LAURENS POV
I couldn't help but scoff as I left Red Hood in the living room and headed to the kitchen to grab the necessary first aid supplies.
"Seriously, they should start putting AirTags on these superheroes," I muttered to myself, half-jokingly. "At least then I'd have a heads-up before they decide to drop by unannounced."
Returning with the first aid kit in hand I approached Red Hood once more determination in my gaze.
"Alright spill it" I demanded setting the kit down on the coffee table. "What happened to you?"
He remained frustratingly silent his what I imagine stoic expression offering no clues.
I rolled my eyes refusing to play his game.
"Fine," I retorted, crossing my arms over my chest. "I'm not patching you up until you tell me."
With a weary sigh, he relented.
"I went to a warehouse full of mobsters, pissed a few of them off, got into a fight, and got shot. One of the bullets hit my helmet pretty good, which is why it's broken," he admitted his voice tinged with irritation. "And I tore my stitches in my side while making a hasty retreat."
I nodded, understanding dawning on me. "Well let's get you fixed up then" I said, motioning for him to take off his jacket and shirt.
He hesitated for a moment before complying lifting his shirt to expose the wound on his side but keeping the rest of his attire intact the helmet still firmly on his head.
I sighed inwardly, noting his reluctance to fully trust me.
As I disinfected the wound and began to sew it up I couldn't help but wonder why he had come to me of all people for help.
"So why me?" I asked focusing on my task.
" because clearly your expertise in stitching up bullet wounds is renowned," he remarked sarcastically a wry smile quirking the corner of his lips.
His expression softened slightly. "Because you've got steadier hands than me" he admitted begrudgingly. "And you do neater and better stitches than I do."
I couldn't help but chuckle at his admission a hint of pride swelling within me. "Well that's what you get for sewing clothes for most of your life" I joked a fondness creeping into my tone.
However it was a half-truth at best.
The reality was I used to stitch up Jason Dick and even Bruce when they came back battered from patrol.
But I wasn't about to reveal that little detail to Red Hood just yet.
After finishing sewing up Red Hood's side I stood up and went to wash my hands.
When I returned I found him already putting on his jacket looking like he was about to make a hasty exit.
I stopped in front of him, a stern expression on my face. "Sit back down," I commanded, gesturing to the wound on his eyebrow that was still gushing blood. "That needs looking at."
He laughed dismissively. "I can handle it," he insisted, a hint of stubbornness in his voice.
I gave him a pointed look. "You've basically admitted you're rubbish at stitching yourself up," I countered, not backing down.
He sighed, mumbling under his breath as he reluctantly took a seat. I set up the supplies again, then turned to him, disinfectant in hand. "Take off your helmet," I instructed.
He complied and removed his helmet revealing his face.
I couldn't help but study his features with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.
His face was sharp with prominent cheekbones and a jawline that could cut glass.
But it was the perpetual frown etched into his eyebrows that caught my attention first. It gave him an air of intensity as if he were constantly battling some inner turmoil.
A prominent scar marred his jaw drawing my gaze involuntarily.
It reminded me of Jason's scar a reminder that stirred a small pit of sadness inside me.
His Raven hair disheveled from the helmet framed his face and the white streak running through it was the main attraction to the eyes.
As I took in more of his feature I noticed a smaller faint scar near his hairline that I hadn't seen before.
Despite the roughness of his appearance there was a certain attractiveness to him a ruggedness that hinted at a life lived on the edge.
I guessed he was around the same age as me perhaps in his early twenties though it was hard to tell for sure.
I couldn't see his eyes behind the white domino mask he wore but there was something about the set of his jaw and the tension in his muscles that spoke volumes about the inner turmoil he must be facing.
I attempted to clean the wound on his eyebrow, but the domino mask he wore underneath his helmet obstructed my efforts.
Frustrated, I let out a scoff and leaned back to look at him.
"What?" he asked, his tone guarded.
I shot back sarcastically, "Maybe if you didn't have a mask in the way, I could actually see what I'm doing."
He tensed, becoming serious. "Why do you think I'm going to take it off?" he asked bluntly. "I hardly trust you."
I retorted, "Well, you're not entirely unknown to me either. I've trusted you to keep the information about my home address and workplace to yourself."
Unfazed,he scoffed.
I pressed on "I'm not stupid. I know you probably know more about me, as you've likely done some type of background search."
He remained silent and I finally mustered the courage to ask "Will you please take off your domino mask?"
He shook his head. "I have more to lose if my identity is revealed," he explained. "That's why I can't trust you."
And I didn't miss the mind map about me in the corner of the room," he said bluntly, his gaze never leaving mine.
His blunt honesty caught me off guard and I felt a flush of embarrassment creep up my cheeks.
"I... I understand," I stammered, my eyes briefly flickering to the mind map of him pinned to the corner of the room before quickly averting them.
"It's just... curiosity, you know? I want to know more about you."
I omitted the fact that it was also a task set by Bruce, not wanting to further damage the fragile trust he seemed to be extending.
We sat in silence for a few seconds, the weight of our unspoken truths hanging heavy in the air.
Then, an idea struck me.
"How about this?" I suggested, a spark of determination igniting within me.
"I'll give you a piece of really sensitive personal info about myself. That way, if I ever do slip up and reveal your identity, you can use it as leverage against me."
Red Hood mulled over the proposal for a moment before nodding in agreement.
I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the vulnerability of my confession. "I... I dated one of the Robins," I confessed, my voice barely above a whisper.
His brow furrowed in confusion. "As in a man named Robin or the Batman sidekick type?" he asked, his tone cautious.
"The Batman sidekick type," I clarified watching as his body visibly tensed his thumb rubbing along his scar as if seeking solace.
Another observation about Redhood that frighteningly reminded me of Jason.
"Which one?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.
"The second one," I replied, my own nerves starting to fray as I watched his reaction.
He seemed to physically shrink before my eyes, his demeanor shifting as if he'd seen a ghost.
I laughed nervously, attempting to lighten the mood. "So... do you trust me now?" I joked, though there was an undercurrent of genuine uncertainty in my words.
AUTHORS NOTE
hehehe we are getting to the good stuffff.
wonder who will crack first.
see in the next chapter.....
or will it be....