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The night before was rather uneventful in Jason's eyes. Just Batman chasing him and all that boring stuff. well except that Damien, as Robin, cornered him to lecture him about being more careful and fucking Nightwing almost catching them.
But aside from that it was pretty boring.
when he got home and opened his fridge he was hit by disappointment.
“Right... I need to buy groceries… I'm gonna shoot someone. ”
He slammed the fridge shut and collapsed on the sofa and let his gaze sweep across his apartment and land on the clock standing on the table. 8 a.m. It was day.
"Fuck.”
He sat up so quickly, he was almost convinced he gave himself whiplash. 8a.m. How long was he outside? The sun sure as hell didn't rise when he got home, but then again, this is Gotham.
"Best to get groceries early, less people." He grumbled and stood up. "I'll just make a home-made meal and rate that. Super easy... yeah.”
Jason put on his jacket, took his keys, wallet and made his way to the massive super market in Gotham. The way to it was absolutely miserable in his own view, being way too tired to function like a normal human adult, but then again, Jason is not a normal adult.
The lazarus pit left its mark on Jason, many he could explain to others. He knows the questions by heart nowadays, being used to hearing them.
'Why is your posture so bad?’ I was home-schooled and in front of a screen and I like reading and was reading in weird positions.
'Why are you so insanely strong?’ I work out and genetics.
'Why have I never seen you before?’ I just moved here.
'What's with the white tuft of hair?’ Fashion.
The way to the store was longer than Jason remembered last time.
Alfred was on his weekly stock-up on groceries and whatever the family within the manor needed or requested. Even when shopping he tended to stick out like a sour thumb, even when he really didn't want to.
Normally when he went out people eyed him or directly approached, but today he was left alone. Even teens who tended to throw a comment or two at the elderly man surprisingly left him alone. No, today they completely ignored him. Alfred watched as the teens approached another guy.
Alfred's eyes widened to the size of saucers.
Him.
It's him.
Jason.
No, Jason was dead. He knew that, he saw the boy's corpse. He put his old costume on display.
"Ah... is this the young man Master Bruce talked about?”
Alfred watched as the Jason look-alike adult was taking pictures with those teens.
"Young Master Tim said something about Influencers…”
Yes, that young man- Tason? Yeah Master Dick told him about his run-in with a Jason look-alike named Tason. Weirdly similar. Most likely only coincidence, yeah it must be that.
Alfred watched.
When the teens left the man alone, Alfred approached.
Jason tended to forget that people who watched him online actually existed outside the screen and that those people genuinely liked him willingly watched him and enjoyed it.
He watched as the group of teens left, some a lot more excited and giddy than others, but none the less all of them looked happy. A small smile made its way to Jason's face, people liked him. Ok and he made money. But he'd rather give up his bike then admit that he liked his online way of making money.
When he continued his shopping, reading off his list like a dutiful adult and calmly putting things in his cart. He didn't even notice the elderly man dressed impeccably approaching him until he heard a voice right behind him.
“Excuse me.”
Jason turned around and came face-to-face with a very familiar butler.
Alfred.
Jason? looked him up and down, meant curiously, but most likely came off as malicious.
Alfred looked almost the same. Just older and more grey hair, if it was possible.
"Oh… now can I help you..?”
"Oh you see, my youngest, he's a big fan of your… Influencer Internet thing.”
Jason almost had to short but kept his expression schooled like his life depended on it. The image of Damian watching Jason's videos and being a big fan. The image was way too fun in Jason's eyes, he would definitely tell Damian that later and tease him for all eternity, even if it was a lie.
"Ah... I see."
"Could you tell me your name? I'm not in touch with this whole internet thing. I'm old you see.” Alfred asked politely for his name, so Jason decided to play along.”
"Well online I go by Fatson Yumm und my real name is Tason.” The lie came easier now that he used the name a few times.
"No last name?”
Jason froze for a split second, people never asked for his last name and he once again panicked and his Brain delivered before he could think about it longer.
"It's Jodd. Tason Jodd. People don't usually ask for last names.”
"Ah, us older folks like using last names, you know?”
"I see, well not many elderly people your age watch me or really interact with me.”
"Well that's no problem Mister Jodd. I wanted to ask if I could take a picture with you to show my youngest”
Jason bit his tongue. The idea of Alfred showing a picture of Jason to Damian. Yeah he'll definitely tease Damian about this over this later.
"Yeah, of course."
Jason posed with Alfred as the old man took a selfie with him.
"Well thank you very much. I hope I didn't take much of your time. Goodbye.”
"No problem, good day!”
As Alfred walked off, Jason continued his much needed grocery run in peace. In the end Jason bought more than he needed, very much not like a dutiful adult, but that didn't really matter anymore. Anything is better than coming back home being Red Hood and having nothing to eat in the fridge. Truly a dreadful feeling.
Alfred sat in the car, having loaded the groceries in the car trunk and now sits in the driver's seat, contemplating the young man Tason.
Tason…
Jodd…
Tason Jodd…
_ason _odd…
Jason Todd…
Jason Todd.
"Oh my god…”
Alfred didn't know if he should cry or laugh at the cheap lie. It was so easy and simple. But it worked. It worked on Bruce, Dick, Tim and himself.
" Young Master Damian…” Alfred mumbled, remembering the day Damian was convinced Jason was alive.
Damian.
He wasn't convinced. He knew.
Alfred sat in the car, debating to tell everyone, or…
He could let this play out.
Alfred let his gaze wander. Across the parking lot before looking back at the wheel. A small feeling, so small he wanted to ignore it, but he let it win. The feeling of pure amusement, the idea of the big reveal with Damian bringing Jason home for dinner and announcing his return from the death and Tim coming to the realisation that Jason(his idol) kicked him to escape Tims rambling.
The idea was way too funny. Fine, hell let Jason's little act continue, for his own amusement and… because it was Jason. A boy who died too early.
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
Demon Brat (Damian/Robin)
Jason: You're not going to believe who I just met in the store.
Damian: I do not see now this relates to me.
Jason: It relates back to you.
Damian: Enlighten me, who did you meet?
Jason: Alfred.
Damian: You met Alfred in the store.
Jason: Yeah, but we did a lot more.
Damian: Don't word it like that, it sounds wrong.
Jason: Anyway! He told me you were a big fan of me.
Damian: What.
Jason: Oh yeah, told me you were a big fan of me and we even took a picture with me.
Damian: You took a picture with him?! You imbecile!
Jason: It's no big deal. Now back on topic. According to Alfred you're my biggest fan.
Damian: Slander!
Jason: Oh I'm heartbroken.
Damian: Shut up. This conversation is over!
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
Jason laughed as he cooked, knowing he had his fun teasing Damian and that the younger would not answer his calls or texts for the next day or two.
"Oh well, worth it.”
Jason looked at his calendar, having marked the Saturday in three weeks as ‘celebration stream’. Maybe that's the one hell fullfish Damians wish(demand) of being in one of Jason's videos.
Well it was a stream but it's the same, kind of.