#Jason wants his head in his dufflebag

[rboooks]

DC x DP Fic idea: The Bakery is a Front!...right?

Danny Fenton starts his own business in Gotham. He knows that moving to Gotham is dangerous in a way, but it is the only other place with enough natural ectoplasm that can sustain him.

He wanted to move away from Amity Park to start on a clean slate. His parents now knew the truth, and to show their support, they were turning their research into a more sociological base instead of biological- I.E. ripped ghosts apart. Jaz got accepted into her dream college- Oxbridge. She moved overseas and is doing well in her advanced physiological courses. They told their parents of Dani, who promptly adopted her and signed her up for a traveling club under the condition she returned home for school.

The ghosts stopped challenging him after he explained Amity was his haunt and that it was bad manners to spar inside a haunt. He is open game in the ghost zone, but Danny got to choose when to go in there- his obsession requires him to defend something, so defending weaker ghosts in the Zone was a good option.

Danny always wanted to be an astronaut, but his teenage vigilante lifestyle ruined his chances- it isn't even his grades. It's a fact Danny's heart is so slow due to his ghost side it is mistaken as a heart condition. No space program would ever send him up with that. Danny decided that he would instead go with his second joy- baking. He opened Phantom Bakes in his second week in Gotham using funds from his Ghost King vault.

He served everyone and asked no questions. He was mostly sure half of his customers were gang members, but he didn't start anything and didn't allow any fights in his bakery. He became a sort of haven for everyone. He even began preparing packs for people experiencing homelessness, and bought the building next door to put some heating systems for anyone to sleep In during the winter.

Despite his obsession with protection, his human side made it possible for him to ignore it. He decided that his teenage years were spent too much giving in to his obsession and that in his twenties, he would retire. He did nothing while the various Bats threw themselves into battle, he turned a blind eye to petty crimes and basically tried not to bring any attention to himself.

He managed about six months until he accidentally walked through a cloud of fear gas while texting Sam and Tucker. His friends were tying the knot- the fact they all were best friends and exes was only slightly strange- and he was so focused on helping them plan the wedding as their Best Man he didn't hear the gasps, and horrified yells until he ran into Scarecrow.

He apologized for not looking where he was going and got a needle shoved unto his arm as a response. Danny's reflex to that was to punch the man a foot away from him.

The Bats quickly locked up the villain, and Danny decided he needed to be gone as fast as possible. He tried to return to his everyday life, but the next day, some of Scarecrow's goons showed up at his bakery asking him for work....so he hired them and taught them to make pastries. Then those goons brought over some friends who needed work but were recovering addicts and couldn't find employment.

He added coffee to his menu and threw them into that. Then some street kids asked if he would buy some stuff from them. Danny told them that he wasn't interested in car parts, but he was interested in furniture for the building next door. He had kids bringing in broken bookshelves, bed frames, and much more, paying them far more than the shady garages would.

Then some shady groups of men kept coming to his bakery asking for money for protection but Danny can protect himself just fine and proved it every single time a group made trouble.

He started having the streey kids make deliveries hoping to get them out of life of crime.

He made natural ectoplasm which, after much testing and research done by his parents, proved to clean out dangerous substances from the body. He made unique pastries that could help overcome addiction and heal withdraw.

He saw the light slowly return to the eyes of a drug-ridden community, and it brought him so much joy he barely charged for them.

Unknown to Danny, he has set himself as a up and coming villain. Rumors of his Fear Gas immunity attracted the attention of the Joker- who was found with all limbs broken, beaten black and blue after the clown tried to take a swing at Danny's employees. The baker had taken his broken body back to Arkharm, dragging the bleeding man through the streets uncaring of the line of red he left or the various people recording him in awed fear.

The rest of Gotham waited to see his true colors as he carefully built a front and gathered people. Some want to take him out as soon as possible.

Red Hood, most of all, after he heard that Danny had kids run special deliveries to know addicts. The only reason he hadn't blown his brains out was because Danny hadn't set himself up in crime alley.

The Bats had even talked him into joining an undercover mission to learn more about Danny. They didn't know what drugs he was moving or if he had a hand in other crimes, and needed more information that Oracle was unable to find.

She couldn't pull anything on Danny, driving her insane. (Techus erased Danny from the internet as a prank once and forgot to undo it.)

That led to Jason and Tim entering Phantom Bakes, acting like street kids who ran away from a homophobic father looking for a job.

Danny had them decorate cupcakes within the hour, letting them know he didn't expect them to crunch out masterpieces. They knew it would be a while to see Danny's real business so they bite thier tongues and got to work.

Tim just hopes they finish this mission before Jason snaps and shoots their main suspect....or before Danny romances the entire of Gotham because, goddammit, he has as much game as Brucie pretends to have. It's getting frustrating to see so many people throwing themselves at him, only for Danny to pretend not to notice. His good looks, charming personality, and carefully manipulated cover, drag good people into his schemes. He didn't want another Harley Quinn.

(He will ignore that his heart skips a beat whenever Danny gets too close. Thank you very much. It's just a crush; people get those all the time.)

(Part 2) (Part 3)

[puppetmaster13u]

Another Prompt in Memes?! Yes.

[xysidhequeen]

The King and his Red Knight

DPxDC crossover fic

Part 1

Really sorry to everyone who suffered through the fact that I didn't know about the existence of readmore. I can't fix the thread now but the individual posts are better? Sorry I have like a very rough idea of how this site works 😭

Check the: The King and his Red Knight tag to find all the parts

"Go here, Danny. Go then, Danny. Go to a random cemetery in the middle of the night for no reason, Danny." A voice grumbled, accompanied by the sound of sneakers rhythmically tapping stone.

Danny Fenton, currently Phantom, sat on a gravestone, his white hair a beacon in the dark night. There were no stars in the sky for him to gaze upon, their light hidden behind swaths of smog and neon lights playing off the gray clouds.

Clockwork had dumped him here, with no explanation for why. Not that he ever really explained much when he sent Danny off on his tasks. He supposed he should be grateful, at least he was in the same when rather than being transported a thousand years into the past.

"Wait here King Phantom. You will understand in time." Danny mimicked his mentor's voice as he let himself float off the grave he'd been dumped on after Clockwork shoved him out of a portal. His body floated higher until he could flip around, his legs crossing. He sat upside down, his chin in his palm as he glared petulantly at the assembled gravestones surrounding him, his toxic green eyes glowing.

"So far all I've seen is a concerning amount of ecotplasm for a city without a ghost portal and some blob ghosts! How long am I supposed to wait here?" Danny asked the air, and the aforementioned blob ghosts who were hanging off his body, soaking in the ambient ecotoplasm he radiated at all times now.

