Chapter Text
A boy of six skipped down the rain drenched sidewalk in the depths of Gotham City. He was wearing a tattered gray hoodie and grey converse sneakers as he made his way to the building where he "lived".
Eden carefully snuck into the old run down apartment building and made his way to a room on the second floor. He and his mother had stayed here together before she...
Eden shook his head, erasing those bad thoughts immediately. He pulled his dinner out for that night. Regular chips. Not much but it was all he could find.
Eden climbed onto the bed and settled with a cute yawn before he began munching on his chips. He looked out of the window at the moon and could only stare at the roof tops of Gotham. He had seen the vigilantes of Gotham before. Maybe once or twice if he had to think about it.
But there was no sign of Batman or Nightwing or Robin tonight. Now that he was in bed, he had time to think on how quiet Gotham was tonight.
And a quiet Gotham never meant good things.
There had been plenty of "quiet" Gotham nights that he and his mother had spent in the closet together just to make sure they stayed safe.
Eden knew he had to be careful the next few nights. He didn't want to get hurt or...
He shook his head and hugged his knees as he pushed his chips away. He wasn't hungry anymore and he had to save those. He layed down on his side facing the window as he stared up at the moon.
"Night mama..." He whispered, his little voice a sweet little noise that Gotham would never deserve. He closed his eyes and soon he faded into a sleep.
All the while, the moon above stood a silent vigil over the small child.
It seemed that Eden was sadly right. The next night wasn't safe and quiet. During the day, Eden liked to explore Gotham and find little hiding holes in case he couldn't make it to his building. But he had stayed out longer than he usually would and no matter how fast he ran, he found himself trapped in Gotham.
And Black Mask decided to send his men to hurt other people. And Eden unfortunately caught their attention. He noticed headlights slowly following him down an empty street and Eden had forced himself to remain calm.
He didn't like the feeling of hearing his heart in his ears.
They followed him. Eden was scared. His breath kept coming in sharp pants even though he was walking. And then the car stopped and Eden heard the doors open and slam shut.
"Hey kid!"
And Eden began to run. He heard swearing from behind him and one of the men calling him some very not nice names. Eden ducked and dodged as best he could before he made a mistake.
A dead-end alleyway.
"Oh no....no no no." Eden felt his eyes burn as he turned around to face four big men wearing masks.
"Well well well, pretty little thing ain't ya?" One laughed as they all stalked closer. Eden wished he could phase through the wall as he tried to push against it harder.
"Sionis wants good quality kids. Bit skinny this one."
"Who cares? Its a kid and that's all that matters. Now let's get the little shit in the car."
Eden dropped to the ground and hugged his knees to his chest. They were going to take him. He had managed one year by himself and now he was going to be taken to Black Mask.
Gotham wasnt nice to little kids after all...
But then...a shadow dropped down in between the four men and the scared six year old.
"SHIT ITS THE RED HOOD!"
"KILL HIM!"
Eden jumped as the red masked vigilante turned to him and his voice sounded kind even through the voice changer thing.
"Close your eyes Kiddo. Best you dont watch."
Eden never had to be asked to do something twice. He turned into the wall and clamped his eyes shut and covered his ears. He could still hear loud booms and shouts before...silence.
And a shadow that came to kneel in front of him. Eden looked up and the Red Hood was kneeling in front of him. "Hey there...no need to be scared. Not gonna hurt you."
Eden swallowed once he found that he could talk again. "I...I know. Red Hood doesnt hurt little kids..." The man in question tilted his head. "You know me then." Eden nodded his head and kept his head down.
"Everyone does..."
A chuckle. "True. How about we get you out of here?" Red Hood reached out a hand and Eden cautiously slipped his hand into the gloved one.
It took the older one to react for a second before he softly ordered the boy, "Eyes closed and head down okay? I'll lead you out of here."
Eden nodded and kept his head down and closed his eyes tightly. Mama always said he could trust the vigilantes. So he placed his trust in Red Hood and let the man lead him through the alleyway.
"What's your name buddy?" The man asked him. Eden startled and nearly tripped over his own feet before the man steadied him. "E-Eden. M-my name is Eden." Red Hood hummed. "Thats a pretty cool name."
Eden and Red Hood stopped. "Dont turn around okay?" Eden nodded and opened his eyes. "Where do you live?" Hood asked him. Eden gulped. "B-Brookhaven Apartments..."
"You're a long way from Brookhaven kid. Why dont i escort you back?" For some reason, Eden tensed. This was Red Hood. He protected kids. But if he found out...no. Eden couldnt let him know about that.
"N-no it's fine. I-i can make my way." Eden heard the skepticism in Red Hood's voice. "Kid, you almost got kidnapped tonight. I cant let you go by yourself."
Eden couldn't think. He just knew he wasn't going to be going back to a center. Which is what Red Hood would probably do. So Eden did what he could.
He twisted on one foot and ducked around Red Hood and ran.
"Hey!" The Red Hood shouted for him to stop but then the man froze as Eden looked back over his shoulder at him.
"Thank you!" Eden called back to him.
The Red Hood didnt chase after him.
Jason had to be hallucinating. He just had to be. He thought this was just Sionis being a prick yet again, snatching kids off the street.
But it was clear that this particular kid was hiding something. It was pretty clear by how he didn't want Jason following him home.
Jason could muse on all the specifics later when the most obvious problem literally stared him in the face a few minutes ago.
The only difference was the eye color.
Shit. Jason pulled his com out and switched to the private channel between him and Dick.
"Hood? What's up?" Jason could hear Dick finish doing something in the background and was absolutely unsure how to proceed.
"Hey can you meet me at my safehouse? I need you to see something."
A pause and Dick's voice came through worried.
Oh big brother...
"Is everything alright?"
Jason sighed heavily. "I'm...not sure. I just know you need to see this."
Another pause before Dick responded.
"I'll be there in ten."
Click.
Jason sighed before looking at the image that was on the inside of his helmet.
The image of the too wise young face. Aged beyond years.
The perfect copy of Dick's.
Just with haunted green eyes.