Chapter Text
Death. The city was alive with it. The alley, his home, was rotting worse than it ever was before. As if his own death had been the catalyst to its inevitable collapse.
Returning to Gotham should have been a tough choice. It should have kept him awake and reeling. His mind a rolodex of possibilities and outcomes.
It had been easy. Concerningly so, in Talia’s regard. Fearing that the boy was still clinging to the sentimentality that she had hoped to train out of him.
Jason denied it. Of course, claiming it was a job he knew only he could do. That it was his duty, in a way. He spoke so reverently that Talia held her tongue and protested no further.
It shouldn’t have been that easy. Talia expected more from him. He could tell. In the way she conceded with an all knowing smirk still on her lips.
She humored him, idly making suggestion for his suit- his helmet. Though he often would shoo her, too stubborn and proud to accept her input, it was bad enough he was accepting a bit of her funding.
It was during this time, this in between, that she started to tell him more. He already knew about the joker still being alive. He knew about the new Robin too…
But the more she talked about them, the more details she gave Jason…
‘The clown’s escaped again, you know…’
‘He’s adopted the little bird as his son now…’
Bits and pieces that made his vision swim with green.
The Lazarus in his blood itched beneath his skin. Wanting to hurt, to destroy. He gritted his teeth. Its hunger would have to wait. He had things to plan. If he was going to do this, he was going to do it right.