Chapter Text
"Once upon a time.. . There was a girl"
His mom - Catharine - used to tell him a story.
"Little girl who had the sky and shadows as home"
She would smile and tell him the story about a little girl who was alone and lonely.
"But she wanted more.."
Every night.
"..So she created her little world"
Over and over again.
Too bad he couldn't remember the story now. Only the humming she made after finishing the story. But was that important now? Jason didn't think it was.
The things that was important at the moment were food and clothes. Either that or starving to death, which wasn't pleasant demise for him. Sure, he didn't see any point in living, but he didn't want to die. Human nature or something. He didn't know. And honestly, couldn't care less.
Jump. Steal. Run. Hide. And run. Than repeat. Over and over.
Of course it couldn't stay calm as it was. No. Of course not.
Run. He needs to run. He is running. Jumping into alleyways, behind care and buses. Running as fast as he could. The tail wouldn't lose him.
"Child"
He flinched, but didn't stop. Not now. He didn't have time for the weird voice that started in his head after his mother's death, which he ignored since. He needs to run. Not to deal with a possible trauma response from his brain.
Not now.
Preferably not ever.
"Child"
Run. Down the street. Left to the streets and-
A loud care honk. Too many cars. He can't cross it. Fuck. Than right. Run. Jump. Duck. Run. And into a alley. Dead end.
"Shit– Fuck–"
The voices coming closer.
"My child, the shadows"
The... Shadows?
Jason's eyes darted to the corners of the alley. The shadows... The shadows were moving.
"What.."
He hesitated.
"Here! He should be here!" Shouts from the streets coming closer.
Well fuck. He would rather die by some meta shit than be caught by those assholes.
With a shaky breath, he stepped into the shadows.
"Good"
Than it all went into darkness. He couldn't hear anything, not even his shaky breaths, not even his quick after running heartbeat. But he stayed calm. The darkness was suffocating but not scary.
Calm.
Gentle.
He felt safe.
Closing his eyes he let the darkness embrace him. He's not sure how much time he spent there.
When he opened his eyes he was back at the alley. The people were walking around each with their own shit to deal with. No one chasing him.
"Huh..."
Looking around once more Jason let out a shaky breath, than a quiet chuckle, which become silent gigles.
Madness. He was going crazy for sure.
"Hah.... I.. Thanks?"
He said to no one and someone at the same time. The shadows flickered slightly.
"No need, my child"
Okay. Yeah. He was going crazy.
Should he ask what or who this voice is? He's not sure.
Tough he has a feeling about that.
"..."
Fuck this shit.
"Hey.. Gotham?"
"Yes, my child?"
The shadows flickered again. The voice sounded happy. Guess he was right.
"... Nothing.."
He had questions. A lot.
But right now?
Right now he wants to get back to his little corner in the abandoned building before the Russian Mafia will decide to start their weekly meeting on the first floor. People usually avoided that place, so, why not use it to his advantage?
Speaking of advantage..
"Say.. Can you teleport humans with the shadows?"
The shadows started shaking. As if laughing.
"Well.. I don't know.. Want to find out?"
Yep. He was going insane.
He let out a startled giggle.
Apparently the shadows could, in fact, teleport.