Tag: robin

HYPNOTISED: A Jason Todd/Red Hood x OC Fan Fic

Summary: Snippets of a blossoming romance between Jason Tood/Red Hood and an original character (named Ima), with other DC characters in supporting roles. Jason falls for a waitress at a diner he frequents with his best friend, Roy Harper. When she is caught in the crossfire between him and Black Mask, he is determined to protect her at all costs. What he does not expect is her falling for him, too. And how much she becomes a part of his – and the Batfamily’s – life.  

** Not strictly canon. Romance + fluff + minor angst. A lot of Batfamily feels. Title from the Coldplay song. Currently 8 chapters long, each one to be posted separately due to length. Editing may occur, depending on inspiration. 🙂 **

Chapters: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight

Seven

He had been patrolling for sixteen hours straight and decided to take a much needed break. Well, partially. This was a stakeout. Three weeks had passed since the warehouse incident and not a day went by when he was not on Black Mask’s trail. The creep was becoming increasingly difficult to track, even for the Bat family’s standards, so he was patient with every lead, no matter how small.

And in spite of having already gathered a mountain of evidence, he was hungry for more, or at least enough to lock Black Mask and his crew away for far longer than the crooked justice system allowed. Enough so that, this time, the powerful Gothamites could no longer bear the shame of their alliances with him. This was personal.  

Bruce would be proud. He chuckled at the thought that he was being more “detective” than “brawler”. Maybe the old man did rub off on him, after all.

“She checks out.” Speak of the…

He almost fell off the gargoyle he had been straddling atop one of Gotham’s ancient banks. His favorite. With his helmet off, he was about to chomp on a braaibroodtjies, when a familiar black cape whooshed in beside him. Only a few people could sneak up on him like that, and they all belonged to one family.

“Wh-”

“That young African-American waitress you’ve been harboring in your safe house,” Bruce said gruffly, eyes firmly planted on the streets below and setting up a scoping device on the concrete balcony within seconds using short, well-practiced motions. His swiftness would still put men half his age to shame.

“Wait, what? How’d you…?”

“Why does this still surprise you, Red Hood?”

Jason shook his head. This was Batman he was talking to.

“That’s, um… good to know. Thanks.”

“Although, I’m surprised you didn’t look into her background yourself.”

“I guess I’ve just been… preoccupied.” He did not have it in him to admit the real reason for it: he felt wrong going behind her back like that. He trusted her, was maybe even in… never mind. He did not need to hear another lecture on how emotional attachments affect “the misson”.

“Hn.” Maybe he already figured it out, anyway.

“The bounty. Which is why you and Arsenal are working together again.” It was not a question, rather a statement of fact.

Jason still had connections to the criminal underworld, which was how he had gotten wind of Black Mask’s ominous offer: his and Roy’s heads for a measly billion dollars each. How original. A death threat was nothing new to him. Neither was death itself. If anything, he was more worried about his best friend.    

“Yeah. Good ol’ Roy. We’ve got an international rogues gallery after our asses.” How many superheroes could brag about that?

When Bruce remained silent, he continued. “So, I guess Luke filled you in on the warehouse incident.” This face-to-face conversation was long overdue, with Bruce having just come back from a mission with the new Justice League of America he was mentoring.

“You were careless.” What, no cigar for not dying that time?

“We improvised.” He had only been following Batman’s no-kill rule. He wanted to argue that showing mercy was what got them into that mess. But this was not the time to sass. “I’m surprised you didn’t sic your new Watchtower pals on us.” Okay, maybe just a bit.

"It looked like you two had it under control.” Ha. Right. Wait, did he hear that right? Apparently, Jason was not the only one uncharacteristically trusting as of late.

“See, I’m not so sure about that anymore. This girl, Ima… She saw everything, Bruce. She didn’t mean to, had no idea the exchange was happening. She’s innocent, but I doubt that matters to a sociopath like Roman. There may not be a bounty on her head right now -”  

“He may want to deal with her himself.” Bruce’s assessment made him cringe. Over his dead-again body.

Bruce listened patiently as Jason gave him updates, while still monitoring a local pharmacy for any suspicious activity. Although he did not get an invitation to the stakeout, he was grateful that his former Robin did not push him away this time. In spite of having been openly welcomed back into the family, Jason kept his distance, haunted by his past mistakes. He had a hard time accepting their affection, believing he did not deserve it just yet. Knowing that made Bruce’s heart ache.

The last time he saw Jason smiling the way he was now, as if he had not a burden in the world, was before Joker… No. He wanted to tell his son that he was proud of him for having outgrown (most of) his demons, for having become so much more than he gave himself credit for. That he loved him. But there were more pressing matters at the moment. And he did not want to scare him away.  

“… And she and Roy are getting along really well now, which is great! Less headaches for me. Plus, I mean, it’s not like it’s hard to like her, y’know what I mean? She’s pretty, and silly, and – and -”

Jason felt his cheeks turn red. Shut up.

