Chapter Text
As the countdown reached zero, it seemed like it would be quick, painless. Or at least less painful than the pain he had endured during these hours. It wasn't.
He wasn't a hero in the end, he wasn't Batman's sidekick. He was but a wounded bird, a child without a protector, alone in an explosion where the smoke he inhaled was choking him. So no, he didn't die painlessly, his death was painful and slow, a harsh reminder that he wasn't ready— he wasn't ready and now was not the time to change that.
Maybe if Batman was here he would have pulled him into his arms, maybe he would have scolded him and forbid him from night patrol for his reckless behavior, maybe he wouldn't have been wrong to do so. But Jason wasn't going to be there to witness it. Batman wasn't there.
His father won't be here in time.
He couldn't breathe. his lungs burned with every effort, smoke filled the whole. he was dying. dying.
Would Bruce blame himself like he always dose whenever one of them were hurt? Will he blame Jason for being reckless? Jason's tears were evaporating, not even reaching his cheeks.
Jason used to believe in God. He lost his faith after he was failed time and time again, he had long since given up on God, but Katherine always rreminded im that God was watching over him and that he was good, he would definitely be welcomed in heaven. So he hoped that if there was a heaven, he would be allowed in. Jason knew he wasn't the most trouble-free kid, but he hadn't done anything to deserve hell either.
"A week."
Even with the fire around him, he felt his blood freeze and the temperature around him drop a few degrees, a warmth building its way into his chest that didn't match the ice in his muscles. He managed to open one swollen eye. It was as if the world around him had been hacked into ice.
What the hell...?
The world around him was collapsing, and it wasn't by the explosion. The dark, stormy sky was collapsing, and the chaotic earth beneath his broken body gave way. pulling him down.
He couldn't even scream.
"You're given a week."
A week what? Why was that given to him? What did he do?
He received no answer, he hadn't even uttered the words to get any respond.
For once, he wished it could all just end.
Jason tried to took a deep breath and when he couldn't, he started to panic.
His chest no longer burned, in fact, he didn't hurt anywhere. Jason gasped, wanting to cry, but he had no tears to shed. He was afraid to open his eyes. he was afraid to open his eyes and see where the consequences of his actions had taken him.
Yet, everything seemed so... quiet. quiet not like the soothing atmosphere of the Wayne Manor, but rather the silence found in the wild, of predators silently watching for smaller prey.
Am I...in hell? He gulped nervously, not daring to open his eyes to confirm for sure.
No...that couldn't be it.
He opened one eye, expecting for a moment to find himself back in the ruins, to realize he was still trapped. with the Joker looming over him, about to hurt him all over again.
It was nothing like that.
Jason opened both eyes slowly, his eyes widen as he recognises his surroundings.
He was in Crime Alley.
"What the hell..." he whispers, wincing at the sound of his own hoarse voice.
Jason reluctantly got to his feet. He felt no pain in his body, but the effects of the screams he could no longer stifle at some point during his time with that bastard had left his throat dry and constricted. These effects were the confirmation he needed that what had happened to him wasn't an illusion.
At least he thought it wasn't.
But...He had been across the country moments before. And now he was in Crime Alley; he could hear the laughter of drunken men, the smell of alcohol and blood filling the air, and the dumpster Jason was leaning his head against— Gross, he leans on his elbows and he hauls away.
He was in Crime Alley. He reminders himself. That meant he was back in Gotham, but...how?
Jason pulled himself up to his feet slowly. taken back by how easy it was while he couldn't even open his eyes just three minutes ago. though he found himself shaky on his legs. losing his balance a few times that he needed to ground himself by leaning against the dumpster next to him.
This couldn't be right...
Jason was supposed to be...dead. He was in so much pain, everything was burning, he was burning. He couldn't have survived that, let alone be in Gotham!
...or was none of them real?
"I...did I hit my head?" Jason whispers to himself, stunned. Was this all just a nightmare? Was he asleep this whole time?
Jason touched his forehead, he couldn't feel any lumps, and didn't feel any dizziness or lightheadedness that would register as a concussion.
No, this can't be it. He felt it.
