Jason and Jason, the dastardly duo. Meeting in secret to discuss what intel Jason Todd could pull from the Batcave’s computer. Brainstorming plans of attack and ways to track down Scarecrow. Jason Wilson had his plan of action together: walk in, shoot the bitch, walk out. He was already back out of Arkham and the GCPD had given their typical “we’re on it!” good boy style statements. Meanwhile, the Jasons were miles closer than the others would ever get.
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“So, no caveat, just go in guns blazing?”
“No, he’s too clever for that. I’ll have to go alone, and I’ll have to sneak it on him.”
“You’re going alone? You nearly had him last time, you don’t think he’ll give you a fight?”
“No. Not me.”
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Jason didn’t press, he could tell he was approaching thin ice if he did. They’d just pinpointed an empty warehouse that could be perfect for Scarecrow’s new set up. He’d only been out of Arkham for a few days. But, judging by the research he’d gathered previously, he’d be quick to get testing again. Their biggest win thus far was Red Hood sneaking a handful of antidotes out of the Batcave. With those, even if Scarecrow managed to escape again, Jason could be back after him in 30 minutes tops. After a quick recon the two weren’t positive if Crane was even at said location. However, there were signs of forced entry and Red Hood had found a number of discarded syringes in a nearby dumpster. Jason breathed in a deep breath before making his decision.
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“Alright. You get out of here. Stay clear of the area, just in case.”
“What? We don’t even know if-“
“Look, it’s the best lead we’ve got right now. If he’s not here I can root around for more intel.”
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He didn’t like the decision, but Red Hood relented, backtracking to where he’d parked his bike. The main door to the building had been blocked with some debris but it was light enough to kick out of the way. Inside the hall was eerily quiet. It had been raining outside, but inside Jason could hear nothing but his own breathing. As he blindly navigated the halls he half expected Crane to jump out for a cheap spook. The place was barren and Jason was starting to feel like he’d hit a dead end. His flashlight revealed another door that made him a bit queasy. It was slightly ajar and a sliver of warm light peeked through the crack. As he approached he heard sounds of movement inside. There was a quiet sigh and a creak of a chair; Jason felt adrenaline bloom in his chest. “Act natural.”
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“Jonathan?”
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A sharp gasp as the chair scratched against the concrete floor. Jason slowly pulled the door open and a chuckle resounded from his target.
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“Jason. You always were quite clever. I’m surprised you found me this quickly.” Jonathan turned to him in his chair.
“Yeah. Nice place.”
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There was practically a whole science lab inside the room. It was cramped, for sure, but it seemed to have been well established some time ago. Jason turned his attention back to Jonathan. He didn’t seem to be on the defensive. Perhaps because he was half dressed in an Arkham jumpsuit.The orange, baggy pants clashed with his red shirt, he even still donned the cheap Arkham slippers on his feet.
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“Yes, sadly, I hadn’t been expecting company. So you’ll have to excuse any dust.”
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They shared a tense silence before Jonathan cocked his head.
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“Something the matter? Here to yell your righteousness at me again?”
“No. I-“ he hesitated.
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What was he meant to say here? Jonathan raised a brow at him, waiting with an almost sly smirk on his face.
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“I just… wanted to see you.” What the fuck?
“Well, you see me. Now what?”
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Jonathan had dropped his smirk, now looking a bit confused.
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“We used to really… have something. And after our fight I just…”
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Jason scoffed at himself, kicking at a table leg. What the hell was he doing? He’d had the entire interaction prepared in mind and then immediately broke his own script. Jonathan had come to stand beside him, arms crossed.
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“This feels an odd bit like a trap, Jason. Trying to lure me in to stab me in the back?”
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He cast his eyes to the floor under his feet. He bit his lip, he might’ve screwed this up already. Maybe he could just whip out the gun and go for it? No, he could see the band of a hidden canister on Jonathan’s wrist. He’d have to play it safer.
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“I wanted to apologize. For everything.”
