Chapter Text
Jason's day was going as expected for his life. That is to say, it was hurtling out of hand and most likely going to end with an explosion. He swore violently before throwing his body through the window, twisting midair to chuck a grenade at the goons that were pursuing him. He barely had time to wave at their startled faces before the grenade ignited and his body was picked up like a ragdoll in the force of the explosion.
He pushed himself up from the ground with a groan, brushing off the plaster dust and debris from his leather jacket. His helmet had protected his head from the impact of his fall, but his ears still rang. As he tried to stand his knee buckled beneath him. Jason muffled a frustrated scream. After a few deep ragged breaths, he became vaguely aware of the voices of more henchmen arriving as they shouted around him. With his teeth gritted he rose again, ignoring the white-hot pain that lanced through his leg. Just another average no good day in the life of an up-and-coming crime lord, he thought bitterly.
It took five bullets to take out the remaining goons.
Jason sighed, he had got what he came for. The head of the child trafficking ring no longer had his head attached to his body. A fact that made all of Jason's pain worth it. Jason stumbled forward to the closest wall of the warehouse. It had cracked with the force of his explosion but except for the gaping hole where the third-floor window used to be it remained well enough intact.
Jason pulled out a can of bright red spray paint and got to work. The cursive scrawl was a flash of warning, the truth bled red.
‘Batman, where were you to protect the children?’
Jason finished it off with a red bat symbol, letting the paint drip down the edges. When Jason was satisfied with his work he took a moment to admire it before he turned his back and hurried away. After all, with an explosion that loud it wouldn't be long before the bats graced this warehouse with their presence. They would still arrive too late. Too late to catch him. Too late for the children who over the past year had been systematically picked up off the streets and sold away. But who noticed a missing street rat anyway?
No one. Not until they learned to bite.
By the time Jason reached his apartment, right in the heart of Crime Alley, his limp had worsened and he could feel the sweat that built up at the back of his neck with the strain. He disengaged his various traps and locks, wincing at the extra pain his paranoia forced him through. Finally, when his safehouse was secured with him inside, Jason allowed himself to collapse on his sofa with a groan, removing his helmet and gently placing it on the side. Today had been a bit more full-on than he had expected, but it was done. Another scumbag’s name could be crossed off the list. Red Hood would spend the next few weeks tidying up the lingering traces of the man’s trafficking ring, squashing it entirely.
No children would be harmed in Gotham. Not when it was under his new management.
This was the sixth criminal organisation that he paid a visit to in the East End. They were all branches under the Black Mask’s rule, Jason was working his way up to toppling Sionis’ empire entirely. It seemed they had finally caught on to the danger that Red Hood’s arrival had brought and upped the security. Jason grumbled as he forced himself to sit up, using one of his knives to cut away the thick material that covered his knee.
Fuck.
His knee was an irate red and painfully swollen. Even with his increased healing factor after the Lazarus pit, he would have to lay off on Red Hood business for the next few days. He eased himself up and awkwardly navigated his way to the first aid kit he had stored in his sitting room and the ice pack from his fridge before sitting down.
The ice pack gave a faint semblance of relief.
Jason groaned. He would have to rethink his plans to focus more heavily on collecting intel rather than fighting. Perhaps he could use this time to check up on the Alley girls and make sure none of them had any problems. Protecting the women of the Alley had been one of his first priorities when he arrived back in Gotham. Quite a few of them recognised him from his youth when they'd been nothing but kind to him. Now he protected them in return.
Under his rule, they would be safe.
It was with that thought that Jason passed out on his sofa.
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Jason's limp the next day was obvious. He found a knee brace in one of his medical supplies and decided to grin and bear it.
Crystal noticed immediately.
“Rough night last night, Jay?” She asked, letting out a billow of smoke as she exhaled. Jason blinked through it.
Crystal was one of the girls who had known Jason from when he was just a skinny street kid with an attitude problem. When he first met her she was young and desperate, not even 5 years older than Jason yet already having sold herself to the street. Now Crystal no longer had to prostitute herself, instead dancing at the Crime Alley’s Strip club. To some, it may not seem like much of an improvement but Jason knew the safety of Madame Diamond’s club and the new strict no-touch rule, which Red Hood now enforced, was everything to the Alley girls.
