Chapter 1

"What?"

Jason incredulous stared at the redhead archer wondering why the hell he's bringing that up. He knew he should've kept that information to himself but he thought it would've been a good "team building" at that time. They've been together for quite some time now and Jason decided to share his reason why he left Gotham. He thought they deserved—no—Kori and Roy deserved to know why. They were his friends, his only friends that ever stick with him for this long.

And he didn't have many friends.

And the only friends he trusts.

Still the topic on why he left Gotham? Touchy subject for him. There were so many fucking reasons why leaving the city he was born and raised in. Jason was just so tired of everything and thought he might as well try to have a life outside of Gotham. Ever since he 'resurrected' from the Lazarus Pit, all he did was torment his family especially his mentor Batman. And now here he was with his own that he gathered.

He doesn't regret leaving Gotham for this.

"Dammit Harper." He sighed, glaring at the older male. "Just leave it alone for once."

Roy however seemed unaffected by such glare. "No Jason. You helped us out with our problems. At least let Kori and I help with yours." He stubbornly replies, fires of determination burns in his eyes.

Jason frowns. He absolutely had no problems at all. He doesn't need help. He's happy where he's at. Why can't they understand that?

'because you hardly tell them shit, jason'

Oh great, even his conscious is against him. "Look. I don't need help nor do I have problems needing help on. Harper—Roy I appreciate the kind gesture but just drop it." He demanded harshly ignoring that determined look on the red head. Of all times, Harper just decided to drop a bomb on him by 'trying to help' him with his problems.

"No, Jaybird! Just listen to me ok? You said that you understand that Batman didn't kill Joker because you were already dead. Why didn't you just reconcile with your old man?"

Damn he should've kept that little information to himself if he knew that Harper was going to berate him for not reconciling with his old man. With all the past deeds he did; Jason always wondered if Batman would see past that and take him back. It was always a thought in his mind. A 'what-if' scenario he liked to play in his head. "Why haven't you reconcile with your old man?"

"Well he's kind of ignoring my calls." Roy shrugged as if it didn't bother him. It totally bothers him. "Besides the point now though! And don't change the subject on me!" He retorted. His persistence with the subject irritated Jason to no end and wondered if he should just give up and tell him why he never reconciled with his old man.

He released a heavy sigh as if he was finally letting the things holding him down go away. He suddenly felt a soft hand caressing his cheek and he felt drawn in to the princess. And his eyes met the fierce emerald orbs of the Princess of Tamaran.

"Jason do you remember our conversation at the island?"

He nodded. "Yeah. You told me that—"

"Do not live in the past, live here in the moment. Because no matter what you did in the past, it's all in the past now. Your mentor—Your father would take you in no matter what it was." Kori said with a soft smile on her face.

The young boy remembers the same words she said when they first met back in that island. Like he said, it was always a thought in his mind. What if Bruce takes him back despite all the bad deeds and no questions ask. Past mistakes would be forgotten. Start a clean slate.

He glances to his side when he felt pressure on his shoulder. Roy with his arm around him with his carefree grin. "We'll always be here for you because we're the best team ever right?"

Jason snorted as Kori lets out a small chuckle. He has to admit though. They are the best team—

They are the best friends he could ever ask for.

.

He stood in front of the mansion doors nervously. He was pretty sure whoever who's in the cave probably saw him already trespassing. Was he really trespassing though? Trespassing on his old childhood home? It was no use dwelling on it now as he already rang the doorbell twice and he stiffly stood.

Jason really hoped it was his favorite butler.

Two minutes passed. He frowned slightly. This was a bad idea. He should've not let Kori or Roy talked to him into doing this. This is so stupid.

Another minute passed. He's positive that they're either ignoring him or preparing to take him back to Arkham.

Then he takes a step back from the door. The thought of going back to Arkham made unwanted memories resurface. No. No. I have to fucking get out of here. And just as he was about to run and hop in his motorcycle, he heard the door open revealing the only man who ever taken him in as a young child.

Jason? He stood there as his mind went blank. In front of him was his mentor—father—whichever he was to him now and his face wore a genuine surprise look.

He realized that it's been a long time since he was able to get a good look of his face. The last time was when he first revealed himself to the old man. Just as he was about to speak up for his reasons for being here, Bruce beats him to it.

"What are you doing here?" Bruce inquired harshly.

Jason flinched. It was clear to him now. His presence is unwelcomed. Just… what is he doing here again? Yeah, what are you doing here, Jason? His conscious repeats the question again and again until he felt a like a fool for even showing his face here. He didn't even realize he was glaring at Bruce. "I was just leaving." Seeing how I'm not even wanted anyways.

He whirled as he strides towards his motorcycle. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. This whole idea is stupid. Fuck. The fact that he now knows that Bruce doesn't want anything to do with him answers all the questions lingering in his mind. He is no one's son.

He was a fool to think that he could reconcile with his old man. It was a silly daydream ever since he grew wary of the games he played. He dug a hole too deep to be forgiven of the past sins he did. All the torment to his family to Bruce, Dick…

He was just so angry, thinking that his mentor didn't see him as a son, but as a soldier. A sidekick of Batman. Nothing more. Seeing how easily he was replaced by less than six months prior to his death. Did the old man ever mourned for his death? Did Bruce even grieve of the loss of his son? Did Dick mourn for him? Did anyone miss him at all?

His mind went back to the days in his catatonic state, walking around endlessly deep in the Gotham City. What would happen if Bruce found him first? Would he still be mad that his mentor didn't avenge him? Kill the man who took him away from him?

Yes. Jason would be.

The sudden tight grip on his wrist pulled Jason out of his thoughts and quickly realized it was Bruce.