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Jonathan let the silence stew around them for a moment before gently laying a hand on Jason’s lower back. He pressed a kiss just under his ear, pulling Jason closer to him. Jason went willingly as his stomach and heart twisted together. He shouldn’t, and he certainly didn’t expect to want it after being so furiously angry with him. Curse his Wilson blood, always had him falling into the arms of the wrong person.
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“I’m sorry for the pain I’ve put you through.”
“It’s fine. I got in your way, I should have expected you to-“
“I don’t mean now. I don’t mean stabbing and gassing you. I’m sorry, for before. For leaving you. For not telling you why, for never writing or calling.”
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Jason moved against his better judgement, bringing his arms up under Jonathan’s and embracing him.
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“You have to understand how hard it all was. The pressure to hide it- to hide you from everyone. I should have stayed. Hell, I should have taken you with me. I could have given you the world, Jason.”
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Jonathan was pressing kisses to the side of Jason’s throat, whispering a litany of sweet nothings into his ear. He felt his backside bump into a table, letting himself be lifted slightly onto the surface. He silently hoped to God he’d turned off the communicator Red Hood had given him as he let out a noise. He really, really shouldn’t be doing this. But then again, he’ll never be able to do it again. The rational part of his brain screamed at him to draw his gun, to just get it over with, but the warm touch unzipping the front of his suit had him thinking in circles. He cursed when Jonathan nipped gently at his collarbone, feeling the tension leave his shoulders as he gave in.
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He knows Jonathan’s lying. He’s never sorry. But, then again, “I’ll never be able to do this again.”
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——————-
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The spare key was where it always was, in the lockbox behind the apartment lobby counter. Jason tried straightening his hair again as he unlocked Ivy’s apartment door. She was standing in the living room, facing away from him, watering her plants.
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“I was wondering when you’d finally use that key.”
“Pamela. I fucked up.” He paused. “I got fucked up.”
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She turned, a frown falling quickly into place.
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“You didn’t.”
“I did.” He whispered, shame flushing his face.
“You were supposed to kill him.”
“I know.”
“And instead, you fucked him?”
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Jason covered his face with his hands, groaning into his palms. He felt disgusting. Not even post-sex disgusting just absolutely foul. He’d seen all the fucked up shit Jonathan had done, he’d even been victim to it. And he still let the son of a bitch touch him. Pamela pulled his hands from his face.
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“He’s a good liar. Had a very funny joke. I almost laughed.”
“Why don’t you go take a shower. I’ll make some tea.”
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He took his shower wordlessly, maybe scrubbing a bit too hard at his skin. His arms were bright red despite using cold water. Pamela had set aside a cup of tea for him, he could smell it clear across the apartment. He tried not to look at the bite marks on his neck as he brushed his teeth thrice over. Pamela appeared at the door, handing him a folded stack of clothing. They were his, from the box he kept in her bedroom closet. He got dressed and followed her to the living room, taking his usual seat on the sofa. She tucked in beside him, wiggling her feet under his leg. He took the tea and sighed into the steam.
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“I’ll bite. What did he say?”
“He apologized.”
“About the kid?”
“About leaving.”
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She was quiet, waiting for an explanation.
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“When we were… a thing. He left and never talked to me again. I know why now, he’s got a kid. He got married. He has two kids. He apologized for leaving.”
“But he was lying?”
“He didn’t have a reason to apologize. There were no hard feelings. We had hashed it out the day before.” He sniffed.
“Maybe he is sorry. Maybe he loved you a little more than he let on.” She took Jason’s chin and kissed his cheek. “There’s a lot to love.”
“I told him I’d be back tonight. I ignored Red Hood’s calls all night, he’s probably already told Batman.”
“I’ll go with you.”
“You’re on probation-“
“And I have mind controlling pheromones in my bloodstream. They can’t prove what I tell them to forget.”
