[OPEN/CLOSED] A Robin came a-knockin’

[robintohood]

Who: Jason Todd robintohood and you
What: Jason’s been deaged back to his early Robin years. Antics ensue. Also contains one special closed prompt
When: January 3rd-4thish, during the age swap event
Where: Central City
Content Warnings: None for now. Will edit if needed.

[Somewhere in Central City is a small boy in a red, yellow, and green costume. It’s hard to forget someone in a colorful suit like that.

That is, assuming you can catch a good enough look at him. He’s effortlessly using his grappling gun and parkour skills to swing around and jump rooftops. You might see him as he tries to get a lay of the land.

Alternatively, you might see him fearlessly (or recklessly, depending on how you look at it) pounce right on top of a would-be armed mugger. He might not know where he is but that doesn’t mean he’s going to stop fighting crime. It’s what any good sidekick would do.]

Attic Safehouse above the Descendant Bar (Closed to people who use the safehouse)

[Later that night, Robin is exhausted but isn’t ready to trust just any place to rest for the night. For now, he’s just perched on top of the Descendant, near the attic window]

Comments

[robintohood]

Jason looks at the video. Well, that looks like Batman at least. Still, he doesn't seem impressed.

"That's just a thing he does with his cape sometimes," he says, nonchalantly.

[atypical_echo]

"It's a meme here," Mark counters. "But seriously, is this dude responsible for getting you do this this?"

because this is DEFINITELY not safe for kids.

[robintohood]

Jason just barely stops himself from rolling his eyes. It's only because it's better to have innocent civilians with him than against him that Jason's trying to keep a veneer of calm. He's really not liking the negative judgement towards his adoptive father though.

"No one forces me to do anything," Jason says, still sounding unconcerned. And it's true. Jason chose to be Robin. Bruce never forced him to take on the mantle.

[atypical_echo]

"How old are you?" Mark asked, and he definitely looked concerned.

[robintohood]

"Old enough to know better," Jason says with a smirk and without missing a beat.

[atypical_echo]

"Then why are you out doing this," Mark insisted. "What did this Batman guy do to get you into so much danger?"

[robintohood]

Now Jason can't help but roll his eyes in annoyance.

"Why does any hero do this work? I just said no one forces me to do anything," he replies. "And by the way, you're welcome."

[atypical_echo]

"Usually they're old enough to understand what they're doing," Mark said. "And to choose to put their lives at risk."

And he doesn't know what to do with the idea that a kid would.'

[robintohood]

"Yeah, I know," Jason says in a chipper tone. He's not deterred by Mark's doubts. "Not just anyone can do this."

[atypical_echo]

Damn, this kid doesn't get it.

"You should go home."

[robintohood]

Jason fights down the urge to roll his eyes again. He already got out one snarky comment today.

"When I'm ready. Do you need anything else?" he says.

[atypical_echo]

He's going to get hurt, and Mark can't even begin to stop him.

"I need you to be safe but you're not going to listen about that are you?"

[robintohood]

"Look, not just anyone can be Robin. You gotta have something special to handle the dangers without fear. And even then, you gotta be trained too," Jason says in a tone still too casual for the seriousness of the topic. "I get you're worried because I look like a tiny kid in a funny suit but there's more to it than that."

[atypical_echo]

"And this 'Batman' trained you? TO fight criminals? When you're ten?"

That seems mighty suspicious.

[robintohood]

Technically, Jason's 12 but Mark doesn't need to know that. Plus, Jason's small for his age so it's easy to mistake him for younger.

"Ha! I was already kicking butt even before then," Jason grins.

His voice is full of hubris but he's not really lying either. He's had to dodge or fight to survive before he met Bruce.

[atypical_echo]

That's not good to hear.

"And you have a home to go back to? Somewhere safe?"

[robintohood]

"Yeah. Why wouldn't I?" Jason replies.

It's a rhetorical question as he feels Mark should already know he's already got a good home.

[atypical_echo]

"I'm just trying to make sure. Like... It's just something kids need."

And that's the best he can hope for. The best anyone can hope for.

[robintohood]

Jason's expression becomes more serious.

"I get what you're trying to do and you probably won't believe me anyway but there are a lot more kids in much worse shape than me," he says.

Jason will never forever what it's like to be living in a dysfunctional home nor what it's like to be homeless. When Bruce took him in, he saved his life.

[atypical_echo]

"Yeah, there probably are. But that doesn't mean that a lot of people would be really okay with the idea of a kid putting their life on the line," Mark counters. So it's not like Robin's fully covered that way.

[robintohood]

"You still don't get it. How many times do I have to say it? No one forces me into anything," Jason says. "Kids are a lot smarter than you think."

Part of Jason wants to just leave while another wants to keep arguing and defend his adoptive father. It's getting more difficult to keep his temper in check as well.

[atypical_echo]

They probably are, but that doesn't mean they can really fathom the idea of death and danger.

"I'm less worried about you being forced, and more worried that someone will hurt you, maybe to get at this Batman guy you hand out with. I'm scared of that."

[robintohood]

"It's worth the risk. Plus, you haven't seen Batman in action," Jason says, unperturbed by Mark's words.

As the sounds of police sirens get closer, Jason gets out his grappling gun.

"Anyway, hope you run into more muggers."

[atypical_echo]

Mark sighs and shakes his head. Somehow he has to think this kid doesn't get how dangerous what he's doing is.

"Be careful. Please."

Pretend I wrote "don't run into" in the previous tag

[robintohood]

Jason remains unperturbed. He aims his grappling gun at a nearby rooftop, fires it, and swings up to it, leaving Mark alone.