“So, yeah, she’s great,” Jason finished sheepishly. How long was he gushing?  

He cleared his throat before becoming serious once again. If Bruce were at all annoyed by the waste of time, the man sure hid it well. Wait, was he grinning?

Jason slowly ran his hand through his hair, and sighed. “I don’t mind being on the run. I’ve been doing it almost my entire adult life. It’s bad enough that Roy got dragged into it, too. Well, okay, no – he gets half of the blame. But, Ima? I don’t know how I’m supposed to protect her without keeping her a prisoner in that safe house. Her brother gets murdered in cold blood before her own eyes, and she can’t even visit his grave to mourn him. I’m sure she gets lonely, too. And if anything were to happen to me, I don’t know how I’ll be able to -”  

“She can stay.”

“ – keep her… What?”

“At the manor.”

“The manor?”

“Indefinitely.”

Jason was rendered speechless. Just like that?

“I’ll trust her because I trust you, Jason. You’ve always had good instincts, only you used to act brashly upon them.”

“Bruce, I’m -”

“Not that person anymore,” the older man finished for him. “Besides, it could give you an excuse to drop by more often.”

It took Jason all of two seconds trying to process what he had just been told, until the sound of a grappling hook whizzing past him brought him back to reality. The cowl and cape were gone. Classic Bruce.

Oh, the old man had conveniently left the scoping device, too.

“Thanks, B.”

HYPNOTISED: A Jason Todd/Red Hood x OC Fan Fic

Summary: Snippets of a blossoming romance between Jason Tood/Red Hood and an original character (named Ima), with other DC characters in supporting roles. Jason falls for a waitress at a diner he frequents with his best friend, Roy Harper. When she is caught in the crossfire between him and Black Mask, he is determined to protect her at all costs. What he does not expect is her falling for him, too. And how much she becomes a part of his – and the Batfamily’s – life.  

** Not strictly canon. Romance + fluff + minor angst. A lot of Batfamily feels. Title from the Coldplay song. Currently 8 chapters long, each one to be posted separately due to length. Editing may occur, depending on inspiration. 🙂 **

Chapters: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight

Six

As the last drops of cold water seeped into the shower drain, Jason felt the soreness of his muscles go with them. He had gotten into a scuffle with a few teenagers from the Jokerz gang during last night’s patrol. They had hit him with their crowbars. He had scoffed before swiftly incapacitating all five of them, but also felt sorry that such young, impressionable minds chose to follow in the Joker’s footsteps. He stepped out of the shower, taking one last look at the mirror before heading out. Today, he just wanted to clear his head.

Ima had been patiently waiting for him by the kitchen island, Gone With the Wind open on one hand, its pages yellowed and tattered. He must have loved this book. She looked up to smile at him; he gave a small one back. He sat across from her, picking at her omelet with his fingers. “Hey!” she said, swatting at his thieving hand, “Yours is by the stove, Mr. Robbin’ Robin.” He laughed at her wordplay. “But I like yours. I like anything of yours.” If it were not for her chocolate skin, he would have seen the furious blush that crept up her face. Their giggling died down, taken over by an awkward silence. He cleared his throat, and she followed suit, each avoiding the gaze of the other.

Then she leaned over and gently tugged at his white streak of hair. “Hey!” he said mockingly, playfully evading her reach. “Who’s a ‘Robbin’ Robin’ now?” But she did not laugh. Instead, she looked at him with childlike curiosity. She was so beautiful in that moment that it took all of his willpower not to go over to her side, lift her off the chair, and… No.

“Where did this come from?” Her question caught him off guard. His mind scrambled to find a way to divert her attention, but he knew she would not let up unless he answered her. At first he hesitated to tell her the truth, then realized that if he truly wanted to get to know her, she also had to get to know the real him. So, after taking a deep breath, he began telling her the story of his life.          He spared no important detail, from his days as an orphan to his life as Robin and beyond. To his surprise, she did not wince when he came to the supernatural parts or his violent and vengeful past. Instead, she looked at him with sympathy, wiping away a few stray tears he was not aware he was shedding.

She, in turn, told him about how her mother died from a drug overdose and how her father followed shortly, having drowned his sorrows in whiskey bottles. At thirteen, she was left to fend for her nine-year-old brother. They grew so close that she almost treated him like a son. When she had caught the mistress at an orphanage slapping Kai, she escaped with him, vowing to protect him at all costs. They lived off the streets, until she found work at the diner. She once dreamed of becoming a journalist, but neither she nor her brother could afford to finish schooling. She smiled sadly at the memory of Kai and her lost dream.  

It had been cathartic for both of them. And as the sun set, the conversation got lighter. Shared interests. Favorite TV shows. Previous relationships. Future dreams.

If only he could tell her that she was his.                        

