AN: I don't own DC/Young Justice, The Crow franchise, or any other thing I crossover
Chapter One: "Resurrection"
It was once said that when someone dies, a crow carries their soul to the afterlife. But sometimes, something so bad happens, the soul is unable to rest. And sometimes, the crow will bring them back to set the wrong things right.
Gotham City, 2015
In a cemetery of Gotham, not far from Wayne Manor. It rains like it always does, it feels like. A crow lands on a gravestone, secluded from all others except one.
The stone read the name Jason Todd.
Below the earth in which the coffin was buried laid the body of Jason Todd. Suddenly, his body jolts to life as he screams in anguish. He panics and pushes on the lid. It easily rises up as it breaks and pushes back the dirt overhead.
The now living Jason crawls out of this dirt pit onto the wet ground before the only other grave around him. He looks up to see the name of his mother chiseled on it, Catherine Todd.
He suddenly got flashes of what happened to them. How he was beaten with a crowbar by the Joker while a gang of bastards tortured and violated his mother. After they were done with them, the mother and son were left in the warehouse with a bomb. Jason could only crawl over to his mother and cover her with his body as the bomb went off and he died.
"AAAGH!", he screams out in anguish as the visions assault him, his cries downed out by the rain and thunder.
He then hears the caws of the crow, drawing his attention. He stumbles over to if for it to fly to another point not far from here, leading to the cemetery exit. Jason felt as though he had to follow it, soon walking with it unimpeded.
As Jason followed the black bird, he recognized plenty of the Gotham City sights around them. They headed south from Bristol in North Gotham across Robbins Bridge into the Bowery in New Gotham
Eventually, the duo reached a familiar alley. Crime Alley. The place where the parents of Bruce Wayne were murder and the neighborhood filled with the most crime. The place he lived in his childhood with his mother.
His father had also lived with them, but was murdered in prison not long before his mother had OD'd
He climbs over the fenced off area and saw the makeshift sign hanging on the wall calling this crime alley, made by some citizen. He touches and receives a vision of when he was stealing the tires off the Batmobile before the goddamn Batman caught him in the act.
This caused him to remember being taken in as Robin and all the good he done... and all the evil he's come across.
The likes of Bane, with his cunning mind and brute strength. The likes of the narcissistic Riddler, always trying to prove how much smarter than everyone he is. The likes of the Penguin, who cared for no one but his business, causing others misery. The likes of the Joker... a demon who thinks others in pain is just a big joke.
Jason punched the Crime Alley sign, shattering it to pieces.
He hears the crow caw again and he follows it too the main street in front of the Monarch Theater. He crosses the street to see a pawn shop with a TV on in the window. It was showing the news of recent events along with the date in the corner showing that he has been dead for about a year.
"... and in other news, The Joker attempted to blow up a hospital today before Batman and Robin stepped in and took down the mad clown before the bombs could go off. There were no fatalities but several were injured in the conflict...", the reporter prattled on as Jason began to zone out.
He wasn't avenged. The Joker was still alive and hurting people, killing people, like him. And he was replaced with a new Robin. After what happened to him? If he had left and became his own hero like Dick, it would have been alright to Jason. But after he was killed in action? How can he have another Robin after that? Or any protege for the matter?
Jason was angry and hurt at what has happened... what is happening. He had to do something.
"... right now, Batman and Robin are personally escorting Joker to Arkham Asylum. Where he will hopefully stay for the foreseeable future", the reporter ends about the recent capture of the Joker.
'No he won't', Jason thinks, 'He'll just escape like he always does and cause more pain and suffering. Bruce will capture him and take him back like he always does. And the cycle will continue, again and again and again till one of them dies', his anger continues to rise till he snaps.
He rips off his suit tie and rushes back up north to Bristol, his dress shoes go flying as he runs non-stop, then he crosses the bridge over to Arkham Island, home of Arkham Asylum.
He didn't notice a change in his appearance on the way there.
His skin has paled to as white as Joker's. His nails are bruised black as a void. His irises go from blue to a golden brown color, similar to the crow's that flew with him. His lips also black with black scars coming from them, giving him a Joker like look. His skin around his eyes darkens to match his lips and a black scar passes through from his forehead to his cheekbone.
As he arrives, he sees the Batmobile sitting in front of the Intensive Treatment building in Arkham West. Jason knows this is where Joker is administered before being moved back to the Penitentiary in Arkham South. No guards were visible, probably all helping escort Joker.
