#titans jason

his joke let a soft laugh fall from your lips. if it weren't for dick you weren't sure how you would be handling this.

you stood from the floor, setting your coffee down on his desk before sitting down on his lap, your arms looping around his neck while his dropped down to your waist.

" just a few more days and we'll be back in our bed, and we won't have to worry about locking doors anymore " his teasing let another round of laughs echo against the bedroom walls.

--- ⎉ ---

staying at wayne manor definitely came with its positives, including the huge kitchen you could use to make your meals.

the huge fridge and vast counter space made it easy to make slightly more elaborate meals.

including making your own pesto for your sandwich and for the rest of the house to use if they so pleased.

you were mid way through cutting up some basil when a pair of arms wrapped around your torso, halting your movements so you didnt injure yourself or him by being distracted with a blade in your hand.

you spun in his grip, your arms lifting to wrap around his neck as your head tilted back to look at him.

" how was your workout ?" you questioned, noting his much sweatier appearance than when he had left you this morning.

" good, tiring, kicked jasons ass. " a laugh reverberated through his chest causing a smile to spread on your lips. " what're you doing ?"

" making pesto for lunch. you want a sandwich ?"

his response came in the form of his head dropping down to press a short kiss to your lips.

" please. i'm gonna shower, but i'll be back before you finish "

another kiss to your lips before his hands started to pull back from your waist.

" i love you " he whispered.

" i love you too. now go shower, you smell "

--- ⎉ ---

as the day wound down, and the manor emptied with bat boys going on patrol around dothan city, you found yourself exploring the building as you did every night.

so far, your favourite place was the balcony on a guest room on the top floor of the house. it was quiet, you could see the forest surrounding the manor, and so far every night you had been lounging there, dick had pulled himself up over the balcony after patrol to greet you.

tonight was no different.

you had been lounging on a woven chair with some music playing from your phone as you watched the trees sway gently in the breeze.

hands clasping at the metal railing made you jump out of your skin, your hand shooting up to clutch at your chest.

" jesus, dick. what the hell? you scared the shit out of me " you could feel your pulse racing under your fingertips.

" sorry sweetheart " he said as he sat down on the accompanying deck chair to yours, peeling his mask off of his face and dropping it down on the table. " thought i'd tell you that we can go back to the apartment tomorrow. they've finished fumigating. got the message when i was out on patrol "

your shoulders sagged in relief.

" thank god. " you practically groaned, standing from your chair and draping yourself across the practically solid surface of dick's thighs, curling into his form. " baby, i love you, and your family. but i dont think i could've lasted past tonight. i want to go to sleep tomorrow night in my underwear and not have to worry about scarring your brothers "

“jason, what the fuck?!”

you whisper-yelled, resting your hand over your chest as you saw your boyfriend’s face outside your window.

“open this!” he mouthed, gesturing you to open your window. “hurry up!”

all sorts of alarms rang in your head, wondering why the fuck your boyfriend was not at your front door like a normal person but at your window — that too, at two in the morning.

“hey, what’s wrong?” you asked as you pushed open the frame, brows etched with worry. “is everything–”

before you could continue, jason smashed his lips against yours, taking you by surprise. he took full control of the kiss, blissfully sighing as he felt you kiss him back.

it hadn’t even been that long since he saw you, but oh, how he missed the taste of your lips.

"jay," you mumbled between the kisses, still confused. "what's going–"

you paused as you felt his hands on your waist, pulling you closer as you gave into the kiss completely.

jason merely smiled against your lips, the simple sensation of your lips against his sending him into overdrive. he turned his head, deepening the kiss as his hands moved to hold your hips tightly.

you simply complied, the intensity and passion behind his kisses making your stomach flip a thousand somersaults.

jason pulled away, a dazed smile on his face as he looked at you. "hey," he muttered, his raspy voice making your chest hurt with how good he looked.

"hey? it's two in the morning, love." you chuckled, shaking your head. "what's the occasion to be greeted like this?"

jason only smiled in response, his sparkly brown eyes filled with adoration, depriving you of every breath you tried to take.

he tried to reply to you. he really did.

but one look at the confused pout on your face, and he was leaning back in, pressing his lips against yours.

one time. two times. five times. ten times.

you couldn’t help but giggle at his antics, forcefully pulling yourself away from your boyfriend as you looked at him.

“jason todd,” you sternly said. “as much as i love your kisses, what’s going on?” you asked, brows furrowed in confusion.

with one last kiss on your lips, jason pulled away, a love-struck look on his face as he smiled at you, his eyes conveying more than he could ever say.

“it’s nothing, honestly. i just missed you and your pretty lips.”

taglist : @maverick-wingman (to be added, please send a dm or ask!)

It hadn’t been long since you began your operation but you had quickly grown in power and infamy. Everyone was talking about the newcomer in town. How you went from a nobody to an instant somebody. This news had even hit the radar of Scarecrow. Of course, he didn’t want any competition so he made up his mind on how to get you into a deal with him. Not a fair or balanced deal obviously, but a deal nonetheless. So he sent Red Hood to act as his representative. What he wasn’t counting on though is your ability to see right through Jason and your stunning looks.

