I recently read "Pieces of Me (Pieces of You)" by BiBatBoy and chibi_nightowl, but I wish I could gift this tale to them because I've gifted it to so many inspiring authors. :( Same with a comment by ComedyRomanceTragedy on why they loathe Batman so much (that comment is found in a thread with KNMI's "Something We Carry With Us"). All these stories are on Archive of Our Own. Finally, there's "the end of the world is nigh (and what about you and i?)" as part of lifetimeoflaughter's series.

Oh, Marcella Bell's novel finally comes in. If anyone wants to read it online or buy it to read, go do it and have fun. :D It's become one of my newest personal favorites.

Title by Betsy Page.

Chapter Four

The Arrangement

"Jaybird!" Roy gasped, huddling closer to him and bursting into tears.

Tim sat down on the foot of the bed with both of his hands stretched beyond his head like the Japanese did when kneeling on the floor for forgiveness. "You're alive!"

Damian lacked eloquence momentarily other than the endearing term in his native language. "Ahki!" He left his mother's side, Talia following right behind him, and they came to a halt behind Roy. That left Cassandra and Stephanie. Both girls held onto each other and moved closer to Tim. All of them made sure to not overwhelm Jason.

"Damn, all of you - you missed me that much?" he asked dryly, dull eyes roaming over each and every one of them. Seeing that loss of light broke Steph's heart. Cassandra's broken words didn't help, either.

"Little brother...destroyed. Penguin ruined you. What happened?" she asked, getting right to the point now that he was awake, and there was a lot he deserved to know. We should let him rest more, but we want to know his side of things. Something B doesn't understand anymore.

The Bruce who came back from the timestream isn't the one we all knew anymore. Jason's death butchered him, and the stream might have sent back a demon for all we know. A monster in his flesh.

"Penguin...he's responsible for what happened to my dad. Not Two-Face, like we thought before," he said after a long moment, congested emotionally. No one spoke, no hitch of breath. It got worse from there with each revelation. "Willis was just a henchman for him, Dent, and others, never amounting to what your old man became, Blondie." Stephanie grew cold, the back of her head on the verge of a cortex explosion. "Guess where this is going."

"Fall guy," Roy supplied acidly.

"A scapegoat," Damian added, narrowing his eyes.

"How did you find this out?" Tim asked, knuckles turning white.

Jason looked up at the ceiling. "He'd written to me the entire time he was in prison. I was given them by Ma Gunn who ran the boys' home I lived in for a short time before Bruce took me in. He told me that he knew what a shit father he was - at least he could acknowledge that, unlike a certain someone -" Agreed! "- and was working to give us and Mom a better life, but as you all guessed, never happened. He was...Cobblepot was responsible for how my whole life turned out!" Jason burst. "It wasn't just Bruce and Joker, but HIM! Maybe if my dad were still here, I never would have met the billionaire baby, became Robin, died before my time, and end up where I am now. That also means other families were destroyed similarly to mine, and though I wanted to kill him, I didn't! Just wanted him out of the picture, rendered impotent, and I did just that. But Bruce had to arrive and beat my ass into the ground; I know the intent to kill when I see it and feel it. He gave it to me a lot worse than the clown gave me.

"Bruce didn't even stop to ask me why I did it. I didn't care about our deal, only that I'd just learned my whole life was a goddamned merry-go-round and didn't know what to do. Would any of you have understood - shit, you would, would you, Steph?"

He looked her square now, coughing, and it became harder and harder that Stephanie acted at once, medical student instincts kicking in. She grabbed the glass of water that was next to him on the table. He would need a lot more than just that, but for now, it worked, and she wiped his chin with the rag given to her by Talia; how the hell and where did it come from?

As she lowered the cloth, she found herself immediately locked and trapped by his green eyes. Dark as emeralds with a lighter core hit with light; that was before the emptiness akin to a lantern going out she was seeing now.

"Makes you wonder how many other kids' lives were ruined by that monster," she said quietly, already knowing it was countless. Jason did what he had to. He had saved his community from one less threat - and them, too. His family. He didn't need to say it; it went without saying.

But Bruce believed him to be an unrepentant criminal who he gave chance after chance to, decided he was worth nothing compared to all the rogues he refused to admit were his "equals".

"I dug up Willis' coffin, but no one was inside," Jason said numbly. "Doesn't mean shit."

Now Tim stopped him before he made himself worse than he was. Both Cobblepot and Batman were to blame for this. "Jay, he's dead. Penguin died during surgery. One of his old goons infiltrated the operation and 'accidentally' killed him." He smirked. "Everyone but Bruce is celebrating. No one's gonna miss him except those who won't be getting their pockets filled in exchange for dirty work."

Damian sneered. "What did he do, Todd? Mock? Dismiss your heritage as if it were just another day of work for him?"

