Chapter 1 - New Bat Rises
AN: Welcome to this What If/AU DC story that had always been on my mind and how to do things when reading Battle for the Cowl. What if Jason became the next Batman? Expect a number of changes and so on to come into this story. Now I hope you enjoy it.
Things are different, in many things. The world has changed ever since the final war with an Evil New God known as Darkseid. It was a war that came onto earth very fast, in his mad quest to gain the Anti-Life that he desired to dominate all life itself. Many lives were lost on different sides and civilians lost was very high as well. Some didn't agree with Darkseid's mad quest to rebel to live another day or die during the war. It was unclear during the whole event. But one thing many could remember was the Man of Steel - Superman carrying the very body of one person who was behind shooting & nearly killing the Evil God. And that man was the Dark Knight himself, Batman.
Batman's death shocked the world and was the last hero to die at the end of the war. Nothing was ever the same and the Darkseid's War was proof of that. A lot of lives were lost and many changed after that war. Either bad or worse or rare times as a better person. It was hard to say for now and we will have to see down the line.
The Dark Knight was given a museum and statue in his honor in Gotham, the very city he vowed to protect from crime & corruption down to the whole world it seems. The best out of everyone and understand the evil but also saw the good in a number of people and understand the hardships that many try to hide or mask it. While he was the fear, he was also the hope to people in their darkest hour.
Those that know Batman or rather Bruce Wayne were also going through different hard times as well. Some have each other and others have their own way of dealing with things which we will see down the road.
On the streets in Crime Alley, we see a young man with short black hair with white streaks at the top that forms a spike it seems, and grey-blue-colored eyes that sparked fighting & rebellion at times. He wore a brown biker jacket, black shirt, and blue jeans with shoes. He also carried a black bag on his shoulders.
This was Jason Todd, one of the former Robins - Second after his death and later was brought back to life by certain pits to later become the outlaw/anti-hero known as Red Hood.
Jason never thought he would be coming back to Gotham like this and sighed as he kept walking. He never thought he returns back to the city after his fight with Bruce during the Black Mask mess and so on. He never got the chance to kill the clown that killed him, the Joker during that encounter and ended up leaving the city to recover. Surprisingly, Bruce didn't come after his ward at first and talk to a friend about what happend it seems.
Jason discovered later on that Bruce talked with Clark about what happend and so on. He felt a bit confused and how the man that trained/helped him through a good part of life still wanted to help him, despite everything he has done. He was confused and unsure but also angry towards him for not avenging him and to that damn clown who killed torture to later kill him.
The rebellious young man was clearly not right and conflict was one of the sides of using the Lazarus Pits. Blood lust and animalist feeling to fight for survival build up. He had to mediate and battle through that before his war against Bruce & afterward. He never did during the events and that was a mistake, losing control over those intentions. He had to fight throughout and changed some of his ways but stay out of Gotham, despite how many times the old man tried but seems like a common theme in the family. Stubbornness and so on.
After the fallout in Gotham and the pits affecting him a bit more, Jason had to take similar training as Bruce did, master control over his anger and master of his inner pain & wrath. He was able to get training from Richard Dragon, Lady Shiva, and Ben Tunner - Brozen Tiger on that, surprising enough, those three have a history with Bruce & saw a bit of him in the young man. The three had that desire to help the teen out. Now he is unfazed when he struck to draw blood and master his inner pain & wrath which would be handy down the line.
Now Jason was back home and something he had to do now. Yeah, he like everyone else had heard about and seen on the news of Batman's death, being a big shocking and awake call it seems. There were times he hated Bruce but still love and care about the man who was a true father figure in his life. He had regret on not telling the old man that, which hurt, a lot and become of his reasons for coming back now. Better late than never they say.
Jason came back after the news of Bruce's death came to him and got a coded message from the said man himself. It was called Code Black, designed to send out to those members of the Bat Family of Bruce/Batman's death to keep Gotham and her people safe and be there for them like they always try for him. He did get a second message, a hidden and secret one that was meant for him.