Jason remembered how terrible it used to be for girls like Crystal who even in the bitter cold months stood out in minimal clothing in the hope that they would gain a few bucks and live to see the morning. Despite all that, she had been kind. Kind enough to carefully approach the young boy with a warm cup of watered-down chocolate and coax him out of the shadows. To put in time and effort to befriend him. To teach him how to use concealer to hide the bruises. To hide him from the clients who liked to proposition children, regardless of the fact that she herself was still a child. She used to use her body to shelter his small frame from the cold on the nights Willis refused to let him come back home.
Now Crystal stood a few inches shorter than him. Her curves were artfully enhanced by a short sparkly red number that matched the glitter on her eyelids. Her beauty was only enhanced by the grimy alley that surrounded her. Since he returned Jason often visited her on her smoke breaks outside the club. When he talked to her the green glow that tinted his vision often faded.
Crystal passed a cigarette along to Jason, who ignored the voice in his head that sounded like Alfred, and accepted it with a soft smile.
“No rougher night than most Crys,” Jason replied at last. “You had any trouble?”
“Not since the Red Hood made his rule known.” Crystal grinned at him. It was the sort of grin that made Jason think she knew more secrets than Batman himself. She had never outright called him out for his new appearance, his brooding and frequent wounds, but there was a silent understanding between them that Jason was dangerous now. Not towards her or the other girls. But one thing living in Crime Alley taught its inhabitants was how to read danger in the slope of a shoulder and see the hidden monster beneath every smile.
“Good. Good.” He nodded. “You’ll tell me if there is anything?”
“Of course, little wolf.” She said with a laugh. It was a nickname that had stuck from a time when Jason was a feral and easy-to-spook child, who snapped even at the hands that fed him. Now Jason had grown into that nickname as if he was fulfilling Crime Alley’s prophecy. He felt more like a predator than he ever did. Beneath his red hood hid the wolf he had always been. Jason liked to think it was poetic.
The exit door slammed open and Danielle waltzed out of the club.
“Fucking stockings.” She muttered, pulling at the lacy back material as if trying to allow her skin to breathe. “Crystal do you have any cream for chaffing I can borrow tonight?”
“Of course, Darling.” Crystal breathed, blowing a kiss Danielle's way.
“I love dancing but by god, I could do with a more comfortable costume.” Danielle gripped. “Oh hey, Jason.”
“Hey Dan.” Jason grinned. Danielle was Crystal's fellow dancer and roommate, although Jason suspected there was something more going on there. At first glance they were the opposite of each other, Dan was smaller than Crystal, with bouncy brown curls and gorgeous blue eyes, her skin startlingly pale in comparison to Crystal's rich brown, but they had the same sense of humour and vicious loyalty to their friends.
When Dan had first met Jason she had been suspicious of him, which was understandable given his threatening stature and the fact that he was a stranger to her, but she had warmed up to him considerably after he taught her some self-defence moves. Now she barely hesitated before pulling Jason into a hug.
She gave him a wicked smile before stealing his cigarette and taking a drag. “I thought you were planning to quit.”
“Well, that was last week and I have come to the understanding that the Alley air does horrible things to my lungs anyway so I might as well enjoy one every now and then,” Jason argued, trying to steal his cigarette before he gave up as Dan danced away to press herself under Crystal’s arms.
“I’m doing you a favour, Jay.” She said with a wink. “So what you doing here?”
“Just checking in, making sure no funny business is going on.”
“Our guardian angel.”
Jason huffed a laugh. He was no angel. Never had been. Heaven hadn't wanted him, so here he was back on earth, in Crime Alley.
He may be no angel but he was raised by Gotham’s resident demon and if he had learnt one thing from Bruce it was vengeance. The Bat did it wrong. He left the murderers alive to kill again. He let Crime Alley fester in Jason’s absence, the forgotten and feral part of Gotham. Now Red Hood would bring justice even if it took a reign of bullets and blood.