Jason was in pain, so much pain that he hasn't felt in his whole life. He wanted it to stop, he was hurting so much and all he wanted was for his pain to stop. For him to stop hurting.
but he didn't want to die—
Oh, God, Jason was dead. this must be his punishment. He was being punished for being too reckless, for being so weak. He failed at being a Robin. A title his brother had the right to be mad at him for taking. A role his dad saw its potential on him.
And it was for nothing. Jason wasn't even Robin for that long. Not as long as Dick was at least.
His heart clenched, he unintentionally clawed at his chest.
Dick...Batman, Bruce—
Could he still be out there?
He wasn't...he wasn't there when Jason was choking to death. He was alone with the corpes of a person he could barley call his mother. He was alone and terrified.
And now he's here but he's still alone.
Jason needs to find Batman—no, Bruce, Right now. he needed his dad more then ever but he had no idea if Bruce was in Gotham or still back at Ethiopia
Only one way to find out. He had to get back to the manor.
One of the advantages of being dead was that his body didn't get tired and he didn't have to worry about falling.
Jason climbed the fire escape and found himself on the roof. Old habits dies hard, Even if you're dead. it would make it easier. If he hadn't assumed incorrectly, he could find Batman himself, he only needs to get away from Crime Alley and the rooftops were his best choice. which could shortened his journey.
Although the odds of him finding Batman in Crime Alley streets were barely above negative. so Jason was content to find any other member of his family.
His theory was proven when he saw a shadow from afar that seemed to be engaged in a battle. His heart was filled with hope and longing as the closer he got, the more visible the golden bat symbol became.
His steps lost their previous haste as he approached, noticing the difference between this vigilante and the Batgirl he knew; Her head was covered by a hood while half of her face was also covered by a dark mask. The purple bat symbol in the middle of her chest was the only clue to Jason that she was a Bat, but he couldn't recognise her.
Her suit was not close to Barbara's but the materials were similar. Yet there were still so many contrasts that Jason felt like he was missing something. Since when had there been another Batgirl? Jason hadn't heard of one before leaving Gotham. Especially one who patrols on the streets of Crime Alley.
Jason stopped in his tracks. this couldn't be Barbara, could it? The last time Jason had seen Barbara... It was a week after the accident. But for some reason he couldn't recall what exactly happened. Weird. But Jason dose remember that the last time he saw her, it was in the suits. In fact, he couldn't remember talking to her out of it even once.
His eyebrows furrowed, he shakes his head. now is not the time. Plus she has blonde hair. Jason tried to recall Barbara's features to make comparisons but he found himself...not being able to remember her face that well—? Terror gripped his entire being, he instinctively moved closer to get a better view but as soon as he got a little closer to the other vigilante, she froze in place.
"What the hell...?" she whispers to herself and the thug in front of her took the opportunity to punch her hard in the face.
She took a few steps back from the shock of the blow and the man raised his fist again. Jason instinctively, without thinking, stepped between them to help. but the man passed through him and immediately frozes and curles up in himself in place.
Both Batgirl and Jason blinks in surprise but she quickly gets back in position and kicks the man's leg, sending him crashing to the ground.
He merely tried to reach out to...try to tear a piece of the fabric of her cape? Batgirl looked as equally creeped out and slammed his hand away. He didn't move after that.
"Alright, enough of that!" She bent down before the man, who remained strangely still, not a single trace of hostility or pain appearing on his face. "Why are you protecting her? Thought that bastard hated women too much to hire one to do his dirty work."
Jason tilted his head in confusion, he wasn't sure who she meant.
The man refused to open his mouth, his expression strangely still. Batgirl frowned and muttered something under her breath. grabbed the man by the collar and pulling him forward. "Uh, hello? Earth to dushbag number three, answer my question!"
"It doesn't seem like he can..." Jason commented out of habit. knowing she won't be able to hear it. Even though Jason's opinion remained unheard, the bat realized that questioning the man would be useless and reluctantly dropped him to the ground.
