Forgot to do this last time I own NOTHING only my oc that's it...cause if I owned Jason...well...hehe
My new life wasn't what I thought it would be and at the same time it was. While I wasn't an experiment being poked, prodded, and tested in some lab I was still a prisoner being held in the Watchtower for my "safety". I wasn't allowed to leave. In the coming weeks my only company would be whatever Justice League members were present at the time. Batman was a rarity, Superman ignored me even when he was there, Wonder Woman and Black Canary would hold pleasantries with me, Green Lantern would say hi, my two most frequent visitors were the Flash and Martian Manhunter. Both were pleasant, but complete opposites. The Flash was loud, boisterous, and an all around nice and cheerful guy who would often talk incessantly around me, sometimes mentioning his nephew, while Manhunter was much quieter and more reserved often sounding bored. Manhunter was teaching me how to control my powers and how to isolate the different aspects of them, but was proving to not be very effective. My powers didn't seem to work the same way his did as a martian and so it was proving useless.
It went on like this for two more years. I had been drawing away from the others presence, they were all adults, there was no one even near my age, though some of them might argue that the Flash acts my age, and most of them ignored me anyone so what was the point in socializing? Then something changed.
I could tell as soon as they Zeta beamed in that something was different. Batman was here, doing whatever it is he did when he came, but he had brought someone with him this time. He had done this before, but usually it was an older kid who was in his mid to late teens and they didn't come that often anymore. The kid with him now seemed to be around my age and that intrigued me.
Martian Manhunter's voice in my head stopped my musings on the subject "Neo your presence is required please join us in the computer room."
"I'm coming." I sent back
I gave a little huff and got up from where I had been lying on my bed. Between visitors and training I literally had nothing to do. In retrospect I'm surprised that I didn't go mad from boredom.
It didn't take me long to get to where Manhunter had directed me, by this point I knew my way around really well and I should after spending two years here with little to do other than wonder around. When I arrived only Manhunter, Batman, and Robin were there.
Glancing at the kid I could tell he must be a new Robin because the old one was older than him by several years and now went by Nightwing if I remembered correctly.
"Neo how good of you to join us so promptly." Manhunter said in greeting
I nodded and the new boy wonder and Batman turned to face me. The boy looked very similar to the last Robin, at least what I could see of him, with his black hair and pale skin tone. The greatest difference though wasn't their age or looks, but their minds. I could feel the barely contained rage and pain within the boy, something we had in common as well as his past it was as equally dark though I tried not to see anything, Manhunter and my parents before him told me it was rude to read people's minds without their permission or foreknowledge.
"What is it that you want from me?" I asked looking Batman in the eye my face composed into a blank mask
"What makes you think we want anything from you?" Robin asked before Batman could answer me
"That is the only reason that either of you would be here. After all I am not allowed to leave and there is no reason for you to visit. Batman doesn't just visit me. So you must want something." I answered without looking away from Batman
The Robin didn't seem to like this, his eyebrows scrunched together and his lips turned into a scowl, he seemed almost upset over what I had said.
Before the boy could say anything further Batman spoke "The League and I have agreed that you need more social interaction."
"Well that's a little difficult to come by when you have me locked away in a space station full of adults that are either too busy to stop and visit or don't want anything to do with me isn't it?" I asked coolly
This seemed to further upset the Robin, though I am unsure as to why, it was as though he cared about my entrapment which was baffling since he didn't know me.
"Which is why you will now be spending afternoons and weekends with Robin. Given time you may even be allowed to live on Earth for sort periods of time, but know this. If you use your powers without permission you will be right back here where you started and we will detain you." Batman threatened his eyes narrowing into what many called the bat-glare
"You say that as though you could if I didn't want you to...but no matter, I accept your proposal and rules...for now." I agreed easily
Batman narrowed his eyes, but nodded. They all knew I was more powerful than even Manhunter, they knew that if I wanted to...I could do whatever I wanted and they could do nothing to stop me.
A few months later...
"Hey Charlie!" Jason yelled as I walked up to Wayne Manor with Bruce clutching onto my shoulder tightly
Jason ran up to me and threw his arms around me in a tight hug, after these months of coming to see him I no longer tensed like I did whenever someone else touched me, and I melted into it letting my body finally relax from its usually stiff position.
"Happy Birthday Jaybird." I whispered into his ear gently squeezing him back
"Come on I've got the whole weekend planned!" Jason said as he dragged me after him into the mansion and past Alfred, their butler
During the times I had spent with Jason I had slowly learned to act more and more human, more like a child, it was freeing no longer being so heavily burdened by my powers and most of that freedom was due to Jason and his influence and his stubborn refusal to leave me be. I remember that first day we spent together...
...It was the first Saturday after Batman had come to the Watchtower with his new Robin and as per our agreement I was being escorted to Earth to spend time with him.
It had been two years since I had been back on Earth and so the first thing I did was look around me to see if anything had changed...I was only slightly surprised to find that we were in Gotham. I had glimpsed it plenty of times in Batman's mind so I knew this is where he lived, I even knew his identity from before I got a handle on my powers, but it still shocked me to be back in my home city, the place that I had been born and raised in until tragedy took it away from me.