“At your service as always, Ladies,” Jason replied instead with a mock bow that made the two women laugh.
“Well, if you really want to put yourself to use I've heard Renee’s Dad has been giving her trouble again. Maybe you could take your muscles and talk sense into him.” Danielle announced with her vicious grin.
Jason’s face darkened. Renee was one of the transgender women who worked at the club and who liked to pinch Jason’s cheeks and slip him free drinks. She was constantly cheerful and smiling despite the shit the world threw at her. Her dad had been a problem long before she transitioned and they were forced to move to Crime Alley to find somewhere to live after his alcohol addiction landed the family in serious debt. Renee had told Jason that every now and then her dad resurfaced to demand money for alcohol and lament how his "son" was such a disgrace, putting on dresses and flaunting her body for money. Their meetings usually ended with Renee being bruised physically and mentally. This was the first time he had come since Jason had returned and soon to be the last.
“Oh yeah,” Jason said cooly, “Where would I find him?”
“I’ve heard he often visits Terry’s bar in the Bowery.”
“Consider It done.”
“Hey, be careful. He is one of Black Mask’s boys.” Crystal said seriously.
“Don’t worry, Crys, he won’t know what is gonna hit him.”
“Little Wolf, I’m serious, don’t go all hero on us.”
“Oh, Crys, I’m no hero,” Jason said darkly over his shoulder. He could already feel the green creeping forward to capture his vision.
Jason knew he should probably not be actively seeking a fight with his knee in the shape it was but this was for Renee.
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Jason’s breath rattled mechanically through his mask. The crowd in Terry’s bar cleared as he stormed through, fury vibrating through his form. Jason, ever the appreciator of dramatics, shot two bullets into the wall above the table filled with three of Black Mask’s followers. With their masks discarded on the table, there was no hiding the fear in the men’s eyes as their faces drained of blood.
“Which one of you is Freddie Kitt?” He growled. Two of the men pointed at the remaining one who just sat frozen in his seat. With a dismissive nod of his head, the other two men were quick to seize their opportunity to scarper.
“Good choice.” Jason hummed.
Jason grabbed the collar of the remaining man’s shirt before slamming his head into the tabletop hard enough to break the man’s nose. The green in his vision surged in approval.
“Listen here. Freddie boy, and listen good! Stay away from your daughter. If I hear you’ve come back for money and laid a hand on her again I will hunt you down and make being beaten by a crowbar and exploded look like heaven on earth. Got it.” Jason snarled. Renee’s dad frantically nodded his head in agreement.
“I need to hear you, Freddie.”
“Yes. Yes, I got it.” He replied quickly with a pained whine.
“Good. I’m glad we’re on the same page.” Jason singsonged. The sound was hauntingly creepy with the mechanical voice modulator. Jason released him back on the table. Hard.
The man screamed as his nose crumbled.
Satisfied with a job well done Jason turned around. Only to come face to face with a blonde teen wearing a shockingly ugly aubergine scarf staring at him with her mouth wide open and milkshake forgotten.
“Sorry for the scene.” Jason said with a dip of his head, “Oh and you’re spilling your milkshake,” he added before walking out, the bell jingling merrily with his departure.
“Wait.” Jason sighed as he heard an exuberant voice behind him and felt a small hand grasp his arm.
He halted with a sigh, blinking away the last tendrils of green, before twisting back round. It seemed the blonde girl had followed him. Great.
“Can I help you?” He asked tiredly. His knee really hurt.
“That was really cool,” The purple girl said with puppy-like excitement and not at all perturbed by Jason’s hostility. “Like really violent… but cool. Is his daughter a friend of yours or a lover or…”
“Friend.” Jason cut off bluntly before looking at the teen awkwardly.
“I’m Steph!” The girl said with an outstretched hand. Jason sighed, quickly switching off his voice modulator to sound less threatening before gently shaking it.
“Hood.” He said in return. “What are you doing at Terry’s? You should stay away. The crowd that hangs there isn’t safe.”
