AN: This was a lot of fun for me to write so if there are people reading this, I hope you like this chapter as well.
Chapter Four: The Journey Starts
Does it make me a complete jerk if I am happy to see the concern cross Bruce's face as I tell him that I'm going to be starting my probably insane journey with the king of crappy personalities. I know that I look as a teenager and I know how badly he felt about my death, that kind of layered responsibility but the fact is that I did let him down long ago. I died and I didn't come back completely sane. Maybe this is a way for making up for all that. Still, I am happy that he still appears to care for me.
"I'm off," I tell him and he turns to me before picking up a backpack, he hands it to me. Uh, thanks Bruce but I've already got money so I can buy stuff. Still, you can't turn down a gift from a man who is like a father figure to you no matter how disturbing the analogy. "What's this?"
"I'm not sending you out unprepared," Bruce tells me and I look at him curiously. "Everything in there has a use so do me a favor and don't throw it away. Are you sure you're going to be okay, Jason?"
I shrug, "I've done okay before if you don't mention…"
"We won't mention that," Bruce says and I see some distance in his eyes as if he's trying to put a wall up between this moment now and the moment when tragedy struck our partnership. I know seeing me like this can't be easy, he gets all those protective instincts back. As little as he cares about his own health, he definitely does care about the Robins and Batgirls of this world.
"So, take care of Alfred for me," I try and joke and he reaches out for me.
"Jason," he says slowly and I look at him. I'm not sure what to make of this behavior, it doesn't seem to be the usual sort of Batman behavior that I'm used to. Still, I don't want to be a brat. If Bruce is asking for me to give him my attention then I will give him my attention. "If you need anything or if you get hurt, please know that you can phone me, you can phone Alfred if you can't phone me or Dick."
"I'm okay," I whisper and Bruce puts a hand on the top of my head. This is his way of silently telling me that he loves me like any parent or big brother loves their relative. I give a slight chuckle and he frowns before ruffling my hair up.
"Okay, you go get them you damn kid," he says as he cracks a smile and I nod. "Jason, any time that you might need me, either with my cape or not." I know that he means it. This is more than the fact that I stopped him from becoming a kid. Maybe he's never hated me even at the time I lost my own damn mind.
I nod to him before leaving to join Constantine. This will help me with my training if nothing else and damn it, I really need training again. Hopefully I'll complete this journey with him and come back able to put the hood on again no matter what age I am by that point.
…
…
At least the brat isn't running late, he's actually early but not so much that it gets annoying. I mean, if you can't go with the flow in life then you definitely need to knock back a few drinks. Even when time seems to be a necessity, you have to realize that it's either going to happen or not happen, no harder way than to struggle against the senselessness.
Okay, so maybe I do take too many breaks but it's easy when you don't really care about the mortal life.
I live for the thrill, the adrenaline in my lungs, my heart drumming in my ears and hopefully this kid is able to come along for the ride. It'll be annoying as heck if he slows me down. Still, another life is fun to travel with at times especially if I can sacrifice it for my own. Don't call me evil or a dick, I'm a strategist, a game-player and I usually come out okay in the end.
"You said your teary goodbyes, eh?" I ask him as I light up a cigarette and the kid stares at me.
"You care if I get one of those from you?" he asks. He hands out his hand expecting me to just give him one. Nah, these are mine kid. Grow up and buy some for your damn self. Hopefully this isn't a sign of how things are going to go with him.
"You smoke?" I ask him before holding the pack away from him. "Where did you learn a behavior like that? Tsk Tsk, not really appropriate for a teen is it?"
"You're saying that you didn't smoke before you were the age that I look?" he asks back and I sigh. Okay, I've been stealing these for as long as I can remember or wish to remember so the kid has a point but then again my parents never said, here John, light up.
"See, I'm trying a new angle here," I tell him as I roll my eyes. Time for the dramatics. "I'm supposed to look like a responsible adult and you're supposed to be some mild mannered teenager whose yet to experience puberty."
"Great, so you're an asshole too," he tells me and as I look at him, I know that he's been through more than enough of hell. Something major has happened to him. This kid isn't your usual brat but why should I care about that. I don't want to invest my time in sorting out someone else's issues. Nah. I need to get moving and get moving quickly, life's too short just to stand around in one place for too long.
"I can be whatever I want to be," I tell him and he scoffs. Now the thing is that I have to get this kid to help me 'cause I actually need to call in a few favors and go meet with a few other people. I sigh as I look at the door and glance behind me. Freaking Batman is standing there, watching me. That guy must realize how much of a command he has over others. Yeah, he has that sick smile of satisfaction on his face.
"I'm warning you, John," he says in his growl of a voice. Damn it. Why do they all feel this blasted need to be familiar and call me by my first name. Can't they be a gent, call me by the last name, it's so much cooler. "Anything happens to him and you'll have me to deal with."
I can tell that he's serious, that this kid is something special to him, probably some kind of trained Robin or what-not. I shrug but then see the kid smiling at this vigilante. What's with all this adoration crap? Not like there's people who give me the same treatment.
"Yeah, yeah" I tell him as I nod 'cause clearly there isn't another way to get around this. "Get this kid back in the same way you would with one of those rental cars, no broken bones, no dents in the boot, got it," I tell him and he frowns. Something else annoying old Batsy over here?
"I'd prefer you didn't smoke inside the house," he says and there's that sappy look between the two of them. I grab the boy by the arm and pull him outside. I take a drag of my cig.
"You enjoy that?" I ask him pointing my thumb back in the direction of the house and there's some disgusting sense of pride on the teen's face and if he's hoping to impress a parent. Wish I cared more about that.
"He's got his good side," the teen tells me and I sigh, pushing my hair back.
"Hope that's the same with everyone 'cause we'll be needing some help. I've got an old acquaintance that I need to visit, need to call in a few favors," I tell him and he looks at me. He nods, seemingly unphased. Okay, this one isn't a so-called monster but she's one of the toughest chicks that I've ever met.
"Whose first?" he asks me and I look at him with a grin.
"Zatanna."
End of Chapter Four
Thank you for reading
