#utrh au

[graytodd]

Would love to see some Identity-Reveal dickjay art from you if you’re ever running low on inspiration! (=^▽^)σ

I turned this idea into a dickjay UTRH AU sketch, I needed some angsty vibes from them and wanted to practise expressions.

[aroaceass]

And it's done, page 12/12. Thank you for everybody who's read my comic! I've read all your tags and comments and appreciate every one of them. I'll post soon my thoughts and motivation behind this comic, and also something with why I think that Jason was intended to die after UtRH. Hope you guys liked the ending (and it didn't feel underwhelming) :). I can't promise I'll make any new comics soon, as this one took me months and I'll be very busy from now on, but I have a story that I would love to eventually put to paper. A little backstage info: I used my brother (thank you @getzbyy) as the model for most of the pose reference photos. For the details (like hands) its usually my hand haha.

First / Previous

[ktkat99]

It's Not Delivery, It's... Necromancy?

“Of course.” Tim slammed the pantry door shut.

His parents sent him money for groceries every time they left, but that didn't necessarily mean that he had remembered to go shopping.

He didn't have anything ready-made, and really didn't have any energy to cook.

He and Batman had been out all night and the exhaustion was hitting him hard. He would have stayed for Alfred’s cooking, but he and Bruce had had a fight and sticking around for food had been the last thing on his mind.

Was anyplace even open at two in the morning?

There had to at least be a pizza place open somewhere.

He pulled out his phone and searched for twenty-four hour restaurants that delivered and were close by. It didn't even matter if they had good food or not, so long as they could get it to him before his need for sleep outweighed his hunger.

“Ramone's.” He decided and selected what he wanted from the menu before calling the number listed on their website.

*Hello, what can I get ya?*

“A medium pepperoni pizza? I'll tip your driver with my soul so long as it arrives hot and soon.”

*... We deal in cash or plastic.*

Okay. Not in the mood for jokes.

In all fairness, neither was Tim.

“I have money.”

*And I've lived in Gotham all my life and know I can't be too careful. Now what's the address?*

Tim told him, ended the call, and headed for the living room to wait by the window.

Yyyyy

Headlights shining through the front window woke him up sometime later. He hadn't even noticed that he was falling asleep, but that didn't matter.

It was pizza time!

A silhouette moved around the car to the passenger seat, pulled out a square box, and headed for the front door, so Tim got up and grabbed his wallet.

He opened the door immediately after the first knock and… froze.

Had he actually not woken up?

Yeah, that must have been it.

He was still asleep.

Because what other explanation could there be for Jason Todd, who was dead and buried right next door, to be standing on his porch?

“Pepperoni pizza for Tim Drake?”

Tim didn't break eye contact as he slowly lifted his hand to his mouth and bit down hard.

It hurt.

Why did it hurt?

He couldn't feel pain in dreams.

It wasn't supposed to hurt.

It was supposed to wake him… up…

“Uh… look, kid. We don't accept souls as payment, so either-,”

It hit Tim right then that he really was both awake and talking to Jason Todd, and his instincts took over.

It wasn't his finest moment, but he screamed, snatched the pizza, and slammed the door shut.

Yyyyy

“Are you kidding me??” Jason pounded on the door, but the little brat had already locked it tight. “Open this door! You owe me money!”

Ramone hadn't even wanted to fill this order, given that the kid was calling at two am, talking about paying in souls, and the address was one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Gotham, but Jason didn't feel right about refusing.

Ramone tended to be a tad paranoid, and on the off chance that this kid was actually just joking, he wanted to make sure he got his food.

“I'm calling the damn cops if you don't pay for that!”

The door didn't budge.

“Son of a bitch.”

His phone rang and, already knowing who it was, he answered it.

“You were right.”

*Do you need me to come get you?*

“No. I'm just going to call the cops. This kid opened the door, stared at me in silence, bit himself, and then started screaming and swiped the pizza.”

*... That sounds like a curse.*

“He didn't curse me, Ramone.”

*How can you be sure? My last delivery guy got cursed and didn't take it seriously until he got back here and sneezed-,*

“-out a garter snake. Yes, I know. I don't think that's what happened here. I think this is just some punk kid trying to score a free midnight snack. I'm calling the cops.”

*And then you'll head straight back here?* Ramone pressed.

“And then I'll head straight back there.” Jason confirmed.

