week 11

[redhandedrobin]

Grey dusk in Gotham, and he leaned back to catch the last few rays of his 'sunrise'. He was up early this morning.  Footfalls on the rooftop, confident and at ease.  A hero, then.

"You take some finding."  Hal sat down on the edge of the building, and Jason looked over, frowning.

"You looked better with the cape and hood."

"Lost a couple powers when they took the cape back," Hal shrugged, grinning, "Won my soul and body and life. Not a bad trade."

"Yeah, it's not. It's fuckin' wonderful for you. I'm very happy for you. Fuck off or I'll send you to meet the new Spectre." the threat was as empty as Hal's old threats of making Jason sweep the walkways of paradise- not that they'd ever needed the sweeping. 

"Jason..." Hal frowned, reaching a hand and letting it rest on his shoulder. "I came to check up on you. I... of course I knew you were back, but..." he glared out over Gotham, the pilot's eyes seeking horizon, "I knew things were bad.  I've been meaning to come, just hadn't gotten around to it.   Crisis, you know.  Always one of those."

Jason shrugged.  "That's about the only constant in this world."  Hal frowned, hearing everything Jason hadn't said, and knowing more than he wanted to about Jason's return, about the last few years in the mortal realm.  The world was fucked, and so was the boy beside him.

"What do you want from the world, Jason? An apology?  Consider being alive the universes' idea of 'oops, we're sorry!'."

Jason spun to look at him, his eyes snapping, "What do I want from the world? What do I want? I want everything. I want a home. A family. Food.  Friends, even.  I want forgiveness and somebody to give a fuck about me and someone to be happy I'm alive, not acting like I'm a better memorial than a man," he choked on a sob, "I want to live."

Hal reached out for him again, and Jason let him squeeze his shoulder.  "I can't give you those things," Hal said softly.

"Yeah, I know, justice is always blind t'Jason Todd." Jason snorted.

"No.  It's not." Hal's eyes were compassionate. "Don't give up, Jason."

"Don't know how."

Hal shook his head, "Neither do I." he said slowly. "Come on. Want a beer?"

"I'm underage."

"Yeah, so?"

"Yeah. That'd be nice."

Comments

[redhandedrobin]

Hi.

[redhandedrobin]

Everyone has an inevitable.

*laughs* I had one of those, once.

I have a tendency to hate people who chirp on about lessons.

[notafraidofyou]

So--that really kinda sucks. You okay?

[redhandedrobin]

Yeah, I'm fine. *shrugs*

[notafraidofyou]

Okay. So... how've you been?

[redhandedrobin]

Pretty good. You?

[notafraidofyou]

Not too bad, I guess. More people from your world are here. Your Dick is weird. I like mine better.

[redhandedrobin]

My dick....

Oh. Yeah, he's pretty odd. *shrugs* I used to like him. Might again, someday.

[notafraidofyou]

He's Batman now. I guess something happened to yours. Dick says he died, but... I dunno. I can't really imagine a world without him, you know?

[redhandedrobin]

Neither can I.

[goblin_king]

Well, perhaps, but there's no need to rush it! Or invite it, either.

Indeed? *interest* A vocation or a goblin? (If the latter, I've a couple of hundred I'd happily pass along)

And always. If you've the temerity to chirp about them, you either haven't learned them, or have forgotten what an effort it cost.

[notafraidofyou]

You think he's really gone?

[redhandedrobin]

I don't want to. But I think I have to.

[redhandedrobin]

It is. It's pandemonium and silence wrapped up in evil.

Thank you.

And as for a better class... I've seen all 52 of my worlds. They all have their issues.

[redhandedrobin]

None at all. That's why we call it 'inevitable'.

I had a vocation, and have no need of a goblin.

I think I like you. *chuckles* That seems to be right, that, or you're still naive enough to think others can learn from your pain and not their own.

[old_csat]

Well, that certainly doesn't sound like a nice place to live.

*rubs nose* Welcome. S'true, anyway.

52 ...? Oh. Multiverse thing, right? That's still bloody confusing to me.

[goblin_king]

True.

*sigh* Well, if you ever change your mind, I've as many as you could possibly want, and am absolutely willing to part with them.

*smiles* The feeling is mutual, changeling ... Jason. And you're right, I think. Pain means nothing until it's yours.

[redhandedrobin]

It's home. If I have a heart, it's here.

Yeah, multiverse thing. Try not to think about it too hard. Just gives me a headache.

[redhandedrobin]

But I like making the inevitable work for it.

Thanks. But it's not like they're really good for much, are they? no offense meant if I'm wrong. I may be thinking of something else. Never did get around to studying that kind of thing.

Pain means nothing until its' yours, or you've given it to someone else.

Especially if you cared about them. Then it means more than you ever thought.

[old_csat]

My heart came with me. Everyone should be that lucky.

*nods* Good plan!

[redhandedrobin]

*chuckles* true, that.

[goblin_king]

*shark grin* Oh yes.

No offense is possible in the matter of goblins. They're vermin. Occasionally useful vermin, but vermin nonetheless. They are good for blowing things up, though.

...

*very quietly* Yes. Yes, it does.

[redhandedrobin]

I find a great deal of satisfaction in making the inevitable work.

So they're basically rats with TNT. Awesome.

You know, too, I'm guessing. Are you enough like a human to get drunk? If so, here *holds out a bottle* have some, on me.

[goblin_king]

Indeed.

That's ... an interesting description of them. And remarkably accurate.

Yes. I do know. *blinks in surprise* Thank you. I think I will. *accepts bottle*

*coughs* What's in this?

[notafraidofyou]

Yeah.

Dick--my Dick--says our worlds are different enough that it might not happen in our. I hope he's right.