Betrayal

by JaggerK

Talia ensures that Jason knows about the new Robin and the fact that the Joker isn't dead. Jason broods about who is and isn't going to have to pay his pain.

If I could I would own everything DC.

NANDA PARBAT

SOLDIER'S QUARTERS

Jason sat flipping through the articles on the tablet Talia had given him. There was no denying it – he had been replaced. A new Robin flew over Gotham. Based on what he was finding it had been just months after he had died too.

Finding out that Joker was still alive and well and escaping Arkham had been bad enough. This, this, was betrayal. At least Bruce had picked a better candidate this time. The kid was a rich brat from a neighbouring family and how did that work exactly? How did Mommy and Daddy not notice that their little Timmy wasn't safe in his bed asleep at night?

Every detail of the articles hurt. Seeing the glimpses of his family in pictures was like glass through his heart. At the scene of a bank robbery one level headed hostage caught several cell pictures of the take down. The final one was of Nightwing helping Robin to his feet as they grinned wildly at each other. Batman could be seen in the background talking to Jim Gordon.

That was his big brother. That should have been a grin directed at him for a successful job. Instead, the Replacement was getting it. It hurt, it stung, and it burned.

There was little to nothing of Catwoman. It didn't appear she was working with the Batclan so she would be keeping a lower profile. Selina Kyle definitely wasn't with Bruce Wayne anymore. Early on the papers had speculated that Jason's death had been too much for the couple's relationship as it often was when a child was lost.

The Replacement was all the evidence Jason needed to show that Bruce hadn't really cared. Selina, on the other hand, she would have suffered. He didn't doubt that she loved him. It seemed clear to him that break up had been caused by lack of grief Bruce's part. Otherwise, Catwoman would have continued to work with at least Nightwing.

Jason grew steadily angrier. He couldn't let this stand. Something had to be done. Bruce had to pay for letting Joker live, for hurting Selina. Dick had to pay for forgetting about him and replacing him with a new little brother. The Replacement had to pay….for being the Replacement.

He continued to flip through the articles. Anger grew and smothered out the pain in his heart.

Dun, dun, dun. (That line is totally for Triscribe.)