Chapter Text
Jason Todd moved the chair, vague laughter filtering from the other room and sending chills up his modified body. he placed it two steps from the 'X' on the floor, right where he could see it but still have coverage from the window where Batman would invariably emerge, allowing him the essential few seconds of surprise.
Everything must be perfect.
This would be his last few moments on earth, after all.
He clenched his fists, vestiges of pain shooting up his poor excuse for a body. Even after being dumped in the Lazarus pit and going the rounds with the League of Assassins, his body was still a frail amalgamation of parts more than it was a cohesive unit of life.
"Be careful, my boy. You are yet a vengeful ghost animating your previous body. When your business is done, you will die." Talia had told him, before pushing him off to clear a way for her demon spawn.
Batman's blood son.
More son then Jason ever was. How many had that boy killed? How many innocent and young? And yet Bruce balked at the heads of a few repeat pedophiles, drug dealers who sold to kids and trafficked them after.
Sure, he dropped them off at the Cops station, a gory sight. But he'd atleast left a note explaining it. Surely Bruce read it…
Took care of some child traffickers.
-The Second Orphan
Jason's phone dinged and he looked out the window to see the Batsignal emanating from Gordon's station.
"It's time." He said, pulling back on his mask and stepping into the role of Red Hood.
He pulled the Joker out of the closet in the other room, his grip tightening around the blasted freak's throat to shut him up. End him. Kill him.
He chained the pale faced serial murderer and terrorist to a rusty looking but sturdy chair that was bolted to the floor. Then he placed a muzzle around his mouth. Keep him trapped. Not accidents… He's a danger till he's dead.
Then he stepped into the shadows, stone faced as he watched those terrifying green eyes laughing at him, his shoulder's tense, eyes (hidden behind the mask) searching for any sign of movement as he waited.
And waited.
Batman launched through the window, glass shattering as he bolted for the Joker. He picked up the chains and shifted them. Whoever did this meant business. He pulled out his laser cutting and was about to cut through the first link…
"Hello, Batman."
"Jason." He said, turning to his son. He stared, taking in every detail. he was wearing a red mask that covered the bottom half of his face, with a domino over his eyes. Little freckles peaked out under an abnormal white streak of hair on his forehead. His hair… It curled around his head. Longer than he last remembered it. It looked like his mother's hair, light- hearted and fluffy.
"Taking it in? Your prodigal failure? The murderer who dares wear your symbol? Huh, B?" Jason said, spreading his arms wide.
Bruce looked at the body armor under the brown leather jacket. Sure enough, there was a red bat emblazoned on front.
Just like his.
My son…
"Answer me!"
"Jay-bird…" Bruce said, drppping bis laser cutter and stepping forward, arms spread wide.
Jason pulled out a gun and held it inches from Bruce's head.
"Step back or I'll put a bullet through that thick skull of yours." Jason growled.
Bruce raised his hands and stepped back, looking between Jason and the Joker.
"Tell me Bruce, if I'm still you 'Jay-bird', then why is he still alive? Did my death mean nothing to you? Was I just another child soldier put to rest for your single minded agenda?!" Jason shouted, raises his arms in anger as he raged.
"No. No… I-" Bruce tried to speak, but his throat caught.
This was his son… His baby boy, with hair that curled just like his mothers… The boy who died in his arms, gasping for breath and begging Batman to save him…
"No words? No lectures on how I'm not your son? Not your problem?" Jason sneered. "Well, now I'm making myself your problem."
"Jason! You were never a problem. I'm sorry I-"
"Sorry for what? Use your words, Bruce. Or let me use them for you: You kill the Joker here and now, or I will. I will clear the city of this scum forever." Jason stated, turning his gun to aim at the Joker's head.
"I can't kill him! Jason… Please.. Don't make me choose. Please, put down the gun, and come home." Bruce pleaded, stepping towards his son. His living, breathing, vengeful son. His son who he watched die.
Die…
Vengeful…
Jay-bird?…
Jason sighed, shaking his head.
"I know you won't kill. You can't. It's not you." Jason pulled of his masks, a small smile gracing his lips. "Your a good person, if you still thinks there's any place for me."
"Your.. a ghost. Your inhabiting your body…" Bruce muttered, a horrifying realization coming to his mind.
"Yes, and he's my unfinished business. The last strand holding me to this living plane." He said, waving his gun toward the Joker.
"Jason… please. Please don't… I need you.." Bruce stepped forward, stopping when Jason swung the gun back toward him.
"I'm done. I'm done with it all. This is my last act, the last line in my book."
"The Joker ends with me."
He shifted the gun to the Joker and fired.
"NOOO!" Bruce rammed into Jason, shifting his weight and pummeling his son to the floor.
"What the-" Jason coughed, struggling against the strong arms that gripped him, pulling him in and…
Bruce hugged his son, holding him tight to his chest as he pulled them away from the green-haired man laughing in the corner.
"Jason. I love you. I won't let you die, not again. Do you hear me?" He pulled off his cowl, tears streaming down his cheeks as he held him at arms length to look his son in face to face. There was a 'J' shaped scar on his cheek. His face had filled out into a young man's, and his blue eyes were colder than before, with a hint of green at the edges that wasn't there before. But those eyes… They still shone with wpirit. With life. With the passion and stubbornness of the son. This was the first time he had seen his face since… Since the Joker took that light away from him.
Jason's paused, his rage ebbing as he looked at Bat… Bruce… his fathers face.
His eyes had laugh lines now. Blue irises that flowed with sorrow were softer than before. He had some stubble on his chin and a cut on his ear.
"B?" Jason asked, his voice wavering. He came here to show Batman that he could do what was right. To hurt him.
But this isn't him. This is just my…
"Dad?"
"My son." Bruce sobbed, pulling Jason back into a crushing hold. He would never let go. They would have to pry his cold dead hands off of his son. he would never let that light go dull again. He would…
Jason wrapped his arms around his father, his eyes glistening. A flood of locked up memories came to him. Times when Bruce was kind. When Bruce listened. When Bruce was just his dad. And the times when Bruce was Batman, but still cared. Was still kind.
"I won't kill him." Jason stated, his own voice betraying him.
"I won't leave yet."
I want to be held just a second longer.
I want to be your son…
I want to live.
Bruce sobbed and held his son tighter, sending a notification to Dick to pick them up as they walked out of the abandoned apartment building.
He refused to let Jason go as Dick chatted with the police, sending constant glances back to Jason and Bruce.
He refused to let go as the drove back to the manor.
He refused to let go when they walked into the cave.
He refused to let go when they entered the manor and Alfred ushered them into the family room.
My son.
My child.
The ghost who pulls your body together.
I hope you never finish your task.
I hope you live forever.
I love you.
My son.