if no one cringes is it even art

Now these expectations come especially from the fact that you know that they love you. That’s why you believe they would do it for you. Because you know they love you. So it broke you when it turned out that, yes they love you, but that love just isn't enough for them to do… anything for you.

It’s easier to accept that they actually don’t even love or care for you… rather than know that they love you but they won’t even do anything for you, and they’d still lied to you- betrayed you- hurt you- even if they love you. And you’ll have to struggle to accept that fact.

This is true with Jason too. “Jason doesn’t know that Bruce loves him,” but Jason’s expectation/hope that Bruce will kill Joker because “he took me away from you” is proof that he truly believes Bruce loves him, hence that expectation. If Jason believed Bruce didn’t care about or love him and only saw him as a failure, why would he hope Bruce would kill the Joker for him? Choose him over the Joker? “Jason doesn’t know how much Bruce loves him” actually, I think he knows that. He just doesn’t know—or think—or want to believe that that love wasn’t enough for Bruce to do… just anything.

Don't misunderstand, Jason, as Robin and before his resurrection, harbored expectations that Bruce would avenge him, but these expectations leaned more towards "trust," as his previous experiences with Bruce served as an unspoken promise of revenge, from seeing Bruce go berserk and want to kill Joker for "took her away from him" to Bruce describing the events in #425 as "a father's righteous rage seeking revenge for his son."

Jason's expectations were built on a rational and well-founded foundation, almost a belief in Bruce. On the other hand, Jason, after his resurrection, experiences disillusionment upon realizing that Bruce did not avenge him. This is where his belief crumbles. However, after all that, Jason STILL hopes that Bruce will choose him in the final confrontation. This is hope. He has no evidence to believe Bruce will choose him, but he... hoped that he would. 

(I hope the hopefulness in his eyes makes you go sbksbekdbsksvdjdh <3....)

Even if we assume that Jason knows Bruce loves him, reality has proven that he doesn't love him enough to kill the Joker. Jason is betting that Bruce loves him enough to choose him in the confrontation, a hope despite the lack of evidence to support that belief/hope, even despite the evidence against that belief/hope, which is different from his trust/expectation of Bruce before his resurrection, and it's an extremely unfounded leap-faith hope. There's no evidence; the only thing Jason has is his persistent hope that Bruce will choose him because he loves him, despite the evidence against it.

Because it seems that "Jason not knowing that Bruce loves him" is... Jason's sin, while Jason still desperately hopes that Bruce will choose him based on his belief that Bruce loves him, even though all the evidence he's found so far proves otherwise. Who can blame Jason if he really believed Bruce didn't love him? Because all he knew since coming back to life was that Bruce easily replaced him, Joker was alive… and Hush. Yet everyone demanded that Jason know that Bruce loved him. And yet, it was true that Jason believed Bruce loved him with a fragile but persistent and unquenchable hope, a hope that was almost desperate, even though the situation at the time seemed…

Hopeless.

Hopeless.

Hopeless.

Hopeless.

But Bruce could do that for him, right? Because he loves him. Jason knows Bruce loves him. Yes, Bruce’d do it for him. He believed it, because he believed that Bruce loves him. Why wouldn’t Bruce do that for him? He would. He would. He would.

And that was how hopeful Jason was.

This hope even turns into an… endless cycle where Bruce constantly proves the opposite, yet Jason still hopes that he and Bruce could have a better relationship—that Bruce truly loves or cares about him enough to… actually care? That they could go back to how things were? Like a family? That they could have a better relationship? That persistent belief, that things between him and Bruce could be mended, despite everything looking…

Hopeless.

Hopeless.

Hopeless.

Hopeless.

Actually, I can understand that hope. And the way Jason repeatedly forgives Bruce whenever he shows even the slightest sign of remorse or a desire to make amends. Jason forgives Bruce because he still hopes things can change; he still believes in that possibility. The slighest amount of "oh, but he really do care" just seems like the true and real allowance for you to... continue to hope. Or, to put it more simply, imagine you could lie to a child as many times as you want with a promise, and every time you make that promise again, the child can know by experiences that you are lying, but can you tell me that the child didn’t have any hope- that this time would be different, that maybe, just maybe this time you will change? That you will really love them enough to care? 