"this is Batgirl, I lost her." Jason could hear a muffled sound from what he guessed was the comm in Batgirl's ear, but he couldn't make out the words. He moved a little closer out of curiosity. which caused Batgirl to shiver involuntarily from the cold breeze that passed through her skin. Her hands rushing up to hold herself.
"Shit.."
"Batgirl? Report, what's going on?" most of the voice coming from the other end of the comm was robotic but there was still something screaming at the back of his head and he couldn't figure out what that's was about.
"I'm fine, it's just— it's freezing out here."
Jason kept his distance from Batgirl so as not to make her uncomfortable any further.
she stood there in silence for a while until the person behind the comm seemed to say something that Batgirl nods her head before remembering that the person couldn't see it.
"I was already on my way." She left the comm and immediately began tying up the thugs who were lying on the ground. When she was done she clapped her hands to wipe off the dirt and pulled out her grappling gun to get going.
Jason hesitated for a brief moment to whether he should follow her or not, but seeing that he had nothing better to do and that Batgirl was, well, a bat. he shrugged and tagged along after her.
As he followed Batgirl's footsteps, thoughts swirled in his head.
She sensed jason's presence. She felt him.
He was still a ghost but they could—
It took a long while for jason to realise he was losing sight of her that he trails off after her with a warm sensation crawling its way in his chest.
It's been five fucking years.
It took Jason a calendar and seeing all the changes that had happened around him to come to this conclusion. He didn't know what to feel. Was he surprised? Scared? Lonely? Angry? Confused? Trick question, all of it.
The cave looked the same and different at the same time which it made sense since he was five fucking years into the future but Jason couldn't put his finger on what has changed. Batman wasn't there when they arrived but a face way too similar to Bruce was already there. Sitting impudently on the examination table while Alfred carefully bandaged his palm above his head.
"It is merely a scratch, It dose not require all this trouble." The sullen kid protests but made no move to stop Alfred. Jason guessed he already knew there was no convincing Alfred when his mind was set on something.
"Even so, Master Damian, I would rather not count on an infection." The sullen kid—Damian huffed, turning his head away.
Batgirl pulled down her Hood, let her blonde hair come loose as she approached him.
"What happened?" Her tone was a mixture of concern and amusement. "Did a cat scratch you or something?"
Alfred nodded.
Jason and Batgirl shared a stunned look before Batgirl burst out laughing.
"It is not funny!" Damian snapped, his skin turning red.
"Sorry, sorry!" Thought she didn't sound apologetic, Nor did she stop laughing. "Just— how did this even happened?" She wipes a tear from her eye.
"It appears that in an attempt to save a kitten, an explosion nearby startled the poor animal." Alfred answers for Damian, a small smile forming at the corner of his own lips.
...there was honestly a lot to unpack here.
"Did you save it?" Batgirl asks instead.
"Tt. Of course," He jumps off the examination table with a dignified gesture. "And it's her, not it."
Looking closer, Jason noticed the kid's suit and froze. It was a different design from Dick's or Jason's, but it was still a Robin costume. Jason...didn't know what to feel about this.
The kid couldn't be older then thirteen or twelve. It wasn't really Jason's place to comment, considering he was a kid too when he became Robin, but this was different. How could Bruce allow himself to put another kid in the custom when the previous one had—
"Where are the others anyway?" Jason blinks in surprise. breaking out of his train of thought. "I thought we were supposed to have a meeting."
"The others haven't returned yet. Grayson and I were the first to return." Jason stiffens at the mention of his older brother.
"And where is Dick?"
"Did somebody call me?" Before Jason even have a chance to react, Dick was behind Batgirl and Damian, squeezing both of their shoulders.
"Speak of the devil." Batgirl rolled her eyes as she smiles and Damian pulled himself out of Dick's grasp.
Damian looked Dick up and down, a skeptical expression on his face, "You claimed you needed a bath." The accusation in his tone was clear considering Dick hadn't even taken off his Nightwing gear, let alone a bath.
Dick scratched the back of his neck, and Jason noticed that his brother's expression had gone a little haggard.
"Had to make a call instead," there was something hidden in the tone of his voice that Jason couldn't pick up what it was exactly.
