After weeks of endless searching and dead-end trails, she finally has him in her sights. Cassandra cannot recall how many nights she spent just sitting in her bedroom thinking about this strange man in the red mask. He seemed so determined to cover his tracks, yet now he stands on the roof of a nearby building...open for everyone to see. It seems like he wants to be caught now that he knows Batman is on his trail.
Cassandra toys with the idea of calling Batman and ending this little game of cat and mouse, but something about this man seems so familiar to her. She feels connected to him in a way she can't explain. If she calls Bruce, her chance to discover this connection will be lost. If she tests this theory and Red Hood escapes, she'll lose Bruce's trust.
Letting her heart win the battle, Cassandra leaves her current perch and makes her way towards Red Hood. She lands silently on the ground behind him and approaches him cautiously.
"I know you're there. I recognize those quiet foot-steps," he says calmly. "You're the only person in the world who's more silent than him. Cassie..."
Cassandra freezes. Her eyes narrow beneath her full face mask, yet she remains stiff and virtually unaffected by the revelation of her identity.
"You're familiar," she says in her scarcely-heard monotone voice. "Why?"
Red Hood simply laughs. "You have no idea? Consider me officially disappointed. You're the daughter of two of the League of Assassins' greatest warriors and protege of the Batman, yet you can't tell who I am? I thought you were better than that."
"Sarcastic humor...confidence. I've seen it before...," she says. She reels back as the answer hits her like a freight train. "Jay...?"
He lifts the helmet from his head and smiles. "So you do remember. Miss me, Cass?"
"We all did," she replies as she removes her own mask.
"Bull shit! He didn't miss me..." he speaks with venom.
"Yes, he did."
"NOT ENOUGH!" he barks. Cassandra remains still as she conceals tear gas pellets in her hand.
"HOW LONG DID IT TAKE FOR HIM TO REPLACE ME?! TELL ME THE TRUTH!" he demands, getting even closer. She stares at him without saying a word. The truth would hurt him.
"You're a murderer," she says painfully. "You belong in Arkham."
"I was there five years ago getting the shit beat out of me by a deranged clown! I'm not going back. Besides, you wouldn't lock me away...would you?"
He contemplates the red mask in his hands. "You know, you were one of the only people I could trust. You were...are...everything to me."
"You don't sway me. If I let you go...you hurt my father."
"Oh, so now Bruce is your father? I thought he was mine too...until he left me to die."
"No, he didn't. You left and put your life at risk."
Jason backs away slowly and turns to face the city lights. "I need to face him alone. This is my destiny. He needs to pay for what he did to me."
"Joker did this to you," she says, moving to stand beside him. "Change your ways. Come home. If killing is your only talent, then it's your curse." She turns his chin so he can face her. She places a hand on his shoulder reassuringly. "It's a curse you must lift. You're a better man than this. Be that man, then come home. Reclaim your lost honor."
Jason smiles slightly and takes her hand in his. "I think that's the most words you've ever said."
"Make them count," she remarks before grappling up and into the night, leaving Jason alone to think of her words. She won't tell Batman just yet. As she said before, this is Jason's curse. He must lift it on his own, and vanquish the demons of his past.