Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The Mad Hatter broke out of Arkham, which was always fantastic. Oracle was searching through every camera she could access to try and find the man before he could do something irreversible. Jason was leaping over roofs in crime alley, his men searching the streets while he took the air, when the call came in. “No eyes on Hatter, but we have spotted a woman with blonde hair, a blue dress, white apron, with a black bow heading into a warehouse in the southern part of the Narrows. I wasn’t able to get a good angle, but she looked like she was in a trance.” Oracle said, Jason immediately switched route. “Heading there now.” He said, jumping to another roof. “Me and Nightwing are en route from East End.” Tim said, Jason dropping into an alley and throwing the tarp off his bike. Kicking off, he sped through the streets, gritting his teeth as he tried to force the bike to move faster. Tetch is a pathetic man, but a pathetic man with a dangerous ability, and disgusting wants. Jason came to a stop outside when he arrived in the Narrows, skidding to a stop out a line of warehouses. “Oracle, I’m here. Which one is it?” He asked, dismounting the bike and barely giving his brothers a glance as he moved to the closest one. “Should be the third one on your left.” He immediately changed course, the other two moving to join him. “Dickiebird, high left. Replacement, high right. I’ll take the door.” Jason growled, pulling his guns out as the trio split up.

“Three.”

“Two.”

“One.”

Jason kicked the doors open right as Dick and Tim smashed through the side windows. In the center of the warehouse was a long table covered in food and teapots, surrounded with mismatched chairs. Tetch sat at the head in a large plush chair, sipping his tea and ogling the woman next to him. She looked almost exactly like Alice in the Disney movie, except her eyes were green, and she was thankfully not 10, seemed to be early 20's, maybe late 18-19. That, and she was very muscular, with slightly broad shoulders and obvious biceps, and tall, standing at maybe the same height as Dick. “Oh, meddlesome birds! I oughtta make a writing desk out of you!” Tetch screeched, jumping onto his chair and throwing a teapot at Tim. “Alice! Alice, stop them!” He stamped his feet like a child, and the woman stepped forward. Her face was completely relaxed, her eyes dazed, even as she rushed Dick. She pulled two unseen daggers from her skirt and began to slash at him, even as he blocked and dodged. Tim and Jason both went after Tetch, but Tim was stopped when a glowing green dagger was thrown and just narrowly missed his head, Jason stopping when Dick was thrown into him.

“Did she just throw you at me?” Jason pushed the man off, getting to his feet and helping him stand as Alice approached them. “She just threw me at you.” Dick grunted, jumping onto his feet and pulling his escrima sticks out. “Ohoho! My Alice is quite protective of me! So big and tall! Snicker snack, make the Birds fall!” Hatter cheered, clapping excitedly as the woman reached behind her and pulled out another dagger. “What the fuck?” Jason growled, hands itching to grab his gun, but he wouldn’t. She’s being controlled, it’s not her fault. The woman charged them, moving around them like a fucking ballerina as she dodged their attacks and they just barely blocked hers. Tim tried to go for Tetch again, but the woman grabbed Jason by the front of his shirt, kicked Dick in the stomach, then threw Jason at Tim. “Can you stop doing that!” Jason snapped, rolling off of Tim, his hand instinctively going for the gun before he growled and charged at her. “The control tech is in her headband. Get it off and she’ll stop fighting.” Jason gave a grunt in response, then ignored Steph’s remark about him sounding like Bruce as all three of the Birds (not that Jason was a Bird) charged the woman. She continued to dance around them, dodging attacks and twisting them so they’d hit each other. Then, when she threw a punch at Tim, Dick snatched at her hair and ripped the headband off.

She stopped, freezing completely as her body went stiff. Tetch screamed and screamed, throwing a tantrum about losing his Alice. Dick was moving closer to her slowly, hands raised. “Hey, hey, you’re okay now.” He said gently, and right as he was about to touch her, she lunged. She used Jason as a launching pad, climbing up and jumping off his shoulders towards Tetch. “I’ll fucking kill you!” She screamed, her voice an equilibrium between deep and high and sweet as honey, even when filled with righteous homicidal rage. The chair Tetch was on fell back, the pair rolling across the floor as she scratched and punched his face. Blood began to fly and Tetch screamed bloody murder. “I’ll rip out your vocal cords and braid them into my hair!” She screamed, and Jason believed her completely. Dick and Tim rushed towards her, both trying to convince her to let him go while trying to pry her away from the screaming man. Jason moved towards the table and picked up a cake, taking his helmet off, he sniffed it before shrugging and taking a bite. Strawberry.