HYPNOTISED: A Jason Todd/Red Hood x OC Fan Fic

Summary: Snippets of a blossoming romance between Jason Tood/Red Hood and an original character (named Ima), with other DC characters in supporting roles. Jason falls for a waitress at a diner he frequents with his best friend, Roy Harper. When she is caught in the crossfire between him and Black Mask, he is determined to protect her at all costs. What he does not expect is her falling for him, too. And how much she becomes a part of his – and the Batfamily’s – life.  

** Not strictly canon. Romance + fluff + minor angst. A lot of Batfamily feels. Title from the Coldplay song. Currently 8 chapters long, each one to be posted separately due to length. Editing may occur, depending on inspiration. 🙂 **

Chapters: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight

Five

He could get used to it: domesticity.

Ima adjusted to living with him and Roy a little better each day, and the latter had clearly grown fond of her. “Starfire never cooked this good!” he had exclaimed, mouth full of chakchouka, during one of the rare times all three of them had breakfast together. “Thank you. My bibi taught me how to make it,” she said shyly but with a hint of pride, remembering how her grandmother used to sing as she cooked the traditional African stew. She inherited the habit, and the one time that Jason caught her made her blush furiously.  

The trips to Big Belly Burger during patrol nights were happening less and less, too. Jason savored every packed meal she prepared for him, even the one slathered in shrimp sauce. The EpiPen saved the day, so there was no point telling her what happened. Her bright, warm smiles were a treasured commodity for him and he did not want to give her any reason to replace them with worry lines.

When he came home, she was usually waiting for him, reading one of his books on the couch or kitchen island. She would ask about his day, but not demand an answer, then give him a once over as if to check if all his pieces were intact. He would do the same, even if he knew she had spent the entire day in the safe house.

Playful banter over cups of coffee came easily to them, and her laughter made him dizzy with happiness. But the moments of silence between them were just as soothing. Reassuring. As were their touches, subconscious and instinctive at first, then deliberate and careful, becoming more confident as the days passed.  

Yet he still slept on the couch, even when Ima insisted that she did not mind sharing the bed with him; she trusted him. But what if he could not trust himself with her? He would not tell her that, of course. He would say that he still believed in old-fashioned values, which he did, anyway.

Although, he did make exceptions, such as when the nightmares came and refused to let her sleep. He would lay down beside her, reading her an excerpt from Shakespeare or another of her favorites, until she dozed off. But even then, he would not lay a finger on her. He was content watching her sleep peacefully.  

Sometimes she drove him crazy, grabbing his hand when he least expected it, pulling him into a makeshift dance floor in the living room, which had been cleared of weaponry. Dancing was never in Jason’s repertoire of gravity-defying skills, as he would remind her over and over. But she would always have none of it. She would shush him, quietly place his hand on her waist, pull him closer with one of hers, and hold his other hand with her other one. Any trace of shyness gone. Slow 1940s music. Dim lighting. Dilated pupils. Racing heartbeats. “This was Poppa and Momma’s favorite song.”      

He could get used to this.

HYPNOTISED: A Jason Todd/Red Hood x OC Fan Fic

Summary: Snippets of a blossoming romance between Jason Tood/Red Hood and an original character (named Ima), with other DC characters in supporting roles. Jason falls for a waitress at a diner he frequents with his best friend, Roy Harper. When she is caught in the crossfire between him and Black Mask, he is determined to protect her at all costs. What he does not expect is her falling for him, too. And how much she becomes a part of his – and the Batfamily’s – life.  

** Not strictly canon. Romance + fluff + minor angst. A lot of Batfamily feels. Title from the Coldplay song. Currently 8 chapters long, each one to be posted separately due to length. Editing may occur, depending on inspiration. 🙂 **

Chapters: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight

Four

The sunlight filling the room forced her to open her eyes. How long was she out? In spite of the softness of the bed, her entire body was sore. Spotless white walls. Two traditional Japanese swords overhead. A wall-to-wall bookshelf made of fine wood. A tire with a bat insignia? And beside it, a photo of Batman and Robin… Where was she? She pushed off the fluffy duvet that covered her. She was still wearing her uniform, except it was soiled and parts of it were singed. She wrinkled her nose at the smell of blood, sweat, and soot.  

All her senses were telling her that last night was not a dream. As she stepped onto the carpeted floor, she noticed the Post-it stuck on the bedside lamp. “Breakfast awaits”, followed by a smiley face. She rubbed her arms, feeling a small strip of gauze taped to the underside of her left arm. She peeled it off, revealing a puncture wound that looked suspiciously like one for intravenous fluid infusion. Her reflection on a full length mirror showed her the bandages on her face and other parts of her body. She yawned, straightened out what was left of her clothes, then gingerly walked out of the bedroom. Her stomach grumbled at the scent of freshly made waffles. Her eyes widened at who may have been causing them.  

“Jason?”

