Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Jason woke up slowly, vision obscured, an uncomfortably damp cloth pressed on his eyes, he panicked slightly, where the fuck was he. He couldn't move, whatever restraints he was in wouldn't give.

Assess the situation and stop panicking Todd. You're not Robin anymore, and this might not be Joker, calm down. He took a deep breath in.

Couldn't see the surroundings, whatever- he could work with that, he trained for that. They all were, besides Gotham rogues are fucking idiots. 

Couldn't tilt the chair, might be bolted to the floor then.

The wire, because it was metal, but not thick enough to be cuffs, were digging into his wrists, which he couldn't tell if they were bleeding.

He didn't remember how he got here why? When did he get grabbed? 

Did Br- they even notice yet? They had to, they'd get him. He didn't do a check in.

“Ah. You're awake!” A voice suddenly yelled, drawing him from his thoughts, “Almost thought I had killed you,”

Jason's head flicked up to the voice on instinct, trying to pinpoint where it was coming from.

“You look so much like him… it's so… neat.” The voice was light, but had a certain… edge to it.

Almost gently, a claw ran down his face, what the fuck what the fuck. It made his head tilt to the side.

He jerked back, “Who the fuck are you?” He snapped, “What do you want?” All villains wanted something, he could bide his time for Bruce, or Dick.

The voice chuckled, “Oh, you can't see, silly me!” Claws dug into the fabric and his skin, shredding the fabric and the skin near his eyes. 

Ow.

He squeezed his eyes shut, adjusting to the light before opening them again. Blood slightly obscured his vision, making his skin uncomfortable.

He was met with golden eyes, shining with glee, he looked like- 

No-

“Dick-?”

The man's grin widened, “HI Jay,” 

Jason stared silently, “This isn't funny Dickhead let me out.”

Dick(?) Tilted his head slightly, “Why would I do that? We just got you back from those heros.”

“...What the fuck are you on about?” Jason asked, got him back? What was Dic-- No. This man was not his brother. What was he on?

A clawed hand dug into his chin, “Hmm, your eyes are green.” He observed, “Guess you aren't the perfect little replacement but that's OK! I'll go tell Thomas that we can go home then!” 

The hand slipped away, “What?”

Jason watched the not Dick slip away out a door.

What the fuck. He was dreaming. Kinda fucked up dream.

He winced at the feeling of blood running down his face, he started scanning the room silently, the chair was welded to the ground, they knew he was Hood. Or at least that he wasn't a civilian.

Why did he look like Dick? 

What did they want?

He glares at the man as he re-enters, “We'll be leaving soon Jay,” he paused, “Oh shit, do you need stitches?” 

Jason remained silent. “Guess not…”

A hand had pat his cheek and Jason tried to jerk back again, “what do you want?” He snapped.

Not Dick tilted his head, “My little brother to be home again.” He said plainly, little emotion held in his words. 

“You're not my fucking brother.” He sneeret99d

His head snapped to the side, cheek stinging from the unexpected slap, “Now Jay, I know you're… a bit confused but you can't talk to me like that, it's ok though, you can learn better yeah?”

“I don't know who the fuck you are.” He said.

“Ah! I forgot about that, I'm Richard the best of Gotham,” he grinned, “Your Dick Grayson, but not from here. And you, Jason Todd, are my brother, Thomas and I are gonna take you back home.” Thomas Wayne? Bruce’s dad?

Jason stared at him. the man was so close- he smashed his forehead against the other's face without a second thought, it connected with his nose. Richard made a quiet and offended sound and stepped back, holding his nose.

“And here I thought you'd play nice,” he pouted, a sickening crack as Richard twitched his hand. When he moved his hand away his nose dripped with a black liquid. He didn't even flinch

Jason stared, “what- what the fuck are you!?”

“Talon.” Richard replied coldly, sending a glare his way, “And you need to sleep.” 

“wait-” Jason winced as a needle slid into him, eyes defocusing.

“I was gonna be nice about it to,” Richard's voice sounded far away.

How'd he move that quick- shit-

He let the darkness embrace him.

