Red Hood looked in the mirror, a monster looked back at him, a creature of shadows and death. Then again, he supposed it was fitting, he had shorted death and was returning its call in the crime ridden alleys of Gotham. He wanted to laugh but then he was seem more deranged then he already was. At first when he had been brought back, the pit's rage was infused in him, controlling and manipulating. However now he had to face that his actions were his own and the excuse he had let himself believe still controlled him was just that.
He wondered what everyone he had cared for would think of him now. Alfred would still care for him, right? Bruce would try to fix him but when he saw him for what he was, what he had become, he would treat him like every other criminal they used to put away together, so long ago, in another lifetime... And then there was Barbra, she like him had suffered at the Joker's twisted hands. Yet, somehow she still carried on, she was always the strong one, the one he looked up to when Dick shunned him away for existing in his place. Now that he himself had his own replacement as well he better understood, not that it helped his younger self be less hurt or angered. When he had first learned of his own replacement he had tried to kill him, repeatedly. Yet, gradually he recognized the new boy's position as Robin, partnering the Bat even more in tine and step then either of his predecessors.
When he had first returned the the crime gutter that was Gotham his whole plan was to get the Batman to kill. How foolish he was to think his attempt could do what his own death had not. If Golden Boy had died would he had avenged him? Probably not, his morals were concrete. However, where did that leave Jason? Alone, sure, angry: you bet, but for the first time in a very long time he had no goal, no drive to keep him going.
"Don't worry Jaybird, you still have your looks," the light-hearted voice of Nightwing floated over to him. He felt the presence shift closer to him standing in from of his apartment's bathroom mirror. "Though you seem to be looking farther than that."
"What are you doing here Dick?" Jason sighed and ran his fingers through his messy, dark locks.
"You looked to brooding, everyone else already has that covered." When Jason's unamused look didn't change Dick sighed.
"I've missed you jay-bird. So does Alfred and even if Bruce won't admit, he does too."
"You miss a deranged psychopath?" Jason responded bitterly.
"I miss my brother. 'Cause you are even if you won't admit it. Besides you aren't a psychopath...sociopath at worst."
"How can I move on?" Jason murmured, not caring how weak he sounded, he was passed caring.
"Well, by showering to start." Dick advised. "Then, come with me back to the manor and we can talk." Jason appreciated he didn't call it home, it was not and had not been for years. When Jason stayed silent Dick added "Alfred made chicken and his chocolate chip cookies."
Jason smiled. He wasn't who he used to be, that was true. But that didn't mean he couldn't try to be better. So, with a lighter heart he set out into the night with Nightwing.