redhandedrobin | week 11

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."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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

Pretty good. You?

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

My dick....

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

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?

Neither can I.

You think he's really gone?

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

Yeah.

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

Our worlds are very different, kiddo.

Stay the hell away from Joker.

And... listen to Bruce when he says 'don't go', okay?

I don't exactly go looking for him, unless I have to.

Don't go where? Because--sometimes he's wrong.

Hn. Well, when you do have to, make sure Bruce or Dick or Babs or me are near.

Don't go looking for anyone you think you need to see. Trust me, it won't change anything,a nd it'll get you killed.

I'll try to remember. ::small smile:: You going to be around if I need you?

Who would I even look for? I don't think I have anyone out there to try to find...

Maybe.

That's the point.

Yeah, alternate universe stuff. I get it.

I guess...

Look, I went looking for my mother. I thought she was maybe alive. Joker was reeling me in like a fish.

Oh. I'm sorry. That... really sucks.

Yeah. It does.

That was how you died, huh?

yes.

He beat me with a crowbar, he raped me, and he left me to die with a bomb.

Batman says I was dead when he got there.

I don't remember the bomb.

Oh. That... damn. That's horrible.

*shrugs* It happened. Doesn't matter now. Don't let it happen to you.

...Not planning on it. But I don't really think anyone 'lets' something like that happen.

Sure people let that happen.

My mother let it happen.

Well, your mom's a bitch if she let that happen to you. I don't think mine will. She died a while ago.

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