Neither provided him with an answer to his question and Danny let out a frustrated groan as he lowered his still flipped body to look once more on the gravestone he'd been tasked with waiting on.

Jason Todd, the name read. The dates, too close together, made something in Danny squeeze painfully. He'd been young, barely older than Danny when he stepped into the portal. Only for this teenager there had been no ectoplasm to bind to his dying body and repair the damage of death and force him back into a semblance of life.

"Who were you and why did Clockwork send me to you?" Danny asked the gravestone, one clawed finger tracing the words before he pulled back with a sigh when the gravestone gave him no explanation. The dead didn't always speak, not even to their king.

Turning his body Danny looked over the rest of the cemetery. It was empty, as most usually were this time of night, of the living. There were a few shades wandering around, circling closer to him, drawn by his presence. No full ghosts though, but oddly enough there rarely were in cemeteries. This was where the dead came to rest. To remember, if they wanted to. Cemeteries were sacred spaces to the dead, much as a temple or a church would be for the living who were religious. Ghosts who still clung to life, to their obsessions, did not frequent cemeteries, did not dare trespass and disturb those who had already found their peace.

Danny himself was an oddity. He had never shied from cemeteries, enjoying the peace he found in them, the guarantee of safety offered. And perhaps, he mourned that he himself would never have a gravestone for the living to place their flowers and their tears at. Who would make a grave for someone who was both alive and dead? There would never be a body to bury for him. His human half would continue to live on so long as his ghost core remained and could fuel it.

Maybe that was why he found peace in cemeteries, for all his whining that Clockwork had dumped him here. Cemeteries were for the living and the dead, one of the only places both existed in harmony naturally. For someone who was as much dead as he was alive such a place held a certain degree of belonging for him.

Danny straightened out in the air, letting his body lie above the grave as he folded his arms behind his head and looked up at the covered sky. He complained and whined about this task, but he was secretly glad that Clockwork had given him something to do. Even if it was just 'hang out in a random cemetary'.

Ever since he'd graduated high-school, revealed himself to his parents and discovered how deep prejudice and hate could run, and he'd run away to the Infinite Realms for sanctuary while his friends moved forward with their lives, he'd felt unmoored. A ghost with no haunt. Bored was too light a word for the gaping emptiness he felt in his chest, for the loneliness clawing at him. Clockwork, Wulf, Pandora they could help chip at the ache inside of him but not banish it. Not now that his family, his friends, were spread so far apart and so distant from him.

Not that he resented their choices, their distance, in fact he'd fought for them to do just that, to get out of Amity Park, to go to college, to become more than overworked teen superheroes. Still he missed them, even if he could visit them whenever he wanted. It was becoming clear as time moved forward that the world they belonged to and the one he did were two different things.

Danny Fenton couldn't go to college when his parents had declared him dead. Danny Fenton didn't exist as far as the government was concerned. Danny Phantom couldn't return to Amity when those same parents were waiting to capture him and tear him apart 'molecule by molecule'. Danny Phantom couldn't go back when the GIW were crawling over the town like ants.

So neither Danny Fenton or Danny Phantom returned to Amity after that day. And he made sure they couldnt follow him when he ensured the portal that took his life to function never opened again. He didn't need the portal any longer to get in and out of the Infinite Realms, and it was safer for the ghosts, his subjects, if the temptation of the Fenton portal was gone.

The world of the living was not yet ready to accept that the dead didn't always stay dead. And Danny would keep his people safe until they were.

Danny jolted from his lazing state of reverie when a pulse of emotion rocked through him, the strength of it stealing his breath if he had any to take.

Fear/Trapped/Dark/Fear/Help/HELP pounded into him and Danny frantically flipped around, head swiveling, poisonous green eyes wide as he triedf to locate the source. The emotions, the plea for help, burned his core, his Obsession screamed at him.

Help/SomeonePlease/Dark/Trapped/CANTBREATHE/HELP another wave of messages, of emotions pushed themselves at Danny and this time underneath the onslaught he could hear a rhythmic thudding. Danny looked down, horror filling him when he realized the thudding was coming from under the ground. From the grave he'd been hovering over for an hour now.

Danny flew down, sending back a wave of I'mHere/HelpIsComing/I'mComing to the boy trapped in his own coffin, feeling the intense wave of relief and hope sent back before he dived into the earth as if it wasn't there. Danny paused for a moment when he passed the thick wooden coffin, seeing a boy in the dark with wide, panicked blue eyes and fingers tipped with shredded nails and fresh blood.

"Hey, I'm going to get you out of here, okay?" Danny told the boy, keeping his voice gentle, soft. The boy jolted, fixating on the only source of light, Danny's growing green eyes. Danny hoped his smile came off as calming instead of 'freaky AF' as Tucker liked to call it. He grabbed the boy, Jason, as carefully as he could and then let his intangibility wash over the terrified teen as he lifted them both out of the coffin.

When they emerged from the coffin and the ground Danny set the teen down, leaning him against the gravestone, his own gravestone, and pulled back a bit. The boy was gasping in air as if the fetid, polluted air was the sweetest thing he'd ever tasted.

Danny tilted his head as he watched the boy ground himself. Now that the emotions were leveling out and his Obsession was purring in contentment rather than growling in a frenzy, Danny could feel something off about the boy.

Disregarding the fact that he'd just come back from the dead, of course. But that wasn't the oddest thing Danny had seen in his afterlife. No the boy felt... not like a normal, living human. Not even like an Amity Park resident, who all felt more than slightly liminal. No this boy, this Jason Todd, felt closer to liminal than even Jazz, Tucker or Sam, who were three of the most liminal humans Danny had ever been around.

Jason felt almost...like a ghost. But not. Danny could feel the tickle in his throat that proceeded his ghost sense but the tell-tale mist never emerged. It was as if Jason was...like him. But Danny couldn't sense a core either. Even halfas had cores.

"Who are you?" Jason spoke, breaking Danny from his thoughts and examination. Jason was looking at him with a mix of gratitude and suspicion. Which, fair. Danny had just pulled him from his own coffin and there were so many questions that could stem from all of this, disregarding all the weirdness that was just Danny himself.

"I'm Danny, Danny Phantom. Or just Phantom. I go by either. And you're Jason, right?" Danny asked, smiling at the teen and oops, yeah that was definitely his scary smile based on the slight flinch there. It wasn't his fault his teeth were too sharp now and his lips split a bit too wide.

"How did you know that?" Jason asked, blue eyes narrowing. Danny nodded at the gravestone the boy was leaning against with a raised brow. Jason turned and almost toppled over from the movement. Danny frowned as the boy caught himself on his gravestone. His skin was still pale, too pale, and as Danny watched Jason swayed again.

"Shit. You're fading. You didn't form a core and your body isn't stabilizing." Danny cursed, moving towards the boy who scrambled back, only to be stopped by his grave.

