Chapter Text
' Hope and Despair Are Never Together.'
-Nitin Namdeo
It was raining, when they met up. It was a cold night, and Jason was on patrol when he spotted a lone figure wearing a cloak walking into an alleyway, right on his territory. Jason might have seen this as simply a coincidence, or that there was something illegal going on considering the fact the person seemed to be hiding something under the cloak's thick fabric. But what made Jason stop was the click-clacking of heels, which would not have been such an issue if he did not recognize the pattern behind those footfalls. Talia al Ghul.
Jason grunted in annoyance. What the hell was she doing here anyway? He decided to ignore this question and just go see what she wanted himself, he knew that with Talia, nothing was a coincidence. She stopped right under a streetlight and waited. Jason took that as his cue, considering the al Ghul family was well known for their dramatics and dropped off the roof. He landed in a crouch, feet slamming onto the wet pavement with a thump and a splash.
He stood upright and approached the woman. She was tall, but Jason still towered over her.
"What do you want, Talia?"
Talia lifted her head, the slightest of smirks being seen under the shadow the cloak cast on her face against the light of the streetlamp. "Who is to say there is something I want?"
"Cut the shit." Jason snapped, "I have places to be." he narrowed his eyes at her through his red hood helmet, but it couldn't be sen well because, well, he was wearing a helmet.
Talia chuckled, "My my, still so snippy. Look, this is not something I want. But rather, something I need. I need a favor."
Jason took off his helmet, just so he could make a face at her. "A favor? I don't do favors."
"I do believe this one will be of interest to you."
Now that definitely did make Jason a little bit curious. So Talia took that as an okay to continue. She lifted her cloak to reveal- was that a baby?? He noticed something about him.. he looked exactly like the pictures of-
"yes, he is Bruce's," Talia confirmed, 'and he is no longer safe with me in the league. My father wants him. To do terrible things."
Jason looked down at the infant. he was very..small. and looked like a shriveled raisin. "okay, what does that have to do with-"
"I need you to take him." Talia interrupted quickly.
Jason blinked at her, "are you crazy!? I can't take care of a kid. Especially Bruce's kid!"
"Please, Jason. I don't trust anyone else." Talia pleaded. Which made Jason stop and think, allowing Talia to put the baby in her arms. "His name is Damian."
Jason looked down at Damian, and thought, 'Damian, huh? I could use him against Bruce, raise him to be a weapon. Well Damian, you and me are gonna have a little fun.'
"Fine. I'll do it."