Steph laughed. “I know. But they shockingly serve the best milkshakes.”
“So you come here,” Jason waved an arm at the ramshackle bar filled with likely criminals and drunks, “for the milkshakes?” He said incredulously.
“Yup,” Steph said solemnly, “But don’t worry I grew up around here. I can handle myself.”
Jason felt like burying his helmet in his hands at this kid's stupidity. “Forgive me for not taking your word for it. You just followed me outside, after I slammed a man’s head into a table, repeatedly. There is no way you have self-preservation!”
“From how I see it, you just annihilated that guy for hurting and extorting his daughter. How bad can you be?”
“Bad.” Jason nearly shouted.
“But with a heart of gold.” She said with a cheeky grin. “I’ve heard rumours about you. One of my friends is like obsessed with you, he says your whole jam is about protecting kids and women. So I think I’m pretty safe.”
“Jesus kid. Go home.” Jason practically begged.
“Nah. I’m currently crashing at my ex-boyfriend’s, who is now my best friend, nearly-but-not-really adopted dad’s place and trust me they are no fun currently so I think I’d prefer to stay.”
Beneath his mask Jason stared dumbly at her, blinking as he tried to process all that. Finally, he sighed. It wasn’t like he had anything better to do. “Fine, In that case, I’m gonna buy you another milkshake and try to teach you some life lessons.”
“Cool!” Steph said punching the air.
Next thing Jason knew he was balancing two milkshakes in his hand as he winced his way up a fire escape with Steph quick on his heels.
“Woah. My hands are like orange with rust right now,” Steph exclaimed.
“I thought you said you’re from around here. Stop acting like it’s the first time you’ve seen rust.” Jason shot back, finally pulling himself up onto the roof of the building. His knee complained as he crouched on it.
“I’m just impressed. Why are we climbing this again? You’re not planning on killing me are you?!”
“Roofs are safe as they allow a visual from all sides. We’re less likely to be ambushed up here.” Jason replied dryly. “Also I am severely worried about your ability to survive if you’re willingly following me with even the slightest suspicion that I’m gonna kill you.” He added.
Steph snorted. She accepted his gloved hand and allowed him to pull her up onto the roof. Once they were sat on the edge, legs swinging in the air, Jason removed his helmet, safe with the knowledge that he still had his domino mask on. Jason could feel Steph’s gaze on him but he ignored it, picking up his milkshake and taking a sip.
“Fuck.” He whistled appreciatively. “You’re right! This is a banging milkshake!”
“Told ya!” Steph singsonged, slurping her’s loudly.
“Can’t believe I ever doubted you, kid,” Jason said with a grin.
“Hey! You can’t call me kid! You’re like only 20-something.”
“18 actually.” Jason said with a devious smile, relishing in Steph’s shocked expression.
“And you’re the up-and-coming Crimelord! You can’t even legally drink!”
“Hey!” Jason laughed, brushing his hair out of his eyes. “We’re in the East End, I don’t think the legal drinking age applies.”
“Truer words have never been said.” Steph grinned.
“NO! Wait, no you are a child! No alcohol!” Jason said desperately, having realised his mistake. “No! Steph, stop laughing! You are too young to drink!”
Steph continued to shake with laughter. Her hand clasped on Jason’s shoulder to keep her balance on the roof. Jason soon joined in at the absurdity of it all. There are much worse things for Bowery and Crime Alley kids to fall into besides alcohol.
“Omg,” Steph said when she managed a breathe. “I can’t believe my friend is so scared of you! You’re an absolute dork.”
“A dork with guns,” Jason added solemnly, before cracking a smile.
“So, why is a dork trying…” -with Jason’s raised eyebrows Steph sighed- “Fine, why is a dork with guns trying to become the new Gotham crimelord?”