"What the fuck are you—?"

He didn't even realize he'd gotten on his motorcycle. The cold stone expression on Bruce was replaced by that of pity. Pity? He didn't need any pity. "Bruce. Let. Go."

"Jason. Son. Please. Let's talk." He pleaded. The look his mentor was giving him was something like a Great Dane giving him a puppy face. He tries to squirm out of his grip—huh?—why the hell can't he just let me go? He struggles for a few more seconds and Jason finally slips from his grip.

Too late. Too late. You already voiced your thoughts. You don't want me here. "This is the last time you'll ever see me. Now you have one less son to worry about!" Giving him one last look, his eyes meeting his mentor's troubled gunmetal blues, the memories of his childhood resurfaced. With every single moment he spent with Bruce flashed through his mind.

Fuck. He had to get out of here.

And he did as he speeds away, refraining himself from glancing Bruce for one last time.

.

The cool air breeze rush past the young man sitting on the ledge of a skyscraper. It was a good night with the moon shining upon the city of Gotham. He clamps his hands together and rubs it to produce heat. Gotham can be quite chilly in mid-August, it was ridiculous. He forgot how cold it got during these months.

He found himself hypnotized by the bright lights that his mind went to one thing to another until he stumbles on the thought of his conversation with Bruce. Everything went downhill as soon as he snapped at him. He couldn't help it. Bruce sounded like he didn't want him to be there. He didn't even want to be either.

Then why did you fucking go there, dumbass?

His frown deepened. He couldn't use his best friends as an excuse. They motivated him to visit. He'd been wanting to visit or reconcile for a while now. And now he lost his chance—

He ruined his chance earlier. He could've controlled his emotions around Bruce, but he couldn't. The old man made it seem like he was an intruder.

What's worse is that he felt like an intruder. A son who doesn't belong anymore.

He felt a soft buzzing on his left pocket and sighs for the umpteenth time. He took out his iPhone and the same contact who'd been calling him for the past three hours is calling again. This time, however, answered.

"Harper—"

"Jason! Where the X'Hal are you?"

He blinks. Honestly, he was expecting Harper to lecture him about team having to stay together. No matter what. And how he should console his feelings with them. He smiles at the memory when Roy first lectured them. He hated to admit it but he loves his team for trusting in him and stay with him till now. He always did feel guilty when he doesn't talk about his feelings. He isn't at that level where he's comfortable.

Even as a kid, he kept his feelings bottled up. Bruce never knew. Dick was hardly there. The only time he speaks his feelings was through as Robin. The closest person he ever sought out to was Alfred because he's just Alfred.

"Tell Roy to get the ship ready. We're leaving Gotham for good."

Silence was his reply from the other line. Then, "Jason, what happened?

"Nothing happened." Jason knew the princess would understand when she stopped asking and overheard her telling Roy to pick him up. Though it wouldn't be forever to keep his information to himself. Kori had a way to make everyone spill their secrets, their worries. It was like having a big sister he never had. A caring sister at that.

"Alright. We're coming." Click.

Jason sighs once more. He glance at the city below him knowing this is the last visit.

Even now, he felt like an intruder in his own hometown.

And that made him sick inside.

.

Jason felt his sword de-materialized as his team approach him. The mission is a success.

"Since when can you make your sword glow like a freaking lightsaber?!" The red head archer exclaims. It was already surprising Jason can already summon a sword, two swords in fact and make it all glow-y and cool. Roy wants one. "Is it too late to sign up for All-Caste?"

The young vigilante shrugs in response. He sees Kori glaring at her boyfriend and Roy immediately retracts his joke with a lamer joke. Surprisingly, Jason isn't all too bothered about the first joke. He hates to say it but, he's been like this… since Gotham. Since the talk with the jackass.

His mind replays the same conversation every night in his head, every hour, every minute and every second. And he knew that he could've turn things around and for once talk to Bruce in a civilize manner. In which he would be welcome back in open arms without the hostility.

But that was far too gone.

Thankfully, Roy never pried information on that night Jason went to visit Bruce. With one look, his eyes meeting those chartreuse orbs, the archer immediately knew it didn't go well. And the archer never bothered him. But Jason would be lying that Roy and Kori were concerned about him.

He could tell with those side-glances. He reassures them with a small smile and telling them that he is fine. He is fine. Jason doesn't have to live without knowing if Bruce would take him back, because Bruce would never take his wayward son back.

With that fact replaying in his mind, is seriously fucking him up right now. The thought from long ago came back, creeping up behind him as it faintly reminds him: I should've stayed dead. At least this way, he wouldn't have to deal with this bullshit of being alive again.

"We're going to Tibet." Jason declares. He glances at his friends. Kori smiles at him. Roy arches an eyebrow. "You're allowed to stay at my safe house." He assures the archer.

And so another flight trip to Tibet once again. This time he knows what to do. Who to go to for answers. Seven hours after arriving at Tibet and safely comfortable in his safe house, he leaves Roy and Kori for a personal run. He needs to do something important.

He didn't know if it is a stupid or the stupidest idea he'd ever come up with. But hey, anything to get rid of this shitty feeling!

Three hours later finds Jason jumping off the helicopter and gliding through the wall and entering the everlasting Hundred Acres of All. Nothing in the serene place changed except for the fact that it's inhabited and missing some assassins here and there. He is the last living full pledge All-Caste assassin.

Knowing where to go, he entered the Chamber of All where the proctor lies awaiting.

S'aru puffs and grins at his entrance. It was almost as if the millennial old proctor knew he was coming back. "Are you here to retrieve your most cherished memory, Jason Todd?"

So what you guys think? :D