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Jason Peter Todd was nervous. It wasn't the first time the thirteen year old had been nervous, but this was one of the biggest. Gotham Academy had a singing competition, Jason had signed up. He had always loved to sing, his parents and his friends had always said he'd had a great singing voice. Bruce and Alfred, once they heard it, couldn't help but agree. He fixed his green shirt, which went along nicely with his dyed black hair.
So here he was, Bruce Wayne's newly adopted son, Jason Todd, standing backstage waiting for the mic to be set up for his height. He was quite short for his age after all. He took a deep breath in and then let go. His eyes scanned the audience for Bruce, Alfred and Babs, what surprised him however was Dick Grayson in the audience! They hadn't talked that much since he came to help out Jason in Gotham and gave him his costume. But seeing him here was a surprise nonetheless. He wished Nocturna was here too…
In the short time Jason had known her, he'd felt a connection to her, as a son. She understood him, she wanted to help him and she wanted the best for him. Perhaps the best for him was for her to let him go…… That didn't mean Jason liked it of course. He wasn't a fan of loosing a mother twice.
Then, his name got called and Jason rushed on the stage. He could feel it. The eyes of the audience on him, probably thinking that the street rat would make a joke of himself, Jason took a deep breath again, reminding himself that he would prove them wrong. That he'd show them who he really was and he would win this damn thing. If they thought he couldn't sing because of his time on the streets? He was going to prove everyone wrong.
He grabbed the mic and looked at the crowd, locking eyes with Bruce, Bruce looked at Jason, seeing the nervousness in his son's eyes. Bruce smiled and gave Jason an encouraging nod. The upbeat music started playing, and Jason lost himself in the rhythm, a smile crept up on his face and the young teenager began to sing. He was quite fond of this song after all, even if it was in Portuguese and Jason had to stay up late several nights to learn the language. It was worth it.
"Podes não saber cantar nem sequer assobiar~Com certeza que não vais desafinar! Em play-back, em play-back, em play-back!"
Jason sang energetically, the audience was surprised at the Portuguese lyrics yet some cheered for him, Dick turned to Barbara with a grin saying something but Jason didn't know what. Nor did he care.
"Só precisas de acertar, não tem nada que enganar! E assim mesmo sem cantar, vais encantar!
Em play-back, em play-back, em play-back!"
"Põe o microfone à frente muito disfarçadamente-
Vai sorrindo que é p'rá gente lá presente não notar!"
Dick and Bruce laughed as Jason sang the last part, understanding what it meant, the audience were now clapping along to Jason's energetic performance, as he was moving around the stage, dancing a little bit and interacting with the audience with that adorable large smile of his.
"Em play-back, tu és alguém
Mesmo afónico cantas bem
Em play-back, a fazer play-back, e vivó play-back
Hás-de sempre cantar
Em play-back, respirar p'ra quê?
Quem não sabe também não vê
Em play-back, a fazer play-back, e vivó play-back
Dá p'ra toda uma soirée"
The audience cheered louder as Jason did the high note, then Jason decided to change it up a bit and switch to English, so at least the audience could understand what the song was about. It would surely get him more points from the judges too!
"Maybe you don't know how to sing or even how to whistle-
But you won't sing out of tune for sure~
In playback, in playback, in playback!
You just have to get it right, there's nothing to it
And even without singing, you're going to enchant
In playback, in playback, in playback!"
This time the entire audience laughed, some even whistled!
"Abre a boca, fecha a boca
Não te enganes, não te esganes
Vais ter uma apoteose, põe-te em pose p'ra agradar!"
"Em play-back, é que tu és bom
A cantar sem fugir do tom
In playback, miming, long live playback
You'll always sing
With playback, they even ask for an encore
"Mas decerto", dirás feliz
Em play-back, a fazer play-back, e vivó play-back!
Agradeces e sorris!"
