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He found the kid on the roof again. Jason could say that he should be resting. But that would be too hypocritical of him. Instead of scolding him, Jason sat down next to him. For once, Gotham’s sky wasn’t covered in smog. But then again, a clear night sky has been happening more often nowadays. Especially since Spooks started hiding out in this safehouse…
Okay, maybe that would need some investigation. But for right now, Danny didn’t need Red Hood. He needed…well, maybe someone more emotionally available than Jason. But his sister threatened him with his own guns if he told anyone about her injured brother. Jason doubted that she could actually shoot him but with his shitty luck, he didn’t want to risk it either.
Maybe it was because Spooks calmed down the fuckin Pit. Why ruin a good thing, right? And there was maybe a possibility that the kid’s sister made Jason feel things in a way that reminded him of the novels he wished he had more time to read.
No, no. It was not the time for that. That needed to be shoved in a box that read ‘Do not open ever.’ It was better for everyone that way. Yet, he still couldn’t help the sigh that escaped his lips.
Danny didn’t move or speak. Neither did Jason. Thus, they sat in silence on a Crime Alley rooftop. Danny’s eyes staring at the stars, tracing them into their respective constellations. Jason, on the other hand, looked out at his city. Getting lost in the lull of a mostly sleeping Gotham. It felt like seconds, minutes, hours in silence. No time at all and yet full of it, at the same time. A comfortable silence until a whispered voice broke it.
“How do,” Danny paused, shallowing. He cleared his throat and tried again. His voice a bit louder now, but still mostly a whisper. “How do you forgive?”
“It’ll be okay mom. I’ll take care of you!”
“I’m sorry Jason. We did our best but your mom passed away last night.”
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“I’d like to introduce you to a young friend of mine. His name is Jason Todd.” ‘Todd? Oh my god!’ “Mother?” ‘Jason?’ “Mother! Mother! Mother!”
“Sorry about that, kid. Looks like you chose the wrong person to trust, this time.”
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“Bruce, I forgive you for not saving me. But why, why on God's earth is he still alive?”
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“And doing it because… because he took me away from you.” ‘I can't. I'm sorry.’
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“If you won’t kill this psychotic piece of filth. I will.”
Apparently it was Jason’s turn to clear his throat. He really didn’t need that flood of memories back. Fuck, he was really the worst option for this. He forgave and forgave and fucking look where it got him!
…He would forgive them again. Even Bruce, probably, eventually.
Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, but expecting different results.
Maybe he needed to pay Arkham a visit.
Priorities. The kid. The kid needed him.
“I don’t know if I’m the best person to ask, Spooks.” A bitter laugh crawled out of him. The sound threatening to poison their stillness. “I forgave a lot of people that I…probably shouldn’t have.”
A sniffle. Jason fought the urge to look at Danny. The kid didn’t like people seeing him cry. He wasn’t making that mistake again. Last time, Danny disappeared for almost an hour. Instead, he took his gaze to the sky. He didn’t have the same love for it that Danny did, but it would do.
“But I would do it again.” A hiccup. Fuck, he was really sobbing, wasn’t he? “I won’t lie to ya, kid. Forgiving and accepting? Two different things. I forgive, sure. But I rarely accept what happened.”
“S-she. She. My mom. How-” Danny, a kid hiding from his own fucking parents while his sister tried to gather enough money for a new place. A seventeen year old kid with as much pain as he had.
Green tried to overtake his vision again. (How dare they. HOW COULD THEY. A CHILD. THEIR CHILD.) It roared, demanding for wrath, justice. But once again, it couldn’t take hold of him. It seethed, pacing like a starving tiger in a tiny cage. With a final hiss, it faded away.
“Some people shouldn’t have been parents. But your family is whomever actually matters to you.” Helping Alfred in the kitchen. Bruce giving him the library. Dick showing him how to drive the Batmobile behind Bruce’s back. Not now, damn it. He wasn’t ready. He needed more time. He couldn’t face them yet. Especially now, after he hurt Tim.
Focus, damn it. “Do you uh, need…a hug?”He couldn’t just sit here and pretend that Danny wasn’t crying his eyes out again.
Danny surprised him with a pained laugh. “You really aren’t the best at this, huh?”
“Oh, fuck off, shortstack.” Jason shifted so his legs weren’t dangling over the roof and lifted an arm. “This is a limited time offer.”
Danny rubbed his eyes. “Aye, aye, Mr Hood, sir.” Obviously trying to lighten up the mood even though there was snot still dangling off his nose. Oh, that’s going to end up on his shirt. Fucking shit hell. He couldn’t take it back now. His shirt was going to be full of snot.
It didn’t take long for the kid to get comfy, leaning on Jason, eyes back to the sky. Only now, he was filling the silence with the names of the constellations. Well, his shirt already had snot on it. He might as well say it.
“Danny?”
“If I’m talking too much, I can stop!”
“Not that, kid. I need you to know. Whatever happened? You did nothing to deserve it. Remember that. You did nothing wrong.”
Danny buried his face into Jason’s chest.
Jason Todd’s shirt was indeed ruined with snot.
But he would do it again.
Jason moved his hands so one was rubbing the kid’s back while the other held to the back of Danny’s head. Cradling him in a way Jason rarely was growing up.
Yeah, he would do it again.