Martian Manhunter was escorting me this time, and he would a few times after this, and he was going to stay in the vicinity to make sure that I "controlled" myself, though I'm sure they would say it was for my protection and not theirs.
When we exited the Zeta tube Manhunter shape shifted to look like a normal human, a African American bald man in his mid to late thirties If I had to guess his age, and we walked a few blocks till we came to a mansion with large iron gates. We didn't even have to press the button to get in, as soon as we approached the gates they opened to let us in and we were promptly let in at the door.
The mansion, because there was no way I'd ever be able to call this a simple house, was even more extravagant on the inside then it was on the outside and seemed twice as big, which I didn't think was possible, and it annoyed me to tell you the truth. It was reasonable though because I had always just scraped by with my parents, we were lucky if we could pay bills and eat and some nights we didn't, and here Batman and Robin were with more than they could ever possibly need in their lifetime while there were hundreds of people who were starving all over the city.
As I was lost in my angry rantings I didn't notice as Batman came and greeted Manhunter, though Manhunter had told me to call them Bruce and John while out of uniform, and Robin was now sliding down the banister right at me. I didn't realized any of this until I was literally plowed over by the boy and he landed right on top of me our faces now only inches apart...
...That was the first time I ever felt an emotion that was wholly mine, embarrassment colored my cheeks and then anger quickly replaced it as I shoved the boy off and stomped away grumbling under my breath. Our second meeting didn't go over so well I spent most of the day being angry with him and he spent most of it trying to get me to "lighten up" as he called it. The next few times weren't much better, but slowly I was letting him in and it was terrifying...
...It was maybe the third weekend I would spend with Jason the first two didn't go so well, but none were as bad as that first day I was back on Earth. Today we were just hanging out in the yard. Manhunter wasn't with me for once, in fact he only dropped me off now seeing as he was the one most often in the Watchtower, and he had said he wouldn't be sticking around anymore. This pleased me, I no longer had to monitor my powers so heavily anymore and so I could let the smaller things slip.
Jason was trying to figure out something we could do together, but had so far had no real ideas.
"Ugh I can't think of anything. Why don't we just talk and see if anything just comes up." Jason suggested as he plopped down on the ground where he stood
"Talk about what?" I asked far less guarded then I usually was
"Uh...how about when's your birthday?" He asked as he ran his hand through his hair
"...April 15...why?" I mumbled softly
"Just want to get to know you. Hey! That's it!" He exclaimed happily
"What?" I asked looking at him curiously
"We'll play twenty questions and since I already asked one it's your turn. So ask me a question." Jason explained
"hmm..." I thought about it, what could I ask him that wasn't too deep, but would still satisfy him "What's your favorite color?" I finished lamely
"Red. What's your favorite animal?" He asked his enthusiasm toned down a bit now
"Cats and hedgehogs I can never choose." I answered closing my eyes a moment and smirking slightly
This went on for a while until it was time for dinner and after that I had to leave. I wasn't allowed to stay over night yet, though they assured me it would happen in time...
...Despite my lackadaisical approach to the game, that day was one of the best I ever had since my parents' deaths. Just sitting there and talking about everything and nothing was better than anything I had experienced in the two years I had been with the Justice League. That day we didn't touch on any serious topics, but the next time...
...It was the next day, Sunday, and once again I was spending it at Wayne Manor with Jason. The League never said it, but those that actually cared for me as a person were happy with my progress with socialization and acting more human.
We were in the back yard again, it was sunny and warm and Jason seemed to have picked up on how much I liked being outside in the nice weather that I usually missed while in the Watchtower, we were just laying back in the grass watching clouds go by.
"So...why does the League have you locked up in the Watchtower?" Jason asked hesitantly, not even bothering to look at me
I froze my muscles tensing for a moment, that question was a big no-no, but I guess I couldn't keep it from him forever...he was Robin after all and he would eventually find out, is what I told myself before closing my eyes and letting out a whoosh of air "It's...not a nice story." I said weakly
This got his attention and he leaned over making me open my eyes to look at him, his weight was now resting on his arm, and he now looked at me " It's ok. I promise...I'll listen." he assured his eyes turning serious
I thought it over a moment before closing my eyes again as I gave in "It started when I was little...I didn't realize what it was at first, didn't realize it wasn't normal until I went to school. It started out small...little things that you could ignore or play off. Until one day...a kid was picking on me. He wound up hitting a wall pretty hard, but he wasn't really hurt."
"So you lost your temper what's so bad about that?" Jason asked confusion coating his voice and face
"Thing is...I didn't even touch him." I answered looking him in the eye
His eyes widened with understanding and his mouth fell open a little and I turned away not wanting to see it turn to fear, then anger, and end in hatred.
I continued my story " It was then my parents realized what I could do. I could read thoughts and feelings, I could throw things across the room or levitate them without touching them. They covered it up as best they could, tried to teach me to hide it. We didn't live in the best part of Gotham."
