A/N: Again, a long chapter with many dialogues. Or at least, it appeared long to me because of the problems relative to translate an Italian phrase into English. Also, maybe I'm too much "philosophical" in some points, and in the translation they could become more difficult to understand for a standard English reader. I'm aware of the fact I still realized grammar or even worse conceptual errors, so be patient to me and please tell if there is something hard to understand!
I introduced here another idea to enrich even more the story, related to the post reboot universe. A single hint: RHatO. Again, the fault is of Jason. His role became day by day more bigger than I expected, from a simple citation he become one of the main co-protagonists! But I guess the story gained much with his presence. Also, I guess I will properly reply here to the last review of Nequam-tenshi about the relationships of Jason…
By the way, to made things more clear, the Jason of this story had black hair with his white wisp (basically, is pre-crisis Jason), so no "ginger Jason" or "post-crisis Jason" completely cured by the Lazarus Pit. The Jason of my stories is still affected by poliosis.
Also, I guess it's clear that when the main characters are called with their surnames, the story was under Damian's POV. The passage to the birth name happens when the story focused towards another character's POV ( in this case, that of Jason) or however in third person mode.
As always, review and enjoy! By the way, there is quite bad language in this chapter, but I guess it's normal if we put Jason and Damian togheter. Luckily for him, Thomas is still a baby right now.
Disclaimer: Batman and co. are of DC. Melanie instead is mine.
Chapter Nine: Red Hood Inc.
The first four days were quite hard, but Damian was one who learned fast and rarely committed two times the same error. He almost spent the time with Thomas, of course except when he needed to use the bathroom (in that cases Ace made an excellent guard on his crib). However, because the baby still slept for most of the time, the boy needed to employ most of his free time; he started to clean the house with regularity, he read books and journals, he used his laptop to follow his business, and keep on exercise.
Since the third day, Damian started to exercise how to cook, because he was tired to use meals and however he guessed Thomas needed something more healthy to eat when he was more older. The first experiments however weren't so successful that neither Ace wanted to eat the results and he spent most of the day to clean the kitchen. The bad cooking genes of the Wayne hit again, but Damian was determinate to improve no matter what.
In the late morning of the fifth day, while Damian was playing with a Thomas more active than usual, someone knocked to the main door. He thought initially he was a neighbor or someone which wanted to investigate to the new presence in that house, and he decided to wait unless the stranger left; but the knocks continued and Ace suddenly started to woof towards the door. The great Dane seemed nervous.
Damian decided cautiously to open, Thomas in his arms, trying to be ready to escape the more fast possible if he was an enemy. The person in front of him was smirking, but he preferred a thousand times to not see that expression in his face and above all to not see him. "Hi, brat!"
Damian immediately slammed the door in face to Jason Todd. He entered into a moment of panic which only the cry of Thomas managed to stop. His first instinct was to escape with the Alfredmobile, but then he started to think more rationally. It was very strange that Red Hood knocked at his door, unmasked, and at full daylight. It was against all his usual modus operandi; also, he heard him saying: " I'm not having hostile intentions, brat! I only wanted to talk with you!"
Damian was undecided now. Todd then exclaimed: " If you don't open me now, I will call immediately the old bat to inform where you are."
The boy ran to open immediately the door, looking to him with rage.
" Enter."
The man continued to smirk towards him, who was trying to calm his brother: " Your parents didn't teach you education, brat?"
Damian decided to match him." Aside from the fact you were more rude to come here without calling or without permission, You and I we are enemies…"
" Relax, chum. If you know me, do you know I never attack civilians."
" And if I'm on a disguise for a mission?"
" In the capital, alone, with only a dog and a toddler? You should try to be more realistic. And however, I perfectly know who is this baby."
" And who is it this baby?"
" It's your adorable brother, or to better say your adorable clone. I must admit your mother lacked of creativity, however. I don't understand why she made the same error twice…"
" Whatever, this is not your business, Todd. However, it is more important to talk about why you are here and what do you want."