As you finished commanding your minions to their current mission, you felt a new presence in the room. When the last of your crew left the room, you turned to the presence and smiled. “Welcome, I was wondering when you’d show up,” You said as he stepped out of the shadows. The golden glow from sunset struck his crimson helmet and you watched as he quirked his head. “Expecting me, huh?” He chuckled as you went to pour yourself a glass of wine. “Why, of course. Almost everyone in this town is under Crow’s thumb. So I figured it would only be a matter of time until he sent you,” You replied teasingly as you looked over your shoulder at him. “Want some?” You asked as he shook his head. “More for me then,” You laughed as you took a seat.

“You’re not wrong about him not liking newcomers, but you’ve shown that you have the skills and brain to be useful,” He said dryly as you smiled flirtatiously at him. “Oh? Well, it’s nice to be appreciated,” You responded before you took a sip of your drink. “Since you’re aware of my reputation, I take it I won’t have to give you a demonstration of what happens to those who decline his offers,” He replied darkly as you chuckled at him. “Oh, yes I’m quite aware of what happens to them,” You replied as you stood and walked towards him pressing one finger against his chest and leaning in near where his ear would be. “On the contrary though, I won’t be accepting the offer,” You said softly and darkly before pulling back and running your finger down his chest. 

“I prefer to keep myself independent,” You chuckled before looking up at him and smiling. “I’m sure you understand,” You said before turning away from him and heading back towards your seat. Hearing a slight movement you quickly shot magic at where a bullet was headed towards you. Pausing it mid-air you plucked it and smiled at him. “Good try, but that’s not going to work,” You teased as he holstered his gun. “Maybe not now, but you will work with us or suffer the consequences,” He responded as you stepped close to him. “Unlikely, I do what I want. Not what anyone else wants,” You teased darkly as you placed your palm on his chest. At the contact, you felt butterflies flutter in your stomach. Ignoring it, you stared at him as you watched him process that you would be a harder target than expected.

Smiling warmly again you pushed him slightly as you pulled back. “But should you want to work as equal partners, you know where I’ll be,” You offered, stressing the you part as you didn’t respect Crow and his work, but Red Hood you could work with. You turned back around and went to grab your glass and when you turned around you saw he was gone. Sighing to yourself you took a long sip of your drink and went to relax.

Over the next few months, you received many more threats from Red Hood, plus a few actual attempts but nothing ever worked. You were always prepared and it infuriated him. Not only your defiance against his enforcements but also the tension that always hung in the air when you were around. He couldn’t tell if he wanted to fight you or push you up against a wall and kiss you until you lost your breath. As he looked over the pictures of you from his surveillance he couldn’t help but feel himself growing hard. The way your dress clung to your curves in just the right way in one picture. Or the way your makeup was smudged after a particularly rough fight in another picture. 

The more he gazed at the pictures the harder it was for Jason to not touch himself. Deciding fuck it, he unzipped his pants and began palming his dick through his pants. As he did he imagined you climbing on his lap and grinding on him in that red dress that he loved so much. The way your breaths would come out in pants, or the way your pupils would get blown out. Jason pushed his boxers down and fucked himself on his hand as he imagined the heavenly sounds that would push past your lips. Would you beg for him? Would you be a brat and he’d have to punish you? 

As the images flooded his head, he got closer and closer to his peak. He swore under his breath as he imagined how it’d feel to have you lower yourself onto him, how tight and warm you’d be. How you’d have a hard time keeping yourself up and you’d lean on him as he thrust up into you. How you’d whimper and moan for him as he hit your sweet spot. He panted as he felt the electricity in his veins grow to a peak as he coated his hand in his cum. He sat there for a minute afterward contemplating what he’d done. He didn’t find it gross or embarrassing. If anything, he felt determined to get his daydream to become reality.

A week later and he hadn’t decided how he wanted to go about it but it was about due for him and you to have your routine fight over him wanting you to accept the offer. You walked back into your apartment as you shrugged off your coat and went to wash your hands. Today had been a long day and you were ready to take the night to relax, maybe have a nice bubble bath. Until a small movement alerted you to his presence in the shadow of your living room. Sighing you called out to him, “Red? I’m really not in the mood today. Can we have your stupid little territory fight tomorrow?” You asked as you spared him no glance and continued to the kitchen sink.

“Oh? I thought you were always in the mood to punch me in the face? Or has something changed?” He asked teasingly as you shook your head. “Not that you care but today’s been a mess and I’d rather not deal with you tonight,” You replied dryly as you heard him step closer to you. “Hm, well no dice. You can’t reschedule something you have no say in,” He chuckled as you tried to calm yourself. You just needed to get him out and then you could relax and forget about all this until tomorrow. But god you really wanted to punch him in his face and crack his stupid helmet. Not that you wanted to give him exactly what he was looking for though. Still, you pondered for a moment what he might look like under there, would he be as attractive as he sounds? Or would he just be some average guy?

Shaking yourself out of it, you grabbed a towel and dried your hands off as he stood suspiciously close behind you. “So? You want to fuck up your apartment or shall we take this to the roof?” He asked as you turned around. Raising your eyebrow at him he just stood there waiting for your response. Aggravated, you pushed him out of your way and went to sit on the couch. Catching himself before he stumbled he followed after you. This wasn’t how you usually responded to his challenges. 

“Will you just leave already?” You huffed as you saw him walk over to you again. “No, you either need to accept my offer or stave me off with a fight,” He replied as you rolled your eyes. “Neither, now fuck off,” You replied as you went to turn on the tv. Instinctually, he pulled out one of his guns and shot your tv remote before you could switch on the tv. “You dick!” You screamed at him before chucking the remote at his head with the full force of your powers. Not expecting much, you were surprised when it cracked his helmet. Covering your mouth, he chuckled. “Guess I’ll be needing a new one of these,” He said as he took off his helmet and placed it on your coffee table. 