Chapter Text

Richard unlatched Jason gently from the device holding him, taking care not to hurt him more, he was the older brother. He needed to keep him safe.

He couldnt fail. again.

With surprising care, he bandaged his wounds silently. It reminded him of- a lot of things. It didn't matter, he could have his brother back! A bit... different but that's OK, these worse versions of his family didn't care for Jason. Not like his would.

He then wiped the blood off his own face, it wasn't a good look for him. It looked fine on Jason, red was his brother's favorite.

He cleaned and stitched it anyways. He should've been more careful with his talons. 

“Richard. I'm opening the portal soon.” Thomas's crackled through the comm unit they had, “The Bats noticed already, we don't have time.”

"How?"

"Richard."

Richard rolled his eyes, you kill one dude and the Bats are suddenly good at their job.

“Whatever, on it, just untied him," he muttered, "Where are you?”

“The roof.”

Ah. Ok then, the old man could move quick when he wanted to. Last he checked, Thomas was still at Blüd. Ok then.

He picked up Jason with a small struggle, not much, it was easy. It had to be. Walking up the stairs, he saw Thomas standing by the portal, he grinned, “They know where this is going?”

“Eh, doesn't matter, by the time they get there he'll be ours.” Thomas took Jason and after more struggle than himself, went into the portal.

Richard took a piece of dynamite, a wild grin spreading across his face as he took out his silver lighter.

He was interrupted by a sharp object slicing through his wrist, making him drop the dynamite.

Rude.

He glanced at the person who dared to hit him and tilted his head.

“Ah. Hello Grayson,” He said, tilting his head at him, golden eyes meeting blue. 

So that what he'd have looked like without... them interfering.

Neat.

"Where is Hood?" The other Grayson had some nerve.

Richard ripped the Baterang(?) out of his hand, and instead of letting his annoyance show, like Thomas not doubt would, he grinned, "Ah, Jason? Im afraid He's a bit preoccupied yes?"

He took glee in watching the Lesser tense at the sound of Jason's name.

Grayson launched, Richard caught him by the throat, "Try that again and I'll rip out your spine and keep it on my wall." He frowned, meeting the glare leveled at him.

"As I stated, he's preoccupied, and if you interfere, I'll have no qualms about killing him." He said, bringing the other closer, "If you interfere again, I'll give the word to end his sad life." He spat coldly.

Richard threw the other across the roof, hearing the crack of... oops, "My fault Grayson," he said sarcastically, he picked the stick of dynamite back up and grinned, dropping into a bow. He stared as the other again, "Might wanna get that look at, don't think the bone is meant to be there,"

He didn't listen to the other as he dropped the bomb and fell back into the portal, landing on the mat he set up. Ha, they weren't gonna figure out how to make another portal in time.

He did feel bad about breaking his arm, but that'd just because it was him, in a way. Not really.

He didn't know, or care. He was just... confused, yes, it's simply been a while since he's traveled.

The portal closed as he watched, laughing hysterically.

“Richard?” Oh. Tim.

He stopped. 

“Yes Timothy?” he asked, tilting his head in an unnatural way.

Tim hesitated, looking nervous in a way that didn't quite fit him, “Well little bird?” He asked, twisting his back at an angle that should've broken it ten times over to stand in front of him, staring down at him.

Tim met his gaze for half a second before looking at the floor, “Jason's gone.” He mumbled quietly.

“Like, just left? Or I took to long and its been a week left?” Oh this wouldn't do, Jason's his brother, he just needs time to accept it.

Tim sighed, "He just left."

Ah. He could catch up.

“Alright then… I'll be back Timmy,” he sighed, leaving the kid in the nest, he could probably watch the city.

Make sure they were staying in line.

The citizens knew they were watching.

He had a bird to catch.

Chapter Text

Waking up, the first thing Jason noticed was that he wasn't blindfolded this time. He sat up, wincing as whatever fucking light that was shone in his eyes, dancing along his vision and obscuring the room. He blinked away the dots as he leaned against a bed frame, body aching from the tranquilizer fighting against the Pit. 

