AN: Beta Read by Brawn1984 and Starrmastrr.
AN: I don't own RWBY or Red Hood.
Jason was sitting up in bed when he heard Tai come in with another person.
The person smelled like Yang, and Ruby, but he couldn't tell who it was.
"Jason?" Tai asked. "Can you tell us what happened?"
"We went to tell Damian's family about the Fall of Beacon and Damian's loss, but..." Jason gritted his teeth. "I can forget what they did to me, but what she did to Violet. I will never forget."
Tai had taken Violet to the doctor, and he was horrified when he was told what had been done to her. No thirteen-year-old should have to go through that. The mental scars alone would haunt her for the rest of her life.
"How did I get back here?" Jason asked.
"That would be me." A woman said softly not wanting to startle the boy.
"Who are you ?"
"Why don't you tell us what happened?" Tai suggested.
"Well. We had just made it to Damian's family."
One month ago.
Day 1
Jason stood protectively in front of Violet.
"Who are you?" An elderly man said with a power that was beyond his appearance.
"My name is Jason Todd. This is my sister Violet Scarletta. We came to find Damian Al Ghul's family."
"You have found them." A woman who would be considered beautiful if Jason couldn't smell the hatred rolling off her in droves. "Tell us what you need to or die."
"Beacon has Fallen." Jason said before becoming somber. "Damian was lost."
"How dare you!" A girl yelled. "You killed my brother!" She shouted.
Jason heard what she was saying but couldn't hear the concern.
"For my brother's death I will kill you!" The girl said jumping at Jason with the intent to punch him.
There was a flash of light and before Jason could stop her, Violet was standing in front of him, and had punched at Damian's sister.
When both fists connected there was a sickening crunch, and Damian's sister was on the ground howling in pain holding her now broken arm.
"How dare you harm my daughter!" Damian's mother said reaching for her belt.
Jason pushed Violet behind him and prepared himself for a fight.
"That's enough!" A Bat Faunus said. "Talia. Calm down. Take Rhea to the healers."
Talia glared at Jason before picking Rhea up and leaving.
"Please forgive my wife." The Bat Faunus said. "She can be… overprotective at times."
"What about your daughter?" Jason asked coldly.
"My daughter." Bruce said. "My daughter has a tendency for mood swings. One minute she is the nicest person in the world. The next she will be trying to kill someone for taking the last of the sweets."
"She's crazy." Violet said from behind Jason.
"Have care how you speak of my family." The older man said. "I will not tolerate such disrespect to them."
"We're Sorry." Jason said. "We've been walking for a while. We felt that you had a right to know about Damian."
"For that I thank you, and I offer you the chance to train with us for a short time."
"Thank you." Jason said. "I would very much like to train under the same people who trained Damian."
"What would you say about my grandson?"
"Your grandson was an excellent fighter. I would say that he was easily top ten if not top five."
"That is good to hear. My grandson trained very hard to be one of the best fighters."
"He trained with me almost every day, and he was good. I would say that he could have been my equal if..." Jason became very quiet.
"If he hadn't died?" Ra's finished.
"Yes."
"We will start your training tomorrow. Bruce here will oversee your training." He said pointing at the Bat Faunus
Jason looked at the Bat Faunus.
Bruce nodded.
Jason returned the nod.
The next day.
Day 2
Jason woke up the next day and saw that Violet wasn't in the tent that they had been given by Damian's family.
They hadn't noticed the night before, but Damian's family were nomadic, traveling across Remnant picking up anyone who would join them, and so lived in tents.
Jason ran outside and heard the clash of weapons. He looked around and saw Violet fighting a group of kids her own age.
"Hi Jason." Violet said when she saw Jason.
Jason was about to tell her to keep focused, but the instructor beat him to it.
"Don't take your eyes off your opponent." The instructor said as one of Violets opponents kicked her off her feet.
"Don't worry." Bruce said coming up to Jason. "The kids won't go in for lethal attacks until they come of age. Right now, they are just being trained to fight."
"When do they come of age?"
"Sixteen. Come on. Your sister will be fine."
"Where are we going?"
"To train. You have heightened senses correct?"
"Yes, but my semblance is Penumbra Barrage."
"I can train you to use your senses on their own."
"So, you can teach me to enhance my other senses so I can use them independently?"
"Yes, as well as use them together."
Jason followed Bruce.
