Chapter 4: Five Years Later. Homecoming.
The small black haired boy ran forward and jabbed at the black haired part Asian girl again and again. Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson watched from the balcony as the two fought below them.
Cassandra Cain, age 18, backed up as the young boy kept jabbing and kicking at her with lethal intent. Damien Wayne flipped in the air and brought his foot down over Cassie's head. Cassie caught Damien's kick and flipped back around and rammed her shoulder into the upside down ten year old. Damien flipped to his feet and stood opposite Cassie and smiled. The two stood up straight and bowed to each other.
Dick, now twenty-four clapped as the newest Robin and BlackBat finished fighting. Tim Drake, now 17, was at the work bench on the far side of the cave working on his newest Red Robin grappling hook.
"Good job Damien." Bruce smiled and patted his son on his back. Bruce had saved Damien two years ago from the League of Shadows and his mother, Talia Al' Ghoul, from being raised into a mindless killer. Since then Damien had been fighting with his own psyche about killing and not killing.
"Thank you father." Damien said crossing his arms. "Of course I doubt anyone expected anything less from me."
"Little twerp." Tim said loudly.
"What was that Drake?" Damien shouted.
"Hey enough boys." Barbra Gordon, now age 22, walked into room uneasily. She had been going through physical rehab for over a year now since she was shot by the Joker and left paralyzed from the waist down. Its taken her a year for her to be able to walk with out the help of a cane or walker. "Everything is fine. Everyone remain calm."
"Sorry Babs." Tim said blushing as Damien hmphed and turned away.
"Why is it so bad that I act the way I do hm?" Damien asked sternly. "Unlike Drake I back up all my talk."
"I dont need to back up my talk." Tim said under his breath. "I dont gloat."
"What was that Tim?" Asked Bruce smiling.
"Nothing!" Tim answered quickly before dropping back under the table and going back to work on his gadgets.
"Damien you remind me of someone." Cassie smiled as she bowed to Bruce and Barbra before sitting down on the bench. Cassie had been living with the family for nearly three years and her English improved drastically and she was able to make the transition from League of Shadow wet-girl to a member of the Bat Family with no trouble.
'Was thinking the same thing.' Barbra smiled as she ran a finger over a locket she was wearing around her neck.
It had been five years since Jason Todd left Gotham and the hero world behind. No one had heard from him except from a yearly postcard from some place different around the world, dated nearly three weeks before it arrived to them, and information that only Cyborg, herself and Dick got about certain criminal organizations. Bruce spent nearly a year trying to track down the boy to no avail. He cursed himself a few times for training Jason so well that he could vanish from the face of the Earth and not even Batman could find him.
Damien walked towards the Robin costumes and looked over each one. Dick's was the most feminine. A green speedo nearly hidden by a size to long red button up blazer with a 'R' blazed upon the right pec area and a green and yellow cape with green gloves and green shoes with yellow balls on the ends.
Jason Todd's, who Damien knew by name and reputation alone, was similar to Dick's but instead of a speedo his were green shorts with a red Kevlar button up suit with the 'R' em blazed up on the right pec. Gone with the yellow and green cape and in its place was a green and black cape and combat boots instead of the fairy shoes.
Tim's old suit was sleeved and legged and the button up shirt was changed to that of Kevlar buckled suit. His cape and boots were the exact same as Jason's only to fit with the over all look of Tim's.
Damien then stared at his own and smiled. It was a smaller version of Tim's (the only thing Damien agreed with about Tim was his fashion sense it seemed) with a hood attached to the cape with feather like armor draped over the shoulders and top of the cape.
"Barbra?" Damien asked when the others were out of ear shot. "What is Jason Todd like?"
"Well," Barbra's eyes watered as she remembered the phone call where she had broke up with Jason. It was what sent Jason over the edge and had him vanish. "Alot like you actually. Brash, cocky, confident, and skills that back up his mouth. Hand to hand wise I dont think there will ever be a better Robin. No offence."
"Is he that good?" Damien asked shocked. "Father said he excelled in all areas of his training but he never mentioned his hand to hand style."
