"What is this?"
"Inoculation"
"From?"
"The lastest version of Fear Toxin"
Jason smirked, "Does Daddy know you're sharing this with me?"
"Why wouldn't I? You're still family. Just a.. cut throat, arrogant, black sheep."
"Heh. I prefer charming, realistic, dependable and insanely gorgeous."
Tim smiled, shaking his head. "Despite your way, we need you. You have a place here, a home, a family. Family looks out for each other."
Jason picked at the dry skin on his hand, "We..?"
Tim placed the bandaid on Jason's arm, his fingers finding any excuse to stay on him, to keep a physical connection. "You know, I have forgiven you for everything you did to me. I get it. I would have been angry and bitter too, being brutally murdered. I probably would of done the same things. But knowing you now, I know that's not who Jason Todd is. They'll come around too. You just have to give them time."
"What if that's the real me? All this 'bro' stuff we got going on is just an act"
"I don't believe that. I've seen the look in your eyes when you wanted to kill me. Never have you looked at me like that since. I trust you and I hope you trust me too. If you do, there isn't anything I wouldn't do for you, Jason. I believe you're a good man deep down in there."
"Heh.. would you believe that is actually the nicest thing anyone has ever said about me? Next funeral I want you to say that."
…../...
The night was crisp, a cold breeze swept through the cement jungle of Gotham. The leaves had started to turn orange and red but Jason had not noticed. Inside his red helmet, the bluetooth picked up the Police scanner from his phone. The night was looking pretty calm but he knew that would never be the case. Gotham was never slept. Crime had no bed time. Hearing a shatter of glass and an alarm sounding, Jason grinned. Good ol' Gotham.
Four men in black were smashing the glass counters of the Gotham's Fine Jewelry and Pawn, ransacking the trays of rings and anything they would get their hands on. Glass shards crunched under his boot as he tightened his gloves. They didn't notice his presence which already annoyed him. He used to own these streets. Now these low lifes couldn't even acknowledge him. Whatever came their way, they deserved it.
"I got this" came a voice next to him. Jason's eyes widened. His heart had been racing from being excited about to kick some ass but his heart felt like it had tried to escape from his chest. If they could see him in this moment, he would of looked like a forlorn lover.
"Finder's keepers" said Jason almost whispered, trying to regain his cool demeanor. Timothy Drake's Red Robin garb made them look like partners, all red and black. The four men looked up finally and froze. Drake waved at them as Jason cocked his guns.
He didn't expect the kid to show up. Hell, he practically avoided him. Understandably too. Things didn't end well before Jason had took off from Gotham. Jason wanted to see Tim again. Talk to him, tell him about his journey that lead him back to where it all began, to hold him and feel his hands on his own body once again. He called Tim a couple weeks after returning but once he heard Jason's voice, he hung up and blocked him.
Brandishing a gun, Tim twisted a thug's arm back, a pop sounding and a yell of pain as Tim threw him against the wall. Jason kicked another thug in the stomach, sending him into the broken glass display case. Tim was faster, stronger, bigger. He wasn't a teenager anymore. Jason watched Tim move and suddenly he felt more sad. Timothy Drake grew up and perhaps Jason Todd had no place in his life anymore.
The thugs were tied to the light pole together as police sirens could be heard getting closer. Tim started up the fire escape with Jason in tow.
"It's been pretty slow tonight. Could we tal-"
"You patrol the south end of town and I'll get the North." Tim cut him off before he could get another word in.
"Yeah.. ok. That's fine but I would really like to talk to you. Just for a minute"
"I really have nothing to say to you" 'Liar!'
"You don't have to say anything. Just listen. That's it"
"You've gotten taller"
"A lot happened in 5 years"
"I know. I heard. I'm sorry about Connor."
Drake stiffened, looking back to glare at Jason.
"Tim.. I.."
"Don't say his name! And don't think an apology will change the fact that you abandoned me. You're Red Hood and I'm Red Robin. That is all we have left between us. We have nothing to say to each other." Tim gripped his staff so tight, his knuckles were white.
"I'll get the south then.."
There was so much he wanted to say but he knew now wasn't the time. Now had been a mistake to try.
…..\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\...
As Tim boredly browsed through GCPD confidential files, his wrapped fist tucked under his chin. He was exhausted but his frustration and anger had kept him awake. He didn't know what he was looking for. Anything to take his mind off Jason but he couldn't focus on anything but.
"What happened to your hand?" Bruce asked as he sipped his coffee, leaning on the large chair Tim occupied.
"Relieved some stress is all" Tim replied, never taking his eyes off the screen.
"Should have Alfred take a look at it. You're starting to bleed through the gauze"
"It's fine, Bruce. Really."
"Perhaps you should take the night off. You've haven't taken a break in weeks. It'll do your body good to rest"
"Gotham doesn't sleep"
"Hmph. While I admire your sense of justice for Gotham's plight, I can't help to wonder if your bashed fist have anything to do with Jason coming back"
Tim ignored Bruce, continuing to browse. Bruce knew he was right but Tim had no energy to argue.
"I take it you saw him last night finally?"
"Bruce, I really don't want to talk about this with you. You don't like talking about him and I know you don't approve of what we did together so please, let it go"
"It's not what you think. I have my reasons about Jason. He is dangerous and he's tried killing you. Whatever you had going with him, whether you were dating or not, was a bad idea to get involved with him. I didn't want him to break the faith you had in him. He left you, Tim. He broke something in you and Connor couldn't fill it. I only want you to be happy."
"Jason is unstable and unpredictable. He's nothing like the men you're used to. Never face him alone. Do you understand?" Bruce's voice rang through his head. 5 years ago and he was still saying the same thing. Why couldn't he of just listened to Bruce then and met Connor sooner? Why did this ache never stop? Damn Jason to the hell he crawled from.
