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Chapter Text

Lucy was thankful her parents were locked up in Arkham.
Papa got arrested late last night after trying to rob a bank and Mommy had been locked up the week previously, also because of a bank robbery. Maybe they should stop robbing banks since they weren’t very good at it.
As per tradition, Lucy slipped her Papa’s goons, unconcerned about them tattling to her parents, and wandered towards the Gotham Public Library.
Lucy skipped into the building, waved at the librarian, and bypassed the children’s section. She headed straight for the classics, determined to finish Pride and Prejudice.
She ran her painted fingers along the book spines, stopping at the twelfth book on the middle shelf, only to find a gap. Frowning, Lucy scanned the books, hoping to find it misplaced but it was nowhere in sight. She peered down the aisle to find a young boy, about her age, on the floor, leaning against the shelf, reading her copy of the book.
“You’re reading my book,” Lucy sang as she skipped up to the boy.
“It’s the library’s, not yours,” he replied without looking up.
Lucy studied him for a moment. He was scrawny and bruised, a bit dirty honestly, and his black hair looked so muddy she could probably make a mud pie if she ran her hand through his hair once. His red hoodie was at least two sizes too big and had more holes than Lucy had scars, which was saying something. He was the last person Lucy expected to be enjoying a classic romance novel. Well, besides herself.
“But I want to read it,” she whined.
“Tough luck,” he said, turning the page.
Scowling, Lucy stomped over and sat beside him. She positioned herself so she was looking over his shoulder, able to read both pages easily.
The boy didn’t respond and the two stayed like that for hours, reading the same book, without moving. Lucy saw the worried glances the librarian threw their way but the woman didn’t bother them so she elected to ignore her in favor of romance blossoming in the page.
It was well past dinner by the time they finished but Lucy didn’t have a curfew right now and she doubted the boy did either.
“I’m hungry. Want to grab some dinner?” Lucy asked the boy.
“I don’t have any money,” he replied sheepishly, looking at the ground.
“It’s cool,” she said, grabbing his arm, “we’ll pickpocket someone on the way. I know a fantastic egg sandwich place.”
Lucy dragged the boy out of the library, grabbing a wallet from a man leaving the bank next door, and set off with a determined step. The boy shrugged before following her.
“You got a name, blondie?” he asked.
“Lucy, you?” she asked, finally looking the boy in the eyes. Dazzling blue eyes.
“Jason.”
The two continued in silence, weaving through the people before coming to a small, hole-in-the-wall breakfast place. Lucy greeted the owner warmly, who seemed unconcerned that two children were alone and buying sandwiches at ten at night.
Ten minutes later, Lucy and Jason sat in a nearby alleyway, eating delicious egg and cheese sandwiches, chatting about their favorite books.
Midway through their conversation, sirens could be heard coming down the street and the Joker and Harley Quinn rode by in a stolen police car, being chased by Batman and multiple cops.
“Shit,” Lucy said, dropping the rest of her sandwich. “I gotta go home.”
“But-,”
“I have to leave now, Jason,” Lucy said, checking to make sure the two clowns were gone.
“I spend time at the library,” Jason offered. “Maybe we’ll see each other again?”
Lucy smiled, running back to give her new friend a hug. “I’ll see you again, Jason. Promise.”
With that, Lucy darted out of the alleyway and out of Jason’s life, just as quick as she entered.
~~~~
Even though Lucy had left behind the money, it wasn’t enough for Jason to get more than one meal out of. While walking back to one of his usual haunts, he came across the Batmobile. And it was just sitting there. Empty, unguarded, and easily robbable.
Jason looked left. Right. Nothing. No Bat in sight. He took the carjack he had grabbed a couple alleys back and got to work.
He had just yanked the third tire off the Batmobile when he sensed a presence looming over him.
“Shit,” Jason hissed, throwing the tire at Batman’s head.
Batman ducked his head and held his hands in the air in a placating manner. “I’m not gonna hurt you. I just want to know why you’re stealing my tires.”
“Cause you stupidly left ‘em here!” Jason said.
“And stealing my tires would get you some money.”
Jason stayed quiet.
“Are you hungry?”
“No.” Technically that wasn’t a lie, he ate a sandwich a couple hours ago.
“Come on. I know a good burger place,” Batman said, motioning for Jason to follow him.
~~~~
Lucy ducked into the warehouse her parents called a home.
Thankfully, her parents weren’t back yet and Papa’s goons refused to look her in the eye. She wandered towards her room and was about to enter when her parent’s burst in, cursing Batman.
“Batsy cost me another suit! How am I supposed to look professional while blowing people up if I have holes in my suits?” her dad complained.
“Don’t worry, Puddin,” her mom said, “I’ll patch it up. You’ll look just as stylish as before!”
Lucy silently gagged as her parents came into view.
“Lucinda, sweetheart,” Joker said, “we’re back! Miss us?”
Lucy faked a bright smile, “Of course, Papa! Did you beat up Batsy?”
“Of course, sweetheart,” Joker said, pulling his daughter into a hug. “Wanna help me plot my next big heist?”
“Sure, Papa,” Lucy said with false cheerfulness, her smile growing almost unnaturally wide.
“Don’t forget what’s coming up,” Harley sang, “My little girl’s ‘bout to turn ten in a few days.”
“That’s right!” Joker cried, “Little Lucy gets to join us. You excited, sweetheart?”
“Of course, Papa,” Lucy said. “I wanna be just like you!”
“Perfect,” Joker said, his grin turning unnervingly dark. “I feel like a game show seems appropriate for your birthday. What do you think, Harls?”
“Genius as ever, Puddin.”
Lucy’s fake smile widened as she let her parents lead her through the warehouse, planning to make Lucy’s life even more miserable.

Chapter Text

Lucy stood behind the curtain in the most awful costume she had ever seen in her life. She wore a purple and red tye dye t-shirt and black leggings with holes in it. She wore a pair of purple and red striped boots with a heel too tall for a ten year old. A toxic green tutu was fitted around her waist and across her chest was a sash holding a collection of smoke bombs, gas bombs, and bomb bombs. Her blonde hair was curled and fashioned into pigtails, identical to her mother’s. Her face and the rest of her exposed skin were painted the ugly pasty white of her parents, several shades lighter than her natural skin tone. The only thing that Lucy recognized in her look were her nails, painted a sparkling gold that she swiped from the salon at the mall.
As per her parents’ insistence, she was spending her tenth birthday looking like a four year old that was thrown up on by a unicorn and kidnapping the Commissioner to put on a deadly game show. Papa loved them and unless you want to be stabbed, you agree when he says it sounds like fun.
Her parents were doing something on stage and Lucy just fiddled with her fingers, half heartedly listening for her cue.
She didn’t care honestly. If she was lucky Batman would catch her parents and she would escape, meaning at least a few days of freedom, maybe she could see Jason again. He was nice and she hadn’t been able to see him sense the day they met.
And if Lucy was unlucky, her parents would escape as well and she’d have to plot and plan with them when they got back to their warehouse.
Part of her hoped all three of them would be caught but that would ruin any chances she had at a normal life.
“And of course I’d like to introduce you all to my beloved daughter. Come and say hello, sweetheart,” Joker said with his unnatural cheerfulness.
Lucy took a deep breath before jumping from the curtain into a cartwheel, making sure to land right into her father’s waiting arms. “Hello, Papa,” she said with a sugary high-pitched voice. She was making herself want to gag.
“You see Commish, Batsy, I want to introduce you to Giggles, my beloved baby girl. It’s her birthday today and I thought we’d do something special.”
Lucy giggled, “Hi Commissioner. Nice ta meet ya.”
Poor Commissioner Gordon was tied up and sitting on a bomb. Three poor citizens, none of Lucy recognized, were sitting in front of buzzers, smaller bombs strapped to them. The camera, which recorded what Batman was undoubtedly watching, was in the hands of her mother who was sitting in the front row, munching on popcorn.
“Want to read the next question, pumpkin?”
Lucy nodded, taking the card from her papa’s hand.
“Which breakout of Papa’s was the most grand? Was it A: The Flying Christmas Tree? B: Turning Momma crazy? Or C: Blowing it Up?”
The three unwilling participants buzzed in their answers, each guessing a different breakout. The two that chose the wrong answer had their bomb’s lose a minute of time and Commisoner Gordon’s went down by two minutes.
“Uhh ohh, Batsy,” Harley teased, “it looks like they’re gonna blow!”
“No it’s not, Quinn. Let them go, Joker,” Batman said, standing in the wing, alongside the new Robin, Batarangs in hand.
“How about no?” Joker said, pressing an emergency button Lucy installed into the building, causing laughing gas to come hissing out of the floor.
Batman and Robin whipped out gas masks and Lucy was silently thankful that at least she had her parents’ immunity to most poisons, including her father’s laughing gas.
Batman lunged at Joker, forcing Harley to drop the camera to come and help. Robin began to move towards Lucy and, as planned, she took off running toward the outside.
~~~~
Jason groaned as Giggles made a break for the emergency exit. He wasn’t in the mood for chasing down an insane child.
After getting adopted by Bruce about a month ago and learning about the billionaire’s nighttime adventures, he trained to take on the mantle of Robin. It was only his third night out and Bruce was originally against bringing him to a fight with the Joker. But when he saw that Joker had a daughter who decided to join the family business, Bruce had given a resigned sigh and stressed that Jason was only allowed to engage with the girl.
Jason was starting to hate girls. It had been weeks and despite showing up almost every day, Lucy had yet to visit the library. He checked with the librarian too. The blonde had yet to show. What was the point of becoming friends with her if she just ditched him?
Giggles was on the rooftops now, forcing Jason to swing up and follow. She grinned and threw down a smoke bomb. Jason growled as he could hear her high pitched giggles, echoing off the taller buildings surrounding them.
“Come and get me bird boy.”
Jason's eyes flicked back and forth, watching for any sort of movement. Her toxic green tutu, stood out just slightly in the smoke cloud. Jason lunged.
The high pitched squeak the blonde let out made Jason smirk in satisfaction. That smirk fell when she kneed him in the nuts.
“Robin,” Batman’s voice filtered through the comms. “I’ve caught Joker and Quinn. Do you have Giggles?”
“Your parents are going back to Arkham,” Jason shouted, throwing a punch at Giggles’ face. “I recommend surrendering now.”
“Now why would I do that,” Giggles said, voice coming out more normal, less high pitched. “I can have all sorts of fun on my own. I don’t need a babysitter.” Giggles grabbed Jason’s chin, her perfectly manicured nails scraping along his lip. “You don’t need one either, Boy Wonder.”
Jason frowned, sweeping the clown’s feet from underneath her.
“Fine,” she said from the floor, back to her sugary sweet voice, “Have it your way.” Giggles kicked her booted leg up, smacking Jason’s face with her freakishly tall heel. He definitely had a black eye.
When the world stopped spinning, Giggles was gone, and Jason had apparently collapsed on the floor.
“Come on,” Batman said, coming up behind Jason. “Let’s go back to the cave. Agent A can take care of the black eye.
Jason lifted himself off the floor, grappling away, plotting on how he could take down Giggles the next time they met.

Chapter Text

Jason stood outside the Gotham Public Library, debating whether he should even go in. It had been about a month since he last saw Lucy and he was starting to get pissed that she hadn’t bothered showing up yet. After a moment, he caved and climbed the steps, bracing himself for disappointment.
When he entered, the librarian smiled at him, pointing to the corner that housed the classics. Jason nodded in greeting and followed her silent directions, shocked to find Lucy sitting on the floor, reading Little Women, with tears running down her face.
Carefully, Jason knocked quietly on the wood, startling the blonde. She looked up. Jason could see the tear tracks on her face and he simply opened his arms, allowing the girl to barrel into him, book abandoned.
Jason slowly lowered himself and Lucy to the floor and the two children sat there for a good hour, while Lucy just cried into his sweatshirt.
“You want to get some ice cream?” Jason asked softly, after her whimpers and sniffles had died down. “I’m buying.”
“Yeah, okay,” Lucy said, whipping the snot from her nose, with her jacket sleeve. She was ruining a perfectly good purple leather jacket but Jason decided that her emotional breakdown entitled her to ruining her clothes, just a little bit.
The two made their way to an ice cream store and ordered two scoops of ice cream, Jason paying with his new credit card of course.
“Who’d you swipe that from,” Lucy asked when the two were sitting at a table with their sugar.
“Nobody,” Jason said, squirming in his seat a little, “I got adopted.”
“By?” Lucy asked, leaning forward in her seat, putting her face extremely close to his.
Jason squirmed a little more under her pricing blue gaze before muttering, “Bruce Wayne.”
Lucy collapsed back in her seat, staring at him for a long moment. Jason was worried he scared the blonde with the way she was staring at him so blatantly. “How the fuck did you manage that?”
“I may have stolen his tires,” Jason said, invested in his ice cream.
“You steal a billionaire’s tires and suddenly you get adopted? That is so not fair.”
Jason, no longer wanting to talk about this anymore, decided to change topics abruptly. “Why were you crying earlier?”
Lucy froze, stopping her tangent. After a moment of not moving, she immediately shoveled down her ice cream and made a break for the door.
Jason got up to follow her and chased her down an alleyway.
“Lucy!” he shouted, grabbing her wrist, “I’m not gonna hurt you I promise. I just want to know why you were upset.”
Lucy wiggled in his grip, but he made it clear he wasn’t letting go unless she said something, even if it was saying she didn’t want to talk.
Eventually she gave up and collapsed on the dirty ground. “It was my birthday yesterday.”
“Isn’t that a reason to celebrate?” Jason asked, sitting next to her.
“Not in my family,” Lucy said with a snort. “Tenth birthday means joining the family business and my parents aren’t the best people, especially my dad.”
Jason pulled Lucy into a hug. For the second time that day, he held his best friend as she cried.
After maybe an hour of Lucy’s tears and mumbling about the beatings her father gave her, she stopped and grabbed Jason’s hand. “Thank you,” she murmured.
“That’s what friends are for, right?” Jason said, looking down at their joint hands. His beat up calloused ones and her, perfectly manicured, golden nails. Golden nails, just like Giggles, from last night. The one who gave him the black eye that was hiding behind the makeup.
Jason’s eyes widened with horror as his eyes lifted, meeting those of the Lucy’s, the daughter of two psychotic clowns
~~~~
“Jason? What’s wrong?” Lucy asked, staring into his wide and fearful eyes.
“You’re…you’re Giggles!” he shouted, stumbling through his words and Lucy’s eyes widened in horror as Jason’s eyes turned to hate. “Your parents are Joker and Harley Quinn! Were you even telling the truth? Or were you just screwing with me, like the sick fuck your whole family is?”
Lucy shrinked away as Jason’s voice began to rise and when he stood above her she actively flinched back.
Whatever tirade Jason was going on stopped immediately. He looked down at her and Lucy forced her eyes to meet his.
“It’s not like I want to follow in their damn footsteps,” she whispered.
“Then why the hell did you do it?”
Lucy just lifted her shirt in response, enough to show the scars littering her body. She knew what he saw. The knife wounds, bullet wounds, the huge bruise from a crowbar her dad hit her with a week back.
Jason pulled Lucy into a hug, holding her tight but not jostling any injuries. “I can help you get away,” he whispered.
“I tried. I failed,” she whispered back. A couple years ago, her parents were in Arkham so she ran, bribed the goons and stole a car. She ditched the car once she was outside Gotham and went to a gas station to steal another one. She had come out of the bathroom to find her parents standing there. Her mother was able to talk her father out of murdering her for running but Lucy couldn’t walk for a month.
Jason continued to hold her close, giving apology after apology for the way he acted.
“I’m sorry, Lucy. I just saw the nail polish and realized-”
“Wait,” Lucy said, pulling back from him. “My nail polish gave me away? The only person that saw my nails was Robin. But that would mean…”
“Surprise?” Jason said.
“Oh my God! I gave you a black eye. And kicked you in the crown jewels!
“You knead me, but same thing.”
“Jason!” Lucy yelled, standing up and waving her arms like a mad woman. “You’re missing the point. I’m Giggles. You’re Robin. Our parents are worst enemies and we accidentally became best friends!”
“So?”
“So? So it means we have a huge problem! What are we gonna do when our families eventually face off again? Are you just gonna tell Batman no? And when Papa finds out! I’m dead for sure!”
Lucy was on the floor crying now, hands gripping her hair, running through every possible worst case scenario. She could feel Jason kneel down next to her, carefully taking her hands in his own.
“Then we don’t tell anybody,” he said confidently.
“What?”
“We keep quiet. B won’t let me face Joker and Quinn on my own so every time I go after you. Bats doesn’t find out, Joker doesn’t find out, and every time your parents are in Arkham, we spend time together.”
“But won’t Batman find out when I spend so much time with you?”
Jason shook his head. “Nah. You look different without the makeup. And if you wear gloves as Giggles, he won’t pick up on the nails like I did.”
“So secret friends?” Lucy asked.
“Secret friends,” Jason said, sticking out his hand. Lucy spit on hers before shaking. “Eww!” he moaned, wiping his hand on his pants. “Why’d you do that?”
“Now we’re bound for life, Bird Boy!”
Jason kept staring at Lucy. She mimicked his frown. In an attempt to alleviate the mood she listened to her stomach and asked, “You hungry? I’m craving chili dogs.”
“I’ve never had chili dogs.”
“Don’t worry you’ll love ‘em,” Lucy said, grabbing his hand and swinging it back and forth, skipping out of the alleyway. “Hey if you’re Robin, does that mean Bruce Wayne is Batman?”

Chapter Text

Lucy kicked out her leg, taking down her opponent. She smirked at the pained moan he made as he hit the floor.

“Catch me if you can, Bird Boy.”

She took off running, moving down the back alleys, leaving her parents and Batman in the dust. She could hear the clamoring of Jason’s feet as he was beginning to gain on her. 

Taking a left down an alley, she jumped on the dumpster that was conveniently placed there, twisting her body around, throwing a projectile at her best friend’s head.

“Ow! What is wrong with you? Throwing bean bags at people?” he shouted, tackling her to the floor.

“Get off! You’re heavy!” Lucy moaned, dramatically attempting to shove Jason off her. The kevlar of the Robin suit added extra weight to his already large frame. She swore that every time she saw him he grew another foot. Jason pointed out he would be the tallest person in the world if that were true. 

“You threw a beanbag at my head! I can sit on you as revenge. It’s called being fair.”

“It’s called being fat. Move!”

With a final shove, Lucy was able to move Jason, sending him tumbling into the rain puddle nearby. 

