Chapter Text
Jason Todd was no stranger to hospitals and clinics.
He just never thought that the first time he’d be there in a while would be for the birth of his child.
The mother’s name was Chloe Thompson and there was honestly nothing romantic really there between them. Honestly, they’d just hook up once in a while and that was mainly because she wanted to feel “rebellious” while Jason just wanted to not spend his nights alone for once.
One day he got a text from her asking to meet up, and he could tell it was different this time.
They met at a cafe, where she told him the news.
She was pregnant, it was his, and her parents weren’t letting her get an abortion.
Of course, he stepped up. Took her to doctor’s visits, read a plethora of parenting books and forums, bought baby supplies (he can figure out how to build a criminal empire at 18, but putting a crib together is what gets him). After all, there was no way in hell he was letting any kid go into the Gotham foster care system, much less his own.
So now here he is, waiting outside of the delivery room for his baby girl (his baby girl). She’s obviously taking her sweet time as it had been 13 and a half hours since they had arrived. He knows that it’s normal for them to take so long, he was just a bit impatient, is all.
Finally, after 2 and a half more hours, and 6 coffee breaks, a smiling nurse named Kitty beckons him through the door where Chloe lies in the hospital bed, tired, ragged, and holding his newborn daughter.
“Would you like to cut the umbilical cord, Dad?”
“Yeah. Yeah, I would. Thank you.” He chokes out as the midwife to the desired spot and through the process.
They quickly swaddle the newborn and place the bundle in his arms.
She looked more like her mother, with her light brown skin and the beauty mark under her right eye, although he could guess that the specks of green in her unfocused, mainly brown eyes were from him.
“I’m gonna keep you safe and be the best dad I can be.” He whispers as tears pool in his eyes. “I swear.”
“So, do you two have a name for your little bundle of joy?” Kitty asks as she begins filling out the birth certificate.
“Sylvia.” Jason answers when Chloe gestures to him. “Sylvia Cathrine Williams.”
“A beautiful name for a beautiful girl.” Kitty compliments as she goes to talk to Chloe for a bit about the forms.
“It’s gonna be you and me, Sylvi, so you’re gonna have to be patient with me. But I promise, no matter what, I’m gonna make you the happiest girl in the universe. I’m gonna do right by you.”
“Thanks.” Jason responds after Kitty had finished her chat with Chloe and had come to take Sylvia to be cleaned.
He gingerly hands his daughter to Kitty, who cradles her carefully before taking their leave.
“How’re you doing?” Jason asks as he ambles over to Chloe.
“Pretty good, all things considered. I feel tired, though.”
“Well, yeah. You just spent 16 hours pushing an entire human being from your body." He responds drily, eliciting a small chuckle from her. "So what are you gonna do now?”
“I don’t know. Maybe get my life in order?”
The two chuckle at this.
“If you need any help, even just a listening ear, you have my number.”
“How chivalrous of you.” She says teasingly.
“Guess I’m going soft.”
“You’re gonna be an amazing dad, you know that?”
“I sure hope so.”
“You will. You’ve cared so much about her from day one, I doubt that there would be even a second where you won’t give her your all.”
“Thanks, Clo, that actually means a lot.”
“Thank you.” She says before holding up a hand, stopping Jason from countering. “You’ve been there, not only for Sylvia, but for me as well. Any other guy that I’ve been with would’ve left me out to dry, but you didn’t. If I had to have a baby with anyone, I’m glad that it was you.”
A shy grin tugs at Jason’s lips, making him duck his head down to school his features with a sniff before looking back up and giving her a fond grin.
“Get some sleep, Clo. If they need anything, I’ll take care of it.” He responds, gently taking her nearest hand in his own.
Luckily, Kitty only came once during Chloe’s rest, and that was to check up on the young woman.
In the meantime, Jason had contacted his deputy for them to meet up when she can.
He had given it a lot of thought over the past nine months and came to only one conclusion: there was no way he could give Sylvi the life he wanted to give her while still being in the nightlife.
So he and his deputy met at the back of the hospital where he gives her the keys to his main safehouse where all of his gear is. Including every one of his helmets.
Of course, he wouldn’t do this if he didn’t trust her completely; no one believed in his mission and ideals more than her, she’s the only person in his operations who had seen his face, plus, she just so happened to get things done non-lethally. Which means that the Bats shouldn’t have too much of a problem with her.
Once the interaction is done, as she gives him a quick pat on the back before leaving, Jason immediately makes a beeline for the nursery.
Yes, he knows he’ll have 18 years to look at his baby girl, but these moments go by like a snap of the fingers and he’ll be damned if he doesn’t cherish every second.
So there he is, watching his daughter, already the light of his life, as she fussily sleeps with a genuine smile on his face; probably the first genuine smile he’s worn in a while.
He is soon joined by another.
“Which one’s yours?” The newcomer asks conversationally.
“That lil’ angel right there.” Jason replies, pointing to his little bundle.
“Ah. Mine’s that little scrapper over there.” The man points to another sleeping bundle on the far right. “First kid?”
“Yeah.” Jason responds with a gentle smile. “You?”
“Third.”
Jason let out an impressed whistle. Three kids in Gotham was...an interesting notion. The only places that he knows of in Gotham that has more than one child in their possession are the orphanages, child trafficking rings, and Bruce.
“Hope ya stocked up on diapers.”
“Oh yeah. Bought everything in bulk.”
“Smart.”
“Hey, I know it’s weird to ask, but, do you happen to have any advice? Y’know, as a veteran dad.”
The man pauses to think for a bit before speaking.
“Choose the people who you let hang around your kid wisely. You guys can’t do everything alone, but that doesn’t mean for you to let desperation get in the way of thinking logically; those people that you let in are going to be a near-permanent fixture in your family.”
“Thanks. I actually needed that.”
“No problem. And if you need any more advice, there’s a group that I’m a part of for fathers in this part of town and you are more than welcome to join us. We meet every Tuesday and Thursday.”
“I’d like that a lot. Thank you.”
“Ah, Mr. Williams, there you are.” Kitty says as she approaches the two fathers, “I’ve been looking for you everywhere. Time for you to go to sleep.”
Just as Jason was about to argue, the other father chimes in.
“Oh, trust me, you want to take as much rest as you can right now.”
“Mr.-”
“Oh, my name is Thomas Miller. Pleased to meet ya!” Thomas says, holding out his hand for her to shake.
“Well, same to you too, Mr. Miller.” Kitty says cheerfully as she shakes the man’s hand before going back to Jason. “Who is right, by the way! Babies take up a lot of time and energy and you have been awake for- 17- hours.”
“She’s got you there.”
“Okay, okay, fine. I’ll go.” Jason assents, holding his hands up in surrender. “Just- if anything happens…”
“You’ll be the first to know.” Kitty replies patiently as she turns him the other way.
“Um, it was nice meeting you, Thomas.” Jason turns his head to say as Kitty begins walking him away.
“Please, call me Tommy. It was nice meeting you too-”
“Jay.”
“Jay. And don’t forget, Tuesdays and Thursdays.” Thomas calls as the two approach the corner.
“I’ll check my schedule.” Jason responds in kind as they turn said corner.
Kitty escorts Jason back to Chloe’s room and sits him down in the recliner before placing a pillow behind his head and draping a cover over him.
“Sweet dreams, Mr. Williams.” Kitty says softly as he settles in.
“Thank you, Kitty.” He responds, the lethargy quickly catching up to him as he begins to close his eyes and drift off.