Red Hood and the Outlaws (Fan Fiction) ON HOLD

Chapter 2: Shot Through the Heart- and Who's to Blame?

Red Hood:

"So, how do you want me to handle this? All at once- or do you want me to kick your butts one at a time?" I said as a mob surrounds me, pointing their spears and swords in my face.

That was me about a year and a half ago. Before I put on the red hood for the first time- I was just Jason Todd. Former Batman protege, Robin. Before i was beaten to death by a psycho named the joker- and resurrected for reasons I still don't understand. Sure, maybe I should have been happy about coming back to life. But from my point of view i got a raw deal- and hell if I wasn't going to make everyone else suffer for it.

I stand on an odd platform and look at my surroundings. It's so surreal... The Hundred Acres of All. Not on any map. Who knows maybe not on any world. Everywhere and nowhere. I was brought there by a woman named Talia al Ghul. She was an ex of Batman's Maybe she felt that getting me all straightened out would get her back on his good side?

The leader of these strange people stepped forward.

"My aren't you the puffy little man-child?" The old woman says. She has pure white hair and tree bark looking skin. She has got to be the shortest thing i have ever seen!

The monks were the All Caste. The ancient one was Ducra the instructor. She and I didn't get off to the best start.

"The name is Ja-"

"Shush. Bow before your superior, man-child." She commanded.

"I might. If I ever meet one." I say as I kneel down to pat her head. "But I don't do the bowing thing, Grammy."

"Jason, I wouldn't-" Talia says as she straightens up from bowing.

The old woman flipped me over onto my back side.

"Never mind." Talia whispers.

OK, not my shining moment. Talia was risking a lot by bringing me here. Her father Ra's al Ghul was already steaming that she had tossed me into some regenerative bath called the Lazarus Pit. Then here I was, embarrassing her in front of her friends.

"I've been doing this for three thousand years. It only took you seconds to torque me off. That has got to be some kind of record." The woman said as I lied on the ground. "You're out cold now. Which means your useless. Defenceless. And, mercifully silent." She said to me as I passed out. "I can still train you to fight when you are unconscious. I can mold you into the most skilled assassin in the world. All you have to do...is stop being such a yutz." She said as she moved toward Talia. "Seriously, Talia. What am i supposed to do with that lump of rage?"

"Admittedly, Jason is...complicated, Ducra. He was recently raised from the dead, for reasons we may never know. His body was fine, but his soul was absent until-"

"Until you tossed him into the Lazarus Pit. I can smell it on him. I am certain that went over real well with your father."

"He was surprisingly supportive of my choice. Before he was murdered, Jason had the potential to be a great ma. I believe with the proper guidance- that could still be the case. i believe he deserves that chance."

"You're wrong. He's going to be the death of us. The death of many." Ducra says as I slowly awaken.

"So, no? You will not train him in the ways of the All Caste?"

"Of course I will. The thought of leaving him to the rest of the world- leaving the world at the mercy of him- is unacceptable."

Smart lady, Ducra.

Air Worldwide flight 102 Three hours ago:

Eclipsewing:

I tap my foot to the music from my ipod. I'm sitting one row behind Roy and Jason. The song is an up beat hard rock song. As the song speeds up and blasts in my ears so does my foot. I try not to disrupt the other passengers, but it's not working. I watch Jason from my window seat, looking out the window. I can tell he's thinking about something...I know that look too well. I take an ear bud out as the ,blond blue eyed, flight attendant hands me my Cherly Temple. I nod my head and listen to Jason and Roy.