The woman pushed both Dick and Tim away, giving Tetch one final punch, resulting in a satisfying crack from his nose before standing and wiping her hands on her apron. “Well, thank you boys for the assist.” She said, turning to face them, eyes faltering on Jason as she looked him over and smirked. “Russel Ward, but you can call me Rue. Everyone does, even my enemies. Pleasure to meet you.” She said, moving closer to Jason. “Wait… Russel?” Tim asked, and then it clicked in Jason’s mind. “You’re a man?” He asked, Russel smiling at him. “Yep. But, a thin frame and amazing hair seems to be enough for Peeping Hatter over there.” He said, waving a dismissive hand towards Tetch, who gave a little twitch and pained groan.

“Anyways. As much as I’d love to stay and get to know you better, I have things to do.” Rue said, grabbing the pastry out of Jason’s hands and walking away. “I’m keeping the dress.” He called out before leaving the warehouse. Jason watched the doors in stunned silence, before grinning widely and grabbing his helmet. “Piece out, dorks!” He called out, jogging out of the warehouse. “Hood!” Dick yelled out, Jason waving him off as he ducked out of the warehouse. “Hey, Rue! Wanna ride?” He asked, placing his helmet back on.

Chapter Text

It wasn’t often Grundy was on the surface. Even less so when he was there and not causing a ruckus. But currently, he was walking down the street towards Robinson Park. Cars swerved and people ran away screaming, even though he was simply walking. The sound of a grappling hook hitting stone, and Red Robin was swinging towards Grundy. “Solomon! Whatcha doing?” He asked, landing on the zombies shoulder. “Solomon Grundy… Born on a Mond’y…” He grunted, swatting at Red Robin and continuing his journey. Red jumped out of the way and grappled ahead, landing on the street and facing the zombie. “Come on, Grundy. Just go back to your swamp.” He sighed, Grundy scowling at him and moving forward. “Fine.” Red sighed, pulling out his staff and charged the zombie.

Grundy trying swatting him to the side, but Red dodged his hand and started hitting his leg with the staff. Grundy roared and tried kicking him away, falling off balance when it didn’t work and Red hit his other leg. The ground shook, Red jumping onto his chest and crouching down. “Just stay down, big guy.” He sighed, not seeing until it was too late the hand coming at him. Red flew across the street, slamming into the car and sliding down. “Crap…” He groaned, standing and glaring at Grundy, who ignored him and continued to walk. Red chased after him, staff at his side as he pulled out and threw three birdarangs. They hit his back and electrocuted him to the ground, Grundy letting out a loud roar as he dropped. “Why were you even out here? You haven’t left the swamp in months.” Red said, approaching the downed zombie before an object slammed into his face. Red blinked and looked down as a black cavalier boot tumbled to the ground. Looking up, he saw a man standing maybe 15 feet away, arm still outstretched post throw. When he started walking towards him, with one shoe, Red recognized him immediately.

Rue. The man who gave Mad Hatter 12 cuts to the face with just his nails and a shattered nose a week ago. Instead of the Alice dress, he was wearing black skinny jeans, a black cropped hoodie with Zero from Nightmare Before Christmas on it, and a Maleficent themed backpack over his shoulders. His blonde hair was in a ponytail, and Red noticed some light makeup on his face. He looked amazing, and Red felt a flare of jealousy towards Red Hood. “Get the fuck away from him.” Rue snarled, lips stretching around his unnatural sharp teeth, and Red instinctively backed away as a jolt of fear shot through him. “Rue, I need you to…” Red started, but the man gave him a glare that caused his mouth to snap shut.