"What the hell are you doing?" Jason asked, hands fisting as he tried to rise only to fall back to the ground when his legs refused to hold his weight.

"Saving your life. The dead aren't supposed to come back. There's always a price to pay, a balance that is struck. Currently, as you are, if I don't get enough ectoplasm in you to form your core, you'll fade and turn into a brain-dead husk." Danny told Jason, tone stern and no nonsense as he grabbed him. Jason made an effort to break free, but it was weak, and even at full strength, he wouldn’t have been able to break Danny's hold. Few in this realm could.

If they had the time, Danny would've approached this situation in a far different manner, but this close he could hear Jason's heartbeat, a weak flutter in his chest, skipping beats as it tried to fuel a body that was past saving. Jason didn't have the time for Danny to approach this gently and kindly, to coax trust out of the teen like he would a feral cat.

Jason had minutes left before his ectoplasm starved body consumed itself trying to make a core and failed because while wherever they were had more ambient ectoplasm than most places, it was far from enough to sustain the birth of a halfa. Maybe if Jason had stayed dead for another year, he'd have naturally formed a core and risen as a proper ghost. But that wasn't what happened, somehow he'd gathered enough to fix his body of whatever wounds or illness had put him in that coffin to begin with and come back to 'life' but without a core to sustain his body he'd be dead, again, in minutes. And Danny was not about to watch while a teenager, another teenager, died.

"How do I know I can trust you?" Jason hissed as Danny pushed his arms down and laid his clawed hands on Jason's chest.

"You don't. But you don't have another choice." Danny said with a shrug. "Now are you going to let me save your life or not?" Danny asked, not moving his hands. He'd save Jason either way but this would be easier if Jason worked with him.

"Fine." Jason spat and Danny smirked as his hands began to glow a toxic green that matched his eyes.

Ectoplasm pooled out of his hands and rushed into Jason, filling him until the boy glowed bright enough to rival the neon lights of the city around them. The green light flared around him like an aura, slowly shrinking but getting impossibly brighter as the glow centralized around his chest until a small glowing ball of green, like a trapped star, blazed from his chest.

Jason gasped, back arching as Danny pulled his hands away and the light vanished under Jason's skin. For a moment Jason's blue eyes burned green and his hair flashed snow white before returning to black, with one single lock of unearthly white left above his forehead. Jason collapsed back against his grave, chest heaving. Danny watched, eyes full of a sad understanding.

"What the fuck was that?" Jason panted out.

"Welcome to the world of the half alive, half dead." Danny said with a smile. "Want to get a burger and talk about it?" He asked, standing up and dusting off his hands.

