Will the real Selina Kyle please stand up? Chapter 9 : Jason Todd

Jason still had nightmares. Not every night, though. Over the years they had become more and more sporadic. Now, they usually occured after he had witnessed something truly horrific while working on a case. Especially if it was child abuse. In his sleep he would often be dragged back to that time in his life when he felt as though he was falling into a bottomless chasm, completely powerless to stop. He was able to deal with the monsters who invaded his sleep by himself. But on this night, after having seen the third degree burns left on the little girl by her own father, Jason felt the need for human contact. He had been momentarily stunned when he saw the child's injuries, even as Catwoman kicked the life out of the "father" and his buddies. It brought back some memories that he wasn't keen on reliving. One of his mom's many "boyfriends" putting out his cigarettes on Jason's skin. He snapped out of it when Catwoman told him to get the kid out of there.

He finally picked up his cell phone and decided that's exactly who he needed to talk to. Catwoman. Aka Selina Kyle. Simultaneously a notorious criminal and a crime fighter, his father's lover and the closest thing Jason had ever had to a mother figure. He was almost embarrassed as he speed dialed her. He was a grown ass man, for fuck's sake! Not some little boy who needed mommy to comfort him. And yet, comforting him was something Selina had down to a science. He had always marveled at the way she knew exactly what he was feeling. And what he needed to hear.

Selina picked up in just two rings, suggesting she was still awake even at this hour.

"Hey! What's going on"? She asked
"You're still up?" Jason tried to sound nonchalant.

"Yeah, I couldn't sleep. I decided to go to the hospital and just check on Angela. Her burns are pretty bad, but Lealie says she'll pull through. She's a very strong girl."

Jason felt his eyes moisten at the mention of the child's name. He wondered what kind of a man would do that to his own daughter. But given his own childhood, he could answer that question very easily. And so could Selina Kyle.

"The shit stain who did this to her...." Jason could feel his anger rising even as he said the words.

".....will get exactly what's coming to him" Selina spoke before he had a chance to finish. "And as I said, Angela will pull through. You're the one I'm worried about Jason. Talk to me. Is it those dreams again?"

Jason smiled in spite of the way he was feeling. She always knew.

"Yeah....its been a while since I last had it. Somehow.... I feel like that's worse. Because.... you know...."

"If you had the dream often, you'd know it was just a dream. You wouldn't feel like you were back there again. You'd be able to count on waking up."

She always knew.

"You're good." Jason tried to chuckle, but it came out sounding fake.

"You did something wonderful tonight Jason. You saved an innocent child from who knows what. When she recovers, she's going to be in good hands. Thats because of you. You're doing fine, kid. Now go to sleep."

And just like that, Jason felt the vice grip of pain begin to loosen. Her words always seemed to have that effect.

"Thanks" he said with a genuine smile on his face "So I guess I'll see you at the manor tomorrow, for movie night."

"Yeah, I'll meet you there after picking up Bruce from the airport."

"Great. See ya!"

Jason got back in bed and tried to sleep. His mind however, took him back to that very first time that Selina had comforted him. He had gotten into a scuffle with some of the "posh" kids at school. For a while he was able to abide by Bruce's guidelines of not showing any reaction, of not giving them the satisfaction. But then those boys made a huge mistake. They started calling Jason a street rat, making fun of him for having to live in rundown old buildings. Jason had rewarded their insults with bruises that would last at least a week.

As expected, Bruce was pissed. Alfred tried to talk some sense into both of them as they argued. Bruce trying to convince Jason that what he did was wrong. Jadon trying to convince Bruce that what he did was the only way those high society brats could be dealth with.
And that's when she walked into the Wayne Manor's study. Jason wasn't exactly glad to see Selina. In the four months that he had known her, he had found her quite superficial and thought she was a bit of a snob. What really irked him was the way Bruce went ga-ga over her. He was Batman! But around this woman, he acted like this love struck teen. It was even worse when she was in her Catwoman suit.

Over Bruce's voice, Jason could hear Alfred explain to her what was going on. He did not like being embarrassed in front of this woman.

"What are you berating him for?" Selina suddenly asked Bruce rather sternly, catching both him and Jason off guard.

