Red Robin's breath was coming in short, flurried gasps as he glared up at the Red Hood, frightened but in no way intending to show it. The Red Hood, large gun held easily in his hand and pointed menacingly at Red Robin's head, was probably snarling behind the hood, although you could not tell. "This is the last time you get in my way brat," he snarled, cocking the gun, "Bruce isn't around to save your scrawny ass anymore."
"Come on Jason," Red Robin goaded almost sardonically, "I know you're not gonna shoot me."
"What makes you so sure of that?" Red Hood growled.
"Because I'm here," a voice behind him said smoothly. Red Hood did not even have to turn around to figure out how it was. He snorted.
"You really think you can take me down before I blow his brains out of the back of his head? Not even Bruce was that good and lets face it Dick, you're a shit batman."
"Hurtful," Batman said in a slightly affronted tone, "but not enough to stop me from stopping you!"
"Ohh, just get out of here Dick," Red Robin said, "I'm tried of him bugging me. If he wants to end it, go ahead and let him try. He doesn't have the nerve." Red Hood snarled down at him.
"You're gonna regret saying that," he raged, "I was gonna kill you quick but now…now I think I'll draw it out." Red Robin snorted.
"What are you going to do, hit me with a crowbar?" He could see from the way Red Hood was posturing that he was growing more and more enraged by the fact that neither Red Robin or Batman seemed to be taking the threat of him seriously at all, which was exactly what Red Robin was hoping for. When Red Hood got angry, he made stupid mistakes, like he was doing right now, letting himself get distracted by Batman shifting his weight behind him. Quick as a flash, Red Robin kicked the gun from the Red Hood's hands and rolled away, letting Batman do the work of sweeping the villain's legs out from under him.
Red Hood's gun went off, firing into the roof of the building they were on and he scrambled to his feet, stumbling after Red Robin like an enraged rhinoceros. He kicked out at Batman as the other man tried to intercept him, sending him spiraling back and almost over the side of the building. He caught up with Red Robin as the boy stumbled towards the ledge and spun him around, holding him by the front of his costume balled up in his fist. He held him over the ledge, Red Robin's toes just gripping the edge so that it was only Red Hood that was keeping him from plummeting. With his free hand, the Red Hood ripped off his hood so that Red Robin could see his bright amber hair swirling around his face in the wild wind. The bright lights of the city shown on his face, shimmering with sweat, and gave him an even more manic look.
"I'm going to kill you now replacement," he hissed, "I am going to throw you off the top of this building and you won't catch yourself before you hit the ground."
"Would you stop calling me that," Red Robin snapped all of the sudden, shocking Red Hood so much he almost let Red Robin slip from his grasp.
"What?" he asked.
"Stop calling me replacement. I didn't replace you! I never set out to be Robin, it just happened!"
"Bullshit!" Red Hood snarled, "this doesn't just happen to people, they have to earn it!"
"Do you even know how he got to be Robin in the first place?" Batman asked, slowly gaining his feet. Red Robin could see that he had rolled his ankle, a minor injury but one that would mean he would not be fast enough to catch him if he fell. The boy was on his own and he would just have to keep Red Hood talking until he could figure out a way to wiggle out of his grasp.
"I don't care how he became Robin," Red Hood snapped, "I know enough. I know he swooped in when I was out of the picture and took my place."
"I did not," Red Robin yelped angrily, "I never wanted to take your place, I idolized you! But whatever, it doesn't matter, just drop me, you don't want to know what happened anyway!" It might have been the wrong thing to say but now he was annoyed and damn tired of being kicked around for being Robin. Between Jason and Damian, he was ready for people to stop blaming him for things that had nothing to do with him. Jason showed his teeth but his form was tapered with hesitation and Batman, recognizing his slight curiosity, seized his chance.
"Why don't you let us tell you what happened. That way, you won't just be raging around, angry about things you don't understand."
"This isn't fucking story time Dickie," Jason sneered, but he could not mask the thoughtful look on his face.
"Tell you what," Red Robin offered, "we'll tell you what happened and if you still think I was out to get your job after we're done, I'll throw myself off the building."
"Tim," Batman yelped, "no!" But Red Hood laughed, pulling Red Robin slowly onto firmer ground.
"Alright pup, you've got yourself a deal, mostly because I think it would be a scream to watch you swan dive but also because you're right, I do need a more proper reason to hate you. I'm sure you'll give me one." Batman rushed over once Red Hood released Red Robin, looking him over.
"Are you ok?" he asked. Red Robin nodded. He was fine, curious himself now actually, to see what the Red Hood would do. Right now, he was lighting a cigarette, settling himself down on the ledge of the building and facing the two of them.
"Well," he said expectantly, "is it story time or what?" Batman glared at him, but he could not keep it up. His eyes invariably softened when he looked at the Red Hood, which always made the other man uncomfortable. That was part of the problem, Red Robin thought to himself. Batman just could not imagine Red Hood really hurting anyone. He was still the older man's baby brother and when Batman looked at the Red Hood, he saw a tiny Jason Todd with ice cream all over his face trying to escape being tickled. It made Batman careless and almost jovial around the dangerous criminal. Red Robin knew he would have to be the serious one in this exchange, but that was nothing new.
"Fine," Batman agreed, "but only because I think this story will thaw your frozen heart like the Winter Warlock in Santa Clause is coming to Town." Red Hood rolled his eyes.
"Dick, you are still so weird." Batman smiled just a little bit and settled himself awkwardly down, minding his ankle. Red Robin settled next to him, crossing his legs.
"Where should we start?" Batman asked, turning to Red Robin.
"You start," Red Robin said, "it all really kind of starts with you, or at least, the important stuff does." Batman nodded.
"Alright" he agreed, "I'll start with the day I met you. It had been a little over a year since you died Jay and things were still really…tough. I was still working as a police officer in Bludhaven and Bruce and I weren't really talking. We both blamed each other, and ourselves, for what happened to you. I remember that day in particular because it was the day Crockies cereal released Choco Choco Croc and I had gone out early in the morning before work to grab a box." Red Robin and Red Hood both audibly groaned.
"Anyway," Batman continued forcibly, "the supermarket I usually went to was all out by the time I got there and I had to go to work without breakfast. It was really hot that morning and I was dead tired…"