I've been really excited for you all to read this chapter! There's interesting stuff in it. Also! Check out the new cover! That awesome art I commissioned by Alicja Leśniak (Goldenrosewolf) on Facebook.

Chapter Four Hurts Past and Present

Jason held the door open for Danny. "Welcome to Mama June's Dinner," he said grandly. Danny gave him a smile. Mama June's Dinner was on the edge of what was usually considered the slums, in an area that the city proper hadn't quite given up on, but that the slums were starting to devour. It was the best damn dinner in Jason's opinion.

There was an awkward shuffling as they both tried to sit in the seat facing the door. After a second, Jason let Danny have it, even though he hated having his back to the exit.

"This place is nice," Danny said looking around. It was homey and warm, clean, if a little worn.

"Best dinner in Gotham," Jason said as Danny picked up the menu; Jason didn't bother, he knew that menu by heart.

"Well ain't that just sweet of you Jason," a beautiful older black woman said coming up to their table. Jason stood to greet her and she pulled him into a bone cracking hug.

"Damn, mama June," he complained. "You're gonna throw my back out."

"You're too old to be complaining of back pain young man. Now, who've you brought me today? You've always come by yourself before." Jason sat down rubbing his back and gestured a hand to Danny.

"This is Danny. He's my neighbor," Jason introduced.

"Hi," Danny said with a small wave.

"Well aren't you just adorable," Mama June exclaimed. "He certainly is a catch ain't he hon?" she whispered overloud to Jason. He put his head in his hands.

"Mama June," Jason whined.

"Now stop that," she swatted him. "Don't go ruining this."

"You're the one ruining this," Jason grumbled. She swatted him again and he yelped.

"Now, what can I get you boys?" she asked sweetly. Jason ordered the tall stack of pancakes with bacon and eggs. Danny ordered the same, and Mama June went back into the kitchen.

"She seems nice," Danny said, with feeling.

"Yeah, she's a character," Jason agreed, fiddling with the salt and pepper shakers. "She was a stripper when I was a kid."

"What?" Danny said, surprised. He looked back at the kitchen door. "Really?"

"Yeah. She was friends with my mom, used to babysit me," Jason explained.

"Oh," Danny said, like he wasn't sure what to do with that information. "That explains why she treats you like her kid," Danny grinned at him. Jason grimaced.

"Yeah," he agreed. "So, Danny, what brings you to Gotham? You don't seem like you grew up here." Danny looked out the window, though there wasn't much to see out there.

"I didn't. Grow up here I mean. I just... couldn't go back home. I lost everyone. Guess I needed a change of scenery."

"Lost them?" Jason asked softly.

"Yeah, gas explosion," Danny explained.

"Really? Damn. I thought those only happened in movies," Jason said trying to lighten the mood. His response to death was to joke, not the best reaction really. But Danny snorted.

"Yeah, me too. It was a while ago, I was still a teenager. I… ended up in the system for a while. Got out a year ago. I came to Gotham looking for a fresh start." Danny shrugged.

"Hell of a place for a fresh start," Jason snorted. Danny smiled softly at him.

"Why do you stay if you think it's a bad place?" he asked. Jason shrugged.

"It sucks, but I grew up here. I took some time off, a year ago. Part of that was because of this huge fight I had with my family, but I came back. Couldn't stay away. Gotham's a part of me. I can't leave it even if I try."

"Are things better with your family now?" Danny asked. He seemed genuinely curious. Jason wondered if that was because he no longer had a family of his own.

"A bit," Jason said. "My mom died when I was a little kid ya see, and I lived on the streets for a while. When I was seven, I got adopted by this guy. He'd already adopted one kid before me, and adopted another one later. Then, this chick he'd banged showed up two years ago with his ten year old kid he didn't know about and dumped the kid on him. I've got a decent relationship now with my two younger 'brothers', but I can't stand my older 'brother' or my 'dad' right now."