"Okay." Bruce said putting a blindfold on Jason.
"What are you doing?" Jason asked reaching for the blindfold.
"Cutting off your sight so you have to rely on your other senses."
"Okay."
Bruce let out a high-pitched shriek that deafened Jason.
Jason could feel the vibrations from Bruce and started walking towards them only for the vibrations to disappear.
Bruce dropped a pellet that released a powder into the air.
Jason sniffed the air and smelled something foul. He tried tasting the air, but the air tasted sour, and burned his tongue.
Bruce dragged Jason outside.
Once Jason regained his senses he glared at Bruce. "What the hell was that?"
"I took away all of your senses. You rely on them the way that I knew you would."
"So..." Jason spit. "...how do I get that taste out of my mouth?"
"Here." Bruce said handing him a bottle of water.
Jason washed his mouth out and spit. "So, you're going to train me how to handle those situations?"
"Yeah."
"When do we begin?"
Over the next week Bruce trained Jason to rely on his hearing and blocked out his other senses.
Jason could hear Bruce but couldn't tell where he was.
"Create a rough image of your surroundings." Bruce called from somewhere in the cave they were training in.
"I don't know how-OW!" Jason yelled when he tripped over a rock.
"Listen to your surroundings. Calm your mind and listen."
Jason calmed down and listened to his breathing and his footfalls. An image almost like a map of the cave floor appeared. "How did I do that?" Jason asked in excitement.
"You just used a form of echolocation." Bruce said.
"That's so cool. Is this how you see all the time?"
"No. Despite popular belief, bats actually can see. We just see in grays and reds rather than color like you."
"Oh. Sorry for assuming."
"Don't worry about it."
"Can we go again?"
"Yeah. Try and find me."
Jason slowed his breathing and calmed down and began walking. The metal on his feet created an echo that reverberated around the cave allowing Jason to see everything, found Bruce, and ran at him.
Bruce created a sonic blast that deafened Jason.
Jason calmed down, becoming an easy target. Then the hairs on the back of his neck stood up and he kicked behind him knocking Bruce into a wall.
"Congratulations." Bruce said once Jason corrected his hearing. "You were able to find me when you were essentially dead."
"Thank you. What next?"
"Tomorrow we will work on your sense of smell."
Day 9
"To help you increase your sense of smell we'll use these." Bruce said putting a pair of earplugs in Jason's ears before putting a pair of headphones on.
Jason sniffed the air and caught Bruce's scent, and ran towards him only to trip and fall on his face.
Bruce pulled him to his feet and took the headphones off and the earplugs out. "You think that you should be able to follow my scent straight to me, but you forgot that we are in a cave. You need to smell everything in the cave."
"I'll do better."
"I have no doubt. Try it again."
Jason put the earplugs in and put the headphones on and took in a deep breath.
Over the next week Jason learned how to navigate around the cave by smell alone.
He was running around the cave and sniffed the air.
He jumped to avoid a rock and spun sideways to dodge a stalactite before continuing to run through the cave until he tagged Bruce.
Bruce took the headphones and earplugs off. "Excellent. You have a drive that few people have. It's amazing to watch you go from a beginner to an experienced hunter in so little time."
"Being late to save those you care about will do that to you."
"You still have doubts." It wasn't a question.
"Yes. I have to be the strongest. I have to be able to take anything that gets thrown at me. I can't be weak. Not again."
"There's something you're not telling me."
Jason thought about it. "How can I trust you enough to tell you what happened all those years ago?"
"Years ago, nearly 30 years, I was living in Atlas with my family. We were walking home from the theatre when a human pulled a gun on us. He didn't care that my father married my bat Faunus mother, or that I was a Faunus. All he wanted was my father's watch and all of his lien and my mother's pearl necklace. He killed both of them and left. I had no one, my father had let my family butler go with his recommendation, and he left. I had no one. So, I left Atlas, and was found by Ra's. He taught me everything I know, and respected my decision to not take life, but to beat my opponents into submission."
"Wow. So, you had a tough childhood too."
"Yeah. So, spill."
"When I was six my uncle abandoned me to the streets."
"Damn. That's rough."
"That's not even the worst part. I met someone on the streets, and we became good friends, but when we got back to my house my uncle killed her."
"What the hell! Why?"
"He killed my parents and threw me out on the streets hoping that I would die, but when I came back that threw a wrench in his plans. So, he killed Shira, and was about to kill me."