Ramone was a gruff hard ass most of the time, but he had also been the one to find Jason a month ago, wandering the streets with absolutely no memory, covered in mud and dressed in funeral clothes, and took him in.

He had lived in Gotham his whole life and had an endless supply of stories about all of the crazies he'd served over the years, from a shark on a date with a chain-smoking Brit who arrived and departed via a portal, to a young Robin doing his absolute best to convince Batman to get bread sticks as well.

The stories were entertaining, but also the reason Ramone constantly jumped to conclusions at the slightest provocation.

And habitually called to check in on Jason every time he left to make deliveries.

“Alright, I'm calling the police.” He shouted through the door. “Last chance kid.”

Yyyyy

Bruce clicked through security cameras, searching for where Mr. Freeze’s men were hiding the entrance to their new hideout.

He and Robin had been looking for it for days now, and they had had a solid lead that night, but they still kept coming up empty.

What was he not seeing?

Where was he not looking hard enough?

How long would they even remain there, now that they knew Batman and Robin were closing in?

He tapped his mouse and the screen switched to a new angle, but before he could analyze it for any possible hidden doors, an emergency notification popped up.

There were a number of specific locations that he had alerts set up for, so that he could respond first if something happened, and the police had just been called to Drake Manor.

He was on his feet and bolting up the stairs as soon as he read the address.

Tim had left for his home less than half an hour ago.

Had he walked in on burglars?

Kidnappers?

Or maybe someone had figured out his identity and was going after Robin?

Why wasn't his first call to Bruce?

A few minutes of tense questions flowing through his mind later and he reached the back of Tim's house.

It seemed quiet inside, which only meant that he had no clue where the threat was, or Tim.

Regardless, he took out his key to the back door, slipped inside, and took to the shadows.

Still, no sounds.

No signs of forced entry or a fight.

No traps.

It wasn't until he made his way through the house and close to the front foyer that he even heard Tim.

The teen was alone, stretched out on the floor in front of the couch, munching on a slice of pizza and staring at the door with wide eyes.

“Tim.”

“There's a dead body outside.” Tim whispered. “It brought me pizza.”

Bruce crept closer, keeping away from the large front window, and reached out to feel Tim's pulse.

It was a bit fast, but not even close to what it would be if he had been dosed with fear gas.

“S’good pizza.”

“Tim, why did you call the police?”

Tim furrowed his eyebrows and looked up. “I didn't?”

Bruce got up and carefully peered out the front window. In the driveway, motor running, was an old, rusted sedan.

“Did you order pizza?”

Tim nodded and grabbed another piece. “You see it too? Okay. Good. At least I didn't hallucinate that.”

“Tim.” Bruce was getting concerned. “Why are the police on their way? And if you were hallucinating, why didn't you say anything at the cave?”

“Because I wasn't hallucinating in the cave. I got home, ordered pizza, and then Jason was on my porch.”

What?

“Jason?”

Tim nodded and took a bite from the slice in his hands. “Jason Todd.” He pointed out at the car. “He brought me my pizza. I kinda forgot to pay him, now that you mention it.”

Bruce sighed and stood up. “I think I've been letting you stay up too late. I'll go pay the delivery driver. You get off the floor.”

He should have been keeping a better eye on Tim.

Was he smart, responsible, and able to take care of himself? Sure, yes.

But he was also a teenager with poor sleep habits and no one at home most of the time.

Opening the door, Bruce stepped out and waved at the car. “Hi. I'm sorry about all of this. I'll pay for his food.”

The car door opened and a very annoyed young man… got… out…

“Jay..?”

It couldn't be.

“I've already told my boss what happened. Your place is blacklisted from here on out, but you still owe me for the one he took.”

Jason.

“Yo! Did you hear me? I exchange food for money. He took the food, already, but I still need the money.”

There was a white streak in his hair, but everything else…

“Dude?”

It was Jason.

“Hm. Okay, you know what? This is getting creepy.”

Jason was… leaving.

“Wai- Wait!” Bruce ran off the porch and reached the car right as Jason shut the door. “Jason!”

“How do you know my name?!” Jason demanded as he quickly locked the door.

“Jason, wait! I'm sorry, don't go!”

“No, I'm leaving!”

Bruce grabbed the door handle and held on tight. “Jason!”

Jason reached down for the window crank and lowered the window and inch. “Let go! Keep the pizza!”