He didn’t make it easy for him to believe that he didn’t love him, because he does and he knows it, so he has to believe otherwise. He believes that- he wants to believe that- he has to believe that he loves him enough to change for him. He was hopeful.

"This isn't punishment, Jason. I love you." Cruel, cruel, cruel, Bruce.

"I know you love me, but I hope that you will love me enough. Maybe, maybe one day you’ll love me enough. I hope that one day you will love me enough."

But even though I grasp that hope?? On a fundamental level?? What Jason went through with Bruce was enough to snuff out any hope or capacity for forgiveness in an ordinary person. Or perhaps it’s more accurate to say his threshold for endurance was extraordinarily high not normal limits?? After all, before he died, he had already forgiven his mother for selling him out to the Joker and effectively causing his death??

No, no, what I mean is. Just imagine it. This isn't merely holding onto hope after a betrayal involving a few lies, this is about: lying on the floor with blood pouring from your throat as the building explodes around you, standing on the very spot where you died, getting beaten until your helmet shatters, suffering panic attacks every two seconds after having your brain tampered with... and yet, after all that, still clinging to the belief—the hope—that the relationship between him and Bruce could improve…

Despite everything, Jason still desperately hoped that Bruce loved him— loves him enough, cares about him enough— that they could reconcile, that they could be happy together as a family. *clutches head, trying not to scream.*

On the other hand, this kind of… hope could get you, a mere child, accused of being… stupid, naive, gullible, or all three at once, take your pick (don’t ask me how I know). Haha, do you really believe your parents would choose you? Do you really think they’d do that for you? Where do you get that kind of confidence? You are just so stupid and gullible. Or, worse yet, these expectations of yours could get you labeled as demanding, unreasonable, or selfish… because how dare you demand that your parents choose you! How dare you ask them to set aside their own egos for your sake? For what? Just because they’re your parents? Because they love you? It’s shameful of you to ask them to abandon their principles for you! You are a disgrace! You are so selfish! You are so unreasonable! I am truly disappointed in you. Don’t you ever think about your parents' feelings? They’re already suffering enough. They have their own problems. What right do you have to demand they make concessions for you? Just because they’re your parents? That’s absurd, nonsense. You are awful. Absolutely terrible. You are a disgrace. It is humiliating, shameful, and selfish of you to demand that, to demand he choose you, to demand to choose you over something, to demand he yield to you, to demand your parents abandon their principles for you… You are so selfish to ask for something like that. You are being unreasonable and demanding; just because they’re your parents, you expect them to give up everything for you? Why do you demand even more than what they’ve already given? Don’t you realize your parents love you? No matter how they behave, they still love you! And you need to realize that! Why do you demand that they take action to prove it? Why do you insist that they listen to you, make concessions for you, choose you over something else, be honest with you, respect you, or put you first? It is shameful that you would even dare to ask for such things. It is truly selfish and childish. I am embarrassed for you. It is shameful to demand that they demonstrate their love by making concessions for your sake. You really don't understand anything at all.

In Jason’s case, he would simply be labeled demanding and unreasonable. Because how dare he hope that Bruce would abandon the most important principle of his life… all for him? On what grounds could he possibly harbor such a hope? There were no grounds; that was the answer. He had countless proofs that Bruce wouldn't do it, yet he couldn't help but hope anyway.

I mean, adults are only human, right? By nature, they are selfish. It’s foolish for children to hope their parents will choose them first, isn't it? Foolish to assume their parents might... give something up for them, for instance. Compromise for them. Make concessions for them. It’s a ridiculous notion. But you—have you truly never held that belief yourself? Have you never irrationally hoped your parents would do something for you? Have you ever hopef for your parents to put you first? Have you never experienced a moment where you thought… “Why can’t they do it for me?” Look me in the eyes and lie to me, tell me that you are different from any of us, that you’d never- ever- had a “Why can’t he do it for me?” moment, that you never expect them to love you enough to do something for you, that you never want to believe that they really care for you enough just so bad. Tell me that you’d never been so hopeful. Tell me that you are different- from him. Can you blame him for being so hopeful?

"It’s foolish to expect parents to compromise for the sake of their children"—yet looking back, that is exactly all what he did: compromise. He was ready to abandon his beliefs, the person he was, his moral code, and his very identity just to live the way Bruce wanted. He was willing to forgive Bruce time and again, to compromise with him despite everything Bruce... *gestures vaguely into the air*

Furthermore:

There was a time when Jason was literally THE hope. He was Robin, he literally embodied the symbolism of hope and light amidst the darkness, the very person who inspired Bruce with hope and an unyielding will to fight.

