"So you finally made it," a woman's sultry voice spoke from the shadows.
Jason ripped his gaze away from Scarlett and saw Talia standing triumphantly on the dais, sword in hand. A smirk tainted her lips as she descended the stairs with threatening grace.
"I was worried my invitation at Port Adams went unnoticed. I believe it is common courtesy to RSVP to such occasions, no? Especially when you're the guest of honor."
"I'm not one for courtesy," Jason spat as he made his way down the stairs. "By the way...we ran into your welcoming committee in the hallway."
"Oh?" she muttered curiously. "I take it they did a frightful job, seeing as your reinforcements are still here."
She tilted her head to look at the rest of Jason's family, who were gathered at the top of the stairs. Her amber eyes rested on Bruce, and her smug smile widened.
"Hello Beloved..." she whispered. "How is our son...my father's last heir?"
Bruce gave her a steely glare. "Better off without you."
She shook her head in dismay. "After everything Jason has done to you Bruce, why do you continue to protect him? He is a murderer. Isn't that against your moral code? Isn't that why you abandoned me and my mission? Our mission?"
"He's my son," Bruce replied. "It's my fault he is the way he is. I wasn't there for him when he needed me. It's time I repay that debt."
"I figured since you invited me to your little party," Jason interjected. "I'd bring a few friends. To apologize for the inconvenience, I got you a little hostess gift."
Jason tossed the wounded Zafirah down the remaining stairs. She cried in agony and landed roughly at Talia's feet. Talia sighed and crouched in front of her first mate with a pathetic look on her face. Zafirah shamefully lifted her head to meet Talia's eyes.
"Forgive me...Mistress...," she pleaded with a groan.
Talia brushed a stray lock of midnight hair from Zafirah's face. "No forgiveness is necessary, my sister. You have earned a reprieve..."
Talia slipped her sword out from behind her back and plunged it into Zafirah's chest. Zafirah gasped at the sudden contact and blood began to pour from the open wound. She breathed out slowly and her head fell to the side, eyes closed.
"A reprieve from your miserable life," Talia concluded before she kicked Zafirah's lifeless body aside.
She wiped off the bloody sword on her leather pant leg.
"You were told many years ago, Jason," she continued bitterly. "Any assassin who fails to execute his target is a shame upon the League and must be eliminated...like poor Zafirah here."
"I don't understand what the fuck you want from me!" Jason yelled. "Rā's is still alive, you have hundreds of supporters, and I'm just a kid with an attitude problem and guns! What is it about me that's so goddammed special to you?!"
"Do you think I gave you that mask and those guns just so you could use them on the insignificant scum who walk these streets? Do you think I trained you myself just so you could return to a family that never loved you? I treated you like my own son."
"I see how you treat your son. I'm better off, trust me," Jason returned sarcastically.
"I placed my faith and my trust in you because I believed you had a higher purpose in this life, and you threw it all away! You made me a disgrace in my father's eyes...and for that...you shall pay with your life!"
Talia snapped her fingers and assassins darted out of every dark corner of the room. 5...10...20...30 all stood with their blades pointed toward the group.
YOU ARE READING
Love Under the Hood - A Jason Todd X OC Story
FanfictionScarlett Vesper, an aspiring model who moved to Gotham City to escape her controlling mother, suddenly finds her life in jeopardy when she meets Jason Todd and accidentally becomes a pawn in his deadly game.