"Do I need to remind you of the time you punched Sal Maroni's nephew and broke his jaw when he insulted Alfred? As Bruce Wayne, by the way, not as Batman."

"WHOA!! Really?" Jason exclaimed, suddenly very interested in what Selina had to say.

"Not now, Selina...." Bruce had just opened his mouth when he was silenced again.

"Jason only did what you did all those years ago. He defended the honor of someone he loves."

"Selina please..." Bruce began to rub his brow. Selina ignored him and addressed Jason instead.

"You look like you can use some junk food, little bird. How about I take you out for burgers?"

Jason hesitated.

"I'll tell you all about your dad punching Maroni's nephew."

Jason considered this. He wasn't exactly a fan of Selina but getting burgers with her sure as hell beat being lectured by Bruce.

"Ok, let's go." He said, brightening up a little.

Jason sat across Selina as they ate their burgers at "Pete's" - a family owned restaurant in the East End. It was actually a pretty nice place. The burgers were the best Jason had ever had and the staff was friendly. They seemed to know Selina.

"So, about the night your dad defended Alfred's honour...." Selina began and Jason was all ears.

"It was at this society event, a fundraiser I think. The entire Maroni clan was there. Benjamin Maroni, Salvatore's nephew was usually a dick. He was even more of a dick when drunk. And on this night he was drinking like it was going out of fashion. Bruce was talking to someone when a tipsy Ben bumped into him. Bruce was actually nice to him at first and asked if he was ok. But Ben, being the extra large idiot that he was decided to shove Bruce and told him to fuck off. Well, at least he tried to, but since Bruce is a wall of muscle and Ben was scrawny, Ben only ended up sliding backwards."

"Ha! No way" Jason said between munches, genuinely enjoying the food and the story Selina was telling him.

"Yeah, anyway. One thing led to another and Ben made the catastrophic mistake of insulting Alfred. I think he called him something like "the wrinkly old nanny your parents left behind".

"Shit!" Jason exclaimed, then remembered what Alfred had said about swearing at the table and said "umm...sorry".

"Haha! Don't worry. I won't tell." Selina assured him.

"Anyway, so as you can guess, Bruce lost it and punched him square in the jaw. So hard that Ben actually did a 360° turn on the smooth marble floor. It was hilarious."

Jason laughed, imagining the whole scene.

"Later we found out that his jaw was dislocated. Now Jason, I didn't tell you this story to make you think that just going around hitting people who piss you off is ok. Your dad wants you to keep your anger under control and he's right. But with some assholes who dont know what basic decency is, you just need to put them in their place. And if you need to use your fists for that, well fine. Just make sure you're smart enough to not get in trouble for it."

Jason nodded. He was starting to like Selina.

"I can keep my anger in check. I just get this angry when they..."

"When they make fun of your life on the streets." Selina finished his sentence.

"Yeah. How did you know?"

"Because when I was a kid and was training under Wildcat, some of his other pupils made fun of me for being homeless too."

"You lived on the street?" Jason asked, genuinely surprised.

"Yes, after my parents died I had nowhere to go. I spent some time in an orphanage, but i don't need to tell you how scummy those places can be." Selina now spoke in a more serious tone.

"Yeah..I know"

"I know what kind of a live you had before you met Bruce. I've lived that life myself and I know it's not easy" she looked straight into Jason's eyes, her gaze was gentle, yet deep and penetrating, "but now you have a father like Bruce who will make sure you always have the best of everything. Education, training, you make it. You have a real opportunity to do something great. Don't let a bunch of rich brats get into your head."

"So, what? I shouldn't fight for honour?"
Jadon asked, confused.

"I didn't say that. I said, don't get in trouble for it. Don't give your enemies any ammunition that they can use against you." Selina replied with an impish smile. Jason nodded, finally understanding.

During the drive back to the Manor, Selina and Jason talked about many things, including Bruce. Jason laughed hysterically as Selina imitated him. And just like that she was now on the list of people he liked.

Catwoman accompanied Batman and Robin on several missions. Often she would just show up out of nowhere when they needed help. On several occasions she had saved Jason from gunfire.