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Problem number one: no car. Solution: gift a bottle of 151 to Ivy’s drunk neighbor, steal her car, and return it before she notices. Problem number two: the law. If Batman had been informed of the plan, they’d need a way to hide the evidence. Solution: Ivy’s plants will dispose of the evidence. With all bases covered, the two got started on their plan. In giving the drunk neighbor her booze, Jason had managed to snag her car keys from their hook just inside her door. He let Ivy drive, busying himself with checking over his gear. His trigger finger was itching. As they approached the building Jason cleared his throat.
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“If I don’t come back in an hour, you go home and forget I ever existed.”
“I’m going with you.”
“No.”
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Ivy grabbed wrist as he unbuckled his seat belt.
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“Yes.”
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He relented, raising his hands in surrender. They entered the building together with Jason leading her down the maze of hallways. A bit before the final door, he motioned for her to stay back. She hid just around the corner as Jason carefully pulled open the door. Jonathan looked up, almost surprised, from the gasmask he was tailoring.
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“I didn’t expect you to actually show up.” He looked happy.
“You asked me to.” He shrugged, feigning a smile.
“Unfortunately, I have quite some work to do that’s a bit time-sensitive-“
“Don’t let me interrupt. Just nice to be around company sometimes.”
“Well, make yourself at home.”
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Jonathan gestured to the table behind him, a bag of fast food sat atop it.
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“Aw, sweet tea, how Southern.”
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Jonathan chuckled as he continued tinkering with his mask. Jason looked over a few papers scattered on the table, sipping at the tea. There were locations circled on a map, and a poster announcing a Wayne Industries gala event. And then the one that upset him. A letter, in the same handwriting he’d seen before. The Fear Doctor, the kid, begging for his father’s forgiveness for having failed him yet again. It only spurred Jason on as he moved to stand behind Jonathan. He gently ran his hands up the sides of Jonathan’s biceps to his shoulders, squeezing carefully.
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“I thought you were going to behave.”
“I am. Just watching.”
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He “just watched” as Jonathan fit an extra filter into the gask mask, then noted the lack of any toxin canisters or syringes nearby. Jonathan’s guard was down. Jason leaned down, pressing his face to the top of Jonathan’s head.
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“Hey.”
“What?”
“You know I love you, right?”
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His hands paused for a moment before he turned to Jason, a smile on his face. He let Jonathan pull him down by his shirt collar. It was a sickly sweet kiss, Jason had to resist leaning further into it. Jonathan turned back to his work and Jason stepped back, watching the back of Jonathan’s head as he carefully unclipped his gun holster. Trying to cover the sound of drawing the firearm Jason spoke up again.
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“I’m really glad we came to terms yesterday.”
“As am I. I hope you know I plan to make good on what I said.”
“Meaning?” Jason paused, gun in hand by his side.
“Meaning I hope you’ll join me in my plans. I know you’re a rather well meaning individual but… I think we can make compromises.”
“You want me to team up with you?”
He chuckled. “No, I want you to be my lover again, Jason.”
“How would your son feel about that?”
“Zennaire?” He scoffed. “What does it matter? You don’t have to care about him, Jason. He’s just a pawn in the grand scheme of-“
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“Remember, bud. This bullet travels at about 110 miles per hour. Once you pull that trigger, it’s over. You gotta make sure you know what you wanna do. Now, line up your sights… Wow! Good shot!”
“Thanks, Uncle Wade!”
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“Well. That was a Hollywood moment.”
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Jason left the room, meeting Pamela in the hall. She’d already grown some plants around her, but for now she was cupping Jason’s face gently.
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“I won’t ask. But I’m proud of you.”
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She kissed him twice. It was almost sweeter than Jonathan’s. She moved around him and into the room as Jason leaned against the wall, letting himself sink to the ground. He put his head between his knees, running his hands through his hair. He remembered the first time he’d shot someone, his dad and uncle had been there. Slade left him behind, scoffing at his panicked tears. His uncle had hugged him and whispered assurances. “It never gets any easier.” He wallowed in his self pity until Pamela returned from the room. Vines still adorned her ankles as she approached him, pulling him up by the arm. She hugged him and kissed him twice again before leading him back to the car.