“Aww, my suit’s wet,” Jason moaned, “Do you know how long it takes to wash this stuff out?”

“It’s water,” Lucy replied smugly. “Did you finish The Great Gatsby yet?"

"Right before patrol," Jason said. "I still don't know if Gatsby's the villain of the story. Don't think he's a hero though."

"He lives in the gray area," Lucy said, "like us."

"Two different shades of gray, but yes."

"We are way too philosophical for a pair of ten year olds. We should do something normal."

"Like what?" Jason asked, moving to sit next to Lucy. "Go to the zoo?"

"Sure," Lucy said, leaning on Jason. "I like lions."

"They are cool."

Jason's head tilted to the side as he listened to what Batman was saying. 

"Let me guess," Lucy said, "my parents are off to Arkham and he wants to know if you caught me?"

"Yep," Jason said, pulling himself to his feet before Lucy his hand. "I'm surprised he isn't disappointed in me for not catching you yet."

"Well," Lucy said, using Jason's hand to pull herself up. "I am a bit of a trickster."

"That should have been your name. Meet at the front gates at ten?"

"You're buying the tickets. And food. See you, Robin!"

"See you, Giggles."

~~~~

Jason smiled as Lucy's face lit up when she saw the lions walking around. Sometimes, Lucy was like an inquisitive toddler, thrilled by the most random things. 

"Look how pretty they are," Lucy mumbled, pressed up against the railing. "I've never seen anything more beautiful."

"I have."

"Really? What?"

"My chili dog I had for lunch," Jason replied with a smirk.

"Ass," Lucy said, whacking him on the shoulder. "You ruined the moment." 

"It's what I live for," Jason said smugly. 

"Come on," Jason said, grabbing Lucy's hand. "I still want to see the polar bears. And Bruce wants me back home in an hour."

Jason dragged Lucy through the zoo, their trip ending at the polar bears where the two sat and watched the majestic beasts swim as they drunk unhealthily large slushies. 

"Thank you," Lucy mumbled, sucking on the straw of her cherry slushies.

"For what?" Jason asked.

"Being my friend," she said softly, taking a sip of his grape slushies. He didn't mind. "For doing normal things with me. For not judging me because my parents are psychopaths. You could have hated me. Thrown me in Arkham. But you didn't. So thank you."

"Why are you so terrified of Arkham?"

"I'd rather not talk about it," Lucy said with a sigh. Jason furrowed his brows but didn't comment, just pulling the blonde close in comfort. 

"You're my best friend too, Lucy. I promise that will never change." 

Chapter Text

Despite what Lucy believed, Jason didn’t always spend his free time at the library. He just happened to spend a majority of it there. Like right now. 

Jason walked to the library, sporting the black eye he had gotten at school the day prior, whistling a tune he couldn’t place. He was about to enter the building when he spotted a few droplets of blood on the ground. It was a small trail, unnoticeable to the untrained eye, and clearly intentional. 

Considering for only a moment, Jason followed the small trail of blood around the corner, on guard and ready in case it was a trap. Instead, he found his best friend bleeding out on the floor.

“Lucy!” Jason cried, running to the blonde’s side. 

“Took you long enough,” Lucy mumbled, clutching her side. 

“Let me see,” Jason asked, gently prying Lucy’s hand from her side.

“It hurts,” she whined.

“I know,” Jason said, finally removing Lucy’s hand from her side. He flinched slightly at the sight. In Lucy’s side was a cartoonishly decorated knife and every time she moved slightly, she let out a whimper from pain.

“I’m taking you to a doctor,” Jason said, scooping Lucy up before she could protest. 

The blonde didn’t argue, clearly in too much pain. It was a four block walk in broad daylight and Joker was still out of Arkham. Jason moved quickly, keeping Lucy as out of sight as possible, moving towards Leslie’s clinic. Thankfully, most people visited it at night, not the middle of the day. 

“Leslie!” Jason screamed, causing the doctor to run out of a room.

Leslie didn’t say anything, simply taking Lucy from his arms and bringing her to the back room. Jason followed behind, rapidly firing off questions.

“Is she gonna be okay? Will it scar? Can you help her? What if-”

“Jason!” Leslie shouted. “She will be fine but I can’t help if you keep hounding me. Wait outside and I’ll let you come in the second I’m done. Okay?”

“Okay,” Jason mumbled, standing directly outside the door.

It was about an hour of pacing outside the door, before Leslie allowed him back inside to see Lucy who was sitting on the edge of the bed, happily swinging her feet as if she didn’t have bandages around her stomach from a stab wound. 

“Hey Bird Boy,” Lucy grinned, carefully stepping onto the ground. “You look like shit.”

“Ironic considering you were stabbed.”

“Eh,” Lucy said, waving off his worry. “Ain’t the first time. Ain’t the last. He just went a little too deep.”

“Your dad did this to you?”

“It’s fine, Jason,” Lucy said, pulling him out of the clinic and down the street.

“No Lucy it’s not! You’re a kid! You shouldn’t have to worry about your dad shoving a knife into your stomach!”

“And yet I do. It’s the way the world works. Some people are born into happy loving families and others are born into severe mental disorders and clown costumes. The universe decided on me. I’ve accepted it. Learned to live with it.”

“But Lucy-”

“Don’t ‘but Lucy’ me,” she snapped. “It’s not like I enjoy living with them or find fun in the pain of others the same way they do. But someday… someday I’m gonna run. But today ain’t that day.”

“Why don’t you just run now?”

“I’m eleven. My options are an orphanage or the streets. It'd be too easy to find me. But when I’m older I’ll be able to travel farther than just outside the city. I can get a new identity, a new life. Something hidden and more permanent.”

“We can help, you know. Me and Bruce. Hell we could probably drag in the Justice League.”

“It’s not gonna happen, Jay,” Lucy said, taking his hand. “Appreciate the thought though.”

“But-”

“We’re done with the conversation, Jay. Want to see a movie?”

“Fine,” Jason sighed, allowing the blonde to drag him to the theater. Nevermind that her father was probably wandering the streets. Nevermind that she had a knife in her stomach only an hour before. Nevermind that Lucy was definitely avoiding the topic.

Jason spent the entire movie plotting, determined to save his friend from her family, even if it killed him.

Chapter Text

"Again!" Lucy shouted, blowing an obnoxiously loud whistle.

"I hate you!" Jason screamed as he ran past her, breathing heavily.

"Not my fault you're slow!" she responded, making sure her voice was obnoxious and high to make sure he was pissed.

"I'm not slow," he yelled.

"Sure," Lucy mumbled. "Keep telling yourself that."

Two nights ago, Lucy had outrun Jason on their usual getaway chase. This was normal as the blonde was quick on her feet but she had to slow down. Significantly. 

So she showed up at the steps of Wayne Manor at five this morning to drag Jason to the nearby track. Lucy was glad she met Alfred, he was nice. Unlike Batman. He scared the crap out of her, even with the knowledge that he doubled as a ditzy playboy billionaire.

Anyway, Jason had been running for the past two hours and had an average of 4 minutes and twelve seconds per mile. Which honestly, was pretty good. Lucy was pretty sure this boy could do track. Or the Olympics. Can eleven year olds enter the Olympics?

Jason was clearly faster on the track. His rooftop mile, which she tested during Robin and Giggles most recent run-in, was 4 minutes and 45 seconds. Again, really good when you factor in the kevlar and uneven ground. Plus her throwing projectiles at him. She's got to keep him on his toes somehow. 

"Alright, it's been two hours. I've run almost thirty miles. I'm tired," Jason whined, finishing his twenty-ninth mile. He sat on the bench next to where Lucy was dangling upside down, waving a water bottle in his face.

"Aww, is the Bird Boy tired?" Lucy teased, waving her painted nails in his face. 

"Yes," Jason replied, whacking her hand out of his face. "You dragged me out of bed at five in the morning after patrol ended at two. I just ran thirty miles on three hours of sleep."

"Twenty-nine."

"God woman, you will be the death of me. I swear."

"Love you too."

~

Jason collapsed on his bed after his shower. After his thirty miles (he was rounding up. Twenty-nine is close enough), Lucy had insisted on going ice skating at the nearby outdoor rink. Suffice to say Jason couldn't feel his legs.

After laying in his bed for who knows how long, Jason pulled himself up and grabbed the notebook at the bottom of his desk. He figured Bruce wouldn't question a random notebook in a desk. He could trick the World's Greatest Detective, right?

The notebook held all of Jason's hopes for his best friend, including ideas on how to free her from her father. Harley was never really that bad. Crazy but, according to a bias Lucy, trying her best, despite her insanity. So right now, Jason's plan included getting rid of only the Joker. He was the bigger issue anyway.

Despite his best ideas, Jason knew his greatest problem with taking out Joker was that he couldn't defeat the clown alone. Bruce didn't know about Jason's motives and Lucy has always been terrified of her father. Dick would be no help as well. Soz the only hope Jason had was blackmail. Fun.

"Jason! Black Mask has a drug deal going down tonight. You in?" Bruce called from downstairs.

Jason lit up like a kid on Christmas, quickly scribbling down the beginnings of a plan in his notebook.

"Hell, yeah I'm in!" he replied, racing down the stairs.

He'd work on the plan later. After all, Rome wasn't built in a day. Why should the Joker's downfall only take one?

Chapter Text

“You know,” Jason said as he casually dodged a punch, “there’s a Wayne Charity Gala this weekend. I’m allowed to bring a date.”

“We’re thirteen, Robin. And we’re not dating.”

“I didn’t hear a no,” Jason sang, throwing a birdarang at his best friend. A rope appeared tying her hands to her sides.

“I didn’t say yes,” she sang back. Lucy kicked her obnoxiously high-heeled boot into his stomach and used a knife to cut the ropes.

“Come on, Giggles. Please! The galas are so boring and I can’t take those old women trying to pinch my cheeks and set me up with their daughters. Especially when they call me street scum behind my back.”

“You’re not street scum,” Lucy said, putting him in a headlock. “And I will go if you don’t tell B my last name and you buy my dress.”

“Yay!” Jason cheered, throwing Lucy over his shoulder and onto her back. 

“You’re lucky I love you, Bird Boy,” Lucy said, holding out her hand so he could help her out. “Otherwise I wouldn’t put up with half your shit.”

“And yet you won’t date me,” Jason sighed, taking Lucy’s hand.

Lucy smirked as she pulled him down, flipping herself so she was sitting on top of Jason. 

“I hate you.”

“But you just said you wanted to date me.”

“I changed my mind.”

Both teens burst out laughing, deciding that they had enough bruises to make their fight believable, no matter the outcome of their father’s fight. 

Tonight’s fight was on the roof of the Gotham Opera House. According to Lucy, her father had been watching way too many télé novellas. 

Jason sighed as he sat up, leaning against Lucy. “Thank you for agreeing to go,” he murmured, taking her hand. “I hate galas.”

He could hear Lucy sigh as she leaned into him, her gloved hand running up and down his arm. “I can’t leave you to suffer at the hands of old ladies.”

“Still,” Jason said. “I know how much you hate talking to Bruce.”

“He’d haul me off to Arkham. You know that.”

“I’d stop him.”

“I doubt you could, Jason.”

“No names in the field,” he replied automatically.

“I doubt you could, Robin.”

“Love ya too, Giggles.”

Lucy let out her signature giggle and pressed a kiss on her cheek. “I’ll meet ya at the library tomorrow. Then we can go dress shopping.”

“Can’t wait,” Jason said sarcastically. 

I watched as Lucy jumped off the edge of the building, sighing as he watched her colorful and retreating form. He wasn’t sure when it happened. One minute, Lucy was his best friend and he was determined to save her from her parents, and the next, Lucy was the most beautiful girl in the world and he’d die for her. Either way, he and Lucy were bound for life, she spit on his hand and everything.

~

Lucy nervously brushed her hair for the fifth time that evening. She and Jason had gone shopping the day before and she found the most beautiful gown she’d ever seen. It was a deep violet floor length gown with long sleeves, easily hiding the scars along her arms. Jason insisted she wear her hair down and since they weren’t running through the streets of Gotham or fighting on the rooftops, she saw no point in arguing with him. She did curl it though. 

“You look fine, Luce.”

Lucy turned to see Jason standing in the doorway of his room, dressed in a tux with a purple tie that matched her dress. “I like the red hoodie better.”

Jason snorted, “And like your leather jacket more. But you still look gorgeous.”

Lucy blushed slightly. 

“Come on,” he said, holding out his arm, “Bruce will kill me if I’m late and last I checked, the only person with that right is you.”

“I was ten and you broke my foot. I was allowed to be upset.”

“It was an accident. And do you know how many times you almost broke my foot with your boots. And you did break a rib once.”

“Whatever. Let’s just go try not to die at the hands of rich snobs.”

“Again, the right to kill me belongs to you.”

Lucy giggled, a normal giggle, not a creepy one, and let Jason lead her through the halls of Wayne Manor. She hadn’t been there often but she was able to familiarize herself with a basic layout. She knew where the foyer, Jason’s room, the kitchen, the library, and the ballroom were. 

“Ah, Jason,” a voice said. Lucy tensed slightly, recognizing the gruff voice of Batman. Bruce Wayne. She was gonna die.

Jason linked his hand with Lucy, giving her’s a small squeeze.

“Hey B. Hello Mr. Fox. This is my friend, Lucy.”

“Hi,” she said with a small wave. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“It’s nice to meet you as well,” Mr. Fox said, nodding politely.

“It’s good to see you as well, Lucy,” Bruce Wayne said. “Normally I only catch a glimpse of you as you’re running through the halls with Jason.”

“Sorry about that, Mr. Wayne.”

“It’s no problem. I’m glad Jason had friends.”

Jason then pulled Lucy away, towards the food table, where she lit up like a Christmas tree and began snacking on all the delicious desserts spread before her. 

“I’m not dead,” she celebrated, eating something chocolatey. 

“Told ya you’d be fine,” Jason said, grabbing himself some food.

The gala went by quickly, with the two discussing their favorite Shakespeare plays and Lucy giving a small glare at any girls that came over in an attempt to kiss up to Jason. It wasn’t until the end of the gala that Lucy met two interesting people. The first was Nightwing.

Well, technically he was Richard Grayson. The man bounded up like a hyperactive puppy, ruffled Jason’s hair, introduced himself as Richie and babbled on about how it was nice to meet one of Jaosn’s friend and how he wanted to see the world’s biggest ball of yarn. 

Lucy was too stunned by the pure stupidity of the vigilante before her. She had only met Nightwing once, when he and Batman had teamed up to take Joker and Harley Quinn. The man seemed competent and had taken down her mother effortlessly.

When she asked Jason how a badass vigilante seemed so thrilled to see a ball of yarn butt-fuck nowhere, Jason explained how idiotic Dick’s civilian identity was and that he actually was intelligent. Minus his fashion sense. 

The next interaction happened minutes before Lucy walked out the front door, long after the gala was over.

“Lucy!” a familiar voice called.

The blonde turned to find her Aunt Selina in a beautiful black dress, wearing an emerald necklace that Lucy swore she saw on another woman’s neck earlier in the evening.

“Auntie Selina,” Lucy cried, launching herself at the cat burglar.

"Auntie Selina!" Jason shouted. "I didn't know you knew each other!"

"Mom introduced us when I was ten," Lucy muttered, smiling as Selina rubbed her back soothingly. "I stay with her sometimes when my parents are in Arkham. She's the reason I like cats."

"I can't believe you never told me," Jason murmured, crossing his arms.

Lucy smirked at Jason's adorable pout. He was cute when he was mad.

"Well kitten, I'm afraid I have to go. Things to do, jewels to steal. I'll see you later."

Selina gave Lucy a soft kiss on the head and walked over to Jason. She grabbed the boy by the ear and harshly whispered something to him. Lucy giggled at the way Jason's eyes widened and he violently nodded his head. 

"Be good, my kittens," Selina called gliding out the door.

"I can't believe that woman might one day be my mom," Jason said with wide eyes.

"I can believe you didn't know Selina was my aunt," Lucy responded. "Come on, I'm craving chili dogs," she said, dragging him out the door. 

Chapter Text

All Lucy could feel was fear.

Not the kind of fear people got on Halloween or the fear parents had when their teenagers drove for the first time.

No, Lucy was feeling downright terrified. Like about to die terrified.

She was standing at least ten stories high, on a rickety walkway in the most rancid smelling building she’d ever been in. Her father was leaning on the dying railing, twirling a joker playing card in his hand, looking at her expectantly. Her mother was leaning on him, laughing madly and chatting about how big of a milestone this was.

Lucy just looked back down at the vat of acid, bubbling maliciously. 

“Well, my little Lucy?” Joker said, leaning forward, “you ready to take the final step and join the family business?”

Lucy knew the right answer. Well… the one he expected. He wanted her to say yes in her high-pitched giggly voice that she perfected as a child. He wanted her jump off the walkway and into the vat, probably doing a somersault or something on the way down. He wanted her to have bleached white skin and be as crazy as him.

Lucy couldn’t deny him though… could she? If she said no he’d probably throw her in himself or just beat her to death. Maybe the fall would kill her if she was lucky. That didn’t sound like a terrible way to go.

Instead of giving Joker his expected answer or attempting suicide, Lucy denied her father for the first time in her life.

“I don’t think I am.”

It was so silent that Lucy actually heard a pin drop.

“WHAT?” the clown cried, raging forward and grabbing his daughter by the throat.

“Puddin’ calm down,” Harley said, trying to pull him away from Lucy.

“Calm down!” he cried with laughter. “The little brat doesn’t want to be like us Harls!”

“I just don’t feel ready, Papa. I’m not as funny as you. Or-or smart as you,” Lucy stuttered out, inching away from the maniac clown. 

“Well, I know a way to fix that!” Joker laughed.

Lucy’s last seconds as a normal person were spent flying through the air, hurtling down towards the deadly chemicals at an alarming rate. And as she hit the surface, Lucy’s last thought before blacking out wasn’t a touching goodbye to someone she cared about or a depressing thought about how life screwed her over. Her last thought was a wish that she would never again have to listen to that horrible laughter from a man who found it funny to kill his own daughter.

Chapter Text

Jason did not see Lucy for three months. She didn't go out as Giggles and she never showed up at Wayne Manor or the library. He was starting to panic. Joker and Harley had been in Arkham all week and the girl still hadn’t shown up.

It was times like this that Jason had been desperately wishing Lucy had a cell phone. He could have called her, blown up her phone with worried texts, or at least known she wasn’t dead.

“You okay, Little Wing?” 

Jason jumped six feet in the air. “What the hell, Dick?”

“You’ve been angrily passing for the past hour,” Dick said, leaning against Jason’s door frame. “I’m worried about you.”

“It’s Lucy,” Jason moaned, collapsing on the floor.

“Your friend from the gala?”

“I haven’t seen her in three months. I can’t find her anywhere! I’m pretty sure I’ve checked everywhere in Gotham at this point. What if… what if she’s dead?”

Jason wasn’t sure when he started crying or when Dick had moved to sit by his side.

