AN: I'm always a little scared at writing comic book fics because I know there's always going to be people out there who dislike the way I handle a character and endless facts that I just don't know but reading Red Hood and the Outlaws in the Rebirth line spoke to me. I hope you guys enjoy and sorry if I offend anyone 😊
Damn Those Third Chances
Chapter One – Given the Choice
I scan the scene for all the possible outcomes just as he had taught me.
Dick's down. Damian is still active but it doesn't look as if he's going to last that much longer. I'm imagine that the whole Batman Task Force Number who gives a damn ain't going to be bringing the cavalry here any time soon and there are too many of these damn things around. Who knew that by working together, Batman was going to be brought down by robot penguins and glitter covered masqueraders. Whole thing is too cheesy, too nauseating for me. Then in the cloud of smoke I can see him.
I don't think it's the real thing, neither does Bruce to say the least. Ra'as Al Ghul fighting aside robot penguins? Give me a break. I've died and been resurrected and still think this smoke and mirror thing is really…well I think that if I were to smoke after this, I couldn't dream of achieving such a trip on my own. I hear Damian's body crash to the ground and I freeze.
Somehow Bats isn't reacting well, his movement is sloppy. I'm not the smartest Robin. I'm not the most trained or most popular but hell, even with this red hood on I'm able to see the world and what I'm seeing right now isn't good. I see a switch out of the corner of my eyes.
God damn it.
No, this thing just can't be that easy. It's never that easy and if it was then it'd be Dick who caught hold of it. I grab hold of my adrenaline and knock a few enemies down on my way to this blasted vigilantism. As I take hold of it, a strange whistle goes out and everything stops moving, the smoke clears and ahead of me I see some girl I ain't ever seen before, definitely come across her before in a dark alley.
My eyes narrow in on her hand, something there and I feel strange. I want to call out to him but I don't think he'd hear me. Damn it. You only get one second chance at this life, Jason, I tell myself. You really want to waste it?
I don't need to pause or even second guess myself. I jump in front of that dear old Batman and feel something like a gem being forced into my body. With the pH level in this thing, this might be the word acid trip I've ever been on and having gone through my life, well that's a lot to say.
I see the woman disappear as if she were a freaking hologram and I look up at Bruce who is staring at me horrified, he's still surveilling the area but I give him a thumbs up. Heh, always a time for humor 'cause come on, nobody's gonna waste anything getting freaking Jason Todd back to life for another go around.
"Told ya, I was a good one," I say hoping he'll be able to see the smile through the hood.
The first time I died was because of a creepy clown with a wardrobe issue but this time I chose it. I feel my eyes slip closed as finally I see that Bruce still cares about me, even after all of the things that I've done and how messed up I am. He still cares deeply about what happens to me.
"You idiot," Bats says before turning his attention to Damian and Dick. Wants to make sure his favorite sons are okay I guess. "Hold on, we're going to get you help," he tells me.
"Nah, it's cool," I tell him feeling myself weaken and he stares at me as if I'm insane. "Good to know the reason I got brought back was to heh, save your god damn life," I laugh. Wow, maybe I really forgot what dying felt like because in my screwed up mind, coming back to life just to save someone else's is pretty hilarious.
End of Chapter One
Thank you for reading