"With those enhanced senses her death must have been worse than if you didn't."
"Yeah. I heard her lungs and heart stop. I could feel her body die. I could smell the exact moment she died. I saw the light leave her eyes. The worst thing I've ever tasted was death."
"Damn. You didn't watch her die; you experienced her death."
"I know. It was the worst day of my life."
"I'll bet. No wonder you push yourself to be the best."
"I have to be the best. I can't be weak. Not again."
"Then let's keep going. If you keep going at this rate, then you should have complete control over your senses in no time."
"What's next?"
"Your sense of taste. Get some rest. We will start tomorrow. "
Day 16
"As I said." Bruce said handing Jason two half inch cones attached at the base. "We will be training your sense of taste. Put this in your nose. It will cut off your sense of smell."
Jason did as Bruce told him, and his sense of smell was cut off as well as he sounded nasal. "What now?"
"Use your heightened sense of taste to find me." Bruce said before putting the earplugs in Jason's ears and the headphones over Jason's head.
Jason put his tongue out and felt like an idiot, but he could taste the air. This was the first time he could actually taste the particles in the air. He tasted salt, was it from Bruce or in the air? He followed the salt and tripped nearly biting off his tongue. This was going to be tough. He got to his feet and began walking again. He found the salt again and followed it to the cave wall. 'Damn' he thought.
Bruce moved behind Jason and hit him from behind.
Jason hit his knees... hard.
Bruce grabbed Jason and hauled him up. He took the headphones off and Jason pulled the earphones and the nose plug out.
"That was good." Bruce said taking off the blindfold. "Take the rest of the day off to think about what you learned."
"Can't we try it one more time?"
"No. You need to rest."
Jason looked at him. "So. Damian's Semblance was Muscle Memory. What is the rest of your family's if that's not too personal?"
Bruce thought about that. "My Semblance is intimidation. It allows me to intimidate people into making mistakes."
"That's useful."
"Yeah. If you can stop the fight before it starts you've already won."
"What about Talia?"
"Talia is a poison tree frog Faunus, so her skin is poisonous to the touch. It's why I had to find a surrogate mother to birth Damian and Rhea."
"Damian said that she was his egg donor."
"Selina was more than that. At least to me. I was devastated when Ra's made her leave."
"Sorry, but what does this have to do with Talia's Semblance?"
"Talia's Semblance is Poison touch. It amplifies the poison she secretes."
"So, it's not that she's sterile, just that she can't touch anyone for fear of killing them."
"Yeah. It's not pretty. Her poison is a slow painful death."
"Sounds disturbing."
"It is. Ra's' Semblance is Lazarus. It allows him to regenerate so long as his body is not completely destroyed."
"Useful."
"It is. It also makes him a terrifying opponent."
"If you can't die you can kill to your hearts content."
"Pretty much. Next is Rhea. Rhea's Semblance is Manipulation. It allows her to manipulate people into doing whatever she wants them to do, but she doesn't use it."
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"
"Both, but it's more of a bad thing rather than a good thing."
Jason thought about that before he left the cave and went back to his and Violet's tent.
When he walked into the tent he was tackled by Violet.
"Hi Jason! How was your day?"
"It was good. I spent some time training my senses."
"How did you do?"
"I used my sense of smell to find Bruce and started training my sense of taste."
"How are you doing that?"
"I'm tasting the air particles to find Bruce."
"What?"
"You know how a snake flicks its tongue in and out?"
"Yeah."
"I'm kind of doing that."
"Okay."
They sat in silence for a while.
"So. Want to go get dinner?"
"Sure." Jason said.
They went to the meal tent.
"Hey." One guy said. "Jason come sit over here."
Jason and Violet walked over to the table.
"Hey Coal." Violet said.
"Hey there little violet. How are you doing?"
"I'm doing good. How's Lavender?"
"She's doing well. She's due any day now."
"Ooh. Can I come see the baby when its born?"
"So long as the doctor says it's okay."
Violet let out a squeal of delight.
"So, how's Bruce's training?" Coal asked Jason.
"I'm working hard, and I don't mind it. I need to become strong enough to protect Violet here, as well as my other friends and family."
"Just don't work too hard. Make sure that you take plenty of time to get a drink and maybe find a nice girl to settle down with."
Jason thought about Weiss.
"Hey." Coal elbowed him playfully. "You already got yourself a girl don't ya?"