"I wouldnt say in all areas." Barbra giggled. "He is a great detective, and like Dick and Tim can hack into anything you place in front of him given enough time. But marksmanship and hand to hand," Barbra smiled at how on one family outing Jason had out shot everyone at the range, "There was no one better."
"Father taught Jason how to shoot?" Damien asked shocked.
"He was the only one." Bruce answered stepping up beside his son. "After Jason was nearly killed by the Joker and I adopted Tim to be the new Robin, I promised myself I would not repeat my mistakes. Jason was," His voice stopped, "IS still a great partner. He just needs time."
Damien Darhk stepped from the airport and smiled.
'Gotham,' He thought, 'Ripe for the taking and I'm going to...' Darhk's train of thought was stopped when a young man walked around him and laughed. The young man was wearing a a brown leather jacket with black jeans and a black undershirt. His hair was dark red with a white streak coming from his scalp. He looked over Darhk and shook his head smiling.
"What ever you're thinking," Jason Todd smirked, "I suggest you stop. Go to the ticket area. Buy another ticket back to Bludhaven and head home." Jason's smirk turned into a deadly smile. "Trust me Mr. Darhk. You dont wanna stay here. Not with me back in town."
==Bring-Bring.
Bruce looked over his morning coffee and newspaper as Damien sat at the table buttering his toast wearing his Gotham Prep elementary uniform. Tim stood with Cassie laughing wearing their Gotham Prep High uniforms.
==Bring-Bring.
"I'll get it Alfred." Tim said as the butler placed down the skillet cooking eggs. Tim walked up to the phone still laughing with Cassie and answered it. "Hello, Wayne Manor, Timothy Drake speaking."
"Yo yo yo Baby Bird!" Jason's voice echoed out of the receiver and made Tim drop the phone and gasp.
"Master Tim!" Alfred scolded. "What in heaven could be wrong?" Alfred leaned down and picked up the phone. "Yes? Hello?"
"Dont tell me Tim dropped the fucking phone Alfie?" Jason was laughing. "Think he'd heard a ghost!"
"Mast..Ma..." Alfred couldnt find his voice which made Bruce place his newspaper down. "Master Jason?"
Cassie stopped mid bite of her eggs as Damien looked up from his toast with wide eyes and Tim continued to stare into space. Bruce stood up and fixed his suit before taking the phone from Alfred and patting his father figure on the shoulder.
"Jason?" Bruce asked leaning against the wall.
"Yo Ol'Man!" Jason was still laughing. "Dont tell me I gave Alfie a fucking heart attack?"
"I can hear you Master Jason." Alfred coughed and composed himself. "He needs to watch that filthy language."
"You hear him Jason?" Bruce asked smiling.
"I know I know." Bruce could hear Jason roll his eyes. "My personal house rule number one. But not like their are kiddies and women around." Bruce was silent as his eyes went from Cassie to Damien. "Oh." Jason said after the silence. "Who?"
"Cassandra Cain and my son." Bruce smiled.
"Cain?" Jason racked his brain. "Sounds familiar. As for your son. I'm glad that worked out well."
"Where are you Jason?" Bruce asked sternly.
"No 'Hi how are you?'" Jason asked hurt. "I'm in Gotham. Just got off air plane."
"Why didnt you call before?" Bruce asked concerned. "I could have sent Alfred with the car."
"Nah," Jason sounded distant for a minute, "I've got a few things to get straight. I'll be by the Manor tonight though. Right around eight or nine. Right before patrol."
"Good." Bruce stated. "I'll call Dick he'll want to see you."
"Yeah sounds fantastic." Now Bruce knew Jason was being distant. "I'll see everyone tonight alright? Oh and Bruce."
"Yes?"
"Hope you dont mind."
"Dont mind? Mind what?" Bruce asked and the phone line disconnected, just as the garage door opened outside the kitchen window, and a black '67 El Camino pulled out onto the gravel and Jason waved from the front seat and took off at a dangerous speed down the drive way with Jason still waving.
Damien watched in awe as Jason drove down the drive way and turned towards his father. "Jason Todd I presume?"
Jason was parked outside the Hospital's Physical Rehab Center and nodded along to the music playing from his iPhone he had attached to the old casset player.
