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Jason stood in front of his grave, anger overtaking his body. He wasn’t buried in the family plot. He knew Bruce didn’t view him as family, only a soldier, a replaceable soldier, but the confirmation hurt. But he was also buried alongside Shiela, the bitch that sold him out.
Out of anger he grabs the tire iron he’s carrying and smashes Shiela’s grave to pieces. He grabs a green bottle of spray paint and sprays on what’s left of the grave “JOKER’S GOON!”
He turns to his own grave reading the inscription “Here lies Jason Peter Todd-Wayne, beloved son and brother.” Is that all he was, his legacy? Just a street kid taken in by Bruce Wayne who tragically died. No, he was more than that. Grabbing a red bottle of spray paint, he adds to the end of his inscription “and Robin II.”
Before he leaves, he drops some flowers off at the graves of Catherine and Willis. His actual parents. Sure they couldn’t provide for him, one committing crimes to provide for the family and the other unable to kick an addiction to drugs. But despite that, they loved him, they cared for him. It was more than Bruce ever did, he provided for him, but never loved him.
Sure the purpose of Red Hood, the man he is about to become, is to kill the Joker and make his so-called family pay. But part of the plan will help the citizens of Crime Alley. His parents taught him to understand the value of community. He tried to help out the Alley as Robin, but lacked the resources. But as Red Hood he will. He will help out the Alley now, for the sake of the people and to honour his parents.
He stalked out of the cemetery, there were a few more things to do before Red Hood debuts.
Dick was not having a good day. Someone had decided to destroy the grave of Jason’s mother, and not only that, but exposed his identity as the second Robin. It hadn’t taken long for people to compare images of the two and the truth spread like fire. When he gets his hands on the bastard who refused to let his brother rest peacefully. But now is not the time. Bruce was being hounded by the media if he knew what his son did at night, and he himself had caught some media attention.
At least the kids were free from the attention, not being a part of the family when Jason tragically passed. Cass had been an angel as usual. Offering a comforting presence when he needs it and no judgement when he talks about his brother. The brother he barely knew, too young and stuck in his anger at Bruce to go back to the manor and be a brother to Jason.
He was surprised when Cass passed him her phone. Looking down though he saw that #JasonToddIsOurRobin was trending on Twitter. He knew that Crime Alley had never forgotten about Jason, the one they called their Robin. He decided to read some of the tweets.
“Is anyone actually surprised Robin II was from the alley, kid could kick ass better than the other Robins. RIP #JasonToddIsOurRobin”
“You could take a child from Crime Alley @BruceWayne, but you can’t take Crime Alley from the child. RIP Jason Todd #JasonToddIsOurRobin”
“Jason had his chance to leave us behind and yet he came back to protect us. Badass, hope you’re at peace on the other side kid #JasonToddIsOurRobin”
“The second Robin saved me from being raped once and walked me home after. As long as I breathe I’ll make sure the world doesn’t forget the name Jason Peter Todd #JasonToddIsOurRobin”
“Anyone remember when Robin II came into the alley with food to help us out. He also gave money to the street kids. Was he stealing money from his adopted father to help us, awesome. #JasonToddIsOurRobin”
“Any other street kids remember Jason. He always helped and protected us despite having nothing himself. Makes sense he came back to protect us after being adopted by Wayne. Hope you're feasting in Valhalla with the other great warriors brother #JasonToddIsOurRobin”
“Jason used to protect us street kids with nothing but a tire iron and childhood malnutrition. Makes sense he grew to be a hero. I'm sure you're looking after the dead alley kids on the other side #JasonToddIsOurRobin”
“When I find out who killed Jason Todd, I’m making sure they get some Alley justice. I’ll tear the fucker apart for taking our Robin from us #JasonToddIsOurRobin”
“@BruceWayne now that we know Jason Todd is Robin II are you going to release an official statement about how your son died? Because you refused when he first died #JasonToddIsOurRobin”
“@BruceWayne care to explain why our Robin wasn’t buried in your fancy family cemetery. Was he just a soldier for you to give to Batman and his crusade after Robin I left #JasonToddIsOurRobin”
Dick couldn’t help himself tearing up. His brother’s legacy lived through so many people. Cass gently pulled him into a hug. The people of Crime Alley knew him so well, better than he did. But one tweet stuck out in particular.
