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Never let it be said that Willis Todd is not a bastard. He gets drunk and breaks things. He breaks plates, mugs, dishes, lamps, the television, toys, and on one occasion, Jason’s fingers. Every two or three months, he’ll lose his temper and punch his wife and/or son. A few times a year, he’ll drink the money that was supposed to go to food or rent or heat or electricity.
Never-the-less, Jason knows that it could be much Much worse.
Willis only hits them every couple of months, not every day or every week. Even then, it’s almost always just bruises, not broken bones or open wounds. He brings home enough money that there is mostly enough to eat and usually heat in the winter and often electricity. They ALWAYS live in a building with walls and a roof and running water (just don’t drink it).
And though he’s shit at it, Willis does love his family. He won’t let anyone (else) lay a hand on them. That one ‘colleague’ that had suggested a way Jason could earn him some quick cash was never seen by anyone ever again.
Willis teaches his boy the things he thinks he should know.
“Today you learn how to pick a lock.”
“Help me get the tires off this car.”
“Always have another knife.”
“Stab as deep as you can into the thigh about here, twist, and pull it out. If you hit the artery, they’ll have to stop and get pressure on the wound, or they’ll bleed out. Either way, they’re out of the fight.”
Shortly after his son starts second grade, Willis shows him what’s in the drawer in the bedroom. “Today you learn how to handle a gun.”
Never let it be said that Willis Todd is not a bastard.
But it turns out to be good timing.
Five days later, Jason wakes up to shouting in the next room. He gets up quietly as he can, and peers around the doorframe. There are three strange men. Two are across the room pointing guns at Willis. The third has his back to the doorframe. He is holding Mom against his chest, a gun pressed into her stomach.
“Tell us where the money is or I shoot your bitch. Gut wounds are a bad way to die.” There’s a smirk in his voice, like this is fun for him.
Jason grabs the gun from the drawer and runs into the room. “Let my mom go or I will shoot you!”
The man swings Catherine between them, gun now pressed against her head.
“Dumb move, kid. If you were going to do it, you should have done it while my back wa-”
BANG!!!
The man drops like his strings were cut.
Everything freezes for a moment. Willis recovers first. He has the gun from the man closest to him in a blink. BANG BANG BANG BANG. There are another two bodies on the floor. He’s across the room to Jason in three strides. He takes the gun from Jason’s unresisting hand and uses it to put another bullet in the body in front of them.
BANG!!
This finally brings Cathrine back to herself. “What!? What!?” There’s blood and... bits... in her hair.
“It was me, “ Willis says, looking at her intently. “It was me. I did all three of them. It was me, and you never tell anyone about this ever. Do you understand? This didn’t happen.”
“Yes, I understand,” Catherine says, panting.
“And you, boy, do you understand?”
Jason is still frozen in place, staring at the body on the floor.
Willis shakes his shoulder. “Look here. Look at me, son. I need you to listen to me.” Jason meets his gaze. “Never say anything about this to anyone. It didn’t happen. It was me. Do you understand?” Jason just stares. Willis gives him another shake. “Never tell anyone EVER! Do You Understand?”
“I.. I.. I.. Yes sir,” Jason stammers out.
“Good boy.” Willis pulls him into a one armed hug.
One day, Jason will learn what a ‘T-box kill’ is. One day, Jason will learn that he is a natural shot. Today is not that day.
“Alright boy, today you learn how to get rid of a body.”
Never let it be said that Willis Todd is not a bastard.
*********
Never let it be said that Bruce Wayne is not a bastard. He works through his emotions by dressing like a bat and punching criminals. He has on more than one occasion acquired an emotional support child in lue of going to therapy. He’s had those same children dress like traffic lights and punch criminals instead of taking THEM to therapy. When it comes to his family, he has the emotional intelligence of a toaster oven.
He is never-the-less the best parental figure Jason has had in his life.
Bruce does not fly into rages and break things. (That one time he broke Jason’s fingers was a training accident, not a fit of anger.) He has given Jason a home. A great home! There are walls and a roof and windows that all have glass in them. Jason has his own room, and doesn’t share his sleeping space with bedbugs, roaches, rats, other wildlife, or random strangers. The bats stay in the cave. There is always heat, always electricity, and always running water that you can actually drink! There’s always ALWAYS food in the kitchen, hot water for showers, and even air conditioning. Air Conditioning! How had he lived through Jersey's summers without it? (Some kids hadn’t.) There is a library - In The House! - and he can read whatever he wants.
Bruce sends Jason to the best school in the city. Yeah, the kids may be shit, but classes are great. Bruce actually wants to hear how his classes are going and helps him with homework.
Bruce teaches Jason the things he thinks he should know, and Jason drinks it in.
“Today you learn how to do a fingerprint match.”
“Help me tie up this thug.”
“Always have another lockpick.”
But-
“We don’t kill. We cannot be judge, jury and executioner. I do not want you to be a killer.”
‘I do not want a killer for a son.’ Jason hears.
“But what if there isn't another choice?” Jason asks.
“There is always another choice,” Bruce tells him. “If I killed, I’d become just as bad as they are.”
‘You’re just as bad as they are,’ Jason hears.
“If I killed, it would break something inside me forever,” Bruce says.
‘You are broken forever,’ Jason hears.
“I will not have any son of mine carrying one of those THINGS under my roof!” Bruce shouts at Dick in episode five thousand twenty-seven of ‘I don’t approve of you becomingacop/carryingagun/yourlifechoicesingeneral.’
Jason likes having a roof.
“Never tell anyone EVER,” his first father had told him.
Jason listens.