It felt like it was ripping his skull open worse than the Joker.

He hated sedatives; they made him feel as if something was under his skin, trying to claw up to the surface.

As his vision settled, his eyes landed on a kid, because they were not 18, staring at him. 

“You're jacked.” The kid noted. Wow. Great first impression. 

Jason couldn't help but let out a small pained laugh, gods that fucking hurt– “Ok kid-” his gaze shifted to the window, the door, then back to the kid, “Who are you?”

The kid simply tilted their head, “Tim Drake.” He said, “I'm surprised they took you instead of the other Jason that was compatible with this world…” 

Tim adjusted his neon red jacket, which was too bright, and sighed apmost wistfully, “I liked little Jason.”

“...What the fuck are you talking about?” Jason asked, wincing as he brought a hand up to his face, picking at the bandage that was way too thin if he could see through it.

Actually, it felt like skin, it definitely wasnt a bandage as he felt his hand grow wet with what he assumed to be blood.

“Knock it off.” Tim snapped, reaching out and snatching his wrist tightly, pulling it away from his face.

“Answer me.” Jason snapped, green edging his vision.

LET ME GO

“Which statement were you confused about? Me enjoying my brother better as a kid or the compatibility thing?” Tim asked the grip not loosening a bit. How was he stronger than him?

“Both, you fucking weirdo,”

Tim hummed, sharp eyes seeming to study him, “Not like that, kids are just easier to manipulate, control. And compatibility with this world is simply a DNA thing.” Tim explained in a monotone voice, “You were lucky enough to be brought here yeah?”

Lucky?

Lucky?

Jason just scoffed, ignoring the bile crawling up his throat, “Let me go, I'll stop.”

Tim obliged.

Jason studied the kid, he wasn't much different than his Tim, besides the haircut which was… A choice that was... definitely made by someone. He looked pale, but he wasn't Talon pale… didn't look like the fake Dick, Dildo, ha. He's so fucking funny. His eyes were blue, not gold. 

Tim tilted his head, “Are you in pain or something? Why do you look like that? Is it a weird cultural difference? I ran tests to make sure that it was a simail-”

Wow just say he looks weird.

“Do you- who else is on your team.” He interrupted, he didn't want to hear the rant, even if he probably should so he could learn how it happened. He didn't want to right now.

“... Ah,” Tim looked annoyed about being interrupted, but he obliged anyway, “Well, Barbra and Duke are additions as well if that's what you mean.“

“And Stephanie? Cass?”

Tim shrugged, “Stephanie was too… weak, couldn't handle all the blood and government takeover, despite her upbringing, might I add, she's with Oracle. The Weapon isn't part of our family, howe- “

Jason's voice interjected, “She's not a fucking weapon. She's a person.” He's never felt so mad, he was going to kill these fakers. We'll, he was gonna anyway, once he was better...

“However, “ Tim continued, eyes glancing at the door, his voice lowering, “I consider her so.”

Ah. 

“... Can I leave the room?” He needed a subject change.

Tim laughed coldly, “No. You're injured, fucking idiot, why'd you jump into a bullet for Richard?”

Rude.

“I thought he was my brother,” Jason snapped.

Tim stood, “He is. Don't let them hear you talk like that. “ He snapped back with the same energy he got, "I'm gonna grab you some food. You've been sleeping for a bit." He said suddenly, leaving the room quickly. 

Ha. Fuckin pussy.

Took the stupid ass haircut with him.

Good.

Chapter Text

Jason slipped out of the bed as soon as the footsteps disappeared and nothing but his breathing could be heard. He opened the window, investigating the drop.

It wasn't lethal

Same as the manor drop, two stories up and into a bush. He'd be fine… he's done it before at least, back when he was Robin- he snuck out a lot.

He slid out the window and landed outside, getting out of the bush quickly, then he bolted, running as fast and he physically could manage. Which was fast for a human, considering everything. The Pit effects were good sometimes, especially with his energy.

His body slammed against the ground before he could register it, chin slamming into the soil, he tried to throw the person off to no avail.