"And I say Say what I wanna Say." Jason sang along to My Chemical Romance's House of Wolves and smiled when he saw her. "Wow." Jason said aloud.
Barbra Gordon had developed more curvy in the past five years and Jason gawked openly at her. She was wearing grey sweat pants and a grey athletic tank top. Her walking was stiff but still elegant and graceful. Jason stared over her face and smiled at all the times he had kissed it. Her lips smiling to the receptionist and her beautiful blue eyes made Jason warm all over.
Barbra walked from the building not noticing Jason. Jason walked behind her for a few feet before coughing.
"Yo Barbie Doll!" Barbra stood transfixed as the voice registered and the nickname sank in. "Miss me?" Barbra turned around slowly and stared Jason Todd over. He was taller but not much. His body had toned into that of an Olympic athlete's. Even under his heavy brown jacket Barbra could see the chiseled stomach from the tight black shirt he was wearing. His hair was still a dark red and the white streak flowed with his hair naturally.
"Jason?" Barbra couldnt believe it.
"Take that as a maybe?" Jason winked and stepped forward now only a few feet from Barbra. Jason looked down as Barbra continued to stare him over. "Listen, I know I should have come back when you were shot, and I wanted to, god I wanted to so fucking badly." Jason's hair hid his face from view. "I wanted to track that psychotic death worshiping maniac down and put a bullet through his skull for what he did to you, and to me for that manner."
"Jason." Barbra said again stepping up to him. Jason was about to speak but was stopped when Barbra kissed him deeply and passionately. Jason returned the kiss and held Barbra close. "Yes I missed you."
"And I you Barbra." Jason said leaning his head against hers.
"Jason I'm sorry but.." Barbra started.
"Stop." Jason laughed. "I know. I know all about it."
"About what?" Barbra asked stepping away from Jason.
"Next June right?" Jason asked holding up Barbra's left hand and ran his finger over the massive diamond of her engagement ring. "I always thought Dick was stupid for not doing that sooner." Jason smiled and stepped back.
"You know?" Barbra asked cautiously.
"There aint much I dont." Jason said laughing and looked around then leaned towards Barbra. "Dont tell anyone but Batman trained me you know."
Barbra slapped Jason hard on the arm and laughed with him. "If you knew then why..."
"Why'd I let you kiss me?" Jason laughed. "Fuck I had to get at least one more kiss from you Mrs. Grayson."
"Oh arent you funny." Barbra crossed her arms over her chest and blushed dark red. "I'm sorry."
"Dont be." Jason said and held up his hand as Barbra went to say more. "About anything. It was understandable."
Barbra smiled and leaned back against her jeep. "What are you doing here Jason?"
Jason leaned back next to her and looked up the hospital. "Chasing a lead." He admitted. "I saw Damien Darhk at the air port. I figured Hive must be planning something and there's someone here who might know."
"Dick said something about the Hive making big moves lately. Young Justice has been keeping an eye on them."
"Who?" Jason asked confused.
Barbra laughed as she stepped into her jeep. "Its what the Titans are calling themselves now."
"Wow." Jason whistled.
"Yeah I didnt care for it either." Barbra laughed as she started the car. "If you need help just give us a call ok?"
"Sure." Jason said smiling. "And just f.y.i. I wasnt going wow over the name." Barbra looked at him in confusion. "I said wow cause well, fuck Babs your ass looks great." Jason winked making Barbra turn the same shade of red as her hair and walked off towards the hospital.
Jason sat at the on table of the Banquet hall of Wayne Manor and yawned loud. Cassie was sitting across from him and took in his no care appearance and tilted her head slightly. Tim was sitting next to Cassie and eyeing the man who taught him many great fighting techniques all of those years ago while Damien sat next to Jason and admired him. Jason looked at Damien then at Tim, then finally, Cassie.
"Ok what do I have something on my face or some shit what the fuck?" Jason asked sitting up. "Why is everyone staring at me?"
"Its been FIVE YEARS." Tim said shrugging.
"Aand?" Jason drawled the word out confused. "Did ya'll not get my post cards?"
"One a year." Cassie answered.