“I’m sure she’s safe, Jay. What makes you think she’d be dead?”

“Her dad is a really shitty person.”

Dick stood, pulling Jason to his feet. “Come on. We’ll go look for her.”

“Really?” Jason asked sniffling.

“Really,” Dick said, pulling Jason towards the door. 

The two took one of Bruce’s more inconspicuous cars and set out.

“So,” Dick said, “where does Lucy live?”

“It varies,” Jason murmured. “Not sure where they are right now.”

“Alright. Where do you meet up?”

“Library.”

And that’s where they started. The brothers mapped out the city, scowling making their way through Lucy’s usual haunts. It was by pure luck that they stumbled across a muffled sobbing coming from behind the dumpster by Lucy’s favorite pizza place.

“Lucy?” Jason called, running towards the dumpster. 

Hidden in the dark corner, Lucy sat, curled in on herself. Her blonde hair, almost white, hung in front of her head. She wore an oversized purple sweater and black leggings, despite the summer heat. When Jason reached her, she inched back.

“Go away, Jay.”

“No,” Jason whispered, reaching for her hand. “You’ve been gone for months, Luce. I thought you were dead.”

“Wish I was,” Lucy whimpered, trying to pull her hand away from Jay’s. He grabbed it, pulling it closer to him.

“What’s wrong, Luce?” 

Lucy just shook her head. “Go away!”

“Lucy, you’re my friend. Please tell me what’s wrong. I can help…”

Jason trailed off as he caught sight of Lucy’s hand. For the first time, her nails weren’t  painted an obnoxious color. They weren’t painted any color, perfectly showcasing the pale, eerie white her hand now was.

Jason’s grip loosened enough for Lucy to pull her hand back in. But the damage was done.

“I’m gonna kill him!” Jason screamed at the top of his lungs.

Jason could vaguely hear Lucy’s whimpers and feel Dick’s arms wrap around him, but all Jason could see was red. Bright, burning, bloody red. 

Jason wasn’t sure how long he struggled in his brother’s arms, screaming curse words and death threats at the top of his lungs. But eventually, the red was drowned out by the sound of Dick soothing reassurances and Lucy’s begging for him to calm down. 

“Jay, please, calm down. Please. Shh, it’s okay. I’m okay. I’m okay.”

Lucy clearly wasn’t okay and the way she kept repeating made him think she was trying to reassure herself, not him. But it worked, he calmed down enough to spit out, “Why, the fuck, did he do it?”

“Cause I ain’t like him. But know I am and, and,”

Lucy started to hyperventilate and it was Jason’s turn to give her a hug as she slowly lowered them both to the floor.

“So…” Dick drawled after the two teens had calmed down enough for a conversation, “can you guys fill me in? I feel like I’m missing a lot.”

It took roughly three hours, but Jason and Lucy explained their entire relationship to Dick, including Lucy’s relation to Joker. Every time she brought up her father’s abuse, both vigilantes hugged her, Dick too tightly to breathe. Jason almost threw another hissy fit when Lucy explained how Joker threw her in an acid vat; Dick punched the wall. 

“I don’t even know what I’m gonna do now," Lucy moaned, leaning against Jason. “I look like a pale ass ghost.”

Jason wrapped his arm around Lucy, pulling her into him. He hated that he didn’t have an answer for her.

“You could do what Harley does,” Dick offered.

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve spotted Harley on several occasions wandering around Gotham, going shopping and stuff. Nobody bats an eye because she’s wearing makeup that makes her skin look natural. You could ask to borrow some.”

Lucy violently shook her head. “No way. I’m not supposed to leave the hideouts. The only reason I haven’t been caught yet is because the goons are too terrified of me. They think I’m as crazy as my parents.”

“We can buy it for you,” Jason offered. “B gives us huge allowances and doesn’t care what we do with it as long as we aren’t buying missiles or anything.”

“He won’t find out?”

“Never.”

Lucy hummed in agreement. “Okay. Then we can go to the movies and stuff again. Or the zoo. I miss the polar bears. I think the cub likes me.”

“Iceburg?” Jason asked.

“Yeah. He always wanders towards me when we visit.”

“Whatever you say, Luce,” Jason said, kissing the top of the blonde’s head. “Whatever you say.”

~

Dick hated to break the moment between the two teens, who he wasn’t pretty sure had fallen asleep, but it was getting late and Alfred would kill them both for missing dinner.

“Come on, wake up,” Dick said, hauling Jason and Lucy to their feet.

“No,” Lucy moaned, “I was so comfy.”

“Five more minutes,” Jason whined.

“We need to eat dinner,” Dick reminded. “Alfred won’t be happy if we aren’t back in time.”

The reminder of Alfred’s wrath made Jason bolt to his feet. “I’m coming!”

“Abandoning me for food,” Lucy dramaticized. “I knew you didn’t love me.”

“Sorry, blondie. My heart belongs to food.”

“Alright drama queens. We’ve gotta go. As much as I love hanging out in back alleys, it isn’t safe,” Dick scolded, shooing the teens back towards the street. “Let’s go.”

“Wait!” Lucy cried.She turned to Dick. “Can I talk to you real quick?” 

Dick allowed himself to be pulled back towards the alley, shooting Jason a confused look.

“So…um, Mr. Nightwing sir…”

“You can call me Dick. Or Richard if it makes you more comfortable.”

“Right, umm, Richard. Can you….can you keep quiet about me. To Batman I mean.” Lucy crossed and uncrossed her arms. “Like I know he knows I exist but, don’t tell him I know he’s Bruce Wayne…or who my parents are…or that I’m Giggles. I…I don’t want to go to Arkham and—”

“Lucy,” Dick said firmly, “I won’t tell him anything. I promise. I know B can be scary. And, if you want, Jason and I can work on a way to get you away from your parents, permanently. Especially Joker.”

Dick smiled as Lucy brightened. “Really?” 

“Really. Now come on, I wasn’t kidding about how we needed to get going. You have food at home, right?”

“Yeah, it’s leftover pizza night!”

Dick watched as Lucy ran towards Jason and whispered something in his ear. Jason smirked before whispering something back, causing both to collapse in a fit of laughter. He wasn’t sure how, but he was proud that Lucy found a way to be as normal as possible, despite her parents. He had a feeling Jason was a part of that. And secretly, Dick was hoping the two sidekicks got together. He was already planning out their wedding.

Chapter Text

"What would you say if I asked you on a date?"

Lucy spit out her coffee.

Jason and Lucy met up at a hole in the wall donut shop for breakfast. It was risky, considering Joker was still on the loose but the maniac had barely even looked in Lucy’s direction since the acid incident. Unless he wanted to beat her to a bloody pulp, though he tended to do that in the evenings. 

“You got coffee on me,” Jason whined. “I thought you liked me more than that.”

“You want to go on a date?” Lucy whisper shouted, afraid to be overheard. “With me?”

“Yeah,” Jason replied, scrunching his face in confusion. “Why wouldn’t I?”

“Cause I’m a monster,” Lucy said, simply stating a fact she knew to be true. Jason had bought her the makeup and it worked like a charm. It hid her freak skin but not the actual freak she was. It was a miracle Jason had still wanted to be her friend. It’s impossible that he would want to date her.

“Lucy,” Jason sighed, eyes softening, “you’re not a monster.”

“But–”

“You’re not a monster, Lucy,” Jason said, grabbing her hands. “This, your skin, doesn’t make you like him. It’s what’s on the inside, your heart and your mind, that makes you who you are. You’re better than him. You’re a good person, Lucy. With a good heart, Never forget that.”

Tears fell from Lucy’s eyes as she leaned across the table to give Jason a hug. “Thank you,” Lucy whispered. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Jason said, doing his best to give her a decent hug over a table. 

Lucy wished they could have stayed like that forever but the table was digging into her ribcage. As she let go of Jason, she asked, “So, about that date?”

Jason’s face brightened. “You really want to go?”

Lucy gave a shy smile. “Yeah, though I have no idea where we’d go.”

“Movies, dinner, rooftops.”

Lucy laughed, “Rooftops. Would that be as Jason and Lucy or Giggles and Robin?”

Jason shrugged. “Either. Though the news would have a field day with Bruce Wayne’s son climbing rooftops to show a girl his favorite gargoyle.”

“You have a favorite gargoyle?” Lucy asked in disbelief.

“Yeah, his name is Stoney,” Jason replied, leaning back and crossing his arms. 

“Friends for five years and you still manage to surprise me.”

"What can I say, I'm an enigma."

"I'm available Friday night."

"Great. I'll meet you at the park at eight. Wear something nice."

As Jason walked out of the donut shop, Lucy couldn't help the smile that grew on her face. 

~

Jason nervously fidgeted with the collar of his dress shirt as he waved goodbye to Alfred. He really hoped Lucy showed up. He never went on a date before but with Bruce and Alfred's help, he planned what he hoped would be a fun date for two fourteen year olds. Especially when one of those fourteen year olds is Lucy Quinzel. 

"You nervous, bird boy?"

Jason practically jumped three feet in the air. "What the f–"

Jason cut off as he caught sight of Lucy. She was wearing a gorgeous knee length red dress that sparkled when she turned. Her white blonde hair was curled and pulled into a high ponytail. 

"You gonna close your mouth or do ya wanna catch flies?"

"You look pretty."

A blush creeped up Lucy's face. "You don't look too bad yourself."

"Ready to go, gorgeous?" Jason asked, holding out his arm.

"Always."

Jason and Lucy went to a fancy outdoor pasta place in the fashion district. After some fancy dessert that Jason could barely pronounce, Lucy set her fork down.

"Jay, as fun as this was–" she started.

"Shit. I ruined everything didn't I?" Jason interrupted. "I'm sorry Lucy. I didn't mean to ruin everything. Just please don't leave and–"

"Jay!" Lucy snapped, shutting him up. "I'm not ditching you."

"Then what are you…" Jason trailed off.

"Fancy, and delicious, pasta isn't us Jay. Street chili dogs and rooftops are us. The movies and the library is more of a date than a high end restaurant. We're street kids. Let's live like it."

Jason felt a wide grin make its way onto his face. "So does that mean you want to go on another date?"

"Course," Lucy said, waving him off. "Want to go hold hands and read books at the library?"

"As long as I get to kiss you first."

Lucy's look of confusion didn't last long as Jason leaned across the table to kiss Lucy. 

Jason wasn't sure what exactly he was expecting but kissing Lucy was like finding what was missing his whole life. Ironic since she's been there for most of it.

The kiss was over sooner than he wanted and Jason hated it when they pulled apart.

"Let's get outta here."

"Yeah."

Chapter Text

Robin chased Giggles across the roof, throwing birdarangs to slow her down. Giggles was laughing as she dodged the objects, pelting beanbags at the bird's head.

"You're enjoying this way too much!" Robin shouted as a beanbag hit him in the shoulder. 

"And you're getting slower," Giggles shouted over her shoulder, jumping to the roof of the next building. "I mean honestly, are you even trying to catch me?"

Robin shot another birdarangs, catching the edge of her tutu. "How far away are we?"

"About six blocks," Giggles said, collapsing onto the top of the roof, watching Robin make the jump. "Joker's planning on leading Batman west and we ran east. They won't spot us."

"Good," Robin murmured, tackling Giggles as he landed. The two rolled across the roof, landing with Giggles hovering over him. 

"Someone's in a playful mood," she muttered, leaning over him so their lips were barely touching.

Robin didn't hesitate. He closed the distance between them, pulling her closer as their lips collided. He relished in the small gasp that came from her mouth as she realized what he was doing. 

"Jay," she whispered, smirking against his lips. 

“No names in the field, Luce.”

“Hypocrite,” Lucy giggled, pulling him closer.

Jason just smirked as he let his girlfriend work her way into his mouth. His girlfriend! They’d only been dating for two months but he felt like he was going to die from happiness every time he saw her. 

Unfortunately, his happiness was interrupted by Batman himself.

“Robin, I’ve apprehended the Joker. Have you caught Giggles?”

Jason moaned, gently pushing Lucy up so he could reach his com. Out of breath he replied, “She got away, B.”

A slight scoff came from the other end of the com. “I’ll meet at your location.”

Jason jerked up, head colliding with Lucy, who let out a small and adorable yelp in superie. “Okay, B. See you in a few.”

Jason clicked off the com as Lucy swiftly leaned forward, giving him a quick kiss.

“Date night tomorrow?” she asked.

“I’ll meet you at the library at seven,” he replied.

“Great,” Lucy replied, running her finger along his lip. Her nails were painted red, yellow, and green this week. He was so glad she started wearing fingerless gloves. 

Jason sighed as he watched Lucy run off, traveling across the rooftops before ducking down in the alley. His love for Lucy was going to kill him, wasn’t it?

~

Lucy nervously tapped her foot in the back alley by the library, waiting for Jason.

He texted her on the phone that he had bought her (she only agreed to take it since it was a burner) saying she should wear something comfy and easy to walk in, so here she was, wearing her signature purple leather jacket, jeans, and black boots. Her hair was pulled up in a high ponytail, still wet from the shower she took at Aunt Selina’s. She also wasn’t wearing any skin makeup. Jason said they were going somewhere private. Jason, of course, was running late.

“Sorry I’m late.”

Speak of the devil. 

“I haven’t been waiting long, don’t worry.”

Jason just grinned excitedly. “Let’s go, you can stew in the car.”

“Where are we going?” Lucy asked, allowing Jason to drag her to the limo. 

“The greatest date ever.”

“You’re never going to let me plan a date, are you?”

Jason opened the door to the limo, looking back at her confused. “How else would I spoil you?”

“You’re a helpless romantic. You know that?” Lucy told him, accepting his hand as she got into the back seat. She waved hello to Alfred. The kind butler had never questioned the sudden change in skin tone though she wouldn’t be surprised if he already knew the reason.

Lucy and Jason spent the car ride discussing the latest books they were reading and complaining about Mr. Wickham from Pride and Prejudice . When they arrived in the woods, pulling up to what seemed to be nowhere.

“You didn’t take me out to the woods to kill me, did you Bird Boy?”

Jason shook his head, vibrating with excitement. “Just stay here for like two seconds.”

Before Lucy had a second to respond, Jason raced out of the car. She waited a moment before Jason shouted, “You can come out now.”

Lucy stepped out of the car. She looked around her in awe. “Fuck, Jay. This is beautiful!”

Lucy and Jason were standing in the middle of an old amusement park, abandoned a few years before they were born. The lights still worked and Jason had turned them on, illuminating the woods in a brilliant light.

“Come on. You still haven’t seen the best part.”

Lucy took Jason’s offered hand as he led her to the star attraction, the ferris wheel. 

The teens began to climb up, heading towards one of the top cart, which barely peeked over the treetops, facing towards the Gotham skyline.

“Now this, this is the best date you’ve ever come up with,” Lucy said, jumping into the car, causing it to swing slightly.

“Watch the food!” Jason cried, grabbing a picnic basket before it fell. “I had Alfred teach me how to make it.”

Lucy snatched the basket from her boyfriend’s hand and dug through to find two thermos’ filled with a pasta she couldn’t name.

“Jay,” Lucy sighed, “this is amazing. Thank you.”

“Of course,” Jason said, taking her hand. “I love spoiling you. Am I the best boyfriend ever?”

Lucy faked thinking for a moment. “I guess,” she said, giving an exaggerated shrug. “I can’t think of a better one.”

Jason laughed, walking her shoulder playfully. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” Lucy replied, leaning in to kiss him.

Chapter Text

Lucy was bouncing along the sidewalk as she dragged Jason along behind her. Today was her birthday and she would be damned if she couldn’t spend it with her boyfriend at least once in her damn life. 

Every year on her birthday, Joker was out of Arkham and she would lay low in her shitty excuse for a bedroom and hope he forgot about her. This year, he was still out of Arkham but Lucy had snuck out and was dragging Jason to every single chili dog cart in Gotham. 

“I can’t believe this is what you want for your birthday,” Jason scowled, handing a stack of money over to the vendor as Lucy collected another chili dog. “You’re gonna get sick.”

“I’ll be fine,” Lucy said, shoving the chili dog into her mouth. “Just be glad I didn’t ask you for a motorcycle. Or a mansion.”

“Maybe next year,” Jason sighed, allowing his girlfriend to drag him away.

Lucy snickered at his overdramatic groan as the two made their way down the streets. “Just a heads up,” Lucy mumbled through her chili dog, “Joker’s robbing a jewelry store tonight.”

Jason’s eyes widened, “Then why are you out here?”

“Relax,” Lucy rolled her eyes. “He’s not gonna remember me till at least four this afternoon.”

“It’s five till four.”

Lucy shot her head up, eyes widening as she looked towards her boyfriend. “Shit!”

With chili dog still in her mouth, Lucy kissed Jason on the lips before sprinting down the streets, praying Joker didn’t notice the absence of his daughter.

~

“How’d it go?” Jason asked on the roof later that night. He was worried when Lucy had to ditch their date to avoid her sperm donor’s wrath.

“Just a light beating,” she replied flippitantly. Jason growled at that but Lucy just leaned into his side more. “I’m okay, Jay. It wasn’t that bad. Mom stopped him too. I think she knows I’m sneaking out.”

Jason growled again but didn’t say anything more on the matter. He knew how much she hated it when he tried to convince her to leave her parents. He and Dick were working on a plan to get her away from them permanently but it was a slow process. And if she didn’t feel completely safe, he knew it wouldn’t work. 

Currently, Jason and Lucy were lying on a rooftop about three blocks from Joker’s attempted robbery. The two had fought halfheartedly before collapsing on the ground, preferring to just be in the other’s company. 

“I might be gone for a few days,” Jason muttered. “I’m going to meet my birth mom.”

“I thought she died,” Lucy said, sitting up. 

“No. Catherine wasn’t my real mom,” Jason replied. He moved to lean into Lucy, pulling her back so she rested against his chest. “My birth mom had given me up.”

“Oh,” Lucy whispered. “I hope she’s nice.”

“Me too,” Jason whispered, almost inaudibly. 

The two teens sat together for a while, allowing the silence to wash through them. It wasn’t until later that Lucy asked, hesitantly, “Jason? Do you want to…try something new?”

“What do you…” Jason trailed off as he realized what Lucy was asking. “We don’t have any condoms. And do you really want to do it on a rooftop?”

Lucy shrugged. “I’m pretty sure my body is an inhospitable environment for a baby so if I did get pregnant the baby would probably die from acid poisoning. It’s why mom didn’t go swimming in acid until after I was born. And as long as it’s with you, I don’t care where we are.”

“Are you sure?” Jason asked.

“Definitely.”

~

Joker had escaped from Batsy yet again! He had to admit it had been a while since his latest success, with the Night-brat running around. Plus Harley’s been on his ass and Lucy, the little brat, had been sneaking out. He needed to give her a better beating when he got home. One that Harley wouldn’t see and try to stop.

He was looping around towards one of his hideouts when he caught something going on a few rooftops away.

Joker inched closer, thrilled at maybe ruining the happy couple’s night when he stopped dead in his tracks.

He was gonna kill that little birdie. And he was gonna make his brat of a daughter watch. 

Chapter Text

All Jason could feel was pain. In his ribs, in his head, in his heart.

“Wow, that looked like it really hurt.”