"Podes não saber cantar nem sequer assobiar
Com certeza que não vais desafinar
Em play-back, em play-back, em play-back!"
The audience were now chanting the word "Play-back" with Jason, so Jason decided to switch to English once more! As a treat.
"You just have to get it right, there's nothing to it
And even without singing, you're going to enchant
In play-back, in play-back, in play-back!
Em play-back, em play-back, em play-back
In play-back, in play-back, in play back!"
Jason finally finished the song and bowed, he received a standing ovation. "Thank you! Please rest assured I didn't use any play-back!" He said to the audience, earning a hearty laugh back. He grinned at Bruce cheerfully and he gave him a thumbs up. Then Jason walked backstage.
After the entire competition ended, no one was surprised that Jason won. Alfred recorded everything and Dick took an embarrassing picture of Jason as Bruce picked him up like he weighed nothing and pressed a kiss into his hair as Babs laughed joyfully at the sight of Jason's red face.
If only that happiness lasted forever.
***
Jason didn't sing when he lived with Talia in the league of assassins. How could he? Joker took everything from him, including his mind and his voice. But, once in a fortnight, Talia would hear him. Humming. A beautiful melody, Jason didn't speak often, only able to remember his father and mother, so listening to him recall something else from his oh so short life? It felt nice.
When his mind was restored, he was blinded with rage and grief. He didn't want to show it, but Talia saw the pain in his eyes when he saw the new Robin. The pain of being replaced. Talia never heard him sing again.
***
Red Hood, scourge of the Gotham Underworld. Just in four weeks he had become one of the most feared people in the city. Although those who feared him were criminals. It was rumoured that Red Hood was good with children, that he had banned dealers from dealing to kids.
The results supported that argument. He put the rapists in the ground and pimps in check. Every gangster would quake in their boots once they heard Hood was nearby, yet, one peculiar night, when an apartment building in Park Row caught on fire and the firefighters were nowhere to be seen, the residents who escaped spotted a massive figure diving right into the third floor window where a toddler was trapped. That figure, had his Red helmet illuminated by the flames.
Red Hood rushed through the burning apartment, following the directions of the cries he heard from the three year old. He found the vulnerable child, buried under a door, wailing. Hood lifted the door with ease and scooped the kid up, hooking him on his hip, "Shh shh, it's ok, we'll get outta here alright squirt?" Red Hood tried to comfort the kid, a piece of the ceiling fell beside them and the child screamed louder, Hood held him tightly against his chest and rushed out of the room.
The fire was out of control, Jason could barely see anything. The kid started coughing up, not able to breathe, acting fast, Jason unlatched his helmet and put it over the child's head. This would buy Jason some time to think. The child however was still utterly terrified, shivering uncontrollably, Jason couldn't have the child fall out of his grip when he was running, so he did what the first thing he thought of. Singing a lullaby, like his mom would.
So, patting the child on his back, Jason slowly began, in a low, deep and comforting voice. "Hush little baby, don't say a word. Papa's gonna buy you a mocking , and if that mockingbird won't sing… Papa's gonna buy you a diamond ring…" Jason slowly patted the child on the back as he slowly walked towards the window he came from.
Slowly climbing out of the window, he climbed down the fire escape with one hand, he kept singing in case the child started panicking again, knowing that the crowd below was close and would hear him. He didn't care, the child mattered more. "And if that diamond ring turns brass~ Papa's gonna buy you a looking glass, and if that looking glass gets broke….. Papa's gonna buy you a Billy goat."
He hadn't sang in ages yet singing came naturally to him, the child had completely calmed down when they reached the ground, Jason took the helmet off and put it on his head again. A woman rushed over to them "MATHEW!" she yelled, Jason handed her the child-Matthew, the woman looked at him with shock, and confusion. "Thank… thank you Red Hood." She said, Red Hood pulled out the grapple he had nicked from Batman "Don't mention it. Keep the kid safe kay?" He grappled away, not before catching a bit of the crowd's conversation "He was singing!"
