Chapter 3:
Key Character: Jason Todd
The task for Tim today was to observe one of the poorest districts in Gotham City. While Batman and Robin are together somewhere else (of course), Tim was tasked to observe one of Gotham's slums. According to Bruce, he was able to gather some information yesterday from a gang member who made some illegal deals with a few residents from this particular neighborhood.
"If there's any lead you can find there, you can help report that information to the GCPD in order to obliterate these illegal trades going around in the city," Bruce told him the day before.
That's why Bruce gave Tim this job.
It was basically a side mission, while Batman and Robin were working on the main thing. Even though he won't deny that this current mission is for a good cause, he can't help but feel like he's playing an optional quest in a videogame that no one bothers to play. Any sort of job involving insider trading, whether it be drugs or weapons, is usually simple enough to be handled by a couple of GCPD officers.
Overlooking the neighborhood from a rooftop and all dressed in his Red Robin costume, Tim began observing the sight around and below him. The different architectures of each building, the racial diversity of the people walking around, the multiple ethnic restaurants, the abandoned apartments, the public housing projects, and the different models of old cars driving by. After gazing for what seemed like hours, there's really nothing else he can do besides observing everyone's lifestyles and wondering what they're up to. Aside from being outdoors, this task was almost similar to the one he had yesterday, where he sat in the batcave monitoring Batman and Robin's movements. Nothing to do besides waiting for something to happen.
"Oh look, it's the replacement," a voice came from behind him.
Tim sighed. He knows pretty well who's mouth that tone just came from. It was deep, blunt, and dismissive. Plus, who else would call him "replacement."
"Hey Jason," he greeted unenthusiastically.
"What are you doing in my part of the city?"
Not one greeting and straight to the point, typical Jason Todd. It was rare for him to act with some sort of kindness what so ever. Sure, he grew up in tough beginnings and endured a painful experience, but would it hurt just to show at least a little of bit affection every once in awhile?
They are brothers, or at least should be.
"I'm on a lookout," Tim answered inattentively, "Batman put me here on patrol."
With his arms crossed together, Jason added, "Heh, daddy bat puts you on another boring mission huh? I can tell just by how much fun your having."
Tim clenched his teeth in response to that sarcasm. Even though he's used to Jason's rude demeanor, the unfortunate thing was that what he said was true.
"Jason, can't you just leave me alone and let me work?"
"Number one," Jason spoke firmly, "This is my part of town. Number two, why can't you go patrol somewhere else?"
The thing that was starting to drive Tim crazy was the fact that Bruce even admires him. He understands that losing a Robin (losing a son for that matter), is a heartbreaking experience. Yet, despite all the treacherous things Jason had done, Bruce would always want Jason back home. Despite all the murders he committed, despite all the harsh things he said, and last but not least, despite almost killing Tim himself, Bruce would still want him back home. And what does Jason do? He pushed him away. That is something Tim would have never done to Bruce. Why can't Bruce admire Tim the way he admires Jason?
"I don't understand why Bruce even admires you one bit."
He couldn't help it, it just slipped.
"...What?" Jason was taken aback. That statement was quite an offense.
Turning to face the man in the red hood, Tim asked, "What did I ever do to you Jason?"
Jason was surprised by the sudden tone of his voice. It sounded very, un-Tim. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"All I ever wanted was to become Robin and continue your legacy. I didn't want to take your place at all. Heck, I didn't even expect myself to be good at it like you or Dick in the first place."
"Alright?" Jason replied, feeling confused about the sudden tension, "I guess that's great to know..."
Tim rolled his eyes at his lack of sympathy. "I never did anything to you," Tim spoke more strictly, "And yet what did you do? You almost killed me. All because I just wanted to continue your legacy. I was an innocent boy trying to do good. I wanted to make you proud, and you almost killed me because of it."
Jason slightly winced. Where did this come from? He never really thought about his past actions until Tim randomly shoved it in his face, but yet he was still confused on where this attitude came from. "I- I'm sorry?"
"Yeah," Tim replied softly as he turned to head somewhere else, "Well I'll just patrol somewhere else now that you seem to have this place under control."
"Now just hold up a sec," Jason demanded.
Tim halted at his request, closing his eyes and breathing through his nostrils because he knows some sort of explanation will be extracted from him.
Taking off his red hood, Jason asked, "What is all this about?" He understands why Tim may still hold a hidden grudge, despite their relationship getting better the past year. The other question is, where did this come from?
"It's none of your business," Tim stated.
"I just want to know where this shit came from. You and I have been getting along lately, so I don't get why the hell you're randomly throwing the past in my face."
"It was just a sudden memory," Tim stated simply, thought it was obviously a lie, "And it's easy to throw it back in your face since you never approach me kindly." That one wasn't a lie.
"Lose the shitty attitude Tim," Jason requested, "Something's clearly bothering you. I just wanna see if I can help."
"Well, I don't need it."
"Is it wrong for me to help?" Jason asked particularly, "Anything wrong with me trying to help a brother out?"
"Brother?" Tim hissed, "So now you finally call me that? When did you actually care?"
Jason paused at the sudden enmity eliciting from the young man. "Why are you acting like this, Tim? It doesn't seem like you at all."
Tim. It's actually pretty rare to hear his real name coming out of Jason's mouth instead of a derogatory one.
"You don't know what I'm feeling," Tim muttered under his breath.
"I don't? Try me," Jason insisted.
Tim took a deep breath. Similar to Dick, Jason won't let it go as well.
"It just sucks feeling left out," Tim stated, "That's all." That was a good enough explanation. He didn't feel like going into an all-out vent because he wasn't looking for attention. Though he would greatly admire if some consideration was given to him every once in awhile, he wasn't going to go beg for it.