"Yeah."
"So, what happened? Where is she?"
"After Beacon fell her dad took her back to Atlas."
"So, what's the problem. Storm the castle wall. Sweep her off her feet, carry her off in style."
"I don't think she lives in a castle."
"Don't change the subject. If you love her, really love her. Then you need to go to her before she finds someone else or her dad makes her marry someone else."
A haunted look fell over Jason's face. "He might actually try that."
"Then hurry up and get her. She needs to know that you love her."
Jason sat at the table and closed his eyes. He traveled across Remnant through the Shadow's and appeared in Weiss's room.
"Jason?" Weiss asked.
'It's me.' Jason said. 'Or more accurately it's one of my Shadow Clone's.'
Weiss barreled into Jason's Chest and cried. "I'm so happy you're here."
'I am too. It's good to see you.'
Weiss just smiled at Jason.
'What's wrong?' Jason asked.
At that moment Weiss broke down. "Jacques is forcing me to get married." Weiss said.
'Do you want to marry the individual?' Jason asked slightly to hurt by the news.
"No! I want you."
'Have you told this to Jacques?'
"Yes, but he says that since he hasn't seen you then I obviously don't love you."
'But we got Winters approval.'
"I know that, but Jacques won't respect that because he disowned Winter."
'That's not good. Can you leave?'
"No. I can't. I have some responsibilities here in Atlas that I need to take care of."
'Can't you pass them off to someone else?'
"If it were anything but them yes, but because of who it is I can't."
'Who is it?'
"I can't tell you. Jacques could overhear and that wouldn't help them."
'I understand. Violet and I will leave right now.'
"No. Not yet. The Gala is still two months away. Come to the Gala and I will be ready."
'But What is Jacques moves ahead with the wedding?'
"He won't. He needs the attention of a big crowd. So, he won't announce it until then."
'Okay. I don't like it, but if that's what you want.'
"No. I wish that you could come and get me right now, but I would have to run away, and I can't with the others right now."
'I could kill Jacques for you.'
"As much as I wish you could, you can't. Now get out of here so Jacques doesn't find you."
Jason looked at Weiss with a sad look on his face. 'I wish I didn't have to leave.'
"Believe me. I wish you could stay here too, but you can't. We'll be together soon."
Jason slowly dissolved into shadows and blew Weiss a kiss.
Weiss caught the kiss as Jason completely dissolved and held it to her heart. She would sleep good tonight.
Jason opened his eyes back at the camp and felt Violet touch his face. "What's this?"
"You were crying." Violet said. "I was wiping them away."
"Did your girl break up with you?" Coal asked.
"No. Her Father is going to try and marry her off to someone she doesn't love. I won't let that happen."
"Then why are you sitting here instead of running to her side to kick the crap out of her useless father?"
"She told me to wait for the right time."
"So, you're just going to listen to Weiss?" Violet asked.
"Hey." Coal interrupted. "Happy wife, happy life."
Violet growled and left the tent with a plate of food.
"So." Coal asked. "What are you going to do in the meantime?"
"I'm going to train as hard as I can. Then I'm going to kill Jacques."
"Your girlfriends dad?"
"Yeah."
"Go get some rest. You're going to need it."
Jason ate a plate of food before heading back to his and Violets tent.
Jason was asleep when his head hit the pillow.
Day 17
When Jason woke up, he saw Violet still asleep. He got up and went to the cave.
"You're here early." Bruce said.
"I need to train harder."
"What happened."
"I need get strong enough to protect Weiss."
"Who is this Weiss?"
"She's my... my..."
"Your fiancé?"
"Yeah."
"I see. Then let's begin."
Jason put the blindfold on before putting the earplugs in his ears, and the headphones on. He took the nose plug in and began tasting the air. He needed to finish the training fast.
Over the next week Jason trained to enhance his sense of taste.
Day 24
"It's no surprise that it took you longer to enhance your sense of taste." Bruce said. "Sense of taste is one of the most difficult senses to enhance."
"Just tell me what's next."
"Your sense of touch." Bruce said dropping a smoke pellet.
Jason ripped out the nose plug out when his tongue started burning. He sniffed the air, and found that while he could smell, the air was stale hiding Bruce's scent.
Bruce moved around the cave and was surprised when Jason was able to follow his vibrations. 'Damn. It's his Prosthetics They are letting him feel the vibrations better than if he had regular limbs.'