"He was singing to Mathew!"
"How can a crime boss even sing!?"
Gotham Gazette had a field day.
***
Roy and Kori only heard Jason singing occasionally. When he was cooking or doing chores around the base. He'd stop once he realised they were listening, they never pressed as to why he didn't want to sing in front of them. They knew he had issues and boundaries and they respected them. Yet, often at times, they'd sneak in the room just to listen to Jason's deep yet heavenly voice.
This was one of those times, Jason had earphones in and was cooking dinner for the night. He was swaying to the music a little as he sang in a deep tone.
"Hablemos Del amor
Una vez más
Que es toda la verdad de nuestra vida
Paremos un momento las horas y los días
Y hablemos del amor una vez más
Hablemos de mi amor
Y de tu amor
De la primera vez que nos miramos
Acércame tus manos y unidos en la sombra
Hablemos del amor una vez más-"
"Holy crap the he's good- Dick always said he could sing but I never heard him!" Roy whispered to Kori "Dick did show me a video once, it appears his skills have only grown, he sings effortlessly and from the heart!" She whispered back as Jason carried onto the chorus, singing a bit loudly.
"¿Qué nos importa? ¿Qué nos importa?
Aquella gente que mira la tierra
Y no ve más que tierra
¿Qué nos importa? ¿Qué nos importa?
Toda esa gente que viene y que va
Por el mundo sin ver la realidad"
Kori and Roy were blown away by the melody of his voice, they waited with bated breath for Jason to continue singing, Jason looked back at them, blue eyes peering playfully back at them from behind his long strawberry blonde curls "It's gonna take more than that to get the full performance." He said teasingly. They jumped once he said that, Jason snorted and went back to cooking.
***
Instruments, they were fickle things for Bizarro. Ever since he had seen Jason playing the piano and singing a low song, "Vivre" he had been intrigued. Devil-Man or as everyone called him, Eddie said that Bizarro could try learning an instrument himself, but which one? After a lengthy search through the an instrument store which took them the whole day. The shopkeepers had to kick them out by the end, but before that, Eddie, Jason, Artemis and Rose, who had surprisingly tagged along, simply having nothing else to do, managed to pick out an ukulele for Bizarro.
Saying Bizarro loved the Ukelele was an understatement.
Bizarro adored his Ukelele. After every mission when they returned to base, Bizarro would grab his Ukelele, open a YouTube tutorial and start playing, playing for hours, with Pup-Pup tucked besides him. Obviously staying up for hours wasn't too good, even if he was a clone even Bizarro needed sleep once in a while.
Just like tonight, when Jason trudged down to the kitchen for a cup of coffee, on four am, he heard sounds coming from Bizarro's room, he pinched his nose and sighed. He walked towards Bizarro's room and sure enough, there he was, playing his little Ukelele watching the screen of his ipad.
"Biz… you gotta sleep at night! I get you like your Ukelele but this isn't healthy for you! Look you got dark circles and haven't shaved!" He said, pointing out the hairs growing on Bizarro's chin and cheeks. "Jason has beard too!" Bizarro countered, it was true, Jason hadn't been shaving for a few days, but it wasn't because he wasn't sleeping!
"Look. Keep the practice for the days and evening okay? Even you need your rest." Jason said, Bizarro hummed, playing his Ukelele again. Then he spoke up "Why don't Red Him sing song with Biz for his birthday!?" He exclaimed, his eyes shining, and look. Jason Todd, Red Hood was a cold hearted man. As he put it himself. But….. God he couldn't refuse the request of his little brother when he looked so excited……
"Fine…." Jason relented, Bizarro pumped the hair and Jason held his finger up. "But. I get to pick the song." Bizarro didn't mind that, Jason just had to find a good song with a Ukelele in it. Luckily for him, he knew a perfect one.
