Zoe flinched back. Her reflexes are good, but he's....not being fair!

She retreated to put space between them, resisting the urge to go for the guns. Instead, she shifted into reverse to grab the staff and keep it engaged in something other than poking at her.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

When she grabs the staff, he doesn't bother pulling back. He simply lets her take it, then tries to kick her in the chest again.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Surprised by her possession of the staff, she clumsily tried to block his kick with it. It felt unnatural and she didn't like it. His foot connected and she went down.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

The impromptu lesson ends.

"All right, get up. We've got work to do, though not nearly as much as I thought. You're good, Zoe, but you need to be better before you can really effect the change you want around here.

And you're going to need to do it from two directions. You'll need a mask." he says.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

She glared up at him, not that it had much effect in the dark. "I can get better. Who are you under yours?"

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

"A concerned citizen who wants to do the right thing." he says, reaching out to help her up.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Zoe almost didn't let him. She didn't trust anybody in a mask who wouldn't show their face and own up to their own actions, and he wanted her to wear one! Next thing he'd say was that she needed a codename.

She let him help her up. "When does target practice start? I'm good at that."

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Red Robin reaches into the bandoleers at his chest and withdraws several bird shaped discs.

"Now." he says, handing them over to her.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

She took them, holding one in each hand, testing the weight and size. "Do they do anything that I need to be aware of?"

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

"They're modified shuriken. I have some that explode or produce knockout gas, too. But usually, they're great for disarming gun-wielding gang-bangers." Red Robin says.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

"Am I throwing them at you?" Her expression said she would love to try it.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

"Not quite." he says, suppressing a grin. He points at a building across the way.

"There. Make them stick." he says.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

This was one area in which she had every confidence in herself. She didn't have to put on a front, didn't have to talk a good game. She could hit a target, any target, with any projectile, every time.

One in each hand. She took an extra moment to aim, she would show him, he would see that she knew what she was doing,, and let them fly, one after the other.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Again she manages to surprise him with her prowess. When the discs impact in the wall, Red Robin nods in approval.

"Well, we're going to need to get you some gear, a mask and a name for the streets. Once we do that, we can start the rest of your training in earnest.

Do you have a job?" he asks her.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

"No, I don't." Between Michelle nagging at her to go to college, claiming there was money for it, and Zoe's absolute conviction that she needed to be here for the Triangle, working as a fry cook wasn't all that appealing. She didn't sell her body or drugs.

The closest thing she had to a job was the volunteer work she did at the youth center trying to stay afloat. It was where she kept tabs on the troublemakers and heard things she later used in breaking up small time deal.s.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Red Robin nods. Tim Drake needed an assistant anyway, so he'd have to talk to her about that.

"What do you do in the time you're not out that isn't sleeping?" he asks.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

"I read. Take a couple of online classes at the junior college," she admitted grudgingly.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

"Good things to do. What do you study?" he asks, as if he hasn't already hacked that particular bit of information out of the junior college's files.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

"I just started," she said, her voice on the defensive side. "I picked up a math class and an English class until I decide what to do." Or if there was any chance she might live through her nighttime activities.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

"Understandable." he says simply.

"You've got a lot potential, Zoey, and probably a lot of of other skills you haven't tapped. You're already aware of how hard this job can be, especially night after night." Red Robin says.

"I know someone who's a little like you, in a way. I asked her what she wanted to do with her life and she told me she wants to do this. I just...know what it's like to do this from a young age. I was very young when I started." he says.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Zoe looked away for a minute. She didn't like him putting himself on her level, like he knew what it was like /here/ and being /her./

"So what now? Your people talk to my mom and then what? How's this training supposed to work?"

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

"Yes, my backers will meet with her tomorrow, and likely contact you as well." he tells her.

"You and I are going to spend some time working on things like forensics and criminology before we hit the streets together. If you can learn to do solid detective work, Zoe, then you can use those skills in a variety of ways." Red Robin says.

"You'll learn surveillance, some chemistry and how to hack your way into any database you come across. When we hit the streets together, you'll have more than just weapons at your disposal. Your mind will put you steps ahead of any gangster you come across."

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

She smiled without a trace of humor. "In other words, you're gonna teach me the skills to hunt you down if you don't make good on your promises. I can live with that."

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

"Good way to look at it. I could be creating a monster." he says, a bit humor in his voice.

"Eventually, you /might/ even learn to trust me." he says.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

"Maybe. When I know what you look like under the mask."

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)