Few things I wanna say. This story will be very graphic including vulgar language, gore, and sex. If that bothers you this isn't for you.
Jason TooddXCassandra Cain are the two main characters for this story. This will be a Batfamily centric story. A what if Batman was killed? It's based off the game Gotham Knights with the idea of Project Blacksite but my own story.
Let's get started.
Chapter 1: Surprise Guest
Jason Todd climbed down the fire escape towards his bedroom window. He had just finished a night of patrolling, it was 1:30 a.m. and he was tired, having stopped a mugging, a robbery, and an attempt at sexual assault Jason was tired from beating the shit out of low lives. He didn't kill them, he felt in these cases they were desperate idiots who just needed to be taught a lesson.
In the beautiful city of Midway Jason had not had to kill much. He was glad killing wasn't something he enjoyed even if it was necessary sometimes.
Jason swung down through the open window of his small shitty apartment, He landed cleanly, hardly making a sound as he stood and prepared to unlatch his helmet.
He froze when he sensed a presence to his left. Jason swung out a high kick at the presence making out a nimble form as they leaned back bending over backwards as if his leg was a limbo pole.
His eyes widened as the built in nightvision of his helmet kicked in and he saw none other than the hour glass figure of Cassandra Cain leaning out of range with her flexibility.
"Jesus Cass!" Jason exclaimed, straightening out. "I could've taken your head off."
"Don't be so dramatic Jason." Cass said, leaning back up with ease showing off her strong core muscles.
Her soft voice pierced his ears making his heart flutter in a way he didn't want to think about.
He took a moment to study her as it had been 2 years since he last saw her. She was somehow more beautiful with short shoulder length black hair, those honey eyes, and her tan skin. Cassandra had always been a beautiful Chinese girl that Jason always had mixed feelings about.
Sighing Jason unclicked his utility belt and walked to his closet opening his large padlocked trunk with the key in his pocket and tossed it in.
"What do you want?" He asked as he tossed in his black leather combat jacket next. He carefully unzipped his lightweight triple weave Kevlar armor pulling it off him revealing his shirtless form.
Cass stared at his shirtless form for a few moments, taking in the large toned muscles before regaining her composure seeing his raised brow.
"I happened to be around and heard reports of a mangled serial rapist." Cass said sheepishly at being caught. "I figured you were in the neighborhood."
"The pedophile is lucky he's still breathing." Jason said darkly now down to his boxers. "Here to give me the same old speech?"
"What speech would that be?" Cass asked with a raised brow.
"You're better than this Jason." He said mockingly. "You're going too far, we're not executioners, they deserve a fair trial, blah, blah, blah."
"You know I'm not that simple." Cass pointed out with a shrug watching Jason pull on sweatpants and a t-shirt.
"Bruce send you?" Jason asked next, walking towards her. She was still short, not growing much since he last saw her. Her head only came up to his chest.
She shook her head, staring up at him wordlessly. Her stare made him a little nervous, her eyes analyzing him in a way that made him feel like she was seeing his soul.
"Cass I don't like visitors." Jason said patiently. "So either say what you want or get out."
Cass looked away, her gaze sad and Jason sighed. He hadn't meant to be rude, he just felt uncomfortable being around anyone in Bruce's circle. Cass he cared about but he knew he was no good for her. Or the rest of Bruce's "family" He had built. Jason was too different, too cold.
"I understand you, you know." Cassandra said quietly. "I don't judge you for anything you've done in the past. It'd be hypocritical of me."
Jason frowned and groaned, rubbing his face in his hands tiredly. Looking down at her he decided to just give in and see what she wanted.
"Well as long as you're here I guess." Jason said, making his way through his small apartment to his "living room" which was just a couch, with a TV in front of it away from his bed. Right next to it was his "kitchen" which consisted of a microwave sitting on top of his tiny fridge, the only separate room in his apartment was the bathroom.
He opened the mini fridge. "Want a drink?" Jason asked Cassandra who nodded.
"Water please?" She said Jason grabbed one of his water bottles and tossed it to her. She caught it with ease.
They sat on the couch and drank water without saying a word for a moment.
"I'm here because I was hoping I could crash here tonight." Cassandra said after a moment making Jason look at her.
"You're in trouble." Jason said. It wasn't a question and Cassandra looked at him before nodding.
