Chapter 6: Revving up.

Jason sat before Bruce staring each down as Dick stood behind Bruce with his arms crossed. Jason rolled his eyes and leaned back in his chair as Bruce continued to rest his hands against his chin staring over his second pupil.

"You understand why I'm upset I hope." Bruce stated. There was no question in his tone as Jason continued to lean back.

"Not fully no." Jason admitted resting his arms behind his head. "Yes I trained with Ravager and Deathstroke for a little while in my travels. Ok? I had to if I was going to get into Hive."

"Hive is not worth taking down by putting your life in jeopardy like that!" Dick shouted slamming his fists onto the table. "You could have been..."

"Killed?" Jason laughed. "I could have died in Ethiopia too you know." Dick stood up and backed away at that. Bruce never moved. "I could have died when swinging around Gotham in tights. I could have died in the plane on the way into Gotham. We all take fucking risk Dick! Hell Barbra could have fucking died when she was shot!"

"Do not bring my fiance into this!" Dick shouted back.

"Or fucking what?!" Jason shouted back standing up knocking the chair back sending it flying against the far wall. "What the fuck you going to do Dickybird? Kick my ass? I'd fucking love to see you try it! Come on Night-Bitch! Bring that shit on!"

"Enough." Bruce stood causing Dick to stand back and breath heavily as Jason stared him down. "Jason, I only have one question."

Jason took a deep breath and crossed his arms and turned slightly away from his mentor. "What's that?"

"Have you killed anyone?" Bruce stared straight at Jason. Jason's eyes went foggy for a moment as he turned his away even further from Bruce and Dick. "Jason," Bruce walked towards Jason and stood beside him, "Have you..."

"I fucking heard you." Jason interrupted. "Yes. Alright?" Jason never looked at Bruce as he spoke. "I had to prove myself to Deathstroke and I was put into life or death situations where there was NO other way out. And believe me," Jason's eyes went even foggier, "I checked every way out I could."

"You could have come back here..." Dick started but stopped as Jason shot him a cold look.

"To what?" Jason laughed. "To fucking what? A mantle that was taken by Tim? A room that reminded me everyday of how I failed Bruce as Robin? To a golden boy predecessor who's shadow was so big nothing I did was good enough? Or to Barbra? Who dumped me and left me so..." Jason was going to state but stopped as Dick's eyes widened at his fiance's name. "Never mind. Forget it alright. There was nothing for me here then. Only reason I'm back now was to see friendly faces. I'll be gone by tomorrow night."

"Jason," Bruce grabbed Jason's arm and squeezed it tight. His blue eyes were wide and Jason could see so many words that Bruce was fighting with. He'd never seen Bruce at a lost of words before. Jason knew that Bruce knew he was right. Gotham had nothing left to offer the young hero. "Take the Crimson suit. Let me know where you end up alright? I've been thinking about getting agents all over the world. I'm going to call it Batman Inc. Where ever you settle down, might need its own hero."

Jason grabbed Bruce's arm in return and shook it. "Thank you Bruce." Jason turned and walked from the BatCave's interrogation room and headed back to the manor.

Jason waited on the front stoop of Wayne Manor bobbing his foot to unheard music. He had three bags sitting next to him and his duffel bag sitting by his feet. Tim and Cassie were watching him from the living room just off the main lobby of Wayne Manor.

"He didnt stay long did he?" Cassie asked sitting back next to Tim.

"Doesnt surprise me." Tim snorted.

"You dont like him much do you?" Cassie teased and flopped down resting her head against Tim's shoulder. "Why is that?"

"He," Tim started and stopped thinking of the words, "Jason was around for about my first three months as Robin. He taught me alot of my fighting style. Every move I know pretty much he taught me. And through all of my training I never laid a single hit on him. I've hit Dick, Damien, hell once I even grazed Bruce. But never hit Jason."

"He's an excellent hand to hand fighter." Cassie looked up at her boyfriend and kissed his cheek. "Maybe one day when he comes back you two will spar again and then you'll get him."

"Maybe." Tim agreed putting his arm around Cassie and smiled at her.

Damien walked down the stair way and upturned his nose at the sight of Tim and Cassie sitting on the couch curled up next to each other. The young Wayne heir opened the Manor's front door and stepped out onto the stoop where Jason was sitting and crossed his arms.

"Yes Demon Spawn?" Jason asked never looking up

"Leaving already?" Damien asked closing the door and stepping down to stare Jason in the face.

"Not meant to be here D-Man." Jason smiled and tussled Damien's hair. "I'm headed to Gorge City."