Jason winced as he saw the crowbar come down. Another grunt of pain left him as it made contact. The pain exploded across his body in waves.

“Whoa, now, hang on.” 

Jason let out a pained moan between his gasps for breath.

“That looked like it hurt a lot more. So let’s try and clear this up, okay, pumpkin? What hurts more? A?”

Another flash of pain.

“Or B?”

Pain flew across Jason’s back.

“Forehand?”

There goes his lung.

“Or backhand?”

The sound of the crowbar making contact with Jason’s bones were drowned out by Lucy’s muffled screams. Jason had only gotten a quick glimpse of her, tied up with chains against the wall. With that one glance, he knew she couldn’t get out and that he was doomed.

“Shut it you brat!” Joker screamed before leaning down towards Jason. “A little louder, lamb chop. I think you may have a collapsed lung. That always impedes the oratory.”

Jason spit blood into the sick clown’s face.

“Now, that was rude,” Joker replied, taking out a handkerchief and wiping his cheek. “The first boy blunder had some manners. I suppose I’m going to have to teach you a lesson…so you can better follow in his footsteps.”

The Joker faked contemplation and Jason could hear Lucy yelling muffled death threats though her gag. 

“Nah,” Joker said, raising the crowbar with a wicked grin, “I’m just gonna keep beating you with this crowbar.”

Joker’s cackles drowned out the rest of the world as the crowbar came down, again and again. More and more pain exploded. All he could hear was the laughs of a sick clown and the crunch of a crowbar against bones. 

“Okay, kiddo, I gotta go. It’s been fun though, right?” Joker moved and undid the chains holding Lucy to the wall. Jason could barely make out her kicking and screaming. “Well, maybe a smidge more fun for me than you. I’m just guessing since you’re being awfully quiet.”

Joker deftly moved out of the way of Lucy’s foot, throwing the blonde over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. 

“Anyway, be a good boy. Finish your homework and be in by nine. And hey…please tell the big man I said, ‘Hello.’”

As Joker and an unwilling Lucy moved to leave, Jason lifted his head, making eye contact with his girlfriend, the love of his life. 

Jason held his gaze as long as he could, hopefully conveying his message, I love you.

~

It had been two months. Two fucking months since that warehouse exploded and Jason died. 

Those two months were surprisingly productive. Lucy beat Joker with a crowbar before her mother dragged her out the door. It was the last time either of them had seen him in person but according to the news, Batman had put him in a body cast. Bastard should be dead but she wasn’t up for breaking into Arkham to finish him off. She can wait till he’s out.

Lucy had blown up several buildings, all warehouses. Nightwing was almost always on the scene but she wasn’t in the mood to be lectured. She was gone before he could spot her. 

A couple days ago, the Bat had gotten a new Robin. She had already tried to kill him twice. The stupid replacement had just barely slipped her grasp. She was debating taking a gun and putting a bullet through his skull next chance she got. Maybe that would make her feel better. Either him or Batman. Though she was pretty sure his cowl was bulletproof. 

“How’s it coming, sweetheart?”

Lucy moaned as her mother’s voice filtered through the door. Harley and the Joker were officially over. She had a huge screaming match with him the night he and Lucy returned. Lucy was sure Harley would have killed him herself if she wasn’t so focused on dragging her daughter out the door.

Now the two were holed up in one of Poison Ivy’s older hideouts. Lucy was curled around the toilet, puking her guts up. It was the third time in the past two days and she was starting to worry. Maybe she would be lucky and it was some deadly and incurable disease. Then she could be with Jason. Her mom couldn’t stop her from dying then. 

“I’m done,” Lucy moaned, flushing the toilet. “I think I’m sick.”

Lucy could hear Harley’s half-hearted laugh through the door. “I think so too, sweetheart. Don’t worry. You’ll feel better soon. Momma’s here to take care of you. God knows I’ve been doing a shitty job of it till now.”

Lucy figured she wasn’t supposed to hear that last sentence. Either way, she settled into the couch and began to plan more ways to murder the assholes in her life. She might need a second murder notebook, her first one was filling up.

Chapter Text

Tim was worried about Dick. He had been shifty all day, bubbling with something between nervous excitement and complete terror. Tim was doing his best to be there for Dick but he knew all the original Robin saw was someone who took the place of his baby brother. 

Bruce hadn’t seemed to notice anything going on with his eldest. The man was too caught up in his own grief to pay much attention. Tim being around helped but it would be a long time until Bruce could move on from Jason’s death. 

Either way, Dick distractedness and Bruce’s grief made it easy for Tim to pull one over on both vigilantes and follow Nightwing.

As Tim swung over the rooftops, he tried to come up with reasons why Dick might be acting this way. Was Jason alive? Has someone killed the Joker? Was this completely unrelated to Jason’s death in any way?

Tim was surprised to find Nightwing stop on the roof of a building that was littered with gargoyles. He was even more surprised to Giggles, Joker’s daughter, leaning against one of the gargoyles, crying.

Tim hadn’t known much about Giggles before becoming a vigilante and he still didn’t know much now. She was the daughter of Joker and Harley Quinn and she began her supervillain career at age ten. She mostly stuck to whatever crime her parents were doing and would drop off the face of the earth sporadically. Giggles had also never been caught as Batman always dealt with Joker and Harley while Robin would deal with Giggles. Recently though, the blonde had taken to arson and explosives. And multiple attempts of murder. He’d only fought her twice but she nearly killed him both times.

Now though, she didn’t look like a maniac. She just looked sad. And small. Giggles seemed to curl in on herself as she leaned against the gargoyle crying.

“I thought it might be you,” Dick said, coming to sit next to Giggles. “I’ve been worried.”

Tim’s eyes widened as Dick pulled Giggles close to him, letting her cry into his chest. Dick just rubbed soothing circles along her back and asked, “What’d you want to talk to me about?”

Giggles sniffled, rubbing her nose with the back of her sleeve. “I’m sorry,” she started. “For- for the buildings, and for trying to kill—”

“It’s okay,” Dick said as Giggles broke out into more sobs. “I’m not mad. I can’t be mad at you. You’re grieving. It’s normal.”

“Attempting to murder your boyfriend’s replacement is normal?”

Dick let out a huff of laughter. “You’d never actually kill him, Lucy. You’re too good for that.”

Tim stopped in his tracks. Giggles was named Lucy. She had been dating Jason. And Dick knew about all of it. Shit, this was a mess.

“I-I need your help,” Lucy stuttered, pulling something out of her jacket pocket. Whatever Lucy handed to Dick made his eyes go wide. A smile broke out on his face before a look of heartbreak replaced it. 

“Oh, Lucy,” Dick said softly, hugging the villain tighter. “What do you want to do?”

“Keep it,” Lucy whispered. “But Joker’s gonna be outta that body cast in a few months. I can’t lose it, Dick. It’s the last bit of him that I have left.” Lucy’s voice broke on the last few words. 

Tim’s heart broke a little. Jason was dating the Joker’s daughter, who was actually a good kid who grew up in a horrible environment. And yet, somehow, she came out alright, something Tim didn’t think he could do in her situation. 

“Jason had a plan,” Dick whispered, drawing Tim out of his musings. “He didn’t want to get your hopes up, but he had a way to get you away from your parents. Does anyone else know?”

“Mom just thinks I’m sick. But I don’t know how much longer I got till she puts two and two together. She’s smarter than she looks.”

“Alright, meet me here in two days, Lucy. I’ve got to change the plans a little bit but it should work. I promise, I’ll keep the both of you safe.”

“Thank you, Dick. I’m sorry for everything. It was my fault.”

Dick, who had been about to stand up, stopped in his tracks and turned back towards Lucy. “Don’t you dare,” he snapped. “It is not your fault. It will never be your fault. Jay loved you as much as you loved him. The only person who’s at fault is the Joker. And he won’t ever hurt you again. I promise.”

Lucy nodded, accepting yet another hug from Dick. “Thank you,” she whispered.

“Of course,” Dick said, pulling away. “Take care of my niece!”

“It’s gonna be a boy,” Lizzie shouted, waving as Dick practically flew through the air. The half smile on her face suddenly vanished and she turned right towards Tim’s hiding spot.

“I should just kill you dead, Replacement,” she said bitterly. 

“But you're won’t,” Tim replied, stepping out of his hiding place, hands up, where she could see them.

“Unfortunately,” she seethed. “You ever speak about this to anyone, especially Bats, and I’ll make you wish I did.”

Lucy turned to leave but Tim called out, “I’m sorry about Jason!”

She stopped.

“I idolized him, believed in him. One of my biggest dreams was to meet him. I know I’m not going to ever be him but I’m just trying to make a difference, help people. Robin is a symbol the people still need. And I’m doing my best to honor him.”

“I know,” she mumbled, turning so all he could see was her bright blue eyes. He wondered if the whiteness of her face was makeup or real. “And I am sorry for trying to kill you. But I had seen the love of my life brutily murdered before my eyes and then replaced within two months. And mental stability doesn’t run in my family.”

Tim couldn’t help his chuckle. “Like Dick said, you were grieving. And from what I’ve seen you’re both mental stable and strong. If I was in your position, I would have given up long ago.”

Lucy sighed, turning back around, pulling a grapple out. “I tried to,” she said, voice so quiet Tim had to strain to hear. “The world just kept stopping me.”

~ 

A little over a week later, Giggles was declared dead.

An explosion in a warehouse of all things. The police assumed suicide, the news claimed revenge. 

The people believed that she did it to be with the second Robin. They shared stories of how they heard the two talking on their roofs some nights. A few people claimed they saw Giggles and Robin making out sometimes. The general belief became that the two were a modern and more tragic Romeo and Juliet. Lost in a battle between good and evil.

Tim found that fitting. He watched as Dick handed Lucy a phone later that night, along with lots of cash, and a thick notebook. 

He had a feeling he’d see Lucy again. Her story just didn’t feel over yet.

Chapter Text

Jason Todd threw another knife, embracing the green tinting his vision as he watched it land in the throat of his target. Every time the green attempted to blind him, he took a deep breath, controlling it, forcing it back.

Control. That’s what Talia continued to remind him. 

Jason threw another knife, this time finding its place in his target’ skull. The green of the Lazarus Pit seemed to swell in both delight and pity as the last man died. 

“You're making remarkable progress,” Talia said, clapping her hands in an almost mocking manner. “You’ve exceeded every expectation.”

Jason growled, allowing the green to take over for only a moment, as he tried to stab Talia. The assassin was too quick as she simply moved out of his way, plucking the knife from his hand like she was stealing candy from a baby. “Don’t give in to the madness, Jason,” she scolded. “Use your anger but don’t let it control you. Control it instead.”

And there’s that word again. 

Control. 

He was starting to hate that word. 

Three months ago, he crawled out of his own grave. He couldn’t remember much, just swallowing a lot of dirt. Nothing was really clear until Talia had dunked him in the Lazarus Pit and even then, he still felt off. He probably always will.

Ra’s was the one who had filled Jason in on what had happened since his death. Bruce had apparently replaced him. As if Jason’s own death wasn’t enough of a warning, the kid was gonna die and it would be the bastard’s fault. Joker was still alive and kicking, blowing up buildings and robbing banks again. Jason saw the footage himself. He then destroyed the footage in his rage, along with the rest of the room.

He didn’t completely lose it until Talia handed him a newspaper later that night. 

Giggles Found Dead: Suspected Suicide

Half of the assassins in the compound died that night.

Ra’s offered Jason the chance at revenge, something he happily agreed to.

So now, Jason was standing in the base of the League of Assassins, training with Talia al Ghul. Fun times.

“If you don’t control the madness, you will never get anything done,” Talia instructed. “You must always be in control.”

Jason let out a harsh nod, pushing back the instincts that screamed for him to kill everyone in sight. He’d get his revenge. For himself, for Lucy, and the life they could have had together.

~

It was weirdly fitting that it was pouring rain in Central City when Batman and the Joker’s grandchild was born. 

It was as if the world knew that the little baby shouldn’t exist, as if he went against the natural laws of the world. 

Jason Richard Todd was born at two in the morning to his mother Lucinda Quinzel. Of course, his legal name was Jason Richard Grey, the son of Lucille Grey. But if Lucy ever got the chance, she would change his name to Todd, in honor of his father.

Dick was unable to be in Central City as he was doing damage control with her disappearance, but his best friend, Wally West, was present and helping her through the whole way.

Wally was a saint for taking her in with very little prompting from Dick. The speedster was happy to let her stay in his apartment and help keep both her and the baby safe, and the two had become fast friends. They sent plenty of updates and eventually pictures to Dick who promised to visit as soon as possible.

Tim had sent a card and a stuffed robin, obviously still too scared to see Lucy face to face but she appreciated the gesture.

Lucy was sitting in Wally’s apartment, cradling Jason Junior, affectionately nicknamed JJ, as he slept, when Wally finally asked a question she’d been dreading.

“What are you going to do now?”

Lucy had been wanting to avoid that train of thought for a while. Her goal had been to fake her death and give birth to her son somewhere safe. She succeeded but hadn’t thought past this moment.

“I-I don’t know,” she said quietly. She carefully reached across the dining table and picked up Jason’s old notebook, the one that outlined his plans to fake her death so they could run away together. Unfortunately, Jason’s plans hadn’t included a baby and no Jason.

Lucy stared down at the journal, rubbing her finger along the cover. Jason had put in so much effort into saving her from her father even when she told him not to worry about her. She didn’t deserve Jason, she never had, but he had loved her anyway. And he paid the price.

“Lucy?” Wally called, placing his hand next to hers. “Lucy, you there?”

“Hmm,” Lucy said, turning towards Wally.

“Sorry, kiddo,” he said, ruffling her hair, “You zoned out for a minute. And don’t worry, you and JJ can stay as long as you’d like.”

“Thank you,” Lucy whispered, clutching her son closer to her chest. She hesitated before adding, “I should probably get a job though.”

“My Uncle Barry mentioned that the receptionist at the CCPD is planning to retire. I’ll see if we can pull some strings.”

“Thank you,” Lucy murmured, looking down at her son. The little boy had Jason’s brilliant blue eyes which were now looking up at her. They were so lucky Dick and Wally were willing to help her. 

She only wished Jason was here too.

Chapter Text

"And all those stuck up, selfish, bitches are just so, so–"

"Insufferable?" Wally supplied. 

"Yes!" Lucy screeched. "And they're so annoying. I hate preschool moms."

"Speaking of preschool…"

"Shit!"

Lucy ran around the kitchen, trying to grab her purse, keys, and JJ’s backpack. 

“JJ, honey, it’s time to go to school!”

“But I’m watching cartoons!” JJ whined from the couch.

“Unfortunately you have to go and be social. Come on. We’ve got to go or we’ll be late.”

“Cartoons!” JJ whined.

Lucy grabbed the TV remote and shut off the cartoons. She waved the Batman backpack (fuck Batman) in front of her son’s face.

“Fine!” he complained, sulking to the car. Lucy just laughed and followed him out the door. 

Jason’s death had broken Lucy in ways that most people couldn’t even imagine. But JJ had started helping her piece herself back together. 

She had gotten her high school diploma and a job at CCPD without ever having a formal education. She had joined an online single parenting group and became acquaintances with the other moms at JJ’s preschool. By the time JJ’s first birthday rolled around, Tim was able to be in the same room with Lucy without looking terrified. Honestly, she felt a little bad about the whole attempted murder thing but in her defense, she was grieving and she’s mentally unstable. 

JJ had been doing well. Thankfully, he didn’t inherit his mother’s ghost white skin but instead his father’s more natural skin tone. He also had his father’s blue eyes, dark hair, and sweet but mischievous smile. 

While JJ looked like Jason, he acted like Lucy. He liked living on his own terms but was careful to pick his battles. Right now, those battles were over cartoons. He also was able to silently glide across the floor, something Wally of all people had noticed. Lucy had no idea how he was able to pick up that trick from her considering she had to teach herself that out of necessity and she had been trying to break that habit for the past few years. 

One thing that worried Lucy and her superhero support group was the inevitable anger issues and the possible mental disorders JJ might have. The four year old had a habit of creating temper tantrums but no one was completely sure if they were because he was young or because he inherited both of his parents anger management problems. And while he wasn’t showing signs yet, everyone was nervously watching for red flags signaling mental issues, something prominent in Lucy’s side of the family.

Nothing came up yet so Lucy decided to bask in the peace she had while it lasted. 

As she dropped JJ off at his classroom and cheerfully waved goodbye, Lucy felt dread curling in the pit of her stomach.

Something big was about to happen. She just wished she knew what.

~

Growing up, Jason’s two biggest worries were the drug problems in Gotham and Lucy’s safety.

One of those problems was impossible to solve now but the other…the other was more manageable.

He couldn’t help the smirk on his face as he looked down on the bickering drug lords. 

As a big fuck you to the Joker, Jason had decided he was going to take on the title of the Red Hood. The only thing he kept from the original design was the fact that there was a red helmet. Jason’s looked cooler.

As a way to honor Lucy, he replaced the monkey suit with a leather jacket. His girlfriend loved leather jackets. 

Are they still not done arguing?

Jason sighed and pulled out a gun. He hoped he'd have to use it.

"Sit down Freddy!"

Jason smirked as all the drug dealers looked up towards him.

"It's my meeting."

This led to a small panic among the scumbags below.

"It's him!"

"Batman?"

"We didn't do nothing."

"Well we all know that's a lie," Jason commented, stepping into the light.

"Who the hell are you?"

"Smoke him!"

Jason was thrilled he got to use his gun. The green at the edge of his vision swirled in happiness as he fired shot after shot, scaring at the shit out of the drug dealers that were ready to shoot him.

"I said sit down!" Jason ordered, leaving no room for argument.

"You wanna die?" one of the drug dealers shouted. "There's easier ways to kill yourself!"

Jason snorted at that. Been there, done that, wrote the autobiography. 

"Yeah, like yelling at the guy who's holding the AK-47," Jason pulled his gun back, casually leaning against the railing. "Listen to me you drug peddling scumbags, I will be running the drug trade from now on. You eight are the most prosperous street dealers in Gotham. I'm offering you morons a deal. You go about your business as usual, but kick up forty percent to me. That's a much better deal than the scraps Black Mask is leaving you. In return, you will have total protection from both Back Mask and Batman. But you stay away from kids and school yards. No dealing to children. Got it? If you do, you're dead."