" Relax, chum, I'm here to know the last addiction in our wonderful family."
" And maybe to kidnap him in order to blackmail later me and our parents as well?"
" I repeat, brat, that I'm only here for a visit of courtesy. If I wanted to kidnap him, I could act just before, during and after your bravado act all across Gotham…"
" Which you participated as well…"
" And I must admit it was one of the exciting nights in all my life. I never was so satisfied since the days of the battle."
" Which you lost."
" Only because I allowed to do. Being Batman didn't give the satisfactions one expected when wearing the cape." He was lying, Damian didn't know exactly why but he was sure Todd was lying on that matter. However he didn't wanted to deepen that episode in that moment. " Whatewer, how do you know about Thomas?"
" Well, I could say my detective skills are amazing like and even better of the old bat, or that my "sharing quote" in the League gave me some fruits, but I must recognize in this field nobody beats our peeping bat." He showed him the microphone created by Drake. " this little jewel is capable to catch clearly any type of sound and discourse from a safe distance."
" You heard us that Thursday night over the Tower."
" Bingo."
" And why you were in that part of Gotham? As far I know, it isn't one of your usual areas…"
" When the old bat came alone in your domains, the best thing to do is to avoid him going to other parts. Then I saw your new "dynamic duo" in action and I decided to follow you for curiosity."
" Tt. So it was only a case that you discovered all. However, Batman was not after you that night."
" Really? Then… Oh. He was going to bang Catwoman, right?"
" You are really so trivial. Whatever, he made something more than "banging" Selina."
" Really? Wait, why are you calling her by birth name?"
Damian revealed all about Bruce and Selina and Helena, especially to instill some jealousy in Todd. However, the Red Hood remained imperturbable or, if was somewhat upset, he masked it well. He only commented: " He if acted so, it's the sign he was getting old. Maybe he was finally planned to give up the cape."
The boy didn't never think about that possibility. He was then caught by a doubt: if his father was ready to manage a family, maybe he was too impulsive to escape… No, Todd was wrong. He was always Batman, he never gave up so easily, and however his retirement didn't granted the security for Thomas to avoid his fate… No, his decision was still right. No matter what.
Damian tried to change argument: " Whatever, I still want to know why you decided to help us and how you managed to arrive here."
Todd was quite cryptic: " About the second question, asimple tracking chip placed on your car was sufficient to find you. However, its signal wasn't so accurate so i lost some days to properly find this house. for the second question, let's say I managed to pay some debts with that intervention. Three, more exactly."
Debts? Damian was well intentioned to know more when suddenly they heard a ring from the door. The boy was on the verge to explode: " Who the fuck is now?"
" I guess we can only discover by opening the door. If you want, you can give your mini-you to my protective arms."
" I never give Thomas to a person like you. If you touch him, I will castrate you."
He went again towards the door and opened it, while Todd was laughting to his las words, only to realize in that moment he was between the anvil and the hammer.
"Mrs. Ursari?"
" Hi, Damian, Hi, chipmunk! I'm sorry, but when you came I forgot to let sign this paper to your sister… She is at home?"
" Uh, no, she is outside for some days…"
" So, are you alone with Thomas?"
" Not really…"
" His adorable middle brother remained here to take care of them." Jason approached them with his best smile.
Melanie didn't seemed impressed by the tall man with a white wisp between his black hair between them: " So, you are one of Damian and Thomas's brothers…"
" Uh… he said so?"
" Let me guess… you are Timothy, right?"
Jason screamed in rage:" WHAT THE HELL? How can you compare me with that bookworm..." He was stopped by an appropriate kick on the legs by Damian, who was trying to control his laughs.
" N-no, Mrs. Ursari. This... is my second brother, Jason."
"Ouch…" Jason was massaging his leg while launching visual daggers to his "brother": " Yes, I'm his brother, Jason To-" His other leg was reached by another kick.