That message was Bruce on how much he loves Jason, how he failed to save him twice, and so on. Despite his actions, it didn't stop him from wanting to help or care about him, his son that was brought back to life. He told his second ward to not give up on Gotham, her people, or anyone. And not let the idea of the bat die with just him.
Jason had cried after those messages from Bruce, being part of his secret will and such but brought comfort to hear the old man say those words to him. He smiled a bit before cleaning his eyes, not letting some tears from off and keeping his tough guy persona up for the time being. He had some family to visit back in Wayne Manor, and it was time to come home officially.
Time Skip
Wayne Manor
Took a while and finding a good bike but we can see Jason parking the bike and walking to the main doors of the manor that was his home for a good while until, well you know. He didn't know what to say now but would think of something for whoever answered the door as he rings it.
At first, nothing happed but the door suddenly burst open and Jason found himself tackled by an unknown black bur figure. Using his training, he was able to grab the waist of the one who was tackling him and flipped them off to land on the ground to turn who had just attacked, becoming a big surprise to see who it was.
The attacker was a young girl close to her mid or late teens, having a figure with firm and agility build with good medium size breasts to hips to capture some attention or be jealous of. She had short black hair that goes past her chin and grey color eyes while some Asian features that made her a bit more beautiful & stunning.
Her attire was this tight pure black suit that was black as night and hugged her forms like a second pair of skin. She had black gloves, boots, this outlined yellow symbol on the chest that took the form of a bat, a long black cape that reached the ankles, black/grey belt that carries the equipment, and lastly a pure black mask with pointed ears on top & only white eye lens.
Jason know who this was, one of the last to be found, and adopted Bruce to later become Batgirl or Black Bat. This was Cassandra Cain, like Jason & others being adopted by Bruce and one of the few that stay here in Gotham.
"Cassandra?" Jason questioned, blinking as it's been a while since he saw her, and on better terms now.
Cassandra stopped in her tracks from attacking and tilted her head to the side of seeing this intruder was familiar. She then stopped to see who was in front of her, realizing now.
"Jason, you back," Cassandra said, a bit of broken English but getting a bit better, and walked over to the black-haired young man to touch his white streaks, something he won't allow someone to do but for her, he will.
"Yeah, I am back, Cassandra. Can you stop that?" Jason asked, having the black-haired girl stop for a second but going back at it and causing him to sigh before she stopped anyway.
"I am surprised to see you back...," Cassandra said, clearly some sadness and happiness heard in her voice.
"Same here," Jason agreed, having a feeling he won't see anyone at the manor or in Gotham but was glad he was wrong on that one.
"Alfred would be happy to see you too," Cassandra informed.
"Wait? Alfred is here?" Jason asked in surprise at that, getting a nod from the black-haired young woman and decied to lead him inside the manor.
Something told Jason that he was home again but was off and different now. A lot of things are different and changes are coming. Good, bad, or worse? We will have to see very soon.
Small Time Skip
Inside Wayne Manor, we see Jason hugging a kind and elder man who was dressed as a bulter, being the same man that help raise and taught Bruce after he lost his parents to also be there for wards that his young master/adopted son adopted. This was Alfred Pennyworth, head butler, and a lot of things to know happy to see one of Bruce's adopted sons after so long.
"It's good to see you again, Master Jason," Alfred greeted as the pair parted ways from their hug.
"You too, Alfred. It's good to be back home," Jason said with a smile and was glad to be home.
Cassandra was not so far behind and have her mask down for the time being, sharing a small smile on her face and happy for that moment.
"Now where are Dick and Tim, I haven't seen them," Jason said, breaking that silence and wondering where those two are located since he figure they would be here if he saw Cassandra & Alfred.
"They are not here," Cassandra replied.
"Huh?" Jason was surprised to hear that.
"I think I could explain that, Master Jason. Both Master Dick and Tim are no longer here in Gotham due...well they too are dealing with Master Bruce's death, like we all are. Master Dick wanted to leave Master Bruce's shadow, trying to exit that massive shadow, and felt unworthy to be here," Alfred explained, sounding a bit sad but also understanding Dick well on wanting to be his own person and not in the Bat's shadow.