"That's on the other side of the country." Damien looked away, trying to hide his disappointment.

"Not far from Bruce's California summer home." Jason laughed. "I'm positive he'll make more trips out there now. You're welcome to visit me anytime."

"Why not stay here?" Damien asked his voice steady but his eyes cloudy. "I never got a chance to test myself against you. I wanted... I wanted..."

"Damien," Jason stood causing Damien to stare him over. He had not once called him by his name since meeting. "You know how Bruce found you?" Damien shook his head. "I was working with your grandfather as a member of the League in secret. I went in under a false name and gained trust through the lower ranks. Once I knew you were in Ra's' hidden mountain fortress I sent word to Bruce. A week later I received this." Jason pulled out his wallet that was connected to his belt loop by a thick chain and pulled a small picture out.

Damien looked over the picture and a small smile crept over his face. It was the first picture of him and Bruce. He was standing scowling towards the camera as Bruce held his arm over the boy's shoulder, scowling as well. The conversation about having to have same look on each other's face and how the picture looked better if everyone had the same look had made Damien smile the biggest smile he had ever smiled.

"Believe it or not I wanted to come meet you after receiving that." Jason laughed taking the picture back and replacing it into his wallet. "The Demon Spawn of Batman and Talia Al Ghoul. I had to meet you."

"Why didnt you then?" Damien asked crossing his arms.

"Your grandfather kicked my ass so bad I was hospitalized for four months." Jason laughed. "If I hadnt shot him in the lung he would have killed me. Talia says Ra's owes me his life however cause I dragged him to the lazarus pit before bolting."

"That's how he owes you." Damien smiled. "You know he probably sees letting you live as the debt repaid?"

"Well I'll be glad to fucking disappoint him when I come calling then." Jason smiled big and evily making Damien laugh some himself. "Hey you can LAUGH? Thought demons only snickered."

"Very amusing Todd." Damien sat down next to Jason and looked down the massive driveway. "You shall be missed," Damien looked at Jason out of the corner of his eye, "Slightly."

"Fuck you too Damien." Jason scoffed.

The two wards of Bruce Wayne sat in silence for nearly ten minutes before a loud rumbling of an engine from the garage caught their attention. Jason looked and smiled as the 67 El Camino revved up and pulled to a stop before them. Bruce stepped from the driver's seat and stared over Jason.

"You nearly blew the gaskets you know that?" Bruce complained popping the hood. Jason walked over to Bruce with Damien on his heels.

"What the fuck are you talking about?" Jason looked down and checked the gaskets. "You should treat this baby better! It was sitting in that garage covered by a thin layer of dust before I took her out yesterday."

"You saying you can take care of her better then me?" Bruce laughed. "I rebuilt this car from the ground up remember?"

"Remember?" Jason snorted and turned to Damien. "Dear old daddy seems to forget who did all the god damn body and engine work on this bad boy."

"You two built this car together?" Damien asked looking over the jet black car. He turned his nose up and shivered. "Why this one?"

"Hey!" Jason said defensively. He patted the car and rubbed his hand over the slick black hood. "He didnt mean that baby ignore him." Jason cooed to the car.

"This car is a classic Damien." Bruce laughed. "Jason and I rebuilt her from the ground up and Jason learned to drive in her."

"Which is how I knew where the keys were yesterday." Jason lifted his eyebrows and winked at Damien. "Take better care of her would ya Bruce. Fuck man I hated seeing her like that."

"Then you take her." Bruce tossed keys to Jason and walked back towards the Manor. "I cancelled the cab and new title is in the front seat. Though you wreck her, you owe me thirty grand. Got it?" Bruce stepped into the Manor followed by a laughing Damien as Jason stared at the keys in his hands.

Jason pulled into the truck stop and stepped from the El Camino. He couldnt help but yawn as he ran his hand over the vehicle as he walked towards the store.

"Nice wheels." Stephanie Brown stepped from behind a truck wearing daisy dukes and flannel shirt tied just under her generous bust. "Gift from the bat?"

Jason stopped in his tracks as Stephanie walked towards him. "I've got to talk to Rose about secret identities." Jason crossed his arms and leaned back against the hood of his car. "What are you doing here... Stephanie?"

"Very good Jason." Stephanie clapped her hands and turned to rest against the car next to him. "I'm surprise you remember. Thought Rose might have gotten all of your attention herself."

"She's had my attention for a long time." Jason smirked. "But you have it now. What do you want?"

Steph smiled and giggled. "Spoilers," Steph winked at him, "If I told you that. I'm just curious about why you're leaving Gotham."

