Chapter Text
Let's start with the fact that Jason Todd, better known to Gotham's criminal underworld as the Red Hood, didn't wake up this morning thinking he'd end the day kidnapped and handcuffed to a chair in the interrogation room at Justice League Watchtower.
Seriously, how could he?
The day started almost insultingly normal. Jason returned to his hideout, took the hottest shower his apartment's water heater could survive, and promptly collapsed face-first into bed. Where he'd had almost eight hours of uninterrupted sleep.
Which, considering his schedule, is quite impressive.
He later woke up near noon, ate the leftovers Alfred had practically forced him to take with him, started cleaning his guns, and even managed to read a few chapters of the novel he's reading before slowly getting ready for his evening patrol.
Honestly, the last few months have felt almost repetitive. Which should have tipped him off that something bad was going to happen sooner or later. For almost six months, Jason has been... kinda undercover.
Honestly, it was all Bruce's plan, and despite how much Jason would like to argue, it was surprisingly good. When Jason returned to Batman side, Bruce decided they could use Red Hood's reputation to gain some important information.
Because whether Jason wanted it or not, Red Hood had a reputation in Gotham.
To Gotham's criminal population, Red Hood was still on Batman's wanted list. But also unpredictable, brutal enough to earn respect. Independent enough that nobody quite knew whose side he was on.
Officially, Batman still considered him a dangerous vigilante.
And that was enough for Jason to gain some inroads into Gotham's inner circle, because one of Gotham's mottos is. “My enemy, an enemy of Batman, is my friend until I decide I want to shoot him in the back....” Or something like that.
Frankly, Jason himself is surprised at how much he's learned in those six months. Apparently, people become much more talkative when they think you hate the same person. Jason learns about drug routes, money laundering operations, weapon shipments, corrupt politicians, etc.
Mercenaries loved comparing contracts, and Red Hood somehow had become Gotham's favorite drinking buddy. If you can call nights spent in dark alleys or expensive rooms, knife fights or the occasional knife-gun fight, scaring people and convincing them that he hates even saying the name Batman out loud, drinking.
Of course, Batman kept Jason's cover a secret. He's still on the wanted database list, and many people still don't know that Jason is on Batman's side now.
Only the rest of the Batfamily, as Barbara once called them, knows about Jason's entire mission and how crucial it is that his cover lasts until the mission is completed. Which will obviously happen tomorrow... Tomorrow was supposed to be the end of it.
One final meeting, one final exchange, and one last name. After that, Bruce would have everything. Enough evidence to dismantle an entire network that had quietly rooted itself beneath Gotham's criminal empire.
Six months with countless lies are finally paying off. For the first time in a long time, Jason believed this mission would end without major problems.
And that's when the Justice League decided to step in.
Because, as previously mentioned, only a few people actually knew about Jason's mission. The League wasn't told because the fewer heroes involved, the smaller the chance someone accidentally exposed Red Hood's cover.
Unfortunately... That also meant that, from the League's perspective, Red Hood was an armed vigilante, a man with an extensive criminal record. Someone Batman wants to lock up. And he is TOTALLY NOT one of Batman's people and is NOT the former second Robin or someone Bruce calls son from time to time.
It was the middle of the night when it happened. Jason was on the outskirts of Gotham, tying to one of the old broken street lamps, Penguin’s unconscious minions, when he felt unwanted company.
“Well, well... what do we have here?” The voice carried an almost smug amusement, Jason looked up. Hovering several feet above was none other than Hal Jordan, also known to most as Green Lantern.
Jason stared for exactly one second before letting out a long, exhausted sigh. “You've got to be kidding me…” He muttered quietly as he tilted his head slightly and placed both hands at his sides. “You seriously flew all the way to Gotham for this?”
Hal folded his arms across his chest. “We've been looking for you.” Jason barked out a small laugh. “Batman knows you're in Gotham?” Jason asked, though he already knew the answer.
Batman has no idea Green Lantern is in Gotham.
Bruce would've known before Jason did. Hell, Bruce probably would've known before Hal himself had decided to come here. And if Batman had known? Hal would've been politely but very, Very firmly escorted right back out of Gotham's airspace.
The problem is, Batman isn't even on Earth.
