Chapter Text
─ ⋅ The Red Hood; A Good Soldier ⋅ ─
Summary; Jason Todd had died, but Jason Al Ghul had survived - crawling out from the rubble.
༄˖°.🐞.ೃ࿔*:･
⋅ ─ Chapter 01; Death in Winter - Born in Spring
Summary; Jason Todd dies, and is later re-born
Jason Todd had died. His loved ones wept, and his brother missing - returning only to find a marked grave and a note on his counter…
‘I’m sorry. I tried to call - Dad’
And so, his brother wept as well. Guilty mirages surrounding him as he tried to convince himself it wasn’t his fault… how could it be, he wasn’t around enough for him to have an impact on Jason.
He wasn’t around…
He wasn’t around…
He wasn’t around…
He wasn’t around…
He wasn’t around…
It didn't matter, as by spring Jason was re-born, but rather than being re-born as Jason Todd he was reborn as Jason Al Ghul.
Jason woke up again in a warm bed, his hands gripping silk emerald-coloured sheets, soft to the touch as he searched to find the reason for his... capture? Rescue? He wasn’t entirely sure, not until Talia had walked in. He remembers her, only slightly - they had met once before, and he had read many files on her. One of the few times he actually got to hear his brothers voice speak only to him was when talking about her, complaining about her, annoyed at her...
The daughter of the demon.
“Hello, Jason. I assume from your expression you remember me?” her voice was soft, kind, and not at all how Dick had described her - it sparked something... memories.
He remembers her taking him in, caring for him, bathing him, feeding him, teaching him, loving him. Calling him her son… Her son. The words felt natural as she poured tea into a small glass,
“Drink, Habibi, the honey should help your throat”
Habibi... he'd heard that word before, he wasn't sure what it exactly meant but he knew it was soft, and loving. It felt warm, as Talia took the now empty drink - Jason hadn't even realised he began drinking, never mind finishing it - she wrapped her arms softly around his neck, and head, her hands caressing his hair, and face as she kissed his forehead. It brought him back, slipping into a long buried memory.
Warm water filled the tub, as Jason slipped into the bath as Talia helped him down a hand carefully on his back,
"Are you alright?" She asked, knowing the catatonic boy couldn't answer - yet she still asked as she always did, her voice remained calm as she grabbed a small water basin filling it before gently leaning Jason's head back coating his hair in water as he sits in complete stillness. Jason tensed at the newly flowing water on his head.
The whole scene was soft, and gentle - Jason felt warm as he reached up and tried to grab Talia’s hand,
“Ma…” he tried to speak, his voice was horse, he rasped out the sound barely audible to Talia who just sat stunned in silence - ‘ma’… he believed that she was his mother? Her eyes welled up as Jason re-reached over to her hand, she grabbed his gently as he attempted to smile. Jason’s face contorted attempting to smile as he felt Talia’s hand on his own.
“Ma” he rasped again,
“Shhh, It’s alright, Inbi” she mumbled, kissing his forehead before continuing to bathe him, gently massaging shampoo into his hair as he holds his own hands together - seemingly trying to replicate the feeling of the two holding hands.
Once they finished, Talia helped him out.
“Ahebbak”
“Habibi, can you tell me how much you remember?” Talia calmly asked, brushing the hair out of Jason’s face.
“I- I remember… you…” he paused, thinking back, trying his hardest to remember, “a-and Damian, and Ra’s” he paused, trying to talk despite not being able to for nearly a year, “all taking care of me. And I remember you kissing my forehead before everything went dark… and- and I” his breathing picked up,
“I remember the dirt, the dirt and the scratching… so, so much scratching and then the digging. My tomb stone… I remember my… my name on the- I-” his hand clutches over his heart, eyes stinging as he began to sob.
Talia pulls his head to her chest, running hands through the boy’s hair, as she attempts to comfort him, “Don’t worry, my son, I have you now. Nothing will ever pose you harm again. I love you Habibi, Mama is here” she whispers, kissing his forehead before wiping his tears.
The two were snapped out of their thoughts as a harsh knock was heard on the door,
“Come in” Talia spoke, her tone strikingly, and completely different to how she had just spoke to Jason moments prior.
The door quickly swung open and Ra’s entered, Damian in his arms, the young boy immediately smiling.
“Ahki!” he held his arms out to Jason, as Ra’s walked over, placing the small boy in Jason's arms; he held Damian gently to his chest kissing the crown of his head much like Talia had done to him a moment before.