Getting a good look at him for the first time, you took in his features, the color of his eyes, the fluffiness of his hair. You hadn’t realized how long you had been staring until he smirked at you. “Like what you see?” He teased as you turned away from him and ran a hand through your hair. You heard him step closer to you but you didn’t register it until you felt the couch dip from his weight. Turning back towards him, you were surprised by the closeness. You two had been this close before but never without the barrier of the helmet.

Your gaze dipped from his eyes to his mouth as you imagined how soft his lips would be. Would he kiss you roughly or gently? You were willing to bet he’d be a passionate kisser. Breaking out of your thoughts you noticed he had an eyebrow raised as he waited for you to say something. “So, not going to kick me out then, huh? If I knew taking off the helmet would’ve gotten that reaction, then I would’ve done it a lot earlier,” He chuckled before you surprised him by grabbing the collar of his shirt and pulling him down to crash your lips to his. 

Once he got over his shock, you felt him return your kiss as he began to deepen it. You felt his hands roam over your waist as you moved your hands to hang over his shoulders. As you kissed you felt him urge you to move into his lap so you did. One of his hands roamed upward as you felt him palm one of your breasts. As he played with it you moaned into the kiss which he eagerly devoured. One of your hands tangled into his hair as you gently pulled on it and heard him groan. Parting for air for a minute you panted as you felt him press a kiss to the side of your mouth then several more across your jaw. “You don’t know how long I’ve wanted to do this,” He groaned as you giggled. “I could say the same but this is so much better than I could’ve imagined,” You replied as he pressed open mouth kisses to your neck and collarbone. 

Your giggles quickly turned into a moan as he sucked a hickey on your neck. Reactively you ground down onto him, feeling him grow hard beneath you. He groaned as he continued with his hands again. He rolled and played with your nipple as you squirmed under his touch. After a minute he moved his hand slowly towards your leggings. “May I?” He asked between hickeys as you nodded. “Use your words, baby,” He encouraged as your cheeks flushed. “Please Red, touch me,” You begged as you felt him smile against your skin. 

Moving his hand past your leggings and into your underwear he ran a finger through you and collected your slick. “Fuck, you’re so wet for me princess,” He groaned as you squirmed under him. He continued by rubbing slow circles around your clit as you moaned. “Please, Red, faster,” You pleaded as he tightened his other hand on your hip. “Hush, baby, take what I give you. You want to be my good girl don’t you?” He asked as he moved away from your neck to look at you. “Yes, wanna be good,” You moaned as he smirked at you. “That’s what I thought,” He replied as he captured your lips in another kiss. 

As he deepened the kiss his fingers sped up. You moaned into his mouth as he swallowed down all of your sweet sounds. Once he felt his fingers were soaked enough he dipped a finger into you. You whimpered into him as you clutched onto his shirt and you felt him smirk into the kiss. He worked you open as he continued to rub your clit with his thumb. He pulled back from you as you panted and whimpered and he watched you hungrily. Studying you closely he thrust another finger in as you moaned and leaned into him. 

Groaning as he felt how tight and wet you were he used his hand on your hip to help you grind into his hand. Resting your head on his shoulder you panted and moaned as he brought you closer and closer to your peak. Feeling you get close he continued his ministrations but leaned in close to you and began whispering to you. “Just like that baby, you feel so tight around my fingers. You’re doing so good,” He whispered as you felt the wave of pleasure coming. “Red, gonna come,” You choked out as you panted. “Give it to me princess, cum for me,” He continued as you bit your lip and let the wave crash over you.

He groaned as you squeezed his fingers and covered his hand in your juice. Letting you ride out your orgasm, he placed soft kisses on your jaw. Once he saw you were done and pulled his fingers out of you and brought them up to his lips. You watched as he licked them clean and groaned at the taste. “Fuck baby, you taste so good. I’ve got to eat you out sometime,” He commented as you flushed and tried to look away from him. Catching you, he placed his clean hand under your chin and turned you to look at him. “No need to shy away princess, you wouldn’t want to deny me of your perfect self, now would you?” He chuckled as he placed a gentle kiss on your mouth. As you looked up to him you smiled, “If this is our new fighting, count me in,” You joked as you both laughed. 

He quickly caught you off guard as he pushed you down onto the couch and went to begin kissing your neck again. Stopping him by gently grabbing his hair and pulling him up, you saw him look at you questioningly. “Bedroom,” You commented as he smiled and nodded. He signaled for you to wrap your legs around his waist and as you did he picked you up and let you guide him to your bedroom. Once he entered and kicked the door closed behind him, he placed you down on the bed as he backed up and began taking his shirt off. Following his lead, you pulled your top off and then your bra as you admired him and he stared hungrily at your chest. Giggling, you continued by shimmying out of your leggings as he quickly discarded the rest of his clothes. 

He sat on the end of the bed before crawling up to you and slowly pulling your panties off and throwing them into the pile of discarded clothes. After that, he began pressing kisses everywhere from your neck to just above your center. Stopping him you pulled him back up and kissed him deeply and passionately. “I’m ready, Red,” You told him as he made a pleased noise and nodded. “Do you have a condom?” He asked as you nodded in return and pulled one out from your bedside. “Thanks,” He commented as he rolled it on and lined himself up to you. As he did he began sucking marks on your collarbones and upper chest. You tangled your hand back in his hair as he teased his tip against your clit and you whimpered. “Please, Red, stop teasing,” You pleaded as he looked up at you and smirked. “As you wish, princess,” He said before quickly sheathing himself inside you. You cried out as you adjusted to his size. You both sat there for a moment panting as he waited for you to get comfortable. “Move, please,” You whimpered as he began to set a slow but deep pace.

