sized bar fighter, that was pretty awesome.” – Jason fought back a smile while remembering the scene and his own surprise with that fiery figure’s actions. If he had betted on her objective there he would’ve lost – badly.

“Well, guess we should move. I can drop you off somewhere if you want. Or I can just let you go home on your own…” – Though he’d still be kind of worried about her safety. – “… But not before you tell me what happened back there.” – His gaze hardened somewhat then, not because Jason was trying to intimidate her or whatever, but because he remembered how that clown-bastard had come to mind immediately. The vigilante decided to wait before asking anything about it, perhaps his work was just catching up, reminding him of how the Joker was still alive and starting up the fires of hatred in him. Jason locked that away for now, before it got out of hand, concentrating on what was actually happening.

[sparrow]

Brook returns that knowing look of his. She'd seen it before from others. And she could tell what he was thinking. She didn't need to use the full ability of her powers to do that.

"Well you can't very well keep running around with me it your arms all night," she says knowingly.

She stopped for a second then returned to his glance as she turned his as he was on the motorcycle. "Besides, you'd only slow me down," Brook replies smugly with a light smirk on her face. She was teasing in away.

This was almost a way of her's to tell she had not fully minded him getting involved in the situation. Though she was partly glad he had. He was making the night more interesting than it had started off.

"And what gave you that idea," she says with the same little smirk on her face over his words. Not really giving any answer.

"A fun-sized bar fighter? Boy, you really need to get out more often and make some friends. And by the way you handled it in there, I can see why you don't make many," she comments.

She was about to answer his last comment when his looked hardened. More serious on the matter of what went on. "What my message to Jay? That was nothing. Lets just say he was an old friend of mine and I was just giving him a fair warning that he needed to know who he was dealing with. It's an old matter between me and his gang. That's all there is to know," Brook answered as she crossed her arms and leaned her weight to shift it more to one leg as they stood their talking.

[jasont]

Jason could tell she’d seen right through him, not that he had made that a real challenge with the previous comment. – [I could try, y’know.] - The blonde’s next phrase, with the smugness to go with, made him raise his hands jokingly. – “Sorry about that, next time I’ll keep it in mind.” - Yeah, he had said ‘next time’, after all, indirectly inviting young women to shoot up criminal bars and beat up thugs right after doing said things seemed just right. Well, she was fierce and pretty interesting, maybe he should actually invite her somewhere. Before the vigilante gave that trail much more thought, she spoke again, and he merely smirked back as she didn’t really say anything.

His expression became a false-hurt one when he heard her next. – “Wow, it wasn’t that bad. But yeah, back there was just one of many similar nights, I don’t think anyone could keep up, they’d mainly just slow me down.” – It was true he didn’t have many friends, but he also didn’t really care about it. And the vigilante used her words to tease, but gave some real information about himself with the thing about other nights like that one. Maybe that wasn’t wise, but he often did things like that when talking to cute girls, though they’d usually be either targets or connected to some mission. And then came the moment of truth when he got to the point that had really kept his attention on the miniature back there. But her answer was rather evasive as she took it in another direction entirely, that or she didn’t understand what he was referring to, which was possible since the blonde’s physical reaction seemed genuine. That meant there was the possibility Jason had just imagined the episode with his memories, but it wouldn’t hurt to make sure.

“Actually I had just decided to not ask about that, I realized it was personal and hope it’s solved now. I meant when you passed me by. You kinda lost your pace then, and I kinda remembered some things I’d rather forget, like a jolt. Would you know anything about it?” – Hell, they were both Gothamites, not many things they hadn’t seen or heard of, he might as well be perfectly clear. – “What I mean is: was that you?” – There, not that hard to just ask away. And Jason stopped to think that they must look really weird, just talking at the alley, ignoring the sounds of the criminals looking for them back at the bar and the fact they were in one of the city’s worst places to be at that time. Then again, Jason’s life and “weird” walked hand in hand.

[sparrow]

Brook gave a slight actually smile of amusement over his words and expression over their conversation. This was rather interesting to her. She could read him mind if she wanted but held back. She wanted a bit to see how this plays out.

