Dora was surprised to see Tim in the balcony, but the more surprising aspect was that he had dropped by during patrol as he was still in his Red Robin suit. She shifted the grill aside and stepped out on the balcony and Tim turned around, a smile flickering on his face.

He hadn't come there as Red Robin ever since the whole incident with Shadow Walker, but at the moment he was standing in the balcony, his cape billowing out behind him.

"So has your flask gone empty?"

His smile widened, "yes, how did you know?"

"Because that was the only reason you used to visit during patrol."

She took the flask from him and was about to go back to the kitchen to fill it up with coffee when he spoke up, "thank you."

"You're always welcome, bird boy."

She returned shortly after, handing him the flask. He gratefully accepted it, putting it to his lips as he took a huge gulp from the hot coffee.

"Ah... Feels like I'm finally awake," he remarked.

"You do know that by drinking such hot coffee, you literally burn down your throat each time."

He shrugged nonchalantly, "I don't even notice now, guess I've gotten too used to it."

Dora stood by the railings beside him, glancing at the vast city expanse before her. In that mingled network of streets and alleys, crime flourished despite the Bat vigilantes constantly on the lookout.

"You're thinking something," his voice shook her out of her thoughts, "wanna share?"

"Nothing important," she replied, "just thinking that some things never change."

"For example?"

"This city... It never changes."

Silence engulfed them as he tried to make sense of her words, unable to link why she had said that. "And is it a good or a bad thing?"

"I don't really know. It's been years since you guys have been operating as vigilantes but crime never stops."

He nodded, "yeah. Red Hood believes that we can't stop crime but we can control it to some extent. Batman likes to think opposite, chasing after an ideal situation..."

"And what about you? What do you think?" Her brown eyes had flickered towards him in curiosity, wanting to know what he really thought.

"I... I haven't really thought about it," he admitted honestly, pausing as he pondered with his lips set into a small frown, "I think that I walk the grey line, choosing whichever way I find best at the moment. I know crime can't be stopped but I want it to so I try my best to play my part in it, just like Batman. But sometimes... Sometimes I think we are all chasing after an ideal that can never be possibly achieved."

"Don't you think that it should have gotten slightly better by now?"

"Dora, I have no idea why you're asking all this."

She sighed softly, reverting her gaze towards the city, "I don't really know myself."

His gloved hand gently rested on top of hers, "but then there's always hope that things will get better. When, I don't know. But eventually, they will get better. Slowly but steadily and having that hope makes it slightly easier to keep going with all that we're doing."

A soft smile crept up onto her features, her hand turning underneath his as she interlaced their fingers together, "never thought I'd say this but you being optimistic is a very rare moment yet very very precious too."

He chuckled, the light sound of it resonating around her, "one step at a time, I promise you."

She held his hand tightly, turning to face him so that he could look in her coffee brown irises. "We'll get better too. One step at a time."

His features softened and he gently kissed her knuckles, "this is a promise too, right?"

She nodded, hooking her little finger through his, "pinky promise."

He heard Barbara's voice in his communicator, asking him to turn up at the Bowery where something had gone wrong.

So he let go of her hand and kept his flask securely in his belt, "gotta go, duty calls."

The smile from her face didn't falter as she watched him swing off the balcony.

"Stay safe," she called out to him and he turned back to see her one last time before vanishing into the night.

"Sure thing, sweetheart."

***

Talia could easily see that there was something wrong with Mona because not only did she turn up late at training, she was also not very focused, unlike usual.

Her eyes were red and though she tried her best to disarm Udit, she had to surrender after a while.

"Get up," Udit called out, "the session will continue until or unless you perform well."

Mona nodded, standing up again but it was more than clear that she had no will to resume with the training.

Talia rose from her seat and stepped into the ground, "Udit, this is enough for today. You are all dismissed."

He bowed his head respectfully and sheathed his sword, taking Mona's weapon as well and retreated.

Mona looked at Talia as if she had let the woman down by not performing well and her features were quite uncertain.

"I said all of you are dismissed," Talia roared, seeing that some of the members were still lingering there as if to see what she would do to Mona. 

The girl flinched at the shrill voice but Talia's hand gently rested on her shoulder, not speaking until all the others were out of earshot. Her eyes locked with Aleama standing in the corner, emerald irises narrowing in suspicion until the woman retreated.