Jason grabbed Bruce and flipped him over his back and face first into the ground.
Bruce coughed and brushed himself off. He took the headphones off, and Jason took the earplugs out. "I think that you need to work on feeling vibrations with your hands."
Jason nodded, and put the earplugs back in.
Bruce put the headphones on and disappeared.
Jason put one hand on the wall, and another hand on the floor. He killed the sense in his legs and enhanced the sense in his hands. He felt slight vibrations and followed them.
Bruce watched Jason running around the cave, and tossed rocks around to confuse him, but Jason caught on quickly.
Jason was running around when he felt vibrations. He followed it and found a rock. Bruce was trying to confuse him. He pushed his sense of touch to the max and felt Bruce. He walked around until he was positioned in the right spot. He jumped and caught Bruce before he threw Bruce down to the ground.
Bruce took the headphones and blindfold off, and Jason took the earplugs and nose plugs out.
"You have learned a lot today. Whether that is because of your drive to save your fiancé or not I don't know, but you have two more things to learn then I will spar with you for real."
"Thank you. What are they?"
"Your sight, and then using all your senses together like a sixth sense."
"When can we start?"
"Tomorrow. How many different spectrums can you see in?"
"Regular, night vision, up close, and far away. I can also dim and increase the light."
"I figure that you could dim and increase the light, so we will train your sight starting tomorrow."
"Thank you."
"Don't mention it."
Day 25
The next day every sense but sight was cut off.
The cave was dark. It was almost eerie.
Jason was walking around when he saw something fall to the ground. He looked at it through night vision and saw a flash bang grenade.
He didn't have any time to say anything before the flash bang exploded.
Jason closed his eyes and rubbed them.
It wasn't long before Bruce had him pinned to the floor.
He felt the pressure leave and got up. He walked around the cave when his eyes adjusted and changed to Night vision again. He found Bruce, but Bruce shined a flashlight in his face.
Jason wiped his eyes and let them readjust before looked around for Bruce again, but this time he was careful.
When he saw Bruce, he closed his eyes and saw the light through his eyelids. He walked towards the light until it went away. He kept his eyes closed in case Bruce decided to shine the flashlight in his face as soon as he opened his eyes.
His patience paid off. He saw the light come back as second later.
Jason dove to the right and found Bruce before running until he saw a flash of light and closed his eyes. 'Okay. I'm good. He just dazed me is all.'
Jason kept up his process of getting closer to Bruce until he finally caught Bruce and pulled him to the floor.
Bruce took the headphones off, and Jason took the earplugs out.
"That was good. If you were fighting anyone else you would have completed this in less time, but I could predict your movements before you made them."
"So, what you're saying is that as long as I'm going against an opponent who can't predict my moves, I'm good?"
"Basically."
"Cool. What next?"
"Really that's all we can do in here. I mean I can show you how to track, but something tells me that you know how to track."
"Yeah."
"Okay then. Take all that off and I'll teach you how to use all your senses at once."
Jason took out the nose plug and engaged his sense of touch again. "That was easy."
"Try finding me." Bruce said before disappearing into the shadows.
A flash bang grenade and several pellets fell to the ground.
Jason killed his senses and reached out with his sense of touch. He felt explosions all around him and couldn't pinpoint Bruce's location. He risked a sniff and taste of the air.
The air smelled sour and tasted spicy. Just like he thought it would. He opened his eyes and saw a dense layer of smoke that burned when it made contact with his eyes.
'Touch it is then. For Weiss.'
Jason imagined Weiss running from Jacques in this smoke and became sufficiently motivated to find Bruce.
Bruce watched Jason as he ran through the smoke trying to find him, but shortly after he started, he saw Jason's tactics change.
Jason's eyes were open, and he was breathing through his nose and mouth. His eyes were red and puffy, his nose was runny, and his tongue was red and swollen.
'Damn. This kid's determined.'
Bruce was ripped from his musings by Jason who tackled him to the floor.
Afterwards Bruce took Jason to the healers.
"That was pretty stupid." Bruce said.
"It worked." Jason mumbled from behind his swollen tongue.
"Be that as it may it was stupid. What if you go blind or lose your sense of smell or taste?"
"I won't."
Bruce left muttering something about stupid overconfident kids.
"I'm going to give you something to help you sleep, and hopefully counteract the smoke in your system. It's a wonder that you aren't in pain right now."
