Love Under the Hood - A Jason Todd X OC Story

Chapter 10: Gathering the Troops

"What happened in here?" Nightwing asked after landing on the balcony of Scarlett's apartment. He tip-toed cautiously into the desecrated living room, where Jason was standing with his arms crossed over his chest. Anger burned deep inside him as he read the poetic threat over and over again. 

The rest of the family made their way inside soon after. 

"Did someone throw a party in here?" Catwoman quipped as she maneuvered her foot around shards of broken glass on the floor.

"Yeah...a party," Jason muttered with malice. 

Batman immediately made his way over to the wall and examined the symbol. "It was only a matter of time before Talia made her move."

"But why take this girl hostage? Is she involved somehow?" Red Robin questioned.

The room grew silent as they searched throughout the home for evidence. Dick studied a bookshelf littered with pictures while Bruce and Tim made their way into the bedrooms. Selina was pacing around the kitchen when the spike of her heel crunched a large round piece of glass. Her eyes widened with curiosity when she noticed the broken vase of roses and the small piece of white paper tied to the stalks of the flowers.

"Someone has an admirer...," she observed. Using the serrated blade of her claws, she cut off the note and unfolded it. Her eyes narrowed as they drifted across the page. "Boys! I've got something!" 

Batman rounded the corner and gave her a questioning look. She peered past his shoulder at Jason and placed her hands on her hips.

"Before I read this, let's all take a minute to think about everything that's happened over the last few months. Has anyone else noticed how Jason is constantly making up excuses for why he can't go out on patrol?"

"I told him to lie low until we figured out what Talia was after," Bruce remarked.

"And he didn't listen, did he? He refused to go into hiding and was determined to hunt her down...at least in the beginning. He hasn't even touched his suit in over a week. You're trying to tell me he just suddenly gave up on his idea for revenge? He's actually going to let us handle this?"

"Is that what you wanted me to do?" Jason asked sarcastically, though his unease was growing as the lie was slowly coming undone. 

"Right..." Selina replied, unconvinced. "But that's not all. Until a few months ago, we'd be lucky to reach Jason if we tried to call him. Now, he hardly puts his phone down. Then, he asked us to meet him at this random girl's apartment, meaning he was already here. The message on the wall proves this woman was kidnapped by Talia, who we know has a vendetta against Jason and wants to hurt him in any way possible. Does any of that seem odd to you?"

"It does sound a little suspicious, Jay," Nightwing observed, earning a glare from his younger brother. 

"Well, if you think that's suspicious, then this note is damning," Catwoman continued. "It was attached to a bouquet of roses on the kitchen floor. It reads, "Sorry I was late. I'll make it up to you tonight. Love - Jay."

Everyone turned to Jason, whose hands were yet again clenched into fists. 

"Is there something you want to tell us, Jason?" she asked, handing the note to Batman.

"There is. You can be a real bitch sometimes, Selina." Jason growled threateningly.

She quirked an eyebrow. "Yeah, I can be. What's your point?"

"Stop jerking us around," Nightwing said sternly. "Who is this girl, and how do you know her?"

Jason sighed and turned his head away from his family. "Her name is Scarlett Vesper. She's...my girlfriend."