Chapter Text
Gotham is proud of her protectors. Her knights. She's especially proud of the Red Hood. He avenges the dead, the dead and the living. Her Bat doesn't do that.
So she gifted her first child. Her first baby to the Red Hood. He protects children, the children of his haunt. What's one more? So she kissed her baby with a blessing and sent them to the Red Hood. Just like she had sent The Bat his Robins. Just like she sent Nightwing to the Joker.
She watched as her child followed the avenger. Watched as they climbed buildings to observe the fights.
Yes. She'll be alright with two avengers working to clear her illness.
Jason shoved Nobody behind his back as he stared at the larger cryptid in front of him. It looked vaguely feminine, but he wasn't risking pronouns, or asking. Was it mad he shot someone in this alley? Shit.
“𝕸𝖞 𝖈𝖍𝖎𝖑𝖉.”
“M̸o̸t̸h̸e̸r̸!!”
What in the fresh hells. “Mother?” He repeated, looking down at Nobody with confusion. They nodded and ran up to the larger cryptid, who bent down and hugged them. Jason bluescreened for a moment before shaking himself out of it. Cool. So. Apparently Gotham has a body. Yeah. That sounds about right, because he's definitely heard about this from someone before! OH RIGHT HE HASN'T.
WHERE?? HAS?? GOTHAM?? BEEN?? HIDING??
Is the entire city a cryptid!? Is the entire city it's body?? Has he been walking on Gotham's arm and not known? Jason shuts down those thoughts and waves at the cryptid, thanking his past self for the helmet. Nobody smiled at him and literally yanked him into the hug. "J̷a̷s̷o̷n̷!" They cheered, and he sighed long sufferingly. This is fine. He'll just hug two very terrifying entities, which he's glad aren't against him. So so very glad he's taking care of one so the other doesn't get angry at him. Can't smite him or something if he's raising it's kid--
Am I co-parenting with a cosmic entity?
Surely not. He would know if he was co-parenting. Gotham would've said something. But Gotham doesn't know human etiquette, why would it? Maybe he should ask if Gotham has pronouns, and if it knows human parenting styles.
"Hey Gotham?" Jason asked after a long moment, and the cryptid hums. At least he assumes it was a hum, or someone just got in a car crash down the street. "Do you have pronouns?" He looked up, trying to get a read on the changing face of the eldritch creature. Because- why is it wearing so many different faces? And why does he recognize so many? "𝕾𝖍𝖊. 𝖄𝖔𝖚 𝖆𝖑𝖑 𝖍𝖆𝖛𝖊 𝖉𝖚𝖇𝖇𝖊𝖉 𝖒𝖊 𝖆 𝖜𝖔𝖒𝖆𝖓 𝖜𝖎𝖙𝖍 𝖒𝖞 𝖘𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝕭𝖑𝖚𝖉𝖍𝖆𝖛𝖊𝖓." Jason nods, because they had done that. But he didn't know it would affect a freaking cryptid! "Is Bludhaven a cryptid too?" Gotham shook her head as she ran her very long nails through Nobody's hair. "Cool." At least they weren't pressing pronouns and gender expectations onto another city demon. Spirit? Entity? Really, what are they classified as?
It took a whole twenty minutes for Gotham to part with her child. She seemed very affectionate, which.. He didn't think Gotham would be loving, but maybe she's the exact opposite of most families in her city. Jason didn't get answers as to if he was co-parenting with her, but that's alright. At least now he can say the kid has a mom so Bruce can't try and take them away. His mood soured at the thought and Jason grabbed Nobody's hand with a scowl. "Let's go kiddo. We've got a library to get to." He desperately needs books on how to teach children to read. And speak. God this kid needs help with speaking, their sentences are atrocious sometimes. And random grunts and growls don't cut it with society unfortunately. Bruce would thrive if that was an option.
Damn it, why do his thoughts keep coming back to Bruce? He grumbles out a few curses under his breath, opening the door to the library after tucking his hair into a cap. And pulling up a mask. Listen, anything to keep Barbara from recognizing him and asking about the kid, alright? There's only one damn library in Gotham, but he's not willing to let anyone know about the kid. Especially not in the Bat industry. Robin number 700 coming up. How many have their been now? Whatever.
Nobody took off the moment Jason entered the library, and honestly he could've pulled his hair out in frustration. Except he also couldn't because it's hidden in his hat. He took off after them, searching aisles and hoping he didn't look too suspicious to Barbara. But if he did, one of the brood would probably be called in. Damn it, he can't just call out Nobody, that'll make him look insane! Every bookshelf was untouched, every aisle empty as he searched frantically. What is this kids fascination with running off!?
Nobody was lost and the lady in the wheelchair was looking at them weird. They frowned and skittered behind a bookshelf, trying to read the words on all the books. Jason had said they needed one to help read.. But. They can't read. So they don't know what their looking for! Anxiety gripped their chest and Nobody looked around for Jason, trying to stay away from the wheelchair lady. She hadn't stopped staring at them!!
They risked speaking, whispering into the rows of books. "J̷a̷s̷o̷n̷?" They asked as they walked around, looking up at all the books. Wait. Why would he be up? The thought of Jason climbing a bookshelf was silly. They giggled, deciding they wanted to climb. Maybe they could see him from all the way up there!
Jason watched with silent horror as Nobody climbed up a bookshelf like it was a playground. He hissed as Barbara started wheeling over, so he reached up and started whisper shouting the kid commands. "Nobody! Get down!" He beckoned towards himself with his hands, hoping the kid understood they could drop and he'd catch them. Nobody turned their neck at an insane angle and blinked down at him, easily letting go and dropping right into his arms. Jason exhaled, quickly walking out of the aisle and towards the kids section.
"That was dangerous and you will never do something like that again. Do you hear me?" They nodded, eyes wide with guilt. Jason smacked himself mentally for guilting the kid, but it needs to happen sometimes. "You could've fallen and hurt yourself. Or the bookshelf could've fallen." He warned quietly, shuffling so the kid was on his hip as he browsed the books. They nodded again, letting out a small chirp. "Okay. Good." He sighed, pulling out a Disney themed princess book. Not a starter book. He went to put it back, but Nobody snatched it from his hands and stared at the princess on the cover. Sleeping Beauty?
Oh. Aurora. Jason knew them from Grimm fairytales, but if Disney wants to make it kid friendly, they could. Apparently this was a popular book, quite a few check outs. "This one?" He asked, poking the princess on the cover. Nobody nodded, their neck popping as they did so. Jason cringed but stayed silent. "Alright. I'll read it to you later." Maybe he could read the actual Grimm one too. See which the kid likes better. "P̷i̷c̷t̷u̷r̷e̷s̷!̷" Well. Maybe he'll get a few more picture books.