The last Jason had heard, Batman and Martian Manhunter had left on some Justice League mission somewhere beyond the solar system. Jason honestly hadn't paid much attention to why. Mostly because he'd already been awake for forty-two hours by the time Bruce explained it.
At that point, Jason had been one sarcastic comment away from punching Dick in the face just to end the meeting. Dick, of course, had noticed. “Hang in there, Little Wing. Just a few more minutes.” Dick then nudged him lightly with his elbow.
Jason didn't even look up at him. “Say 'Little Wing' again and I'm throwing a batarang at your forehead.” Dick just gestured dramatically at him. “See? He's tired.”
Tim just looked over at them. “Honestly, maybe he wouldn't be so tired if someone stuck to their patrol schedule...” He muttered quietly, and that was enough for Jason to look at him then. “Oh? Look who's saying that, of all the people who could have said it-”
“Jason” Bruce hadn't even looked up from the batcomputer. “What?!” Jason said, already very irritated, and Bruce then sighed heavily. “Pay attention. I know it's late, and you're tired like all of us, but I'd like to explain for a few more minutes. And you can all go back upstairs.”
Jason honestly tuned everyone out after that, and when it was over, he was so tired that Alfred didn't even have to force him to go to sleep in his room at Wayne Manor.
His time for reminiscing was interrupted by a female voice behind him.
“Batman has far more important responsibilities than dealing with criminals like you.” Wonder Woman's voice was so obvious that Jason almost didn't turn his head. She was standing on the cracked asphalt next to the old warehouse. Beside her was Green Arrow. Bow already drawn, arrow aimed directly at Jason's chest.
“Seriously?” Jason said, looking between them. then he looked back up at Green Lantern. “No wait...Seriously?” No one answered. Jason slowly turned in a complete circle. Okay, this is getting ridiculous. Because what the hell is the Justice League doing here?
Jason was really starting to wonder if he was hallucinating from sleep deprivation again. “Okay...” Jason let out another sigh. “Is... is this a joke?” He spread one hand. “No, seriously. What the hell are you people doing here?” Still no one bothered to answer him.
“The Watchtower lost a bet?” Jason thought, but before he could do anything else, Wonder Woman finally responded. “Your games are over, Red Hood.”
“My games?” Jason looked around. Scattered across the gravelly ground were nearly twenty unconscious men. Jason gestured broadly. “I'm literally cleaning up Gotham.” Wonder Woman remained unimpressed. “We know you've been rebuilding criminal connections. And we're here to stop it”
“I really...” Jason said, reaching slowly toward his utility belt. “Do not have time for this.” Hal's eyes narrowed. “What are you-” Jason pulled a smoke pellet free. “Leaving.” He slammed it into the ground. He vanished beneath an explosion of thick gray smoke.
“He's running away!” Someone who sounded a lot like Green Arrow shouted. “No kidding.” Jason muttered, already moving. He sprinted through the smoke, boots barely making a sound against the ground.
He managed to get a few steps away before someone slammed into the side of his helmet. Jason hit the ground shoulder first, skidding several feet across before crashing into a stack of old pallets. A blur of scarlet appeared beside it.
“Sorry, buddy.” Flash smiled almost apologetically. “Not this time.” Jason looked up from the ground. If he hadn't been wearing his helmet, Barry would've seen the most exhausted expression imaginable.
Jason slowly climbed to his feet, brushing splintered wood off his jacket. Jason wouldn't say he hates the Justice League. Not even close. Back when he wore Robin's colors, he'd practically worshipped them, like any kid his age would.
He'd collected trading cards. Read every mission report he could sneak out of the Batcomputer. Asked Clark approximately eight hundred questions about anything he could think of.
Bruce used to act irritated whenever Jason got excited about his League meetings, asking almost every time if he could join. Looking back... Jason was almost certain Bruce had secretly found it amusing, he just refused to admit it.
The problem wasn't that the League were bad people. The problem was that they had an infuriating habit of barging into situations they didn't fully understand. Bruce, often in the Batcave, called it a lack of ability to think logically and following a few important procedures.
Jason's hand darted toward one of his pistols and fired twice. The bullets weren't aimed at anyone. Instead, they struck the thick steel cables suspending several rusted cargo containers high above ground.