"Dont care for the smog." Jason smarted off.

"Oh arent you quick." Stephanie laughed. "Wish the Robin after you was as chatty. He's kinda cute."

"Kinda got someone also." Jason watched Stephanie's face and smiled as disappointment flashed over it. "You didnt know about him and BlackBat then?" Jason laughed. "Oops. SPOIL it for you did I?"

"Shut it." Stephanie stepped from the car and stood before Jason, cocking her hip and placing her hands on her hips. "Rose wants to meet."

"Tell her I'm busy." Jason stood off the car and walked towards the store once more.

"She wants to meet now Jason." Stephanie walked after him. "Its important."

"It always is with Rose." Jason laughed and started walking backwards to face Stephanie. "I'm not staying in Gotham any longer then I need too, she can meet me in my new home in three days if its so fucking important."

"We'll both be dead in three days!" Stephanie shouted causing Jason to stop and stare at her. Stephanie recomposed her self and held her arms tight around her. "Rose left Deathstroke's side and gave up being his heir. She's tired of killing. My father is being released in a week and I'm..." Stephanie's voice cracked.

"You've given up the life havent you?" Jason asked carefully walking back towards her. "Your father doesnt know and will kill you if he finds out."

Stephanie looked up at Jason from behind her blonde curls. "Please Jason, one meeting with Rose."

"Where?"

"That's why I'm here." Stephanie pointed to the dinner across the street. "We'll be there for rest of the night. If you are the hero I've heard you are," Stephanie looked away, "Just please meet us."

Rose was sitting in the closes booth by the door as Jason and Stephanie walked inside. Jason sat next to Rose as Stephanie sat across from them.

"I'm here." Jason said holding his hands out questioning. "Mind telling me why the fuck I'm here now?" Jason laughed. "Her I get," Motioning towards Stephanie, "A thief who's father is pissed at her. I get. She could use the help. But you," Staring at Rose, "You're a trained killer. You can handle your father well enough to where he couldnt kill you. Mind explaining Rose."

Rose pushed her white hair from her face to reveal the white eye patch over her left eye. "I'm not hiding from my father." Rose laughed. "Far from it actually. She is." Rose twirled her spoon around her coffee. "Cluemaster hired Deathstroke to kill Stephanie, she hired me to protect her."

"And I come into place where?" Jason asked confused.

"I need," Rose bit her lip and rolled her eyes, "Help." She admitted coldly.

"I'm sorry," Jason smiled and crossed his arms, "I dont think..."

"Say it and I'm chopping something off." Rose snarled.

"Then you'd be sad when you came calling later." Jason smirked making Rose's snarl turn into a smile. "Why you need help Rose?"

"Deathstroke's not only assassin on my tail." Stephanie admitted. "He's hired Talia Al Ghoul also. Only she's staying out of Gotham due to her and Batman's relationship. Apparently their is a truce right now."

"Thanks to him." Rose said motioning to Jason who nodded his head. "He's the one who found the new little bad ass Robin."

"I can call Talia." Jason pulled his phone out and started to go over the contacts. "But if that's all you wanted then you would have asked me yourself just to do that." Jason continued to go over the contacts as Stephanie looked at Rose with wide eyes.

"I told you he wasnt stupid," Rose said defensively, "You didnt want to believe me."

"I'm guessing you wanna hitch a ride?" Jason sighed.

"We both are." Rose said smiling. "Deathstroke wont make war with one of Bat's kids. He knows the damage that causes and its bad for business."

"Two birds one stone." Jason snorted and dialed a number. "You both owe me so fucking big for this shit."

"Does that mean he's in?" Stephanie asked leaning towards Rose.

"It means we owe him." Rose said back.

"Talia." Jason spoke into the phone. "She's under my protection... I dont give a flying fuck how much the damn contract is. She's under my protection from now on. Oh and I'll be arriving in Gorge City in about four days... That's right... No its my city now... I dont care what you tell your old man. That's not my problem... Talia trust me." Jason looked over Stephanie and Rose. "Piss me off and Bats will be the least of your problems from now on." Jason waited for a minute before he smiled. "Good doing business with you Talia. We should do lun..." Jason pulled the phone from his ear. "Bitch hung up on me."

Stephanie's smile grew larger. "You just threatened the most dangerous woman on the planet. And you're not dead. Who are you?"

Jason smiled. "I'm Jason fucking Todd."

A.N.: Loving the feed back and hope it keeps up. Comment your reactions and like I've been saying would love some fan-art just pm on twitter RedRellik