"Like I said, I can run in heel. It's not something everyone can do," she smiles coyly. This was rather entertaining.

Thought it was at the next part, she knew what he was talking about after he started up about walking pass him. She didn't have to read him mind to understand that part. She had known what had happened. But she wasn't about to tell him that.

She couldn't. She had only just ran into him that night. And for all she knew, he could use it against her. So instead of making anything of it. She played into her acting skills. Just like any other time. No one really knew Brook Copper. She may play both sides of the fence.

But the girl seen in the night clubs and bars, was not the same as the college student she was during her days it seemed. Though she cut back on the college stuff for now. She had bigger fish to fry lately.

It was amazing what a little makeup and a different outfit could do for a girl when it came to keeping her identity.

She let him finish his phrase though. She gave him a strange look as is questioning his sanity on that last part. Just playing it up a bit. Making her seem innocent over the matter.

"What sort of jolt? A memory? I'd find it hard for anyone to just get inside of people's minds," she says. Showing a little understand of what he was saying, but throwing him off with the last part.

Though she knew exactly what he was talking about. But he didn't need to know what.

"Besides, when I first saw you, I thought you were someone I knew from a while ago," she lied to over her trail.

"You do realize you are sounding a bit crazy with all this mind reading business," she said in a way that was more playful than meant to be mean.

[jasont]

The look Jason got from the blonde was not one of understanding, but more like an “are you insane?” deal. Maybe he was, and that would not be the first time someone – other than him - had come to think that. But her next words threw him right back in the path of suspicion, the vigilante adjusting himself on the Harley so he could get closer to her and a clearer look of the girl’s expressions. – “Something like that, yes.”

He remained skeptical as the blonde went on, after all there were hardly many guys as attractive as him around, or with a tattoo so eye-catching, but it was possible she’d seen him in some other mission or undercover work, especially if the miniature was a regular in that part of town. The vigilante couldn’t be completely sure that was the case, most people didn’t really remember enough of what he didn’t want them to and would only be able to compare the characteristics he used to confuse them, so for now he merely acknowledged her words with impartial internal reviews. – “I would’ve remembered you.” – Smooth. She then got to the point, finally stating his madness for asking someone about spontaneous memory-triggering and if they had anything to do with it. It was a strong point, no denying that, but once again there was that particular choice of words. – “I never said ‘mind reading’.” – His gaze was piercing at that moment, and kind of cold. Until Jason couldn’t hold it in and grinned, his eyes going back to the clear hue from before. – “But, having some random guy ask you about stuff like that in an alley must be strange at best, so I won’t push it.”

He then analyzed the mini-blonde for a second. – “I’m Jason. Just so we can get past the ‘strange guy’ part.” – Maybe he should’ve used another name, but the decision had been made and the words had been said. – “And if you’re sure you don’t want that ride, I’ll be going. Let me just…” – Without any warning, the vigilante leaned forward, kissing her lips and lightly holding the blonde's face. It was short, but he liked it, and it felt good to actually be the one to surprise-kiss the girl for once. – “… Well, I guess if you could read my mind you’d have punched me in the face or something.” – Not that anything was stopping her now. - "Maybe I should try it again to be sure. But I guess that'd be harassment." - So before any hits could come, Jason smirked and revved up the motorcycle. – “See you around.” – He then took off, getting maybe a dozen meters ahead before looking back to tell her to be careful.

[sparrow]

Brook looked at him for a moment. Ok so the first part through him off, but showed she knew at least what he was talking about. Hey, some people are into that sci-fi stuff.

His next words of remembering her definitely set off an alarm. Was he? Yes, he was. She didn't need to read his mind by now after their bit of conversation to know he was hitting on her.

She just slightly shrugged it off a bit. "Just saying I have a friend that looks like you, but without the tattoo," she state backing up her first claim.

And with the mind reading bit, maybe she should have left that out. But she was just trying to show she understood what he was saying. Though stating he was crazy to think it was real. How could that hurt?

The look at first made her feel she had offended him, but the grin cracked before she would respond to him. She didn't want to drive him away. All the while she planned on making a getaway soon for her own safety.

