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“ – of course, the biggest change of the thus-far young season, and a huge shock to many fans of the sport … former junior world champion, Jason Todd, leaving his longtime coach, Bruce Wayne, to train under Talia al Ghul.”
“Right you are, Hank. On the one hand, you sort of saw the writing on the wall, after that very disappointing Olympics, where Jason finished out of the top 6 despite being touted, going in, as a favorite for the podium. And there were rumors, long before that, that he and Wayne repeatedly clashed during training … ”
“ … but at the same time, you never really expect this sort of thing. Bruce Wayne has been Jason’s coach for more than a decade–since his novice days – and Jason was, especially after the retirement of Dick Grayson, his prize pupil. And to have your best student suddenly leave you–and not only that, specifically to train with your most prominent rival – ”
“Not that rival is all those two are to one another, if you catch my – ”
“Carl. Keep it clean. We're not running a gossip rag here.”
“ – fine, fine. You are no fun. My point is, on some level it has to be crushing for Wayne. And he’s actually here at this competition, Jason’s first competition since the coaching change.”
“He is. Though you hope he’s more focused on the student he’s coaching now than the one he’s not. Timothy Drake, recently turned sixteen, also one of the many coaching changes to come out of this post-Olympic season. This is his first senior international competition, and the first time we’ll be seeing him with Wayne.”
“Which is something we should emphasize. A lot of people are seeing this as a showdown by proxy – the skater facing off against his former coach – but Tim Drake is in a very different place in his career right now. This is his first season on the senior circuit.”
“Not even that – he’s actually on the roster for the Junior Grand Prix event in Lake Placid, three weeks from now. My guess is that he’ll continue to move between the two levels this season–they won’t turn down an invite to Four Continents or Worlds, of course, if he does well at Nationals, but it’s not their priority.”
“He’s a work in progress, you might say. A big TBD. And of course, the biggest difference between them – Jason Todd has been known for pushing the technical boundaries of the sport, to sometimes controversial extents. Big quad jumps, extensive backloading, that kind of thing. On the other hand, Tim Drake has never even competed a quad – although, as you say, he’s still young, and that’s bound to be one of the reasons he came to Wayne’s rink in the first place.”
“Oh, without a doubt … but these things take time, of course. Which is why it’s probably best not to read too much into this early matchup – give the kid a break! But it will still be interesting, as a first look at how these skaters are doing with their new teams … . ”
*
Dick Grayson was here.
He had since disappeared into the audience – probably some nonsense about not wanting to be a distraction, as if he hadn’t accomplished that just by showing up – but Jason had caught a glimpse of him earlier, with his choreographer’s lanyard slung around his neck, elbowing Bruce playfully, saying something to the kid to make him smile. Dick had never lowered himself to choreograph for Jason, of course, but apparently he and Drake had really hit it off during ice show season. Bully for them.
He chanced a brief, sidelong look at Bruce, further down the boards, fussing over the new kid like he was nine and not sixteen. Drake’s eyes were wide and rapt with attention as he nodded along to whatever his coach was saying, like a good little robot.
Jason was thoroughly sick of them all.
“Jason.” He turned back to look at Talia, who was regarding him with a faintly amused quirk to her mouth. She wasn’t looking at Bruce; hadn’t glanced in his direction once, as far as he could tell. Her gaze was trained on Jason. He liked that about her.
"Talia,” he returned, in the exact same tone she’d used. She didn’t even twitch. Jason lifted his chin, matching her stony expression with one of his own.
She gave him another long look up and down. “Remember to watch your entry on the salchow,” she said finally, after a long pause. “And stay focused.”
“Sure, sure.” He smirked at her. Sometimes it was painfully clear to him how well she and Bruce must have gotten along, once upon a time. “What, is that it? No pep talk?”
“Hm,” Talia said, and – finally – her mouth curved into one of its small, rare smiles. “I didn’t really think you were in need of one.” Which was effusive praise, coming from her. A beat. “I can try, of course, if you feel it necessary.”
"Nah, I’m good. Thanks for offering, though.”
He had wondered, for weeks after leaving Bruce, whether he was doing the right thing: whether he’d ever come back from this, whether he hadn’t just signed a death certificate for his career, whether he wasn’t exactly what Bruce had accused him of being, in that last, worst fight before the end – an arrogant, reckless kid who was always looking to blame someone else for his problems.
And then, one morning, Talia had brought him a song she wanted him to consider for his short program. He’d listened to it once, carefully, the whole way through, before opening his mouth to speak. "It’s … not really what I expected,” he said, and it hadn’t been: the song was dark and modern, pounding piano chords forming an insistent backbeat against the raw, crackling voice of the singer, and if there was one thing Talia al Ghul was, it was classical. Sharp, but classical: Odile in Swan Lake. He couldn’t imagine her skating to this.
“I dunno,” he’d added, after a moment, when she remained silent. “Just doesn’t seem like your kind of thing, I guess.”
“It’s not, particularly.” She met his gaze, and – this wasn’t the first time he had seen Talia smile, a small, pleased thing that reached her eyes more than her mouth. But it was the first time he had seen it directed at him. “But I thought it might suit you.”
The emphasis on you was clear.
Jason had stopped wondering, after that.
A scatter of murmuring and applause, coming from the direction of the kiss and cry – the last skater was getting their scores, it looked like. Jason took a deep breath, squaring his shoulders. Not long now.
Talia let her hand linger over his one long moment as she took his skate guards from him, and her gaze was clear and calm. “Show them what you can do,” she said simply, as though that was all that needed to be said. “Show them who you are.”
And maybe it was. They had been preparing for this for months; it was time to put up or shut up.
He stepped out onto the ice.