“Hey,” Jason said with a bright smile, setting a plated pile of scrumptious-looking waffles on the kitchen island. “I bet you’re hungry. You’ve been out for two days.” He was wearing an apron with “Kiss the Hood” haphazardly sprayed in red onto it (Roy’s idea of a joke). When she did not reply, he continued, “I made waffles. They’re probably not going to be as good as what you guys serve at the diner, I didn’t really have time to go grocery shopping this week, what with the -”  

His ramble was drowned out by the sight of Ima taking in her surroundings. She was a bug-eyed, and he found it adorable. The safe house looked like a bachelor’s pad, with its dark wood paneling and floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooking a lake (underneath which a customized amphibious vehicle designed by no other than Lucius Fox himself was parked). Leather-covered furniture, modern industrial fixtures. All of it concealed the state-of-the-art reinforcements and built-in weaponry (not to mention the safe room within the safe house) to give a homey feel. A bomb could go off at their front door and it would not even make a dent. It was a far cry from the one he and Roy used to operate from when they first started getting clients. But that was in the past; they were working for Batman, Incorporated now. He and Roy were often caught in the crossfire or swept into shady political dealings as guns-for-hire. By employing them, Bruce (and, by extension, Oliver Queen) could keep constant tabs on them. And even if the older man would not admit it out loud, Jason knew he was being protective.  

Ima approached him slowly, and the sway of her hips almost made him drop the batter-covered spatula. He had grown used to seeing her after her shift at the diner, which was just when the sun was about to set. But the morning sun was making her ebony skin glow in a way he was not sure he could ever get used to. Gulp.  

“Where am I?” She said, suddenly light-headed, grabbing a nearby stool to steady herself. Jason quickly caught her by the small of her back and guided her onto the seat.

“In our safe house,” he replied. The safest. Well, second only to Wayne Manor.

“Our?”

“My, um, best friend lives here, too. He’ll be back any minute now.” She had met him before. Sort of.

“I had the strangest dream… I was in a burning building and… the Red Hood rescued me.”

He nervously wiped his hands on his apron and took a seat across from her. Yup, this conversation was happening.  

“Then he took off his mask,” she continued, looking confused, “and it was you.”

There was no point denying it. “It wasn’t a dream, Ima.”

He handed her a glass of water. After taking a sip, she stared at him with a blank expression that made him even more uneasy. What did she think of him now?

She nodded, but more to herself. Yes, Ima. He was that masked vigilante scaring the shit out of criminals in Gotham City. The “dangerous” and “lethal” one that the news warned the citizens about.

“You… saved me.” He nodded silently back.

“The explosion in the warehouse… those scary thugs with guns… m-my… my brother?” She choked out the last part, tears building up in her confused eyes. His heart broke for her. “All of it… happened?”

“Yes… What do you remember exactly?”

“I… I went over to the docks to bring him leftovers from the diner. He called me earlier that day to let me know that he was working late. It wasn’t the first time, but I wanted to surprise him. As – as I was walking toward the warehouse, I heard some men talking about – about -” Horror was clearly reflected in her eyes as the memory flooded back in. “- t-t-taking Kai down… they were going to shoot him, something about him knowing too much… I couldn’t move, I was so scared! Then I felt an arm grab me from behind and drag me into the warehouse…”

“What did you see?” What were her nightmares going to made of?

“A briefcase, two men were shaking hands over it… One of them had a black face. He looked so… evil. He sneered at me when his men dragged me in… asked that they bring me closer, pulled up my skirt…” Black Mask was going to pay. Dearly. “Kai kept begging them to let me go… Wouldn’t even take his share in the loot, he said…” She was staring off into the distance, as if watching the macabre scene playing on an invisible screen. “… then I heard it. My brother’s gasps for air…” A gunshot between the eyebrows. He had tripped over the lifeless body on the ground amid the chaos, recognized him immediately. Ima briefly introduced them months ago. If only he had known then…

Now her eyes were lifeless.

“I-I wanted to run to him, see if he was still b-breathing, but some of the men started yelling that there was an intruder, another one…” That idiotic moment when he and Roy got caught. “Th-there was p-panic, so I bit the arm that was holding me and ran for it…”

She collapsed on the floor, covering her face. “I l-left him there…” He knelt down beside her, enveloping her shivering shoulders. Her sobs were muffled in the firmness of his chest, tears drenching his shirt. “I never suspected a t-thing. I should’ve worked harder so that he didn’t have to take that job at the docks… I should’ve listened more… I should’ve, sh-should’ve -” He caught her slender hand as it pounded on his chest and gently held it. “Hey, hey. None of this was your fault. Kai ran with a bad crowd, but he didn’t deserve what happened to him.” But those who did this to him were going to get what they deserved. He would make sure of it.

As she clutched at him tighter, he could feel her chest heaving violently against his. He knew what it was like to lose the only family you knew, but he also knew that second chances were a thing. The seven missed calls from Oracle was proof enough that family was much more than just sharing DNA. She would get her second chance.    