Jason interrupted me "Wait you're from Gotham?"
"Yeah. I used to live on the edge of the Narrows not too far from Crime Alley to tell you the truth. My parents were poor, we barely made ends meet, some days we didn't even eat and a few times the power was turned off on us, but we made due. It wasn't long though for the Justice League to find me. They came to my house, explained what I was and what I'd be able to do, to my parents and then they left. I thought that was going to be the end of it...I was wrong. I was ten, it was a Friday night...and it was raining. My father had just gotten home, Bruce had given him a job and my parents were saving to get a house in a better neighborhood, my mom was making dinner. We never saw it coming. The door was broken in...a man had come...because he was ordered to...and without even knowing why...he shot my parents in cold blood one after the other. I felt it as they died, the white hot pain of the bullet...my mother's agony at seeing her husband dead...and then they were gone. The lights of their minds snuffed out like a candle flame. The guy must not have known about me because he didn't even come upstairs, didn't even loot the place...he just left." I said my voice dully with the age old pain and sorrow of reliving my parents deaths
Unknown to me Jason was looking at me in a strange mixture of pain, sympathy, and anger.
"A few hours later, after dark, the police finally arrived and so did Batman, but they were much too late. I was taken into the Justice Leagues care and have been there ever since." I finished finally looking at Jason
His face was now composed, but it seemed like a cold rage was still on his face...
...That day we exchanged our sad histories a bond was forged, new and weak and tentative, but it was there. More months went by and we spent both our birthdays together, though his was after the huge party Bruce forced upon him. It was on the anniversary of our meeting that our bond changed forever...
...Once again I was hanging out with Jason, today would be the first day I would get to stay over night as a trail run, we were inside for once as it was just after dinner and we were hanging out in his room. We were now both thirteen and Jason had been Robin for just over a year. We were just lying on his bed next to each other in perfectly comfortable silence, but both our minds were buzzing.
I had been thinking something over for a while, thinking of all the outcomes if he said yes, if he said no, what could happen, what could go wrong, what would change between us with this. I almost chickened out a few times before I finally got the courage to ask "Jason?"
"Yea?" He said turning to look at me
"I...have something I want to ask...feel free to say no...it's really private and it's ok to say no, I don't want to make you uncomfortable or" I started to ramble before Jason cut me off
"Hey, you can ask me anything Charlie...you know that." He said gently now fully facing me
"R..right. Well...um..." I stalled panic starting to overtake me and unbeknownst to me making a few of Jason's things levitate
"It's ok Charlie...just ask." He said keeping eye contact and grabbing my hand
I took a deep breath, everything going back to their places as I did so, and just blurted it out "Doyouwanttohavealinkwithme?"
Jason just stared at me patiently waiting for me to repeat myself slower "Do you...w..want to...have a...a link...with...with me?" I stuttered looking down at my hands as my face heated up
"What do you mean?" He asked tilting his head to try and see my face
Ok so that wasn't an outright no, but it wasn't a yes either "A psychic link. One that will link our minds...and emotions. We could talk even when we're far away...and we'd always know when the other's in trouble...and we could always find each other..and" I rambled again
"Ok." He said smiling softly
"What?" I asked eyes widening as I finally looked at him again
"Ok. Yes let's do it...how do we do it exactly?" He asked curious
"Believe it or not we've already started it, we just need to cement it in our minds." I answered
"And how do we do that?" He asked
I didn't say anything just pressed our foreheads together gently and closed my eyes bringing us both into our minds.
The mind-scape was dark with shards of light, mirrors almost, and within each was a memory, and the two of us stood at the center.
"Where are we?" Jason asked as he looked around
"Inside our heads. Now get over here." I answer as I held out my hands
He did as I asked and gripped my hands gently, his hands were already slightly bigger than mine and they had callouses from the streets and being Robin and they were warm.
"What now?" He asked looking into my eyes
"Now we just have to let go of our minds." I said closing my eyes
I didn't know if he did it at first, until I felt a sudden rushing sensation like I was being poured out as something else was being poured into me, but then I felt it, I saw it, millions of memories and feelings and thoughts and hopes and dreams and wishes and it was all Jason, Jason, Jason. I could feel him, like an extension of my being and it left me feeling exposed and vulnerable.
And then I felt him reaching out to me, feelings and emotions, not vulnerable or scared..safe. He wanted me to feel safe with him even if he wasn't always safe and the fact that he felt that way broke my heart. No loved, cherished, my protector I sent back to him.
I don't know how long we spent inside our heads revealing in our new bond, just feeling each other exploring and reassuring and just...being, but eventually we were on the outside again and we just looked at each other and before we knew it or realized what we were doing we kissed...
...That day changed everything. We no longer were the unwanted, the charity cases, we now had each other. After that day we were closer than ever. We started dating and we were happier than anything. Weeks after they noticed the change in both of us. We were more controlled when we were together, though Jason's temper got out of hand whenever I was sent back to the Watchtower, and they began to let me stay on Earth for longer periods of time. We were so happy. We were in love. We had no idea it was all about to end.