"What's going on?" Jason demanded and much to his surprise Cassandra scooted closer and lay her head on his shoulder.
Jason stiffened, staring down at her as she closed her eyes. Cassandra was a very physical person as the only language she had known for a long time was physical touch. Even after learning multiple languages she still preferred to touch, especially when she was stressed or upset. Jason knew this about her due to his dealings with her in the past.
Jason was the opposite anytime he was upset; he wanted nothing more than to be alone, or bashing a scumbag's brains in. However with Cassandra it was different. He generally cared about her, but despite being raised by assassins, she was too pure for him. He never wanted to taint her.
Jason sighed and allowed himself to indulge in a moment of selfishness and wrapped his arm around her.
"You tell me what's up when you're ready to talk." Jason said, closing his eyes as Cassandra nodded into his shoulder.
"Can I stay here tonight?" Cassandra asked softly.
"I'll crash on the couch." Jason said with a nod, making her look up at him.
Jason cracked one eye open to peek down at her stare before facing her.
"What is it Cass?" Jason asked patiently.
Cassandra brushed a lock of hair behind her ear glancing down nervously. She slowly took his hand and stood up pulling him with her.
"What the hell Cassandra?" Jason sputtered red gracing his cheeks.
Cassandra pulled him along to his bed taking the water bottle out of his hand setting it on his bedside table before grabbing his shoulders she pushed him to sit on the bed before sitting next to him.
She stared at him wordlessly pleading with her eyes for him to understand.
"You want to share the bed?" Jason asked, his eyes wide.
Cassandra nodded blushing as she looked down in her lap.
Jason stared down at her before slowly standing and pulling her up. He tossed back the covers and laid down patting the spot next to him.
"Get in before I change my mind." Jason said, avoiding her eyes.
Cassandra let a rare smile grace her face causing Jason to stare at her taking in her beauty as she laid down next to him. At first they laid side by side just staring at each other.
"I was scared of you at first." Cassandra blurted out suddenly making Jason raise a brow before he chuckled Cassandra looking away embarrassed.
"You were tough." Jason said thinking back to the day they met. "Good thing Dick knew you couldn't talk and stopped me from killing you."
"I would've been fine." Cassandra said with a pout making Jason laugh.
"I had you and you know it." He teased making her smile lightly before looking back down her eyes suddenly sad.
"I wish I could've talked to you back then." She began looking into his eyes. "I wanted all your help so badly but didn't know how to ask and you all still did. Then you all took the time to teach me how to lead a somewhat normal life. You taught me about music, motorcycles, and how to communicate my feelings when I can't think of what to say, and I never even thanked you. And then Batman made you leave and I lost you."
"That's between me and Bruce, Cass." Jason said softly after her sad reminisce of the past. "You're company and seeing you grow as a person was thanks enough. I only regret that I felt the need to not keep contact. That is no one's fault but my own."
"Yeah but I could've easily visited you before." Cassandra guiltily said. "Instead of only showing up when I need help."
"What is going on Cass?" Jason asked softly, staring at her.
Cassandra shook her head and surprised him by scooting to him and hiding her face into his chest.
Jason stiffened before wrapping his arms around her, one around her waist the other he laid under her head to use as a pillow.
"Does it bother you that I don't act my age?" She asked quietly after a moment.
Jason was surprised by the surprising self conscious question. He didn't know Cassandra even concerned herself with stuff like that.
Cassandra was a Tom boy through and through, she loved sports, motorcycles, martial arts, video games, and anime. The last type of girl you'd expect to be worried about what people thought of her.
Jason considered the question for a moment as Cassandra gazed up at him shyly.
"Cassandra, you're very mature." Jason assured her gently after a moment of silence. "The way you act is because of the bastards who raised you. And it's not a bad way to act, I understand typically and more importantly it's you. And I'm more than okay with you."
Cassandra looked up at him blushing, staring into his eyes softly. Jason looked away after a moment, blushing slightly, feeling nervous.
"I was worried about coming to you." Cassandra said softly, making Jason look back at her. "But I made the right call."
"Does that mean you're going to tell me what's going on?" Jason inquired.
"In the morning." Cassandra said dismissively before leaning into him. "I wanna get some sleep."
"Go ahead then Cass." Jason said with a chuckle. Cassandra simply snuggled closer making Jason stiffen. He wasn't really used to human contact unless it involved violence.
