Chapter Text
Now, Jason will admit that going back to the apartment was a stupid idea, hindsight, and all that. But- the necklace was the only thing he had left of his mom and- he just- it doesn’t matter what he did. This is where he ended up, running from debt collectors courtesy of his dead father, and they were gaining.
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Crack.
Pain in his ribs. So much pain. He couldn’t breathe- he couldn’t- he couldn’t- he-
Out.
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When Jason woke up - and he uses that term loosely, it was more akin to having a grapple shoved through his chest as it drags him off - he woke up in agonizing pain, and shot up, <I have to get out of here. They’re coming- they’re going to kill me this time->
Hush, Jason, rest. I have you, you are safe.
He doesn’t know whose voice that is but- it’s good, he knows it.
He rests.
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The next time he wakes, he’s much calmer.
When he moves to sit up, he realizes he’s not in pain and checks himself over. Nothing’s broken, or bleeding, which is… strange, to say the least. He cut himself on a piece of metal while he was running. Not to mention that he doesn’t have any bruises. He was kicked, right? Yeah, he remembers that much.
<those kicks should have left something, I’m sure>
They did.
He jumps and backs into the tight space between the dumpster and the alley wall, looking around, “Who’s there?”
It’s alright little one, I’m not going to hurt you. You were very injured when I found you and I healed you as best I could.
Weirdly enough, he- he believes the- it? Voice?
Her, darling, I use her.
Jason… didn’t say that out loud.
No. you didn’t.
“Am I going crazy?” he asked the empty ally.
No, you’re not. Why don’t you get somewhere safe and I’ll explain on the way.
That… was probably better than just standing in an alleyway.
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“Then why did you choose me if you could have chosen anyone?”
One, I like you, you’re very clever, and two, you’re special don’t ask me how I know. I just do. I had the same feeling about James Gordon, my Bat, and bird.
“Then why don’t you talk to them?”
I- she pauses, trying to put it as gently as possible, they haven’t died little one.
“Died,” he chokes out.
Yes, little one, and there’s more to it but, I’m sorry Darling… you didn’t make it out of that alley.
“Oh…”
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Who knew having a damn city in your head would be this much fun? Not Jason. But now that he had it, he wouldn’t give it up for the world.
“Get yer ass back here boy!”
Hang left.
Maybe he shouldn’t abuse that fact to steal things, but come on. A kid's gotta eat.
He grabs onto the ladder leading up the building and slides into his current hideout.
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<you’re weirdly nice.> Jason realized a few weeks later.
What do you mean?
“Like, for Gotham… you’re weirdly nice. The- you?- are. So bad that it just seems strange.”
Ah, the crime?
“Yeah, that.” Jason takes a bite of his stolen sandwich.
That’s not my fault- well, not the worst of it, and… I’m trying to help where I can. That’s why my Bat exists, though I wasn’t going for the whole… ‘vigilante’ thing .
Did she just… say air quotes, “Then why is crime so bad?”
That’s the first Wayne's fault.
Fuckin’ rich people, “How?”
Pissed off a witch, don’t ask me how, I think it was a bad break up.
“Huh…”
Yep.
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Hey, Jay-baby? Gotham starts.
<yeah?> Jason asks, he’s walking through Robinson Park on a surprisingly nice day. Miss Isley lets some people walk through some parts of the park as long as they’re respectful of the plants. She’s surprisingly polite for a supervillain.
Have you been to the library lately?
<No? Why?> he sits down and leans to rest his back on one of the fruit trees. That’s another thing that Miss Isley’s nice about, she told Jason he could take what fruit he needed as long as he didn’t overdo it. It’s nice to know he has some source of food other than stolen deli meat and the occasional sandwich.
One of the workers there is doing a little teaching program where kids who don’t go to school can do classes. So Gotham might not be doing this purely because she knows Jason wants to be able to learn, but sue her, she just wants her Batgirl and her new Bird to meet.
Jason thought about it for a moment, <I’ll check it out>
Yes! Thank you, Jason, I’m sure you’ll like it at least a little bit>
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“Hello everyone, my name is Carla James, you can call me Car or whatever you’re comfortable with, and I’m teaching the English portion of this program. To start off, I’m going to be giving all of you a short story and having you read it to yourself and answer a few questions. This is just to understand how well your reading comprehension is.”
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Car was nice enough, the ‘class’ had six kids, twelve to sixteen, and she didn’t say anything negative about them, no matter what their reading level was. She ended the lesson by reading children's books like a Shakespearian actor.
There were four classes in all, basic schooling, English, Mathematics, Sciences, and Art. Science was taught by a college student named Bethany Kane, everyone calls her Bette and she ended the class by teaching the kids how to do backflips. Art was taught by Jai King, they started the class by dropping in through the vent opening in the ceiling scaring the shit out of everyone - they were Jason’s favorite. Math is taught by Barbra- call me Babs -Gordon, she ended up teaching them some rough Krav Maga.
Jason… Had a surprising amount of fun. He went in expecting some self-righteous assholes thinking they were saints for teaching some street trash and he came out with new kickass role models. He’s excited for tomorrow.
I’m glad you liked it, Darling.