Dick looked so much older then the last time jason saw him. Jason couldn't help but first notice how His hair was shorter then it used to be, which, thank god. It looked so much better the mullet he used to have.
And it was almost like he was glowing. His older brother was always like a bull of sunshine, always making jason feel better with his presence. After he no longer despised Jason at least.
Even though nowadays every time he saw his older brother he was in shouting matches with Bruce.
Jason strolls closer to him. his hand shaking as he reach forward. somewhere in the back of his mind he begged for his theory to be true.
"Please work. Please work.." he whispers softly as he reached out to take dick's hand.
His hand went through dicks. He couldn't hold back the gasp even though he knew this would happen, Dick pull his hand back almost too dramatically. His shoulders stiffened. So his theory was true. It wasn't just luck the first time.
"Did anyone...?" Dick glanced at his hand like it was going to open up and tell him who attacked him. Damian eyed him with suspicious while Batgirl barley managed to hide her shock.
"What is the matter with you?" Damian asks sharply, shifting in a wag that says he did feel a strange cold by his side as well but the way Dick was acting was almost as if he just saw a ghost. Heh.
"Nothing, nothing." Dick forced a laugh, still creeped out by the ghostly touch. "Are you worried about me, dames?" He teased instead, trying to brash it off.
"Do not call me that, Grayson. Do you wish to loss a limb?" Although despite his tone, his cheeks turned red.
Dick laughs again, this time something more sincere and real.
They seemed pretty close, Closer then he and Dick ever was. Jason couldn't help but feel a pit of something cold blooming its way into his chest.
Dick was never this interested to spend time with him when he became Robin. Jason couldn't exactly blame him though, Dick was also a kid. Jason couldn't just expect him to become the world's greatest big brother in the spine of a night. But even knowing this didn't help with the nausea making his tongue taste bitter.
He strolls closer once more, purposely pushed himself between Damian and Dick, a sick satisfaction in his chest seeing the two of them immediately separate with a shudder.
"You felt it too," Batgirl murmured under her breath with a frown. both Jason and Dick froze.
"What do you mean?" Dick asks, eyebrows furrowing in concern.
Batgirl opened her mouth and then pursed her lips. Hesitation was clearly displayed on her face but she shook her head instead.
"Nothing, it's just gotten a little colder lately, no?" She displays a smile that wasn't fooling neither of them.
"Steph, are you alright?" Dick steps closer, places the back of his hand on Batgirl's—Steph's forehead who rolls her eyes and pushes his hand away.
"Of course I'm fine, what, do you think I'm hallucinating or something?" She teases, giving Dick a not-so-firm punch in the side.
"No, just—" he kept frowning for a brief moment before a smile forces its way into his lips. "Just making sure."
Damian stared at them both in hidden confusion until his hand reaches for his ears.
"Father is coming back." He declares.
Wait...
Jason's eyes widened.
Father?
He stares at Damian's face as if he's been personally insulted to his face.
The similarities. The expression. Oh, God.
there was two Robins now. Jason didn't know how to feel about this.
Like he said before, it wasn't jason's place to be mad about this. Sure, Dick ended up accepting him as Robin but he didn't say jason owns it now. It matter of fact jason was pretty sure he could hardly be called Robin since he only was for a while before...
Not now.
Anyway, it wasn’t about who gets to own Robin. Shouldn't jason's death be a lesson for Bruce to stop letting kids be Robin? Did his death truly meant nothing? Or was this Bruce's way of saying Jason really was a knock off Robin and went ahead to choose the ones who wouldn't make the same mistakes.
Jason's hand clenched into a fist on the fabric around his chest.
What a joke.
It wasn't long before everyone was gathered in the cave. Jason felt a strange tightness in his chest; he had never seen so many people in the cave before, but he still felt like he was the one who didn't belong here, which wasn't far from the truth.
He didn't really know these people. They probably spent more time in the cave than Jason did before everything went south. He was drowning in the feeling of being an outsider when Batman appeared.
His breath caught in his chest.