"Make it a chili dog and you've got a deal."

~~~~~

Fixed some typos added some lines

Maybe I'll continue this AU. Maybe not. This scene was in my head for days and I wanted to share

[redflagshipwriter]

Hot Ghouls in your area ch 5 part 1 of 2

Masterpost

Jason found himself back in the real world (the human world?) in fuckin Star City. Christ. Luckily, his electronics came on line. They weren’t fried, then. He looked up the nearest zeta tube and booked it over there, not eager to get caught in another hero’s city.  The worst part would be that Batman would inevitably smooth it out on his behalf and go growl at Queen for having the audacity to try to arrest him. Jason did not need to get bailed out by his asshole Dad, thanks. 

He wasn’t worried about Green Arrow and his crew per se, but it would be a shitstorm he didn’t need even if he managed to get out. 

Not when he was so laden down with books that he had unfolded both dufflebags stored in his suit, for fuckin sure. Sure, they’d make phenomenal weapons if he swung ‘em around, but the books deserved better than that. 

His comm forced itself on as soon as he came through to Gotham.

“You’re back!” Barbie said, breathless. “You’re alive? Right?”

Jason snorted. The street he stepped onto wasn’t fully dark yet. Patrol probably hadn’t started. “I’m alive,” he confirmed. “How long was I gone?”

“About ten hours,” she said.

Oh. Jason pursed his lips. It wasn’t dusk, it was dawn. “Tonight must have been fun,” he said lightly. 

She laughed darkly. “You’re about to find out how fun it was.”

He stopped in his tracks. “Hey, no-”

Oracle opened up a line to what was probably every vigilante in Gotham city. “Hood is back and safe,” she announced, gleeful about throwing him to the wolves. “He’s on 2nd and Grim, for anyone who wants to drop by and tell him how much they missed him.” 

Jason cursed a blue streak and started off at a dead sprint as he reached for his grappling hook. It was a lot slower than usual since he was swinging two enormous bags of books. …Could he even grapple with these? Goddamn. He’d be over the weight limit. He cursed even harder and put the hook back.

“Heading west,” Oracle said cheerfully, and then clicked off a bare instant before he manually mashed the damn power button on his setup. Nope, nope, nope, he was not dealing with this shit tonight. 

He made it about four blocks and was so goddamn close to a safehouse (one of Bruce’s, but he could put it on lockdown) when a wailing blue and black blur emerged from the skies.

“We thought you died,” Nightwing warbled at him. Jesus fucking christ, he had been crying. His face was wet. Jason tried to duck away but he was too laden. He struggled against the hold for a few futile seconds before he went limp.

Dick sniffled into his chest. 

“Shut up,” Jason said, shoulders nearly up to his ears. He didn’t need to hear any criticism of how he had handled that cult situation, or any grieving about how this had made people think of the time he got brutally beaten to death. 

“I’m not saying anything,” Dick mumbled. He gave one more squeeze before withdrawing. “Huge relief to see you in the-what do you have there?” He dove down into the bags of books before Jason could kick him away. He was already prying the bag open by the time he asked. Jason tried to pull it away but it was impossible to keep Dick’s grabby hands out of your business.

“He went to a library,” Nightwing announced to the comms, outraged. “We thought he was dead and he went to a library!”

Someone laughed loudly on the comms. The brat turned on his comms explicitly to scoff.

“Did you rob a library?” Dick’s voice went high. “There’s so much here!” He flipped things around. “There- these are the same book? Hood, why do you have so many copies of the same book?”

“They’re not the same,” Jason snapped. “Get your grubby hands off of them!” He took his things back and edged away, glowering at his dumb asshole brother. “If you came to gawk, you did it, so now fuck off. You can clearly see that I am fine.”

“Jason,” Batman rasped, like the goddamn creep he was. Jason spun to see that he’d come up from behind. He lurched closer. He looked like hell. His knuckles were bloody and his pulse was jumping in his throat.

“No names in masks,” Jason snapped. He put his hands up to keep Bruce at a distance. “That’s your own rule, old man!”

It was no use. He endured the bullshit while his dumbass Dad made sure he wasn’t dead again, but he drew the line at letting Bruce clutch him and probably sob under his sweaty cowl like a weirdo. 

“I should have stayed there,” Jason grumbled. He patted at Bruce’s back. “There, there, asshole. You’re fine.”

[kore-arts]

So! New au hehehe. Joker jr and Red Hood take place in the same universe.

@aurora-bore-aura and I have been going insane/pos

Jason Accidentally falls through an unfilled tunnel into Arkhams basement. Glad that even his half mask canceled his yelp as he stalks through the facsimile of a suburban scene. His eyes narrowed as he saw cords leading from a grill. They widen again as he sees Harley snoring on a picnic table.

Fingers tense around his knife until he hears soft almost inaudible sobs. A kid, and oh how that struck his heart. Even more when he sees the torn and bloody Robin suit.

His replacement lay on a metal table. Bound and sobbing in his sleep, another Robin tortured by a monster. He jumps hearing a laugh that haunts his head as he slashed the binds. As he dodges, swings and taunts he picks up the boy. Copper floods his mouth as he bites his tongue to not make a sound.

His mind blank, he knocks the two out and runs out. He is dangerously aware of how light, how small his replacement is. Especially as his eyes open and a mumble of “my ‘obin. My ‘obin saved me” before going slack again.

(⁠◠⁠‿⁠・⁠)⁠—⁠☆

And so Jason pre- Red Hood finds and saves Tim. Only nights before the others could. The poor boy is at best near catatonic or mumbling. Or at worst laughing and choking on tears.

So Jason is trying. He is Really trying, he does laugh when he finds out Tim glammed up the heads in the dufflebag. And when he gets back and finds him rebuilding the bazooka. It worked extremely well.

It takes time. Tim picked up the hobby of sneaking and reading the tomes his parents illegally kept. Magic being a hobby that didn't remind him of either Joker or being Robin.

Or when they had to temporarily relocate as Gotham celebrates for weeks as the Joker Mysteriously showed up dead. And no it wasn't one of the two of them.

Or when Jason ate a glowing ball only to find out he was a Starving Halfa and ate the Joker's core.

He basically got food poisoning and Tim got a Friend out of the Ghost Princess and King! And finds out Jason is a Protection spirit on the way to be the next Lord Gotham as Lady Gotham is steadily growing weaker and tired.

Jason and Tim sit down once. Laughter was a problem and they both needed to seperate it from the monster. Tim brought up he wanted to help. And they talked. And so Crow joined Red Hood on the scene. Murder being a last resort and the Caw like laughter being a warning message in their territory. Soon enough the Bats and Birds would find out. And they didn't know what they would do.

Ps the Crow is named Alice. She keeps finding pocket watches

[phantom-dc]

A deal with the Ghost King

First previous next AO3

Duke wasn't sure what was going on. He was about to head back home when he got an message from Dick, calling him to the theathre district. It didn't sound serious, but when Duke found almost the entire family on the roof he grew concerned. 'Hey guys, I'm here. What's going on?' Damian scoffed. 'Dick is being foolish. This is a complete waste of time.' 'Says the one that's been hogging the binoculers, gimme those!' Tim grabbed for the binoculers, making Damian fight for them. Duke was a bit confused. 'Do you guys want to tell me what's going on, or can I head home? Some of us sleep at night, you know.' Cass appeared behind him, startling him: 'Jason's dating.' 'Wait, really? Who?' Duke joined Dick and Stephanie by the roof's edge, hoping to catch a glimpse. He might not talk much with Jason, but he was still curious who would try and date Mr. Dufflebag. Some type of femme fatale maybe? Or maybe someone who was strong? He couldn't imagine someone waltzing up and just asking Jason out. He was very suprised when Jason left the theatre with some twinkish guy.