“Fuck, you’re so tight, baby. Squeezing my dick like that,” He groaned as you moaned and dragged your nails across his back. He picked up his pace as you moaned and he buried his head in your neck. As he did he brought one of his hands to play with your clit causing your body to teeter closer to the edge. You babbled as you got closer and closer, only knowing the words ‘Red,’ ‘Please,’ and ‘More.’ He made a noise similar to a growl as he felt himself getting closer. “C’mon princess, give me another one. I know you can,” He urged on as he pulled back and watched as you began to fall apart. 

You felt white-hot pleasure course through your veins as you let yourself fall over the edge. “Fuck baby, I’m gonna cum,” He panted out as he brought a hand up to your neck and squeezed gently. Feeling you tighten even more around him he fell apart. Riding you both through it he eventually slowed. Gently turning you both over he rested you on top of him. “Hmm, I just fucked someone who’s real name I don’t even know,” You laughed as he chuckled with you. “For the record, it’s Jason,” He replied as you hummed. “I like it, I’m Y/N,” You responded as he stroked your hair. “A pretty name for a pretty girl,” He teased as you giggled. “Thanks, Jay,” You replied as he tilted your head up to capture you in a gentle kiss.

“As lovely as this is, I should get us cleaned up,” He commented as you parted. Giggling, you nodded, “The bathroom’s right there and some washcloths should be in the second drawer to the left,” You commented as he gently got out of bed and went to get some. When he came back he cleaned you up and offered to get you some water. Getting back in the bed and handing you a water bottle, you smiled and thanked him. “So, how do you feel about the equal partnership I mentioned forever ago,” You teased as he pretended to be in mock thought. “I think we could give it a go, but only if it means we can do this more and I can take you out to dinner this weekend,” He replied as you giggled. “I’m not opposed to that,” You teased as he smiled. “Good, then we can figure out the details tomorrow,” He replied as he kissed you on your forehead and moved the water bottle to the side table.

He knows that if he looks up, he'll see pictures. Taped to the dusty and damp walls of Arkham Asylum. Red circles trace each of their faces, and whether or not it's paint or blood he doesn't want to know.

It’s blood, it’s always been blood.

He can't bear to see their faces right now. Barbara, happy and smiling next to Dick as they enjoy a Gotham carnival. They're happy without him, he always held them back. He was too dependent on Barbara as a sister figure and was just an annoying kid to Dick, they're better now. 

Bruce. With a child on his shoulders. The son Jason could never be. A new Robin, one that could properly fulfill his duties. He was the failure, he was never going to be what Dick Grayson was. Maybe his replacement could, his replacement wouldn't let himself get captured.

Barbara and Selina and Alfred who had only ever taken care of him.

All with red targets around them. Everyone he'd ever cared for. Marked.

Everyone except Y/N, who's picture lay in pieces on the ground. Unlike the others, it wasn't taken by Joker's goons, and it wasn't recent.

It was her student ID from their first year at Gotham Academy. She was young, really young, eyes still bright and skin untainted by the scars of vigilante work. And she wasn't even looking at the camera but rather off to the side, caught by surprise when the photographer flashed his equipment. She hated pictures, and going to school was never a part of the deal. She’s mid laughing and so alive and happy in a world where Jason never hurt her. 

He'd stolen it soon after it was taken, sticking it in his wallet so she'd be forced to ask him for his own. You couldn't access the Academy Library without one after all. 

And the Joker had found it in his pocket and took it and ruined it and tore it and left her in pieces in the corner, her name never spoken from the maniac again. 

Jason assumed that was good. Better to be left in silence than threatened and marked for death. Hell, he couldn’t remember how long it's been since he’s seen her, and he softly starts to whisper her name. She promised him a night out once he found his mother, 

No, he couldn’t. 

Maybe the Joker couldn’t find her, hadn’t figured out her identity. He could keep her safe.

"What's that my boy?"

"No.. no," Robin pleads, the voice of nails on a chalkboard sending fear into his every bone. "Not again, not again."

The Joker comes into view and a weak cry comes from Jason's lips. His body jerks and another cough wracks his body, warm blood spilling from his mouth. Broken ribs, internal bleeding, punctured lung, he has no idea what it could be. If only Alfred were here, or Dick. To let him rest as they fixed him up, took care of him.

His chin is grabbed harshly, the bruising making it worse. The Joker laughs, pushing his face upwards and close to his own. He can smell death and acid on this villain, and Jason whimpers again. 

"How long do you think it's been, Jason?"

The robin doesn't answer. He can't keep track. He tried counting the amount of times Joker visited him, but then again, that was most likely more than once a day. And sometimes it was Harley, or a low level goon dressed like Batman and Nightwing and Batigrl and her. 

Time is a blur to him, he's been in pain too long. Everything hurts, even if someone were to save him now, he feels practically gone already. 

He wanted someone to save him.

"What about it Jason? You think Bats will come? Save his precious son?" The Joker prods, mouth wide.

Jason wants to say it. But the words dont leave his mouth. 

"Go on, don't be scared Jason. Tell me, tell dear old Joker."