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“How do plants eat bone?” He’d asked, offhandedly.
“Don’t worry about that.” Was all she’d replied with.
“I told him I loved him.”
“Did you mean it?”
“I think. I used to.”
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They returned the neighbor’s car right where they’d found it, and dropped her keys through the mail slot on her door. Ivy was trying to tuck Jason into her bed but he resisted.
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“You should rest.”
“I have to go tell the kid.”
“Jason-“
“I can’t let him feel like the villain. He’ll think he drove Crane away. I have to tell him.”
“Fear Doctor is a criminal, Jason. He’s a violent kid-“
“His name is Zennaire. And I have to tell him.”
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He kissed her cheek and made for the door. He barely got into the hall before she shouted after him.
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“Pamela, I have to.”
“Fine. Just.. a kiss for good luck.”
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He let her pull him in and kiss him deeply, placing a hand on her waist. He yelped into the kiss at the sharp pain around his wrists. He tried to fight as Ivy wrapped brambles around his arms, thorns seemingly trying to avoid piercing the skin. If he struggled they’d cut in. A hefty vine wrapped around his waist, pulling him along back to the apartment. The skin of his lips tingled as her poison kicked in, having only given him one kiss.
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“Pamela! It’s not right, I have to tell him!” He continued to fight against her plants, gritting his teeth as thorns drew lines of blood.
“Please stop fighting, Jason.” She sounded sad. “I’m trying to help, I promise.”
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Jason finally stopped fighting her, minutes later. As the poison seeped further into his veins. She stroked his hair as the light in his eyes began to fade out. She felt terrible for doing this to him, but she knew his righteous heroism would make him do something stupid. He wasn’t the only one who could make plans.
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—————
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Jason woke to the sound of Batman’s voice and the telltale beeping of an EKG. He blinked awake, trying to sit up before being stopped by a doctor. He was in a hospital bed, oxygen tubes and all. Batman was speaking quietly to Gordon just to his left, and to his right was none other than Pamela Isley. Curled up in the corner, her hand outstretched to touch his. He glared at her for a moment before turning his hand over, letting her hold it. She looked apologetic, or it could just be for show. Batman entered his field of view, which was still hazy. He placed a hand on Ivy’s shoulder and whispered something to her. She nodded and walked into the hall behind Gordon and Batman. As the two left, Gordon popped back in the room.
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“You did a brave thing, son. I’m sorry I ever doubted you.”
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Pamela reentered the room after seeing them off. She helped Jason to adjust the bed’s angle and patted his knee.
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“I know you’re angry but-“
“What did you tell them?”
“Jonathan kidnapped you and held you against your will. You killed him in self defense but were gassed in the fight. You came to me for help and then passed out from shock. I called the police and brought you here.”
“Pam-“
“You’re clear of any suspicion. Batman is going to break the news to Zennaire right now.”
“He deserves to know the truth.”
“I told him everything. I told him your past with Crane and how hurt you were.”
“He’s not an idiot if he’s Crane’s kid.”
“It was either this or you run for the rest of your life.”
“I’ve been running, Pamela.” He bit out.
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She swallowed and went quiet for a moment before squeezing his knee slightly.
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“Allow me to do some running for you.”
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——————
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He was discharged later that day. The doctor called it a “miraculous recovery!” He’d barely gotten out the front door when a black Aventador pulled up in front of him. The window rolled down and Bruce Wayne smiled softly at him.
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“Hi. Glad to see you’re well. I can give you two a lift, if you’d like.”
“Oh, I have to go feed my cat. But thank you. Mr. Wayne. Jason, take it easy.”
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Pamela hurried off as Bruce leaned over and opened the passenger door. Jason opened it and dropped into the seat with a grunt of effort.
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“How are you feeling?”
“Like nothing ever happened.”
“You wanna tell me what really happened?”
“Pamela told you everything.”
“So did Jason.”
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Jason looked out the window, sighing.
