Hey, it's me!
Jason: And she has a new series, focusing on
Maria: Jason and I! What will she put us through, we don't know.
Me: Even I only have a vague idea!
Jason: In this story, I was about 12 when I was taken in by Bruce, 14 when I became Robin and round 15 when I died.
Maria: I became a trainee at 10, and I am 13 when this story takes place.
Me: I am having you two be born in the same week, so you two will be 16 and 14 at the end of this chapter.
Jason: Firecracker only has rights to Maria and Yein
Maria: Everyone else is owned by DC Comics
Me: So back off, legal people!
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Maria Todd was 5 when she was taken from her family. From her older brother. From Jason.
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8 years later...
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"Maria! Come and help your partner carry this boy in!" Lady Talia orders me as I hurry into the bay.
"Yes, my Lady," I comply, bowing down and walking over to help my partner, Yien-Lu who had a large and obviously heavy black bag. I don't ask questions, I just help him carry the bag.
"So, ugh, Yein, what, or, who are we carrying?" I ask, grunting under the weight of the bag.
"Uh, some guy named Jason Todd, deceased for about three months. Lady Talia has some sort of vendetta against his adopted father." Yien replies casually, as if carrying the dead body of my older brother is something normal.
"J-Jason T-Todd?" I ask, unable to keep my voice from shaking. I haven't seen him in, oh gods, eight years, he's fifteen now, and, and he's dead.
"Yeah, that's, oh, gosh, sorry, Maria, I forgot." Yein apologizes, obviously he forgot all the stories I told him about Jason.
"It's alright, I guess" I say downheartedly, the weight of the bag seeming heavier. We set the bag down in the chamber of the Lazarus Pit.
"No, it's not okay, I'm sorry Maria. It looks like Lady Talia and Lord Ra's look to revive him though, that must be a good sign." He says, trying to lift my spirits.
"Or bad, they wouldn't revive him if they didn't want to use him." I say bitterly, but, secretly even though they want to use him, I'm happy. Finally I get to be with my brother again, after eight years of well, only Yein as my only real friend. I turn to see Lady Talia dismiss us with a flip of her hand.
"Well, apparently there is a gray lining for every silver cloud, huh?" He asks when we are out in the hallway.
"Wrong metaphor, Yei," I say in a sing-song voice, shoving his shoulder as we move to our quarters.
"Well, Mi, it fits the situation," he says as we walk into our respective quarters.
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Two hours of laying on her bed and reading/staring at the ceiling later.
I jolt out of my stupor when I hear a knock at my door.
"Maria, Lady Talia wishes to see you in the Lazarus Chamber." A curt female voice, one of the messengers says through the door.
"I will be out momentarily," I reply in a monotone voice and stand up to walk out the door.
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In the Lazarus Chamber.
"Lady Talia," I say, bowing.
"Maria," she replies. "This is a great honor for a trainee to witness the rebirth of someone via the Lazarus Pit. (A/N I almost typed 'pot' ha ha, the great Lazarus Pot, sorry, needed to get that out :D)
"Yes, my Lady," I reply, knowing this is the customary response and that I shouldn't ask anything.
"My father and I were hoping that it would have a, more calming affect if you were here, after all, his death was not a pleasant one." Lady Talia states.
"Forgive me for asking, my Lady, but, how did my brother die?" I question cautiously. Lady Talia looks around, making sure no one is in hearing range before replying.
"You must not tell anyone" she orders, I nod. "Your brother's adopted father is the Dark Knight, your brother was Robin before the Joker ended his crusade. He was beaten bloody and died when the Joker blew up the building. Jason's adopted father, Bruce, was unable to save him in time." Talia says, looking at me with a slight amount of pity. I have heard rumors that she has an... Affair with Batman, perhaps she feels almost caring towards his partners.
"My brother was Robin?" I ask, for if I asked any other questions, I feel as if I may cry. She nods. "Wh-Why are you reviving him?" I ask, curiosity overpowering the thought that I have already said too much.
"My father feels, regretful that this happened, for he helped the Joker, but didn't agree with the fact that Robin was killed. We may be assassins but we kill with a purpose and never children." Lady Talia states the last part bitterly, yet challengingly, as if she were saying it to anyone who says otherwise.
"Yes, my Lady." I reply, turning to look at the preparations occurring 30 feet away from where I stand. They are preparing to place a wrapped-up body - Jason - into the Pit.
