Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

He’s dead. Again. 

That he is sure.

He’s tired. So, so tired. He was thrown out of Gotham with no medical help and then he died. Who would want to help him? He’s packing weapons and he bled and yeah.

So he’s done.

He’s done with Bruce, with Talia, and he’s done with the whole brood. Violence breeds violence. That’s what he used to believe.

But it’s Hammurabi’s code as well that laws are based isn’t it. An eye for an eye and blood for blood. If nobody’s strong enough to defend the downtrodden, the fallen, shouldn’t he helped?

He’s not a criminal.

He’s an anti-hero.

Jason has no illusion that he’s pure.

So why the fuck is he in in a place full of flowers with people wearing white togas. He’s pretty sure this is Elysium. But then he noticed Robert, Terry and Steve and he’s convinced that this is Elysium. 

The judge that trialed him had said, ‘Your acts are Grecian. And as Greeks, what you did was honourable.’

When has he been greek? He’s Gothamite. He didn’t even have a drachma to give the ferryman but he’s gotten a discount.

That’s what he thought, until  a skinny pale man in an aviator jacket and skull tee appeared.

“Your fathers sent me.” The man had said.

Fathers? Which? Because Willis is long gone thanks to Cobblepot and Bruce made it clear he’s not his son.

“You didn’t know.” The man clicked his tongue. He pushed back his black hair with a scowl and cursed. He has a cool black sword on his waist and Jason wondered why the shadows loomed around it.

“What don’t I know?” Jason whispered. He pulled his knees to his chest. Apparently the Pit doesn’t stay in death. “I’m dead.” I’m tired is what he doesn’t say.

“Not quite.” The man scowled. “But we have to go now before my Father receive your files.”

Jason frowned. The way he said it is like his father owns the place. Or a manager. This is not a sales department at some cheap fashion store. He’s pretty sure the manager to hell is there. His confusion must have been clear on his face.

“You can’t stay.” The man said again. He offered his hand. “Come with me. I’ll give you answers.”

Should he? Answers don’t matter now that he’s dead. He’s tired. He just wants to rest. But, what about all the people in Crime Alley? What about the kids he protects? What about Aunt Pam?

He’s tired but, he’s always been stupid.

Gingerly he raised his hand and placed them in the man’s cold touch.

“It’ll be different this time.” The man said, words dripping in promise. 

“Who are you?” Jason figured that if he’s taking a psychopomp’s hand he should at least know his name.

“I’m the last son of Hades, Nico di Angelo. And you are my nephew.”

Shadows swallowed them before they appeared in an empty cave.

_____________________________________

They trekked through narrow steps with pointed rocks hanging above them.

‘Stalactites.’ Jason reminded himself. ‘Because stalagmites comes from the ground up.’

He’s not sure why the commentary on vocabulary is running through his head but he’s pretty sure that if he they’re not careful, the rocks could impale them. 

Could they die? 

As far as Jason’s concern he’s a spirit. A ghost?

Whatever it is, they don’t die… At least he thinks they don’t. 

He knows there’s a river here in the underworld that can dissolve him. The river Acheron. Or is it Styx? He needs to brush up on his myths considering he now knows that when he dies he’ll land in the greek underworld.

“You’re taking this well.” Nico, his uncle apparently, said without looking back. The shadows seemed to part between them. 

Jason shrugged. “I’ve died before.” Twice. He died twice but Bruce didn’t know he killed him the second time. He just thought, hey, third time’s the charm. And the Bastard finally did it. He fled, the Bat chased, and he was beaten an inch from his life and thrown out of Gotham.

Nico chuckled to himself, finding it amusing. He’s not bad. He has Jason’s sense of humour. “Seems to be a thing with children of the underworld.”

That sounds bad. Really, bad. Because does that mean Nico died too?

Jason mulled his words and chewed it in his mind. “Is that what I am? Am I, what, related to Hades?”

They stopped and Jason could see the tension in Nico’s shoulder rising. “No, you’re not.” His voice’s barely a whisper. “We should leave first then you can ask.”

“You won’t even look at me.” Jason mumbled. Figures his uncle won’t even entertain him.

Nico’s shoulder tensed. “Sorry, I can’t…”

Jason scowled because why not. Does he look that horrible to be looked at? Is his existence that painful.

“It’s not anything about you.” Nico cursed to himself and muttered something about Will being pissed at him. “Do you know the myth of Orpheus?”

Jason tilted his head, digging at literatures he have not read in a while since before his first brush with Death. Then he remembered something, about Orpheus and Eurydice. About going out of the underworld but Hades said not to look but he looked then his wife (lover?) just wailed and poof. 

“Oh.” Jason muttered because that makes sense. He’s a spirit and he’s escaping Hades. Not for the first time he wondered if he should have just stayed in Elysium. 

“Yeah.” Nico shrugged and he continued walking with Jason following him like a ghostly duckling. “So really, it’s the rules. Dad’s a pain like that. He loves his family but he can’t show it. So he bends the rules and as long as you follow his loopholes he’ll look the other way.”

That’s nice. To have someone that cares for you that they’re willing to turn the other way and bend their morals. He wished Bruce would have done that.

“So he’s my what? Grandfather? Cause you’re my uncle. I mean, you said you’re the last son of Hades so I’m your sister’s kid? Brother’s?”

Because that doesn’t make sense. Willis is an only child and Sheila doesn’t look anything like him. Maybe Hades took one look at her and find her deplorable. Jason wished he could relate. He wished he had taken one look at her and say, fuck no, at just left her to die with that cigarette in her lips.

Until now he can’t stand the smell of smoke anymore. Funny how he used to suck them like air pipes. He still kept a box in his pocket out of habit. Neatly wrapped.

Nico chuckled to himself again but didn’t say anything. They reached the end of their road and was facing a large boulder. Nico turned to the walls, still not looking at Jason.

“There’s two ways to open the door.” He said, eyes shut. “I’m not going to sing because…” His cheeks are red and Jason think there’s a story. But he find his uncle’s funny that way. For being embarrassed for singing. It seemed mortal when he’s sure Nico’s not. 

Fifty-fifty.

“The second way is by normal. You could do it. I can’t.”

“Why?”

Nico chewed his lips before nodding to himself, as if finding his answer acceptable. “Your father could do it.”

Jason supposed he could trust his uncle. He means, the guy’s trying to bring him out of the underworld and it’s not like he’ll die again if it’s a trap.

He walked pass the man and pressed a finger against the boulder. He ran his fingers over the coarse texture, because woah he can feel that, and felt silly. There’s nothing there. He turned and scowled, “It’s heavy.”

“Just focus.”

Jason rolled his eyes because wow, that’s helpful.

He huffed and figured why not give it a shot. He closed his eyes then he felt a tug on his stomach. Something’s telling him that he should do something. 

He bit his finger, surprised that he’s bleeding and swipe the blood on the hard suface. The rock rumbled and opened and he’s met with a park somewhere. 

His uncle walk passed him still with eyes tightly shut and patted his shoulder. “Come on. I’m hungry and there’s a nice McDonald’s nearby.”

Jason nodded. “Where are we?”

“San Francisco.”

So the gate to Hades is in a park in San Francisco. Is that why Titan Tower’s there? Should have known Hell’s in San Francisco.

Chapter Text

Jason thought he would walk out of the underworld as a ghost. What he didn’t expect is that from the moment he stepped outside, the earth shifted and climbed and literally mould him a new body.

The worst part? He’s naked in front of his still slightly taller uncle. 

That sucks cause Jason’s not short, not anymore, but his family apparently has freakish giant genes. Then again, if he remembered correctly, weren’t Olympian gods related to Titans and those were massives.