"At least you've got people," Danny said. Jason thought about that. He did have people, not a lot of them, but good ones. Tim and Damian, Doctor Thompkins, Barbara, even Mama June. He was starting to consider Phantom and Danny a part of his people too. His thoughts were interrupted by Mama June bringing the food. She didn't stay long, just cooed over them for a moment before going off to take other orders.

"Do you not have anyone?" Jason asked. Danny paused with a bite halfway to his mouth. He set the fork down.

"Not really," he said. "There's this one guy at work, but I don't know if I'd really call him a friend. I'd definitely count on him to help if I needed it, but we've never hung out outside of work you know?" Danny stuffed his face with the forkful of pancake.

"You've got me too, if you want," Jason added, cautiously. Danny swallowed and smiled at him, a real smile that lit up his eyes. Those beautiful electric blue eyes.

"I'd like that," Danny said.

…

Jason was worried that Phantom wouldn't show up after the strange events with the bar fight the night before. But he was there, waiting on the roof as usual.

"Hey," Jason greeted cautiously. Phantom flinched at the greeting.

"Hey, sorry about last night," he started. "I shouldn't have run off like that."

"It's cool," Jason said, just glad the guy had shown up tonight. He hadn't realized how worried he'd been about the prospect of never seeing Phantom again until he'd spotted the meta safe and sound.

"Just don't bolt on me like that again," Jason said firmly. Phantom looked away and nodded. Jason looked at the arm where he'd been slashed. The hoodie was still stained and bloody, and Jason could see the white of bandages underneath. A stampede of thoughts ran through Jason's head as he did some quick mental calculations.

"Hey, I've got something outside the Narrows I need to take care of," he decided. Phantom finally looked back at him. "Just keep the peace tonight, I'll see you tomorrow." Phantom nodded and headed off. Jason watched him go. He always moved with a strange sort of floatiness that carried him further and higher with each jump and stride than a normal person. Jason turned to go get his bike. He had a trip to the batcave to make.

Bruce wouldn't be back till tomorrow, so Jason should have enough time to raid the cave. He'd been hoping that it would be empty, but as he pulled in with his bike, he saw a hunched form typing away on the bat computer. The figure was too small to be either Bruce or Dick, so Jason parked and climbed the stairs up to them.

"Hey Jason," Tim greeted without looking away from the computer. "What's up?"

"I need to use the fabricator," Jason said bluntly.

"What're you making? Bruce will flip if you use it to make guns again. Pretty sure he put a program on it to prevent anyone from making guns, but I can probably hack it if you want," Tim offered looking at Jason finally. Jason took his helmet off and set it on the desk.

"I'm making Phantom a proper suit," Jason explained. "What he's wearing now has no protection. He got cut by some drunken idiot yesterday. If he'd been geared up properly, it never would have happened." Tim nodded.

"I already figured out his sizes based on the footage I took of him fighting Robin," Tim explained, opening a file on the computer.

"Of course you did," Jason said. Tim was more of a detective than even the Bat.

"What specs do you want?" Tim pulled up the fabricator input screen. The fabricator used premade parts to put together just about anything you wanted, but mostly it was used to make their suits. Jason had stolen his gear when he first rampaged back to Gotham. A full protective bat brand lightweight Kevlar body suit under a leather jacket and pants, with steel toe boots, knee pads, gloves, and of course, his "red hood". He given himself the red bat logo as a sort of insult to the bats, but since then he'd grown fond of the dumb thing.

"Similar setup to mine," Jason started. "Silver Kevlar body suit, with my bat logo in neon green. Silver gloves and boots. Do silver knee pads and black leather pants."

"He's got a hood now, do you want to keep that?" Tim asked as he typed away. Jason thought about it for a second, and decided that it would be good to cover that white hair, and the silver body suit he'd decided he needed for some reason.

"Leather jacket with a hood," Jason decided. Tim snorted. "What?" Jason demanded.

"It's just, I hope he appreciates your style," Tim said.

