Jason awoke with a start, drenched in sweat. The dream was vivid and disjointed—a flash of a city skyline at night, the overwhelming scent of rain-soaked asphalt, and a voice, deep and warm but laced with an edge.
"You're not just some street kid anymore, Jason. You're Robin now."
His heart raced as the fragments began to slip away, dissolving into the fog of his subconscious. He gripped his head, groaning in frustration.
The voice—familiar and haunting—echoed in his mind. He didn't know who it belonged to, but something deep inside him stirred at the thought.
"Another nightmare, Jason?"
The voice snapped him back to reality. Standing in the doorway was Talia, her sharp gaze softening slightly when she noticed his state. She carried a tray of food, a rare gesture of care from someone usually so distant.
Jason rubbed his face and sighed. "Yeah, something like that."
Talia approached, setting the tray on the small table beside his bed. "Your mind is trying to tell you something," she said gently. "The Lazarus Pit does not simply heal the body—it alters the mind, dredging up what was buried. Memories, emotions… they're all there, do not force it and let them come to you."
Jason eyed her warily. "And what happens it doesn't? What if I'm better off not knowing?"
Talia studied him, her expression unreadable. "The past shapes who we are, Jason. Running from it will only make it harder to control what's inside you. That rage, that… bloodlust—it isn't just from the Pit. It's a part of you. And until you face it, it will control you."
He looked away. "You and your father love talking in riddles, don't you?"
Talia smirked faintly, but there was no malice in it. "We've had practice." She turned to leave but paused at the door. "If you ever wish to talk about your dreams… I'll listen."
Jason scoffed. "Thanks, but I don't think 'talking about my feelings' is going to fix what's broken."
Talia's voice was quiet, almost sad. "Perhaps not. But it's a start."
- - -
[Training with Ra's]
Every day, Jason went through the motions of training, each exercise designed to push him beyond his limits—mentally, physically, emotionally.
The repetitive routines gave him a sense of purpose, a reason to exist beyond the hazy fragments of a past he could not fully recall.
One morning, Jason found himself in the grand courtyard with Ra's al Ghul. The training session was more intense than usual, the geezer pushing him to his limits with a series of drills that seemed designed to frustrate him.
"Again!" Ra's barked as Jason struggled to land a proper counterstrike.
Jason growled under his breath, his muscles burning as he reset his stance. "You know, for a guy who preaches balance, you're really into grinding people into the ground."
Ra's smirked faintly, circling Jason like a predator. "Balance requires discipline, and discipline requires suffering. You cannot achieve one without the other."
Jason lunged, his blade slicing through the air, but Ra's sidestepped with ease. He retaliated with a sharp blow to Jason's ribs, sending him stumbling back.
"Your form is sloppy," Ra's said, his tone sharp. "It seems you are having a hard time applying Lady Shiva's lessons. You rely too heavily on brute strength. Combat is not about power—it is about precision and control."
Jason glared at him, wiping sweat from his brow as he contemplated the philosophy that was quite similar to that of Lady Shiva. "Funny, I thought combat was about winning."
Ra's chuckled, a rare sound that was almost fatherly. "And yet you lose, again and again. What does that tell you, my boy?"
Jason tightened his grip on his sword, the anger simmering in his chest. "It tells me you've had centuries to get good at this, old man."
Ra's raised an eyebrow, amused by Jason's defiance. "Perhaps. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a step, here is the initial point of your journey."
He got nothing an exasperated sign in response from Jason who just leaned over, arms rested upon his knees as he caught his breath.
- - -
[A Clash with Damian]
Later that day, Jason found himself back in the sparring hall, this time facing Damian. The boy was as arrogant as ever, his confidence radiating from him as they squared off.
"You've been distracted," Damian said, his wooden practice sword held at the ready. "I thought you were supposed to be this great prodigy Grandfather keeps talking about."
Jason smirked, rolling his shoulders. "And I thought you were supposed to be the 'perfect heir.' Guess we're both disappointments."
Damian's eyes narrowed, and he lunged without warning. Their swords clashed with a loud crack, the force of the impact reverberating up Jason's arm.
The fight was fast and brutal, both of them refusing to give an inch. Damian was quick, his strikes precise and calculated, but Jason had strength and on his side.
"You're slowing down, pip-squeak," Jason taunted as he parried a blow.
"And you're telegraphing your attacks," Damian shot back, ducking under Jason's swing and landing a quick strike to his side.
Jason grunted, the blow stinging but not enough to stop him. He retaliated with a powerful swing, knocking Damian off balance.
The fight escalated, the sound of wood clashing filling the hall. Damian's technique was nearly flawless, but Jason's unpredictable style kept him on edge.
Finally, Jason saw an opening. He feinted left, drawing Damian's guard, before sweeping his legs out from under him. Damian hit the ground with a thud, his sword skittering across the floor.
"Looks like I won. Again. Yield," Jason said, pointing his sword at Damian's throat.
Damian glared up at him, his pride clearly wounded. "Never."
Jason smirked. "Suit yourself." He tossed the practice sword aside and offered Damian a hand.
The boy hesitated before taking it, his grip firm as Jason pulled him to his feet.
"Good fight, pip-squeak," Jason said, clapping him on the shoulder.
Damian scowled. "You got lucky. Again"
"Maybe," Jason said with a shrug. "But I don't need luck to dominate you in a fight."
As Damian stalked off, muttering under his breath.
- - -
[Six months later]
Jason found himself in the expansive study that Ra's al Ghul often occupied—a room filled with ancient tomes, relics, and artifacts that told the story of a man who had lived lifetimes.