"Yeah, son of a bitch called himself prolific. Creative, productive, and prosperous from the suffering of his 'nobodies' and their loved ones! I'm happy he's dead," he said to Tim with a smile he managed for barely a second before flinching. "I never meant to do it myself even though I wanted to. Someone else finished the job; guess I gave him the opportunity." That light returned by a speck.

"Ahki, what's done is done. You've saved us all, you've indirectly eliminated one less major threat, and there's more to do," Damian said vehemently. "We are all here now and will help you. Mother?" He looked up at her questioningly, and she smiled, placing a hand again on his shoulder.

"You are not going back with him if I have anything to say about it. We will make sure of it."

~o~

Until there was the further word, and after all the shit they'd endured, she needed a break - all of them did.

But Bruce wasn't going to rest just because he was in immense danger of being booted permanently. Since they all knew him and his danger levels, he would buy his time and reemerge when he saw fit.

With all of us against him, he's gonna further burn.

Superman himself flew over personally, the clearance from the League's lady allowing the ninjas to welcome him without shooting him down on sight. He could have saved the trouble through a video chat or phone call via a speaker but felt it necessary to share this in person with the Batkids he considered his niece and nephews. And when he saw Jason's state, there were no words he could utter; his knees buckled, but he didn't collapse to the floor.

"God..."

His eyes turned red immediately as soon as he composed himself, but it wasn't to unleash the laser beams he targeted toward enemies. The tint around the edges was enough to show the depths of his rage. "I don't know him anymore, but then again, how much did any of us?" Clark went on, looking at all of them, anguished. "He's done this to all of you, but girls...?" He hesitated since there was no proof of those drives that resulted in the final vote of Batman's recent expulsion. Bruce Wayne was still active in Gotham, though things slowly declined for him.

"No," Cass said quickly, shaking her head. "No striking...outside training. No bruises. No hurtful words." Now that they knew the beast within, it was possible Bruce was only kind to her out of the rest of them because he knew she'd rip his body to shreds at the slightest mean word.

Steph used to think Bruce was just challenging her, testing her to her limits, when he told her to go home after she got his attention on Cluemaster's doings when he himself never gave a damn before, but now she knew better. Verbal abuse, because hurting kids, no matter how young or old they were, came in every form. Jason...Dick...Tim, after Selina left him at the altar...

"He told me I'd never amount to any of you," Steph said at last. "And a few times, he'd grabbed my arms and leave bruises. I don't have any at the moment."

Gee, nothing to laugh about, but the darkness in their faces became stronger. And the way Talia looked her way bordered on -

Clark Kent interrupted Stephanie's train of thought.

"Lois and I will get you out, Damian. Tim, Cass, you're with us. The rest of you...take care of Jason."

~o~

Sooner or later, despite the promises of safety, the Bat Bastard would reach out after dead ends. He did not have their location, thank God, but being on Oracle's hit list meant he was allowed only ONE moment of communication with her, and she braved it alone. She would have loved Cass here as moral support, but it was time she stood up alone while everyone else covered the rest.

"Where is he, Spoiler?"

"Safe and away from you," she answered smugly, leaning back in her desk chair, smirking at the face on her laptop - and in full costume. This line would never be traced because everything rerouted every minute.

Along with a new surprise and the secret he don't know about.

He growled, baring his teeth. "He's dangerous and needs to face the consequences. You're aiding and abetting -" Oh, no, Steph wasn't going to give him his opening.

Her palm held up to the screen in the "talk to the hand gesture". "Save it, you big baby. That's what you've always been: a child in a man's body. You want him to change? That's impossible, because the way I see it, ultimatums are one-sided and destroy health in the long run. I should know that. You're a hypocrite and always have been. You black sheep him because he KILLS? Well, I've never done such a thing, but I know it's necessary, and everyone else knows that. Nearly everyone you know has killed someone because there were no other options; Wonder Woman is one that obviously springs to mind because that's what her culture consists of. You wanna say she doesn't do it to save people? Newsflash: Hood does it, too. He's never taken innocent lives, just those who deserve it, and there's more than enough evidence out there for the world to see.

"You ever ask him why he shot Penguin? And with a blank, if he wanted to kill him? I won't waste my breath on your boys or Black Bat, since they got blood on their hands one way or another, but you? You've dropped people from great heights; they are either disabled for life or die later from their injuries. Black and white, my ass. We never lived in that kind of world, but you just want it that way. Babies and young children think that until they grow up and experience. You're no better than anyone."

If she didn't know any better, Steph would say that his face beneath that cowl was turning red. "If you're finished acting like another child, then I am going to find the trace and take both you and Hood in together," he snarled, and that was guaranteed to spark more fire against him.