"Hey, he works for me, and I want the people to know it," Jason said annoyed. "And what's wrong with my style?"

"You've got more of a thing for leather than a BDSM fan," Tim said flatly. Jason huffed.

"What to keep the blind fold?" Tim asked. "I can design something that looks just like it but is rigged up with a com and night vision."

"You've already designed it haven't you," Jason asked. Tim grunted and pulled up the blueprint for it.

"I like to be prepared."

"You take too much after Bats," Jason said, leaning forward over the desk to look up at the screen. It looked good to him.

"You put any way to track him in this?" Jason asked.

"No, you want me to?"

"No, he'd find it if we did. And I don't want to break his trust right now."

"I started the fabrication, it'll take about ten hours," Tim said. "You could go finish your patrol and pick it up in the morning. Bruce won't be home till about noon."

"Sounds good," Jason decided. "Ima head out then."

"Not without some tea and biscuits master Jason," Alfred said behind Jason. Jason swore under his breath, that butler was quieter than the bats.

"Alfred," Jason said, turning around. "I'd love to stay but I really need to get back to work." Alfred turned a disapproving look on him, and Jason's resolve crumbled. "I guess I have time for one cup."

"Splendid," Alfred said, turning and heading for the elevator. Jason grumbled and followed him up, Tim snickering in the background.

Alfred led him to the kitchen and Jason sat down at the counter. The butler put a plate of cookies in front of him and set the kettle to boiling.

"Now master Jason, it has been far too long since you've come for a visit. How are you doing?"

"I'm fine Alfi," Jason said, turning a cookie over in his hands before taking a bite.

"How is your life outside of the job? Have you made any new friends?" Jason snorted. Alfred was talking to him like he was a kid who wasn't making enough friends at school, and normally Jason would brush him off, but… He hadn't told anyone about Danny yet. He hadn't wanted to bring that craziness down on himself, especially since Tim had just found out he was gay. If that information reached the others, or god forbid Dick, it would be hell. Add a new friend on top of that who happened to be a cute guy, and Jason would never get any peace. But Alfred was different, he'd never tell anyone.

"There is actually this guy," Jason started. Alfred raised an eyebrow, the only sign that he was surprised. "He moved into the apartment below mine."

"What is his name?" Alfred asked.

"Danny. He's pretty cool. He works the night shift so our schedules match," Jason explained. It was really nice to be telling someone about this.

"Oh?" Alfred said, encouraging Jason to go on.

"Yeah. We've been chatting on the fire escape after work, and we got dinner together yesterday, or was it breakfast? It was dinner time for us anyway," Jason explained.

"What is he like?" Alfred asked as he poured a cup of tea for Jason. Jason took it and started telling Alfred how cool Danny was, what he knew of his life, and their conversation about the people in their lives. Time slipped away from Jason, and before he knew it, he'd been there for more than an hour and had drunk three cups of tea. He made his excuses and left Alfred, who seemed very happy.

On his ride back into town, Oracle called him.

"Hood," she greeted.

"Oracle. You get anything for me on Phantom?"

"No." she said.

"No? Then why are you calling."

"Because I didn't get anything on Phantom."

"I don't understand."

"Hood. I couldn't find anything. It's like he never existed before he showed up over a week ago. I didn't find any records of a meta with his power set in any of my databases. I didn't find any mention of him on social media, or in the missing persons database, or in the foster care system. I didn't find any records of him in any reports on disbanded metahuman experimentation facilities. There's no trace of him anywhere on the web that I have found."

"Nothing?" Jason said, dumbfounded. "But everyone leaves a trace online. Unless he just got his powers."

"You really think he just got his powers two weeks ago, and immediately decided he was going to join the Red Hood?"

"No," Jason admitted. "That wouldn't explain the scars."

"Exactly. The fact that I can't find anything doesn't mean it's not there, it means someone has scrubbed the web for any trace of him. Someone doesn't want anyone to know about him."

"But can someone really get rid of all traces?"