Jason didn't say anything, like a wise-ass comment or such. Not now and let the man who was very much like a grandfather figure to everyone that's left now keep speaking.
"Master Tim, he has taken a very mental and emotionally wound. He decied to leave and focus on his training, heading to Europe I believe," Alfred finished.
"Hmm, I see," Jason frowned, not going to beleive the kid who was a very great detective, even more than Bruce and that's saying a lot.
The young man then walk over the open grandfather clock and saw the stairs leading downstairs to the Batcave. He hummed thought and head down.
"Master Jason?" Alfred asked in concern.
"It's okay, Alfred. I just need a moment, it's been a long time since I was down there," Jason admitted.
"It hardly changes," Cassandra commented.
"Of course, sir. Do you wish for some drinks at least?" Alfred asked.
"Sure, Alfred," Jason nodded his head before walking down to the next part of the very home he grow to love and still remember a lot of things down here.
Cassandra nodded her head and deiced to change up into more civilian attire to later check up on Jason. She can tell he was hurting like everyone else and was very good at reading people. And everyone deals with pain in different ways. She can only hope that the black-haired young man can handle his a bit better than Dick and Tim.
Back to Jason, we see him at the Batcave, seeing some changes but overall was the same and nothing out of place, just more trophies from case files completed. He saw the complet layout and number of platforms meant for different uses.
Jason walked down and saw the main computer was still operating like always. He saw a bat symbol on the ground and on the main chair to see the said computer online. It collects information that happens both in and outside the law down to criminal activities. And more information now it seems, not just in the city but outside of it as well and other heroes that Bruce knows. Classic, keep an eye on your freinds and enemies at the same time.
Jason walked past the computer, putting his bag down on the side, and made his way towards the suits where they were displayed in glass cases. He had very mixed feelings and frowned when seeing his own former Robin suit still there, all clean and repaired it seems, even all these years. He was glad he changed his Robin suit to a more red/modern take on it than what Dick had in the stupid boy's shorts or underwear. Did Bruce keep it there to remember his failure or success? Maybe both and enough said.
The black-haired young man soon saw Bruce's own Batsuit, well one of them more current than the ones he created over the years. This one was armored and seemed heavy but was the illusion for the criminals to think that. In reality, the suit made the user lighter, faster, and more agile. The armor pads protect a number of bullets and knives before getting past that but the black bat symbol was the strongest part of the said suit and can withstand a straight gunshot.
Jason then saw this empty one, nothing in it. He looked at it for a second before noticing a bat fly towards him to his surprise and land on his shoulder. He saw it was a black bat, one of the common ones here in the cave, and titled its head at him, curiously before flying away to appear behind the glass gas which caused the young man to jump in surprise at what he saw next.
The bat's reflection showed Jason had this bat-like shape on his face, a mask on his face really and his eyes widen in surprise before realization on what he had to do. He can remember Bruce's words, spinning in his head, and how now Gotham needed a knight. Now more than ever.
"I know what to do now," Jason thought with a look of focus and begin to grab his bag to get a few things out while going to the unused Bat suit nearby.
Jason brought out a number of his equipment onto the workshop table and started working on it, along with seeing what this unused suit could be useful. The suit was mainly used for testing and combat data it seems but has good protection and the type of withstanding it. Something the young man can respect as he started to get work.
He knows what he must do now.
Time Skip
After some time down, we see Alfred and Cassandra in the cave, waiting outside of the workshop with worried looks. Jason had been down here for a bit and was concerned about him. That concern changed to something else when the said young man step out of the workshop and saw what he was wearing now, causing deep shivers down their spines, and took a step back as his new suit appearance was more menacing than the past ones they have seen.
"The night was young and it still needs its knight not one of justice but of vengeance," Jason said, sounding a bit dark, vengeful, and menacing through his black mask guard.
Justice failed Batman - Bruce, now vengeance shall take its place and make those responsible that cross the line pay.