At least in the story.

He thinks Nico has good fashion sense. That much is apparent from the aviator jacket and skinny jeans. His uncle makes it work even if he looked younger than Jason suspects him.

Jason’s dressed in a red leather jacket and black tees with jeans and sneakers.

“Your father picked it out.” Is all Jason got before he got dragged to a McDonald’s. He thought the man was joking. But he learned that his uncle has a proclivity for the fast food chain.

They ordered two trays of food each because apparently resurrecting made him starving and his uncle loaded himself on fries, McNuggets and Happy Meals. 

He’s sort of worried about what that says about his uncle’s diet. Jason could understand the need for chilli dogs after patrol but this many? Now he soured his mood at the mention of patrol.

“It’s a habit.” Nico shrugged before stuffing some fries in his face. “Plus, the dead likes it.”

It speaks volume to how weird the world is if the people around him didn’t say anything if they heard him. 

Jason nibbled with his burger before swallowing. His stomach’s growling but he’s feeling lost. Why did he say yes? Shouldn’t he have stayed dead? 

Nico scowled. He dusted his hands off fries’s stains and leaned in. “You want answers.” Jason nodded. Nico sighed and draped the seat with his hands. “What do you know about demigods?”

“A lot.” Jason admitted. It’s not a misconception that it’s quite a normal occurence. He could name three.

“Oh yeah, the world has changed the past hundred years.”

“What?” Because what the fuck. Is he saying he’s not mortal because Nico di Angelo is not a grecian name.

His uncle wave him off. “It was more common when I was younger.”

To that Jason scowled.

“Don’t look at me like that.” Nico scrunched his brows. “I’m a minor god. I’m working at my dad’s place with my husband.”

Jason’s gonna tack that somewhere else. Tied neatly in a box called ‘Nope’ and shelved on ‘Fuckeries I Don’t Wanna Know But I’m Sure I Will.’ 

“So, my dad?”

“Fathers.” Nico corrected, picking up fries and shoving them into his mouth again. Maybe he’s a munching guy; the kind that needs to much as they talk.

“What?”

Nico shook his head and opened another McNugget box. 

How did he eat so quickly? 

“You have fathers. Have you looked at yourself in the mirror?” He asked, waving the nugget around. Nico seems to be animated in the way he talks. Jason feels racist for saying this but it’s very Italian.

Jason pouted. No he has not. Because he doens’t want to. He can’t. What if he sees the bruise and the missing teeth and — A hand waved in fron of his eyes. 

“Calm down.” Nico scowled. “Fuck, Will’s so much better at this.” Jason had a feeling he’s not supposed to hear that. His uncle breathed and gently put his hand closer to Jason’s. “Trust me. Just look at the mirror.”

Jason swallowed. He braved himself and turned to the side and his mouth flung open with how different he looked. 

He looked healthy, for one. No scars and his freckles are visible on tan skin. His hair though. His white streak is now covering his entire front side and his hair is longer and split down the middle. And his eyes. When have he been heterochromatic? Left side white and right side red in a more sharper shape with equally sharper nose.

“What the fuck?”

“You’ll get used to it.” He turned to his uncle who’s eyes fade into one red and one brown. “Red’s the colour of your father. I got it from mine after I ascended.”

“So… I’m what? Hades’s grandson.” He asked, somehow hoping his uncle would laugh and called him stupid but the man just nod.

“Your dads are not mortals. They’re minor gods.” Oh god, Jason’s head’s gonna explode. “Do you know Zagreus?”

“Isn’t he like, Dionysus’s past life or something.” Jason bit into his burger again. His mouth feels dry because what the fuck.

“Not quite. Stories got lost over time.” His uncle popped open a Happy Meal. He dug in and pulled out a Batman figurine. His uncle must have known about Bruce because he disintegrated it with extreme prejudice before opening another one. Satisfied that he found a Red Hood figurine, because Jason didn’t know they made those, he smiled and put it on the table. “He’s my brother. Hades’s first son. The God of Life, Rebirth and Blood.” His uncle pulled out an apple pie and opened it. “Honestly, he has too many dominions.”

“But you said fathers.” Jason watched his uncle placed the toy gun in the figurine’s hand, apple pie stuck in his mouth. He scowled at the detail and yeah, Jason gets it. The details on the toy gun sucks. 

“Oh that,” His uncle nodded to himself and swallowed the apple pie whole. He’s not touching that with a ten foot pole. “He’s partnered. With Thanatos.”

Jason choked on his burger and hope he doesn’t die again because that would be humiliating and he’s sure the judges would be laughing at his sorry excuse for a third death. 

Gods. 

Isn’t that a doozy? 

The son of the God of Life and God of Death (Because Hades is the God of the Underworld, fuck you) died by processed meat.

He took a huge gulp of water and heaved. “How does that work?”

Nico giggled. 

The bastard found his impending doom by ground meat funny. 

“They sort of stuffed you into a mortal woman and you’re like two-third divine and a one-third mortal but you died twice and hey, now you’re mostly immortal.” That’s a lot to take in. “Not like you weren’t. Zaggy’s the god of rebirth and you’ve inherited his power.”

“Wait are you saying that I can’t die?” Jason gasped. That explained a lot of things but he’s gonna repressed that down. He’s taking the proverbial shovel and slamming his thoughts twenty feet under.“How the fuck did I end up in Elysium?”

Nico gave him a side-eye. “Weren’t you paying attention? You’re mostly immortal. You ended up there because that’s where mortals go. But you escaped and now you’re not. You couldn’t stay in Elysium because well, you’re shedding your mortal coil and you would have blown the place up if you did that.” Well, that’s an info dump. “Dad’s not gonna be happy to find out that his son had a kid without telling him. He would have been less happy if you blew up Elysium. Not easy to fix. A whole lot of logistics involve. There’s gonna be protest, the furies gonna riot, and don’t get me started on the whole relocating the dead to a suitable place. The last time that happened, we had complaints, Jason! Complaints from paradise!”

Jason thinks whatever happened then had made his uncle loose a few screws. He can feel an impeding headache until something clicked. “Does this mean I’m like an Amazon? Can I fly?”

Nico winced and that’s not reassuring. “You might wanna avoid the sky. Zeus doesn’t take kindly to the Underworld children in his domain. I escaped because my friend is a son of Zeus and fried by lightning? Not fun.”

He’ll take his uncle’s word for that. But it sucks that he can’t grapple anymore. He’s pretty sure if he’s Thanatos’s son, he could fly. Didn’t the guy has wings?

They continued to eat, with Jason slowly digesting the news. By the time they finished their meal, Nico had gotten two Poison Ivy figures, two Red Hood’s and one more Batman that he instantly pulverised into dust. 

He packed all the leftovers into one Happy Meal and gave Jason a shrugged. “Will’s gonna be pissed if I don’t bring him some. He likes the apple pie.”

“That’s your husband?”

Nico nodded. “Son of Apollo, minor god of healing. He can’t sing though.”

Jason can’t help but snicker at that and he caught the soft smile on his uncle’s face. They left the McDonald’s and stood outside. 

“What now?” Jason asked, dragging his feet against the tar.”

“I have to go back.” There’s a slight downturn to his uncle’s tone. “Sorry. I can’t stay in this place for long and I need to swipe your file and threaten some judges.”

Jason gets it.

“Will I ever see you again? Or my dads?” Because Jason would like to know them. At least know if they’re better than his old ones. From what Nico had said, his dads requested him to be resurrected even if that’s against their divine code or what not, and that’s already a plus in his book.