"No," Oracle admitted. "There are always crumbs. And I think I found one. There's this weird group I've found mentioned in a few places going by the acronym GIW. No idea what it means, but they seem to be a government division that studies ghosts."

"But Phantom isn't a ghost," Jason argued. "He's just a meta."

"I know, and so I didn't look into it at first. But when everything else came up blank, I decided to take a closer look. And Hood, I found something interesting. I tried to hack into their servers, and I ran into the strangest fire wall I've ever seen."

"How strange?"

"Like, I haven't figured out how to get past it, strange. This thing is super smart. It's like it knows I'm trying to get in and keeps changing. It's almost like it's alive. I'd love to meet the person who wrote the code because holy shit this thing is brilliant. But so far, I haven't gotten in."

"Why would a ghost hunting organization need a firewall that powerful?"

"No idea. But even if this doesn't lead to any information about Phantom I want to know what's behind it."

"Have you asked RR for help?"

"Not yet. If I can't crack it in another day I will."

"Well keep me posted. This sounds suspicious."

"I will." And with that, she ended the connection.

..

Jason met up with Phantom, who seemed a lot better after smashing a few heads.

"You missed all the fun," he said gesturing around himself to all the men laying on the ground groaning. They were on the docks, packages of drugs spilling everywhere.

"What happened to only take on the small fry?" Jason demanded. Phantom didn't wilt under the anger like Jason figured he would. Instead, he planted his feet.

"Well, when I learned from some kids that these assholes were using kids to move their drugs, I figured you'd want them taken down." His voice was harsh and low. Jason repressed a flinch. This was a very different person than the one he'd met at the beginning of the night. Where that one had been meek and quiet, this one was a ball of rage and power. Jason shrugged.

"Hey, my mistake. I guess these were the small fry. After all, only the lowest scumbag would use kids for their own gain," he tried to diffuse the tension. He turned his stare on the thugs rolling on the ground. Even though they couldn't see his face, they all flinched away from him. Danny grinned cruelly at their fear, that missing tooth making him look a bit crazy. For once, Jason was worried not about Phantom's safety, but about the criminals of Gotham. Something had set him off tonight, and that glimmer of cruelty Jason was seeing was worrying. As he scanned the thugs again, he saw a lot more broken bones and burns than could have been necessary. Hopefully Phantom kept this rage directed at those who deserved it.

Jason sent Phantom after that, telling him to get some sleep, he was going to need his energy tomorrow. He didn't tell him why, that Jason knew Batman was likely to show up and pick a fight. Jason finished the patrol and as the sun came up, picked up Phantom's new gear from the cave and headed home. When he got there, Danny was fighting with his door again, trying to wedge a credit card into it.

"Hey, you locked out again?" Jason asked. Danny sighed and left off trying to shimmy the door open.

"Yeah. I just can't keep track of my keys," he groaned.

"Is your window still unlocked?"

"No, I started locking it after you broke in," Danny explained. "And I can't figure out how this card thing is supposed to work."

"Let me try," Jason took the card, a gamestop membership, and tried to convince the door to open, but it was built wrong and too worn for the trick to work. Jason thought for a bit before deciding he didn't have another choice.

"Wait here," he said, handing back the card. He hurried upstairs and opened his backpack. He didn't want Danny to know he just carried around a lock pick set. He came back downstairs with the case in his hands and knelt in front of the door. He examined the lock and picked out a few tools.

"You know how to pick locks?" Danny asked, suspicious. Jason shrugged.

"I told you I lived on the streets for a while."

"And yet you have a professional lock picking set."

"Hey, old habits die hard," Jason said, trying to avoid outright lying. The door opened and Danny let out a breath.

"Well I guess I can't complain if you only use your powers for good," he joked.

Afterward, they sat outside for a while.

"My dad is going to be back in town today," Jason said.

"You said he's been on a business trip right?" Danny asked.

"Yeah, he's probably going to try to pester me," Jason groaned.