The cables snapped, the containers lurched. The first container came crashing down, then another. Steel screamed against steel, dust filled the air.
Green Lantern immediately created massive emerald constructs to stop the falling containers before they crushed anyone. Wonder Woman lunged forward to shield several unconscious thugs from the collapsing debris.
Flash vanished in a red streak, pulling three injured criminals out of the danger zone before the containers hit the ground. Exactly what Jason had counted on, he threw another smoke bomb behind him. Without looking back, Jason sprinted toward the Gotham skyline beyond.
He's not in the mood to find out today if he can single-handedly defeat four members of the League of Justice. His boots pounded against wet pavement as he disappeared into the maze of Gotham's back alleys.
Was this seriously happening? Don't the Justice League have bigger problems to deal with? They had chosen this night. The one night Batman was off-world. The one night Jason was carrying enough intelligence to dismantle one of Gotham's largest criminal operations.
Bruce was going to lose his mind.
Because there was one rule every League member knew. One rule Batman rarely bothered explaining twice. When it comes to Gotham, you do not interfere unless Batman asks. Tonight, apparently, someone had forgotten that rule.
Jason honestly thought he'd managed to lose them, not permanently, of course. He wasn't delusional enough to think four members of the Justice League would simply shrug, say 'Guess he got away' and head back to the Watchtower.
But Gotham was Gotham. The rooftops formed a labyrinth only the Bats truly understood. Every fire escape, maintenance tunnel, abandoned subway entrance, rooftop access door, and hidden passage had been memorized years ago.
Jason had grown up here. He knew shortcuts that didn't exist on any map. If he could make it another few minutes... Just a few, he'd disappear.
His boots pounded across another rooftop before he vaulted effortlessly over a narrow alley, landing hard enough to crack loose gravel beneath his feet. Behind him, emerald light flashed against the clouds.
Jason ducked beneath a rusted water tower, using the structure to block Green Lantern's line of sight before dropping onto a lower rooftop. He slid behind a ventilation unit and finally allowed himself one precious second to breathe. “Okay... I need to contact Oracle before this becomes even more ridiculous.”
Whether he wants it or not, he needs backup, some diversion, maybe even a momentary act in which some of the bats pretend to have caught him so that the league will stop interfering. Some part of him even thought about reach someone off them manually.
He is ready to prepare himself mentally for Spoiler making fun of him if she were the one who found him first and saw what was happening.
If Nightwing found out he'd needed rescuing, actually... There wasn't an if, there was only when. Jason couldn't hear the end of it. Dick would remind him of this for weeks to come, about how he had to save his little brother from four members of the Justice League who forgot which city they were in.
Jason rounded another corner, dropping into one of Gotham's countless narrow alleys. This section of the Narrows was practically impossible to navigate from the air. Maybe... just maybe he could actually pull this off.
Jason smirked beneath his helmet. “Yeah... I've got this.” A red blur slammed into him from the side, there wasn't even enough time to react. One second Jason was running. The next, everything disappeared.
The impact felt like getting hit by a freight train moving at impossible speed. His body skipped across wet pavement before crashing through a brick wall. The world spun violently, Jason tried to push himself upright, and his arms refused.
Flash slowed to normal speed several feet away, looking genuinely apologetic. “Ouch... Sorry.” Jason blinked at him. The Flash rubbed the back of his neck. “I didn't mean to hit you that hard, but you didn't-”
Jason tried standing, his legs immediately disagreed. The alley tilted sideways, or maybe that was him. Flash took one cautious step forward. “Hey... easy there.” Jason reached for one of the knives hidden beneath his sleeve. Barry noticed instantly. “Oh, come on.”
The knife never left its sheath, Flash was already there. Jason barely registered the movement before both wrists were restrained. Jason leaned his head back against the broken wall. The edges of his vision darkened.
Everything felt distant, Barry was saying something, Hal landed nearby. Someone mentioned transporting him. Diana's voice floated somewhere in the background.
“...careful...”
“...possible concussion...”
“...secure the weapons…”
Jason wanted to object, wanted to explain. Wanted to tell them they had just destroyed a six-month undercover operation because nobody had bothered making one phone call. Instead... darkness swallowed everything.