Honestly, this was a better deal than Jason thought these scumbags deserved but he needed to clean up the drug trade. Somehow. This felt like a good start.

"Okay crazy man," one drug dealer yelled. Jason didn't remember his name. He had it written down somewhere. "This is all very generous but why the hell should we listen to you?"

Jason had never understood why Lucy only ever carried things in duffle bags. When he had asked once, she replied, "They're very durable. Can carry anything. Water bottles, weapons, human heads…"

When Jason had seen that duffel bag lying on the floor, he had flashed back to that conversation and had one of the greatest ideas he'd ever had. 

Maybe that was the pit madness talking. 

Either way, he threw the duffel bag of heads on the table. Someone threw up.

"Those are the heads of all your best lieutenants. That took me two hours," Jason cocked his gun. He'll admit, he did have a thing for theatrics. "You wanna see what I can get done in a whole evening?"

This is way too much fun. Jason thought, aiming his gun.

"Make no mistake, I'm not asking you to kick in with me, I'm telling you."

Just to make sure they pissed themselves, Jason fired more shots before disappearing in a plume of smoke. 

Growing up, Jason's two biggest worries were the drug problems in Gotham and Lucy's safety. Now, his two biggest goals were to control the drug problems in Gotham and, more importantly, get revenge for Lucy's death.

And you know what they say, two birds, one stone.

Chapter Text

Dick carefully placed the flowers on top of the grave, before moving to sit in front of it. He slowly traced the lettering, allowing his fingers to feel the smooth marble underneath. A heavy sigh escaped his lips as he leaned back, supporting his weight on his hands as he looked towards the sky.

It looked like it was going to rain. It always looked like it was going to rain since Jason's death. As if the universe knew what it did and decided to mock him with the weather.

"Hey Jay," Dick whispered, running his hands over the grass that hid his brother underneath. "I'm sorry I haven't been by in a while but, a lot's come up. I figured I should bring you up to speed.

"Yesterday JJ asked about you and why you aren't around. Lucy had a breakdown with me over the phone. According to Wally though, she did a good job explaining how you were gone. I think she's healing. Slowly, but healing.

"Tim's coming with me to visit her and JJ today. He's still scared of her but that might be because she gets a kick out of threatening him with knives. 

"It's nice to have him around the cave. I'll admit there's a hole that only you can fit but he's wormed his way into our lives and I can't help but love the kid. Bruce feels the same. And after…after the Red Hood, the one I mentioned last time, I–I thought I was going to lose another one of my baby brothers. I don't think I could live with that. Timmy'll have a scar but he'll heal. Won't be able to talk much today. Red Hood tried to cut his throat."

Dick tried to come up with more to tell his brother but no major events really came to mind. Bruce had sent both Dick and Tim off as he threw himself into the Red Hood case. The attack on Tim at Titans Tower and the sprained foot Dick had received chasing the crime lord down had increased Bruce's paranoia. Alfred had promised to call if his health got worse but both boys were worried. 

"I miss you so much, Jason. So does B and so does Lucy. You were one of the best people I've ever met. I promise to come by again soon, okay? I've been gone for way too long."

Careful not to injure himself farther, Dick rose off the ground, placed a hand on the headstone, and turned the exit. 

He had his time to mourn, and now he had to grab Tim so they could go help Lucy mourn. 

No matter how much progress she made, she would always spiral today. And deep down, they all knew that would never change.

~

Jason's plan was going smoothly. He had control of the drug trade, pissing off Black Mask enough that he should be doing something rash soon. 

Jason hadn't seen Dick or the Replacement in a while. The new Robin was probably still healing from Jason's murder attempt and Dick had always been a bit of a mother hen. He didn't expect to see either one for a while.

After the Fearsome Hand of Four fight, Bruce had all the evidence he should need to figure out Red Hood's identity. Jason estimated that Bruce will take a while though, considering what day it was today.

Jason stood at the steps of the Gotham Public Library. The last time he was here was a week before he died. Lucy had wanted to find a copy of Lord of the Rings, claiming it was a classic worth reading. She had ended up reading The Hobbit instead, realizing that it came out first. 

Jason bypassed the fantasy section and stopped at the classics. At the twelfth spot on the middle shelf sat Pride and Prejudice. The copy was old and worn from use, but it was still the same as the day he and Lucy met. 

He gently pulled it from its place on the shelf and sat down on the floor. He opened the book to the same page from the day he met and he read, pretending Lucy was peering over his shoulder, occasionally insulting him as she read along. 

He sat there for hours and despite the happy ending of the novel, he cried. 

He continued to cry as he pickpocketed someone on his way to dinner, that egg sandwich place that Lucy loved, and he basically lost it as he ordered Lucy's favorite. His tears finally faded as he made his way back to his safehouse. 

In two months, the anniversary of Lucy's death would roll around. And in less than two months, she would be avenged. 

Lucy would appreciate Joker's head on a platter.

~

Prior to Jason's death, Lucy was mostly normal with only bad genetics making her strange.

Tim had a hard time believing that as he watched her scream at the top of her lungs as she repeatedly stabbed a tree.

On this day every year, they had all developed a routine. Wally would take JJ somewhere, today it was the zoo, and make sure they didn't come home until late at night. Dick would visit Jason's grave, making sure to leave Lucy and Jason's favorite flowers before driving himself and Tim to Central. When they arrived, Lucy would be sobbing her eyes out, throwing beanbags at the wall so hard that it was a miracle the wall was still intact. Then they would wrangle her out the door and drive to a forest where there wasn't a civilization for miles. Lucy would scream her lungs out, damage several trees, and pass out on the ground from exhaustion, sobbing in her sleep. 

This year, she decided to get drunk as well, as she was legally old enough to drink despite her fake identity being four years older. 

Tim was terrified of just how many bottles of tequila she had drunk. When Dick tried to point out how deadly that was she said she bathed in acids as a child, she was getting blackout drunk. 

"Lucy, kiddo, it's getting dark," Dick said, trying to pull Lucy away from the tree.

"I miss him," she whispered, clutching her knife that was still embedded into the bark.

"I know," Dick replied, "And as much as I wish we could stay out here, stabbing trees until nothing's left, we have to go. You have JJ at home."

"He asked about Jason."

"I know."

"I had to explain death to my four year old son. I had to explain how his father is dead and is never coming back. How they will never get the chance to meet."

Tim slowly came forward and he put a hand on Lucy's shoulder, silently offering her comfort. 

Shakely she placed her own ghost white hand on top of his, offering a small smile as a thank you. According to Dick, Lucy used to paint her nails in all sorts of colors. Now, they were always white. 

Lucy let out a soft sigh, "Let's go home."

The three returned home to find Wally holding a sleeping JJ. Tim helped put him to bed while Dick helped Lucy fall asleep. The three superheroes sat on the couch, silently remembering Jason, mourning him. 

Dick and Tim were halfway to Gotham when Dick's phone rang.

"You're on speaker, Alfie."

"Master Dick, is Master Tim with you?" Alfred's distraught voice asked. Tim sat up in his seat, Alfred was never distraught.

"Yeah Alfred," Dick said cautiously, also picking up on Alfred's mood. "What's wrong?"

"Master Bruce discovered the Red Hood's identity. It–it appears that the Red Hood is–is Master Jason. 

The car swerved as Dick roughly pulled over to the side of the road. 

"WHAT!" Dick screamed. "But he's dead! We buried him! I was at his grave this morning!"

"Master Bruce believes it was Ra's Al Ghul's doing."

Tim shook his head in surprise. Jason coming back was insane, borderline impossible. But Bruce would have exhausted every test, making sure his son was really alive. If Bruce thought Jason came back from the dead, then Jason came back from the dead. 

Lucy! Tim thought, quickly pulling out his phone and typing out a question. Dick looked at the message before shaking his head. 

"We'll be home in a couple hours, Alfie. Please call if you know anything else."

"Of course, Master Dick."

Dick stepped on the gas and drove back onto the highway, driving well over the speed limit.

"We can't tell Lucy yet," Dick muttered. "We don't know what's going on with Jason yet, and with JJ in the picture…it's too much of a risk."

She has a right to know. Tim typed in his phone.

"We need to see Jason first. He…he tried to kill you, Tim. Something's wrong with him and as much as I want to tell Lucy, we both know she'd come running. Besides, you saw how broken she was when he died. If he is back…If Jason is alive and she has to lose him all over again, I don't think JJ would be enough to bring her back from the edge."

Tim sighed, hating the logic behind Dick's reasoning. 

Jason was alive, and Lucy didn't know it.

Chapter Text

“I know I failed you…”

Shut up, Bruce.

“But I tried to save you, Jason. I’m trying to save you now.”

Jason grabbed a gun and aimed it at Bruce. “Is that what you think this is about? That you let me die? I don’t know what clouds your judgment worse, your guilt or your antiquated sense of morality. Bruce, I forgive you for not saving me. Hell, I forgive you for replacing me! As stupid a decision as that is. But why? Why on God’s earth is he still alive?” Jason shouted, kicking down that closet door that housed a bleeding Joker.T

he fucking clown had the audacity to laugh. “Gotta give the boy points!” he said, scooting his chair out of the closet. “He came all the way back from the dead to make this shindig happen. So, who’s got a camera? Ooh! Ooh! Get one of me and the kid first, then you and me, then the three of us, and then one with the crowbar. Then–”

Jason had enough and kicked the crowbar in the back of the head, knocking him to the floor.  “You be as quiet as possible or I’ll put the next one in your lap first.”

“Party pooper. No cake for you.” 

“Ignoring what he’s done in the past. Blindly, stupidly, disregarding the entire graveyards he’s filled, the thousands who have suffered, the friends he’s crippled. You know, I thought…I thought I’d be the last person you’d ever let him hurt. If it had been you that he beat to a bloody pulp, if he had taken you from this world, I would have done nothing but search the planet for this pathetic pile of evil death-worshiping garbage and sent him off to hell.”

“You don’t understand. I don’t think you’ve ever understood,” Bruce began. Jason tightened his grip on the gun he now aimed at Bruce. 

“What? What, your moral code just won’t allow for that? It’s too hard to cross that line? To kill him and save the lives of kids?”

“No! God Almighty, no! It’d be too damned easy. All I’ve ever wanted to do is kill him. A day doesn’t go by I don’t think about subjecting him to every horrendous torture he’s dealt out to other and then end him.”“

Aw, so you do think about me.” Joker cooed from the floor. Jason kicked him again just for fun.

“But if I do that, if I allow myself to go down into that place, I’ll never come back.”

Jason’s mouth melted into a firm line. “Why? I’m not talking about killing Penguin or Scarecrow or Dent. I’m talking about him, just him. And doing it because…he took me away from you.” 

“I can’t. I’m sorry.”

Jason felt his eyes water.

“That is so sweet,” Joker said. “Haven’t gotten this choked up since your lovers affair when I killed you. All the screaming and swearing, truly heartbreaking.”

Jason’s eyes narrowed, focusing back on why he was here. To kill the Joker. If the clown didn’t have a bullet in him by the end of the night, then he would just get to see Lucy sooner than he planned. It was a win-win either way. 

“Well, you won’t have a choice,” Jason hissed, tossing a gun towards Bruce.

“I won’t–”

“This is what it’s all been about. This. You and me and him. Now is the time you decide,” Jason yelled. He destroyed the chair holding the Joker and pulled him up, placing a gun to his temple. “If you won’t kill this psychotic piece of filth, I will. If you wanna stop me, you’re gonna have to kill me.”

“You know I won’t–”

“I’m gonna blow his deranged brains out! And if you wanna stop it, you are gonna have to shoot me, right in my face.”

“This is turning out even better than I’d hoped!” Joker cheered. 

Jason’s world shattered as Bruce dropped the gun, giving up on Jason. “It’s him or me! You have to decide!”

Bruce just kept walking.

“Decide now! Do it! Him or me? Decide!”

Jason fired a bullet at Bruce but was instead met with a batarang. He lost his grip, losing both the gun and the Joker. 

The Joker lost it and began to cackle maniacally. “I can’t believe you got him! You expert, rooting-tooting, eagle-eyed, goth-loving marksman. I love it. You managed to find a way to win. And everybody still loses!”

Jason had enough and pulled out the detonator for his last resort. “I’m not losing,” Jason hissed. “If I can’t lose you, I’m seeing Lucy again.”

Bruce moved to disarm the bomb, only for Joker to tackle him to the floor. “No! Don’t spoil it, this is better! I’m the only one who’s gonna get what he wants tonight!” Joker shouted, choking Bruce on the floor. “Yes, bing, bang, boom. We all go out together! Don’t you just love a happy ending?”

It’s ironic. Jason thought as he slid onto the floor. Both times he dies, he gets to listen to the Joker’s crazed laughter as thinks of Lucy. “See you soon, Lucy,” Jason whispered, only for Bruce to grab him and try to pull him away.

In the explosion, he and Bruce were separated, Jason caught under a pile of rubble. 

He was content to lay there, waiting for the rubble to fall and crush his lungs, except the weight was lifted off him.

Jason’s eyes widened as he saw Robin, his replacement, struggling to lift the concrete slab enough for him to move.

“Please hurry,” Tim whispered. “I can’t hold this forever and B will look here soon.”

In his shock, Jason moved and Tim sent the slab crashing to the floor. 

“Come on,” Tim said. “Nightwing told me not to tell you, but you deserve to know the truth. Do you have anywhere we can hide out?”

Jason studied Tim for a minute before silently leading him towards his nearest safehouse. The second they were inside the door, he rounded on him, shoving the replacement into the wall by his throat.

“What. Do. You. Want.”

“Lucy…alive,” Tim squeaked out between limited breaths.

“What?” Jason asked, pulling his arm away, as if he’d been burned.

“Lucy’s alive,” Tim repeated and Jason's world crashed around him.

Chapter Text

Dick knew he was worrying Lucy with his pacing but he couldn’t help it. There was too much going on and he didn’t know how else to handle it.

“Dick,” Lucy said from her spot on the couch. “I can’t focus on my book with all your pacing.”

“Sorry,” Dick said, suddenly collapsing in a nearby chair. Lucy just raised an eyebrow. It was weird, seeing her with the makeup on. Whenever they visit Lucy doesn’t bother with the makeup as the only people she’d see knew about her skin. She was only wearing it today because JJ was having a playdate with a friend and she needed to pick him up later. Actually, now that he thought about it, it was a blessing that JJ, who was turning five in a few days, didn’t question the fact that his mom’s skin tone kept changing. 

“What’s wrong, Dick?”

Nothing!” Dick shot back, way too quickly. Lucy rolled her eyes and put her book down, sending him a glare.

Dick sighed before looking away, not wanting to watch her immediate reaction. “What would you have done…if Jason had lived?”

He could hear Lucy shifting on the couch and a blanket being tossed onto the floor. She let out a very deep sigh before saying, “We were always planning on going through with everything. Running away, faking our deaths, being together. Even though we never talked about it…we both wanted it to happen.”

“Why didn’t you?”

“Run or talk?”

“Both.”

“Joker, he wouldn’t allow it. I tried to run, when I was younger, I nearly died because of it. Jason tried to broach the subject,” Lucy leaned back. “God, he tried so many times to get me to talk about it, but I just…refused. I was scared that he’d find me. Honestly, I still am.”

Dick finally turned and looked at Lucy. “Say it did work. Say you guys faked your deaths, escaped, what then?”

Lucy was clutching a pillow, curled up in a ball. She wasn’t crying yet but Dick could see the water in her eyes. “We would have started a new life…together. I never cared about all the little details and neither did he. We would be together and we would be free. That was all that mattered to us.”

“I’m sorry, Lucy,” Dick said, turning away as the tears began to fall. “I never should have brought it up.”

“It s’okay,” Lucy muttered, clutching the pillow tighter. “It’s good to remember him. Remember the good, along with the bad. Even if it hurts more sometimes.”

Dick stood up and moved to the couch, pulling Lucy close to him as she lost it again. “I miss him,” she whispered. “I miss him so much.”

“I know,” Dick murmured, rubbing her back. “I know.”

“I just want him back,” she continued. “Please, I want to see him again.”

Dick let out a sigh as she continued to cry. He really wished she could.

~

Jason had been sitting on the ground for a solid hour now and it was starting to worry Tim. 

From the stories Dick told him, and the few he managed to coax out of Lucy over the years, Jason was usually quick to react to information. Joker was in Arkham? He’d be setting up plans to meet with Lucy. First meeting with the Justice League? He’d go by a JLA autograph book and make sure he could ask them all to sign it, Bruce included. According to Alfred, after Bruce had awkwardly given Jason the birds and the bees talk he’d went out and bought a lifetime supply of condemns and gifted them to Bruce. Ironic considering Jason was the one to have a kid, though it wouldn’t be surprising if Bruce had a few children wandering the earth, probably brooding like him too. 

Either way, Jason sitting on the floor, leaning against the kitchen cabinets, staring off into space was both worrying and terrifying. Maybe his brain just crashed from the information that his childhood best friend turned girlfriend was alive and well? Tim hadn’t even gotten to the JJ part yet!

“Jason?” Tim asked, hesitantly taking a step towards the drug lord. “Are you okay?”

“She’s alive,” Jason whispered, voice distorted from the helmet. “Lucy’s alive.”

“Yeah, she is,” Tim replied, a small smile on his face.

“Jason suddenly stood up. “I need to see her.”

“Whoah, Jason stop,” Tim said, trying to lower Jason into a chair. It was hard considering the man was at least 200 pounds of muscle. “There’s some other stuff I got to mention.”

“Like what?” Jason asked, making a break for the door. “She’s alive, that’s all that matters.”

“There’s a lot you need to know before you see her,” Tim said, cutting off Jason’s escape route. “Just let me explain and then I’ll take you to her myself. I promise.”
Jason stared at him, probably studying him, before removing his helmet and sitting in a chair.

“Talk.”

Tim sat across from Jason, leaning back in his chair. “After you died, everyone—and I mean everyone—fell off the deep end. Dick stayed in Bludhaven as much as possible. Bruce was beating the ever loving shit out of everybody, he put Joker in a six month body cast. He probably would have killed him if Uncle Clark didn’t pry him off. Lucy though, she was the worst. According to Joker’s medical records, he had been hit repeatedly, causing several bruises that Bruce didn’t cause. We think it was Lucy beating him with a crowbar. It fit considering Harley and Joker had a public breakup earlier that day, one that was mostly screaming and gunshots. Not very physical.

