Chapter Text
JASON
The cold wind hit the city once more.
It shouldn`t come as a surprise, after all, it was the windiest city in the United States, and it was the first week of February.
As the sun began to set and the streets grew emptier, problems started to crawl out of the shadows. It isn`t like the daylight offered a protective cloak or made crime off-limits, the citizens of Chicago were used to walking with a sixth sense switched on at all times. But night has always been more dangerous.
Maybe it was the lack of visibility. Maybe it was the extra adrenaline carried by the cold air biting into the city. Whatever the reason, everyone knew that when the light disappeared, it was time to head back home.
Everyone, except the men standing in the dark alley.
“Did you bring it?”
“Yeah. I’ve got it,” he replied nervously.
“Chill, lad” the man standing in front of him said “Why don`t you show me the briefcase so we can wrap this up and go home?”
A leather bag appeared between them, placed carefully on the ground.
“Okay, I think you should open it” the man`s patience was thinning. “Come on, I don`t have all night”
The shorter man took the keys and, with a shaking hand, opened the briefcase to show its inside.
It wasn’t the first time he’d done something like this. He was used to smuggling alcohol and drugs, but never in the big leagues.
His boss had told him to keep the trade fast and clean. No fire involved, if possible.
The other man stepped closer and knelt in front of the money, one hand resting on the bills, the other hidden behind his back.
"You'd think someone like your boss would be smarter than this” the taller man said, a grin spreading across his face “He made a name for himself, but apparently it was out of pure luck”
A gun, a shot and a dead man lay on the ground.
The killer grabbed the briefcase and turned to leave when a voice cut through the dark.
“You know,” the voice said casually, “I really liked him.”
A large figure dropped from a nearby rooftop, landing smoothly in the alley.
“You were fast, I`ll give you that” the mysterious man continued "But you could´ve taken the money and run away. This was just… unnecessary”
“I don`t know who do you think you are, but mind your fucking business if you don’t want to end up like your friend.”
“That`s the problem” the stranger said, stepping into the light.
He wore black pants, a dress shirt, a brown leather jacket, and a red hat pulled low. His face bore a collection of healed scars, two white strands of hair falling over sharp green eyes.
“These are my fucking business”
“Red!”
The man, who used to be standing fearlessly, was now stunned before Jason.
“It was an accident, I swear”
“Of course” Jason replied smiling “You accidenally grab your gun, aim it at my man and shoot. Happens all the time, I’m clumsy too.”
A weapon appeared in Red`s hand.
“I’m sorry,” the man pleaded, backing into the wall “Please don’t kill me. I have a family.”
“The man you killed had a family too” Jason said flatly, glancing at the body on the ground. “Don`t worry, I`ll make sure your wife and kids get what they need”
“I`m begging you” the man was now on his knees.
“Sorry,” he said calmly “But I need to send a message.”
The gunshot rang out.
Another body collapsed.
The good thing about Chicago 1930 was the lack of police officers on the streets. It made everything easier for this type of situation, and it reminded Jason of Gotham, enough that he didn’t feel entirely out of place, even when he was very far from his own time.
He´d arrived two weeks ago, falling from the sky and landing in a river that ran through the city. It hadn’t been a pleasant experience, especially since the water was, in fact, a sewer, and he’d crawled out soaked and reeking.
Jason was gonna have a long, respectful talk with Tim when he got back home.
A newspaper dated February 1930 had been lying on the ground next to where he was drying, and one headline had caught his attention:
A new theory regarding Al Capone’s arrest circulates on the streets
Anonymous sources claimed that Capone’s arrest in Philadelphia eight months earlier had been planned by the man himself. After the attention drawn by the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, it was rumored Capone had chosen prison as a way to disappear from the spotlight—possibly for less than a year, with release expected as early as March.
Questions followed.
Who was running the empire now?
Was it weakening with each passing day?
Would Capone return to business?
Jason knew he wasn’t the smartest bat-bird in the family and he couldn`t do much about his situation. Tim or Burce would find him, eventually.
So why not have a little fun in the meantime?
The following two weeks blurred together—deals, money, gunpowder, blackmail, blood, and Italian suits. Jason was in his element, and his small mafia empire came together faster than he’d expected.
Deciding to go with something familiar, he chose to keep the Red identity and follow the same set of rules that he had back home.
He built a reputation.
And he loved every minute of it.
Except nights like this, when one of his men was dead and a potential ally had turned into a likely future enemy.
What he needed was a quiet room and a drink on hand.
Back in his office, Jason took a moment to focus on the files spread across his desk. They detailed a new group encroaching on his territory, something he’d handle tonight, but he didn’t have the patience to do it.
He shoved them aside and pulled out the folder he kept locked away.
He’d avoided it like the plague these past weeks, yet he always came back to it. Thinking about home without a plan to return only made things worse.
Written on those papers were all the details of his arrival and everything he could recall about the gadget that brought him here. It’s not like he had the ability to recreate it.
And he wasn’t any closer to finding where, or when, his brothers ended up.
He searched every record in history for a hint, something about a vigilante or a baby demon bat with attitude, but couldn’t find anything.
Nothing had come up.
Jason closed the folder, jaw tight.
A knock at the door pulled him back.
“What?” he barked, locking the drawer.
He was starting to get tired and annoyed, and that wasn´t good for anyone.
“Can I come in?” a man asked “I’ve got something of interest.”
“Come in”
The man stepped inside and set a stack of papers on the desk.
“What´s this?” he said, rubbing at his temples.
“The guys you sent to the police station dug something up,” the man explained “There’s a new gang making noise out east. Big deal going down in a couple of days. Thought they might make good allies.”
Jason skimmed the file, a grin slowly spreading across his face.
“Looks like we’re taking a trip to New York.”