Jason knows of a route to sneak into Intensive Treatment. He quickly scales the walls to a second story access and walks inside with the crow on his shoulder. He moves through maintenance access and then the ventilation system to the Intensive Treatment lobby, where they house the foreign object scanner to detect if people have any dangerous items.
Jason had no gear, so he jumps to a nearby gargoyle, that was inside the lobby for some reason, and listens in on what the guards are saying.
"Man, fucking Joker", one mutters to another guard.
"Bastard killed three of us last time he escaped", the other shares.
"Surprised to see that Batman and Robin were personally escorting him down this time", another mentions.
"Won't mean much. That son of a bitch will just escape again. Like everyone fucking does in this place. I'm this close to quitting", another one says.
Jason stealthy makes it to a vent in the north east corner of the room and goes through it to Cell Block Transfer, the the crow leading the way. He makes it into a side security room for the hall and looks out to see no one. Everyone must be further down with the Joker escort.
He moves down the left hall and goes into a vent on the left of him instead of going through the doors, just in case of security being on the other side. He enters Secure Transit aka the elevator area. The guards were all on the walkway above. He can see them through the grated floor, soo he had to be careful.
The crow lands in front of the open elevator shaft. Jason sees that is only real way down is to slide down the cable. He does so and the crow flies down after him. He lands on the elevator at the bottom, leading into the Transfer Loop.
Jason remembers the usual loop of going through the Holding Cells, through the Processing Corridor and on through Decontamination before heading to Secure Treatment Transfer.
Best bet would be to cut them off before they reach Secure Treatment Transfer. With no certain way to get through quietly, he may have to fight his way before then and finally kill the clown.
He walks into the Transfer Loop with guards standing before him.
"That the...? Joker?", one asks with his rifle now raised, "How are you here?!"
Jason didn't take being called Joker to well and snatched the gun away before using the butt of it to knock the man out. The others fired on him ruining his dress shirt and jacket as the bullets pass through him and blood flies everywhere. Their clips empty with Jason still standing.
"What the hell?", another asks, stunned.
"Oh my god", another moans in fear.
Jason then systematically takes the four guards down. breaking a limb for each before knocking them unconcious.
Jason then looked to his naked feet and the guards boots before taking a pair that fit for his feet, tying the laces tight so they wouldn't fall off like the shoes. He also tears off his shirt and jacket since they were utterly ruined. He grabs a security guard card off one of the guards that would allow him to pass all the security gates unimpeded.
He then moves forward passed the desk down the hall before turning right for Secure Treatment Transfer.
A desk worker hidden earlier calls into the intercoms, "The Joker is loose. I repeat, the Joker is loose. He's running through Transfer Loop."
With Batman Robin
The Dynamic Duo were walking through the processing corridor with Joker in a gourney before they then hear the speaker system.
"The Joker is loose. I repeat, the Joker is loose. He's running through Transfer Loop.", it sounds out.
The heroes and guards looked to the clown in confusion while said clown was laughing like a loon.
Cash calls into his radio about the disturbance, "That's impossible. Me and the Batman got Joker here in the Processing Corridor on our way to Decontamination".
Another replies through the radio, "Well then, Cash. Some guy that looks an awful lot like the Joker is making his way to Decontamination through the Transfer Loop."
"Looks like I got a fan! Hahahaha", Joker laughs from his strapped position.
Cash looks to Batman, "So, what should we do, Batman".
"Take Joker to Secure Treatment through the other way. Robin and I will handle this in Decontamination", Batman tells him.
The security team takes the Joker to where Batman had them, while the duo head for Decontamination.
They arrive to see the guards shooting on the young man attacking all the bullet holes soon closing after with the blood turning to ash, as though he was never shot. He then attacks the guards, breaking their guns in the process
"What the hell?", Robin questions at the situation.
"Focus Robin!", Batman says before the duo then charge into to attack the assailant.
Jason had focused in on the duo at Batman's command to see Batman and his new Robin running at him.
Batman throws some Batarangs that Jason knocks away. Robin come sin with a side swipe with his staff that Jason catches before pushing the kid away. Batman comes in with some boxing straight to his head, sending Jason back.
He quickly recovers and straight kicks at him but Batman side steps it and gets in close for a grapple around his neck.
"Who are you?! Why are you here?!", Batman demands.
"You don't recognize me? After what he did to me?!", Jason replies. With his pale skin, the marks on his face and the change in his eyes, no, Batman didn't recognize him, at least, not yet.