And that's how Jason was kidnapped by the Justice League.
His consciousness returned slowly. First came the dull ache spreading through the back of his skull, then the stiffness in his shoulders. Then the unmistakable feeling of cold metal digging into his wrists. “Ugh...” Jason let out a low groan. For a few seconds, he didn't bother opening his eyes.
He felt himself sitting in a metal chair, his hands handcuffed to the back. He opened his eyes, bright white lights greeted him through the lenses of his helmet. Well, that answered one question, they hadn't taken it off.
Jason tilted his head experimentally. “Huh.” Still wearing the helmet. That was... surprisingly considerate or cautious. Most likely cautious.
Because Jason was about ninety percent sure there was still an explosive charge hidden inside the helmet. Bruce had told him to get rid of it at least a month ago, but Jason always saved it for later.
Jason glanced around briefly, the room was disappointingly bland.
Not that he'd been in the better interrogation rooms, but still. Jason began to rock the chair lazily, resting it on its two hind legs despite the restraints. Every few seconds, the legs would clatter slightly as they hit the floor.
If the Justice League wanted to interrogate him, he'd make sure it was the second worst thing they'd planned. The first was coming to Gotham without Batman knowing.
“You're taking this surprisingly well.” Jason looked up to see Green Arrow, his arms crossed as he and the others entered the interrogation room. Jason shrugged. “I've been kidnapped before. If I had to rate this one, I'd give it three stars for effort.”
Hal sighed loudly enough for everyone to hear. “I already regret this.” Wonder Woman stepped forward. “You don't seem to understand your situation.” Jason raised an eyebrow from behind his helmet. “No? Enlighten me.”
“You're under arrest.” Wonder Woman said, as if that would get him talking. Jason just leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs. “Wow, really? I didn't notice, thanks for clearing that up.” Barry, standing against the wall with an awkward smile, rubbed the back of his neck. “I thought you'd be... you know…”
Jason tilted his head slightly. “Scared?” Jason asked. Flash shrugged. “Less sarcastic.” Jason actually laughed at that. “Oh, that's adorable.” Oliver leaned across the table. “You think this is funny?” Jason tilted his head. “Are you really asking me? You four ambushed me in Gotham.”
“Near Gotham.” Flash corrected. “The city limits were literally visible,” Jason replied as he began to rock again. “You people really don't know what you have done, do you?”
Wonder Woman finally spoke. Her voice was calm and authoritative. “We know enough.” Jason turned to her. “Do you?”
“We know that Red Hood is wanted by Batman.” She slid the tablet across the table. He could see several files.
RED HOOD
AGE: UNKNOWN
ARMED EXTREMELY
DANGEROUS KNOWN FOR USE OF DEADLY FORCE
Below was a collection of police reports, League surveillance, and surprisingly accurate estimates of the number of safe houses Jason had destroyed over the years. “We also know.” Diana continued, “That your name appears on numerous international criminal lists.” Jason glanced at the screen. “Hmm.” He nodded approvingly. “They finally fixed the spelling.”
Oliver blinks. “That's your takeaway?” Jason just shrugged. “I appreciate the attention to detail.” Hal pinched the bridge of his nose. “You should be concerned.” Jason just leaned back in his chair. “I'm fascinated.”
“Enough.” Wonder Woman's voice cut through the room. Diana placed both hands on the metal table and leaned forward, her blue eyes never leaving the crimson helmet across from her. “We're done entertaining your jokes.” Jason tilted his head slightly. “Were you entertained?”
Diana ignored him. “You're here because we know you've been gathering information.” Jason remained silent. “We know you've had repeated contact with Black Mask, Penguin's organization, Intergang, and several international weapons traffickers.”
“We're giving you the opportunity to cooperate.” Jason drummed his fingers lazily against the back of the chair where his wrists were restrained. “If you refuse.” Diana continued evenly. “We'll be forced to pursue other methods.”
She didn't raise her voice, she didn't need to. The implication was obvious. Jason slowly lifted his head until he was looking directly at her. His posture never changed, his breathing never quickened. If anything he looked almost bored. “Tell me something.” Diana frowned slightly. “What?”