Nico bit his bottom lips. “Your dads can’t.” Jason frowned. “Not yet. Thanatos can’t see you without bringing you back. It’s a divine law.” Jason supposed he gets that. 

“And my other one?”

“Zaggy’s…” Nico frowned. He looked to the side in guilt. “He made a deal to have you. He’s still paying for it.”

“What’s the deal?”

Nico shook his head. “Can’t say. I took an oath on the River Styx. If you break it, you’ll be punished.” His uncle walked closer and gave him an awkward shoulder pat. “If you ever become a minor god, you can see them. Until then, just make sure you live and learn to control your powers.”

“Powers?” Jason rasped. 

Nico dug his jacket’s pocket and pulled out two rings, one gold and one black and tossed it to him. 

Jason caught them and examined the two closely. The gold one has red wreaths engrave around it and the black one has white flames. 

“Your fathers’ gifts when you were born.” Nico smiled. “Name them whatever because they made it just for you.”

“What are they?” Jason could feel the tears at the back of his eyes. 

“They’re weapons, I guess.” Nico scratched his cheek and glanced up. “Just pressed them and they’ll take form.”

“You guess?”

“I can’t use them.” Nico smirked. “Your dads made them that way. And they’re bastards that way. Never telling things to me. Sibling bullying.”

He nodded, feeling warm at the thought that these are his fathers’ creations just for him. Even when they knew they might never see him at all. It pains a small part of him that even Bruce had never done so.

“Bye Jason.” Nico smiled. “I hope to see you as one of us soon.”

He didn’t get to say good bye before his uncle disappeared by being swallowed in shadows. He didn’t ask what he meant. It’s clear. His uncle and fathers wanted him to be one of them.

Til then, Jason has a lot to do.

He slipped the rings on and walked down the road. He’ll go back to Gotham eventually. He’ll train first. Luckily he has a safe house here.

Chapter Text

He has plenty of safe houses that Bruce doesn’t know of. He’s not stupid enough to use common aliases that Bruce can wriggle out.

So he went to the one that only he knows. Because, when Roy and Kori went back to Dick, Jason knows he doesn’t belong in their life anymore.

Without Artemis and Bizarro, he’s alone.

He’s not truly alone because now he knows he has family waiting. Granted they’re waiting for him to achieve godhood but what are a couple hundred years to immortals. And he’s one now so, eternal beauty and all that. Maybe he should open an empire that can run as a front for his immortal life.

So he went to the one owned by Hans Lockwood and propped right in. Luckily he hid a key in one of the bricks. The safe house is one of his favourites. With fully furnished kitchen and shelves of books, there’s nothing he doesn’t like.

He opened up one of the laptop nad started digging through books because he wants to see his fathers soon. He needs to know how.

So after couple hours of research and googling, he made a list of things to do:

1) He has to fully master his powers.

2) He has to do something noteworthy as to gain blessings.

3) He has to decide on a dominion.

His fathers being the God of Life and God of Death sort of narrows his scope. He noticed things as he walked by. 

He knows he can’t die and if he does he’ll sprung right out, like a Digglett. There’s tales that Zagreus is the God of Life because he makes it a game to escape the underworld and his father has dominion over blood and hunting.

The newest thing he can feel is that he sort of can feel the souls of people. It’s weird and disturbing. He can sort of tell when people are going to die. It’s a weird buzzing thing in his ears that whispers like a buzzing bee. It’s there for him to notice, but not bad enough to be annoying. 

The next thing he tried is his fathers’ gifts. He tried tapping them, meditating and cutting them to trigger a safety mechanism but nothing works. That’s until he remembers the boulder and so he pricked his fingers on the metalic edges and let some blood drop. 

The gold ring, which he presumed belonging to Zagreus, turned into a sick black sword withgold handle. The black ring, which he thinks Thanatos gifted turned into a black earring with white pearl. Luckily he had his ears pierced.

He’s not sure what they can do yet. He’ll try out later.

There’s a loud slump at his back and he jumped. There’s a parcel there from Iris Delivery and Jason’s apprehensiveness cranks up to a hundred until he read the sender.

“Nico.” He groaned because why can’t his uncle do things normally. But then, when have any immortals been normal. Just a day with the guy taught him that. He opened it to be met to see a folded piece of paper with some sort of uniform.

He took the paper and smiled. ‘Will made some adjustments and your dads’ gave the okay. Don’t get blown up.’ There’s a smiley face of a blonde crudely drawn with tongue sticking out who Jason’s gonna assume is Will. 

His uncles are nut jobs.

He can’t help but feel all sorts of tingly for them. The fact that his dads make the uniform makes it all the better.

He pulled out a red leather jacket with gold buttons, a sleeveless black tee with a golden wreath and an upside down torch splitting it and matching black jeans. The fabrics are soft to his touch but it tingles underneath his thumb.

Must be some sort of enchantment. He needs to test them out.

He pulled out a thick white-coloured wolf-shaped mask that looked eerily like it’s made of bones and another slip of paper fell from the back.

‘Use this well. Zagreus have always been fond of hounds. May you be protected by us.’ It’s signed with a singular ’T’ and an upside down black torch.

He knows that symbol from the research he had done. It’s Thanatos’s emblem. He smiled to himself, pulling the mask closer into his arms.

“Thanks dads.”

He’ll make an offering to his family for dinner. Now, how do one light a pyre in an apartment safely?

_____________________________________

He decided to patrol in San Francisco for a while. 

Surely nothing could go wrong.

He donned the outfit his family gave and put on the mask. It surprisingly fits him but Jason’s not gonna question divine gifts. 

He knows that Wonder Woman’s were blessed as well. 

His hair is pulled back into a high ponytail and his eyes are no longer green for anyone to recognise him.

He’s lounging on a roof, coiled in shadows. Jason has always been skilled at hiding in the shadows that even the Batman found it hard to track him.

He thought it was because of his street rat origins. Now, after seeing Nico’s control over shadows, how much was his skill based on his divine blood.

He’s snapped out of his reverie by a shout down below. A regular mad person who’s robbing a store with a gun. The thief make a break for it and Jason pulled at the shadows. He reappeared at an alleyway and scowled.

Did he miscalculated?

The man appeared in front of him and crashed against his frame.

“Leave the bag.” Jason growled.

“Who the hell are you?” The thief scowled, standing back up. 

“Why did you steal?” He felt compelled to ask. He’s learned by living in Crime Alley that not many do crime because they wanted to. Some because they have to. Pushed into the corners by circumstance.

“None of your damn business.” The man pulled out a gun and shot. Jason braced himself then opened his eyes when the man gasped. The bullet fell to the ground with a clink.

‘Oh, right. Immortal.’

“Not a good shot, now answer me.” He growled again. Jason’s blood boiled.

“They…” The man heaved like he’s having problem breathing. His red eyes dilated and he’s on all fours. “Stop.” The man croaked. “Please…”

Jason scowled, then he felt it. There’s a sort of pull in his veins and he breathed, calming himself down. The man gasped for air. He tumbled to his butt and pulled back.

Holy shit. He did that. He could feel something and he pulled. What was that?

“I’m sorry dude.” The man begged. “I needed it. My kid’s sick and bills are tight and—“

Jason raised his hand. He heard enough. He can tell the guy’s not lying. There’s a sort of song in his skin that only Jason could hear. Instinctively, Jason knows it’s his soul.

“Leave.”

“Wha—“

“What you did is necessary. I’m not gonna beat you for that.” Jason stepped aside. The man gave him a wary look and slowly marched to the side before running down the alley. Jason stayed put, wondering why he let the man go. The least he could do is take the money back.

But he didn’t.

“What’s wrong with me?” He muttered.