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“I found him. But he was expecting me. He had plans to gas the crowd at your next gala event. A new batch of toxin, three times stronger than the usual stuff.”
“And then you shot him?”
“I let my guard down, he got me with a syringe. He was ranting about his plan when I shot him.”
“Forgive me, but I feel like you’re not telling me the whole truth.”
“I did what you wouldn’t do.”
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There was a moment, then a sniff from Bruce as he clicked on a blinker. Jason's eyes flickered to the windshield, taking note of passing road signs.
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“Don’t.” He nearly whispered.
“I have to, Jason. You directly went against the decision made by the League.”
“They didn’t vote, Bruce. They conceded to you because they’re scared of you.”
“Diana is a Goddess, I doubt she’s-“
“They know you have doomsday plans for everyone. And I know you have one for me.” Bruce’s jaw clenched. “But I promise you, I will crash this car and walk away.”
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Bruce sat straighter as they passed Wayne Enterprises. He sighed through his nose and opened his mouth to speak. Jason cut him off.
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“I will kill us both. And still walk away.”
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Bruce was still silent, blinking as if he was weighing his options. He adjusted his hold on the steering wheel before reaching for the radio.
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“I really didn’t want it to come to this.”
“Don’t bring your kids into this.”
“Just turning on some music.” Bruce held his hand up in surrender.
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The tense air was filled by radio top hits as Jason turned his gaze back to the window. Bruce took a right turn and came to a stop outside Ivy’s apartment building. Jason turned to him as he unbuckled his seat belt.
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“How much did Jason tell you, exactly?”
“Not much, honestly. I had to track him to find you.”
“…How would he feel about that?”
“Not great, probably.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
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He nearly lept from the car, now near furious as he stomped into the apartment complex. The doorman jumped and dropped his phone.
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“Uh, hey, man. Unit 209, right? ‘Said she was waiting for you…”
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Jason denied a response and made his way to the stairwell and made his way up. The door was unlocked and Ivy was instantly on him.
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“What did he say? What happened?”
“He fucking tracked Red Hood. He knew everything. He wanted to take me to the fucking League.”
“Wait, what?”
“I-I threatened him. Told him I would kill us both.”
“Why would he track Red Hood?”
“He drove me here, Pamela! He knows everything!”
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Pamela stared at him in obvious confusion and Jason groaned.
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“Bruce Wayne is Batman!”
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Ivy collapsed on the sofa.
—————
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The following days had been quiet, almost eerily so. The news came out that the Scarecrow had been gunned down by an unknown vigilante. Batman said a few words about the “unfortunate” situation; the reporters praised the new anonymous “hero”. There had been no contact attempts from the Justice League, nor Batman. Red Hood was on a tryst against the Bat again. Jason told him about the tracker, he was furious. Jason had torn through Ivy’s apartment for hidden wires and cameras, and once he established there weren’t any, he forcibly moved her out and into a new apartment. The landlord decided the rent was free.
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“Ya boyfriend’s done too much for my family. Any friend ‘a his is a friend ‘a mine!”
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Jason had taken to the whole vigilante thing, it ran in the family. His name was already on a few lists, and now it was really making the rounds. Business cards would find him at the grocery store, he’d be invited to a back table at the bar, even personally called and invited to dinner and a chat. He had taken two odd jobs, quick work, nothing big. He had a good starting reputation amongst the corrupt elite, which wasn’t exactly good but also not that bad. Of course, it would put him in a bit of a pinch with Batman, but if he played it right, soon enough Batman wouldn’t be able to touch him. It helped that Jason Todd had absconded from the family again. He’d already connected with Jason twice about jobs and leads.
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The biggest addition in that few days time was the wedge Jason had forced between him and Ivy. Texts and phone calls were welcome, however any attempts to help with a job were vehemently denied. It had upset Ivy, a bit, when Jason’s visits became infrequent. However, she could understand. She had taken a large risk by lying at the hospital. She’d saved Jason’s ass in the process but nearly lost her own. Unfortunately, she could only save him from worldly troubles. His own self however, she couldn’t control.