"Aaaaaaaaaand?" Jason asked again while drawling the word out again, even more confused.
"Did you push that man or did he fall on accident?" Damien asked from out of no where.
Jason stared down at the little mini Bruce and laughed. "The holy fuck did you just ask me?"
"I asked," Damien said coldly, "Did you push..."
"Damien!" Dick stepped into the Banquet Hall with Barbra holding hands. "Be nice." Jason stood up and placed his hands in his pockets as Dick approached him. Dick looked over Jason and crossed his arms. "I owe you one."
"When ever you're ready Dickybird." Jason taunted never moving his hands from his pockets.
Dick and Jason stared each other down for what seemed an eternity before they both cracked up laughing and hugged each other tight. Jason patted Dick on the back as Dick held back tears.
"Good to see you bro." Jason said and let go of Dick. "Taking care of Barbra I see for me."
"Just jealous cause she went back to the obvious choice." Dick laughed as he whipped his eyes away of tears. Barbra came up and took Dick's hand again and smiled at Jason.
"Hello again." Barbra said smiling.
"Again?" Cassie, Tim, Damien and Dick said at the same time.
"Jason was at the hospital when I got done with therapy today." Barbra admitted.
"What for?" Dick asked concerned.
"Following a lead on Hive." Jason admitted sitting back down.
"Hive?" Tim was finally interested. "You have information on Hive?"
Jason looked at Dick who nodded his head. "Yeah Tim. I've been doing reconnence work for about two months on all Hive activity sending my findings to Dickybird and Nuts&Bolts. My cover was blown though."
"Excuse me?" Bruce asked as he and Alfred came from the kitchen holding plates.
"Oh my god Dick get a camera!" Jason said pushing Dick on the shoulder. "Bruce is doing," Jason took a deep breath and covered his mouth, "House work!"
"Jason," Bruce laughed, "You know before I had all of you teenagers running around I actually did help Alfred. Now what was that about Hive?"
"Isnt that," Jason bit his lip to keep from laughing, "YOUNG JUSTICE's business..." Jason busted out laughing and grabbed his stomach. "Tell me you didnt come up with the name Dickybird!"
"As a matter of fact." Dick said proudly.
"Anyways," Jason rolled his eyes and stabbed at the shrimp in his gumbo that Alfred had prepared, "Damien Darhk was at the air port when I got off my plane. He came from your neck of the woods." Pointing at Dick. "I think I scared him back."
"How'd you manage that?" Damien asked.
"I've learned a thing or two in my five year absence." Jason admitted winking at Damien. "Besides I have always had a pretty bad fu..." Jason looked over at Alfred and coughed, "Pretty bad funky reputation."
"I know the word fuck." Damien said defensively.
"I was protecting Tim's virgin ears." Jason joked and winked at Cassie. "Or am I wrong about that?"
Tim turned beet red and slouched in his chair as Cassie placed her fork down.
"I have not had sex with Timothy." Cassie said angrily. "Isnt that what got you in trouble to begin with?" Cassie asked looking over to Barbra as she and Dick sat by Bruce and across from each other.
Jason raised an eye brow as Barbra and Dick both turned beet red. "Hold up." Jason smiled. "Did someone actually talk shit back to me?" Jason looked at Bruce who simply shrugged and took a drink from his wine. "I like her!" Jason pointed at Cassie making Cassie smile and blush. "Where can I get one?"
"League of Shadows." Cassie answered.
"Oh sweet." Jason smiled. "Ra's owes me one." Jason said as he got lost in thought.
"Grandfather?" Damien asked awe struck. "He doesnt get into debt with anyone!"
"I'm not just anyone." Jason smiled. "I'm Jason Peter Todd."
'Fucking Jason Peter Todd.' Barbra smiled and laughed.
"Anyways." Jason clapped his hands and brought his duffel bag onto the table. "Info then I've got gifts. First, Gizmo," Held a hand to Dick, "Yeah I know, tell Green Boy to take it easy next time would ya? Damn thing was screaming about lions for hours. Anyways, he's always been a high up in the Hive and well," Jason trailed off as he looked for the right words, "Lets just say Brother Blood wasnt to happy about Gizmo's latest failure. Kid's memory was whipped clean by the time I got there."
