Silhouettes
Chapter 2
Ring. Ring. Ring.
"Yes?"
"Hey, uh, just wanted to tell you that I got in at Gotham University."
"Congratulations, Jason. I'll come by your condo later tonight and we will celebrate."
"Ok? I'll see you soon then."
Click.
Jason stared at his iPhone, repeating the conversation he had with Talia in his head. The past three years that he came to know the woman, he still can't read her. Her presence is such an enigma like a puzzle he can't solve. It didn't bother him as much about her enigma presence since he came to view her as a mother figure. Talia was always looking out for him, trying to give him a normal life in which she succeeded.
He sighed as he tried to convinced his conscious that Talia didn't sound disappointed over the phone. Jason told Talia from the very beginning that he'll apply at Gotham University. Even though it wasn't his prefer choice for a college, but he wanted to go to Gotham City in a under different circumstances. Living in the city where he born and raised, it has been his long time ambition and it was finally coming in fruition.
Jason checked his refrigerator to check if any food were left to cook. Usually, Talia enjoys eating his food and he might as well cook tonight. He didn't know, where and how, but ever since he started living alone, he's skilled in cooking. Cooking just came to him, just like when a random mugger comes after him.
He cringed at the memory when he had broken the mugger's collarbone. He didn't mean it, but his body responded to the danger automatically. After seeing what he done, he didn't feel any remorse afterwards. The mugger deserved it.
A sudden ache in the back his head appeared, as if someone just banged his head against the wall constantly. Jason shut his eyes tightly, grasping his temples and trying to soothe the migraine. His migraines were one of his constant symptoms and no medicine in the world could fix it. It would randomly hit him as if a drill was trying to go through his skull.
But ever since Jason stopped trying to remember about his past, the migraines stopped as well. Occasionally. The ache in his head disappeared for the moment and Jason took this time to recollect himself. The pain usually leaves him dizzy momentarily, but it wasn't for long. His shook his head out of his dizzy state and concentrated on what to cook.
Jason took a good minute to figure out what to cook for dinner tonight. There were a lot of options to go from, but he is really craving for pasta. He took out the needed ingredients onto the counter, the needed pots and pans as well and began cooking.
.
Taking one last bite of her pasta, the gleam in her eyes still remained and she gracefully wiped her mouth gently with a napkin. "That was very delicious, Jason." Talia praised, neatly folding her napkin and gently putting the fork aside. She smiled at the chef of the night. "You're getting better."
"Thanks." Jason nodded, appreciating the praise. He, too, finished his remaining pasta and he got up to pick up the plates on the tables to the kitchen. He quickly cleaned the table with the wiper nearby and hastily went to wash the dishes. Jason recognized the glint in her eyes that she had a surprise waiting for him.
A few minutes later of dish washing, he wiped his hands on a cloth and by the time Jason turned to walk back to the dining table, there innocently sitting on the table was an unfamiliar small notebook.
"What's that?" He pointed at the notebook as if it was the most abominable thing in the world.
"Your gift," Talia replied, gesturing him to pick up the notebook. "Since you're going to Gotham University, it would be unavoidable if one of your siblings saw you in Gotham. These are just simple notes about them and things to know."
His eyes widen slightly at the new revelation and quickly skimmed through the pages. He caught glimpses of names and none were familiar to him. None had struck out to him and in his eyes, they were just unfamiliar names, strangers.
All of those names were apparently family, people who had taken care of him before he supposedly died. He ran through his finger onto the names written and realized these were the people who should be familiar to him and yet the names came up with no memories at all. "All of these people, do I know them all personally?"
Talia raised her wine glass to her lips for a sip before answering. "You were particularly close to the Wayne butler, Alfred Pennyworth. You spent most of your time with him."
Alfred Pennyworth, Pennyworth, Pennyworth. He chanted the name in his head like a mantra and his mind could only configure a grandfather figure in his head. Jason could see a silhouette of the man in his mind, but the face was too hazy to see. He didn't linger of that thought until he asked another question. "I don't spend that much time with Bruce?"
"You do. As Batman and Robin of course." She clarified clearly to the boy. Her orbs were carefully watching Jason's reaction for anything. "But outside of the costume, you spend your time with him as well when he's not at work."