" Pride. You are Jason Pride, my brother."
" Ouch...What the…Oh. Yes. Pride. I'm Jason Pride. Nice to meet you, doctor."
Melanie started to chuckle: " You are really funny, boys. It's so clear you love each other so much."
Both Damian and Jason become pale in face: " Re…Really?"
" Of course, I'm coming from a numerous family too, so I already matched my brothers and sisters various times. It is a normal thing, no?"
" I.. suppose you are right."
" By the way, if your sister isn't present, your brother could sign this paper. But I needed of course to see his identity card, first."
A new moment of panic was rapidly contained: " Oh… Of course, Mrs. Ursari. We needed a moment to search it, if in the meanwhile do you want to wait in the living room…"
They entered in the living room. It was really clean and comfortable, even if not so much furnished.
" If you excuse us, I needed to talk with my brother alone…" Damian pushed Jason in the kitchen with an arm, still having Thomas in the other arm. Before the man could ask something, the boy took a photo of him with his mobile.
" What are you doing?"
" Listen, I needed some moments to fabricate a face ID card of you and to insert your fake dates in the government databases, so in the meanwhile keep her occupied, okay?"
" What… what fuck I suppose do to?"
" I don't know, talk with her, look together some TV, eat something, bring her to bed…"
" Bring her to… what?"
" I guess you had already skilled sexual experience, considering who was your first teacher…"
Todd started to felt uncomfortable: " What the fuck is meaning this statement? You don't saying that it was out of business talking of your mother?"
" Not for the questions I want to ask to you over the relationship between you two."
Todd was ready to explode again: " What a piece of…"
" Are you all right?" Melanie heard the two raising their voices.
" Yes, Mrs. Ursari, I needed some time to search the ID card, in the meanwhile my brother will take care of you."
Jason returned in the living room with Melanie. He didn't know how to break the ice. He wasn't one who had the occasion to talk much, and however surely not with a civilian. However, he should admitted that she was really different from the women he used to deal. Probably, because she was innocent. And also a beauty.
Hopefully for him, she started for first the conversation: " Your brother is really an educate person."
" Only in presence of foreign persons. With…us, is much less controlled."
" However, it's a lucky thing he isn't jealous of Thomas. He is rare for a boy of that age."
" Well… when our father isn't at home, in some way he should care for ourselves. The rivalries between brothers passed in second plan when we must collaborate." Now, this was the greatest fake shit Jason could found. He felt some shame, not to lying to her, but by humiliating himself by claiming a situation in his family which was completely opposite. Okay, maybe also a bit for lying to her.
" However, it seemed that your age difference is quite high…"
" Well… there are about seven, eight years between me and the baby-bird…." Jason wasn't sure, but he guessed Damian was conceived during his Robin period. In some way, he was upset to Talia for keeping him at obscure of that situation. Despite all, he always hoped that at least she was sincere with him; but probably, it was impossible for him to find a person which he could completely trust, and capable to trust him at the same time.
He was recalled again by Melanie's voice: "It seemed that you liked to call the other people with nicknames…"
" What are you meaning?" Jason considered that in effect he used very often the nicknames towards his "relatives"; well, in part was to tease them during a fight, in part because despite all he will never revealed their identities in front of other enemies, in part it came from his Robin training because it was strictly prohibited to pronounce their real names during mission. But it was true that since his return he rarely called them by their own names.
" Well, probably in the start was a defensive way to not show how you care for them, but now it seemed you were so habituated calling them in these mode that now it will be unusual for you by using their real names."
Fantastic. The last thing Jason he needed was another psychoanalyst trying to sound the deep recesses of his mind. However, he wasn't so really disturbed by her theories: " So, it was like a way as another to show my… affection towards them?"
" Probably, yes. When was the last time you called one of your brothers by name?"