A text message sent to Roy. Not patrolling tonight. The city could wait.

HYPNOTISED: A Jason Todd/Red Hood x OC Fan Fic

Summary: Snippets of a blossoming romance between Jason Tood/Red Hood and an original character (named Ima), with other DC characters in supporting roles. Jason falls for a waitress at a diner he frequents with his best friend, Roy Harper. When she is caught in the crossfire between him and Black Mask, he is determined to protect her at all costs. What he does not expect is her falling for him, too. And how much she becomes a part of his – and the Batfamily’s – life.  

** Not strictly canon. Romance + fluff + minor angst. A lot of Batfamily feels. Title from the Coldplay song. Currently 10 chapters long, each one to be posted separately due to length. Editing may occur, depending on inspiration. 🙂 **

Chapters: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight

Three

“Nah. Non. Nein. Net. And for the last time, no.” Roy was rarely this firm with his decisions. This was serious. (Also, he knew that many languages?)

It had been two days since the warehouse incident. Once Jason and Ima had gotten out of the warehouse, comm signal had improved drastically. He contacted Roy immediately, telling him to rendezvous with Batwing at a secure location. They were to deliver the briefcase to an off-shore branch of S.T.A.R. Laboratories. By the time the paramedics arrived on scene, he had strapped Ima behind him on the back of his motorcycle, doing his best to be gentle. She was unconscious and bruised, but otherwise stable. The safe house had enough equipment to deal with injuries ten times worse than what she sustained, and he was focused on getting her out of there as soon as possible. As he was about to speed them off, he heard Roy’s voice over the comm a last time. “You gonna be good, Jay? Because if you don’t make it out of there alive, I’m gonna have to kill you.” He would never admit it out loud, but the concern in Roy’s tone was reassuring. He grinned under his helmet. His best friend always had his back.  

But maybe just not today.

"Roy -”

“That waitress from that dump of a diner?! Two days, two days, and you couldn’t even send me a text that you were having a little slumber party??” The accusatory finger was dangerously close to Jason’s chest. On another day, that would have warranted a breaking of bones, but he was admittedly at fault for not giving Roy a heads up.

“Her name’s Ima. And I would’ve introduced you two the last time we saw her, but you were upset -”

It indeed had been the last time he saw her. At least until the incident at the warehouse. Neither of them suggested that they exchange numbers. Accidentally crossing paths was good enough, it seemed. Well, that wasn’t completely true. He had his way of knowing where she would be and when. But he had not anticipated the warehouse incident. At the diner, at the Wayne Foundation library, on a crowded street. It didn’t have to get any more complicated than that. Yet.

Besides, he had been caught up in dealings with criminal overlords as undercover work for Batman, Incorporated. He saw it as a good opportunity to close in on Black Mask. And as much as he itched to be with her, he could not put her in harm’s way. She did it herself, he thought bitterly. The irony.

Jason Todd did not do dates, or relationships, or coming home to someone, or growing old with someone. The last woman he felt strongly for was a mother who betrayed him. With everything that had happened to him after the Lazarus Pit, distrust and guilt continued to plague him. He still felt that he had to earn love.    

“Yeah, well, nothing’s changed there! So, don’t you for one second think that I forgot about how she almost ruined our friendship! I can’t believe you just -”

“Will you please keep it down? She’s still asleep -” Way too much drama for 2:30 AM.

“- brought her into the safe house! Our safe house! Not a hospital, or a precinct, or a dumpster -”

“Roy, why the heck would I leave her in a dumpster?” 

”- but in the one place we keep hidden from everyone else -“

"Nightwing and Red Robin crash here, like, every other week -”

“- so that bloodthirsty d-bags like Black Mask wouldn’t have our asses handed to us so freakin’ easily!”

“Will you please…” Jason began rubbing circles on his temples. No mediation technique from the All Caste could quell the headache that was building up. They had been going at it for almost an hour and the worst part was that Roy had a point.  

“You have any idea what the cops would do to us if they found out we were harboring a potential state witness? Dude, I don’t know about you, but I’m kinda enjoying being on their good side for once. A ‘working relationship’ with the cops, Jay. How may vigilantes do you know can brag about that?” He held up a hand, “And before you say Batman -”  

"It’s not safe for her. We don’t know which cops are on Roman’s payroll. Besides, we can probably ask my old man to have a word with Gordon if it came down to it.”

“Yeah, because Daddy Bats gives in to all your demands, right?” Roy scoffed, reminding Jason of his precarious standing with his adoptive father. “In case you didn’t know, the role of irresponsible, overly trusting crime-fighter has already been taken. By me. You’re supposed to be the level-headed one in this safe house, Jason.” Full name. This really was serious. “Safe house? Should we even call it that anymore -”

“Just shut. Up. Roy. Please.”