“What city am I from?”
The question hung in the air. Barry blinked, Oliver frowned. Hal looked openly confused. “Excuse me?” Jason repeated himself. “What.” He spoke each word deliberately. “City. Am. I. From.”
“Gotham?” Barry answered after several awkward seconds. Jason nodded once. “Good.” He shifted slightly in the chair, the restraints rattling softly. “Next question.” He looked around the room, meeting each of their eyes in turn. “Who owns Gotham?”
Oliver raised an eyebrow. “Owns?” Jason waited but nobody answered. Finally, he sighed. “Batman.” He said the name with absolute certainty. Not loudly, not dramatically. Simply as though it were an undeniable law of nature.
For the briefest moment the room actually felt colder. Somehow, just hearing Batman's name spoken with that level of confidence made it seem like the Dark Knight himself could step through the door at any second.
Jason almost wished he would.
Unfortunately, to Jason's luck, that didn't happen. Hal folded his arms. “I don't think I understand what point you're trying to make.” Jason leaned back as much as the restraints allowed. “Then listen carefully.” His voice lost most of its sarcasm. For the first time since waking up here, he sounded serious.
“Every halfway competent criminal in Gotham knows the rules.” He looked toward the observation window as if remembering something. “I've watched assassins refuse contracts inside city limits.”
His gaze shifted toward Oliver. “I've seen metahuman mercenaries literally drive around the city instead of through it.” He looked at Barry. “I once watched a cartel abandon an entire shipment worth thirty million dollars because someone whispered Batman's name.”
“They're afraid of him this much?” Hal guessed. Jason snorted. “No.” He leaned forward slightly. “But everyone understands one thing.” His helmet slowly turned toward the four League members.
“Gotham is Batman's city, and others have no right to interfere in his territory unless he allows it.” There was a moment of silence before Oliver finally interjected. “And what if Batman gave us permission, hmm?”
Jason froze, then genuinely burst into laughter. The sound echoed throughout the interrogation room. He laughed so hard his chair rocked backward onto two legs. Barry instinctively reached forward. “Careful-”
Jason nearly tipped over entirely before catching himself, he was still laughing. Hal frowned. “What's so funny?” Jason took several deep breaths. “Oh...” Another laugh escaped him. “Oh, that's...” He shook his head. “That's the funniest thing I've heard all week.”
It took Jason a moment to stop giggling. He couldn't even imagine Bruce's face when he told him face to face that members of the Justice League had started lying to Jason, that Bruce had permitted them to interfere in his city while he was gone. “Oh... Batman will be so pissed when he gets back on Earth.”
The words slipped out before he could stop himself. There was a beat of silence, Barry frowned. “Wait…” Hal looked sharply at Jason. “How do you know Batman's off-world?” Jason mentally cursed, then he shrugged. “Lucky guess.” Oliver narrowed his eyes. “That's not a guess.”
“Sure it is!” Jason defended himself. “You said it like you knew!” Hal said, the irritation already very audible in his voice. Jason shrugged again. “I know lots of things.” Hal stepped closer to the table. “You've been watching League movements.” Jason looked innocently confused. “Haven't you?”
“He's impossible.” Barry quietly muttered. Hal's eye twitched. “He's doing this on purpose.” Oliver replied under his breath. Jason gave him a thumbs-up with both cuffed hands as best he could. “Gold star.” Hal exhaled slowly through his nose. “He is really starting to piss me off.”
Jason nodded sympathetically. “Yeah... I get that a lot.” Diana raised one hand, silencing everyone else before Hal could answer. She studied Jason carefully. “You keep bringing up Batman.” Jason bowed his head. “Yeah... maybe it's because he's so cool, but don't tell him I said that, the last thing I want is to boost his ego.”
“Why do you care so much about what Batman thinks?” Diana asked. Jason was quiet for several seconds. Then the chains around his wrists rattled softly as he adjusted his position. “You know…” His voice was quieter now. “The better question...”
He looked directly at every member of the League. “Is why none of you seem concerned about what Batman is going to think.”
Not one of them immediately responded. Barry was the first to glance uncertainly toward Hal. Oliver's confidence had faded just enough to be noticeable. Even Diana seemed to be reconsidering something.
