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Jason meets Phantom, the so-called “wandering hero,” during an LOA invasion of Gotham.
The family members that have ties to Ra’s – namely, Bruce, Tim, and Damian – are handling it at the root, while the rest of them are left to deal with the mess on the streets. And Jason really means the mess, because he’s fought at least a dozen assassins in the last hour and other than knocking them out, there’s not much he can do with them.
He doesn’t have infinite zip ties, Steph.
Jason’s decking another assassin, not even trying to be gentle at this point, when the temperature plunges. It doesn’t happen slowly, either. One second, it’s a normal August night, and the next, it feels like it’s the middle of winter— only slightly too warm for snow, the cold biting at your nose.
“So I was just passing by, seeing the sights and all of that,” a disembodied voice says, “but I noticed you have a bit of a ninja infestation? And a lot of death magic, and I mean a lot, and it’s stemming from these guys. Want some help?”
He can’t hold back his grin. “Sure,” Jason says, “why not?”
A laugh echoes around the street as a floating figure appears before him. They’re ethereal, a blue-tinted face framed by white hair that defies gravity, wearing form fitting black clothes that leave little to his imagination. Even without knowing their name, Jason has a fair idea of who they are.
“Ya know,” they say, grinning right back at him, “those magic swords inside your chest? Would be pretty damn helpful right now.”
Jason raises a brow. “The League members are mostly human,” he says, “the All-blades only work on magical beings.”
Another laugh. “So I’ve heard!” The figure’s grin widens, revealing sharp fangs. “But like I said, these guys reek of death magic, so just a little snip here, and boom! That connection to Lazarus goes away.” They clap their hands together, like a giddy little kid. “So! Mind if I borrow them? They’d still be bound to your soul, I swear.”
And Jason could kiss him, he really could.
Instead, he puts on his most flirtatious smile, winking at them before driving his fist into another assassin’s stomach. “Now, that’s a third date kind of question, sweetheart–” a dodge, and then gunshot – “but for you, I’ll make an exception. If… you tell me your name.”
Curse the League’s timing, because an assassin chooses that moment to charge at Jason. Here’s the thing, though: Jason knows their techniques and he’s built a lot bigger than the assassin is, so it isn’t too hard to intercept them. Jam his shoulder under their ribs and turn their momentum against them, hearing a distinct thud as he sends them hurtling towards the ground.
Fortunately, the change in position is quickly proven worth it.
After all, Jason’s always had a thing for competency, and watching his fighting partner dodge a blow, fly through the offending assassin, and freeze their feet to the ground is attractive as fuck.
“I’m Phantom,” they say, not even stopping to catch their breath, “sometimes nicknamed ‘the Wandering Hero,’ but I don’t really get it. I just help out where I’m needed, that’s all.” They pause, a playful grin flitting across their face. “But I get the feeling you already knew that, didn’t you, hero?”
Jason smirks. He had guessed that much. “Right on the money,” he says, not hiding his appreciative glance. “The name’s Red Hood, but you can call me anything you want to, sweetheart.”
Phantom’s laugh is an eerie, echoing thing, lilting and high and creepy. Jason wants to memorize the sound, to record it and play it again and again. Fuck, he thinks, this bastard is like a drug, and I feel like an addict-
They take out another assassin – the last of this bunch, Jason realizes, though, that means nothing in the scheme of things – and look almost bored as they do so. The ground around them is littered with unconscious bodies and bursts of ice.
And Phantom’s control of their powers is astounding, Jason notices. The ice isn’t spreading randomly, or just in a singular direction. Rather, it’s intentional, covering only their hands and feet like makeshift restraints. Fuck zip ties, he thinks, freezing things looks so much easier-
Jason makes the fatal mistake of glancing over at Phantom, and fuck, he thinks, he needs to see this creature pinned underneath him. Because Phantom’s eyes are lidded, lashes fluttering, tongue peaking out from between their lips as they concentrate. And it’s clear that whatever they’re doing with the ice is hard for them, and that it takes most of their attention, but Jason?
Jason is too busy thinking about everything he wants to do to them to give the skill whatever praise it deserves.
Unfortunately, a shout from somewhere across the city catches his attention, and once his mind has latched back onto the danger at hand, Jason knows it needs to stay there. The League could hurt countless people if left unchecked, and it would haunt him if he left right now, especially for something like a good lay.
That doesn’t mean he’s gonna let things be without shooting his shot.
“So Phantom,” Jason says, sauntering over once the ice has stopped moving. He broadcasts his intentions the best he can, crosses the short distance slowly, giving Phantom time to move. They only stare at him, almost gleefully. “Why don’t you stick with me? Fight some more assassins, and look fuckin’ sinful while ya do it.”
By now, there are mere inches separating them, and if he really wanted to, he could erase that distance entirely. Back Phantom into the wall, only a few feet behind them, or tug them closer, lithe body pressed against his. And Jason wants to, but as much as he wants this, he isn’t going to force it. Not in the middle of a fight, not with a stranger, not with Phantom, the most beautiful person he’s ever laid eyes on, and-
Phantom rises to the challenge, and takes a bold step forward. A step forward, because they aren’t floating anymore, they’re standing on their own two feet. There is no space between them, nothing separating Phantom’s lean muscle from Jason’s bulk, and he can feel their strength, but Phantom is fucking tiny. As powerful as they are, Jason wants to tear them apart.
He wants to fuckin’ ruin them.
“And what do you get from this arrangement, hm?” Phantom murmurs, green eyes staring at Jason’s lips. “Less work? More time to have your own kind of fun?”
Oh? Is that jealousy he hears? Now, Jason can’t have.
He loops an arm low around their waist, and tugs them impossibly closer, and Jason can’t think about how adorable their flush – purple, high along their cheeks, their ears, their nose, everywhere – is, or the shocked sound they make. With his free hand, Jason grabs their chin, tilting their head back to look him dead in the eye.
“Well,” he says, keeping his voice low, “first we beat the shit out of the League. Can’t have them hurting my people, ya know?” Phantom nods, gaze unwavering. “And then, there’s this pretty hero I wanna take back to my place. A real sweetheart, and a total badass in the field.” Jason takes a risk, nipping at Phantom’s ear. “I wanna have some fun with him, if ya know what I mean.”
Phantom grins up at him, and the flush on their skin doesn’t make them any less cocky. “I think your hero would like that.”
“Then why don’t we get started?” Jason says, excitement bubbling under his skin.
Phantom bares their fangs, and it’s clear they feel the same. “Lead the way, hero,” they say, “Don’t keep me waitin’ for too long now.”
Jason is going to get rid of the LOA in fuckin’ record time.