He heard the sirens and melted back into the shadows and landed in his apartment. He slumped on the couch and pressed his face into his hands. 

He needs to think this more.

Something’s happening to him. There’s a buzzing call in his ears and a feeling in his gut.

He breathed. 

It’s fine.  

What he learned from Batman is that if there’s a mystery, you analyse and you make a hypothesis. 

He can do this. 

He’s trained by the Bat and the League. He killed Ra’s Al-Ghul when not even Tim nor the Bat could.

He can do this.

_____________________________________

It took him a few more days until he made and confirmed his hypothesis.

He can control shadows because he’s a grandson of Hades. Fine. Normal. He can’t raise the dead because Thanatos, his father, keep the dead, well, dead. 

He can grow back plants because of his father, Zagreus, but he’s not willing to try out on people or animals. He’s not about to trigger a Zombie Apocalypse. He heard the Blackest Night incident was shit and he don’t need no lantern down his ass for thinking he’s a Black Lantern.

But there’s a gift that his father doesn’t have that he does. 

He can control blood. 

For all Zagreus is known as a god of blood, he’s more to the god of life essence. He feels and breathed life but he can’t control blood.

But Thanatos takes life and somehow that translates to him taking blood. Which is metal as fuck.

So it combines and now Jason’s a fucking blood bender, except there’s no full moon. He needs to tone down ont he cartoons.

The other odd thing is his sense of justice. It has always been skewered. 

Jason, even as a kid, had felt that some people should be culled and some crimes should be let go. But now, it’s hard to let things go.

It’s like something in him is singing for him to know and judge evenly. A phrase he read as a kid have been cycling in his head.

‘Blood for Blood’.

Is this his dominion? Blood? But it feels more. It’s like it demands him to provide equal retribution for those who have been trampled but provide mercy for the ones in need.

Now he knows he controls blood. Whatever it is, he got a name out of it.

Fonos.

The minor god of blood. It’s a double meaning. Blood or kill. But to Jason, it also means blood judgement. There’s no greek equivalent of it so he doesn’t have to be worried of stepping over any of his family’s dominion.

Yeah so that’s settled.

Is there a way for him to reserve his dominion? Is there an olympian registry he could drop in a file a form?

The next thing he has to figure out is what his gifts can do.

Chapter Text

The opportunity to test his fathers’ gift came when the city was rampaged by a crazy sorcerer. He’s nobody Jason knows but he’s making quick work of Constantine and Zatanna.

Nothing crazy, just another crazy sorcerer who’s hell bent on being the strongest.

No, the annoying part is how wrong the sorcerer feels. 

His soul is just wrong. It makes something in Jason’s stomach churn. His ears are pounding at how wrong everything is. Even the spirits he’s controlling feels three inches to the left and back but not placed right.

Zatanna tried to contain the sorcerer but she got slammed in the gut by a moving vine.

“Zee!” Constantine yelled.  He ducked, avoiding a shade coming his way. Ghastly thing. Spirits that should have been in his father’s domain. A stray vine slammed against him and sent the man flying into a wall. Blood dripped out of his mouth and the man fell onto tar with a groan.

He supposed he has to intervene. He can feel the souls of thousands screaming. They’re all at Death’s door and if he doesn’t do anything, his father will collect them. 

“What a mess.” He sinks into the shadows and reappeared behind the cackling sorcerer until the wacko noticed him.

“Oh, and who might you be, godling?”

He can hear Zatanna gasped. Great, announced to the whole world would you? He wanted to be discreet but no.

The shades all stopped and stared at him and they must have sensed something because they steered clear of him.

“You reek of death.” The wacko sneered. 

Jason rolled his eyes behind his mask.

“You’re lucky. I’ve been meaning to test this out.” Jason found that he can just willed his blood out of his finger and died his golden ring. It turned into a black sword and he aimed it a the wacko. 

“Red blood? From a god?” The sorcerer cackled. “You smelled of divinity but you’re mortal.”

“Fucking wrong.” Jason slashed at the closest shade and watched as it writhed and got sucked into the black blade. The wacko stopped laughing and seethed when he noticed his army being absorbed. “I’m a full god.” 

Now. But schematics. He hasn’t reached godhood but he left his mortal soul in the underworld if he understood Nico well.  

“Well, full god.” The wacko spat. “Do me the honours of gracing me with your name.”

Jason smirked. “Not a chance in hell.”

He slashed through the ocean of shades and lunged forward. There’s screams and wailing and he feels exhilarated. With more spirits he dispelled, the more energetic he feels. Maybe the golden ring is Thanatos’s gift because it shouldn’t make him energetic to reap souls. But it has Zagreus’s symbol.

‘Weird.’

The sorcerer called forth more shades and Jason can tell he’s getting tired. Vines trashed violently against buildings and rubbles started falling.

“A little help would be good.” He snarked at the two staring magic users. He could handle himself but he rather not die and get reborn from asphalt. 

Zatanna stood and casted,  “sniach, dnib mih!” white chains tightened around the man’s body and pulling his hands to the side to prevent any spell casting.

“You bitch!”

Constantine stood, holding a hand over his gut. “Let’s keep that mouth shut.” He threw a piece of paper and it plastered on the man’s mouth tight. 

Jason kept on slashing until the army had reduced to less than a dozen.

“We can’t kill him.” Zatanna shouted. “He’s immortal.”

‘Ah. That explains the wrongness. The guy must have achieved immortality wrongly.’ Jason doesn’t have to ask any more though. 

Durca had given him the All Blades to dispel demons but he had no magical soul. But for Zatanna and Constantine, the moment they shed even a drop of blood in anger or vengeance, they’re condemned to hell. 

Much better reason than the Bat’s I can’t kill because I can’t control myself. Maybe he should have never become Batman if he has the tendency to be a murderer.

He might no longer have the All Blades, but he’s beginning to think he can dispel demons not because of it. But because you can’t taint divinity.

“You can’t.” Jason shouted, slashing two more shades. “But I can!” He threw his sword, copying the move he had seen Diana made and the black blade pierced the wacko’s chest. The guy writhed, scream and then he burned in black flames.

Just for a moment, he could see a black skinned black robed man with white hair and white eyes that matches his and the man gave him a slight approving nod.

“Dad.” He whispered. The man pulled a a finger against his lips. He places a hand over the wacko and Jason could see the man’s soul being dragged underneath as the body disintegrated.

Jason stood, feeling satisfied. He had killed a man, an immortal, and his father had approved. It’s all he ever wanted, a parent’s approval. It’s the best feeling he had ever felt.

“John!” 

Jason turned to Zatanna who was pressing against Constantine’s abdomen.

“Save your breath. It’s more internal.” Constantine croaked, stopping Zatanna from helping.

He walked towards them and he supposed helping the two fight an immortal gained them enough trust not to kill him on the spot. Now that the disaster’s averted, he could sense a sort of wrongness in Constantine’s soul.

“Your soul is wrong.” He blurted.

Zatanna turned to him but Constantine scowled. “You can tell huh? Is that your godliness  speaking because I’ve met my fair share of gods and I’ve never seen one dressed like he’s in a biker gang.”

Zatanna glared at him. “John, you have a death wish.”

Jason snorted and waved her off. “It’s fine.” He kneeled next to him. The two glanced at him cautiously. “I can heal him.”

It’s a silent request. He felt kinda bad because he could have intervened sooner.

Constantine gave Zatanna a slight nod. 

The Mistress of Magic didn’t look convinced but she relented. Jason had thought to just fix the bleeding by redirecting the blood back but his earring, the black one that now he thinks belongs to Zagreus, reacted.

His fathers are idiots. The one with Zagreus’s symbol has Thanatos’s power written all over it and vice verse. 