Then the doors slid open with a soft mechanical hiss. Every head turned. A familiar figure stepped inside, his red cape settling behind him as he looked around the room. “Okay... so what are we dealing with?” Superman asked.
Jason looked up at the newest arrival, and for the first time since waking up in the Watchtower, something inside him relaxed. Not physically, his wrists still ached, his shoulders were stiff, and the chair somehow became more uncomfortable every minute, but mentally.
Superman was here. Jason hadn't seen him in... God, how long had it been? Long enough that seeing the familiar blue suit and red cape felt oddly nostalgic. When Jason had still been Robin, Superman had visited the Manor often enough that Jason had started calling him ‘Uncle Clark’ purely to annoy Bruce.
For a while, Jason had genuinely believed Superman was part of the family. Then he'd died, and then everything had gone spectacularly wrong. After he came back, there hadn't exactly been time for reunions.
Seeing Clark standing there now made something in Jason's chest tighten in a way he hadn't expected. A small part of him wanted to keep playing this game.
Just a little longer. He wondered how long it would take before even Superman started getting annoyed. Five minutes? Maybe ten? Could Clark actually lose his patience? Another part of him, however, was done. The chair was becoming increasingly uncomfortable, and his headache from Barry's tackle hadn't gone away. And honestly... Clark had X-ray vision.
Jason was almost certain that the moment Clark actually looked closely enough, he'd recognize him anyway. Might as well save everyone the trouble. Besides, if Jason remembered Bruce's schedule correctly, Batman was due back on Earth in... He frowned beneath the helmet.
Four hours? Maybe six? Less? Honestly, Bruce's space missions always came with confusing time conversions. Either way, Bruce had intended to brief the League about Jason's undercover operation once he returned.
Jason might as well speed the process up.
Jason looked directly at Superman. Then, with all the enthusiasm of someone greeting an old family friend instead of in an interrogation room aboard an orbital space station, he smiled beneath the helmet.
“Oh!” He waved enthusiastically. “Hey, Uncle Clark!” Everyone froze for a moment. Jason could see every member of the League here beginning to realize that somehow, Red Hood knew Superman's secret identity. “Excuse me?” Clark said slowly.
Jason tilted his head. “Oh, come on.” He sounded genuinely offended. “Don't tell me you've forgotten me already.” Clark frowned. “I'm... sorry.” His voice carried honest confusion. “Do we know each other?”
Hal looked between them. “Clark?” Superman didn't answer. He was still staring, trying to place the voice, trying to remember who the person in front of him was. Jason chuckled. “I'll give you a hint.” He raised both hands toward his helmet.
Hal immediately stepped forward. “Don't move.” Jason ignored him. A quiet metallic click echoed through the room, then another. Oliver's eyes dropped. “Hold on…” His expression immediately changed. “When the hell did you get out of the handcuffs?”
Everyone looked. The reinforced League restraints were lying neatly on the floor. Exactly where Jason had apparently slipped them off. Hal's jaw dropped, Barry blinked several times. “How long?” Jason shrugged. “A few minutes.”
Oliver looked physically offended. “HOW?!” Hal immediately grabbed the discarded restraints. “They aren't broken, and the locking mechanism never disengaged. How did you…”
Jason simply wiggled his fingers. “Trade secret.” In reality, Bruce had insisted every member of the family learn how to dislocate and reset their thumbs if necessary. Painful? Absolutely. Effective? Also yes. Bruce called it 'essential.' Jason and others called it 'deeply concerning parenting.'
He lifted his helmet free. The room seemed to stop breathing. Dark hair, a white streak near the front. Clark stared. Jason watched the realization unfold in real time. Confusion, when slowly recognition, and of course disbelief.
“No...” Clark whispered. “That's impossible.” He took one slow step closer. “Jason?”
Jason smiled. “Hi.” Clark looked like he'd seen a ghost. Which technically he had. “I...” Clark struggled for words. “I was...” His voice caught. “I was at your funeral.” Jason winced sympathetically. “Yeah... I know.”
