Chapter Text
Go to work, come back, read, eat, sleep, repeat.
That's how Jason's days went, for few months, he tried to blend in, even with scars nobody paid him much mind if he just acted normal. Acted like his body was normal, not disfigured, scared.
Maybe if he tried hard enough Jason would be happy with civilian life in Torrance. Maybe his sleep schedule would come back to normal and while walking he would finally make a sound.
Jason was hanging on false hope. No job as a cashier would heal him, make him stop missing his Robin days, the few moments he was a crime lord.
Make him stop thinking how he was freshly 19 and hated his shitty underpaid job. His shitty family he didn't see for at least 4 years.
Waking back from his shift, too much energy under his skin. Should he sneak into a gym? Absolutely humble anyone who was doing a leg day?
Before his mind could get better of him, he heard a scream. All instincts took over and he saw a woman getting cornered in an alley by a man. The man held a knife to her throat and with another hand was touching the woman's curves.
The sight was revolting, absolutely disgusting, Jason felt rage only reserved for those rapist fuckers. Before the man could blink Jason was on him, pinning him to the ground and punching his face like there was no tomorrow.
Punch after punch, the predator's face started to change, breaking in his cheekbones and teeth.
The woman ran away a long time ago, Jason was left sitting over a dead man, his head so severely disfigured he could barely make out any features.
Before any hero could be called Jason made his escape.
Sitting in his cheap one bedroom apartment, Jason bandaged his knuckles, cut on the predator's face. He barely could feel touch in his hands anyway, his nerve endings are fucked up after his fun time with Joker.
Jason knew what happened, that bastard deserved it, who knew if it was the first time he assaulted someone? Anger resurfaced as he thought about it, green toxicity and seething.
Bruce's words ring in his head. About his countless lessons about killing, his too violent approach.
Maybe he should try a different approach, a more legal one. Only kill the worst and have a more friendly image.
Can Jason become a real hero? Like Superman is? Or Wonder Woman. The kind where people are not scared to be around, not a crime lord that all alley kids are wary of. Where there are stupid cereal commercials fo him.
Well there was a short period of time where he had that. That time when he was Robin. But all that magic is gone. Nothing to do about that.
Jason went back to the monotony of a shitty cashier job. While on clock Jason kept working like he was a normal cashier, like he didn't die and came back fucked around in Gotham. He also kept wondering about becoming a real hero. Maybe if Gotham didn't need Red Hood doesn't mean L.A. doesn't.
It was one of those slow days, when a guy pulls out a gun. Without a blink he clicked on the red bottom under the lad and acted like he was shitting his pants.
Then there was a light, and a blonde woman flew into the shop, made quick work of the guy and was in front of him asking if he's alright.
Jason was actually shocked. He didn't expect a hero, he didn't expect a Blonde Blazer.
“Hey? Are you alright?” She asked in that cornered voice. You could smell the sincerity from her.
“What the fuck..” Jason felt something weird in his stomach. Like it did a flip and bowed deep in front of this woman. She is so kind it actually inspired him to be worse for approximately 5 seconds or less but still.
“Just a little shook, I see.” She patted him on the shoulder. Let the police take the guy and fly away.
The encounter left Jason speechless for at least the rest of the day. When his feet met the shitty apartment Jason did the only thing that was on his mind right now. Did extensive research on the SDN and Blonde Blazer.
After that he was bored out of his mind. Cleaned around the shitty apartment found his old plans of Red Hood gadgets, helmet, guns.
His fingers itched to do something, so he did. From the old Red hood gear and some junk sitting in his apartment he started to upgrade and make a new version of the Red Hood. All the materials were found by himself or just found by the side of the road.
A few weeks went by. Jason dissociated again and he opened his eyes and a brand new Red hood suit stood in front of him. It really had no business looking that cool.
Looks like Jason has no excuse now. It's not like he really wanted to become a hero or something.
Getting into the phoenix program was a child's play. Just showing them that it was him who became a crime lord for all 17 seconds in Gotham and he was like at home. A small list of his crimes, basic information. When they asked about powers he just said that it was a secret and they didn't press. Jason doesn't know this company still even exists, really.
Jason got into his new Red Hood gear. His hood got more technical modification but still looked the same. His leather jacket is dark brown, the red bat on his chest is gone. His suit feels empty without it.
Still walking around the SDN other people didn't spare him a second glance. With a skilled flick of wrist he secured a camera And a listening Device, no one noticed. Jason didn't have to wait long for Blonde Blazer to greet him. Again her kind blue eyes made him feel like if he ever dares to be rude Or just an asshole in her presence his guilt, and Blazer won't let him live.