Steph flipped him off once. "Says the one who sends all his foes to Arkham instead of conjuring up ways to HELP them, and no longer showing compassion that some of them suffered abuse or forced experimentation. You were never there for any of them, or any of the people of Crime Alley and the Narrows, believing that all because someone has a gun even for self-defense, they're automatically a monster." Like the one who killed your parents. "And allies? You're so paranoid you put up bans against them from helping Gotham. You hold domination like a kingdom, which it's not. Anti-heroes like Red Hood, the true champion of the forgotten minority, which I also come from?" She narrowed her eyes back when he did.

"A cell in Arkham."

If only she could call him out on the fact his massive wealth left down by family generations was used solely for himself, throwing money at causes without truly getting to the depths of the issues. "The cherry atop the icing? Not only have you protected Joker from being executed by vengeful civilians he left maimed in and out -" And chose him over your own son. "- but you were there when he fell into that vat of chemicals. Now...what have you got to say, Big Man?"

He snorted. "Effective immediately, if I ever see either of you in Gotham again, I will deal with you accordingly. I'll do everything I can to continue protecting this city. This is my territory, and the two of you are responsible for everything now."

~o~

Bruce had another thing coming when he exiled them both, but no matter his family name plastered anywhere he wanted, he wasn't Gotham born and bred. She didn't need to tell him to his face that it would be sooner than he thought, because things worked best when you lowered someone's guard.

Her mother was still in Gotham, alone. But Stephanie planned to find a way to remain in contact one way or another, right?

Jason wasn't a surprise, but both of them?! She wanted to take her anger, frustration and tears out on something now.

"Son of - son of a -"

She could never get it out of her, using the gym reserved for the al Ghul family members and private training sessions for special members or new students. She gave it all she had on that punching bag, bandaged fists and all. She needed the release that a scented bath couldn't give her. She felt, all her life, that she had something to prove. To her father, first. Then Bruce, and then Tim, Barbara, and Cass...and it ended up being herself.

Tim at one time told her it came down to a choice, so she made them.

"You 'love' only when it suits you when the people who 'work' for you are useful, but when that usefulness runs out, you throw them out like broken toys you no longer play with. Both RH and I have lost our usefulness, but that's okay. We were fine before you, and we will be fine from now on."

That last part before she cut him off, getting what was needed, was what she said to him before her threads snapped.

A loud crash caused her to snap out of her rage-induced haze. There was a sight she never expected to see: the punching bag on the other side of the room. At some point, she'd thrown a punch or a kick so hard the hook or thread snapped, and there it was. "Wow, guess I didn't know my own strength," Steph jokingly said aloud, rubbing her hands together before working to remove the bandages, wincing a little at the pressure on the bruises starting to form on her knuckles.

"Brilliant use of the equipment. Jason has done so a few times."

She whirled around and saw none other than - "Talia! How long were you watching?"

"Just a mere few moments," Damian's mother answered with a brief shrug. "You've been down here for a while, so I thought I'd investigate after Wayne banned you and my son from your rightful home." She shook her head. "All that accursed cesspool does is take and take, giving nothing in return like a true parasite. But who am I to talk?"

"No harm done. Maybe we both should ask, who is he to talk?"

Talia sat down on the bench, smoothing out the skirt of her ivory, green flora, and motif embroidered tunic dress, which was in contrast to Steph's sweat-soaked ebony workout tank and leggings. "Which brings me to what I have intended to speak to you about, now that we are alone. I have chosen to wait until Jason has recovered what mobility he needs, but I need to make sure you are on board. Call it a temporary arrangement as long as it gets the job done." She gestured for the younger girl to come sit beside her. Steph took a few breaths, rolled her shoulders, and pranced over like a pixie to be beside one of the deadliest female assassins on the planet.

"Okay, what's up? I'm all ears."

"A four-year marriage contract."

~o~

M-m-marriage contract?!

Stephanie felt as if her chest had taken a great strike, like a red target mark. Because that was the last thing she ever would have expected.

"Did - did I misplace my medieval calendar?" she managed after a long time. "I thought we were past...that." And impersonal, exactly like the woman said it was: a contract. A slight smile formed on Talia's face.

"I realize that but don't consider yourself demeaned to submissive status or what a wife should generally be in misconception. It's only a business arrangement of sorts, which I'm sure you and Jason could handle together." And didn't that make her recall what she used to read as a kid? Hear it from royalty and nobility in history? Marriage was an arrangement where two people woke up every day and worked together to make things work, make a good life. For those people, it wasn't about love, but if it was, it was fleeting at best. At one time, Crystal loved Arthur before shit went to hell.

"It's hard enough that with or without love, it falls apart just as easily."