The finality in Jason’s tone made the tirade stop. A soft thump indicated that Roy had slumped down on the giant beanbag across from the couch he sat on.

“Look,” Jason said, resigned, “None of this is… ideal. And I’m so sorry for dragging you into this. You have every right to be angry with me. You’re one of the few people I trust with my life, but I guess I wasn’t ready to talk about this thing Ima and I have -” This thing? “…If it’s anything to begin with, that is. It’s… new territory to me, man.”

It was his turn to stand up and pace, running his hands over the back of his neck. “When you and Starfire started dating, you two could barely look me in the eye every time I caught you alone together.” He paused and looked over at Roy, whose arms were crossed, but now had a softened facial expression, as if in contemplation.

“That kind of relationship was new to both of you. And it was so mind-blowing-ly amazing that it took you a while to process it. Your words. Now, Kory, she’s one of us. She understands what this life,” he said, gesturing to their surroundings, where high-tech gadgets and weapons sat in plain view, “entails. We’ve lost count of the battles she’s fought alongside us. Gangs. Magicians. Aliens. She gets it. But, Ima…”

He paused, saddened by what he was about to say. “This isn’t her world. She was once a street rat just like me. An orphan just like me, let down by the system. Except no one like Bruce came along to offer her a better life. She works herself to the bone for a measly salary, being felt up by jerks twice her size as she fetches them coffee, just so she and her younger brother wouldn’t be out on the streets. Her eyes would light up every time she talked about him. And now he’s gone…

“She never mentioned that he was working for Black Mask. As far as she knew, he worked at the docks. I’d never gotten around to mentioning to her that I was Red Hood, either. The same way I kept putting off telling any of you about her. It’s not that I didn’t trust you. I just… wanted to keep her out of this world of ours. To keep seeing her smile in spite of the weight of everything she’s already been through. She’s become my world outside of this one.”    

Roy stayed silent. He had not moved since Jason started his heartfelt confession.    

“Right now, she needs my help,” Jason continued. I know I’m not being myself, trusting someone this easily. But she’s not just someone to me anymore. And she needs someone to trust, too.” He headed to his room, to check up on Ima, who was snoring lightly on his queen-sized bed. He did not mind sleeping on the couch for a few days if it meant giving her a little comfort. “I’m not asking for your help. You don’t deserve any more burden from me. All I’m asking for is a little patience until I figure out how to keep her safe.”  

And just as he was about to enter the room, he heard Roy stand up behind him. “You’re an asshole, Jaybird.”

"Yep,” Jason sighed. “Glad we got that covered.”

“An asshole who’ll need my help.”

HYPNOTISED: A Jason Todd/Red Hood x OC Fan Fic

Summary: Snippets of a blossoming romance between Jason Tood/Red Hood and an original character (named Ima), with other DC characters in supporting roles. Jason falls for a waitress at a diner he frequents with his best friend, Roy Harper. When she is caught in the crossfire between him and Black Mask, he is determined to protect her at all costs. What he does not expect is her falling for him, too. And how much she becomes a part of his – and the Batfamily’s – life.  

** Not strictly canon. Romance + fluff + minor angst. A lot of Batfamily feels. Title from the Coldplay song. Currently 8 chapters long, each one to be posted separately due to length. Editing may occur, depending on inspiration. 🙂 **

Chapters: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight

Two

Two months ago…

“Anything else?”

He was trying to say “a cup of coffee to go”, but nothing came out. He had ordered the waffles for him and Roy just fine, until he looked up to see… her.

Ima Jiwe.

Two finger snaps. A throat clearing.

“I told her you wanted a cup of coffee to go. You ‘kay, Jay?”

The waitress was gone.

“Um, yeah,” Jason replied, sheepishly. “Thanks.“ 

"Duuuuude,” Roy said, slapping him on the chest from across the table. “You have got it baaaaad for her.” 

Jason swatted his arm away. There was no point denying it now. When he was not busy doing idiotic things, his partner was good at reading people. Or, maybe he was just that obvious?  

“Why don’t you just ask her out, man? That puppy dog expression you have every time she passes by our table started out cute, but now it’s just downright pathetic. Plus, you keep insisting that we eat at this dump, and I’m pretty sure it ain’t for their world class instant cups of Joe.”  

"Their waffles are pretty good,” he replied dryly, trying to change the subject. “Blueberry. Yum.”

"Whatever. Just admit it. You come here for the view,” Roy said, wagging his eyebrows. He watched as Ima served coffee to an old couple two booths away from them. “I have to say, it ain’t bad. Not bad at all.”

Jason rolled his eyes. “And her voice. And he way her hips swing when a Temptations song is on,” he muttered.

"What was that?" 

“There’s something… special about her, Roy.” He sighed. “Like sunshine on a cloudy day. Or, you know, whatever,” he said, eyes trained on the piece of tissue he was folding into a swan. Did he just quote a Temptations song? The things she made him do.