" I… don't remember." He appeared somewhat shattered.
Melanie understood his crescent uneasiness: " I'm sorry, I don't want to put you to an embarrassment state."
" Uh… Don't worry. It wasn't so bad after all. Do you think I shall use more their real names?"
" It's a decision you must take by alone."
" And about you, I can use your real name?" Jason bited his tongue. Why he said something like that to a person who knew by almost five minutes?
However, Melanie wasn't surprised: " If you want, you can use also a nickname."
Caught by surprise, Jason didn't know what to do. Then, he decided to say something:" What about Mel?"
" Mel… nobody called me in that mode, neither in family."
" If you don't like, it's okay for me using your complete name…"
" No, no! It's okay. I like it. Really."
Melanie's smile was so bright that he couldn't avoid to be conquered despite his usual mood.
After all, it wasn't so bad being Jason Pride.
However, he started to lose even more the control of his thoughts, as his next statement demonstrated: " Do you know that you remember me a certain person? However, respect to you is more annoyable… not that you are annoyable, but…" Jason never was in difficulty like that moment.
" Also Damian said the same thing the first time we met with Cassandra and Thomas. Let me guess… It is your brother."
" Yes, is the oldest, Dick."
" Dick… is it the diminutive of Richard, right?"
" You are really perceptive. You failed only to guess my name, however."
" I had a possibility on three, after all. By the way, Damian told me he was of Romani descent…"
" So?"
"…So, considering also your difference of age, and you have a clear sign of poliosis while Damian and Thomas not, and when i asked you were his brother, you replied "He said so?", I guess all of you had different mothers."
The man was impressed by her deductions:" It's true. Our family… is really complicated. Our father had all of us from different women. Only Damian and Thomas had the same parents." In part, that Jason said was truth. To someone who didn't know how was structured the Wayne family, if all of them were put together, they could really pass for brothers, with their black hair and blue eyes. Jason was sure the other Robins had once his same doubt that Bruce chose them essentially for their physical similarity with him.
" However, Damian told me their mother decided to abandon them. It will be really hard for a boy of this age to remain with only a parent."
" She is a real bitch, no matter what." Jason wasn't surprised of that declaration. It was that he thought of Talia, in last stance and despite all. In all senses. " However, the kiddo had the shoulders really large to handle this burden. Like the rest of us, after all. From our father to them, we all lost in a way or another our mothers."
" I'm sorry. I didn't know."
" Of course you don't know, so there is no need to excuse. However, despite all we continue to live normally as nothing of all the shit fallen since now didn't affected us. We are warriors, after all."
" Your family is really interesting, Jason."
" You have no idea, Mel. You don't really have idea."
After few minutes, the conversation become more and more enjoyable. Jason never recorded to be so… relaxed.
Then, Damian returned with Thomas and a card in his hand. "It was difficult, but I found it, brother. You should pay more attention to your things."
He gave immediately it to Melanie, who said: " You looked really well in this photo, Jason."
" Uh… Thanks?"
He looked for a moment with more attention on the card. From the "date of realization" it seemed he made it when he was 18; in fact, in the photo Damian made few minutes ago appeared more young than he was.
The brat managed also to photoshopping my face in a record time, Jason thought, now I want his help more than before.
" You should sign here and here." Melanie recalled him to reality again.
" Uh? Ah, okay…" Luckily for Damian, Todd had enough lucidity in that moment to sign as " Jason Pride."
" I guess it's okay. Excuse me for the disturb, now I leave you…"
" Why don't remain here for dinner instead? We are only in three, another person to the table will make all more enjoyable…" Damian was launching deadly glares towards Todd, who didn't care.
" I'm sorry, but I have an appointment with Brady."
" It is your brother?"
" No, my boyfriend…" Todd seemed displeased at the announcement.
" I'm sure he is a good man…" Damian, who didn't understand the surprising interest of Todd towards her (probably, he wanted to follow his previous advice in the end), he caught the occasion to enlarge more the wound in his back.
