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Jason Todd had a plan, a plan he tells ya. It wasn’t even an overly complicated plan. He was going to break into Titan Tower and clip the wings of his Replacement. Show Bruce, and that rich brat Timothy Drake, that Robin should’ve died with him. See? Simple.
He even had decided to add some flare to it just for fun. Had a Robin suit in under his Red Hood suit and everything. That way the little brat would know, truly know, that they weren’t good enough to replace him. That way they’d see, with their own eyes, that Jason Todd was back and that they would never be good enough to fill his shoes.
Unfortunately for him his plan went to shit almost immediately.
Step 1 was easy and went perfectly. His codes hadn’t been deactivated so he slipped in the Tower without issue. Did it piss him off that Bruce hadn’t cared enough to deactivate his codes? Sure as fuck but he had anticipated such a thing. Man couldn’t even kill his killer why would he care to deactivate his codes?
Step 2 also went perfectly. Locked the Tower down so his Replacement couldn’t call for help or run. It wouldn’t be any fun if Bruce or Dick got there before he could play with the little bird now would it? No, he wanted this to hurt and that meant no interruptions.
Step 3 is where shit hit the fan.
Locating his Replacement was easy enough. He had ensured he knew where the kid was before Step 2 after all. He was just in the Lounge doing school work or some shit. A fact that made him more upset by the way. Not only was the kid trying to replace him but he got to go to school? He didn’t even get to go to fucking prom.
But walking in the Lounge ready to start mocking the kid he froze. His Replacement was sitting on the singular couch in the room talking to himself. Honestly he wasn’t even sure the kid knew he was doing it either. If he had to guess he was pretty sure the kid was rambling while dissociating. Nothing a little pain couldn’t solve.
But his words gave Jason pause.
Get it together Rob. You knew when you forced your way into this that B wasn’t going to be family or some shit. They’re coworkers and nothing more. You know that already so get with the fucking program. Just because Dick is nice to you sometimes and B isn’t always an asshole doesn’t change the fact that your nothing more than an imposter, a Replacement for the boy they lost.
Huh, Jason thought almost smiling. At the very least the kid seemed to be aware of what he was doing. Though he also seemed to think he wasn’t part of their fucked up little family. Like Bruce hadn’t adopted him the moment he say that there was another black hair blued eyed kid ripe for adoption. He knew better than to fall for that though. Talia had told him that Bruce loved the kid.
But goddammit why do I have to be the mature one? Why do I have to be the one keeping B from ending it all? He’s an adult for fucks sake and I’m just a kid. . .no, get it together Drake. You knew what you were getting into. If B was a mature adult he’d be in therapy or something.
Preach kid. Bruce has more money than most gods and yet he’s too good for therapy? The fuck man, your parents died in front of you, talk to someone. But Bruce was suicidal? And this kid was keeping him from it? Surely that was just another one of his childish delusions right? There was no way Bruce Wayne aka the fucking Batman was suicidal. He had a new boy soldier after all.
I mean fuck how was killing 1 clown so difficult for 3 grown men? I get A not doing it, he’s old. And sure maybe I get that B can’t kill cause of some moral bullshit but he was dead. Dick killed him. And then B’s moral nonsense made him feel so bad about it B had to bring him back? The fuck is that about?
Huh, the kid actually might be smarter than he gave him credit. He didn’t blame Alfred for not avenging him, the man was old and had other things to worry about. He understood. And logically he knew Bruce would never kill though he really wish he’d make an exception for the fucking clown that killed him. But what was this about perfect little Dickie killing the clown? About Bruce bringing the clown back to life because Dick couldn’t handle the guilt of killing someone? Surely that was a jest, right?
But it’s ok, like usual I stepped up. No more clown. It took like all of 10 minutes. 1 simple cut and he bled out in an alleyway. It wasn’t even that hard, just a simple cut when he wasn’t paying attention. And the thanks I get? B nearly drinking himself to death for the hundredth time. Fuck.
The world stopped spinning at that. The Joker was dead? This kid killed him? No way surely he had misheard him. The Joker was locked safe in Arkham. Wasn’t he?
“Tell me the truth” he demanded roughly only half aware that he had even started talking “did you really kill the clown”
The boy looked up at him Domino on the little table in front of him. He had a busted lip and a nasty shiner on his right eye. That must’ve hurt Jason mused silently as crystalline blue eyes looked him over glassy in the emergency lighting of the Tower.