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Jason had a soft spot for abused kids. He was one, after all. His father was a heartless man who went so far as to kill his own wife in an effort to “harden Jason’s heart”. His own moral compass conflicted with his son’s, such was the motive for many beatings and “lessons”. Jason had struggled for years with the idea of not loving and not being loved by his father. He understood the desperation one Fear Doctor may have felt. The deed was weighing heavy on his soul when he started asking around. People were cautious to answer. It was an alarming surprise when Black Mask contacted him through a personal number. He stated that working with Scarecrow had connected him with Fear Doctor, and he could be persuaded to spill some beans.
————
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Simple inquiries turned into a candlelit dinner at a fine restaurant. Jason found himself nestled in the middle of the diamond district, and very underdressed for the venue. The hostess looked him over with disdain as he approached the desk.
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“I’m supposed to be meeting Roman Sionis at 6 o’clock.”
Her brows raised in question and wordlessly turned to a nearby man in a pressed black suit.
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“He claims he’s here to meet Mr. Sionis.”
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The man scoffed and Jason sighed, now becoming embarrassed. He opened his text messages and handed his phone to the hostess who looked even more disgusted at his brick of a cell phone. Her brows raised again as she compared the phone number to the number on file for her reservation. She waved him on and the man rolled his eyes but led him to the table anyway. Roman spotted him heading their way and stood to announce his arrival. A few patrons shot confused and annoyed glances in his direction as Victor Zsasz pulled out a chair for him. He sat, albeit nervously, and watched as Zsasz poured him a glass of wine.
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“Try it, it’s vintage.” Roman smiled proudly.
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Jason decided it was smart to not decline and took a sip, ignoring the part of his brain that hated wine.
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“Fantastic. Thank you.”
“Of course! What are friends for, after all, than to expose their friends to the finer things in life.” Roman flicked a frayed drawstring on Jason’s sweatshirt.
“Yeah,” he chuckled nervously, “I uh, didn’t really have much to wear.”
“Well, you could have borrowed something, but whatever. Uh, waiter? Our appetizer?”
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The waiter looked frightened at being called and nodding before speeding off towards the kitchen.
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“So, let’s cut to the chase, here. You killed the Scarecrow.”
“Yeah.”
“How’d you do it?”
“I just… did it. I shot him.”
“Wow. No preamble? Dramatic speech?”
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Jason pushed back thoughts of Jonathan before answering with a simple “no”. Zsasz topped off his wine glass, despite it still being half full. He seemed to understand what Roman didn’t.
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“You’re looking for Fear Doctor, right?” Roman continued. “I know where he likes to hide out, I might be able to tell you about it.”
“I don’t have your kind of cash-“
“No, no, no. I don’t want your money, no! Never!” He chuckled. “You’re going to come hang out with Mr. Zsasz and I, help him with a few chores, and I’ll give you the information. How’s that sound?”
“Chores?”
“Some messes to clean up.” Zsasz clarified, nonchalant.
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Jason sighed through his nose and glanced between the two. The waiter approached with their appetizer and Roman waved him off quickly, irritated. The silence was heavy as the two men waited for Jason’s answer, none too obvious about their excitement. Excitement? Was that the proper word? Zsasz’s fingers tapped on the table as Roman leaned into Jason’s space.
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“I can even pay you if you want.”
“…Couple hundred could help.”
“Seven Hundred?”
“…Eight?”
“Nine?”
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Jason brows cinched together and Roman giggled in that creepy, maniacal way, biting his lip. Zsasz was getting restless on the other side of the table, practically gripping the table’s edge.
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“Okay. I’ll do it.”
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The mad men had cheered enthusiastically and beckoned the waiter over for another bottle of wine.