"Well then Jason. I guess I can at least give the guy who saved me, my name. I'm Brook," she said. Harmless enough with her first name. Besides she could always redirect thought if trouble came up.

And before she could respond or reaction to him or his words. He had leaned in and kissed her! Well that was definitely a bold move for a first meeting. Who did this guy think he is?

She was stunned after that move more a moment. That was definitely now what she saw coming from him. And she had stopped reading his mind a while ago.

At his words she gained a bit back. "Normally I would," she said, getting a bit red. "But don't expect to be so lucky next time."

And at that he had taken off shortly after before any more could be said or done.

She stood there and watched for a moment as he took off. So, he got away before she had planned on leaving herself. Now she was wondering if he wasn't the mind reader instead of her. At that, she then got closer to one of the buildings.

Contacting her powers she seemed to walk right through the wall. She'd hide out for a bit and get away easily with very little trouble.

-- - - - - - - --

Two nights later...Sparrow found herself in a chase against some of Thorn's thugs. She hadn't planned on running into them that night.

Ok, so she didn't do the research like the Bat-family seems to do. Besides she's a free range vigilante. Not a set one like them. She did what she wanted to and handled it how she wanted.

And right now, she hadn't checked into the work a guy called Snake was getting into. This was just great. Here she had it under control and now...She looked like a vigilante amateur providing shields with her powers to block off the gun fire.

This was one of the times she was glad her costume didn't have heels with it. The tall boots she wore with them were black and flat for movement. She maybe be able to levitate, but there was a difference between that and flying.

There she was, the lone blond taking on a group of thugs. Armed thugs at that. She didn't really have the focus at the moment to throw things at them as they fired at her.

Her costume still the same as when she had taken on the FBI. Wasn't like the Sparrow had been fully noted by them and she had slipped away for a while.

She liked the look any way. The eye mask to hide her identity. And she knew how distracting a woman could be on a mission. Sometimes worked in her favor over the vigilantes she could get away from.

[jasont]

So in the end Jason got nothing from the criminals information-wise, but managed to take out a couple of right-hand men and several smaller fish, not a complete loss. And he met Brook, a five-foot-three blonde with light-green eyes and a lot of attitude, some fighting skills and more strength than it seemed possible for her small frame, who may or may not have mind-reading powers. Pretty brave, too, and with some ties to Gotham’s more dangerous area and some of its inhabitants. And she was definitely kissable. As the vigilante’s Harley brought him to one of his havens, he made sure to keep a mental note on the girl.

-------------

Jason jumped again as the man he was chasing tried the knife-throwing maneuver once more, the blades sinking where the vigilante had been the second before. He was just too fast for that loser. Johnny Mayhew was new in town, a criminal with a little more brain than most and a knife-fetish, trying to “carve” a name for himself and build a new gang capable of challenging the big boys. Too bad the Red Hood had gotten to him first, and now most of his first associates were dead, and Mayhew himself would join them after Jason had taken all the names and information regarding the people he had contacted and formed alliances with – so far he only knew someone had said something about a “Snake”, not much to work with. While the vigilante thought about what kind of tortures would get the job done faster against that particular man, sounds of gunfire suddenly filled the air. Not that it was uncommon in that particular area of the city, but there were lots of it, so it was his job to check that out.

Mayhew tried using the distraction provided by the shots to throw another set of knifes at Red Hood, who effortlessly grabbed one mid-flight, dodging the others and throwing it back. The blade pierced the criminal’s right ankle, and he fell down screaming. – [That’s how a pro does it.] - Without losing a second, Jason launched one of his wrist-lines, which in turn wrapped itself around the man and completely sealed of his upper-body movement. – “Ok, stay put, be back later.” – He pressed a button at the side of the gauntlet, launching a segment of it connected to the steel line down and into the ground. Johnny wasn’t going anywhere. Jason then used the other wrist-launcher to quickly get on top of a nearby building, making his way to the source of those shots. Didn’t take long with his speed and finally, looking at the street below him, Red Hood found himself contemplating the rather bizarre scene. A group of thugs was being chased by a strangely familiar and underclothed blonde, but she didn’t seem to be attacking much, instead apparently using a psychic barrier to merely block the shots.