'So, what did you think? The main actrice really put her everything into her peformance!' Jason had taken Phantom to the theatre after lunch to see a play. 'I loved it! I never liked the book, but this was much better!' Danny had a good time, he had been pleasantly suprised. Jason was suprised. 'Wait, you don't like the book? You could've told me, so we could have gone to a different one.' Danny waved him off. 'It's fine, I didn't want to be rude. Last time I dragged you al across the Astronomy museum, remember? You didn't whine either. Besides, I liked it! Guess reading the book for a grade wasn't helping me enjoy it.' Jadon groaned. 'Reading for a grade. Nothing kills love for books faster!' Danny laughed, admitting one of his rogues was more likely to blame. 'Remind me to tell you about Ghostwriter, now THAT kills love for books!' Jason smiled, and kissed Danny. Suddenly he noticed something above them. It almost looked like... 'Is something wrong?' Danny noticed Jason grew alert. 'Nah, It's nothing. I just noticed the sun had gone down. I... wanted to watch the sunset with you.' Danny smiled at Jason. 'Just like in the play, huh? Never thought the Red Hood was such a romantic!' Jsson grew a bit embarrassed. 'I have an idea!' Danny grabs Jason's hand and pulls him into an alley.

Dick was confused. How could they have lost them! This alley was a dead end, and the whole family (minus Bruce) was here! Damian was pouting. 'If I had been in charge of this operation we wouldn't have lost them!' Duke didn't know how Jason had done this. One second they were here, and gone the next. Even his vision couln't expkain it. Tim, Cass and Stephanie were searching for secret escape routes. It wasn't like they had flown away!

Meanwhile, high above them Danny and Jason flew invisibly, enjoying their own second sunset.

[deniedmysign]

so many people focus on Jason Todd being badass, the dufflebag of heads, the killing, that I swear to fuck they forget the is the literal embodiment of what the father wanted for his son in Welcome to the Black Parade.

"Son, when you grow up, would you be The savior of the broken, the beaten, and the damned?"

Who does Jason kill? Pimps, Dealers, Abusers, especially those targeting children. He is a child of abuse who wants to keep kids from dealing with what he went through. Jason is a squishy marshmallow boy coated in Crime Alley crust, damaged by PTSD. Getting to that squishy center is terrifyingly hard, sure, but he's not beating on any rando bc they stepped on his kicks!

Jason is an intelligent, damaged, and caring man, stop painting him as just a violent jackass. Sure, he can be an asshole, but fuck's sake, so can anyone. Fred Rogers fought his own battles too, and he was the squishiest of marshmallows.

Respect the dimensions he has, for gods' sake. Fuck knows we need fully rounded characters to care about.

and ISTF if anyone slaps any hate for any other batfam member on here, you're getting your ass chewed out for it. Can't fucking stand people simplifying complex characters.

[brightjimini]

No harm done

Red Hood/Jason Todd x fem!criminal!soulmate reader

@swanmaiden5​ : Hello! My apologizes if you're not taking requests at the moment- (so you can ignore this if that is the case) May I request a Jason Todd x Fem! Reader? Perhaps a soulmate au where the Reader is a vigilante and they meet the Red Hood by chance and they both figure out- "That's my soulmate!" I recommend the song Love Goes On And On by Lindsey Stirling for inspiration. Thank you for your time!

A/N: Well.. this took a while but ive been busy with work. Please let me know what you thought about it because I dont know how to write anymore lol

Warnings: killing

Genre: fluff

masterlist for more dc and other stuff

--

An alarm was blaring through the building. The building being Gothams National Bank. My teammates- or well ex-teammates laid in their own pools of blood after they tried to stab me in the back. I had been having weird gut feelings about them but I choose to ignore it. 

But this had been their moment to strike. In the middle of a planned robbery.. Well more cash to blow for me. Before joining a little gang I did well for myself but I wanted to try something different. Because it would be easier to achieve bigger things with a few other people. So much for that..

I didn’t really care hurting them back felt good. Sadly as a petty move, one of them alerted the security system. Putting one last stack of green bills in the duffle bag I took my leave out of the safe. But the sound of boots crushing broken glass laying on the ground made me halt. Before I could move further I saw the silhouette of a tall man. 

The red that gleamed where his hair was supposed to be made me halt. I rolled my eyes. In the years that I was active in North America, I had never encountered him. Not even in the month, I have been in Gotham, until now. 

“Metanite” His voice sounded almost robotic.

Only the second half of my face was covered my a black mask but I didnt have a voice distorter. I arched one of my eyebrows. 

“Yes? I know what my name is. If you would be so kind to move out of my way I have dealth with enough backstabbing for a night.” The annoyance coated my sickly sweet tone.

He cocked his head- or helmet to the side probably glancing at one of the bodies with bullet holes in them that was laying on the ground. “Not a teamplayer?” I could tell he was mocking me. I rolled my eyes.

“I don't have time for this” I muttered and sprung into action. I held the strap of the dufflebag with money tighter to my chest. Exactly at that moment I heard sirens in the distance. I could see Red Hood move his hands to his guns in a flash. 

But I was quicker. See I didn’t call myself Metanite for no reason. I cocked my left arm behind me and pulled my arm in the vigilante’s direction forcing the iron safe door off its hinges and forced it into Red Hood’s body. Without looking at him I waved my hand to direct the bullets to the ide and sprung up.

Meta(l): I could bend any metal to my will I was a Meta-human. 

Nite: a simplification of knight.

For those who needed an explanation.

The metal in my boots lifted me upwards as I directed it with my body on top. I didn’t give Red Hood a second glance. I shielded my eyes as I came into contact with the glass dome. 

I moved to a more sturdy part of the dome and quickly moved further across the roof. I took a huge jump towards the building on the other side I could see red and blue lights coming closer. Before I could move towards the next roof something pulled me back.

I landed on my back and the air got knocked out of my lungs. The gravel dug into my skin as I tried to regain my breathing. In a second I was back on my legs and turned around the duffle bag with money laid next to me on the ground the strap I had pulled over my shoulder was broken. A hook is laid next to it with a rope tied to it. In my haste, I hadn't noticed it. The rope led to a figure standing on the other side of the roof.

Anger and annoyance coursed through my veins and my gaze fixed on Red hood who is standing a few paces away from me. I clenched my fingers and a few metal pieces drifted out of my utility belt. I moved my arm in front of me the metal moved by my command towards Red Hood. 

Before the pieces could pierce his armor into his skin, they fell. The sharp metal pieces clattered on the stones. The anger turned into confusion and the annoyance turned into fear and hope in the same second. 

Did he have such strong armor on? 

He just stood there not moving the red and blue lights that were now at the bank a building away turned his figure into a silhouette. No.. But I knew why.

You can’t hurt your soulmate physically. 

I tried again and the same thing happened the pieces fell. I aimed at different places but the same thing happened. That seemed to snap him out of his thoughts. 

He took a step closer. His gloved hand moved towards his helmet. My eyes widened in shock the man under the hood was quite attractive. He had a white streak in his dark hair. His eyes were hidden by a mask- Suddenly more figures appeared behind him. He immediately put his helmet back on. Police officers in protective gear climbed up onto the roof. We looked at each other and gave each other a little nod. 

Without knowing each other a plan was formed. The piggies shouted that we needed to put our hands up. I smirked under my mask. 