The scent of parchment and aged wood hung heavy in the air, mixing with the faint smell of incense that always seemed to linger wherever Ra's went.
Ra's sat at his desk, meticulously scribbling notes onto a scroll with a quill. His movements were fluid, deliberate, much like the way he fought. Jason watched him from the doorway for a moment before clearing his throat.
"You summoned me, old man?" Jason said, leaning casually against the doorframe.
Ra's didn't look up. "I thought it was time we spoke, boy. Come."
Jason stepped into the room, his boots echoing against the polished stone floor. He crossed his arms, waiting for Ra's to elaborate.
Ra's finally set the quill down and folded his hands on the desk. "Your progress has been… remarkable. It is no small feat to adapt to the techniques of the League as swiftly as you have."
Jason snorted. "Yeah, well, I didn't exactly have a choice. It was that or get left in the dust."
Ra's tilted his head slightly, his gaze piercing. "And yet, I see something more in you. Something beyond mere survival. There is a fire within you, Jason—a hunger that drives you, even if you do not yet understand it."
Jason shifted uncomfortably under Ra's scrutiny. "What's your point? You didn't call me here to stroke my ego."
A faint smile touched Ra's lips. "No, I did not. I called you here because I wish to prepare you for the path ahead. You have a strength that few possess, but it is unfocused. Wild. If left unchecked, it will consume you."
Jason clenched his fists, his voice edged with defiance. "Though I am not unworthy of such praises, I don't mind becoming a puppet if it means earning the League's trust." Jason's voice was thick with frustration, a mix of anger and uncertainty.
Ra's didn't flinch. His gaze remained steady, calm, as though he had expected this. "I never asked you to be a puppet, Jason. I asked you to be a leader. Someone who can rise above chaos and forge his own destiny. But for that to happen, you must learn discipline, restraint. A great warrior does not only conquer his enemies—he conquers himself."
Jason's eyes narrowed. "You really think I can live up to your expectations?"
Ra's leaned back in his chair, considering. "I do. And that is why I have invested my time and resources into your training. You remind me of myself, once. Headstrong, rebellious, but with potential to shape the future of the League."
Jason wasn't sure what to make of that. Ra's always had a way of speaking in circles, his words shrouded in meaning and intention. Was this another manipulation? A way to make him feel like he had no greater purpose but to follow in Ra's guidance?
Even if, he wouldn't mind following it.
Still, there was something about Ra's that felt different from the others. The old man was a master of power and control, yes, but when he spoke of Jason's potential, it didn't sound like an empty promise.
Jason had been given second chances—more than he deserved—and Ra's had never been one to waste resources on people who wouldn't contribute.
"You really see something in me?" Jason asked quietly, his skepticism and self doubt slipping into his voice.
Ra's looked him in the eye, his expression unreadable. "I see a future, Jason. A future in which you surpass all those who came before you by reaching heights they could only dream of."
Jason felt a stirring deep within him. Something long buried—his own ambition, perhaps? It was unsettling how Ra's made it sound like he had a place in this vision of the future. A place beyond just being a broken tool that needs fixing.
Before he could process his thoughts further, the door to the study opened. Talia entered, her presence as commanding as ever, though her gaze softened when she saw Jason.
"Am I interrupting something?" Talia asked, her voice light but carrying an edge of curiosity.
Ra's gave a small, approving nod. "Not at all, my daughter. I was just discussing Jason's progress."
Jason met Talia's eyes, surprised by the lack of judgment in her expression. Talia had been aloof, lately. Mainly because she has been off base a lot, doing top priority League stuff.
It was as if she existed in a different world. But today, there was a subtle warmth in her demeanor since her return.
"Progress, hmm?" she mused, walking over to Jason. "I'm curious to see just how far that 'progress' will take you. Father speaks highly of you, but the League is a place where only the strongest survive." She paused, as though considering something.
"You've managed to prove yourself in combat. But can you now handle the pull of your bloodthirsty nature and violent tendencies… when it resurfaces mid battle?"
Jason flinched, the question catching him off guard as he was unable to give any kind of response to that.
Ra's eyes gleamed with quiet approval. "She speaks the truth. The strength to control your chaotic mind is just as important as the strength to control your body."
Jason's gaze flicked between the two of them, his throat tightening. "You both want me to be this perfect… whatever. I'm not that guy, alright? I don't have the answers. Fuck it, I don't even have the memories of who I was." His voice softened. "So what the hell does that leave me with?"
Talia stepped closer, her tone softer than before. "It leaves you with the choice to rebuild, Jason. To carve out your own path—one that is not defined by your past mistakes or the people who tried to control you." Her eyes locked with his, and for a brief moment, there was something almost like… understanding.
Ra's spoke next, his voice low but firm. "We are not here to dictate who you should be, Jason. We are here to give you the tools to be who you could be. The question, as always, is whether you are willing to embrace them."
Jason stood there for a long moment, the weight of their words sinking in. His entire life had been a series of fractured moments—loss, violence, survival—but now, standing between Ra's and Talia, he felt a strange sense of belonging.
They weren't offering him answers or absolution. They trusted him enough and were offering him a chance to be part of their mission.
He finally spoke, his voice low and uncertain. "I'm not sure I can be what you want me to be, but I'll do my best."
Talia's eyes softened even further, and Ra's gave him a knowing look, one that seemed to say he had expected this.
"Then let us help you discover what you can be," Talia said quietly.
Ra's nodded. "All in due time, boy. All in due time." With that, he dismissed Jason for the day.