“Of course I killed him” the boy said simply “who else was going to avenge my Robin”
The conviction of his tone told Jason everything he needed to know. He was telling the truth.
Reaching up to unfasten his helmet he watched as the kid’s eyes blew wide recognition flashing across his features. He recognized him almost immediately Jason realized with a bewildering churn of his stomach. He recognized the man beneath the Red Hood even with the Domino he wore under still on.
“You’re back” he whispered eyes glistening with tears “does that mean I can quit now? If you’re back I can quit right”
Jason stepped closer slowly his eyes watching the small boy before him. He had deep bags under his eyes from a lack of sleep. And that nasty shiner appeared new, likely only a few hours. . .oh no.
“He hit you” he realized aloud crouching down a gentle thumb grazing the dark bruise.
Tim nodded slowly.
“I tried to take his bottle from him” he explained sadly “I knew not too, he’s told me before but he’d been drinking all day and we were supposed to patrol and. . .it’s my fault really”
He was gonna kill Bruce. How dare he hit a child? And sure he had been planning on doing far worse to the kid but he’s only barely an adult, and fresh from the dead high on pit rage, it’s different. Bruce was supposed to be Tim’s dad. His non abusive, loving, dad. He was supposed to keep him safe not be the reason Tim had a black-eye and a busted lip.
“Hey” he whispered the green in his vision no longer directed towards his ‘Replacement’ but towards his father “it is not your fault, it’s not”
“No” Tim cried the tears slipping free “I know better than to get in his way when he’s like that. He’s told me time and time again but I don’t listen, I never listen. It’s my fault he lashed out”
Jason’s blood froze at the words. Time and time again? This was a repeat thing?
“How often” he growled frowning at the kid’s involuntary flinch “how often” he repeated softer.
The way Tim shrunk in on him told him everything he needed to know. It was a regular occurrence.
“It’s fine really” he whispered sounding every bit as young as he actually was “he’s way better nowadays and he’s always been better than my actual dad”
Teal eyes blazed green at the revelation. This kid thought Bruce hitting him was ok because his own father hit him more? He was cool with being physically, and possibly mentally abused, because he’s dealt with worse from his own biological parents?
Fuck.
“Kid, hey kid look at me” he begged noting Tim beginning to dissociate again. Crystalline blue eyes snapped to attention at the request causing him to sigh in relief “do you know who I am”
Tim nodded. Of course he knew who he was. He was Red Hood. . .no, he was Jason Todd the second Robin. Wait. . .why was Jason Todd wearing Red Hood’s armor? Was Jason Todd the Red Hood? That made sense actually with how he actually cared about Park Row and the people that lived there.
Wow, his hero had come back just to save him again. That’s really nice of him.
“Jason Todd is the Red Hood” he mumbled more to himself than to Jason before facing the older boy fully “thank you for helping me find that LGBT youth shelter last month. I appreciate it”
If Jason hadn’t been nauseous before he sure was nauseous now. He knew those eyes had looked familiar. He just hadn’t realized Tim was the boy he had met a month or so ago as he had told him his name was Alvin.
Alvin had been kicked out for being bisexual. Kicked out for daring to be seen kissing another boy. He had come across him while he was crying alone on a rooftop while patrolling Crime Alley. Had helped him find a safe shelter to stay at while he figured things out.
That’s why he didn’t realize Alvin was actually Tim. Because Tim, as far as he had known at the time, had Bruce and Dick and Alfred to fall back on. He had a family even if he also had living parents. Only he didn’t did he? He had an abusive father and a dead mother and a mentor who apparently hit him.
What about Dick? What about Alfred? Why hadn’t they done something to stop this? Had they known it was happening at all? Surely they were aware of the fact that Tim had been kicked out and that Bruce hit him semi-regularly. Surely they weren’t complacent in the abuse of a child not even 16.
Fuck.
“You’re coming with me” he decided as much to his surprise as Tim’s “if they can’t take care of their baby bird than I’ll do it”
Tim nodded absently as he followed Jason back to his actual home in the old, newly renovated, theatre in Crime Alley after changing into some normal, non trackable, civilian clothing. Not a safe house either but his real apartment. It was the least he could do, especially after his phone alerted him that the Joker was indeed dead.
The clown had been found by one of his lieutenants in an alleyway near his turf with his throat slit.