Why was he so weak? He barely made it 50 feet.

“Oh Jay…” Richard sighed, “You can't leave. Not now.”

A hand grabbed his hair, roughly pulling his head up, pinpricks igniting in his scalp, “Let's go inside. Yeah?”

Jason glared, ignoring the tightening grip, “Fuck you-” he spat, venom lacing his tone.

Richard tilted his head faintly, it shouldve broken at that angle, which wasnt terrifying at all, “Why are you running Jay? We're family and we miss you.”

Jason saw green, this ASSHOLE, “You are not my brother.”

He watched Richard's smile falter for a moment before he felt a sharp pain in his leg.

“Shit!” Jason jerked away, the faker let him.

Richard hummed, “Poison, it's a bitch hm?” He said plainly, as if this was just another day. It probably was for him. 

Sadistic bitch.

Jason groaned in pain, staring at the wound silently, shit, fuck poisons, he was resistant.

He glanced back up as the other sat down by him, “If you apologize i'll give you the antidote,”

Jason bit his tongue, he'd live, “No.”

“Fine then. Die out here for all I care.” Richard spat, punching him across the face, which made him fall once again. With that Richard got up and walked back to the manor.

Jason inspected the wound, blood oozing out slowly. Fuck.

He took off the thin bandages, wincing as they peeled part of the healed skin back off like paper. His arm burned like someone stabbing a sunburn as he managed to rip it all off.

He almost tenderly wrapped the bandage around the knife, stabilizing it until he could get something better for it.

Yes, it'd have to do- for now.

He got up, ignoring the numbness that was spreading far too quickly for his liking, and walked forwards, if he could reach the wall…

His leg gave out and he fell once again, driving the knife further in his thigh.

He couldn't feel it, so he ignored it. 

It wasn't concerning.

He got up again, limping towards the walls.

Jason froze, they were impossible to climb.

He couldn't help but laugh, collapsing by a tree, laughing harder, he couldn't stop. He couldn't breathe. 

He was gonna die in the wrong universe and he was laughing about it. It wasn't funny, he didn't know why he was laughing. Perhaps he found it ironic.

He didn't know.

“Jason?” Dick crouched in front of him, eyes glancing at him before ripping the knife out.

Jason didn't react, he couldn't feel it.

“D'ck?” Jason asked quietly, his brother was here this time. He was gonna be ok.

“Shit. Shit-” Dicks voice was getting further. “-ason!” 

His eyes went back to Dicks, “Hey, Jay–  –ming to help-”

“Dad?” He asked weakly, Dick smiled faintly, “Go to bed, we'll keep you safe Jason.”

He felt safe in his brother's arms.

They found him.

He fell asleep, like he was told, he'd be ok.

His brother was here and he'd be ok.

Chapter Text

It was dark.

And cold. He was so fucking cold.

He tried to move but was unable, being slightly more awake, he heard near silent breathing near him.

“Dick-?” His voice cracked, how long was he out for?

The breathing paused, “Oh, morning Jay, you feeling better?” Dicks voice sounded off, that was ok though, he probably woke him up.

“Why can't I see-? Why is it so cold?” Jason asked, still so tired from whatever happened.

“Oh! Yeah- the poison had reached a point of no return, so we started the turning process.”

What?

“What turning process?” 

“Talon, obviously.” Dick scoffed, poking his arm, which ow that hurt.

“...Talon?” Jason jerked back. This was a dream.

There was a faint laugh, “What'd you think would happen? That we'd let you die again just because you were being a brat?” Bruce?

Jason was floating away, “We'll talk more later Jason. Sleep.”

—

“We think he was thrown into a Lazarus Pit. It explains why it's taking so long. It's a–”

—

“Shut- h-” “Ja- -s ok-”

—

“Shh, Jay, it's ok” someone was screaming. Was it him? “I know it hurts–”

—-

When Jason was finally lucid again, he could see, which was the first thing he noticed.

The second was that his skin was grey. 

He tried to get out of the cot he was in only to fall once he got a foot or so away from the cot before faceplanting, landing with a sickening crunch. Someone, who must've heard the noise, opened the door and silently helped him up, setting him back in the bed carefully.