Rue moved to Grundy, crouching down next to Grundy’s face and brushed a hand through his hair. “Hey, Solly. It’s me.” He said, the zombie groaning in response. “I’m going to take those things off your back now. Is that okay?” Rue asked, Grundy groaning again with Rue taking that as permission. He climbed on top of the zombie and did as he said, pulling the birdarangs from Grundy’s back and placing them in his bag. Rue slid down and gently began to help him up, muttering words of reassurance as he did so. “See? All better, right?” Grundy grunted, then turned to Red. Red went to move closer, but Rue planted himself in between the two, one hand held in front of Grundy protectively, his other held in front of him like he was trying to keep a rabid dog away. “Not another step.” He hissed, Red freezing as another jolt of fear ran through him. “Rue, he’s dangerous.” Red Robin tried saying, his foot moving to taking another step, but stopped when Rue snarled again. “He wasn’t doing anything!” He argued, Tim giving him a look. “Then why were people panicking?” He asked, Rue looking at him like he was stupid. “Because Gothamites are idiots that assume if someone looks scary than they have to be dangerous.” And that’s because he did think Red was stupid, apparently. “Then why’d he attack me?” Red rebutted, causing Rue to glare harder. “What did you do to him first?” He asked, and Red opened his mouth to say Grundy attacked first, but… did he actually?

“I… stood on his shoulder… and he tried shoving me off.” Red said, Rue arching a brow. “And after that?” He pushed, Red collapsing his staff and crossing his arms. “He kept walking, so I charged him.” He admitted, Rue huffing at him. “So you attacked first while Solly was minding his business.” Red nodded with a scowl. “But why was he even here? Grundy never leaves the sewers!” Red said accusingly earning an eye roll from Rue. “He was meeting up with me for lunch.” Reds eyes bulged from his head as he stared at Rue in shock. “He what?” Rue rolled his eyes again and moved towards Red, snatching his boot up, putting it back on then moving to Grundy. He placed his hand on Grundy’s and gave him a small pull, guiding him to turn around and start heading to the park. “Hey! Wait!” Red ran to walk with them, Rue barely acknowledging him as they entered Robinson Park. Red continued to try and question Rue, but at most was met with a glare.

Eventually they found themselves next to the lake, where two picnic tables were covered in containers of food, and a foldout table held a 15 layer cake. Sitting at one picnic table was Bizarro, Cheetah, Harley Quinn, and Poison Ivy. At the other was Starman, Jade, Hawkgirl, and Jack Knight. Standing next to a grill was a teenager Tim didn’t recognize that was definitely Adoption Bait that had Catwoman’s arm around his shoulders, Nightwing, and manning the grill, wearing a Kiss the Cook apron, was Red Hood. “Grundy! Happy Death Day!” Starman cheered, resulting in a chorus of the same well wishes and a single, cheerful “Miserable Birthday!” from Bizarro. “See? He was coming to his Deathday party. Thanks for souring his mood.” Rue glared at Red before guiding Grundy towards the party. Red stood there awkwardly as the guests all greeted Grundy and gave him their well wishes, Nightwing grinning at Red as he gave Grundy a hug. “Sorry, Squirt! You’re not on the guest list.” Harley leaped over the table and landed in front of Red, grinning down at him. “Yeah… okay… I’ll just… I’ll just go.” Red nodded and pulled out his grapple, giving them one last look before leaving.

“What a fucking loser.” Hood laughed, Rue sliding into his side and watching Red leave. “I knew I should’ve walked with Grundy.” Rue sighed, laying his head on Hoods shoulder as he flipped a burger. “It’s not your fault, Rue. Red Robin is…” Nightwing paused, clearly trying to think of something to say. “A fucking dick.” Hood supplied, Nightiwng sending him a glare. “Besides, you were busy dragging all of these people here by their hair.” Danny pointed out, waving at the crowd around Grundy. “Yeah. He looks so happy.” Rue sighed, smiling at Grundy, who’s scowl was more of a neutral expression now. “Happiest I’ve ever seen him.” Hood agreed, Rue humming and rubbing his back. “Oh, tell that fucker I’m keeping his throwing whatever’s.” Rue said, pulling one of the bird shaped throwing stars out. “And if he touches Grundy again, I’m shoving them up his…”