"Darling, what happened?" She inquired softly though Aleama's words were ringing in Mona's head again.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled, "I promise I'll perform much better tomorrow."

Talia noticed the tremor in her tone and it felt slightly odd to her. In the past few days Mona had warmed up to her a lot but right then she felt a defensive barrier engulf the girl and uncertainty took over her timid voice.

"Come with me," she spoke, hand still resting on her shoulder as she led her out towards the gates of the base.

The man who looked after her horses came up immediately, "shall I prepare a carriage for you, Mistress?"

"No, I will ride on my own today. Bring Xenia."

The man bowed his head and went to the saddle, bringing out Talia's pure white horse.

She climbed up on it and held Mona's hand as she got the child up in front of her.

"If any of you dares to come after me, I will behead all of you," she threatened and everyone present there backed off instinctively.

Mona was slightly trembling, not knowing what was about to happen. She could sense that the woman was angry and the only reason she could find to her anger was her own lack of performance in the training session.

Talia took the reins and rode out of the base, the horse galloping at a swift pace. Fresh air struck them as they sped past, riding far deeper into the acacian forests of Nanda Parbat.

Her arms were on either side of Mona as she controlled the reins, coming to a halt at last in the middle of the forest, chilly wind blowing past the tall trees.

Mona felt frozen, both from the cold and from the fear that she would be punished. However, warmth engulfed her as Talia pulled her closer, her arms wrapping around her slightly shivering figure.

"Mona, don't be scared," she spoke in a soft tone, "I am not going to punish you."

Her frozen figure relaxed slightly and she tilted her head up to look in the fierce emerald irises that were gazing down in her blue irises softly.

"You are troubled about something, aren't you?"

"I am not."

Talia's hand gently stroked her head, "you can tell me anything, dear. Don't be afraid."

She paused but then spoke up, "Ummi... Why did you not kill me along with my mother?"

Talia stiffened and didn't reply immediately, realizing that someone must have said something to Mona regarding her that had disturbed her as such.

"Back then, I spared you because you were just a child and not directly involved in anything Nyssa had planned," she replied truthfully, knowing that someone was trying to turn Mona against her and at that moment, any lie could cause her to lose the girl's trust.

"And what about now?"

"Now I do care for you just like I care for Damian."

Blue eyes looked up at her again, "really?"

"Really." Talia replied though her mind was racing as she tried to figure out who could be trying to turn Mona against her, and then she thought of Aleama. "Tell me, has Aleama tried to reach out to you lately?"

The girl froze and that was enough reply for her.

"So she did talk to you?"

Mona nodded, "please don't punish her. She didn't know that's why she... Please don't punish her."

"I won't," Talia replied though her jaw had clenched slightly, "what did she tell you though?"

"She said... She said that you are just using me for your own gain. She said that I will end up like my mother if I kept trusting you."

Emerald eyes flickered in alarm but the expression faded just as abruptly as it had surfaced, "she was not wrong."

Mona faced her with a surprised expression, "what?"

Talia took in a deep breath, knowing she was taking a huge risk but right then she had to take the girl into confidence or else it was probable that uncertainty would take the better of her and she might start suspecting her instead. "At first, I really wanted to get rid of you, Mona."

She waited for her to resume though disbelief had spread on her features.

"Yes child, she was right in suspecting me and warning you because my intentions earlier were not the same as now. Now I don't want to do anything that would get you hurt."

The child looked confused, "But... But why are you telling me this?"

"Because I want you to know the truth and trust me," she replied, her fingers gently running through those soft brown tresses, "I no longer want to get rid of you. You have become important to me."

It was seldom that Talia would share what she felt honestly but right then she knew it was essential or else she could risk losing Mona forever.

Just like she had lost her son Damian.

The girl was very silent as she pondered on her words but then nodded, "alright. But please don't punish Aleama, spare her."

Talia surprisingly agreed to the request, "I won't punish her but on one condition. You will have to stay away from her."

Mona had been expecting that as she nodded, "I will."

"And if she ever tries to reach out to you again, you will tell me first of all," she instructed, "Aleama might not mean you harm but if she does something stupid to keep you safe, we will all have to pay the price for it. Promise me that you will stay away from her."

"I promise."

***