“After that, Lucy started blowing up buildings. They were all warehouses, mostly empty. Dick tried to talk to her but she was always gone before he got there. She never did much else until I came on the scene. Dick wasn’t willing to help B and since Batman needs a Robin, I volunteered. Lucy didn’t take it well. She almost killed me, multiple times.”

Jason let out a huff, crossing his arms but there was a small glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes, like he was happy that Lucy was trying to take revenge. 

Tim took a deep breath, gearing up for the biggest part, something that hopefully wouldn’t ruin the life Lucy had built up. He really hoped this didn’t backfire on him. Dick would probably have a heart attack, which would lead Bruce to having a heart attack, which would lead Tim to having one. Well now he was really hoping this didn’t blow up in his face.

“About two months after your death, Dick got a letter from Lucy, asking him to meet. I followed them. I didn’t know about you two, the relationship you had. I wasn’t stupid enough to try and get pictures of you guys fighting Joker so all I knew about Giggles was what the news said. But when I saw her, she was broken. And she told Dick something, something that changed everything, helped her actually.”

“What?” Jason asked, leaning forward, his face inches from Tim’s. “What changed?”

“She was pregnant.”

And just like that, Jason broke all over again. This time though, Tim could see Jason’s face. He kept switching between shock, joy, and grief. His mouth was also open wide, like a cartoon’s.

“I have a kid?”

“Jason Richard Grey,” Tim said. When Jason’s eyebrows furrowed, Tim corrected himself. “Technically his name is Jason Richard Todd but since we faked her death and gave her a new identity, she had to give him her new last name. She picked Grey as a thank you to Dick.”

“You helped?” Jason asked, eyes wide. 

“Not at first,” Tim said, holding his hands up when Jason’s eyes narrowed. “She still hated me and I was terrified of her. Remember her murder attempts? She and Dick did the death faking and new identity by themselves. The first time Lucy and I had a pleasant conversation was JJ’s first birthday.”

“She named him after me,” Jason said softly, a smile on his face. Suddenly he jumped up and strode towards the door. “Well, are you coming, Replacement? I have to see Lucy again and officially meet my son!”

Chapter Text

“Are we there yet?” Jason whined for the fifteenth time. 

“No,” Tim hissed, hands tightening on the steering wheel of the car. “Please stop asking.”

“Why?” Jason asked with a shit eating grin. The car ride was utterly boring so he found entertaining his replacement was the best way to pass the time. So far, it was working wonders.

“Because I won’t tell you about everything else you missed.”

“What did Lucy have twins?” Jason said sarcastically, rolling his eyes. He already knew everything he needed to know. Lucy could fill him in on details once he apologized to her for leaving and then kissed her so hard she couldn’t breath.

“No,” Tim drawled, “But I know a great way to make her even happier to see you.”

“Lucy hates flowers,” Jason cut in. “She thinks they’re cheesy.”

“I’m aware. She scowled at them every time a single father dropped them off at her house,” Tim said, making Jason’s eyes go wide. “I think she regrets that single parents support group.”

“How many guys have flirted with her?” Jason asked, leaning into Tim’s personal space. He wasn’t sure if the teen could see the road but he honestly didn’t care.

“A lot,” Tim said, using one hand to push Jason back into his seat. “She turned down all of them though. Granted, most of them were a lot older, considering her fake ID makes her four years older than she is. Either way, she’s only ever had eyes for you, despite believing she’d never see you again.”

Jason leaned back in his seat. She never moved on. He didn’t know how to feel about that. People always say it's best to move on after someone’s death, find love again, but Jason and Lucy had such an epic romance, something out of a bestselling novel that just made moving on seem so…wrong. He wanted her to be happy, more than anything.

“Is she happy?” Jason asked quietly. In all his excitement over seeing Lucy again, he forgot one important detail about Lucy’s childhood.

She had so few happy moments as a kid.

“Sometimes,” Tim said, staring at the road ahead. “She misses you, obviously, and she wants you back but, JJ’s helped her a lot.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. She always finds a way to be happy when JJ is with her.” Tim shrugged. “I think it’s because he’s a part of you. The last part of you she thought she had.”

Tim pulled off the road, turning into the parking lot of a shopping mall.

“Why are we here, Tim?”

“We need to buy a present.”

~

Lucy was hunched over a table with vodka disguised as bottled water. Dick had tried arguing about how drinking alcohol when surrounded by kids was irresponsible but she pointed out that she has an unnaturally high alcohol tolerance and she wasn’t about to let her bottle leave her sight. Or disappear down someone else's throat. 

JJ’s entire kindergarten class had been invited to his birthday party. His entire kindergarten class showed up. Which meant, Lucy was surrounded by twenty seven screaming children and she couldn’t even call Dick for help because he was famous and couldn’t be at some random kids birthday party. Wally wasn’t helping either, he was kid twenty seven. 

“So, when’s cake?” Wally asked, collapsing in a chair beside her, looking like he hadn’t spent the last hour jumping in the bouncy house with all the other children.

“You’re not allowed to have any,” Lucy scolded, taking a strong sip of her drink. “We have plenty of food in the house.”

Wally pouted but conceded. “Fine. But the kids are hungry so you might want to feed them soon.”

Lucy sighed and stood. “Time for cake!” she shouted, motioning for Wally to grab the cake. JJ bounded over, along with the rest of the kids, prepared to be on a sugar-high, and sat down at the table where Wally was placing his Batman themed cake. Honestly, JJ’s obsession was going to give Lucy an aneurysm. 

JJ scrunched up his face as everyone sang happy birthday and as he blew out the candles he whispered something under his breath that Lucy couldn’t make out, being across from him with a camera. She did catch the heartbreak on Wally’s face though, since the speedster was sitting next to him. 

“Happy birthday, kiddo,” Lucy said, giving JJ a kiss on the forehead before cutting the cake. Naturally, she gave JJ the biggest piece but she did subtly give Wally a slice as well. 

“You’re bribing me aren’t you?” Wally said, devouring his slice of cake. 

“What did JJ wish for?” Lucy asked, crossing her arms.

“I can’t tell you,” Wally defended. 

“You looked like a kicked puppy when he said it so tell me what he wished for,” Lucy demanded.

“Look, Lucy, I…” Wally trailed off, something behind her, catching his eye.

“Wally?” Lucy asked, snapping her fingers in front of his stupefied face. “Wally?”

He just pointed to something behind her. Lucy rolled her eyes and turned around, before dropping her vodka bottle to the floor.

Jason was standing at the edge of her yard.

Chapter Text

“Jason?” Lucy whispered quietly. It looked like him. He had his scar, his smile, adorable face. But he looked different, older. 

Jason just smiled and gave her a simple nod, all she needed to confirm it was him, before she dashed over and into his arms. 

“I’m so sorry, Luce,” he whispered into her ear. “I’m sorry I left you.”

Lucy just clung onto him. “I thought you were dead,” she whispered, crying.

“I was,” Jason replied. Lucy’s eyebrows furrowed. “Can we go inside?”

She nodded and led him inside the house, moving some of JJ’s toys out of the way. She pulled Jason onto the couch, automatically fitting herself into his side. He just wrapped an arm around her, pulling her closer.

“What happened?” Lucy whispered, looking up at him. His eyes looked different, more teal than blue, but she could see the same love shining in them. The same adoration. “How are you here?”

“I wish I knew,” Jason whispered. “I woke up in my coffin and crawled out of the grave.”

“Jay.” Lucy’s eyes widened in alarm.

“I know,” he replied, looking away. “Talia al Ghul, from the League of Assassins, she found me, dumped me in the Lazarus Pit.”

“Is that why your eyes look different?”

“Yeah,” Jason sighed, turning back to Lucy. “I thought you were dead so I stayed with the League to train. I promise I would have come back if I knew you were alive. I swear.” He gripped her hands tightly, as if trying to make her understand that he would have come back, as if she didn't think he would.

Lucy let out a small laugh. “I know, Bird Boy.”

Jason’s smile got wider at the nickname, if that was possible. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too,” Lucy whispered, threading a hand through Jason’s hair. She had to admit, she was digging the white streak.

“I went back to Gotham. I had a plan to kill Joker. I almost succeeded but Bruce, he stopped me.”

“You’re the Red Hood.”

Lucy let out a small laugh at the way Jason’s eyes widened at that. “How did you—”

“One day Dick and Tim started freezing up everytime I asked about the Red Hood. If I wasn’t so sure you were dead, I would have made the connection sooner.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t realize you used one of my plans to fake your death. If I made the connection I could have been there for you and JJ. I’m sorry you had to raise him alone.”

Lucy decided he just needed to shut up and kissed him. Five years. Five years of separation, grief, and trauma. Lucy shoved everything she had into that kiss. It was like the gaping hole in her was filled with that kiss alone. 

“You have no reason to be sorry, Jason,” Lucy said when she had to pull away for air. “I have not and never will blame you. We did a good job faking my death and I wasn’t alone for the past five years. Wally took me in and has been helping me raise JJ, alongside Dick and Tim. I’m just glad you're back.”

“Lucy?”

“Yeah?”

“I love you.”

“I love you too, Jason.”

~

Jason and Lucy had been on the couch for an hour and Jason couldn’t find it in himself to move. Every dream and moment of wishful thinking had done nothing to compare to seeing Lucy again. 

She looked as beautiful as Jason remembered her, even more so if that was possible. Her white blonde hair had grown out and she filled out more now that she was older. Her nails were painted white, matching her natural skin tone, something he found odd. Her blue eyes still held the same glow she had when they were children.

“Mommy!” a small voice called, followed by the squeaking of the sliding glass door. “Look what I got for…who’s that?”

Jason could feel Lucy shoot up and look towards the door. “JJ!” she cried. “Hi sweetheart, umm…there’s someone I want you to meet.”

Jason’s eyes widened as they met Lucy’s. Are you sure? 

Lucy gave him a nod, reading his lips. “Honey, do you remember what I said about your Daddy?”

Jason watched JJ squint, a perfect imitation of Lucy’s confused face. “You said he died. That he went to go visit the fancy golden gates and was waiting to meet us when it was our turn to visit them.”

Jason’s heart broke. He hadn’t even considered the fact that Lucy had to explain to their son why he wasn’t around. Their son. That was freaky to think about, but also amazing. He had a son! A son who was right in front of him and who he was about to meet.

“Well,” Lucy said slowly, “I was wrong. It turns out your dad wasn’t dead like we thought.” She gently led him over so he was standing in front of Jason. “This is Jason, your dad.”

Jason squatted down so he and JJ were at eye level. He held out his hand. “Hi, JJ. It’s nice to finally meet you.”

“It worked!” JJ cried. “My wish came true! You came back!”

JJ ran towards Jason and engulfed him in a hug. Jason had no idea what he was talking about but he was getting a hug, so he didn’t care too much right now. “Yeah kiddo, I did.”

"Are you staying? He can stay, right Mommy?"

Jason looked up towards Lucy, secretly hoping she wanted him to stay. He didn't know what he'd do otherwise.

Lucy's eyes met his. "He's never leaving my sight again."

JJ's face brightened at the same time Jason's did. "Woo hoo! I have a dad! Welcome home, Daddy!"

JJ pulled Jason into another hug before trying to reach out and grab Lucy who was a little too far for him to reach. After seeing JJ's grabby hand, Lucy moved to join the hug.

Remembering what took him and Tim so long to arrive, Jason gently pulled away. "Hey JJ, I have a present for you."

Jason moved to the plastic shopping bag that Tim had found time to place on the counter. "Happy Birthday, kiddo. I'm sorry I missed the first four."

JJ grabbed the gift out of his dad's hands, pulling the toy from the bag. Inside was a set of Justice League action figures. It had Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, and Aquaman. 

"Cool!" JJ shouted. "Best present ever! Mommy, can I play with them now?"

Lucy let out a small laugh. "Only for a little bit. You have to go to bed soon."

"But I'm not tired!"

"Then go play with your toys and make yourself tired," Jason joked, using a pair of scissors he found on the counter to open the box. 

"Is it okay if Uncle Wally tucks you in?" Lucy asked. JJ replied with a quick nod, already distracted by Flash flying at Aquaman, who was driving the Batmobile. They might need to explain the Justice League's superpowers one day.

As JJ ran off, Jason turned towards Lucy. "Why can't I tuck him in?"

"Because," Lucy said with a flirtatious smile. "You haven't given me my present yet."

"Is my presence not enough?" Jason asked, a cocky smirk appearing on his face. 

"I haven't experienced all of you yet," Lucy replied, voice lowering as she leaned in.

"Nope. Eww. Gross," Wally shouted, covering Tim's eyes as they entered the room. "You have a bedroom. Go have sex in there. Not on my couch!"

Jason and Lucy burst into embarrassed giggles. 

"Good to see you, Wally," Jason said as Lucy pulled him up the stairs.

"I'll freak out about you being alive in the morning," Wally replied. "I'll make pancakes."

Lucy gave a thumbs up.

"And don't let JJ see you!" Tim called. "No traumatizing my nephew!"

Chapter Text

Tim was certain that Jason and Lucy spent the night creating a little brother or sister for JJ. 

JJ had stumbled downstairs just after seven and received a plate of pancakes from Wally (who had yet to fully comprehend Jason was alive) and sat down in front of the television to watch cartoons and play with his action figures. They really needed to explain what the Justice League actually did as Batman was running over the rest of the team in his Batmobile and calling them speed bumps. 

Anyway, sometime closer to nine, after Tim had coached Wally through his mental breakdown, Lucy and Jason came down the stairs, holding hands like high school lovers. 

“Morning Wally,” Lucy greeted, dragging two dining chairs close together before collapsing beside Jason,

“Morning Lucy. Morning Jason,” Wally greeted, staring at Jason a little too hard.

“Morning Mommy! Morning Daddy!” JJ shouted from his spot on the floor. “I’m making Batman run over the Justice League with his car!”

“That’s nice sweetheart,” Lucy said, taking a sip of her coffee. Tim watched for the moment when Lucy actually registered what her son said and slowly lowered her mug, turning towards JJ who was happily playing with his action figures.

From his spot on the couch, Tim laughed at the wide eyes on both Jason and Lucy’s face. If he thought of it, he would have taken a picture. Instead, his mind was in the gutter.

“So,” Tim started, “Should I go dig JJ’s old baby clothes out of the attic?”

Jason and Lucy glanced at each other before looking straight at Tim and simultaneously shaking their heads, 

“Do we need to buy a new bed?” Wally asked.

Jason and Lucy nodded slowly, continuing to eat the pancakes provided for them. 

“Sounds like a fun night,” Tim said, pulling himself off the couch. “Now, as fun as my night was with sleeping on the couch, I have to go make sure Dick doesn’t have a heart attack.” 

Tim gave JJ a kiss on the head (which lead to getting his foot run over by the Batmobile) and gave Lucy a quick hug (receiving a death glare from Jason in the process), before heading out the door and to his car. Hopefully, Bruce was too busy brooding to notice his absence. Tim had no idea how he’d explain his disappearance to Alfred though.

~

Lucy leaned against the railing, sipping a large blue slushie, admiring her son trying to press himself against the glass from his father’s arms so he could get a closer look at the lions. It felt weirdly nostalgic, being at the zoo with Jason, watching the lions. Granted, it was a different zoo, they were much older, and JJ was here, but it was like no time had truly passed. 

“And I named that one Harry cause he has a big mane. See?” JJ said, counting in Jason’s arms as he pointed to one of the sleeping lions. Jason just nodded and started asking the names of the other lions, ignoring how sometimes JJ named the same lion twice.

“Come on boys, we need to eat,” Lucy said, sticking the straw to the slushie in front of Jason, who was silently begging her for a sip.

“But Mommy!” JJ cried, “I’m not done naming the lions!”

Lucy nodded her head in fake thought. “Well that is a problem isn’t it? Then I guess I’ll just sit at that bench and slowly begin to starve.”

Lucy began to make her way towards said bench, walking sluggishly as if to prove she was weak from a lack of food.

“Nooo!” JJ said, scrambling out of Jason’s arms. “We can eat now, Mommy. We can come back later, right Daddy?”

Jason smiled and knelt down. “Of course. Has Mommy introduced you to my favorite food?”

JJ shook his head.

“Well, your mom introduced me to it. You see, my favorite food is a chili dog.”

“Really?” JJ asked, eyes widening.

“Yep. Your mom and I used to sit on rooftops and eat them all the time.”

“Cool! Let’s go get silly dogs!”

JJ charged ahead for a moment before turning back and grabbing his parents’ hands, pulling them along.

Lucy turned to Jason with a confused smile, silently asking him a question. He just shrugged and they agreed not to correct JJ. 

~

When Jason had imagined a future with Lucy, today was basically it. 

Waking up in bed with her in his arms had felt like bliss. The morning of playing superheroes with Lucy and JJ had been so fulfilling. And spending the day at the zoo with them was a dream come true. 

To be far, he wanted to stay at home and learn about everything he missed in the past five years but JJ had asked if they could go to the zoo. So Jason settled with slowly gathering information as they walked between each habitat. JJ had gotten tired after lunch and basically demanded he be carried around the park. 

It was dark by the time they pulled up in the driveway, JJ worn out and asleep in the backseat. 

“That was the most fun I’ve had in a long time,” Lucy whispered, shutting off the car.

“Same,” Jason whispered, grabbing her hand, “I want to have more days like today.”

“So do I,” Lucy whispered. “Why don’t we put JJ to bed and continue what we were doing last night?”

Jason smiled. “I like the sound of that.”

Jason carefully unbuckled JJ from the backseat, making sure to grab the newly acquired stuffed lion as well, as Lucy unlocked the door to the house.

Standing inside the entryway, angrily eating a bag of potato chips, stood Nightwing.

Fuck.

Chapter Text

"Dickface."

"Jason."

Lucy sighed. There goes her plans for the night.

As the boys had a stare off in the living room, Lucy took a sleeping JJ out of Jason's arms and brought him to his room. As much as she loved her son, she really hated his Batman themed room. Stupid Wally. 

After tucking JJ in, Lucy made her way down the stairs and into the living room where Dick and Jason were still having their stare off. 

Lucy stepped towards Dick and slapped him across the face.

"Fuck you," she hissed before stealing the potato chips and dropping them into the nearby trashcan as she made her way towards the china hutch, pulling open the bottom drawer where all her old weapons were stored. She pulled out her favorite knife. 