Jason didn't like to get involved with people. He learned the hard way how perilous that could be, both for him and the unfortunate woman who decided his violent ass was attractive.
Cassandra didn't seem to take his reaction personally, instead she relaxed and allowed herself to succumb to sleep, and soon Jason could hear her quiet deep breathing as she relaxed and fully pushed herself against him.
Jason was flattered and a little jealous she fell asleep so easily. Sleep never came easy to Jason, he had terrible dreams of the past and was very paranoid always waiting for an attack.
Hell Jason slept with a fully loaded gun under his pillow and trained himself to wake to the slightest disturbance. Which could be annoying if outside traffic got too loud or an ambulance drove by.
Cassandra he was sure had similar problems, after all she had been trained to be the deadliest killer alive. And for the most part it succeeded. The only people who could take her on were people like Jason, and the rest of the bat gang.
It flattered him Cassandra could ignore her instincts and sleep soundly in his arms. She looked beautiful sound asleep, her face relaxed instead of guarded.
Jason reached up without thinking and ran his thumb on her cheek softly cupping her face. She stiffened, waking immediately her eyes opened and Jason stiffened at her stare.
"Shit I'm sorry." Jason said going to remove his hand before her own stopped him and held it there with a reassuring smile.
Jason breathed a sigh of relief and continued to trace her face with his thumb as Cassandra fell back asleep.
Jason was glad she enjoyed his touch, then again she enjoyed any kind touch from the Batfamily, she was very cuddly. Jason knew why, all her life every touch she experienced was violent and painful, that's why she was so quick to latch onto any kind touch she could.
Jason however could tell it was different with him, she actually sought out his touch, she wanted to hold him, she of course requested hugs and physical reassurance from the rest of the family. But she always asked everyone else, she didn't feel the need too with Jason. She just grabbed him knowing he accepted her. It made him proud she trusted him so much.
'You are too good for this sick sad world.' Jason thought warmly. 'Too good for someone like me' He sighed and closed his eyes, allowing his thoughts to quiet as he fell asleep.
Jason heard the psychotic shrill laughter and knew instantly what dream he was having.
His eyes opened expecting to be tied up to the ground and his mother tied up a few feet from him. To his surprise though he was in his Red Hood gear fully equipped.
He was standing in a warehouse, he recognized it as the place he was tortured for days before being killed.
Jason walked cautiously towards the door he heard the familiar dreadful laughter coming from. Drawing his gun Jason kicked down the door to see the Joker sitting in a chair waiting for him.
"Joker, you son of a bitch." Jason growled out pointing his gun at him Jason fired. Joker vanished and instead appeared behind him. Suddenly Jason couldn't move.
"Oh Jason Jason Jason." Joker said mockingly. "While I'm proud of you for shooting first you should know better than to shoot one of your daddies. After all, family is all you have hee hee hee!"
"I'm nothing like you, you monster!" Jason roared, struggling to move.
"Oh Jason sweetie." Joker said mockingly. "I created you 'Red Hood', if I hadn't put you in the grave, you would've never come back to hate me, to despise all criminals, to kill them for me. It's so much funnnn! The way you slaughter people, the way you torture, the way you kill! HA HA HA! I taught you well my boy! HA HA HA HA!"
"SHUT UP!" Jason roared, fighting desperately to free himself from whatever invisible force held him.
Jason mustered all his will power and turned to slam the butt of his gun into Joker's face. It passed right through him and he laughed shrilly before a crowbar appeared in Joker's hand and he backhanded Jason across the face.
Jason felt the flare of pain and fell to the floor suddenly he was tied up again and was in his old Robin uniform. Jason stared down in horror before looking up at the Joker who approached him bouncing the crowbar in his hand.
"You know I think I'll make this interesting this time." Joker said with a dark laugh. "After all I have a certain someone to use against you now!"
To Jason's horror Cassandra suddenly appeared tied to a chair staring at him with a desperate look in her eyes.
"Jason help!" She called and Jason started thrashing around trying to break his bonds.
"Don't you fucking touch her!" Jason shouted at the Joker.
Joker laughed and approached Cassandra watching Jason the whole way with a menacing dreadful smile on his face.