But he never expected the reaction of Melanie. She seemed more embarrassed, and become more serious: " Well… probably."
" What are you meaning?"
" Well, our relationship is like a rollercoaster, so in that moment we are in a… particular situation. However, maybe another time I could come to dinner, if the invitation is still valid…"
Todd seemed to caught the opportunity: " Of course, Mel. When you are free, and I will free too, I will cook for all."
" You really know how to cook? This is amazing! I'm a bad cook, so I ate only really-made meals in my apartment…"
" Well, also in my family the bad cooking gene is of home, but I'm one of the few I was spared from this tragedy." He was smiling, but it wasn't one of his usual smirks, but more a warm, genuine, smile.
Todd continued to look in admiration the fake card of "Jason Pride" after a while Melanie left the home: " By the way, I'm impressed by your capacities. This ID Card is almost perfect."
" Well, once you learned how to make one, it isn't difficult to do."
" Really Excellent. I never expected nothing of less from the child of the old bat and of the queen mother of assassins. If before I had some doubts to enlist you, now I'm sure the second member of my squad will be a valuable one."
" Second member… what are you talking about?"
Todd was looking into the fridge: " This is a shame. Neither a root beer was present. I can understood you, but I hoped the Asian b-chick at least drank something…"
" You don't asked my question, Todd. Again, what are you talking about?"
" It's simple, kid. I got tired of Gotham, now that the old bat is more often around the world with that shit of Batman Inc. it became a boring city, so I decided to expand too my interests. You have in front of you the founder and the president of the Red Hood International."
" The Red… what?"
" It's a charitable organization which take cure of world crime permanently. Results guaranteed 100% of cases. Before to starting, however I needed some starting funds… and I'm sure my first and main donor will be really generous…"
" And who is it that crazy guy which will pay you to dishonor the name of the bats in the rest of the world?"
Todd was smirking towards him and Damian immediately understood: " No. This. Is. A. Complete. Shit."
" I never requested you to give me the unlimited resources of our daddy… I'm will be happy with something less."
" And what make suppose you I have these founds?"
" To live in a house like this, to have a warehouse furnished with any kind of weapons or to have a car like that you used to escape from those idiots in assassins… By the by, I must admit that vehicle was excellently modified to not be a simple batmobile…"
" The Alfredmobile was modeled to face situation like that of some days ago…"
Todd was surprised: " Wait a moment… you called your car after Alfred?"
Damian preferred to avoid that discourse: " This is not your business, Todd. Do you want to continue or not?"
" Uhm… right. Well, to have all these things, you surely had a consisted secret stash. Probably filled with the money of Dad and Mom in great secret."
" If you really want to know, I invested money of my own and I created my own online business. I collected some millions in these last months, so I could grant a good future for me and Thomas for many years…"
" And by the way, how you can managed to gain all that money?"
" With bank investments, bonds, and with some activities governed through the net with a fake ID, one in particular…"
"And what kind of activity is it?"
"… It regarded some particular aspects of the vigilantism activities…"
Todd had like an epiphany: "… Just a moment… Are you telling me… You are the owner of that new company which sold superhero gadgets, the"Good Heroes/Bad Villains com."?"
"…Yes."
" WHAT THE FUCK! I always want to kick in face the owner… that action figure about me didn't look like me absolutely not at all!"
Damian didn't seemed impressed of the new rage wave of Todd:" In the boxes are written: " The identities of the characters are completely based on fantasy ideas". I couldn't never put in the figures our real lineaments…"
" So, you could easily left attached my hood instead to made it removable… the face you put on it was horrible! I'm not a scarred, blind in one eye and above all bald."
