Work Text:
Nights in Gotham City were never quiet, Jason Todd knew that better than most, being a Gothamite born and bred. He had slept on its dark and cold streets for three years, patrolled them for three more, he was gone for a long amount of time, but now he was back, and suffice to say very little had changed about his home. It had been four years since he had fought against Batman to kill the Joker. They had put aside their differences a year ago for the betterment of the city, working together when necessary.
His mother, Nocturna, had told him that Nights were beautiful, that the Stars were the most precious things in the universe. After her death, he couldn't help but think he saw her face in those very stars, smiling down at him, making him feel as if she was always there with him at night. Especially on those nights when the panic attacks got worse, or he had a bad day at training, the stars were always a comfort. Nights tended to be silent for the most part, that's why criminals came out during them. But for Jason, this night was supposed to be silent, he had ordered his men to keep watch on the area to take a night off.
So of course, it was quite odd for the man to hear noises in his safe house at the edge of Gotham City. He had bought this place when he had first come here and it had become his home. He had picked the furniture himself, with his old friends from the alley, Rose, Eddie, Roy, Kori, Artemis and Bizarro little additions from everyone made this place feel like a real home to Jason. For that he would forever be grateful. What his friends didn't know however was the sheer amount of traps that were in his safe house. Bombs, trip wires, arrows, spikes, electric rays, lazers, everything.
Carefully, the vigilante pulled out the gun from under his pillow along with his kris, his grip tight on both of the weapons. Slowly, he crept out of his room and down the hallway, the noises got louder, the moon light lit the dark hallway through a single window, helping Jason treck along the passage. The noises only got louder and it was a bunch of them too,mixed together. He opened the door leading to his living room door, and wretched it open, revealing two figures sitting on his couch with the T.V. on…. Playing on his XBox?
The light illuminated their faces, Tim Drake and Damian Wayne were on his fucking couch playing mario cart. He turned on the light, in his kitchen, Dick, Cass and Steph were eating his left over chicken soup while Harper was rummaging through his fridge. "What the actual fuck is going on here!?" He exclaimed. "SHHHH LET ME FOCUS BITCH!" Tim yelled as Damian threw a blue shell at his car.
"You need to make this soup more often!" Steph said as Cass nodded in approval, Harper finally closed the fridge, a carton of orange juice in her hand. "Why the hell are you all here? The manor going through a renovation or something?" Jason said as he put his gun and kris away, rubbing his eyes, he walked to the kitchen, as he walked towards his fridge he pulled Dick's chair back so that he fell on the floor.
"Duke ain't with you?" He actually liked Duke the most out of the Bats. "No he's studying" Steph said as Dick swore at Jason, rubbing his head, he poured himself a glass of water and sighed. The Bats had invaded his house. Great. Fucking great. Steph, Cass and Harper moved to the living room and they put on another game, it looked like they didn't have the intention of stopping anytime soon.
He turned to Dick "Why." He said, Dick smiled sheepishly, "We just had a massive fight with Bruce and are avoiding him, this was the best place so… .." Jason pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "You know what? Whatever I don't even care, just keep the fucking volume down!" He yelled at the others. Then he walked back to his bedroom to hopefully get some shut eye.
***
Another night, another successful patrol, the kids were enjoying their classes in the new orphanage and the working boys and girls had no complaints for a week straight! Honestly this was the best night Jason had in months, but now it was 4 am and Jason really needed to sleep, his mechanic workshop wasn't going to run itself after all! He entered through his chimney like usual, he only used his door in his civilian personas.
As he dropped down from his chimney, he was met with a familiar sight, his T. V. Was on. The damn Bats. He dusted off his suit ready to tell them off when he heard a joyful "Red Him!" It was none other than Bizarro and Eddie on his couch. Bizarro got up and gave Jason a tight hug, lifting him off the ground. Bizarro's hugs felt like a truck pressing onto his ribs, but it was Bizarro, so Jason was okay with it. He patted his little brother on the back as Eddie grinned excitedly.
"I'm so glad you showed up, Jay! Everyone else besides you and Biz is busy Artemis is back on lesbian island, Kori is on a tour with Donna, Roy's busy with Lian, Rose hung up on me when I asked her to join us for a musical marathon!" Jason signed as he patted Biz on the back. "Eddie…… . It's four in the morning… ." Jason said tiredly, Eddie huffed "Since when have you cared about your fucking sleep schedule?" Jason opened his mouth to retort but Eddie went on "Don't even, I know you didn't write those essays in the day." Jason signed, then Eddie smirked "We'll start with phantom of the opera~"
Jason immediately perked up. "I'll get the popcorn." Bizarro smiled as he sat back down on the couch, Jason came back with the popcorn and settled between them.
***
Jason loved it when people would show their creativity, in any way shape or form, be it the kids in the alley making crayon drawings of him with his helmet looking like a giant balloon, the people in his work place modifying engines of vehicles, or simple fan fiction writers putting their own takes on stories, creativity was always appreciated. He also appreciated a certain Roy Harper's creativity in his weapons, only at specific times. Not at 12 am. And definitely not with Kori yelling at him to wake up as Roy blew a hole in his window with a Tamaranean blaster. If Lian received dvds of all episodes Avatar The Last Airbender? Jason knew nothing of it.
***
On one of the rare occasions when Artemis didn't wake him up for a duel, Rose was the one who'd wake him up, by crawling into his bed to cuddle when he was sleeping. That was the best way Jason could possibly be woken up, and the kiss she planted on the side of his head? Oh it made it so much sweeter. As he wrapped his arms around her Rose, he was glad he decided to stay in for the night, it made this so much worth it.
***
Another night, another intrusion, This time they tipped off his alarms, so he was on high alert, he was in a red hoodie with a fluffy cap and sweatpants with his socks still on. Gun in his hand, he crept towards his living room again, wondering what kind of intruder he would find, the Bats and his friends never set off the alarms, so it must be a rookie. There could be no other answer other than a rookie! Jason tightened his grip on his gun as he opened the living room door.
His T.V. was off, no one was in the kitchen the curtains weren't drawn, the moonlight illuminated the room, it was silent, Jason couldn't take his eyes off from the center of the room however. The moon light shone in her raven hair, her jewles reflected the moon light right back at the windows, on her lips was a soft smile, a smile Jason hadn't seen in years. Lastly, her dark blue gown was as shiny as ever, there was no mistaking it. This was Nocturna. This was Natalia Knight. Jason Todd's true mother.
"M-Mom?" Jason said lowering his gun, eyes widened in disbelief. People coming back from the dead was nothing new to Jason. But after eight years of his mother's death? He had lost hope of her ever returning. But he was wrong, she was here, she was back. Her smile widened as her eyes shined with unshed tears she opened her arms "My Nightingale… . Oh how much you've grown" She said softly, Jason dropped the gun, he rushed into her arms like he was twelve again, even at twenty four it felt just the same to be in her arms again.
"H-How?" Jason choked out in a sob, Nocturna ran her hand through Jason's black curls with a flock of white in the front, "The night is filled with surprises has my child, people believe the night is filled with darkness and curses but night can give us the biggest blessings imaginable" She said as she cupped his face, Jason gave her a watery smile as tears continued to fall from his eyes.
She was right. Nights were indeed full of surprises, both good and bad. Honestly? Jason Peter Todd wouldn't have it any other way.