Blonde Blazer is just a woman that has that aura, that makes you know if you mess with her you are dead, and also If someone fucking tried to hurt you she will kill the person who tried- keyword tried to hurt you.
“I'm really glad you decided to try at the Phoenix program. While the performance of the team has much to be desired. And the z teamers are… handful I hope you will fit right in.” Blazer says in her professional voice. All business.
Jason only nods. Still kinda mute and nervous for the first time in years. He is a fucking adult, he doesn't need to be getting nervous over a hero. But also if he even dares to raise his voice to speak above normal volume he will feel the punishment of pain where Bruce fucking slit his throat open.
He hopes she thinks this is some kind of Nonchalant shit or just a mysterious facade not the embarrassing truth.
Blazer shows him around the building, Jason instantly starts to eye Royd's lab / garage? If he could sneak in here after his shift and work on his gadgets he might actually start Respecting this Royd.
All in all it is a pretty ordinary building, he has his own identificator, the break era is not that bad. There's a vending machine, so cool.
After Blazer says all she needs to say and when his shift starts Red hood is gone and back in the garage / lab. While he was worried that Blazer might have some secret 7th sense he didn't bother equipping his cameras and other Listening devices. So after a quick look around he hid a few devices and acted like he didn't just bug someone's lab.
Then he just looked around. It was all in all a good lab. Not as good as Batcave, why would a Random lab from a hero company have a bat grade lab.
While looking at a practically interesting contraption he heard much louder footsteps than others, they were going in the direction of the lab so Jason quickly hid behind some boxes.
A guy that even made Batman jealous of his height and muscle mass just walked in. He must be at least 7’5 feet. At least 400 pounds. While his physical features were rather imposing his Senses left much to be wanted as he didn't even notice Jason. Or seemed to think someone was there.
The man, Royd probably, unlocked the other part of the lab where he had those Metal robots that helped him at work and all that, it was really impressive.
Jason works here now. He got his own identificator, it wouldn't be weird for new hires to go explore. So he slowly revealed himself making noise as he was walking up to Royd.
“Impressive.”
Even as Jason made noise while walking, the guy probably didn't notice as he jumped when he spoke. Like he still didn't notice Jason was there.
“Bruddah you scared me. You da new guy?”
(Holy shit I actually hate writing Royd. Bro has his own version of English kill me, I love Royd he's a cutie but ye. Let's just say Royd Let's Jason have his corner in the lab. )
Jason spent too much time in the lab. Really. He only left because his shift was about to start and he'd rather prepare for those 30 minutes.
And he did just that checked 3 time of an inch of skin was visible.
Connecting His helmet to the comms he clocked in.
There was so much mindless chatting on comms. Batman would have a seizure, some guy with an accent saying something about how it's good that some mecha guy crashed?
“As you guys probably know we got a new z team member.” The dispatcher said, surprisingly, some quieted down, actually interested.
Jason checked if his voice modulator was on, and that his voice came out louder, because you know Batman batarang. Only then did he introduce himself. “I'm Red Hood.” He could hear someone laugh at his name, not even trying to stifle their giggle.
"Let me under that hood." Said a monotone voice. Probably teasing the new guy, just in a weird kinda way? After checking who it was Jason's heart stopped. A bat hybdryd? What the fuck. Why won't bats leave him alone??? Hell nah he doesn't like that guy fuck no.
“Wait, are you that one guy from Gotham? That one who became a crime lord for 8 months?” A woman's voice said after checking it was someone under the name Coupè.
“The one and only.” The guy that was laughing was Flambae, abruptly stopped. Some gasps could be heard too. Who in their willing mind names themselves Flambae? This is actually worse than those booty shorts he and Dick were running around in.
“Dude. I don't check in with Gotham rogues but you were kinda famous. You also just disappeared for few months.” Another woman said, Malevola. Her voice was kinda distorted, not in the robotic way his was. She was probably an alien or some kinda demon.
“Yeah great, go back to work guys.” The dispatcher said, then he sent out Jason to… help someone move? He didn't become Red Hood for this. What the fuck.
Jason never felt more humiliated by being sent out to help some guy move. After the mission was complete he was sent on a break.
“Mister Dispatcher? If you send me one more time to move some fucking furniture, you can say goodbye to your job.” He said through comms, never in his 19 years of living would he expect to be send to move fucking furniture.
“You better listen to Gotham. He would make sure you won't see the light ever again, from what i heard all those crazy guys from Gotham, piss themself from just thinking about him.” You could hear the smirk in Prism's voice. She wasn't wrong, if he was sent to move furniture one more time this dispatcher would disappear and nobody would know why.
“Sure, sure.” Said the guy. And send golem to help finish the move. Then send Jason to the museum to stop a robbery, with hostages. Jason actually tried and took this mission seriously. He took down the robbers without killing them, and cared for hostages. All alone.