" The children loves to exchange pieces of the various figures. It's a statistical date. Probably many of them in that moment are now placing a Batman cape on your head…"
Todd didn't seem reassured: " You made me as a bad replica of Luthor and Joker without his make-up combined…" Then, he exhaled a deep breath: " Well, I guess your donation to the Red Hood Inc. will be sufficient in replacement for the money I shall had for my abused author rights."
" The Supreme Court already proclaimed years ago until the masked vigilantes didn't register their roles officially, so declaring their public identity, everyone could use their images without legal impediments. So, I don't owe you nothing. And however, I'm not interested to be part of your insane project. Also, it's obvious I can't left alone Thomas to follow you or put him in danger…"
Jason seemed now surprised:" What…No, no, no! I don't want you as my sidekick, neither I wanted to divide you and your mini-you or to let involve you in first line… You can continue to live out from the…"
" So, what do you want from me?"
" Well, I'm really good to stop the villains and kicking their asses, but… logistic is not my forte. And my detective skills are just only over the average, despite the teachings of world's finest detective… I needed someone which covered me behind the scenes, organize my schedules, furnished me with the latest technology..."
"Wait… you wanted me as a sort of your "Oracle"?"
" Exactly. If you was able to avoid both her and his system of surveillance and intelligence, it's because you are skilled as if not even better than them in that field… And Red Hood Inc. is searching always the best."
Now Damian wasn't so bold as usual:" With the… liberation of Thomas, I quitted as Robin and from that world. I'm a civilian, as you said before."
" Are you really sure?"
" What are you meaning?"
" We are born for that life. We will never get rid of them. And however, even if you decided to completely occupy of your brother, you can never managed to slept the Robin inside you. I'm talking for direct experience."
" But…"
" Considering now you are doubting, it seemed I centered my objective. I offer you the opportunity to continue to give your contribute in the crusade you decided to join some time ago, and in the meanwhile to give you also a diversion. There is to become seriously crazy by taking care alone of a toddler with a dog and the sporadic help of a former assassin."
" Even if your modalities included mass extermination of criminals without distinction?"
" Does this fact bother you?"
Damian breathed deeply: " Well… No. But only because I could be the last who could judge you in that matter, Todd."
" Jason. If we become partners, you could call me by name."
" Tt. Why all of you are now interested to be called by name?"
" This is how normal relationships between relatives worked, no? Besides, now I'm even your brother even in this fake family you are creating…"
"…Fine, Jason. But I hope in exchange you call me Damian as well instead of all your list of irritating nicknames."
" We will see, Dami-bird, we will see…"
" And however, at least I want to know the implications of my role first…"
" Shot your questions."
" My role will be exclusively of intelligence, without involving me in direct battle?"
" Of course, kiddo."
" Thomas will remain outside from our cooperation?"
" As you wish. If you want to not let him knowing nothing, I will respect your secret as well."
" And if in some way your operations could put me and Thomas in danger or risked us to be discovered, I can unilaterally broke our collaboration?"
Jason thought a little: "… It's fine. I swear if something of this happen some day, I will never searched you again."
" And you are willing to break all the remaining ties with my mother?"
The man hesitated another time: "…It seemed reasonable, considering our collaboration was based on the protection of Thomas. And however, I guess after my recent involvement in all this situation, I'm guess I'm on her black list too."
Damian understood in that moment Jason was sincere.
" So, we are partners, Damian?"
" We are partners, Jason."
The living room in only three days become a sort of pigpen, with clothing, empty beer bottles, and cartoon pizza boxes everywhere, because Jason decided to spent here most to his time in Washington. Damian offered him a bedroom, but he stated he was habituated to sleep in a coach; he felt uncomfortable to have a room of his own.
They debated about the possibility of a new outfit for Red Hood. Damian found his current suit ridicolous and really dated and proposed him a high tech suit; it wasn't difficult to realize, because he was already working for a similar thing for himself, so it was only necessary to adapt it for Jason's necessity.