“Hey everyone, me and a few others who knew Jason before he was Robin decided to make a mural for him. Come check it out if you’d like #JasonToddIsOurRobin”
The mural was beautiful. It was split in half with one side being Jason and the other side being Robin. Along the top was written "OUR ROBIN" in beautiful text. Despite the domino being split, his cheeky grin was the same on both sides. He looked like a child and a hero at the same time. He looked like the epitome of Robin. Which hurts, since he never officially passed Robin onto Jason.
He supposes he could do so now, after his death. But Tim is Robin now, it’d be weird to do it now. So he makes his choice and says out loud “Jason, if you can hear me on the other side, you did my mother’s name proud and I’m sorry for not being there for you.”
Cass pulls him even deeper into the hug.
Steph stood in front of Jason’s Mural. There were flowers and more scattered in front of it. She spent her time as a vigilante trying to live up to Bruce, to Barbara and to Tim. But in some ways, she, and Duke for that matter are Jason’s successors. Neither of them were from the Alley but they both grew up in the rougher parts of Gotham.
She’d been reading a lot of #JasonToddIsOurRobin tweets. Bruce compared them a lot, called them both arrogant and that neither of them thought things through before acting. But Crime Alley seemed to disagree. Jason didn’t just patrol there and kept them safe, he was part of the community. He brought food for the people, he gave money to the kids in need.
She comes to the realisation that she wants to do more for the Narrows. Sure, Cass and her have done a lot of good, and they have spoiled the bad guys plans a lot. But she wants what Jason had, to be part of the community, not just some vigilante patrolling above them.
But where to start. She needs to talk to Babs and Cass. Babs most likely knows where she can start to do more, and Cass is her partner and should know her plans.
But looking at Jason’s cheeky smile she likes to think they’d get along if they met. The chaos they could have caused, the bad guys to stop, the people to help. But she’ll never get to know Jason. But she could at least try to live up to his legacy.
Jason stood in front of his mural, hood up and wearing a face mask so no one would recognize him. He was wondering what he was doing. Why was he spending every waking moment thinking of a family that didn’t love him? That didn’t mourn him. That didn’t bury him with the rest of them?
So he decided in this moment that fuck the bats, they don’t matter to him anymore. He wanted the answer from Bruce, if the man he considered his father ever loved him. But he’s already been given the answer. He’ll still kill the Joker when he has the chance, but Red Hood isn’t needed. Because there was a family that cared for him. The Alley cared for him as if he was their own. Hell, he is their own. They loved him, they mourned him. Even now, they still need him.
He knows if he goes through with this the bats will find him quickly. Or will they, even now only Spoiler, Orphan and Signal patrol near Crime Alley, the rest only showing up for operations in the area. Even those three don’t patrol directly in the Alley. They might not know that he’s back until it spreads on social media, and the Alley won’t sell him out
Now he needs a new suit. He calls a number on his phone “Forget the Red Hood suit, I need you to make a different one for me, I’ll send over the plans shortly.”
“You sure about this mate, you had a plan and everything?”
“I have a new one now.”
The new suit is a lot heavier than the old one, he has a lot more armour on this one. The Lazarus Pit healed his childhood malnutrition, he can’t rely on dodging attacks as much as he used to when he was smaller. He took a page out of Tim Drake’s book; trousers are so much more practical than shorts. He still wore the domino, he doesn’t know why, he wants the Alley to know he is Jason Todd. But the suit feels wrong without it.
He has a lot of his old weapons and tools, but some new toys as well. First of which is a reinforced tire iron, actually suited for combat. A tire iron had saved him and others more than he can count, not to mention earned him money to survive. It’s a part of him. He’s carrying a concealed 45 auto, just in case. He also decided to tone down the danger of some of Batman’s toys. A lot of criminals around here are just trying to survive, and he’s not looking to permanently injure or cripple people that are only criminals because they have no other choice. His father taught him that. He’s also carrying money to give to any of the street kids and some medical supplies too.
He still doesn’t have a plan when the bats find him. Run and hope they respect that he doesn’t want to talk to him? He’ll figure something out, he always had.
Once the Alley knows he is back he can start to unite them. The people of the Alley are tough and a community. With the money he earned when he was with the League of Assassins and some mercenary work, he can help rebuild the community where the people aren’t enough.
But today, Crime Alley’s Robin flies again.