After that his day got way busier, the dispatcher actually saw that Jason was good at his job and sent him to robberies, assaults, this type of job.
At the end of his shift Jason went to the ranking that was in the office. His first day brought enough points to surpass all of the z-teamers. He smiles to himself. Maybe this job won't be so bad.
Jason didn't change out of his gear and just left the building and waited hidden in front of the building. A certain person from his new team rather.. interested him. Coupè. An ex-assassin, which means he has to keep an eye on her. From the z team she is the one he'll have to be careful about.
With focus he shouldn't have after a day of working and running around the town he waited for Coop to leave the SDN building.
Then, a black woman with slick back hair left the building, Jason knew it was her.
She was after work, but not tired. For an assassin trained since birth this work is child's play. Behind her a little shit Punch Up left after her. They were holding hands. It looked like a tired nanny was holding a ten year old who looked thirty.
He made sure to stay in the shadows. That even a bat would have problems finding him. All the League training used to his full potential to spy on an ex-assassin and a man who was so short to fight he punched dicks. What if he fights with a woman? That would be interesting.
The couple walk back home to their shared apartment. Jason makes sure that Coop doesn't even imagine someone stalking her.
They live 20 minutes away from their workplace. The apartment is on the 10th floor. It's a two bedroom apartment. Costly. Especially in this economy. The apartment isn't shitty either, rather normal. Did Coop have a few thousand dollars hidden somewhere? He doesn't even wonder about Punch Up, that man probably spends all his money on gambling or drinking.
Jason writes down the address and goes back to his own shitty apartment. He’ll break in when on a break. Then they will be in SDN. No chance for them to see him in their house.
When at his apartment Jason takes off his gear, cleans it, washes the sweaty clothes that are under all this kevlar. Got into a cold shower and went to drop dead on the shitty bed he got.
The next shift went normally. Jason being sent like the dispatcher was a man possessed And while on his break placing His cameras everywhere he this is important, in office, Blazers office, the recording room, Royd's lab, break room.
No one seemed to notice. But Jason was extra careful about the Galen guy with super hearing, that man knows more than he should.
After his mission of just stopping a fight ring. Jason turned off his location, said he had something to do and ran to Coop's apartment. Dispatcher didn't say anything but some of the nosier z-team members started to ask but he didn't give them a response.
The apartment was… normal. Well aside from the extensive knife collection on the wall. but No time to really process, he was on clock. Just quickly hid a few small cameras that a bat would have trouble seeing and left like he wasn't there in the first place.
During the end of their shift Jason was in the break room. It was a lazy day. Not much to do, he still got sent out a lot but now, not so much.
“Can you even drink in that?” Malevola sat in front of him at the shitty plastic table. He has a glass of orange juice with a straw. As an answer he only opened his helmet to fit the straw and took a sip, then closed it again.
“Hm, that's smart. But that's not what I'm here for. We are going to a bar tonight. You know to get to know our newest member. We always do this.” Malevola leaned back in her chair, and looked at her long nails? Claws?
Jason was struck by the sudden realisation that the only time he has been in a bar has been to gather information not to have fun and drink. Overall he didn't really drink. Mostly just ordering cola and acting like he is sipping on some drink. Now that he thinks about it when he was still living with Catherine and there wasn't anything to drink he'd just drink whatever won't poison him. So obviously not tap water, but cans of cheap beer, cheap vodka, other alcohols that he didn't bother to read the name of.
It would help him spy on Coop and his other teammates.
“Sure.” He has lots of free time, probably too much. Aside from working out in the gym and tinkering in Royd’s lab, and spying on his teammates. Fuck it would be easier if Jason just chacked into SDN’s database, but it still is good to have a few cameras in his teammates houses.
“Great, by the way, you are from Gotham and even were a Crime lord for some time. Did you see any hellish beings? Not like the Joker but actual devil's, demons?” Malevola looked at her claymore then back at Jason.
“No.” The mention of that fuck ass clown makes his blood boil. Jason should have just killed him. Even though torturing that clown was nice. Jason should have just killed him. It would be for the best for everyone. Batman wouldn't kill a Fucking natzi if it came down to it.
“Shit. For all the crime and shit happening in Gotham I would think you would know.”
Maybe that city is cursed. Maybe it's good that Jason just fucking left.
“For all I know Batman is on his 6th Robin.” Jason's throat hurt really fucking badly. he Got too emotional and started to talk like his vocal cords aren't hanging on by sheer will and spite.
“Huh.”
He is already done with socialising, hanging out at the bar sounds like he'll, Tonight will be interesting, and bad, really bad for Jason.