Damian realized a new helmet, with the presence of more detailed face lineaments, and a new light armor with a red bat on the chest for Jason; he was elaborating also a sort of mechanical wings which he could use during air battles and to control his possible falls from high heights, promising they will be ready soon.
Jason was impressed by Damian's engineering skills, but in some ways all the Robins had something of special; Dick was a excellent acrobat, Tim had a monstrous intelligence, and Jason… well, he preferred to pass on that matter.
Damian however understood that Jason and him by alone will never made the difference: they needed allies. And he was sure the Red Hood already chosen them.
" So, you have some ideas about your affiliates?"
" Well… Yes. I have put my eyes to two persons right now; in this disc are contained all the information on them."
" And what about your previous sidekick, Scarlet?"
" Well… when we left Gotham some time ago, we traveled around the States for a while… Until in Montana we helped a local community to get rid of a certain company related with Lexcorp which wanted to expropriate their lands with any means… The family which hosted us was very kindly, and she felt really good here, that I decided to left her in order she could live a normal life. She wanted to follow me in a first moment, but she understood in the end. We however continued to remain in contact, she had still some problems of integration but now she is happy."
" I'm not so obsessed with my revenge issues as all of you bats believe… I get Scarlet with me because she had a really bad life and I wanted to help her by channeling her rage, and not to match Batman by having my own Robin. If I don't intervened in time, she could became another crazy assassin in Gotham. I teach her how to use her rage to punish the bad guys properly, controlling her instincts at the right time. However, I never wanted for her the same life I chose, because she deserved something better. I'm not like your father which imposed to all his sidekicks his crusade for the good in Earth and so on."
" We all accepted by our decision to become Robin, even you, Jason. Father never forced us."
" I'm talking about the modes he managed to convince you to join him and to stay loyal, with his manners, the glares, the words, Alfred… He is a truly master of manipulation; luckily, both of us were able to escape from his net. Dickie-bird and the peeping bat instead are still enchanted by him…"
" Well, I guess you are not completely wrong." Damian partially admitted, as Jason indirectly centered the main motive of his escape. " So, can I see your candidates?"
" Of course."
Damian was astonished to see the choices of Jason: " Are you kidding?"
" No. They are both two professionals despite their… actual problems."
" This is a complete shit! If Grayson discover this we will be in a complete trouble…"
" I don't know why recruiting Arsenal and Starfire will be a bad idea…"
" We are talking of Grayson's best friend and of his most important ex besides Gordon! Not counting according to your information the first is going to be executed in Qurac and the second is in an amnesiac state…"
Jason remained calm: " I don't guess Dickie-bird will interfere in our "rehabilitation" program in some way; besides, if he really cared for them, he could already help them a plenty of time…"
Damian seemed pissed from the statement of Jason: " Grayson is not… a selfish person."
" Of course, baby-bird, but nevertheless his… optimistic vision of life didn't allow him to see the exact perception of the things…"
" And you believe to be better of him?"
" Of course." It's another lie, Damian could read it in his eyes: he thought probably, Jason was more soft than expected when dealing with children, but that however didn't explained why in the days of the battle he almost brought him to death. But he preferred postpone the argument more later, like others.
" Frankly, I don't care. I will give you my financial and technologic support, I don't want to be involved to the rest. And I remember you if it happens something which could put in danger Thomas, the deal is broken."
" Sounds good to me. I guess we can seal the definitive deal with a mutual sip with this beer."
" I already told you I don't drink, Jason."
" A sip will not kill you, Dami-bird. Thought it as a sort of initiation towards a new life."
"Tt. Fine. But only a sip."
Damian took the bottle and drank some beer. It wasn't so bad but he didn't wanted to admit that to Jason, and turned back towards his laptop to continue his work.
Few moments later, he started to fell dizzy, incapable to remain awake. He saw Jason smirking and understood. " Bastard."
Before he collapsed on the couch, he could hear him saying: " Thanks for the compliment."