He could feel Constantine’s organs stitching themself up and that’s not the weird part. The weird part is that he can feel Constantine’s soul stitching itself whole.

The man gasped and Zatanna held his hand tight. A few grunts and muffled screams later and the man was breathing evenly.

“How did you do that?” Constantine asked, voice tapering with drowsiness. “You’ve burned them.”

“Burned them?” Zatanna frowned. It took a while until she caught on to his meaning. “You burned his contracts?”

Jason shrugged. “I know I can heal you but never knew I could do that.”

Constantine steadied himself and pushed Zatanna off gently to regain his footing. He gave him a soft nod. “I’ve never met a god who could burn the devil’s contract. I owe you a drink. Maybe grab some grub as well.”

Jason laughed, scratching his cheek. “I can’t get drunk.”

Zatanna giggled. “It’s a mortal form of thanks.”

It’s funny to think that they’re assuming he’s full on divine and have no knowledge of human customs but hey, it helps him if word ever gets back to the Bats.

“I’m Zatanna.” She offered her hand. He looked at it cautiously before accepting it. They must have thought he’s unfamiliar with handshakes, which again, hilarious. He was checking for any spells.

“Constantine.”  The demon sorcerer nodded.

“Fonos.”

“You’re greek.” Constantine noted and sized him top to bottom. “You don’t look greek.”

“I’m fairly young.” Jason scratched the back of his neck. “Nineteen.”

“You’re a baby!” Zatanna squealed and the two of them laughed when he pouted.

“Not a baby.”

Constantine patted his shoulder. “No offence mate, but as a god, you’re a baby. What’s your field anyway? Your parents?” 

That’s a not so subtle way of interrogation. 

Jason doens’t mind. He likes honest and straightforward people and as far as he remembers, John Constantine speaks his mind. Batman doesn’t like him though but that’s more because of the whole magic thing.

He supposed there’s no harm in telling them. It would help the Justice League not to be wary of him and placed a foothold to his stance as a god.

“I’m the … God of Blood Judgement. Son of Thanatos and Zagreus.” If they noticed his hesitation, they didn’t mention it.

“Don’t you mean Dionysus?” Constantine raised a brow.

Jason shook his head. “Common mistake.”

That seemed to satisfy them. The two exchanged looks before he turned to Jason. “So what do you say about that grub? I’m starved. Zee’s treat.”

Jason glanced at the woman. “I lost a bet.”

He hummed. He can’t say no to that. “If you’re fine.”

_____________________________________

Constantine laughed. “You’re telling me that your uncle jailbroke you out of paradise?”

Zatanna snorted and rude.

Jason chuckled, masks on his lap. He gets it but he couldn’t stay there. “To be fair, he said if I achieved godhood there I’ll blow the place up. And he went on and on about logistics.”

Zatanna whistled, leaning onto the bar top and poking her fork into the fries. Posh fucker. “Never thought heaven can be blown up.”

“Or have logistics.” Constantine snorted. “If I have to work after death, I’ll climb my way aut too.”

“Cheers to that.” Zatanna raised her glass and they toasted together.

It’s nice just hanging and drinking with friends who wanted to spend time with him as him  and not as someone else’s replacement. It also helps that he looked starkly different than he was before as Jason Todd. 

There’s a part of him that’s kind of upset. In a way, Jason Todd really did die. And what came out of the underworld the second time is a different person. 

Maybe he was always meant to be him. 

It was still a fun night.

He still missed his uncle.

_____________________________________

He guessed he spoke too soon. As soon as he shadow travelled to his apartment, he’s met with his aforementioned uncle and a tall tan blond with blue eyes. He swore he’s having a seizure from the contrast. 

Can he get a seizure? Besides the point.

The clearly californian surfer stereotype is shining, literally, whereas shadows seemed to cling to his uncle.

“Nico.” Jason pulled his mask off and turned to the blond.

“Di Immortales!!” The man bounced towards him, only for his uncle to pull him back. 

“What did I say about boundaries?”

The man pouted. He’s like a blonde puppy. “But he’s adorable. He looks like a younger you.”

“I was scrawny, Will.”

“I meant younger, already a god, you.” The man pouted.

Jason cleared his throat. “So, you’re Will?” The man nodded enthusiastically. He can’t understand how his uncle could marry a chipper person, let alone spend eternity together. But they do look cute together.

“Will Solace, son of Apollo, and God of Injuries.” Will waved from where Nico had him pinned.

“Injuries?” Jason raised a brow.

“Yeah!” He beamed. “Just like Nico’s the God of Death Management.”

“De—Death…” Jason’s attempt to cover his laughter failed. His room grew darker and he knows his uncle is pissed. No wonder he didn’t tell Jason his dominion.

“Enough, Will. We’re here on business.” Nico reminded to which his husband gave a firm nod. Nico took a step close and stared down at him. He’s pissed about something. “I told you to achieve godhood.” Yeah, so. “Not take a divine seat!” His uncle waved his hands in the air in exasperation

“Uhhh.” Jason drawled, turning to Will for help. “Is that different?”

“Oh, yeah.” Will nodded. “Majorly different. Godhood means to just become divine. Taking divine seat means you’ve claimed a dominion on your own.”

“You guys didn’t?”

Will winced. “Nope. Our parents assigned us that.”

“To be fair,” Jason raised his hands defensively before pointing to his uncle, “you didn’t tell me anything. I had to google stuff.”

Nico groaned into his hands. Jason can tell he realised his mistakes.

“Is it a problem?” Jason swallowed, pulling at the collars of his shirt.

Will waved his hand in a ‘so-so’ “If you’ve picked your own divine seat, it means you’ve claimed duties as a god. You’ve ascended too quickly.”

“I’ve ascended?”

“Too quickly!” Nico jabbed his chest with a hiss. “Olympus is digging at my dad for this. A grandson of Hades by two divine parents. Not even a demigod! Jason, do you know what this means?”

Jason shook his head. 

“It means,” Nico hissed, “that Fonos, is now a Greek God. And if you don’t get yourself a temple and believers soon, you’ll fade.”

Jason paled. “But you’re both greek gods!” 

Will winced again and turned to a sheepish Nico. “You didn’t tell him?”

“I told you, you would have done better!”

“Guys!” Jason really didn’t want them to argue and get side-tracked. He also still hates yelling.

Will cleared his throat and tried to emit a calming wave. “Well, you see, we were demigods first and was granted divinity. So our existence exist as long as people kept using our field?”

“And what about me?” Jason gulped.

Nico sighed, a hand on his forehead. “Merde… You’re born of two divine parents. We were hoping to ease you into the same position as us but you’ve claimed godhood. Which was my mistake.”

Nico’s eyes are clouded with guilt and Jason doesn’t like how he’s blaming himself for that. He would know since he’s done that a lot himself.

“It’s fine.” Jason reassured. “I’ll just need to find a believer. How hard can that be?”

Will and Nico exchanged worried looks. “We don’t know how to do that.” Will drawled. 

“We haven’t needed to.” Nico bit his lips.

Will hastily tacked on. “Don’t worry! We’ll get right on it and will tell you anything we know. For now, maintain active presence.”

Nico jabbed his chest again. “Which means, a lot of people has to know about you or you will cease.”

Jason’s fucked. So much for being incognito.

Nico massaged his temples slowly. “And since you’ve claimed a seat, Fonos is now your name. People can’t know you as Jason Todd, God of Blood Judgement.”

Jason winced. Yeah, he sees the problem now. He was just wallowing on how Jason Todd officially died but he had to take the shovel and bang his own corpse six feet under.

“So I can’t ever change my name?”