"You never said what your fight was about." Jason had to think of a way to word this. He sucked at lying, which was why he hadn't asked Danny what his job was. If he did, then Danny was going to ask him about his and he didn't think he could lie convincingly enough. And Danny hadn't brought it up yet, so maybe he didn't want to talk about it anyway.

"I got hurt by someone," Jason started slowly. "And my dad didn't pursue their punishment as far as he could. I was mad about that. And I was mad that afterward, he went and adopted another kid like I didn't matter."

"That sucks," Danny said. "How old were you?"

"Fifteen. We fought about it for years."

"I had a sister," Danny offered. "Our parents loved us, but sometimes it felt like they put work first." Jason scoffed.

"I know the feeling."

…

Jason's phone woke him up. He grabbed it and shoved it against his ear.

"What?" he demanded.

"Jason?"

"Bruce?" Jason said, pulling the phone away to check the caller idea. Sure enough, it said, 'Don't Answer!'. "Shit," Jason swore into the phone. "I didn't mean to answer."

"Jason," Bruce said.

"Just pretend I sent you to voicemail," Jason just caught Bruce's "wait" before he hung up. He threw the phone back onto the side table and ignored the next call. And the next, and the next. There was a small break, but when the phone rang a fourth time he picked up.

"Goddamn it Bruce! Leave me alone!"

"Uh, Jason," Tim said.

"Oh, sorry," Jason said, calming down.

"I take it Bruce already called."

"Yeah. You need something?"

"I was just going to warn you that Bruce is back. He knows about Phantom and he's pissed," Tim said simply.

"Well screw him, I don't care. But thanks for the warning."

"I'm just sorry he got to you first."

"Eh, I hung up on him," Jason said satisfied.

"That'll just piss him off more," Tim said and hung up. Jason went back to sleep.

…

"Here," Jason held out a reusable shopping bag for Phantom. He took it cautiously.

"What is it?" Phantom asked, looking into it.

"It's new gear," Jason explained. "The shit you've got on isn't enough protection. This stuff can block bullets, and knives," he said pointedly. Phantom pulled out a bit of the body suit and examined it.

"Thanks," he said, like he meant it.

"I made sure my brother didn't put any tracking devices in it," Jason said. "Go put it on and meet me back here. I want you to stick close tonight."

"Why?" Phantom asked.

"I hear Batman is back in town, and he doesn't like me, or metas." Phantom looked at him with a confused expression.

"When did he leave?" he asked. Jason was confused himself for a second, before he realized that Dick had been playing Batman while Bruce was gone. It fooled most people, but not Jason. He knew how they moved too well to be fooled.

"Oh," Jason said. "Yeah, well, once you're a part of this community for a while you learn some shit. See, occasionally Batman has to leave Gotham for one reason or another, and he doesn't want anyone to know, so Nightwing, who usually works in Bludhaven, puts on the cowl and runs around Gotham with Robin. The Batman who's been around the last month has actually been Nightwing. But I heard through the grapevine that the real Bat is back tonight. And like I said, he's going to have beef with both of us. So we need to have each other's backs." Phantom took a moment to process this before nodding.

"Okay, I'll be back in a second." When he reappeared a few minutes later, he was wearing the new gear. He stood a little bit awkwardly, like he wasn't sure of it, but Jason thought he looked good. The new outfit showed off his figure a lot better than the baggy hoodie and jeans had. He looked stronger, his narrow frame looked more muscular, lean and fast.

"You look good," Jason admitted.

"You have a serious leather fetish you know," Phantom joked looking at himself. Jason choked.

"First Red Robin and now you?" he demanded. "It's strong and it lasts okay. I do not have a leather fetish." Phantom made a motion like he was rolling his eyes, but Jason couldn't tell with the blindfold.

"That mask has a com unit in it," Jason said. "You should have access to Oracle now."

"Oracle?" Phantom asked.

"Evening boys," Oracle said in Jason's ear, and judging from Phantom's reaction, he heard her as well.