"Oh. I'm in pain all right. I just shut off my sense of touch."
"That's amazing. For Bruce to use his most powerful smoke bombs and pellets, and you just walk it off. It's amazing."
"I suppose so."
"Get some sleep."
Jason closed his eyes and let the herbs take over.
Day 26
When Jason woke up, he felt stiff. He cracked his joints, back, and neck. "Wow. That was a great night's sleep."
"Sleep well?" Bruce asked.
"Yeah. What was that stuff the healer gave me?"
"It was a mix of herbs of berries. It acts as a sedative and a healing draft."
"That's nice."
"Yeah. It's healed me a few times. Ready for our fight?"
"Am I ever!"
"Good." Bruce said punching Jason in the face, and outside the tent.
Jason skidded across the floor and rolled to a stop. He got up and dusted himself off.
Bruce ran at Jason and kicked at Jason.
Jason caught Bruce's leg and punched it at the kneecap, breaking it.
Bruce swung his broken leg at Jason knocking him to his feet and bringing his foot down on Jason's stomach.
Jason coughed up blood.
Bruce jumped up and kicked Jason away.
Jason rolled to his feet and punched Bruce in the stomach.
Bruce rolled and kicked Jason away.
Jason flew through the air and landed on his back hard enough to force the air from his lungs. He caught his breath in time to see Bruce jump at him.
Bruce jumped at Jason, but Jason rolled out of the way and to his feet before he spun at Bruce.
Bruce caught Jason's leg and went flying with the kick. 'Wow. Those prosthetics are tough.'
"Impressed?" Jason asked walking through the city.
"Not yet." Bruce said before punching Jason in the shoulder dislocating it.
Jason grabbed his shoulder and cut off his sense of touch. "That was pretty impressive. I haven't had a fight this good since I fought Scott at..." Jason went quiet as he remembered the Fall of Beacon.
"Keep your head in the game!" Bruce yelled punching Jason in the other shoulder dislocating it too.
Jason fell to his knees but got up and swung his dislocated arms at Bruce.
Bruce grabbed Jason's arms and spun him around before throwing him into the ground.
Jason coughed as the air was forced from his lungs a second time.
Bruce put his foot on Jason's chest. "Yield."
"I'm not finished yet." Jason wheezed activating the boosters in his feet and knocked Bruce to the floor.
Bruce jumped up and grabbed Jason's legs and threw him into the wall before punching Jason until he passed out.
When Jason woke up, he was lying on a cot with his arms and chest wrapped up.
"I have to say." Bruce said startling Jason. "You have some moves. I can't believe you almost beat me."
"I did?"
"Yes. You took everything I had and delivered it back twofold. That trick with the boosters was nice."
"How were you able to take me out so easily?"
"Please tell me you're kidding."
"No."
"Jason. How old are you?"
"Eighteen."
"I am twenty-two years older than you. I have had forty years to train compared to your eighteen."
"But..."
"Look. I know that you need to be the strongest because of your past. I know what you're going through. Maybe not on as big a scale, but I know what you're going through. You just need to train a little harder."
"Then I will. I'll train to hard enough to beat you one day."
"I don't doubt that, but for now you need rest."
"Thanks. I will."
Jason took the rest of the day to rest up.
Day 27
The next day Jason went to his tent and was tackled by Violet. "Oh my gosh Jason! Lavender had her baby! Can I go check on them?"
"I suppose so. Just check in every day you're gone."
"I will. Thanks, you're the best. See you later."
Jason watched Violet leave. "See you later."
Jason went to the cave and began training.
He created five Shadow clones of himself and fought five on one.
After a few hours Jason looked at his scroll. He had twelve new messages.
V: *Picture of a baby girl.* This is Carmine Violet.
J: Carmine Violet?
V: Yes. Coal and Lavender took your name and my name and made the name Carmine Violet.
J: My name is Jason. Not Carmine.
V: They took Carmine from your street name and Red Hood.
J: My street name is Red.
J:Red Hood?
V: Do you seriously not remember the code name you were given?
J: Code name?
V: You are so annoying sometimes!
J: Are you staying with Coal and Lavender?
V: Yeah.
J: Stay safe.
V: I will.
Jason went back to training.
When Jason was done, he went back to his tent.
He took the 'Dominators' out of his Prosthetics and began cleaning them. When he was done, he put a Dust Crystal in each one, and flipped on the safety before putting them back.