"I love when this happens!" Joker said gleefully. "When I get leverage it's just so much fun! Watching loved ones cry for me to leave them alone. Desperately struggling to reach them only for me to kill them! The pain in their eyes… the hate… the need to kill me. It's such a wonderful, amazing experience. You'd have to be crazy to get it! Get it?" Joker laughed again, raising the crowbar above his head.
"Joker, please don't stop it!" Jason begged, feeling tears streaming down his face as he pleaded with the mad clown.
"Yes that's it my boy!" Joker said with a joyous laugh. "Begging is such a motivator!"
"I'll kill you, you son of a bitch!" Jason roared, snapping. "I swear to God I'll kill you!"
Joker laughed. "Let's motivate that threat shall we?" Joker then struck, slamming the crowbar into Cassandra's knee. Cassandra cried out as a sickening SNAP was heard.
"STOP ITT!" Jason cried only got Joker to laugh and slam the crowbar into her ribs now.
So it went on Jason pleading, Cassandra crying for him to save her, and Joker laughing and joking gleefully as he slammed the crowbar repeatedly into Cassandra.
Cassandra soon went limp and her cries for help stopped. Jason stared horrified as the Joker frowned, letting out a tsk.
"Awww she's all tuckered out." Joker said with a laugh. "Well I think that settles that. Someone you care about you couldn't save again my boy! You make papa so proud."
Jason felt himself become consumed by rage. He would make this clown suffer. Suddenly he could move and he snapped his bounds and launched at Joker. He grabbed Joker by the throat and slammed him into the wall determined to choke the life out of him.
The entire time Joker laughed each one more and more quiet as he suffocated from Jason's tight grip. His face stayed stretched into a silent laugh before life faded from his eyes and he collapsed, Jason snapped his neck for good measure before standing panting.
Jason turned and ran to Cassandra's side. He reached out to feel for a pulse right as he did Cassandra's hand shot up and her face shot up with a malicious grin.
"You're a failure." Cassandra spat at him with a rageful look on her face. Each word she said felt like a slap to the face. "I hate you, you should've stayed six feet under where you belong. You can't save anyone! Everyone you get near turns to ash! You're just as bad as the clown you long to kill! Die Jason!"
Jason felt something piercing his chest and looked down to see a knife held by Cassandra.
"You don't deserve to live JASON!" Cassandra spat at him continuing to scream his name into his face.
"JASON WAKE UP!" Jason heard her voice cry desperately and Jason shot up wide awake to see Cassandra staring at him in fear.
Jason stared at her looking around taking in his surroundings as he shook from his emotions, his body sticky with sweat. Cassandra threw her arms around his neck hugging him close to her and Jason clutched her to him panting as he tried to ground himself.
He closed his eyes, breathing in her sweet scent. She smelled like honey, and coconut and it relaxed him as he tried desperately not to cry, trying to push down his emotions and calm his panic attack.
She stroked his hair soothingly, her hands traveling across his neck to his back slowly calming his shaking till it stopped entirely. Jason took some deep breaths and pulled away to look at her.
Cassandra stared at him worriedly as she placed her hands on his face pressing her forehead to his.
Jason felt himself relax fully coming back to reality as he pulled her into his lap suddenly pulling her against him. She buried her head in his shoulder running her hands through his hair.
"I'm sorry." Jason said after a moment and Cassadra shook her head no rubbing his hair.
"You have nothing to apologize for Jason." She said firmly.
"Was I mumbling or something?" He inquired how he had woken her.
"More like you threw me off you thrashing around and screaming." Cassandra said worriedly. Jason opened his mouth to apologize only for Cassandra to cover his mouth glaring at him.
"Don't you dare apologize Jason." She said glaring at him.
Jason nodded, chuckling as he gripped her hand kissing it and removing it from his mouth. She blushed looking down shyly before looking up into his eyes with an intense stare.
Jason felt his own cheeks warm before he looked away remembering now Joker slamming the crowbar. He couldn't do this, getting close to her would only give the Joker a weapon to use against him.
Jason gripped her waist and picked her off his lap, setting her down next to him and stood up. "I'm going to shower." Jason said looking at his clock to see it was 4:38 a.m.
He was about to stand up only for Cassandra to pull him down suddenly making him look at her.
She glared at him angrily as her hands clutched his shoulder. Jason stiffened at her look and met her glare with a raised brow.
"What's your problem?" Jason asked after a moment of silence.
"Why do you do that?" Cassandra asked, annoyed.