Everyone in the room was discussing something, probably a case. But the voices in Jason's ears were nothing more than a noise passing through his ears, the voices were muffled and muted. he couldn't tell who each one belonged to, and even if he did listened, he still might have a hard time finding out. But right now? All he could see was Bruce, Batman giving orders to the others. Bruce standing in front of the computer, his father was there. The meeting appeared to be over. Jason wasn't sure how long it had been, but everyone had separated and were going in different directions.
but he wasn't looking at them, his eyes were locked on Bruce.
"B?" He whispers softly.
Bruce, whose eyes suddenly turned to Jason.
Jason froze in place, a root of hope sprouting in his chest, uprooted by the mudslinging of terror within him. His throat went dry. "Bruce?" he whispered, but Bruce didn't react. there was no change in his stance, Jason leaned forward and froze when Bruce started to move too.
"I'm Sorry–" he blurts out hopelessly, "I didn't— I didn't listen, I... I didn't know that would happen, o thought I could—" he fumbled between his words, panicking as he couldn't find the right ones.
Bruce stood in front of him, his shadow casting over Jason, making him feel small, his face looking so exhausted even under the cowl. it made Jason's heart ache. What happened in these fivs years?
All his hope was lost when Bruce passed through him.
He froze. feel tears pricking the back of his eyes.
...right, He was dead.
He thought... he hoped this time would be different. that a miracle had happened and Bruce had noticed his presence.
But miracles are never given so simply. Not to Jason Peter Todd.
He felt alone. He watched helplessly as Batman walked past him, not even acknowledging his existence as he moved just as if he wasn't there, because he wasn't there.
Jason took a few shakey steps forward, but then he just—stops.
He hate this. The pain was worse then any injury he ever had. It was worst then getting beaten to death by that damn crowbar. Jason would rather be beaten to death once more then to watch his father walk past him as if he wasn't even there. He wanted to scream.
He stopped trying to join his father's footsteps.
"Dad..." His voice was small. too pathetic even for himself as he reached out a hand that he eventually fell down by his side.
apparently he has a big sister now? at first jason was feeling a weird sense of anger at the fact that Bruce went ahead and kept on adopting kids right after his death but it died down as soon as he reminded himself its been five years. Instead now it was replaced by panic.
How did this even happened? It would have made more sense if it was like a weak or two or hell, even a year after his death but five years?
Inside the manor, like the cave, hadn't changed much. though Jason could see the difference more clearly than the cave. The blue carpet had been replaced with red, the atmosphere had become more lively and less like Dracula's palace, The rooms had more character, and the kids. Bruce now had five kids if Jason don't count himself.
Jason initially thought Stephanie was just another one of Bruce's uncountable list of adopted children. He quickly realized his misconception after Steph come closer to Cassandra for a brief kiss. Jason turns away in shame anyway, even though it wasn't anything explicit.
After further observation, he came to this conclusion that he wasn't so wrong after all, Steph was still part of the family, just not a Wayne. And for some unknown reason, Steph reacted more strongly to his presence than the others. Jason knew he shouldn't bother her any more, but he couldn't help but cling closer.
He couldn't let himself lose the shred of hope he had in her almost acknowledging his presence.
Cass was another one of the people who's expression hardened whenever he got close, staring in the direction Jason was standing as if she knew he was there. It reminded him so much of Bruce that it was a little unsettling.
It was fine.
it made him feel less alone to have some people acknowledging his presence.
He wasn't even sure what the point of being here was when it was clear his family wasn't in trouble, it wasn't like Jason could fix it even if they were anyway. His thoughts were interrupted when he noticed Steph enter a room that was a little too familiar. his breath caught in his chest when he realized why.
This was his room.
What shocked him more than the fact that his room still existed was the decoration. Everything... was the same.
Steph dropped by his bookcase and pulled out volume one of The Vampire Chronicles. Jason almost stopped her, it was until he remembered that he no longer had any ownership over this room.
It was a secret that Jason had that collocation. He didn't remember why that is but there was something at the back of his mind screaming at him.
"Stephanie?" Jason was startled by Cass's whisper, he didn't even hear her footsteps.
Which says a lot about her. it was unsettling even though Jason had never once seen Cass show anything other than kindness during his stay.