Then Jason shrugged. “I got better.” Nobody laughed. Jason scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. “Tough crowd.” Clark still hadn't moved. “How?” Jason looked at him. “You ever hear of a Lazarus Pit?” Clark slowly closed his eyes, one hand covered his face.
Jason pointed. “Oh... That's usually the reaction.” Clark let out a long sigh. “Bruce never told us.” Jason snorted. “Trust me. He gets a migraine every time someone asks.” Jason leaned back again. “I don't think even Bruce fully understands how I came back.”
Oliver looked utterly lost. He glanced at Clark, then Jason. Then back again. “Can someone please explain what is happening?” Jason looked at him. “Oh! Right, you weren't around back then.”
He extended a hand automatically before remembering he was still technically sitting in an interrogation chair. “Jason Todd, former second Robin and occasionally referred to as the prodigal son who finally came home”
“Wait, did Bruce know...” Clark began, but Jason interrupted. “Yeah, we didn't get off to the best start, all that family drama, you know?” Jason tapped lightly on the metal table. “But we finally managed to communicate, I'm back with the family, and surprisingly, Bruce thinks I'm quite useful.”
Oliver blinked. “Wait, Batman has children?” Jason looked horrified. “Children?” He pointed accusingly. “Excuse you. We're emotionally damaged adults with one demon spawn.” Clark actually laughed. Despite everything, it slipped out before he could stop himself. Jason grinned. “There he is.”
Oliver was still trying to process everything. “So...” He pointed weakly. “You're… Batman's son?” Jason made a face. “Biologically? No. Emotionally?” He shrugged. “Ask Alfred.” Clark smiled again. “Bruce adopted him.” Jason nodded. “Pretty much.”
Oliver's face slowly drained of color. “Oh... Oh.” He turned toward the others. “We...” His voice became noticeably quieter. “Kidnapped Batman's kid.”
Barry looked sick. “We kidnapped Batman's kid.” Hal closed his eyes. “This is bad.” Diana, despite maintaining her composure better than the others, looked deeply troubled. She turned back toward Jason. “Then can you explain what you were doing-”
“Oh! This?” Jason interrupted her before she could finish her sentence. “I was working undercover for Bruce.” Hal stared. “Excuse me?” Jason nodded. “Six-month undercover operation.” Somehow, the interrogation room for the Justice League has become even colder than it was before.
“My job was to convince Gotham's criminal underworld that Red Hood still hated Batman.” Jason pointed toward the tablet they'd shown him earlier. “Judging by your files...” He smiled proudly. “I'd say I did a pretty convincing job.” Barry slowly turned toward Hal. “Tell me he isn't serious.”
Hal didn't answer. Jason continued anyway. “I spent half a year infiltrating criminal organizations. I built trust, I collected evidence, I identified financiers, I mapped weapons shipments, I found out who was backing Black Mask, and tonight…”
He sighed dramatically. “Tonight was the final meeting.” Barry looked pale. “Final?” Jason nodded his head and smiled. “I got everything Bruce needed. Today's meeting was the last one. I was literally on my way to deliver my final report.”
He looked around the room. “Then you guys arrested me....” Nobody moved, the silence became almost painful. Jason decided to make it worse. “So...” He looked around expectantly. “How's everyone doing?”
Clark finally found his voice. “Jason.”
“Yes, Uncle Clark?” Clark looked at him for a long moment before turning toward the rest of the League. “We...” He took a deep breath. “Need to have a conversation.” Nobody argued, nobody even looked like they wanted to. Clark gestured toward the hallway. “Outside... Now.”
Hal immediately started walking. Barry followed without a word. Oliver looked like he was mentally drafting his apology already. Diana hesitated for only a second before joining them. Clark paused at the doorway and looked back. “We'll be right back.”
Jason smiled warmly. “Take your time..” The doors slid shut behind them. From the hallway, muffled voices immediately erupted. “HOW WERE WE SUPPOSED TO KNOW?!”
Jason leaned back in his chair, folded his arms behind his head, and couldn't stop the grin spreading across his face. This was, without question, the funniest thing that had happened to him all year. The League had just realized they'd accidentally dismantled a six-month Batman operation, kidnapped one of his kids, and dragged him to the Watchtower in handcuffs. Jason almost felt bad for them.
Almost.