“Nope.” Will cheekily said.

Chapter Text

The thing about being Fonos now is that he can’t do it at night. He needs presence. And presence means daylight and damn, does Jason hates working in the sun.

He’s not used to it.

He supposed it’s a trait as a Bat.

But hey, the perks of being immortal is that he can’t feel heat or cold. It’s always nice weather every time.

He shadow travelled to New York where he’s sure there’ going to be more problems and more exposure. 

Ugh, media. 

After his nth number of mugging rescue he realised something. There’s whispers in his ears. Whispers of people asking for retribution and divine judgement. He had to comply if the wrong is horrible and within his purview. Or else the whispers get louder and his presence gets weaker. Not to mention the blinding headache. He feels like he’s split in different directions.

Prayers.

People are praying to him.

Who the fuck prays to a greek god in this day and age?

He was happily breaking a leg of a criminal who assaulted a lady that he burgled when he’s faced with another problem.

One that is six feet of righteous fury with flowing black hair and blue eyes.

“Nephew.” She called, eyes digging at him from the sky.

“Diana.” He nodded, trying to display that he’s not cowered. She’ve drilled that into him. Never show weakness at first sight. It shows strength and determination.

“We need to talk.” 

Jason supposed he can’t run from that. He has been gaining traction.

_____________________________________

For Diana, the problem started when the League had a meeting.

She came back from Themyscira only for the League to want to discuss something she just found out.

Fonos.

“Anyone know anything about him?” Clark asked the table.

Constantine and Zatanna raised their hands and nodded. 

“Nice fellow.” Constantine hummed. “He’s young and new.”

“How young?” Batman asked. Diana instantly scowled when he spoke. There’s still some lingering resentment in her chest since their last confrontation. She didn’t want to feel this way but, until she’s proven otherwise, she couldn’t help herself.

“Nineteen.” Zatanna replied.

This turned the whole table into a muttering mess. Diana’s not sure she likes this. They’re discussing something beyond their comprehension. She knows them. They’re mortals and therefore could not understand how divinity works. 

Most of them.

“He’s the son of Thanatos and Zagreus.” Constantine continued. Zatanna keyed in on the hologram projection and popped up articles on the two gods. Her cousins. “He claims his dominion is over Blood and Blood Judgement.”

“It makes him volatile.” Batman contributed. Already Diana knows where this is heading. “He needs to be contained.”

“You can’t.” The entire table turned to her. “He needs to do his job to exist.”

Hal cleared his throat and raised his hand. “No offence princess, but you don’t and you’re still here.”

Diana sighed. She supposed she can’t fault Lantern Hal for that. It’s not something often brought up. At least he’s not being outright hostile. 

“I am a demigod turned divinity. He is purely divine. Their entire existence is based on duties.” She then turned to Batman. “If you contained him, he’ll lose followers and you will essentially kill him.”

“And what then if he starts killing?” Batman asked.

“Then we have to stop him.” Clark added in support of Bruce. 

Diana can’t blame Clark as well. He doesn’t know. Diana kept it from him. For now. For now until they have proof because Clark’s an optimist and he believes in Bruce the strongest. If the truth is as she feared, then this will break Clark.

“You can’t.” Diana stated again because they’re not listening to her. “Like I said, this is his life. Are you willing to lead him to his death?”

“He’s not actually alive right?” Oliver wondered. “I mean, let’s face it, the Bat had shot Darkseid before in the brain and that means we can take drastic measures against none-humans?”

To her surprised, it was Hal who slammed the table. “What do you mean by that? None-humans? You realise that despite how he’s birthed, he is living? It’s like saying a being made of fear has to die because we’re threatened. I thought we’re all about preserving life? Not maintaining our status quo.”

Flash tried to calm him but the man slumped back into his seat with a scowl.

Diana gave an appreciative nod to the Lantern. “I shall speak to him and see how his powers work. If you harm him, you will be dealing with Olympus. Make no mistake which side Themyscira and Atlanteans will take.”

Arthur nodded in agreement. “We are under Poseidon’s ruling. If he wishes, our powers can be null. My people will not take that risk for mortal kind.”

“Why would the Olympians go that far for this new god?” Clark wondered. There’s clear worry in his face and Diana understands how he can’t comprehend. 

She does. 

He lived as mortal and he’s of a different world. He doesn’t understand the rules of divinity. He doesn’t understand their burden and way of life. One day, Diana too will join them, and her dominion would surely be far more bloodied.

Of that she is certain.

“Zagreus is beloved by the Olympians and Thanatos does his duties well. You do not want to see a world without any newborn nor death. It will be chaotic if you harm their son.”

“I don’t like this Diana.” Batman scowled.

“For this, you might have to make an exception Batman. There are forces even you cannot contain.” Diana stood and flew to the zeta, leaving the meeting room and it’s discussion behind. 

She still can’t stand him. 

She hopes they’re wrong.

_____________________________________

Jason sighed, already feeling heavy from the news. They’re sitting on the ledge of a news building with legs dangling down the side.

“Sorry, Diana. This was my fault.” He meant it. Well, it’s also partially Nico’s fault but Jason should have waited. It’s his impatience to meet his family that lead to this mess.

“How is this your doing, Little One?” Diana gave him a sad look.

“I wanted to achieve godhood to see my parents and I sort of rushed it and didn’t wait for my uncle to clear things up.”

Diana nodded. She supposed she can see how brash young godling could act. She was once brash and young. “Is there any way to control your urges?”

Jason shook his head. “My uncles are looking into it. But they told me that for now I have to maintain ‘presence’,” he air-quoted, “or I’ll fade.”

Diana nodded again. It’s easy to talk to her. It always has been. She always sees the bigger and practical picture. She’s not all about rehab. She’s about efficient management and Jason respects that. 

“I will get the League off your back Little One, until a solution can be found. Even if there isn’t, I shall keep you safe.” Diana assured him. “You are my nephew, and by divine law, you are also family.”

He gave her a wistful smile until he realised, he’s still wearing his mask. He bit his lips, entertaining the idea before braving himself. 

“Can you uh, keep something a secret?”

Diana frowned. “Only if it doesn’t harm innocents.”

Jason nodded. He fiddled with his mask before pulling them off. There’s a second, then two, then he’s tied in a golden lasso.

‘Fuck’ 

“How do you have that face?”

Well, at least she could recognise him.

_____________________________________

He guessed he had to thank the lasso for allowing him to assure him of her identity. But even with the lasso, he was forced to confront the truth. 

Bruce killed him. He killed him, twice. Once to save the clown and another to save a monster. And he’s also faced with the fact that Jason Todd truly had died and it’s Fonos that’s left.

It was a startling truth that he didn’t like.

By the end of his story, he has his arms full of Diana and the woman was crying. It’s uncomfortable. He had never seen her cry. His mother figure had always been strong. He supposed that with all the strength she possessed, he had forgotten that she was still that: a breathing, living, person with emotions.

“My son.” She pulled back, hands trailing his cheek. “You have faced so much hardship. But your fathers have protected you well.”

“Well…”

“I am not talking about them.” She growled.

Jason nodded. There’s no need to argue on that.

“Next time I see him, I shall bury his head in the wall.” Diana growled and as funny as that might be, Bruce is mortal and the League will go to war with the Amazons in that case. He doesn’t want that for her. He wants his one true living mother figure to stay unmarred by conflict that he caused.

“It’s fine Diana.” Jason reassured, patting her hands. “I can’t die. Part of being a badass god now.”

Diana locked eyes with him, assessing him for his truth before nodding.

He placed the mask back on as a precaution and they continued to sit on the ledge. 