She and Jason would go to the burger place on a regular basis. Jason genuinely looked forward to these dates and would often spill his heart to Selina. He would tell her all about his struggles while living on the mean streets of Gotham. He told her things he didn't feel comfortable telling Bruce or even Alfred, such as having to steal food to stay alive. Jason could even cry in front of her when the memories of his past overwhelmed him. And Selina always understood. He was beginning to see why Dick and Alfred liked her and why Bruce loved her so much. As he grew older he started regarding her as the mother he had never had. The five of them Bruce, Selina, Alfred, Dick and Jason were like one wierd but happy family.

The joyful three years sped by a bit too quickly, before Jason's happiness was violently snatched from him. He was betrayed by his own mother, killed by the Joker and then resurrected by a miracle.

He spent several years recovering, processing what had been done to him and training. Talia al Ghul did provide the funds for it, along with some comfort, but it soon became apparent that she saw Jason as a connection to her "beloved". Jason wanted no part of this twisted idea of love Talia offered. He had other priorities. He needed to confront Bruce.

A part of Jason had gone numb when he found out that Batman had found a new Robin only a year after his death. How could Bruce do that? Just replace him. Is that how disposable Jason was to the man he once called his father? All this hurt, this anger, combined with the years of brutal training he had undergone propelled his rise as the Red Hood. A symbol of terror for the underworld. The kind of terror the Batman himself couldn't be, as the Red Hood did not hesitate in taking their lives.

So uncontrollable was Jason's rage that he even began going after Batman's allies. He attacked Tim Drake, the new Robin, at a time when he knew Batman would be otherwise occupied. For daring to take his place in Bruce's heart. However, he had not considered someone else coming to the boy's aid. Catwoman.

Her whip seemed to materialise out of thin air and wrapped around his forearm as he was about to punch Tim's lights out.

"Robin, get out of here!" She told Tim, who protested at first but she convinced him it would be better to leave her alone with their new adversary.

"Get out of my way Selina." Jason spoke in a cold and unfeeling tone to the woman he had once loved.

"Or what? You'll beat the hell out of me too? Maybe kill me to send a message to Batman? You can try."

"CATWOMAN! GET AWAY FROM ME!!" Jason yelled, using his anger to disguise the pain he felt awakening in his heart.

"Your father has already lost so much. And now you're going to take away what he has left? Is that it? Will punishing him for what Joker did to you make it all better?"

"HE LET ME DIE!!! THEN HE FUCKING REPLACED ME!!" Jason screamed, now feeling tears sting his eyes.

"AND IT SAVED HIM!! His relationship with Tim ultimately saved him. Because when you died, a part of him died with you, Jason." Selina said, approaching him. She tentatively placed a hand on his shoulder and continued "He punished himself. He tortured himself every single hour because he couldn't live with the knowledge that his son died on his watch."

"Don't....don't touch me.." Jason said, trying to push her away and struggling not to sob and trying to look away from her. But Selina didn't step away. She was going to tell him the truth. Lay bare all the fact before him, just as she had done so many times before.

"He shut everyone out. He wouldn't even let me help him and our relationship ended. I had to walk away from him because I couldn't watch him destroy himself." She spoke as her eyes swam in her tears.

Jason looked at her on hearing that she and Bruce were no longer together.

"Jason you have no idea what losing you did to him. Please! Please I'm begging you. Don't make him suffer any more." Selina said through her sobs, holding Jason's hand in her own "please Jason, I can't see him in pain anymore. Please talk to him. He knows everything you've been through. He wants to help you. He loves you Jason. More than you'll ever know."

Jason was crying openly now as he slid against the parapet "He let me die! He let me die!"

Selina held the young man in her arms just as she had done when he was a boy. Jason cried in her embrace, silently conveying to her all the torments life had inflicted upon him, just as he had done years ago.

The moment only lasted a few minutes before Red Hood picked himself up and walked away. Away from his mother, away from the love he had sworn he would never allow himself to feel. But it wasn't long before he would see her again.