"Oh, hi, Cass, I didn't hear you coming," Steph turns and smiles. She didn't seem as startled as Jason was. "I was just borrowing this."
Cass's gaze flicked between the book in Steph's hands and Steph's face, and Steph just rolled her eyes playfully.
"What? He told me I can borrow the book himself!"
"He did?" Cass asks at the same time that Jason asked, "I did?"
"Yes. I was originally going to read Twilight but then he got all offended and said it's nor worth it and I shouldn't waste my time on it. Which if you ask me, is such a rude way to promote a book." Case didn't look convinced. And Jason's mind blue screened.
Jason...couldn't remember ever having a conversation like that. with Steph or anyone else. But then again, he didn't remember much since yesterday, so he didn't exactly trust his memory.
Stephanie signed dramatically at the lack of faith, draws closer and clinging to case's arm. "Come on Cass. I'm not taking it without permission! Don't you trust me?" Steph gave cass her puppy eyes, case didn't fell for it but her shoulders finally slumps.
"I do." She whispered fondly, putting her hand on Steph's back, "but father don't approve. We shouldn't stay here." Steph rolled her eyes at that but followed Cass out of the room.
"It's his stuff, not the old man." She puased, "I mean he did pay for them, but that doesn't make them his." Cass just gave her a sad smile. jason didn't hear what answer she gave Stephanie. He was too busy looking at his old room to follow them.
It was...strange.
Steph speaks of him as if jason was still alive. It almost sounded like jason was still alive while his stuff hadn't even been touched. Well, except for the bookcase since Stephanie did just touch them.
Could I really be...? Jason's thoughts was interrupted once something catches his eyes.
His heart sank when he saw what was sitting on his old desk. He forges ahead warily and stops right in front of his desk.
The college preps sitting at the table was like an insult. No matter how much he searched his memories, Jason couldn't remember if they were still in the same position as before, but their presence alone was enough to form a pit in the bottom of his stomach. A book was also neatly placed in the middle of his desk. Jason recognized the book, could tell it was the last book he had picked up in the days before he died. but he didn't remember actually reading it.
Everything's the same. Everything.
His room was the same, Bruce still let kids be Robin, their lives haven't been affected, it wouldn't make sense if it did, considering he didn't know these people, but—
An unfair part of him wished it had.
"So, Memorial is working for black mask now?" Steph nods with uncertainty.
"I'm not entirely sure about it, thought. They came out of nowhere to protect her just when I was about to catch her," Steph sneered, the whole situation was bizarre. Black Mask, that sexist bastard, would rather stab himself in both eyes then to work with a woman, and Memorial didn't seem interested in working with anyone.
From what Steph knows, Memorial was a middle-aged woman who in the distant past was a simple psychologist. She was fired when she was suspected of using her powers to erase people's memories, or completely replacing them in order to help them, As far as Steph knows, she only lost her sympathy once she lost her depressed son due to her misuse of her powers and a curse gone wrong.
What did she expect? A curse is a curse no matter the intention.
"I don't think it was her choice to team up with him really. She never cared for partnership before, plus it's black mask we're talking about. He probably needed her for a reason." Duke remarked and Steph couldn't help but agree with him. There was probably more to this situation than meets the eye.
Dick's face darkened as he connects the dots, "He's also after Hood again. It might be connected." Steph curled up in herself. It always bothered her that Black Mask was so free to inflict the same suffering he inflicted on her on anyone else.
Especially someone who was now considered family to her.
It wasn't easy at first. Steph was absolutely certain it would never get better.
But as the opportunity arose and the tragedy that was the family dramas intensified, Steph suddenly realized that her and Jason's paths were constantly crossing. It didn't escape her notice that, unlike the other bats, Jason had no problem with her patrolling in Crime Alley, which was good because if there was a problem, Stephanie was going to kick his ass.
But it still meant something to her.
Even with the snarky comments that Steph happily returned, Jason didn't underestimate her. He trusted her to be able go handle herself and only intervened once things were tough.
And she always returned the favour.
When Batgirl was in trouble, Red Hood was there for her, putting on a nonchalant act and trying so hard to look bothered by having to help that wasn't fooling neither of them. and when Red Hood was in trouble, Batgirl was there for him.
