AN: I really hope that you enjoy this chapter 😊
Chapter Three : I'll Take the Kid
Bruce has told me to consider going onto the streets again and that I don't have to be the Red Hood. I know that he's worried about my putting myself in danger with such a smaller body but the thing is, he doesn't know what my mind is thinking. I wish that he'd just give me the chance to prove myself but he makes a good point. I do have to train this body a bit.
That's going to be annoying. I've already gone through that whole training part.
It's hard for me to admit that I'm weaker, that my balance and coordination are a bit off, that I wouldn't be able to take down the corrupt members of the underworld like I once could. They'd never take me seriously in this body anyway even with a disguise.
So, what is my life now? Bruce already has a current Robin and Tim's always been the one who is good at the computer work, well him or Barbara.
Think, Jason. You've always been good at making plans so you have to consider your options and get yourself to a point you feel comfortable with. I trust in Bruce, he doesn't think I'm ready to go out crime fighting as much as I want to do so, I don't think so either. I've always been interested in what a suicide mission feels like – and Waller's assignments are not what I'm referring to – but anything with this body is a suicide mission.
Do I feel okay to get up? Well, that's the first step – no pun intended, well maybe pun intended – and I get my feet onto the ground at the side of the bed. I run my hand through my hair again. If I hadn't tried to save Bruce's life, he'd be in my situation and that's most likely what they wanted, Batman to be a child, to be a weak teen who wasn't ready for vigilantism. I can kind of see Alfred's protectiveness if that happened. I'm glad that I was able to save him then, nobody wants a bratty Bruce Wayne plus far too obvious.
So, I get myself standing. I feel all right but it's hardly a comfort.
My next task is to find Brucey, try to figure out a cure for this. Maybe I should get something to eat but my main concern is how to not be a fifteen-year-old. Plus, it wasn't that long ago that Alfred actually brought me something to eat. Heh, those jokes about a growing boy probably are correct. I wander down the halls. So much different than when I was living here, when it was acceptable for me to live here.
I know he cares about me, that's something people close to Bruce know, he does actually care about others, it's why he's never crossed his own lines even though it probably would have worked out better for him. Yet, he cares about his prized robins more. I can accept that.
"If you're looking for something, he's in the cave," Damian tells me and I nod. How can I be so much closer to his age than Bruce's? I always considered Damian as a bratty kid, sure he's Bruce's own son but that doesn't stop him from being one heck of an annoying kid. Now he's around my age and I'm supposed to feel closer to him, feel like we're school friends. Give me a break.
"Yeah, well maybe I was," I shrug, "so thanks."
"It sucks being a kid," Damian continues and I stare at him before turning away, sorry I don't want pity right now. "The fact that you have to do it twice. Well, I'd hate that, especially the way you're underestimated."
"Sure," I tell him. Is he trying to be nice to me? That would be a change, someone in this family actually giving a damn whether I'm alive or dead. Well, they cared about my death that first time it happened but then with the whole losing my mind after the resurrection, yeah, I can see how they wouldn't care too much where my life ended. "Thanks."
He nods before starting to throw something against the wall, fortunately for him it doesn't leave any marks that could give Alfred pause. I make my way down to the cave and take a deep breath as I see Bruce in defense mode. Hopefully this won't backfire on me. I already have enough under my belt, well I think I could benefit from a bit more of a utility belt, shouldn't teens have their own toys.
I notice Bruce look at me for a brief moment before he turns his attention to someone else, seriously this guy earns his place as a top detective, you can never pull one over on him. He's aware of everything.
"Come on, Bats. Now that I've uncovered your identity which is easier than I first thought, my thinking is that you owe me," I hear a British gi—guy speaking and I smell cigarettes. Damn, this body wouldn't even be able to buy those things or alcohol. Give Damian credit, it truly sucks being under age.
"Am I supposed to let you blackmail me?" Bruce says as he folds his arms. "I know that you'd sell me out in a minute. I know of your reputation at least."
"Here's the thing, you give me what I want and the deal is as good as done. No more squawking about your secret. I need a body and one that I can train would be best. I've had my -" as I move forward I see him, the blond hair, the body language that translates into I don't give an F. "Him," he points at me and I stare back at him.
Bruce turns to me, his expression softening for a moment, "No," he says firmly and I look between the two.
"You give me that kid, that one who looks like he's able to be trained and all is forgotten or whatever, I've got better things to occupy my time with," the guy shrugs and I take a step towards him but Bruce spreads his arm out in front of me. Is the guy really that dangerous that Bruce feels I need protecting? Is this because I saved him from becoming a kid, the guy should care about himself some more.
Wait, Jason, you've trained yourself in knowing this kind of guy. Just try to place who it is. I pause before it dawns on me, I've heard of John Constantine before but I didn't know he was in the market for possessing people.
"Are you threatening my fami-" Bruce continues and I look between the two men before giving a nod to Constantine.
I make sure to maintain eye contact with him before nodding, "I'll do it," I say and Bruce looks a little taken aback. At least I can say that I did something that even the Batman didn't expect. This is another way of saving a life.
"See, that's how you make a deal," Constantine says, reaching for another cigarette. I know that there's a part of Bruce's mind wondering how he will ever get the smell out of the cave. I wonder if that need actually is prioritized over me or not. Hard to say with this guy. He reaches for my hand and shakes it.
"Can you at least promise to keep him alive?" Bruce says feeling as if he's lost and I'm sorry but losing me is a lot better than losing his hidden identity, for him to go to prison, for the whole Batman operation to shut down.
"No guarantees," Constantine replies and I see Bruce's body stiffen. Could he really care about me this way or is this just because he feels indebted to me? That's something that I don't even want to consider, Bruce indebted to me. It's painful to even imagine those thoughts.
"Jason, you don't have to do thi-" Bruce argues back but I give him a determined look.
"I'm capable of doing this," I tell him before walking over near Constantine. I take a deep breath and see the concern in Bruce's eyes, you're not hiding your emotions this time, you have to be more strong-jawed and see the funny side of this. You're not losing much so why do you think that you are? "I choose to do this."
"If anything happens, get in contact with me," Bruce tells me before I look at him.
"Just think of it as giving up something without much value. I mean, that's how you think of me, right? If I hadn't saved you from this fate then you wouldn't even care if I lived or died. I'm an outcast, right?" I ask him and Bruce is taken aback. I see the hurt on his face and I realize that those words cut deep. Of course he cares but he shouldn't. I'm a rogue, an outlaw, someone who shouldn't bear too much weight on his life.
"If anything happens," he repeats and Constantine throws his arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer to his chest.
"I don't wanna let anything happen to him but you know, it's pretty tough out there, I'll do my best but if the situation comes then it comes, nothing you can do about it even in your luxurious lifestyle. Talk about the rich and famous," Constantine says as he gestures to all the expensive technology that Bruce has gathered down here.
"I'll be fine," I try to tell him and Bruce looks at me before nodding.
"Tell me when you are leaving," he says before turning his back on me once again. He's always been difficult to get to know emotionally so maybe the idea that I hurt his feelings is more in my own head than something that actually is possible. I have no idea what the difficulties are working with this man but even if I do die, it'll be better than trying to be some regular kid.
I've never been good at being normal anyhow.