Few nights later Catwoman found the Red Hood on a roof top on the East End. And not just any rooftop. It was the rooftop of the building that housed Pete's - the best burger joint in Gotham. She swung over to him and the first thing she asked was if he was hungry. He said he was. So they broke into Pete's, made themselves some burgers and ate on one of the booths.

"Haven't had one of these in ages" Jason said, clearly savouring the taste.

"Hmmm..." Selina said with a mouthful, "did you talk to him?"

"No" came the reply, Selina was surprised but she continued nonetheless.

"Why the hell not?"

"Come on Selina! What am I even supposed to say to him? 'I'm pissed because I died on your watch. And because you took in a new kid. So I decided to go on a murder spree to prove I'm better than you. Oh and I attacked the said kid while I was at it, 'cause why the hell not?'"

"That's a start" she said rather matter of factly, "it's not the goddam Gettysburg Address, but it is you. Its honest and I think its exactly what you need. And what Bruce needs."

Jason looked down. He had been struggling with so many emotions lately. Figuring out how to begin dealing with them seemed herculean. Selina gently placed her hand on his.

"Look at me Jason." And he did, so she went on "Bruce loves you. No matter what he will always love you. He has his flaws, a lot of them. But he also has this inexplicably immense capacity to love. And he will never give up on his children. So just go see him. Walk into the Manor, and spill your guts to him. He'll understand. He might be angry, but he'll understand."

Selina made it all sound so simple. And maybe it was. Maybe he could still come back from the darkness. Because even he couldn't deny that he still loved his father. In spite of everything that had happened.
Selina and Jason sat there for another few hour. Jason told her all about his travels, his training and his messed up relationship with Talia. He didn't miss the way her face darkened when he told her how Talia had manipulated his pain.

At day break they finally left the restaurant, after leaving behind some cash that more than paid their bill.

Jason's healing was slow. Just as slow as the process of mending his relationship with Bruce. But with Alfred acting as a mediator and a calming influence on both men, their bond began to recover. Jason also mended ties with Dick and Barbara, and even learned to tolerate Tim's presence, before slowly building a friendship with him.

Just as the family seemed to be finding normalcy again, a cowardly attack shook them. Thomas Elliott aka Hush had cut out Selina Kyle's heart.

Batman, Nightwing, Red Hood, Robin and Oracle all joined forces to save the life of one of their own. Justice League members also volunteered. Ultimately, Hush was caught, Selina's heart was recovered and her surgery was a success. Bruce was proud of the way Jason had stopped himself from beating Hush to death. He was well aware of the affection Jason bore Selina and knew just how enraged he must have been.

In the end, some good did come out of this ghastly ordeal. During Selina's long and slow recovery, she and Bruce found each other again. It was Jason who first walked in on them kissing. He had gone to see Selina at her apartment and was greeted with the unexpected sight of her in his father's arms.

"Wait! Are you guys.....?" He asked, trying and failing not to smile.

"Yes, we're together again." Selina said, kissing Bruce on the cheek.

"And what? You didn't tell me? Did everyone else know" Jason asked getting slightly annoyed.

"No one knows Jason." Bruce replied. "And we'd appreciate if you didn't tell them. We will, when the time is right."

"Ok cool. I'll just put this here and leave you guys to it." He said placing the box of chocolates he had brought for Selina on the kitchen counter. He then walked away blinking back tears of joy. Bruce and Selina, his parents were back together. A little ray of joy in this life filled with darkness.

In the years afterwards, there would be several new additions to the family. Cassandra, Damian and his many pets, Stephanie and others. Bruce still didn't fully agree with the Red Hood's methods. And Jason felt no need to change them much. But they understood and respected each other.

Jason's dates with Selina weren't as frequent as when he was s kid, but they made time for each other whenever possible. And it was always at Pete's. At times Damian would tag along. And Jason still couldn't believe that he actually didn't mind the bratty little squirt. Probably because he reminded him a little of himself.

And so there he was, on movie night, engaged in an argument with Damian. Selina smiled at him from across the room as she sat next to Bruce. Jason returned the smile before resuming to tell the little shit how he had it all wrong. All the while wondering how on Earth he had gotten so lucky, as to have this unusual, beautifully complicated family that loved him to death.