Jason had been a part of Steph's life before she knew it, before the bats had even gotten along with him. At some point she was coming to his safehousee more often, sometimes to eat his mash potato, some days to paint his nails while he complains on how it didn't fit him but then admire his nails every minute when he thought Steph wasn't looking.
Steph would rather bite the pavement than let that sadistic bastard take something else from her. Especially if it's her family.
"It's likely. I already tried to contact him but it was to no avail." Tim says before glaring at Dick who took the opportunity to take his mug from his hands.
"He's avoiding us." Cass says with barely hidden concern. Steph squeezes her shoulder in consolation.
It wasn't surprising anyone. Batman and him did got into another fight a few days ago. they hardly spoke to each other way before the fight and this was just the cherry on top.
"He didn't answer my texts either." Dick sighs, checking his phone once more. Probably making sure he didn't miss anything. "At least not since..."
The cave grew colder. Steph shivered at the memory of that night. The screams were something she would never forget but wishes she could.
She couldn't blame Jason for being distant after that night, but it still wasn't fair. Not to the others, not to himself. Especially not to himself.
"I don't think he answers anyone's texts," Tim shrugs, trying to lighten up the heavy air around then, then hearing a familiar 'Tt' besides him. He completely ignores it."something about this case still bothers me though," Tim mused and everyone's focus was back on him. "It's been days and we haven't been able to find any of memorial's victims yet. I don't think it's a good sign." Steph's frown deepened.
Tim made a good point. The night Steph had almsot caught Memorial, she seemed to be observing steph closely, but didn't do anything about it.
Which was completely unlike her. Memorial had no line, she would take advantage of every opportunity to put her curse to use to get results.
"I'm afraid he must have a plan. And we're going to find out what it is." Almsot everyone in the room nods at that.
"When can we leave, father?" Damian asks,
"Tonight. We can't wait for Hood's approval, he might also be in danger." Batman's expression twisted slightly at that, it was barely there but Steph saw it and she could guess the others did too.
"I would be surprised if he wasn't." Tim snorted and then let out a groan when he accidentally leaned against damian who elbowed him in his side.
"Don't worry B, I'II talk to him. Maybe I even got him to come to family dinner?" Dick shrugged, looking a bit hopeful at his own idea but then shudders out of nowhere, that seemed to happen a lot these two days.
Bruce stays silent for a while before nodding slowly.
"Very well. We shouldn't waste too much time."
Jason ended up following nightwing. part of it was because he was curious to see who this Hood was(he hoped it's not one of Bruce's adopted kids.) and another one was that he missed being by his older brother's side, so sue him. if you could sue a ghost of course.
Nightwing spent some time up there, Jason following in his footsteps, and it was almost like old times, when Dick would agree to accompany Jason on his night patrols and Jason would try his best to hide his excitement the whole time, and always fail. Dick would end up teasing him about it, and sometimes even ruffles his hair.
Now he wasn't even aware of Jason's presence next to him.
Nightwing finally stopped when he saw a fight not far away, a tall man with a gun was fighting. Jason couldn't make him out from where he was standing but he could see that something red was covering his head, Nightwing smiled savagely before jumping down with a back-flip. and before Jason could even blink he was standing back to back with the other man.
"Need a hand?" He heard Dick asks loudly enough for Jason to hear for up there.
Nightwing didn't even wait for an answer as he leaned over the fire escape and kicked a man in the air. Jason was about to jump down when someone Jason assumed was Hood shot a man in the thigh.
Jason froze.
Okay not one of Bruce's adopted kids then.
He had no idea why he froze, that guy has a gun, of course he's going to use it.
"I'm good." Hood says modified, his tone monotone and voics muffled by a voice distorter.
The red helmet—
Jason felt his heart drops.
Surly this isn't...?
"No...no this can't be him. B wouldn't do that." He shook his head, this Hood was way too muscular to be that slime motherfucker. Unless he had hit the gym while Jason was...gone, yeah, gone. His style also didn't match anything the Joker would wear.