He could’ve just watched since it wasn’t certain she needed help, but Jason was hardly a spectator when anything like that happened around him, so he jumped off, throwing several shuriken - which pierced the weapons’ barrels, before exploding in the hands of the criminals and severely injuring them. Red Hood landed on top of one, breaking his neck, and with a roundhouse kick knocked out a nearby other, before breaking a third one’s clavicle with a flying downwards elbow and putting him in shock. With a couple more moves, all of them were on the ground, most of them even alive. Who knows, maybe she needed them for something. Jason then turned to the figure in blue, analyzing her from head to toe. - [Crime-fighting has certainly improved recently.] – He approached the blonde, almost certain of her identity as the height, hair, musculature and body-language seemed to match. – “You’re welcome.” – Red Hood smirked inside the helmet, though she couldn’t see it, teasing her with the tone.

[sparrow]

Sparrow could sense that there was another mind within her reach of reading. She didn't look into it as she held the shield for a while. She needed to figure something out. She hadn't expected Snake to have this many guys on hand.

It was then that the other mind came into reach and jumped out without saying much. He started to attack the guys. With little regard as to who lived and who died. He moved with ease. Years of training. Sure she could his mind then. But why do it just then.

She lowered the shield til there was nothing left of it as the guy fought. The red helmet was a give away. She had heard of the Red Hood. Never really had a reason to get involved with the line of work he was in. She had her own work cut out for her.

It was then when he at stopped to turn and face her that she decided to get a hold of his thought waves for a moment. First meeting were often fun as a vigilante. And messing with someone's mind was even more so.

At his words, she rested her hands on her hips and tilted her head a bit as if examining him before her. "I could have handle it myself. Besides you may have taken out a few guys I needed information from," she said to him at first. It wasn't a heated tone, but on of begin forward.

"And by the way, what in your definition would be improvement on the current crime-fighting," she stated. A smirk playing on her face over pulling that from his mind.

Call it being rude and intrusive, but he was the one that butted in on her fight.

[jasont]

The blonde struck a pose, examining him, and after hearing her words his smirk just grew wider. – “Sure. Any second, right? Besides, some are still alive, I guarantee you I can make them remember what they had for lunch in their tenth Christmas with the right tools.” – Jason was completely confident in his torture methods, and hey, he’d just thrown in some free extra help, so no harm done. The way she answered also reminded him of the tone Brook had used, so it was basically a certainty by now. Still, it kind of surprised him when the vigilante heard his own thoughts being used against him like that. It was interesting, and kind of creepy. – “Well, seeing as I was in the privacy of my head, it wasn’t exactly meant to be shared with the world.” – He paused for a moment, trying to find the right words. – “I meant you look… Really distracting in that outfit. Back in the day there were only grown men dressed like giant bats and flamboyant multi-colored kids, so yeah, it’s an improvement.” – There, partially salvaged.

“And I knew you were a mind-reader, not nice to lie to people.” – Jason approached her then, feeling they had the tendency of having these talks in the weirdest of places. But it was only at the next moment that something clicked in his mind. – [Wait. Does that mean she’s reading my mind right now?] – Probably. As if it were mocking him, the vigilante’s brain immediately went back to the moment he kissed her. – [Don’t do this to me, come on.] – His protests only seemed to make him try to recall it in even more detail, from the smoothness of her skin, to the softness of her lips, her sweet fragrance, those beautiful emerald eyes… Brook was fierce, she had courage and knew how to take care of herself, plus she was cute, rather fun to talk to, had psychic powers and looked gorgeous in that blue outfit. What was there to dislike? Nothing at all. – [выйти из моей головы!] – The vigilante quickly switched to thinking in Russian, hoping it would do some good as he blushed like a little kid and turned his back on the blonde, thanking the heavens for the helmet and focusing on the problem at hand once more. – “… So, what do we have here?” – Hopefully the miniature would just pretend none of that happened. He wanted to kiss her again, though.