What exactly would come out of this? When she asked, Talia explained as promised. "Batman explicitly said you both are unwelcome, but he is no king. He's not Gotham; you, Jason, and the people who live in its streets are. Until Jason recovers, the citizens and your colleagues will have to make do until both of you reemerge. And when that happens, it will be glorious." For a second, fine white teeth were revealed before the dark wine lips closed over them. "I'm well aware you are working towards a medical degree. No one is making you give that up. Consider this arrangement to last until you finish your studies during your mission. You're allowed lives, after all, and Damian no longer requires school, but it doesn't mean he can't pursue his dreams; that's a discussion for another time, but you understand where this is going." Stephanie nodded, happy that she didn't have to sacrifice hard work like Asian wives were known to do. "Or perhaps you want some time to think this over while we care for Jason?"

Hell, yeah. Appealing as all this sounded, she didn't want to make the choice right away. Plus, there was a certain someone who needed to give his opinion.

Jason had just awoken, so they had to give him time to heal and protect him from Batasshole.

~o~

Later, just before she retired that night, she spent some time with Jason.

A few times she'd seen him without the red helmet, but never did she stop to pay attention to every single detail because there was always a goddamned mission to focus on.

Jason Todd was, without a doubt, the most compelling man she'd ever met - and maybe the most ruggedly handsome one ever. It wasn't every day a girl crossed one like him. The white tuft of hair that was a product of death, resurrection, and ungodly trauma no other person should ever endure, set within his bad boy waves of ebony, those twin fringes over his brows...the sharp jawline...the boyish dimples in his cheeks when he smiled or smirked...

And those eyes of his had at one time been a glorious shade of emerald, holding you captive.

He was currently all bandaged up, and from what Steph heard, he had trouble heading to the bathroom without someone helping him. Having been in the hospital to aid the disabled and elderly, she understood the feeling and intended to help with that. It was one of the biggest humiliations for any human being. Still, it didn't hinder looking over him while he slept, with an opened book in front of her, because she was overcome with the protective urge even though he had call buttons on hand if he needed anything.

Tall and broad body impeccably outlined by the bandages and flickering candlelight...yeah, she did admit to using the word impeccable.

She only knew him as a cautionary tale, but now she, Cass, and the boys knew the true extent - he didn't run off to face Joker alone; he ran away because Bruce threatened to take Robin from him, then crossing paths for a mission in Bosnia coincidentally, and Jason intended to listen to him when he was told to stay put, which means the clown must have snuck up on him unawares - and indirectly worked with him when it was called for. Otherwise...

Now she had yet to hear whether or not he wanted to go through with a temporary marriage, like in those old novels. He was technically still a stranger.

Stephanie wasn't sure whether or not SHE wanted it. Marriage wasn't something on the bucket list just yet, not after two failed young loves and a teenage pregnancy in which she was forced to give her newborn daughter away.

If Jason had still been in Bruce's clutches, safe to say she'd have called that hypocrite a tyrannical in-law, which he was, either way. He lost that right and privilege when he chose to beat his own son to near death.

She could see many things working out with Jason if they both consented to this agreement, their first marriage and with each other: they could have common ground beyond their familial histories. They each had their own lives, and could work together; there might be nothing remotely romantic about any of that, so it made her question sex, which was beyond awkward. She hadn't been a virgin for a long time, so she had no issue doing it again, but Jason? He had more issues than her to work through first, requiring intensive therapy he needed to accept. Bruce had every chance there was to truly help him there instead of Arkham like once before.

Being strangers made things easier, in a way.

While she was with the al Ghul family, they would offer her a chance to intern while living in lavish surroundings, which was too good to be true. They would allow her to pursue her career of choice, something Ra's al Ghul would have frowned upon, maybe. It was something very few people in the world would grant her, and she'd wanted to do things her way, but then again, she could use help if she asked for it.

Stephanie leaned back, the book in both hands, as she crossed one leg over the other. The robe she wore was black satin, luxuriously soft and flowing over her skin like water, and printed with emerald ferns and fuschia hibiscus flowers over a slip matching the blossoms. All of this was something she'd never have asked for except in the fairytales she'd rarely escaped into during her childhood. There had to be a catch of some kind, along with the plans to off her father and Roman Sionis soon, but Talia would tell her in no time.

Romance isn't on the table, but no one is asking me to sacrifice anything. After a few years, I might have gained a few contacts.

Jason, according to the boys, had been in one relationship with a flight attendant while the original Outlaws were a thing - him, Arsenal, and Dick's ex, Starfire. It ended because the life became too dangerous for her. Steph had two trials of teenagehood, and she was still working with her ex, just like Dick did with Babs.

That was the issue with love. In all their experiences, it was conditional and clipped your wings, drained the battery life out of you. No room for independence or betterment.

Maybe she could just say yes in her mind right now but still give more room for thought.

In the meantime, Stephanie settled on one of the stories of the 1001 Arabian Nights, about a certain street urchin who gained love and riches with the help of a magic lamp.

Well, tell meh whatcha think. :D I feel it's really taking off now and should be interesting.