#canonical past talia x jason mention

[redhoodscorvid]

We Decide Jason's Under The Red Hood Characterization AU

He could still taste his failure to kill the Joker. It lingered long after Talia's perfume faded, metallic like gasoline and blood at the back of his mouth. Or maybe that was just the scent of the docks in Gotham. Even odds, really.

Jason threw his extremely normal duffel bag full of dirty clothes and toiletries over his shoulder and breathed in the sour-metallic odor of Gotham's harbor. He chuckled, almost embarrassed for his past self. Two years ago, he had stumbled out of a Lazarus Pit and immediately tried to kill Batman. He had spent ages killing time—and worthy scumbags—until he finally went after his murderer, the man who took him away from Bruce.

Of course Jason hadn't been able to kill the fucker. He'd realized at the very moment he was holding the lighter that he needed the three of them together. That the problem wouldn't be solved until Bruce chose to cut the Gordion knot tying all of their fates to each other.

A light flashed twice from the dark water, and Jason climbed down the ladder hanging off starboard.

"Home sweet freaking home, huh?" said the crewman who was climbing down after him. The man, Larry Stemworth, ran a small trade in illicit goods and helped his overworked crewmates get amphetamines they probably shouldn't be taking, but that was standard fare out here. "I'm almost happy we're shipping out too quick to get shore leave."

"You getting enough time off ship for a smoke, even?" Jason asked. "Or has ownership written off the whole damn city as a health and safety issue?"

Stemworth laughed. "Don't worry about me, kid. But look in on my niece if you get a chance, ok? And don't get stabbed."

They waited, and a tiny speck of a boat pulled up alongside the monstrous cargo ship. Jason jumped down easily, and helped the crew toss a backpack up to Stemworth. Money changed hands, and Jason was in Gotham.