The next morning, Damian woke up with a tremendous headache. He soon noticed he was in his bedroom; suddenly, a sense of fear enveloped him.
" Thomas!"
He ran towards the crib. Luckily, his brother was sleeping peacefully, Ace on his side as always. Damian was relieved, but he was going to make pay to Jason for drugging him with no apparent reason. Coming down in the living room, he surprised to find it in good shape. Not completely cleaned, but almost. The boy looked towards the table, there was a letter with his name.
" Dear Dami-bird,
You are really messed bad if after a sip of beer you fallen in coma; besides the joke, you already understood I drugged it by purpose. It's only… that I'm not good to say "good-byes". Also, I knew you burned to ask me many questions, but… I guess the time is not right yet. I wasn't in the right mood and you too. Maybe, in another occasion, if you took for me a reserve of beer when I return…
To show you I'm not a barbarian as you think, I cleaned the living room before leaving, also because Al's special detector could discover a room dirty by us even if we are in the North Pole. But it was only to not let grow your mini-you in a pigpen, nothing less.
Also, I changed the diapers and feed him this night. To be your clone, is an adorable piece of shit. I hope he did never take your temper of inherited that of the old bat. Luckily for him, Jason Todd will put a vigil eye on his growth… Really a lucky boy, no? By the way, Now I guess I'm in debt of one castration with you, so we could put this in the final bill, right? XD
Whatever, I will contact you when I arrived to destination, so I expect you will be ready to help me with your talents, "Shadow", because if you failed I swear I will return from hell again and I solemnly kick your bat-assassin ass.
With "brotherly" love,
Jason."
Damian however noticed something of strange; he took a lighter from the kitchen and started to warm up the paper. On the retry, another message written with invisible ink appeared:
"… By the way, even if I promised to not mess in your affairs, I guess to tell you as the responsible brother I am you should reconsider your project to live with Thomas as a hermit, even if with my generous help and that of the hot Asian b-girl (by the way, you must tell me how you managed to conquer her…). I understood that you had an harsh life and wanted to give a better life to him… but even if Talia is the person who she is, however you shouldn't put Bruce on the same plan. In some way, it's also my fault if he become more hard towards the other birds, but he acted only to assure your security first. He is not the devil… If I had the possibility, I wished to… but for me is too late. For both of you, instead, no. Think carefully on your decision, Damian.
P.S: In the meanwhile, you can be useful by asking for me the phone number of that hot chick of doctor? ;)"
" In your dreams, Jason." Damian throw away the paper smiling.
A/N: So, the fusion with pre and post reboot elements become more strong that I never imagined to reach when I started this story. By the way, I hope to not take other suggestions from the post reboot, because the more it proceed the less I liked it. But it is only a personal opinion. I didn't know much about Scarlet, however I read at a certain point she left Gotham after saving Jason from prison, but I preferred to keep her as a citation for now. Maybe, more later in the story, if I get more information, she could be part in the story as well.
I just realizing that here Jason is becoming the substitute of Dick as the main parental support of Damian. In some way, it seemed to me that post reboot Jason is becoming more as a sort of "anti-Dick" (and having as partners in RHatO Roy and Kory seemed sufficient to raise a legitimate suspect…), and maybe I reflect this sensation in the story. This however didn't mean that he will replace him also in Damian's heart.
Jason/OC... I hope it works. The truth is for Jason I don't find suitable for the story any of my personal shippings outside Jason/Talia (maybe Jason/Donna... but despite the fact the main story is settled in Washington, I don't guess to involve the Wonder group in the story if not indirectly), so I guessed: "why not with an OC?", and Melanie came out. I don't regret this decision.
The next chapter will see a return in Gotham to observe how the decision of Damian affected the life of the entire bat family as well. Only a little spoil: angry, angst Dick will be the main protagonist…
I'm almost sure to not manage to update the story for the last day of the year, so I will say to all the Fanfiction readers:
Happy 2012 to everyone!