"HE'LL COME FOR ME!" he yells, and it uses all his strength to just move his jaw.

"Even when he's better off without you?" The Joker asks, and he bends down to lift the bloodied crowbar. 

No. Please, anything but that. 

"He's going to! He has to!" Jason screams, and then tears start streaming down his cheeks.

The metal finds its way onto his hip, sending his body swaying helplessly as he cries. 

"Tell me, who's hurting you?" The Joker asks, grin never leaving his face as he hits Jason again. 

"Please stop, I'll do anything," the boy pleads, desperately trying to think of anything else. If only the Joker would end him now, let him go free.

"Who's hurting you Jason?"

"YOU!" He shrieks, the crowbar smacking painfully across his chest and ripping at the skin. It's like his lungs have collapsed, he no longer has bones. 

"Wrong!" 

"The, the Joker-"

"WRONG AGAIN MY BOY."

Jason looks up at the pictures on the wall, squeezing his eyes shut. Blood pours into his mouth and he spits it out, shaking in his chains. "Batman.. batman is hurting me."

The next hit never comes. "Attaboy," The Joker mutters, and then he leaves.

Two

He returns the next morning. Jason assumes it's the next morning, as he's in a new purple suit. Harley gave him a dosage some odd amount of time ago, it must be a new day. His limbs are numb, his wrists are cracked and bleeding. He tries to keep his tongue in his mouth but his jaw is slack and disfigured, it’s increasingly difficult. 

Jason hasn't slept in days. Dark circles accessorize his black eyes, it's a miracle he can see at all.

The green haired man sets a timer in the corner of the room, and the Robin's brain goes into endless loops of trauma. The crowbar, the explosion that almost killed him. His mind wandered to warm arms pulling him out, thinking Bruce had pulled him from the rubble. Except it wasn't his father at all.

Batman hadn't even tried. 

"Jason." The Joker says sweetly, walking around the boy like a predator. The robin is helpless, he's lost all feeling in his limbs. "I thought I might tell you a story today."

The dark haired boy stays silent. He doesn't cry, he doesn't scream, he prays to a god he doesn't know for it all to stop. A bullet, a poison, the world ends in a fiery explosion, he didn't care.

"Jason."

"Just kill me already," he pleads, voice cracking and desperate.

Loud laughter echoes through the room. Jason's head hurts from the sheer volume, and it doesn't stop. It gets louder, and it carries around, and Jason lets out hushed breaths. 

"I can't kill you boy, we're a great team you and I! Would you like to hear my story?"

Jason closes his eyes in anticipation for today's beating.

The Joker grabs his face again, and Jason is groggy. Fading in and out of consciousness. But as his eyes are forced open and the first thing he sees is a blade, Jason screams.

It's a dull knife, long and serrated and bloody and dirty. And in its reflection is the lunatic's face, grinning like mad. The light catches on the razor as the Joker's eyes go wide.

"Wanna know how I got these scars?" He sneers, and Jason cries. He struggles to get away, hanging helplessly from his suspension. Nothing works, and two goons from the shadows hold him still with no thought towards his bruised and broken body.

He's in agony, and he's begging. He's in insurmountable pain and he can't do anything about it. The razor is brought to Jason's lips, presses to the side of his mouth with dull pressure.

He’s muffled now, and he continues fighting. 

"Just,, like, this!!" The Joker yells, dragging the blade upward through Jason's skin at a slow agonizing pace. He wants this to be slow and torturous, and Jason only cries and shakes. It hurts, god it hurts, he's being cut open, and the blood and tears mix and cause him more pain, 

He almost wishes for the crowbar again and once the knife is finished on one side, he screams again. His blood bleeds from the blade and falls onto the floor, joining the rest from the past days. Months? It couldn’t have been years.

“Such a handsome young man,” the joker croons, erupting into even more laughter. “Tell me what brought the chicks in, your crippling daddy issues or your criminal record?”

Jason couldn’t answer if he tried. The Joker grabs his face, almost smelling his newfound wounds, and then pulls back, leaving him in a hanging sway. 

“Let me go..” he pleads, mouth sore. His bright blue eyes are so devoid of color it hurts, and he closes them. Blood and dirt clumps on his pretty eyelashes. 

“Now I don’t think I can do that dear Jason.”

Joker licks the blade clean, it catches on the man's tongue and cuts him, not that he cares. Jason's glad he's not forced to swallow the damn thing.

Well, be careful what you wish for. 

Its sharp edge is brought down his jaw, down his neck, so close to his jugular veins, if only he could shift and catch himself on the blade, he could end it all. 

He starts crying.

He doesn’t know when he stops.

The Asylum walls go black, and he's shrieking. Harley Quinn brings a bat to his body as the Joker moves his knife, and it finds solace along Jason's cold chest.

One cut. Two cuts. Jason screams more. His throat is raw, he doesn't even know where his terror is coming from anymore, it'd been beaten out of him. 

"Bruce-, bruce stop-"

The Joker laughs. "AHA, the boys learning, don't you see? That's right, that's right."

The cuts are few, and after a while they're bearable. The hardest part to deal with is Harley"s high squeals as she beats him. She calls him cute, handsome, a songbird.

Songbird.

"You can't.."

"I can't what Jay darling? Hmm?? What can't I do?" The Queen of crime pouts, and Jason sees red.

"Don't say that," he spits, finding his voice. "That name isn't for you bitch."