"Ha! Sunshine, your green spandex-covered butt! I always took you as more of a night prowler.”

“Thanks for making me sound like a creep,” he laughed. “She may seem like the quiet type at first. But, man, the things that come out of her mouth? Funny as heck. She’s smart, too. Like, really smart. And classy. Plus, she’s really into books. And not just any kind. The classics, Roy! I mean, you’ve seen my shelves at home. She quoted Art of War once, out of nowhere. Art. Of. War. Come on!” He could barely contain his giddiness at the memory.

"And you know all this because…?”

At seeing Roy’s confused expression, Jason felt guilt gnaw at his insides.

“Wekindaalreadydo,well,youknow,hangoutsometimes.” He spoke so quickly that Roy assumed only The Flash could understand it.  

"Excuse me?”

“We, um, hang out sometimes,” he repeated at normal speed. Before Roy could open his mouth to respond, he held up his hands in mock defense. “Only when, you know, we’re not out on patrol, or on a case, or…” He trailed off. Obviously.

“How long has this been going on?”

“Five, maybe, s-six weeks.” Roy rarely used such cold tone with him and it was making him a little nervous.

"Huh,” Roy said simply, crossing his arms. “Six weeks. You mean those weeks I kept asking you to hang out with me? Practically begging you to? You kept telling me that you were headed to the manor for some ‘family bonding time’,” he said, emphasizing the last three words with air quotations marks. “Man, was I such a meathead for believing you. I mean, it was just too damn weird to be true, right? But I did anyway.” He jabbed his finger accusingly at Jason’s chest. “Because you. Said. So.”

In his anger, the redhead’s trucker cap fell under the table. Jason picked it up and dusted if off, using the moment to calm his own nerves. It was hard talking to Roy when he got this way. They were causing a scene.

"Roy, we weren’t exactly on the best of terms. It wasn’t like you were answering any of my calls either – ”

“Did you know that I almost relapsed because I felt so alone? That Oliver kicked me out again?” he said, slamming his fist on the table, startling a mother and a little girl behind them, “All the while, my best friend in the entire world was off playing house with some chick he just met and wouldn’t even bother to tell me about it, you lying sack of -”

Before Roy could finish the thought, Ima showed up at their table carrying a couple of paper bags, a concerned look on her face. “Hey, is everything alright? Some of the customers overheard raised voices -”  

“E-everything’s fine,” Jason said, trying his best to sound casual, while Roy continued to scowl.

“Okay, then,” she replied cautiously, looking back and forth between them. “So, the ham and egg sandwich are in this bag, and the waffles are in the other one. I added more blueberries when Mrs. Cobb wasn’t looking. I know how much you like them,” she said, giving Jason a wink and handing them their takeout.

Roy chuckled sarcastically. “Cute.”  

“Roy,” Jason said warningly.  

“And, of course, the Joe for the road,” she finished, handing Jason the steaming cup.

“Thank you.”

“So, this is goodbye again, huh? Off to a new adventure?” Jason did not miss the sudden shyness in her voice, or the way her eyes looked anywhere but at him.    

“Something like that, yeah,” he replied, grinning.  

“Well, don’t be a stranger.”

 “I’ll do my best.”

He stood up, scratching the back of his neck, and leaned in a little closer to her. “Hey, um…”

Roy obnoxiously cleared his throat, getting both their attentions.    

“Bye, Jason.”

He watched as her tiny frame walked – no, swayed – away, like she did in his dreams. 

HYPNOTISED: A Jason Todd/Red Hood x OC Fan Fic

Summary: Snippets of a blossoming romance between Jason Tood/Red Hood and an original character (named Ima), with other DC characters in supporting roles. Jason falls for a waitress at a diner he frequents with his best friend, Roy Harper. When she is caught in the crossfire between him and Black Mask, he is determined to protect her at all costs. What he does not expect is her falling for him, too. And how much she becomes a part of his – and the Batfamily’s – life.  

** Not strictly canon. Romance + fluff + minor angst. A lot of Batfamily feels. Title from the Coldplay song. Currently 8 chapters long, each one to be posted separately due to length. Editing may occur, depending on inspiration. 🙂 **

Chapters: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight

Now I’m hyp- hypnotised

Yeah, I trip, when I look in your eyes

Oh, I’m hyp- hypnotised

Yeah, I slip and I’m mesmerized


Now I’m hyp- hypnotised

Yeah, I lift to a permanent hight

Oh, I’m hyp- hypnotised

It was dark

Not it’s sunrise

One

In and out. That was the original plan, a simple extraction mission.

Word had gotten out that an exchange between Black Mask and a Russian mob boss was going to take place at an abandoned warehouse by the Gotham Bay docks: a billion and a half dollars for a briefcase that contained a classified Kryptonian substance that could be weaponized, and in evil hands, possibly set off a third World War.  