“Hurt?” They asked, Jason's vision was swimming too much to tell who it actually was.

“No-” he lied, he didn't want these freaks to touch him. He wanted to rip them apart. Bit by bit until there was nothing left.

“Liar.” They said, leaving the room before coming back with a syringe, “Healing too slow. Need another dose.”

Jason tried to hit it out of their hand only for them to just stab it in it. He winced and reeled his hand back, yanking it out.

“What are you fucks doing to me?” He snapped, vision clearing a bit, focusing on the figure

Cass? Shit that explained a lot.

“Making you like Dick,” she said simply, “Don't want to lose you again.”

Cass gently pressed him further into the cot, “Rest. I'm to keep watch.”

Jason stared blankly, “...Why are- why?” He tried to voice his thoughts, he had too many.

“Rest.”

Jason did.

Despite…. Everything, Cass seemed the least changed.

–

Cass was still standing by his bed when he woke up, unbandaging his head silently.

“Stay still.”

He did.

After they were off she tilted her head, “Good?”

“...been worse.” He mumbled, hand going up to feel the scab, only to find none. 

He was so cold.

“I'll get Thomas.” She stated, stopping in her tracks when he grabbed her wrist.

“Don't- please-” He pleaded, desperate to find a way home, he didn't feel like himself and it scared him. 

He hasn't felt this scared in a while. He wanted his dad.

“I was told to get him when you awoke again.” She replied simply, tugging her wrist gently from his grasp and leaving the room.

He inspected the chain around his ankles, it had no lock to pick and no give on his ankles.

Stuck. Great.

Fuck. FUCK.

He waited, breathing silently. It felt like time stretched on for years when the door finally opened.

“Jason, how are you feeling?” A deep voice asked, glancing up he saw a man, he assumed it was Thomas. He looked more like Martha than Thomas though

Huh.

Thomas sighed and pulled a chair to sit in front of him, “I know you're confused, and a bit… angry,”

“A bit ? You fucking wannabe knock-offs kidnapped me!” Jason snapped, green for once not edging at his vision, he didn't know how to handle that, “What the fuck did you do to me?”

“Because of Richard's temper, you almost died. So we simply made you a Talon as well, I know this isn't ideal.”

“You- I don't care about what's ideal, you can tak-”

“Jason.” Thomas interrupted, “Shut up for a moment.”

Jason couldn't open his mouth. Why-

“I'm going to unchain you permanently when I can trust you won't try to hurt us. Then, I'll have you train with Richard.” Thomas explained, “Until then either Cass or Alfred will bring you food among other things.”

Jason hadn't felt not angry in a while, he wasn't angry no… he was scared. He wanted his dad.

“Jason answer me truthfully ok?” Thomas said plainly,  as if this wasn't bothering him at all, “Were you in contact with a Lazarus Pit?”

“Yes-” he anwsered before he could think about it, what the fuck was happening to him?

“How?”

“I died, then I wasn't dead-” he started, before shutting the fuck up. Why the fuck was he spilling all this to this fucker? Why was it so hard to stop?

“...Are you gonna finish that?” And Jason remained silent. It was none of his business.

Thomas sighed, “Finish your statement Jason.”

“Talia- she found me and dunked me in one- that's all I remember.” He muttered bitterly.

“Mhm…” Thomas tilted his head, “Cassandra will be up shortly to unlock you and lead you to the baths. Don't cause trouble or I'll remind myself you're not actually my Jason. Got it?”

Jason nodded, like a liar. He'd get out.

Thomas smiled, “Atta Boy,” he ruffled Jason's hair a bit too roughly and left the room silently.

Jason sat in silence for a bit before the door opened silently.

“Cass.”

“Jason.”

They stared at each other before Cass clicked a button on the other side of the room, releasing him from the chain.

“Let's go.”

Jason debated sitting there, but… He felt gross.

He got up and followed her silently.

Maybe the shower would help him feel warm, he was so cold.

Cold.

Cold.