The next time the knife touches his skin, it's coated in acid. And he's yelling for it to stop, he's pleading, thrashing around.

His kicks find Harley and he's flown forward and backward, still chained to the ceiling. Its desperate.

"JAY DARLIING," she sings. "Puddin what else gets our birdie going?? Mm? What makes him sing like a good pet. Oh this is exciting!" 

"SHUT UP-"

"Jay," Harley flutters her eyelashes, bringing herself close to his face. "Baby? Love? Is it sweetheart?" Her mouth is wide, eyes deranged. "Perhaps it's Mister J! He stares into her gaze, and for a second the jester flinches.

If Jason wasn't suspended and restrained, he'd kill her. He knew it and she knew it and Joker most definitely knew.

"Well Jason, kill her then! Do it loverboy, why won't you end her?" He croons, and Harley feigns sadness. 

"I-" he starts, unwilling to let himself hang in shame. How could he do this? 

"Oh come on angel! Why don't you try?" She shrieks, and then Jason is shouting, further tearing into the cuts along his mouth as he brings his legs up, attempting to wrap them around Harley's neck. 

He doesn't get very far. Someone holds him steady, and the stinging knife is brought back to his chest. An H. An A. Another H and an A. 

Straight across his chest, and then it begins again. Jason's breathing is labored from his attempt to retaliate, and he slips back into his daze of unconsciousness. He can't do this much longer.

THE.

Jason can see it in the mirror on the opposite wall. He doesn't remember when that got put there. If he could reach something with his feet he could throw it. Break the glass, pick it up with his feet again perhaps, end this torture-

JOKES.

Jason feels like vomiting. 

ON.

Jason vomits on the ground in front of him. Sweat sticks to his skin and he's pale, he feels a fever growing on him. The knife continues lower to his bruised skin. This couldn't get worse, could it. 

YOU.

The words are engraved on his body, marred by the blood dripping from it. Jason's eyes roll to the back of his head. The trauma puts him to sleep, and the Harley Quinn whispers another "Jay Darling" into his ear before departing. 

Three

Y/N’s picture is gone now, he can't even piece it together in his mind anymore. The scraps are scattered and disintegrated into dust.

This time he hears Harley before Joker, she's hanging off of the clown's arm, looking at him with the adoration of a psychopath. In her hands is a long poker, tip red hot, and she swings it without a care in the world. She giggles as her love comes closer to the half dead boy, untying his chains.

Jason lands on the floor, a crumpled heap of skin and broken bones. His head hits the ground, but it's the most beautiful thing he's touched in a long time.

He doesn't move, curling into a protective ball. 

"Mister J our bird isn't moving," Harley whines, kicking him in the back. He groans, shielding himself as best he could. There's nothing on the ground that's usable, not even a sharp stick or rock, there's a used abandoned needle but it sends him into nausea.

The Joker's laughing brings him back to reality as he attempts to crawl away. The floor is appalling, disgusting, a mix of wax and blood and body fluids that he wished he could forget, but he's let go. 

Jason slams his hands on the cement, using the force to wake him up and pull himself forward. His legs don't work, he's going delirious again, and then there's the sizzle of water behind him.

"Where are you going birdie?" Harley asks, and the Joker takes another step closer. 

"No, no, NO-" Jason pleads. Please let him go, dead or alive he doesn't care. Just get him out of here, make it stop. It's the only word he knows at the moment, every syllable is tortuous to pronounce. He bangs his head on the cement. God he’s going insane.

Stop touching him. Stop hurting him. 

He’s been beaten and tortured and degraded in the worst ways possible. He couldn’t remember what it was like to be human. And still, this was the worst pain yet.

He's pinned down as the hot poker nears his face, the symbol bright red on the end. Like a branded piece of meat. His flesh burns and sizzles as the Joker gives more pressure, and Jason's never screamed louder. 

It's in the intense silence within which he screams with his whole body. It forces its way from deep in his throat, demonic and angry and scared. 

He's hiding a truth from himself, and soon he's not screaming from the burning, but rather that he's stuck here. Forever. 

Edged with the tantalisingly sweet release of death, the Joker will never give it to him. 

The Joker will never let him die, he will never let him go. And now his cursed J is on Jason’s cheek, he’ll forever be the Joker’s pet.

When the brand stick is taken off his skin, Jason is sweating and pale and falls asleep.

"What a shame you couldn't handle it."

x

Y/N runs through the hallway with desperation. She'd tracked down Harley one night and by some god forsaken miracle, the deranged woman had blood on her skirts.

Another miracle hadY/N sneaking into Wayne Manor to ask Barbara to help her, analyzing the blood samples to track down the Joker.

They found something better.

For a second she believed Bruce's high end, most technologically advanced equipment was wrong. Babs assured her it wasn't. That was Jason's blood on Harley, less than two weeks old. 

"Jason?"

The boy looks up, whimpering. He almost doesn't hear her.

"Oh Jay," she whispers from the hallway. She's just a shadow but Jason knows it's her. No one has ever said his name with such gentleness. 

The woman lets out a sob. He's here, he's alive, he's gonna be okay. 

Jason holds back sobs of his own as she runs to him. Her fingers are first to touch him, resting on his chest and trailing over his scars, his wounds and his blood. His torn clothes, the dirt and acid burns. Her hand stops over his heart, beating so slow she would have believed him to be dead.

But this is Jason. He's not dying anytime soon. Especially not if she can help it.

Tears stream down her face as she wraps her arms around him, holding him close. 