He’s literally THE hope everyone.

And I believe there’s even a moment in Countdown that alludes to this, where he inspires the Bruce of Earth-51, a man who had become hardened and cynical following the death of his Jason. In Countdown, there’s a panel where Jason's called “too stupid to ever give up,” later, while talking to Earth-51’s Bruce, he insists on joining the fight to help others, even though “Bruce” scoffs at the idea, calling it a suicide mission. Yet, “Bruce” eventually says “Something about the fire in you reminds me of me” and gives Jason the Red Robin costume so he can fight alongside him... oh... something just like the Dynamic Duo, Batman and Robin... something about inspiration of hope, light, and an unyielding spirit…

And then we have this panel:

"I allowed him to have hope... and it killed him."

But in the end, that’s what Bruce wanted, isn’t it? He wanted Jason to have hope; so now, it seems all the boy does is hope. Hoping for happiness, hoping for a future that is forever out of reach, that he can never have again. Because it seems Jason wants Bruce to have what he wants so badly.

(But ultimately, the fault lies with you. You are a monster, and your sin is the desire to be loved and cherished. I hope you'd regret it forever, and that the world punishes you for a sin that cannot be forgiven, daring to wish for or hope for something so unattainable. You will live in shame and humiliation, endlessly tormented for having harbored that selfish hope, and that shall be the punishment the world forever inflicts upon you.)

#mybluelanternjasonpropaganda

Let me break it down for you all:

“Jason knew very little about the murder, only that she was killed by an alien,”

Excuse me? I’d argue Jason knew more about the murder than anyone else standing there, considering he was basically right there when it happened. You’d think a description of the guy’s appearance would be valuable. The type of gun he used? His outfit? What about what he told Jason regarding Duela being an anomaly that could harm the multiverse? Or the fact that he intended to kill Jason right after for that very same reason? And then there’s the part where an identical-looking guy showed up and stopped him? I feel like that information could have been incredibly useful.

Meanwhile, the Titans just decided went to the scene of Duela’s murder and found absolutely nothing. I mean, Jason was right there. I don’t know, doesn't it seem like if they had just asked him nicely and thoroughly, they could have gotten a ton of information?

Also:

I actually think Jason has a point. I mean, all they did was go up to Jason and said they knew that he had his "dirty fingers" in this, and "Were you lying? Did you kill Duela Dent?"

I think the comic tried to portray Jason as uncooperative, given how he fought back and made sarcastic remarks, but even while being accused, he told the truth, and the information came out surprisingly easily. He stated he didn't kill her, that he tried to save her and that her killer was an "alien," and a powerful, smart one. I honestly think if they had just asked politely, they would have learned a lot more.

Secondly…

"Donna has to restrain Nightwing from attacking the brash Jason Todd," "Robin however, feels no such reservation, and kicks Todd in the crotch."

In the comic, the moment they met Jason, they accused him of killing Duela; then Dick and Tim grabbed him, pinning him from both sides. Even in a situation like that, he still managed to punch Tim and kick Dick in the crotch? He only stopped because Ravager intervened. Yet the scene is portrayed as if, had Donna not held Dick back, he would have beaten Jason up?

"Brash Jason”? He voluntarily shared information with them and stopped the moment Ravager stepped in, whereas Dick was the one still struggling while Donna restrained him, ready to pick a fight. And what about Tim? He "feels no such reservations and kicks Jason?" That's when they've already stop the fight and Jason was standing there harmless. He basically proved Jason's point of them just want to pick a fight with Jason rather than really doing the investigation :) He was being incredibly petty and ridiculous. Did they really just go to see Jason to accuse him and beat him up?

If you ask me, then I'll- *quickly deleting everything I was about to say and starting to type furiously* hey, did you see that? There was this guy who approached Jason and very politely asked if he could tell him what happened regarding the Joker's daughter, and Jason said, "Sure, why not?" I just want to cry. Then he told him the whole story from start to finish. Then told him whom to go to and ask. What were the Titans doing, seriously.