The next moment my soulmate sprinted towards me. The police officers started shooting. I put my hands up and halted the bullets in the air one by one I clapped my hands together and formed the bullets into a ball. I knew more people would know about my powers this way but I didn’t care anymore. Many things were about to change.

Red grabbed the duffle by one of the straps that weren’t broken and hung it on his shoulder and then wrapped an arm around my waist. Shocked I just went along and wrapped my arms around his neck so that I wouldn’t fall. 

The next second he jumped off the roof and used his grappling hook to swing towards the next building. One of his guns dug into my stomach. The confusion I had felt earlier turned into adrenaline and giddiness.

-

Let me know what you thought.

No reposting of my work is allowed. 

[thebluenebula]

Had a hard time trying to figure out how to end this part for some reason. Overall I really enjoyed this part. I really tried to do this part right.

Masterlist

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4 (Part 2)

The New Bat: Day 4

(Part 1)

I got up about half eight, and went about my morning routine before heading down to the kitchen for breakfast. All the worry from yesterday had disappeared.

I walked in, and could see Alfred sitting at the table talking to Steph and the black haired girl. Jay was over by the stove cooking something.

"Morning." Steph excitedly said as she spotted me enter.

"Hey." I smiled to her.

"Good morning, Miss Ashleigh." Alfred stated as he stood up from his chair and walked over to Jay. "Master Jason, has eggs on if you'd like some."

"Plenty for everyone." Jay said, not looking away from the pan.

"Yes please." I eagerly said. I wonder if Jay's as good a cook as Alfred.

Steph gestured for me to come over to her. As a reached the table, Steph quickly introduced me to the other girl. "Ashleigh, this is Cass."

"Hello."

"Hey." Cass replied.

"She's a woman of few words." Steph explained. "Come on, sit." She gestured to the seat beside her. "You up to anything after breakfast?"

"No." I replied as I sat down.

"Well, me and Cass were wondering if you-"

"Actually," Jay interrupted her as he set down a plate of waffles and egg in front of each of us, and took a seat beside Cass. "I was wondering of I could rob you for a while today?"

"Uhh... why?" I looked at him curiously.

Jay glanced over to make sure Alfred was occupied. "I can't tell you right now but it'll be fun."

"What are you up to Jay?" Steph questioned him.

"None of your business, Blondie."

"Well I guess I could always ask Dick." Steph leaned back smugly with a smirk on her face.

Jason groaned. "Fifty dollars if you keep quiet."

"Jeez, that important. Deal." Steph quickly replied.

Jay looked to Cass. "And you?"

Cass took a moment to reply, teasing him, I think. "Deal." She eventually agreed.

Jay looked back to me. "So are you in?"

I looked to Steph. "What about your thing?"

She smiled and shrugged. "Our thing can wait."

I looked back to Jason. "Sure."

"Yes." He exclaimed excitedly. "Now eat up. We've got work to do."

I glance at Steph, she was scoffing down her waffles. "Should I be worried?"

She shrugged again as she swallowed. "Probably not."

Jay and I finished our waffles, they weren't quite Alfred quality but they were amazing, and stood up from the table. "Alright let's go."

"Ahem." Steph held out her hand.

Jay groaned again and handed the girls a handful of bills.

"Pleasure doing business." Steph said counting the bills.

We said our goodbyes to Alfred and left. We walked down the hall until we stopped outside a door. "Isn't this Bruce's office?"

"Yup." Jay peaked carefully into the room as to make sure no-one was inside, then gestured for me to follow him.

We stepped inside the room and and crept to the far side. "Are we supposed to be in here?"

"Nope, but it's the quickest way down to the cave." Jay knocked on an old grandfather clock and it slid aside to reveal two fire poles going down.

"We're going down to the Bat-cave?" I asked excitedly.

Jay smiled back at me. "Yup. Now have you ever slid down a pole?" I shook my head. "Just do as I do." He explained.

Jay grabbed firmly onto the pole and then wrapped his legs around it. I copied him and we both went sliding down. It felt like a long time before we reached the bottom. It was equal parts amazing and terrifying.

"Not so hard." Jay commented as our feet touched solid ground.

"Yeah, not so hard." I stepped off the pole. My legs were shaky but I immediately forgot about them as I looked around the Bat-cave. I had expected a lot of things from the Bat-cave, a dinosaur and giant penny were not one of them. "Wow."

Jay pulled a key out of pocket. "It's always amazing the first couple of times you come down here. Now follow me."

I followed Jay across the cave and looked around in amazement. I could see a huge computer, and a wide variety of advanced looking vehicles but we stopped beside a regular looking red muscle car. "Are we going somewhere?"

"Nope." He opened the trunk and pulled out a pair of dufflebags. "Grab that last one will yah?"

I grabbed the last bag and followed Jay. "So what's in these?"

"Guns." He replied bluntly.

"Huh" I exclaimed. Jay snickered. "So what are we doing exactly?"

"Well, long story short, Dick slapped me, as revenge I'm gonna show him pictures of you holding guns." Jay explained. "He'll have a fuckin heart attack when he sees them."

"So do I actually get to fire them." I wondered.

Jay grinned at me. "You can if you want. It'll be even better."

"Cool." I muttered to myself.

We walked through a set of doors into a firing range. This must be the one Dick was referring to. We set down the bags on a table, then Jay unzipped one and pulled out an AK.

"Does Bruce know you have her down here Jay?" A voice asked from behind us.

We turned and the red haired girl, Kate, was sitting on a table behind us, she was holding a large rifle. "Of course he does." Jay quickly replied.

"I don't believe you." Kate said, narrowing her eyes and setting down the rifle.

Jay shrugged. "I didn't think you would but it was worth a try."

Kate smiled at him. "So, what are you up to?"

"Well I was going to take pictures of Ashleigh holding guns to upset Dick."

Kate nodded. "That seems about right. We're you going to let her fire them?"

"If she wanted to."

Kate looked at me. "Do you want to?"

"Kinda. Yeah." I replied excitedly.

She gestured to the Jay and the AK. "Maybe start with something smaller."

Jay looked at the AK. "You make a good point." He set it down on the table and rummaged through the bag for a moment before pulling out a pistol. "Is this small enough?"

She nodded, then he handed it to me. "Heavy." I commented without thinking.

"Oh yeah," Jay responded. "And loud." He threw me a set of headphones then pulled out his phone. "Put that on and switch the safety off."

Kate walked over closer to us. "There's a little more to it than that Jay."

"I'm sure she fired a pistol before." Jay looked at me. "Right?"

"A couple times." I lied. I mean how hard could it be.

"See Kate, she'll be fine."

"If she isn't-" Kate began in a threatening voice.

"She will be." Jay insisted. "Go when your ready."

I flipped the safety off and fired a round. The kick was more then I expected and I stumbled back.

"You all right?" Kate asked quickly.

My hands were shaking a little. I was nervous. "Yep. Fine."

"Legs wider apart." Kate instructed. I did as she said. "Better."

I fired another shot. This time I didn't stumble as much.

"Dicks gonna freak." Jay said looking at the pictures he had just taken.

"Go on. Fire the rest off." I heard Kate shout encouragingly.

I fired off the rest of the magazine then set the gun down. Kate and Jay walked up beside me. "How do you feel?" Jason asked.

"Fine. Yeah." I was still a little shaky.

"Not bad for a beginner." Kate said looking at the target. All the shots had at least hit the target.

I smiled to her. "Thanks."

"Now do the AK." Jay shouted.

"You can't just give the kid an AK." Kate argued.

Jason held up the AK. "Why not?"

"Its a fucking AK, thats why."

Jay pouted. "Come on Auntie Kate, pleeease"

I giggled at him. Kate grinned. "Jay, I'm going to shoot you myself if you don't stop."

"Fiiine." He rolled his eyes and threw me a magazine. "Have another go with the pistol if you want."

Kate showed me how to load pistol then I started shooting. The shots were, for the most part, slightly closer to center than the last mag.