“Well, if we’re going there…” Jason sighed, using both his hands to push back his hair and look at the sky. “I grew up in Crime Alley. I know what it’s like to be a kid there, and I’ve seen what it’s like to be a woman. I’ve lost friends. We all have. But the crime, the drugs, the arms dealing, and trafficking…” Jason trailed off. “It’s gone on long enough. Batman has forsaken this city. His refusal to kill has not prevented deaths but allowed more innocents to die whilst monsters like the Joker still wreak havoc. Batman can not protect us all. He is right in thinking that getting rid of crime in the places like Crime Alley is an impossible task. There is no way to separate it entirely. But if I can control it…If I come down hard on child traffickers, sexual predators and abusers, ban the sale of drugs to kids. If I can get rid of monsters like the Black Mask and Joker. I can make it safer.”
Steph gazed at him in silence. Jason looked away, feeling his self-conscious blush creep up his face.
“You’re a pretty good guy, Hood,” Steph said at last.
Jason scoffed.
“But what if this task makes you into the monsters you hunt?”
Jason froze. His mind flashed to all the times he had been overcome by the Lazarus pit, green, green, all he could see was green. Jason closed his eyes and took a deep breath, willing it away. He thought of Crystal’s watered-down hot chocolate. He thought of Danielle painting his nails black under the neon lights of the club in one of her breaks as she told him the gossip. He thought of Renee pushing a fruity cocktail his way with a fond smile. He thought of Steph braving Terry’s bar, and the scumbags within, for a milkshake. Finally, he thought of a broken bird, pulling himself across the warehouse floor as a real monster cackled and the crowbar fell once more. He thought of the magic of Robin slipping away until he was just a street kid from Crime Alley who no one would miss.
“I won’t,” Jason said firmly. “I won’t cause I have people like you to remind me who I started this fight for.”
He gave Steph a strained smile.
“And when Batman comes for you?” She said softly, almost sounding concerned.
“Batman can’t even protect his Robins,” Jason said vehemently, bitterness dripping from his voice. “I’ll put a bullet in his head before he fails another kid from Crime Alley.” The Lazarus purred at the idea. A small hidden part of Jason felt sick at the idea of hurting Bruce, hurting his Dad. Jason buried that part of him even deeper.
Steph stiffened beside him. “He helps people.” She whispered.
Jason scoffs. “Not well enough. Where was he when the second Robin expired?”
Steph was silent.
“Yet his little soldier’s murderer still breathes.” Jason laughed sourly. “Guess that Robin wasn’t worth vengeance.”
“Stop it.” Steph said fiercely. “Stop it! You know nothing! That Robin is worth ten times more than you will ever be. He looked out for us. Even those from Crime Alley. He was the heart of Gotham. Batman broke after his death. He lost the last remnants of his soft edges. He lost his heart. Only now is he finally regaining that with his new Robin. So don’t you dare say that that Robin wasn’t worth vengeance. He was worth everything. He was Crime Alley’s Robin. He was our Robin.” Steph was standing by the end of her rant.
Jason just sat there stunned as Steph stormed off, stomping down the fire escape.
He stayed there as night fell and the taste of strawberry milkshake turned sour in his mouth.
Steph had called him the heart of Gotham. The heart of Batman.
Surely not?
He was missed.
Maybe not enough as Jason to get a gravestone in the Wayne family Graveyard or even the name Wayne on his tombstone. Maybe not enough by Batman to not replace him with a new soldier.
But he was missed by Gotham citizens. He was missed as Robin.
Only then did Jason realise that he was sobbing, desperately, on a random rooftop in Bowery.
Talia was right, he no longer had a place in his family anymore.
But he still had a place in Gotham.
He would not let her down.
With that thought, Jason could feel the grip of the Lazarus weaken on his mind. His resentment for his replacement evaporated and with it all his violent plans toward the kid. His anger towards Bruce crumpled like tissue leaving behind only sadness for the loss of his Dad.
Jason cried.
He cried for the first time since he had been lowered into the Lazarus pit. Even after everything they put him through in the League, he hadn’t shed a tear. Now the outburst of a young stranger had crippled him.
Jason cried until he had nothing left.
When he finally left he was so out of it he didn’t even notice the purple-clad figure that watched him go silently from in the shadows.