Note: In this story, everything in the Batman timeline has happened faster than in the regular DC timeline. Hence, the various character placement changes. To clarify: Tim Drake is now a founding member of the Teen Titans instead of Dick Grayson, since Grayson has already been moonlighting as Nightwing for years. And I'm somewhat drawing on what little I know of the comics and more of what I know from the TV show. Given that Batman events have moved more swiftly, Jason Todd is , naturally, alive and well as Red Hood, and has a bone to pick with his replacement. I plan for this series to lead into another that serves as a sequel. Comments and reviews are welcome, encouraged, and appreciated. I do not own Batman, Robin, Red Hood, the Teen Titans, or any affiliated characters thereof.
Academic Peer Review
Chapter 1
All was calm in the Titans Tower. All was business as usual. Raven had locked herself in her room; Beast Boy and Cyborg were shedding pints of virtual blood; Starfire and Robin were sitting together on top of the roof, talking.
Behind them all, on the mainland, a man stood. A black duffel bag was slung across his back. He pulled it around, opened it, and removed a red helmet. He held it, looking at it, contemplating what he was about to set in motion. He lifted the helmet up, and lowered it over his face. It was time to go work.
Everyone had decided to call it a night, and had retired to their rooms. Robin couldn't sleep. Hard as he tried he couldn't. He couldn't stop thinking about what had almost happened on the roof that night. He wanted to just lay back and sleep, but he was lost in the memory of- there was a knock on his door.
"Hello? Who is it? Beast Boy? Cyborg? Starfire?"
He tossed the covers off and slid out. Without thinking about why, he slipped his utility belt on, and picked up his staff.
He crept to the door, then swung it open, staff raised.
No-one was there. Looking out the door, he saw the hem of coat he didn't recognize wisk around a corner on the far right end of the hallway, to the main room. He followed.
He came out in the room, but didn't see anyone.
Suddenly, he was struck from behind. Hard. He was nearly flipped over. But he felt like he recognized the feel of the blow. It was as if he'd felt it before. When he'd trained with…
He spun around, and saw a tall man in a brown tactical coat and red helmet standing in front of him.
The man drew back his arm and punched Robin in the face.
Robin fell to the ground.
"I have to say, Timmy, I'm disappointed. The old man's regime must be slipping these days, if you're that slow and sloppy. That, or you just weren't paying any attention when he was teaching you. I don't know which I hope is the truth. If you just ignored his lessons, you're going to suffer for it. The old man might be a damn fool, but he's also damn good fighter of a fool. You can learn a lot from him. That, or he's slipping. And he'd never do that. You don't strike me as the stupid type, either. So I guess my planned timing worked out." The man said.
"You." Robin replied, shocked.
"Me. Come on, you had to expect this sooner or later. So far from that stuffy old mansion with the dank cave and all the protection in both places and from the guy who owns them. The second you stormed out, whether or not I would have a little chat with you became an 'when' not an 'if.'"
"Have you done anything to the others?"
"Nothing that won't heal. I would like to-" He was broken off as Robin charged him, swinging his staff at Jason's head. He ducked it and delivered and open-palmed blow to Robin's chest, launching the boy backwards.
"Now that was just plain rude. And people say I didn't have any manners when I wore that outfit."
"You never even deserved to wear it."
"Oh, is that what you think? What did they tell you about me? What did HE tell you about me?"
"They told me a lot of things. But him… he said you were a disgrace. That you were a failure, a pathetic, worthless failure."
"It's not at all wise to make fun of me like that. It brings out the worst in me."
With that, the calm, collected, fairly polite demeanor he'd had for the whole meeting vanished, replaced by rage, spite, jealousy, and a desire for destruction.
He tackled Robin, and simply hammered his fist into Robin's face, again and again.
After nearly ten minutes, he stopped. He got up, and looked down at the great bleeding bruise that was Robin's face.
"Now see what you made me do, junior?"
Robin laughed feebly.
"What the hell are you laughing at?"
"You. You're done. You ever hear what they say? 'Some times you gotta take one for the team?' Well, I've never known who 'they' are, but in this case, 'they' speak with wisdom."
The rest of the Titans burst into the room, and charged Jason.
That's it for now. Epic showdown to come. And a few other things.