One Latte and a Chocolate Chip Muffin

by Commander Zucchini

What happens when Red X happens upon a certain tea-loving Titan on her day off? Nothing good, certainly. Herbal Tea and a Fruit Cup - from Red X's perspective. XRae. Now up: "Really?" "Did he really think that I'm known as the number one thief for nothing? Kid should know better."

14. Chapter 14

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Loyal

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Jason Todd hasn't had an easy life.

His dad had left them when he was just a kid. Barely remembered him. The clearest memory he has was being beaten after dinner. Can't remember what for. Probably something stupid.

His mom would hit him. Scream at him. Curse. Lock him out of the apartment. He would end up having take the clothes to the laundromat, buy groceries, pay the bills.

She overdosed for the last time when he was nine.

He remembers the EMT, trying to put a comforting hand on the young Todd's shoulder as they stood in the alley.

But he didn't need the comfort.

He was relieved.

Then came the orphanage. Foster homes. He couldn't put up with it, though. They didn't care about him, they cared about the money he brought them.

So he left. Went across town. Stole just enough to get by. It was easy enough. A wallet here and there. A bag or purse of a careless passerby. Car antennae, radios, change left in the ash tray.

Then he got caught trying to steal Batman's tires.

In the end, he thought he had found paradise. A man he could call Dad. A brother that he simultaneously adored and despised. A family. Then training. Grueling, exhausting training. Little by little, working his way up. Getting his own costume. A purpose for living.

Then came the trap. The lies, deceit. His biological mother turning him in, after he had worked so hard to find her.

The Joker.

And when the ashes finally settled, Jason Todd had been laid in his grave. Cold.

And then he woke up. From a coma. In a hospital. With no memory, no identity, and back to square one. On the street.

Then Talia and Ra's found him. They helped him. Restored him. All of it.

Plus some.

No, Jason Todd didn't have an easy life.

But he got a second chance.

And he sure ain't gonna waste it.

So when his pesky older brother steps in and locks up his would-be girlfriend, Jason knows things are about to get messy.

He's gonna fight.

He'll show them what they should have showed him.

He'll show them loyalty.

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A/N: Sorry for the lack of update. Been really busy, struggling with writer's block. Anyway, I'm trying to stay mostly true to Jason's background here. Except I didn't want him to be crazy. So. Mostly true.