He's gonna be okay.

Y/N is immediately supporting him as she conjures a knife to cut him down. His arms are free and he nearly goes unconscious.

She catches him before he can fall. It's not like the Joker when he needs to crawl away like a wounded puppy. He welcomes the other presence in the damp room, shaking. Jason lifts his head, and he doesn't even have to move until she's at his side. It's so different.. he forgot what this feels like. 

Jason forgot what it felt like to have emotions besides fear. 

He curls into her lap, slowly using her body to sit up. 

"Jay look at me, please," she murmurs, holding his face and brushing the hair out of those colorless eyes. "Oh my god I knew it.. I knew you were alive.. Jay I'm so sorry-" she stops herself, kissing the top of his blood matted head.

That doesn't matter now.

"I'm gonna get you out of here, you're okay sweetheart. Stay awake okay? Okay. Stay awake for me please."

Jason nods, hanging onto her. If he lets go, she'll leave. He'll lose her and he'll be stuck here again. She'll fade away.

It hurts to move, every bone and every limb is on fire. Then she's grabbing him and they're standing up, she's practically half carrying him.  

Mumbles of his name fill the empty asylum wing. Js and Jason's and Jay's pass her lips as if just repeating it is gonna make him alright.

One step, and Jason crumbles. He can't walk, it's a miracle he can feel his legs at all. "I'm not going anywhere," he mutters. 

She doesn't say anything. She knows.

Footsteps in the background. Walking, jogging, running. 

Maniacal laughs and snarls and spit.

Y/N bends her knees and slings him over her shoulder in a fireman's carry, and then she starts running. Down one hallway and then the next, the Arkham Asylum is a maze.

"Jay, side of my mask, the-"

"Comms," he finishes, holding the button to turn it on.

"Bat? Batgirl, do you read me?" The girl whispers, ducking into an alcove.

"I'm here. Did you..?"

"I've got him. Babs, he's alive, Jason's alive, he's breathing-" It feels so good to say, to not just breathe an empty statement. 

Crying comes from the other side of the comms. Barbara composes herself enough to speak, but even then, emotion hangs in her voice. "Let's bring him home then, where are you right now? Dicks outside the Asylum with Bruce, don't worry about the thugs or the cameras, we have it covered."

"I'LL FIND YOU BIRDIE!" 

"The Joker's here," Y/N tells Barbara and the air hangs with a pregnant pause. 

"Okay, Tim's gonna have you turn right, we got his signal."

The woman turns, ducking into the darkness.

"Y/N,." Jason wheezes, hanging onto her shoulders with the strength he could muster. 

"Jason if this is one of, one of your 'if we don't make it out' speeches-"

"Nevermind," he replies, wishing he had the energy and the ability to smile. She does, she smiles for the both of them- even if he can't see it from this angle. 

"God I'm going to make him pay for this. Writhing and screaming and begging for me to end him," she threatens, listening for the next of Barbara’s directions.

She's told to go right and through a door.

There's two sets of footsteps now.

Y/N continues, trying to fill the silence. The Joker won’t track her voice, the alarms are too loud. "That doesn't matter now, I guess. You're alive and I- we thought you were dead and it took so long for me to accept that, and I still don't know how I found you but I did and Jay I'm so proud of you-"

"Hey this doesn't mean you can give me a speech of your own," Jason interrupts, and she cracks another smile. She’s rambling like she always does when she overthinks, and he closes his eyes to imagine that they’re once again on a Gotham skyscraper with a bottle of champagne. Spilling secrets and laughing like they weren’t masked vigilantes with secret identities. 

"I love you Jason, and you're not leaving me again."

"HAHA I LOVE THIS GAME-" The Joker yells. His psychotic grin fills Jason’s vision as the maniac throws open a hatch, jumping down into the room. Jason is dropped to the ground and Y/N has her sword in hand, stepping in between the two men. 

His vision is blurry, he can’t see anything, and the ground is warm. 

He can’t succumb. Jason stands up again, grabbing a pistol from Y/N’s leg and he shoots. The feel of a gun trigger isn’t unfamiliar. 

Yelling fills the room, as does the clash of metal and fists, Jason smiles as the Joker cries out in pain. Another door opens, there’s girlish laughter now, and so many footsteps. He keeps shooting, dropping enemies like a second nature because he was Jason Peter fucking Todd. 

Jason’s ribs get stomped on again and he loses his gun, and metal echoes on the ground as something is dropped. Three gunshots ring through the room. 

No. 

No.

The Joker and the Harlequin keep laughing in glee, and Jason blacks out from crying again. 

x

Cold hands grab his face. The man who laughs is, well, laughing and pulling Jason’s face close to his own. The smell of death fills his senses and Jason opens his eyes. 

Bruce Wayne was not dull and nor was he daft but it sure did take him a good few moments to process the girl’s words. Y/N could almost see the cogs turning behind his eyes as he stared her dead in the eye. It would have been unnerving if she hadn’t been perfecting her own Bat glare from the time, she could open her eyes.

“I’m sorry, what?”The billionaire continued to just look at her. It was slowly becoming unnerving, daughter of Batman or no.

The man’s response was almost laughable. To the point that Y/N was sure she would have been cackling under any other circumstances. Even when he was utterly bamboozled the greatest detective on Earth was still able to remain polite. If someone had accidentally called Y/N their mother, she would have probably begun cursing them out by now.