"Woah, who are you?" he asked.

"I'm Oracle. Think of me as the helpful, but all seeing big brother. Or your guy in the chair, or what have you. I can track anything or hack anything."

"She's the one we call if we need help with anything computer based on the job," Jason explained.

"Exactly. If you need anything, just say my name into the com and my system will pick it up and link you to me. For now, I'll leave you to your patrol." There was a click as Oracle ended the connection.

"Is she always listening?" Phantom asked.

"Not to us. I've got a deal with her. She stays out of my business unless I ask her. And unless you change it with her, she'll do the same for you. Now the Bats, she is always listening to them, but they have a lot more people to coordinate, so she helps with that." Jason explained.

"Okay, can I get you on this?" Phantom asked, touching his ear. Jason showed him how to operate the coms and once he'd gotten it, they headed out. They hadn't gone far before Jason felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise.

"Hold up," he said, throwing an arm up to stop Phantom from jumping to the next roof.

"What is it?" Phantom asked. Jason kept his arm up, forcing Phantom to stay behind him as he turned around, searching. There. A spot of darker black in the shadows.

"Stay behind me," Jason warned as Batman leapt down in front of them.

"What do you want Bats?" Jason said, making sure Phantom stayed behind him and angling himself so it looked casual. He crossed his arms and glared at Batman.

Batman's eyes scanned up and down Jason, and then examined what he could see of Phantom over his shoulder

"I want to talk to you Hood," Batman said with that gravelly growl.

"You don't get to want anything from me," Jason declared. He dropped his arms and upholstered a gun. Batman didn't miss the motion. The larger man looked at Phantom

"And I want to talk to you."

"You don't get to want anything from him either!" Jason steam rolled over him. Batman turned his attention back to Jason. Phantom stayed silent. Batman tapped his ear like he was silencing his coms, and Jason grew more worried. If he was ignoring advice from the others, then he could be in real trouble.

"Get out of my territory Bats!" Jason spat. "You're not welcome here."

"I see you're still using guns," Batman commented, looking pointedly at the weapon in Jason's hand. Without warning, he swung the gun up and fired directly at the Bat's chest. He had just enough time to plant his feet before the bullet struck him and bounced off.

"They're rubber you dumbass," Jason said. He'd noticed Phantom flinch behind him when he fired, but didn't say anything.

"They're still dangerous," Batman argued, a little out of breath.

"So are the bat shaped knives you throw at people," Jason said, exasperated. Batman turned his attention back to Phantom.

"And I hear he leaves his victims with serious burns."

"Victims?!" Jason demanded "Since when are child abusers and muggers our victims?"

"He's not one of us Hood. He's a meta."

"You think I don't fucking know that?" Jason demanded. "What does it matter? We follow your dumb rules Bats. We don't kill. We take out the bad guys."

"Not all of them," Batman interrupted.

"Oh, you mean the punks who sell weed? That stuff doesn't hurt anyone Bats. In fact, there's more proof it helps than hurts. Besides, you of all people should know you can't stop all the crime in the world. Better stop the punks who hurt kids and the innocent than those that sell crap to consenting adults."

"Our job is to stop all crime. To take those who steal, and hurt, and break the law and show them justice," Batman said, getting worked up.

"Is that what you'd wish you'd done to me? When I stole your tires. Do you wish you'd thrown me in juvie instead of giving me a home!?"

"I wish I hadn't raised a man who thinks it's okay to kill people and let criminals go! I wish I didn't have to know that one day I'm going to have to put you down when you go too far again!" Batman finally yelled. Jason stood there, stunned for several moments, before he felt a hand on his shoulder. He flinched, but didn't pull away.

"You're a horrible father," Phantom said simply. Jason glanced back over his shoulder at Batman as his partner, his friend, led him away.

Yeah, I'm horrible, but Batman is worse. And he is going to screw up a lot more before this is over. Next time, we'll open with some soft bonding. Please review!