"And that would be?" Jason questioned making her groan.
"I feel like it's one step forward two steps back with you!" She exclaimed. "We just had a moment and you tried to run." She then accused glaring at him.
Jason's face hardened briefly before sighing.
"Cass I'm not doing this." Jason said firmly standing. "I'll be in the shower."
Cassandra scoffed and rolled back over on her side, her back facing him as grabbed his clothes and went into his bathroom, closing the door.
He showered quickly but thoroughly, making sure to wipe the feeling of sweat from his body, the warm water clearing his mind from the horrid dream he had.
Jason felt bad for leaving Cassandra without an explanation. He knew she wasn't good with human interaction so allowing herself to make these steps with him had taken a lot of courage, despite that Jason couldn't afford to fall in love. She'd only get hurt because of him.
'Even if she ends up resenting me for it.' Jason thought grimly. 'Better that than me burying her cold body.'
Jason sat on his couch staring wide eyed into Cassandra's eyes. They had spent the day ignoring each other having been awake since four a.m. It was now 7 p.m. they had just finished eating microwaved frozen pizza when Cassandra broke the news to him.
Of all the things she could've told him, none scared him more than what she said then.
"The Court of Owls are really after you?" Jason asked, his voice hard and grim at the thought.
Cassandra nodded wordlessly sitting as far from him as she could on the couch. Talking about this was making her anxious and she wanted to be held but would not be pushed away again. It hurt more than a sparring session with Batman.
"Why haven't you called Bruce?" Jason asked with a raised brow.
"Because Bruce has enough problems." Cassandra scoffed. "Not to mention you can't get rid of the Court of Owls with Justice. You need lethal force to fight those monsters."
"So you came to me because I'm a killer." Jason said bluntly, making her flinch at the way he put it.
"You're not a killer Jason." Cassandra said angrily. "Killing crazy assholes who torture and destroy lives is not murder, it's saving lives."
Jason shrugged before glancing away contemplating all this in deep thought.
"Do you have any leads?" Jason asked.
"All I know is they're sending their Talons to get me." Cassandra said with a shrug.
"How many?" Jason asked, wincing at the plural of Talons.
"Four." Cassandra said, making Jason frown and groan rubbing his face.
"That's why you came here." Jason muttered. "Since Gotham is their playground you figured if you brought them somewhere their unfamiliar with we'd have a better chance."
"Well yes Jason but I also trust you." Cassandra said uncomfortably. "You're making it sound like I just want to use you."
"I know you trust me." Jason said and stood. "It was a smart plan Cass, We need to set up a battleground and lure them to us. And I think I know how."
"You have an idea?" Cassandra asked hopefully.
"I won't let them touch you." Jason promised determined. "Do you have your gear?"
Cassandra scoffed and smirked. "Do you even need to ask?" She asked with a small smile.
Jason shrugged with a chuckle before walking to his closet.
"I gotta stop by my warehouse to pick up some gear." Jason informed her as he stripped to his boxers putting on his Red Hood gear.
"Also got a new costume that should be finished." Jason said with a smile as he put on his dynamo mask, snapping on his utility belt.
"Who works on your costume?" Cassandra asked curiously.
"How about I take you to meet him?" Jason said with a small smile grabbing his red helmet. "Get dressed Cass, something appropriate for our little date."
Cassandra rolled her eyes but smiled, her earlier anger forgotten. She grabbed her costume out of the duffle bag she left on his table when she arrived and went to the bathroom to change.
Jason wasn't sure how much time they had but he knew where he was going to set up would be the death of these Talons.
If they wanted to take Cassandra from him they'd have to deal with the wrath of Red Hood first. And with his friend working on his new gear it was going to be one hell of a fight.
Chapter End
That was a lot of fun to write actually. I think I'm really going to enjoy this project. Now this world is slightly different and my own. But I tried to make Cassandra's and Jason's characters as accurate as possible. I'll try to do well with the other characters as they're introduced.
The team is going to consist of: Barbara Gordon, Jason Todd, Cassandra Cain, Dick Grayson, Tim Drake, Alfred, and eventually Luke Fox as Batwing.
If you want to review, feel free. Just a heads up I don't have a set schedule for updates or how much I write each chapter, it will always be a good amount but some chapters may be longer or shorter depending on what's going on.
Going to start the second chapter soon either way. Have a good one.
