Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters
Rated T for language
Jason liked to sing. But no one knew this of course because he only sang when he was in private. And he had installed a speaker in his helmet connected to his ipod, which he always had on him. Just in case of course.
It was a quiet night. Jason had been staying at the manor because of a stupid broken leg. He healed quickly thanks to the after effects of the Lazarus pit, but Nightwing had insisted he stay with them. Especially since Christmas was in a few days. All of his family was there, Barbra, Steph, Cass, Tim, Damian, of course Dick, Alfred, and Bruce.
So there he was, walking down the stairs after waking up from a nightmare. He looked around and noticed everyone was asleep. Even Alfred, which was a surprise. Jason honestly thought the guy didn't sleep.
He walked into the living room and turned the tv on. After setting the volume really low, he channel surfed til he found his favorite movie. Annie.
He didn't exactly know why he loved it so much. Maybe because he felt like he connected with the girl. Who knows. But he immediately put it on and started to watch it.
A while later his favorite song came on. One that he felt he could relate with. He actually made his own lyrics for it one time. So he lowered the volume and started to sing along.
It's a hard-knock life for us
It's a hard-knock life for us
As Jason sang he thought about his time when his father, Willis Todd was around.
'Stead of treated
We get tricked
'Stead of kisses
We get kicked
It's the hard-knock life
Jason started to snap with the beat. His first father never thought about any thing else about his son except beating him up. He remembered his times on the street when he thought he wasn't gonna make it up.
Don't if feel like the wind is always howl'n?
Don't it seem like there's never any light!
Once a day, don't you wanna throw the towel in?
It's easier than puttin' up a fight
No one's there when your dreams at night get creepy
No one cares if you grow or if you shrink
Jason started to tap his foot. This was only the start though. When Jason started to sing he often got...carried away.
Empty belly life
Rotten smelly life
Full of sorrow life
No tomorrow life
Jason got up and started to dance. He was too in the beat now to hear footsteps heading down the stairs.
Santa Claus we never see
Santa Claus, what's that?
Who's he?
Jason motioned the words and sang a little bit louder, forgetting where he was.
No one cares for you a smidge
When you're a bastard kid
It's the hard-knock life
Jason put up his hand resembling Batman's cowl and made his voice really deep as he sang the next verses.
Make the batcave shine
But don't touch my bat suit
Jason soon swayed his hips and danced more happily. He hadn't felt this comfortable in years.
It's a hard-knock life for us
It's a hard-knock life for us
'Stead of treated
We get tricked
'Stead of kisses
We get kicked
It's the hard-knock life for us
It's the hard-knock life for us
Jason started to quiet down with the song and leaned on the couch arm.
No one cares for you a smidge
When you're a bastard kid
It's the hard-knock life
It's the hard-knock life
Jason just sat there in comfortable silence until he heard someone say,"Wow."
He tensed up and turned to see his whole family, including Bruce, just staring at him.
Before Jason could even curse Dick ran and gave him a hug, grinning.
"I didn't know you knew how to sing Jaybird!"
Jason's face grew red as the rest of his family chuckled. And this is what he gets for staying at the manor.
Damian then said, with a half scowl half grin,"Todd, if you must sing nicely, please don't do it so loudly."
Jason was taken aback. He honestly didn't know if that was a compliment or an insult.
The thing that really killed him though, was when Steph spoke up, smiling like a crazy person.
"Ya know, you make a great batman. Nice fake cowl too."
Jason just facepalmed. He would never hear the end of it.
Alfred, thank him, pushed the rest of the family away, grabbing Dick, leaving only Bruce there.
They both just looked at each other until Bruce smiled fondly. Now it was just weird.
Before his father could even say a word, Jason bolted out of the room. Well as fast as he could with a hurt leg.
Bruce looked after him. He remembered when he heard Jason singing when he thought he was alone in the manor one time. That made him happy. Maybe there was some of the old Jason in the new one.
For the rest of the day Jason spent his time with his siblings, even through there constant teasing. For once, since his death, Jason felt something that he hadn't felt in a long time.
Home.