The fight was over before he knew it. Jason finally jumped down but kept his distance so Hood don't feel his presence.
"Didn't I already told you bats to stay the fuck out of my territory ?" His monotonous, mechanical voice had made his tone icy cold. Jason felt a shiver down his spine.
"Really, Hood? We're doing this now?" Nightwing groans, taking a step closer to Hood that came to a stop by the gun aimed at him.
Jason stills.
Nightwing didn't look disturbed even though a gun was aimed at his fucking head. it was almost as of he trusted the man enough for him to think he will not shoot him.
"Why are you here?" Hood didn't move the gun, his hand was steady but he didn't seem interested in actually firing it.
"You would knew if you answered my texts."The forging smile on his lips didn't help the bitter tone of his voice cover up his annoyance.
"I'II repeat, why are you here?"
"Same reason as you, I'm on a case." Nightwing locked his hands behind his head, his nonchalant act only making Jason more nervous.
"I don't think that counts for same reason as me. This was my territory the last time I checked." Hood finally puts the gun down but didn't holster it.
"Alright, we get it." It was obvious Nightwing was rolling his eyes behind the domino. "It wasn't in my intention to trespass in your territory without notice, y'know."
The guy paused for a brief second before shrugging. "She's not here. Not for now at least."
"Did you find any leads yet?" Nightwing followed Hood's steps slowly as the armed man trails off next to the wounded man still laying on the ground. Jason noticed Hood's steps was a bit off and he didn't need to look at Nightwing's face to knew he realized that too and was probably trying to figure out what was up.
"I found her base but I don't think she's using it anymore." He turnes the man's head around with his gun who didn't even flinch at that despite still being conscious.
Nightwing strolls closer until he was crouched just above Hood's head.
"They don't look lucid. I thought Memorial was working for black mask." Nightwing frowned as he pointed out.
"She wasn't. As far as I know just using them for her benefit." Hood corrected. standing upright.
"I'II take it Black mask isn't happy about this?"
"Oh, he's pissed, alright. I might need to start cheering for her In my cheerleader uniform." Nightwing snorts. For a second they seemed...close. but this traffic cone clown's attitude left a bitter taste in Jason's mouth.
"Hood." Jason almost flinched at the way Nightwing's tone shifts to something more solemn. "What's going on?" He saw the way the other man's shoulders hunched over, as if he was preparing himself for a fight.
"You gotta be a little more specific then this, Dickwing." Jason's fist landed on the hem of his shirt. This bastard—
Jason knows him for less then an hour and he already hate this guy. He has no idea why his family— the bats are so concerned about him. He was hoping for Nightwing to take that as his sign to move on but his brother has never been one to gave up so easily.
"You've been avoiding us—avoiding me." Nightwing took a step closer, "I know Black Mask has a bounty on your head, I'm just worried, little wing."
Jason stiffened. He felt his heart clenches.
This was— this was their thing!
Jason can deal with Dick having other little brothers he cares about much more then he ever did with Jason. He can ignore the fact it took his death for Dick to try to be a better brother. he didn't mind Dick being okay with others being Robin but this? this belonged to Jason.
It was supposed to be their thing.
A bitter pit of betrayal was twitting its way into his stomach. This guy wasn't even little! He was built like a tank. He was literally taller then Dick himself!
"Take your pity somewhere else, I don't need it." See? This guy was an asshole! He didn't deserve that nickname!
Something shattered on Nightwing's expression. A mixture of barely contained annoyance and frustration.
"Hood, you barely communicate with either of us for a week and you expect me to just stand there and watch? I thought we were getting better!" The despair in Nightwing's voice was a terrifying combination of the anger he felt that made Jason's being crumble.
What the hell was going on?
He strolls closer to hood and despite everything Jason told himself, he followed closely, knowing his presence so close was making Nightwing uncomfortable but still didn't try to keep his distance.
Nightwing's hand touched Hood's shoulder and he flinched, instantly turning back and shoving Nightwing's hand off of himself.
"Don't fucking touch me!—" He then froze.
Jason watchs in horror as Hood's head turnes towards him.
"what...the fuck."