Jason angrily elbows into the Dark Knight's gut and the Batman loses his hold on him he then roundhouses the Caped Crusader into a pipe leading to the shower heads. Robin comes in for another swing at his head that Jason dodges before grabbing the staff again. With Robin keeping his grip on the staff, Jason swings it and him around with unnatural strength into a decontamination cage before shutting the door on the 14 year old.
"This is the new Robin? He can't even fight!", Jason questions Batman before the Dark Knight came in with a spin kick that knocked Jason back into the sinks of the room.
Batman then goes into a beatdown in the resurrected teen. Jason recovers and grab Batman's ear points and headbutts him away. Jason decides to run for it, Knowing that the Joker was going around to the Transfer Loop to Secure Treatment, with Batman in pursuit.
The duo run to Secure Treatment Transfer, Jason dodging as Batman threw Batarangs at him. They reach the room to see Joker being boarded into a hanging cell.
"No!", and Jason rushes it. The guards see him and open fire while Batman ducks and covered to avoid the fire.
Jason didn't stop however, the guards soon ran out of bullets and Jason was heading for the Joker. Batman throws another Batarang that soon pierces into Jason's nack, causing him to fall over in shock. Joker's cell door has closed and he laughs as he is sent away through the patient isolation gate.
Jason pulls out the Batarang from his neck and it heals. If he didn't have a healing factor new, Batman could have killed him. He got even more angry as Batman approaches.
"You won't be freeing Joker", he tells the young man.
"Free him? I planned to kill the bastard for all he has done!", Jason yells before rushing him and Batman rushes in turn.
Batman goes for another straight punch but Jason dodges to the side, Using the Batarang in hand, Jason cuts the utility belt from Batman and slides behind his former mentor. He takes a smoke bomb from the belt as Batman turns around before throwing it into his face. Batman coughed while looking around for an attack but as the smoke settles, the teen was no longer in sight.
Jason made his way out of Arkham with the Crow following and the utility belt till in hand. He knew now that he couldn't win with Bruce in the way, that the Joker would never pay for his actions. He stops by a guard outside and knocks him out before taking his black raincoat for himself. He then runs down the bridge back to Gotham City, his physical features changing back to normal.
Jason knew Batman and the rest might be able to track him through the belt so he empties its contents into the coat pockets, since they weren't trackable, before ditching the belt.
The crow caws as if to ask him why he didn't continue his chase.
"Batman would just keep getting in the way. I won't be able to kill the Joker with the old man's superior skills. I need to train", Jason states to the bird.
The crow caws again.
"Allow it? What do you mean?", Jason asks it, understanding what it tells him.
It caws again.
"Only alive till my vengeance is complete? So as long as Batman is in the way, you can give me time on earth to train?", Jason asks.
The crow caws in agreement.
"Alright. But where am I going to train?", Jason questions.
The crow caws again before flying away, leading Jason again. Jason follow it through out Gotham till they reach Crime Alley once more. The crow flies to the top of the Monarch Theater and Jason uses his precurred grapple gun to the top.
He sees the bird sitting on the rooftop door access and looks around the roof for what the crow wanted to show him, only for someone he has met before to round the corner of the rooftop access.
"Talia", Jason remarks at seeing the daughter of the Demon's Head.
"So my contact was right. Jason Todd lives again", Talia states at seeing him up and walking.
"Why are you in Gotham?", Jason demands.
"Hmm", Talia thinks about whether or not she should answer, "I came to see Bruce. But he was dealing with the clown once more", she makes note of his anger, "So, you know you remained unavenged?".
"Where do you think I was since I was last in Crime Alley?", he retorts to the older woman.
"Ah, so you tried your hand at vengeance for yourself", Talia looks him in the eye, "But Beloved stopped you, I assume."
"Enough mind games. What do you want, Talia?", Jason demands.
"I can offer you training", she supplies, "from those who can make you unstoppable, even those who Bruce never trained with", she takes a more caring look to her as she approaches him.
Jason looks to the crow who wa watching the discussion, 'This is its solution? Fine', Jason thinks.
"Alright, Talia. Let's go", Jason agrees and shakes her hand.
Chapter End
AN: This has been a thought for a while. Jason died and came back to life, seeking vengance, The Crow dies and comes back to life, usually seeking vengeance. I'm surprised there's not more of these kind of stories.
Jason's crow is inspired by both the movie The Crow: Salvation and The Crow: Stairway to Heaven, with fact it looks like scars and the fact it just appears when needed.
No, this has nothing to do with the upcoming movie. Stories from all the movies and the show might appear though.