“So,” he drawled, “how did you recognise me? I don’t look that much the same.”

Diana gave it a thought before smiling. “Your presence. We can sense souls. Can you not?” Jason nodded. “Your mask hides your presence from me but the moment you lifted them, it’s similar. You might be Fonos but Jason Todd has always been a part of your soul.”

Jason smiled. At least he knows he hasn’t taken a proverbial shovel over his entire existence. Maybe a finger is sticking out but hey, that’s good enough to find the body.

“Are you returning to Gotham, Little One?”

Jason gave a solemn nod. “I have to. It’s a promise I made and … There’s prayers coming from there. They’re asking for help.” He doesn’t have to say what kind. “But there’s prayers everywhere and it’s buzzing.”

“You do not have to do them personally.” Jason turned to her in a silent question. “Do you think your father reaped every soul by his hand? His dominion helps. You just need to permit yours to do the same. As long as they fulfil your criteria, your powers will assist.”

“Like an automated answering machine.” Jason hummed.

Diana gave him a sly smirk. 

“But I have to go to Gotham myself?”

Diana frowned. “Batman will not like that.”

Jason inhaled sharply. “That’s exactly why I have to go there. Batman’s methods are not working. I get his stance, I do. But he’s human. I’m not. I can do things without damning my soul. Who is he to judge a god?”

Diana nodded. She took his hand in hers and patted them. “Indeed. Perhaps it’s time for the people of Gotham to have faith in the divine.”

Jason gasped, putting a hand over his chest. “Diana! Are you planning to overthrow the Batman? That’s heresy!”

She giggled to herself. “Batman has done a lot of good.” Her eyes drifted to where Gotham is towards. “But it’s time for a change. If the people has a safer solution, then surely the Batman will have to retire.” She turned to him who’s mulling her words. “It’s good for him too. Don’t you think he deserves a rest?” 

She seems to be under the presumption that Jason’s lack of action is because he still cares about Bruce. Let him make it clear that Bruce can go fuck himself.

Jason shook his head. “I have a bad feeling D. I think he won’t like it. Do you know the definition of insanity?”

Diana nodded solemnly. “You believe his quest in Gotham is a psychosis?”

Jason bit the inside of his cheeks. “I think, if you push a patient, they’ll fight back.”

“Then maybe you need allies?” 

“I don’t have allies.” Jason sniffed, dangling his legs.

Diana turned to him and scowled. “You fail to see that you already have them. You have made an impression to Zatanna and Constantine. And you have me. Even Lantern Hal Jordan is on your side.”

“Dumbass Hal is on my side?” Jason gasped in disbelief. 

Diana snorted. “Believe it or not, Hal Jordan has the same view as I do. He knows how the universe works better than Batman. You Gothams see the genius detective, but he is not omnipotent. His knowledge is limited to what us League members divulge and he’s unable to sympathise with those of low borne regardless of his attempts.” She grasped his hand tight. “But Batman is correct. He is no judge, jury and executioner. He is mortal and luckily,” She turned to him, “you are not.”

She stood, pulling him up alongside her.

“Come, I shall introduce you to your long lost sister. From there, we can get others who view you as is.”

Jason smiled. She flew, pulling him with her. Jason prayed Zeus wouldn’t strike him from the air. Diana’s his daughter, right?

Chapter Text

He’s thrilled to meet Donna again. 

He’s not thrilled to be slammed straight to a wall by a teary eyed angry Amazon while Diana watched amused. “You dumbass!”

“H—Hi!” Jason choked out. He patted the arm on his neck and she lets him go for him to breath. It sucks to still feel pain.

She punched him in the shoulder, hard, the moment he could breath. “How dare you die and become divine? You’ve never even told me of your parentage!”

Jason bit his lips. “To be fair, I found out in Elysium.”

“You’ve been to Elysium?” Donna gasped and stepped back. She heaved, eyes darting about before asking. “Did you see Robert and —“ She swallowed.

Jason nodded. 

“You’ve deserved it.” He knows she meant about his place in paradise. Donna and Diana had always seen the best in him, even when he thought he doesn’t deserve it.

Jason can see the tears welling in her eyes. He pulled her into her arms and she wept for her lost son and husband. “They’re happy and they said to take your time.”

“Thank you, Jason.” She clutched his jacket tight. “Thank you.”

It’s the closure she needed. Jason understands what it’s like to lose a family. His is not dead yet but, they’re gone all the same.

_____________________________________

They sat in Diana’s living room with tea in their hands. Jason’s clasping his tight as Diana recounted to Donna about Jason’s journey. He doesn’t feel like repeating it again. Once a day is enough and he’s exhausted.

“Fonos, huh.” Donna whispered.

Jason nodded and gave her a light-hearted shrug. At least she’s not raging about Bruce. She’s always been receptive to him.

“Yeah… So I screwed up and now I need to ‘make my presence known’.” He groaned into his hands because he’s so fucked. How is he supposed to do this? He can’t. He can’t face Gotham again. Not when there’s the clown and Batman and, he screamed into his hands.

There’s a firm presence around him and he turned to see Donna’s soft smile. De Immortales, he missed his sister. Why didn’t he just come back to them? Why did he fall for Talia’s games and Bruce’s control. 

He was an idiot.

“I’m sorry.”

Donna frowned. “Don’t be. Bruce made a mistake. He will face divine judgement in the hereafter.”

“She is right, Jason.” Diana hummed. “We shall move on to the next part of our plan.”

Jason quirked a brow at her because what other allies does he need? He has Diana and Donna and that’s enough.  

Donna flicked his forehead. “We shall re-introduce you to the team.”

Team? What team? Donna knows how the Titans hated him thanks to Dick. Roy and Kori have abandoned him for Dick too. Unless…

“Donna, you can’t be serious?”

She beamed. “Exactly!”

“Donna, that’s insane. He hates me.” Jason could feel his blood pressure rising. She can’t be talking about him.

“As I recall, you said he was great and dreamy.” She grinned.

Diana nodded, clearly joining in on the fun. What is this? Tease Jason Todd day? “And I remembered him saying the bad boy routine you had never failed.” She lifted her cup and smiled as she took a sip.

“No!” He whined, pulling at his cheek. “He hates me.”

“He does not.” Donna frowned.

“Fine.” Jason huffed, crossing his arms. “He hated Jason Todd. He doesn’t know me to hate me.”

“Jason.” Donna’s lips pulled and he wondered did he say something wrong for both her and Dianna to look so downtrodden. “You don’t know what happened after you passed.”

Jason cocked his head. What does she mean by that? Hold up, he hadn’t checked the calendar. How long has it been since he died? How did nobody knew?

Diana place her cup with a chink and grimaced. “Give him a chance, Little One. You will find that your death has a long-reaching impact.”

“But he doesn’t know I died.” Jason muttered.

The two Amazons gave him a hesitant look. There’s something they’re not telling him. He’s not sure whether to stick around to find out or flee.

_____________________________________

Jason’s staring at the ceiling at Diana’s guest room and admiring the painting of the olympians. It’s sad that he can’t see his father nor grandfather there. He doubts it would be accurate anyway. Or maybe it will since this is Wonder Woman he’s talking about.

There’s a knock at the door and Jason called them in.

“We need to talk.” Donna muttered.

Jason sat and leaned against the headboard. He patted against the empty space and Donna flew to his side.

“‘Sup?”

Donna frowned, rocking herself side to side. “I’ve texted Kyle and told him to come over but, I don’t know how you want to be introduced.”

“Whatcha say?” Jason pulled a pillow to his chest.

“I told him it’s a new member of our team.” Donna pouted. “He’s not happy but he agreed to come over.”