2. now Jason is clearly different from Bruce or Dick. even though Bruce kept insisting that Jason was "grieving his parents' deaths" and therefore "needed guidance to get on the right path," Jason had actually been living on his own for a while after his parents died, and he was doing just fine. it’s not exactly an ideal situation for a kid, but look at the way he talks to Batman and tells him about his parents, he isn't lost at all. this kid knows exactly what he's doing. lmao, the one who was actually lost after his parents died was Bruce, and probably Dick. I feel like he just insists everyone else is like that because that’s how he is.

3. when they meet again, Jason makes it clear to Batman that he just wants to do what’s necessary to survive 

vs

Batman keeps insisting that this tiny 12-year-old is destined to become a criminal and wreak havoc on the world.

and

Jason pulls off Batman’s signature vanishing act right under his nose. (I love him so much.)

and he even warned Batman about the museum heist.

4. isn’t it just wild– okay, I’ll keep this brief:

thinking Batman wouldn't believe him, he plans to go and stop the robbery all by himself. guys, this amazing, gutsy, brave, strong, ridiculous kid. I can't even express how much I love him. if batman hadn't shown up, what was his plan? stopping Ma Gunn's whole gang solo? it’s hilarious, I love him sm. and he even he sneaks in and out the same way as Batman did. my precious, amazing boy. look at Bruce, he’s clearly incredibly impressed by him. "destined to become a criminal," my ass.

he warned Batman about his blind spot, just like what Robin used to do.

also

he knocked out that boy on the ground over there. he's cool af.

the smile on his face when he hears Jason’s reply. I can't handle this. 

in all the interactions between Jason and Batman before Batman took him in as Robin, I swear I never saw Batman react with anything like, "damn, this kid is a danger, he’s too violent and angry, and he needs me to save him!" even when Jason showed his rough edges like stealing the batmobile's tires, hitting Batman in the gut with a tool, or trying to force him out of his room, Batman seemed more amused than concerned. "man, this kid is awesome," I bet he was thinking. just look at this:

"You little son of a gun--"

it might sound like an expletive, but if you look it up, the phrase actually conveys a mix of astonishment, amusement, praise, teasing, and admiration. here:

basically, what he’s saying translates to, "damn, this kid is really something." it’s pure amusement.

"You are a scrappy one, I’ll say that much of you..."

that phrase can be positive or negative depending on the context, but given what he says next, it’s clearly meant as an expression of approval.

so, it’s obvious he really liked the kid so much and thought he was amazing.

yet when Gordon and Alfred asked why he took Jason on as Robin, this was his answer:

somehow, this is... ridiculously at odds with all the traits/ the impressions Jason displayed during those early interactions I mentioned earlier. I have to admit, I’m baffled. and what he told Gordon was total nonsense. Bruce, have you seen how tall he is? he doesn't even reach your shoulder?

yet Dick, through his persistence and stubbornness, demanded and finally extracted the real answer from Bruce ("how about the truth for a change, Bruce?"):

thank you, Dick.

Bruce: I miss Dick so much, but instead of just call him and have a casual chat like a normal person, I’d do it this way. and since I just admitted I miss him, I’m going to kick him out of my house immediately.

Bruce: I’m lonely and I think Jason is incredibly cool (I find him badass af), but that’s not why I took him in as Robin; I did it for the greater good ("Fighting crime in Gotham city isn't a one-man job") and for justice ("I’m guiding him onto the right path,” “I’m saving his life”).

this guy is like, I miss Dick so much, but I can't accept or handle that feeling, so I’m gonna keep my distance with him because of that and try to push him away. 

and then he finds himself liking Jason so much that it bothers him, and he hates that this feeling has become a driving force for him, so he has to pin the blame on Jason. he resents Jason for making him care so deeply, he hates loving him to the point where Jason's death left him utterly devastated, so he lashes out and blames Jason for that wreckage. his mindset is basically “you made me love you too much, and I hate you for it, for making me love you." especially after Jason comes back from the dead haha. It’s truly awful.

and Dick is like, "oh my god, he misses me so much…" totally touched. then bruce basically is like, "please get out of my house," and his face just goes, "seriously, Bruce?" it’s actually pretty funny...

“Oh he missed me 🥺…” -> “Fuck, really Bruce?”

and here’s a little thoughts Alfred has about the whole thing:

oh boy... *smh*