Title: still a bullet in your daddy's gun

Disclaimer: not my character; title from Miranda Lambert

Warnings: AUish?

Pairings: none

Rating: PG

Wordcount: 240

Point of view: third

Prompt: Jason Todd, It gets frustrating, being the only one actually doing the job.


What Bruce and all his good little minions don't seem to realize is that arresting the bad guys only makes them better criminals. Caging them only gives them time to learn and evolve and perfect their craft.

Arkham is worse than useless because they learn from each other and get three square meals a day and shelter from the elements. And they may respect Batman, but they sure don't fear him anymore because everyone knows there is a line he won't cross.

Joker killed Robin, and even then Batman let him live. Broken bones heal and the Joker bounced back, straight into Batman's waiting arms.

And everyone Batman's trained is the same. Won't take a life. They believe it means they won't be any better than the monsters they get off the street for a night.

But Red Hood, he learned his lesson on the floor at Joker's feet, beneath his fists and crowbar, in the heat of an explosion. He knows what has to be done, and he does it.

And everyone knows there is no line Red Hood won't cross to clean up the streets.

And everyone sees that Batman doesn't condone it, doesn't like it-but he doesn't stop it, either.

And in Jason's dreams, the Joker begs him for mercy. He has as little mercy asleep as he does awake, and criminals try to hide from him, but the Red Hood's gun finds them all.