Jason sniffed, nose twitching. “I thought he would be happy that I’m gone.”

“Jason…” Donna winced. “There’s something you should know about Kyle since you went missing.”

Jason frowned. What does he need to know about Rayner? He thought the man was cool but he had a stick up his ass and, yeah, maybe Jason had egged him on but that’s because he started it.

“What’s there to say?”

Donna breathed in sharply, playing with the blanket. “For starter,” she turned to him, “he’s a white lantern again.”

“What?” Because what the fuck. Kyle renounced the power. The only thing that could make him take it back is a world ending disaster or —

The alternative is heartbreaking.

But does he want to know? Does he deserve to know because they were never friends.

“Okay.”

Donna raised a brow. “Okay? Don’t you wanna know why?”

Jason shook his head. “I don’t need to. I’m Fonos now. I’ll always be Fonos from now on. Jason Todd died and he wasn’t Rayner’s friend.”

Donna held his hand with eyes that screams something. She stood, patting his shoulder once and smiled. “I hope you know you were always my brother.”

Jason smiled. “Of course Sis.”

_____________________________________

When the door opened, Jason was faced with Rayner in all his stupid worn out tee shirt and jeans glory.

The Lantern was practically drilling him with disinterest and honestly, he’s not even Jason Todd for the man to hate him that much.

“Kyle.” Donna greeted, jumping from the stairs to the door.

Rayner nodded to her before pinning his eyes back to Jason. “And who might you be?”

Donna stood, wrapping her arms around his neck. “This is my brother, Fonos.”

“Fonos…” He drawled. He leaned in, eyes assessing every inch of Jason. “You’re the guy that’s all the buzz, huh.”

“Yeah.” Jason’s not going to start a fight with him but man does the hostility gets up by a max and twofold. 

Then something dawned to Kyle and he snapped to Donna. “Would you excuse us for a second?” He pulled Donna by the wrist and dragged her into the kitchen.

• _____________________________________

“What’s that about?” Kyle hissed. His eyes flashed red before it turned to orange, pink, yellow then back to red.

Donna was unimpressed with Kyle’s attitude so far. “What do you mean?”

Kyle glared. “Oh, I don’t know. Your ‘brother’? Jason’s body hasn’t been found yet and you’re already replacing him. At least wait until he’s cold would you?”

The Amazon scowled, floating inches off the floor, and shoved him. “Wow, low blow Lantern.” She stepped forward in an intimidating stance but the man didn’t even flinch. “I recalled you hated Jason. Shouldn’t you be happy he’s gone?”

Okay, yeah, maybe Donna’s a bit pissed with how Jason and now Fonos was treated by Kyle. Men… Especially those around her can never seem to be honest with how they feel.

“Hated?” He spurted. Kyle masked his expression and leaned into her. “I didn’t replace him. I’ve been working for the past god knows how long to look for him! Do you know how I feel when it happened?”

“How you feel? He’s my brother.” Donna hissed, already trying her best not to punch Kyle. It seemed all they did these days were get on each other’s nerves.

“Well, clearly you don’t know hot it felt.” He jabbed at her. “You didn’t know how it feel when I —“ He faltered. His throat tightened and his voice cracked. “I felt him passing Donna…. I was a jerk. The least I could do is find his body.”

“Kyle…” Donna lost all fight in her body, tension rolling off her back as she slowly landed back to the floor.

“Nobody knows Donna.” He choked, fingers curled against his side. “I can’t prove him dead without finding his body… He’s gone and the person who — who— he’s still in the league.” 

Donna gets it. She does. It’s been hard to work with Batman these days knowing what they knew. She doubted that without a body, the Bat or any bat brood would believe them.

She couldn’t imagine how Kyle felt if she felt it. He was in space on a whatever lantern mission when suddenly he felt a life snapped. Only to come back, read the news and instinctively knew, your friend had been killed by the hands of his father. The guy you looked up to had, whether he knew it or not, taken the life of his own son.

It must be awful.

They had their differences but even Kyle can’t deny that they were a team. They had bonded back during their trip.

All she could do is wrap him tight and promised things would be fine. Jason made his wish and unless he wants Kyle to know, she would respect them.

But it’s hard when it’s slowly tearing both apart.

_____________________________________

Jason could hear them. He could feel them. They emotions fluctuating, the betrayal and hurt coming off Rayner. 

He always thought Kyle hated him. He took those words that came out of his words and took it as the truth. He’ve heard how Kyle defended him when Timmy trash talked him at the Titans but he thought Kyle must have been disappointed to know what Jason had become.

It’s fine.

It didn’t matter.

Jason had other things to focus.

It’s enough that only Diana and Donna knows he’s alive. 

Let Jason Todd be buried and a memory.

Because Jason learned that as long as he stayed dead, he remained perfect in their eyes.

_____________________________________

The Lantern and Donna came into the living room to the godling flipping through a book in greek. Jason finds that he likes being able to read dead languages. The words were more, meaningful. 

Wow Todd. Smooth. Meaningful.

There’s a brief flash of nostalgia in the Lantern’s eyes before he turned sheepish. 

“Hey.” Kyle called. Jason closed his book and turned to them. “Sorry about that but, umm. I’m Kyle Rayner.”

Jason nodded. “The White Lantern. I know who you are. My Father has dominion over your power.”

Kyle awkwardly shuffled into the room and took a seat, followed by Donna. “Yeah.” He rasped. “Child of Life and Death. How does that work?”

Jason put his book aside and sighed. How he wished he has his mask on. It would help him cover his annoyance. But Diana has a rule about no costumes in her house. 

“I’m mostly blood. And blood price and all that but, I can see people’s soul. Tell when they’ll die. Or supposed to.”

“Supposed to?” Donna turned to him. Even Kyle looked intrigued.

Jason nodded. His nose twitched in thought before he huffed. “Yeah, like, death is not predetermined? At least not for me. If someone is close to death and I can prevent it, I can change their time of death?”

“Cool” Kyle said in awe. “So you’re more like a god of protection.”

Jason snorted. “Nope. Can’t have that. Gods are very possessive of their dominion. That’s Soteria. Or umm, my grandmother.”

“Lady Persephone?” Donna wondered.

Jason beamed and pointed at her. “Yeah. Soteria’s her epithet. Spirit of protection and salvation and all that.”

Kyle seemed to take the news well. He supposed being an intergalactic space cop makes you well suited to all the crazies. “So, umm.” He played with the armrest on his couch. “Why did you guys wanna meet?”

Donna looked to Jason for permission and he shrugged. She turned to Kyle with a firm face. “Fonos needs help. Actually he needs allies.”

Kyle furrowed his brows. “What kind?” 

“The back him up kind. The League is split.” Donna leaned on one hand. “Some wants him restrained and some just want him be. He’s a god and you know how they live right?”

Kyle nodded. There’s really no need to explain. He dated Donna once and surely he knows all about gods and Amazons. He’s that kind of boyfriend that wants to know everything about the person they care.

“So they want him to be stopped but… You’re a White and your support could persuade them.”

“That’s basically a death sentence.” Kyle nodded grimly. “Who?”

Jason winced and reopened his book to avoid the next outburst. Maybe if he dug himself between the lines of Jason’s adventure at the Island of The Lotus Eaters they’ll switch places.

“Batman.”

Kyle’s eyes turned red.

Chapter Text

I needed the time fro rest and break for personal reasons and was in a slump. Then I started a new fic and I finally had time to replay Hades because Hades II is out and so, Jason's adventure as a god now haas a sequel! It will follow a once every two weeks schedule. The title is: Jason's Adventure In God Hood (Heh-God Hood). So congrats to everyone who wanted the sequel.