Dick didn't move as Lucy stabbed him in the arm. He did move when she tried to pull her knife out to stab him again. He grabbed her wrist, squeezing enough for her to let go. Jason let out a growl, lunging towards Dick but the acrobat spun out of the way, pulling out his escrima sticks.

"I'm not here to fight!"

"So you just show up at my house in your suit after lying to me that Jason was alive for shits and giggles?" Lucy shouted. 

"I was trying to protect you. And JJ!"

"From who?" Jason growled. "Me?"

"Yes!" Dick said, jumping back as Lucy and Jason stalked forward. Lucy grabbed a steak knife from the kitchen and Jason pulled a gun out of…somewhere. He had too many guns to guess which one it was.

"Jason, you're unstable," Dick said, backing up slowly as the two criminals stalked towards him. "We had no idea how you would react to anything. And Lucy, we didn't tell you because we didn't want to get your hopes up. Losing Jason all over again would break you. You'd fall off the edge and never come back!"

"You didn't think," Lucy whispered, stalking closer and closer to Dick, "that I had a right to know that my best friend, the father of my child, the love of my life, was alive!"

Lucy was screaming now, inches from Dick's face, and she knew she should keep it down with JJ upstairs but honestly, she just didn't care because Dick didn't care. He had the audacity to show up in her house and eat her food and explain why he hid the most important information in the world from her.

"I was crying to you, just last week, about how much I missed Jason, and you didn't think to bring up that he came back from the grave?"

"You knew?" Jason snarled. "You knew it was me and didn't tell her? I thought it was luck the Replacement figured it out. I thought you didn't know. You could have told me!"

Dick held up his hands. "I'm sorry, okay? I made a mistake! I was trying to be cautious!"

"Not cautious enough," a sickly voice said.

Lucy froze. Fear, stress, and dread flowed through her as she turned around to the figure in the doorway.

Standing in the doorway, holding a whimpering JJ, was the Joker.

Chapter Text

"My little Lucy," Joker sighed, placing a hand over his heart. "I'm hurt you never told me I'm a grandpa! Imagine all the fun we could've had! What's your name sonny?"

Jason's fists clenched as JJ whimpered in the Joker's arms, squirming away from the clown as he leaned in close. 

"JJ."

"After me!" Joker cheered. "I'm honored."

"Put him down," Jason growled, stepping forward. 

"Ah, ah, ah," Joker taunted, holding up a gun that looked like something out of a cartoon. "I'm bonding with my grandson, Hoodie. Let me enjoy it."

Jason's eyes flashed towards Lucy as Joker rested the gun against the back of JJ's head. He could see in her eyes, she couldn't tell if it was a real gun or just a toy. She was shaking too, in fear and rage.

"I think we need some quality bonding time, right kiddo?"

JJ violently shook his head. "No thank you."

"And you taught the kid manners!" Joker laughed. "Never saw that coming."

"Please Papa," Lucy said, stepping forward with her hands up, unarmed. "Let him go, take me instead. I'll behave this time. Promise."

Lucy's voice broke on the word promise and Jason was ready to grab her himself but Dickface grabbed his arm. 

Honestly, Jason forgot he was here.

"Now why would I want a disobedient brat when I can have my sweet, young grandson instead?" Joker crooned. "He'll behave. Unlike you."

"He didn't do anything," Dickface said, speaking up for the first time. "Just let him go."

Joker pulled the gun away from JJ's head and tilted his head to the side in mock thought. "I see your point." Joker gently tapped the gun against his leg. "But honestly," his voice lowered, "I just don't care."

The next few seconds were the longest of Jason's life. Joker fired his gun towards Lucy, pulling a screaming JJ out the door. Jason whipped out his own gun, failing to get a clean shot at Joker. Lucy was less cautious, throwing a knife she had hidden in her jacket, missing only because the Joker ducked his head. Dick jumped in front of Lucy, taking the bullet Joker aimed at her.

It didn't matter though, Joker was out the door, JJ with him.

~

"What about the car?" Jason shouted, wearing down the carpet with his pacing.

"You want to chase after a sports car in a minivan?" Lucy questioned from her spot on the floor. She’d collapsed there shortly after Joker left. 

“What about your bike?” Jason asked, turning towards Dick.

Dick looked down at the floor and mumbled, “It’s out of gas.”

“Your crime fighting motorcycle runs on gas?” Lucy screeched.

Dick, who was still in his Nightwing suit, threw his hands in the air. “The electric one blew up!”

In his defense, he planned on coming by to make sure Jason and Lucy were both mentally sane and if they were okay, apologize. He did not expect the Joker to come and kidnap his nephew. Or to get shot by the Joker, thank goodness for kevlar.

“Wally!” Jason shouted. “He’s a speedster! He could run and grab JJ before the Joker even notices!”

Lucy was scrambling to find her phone but Dick just grabbed his out of his pocket. (The suit may be skin tight but it still has pockets! Stupid teenagers on social media.) Just as Dick hit the call button, Wally came limping through the front door. 

“What the fuck did you do?” Lucy shouted. “You were on a date with Linda!”

“Shattered my leg,” Wally mumbled, toppling onto the couch. “The bank across the street was getting robbed, date night got cut short.”

Lucy put her head in her hands and cried. 

“Fuck!” Jason shouted and for a split second, Dick swore Jason’s eyes turned lime green. 

“Would someone please explain what’s going on?” Wally asked. 

“I’m a terrible mother, that's what!” Lucy whined. “I should have hid him better, or, or tried harder to get him back and I just—”

“It’s not your fault Lucy,” Dick said.

Jason finally stopped pacing to sit next to Lucy on the floor. He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her into his chest, letting her cry into his shoulder. Dick wisely chose not to comment on the tears spilling out Jason’s own eyes.

“Nobody’s answering my question,” Wally said.

Dick sighed, finally choosing to sit on the couch. There was no hope they could catch Joker now anyway. “Joker kidnapped JJ.”

“WHAT?”

Lucy burst into another round of sobs.

“Okay, okay, this is bad, this is very bad,” Wally said. For a second, the speedster tried to pace before painfully remembering his leg was shattered. “We can fix this though. We can save JJ. Right? Go to Gotham, fight the Joker, save JJ.”

“Kill the Joker,” Jason said.

“What?” Dick asked, turning to the couple on the floor.

“We’re killing him this time,” Lucy whispered softly. “Otherwise he’ll just keep coming and we’ll have to keep running. That’s not a life JJ should have.”

Dick thought for a moment. More than anything, he had wanted to kill the Joker after Jason died. He probably would have tried if Bruce and Lucy hadn’t already given it a shot, only to be pulled away before they could do any lasting damage. Looking back, none of this would have happened if the Joker had died. Lucy would have never seen a need to leave Gotham, Jason would have never needed to create his whole revenge plot, and the two of them could have had a semi-normal life with each other and JJ.

“If we’re doing this, we’re gonna need some help,” Dick decided.

“We aren’t calling Batman!” Lucy snarled.

Like Dick was crazy enough to call a man half of the room hated right now.

“For starters, we should call Timmy,” Dick said. “And I was wondering, Lucy, how would you feel about reaching out to your mom?”

Chapter Text

Selina sighed as she spread across the couch, content to listen to the halfhearted bickering between Harley and Ivy as they tried to cook dinner.

Emphasis on tried as they couldn’t agree on what to make and Selina was too delighted in their lovers spat to get between them.

“We had salad last night, Red!”

“It’s a different salad, Harls. And it’s good for you.”

“But Pammy!”

Selina could still remember the day that Ivy called to say that Lucy had died and Harley was freaking out. They couldn’t let Harley near weapons for almost two years out of fear for her own safety. It took actual therapy and some strong meds before Harley was even close to her old self.

So no matter how much bickering Harley and Ivy did, Selina would never shut them up because Harley’s indignant screeches were better than her painful sobs and sorrowful whispers. 

“You can add as much dressing as you want,” Ivy bribed.

“Fine,” Harley pouted. “But I’m making dessert!”

Selina laughed as Harley started digging through the fridge for the ice cream and chocolate sauce. “Make sure to give me extra chocolate, Harley.”

“Sure thing!” Harley shouted, giving Selina a thumbs up.

Selina caught Ivy snickering into her lettuce. Those two will tear apart her kitchen and possibly the rest of her luxurious apartment. 

At the ring of the doorbell, Selina was forced to get to her feet. As she moved towards the door, leisurely stretching, she noticed Harley and Ivy sneak into a nearby guest bedroom. Right, it would be bad for a member of high society to be caught having dinner with two supervillains. Maybe she would be lucky and one of her kittens would be at the door instead. Just in case though, she grabbed a knife she left on her entryway table.

Selina put in a fake smile as she opened the door. The knife she was holding clattered to the floor as she opened to find two of her beloved kittens. The two dead ones to be exact.

~

Tim was a hyper-vigilant and highly trained vigilante so no, he did not scream like a little girl when Dick barged into his room with Wally at his heels. Tim may have jumped slightly and shouted but he didn’t scream. 

“What the hell, Dick?” Tim complained. He was in the middle of hacking the pentagon.

“We need your help, Baby Bird.”

“Then call your friends.”

“Joker kidnapped JJ!” Wally shouted, pacing the room like a madman with no respect for any of Tim’s stuff.

“What!”

“Joker found Lucy and he kidnapped JJ. We’re going to save him and probably kill Joker in the process,” Dick explained as Tim ran around the room grabbing his gear. “Lucy and Jason went to ask the Sirens for help. We need to keep this quiet and not tell B.”

Like Tim was dumb enough to tell Bruce. He’d seen how Bruce reacted to Jason’s return. According to Alfred, Bruce had been sulking in the cave since their big showdown. He hadn’t even noticed Dick and Tim’s comings and goings.

And Tim would do anything to save JJ. He’d seen how happy the kid had made Lucy. And the smile on Jason’s face when he first saw his son, it was the happiest Tim had ever seen on anyone. Plus, that kid was so freaking adorable and sweet, he didn’t need the Joker to corrupt him.

“Alright, let’s go save JJ.”

~

Harley sat on Ivy’s shoulders as she pressed her ear to the door, straining to hear the conversation on the other side.

“How?” Selina whispered.

“Well I died,” one voice said. “Crawled out of my own grave and everything. Lucy faked her death.”

“Hi, Aunt Selina.”

Harley’s whole world stopped. She hadn’t heard that voice in almost six years. It was the voice that always asked if she could have a bedtime story, that begged her to run away with her for years, that screamed her lungs out the day the second Robin died in front of her eyes and Harley tried her hardest to comfort.

That voice belonged to Lucy, her baby girl.

Harley barreled out the door with no regard for Selina’s expensive furniture or Ivy’s shoulder as she ran towards her daughter.

“Lucy!” Harley cried, tackling her daughter in a hug.

"Mom!" Lucy said, carefully wrapping her arms around Harley as she bounced the two around the room. "Hi."

"Oh, Lucy, sweetheart, I missed you," Harley exclaimed, grabbing Lucy's face and studying it, looking for all the signs that her daughter was here in her arms and not just another figment of her imagination.

"I missed you too, Mom," Lucy said, giving Harley a sad smile. "But I need your help with something."

Harley held up a hand. "I need to say this first. I am so sorry, Lucy. I was a terrible mother. All I ever wanted was to have a family with Mister J and I let that blind me from how unhealthy of an environment you were in. I know I can't fix the past but I want to try again at being a good mom."

Lucy smiled at Harley and took her hands into her own. "You were actually a pretty good mom, all things considered. And I promise that we can have all the time in the world to bond but first, I need your help."

"Anything," Harley promised, squeezing her daughter's hand. And she meant it. Anything Lucy needed, Harley would happily give because that's what mothers are supposed to do.

"Are you done with the mushy reunion?" Jason asked from the door. Harley could have sworn that birdy was dead but with her daughter in front of her, Harley was certain that anything was possible. 

Ivy must have finally made her way out of the bedroom because the houseplant by the front door hit Jason upside the head.

"I faked my death because I was pregnant," Lucy said slowly. "With Jason's baby."

Harley's eyes widened as she remembered the last time she saw Lucy. She was hunched over the toilet, crying her eyes out, and apologizing for lying all the time. Harley had assumed she was talking about how she always snuck out, not her relationship with Jason. 

"I'm a grandma?" Harley whispered.

Lucy nodded. "His name is Jason but we call him JJ."

Harley cooed.

"Joker kidnapped him," Jason cut in, bouncing on the balls of his feet. "We need your help getting him back and putting the Joker down for good."

Harley shared a glance with Selina and Ivy (the latter of the two gaining a murderous gleam at the concept of killing Harley's ex) and nodded at Lucy and Jason.

"We're in."

Chapter Text

Dick had never been more thankful in his life for the paranoia Batman had instilled in him at such a young age. If it wasn’t for the pool of dread that told him that one day JJ would be separated from Lucy, Dick never would have thought to place a tracker at the base of JJ’s neck. He never had any reason to activate it until today, though.

“I fucking hate that place,” Lucy moaned as Tim pulled up JJ’s location at an abandoned warehouse by the docks.

“Why?” Dick questioned, but Lucy just brushed past him, digging through the chest of weapons from her childhood that Harley had kept. He never remembered her having bright purple guns before. 

Harley leaned close to Dick, whispering in his ear, “It’s where Mister J kept his more…harmful parenting tools.”
Dick’s eyes widened as Jason walked towards Lucy, helping her dig through the chest and find the weapons she needed. She gave a small smile as Jason handed her some beanbags of all things. He wondered what that was about. 

“You helped her, didn’t ya?”

Dick’s eyes moved away from the couple to face Harley, who was looking on sadly.

“Yeah,” Dick replied. “She asked me to help her leave, so I did.”
Harley nodded, a few tears sliding down her face. “I know why she didn’t come to me. I was an accomplice in her messy childhood. And even though I broke up with Mister J, there was a chance I would end up going back and spilling the beans. Lucy wouldn’t be safe if I knew. But it still hurts, ya know. Knowing that my baby girl couldn’t trust me enough. That she had to fake her own death to save herself and her baby.” Harley wiped her eyes but the tears kept falling. She whispered, “And now I don’t know if I can ever make it up to her.”

Dick stood and pulled Harley into a hug. “She missed you,” he assured. “She used to always say she should call you and that you could help her figure everything out. Lucy wanted you there, Harley. I promise.”
Haley nodded, before pulling away and grabbing her favorite mallet. “Well I’m here now, and Mister J ain’t gonna stand in the way of me and my baby girl any longer!”
~

As the only non-Gothamite, Wally felt a little out of place as he stood on top of a cargo container besides the Sirens, the Robins, and Lucy. It probably also didn’t help that his seven companions were armed to the teeth and Wally’s only weapon was his running shoes. 

It was actually slightly disturbing seeing both Jason and Lucy carrying an ungodly amount of deadly weapons. Despite living with the latter, Wally sometimes forgot just how crazy Lucy could be. 

Well, crazy in a good way.

Goodish?

She’s plotting to kill her psychotic father who kidnapped her child, she’s at least morally gray.

Wally should have slept last night, he was thinking way too hard about this.

Dick, leading the charge only because Lucy and Jason were too hyper-focused to micromanage everyone, gave Wally a single nod. Wally moved.

As silently as possible and quicker than possible, he took out every guard patrolling the perimeter of the warehouse. A second later, he was back to standing besides the others.

Taking his return as their cue, the Sirens split off from the group, making their way to the back of the warehouse. Jason gave Lucy a quick kiss on the forehead as she and Dick split off, heading towards the front entrance. That left Tim, Jason, and Wally to enter through the ceiling. 

Bats and their dramatic entrances.

As Tim slowly began to cut through the skylight of the warehouse (because having a skylight in a warehouse makes perfect sense), Wally looked towards the sky, his eyes narrowed and a frown on his face.

Wally prayed that for once in his life that Bruce would stay in his goddamn cave. Because if Batman made an appearance tonight, everything would surely go to shit.

Chapter Text

JJ decided that he didn’t like clowns. They were scary and mean. This one especially.

“And this, kiddo, is my funhouse!” the clown shouted. He said to call him Grandpa J. JJ didn’t want to call him that though. Grandpa’s are nice. JJ’s grandpa would probably be nice, even though he doesn’t have one. 

JJ wasn’t sure where they were. The clown said it was Gotham, the place Uncle Dickie and Uncle Timmy lived and Mommy said she and Daddy had grown up in. But that couldn’t be true because Mommy said the buildings were big and pretty with nice statues that looked over everyone. 

Maybe he had to go outside to see those buildings. This room was just big and empty, except for the scratched mirrors and the big cupboards that didn’t look as nice as the ones at home. 

JJ wanted to go home. He wanted to be with Mommy and Uncle Wally, watching cartoons on the couch. Or play superheroes with Uncle Dickie and Uncle Timmy. Or even better, go to the zoo with Daddy again!

He liked Daddy. JJ was happy he came back. Mommy was happier now. 

He hoped he got to see Mommy and Daddy again. He missed them.

Pain flashed across JJ’s cheek and he looked up through the sudden tears to see the clown glaring down at him.

“Pay attention, brat,” he hissed. “Can’t have you being as incompetent as your mother now can I? We’re men. We need to do things right. And stop crying!”

A bat was dropped into JJ’s hands. It was bigger than the one he used at t-ball practice. And JJ didn’t see any balls or tees in the big room. 

There were a lot of people though. Big people that he didn’t know. Mommy said to avoid people he didn’t know. 

“You and I are going to have a bit of fun,” the clown said again, a big smile spreading across his face. It was scary, watching the evil clown’s smile spread wide. Everything about him was scary and wrong. Even his ghost white skin, which looked pretty on Mommy but bad on him. 

JJ shook his head as the clown pulled him off the floor, dragging him by the arm towards the big people. “I don’t wanna have fun,” JJ protested, failing to twist out of the man’s grip.

“What?” the clown shouted in strange surprise. “You’re a kid! All kids wanna have fun! You’re momma used to play this game with me when she was your age. It’s simple.” The clown maneuvered the bat in JJ’s grip, positioning it like he was playing t-ball. “Walk up to the goon and swing as hard as you can! Make sure to hit their knee cap, okay kiddo?”

JJ hesitantly looked at the clown before walking up to the man in front of him, who’s eyes were wide. He swung, closing his eyes as he heard a smacking sound. 

“Don’t have much muscle, do ya kiddo?” the clown said. JJ opened his eyes to see the clown peering down disappointedly at the man as he shook. “Oh well. How about a different game?”