"You went with out a mask?" Bruce asked, his voice sounding worried and disapprovingly.
"Of course not." Jason pulled a feathered cowl out and pulled it on over his head to reveal steam punk like goggles over his eyes and red feathers coming off of it to hide his entire face, his mouth simply covered by cloth. "Its what I wear when needed to get info from bad guys."
"So you got a name?" Tim asked taking a big slurp of his gumbo.
"Nope." Jason answered. "Havent needed one. I was simply information gathering while training."
"So your lead led no where." Dick said exhaling loudly.
"Bingo was her dildo." Jason nodded. Alfred stared him over and Jason simply shrugged. "Anyways. Gifts?!" Jason unzipped his duffel bag and pulled out a black box and placed it in front of Bruce. "Ol'man." He then placed a small cloth covered item in front of Tim. "Baby Bird." Jason placed a box in front of Dick. "Dickybird." Jason looked at Barbra and noticed the pendent around her neck and smiled while placing a wrapped present before her. "Barbie."
Tim unwrapped the cloth and gasped at the small circular disk before him. "Is this," Tim looked at Jason and held back tears, "This is..."
"A titanium plated zero gravity inducer." Jason finished for him. "Toss that at a bad guy and for a few seconds he'll be floating in the air."
"Thank you!" Tim looked over the disk as Cassie looked over his shoulder.
Bruce opened the black box to reveal a black wooden bat mask and held it up to the light. Jason smiled as memories flashed behind Bruce's eyes.
"How is he?" Bruce asked.
"Pissed I stole that." Jason admitted causing Bruce to smile.
"Thank you Jason." Bruce nodded to Jason who nodded back.
Dick rubbed his hands together and tore at the gift before him and smiled when he pulled out two escrima sticks that were jet black. On the handle of each stick were two small metal bands that wrapped around completely that matched Nightwing's chest logo.
"Wow Jase." Dick said his eyes tearing up again. "This is amazing."
"The bands are also magnetized." Jason explained. "They're always come bouncing back if you wear the new gloves in there while using them."
"Thank you." Dick said smiling. Jason simply nodded.
Barbra unwrapped her present and stared down at a framed picture of Dick, Jason and herself on Jason's first day of Gotham Prep. Dick was wearing his uniform with his arm around young Jason's shoulder. Barbra was hugging both of them wearing her middle school uniform while Jason stood wearing his elementary uniform smiling from ear to ear.
"First picture I ever had taken of me." Jason said smiling. "Fact that you two are in just makes it better if you ask me."
"Jason," Barbra dabbed her eyes of tears, "Thank you."
"You're welcome." Jason smiled. Jason stood and stretched then walked to Alfred and handed him a small wrapped present. "Couldnt forget about you Alfie."
"Master Jason I dont require gifts." Alfred said holding back emotions as he unwrapped the package. Inside was a small leather book and Alfred smiled as he opened it. "First press first edition of," Alfred smiled big as his eyes watered slightly, "Oliver Twist."
"You read it to me after Bruce adopted me remember?" Jason asked smiling.
"How could I ever forget Master Jason." Alfred held the book behind his back and bowed bulter-y. "Thank you Master Jason." Jason nodded and sat back at the table.
"And us?" Damien asked pointing to himself and Cassie.
"Well," Jason looked over at Bruce, "That I was hoping to talk to Bruce about. I was hoping to take the new bloods on patrol myself. Give Batman a night off."
"Excuse me?" Bruce asked crossing his arms.
"God I should have gotten you hearing aides." Jason laughed making Bruce give him the Bat-glare. "Let me go patrol tonight." Jason said smiling. "Trust me I can handle them and myself."
Bruce looked over Jason and sighed. "Fine. You will take quadrants 56-60. You can take Damien with you. But Cassie is coming with me and Tim tonight."
Jason looked down at Damien and smiled. "Works for me. Maybe I can find a gift for Cassie while out on the town." Jason stood up and stretched his arms over his head then looked down at Damien. "Come on Demon Spawn. Lets go kick some ass."