***
The Bats had invited themselves to Jason's apartment for his birthday. Typical. Jason didn't even bat an eye when Bruce slinked in through his window, followed by his gaggle of bats and birds. He was only glad to see Duke and Steph though. Bruce still brought a bunch of emotions, Cass was still wary of him, he didn't kill in Gotham but outside? He killed when needed.
Dick was glad to see him, and surprisingly, Jason was glad to see Dick too. Kate had showed up with a gift too, a custom ak-47, how nice of her. Damian passed him a gift, from Talia. Alfred brought the cake, Jason's favourite flavor. The party went on without a hitch,then,by the end, Bizarro called everyone to the living room, Tim and Cass sat on the opposite side of the room for Eddie and Rose. Bizarro started playing his Ukelele, and everyone clapped then, Jason grabbed his mic, gave everyone a grin that just signalled something was about to go down. Then he began to sing.
"I've tried, tried, tried, and i've tried even more
I've cried, cried, cried, and I can't recall what for
I've pressed, i've pushed, i've yelled, i've begged
In hopes of some success
But the inevitable fact is that it never will impress!
I've no more fucks to give
My fucks have runeth dry
I've tried to go fuck shopping but there's no fucks left to buy!
I've no more fucks to give
Though more fucks i've tried to get
I'm over my fuck budget, and i'm now in fucking debt!"
Right from the first 'fuck' there was a reaction from everyone, Stephanie wheezed, Duke snorted, Tim looked flabagastered, Cass was surprised, Dick had to hold himself back from laughing, Alfred was glaring at him, Kate and Artemis were smirking, Eddie and Roy were whooping, Babs shook her head fondly as she recorded them, Kori looked pleased. Bruce's face was expressionless.
"I strive, strive, strive, to get everything done
I've played by all the rules, but i've very rarely won
I've smiled, i've charmed, i've wooed and laughed, alas to no avail
I've run round like a moron, to unequivocally fail!
I've no more fucks left to give
My fuck fuse has just blown
I've been hunting for my fucks all day
But they've upped and fucked off home!
I've no more fucks to give
My fuck rations are depleted
I've rallied my fuck army but it's been fucking defeated!
The effort has just not been worth the time or the expense!
I've exhausted all my energy, for minimal recompense!
The distinct lack of acknowledgement has now begun to gall!
And i've come to realize that I don't give a fuck at all!
I've no more fucks to give
My fucks have flown away
My fucks are now so fucked up they've refused to fucking stay!"
Most of the guests were outwardly laughing now, cheering for Jason and Bizarro throughout the performance.Alfred looked like he was trying not to curse Jason out, even Bruce cracked up a smile.
"I've no more fucks to give
My fucks have gone insane
They've come back round and passed me while they're fucking off again!
I've no more fucks to give
My fucks have all dissolved
I've planned many projects, but my fucks won't be involved!
I've no more fucks to give
My fucks have all been spent
They've fucked off from the building
And I don't know where they've went!
I've no more fucks to give!
I've no more fucks to give!
I've no more fucks!
I've no more fucks!
I've no more fucks to give!"
"Master Jason I swear-" Alfred was interrupted with a round of applause from everyone except Damian, who just rolled his eyes. "That was adequate singing from you Todd. The clone played well too." He said. "Thanks Demon. Means a lot!" Jason said grinning back. "I'm surprised Bruce hasn't killed you yet! If I sweared that much it'd be the end of me!" Dick said, "Yeah! Are you feeling alright old man? Do I need to call the old age home for your meds?" Jason asked jokingly, Bruce stood up from the sofa, shaking his head as he smiled softly.
"I missed your singing lad." He said gently as he wrapped his arms around his son, Jason froze. This was unexpected. Then hesitantly he wrapped his arms around Bruce. Turns out singing was good for Jason after all. Bizarro wrapped his arms around both of them and lifted them up, Jason laughed heartliy and Bruce huffed fondly.