Unexpected

Chapter 1

Unexpected  (part 1)

Today was the day that Jason decided that he hated ninjas.

It doesn't matter how cool their tricks are, he's seen better by now. Hell, he could probably do better.

Jason was on his way back to Gotham. He had a mission in New York that included finishing off a rapist.

The guy wasn't dead, but Jason made sure that he would never be able to rape another child again. He also made sure that the guy couldn't ever walk again.

All in all, he was pretty satisfied with his work. Especially due to the circumstances.

Jason made an agreement with Batman a while ago that as long as he doesn't kill in Bruce's territory, he would still be allowed to patrol in Crime Alley.

So he doesn't kill in Gotham anymore and Jason doesn't try to make it a habit to kill out of Gotham either.

The bats would find out and frankly, Jason wasn't in the mood to get beaten up again.

He still remembers the day he shot Penguin like it was yesterday. The fists continuously pounding against his skull as he let Batman drag him across the rooftop, too lost in the thoughts of Artemis and Bizarro disappearing.

When he glanced up, he could see everything in slow motion. He saw how Batman wasn't pulling his fists, hitting Jason so hard that he was surprised he wasn't already dead.

It was only because of Roy that Jason was still breathing. Without Roy, Jason doesn't know where he would be right now.

It was Roy that held Jason when he dreamt of the Joker and crowbars. When he dreamt of Batman choosing the clown over him. When he dreamt and sometimes even felt the batarang slicing his throat open once more.

And more often than not, he dreamt of Batman's hateful gaze as he continued to beat Jason— his son!- up for shooting a blank, talking about how he never should've given Jason another chance.

How he never should've taken Jason in.

But of course, the moment he returns to Gotham, Bruce demands for his help on a mission.

Jason couldn't decline. He could argue with Batman, fight him even— but not Bruce. Never Bruce.

The mission was a success and everyone went on their separate ways. Meaning that the bats went back to the cave and Jason went to his nearest safe house, left to tend for his own wounds.

It was like nothing ever changed.

Like last time, it didn't take long for Jason to get overwhelmed.

His missions with the bats began to happen more often and they were beginning to prod into his personal life.

Jason's been switching his route every day for the past few months, hoping that no one would follow him back to any of his safe houses.

The last thing he needed was for them to find something personal and use it against him.

More than once, Jason could see his eyes flashing green. His head yelling at him, the voices getting louder as they urged him to kill Batman.

Jason needed to leave. He couldn't lose control of the rage again. He doesn't think he can handle the guilt this time.

It was pure luck that he heard that Arthuro Strump was on his way to New York, hoping to leave Gotham before karma caught up to him.

It gave Jason an excuse to leave the city, get his mind off of things, and give that scum what he deserved.