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——————
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Jason cursed his righteous heart as he found himself trapped in the driver’s seat of Roman Sionis’s car. Neither of his passengers were sober, but they were certainly ready for their soon to be confrontation. Zsasz was polishing and counting his knives while Roman watched, giggling like a mad man. Jason remembered now why he had a rule against psychopaths. They arrived at some derelict storefront building where some of Roman’s men were at the ready in the adjacent alleyway. Jason was quickly ushered inside by two hands on his lower back; he cringed at the contact. They came to a stop in front of a man strapped to a chair with a bag over his head. They were whimpering and shivering, terrified of what was about to happen to them.
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“Ya’know, when you said mess-“
“Oh, don’t worry, J.T. He’s not a good guy. Bastard’s been coming into my nightclub, harassing my staff, trying to put his filthy fucking hands, ON MY PEOPLE!”
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There it was. Roman Sionis, ever so dramatic and easily enraged. Jason took a step back as Zsasz gently cupped Roman’s cheeks, whispering some calming assurances. He caught Jason’s eye who quickly turned to look away. Not that he had the right to judge them anyway. Suddenly he was spun around to face Roman, who now had a wicked gleam in his eyes.
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“I want our new friend to be the one to deliver the first blow.” He forced a knife into Jason’s hand and manhandled him back in front of their subject. “Go ahead, J.T. Have at it.”
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Jason stood there awkwardly as the man’s head nervously flitted around. He looked over his shoulder at Zsasz who gave him a motion like “go ahead, don’t be shy!”.
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“Um, w-what did he do again?”
Roman gave an irate sigh. “He’s a drunk pervert and he won’t pay his fucking tab.”
“Have you asked him to pay?” Jason pressed.
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He jumped as Zsasz gripped his shoulders from behind, digging his thumbs into the tense muscle. He grew more nervous as the same hands dragged down his arms to grip his wrists and guide his arms.
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“It’s not that hard. Just imagine he’s someone you hate. Better yet, imagine it was your aunt he’s touchin’. She was a dancer, yeah?”
“How do you know that?”
“What if this creep was botherin’ her? Gonna let him get away with it? Teach the fucker a lesson.”
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Jason focused back on the man, who was now sobbing and begging for mercy.
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“H-He seems sorry. I mean-“
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Zsasz yanked his arms forward, sending him stumbling practically into the man’s lap. With his own hand covered by Zsasz's, the knife pressed into the man’s neck. The sharp blade cut in quickly as blood welled up and over the back of their hands. Jason grit his teeth and Zsasz pulled his arm further over and squeezed his eyes shut when he felt him go for the slice. He didn’t want to look but could hear the gurgling and could feel more blood pour over his hands and trickle down to his elbow. He felt Zsasz’s breath stutter over his neck and tried to retract his arms. He was finally pulled back and opened his eyes, avoiding the victim before him.
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“See? That wasn’t so hard, right?” Roman cooed softly from his side.
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Jason’s eyes were trained on the floor as he carefully turned, relieved as Zsasz let him go. He crossed his arms tightly, grimacing at how the blood seeped into his sleeves.
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“Okay, your… mess is clean. Tell me where Fear Doctor is.”
“Those super-assholes really sucked the fun out of you, huh?”
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Roman giggled at Zsasz’s remark and pulled his cellphone from his pocket, texting an address to Jason.
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“‘Should find him there, he usually hangs around at night. He’s been on edge, though. You know, since you killed his dad and all.” Roman replaced his gaudy sunglasses and smiled at Jason. “We’d also appreciate a ride home.”
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—————
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It was pitch black along the docks. If it weren’t Gotham it might feel serene. Listening to the sound of water against the concrete flood walls, Jason felt almost calm. He took a breath and walked towards the fishing factory’s back entrance. He wasn’t really sure which building it was in that area, but it was just after sundown so he had to figure out. The door opened easily and Jason tread softly to make out any sounds in the vicinity. Eventually, rounding a corner revealed a quiet break room turned villainous lair. Tables were shoved together in the middle of the room and littered with papers. Zennaire stood over a selected page while someone stood beside him. Their hands were gentle on Zennaire’s arm while they explained something. He couldn’t make out what they were saying, but Zennaire looked to be honestly listening and weighing their opinion. Jason cleared his throat, capturing their attention.