We must have spent a couple hours down there. Eventually Jay convinced Kate to let try a handful of different guns, all under her careful watch, of course.

"Nice shooting, kid." Jay commented. "Definitely improved from this morning."

"Thanks."

He took the rifle from me. "It's about time to pack it in, but we're definitely revisiting this."

"If she wants to." Kate commented from the back, she was sitting on a weapon crate.

"Of course she wants to." Jay shouted back, then turned to me. "You want to? Right?"

"Absolutely. This was awesome."

"You know, I think I'm going to like you." Jay said as he walked over to the table and began putting the guns back into the bags. Suddenly, his phone rang. He glanced at it. "Artemis." He muttered to himself. "Kate you mind packing these up. I gotta take this." Kate nodded and Jason ran out of the room. "Hey Artemis-"

Kate walked over to the table and picked up were Jay had left off. I figured now would be as good a time as any to ask her. "So Kate," I walked up beside her. "Dick said you wanted to talk to me."

Kate placed another rifle in the bag. "Yeah. I figured we'd talk later but now is good. If you want me to drop the topic just say."

"Okay." I said wearily.

"So Bruce and Dick asked me to talk to you about you figuring out your gender."

I flinched. "Oh."

"They figured I'd know more about it than any of the others. You want to talk about it? If not I can drop the topic."

"Sure. Let's talk." I agreed. I didn't want to talk about it but maybe she'd have some helpful advice.

"I'm no expert on the subject, just know whatever we talk about will stay between us."

"Okay. Yeah."

"So, explain to me how you feel."

I peeked at the door to make sure Jay didn't come back in then I took a deep breath in, then let it out. "I'm not entirely sure, to be honest. I just know I wasn't comfortable with... who I was. I started questioning my sexuality, around the beginning of secondary school. It took me a couple of years but I'm pretty sure I figured that one out." I smiled a little.

"And what are you?" Kate asked, packing another gun into the bag.

"Pan. At first I thought Bi, but then I learn about Pan online. It just seems like the right fit for me."

Kate nodded, zipping the bag closed. "Okay, and what happened after that?"

I took another deep breath. "Around sixteen I started thinking a lot about different genders. I started seeing lots about Trans people online. I was amazed, it hadn't even crossed my mind that you didn't have to be what you were told at birth, that you didn't even have to be Male or Female."

"Must have got you thinking."

"Yeah. I started looking into it more and more. I kept telling myself that I was a guy, that this stuff was just interesting to read, and then..."

"You realized it was something else." Kate finished my sentence.

"Yes. After about a year of trying to figure myself out, I couldn't. Eventually I spoke about it a little with a close friend of mine. She suggested we go out to some place public, where no-one knew me and, well, tried it. At first I tried just being a girl. The name Ashleigh, it felt right, so did the pronouns, but I just didn't... feel like a girl sometimes. It still didn't feel right."

"So that's when you decide you might be Non-binary?"

"Yes. It was about six months ago. Not long before... I met Bruce. I didn't tell him straight away. I didn't tell anyone, only that one friend." I could feel a lump forming in my throat. "We kept going out but this time I felt right a lot more."

"You felt like yourself."

"Yes." I smiled. "I chose my name, my gender, how I dressed, It felt amazing... but I still kept it secret from my friends and my family. I only was me in places no-one knew the old me."

"So why'd you tell Bruce?"

"I didn't. Well I did." I quickly corrected myself. "After the adoption went through, Bruce was helping me pack the things in my room, he was packing my clothes and found a couple of skirts and a dress. He asked about them and I answered. I didn't mean to say as much as I did but I started and didn't stop till it had all come out."

"How'd he react?"

"He encouraged me to be who I was and not who I was told to be. He offered that I could be introduced here as Ashleigh, instead of... my old name. I explained how i wasn't a hundred percent certain on anything, he promised that if I changed that no one would care as long as I was happy and true to myself."

"He's right. No one in this house will judge you for figuring yourself out. It doesn't matter if you change your gender, sexuality, name, pronouns, or anything else a thousand times, we're here for you, all of us, we'll support you. You decide who you are. No one else get a a say in that."

I smiled at her. "How do I know though? Somedays Non-Binary feels right, but some days it doesn't?"

"You'll figure it out. Sometimes you just gotta try something and if it doesn't feel right, try something different. You'll find what's right eventually."

"It just feels like I'm lying to other people, even myself sometimes."

"Your not. You're figuring yourself out, everyone's entitled to that."

"Thank you Kate."

"You okay with hugs?"

"Yeah."

She put her arms around me and pulled me in. It was nice. I felt warm, safe.

"Am I intruding on something." Jay asked from the door.

"Nope." Kate let me go, but kept her arm around my shoulder.

"Okay then." Jay threw a bag over his back and grabbed the other two. "I gotta go. I have to pick up Artemis and Bizarro." Jay said as he walked towards the door.

"Just know Ashleigh, if you ever need to talk, I'll listen. About this or anything else." She told me once Jay left the room.

I leaned slightly in to her. "Thank you."

I felt her hand ruffle my hair.

"We should head back up." Kate looked at her watch. "Dinner should be ready soon."

[my-one-love-is-music]

Ooh an idea for the 365 writing ! Maybe a fic about Timmy gaining some weight and becoming more chubby for some reason and being afraid that Jay while find him disgusting ? If it inspire you maybe ... ?

For Write 365 Day 352!

Tim shoved a spoonful of ice cream into his mouth as he left his apartment kitchen behind and made his way back to the living room where he’d been watching tv and working on his computer.

He saw movement out of the corner of his eye and instinctively looked towards it, freezing when he realized it was his reflection. He pulled the spoon from between his lips and looked over his form.

His tee that in the past had often hung loosely on his form was pulled across his belly. His thighs filled out his sweatpants more than he was used to, and his face was a little more rounded than it had been since he was a baby.

Tim bit his lip and glanced down at the ice cream in his hand, feeling sick. He couldn’t even remember the last time he looked in a mirror or gave much care to paying attention to what he ate. He was so used to living off takeout and coffee during cases and his diet wasn’t much better or any less sporadic when life was calmer.

He sighed and walked back to the kitchen, shoving the lid back on the pint of ice cream to toss it in the freezer. He dropped his spoon in the sink with a clatter and glanced at the automatic calendar to check the date and felt panic constrict his chest.

“Shit,” he muttered, the blood draining from his face at the realization Jason was coming home from the international case he was working later that afternoon.

The sick feeling from earlier roiled more dangerously in his stomach. Jason had been gone for a month, the case more complicated and involved than he was expecting. He probably left before Tim had gained so much weight and this was what he was going to come back to.

Jason was going to think he was disgusting and wouldn’t want to be around him. And there wasn’t anything he could do about it because he only had a few hours before Jason would waltz through the door and expect Tim to be there looking how he usually did. How he used to look.

“Fuck,” he bit out, burying his face in his hands.

He jumped when his phone started to ring from the living room and he rushed over to answer it, hesitating when he saw Jason’s name flash across the screen. He swallowed and slid his thumb across the screen.

“Hey,” he said, trying to make his voice sound calm as he tugged at his hair.