'Any particular reason you loaded them?' Shira asked.
"I don't know, but I have a feeling that I'm going to need them soon."
'So, you have a gut feeling, and are preparing for war?'
"Sure. Or I'm going to save Weiss as soon as this is over."
'Okay.'
"You still don't like Weiss, do you?"
'You have had a positive influence on her. I didn't like her at first, but I can give her my blessing since she makes you happy.'
"Thanks."
'I think... I think...'
"What is it?"
'I think that you need to get rid of the mindscape.'
"Why?"
'You're not a scared little boy anymore. You have overcome my death, and no longer need me. I'm not saying that you need to get rid of Amber and me. You can still keep us alive with Penumbra Barrage, but you don't need your mindscape anymore, at least not your current one.'
Jason thought about that for a long time. "You're sure about this?"
'Yes. You need to put this mindscape away.'
Jason began meditating. He calmed his breathing and breathed in and out.
After five minutes of steady breathing, he opened his eyes and saw his mindscape. In it stood Shira and a 16-year-old Amber.
"So." Amber said. "You're really getting rid of the mindscape?"
"You're moms right. I don't need this place anymore. After I leave Damian's family I will head for Atlas, pick up Weiss, probably propose for her in front of Jacques, beat Jacques senseless if he tries something, and start a life wherever Weiss wants to go. I think I can finally let go of my past."
Amber ran up to Jason and hugged him tight. "I'm going to miss you." She cried.
"Hey, hey. I still have Penumbra Barrage. We can still see each other that way."
"I guess so." Amber said letting go of Jason and wiping her tears.
Jason walked to the center of his mindscape and knelt down before putting his hands on the floor.
The mindscape began receding and dissolving until Jason stood in an endless void.
He closed his eyes and a Modest house with a decent sized yard appeared. He walked inside and saw a living room with a kitchen and two rooms on the first floor with a staircase leading up to the second floor and two more rooms. A second staircase led to the basement where he could train and design weapons.
In the shadows stood a figure.
"Jason." The figure said.
"Red." Jason declined his head.
"I guess you're mostly whole now."
"Guess so."
"So, I guess that the next thing you need to be completely whole is me."
"Guess so."
"I'm the part of you that split off to stay sane after Shira's death. I kept saying that you did it because you were weak, but what did I know. You were nine, ten when you split me off."
"Something like that."
"Well." Red said holding his hand out.
Jason took his hand and felt a part of his mind heal.
At first, he felt rage, but he calmed his breathing, and the rage went away.
Jason opened his eyes and blinked. He felt different. He felt the same, just different.
He laid down on the cot he'd been given and went to sleep. 'Maybe I'll feel better in the morning.'
Day 28
When Jason woke up the next morning, he still felt different, but now he realized why. He was more attentive. He noticed more. Like the day before he knew that he was sleeping in a tent, but he didn't notice the colors or the designs or the structure.
The tent was in the shape of a pentagon. His and Violets bags were in one corner, and a cot was on the third and fourth walls, and entrance was at the first wall. The tent looked like a patchwork with different shades of red, orange, and yellow.
Jason walked outside and saw a multitude of colors tents. He didn't run through the tents like a lovesick teenager or anything, but he did walk through wondering how he could have missed so much detail. How much stuff had he missed out on over the last eight years?
As he walked through the city, he noticed a mountain on one side. He ran towards it and started climbing up the side. When he was about three quarters of the way up, he looked behind him and saw that it wasn't just tents. There were buildings, and other structures.
He climbed down and went to find Violet.
He went to Coal and Lavenders tent. "Hello." He asked at the tent flap.
Coal came out and saw Jason. "Hey Jason. Did you come to see the baby?"
"Originally no, I came to get Violet, but she won't go until I see the baby."
Coal looked a little startled. "Violet left to get you an hour ago."
"She's probably back at our tent then. Or looking for me. I'll go find her." Jason said before heading back to his tent.
When he got back to his tent, he saw that Violet had been there, but her scroll had been dropped.
He picked it up and caught another smell.
Rhea…
AN: Well. Shit just got real. The chapter starts out in Patch with Jason, Tai, and a woman that Jason doesn't know, and he is battle scarred. He tells Tai and the woman the story. He went and trained with Damian's family, but how did it turn out? Find out next week on Damian Part 2.