Jason hummed quietly. He had nothing to say about Bruce Wayne, except for the unbearable pain in his chest. He ignored it and continued with the questions. "What about… Richard Grayson?"
"I'm afraid he rarely spends time with you." Talia informed. "I'm sorry, but I don't have more information on your relationship with Richard. Let's just say, he wasn't exactly happy to find that he was easily replaced."
He said nothing and in the back of his mind, he couldn't help but think this douche is a dickhead. He just had a sudden feeling that he used to call him a dickhead pertaining to that of his namesake. Jason didn't press on that matter and moved on the next name. "Timothy Drake?"
Talia shook her head gently. "You never knew him. He is your successor to the mantle." She clarified.
Jason nodded and continued flipping on the pages. Talia seriously went all out in this notebook, even as far as to know what their daily schedule was. Then he landed on the page named Damian Wayne and gazed at it. Jason glanced back at Talia curiously. "I didn't know Damian became part of the family already."
Her eyes flashed dangerously for a second at the mere name of her son. Her features changed that into a gentle natured one. "Please take care of him, Jason."
He nodded, taking the promise. He asked no questions regarding Damian. The last time he'd ever seen the little man was over two years ago when he decided to drop by his condo for the night before taking off. Jason could still remember it clearly in his mind and till to this day, he still wondered about the fallout between mother and son.
.
"What do you mean it's not fucking ready?" Jason glared heatedly at his red headed friend. He had just arrived in Gotham, excited to be finally be here. It was soon all washed away with slight anger after his friend informed him of his living situation. Of all things, his place was not ready to move in just yet.
"Calm down Jaybird—"
"Roy, choose between Jaybird and your trachea. You can't have both." Jason snapped, his glare intensified at his nickname.
Roy smugly smirked fearlessly. He's so used to threats that he just became immune to it. "Jaybird, just listen to me." He ignored the glare shot his way again. "Last night there was an accident, just when the repair crew was done renovating our place. Some criminal came in and destroyed the place."
Jason sighed irritably, running his fingers through his hair. "Great. Just fucking great. Where are we staying at right now?" He demanded calmly, his anger dissipating slightly. He had picked a condo close to the University, just so he could be near.
"The Ritz-Carlton and we got a suite. We all have our own rooms before you ask." Roy answered. He took one of his friend's bags and gestured the young college student outside to the waiting zone. Just around the corner, the familiar white car parked, he led Jason to the car. Before going inside, he and Jason dumped all of his belongings in the trunk.
Jason was greeted by another red head. "Hello Jason, I trust your flight was well?"
"It was fine."
Roy clasped his hands together and leaned in, his curious chartreuse orbs at his friend. "Now that all three of us are here, are you going to tell us your reason for bringing us to Gotham with you?"
.
He stood in front of the building of Gotham University. It was nothing impressive as he seen better. Shoving his hands into his pockets, he strides towards the building, with the intent of attending the orientation. Though, he didn't really want to attend it right now. He could always study the map of the school.
The sudden smell of coffee hits his nose as he felt something burning on his chest and he took a step back.
"Oh my god, I am so sorry!" The blonde apologized, a napkin ready in her hand and soaking the coffee from his shirt.
"It's ok." He replied, nonchalantly. Jason stops the girl trying to wipe off his already stained shirt. A mere napkin wasn't going to clean his shirt anyways.
The girl smiled cheekily at him and then offered a proposition. "Look, I ruined your shirt. You're probably here for the orientation. Let me buy you a shirt and I'll give you the best tour here in GU."
Jason repeated the offer in his head one more time and contemplated whether to take it or not. His lips quirks and takes the offer.
"Great!" The girl pipes up, happily. She takes out a hand. "I'm Stephanie Brown."
The familiar name echoed in his head, he knew he read that name somewhere before. He takes her hand and shook it. "Jason Todd."
Next Chapter: "Stephanie, what are you saying? He is dead. What brought you to on to this?"
Ahh~ I'm trying to go for weekly updates for this story. Everything here will be explain soon and yes Jason knows Roy and Kori but you won't find out till later chapters. Everything is all Batfamily next chapter~!