“Jason, Inbi, how are you feeling?”
“A little confused, but fine… what happened?”
“Ah, well… we noticed you were unable to recover from your…” he paused, trying to figure out how he could word the situation, “injuries and decided to use the Lazarus waters as a healer,” he said before adding,
“I promise you we only did so as a very last resort to stop your constant pain,” Ra’s had always struggled with emotion, and now was no different, however he did treasure his family dearly and Jason was now apart of that family which meant he had to make more of an effort.
And so, Jason Al Ghul was born, now in the spring.
Jason was weary at first, fearing his place in the Al Ghul family was conditional… the manor was, under the false pretence of unconditional love, very much condition and he wasn’t about to make that mistake twice. He couldn’t…
However, after a month of living at the Al Ghul estate (at least a month conscious, Jason wasn’t exactly sure how long it had been when they found him), he began feeling more comfortable; having food with his - newly acquired - family, training with Ra’s, reading to Damian, meditating with Talia… it was nice.
Ra’s had always found that the ability to stay calm was an assassins most important skill, bordering on an art form, however he also knew that one couldn’t have power over one’s own emotions without experiencing true serenity beforehand. He had learnt this lesson from his own mother, passing on this teaching to his own children, and later grandchildren.
Ra’s had always reserved a day, once a week, to spend the day as a ‘meditation’ day; this small thing was something Jason, Damian, and Talia all looked forward to. Ra’s, despite never admitting it, will always look forward to the day, enjoying the time together as a family.
During the days both Jason, and Damian were taught, and trained in the league equivalent of schooling along with rigorous training in many forms of martial arts, unique fighting styles, how to identify poison, basic survival skills in different climates, and the art of manipulation.
The boys also had classes on world history, literature, language, art, culture, geography, science, business, food tech, and in other things taught through the more normal education system- taught with slight adjustments to fit league ideals. The practices were also taught at higher levels than any standard high school. Due to, Ra’s only having the highest expectations of his grandchildren - especially when one of them was to be his heir.
Meanwhile in Gotham it was nearing the anniversary of Jason’s death date,
Murky skies rained over Gotham city, in a thick layer of smog the sunrise rose in a bright feat of character - as dim, and dark as Gotham was the sunrise and sunsets always put on a beautiful show of colour giving the ever-miserable residence something to truly marvel at. The pure pollution thrived a vibrant burst as the sun rose and fell…
While Bruce arose from his short-lived rest, enduring the spasms of pain that shot through his spine, he felt the looming weight of Gotham hanging over him. He hadn’t taken a break in months, he hadn’t (felt like he) deserved to; he failed. He failed the boy he swore to protect. He failed his son, his Jaylad.
Despite it being around a year, nearing two… he still hadn’t been able to even begin to heal.
He hadn’t spoken to just about anyone for months after the funeral, only ever the rare interactions with Dick who came over for dinner, and sat with Bruce for an hour or so after - making sure he, as the boy put, ‘didn’t do anything stupid’ before they both left for respective paroles.
Even now, as he had begun to repair his relationship with Dick, and had properly adopted Tim, he still wasn’t the man he once was - he was colder, as if the man he once was had been broken, and pieced together like an amalgamation of what once was so strong…
However in Nada Parabat, two people began wondering to themselves about the truth of fate and free will...
Ra’s didn’t believe in fate. However, seeing Jason fight both during his cathartic state and his current lucid state he really did begin to think it may be fate that brought Jason to the Al Ghul family for a reason… Jason was strong, fought well, held family to a high regard, wasn’t afraid to kill but also wasn’t afraid to show mercy. Able to ask for help, and guidance when he needed it, and truly treasured the natural world around him… all traits Ra’s wanted in an heir.
Of course, fate wasn’t something Ra’s had ever truly believed in, but he has been really considering it recently...
Jason didn’t believe in fate.
The idea of kismet being the ultimate decider was just a thing people said to make others feel better. But, after meeting Bruce he had begun to recognise why people might say it - still not believing…
And then he died, and was reborn into Jason Al Ghul.
Fate was still fickle and he didn’t ‘truly’ believe in it, but he really felt that this was his own version of kismet. To be a part of a family - a family which loved him, one where he didn’t need to ‘prove’ himself constantly, one where he didn’t need to die to be a true part of it...
Of course, fate wasn’t something Jason had ever truly believed in; but he has been really considering it recently…