It was no surprise that Black Mask and his crew had not thought twice about doing the exchange in an unsecured location. It was an open secret that Gotham’s finest, save for Commissioner Gordon and a few others, would turn a blind eye. After all, they had the criminal to thank for their overseas vacations and fancy cars.

Preoccupied with mentoring a new Justice League of America, Batman put Red Hood up to the task. Arsenal was only too happy to be part of the action. “Just like old times, Jaybird!” the former Green Arrow sidekick had exclaimed. Though it had already been a year since the two Heroes-for-Hire disbanded over “professional differences”, they picked up where they left off easily. In spite of their constant bickering, they grounded each other and worked efficiently as a duo. (Plus, they both secretly missed the banter.)

The plan was to slip past the guards and into the container truck. After getting a hold of the briefcase, they were to evacuate immediately before alerting the cops of the exchange. “By taking the briefcase out of the picture first,” Bruce had explained, “we remove any leverage Black Mask has over us and keep the substance out of GCPD’s reach. I’ll explain everything to Jim when this is over. But for now, we can’t afford any slip-ups.”

But, clearly, life had other plans for Jason that day. When one of the guards he had beaten up begged him for mercy, he begrudgingly relented. Then, the second he turned his back, he heard radio static from the man’s chest pocket; the others were alerted of the hostile take over. He almost regretted his self-restraint, internally cursing at Bruce for showing him the high road. The Russians panicked and opened fire. Chaos ensued.      

So, there he was, just a fifteen minutes in, already running in zigzag lines to evade scorching flames and falling debris. His body was trying to keep up with his mind as he outweighed the risks of each potential exit route. Black Mask had ordered his men to burn down the warehouse, trapping him, Roy, the Russians, and whoever else was left.  

“Uh, Jaybird? I think this is our cue to go. Like any. Second. NOW,” Roy yelled, watching steel beams crash around them. He was down to two trick arrows that were of no use to the situation at hand. And unless they had some sort of deus ex machina, their only option for survival was to make a run for it. Roy went ahead, clearing a path for his best friend to run through.

Jason was about to follow when he heard a whimper behind some oil drums. “Gimme a sec, Roy!” Did he imagine it? Did someone need help? He crept towards the sound, both revolvers cocked just in case he was wrong. He could make out a silhouette with soft curves. A woman? Taking a deep breath, he quickly grabbed her from behind, stifling her scream.

"I’m not gonna hurt you,” he whispered to her ear. Unless she made him. He turned her to face him, and his breath got caught in his throat. The deep hazel eyes, the full brown lips, and the smooth ebony skin that haunted his dreams… now covered in soot. What was she doing here?

He would get his answers later. He slowly uncovered her mouth. She stared at him with wide eyes, clearly petrified. Then, as if she regained her senses, pounded her fists on the graphene-plated symbol on his chest. He winced, knowing that it physically hurt her more than it did him.

He held her close, dodging falling debris as he ran them towards the only opening in sight. Almost tripping over a fallen cargo box, he heard an explosion. The oil drums. He let go of a breath he did not realize he had been holding.

Roy was nowhere to be seen, and Jason hoped desperately that he had already made it out in one piece.  

"Let me go! Ugh!” she shrieked, kicking at him. If it was not for his reinforced codpiece (Dick’s idea), he would have been wailing in pain on the ground. He dragged her behind a post, just inches away from a falling block of charred wood.

The more she struggled, the harder it was for him to sprint them towards the nearest exit. There was no way he was leaving without her. But if they were to make it out of there alive, she had to calm down. And he realized that an emotionless mask with a voice modifier was less than comforting. A desperate time, a desperate measure. With a press of a button at the base, his helmet unlocked. Pfffttttzzz. “Let me try that again,” he said softly, cupping her cheeks, “I’m not gonna hurt you.” The sound of his real voice must have calmed her down because he could feel the tension leaving her body.

He could hear the sirens from a distance rushing towards the blazing warehouse.    

“Jason…,” she coughed out, before passing out in his arms.

“the biggest heart of all”

Damian: “… Add that to the pile of rookie mistakes I’ve been making.”

Oliver: “Eh, go easy on yourself, kiddo. We were all new once. And you’re training under him. That’s like jumping into the deep end of the ocean.”

D: “Bat – the boss doesn’t seem very happy with me.”

O: “Hmm. Not talking much. Acting grumpy.”

D: “Yeah.”

O: “That’s just the way he is. Green Lantern took him to a theme planet once. The whole planet, one big amusement park. I asked him how it was, you know what he said? [in Batman’s voice] ‘Enjoyable.’ That’s it!”

D: “Because he doesn’t care…”

O: “Wrong. It’s the opposite. Underneath, he cares more than any of us. He has the biggest heart of all. That’s why he has to hide it so well.”

From “Batman Unlimited: Mech Vs. Mutants”