“Mommy says games that hurt people are bad,” JJ said as the clown walked towards the cupboard. Inside, were several pointy things that looked a lot like what Mommy had kept locked up in the dining room. He wasn’t allowed to touch those kinds of toys.

“Well your mother is wrong,” the clown said, “and stupid.” 

JJ whimpered as the clown turned around, holding up a very big knife. Now he knew why Mommy didn’t like clowns. Nothing good could come from a scary clown with a knife.

Chapter Text

Dick’s eyes widened as Lucy burst in the front entrance of the warehouse, throwing the doors open like a dramatic supervillain, stalking in like she was ready to tear the place apart. 

To be far, she was about to do just that.

“JOKER!”

Dick hurried to follow, a step behind the raging mother. He pulled out his escrima sticks, keeping his eyes peeled for any sight of JJ. 

Loud, maniacal laughter caught Dick’s attention, drawing them towards the middle of the room. Goons surronded the area. Joker stood, a bloody knife in his hand, held against the throat of a crying JJ, who had a shallow cut along his cheek.

Dick was seeing red. 

By the way her hand curled around the gun she was holding, Lucy was probably seeing more red than him. Thankfully, she didn’t attack.

“Lucy!” Joker cheered as if he was a loving father, happy to see his daughter home from college, “Welcome home!”

Dick sensed Lucy wanted to say something along the lines of ‘Fuck you’ but even now she was trying not to swear her heart out.

“Let JJ go,” Lucy growled.

Joker placed his hand over his heart. “And here I hoped you came to visit your old man. Such a pity. Oh well, I guess I’ll just bond with my grandson instead. 

Lucy pulled out her gun, aiming at the Joker’s head.

“I can slit his throat faster than you can kill me,” Joker whispered.

Jason tackled him to the floor before the clown ever got the chance.

“That wasn’t the plan Hood!” Tim shouted, coming down from the skylight, taking out the goons that were starting to converge. Wally already down and pulling JJ away from the fight. The two were out the doors in seconds. 

Jason didn’t stop beating at the Joker though. He kept punching and punching, hard enough to dent the monster’s face inwards.

“Hood?” Dick called out.

Jason didn’t respond. He just kept punching.

“Jason!”

~

“Hiya, Batsy!”

Bruce whirled around, surprised to see Harley Quinn standing at the back entrance to the warehouse, blocking his way. Last he heard, she and the Joker had split for good, after the death of their daughter.

“Quinn. I need you to move. Joker–”

“I know what Mister J’s done,” she said, stalking closer, swinging her bat. “But I can’t let you go in there, B-man.”

“Harley,” he growled. He didn’t have time for this. Dick and Tim were inside with the Joker doing who knows what! He told them to stay out of everything! This is why he benched them!

He couldn’t lose another son.

“She’s right, Batman,” another voice said. Poison Ivy came out of the shadows, vines curling around her feet. It was strange seeing her at a warehouse on the docks. Plants weren’t exactly common around here. “You need to stay out.”

Bruce pulled out a Batarang. “Nightwing and Robin are in there with the Joker. Alone.”

A laugh drew his attention. One that sounded as beautiful as bells, as soft as a purr. From the opposite shadows emerged Catwoman. 

Selina strode up to him, strutting like she owned everything around her. She placed a hand on his chest. “They’re fine, Bruce. I promise.”

That didn’t make sense. His kids were in a warehouse. Joker was with them. He probably had a crowbar. Maybe a bomb. What if they couldn’t escape? He had to save them, get there in time.

Selina grabbed his chin, pulling him towards her. “I can see where your brain is wandering, Bruce. I promise you, Dick and Tim are just helping some friends with a little infestation. Nothing for you to worry about.”

Bruce wanted to believe her, he did. But if she was wrong, if Joker was in there, ready to kill his sons…

He couldn’t take that chance.

He shoved Selina off of him, dashing forward. Harley sighed before launching herself at him. He dodged her first swing. The bat hit him the second time in the knee, the third in the chest. Selina used her whip to pull his feet out from under him. He dropped a smoke bomb, hoping to escape.

He almost made it to the door when he smelled something in the air. Something sweet.

He felt himself becoming drowsy, reaching for a rebreather that wasn’t there anymore. As he began slipping, he felt Selina lower him to the ground.

“Sorry, Batsy,” Harley said, coming into view. “But Mister J needs to pay for what he did to my baby girl.”

It was then that Bruce finally understood what was going on. Dick and Time were helping Jason and Lucy get their revenge. Joker wasn’t going to be leaving the warehouse alive.

Chapter Text

The day Giggles was introduced to Gotham, Bruce holed himself up in the Batcave, trying to figure out where she might be hiding. 

She couldn’t have been older than ten. For ten years, Joker and Harley had a daughter. One who had probably been put through utter hell. It would be a miracle if she had any sanity left, assuming she had any to begin with. 

A part of Bruce relaxed when one night Jason had left his comms on. The playful bickering between Giggles and Jason was more than something between enemies taunting each other, but instead the bickering of friends. The confirmation of their friendship came when they agreed to go to the zoo the next day.

It wasn’t until Alfred mentioned meeting a blonde girl named Lucy at five in the morning when she came to drag Jason to the track that Bruce had learned more about her. 

Bruce had tried to work up the courage to talk to his son, see if he could help her, whether it was getting her away from her parents for good or just offering her a place to stay when her parents were in Arkham. But one look at Jason’s face when he brought up finding Giggles led to Bruce leaving the topic alone. 

Despite how often she was at the Manor with Jason, Bruce hadn’t met Lucy in their civilian identities until Jason brought her to a gala. The way she gripped onto Jason like he was her lifeline broke Bruce’s heart. He decided then that it would be best to keep his distance from her. 

When Jason had died, it hadn’t even occurred to Bruce to check on Lucy. It wasn’t until she started blowing up buildings and trying to kill Robin that he even remembered her. He knew Dick was dealing with it though so he didn’t bother worrying.

When she died about three months later, he didn’t worry. While Bruce wasn’t sure when Dick had befriended the girl, he knew that his eldest had grown to care about her and there was no way she really died with the way he was acting. Out of respect, Bruce didn’t bother looking into Wally’s new housemate who conveniently moved in a few days later. 

There were days that Bruce wanted to steal Dick and Tim’s phones and learn about how she was doing or just show up at Wally’s place one day and make sure she was okay but he never did. He never wanted to drag her back to the life she worked so hard to get away from. 

He kept telling himself that, even after Jason came back.

A small part of Bruce was relieved when he realized that his son had never learned that his best friend was still alive. 

Another part of him knew that she might be the only way to save him from himself.

Bruce didn’t say anything about Lucy though, considering the Joker was right there being held at gunpoint, a decision he sorely regretted when he couldn’t find Jason in the aftermath of the explosion. 

In hindsight, he should have paid better attention to his other kids. According to Alfred, Tim had left the morning Jason and Bruce had their showdown and the next day had Dick storming out of the house, grumbling about toddlers.

Bruce should have put two and two together. If Dick and Tim were looking out for Lucy, and Jason still believed Lucy was dead, then one of his kids had brought their brother to see his best friend.

Or maybe girlfriend. Joker had said something about a lovers’ affair.

Bruce should have paid better attention to his son’s life.

Either way, it took longer than Bruce would like to admit to realize that when his sons’ trackers said they were in a warehouse with the Joker, he should have considered they might have been there helping Jason and Lucy get revenge.

It made sense. Jason was angry that the Joker was still alive. Dick had tried to kill him several times. Lucy had every reason to want revenge. And Tim…

Bruce had no idea why Tim was suddenly so willing to kill the Joker but he probably had a great reason. 

And as he fought the Sirens, slowly realizing what was actually happening, he understood everything. He didn’t want any of his children to become murderers but a small part of him was okay with the Joker dying.

And he hated it. 

Chapter Text

When Jason first came out of the pits, he quickly learned to hate the word control. It was all that Talia would spout for a solid two years. She said it like he was never in control.

The only person to believe he actually had any control was Lucy. 

She had asked if he was able to control the pit madness when they had reunited. Curious about how the green and how it affected his everyday life. 

He did his best to explain everything, put into words how to embrace the green tint of the world without letting it overwhelm him. Oddly enough, the first time he didn't see any green was when he saw Lucy again. 

It had faded so far away he almost forgot what that toxic green color looked like. And when he had first laid eyes on JJ, his son, Jason was willing to try and give up the helmet, the killing, and the pit madness. 

But then the Joker kidnapped his son and the green reappeared, slowly clouding his vision more and more. 

He had pulled Lucy aside, letting her know what was happening. He knew how much killing her father meant to her but she took one look at his eyes and told him to obliterate the clown. 

“Do whatever you need to do, Jay,” she had whispered. “Just make sure JJ is out of the way first.”

Now with the feel of his bloody fists, beating in the face of his tormentor, the monster who haunted his nightmares, his murderer, Jason felt glee.

Pure, unadulterated glee.

This was the man who murdered people because he was bored, traumatized children to mess with the Batman, abused his own child for not being like him.

Honestly the only decent thing the clown ever did was help create Lucy. 

Jason’s fists pounded against the Joker’s face, the skin tearing away, being replaced with blood. 

Bright, gushing, red blood. 

He could vaguely hear someone screaming his name, Dick probably. Jason didn’t care. He kept punching, slamming his armored fists against the clown’s temple, praying an eye popped out of a socket. He didn’t stop until the Joker’s breathing slowed, knowing he was less than a minute from death.

The green was still there, clouding his vision. The hazy outline of the Joker, marred by the red. 

Despite his screaming instincts, Jason pulled back. He pulled out a knife, an ugly kitchen knife because even now the Joker didn’t deserve something pretty, and turned towards Lucy.

Lucy who was standing and watching her sperm donor as he twitched in pain on the floor as if he was a bird that got run over by a truck and she didn’t feel like touching it.

The green slowly faded from his vision as he held out the knife. 

Lucy’s eyes widened as she looked down at the knife. “Are you sure?” she whispered.

“You deserve to be the one to end him. He hurt you more than he ever hurt me.”

Lucy nodded slowly as she took the knife from Jason’s grip. “Thank you,” she whispered, placing a kiss on his cheek. Then, as if visiting a loved one in the hospital, Lucy knelt by the Joker’s side.

~

The knife felt so light in her hand, as if it was going to disappear any second. 

It was a miracle he was still breathing, after what Jason had done to him. She could hardly see his face under all that blood, only his cold green eyes and that stupid grin, plastered on his face like it’s held up with pins.

“Hello, Papa,” Lucy whispered as she knelt by his side, clutching the knife close to her chest. “Do you want to hear a story?”

He grinned even wider and let out a laugh that sounded like a dying cough.

“Believe it or not I actually used to like you. I remember the days where you would carry me in your arms as you wandered around whatever warehouse we were holed up in and ordered the goons around. I know you used to bring me back pretty dresses and fancy toys to play with when you and Mom were in Arkham. I’ve even seen pictures of you helping blow out the candles of my fifth birthday cake.

“But then, not long before my sixth birthday I did something I had never done before. I told you no. You put a gun in my hand and told me to shoot a goon and I said no. So you beat me and then put the gun back in my hand. You know what I did, Papa?”
Lucy leaned in close to the Joker’s face, whispering in his ear. “I missed.”

“But the goon fell anyway, cause you shot him too. You made me think I did it. For years I suffered through cuts, bruises, and bullet wounds, because I knew that whatever I did to fight you would have no lasting impact on anyone except myself.

“You always said all it takes is one bad day. And you were right.

“You killed the one person in the world who loved me as much as I loved him and because of that I fell off the deep end. But unlike you I fought to get back. I raised my son and helped him through everything despite how much you fucked me up.

“So, Papa,” Lucy said, holding the knife above him. “It seems that in the end, I got the last laugh.”

She dug the knife into his neck, chopping his head clean off.

“Eww,” Tim muttered. “That’s gross.”

Chapter Text

“You here to haul me off to Arkham, Bats?”

Lucy sat at the edge of JJ’s bed in her and Jason’s new apartment in Gotham. JJ was already out like a light, completely oblivious to the Batman standing in his window.

“No.”

“Really?” Lucy asked, surprised as Bruce actually came through the window, closing it softly behind him. Carefully maneuvering around the boxes, he came to a halt in front of Lucy.

“I came to apologize. I should have got you away from your father a lot sooner than I ever did.”

“You should have killed him,” Lucy said with a snort, walking towards the kitchen. “Or at the very least, not save him when he was dying.”

“I don’t condon murder.”

“Then am I going to Blackgate?”

Bruce sat down at the kitchen island and took his cowl off. Lucy knew Bruce Wayne was Batman, she figured it out within a week of meeting him, but looking at him, the billionaire, playboy, father of way too many kids, sitting in her kitchen with the Batsuit on, it was unnerving, like thinking about a tv show and having it come on a second later. 

“Dick, Tim, and Wally have all vouched for you,” Bruce said. “From what I understand, you only wanted a better and safer life for yourself and for your son. You couldn’t have that with Joker in the picture.”

Lucy nodded, unsure of where the conversation was now going.

“I saw Jason earlier, walking to the grocery store of all things,” Bruce said, huffing a laugh. “He was smiling and laughing. Not in that sarcastic way he’s been as the Red Hood but a real smile, one I haven’t seen since before his death. One I always saw whenever he had spent time with you.”

Lucy gave a small smile. She never realized just how happy she had made Jason, despite all the shit they had to put up with as kids. 

“I love Jason,” Bruce said, “And no matter what he thinks, he will always be my son. I will always look out for him, and I can look out for you too…if you want.”

“Thank you, Bruce,” Lucy said with a nod.

Bruce smiled and put the cowl back on. “We’re having family dinner on Friday. The three of you are welcome to join. Alfred is making Jason’s favorite. And one more thing.”

Bruce threw a pile of condoms on the kitchen counter. “As much as I want more grandkids…”

Deciding the conversation was getting too uncomfortable, Batman turned and left, this time going out the front door. Barely a minute later, Jason came rushing in, holding the grocery bags like weapons. 

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” Lucy said with an awkward shrug. “Your dad just came by to invite us to dinner and drop off some condoms.”

Jason’s shoulders relaxed. “It’s a little late for that.”

Lucy snorted. “Did you grab the test?” 

“I grabbed six.”

~

“Are you sure about this?” Lucy asked.

Jason pulled on his jacket. “I need to help those kids, Luce. Somebody has to look out for them, may as well be me.”

“I know, I know,” Lucy complained, fiddling with the gun Jason had left on the table. “I’m just worried, last time I had a baby, you couldn’t be there.”

Jason stopped putting on his gear, making his way over to Lucy. “I’m so sorry I ever put you through that,” Jason whispered, taking Lucy’s hands. “But I promise you, no matter what happens, that I will be there when our baby is born. I won’t ever leave you alone again, Lucy. And if I do die, you can toss me in the Lazarus Pits and kill me yourself.”

Lucy sniffled, wiping her eyes. “Fucking pregnancy hormones.”

Jason smiled. “I’ll be back before three. I promise.”
~

“I don’t know how I feel about leaving the kids with three supervillains.”

“You do realize the three of them practically raised me, right?”

Red Hood stood next to Giggles as the two of them overlooked a warehouse, waiting for the drug deal to actually start.

“Yeah but Selina is a terrible influence. Lizzy will be the next Catwoman before we know it!”

Lucy rolled her eyes. “We could have left them with Wally.”

“And ruin his honeymoon, how cruel are you?”

“You’re such a romantic.”

“Yes, romance,” Jason said in a sarcastically wistful voice. “Soothing toddlers at five in the morning, eating chili dogs for lunch, and smashing drug dealers heads as a date. Robert Burns himself would be rolling in his grave if he knew I had outdone him in the romantic category.”

“I don’t think that would be the reason for him rolling in his grave.”

“It’d probably be because of the whole having kids before marriage thing,” Jason said.

“That doesn’t bother you, does it?” Lucy asked. “The not being married thing?”

“The only wedding that will ever happen between you and me would be with Jason Todd and Lucinda Quinzel,” Jason claimed, tapping his fingers against the floor. “Anything else and it wouldn’t be real, not truely anyway.”

Lucy took his hand, stopping his fidgeting. “Isn’t Dick’s girlfriend able to marry people under Tamarenian law?”

Lucy was pretty sure Jason’s eyes widened through the helmet. “I’ve always wanted a summer wedding.”

~

Jason had known this day would be coming. When the toxin in Harley’s body had damaged it too much for her to survive, everyone began counting down the days Lucy had left. 

She lived longer than anyone thought she would. Giggles disappeared twenty nine years after making her comeback as an anti-hero. Lucy Todd was bedridden five years after that, at the tender age of fifty-five. 

Standing in the cemetery now, Jason couldn’t believe that it was only a year ago. 

Wally and Linda had left a while ago, followed shortly by Dick and Kori. Tim was practically dragged away by Steph, Cass, and Babs, Damian behind them. Selina and Ivy went home as well. JJ and Elizabeth had only just left, hugging their father before leaving with their families. 

The only person left was Bruce. 

“She had a good life.”

Jason just nodded, too upset to do more. The rain only added to his tears as they finally started to flow. 

“Come here, Jaybird,” Bruce whispered, opening his arms. 

Jason fell into his father’s arms, sobbing as he mourned the love of his life. The woman who loved him despite his faults, the blood on his hands, the scars buried inside him. Jason cried for Lucy, wishing she would come back.

She told him to let her rest though. She didn’t want to “deal with the resurrection bullshit.” She was willing to wait for him to die an old man and join her. 

Bruce and Jason sat together for hours, letting the rain fall as Jason took the time to say goodbye. Finally, he stood up and moved towards the headstone. “I always thought I was gonna die first, ya know. I wish it was but then again, now I know how you felt and I wouldn’t wish this on you. You were always too good for this world. I love you, Lucy, and I miss you more than anything.”

Jason placed a hand on the headstone before leaving the cemetery, planning on stopping by the Gotham Public Library on his way home.

In Loving Memory of 

Lucy Quinzel Todd

Mother, Wife, Hero.