Soon, they lower him in and submerge him, 15 seconds, 30 seconds, 45 seconds, after a dull minute, he emerges screaming from the green liquid. Men in full-body suits surround him and try to calm him but he flings them away. I look at Lady Talia, who nods.
"Jason!" I scream, "Jason, stop!" Jason turns to look at me and relaxes, confusion then joy spread across his face as he moves across the pit to me. He steps out and, eyeing Talia not too far off, encloses me in a large bear-hug. I return the favor, buying my head into his chest.
"I didn't think I'd ever see you again, mom, dad, Bruce, Dick, they all said you were gone." He whispers in my ear, his voice raspy, but hey, he's been dead for three months, he hasn't been talking for any of the time. We pull apart and I look to Lady Talia for permission to leave, she nods and I do the same.
"You've been with the Shadows this whole time, Maria?" He asks, I just nod. "Are you alright, one minute you're happy, excited and the next, solemn and quiet." He states, stopping and tuning my head so I look at him.
"It's just, Lady Talia is in charge and we're not really supposed to show too much emotion. Well that and, there's so much to take in, Robin." I breathe the Las word, but I know he hears it.
"Talia told you?" He asks, running his fingers through his hair. I smile and nod as we keep walking.
"Yeah and, like my friend Yein said awhile ago, Every silver cloud has a gray lining'." I recall. "She and Ra's will want to use you, exploit you." I tell him, he nods.
"Yeah, I figured that once I say the lady. But I don't care, I only have two big things on my mind, you and making sure that deranged clown gets what he deserved." He says, smirking.
"Ditto, if they let us go to Gotham, that clown won't know what hit him."
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Three months later, June 23rd. (Jason Todd died in December, revived in March, now it's June.)
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Gotham Harbor
"Ready to get re-acquainted with Gotham, Blade?" Jason asks.
"Oh, yeah, its been nine years to the day since I've left, time for a reunion!" I cheer next to him.
"C'mon, before you meet Bruce, I'm going to introduce you to Dick, he'll have a Nic time with this, I'm sure." Jason says as we grab our grappling hooks and swing off.
Dick's POV
I was not expecting two red and leather -clad people to bust through my window, then again, it is Monday night.
"Hey, Dick, how are you?" The first figure, male asks, he's dressed in jeans, a biker jacket and a gray T-shirt underneath. Most likely worn over Kevlar by the looks of it, he carries a utility belt, guns hanging off the sides and no doubt more than that.
"What, no hello? My brother told me you had all the quips and puns, 'Wing" the second figure, a girl taunts. She has on a black bodysuit and, like the other one, has a utility belt, this one red. She has on a red domino mask, and her black hair is in a ponytail. Two red-bladed swords are crossed at her back and she has a few red knives at her belt.
"You know who I am?" I ask, smirking all the same, something familiar about the male...
" 'Course we do, 'Wing. What kind of brother would I be if I didn't know the family secret?" The male asks, I try and recognize, something familiar about that voice and, ' 'Wing'? Only Jay called me that, Jay...
"Jay?" I ask
"The one and only, Dickiebird." The male takes odd his mask to reveal, sure enough, Jay, his eyes covered in a red domino mask, like his partner's.
"Who's this, Jay? Another good question, how are you still alive?" I ask.
"Maria Todd, Jay's lil' sister." The girl says, putting out her hand.
"Dick Grayson." I say, taking and shaking her hand.
"It's been fun, Dickie, but we have to fly, busy night ahead of us." Jason says, placing the hood back on his head and heading towards the window.
"You never answered my second question!" I shout after them as they swing onto the net rooftop. I sigh, it's been a long night, I head up the stairs, over to my peaceful, plain, not complicated bed. Oh, to be this bed, no messed up families, no long nights in spandex and body armor, no stress. Oh well, a guy can dream.
Hello, did ya like it? I hope ya did!
Jason: This story, along with Bellatora and Black Nagel will be updated every weekend.
Maria: I think Firecracker is getting better at her stories.
Me: I think so too, take it away, folks.
Jason: Stay Whelmed,
Maria: Get Traught
Me: I'm borrowing Spot, from Robbie.
Spot: Feel da Aster
Dick: And Crash the Mode!
Me: Firecracker OUT!