Jason let out a small chuckle, but more of a sarcastic one rather than an actual one. "You don't think I ever felt like that?"
Tim looked back at him, his facial expression turned from annoyed to slightly curious.
"To feel left out?" Jason continued. "To feel like no one cares. To feel unloved. To feel un-avenged. To feel unwanted. You don't think I ever felt any of that before?"
Jason did have a point. Not to mention he suffered PTSD after what the Joker did to him. Other than that, it must hurt to know that Bruce never "got rid" of the Joker even after what he did to a young man who was like a son to him.
"After all the bullshit that happened, I came back to help Gotham in a way Bruce couldn't have," Jason furthermore stated. "His notion of not killing seemed stupid, and it still is to me up to this day. What's the point of keeping bad guys around if they're still going to fuck shit up? I was helping Gotham by getting rid of these assholes, and then what? Bruce did not accept my actions. That's what pushed me away, and it also hurt to know that he left the Joker alive even after what he done to me."
Tim was not going to deny that Jason went through many tough times, but there were some things that still bothered him. "So how does almost killing me make it any better? I was innocent. Why did you attack me when I became Robin?"
Jason bit his lip, which is something he never usually does. He was never put in a situation like this. "I'll admit, I was jealous of you, okay?" Jason replied with his hands up. "I was also angry at Bruce for having me replaced, and I took it out on you. I'm sorry about that, okay? But I also wanted to see if you were worthy enough of being Robin. I wanted to see how strong you were. Needless to say, you passed Tim. You didn't give up."
It was a compliment, but Tim was still not in the mood. He continued looking at the ground with a dazed feeling.
"You should feel lucky," Jason added, "Be lucky Bruce welcomed you into open arms. Not all of us still have that luxury."
Oh the irony, Tim thought to himself. "Really now? Is that what you still think?"
"Well you're the one living peacefully in Wayne Manor with Alfred serving you anything you want. I don't exactly have that."
"Have you ever taken the time to consider that it's all your fault for never coming back home in the first place?" Tim retaliated.
"That's cause Bruce and I are way too much at odds."
"But not anymore, right?" Tim questioned. "You haven't killed in awhile. You began to talk with me, Dick, and Damian more. You participated in some missions with us, and you and Bruce already had a couple of missions together. I can tell that you definitely changed, at least a little. So why don't you come home?"
"I- I don't know," Jason slightly stuttered, and he never usually stutters either. "I guess it'll be hard for me to get used to shit again, especially after everything that happened. It'll be hard to get used to living under Bruce's roof again."
"And that's the thing!" Tim claimed annoyingly, "You still push him away! Even if you or Bruce are at odds, no matter how much you treated me like shit back then, and no matter how much you push him and the whole family away-"
He pointed his finger right at Jason.
"YOU Jason! Even after you push all of us away, even after all the horrible things you did, Bruce still grieves for you! He still wants you back home!"
The Red Hood stood still, eyes locked on Red Robin but no words coming out.
"Why you?" Tim questioned. "What makes you any more special than me? I can tell that he wants you back home so much. He wants to be able to work with you, to cooperate with you, to help change your ways. He may not say it, but I can easily see it."
Still no words from the Red Hood. He never really thought about how his absence affected Bruce.
"I always used to feel bullied by you Jason," Tim added, "I hated you. I hated you for what you did to me. I just wanted to be part of your legacy, not to be beaten senseless by you. Beaten to the point where I almost died. Even now, I still get called all those bullshit insults you or Damian throw at me."
Again, still no words, but Jason tensed. The feeling of guilt crept around all inside him. He didn't know where it came from, but clearly Tim has been holding some animosity for quite a while. The same question still remains, where did this come from? After all these years, why did Tim bring it up randomly?
"And yet," Tim continued, "Bruce still grieves for you. As for me, I'm just brushed to the side. I never did anything bad, and despite all the crap you done, he still wants you back. He still cares for you. You, not me."
'Not me,' is that what this is about? Jason thought.
"So is that the problem here?" Jason finally spoke. "Are you jealous of me or something cause you feel neglected by Bruce? Is that why you're throwing all my mistakes back in my face?"
"I was always the one pushed to the side!" Tim yelled with his fists clenched, clearly ignorant of Jason's current emotion, "By you, by Bruce, by everyone! No one even gives a damn about Red Robin! Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if you actually killed me that day because it's not like I would ever become important anyway! No one cares about me!"
After the emotions that were unleashed, silence fell upon them. The only thing that can be heard were the sounds of cars from down below, the wind blowing on their faces, and Tim's heavy breathing. It was an awkward pause because one didn't know what else to say and the other just began to understood the situation. It was quite an astonishment because never before had Tim acted like this.
Seeing Tim's distressed look even with his mask on, Jason walked over to his younger brother and placed a hand on his shoulder, "Tim, that's not true."
Shoving his older brother's hand away, Tim responded, "What would you know? You're never home to see it." He said as he walked over to the edge of the building and prepared to grapple away. "I'll patrol somewhere else, I'm done with this area."
"Tim! Wait!"
It was too late. Tim left swiftly.
I know cause I care.
So this interaction was quite challenging to write. Before the new 52, Jason and Tim had quite some tensions with each other. However, in current issues (specifically Robin War), they're getting along quite well. Jason basically became a much better person. Basically, I tried to tie both aspects together to create a particular background in this scene.
As you comic book readers may know, when Tim mentioned how he wanted to continue Jason's legacy and how Jason almost beat him to death, that was from pre-new 52. When Jason mentioned how they have been getting along, that was influenced by the events of new 52 & current issues right now.
Just wanted to clear that up.