“Surprise.” Jason’s lips turned down slightly as he lifted his shoulders in a ‘whatever’ gesture. Y/N almost strangled him for his nonchalance. “The new Nightingale is still her.”

“I’m sorry, what?”He repeated.

Y/N was going to strangle him too. In fact, she was about ready to shoot both men and then herself. This was beyond embarrassing. How had she slipped up? She was supposed to be the Nightingale, the Sparrow, the untouchable Wayne heiress. And here she was, sinking further and further into the too-big dining chair as her father refused to say anything other than, ‘I’m sorry, what?’

It was all she could do to squash down the anger. It had been years since they’d last seen each other and if you didn’t count the time, they’d spent faced off in family court it had been longer. And all the great Bruce Wayne could say was three words over and over again. Apparently, he was both daft and dull after all.

Y/N forced herself to remain calm, steady her heartbeat and count her breaths. She had prepared for this, just as she’d prepared for every conceivable situation. Perhaps she hadn’t expected to blurt it all out like that or that her father would be stunned into idiocy. But she’d planned what she’d do, what role she’d play, what mask she’d don.

She was going to be as infuriatingly casual as possible.

“It’s all good,” Y/N shrugged casually, pinching a buttered slice of bread from the splay of delicious food. Mouth full she continued, “I didn’t expect you to recognize me, new outfit and all. But Jason’s right, the new and improved Nightingale is still yours truly.”

“Y/N?”

“In the flesh,” She tilted her head back and spread her arms to the side – toast still in her right hand. “Young, healthy and still very much alive.”

Something clattered from behind the seated trio. Both Y/N and Jason turned to find a stunned Alfred Pennyworth staring at her like he’d seen a ghost. It seemed, however, that Bruce’s eyes were permanently stuck to his daughter.

The butler gave a shuddering breath, “As I live and breathe. I can’t believe it… Miss Y/N?”

“Oh, you better believe it, Al.” Y/N’s fake grin suddenly became so much easier. “I’m surprised and slightly hurt that neither of you recognized me last night. You were probably tired-“She sighed. “And getting old, I suppose.”

“Witty as ever Miss Y/N,” Alfred murmured though that look – like she really was a ghost – was still there. “Well. This is a… Turn of events. Will you be staying here; shall I prepare your room?”

“Yeah I’ll hang around, but I can handle myself thanks Al,” She gave him a small smile, dropping the crusts of her toast onto the plate. “Come walk with me, Jason?”

The boy wonder made a noise in the back of his throat, brushed the crumbs from his hands and followed her into the hallway. The H/C haired girl gave the men behind her a charming smile before flourishing through the doorway she’d come through – Jason at her heels. She made it all of three meters before that simmering anger burst forth.

Y/N spun upon the second Robin and shoved him into the pristine wall, locking him into place with her arms. A scowl fell across her features as she glanced only once to check that neither Alfred nor Bruce had followed them. Jason blinked in confusion, scrunching up his face at the girl’s vengeful expression.

“What the fuck is going on?” He battered at her arms, “I thought we were friends?”

“Friends?” She scoffed. “Nightingale is Robin’s partner, yes. Y/N Wayne is Jason Todd’s friend, sure.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“I’m a Sparrow,” She hissed. “So, listen up. Here are my conditions; One, I am not his daughter and I am not your friend. I will help the Robin; I will save Gotham from this war. Two, you, Mr. Todd, will help me disappear so thoroughly that my father can’t find me.”

“And three?” He heaved a breath.

before you could even formulate a response, you were distracted again by jason's strong form crawling over yours, a teasing smirk on his face as water dripped down onto your body, raising goosebumps on your skin.

he lifted one of his hands to move your sunglasses from your eyes to the top of your head so he could look into your eyes without the obstruction of tinted plastic.

" you know what you're doing, todd. good thing there's no one else around or i'd have to drop kick a couple girls " you joked, your arms lifting to drape over his shoulders, fingertips pushing through his wet hair.

" you know i've only got eyes for my baby " his voice dropped as his head lowered to press a featherlight kiss onto your lips, so light you questioned whether his lips even touched yours in the first place.

" i know, it's just other girls have eyes for you " you pushed yourself up into a sitting position on the lounger, watching as jason let himself fall onto your lap, turning so he could still look at you.

" don't care. only want you, angel " his words caused you to lean down and press a kiss onto his already slightly pink nose.

" love you too, handsome " you replied simply.

the rest of the day was spent lounging in the sun until it started to darken outside and you both showered and changed into something more comfortable for dinner.

dinner which consisted of a simple pasta eaten on the patio overlooking the sunset.

but all jason could seem to look at was you.

you could feel his eyes on you, and every time you looked over at him, his gaze remained fixed.

he didnt shy away.

he would simply offer you a smile and lift your locked hands to his lips to press a kiss to the back of your hand.

by the end of dinner, you had turned to face him, your legs up on his chair and his up on yours. and his eyes remained on you

" see something you like handsome ? " you teased, a smile worming its way onto your face.

" yeah, my gorgeous, gorgeous girl. you're freckles are coming out already, baby. caught the sun a little today "

he was right, while you lounged around today your cheeks had turned a light shade of pink that you noticed when you were washing your face after showering.

" so have you, jay. " you insisted as you stood and walked the few steps over to him, your legs straddling his as your hands cradled his face.

your forefinger dragged delicately over the redness of his face.

down the slope of his nose and across the apple of his cheeks.

" y'gonna let me put on some of my aloe cream on your face before we go to bed ?"