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Zennaire was, as expected, immediately hostile. He drew a knife from his belt and practically shoved the other, who in turn shoved themselves in front of Zennaire. With an arm braced over in front of him, they leveled Jason with a cold glare. Jason held up his hands and carefully pulled up the hem of his sweatshirt, showing no weapons or gadgets on his person.
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“Just here to talk.”
“Talk? You mean to boast about how you murdered my father!”
“I don’t know what to say to you, aside from I’m sorry.”
“Your apology isn’t going to bring my father back.”
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Jason took a breath and moved towards the table, he reached into his sweatshirt pocket and tossed a wad of folded cash on the table.
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“Neither can this. I… kind of wish it did.”
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Neither responded but the friend had calmed down, no longer on the defensive. Jason opened his mouth and thought for a moment before shrugging.
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“I dated Jonathan in college. I don’t even remember how long. This should probably also go to you.”
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Jason rooted around for his keys, sliding a class ring off of the keyring. He placed it on the table as well, turning it so they could see the tarnished gold logo and the initials J.C.
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“I know you don’t want to hear it. But I loved him.” His voice cracked. “Have the cash. I’m sure you can find me.”
“The only reason I’d find you is to kill you.”
“Zennaire.” The friend hushed, putting a hand on his shoulder.
“I don’t blame you.”
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He thought about saying something more and decided he’d seen enough action-dramas to know it wouldn’t help. He turned on his heel and walked out, somewhat hurried and made his way back the way he’d come. It wasn’t until he got to the bridge towards home that he felt the tightness in his throat. He cussed and leaned his back against the railing. He slowly glanced over his shoulder at the black water down below and glared at it. If only you could kill me. He sighed and ran his hands through his hair, trying to cast back the emotions. His father would be berating him right now.
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“I’m disappointed. Again. Killing is human nature, Jason. We kill to survive. And you can’t even kill a fucking rabbit for food!”
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The resounding smack had rattled his brain and had his mother running to him.
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“Don’t hit him so hard!!”
“Oh, shut up, Jude, he’s fine.”
“He’s a gentle boy, just leave him alone, Slade.”
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The memory led into another where Jason, then 37 years old, was with Jonathan, then 22. Jason had cried during an emotional part of a movie. Jonathan had laughed. And then he’d wrapped an arm around Jason. And then he’d kissed him. And then he’d told him about his research paper he was working on. It was about the lasting effects of childhood abuse. He asked to interview Jason for it. They had barely gotten halfway through before Jonathan wrapped Jason in a hug, eyes bleary with tears. He snapped back to reality, glancing around him. He was in the elevator of his apartment complex. He scratched the back of his head, grimacing at the happy memories turned somewhat sour with recent events.
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There were three business cards slid into the door jam of his apartment that fluttered to the ground as he opened the door. He ignored them and made his way to his bedroom. He checked the burn phone on his bedside table and noted the three missed calls. He paused, noticing a drawer on his dresser was left slightly open. That annoyed the shit out of him. He turned to the bathroom, the door was half open. He glanced down the hall at the second bedroom, the door was closed. Jason never left that door closed. He reached under the bed, finding his back up gun hidden there. He quickly readied it and headed towards the closed door. He took a sharp breath and kicked the door, crashing it open and splintering the wood. His guest turned sharply with a shout. He was barely dressed, his discarded suit laid across the guest bed.
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“Jesus Christ, Jason! You ever knock?”
“This is my apartment you cocksucker!”
“Jason, that’s hardly an insult.”
“What are you doing here, Eros? How did you even get in?”
“I was just going to take a nap, maybe get some food. And don’t worry about it, at least I kept your door intact.” He mumbled the last part. “I tried to call you, by the way, but you left your phone.”
“How long have you been here?”
“I dunno. Two hours?”
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Jason sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. This was the last thing he wanted to deal with right now. It was going to be a long night.
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