“Hey, babe,” Jason said, obviously smiling and feeling relaxed. “My plane got in early so I’m on my way to baggage claim and I’ll be home soon. I figure we can hang out and relax since I’m in dire need of spending some time with you.”

Tim’s heart took off in his chest, pounding against his rib cage. “That sounds great,” he said, forcing a smile onto his face even as he felt like he was breaking apart inside. “I could use some time on the couch.”

Liar, the voice in his head chastised him. He could use some time on a treadmill.

“You okay?” Jason asked.

Tim winced, of course he couldn’t hide anything from Jason.

“I’m fine. Good. Just missed you,” he lied.

Jason hummed. “I’ll be home soon. Love you.”

“Love you, too,” Tim said before ending the call.

He rushed into their bedroom and threw open the closet doors, looking for something he could put on to hide his stomach before he could do something about it.

He grabbed his hoodie and yanked it over his head, pulling at the front to make it as loose as possible. He turned towards the mirror and saw every imperfection of his body. As much as he tried to hide it, he knew anyone who saw him would see through it right away.

Tim spied Jason’s hoodies and grabbed the red one, pulling his black one over his head and dropping it to the floor. He shoved his arms through the sleeves and pulled it over his head, feeling better in the baggier clothing, but still thought his belly was noticeable since the larger size fit him more than it used to.

He bit his lip and grabbed a throw blanket before he moved back to the living room. He settled on the couch, bracing his feet against the coffee table. He settled the blanket across his lap and bunched it at the sides before balancing his computer in his lap.

Tim tried to put his focus on something. Dick had sent him some case files to look over and that’s what he needed to pay attention to, but his mind kept going back to Jason and what he would think of him having gained weight.

All too soon, he heard the click of a key in the lock. His heart took off and he let out a shaky breath before the door was shoved open.

“Babybird, I’m home!” Jason sang, tossing his dufflebag onto the floor.

Tim had barely shifted forward before fingers curled around the back of his neck and guided him into a kiss. Tim sighed, his earlier worries forgotten as he wrapped his arms around Jason’s shoulders.

“I guess you did miss me,” Jason hummed, pulling out of the kiss.

“Of course I did,” Tim said, smiling at him.

Jason grinned and stole Tim’s computer from his lap to set on the coffee table. He jumped over Tim’s legs and fell onto the couch next to him, wrapping an arm around Tim’s waist to pull him into his lap.

Tim stiffened at the contact and the reminder of what he was hiding under his clothes.

Jason stilled, sensing his discomfort. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

Tim bit his lip and glanced away. “It’s nothing, I…”

“Hey,” Jason said, catching his hand and giving it a squeeze. “You can talk to me about anything. You know that, right?”

“I just…” Tim took a shaky breath. “I gained some weight,” he mumbled.

“And you’re worried that I would reject you because of that?” Jason scoffed.

Tim winced, hating how Jason always seemed to know what was going through his mind.

“So what if you gained a little weight?” Jason asked. “I love you because of who you are and your happiness is all that matters to me. Now, if you’re unhappy with the way you look, I’ll support you and help you lose the weight, but if you’re fine with how you are, then I’m happy too.”

Jason tugged Tim into his lap and wrapped his arms around his waist. Tim bit his lip, waiting for Jason to realize his stomach was pressed against his arm.

“Are you happy?” Jason asked.

“I’m happy with you,” Tim admitted. “But I think I’d also like to get into better shape.”

“Okay,” Jason agreed. “Whatever you need,” he said, pressing another kiss to Tim’s lips.

If you enjoy my work, please reblog or consider buying me a ko-fi!

[shamelessnerd]

Someone said, “RHatO has been fun, but Jay has gotta get back to killing.” I screamed with glee.

YES. YES FOR GOD'S SAKE, CUT OFF SOMEONE'S HEAD AND STUFF IT IN A DUFFLEBAG YES! 

 Why does he need to get back to killing? Because that's what antiheroes DO, it's why we tune in FFS! His entire THING is that he genuinely believes the no-lethal rule hurts more than it helps, and just promotes a revolving-door system of criminals getting out to reabuse again and again and again. Remove the criminal permanently, you drop the crime rate by a small, permanent percent. I happen to personally and wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment. It's not like Jason has ever (when written CORRECTLY, mind you) gone off shootin' down just any ol' one, he kills people that are constant repeat offenders, rapists, drug lords, traffickers, the worst of the worst that show no remorse or impetus to change. He takes them out! And it's damn righteous seeing an asshat that REALLY had it coming get a bullet to the head with all the same remorse they showed to their victims. It's satisfying, it's brutal, it's necessary, because while Batman and Friends uphold ideals, Jason and company hold the front line against the worst of crime.

 Yes, PLEASE, enough with this, 'I promised Batman I wouldn't kill' crap. That just IS NOT JASON, he's never compromised on that before. Not killing in Gotham -- okay. Sure. I can see if they laid out a truce like that. No killing in DaddyBats sandbox -- but everywhere else is free big game, you know? It’s time to put the crazies in the ground where they can’t hurt anyone ever again. 

I REALLY WANT to see that ruthless edge so defining of Jason’s entire philosophy to come back. Much as I enjoy RHatO right now, I think it could be 300% more fun to see that brutal edge come back in, especially juxtaposed with Bizarro’s more child-like view of the world. Maybe Jay doesn’t want Bizarro to kill at all, but himself and Artemis can do it no problem. Imagine the scene of him trying to explain why that is to Bizarro. Imagine the character depth to be explored there. This comic is just dripping with opportunity that is wasted because the titular character isn’t allowed to pull the goddamn trigger. 

Stop treating this whole team-bonding and no-killing shtick like it’s good for his character. It’s not going to change him, so instead of doing anything it’ll just stagnate. It almost feels like he’s had kid gloves put on him, that if he kills it’ll cause some massive mental breakdown. Uh, that is old hat, those issues have been handled and their influence is here to stay. Damage done. I don’t want to read a comic about how Jason is ‘fixed’ or ‘cured’ of his killing nature. NO! EFF THAT NOISE! That’s like saying ‘oh, don’t worry, we know places that can cure your being gay!’ Nothing could be more wildly insulting or blind. This is an essential, immutable part of who Red Hood is, we like him for it, we love him for it and for all the problems that it causes and how he always sticks to his guns -- literally. Now bring back what’s so defining of this character and let him blow up a cartel.

Before anyone pipes up about how you can’t kill and NOT be psychotic -- screw that noise, I don’t care, it’s comics. He isn’t psychotic in my book. He’s doing what’s needed to be done and no one else is gonna step up to do it so he might as well get his hands dirty. If that’s the way it’s gotta be, that’s the way it’s gotta be. You’re psychotic if you kill and get off on it, or feel nothing at all. It’s pretty clear Jason kills and feels pissed off about it. He doesn’t ENJOY it, it’s just work that has to be done. It’s dirty, it’s unpleasant, it’s disgusting -- but the price of not doing it is far far worse than the alternative. It’s the mentality of a professional soldier, and we don’t go calling the armed forces psychos, do we?

”People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.” -- W. Churchill

(PSA: If you do call the armed forces psychos, freaks, sadists or anything of the mentally-ill shaming nature: You should be ashamed that so many brave men and women gave their lives and continue to endanger themselves and the cohesion of their families to make sure you stay safe.)

I will probably write a whole thing about killing and psychoses and the incredibly well documented non-relation between the two, (surprise! most killing happens in self defense and people don’t feel guilty about it and aren’t insane!) but I don’t have time for it now. Tune in later.

Razzy out.