“No!”

“Yes!”

“Get out of the car!”

“Fuck you!”

“This is just a misunderstanding-,”

“Your kid stole a pizza!” Jason cut him off.

“Which I will pay for. But I just want to talk with you for a second.”

“No! Fuck you, and how do you know my name?”

“You're my son!”

“No, I’m-, What?”

“You're my son!” Bruce didn't let go of the door handle, but he used his free hand to reach into his pocket for his wallet.

Which wasn't there, because he had dropped it on the porch.

“Please, just get out of the car. I have a photo of you in my wallet.”

“... You realize that sounds creepy, right?”

“It's not creepy.” Bruce held up his hands to show that he meant no harm and was no longer holding onto the car. “You're my son. Can I go get my wallet and show you?”

Jason glanced over at the dark square of leather sitting on the concrete and narrowed his eyes.

“What's my full name?” He finally asked softly.

“Jason Peter Todd. You didn't want to change your surname after the adoption, and I respected that.”

Jason got a far away look in his eyes and Bruce could see his lips twitching as he mouthed his name a few times.

“Jason… Peter… Todd. That sounds right.”

“Jay?”

“Are you… this isn't a trick, right? To get free food?”

Bruce shook his head.

“I only remember the last month or so. And a few… scattered things. Like my first name being Jason.”

“I can fill in any gaps you have. Can- can we talk?”

Jason eyed him, but then reached over and unlocked the door.

Bruce stepped back to let him climb out.

It really was Jason.

He was really alive, and really right in front of him.

Bruce’s body moved, almost of its own accord, and he wrapped Jason in a bear hug.

Jason gasped and froze, but then he let out a shuddering breath and melted, embracing Bruce back.

“This… feels familiar, too.”

[phantomchick]

Jason but when he comes back from the dead he does the reclusive vigilante thing where no one ever sees him and no one ever talks to him.

Like literally no one but no one knows who he is or what his deal is because they only have reports from the victims he rescued to go on.

Except Bruce who is like, I recognise this, this is my urban legend schtick.

Nightwing to the mysterious stranger who is only known for wearing the colour red and pulling disappearing acts after saving people: Hey you're that 'red' guy right? Nice to meet you!

Jason:

and then he flips up and disappears into the vents.

[jellyfish-topia]

Does anyone have a recommendation of Jason looking so different after being resurrected and going through league training and shit that Bruce genuinely doesn’t recognize him with the helmet and domino off.

I’d really love to see this in a way where Jason just hangs around him and B has no clue, but literally ANYTHING like it, I would love to see

[just-uraverageangel]

After some debating, I’ve made possible merch designs!

These would be double-sided charms, of the Under the Blue Mask AU!

[microwavesaferat]

So we all know what happened with Jason, died at 15, got revived via timeline shenanigans in which his body is as if he hadn't died, but his mind is still kind of dead. Then the Lazarus Pit happens and he's all good. What if it went the other way?

So time to talk about what happens to the body.

We can assume Jason has been buried for a few years at this point, so, depending on the conditions, his body has not fully decomposed, but is in the advanced stages, so nearly there. Pretty much all of the organs are gone, all that's left is rotting tissue and bones. Plus the suit he was buried in.

So let's say timeline shenanigans happen and he gets his mind back instead (I know there is no brain, but idk, magic?). Now he's stuck there, unable to move as every muscle has gone, unable to feel through nonexistent nerve endings, unable to see, smell, taste, hear. Just thinking. I imagine he'd go over every single possible outcome after his death and, in all of those outcomes, not once does he consider that the Joker lived. That Batman did not enact vengeance. That Bruce did not deliver justice. That his dad did not care.

Then he's dug up by the League of Assassins. He has no way to communicate that he is alive, to fight against whatever they wish to do. Ra's doesn't even know that Jason is alive, he simply wants to see if the pit will fix wounds after death. Jason's bones are still broken, will the pit mend them if the body is cold? What happened instead is more than Ra's could have hoped for. He watches the mostly skeletal corpse begins to stitch together, a 15 year old boy, with 17 year old skin and bones. Jason doesn't come out quite right, skin is missing, muscles are weak, organs are on the brink of failure. The pit has brought him back, but only just. Then the learns that his worst fears are true. That Bruce didn't care.

Imagine the events of Under the Red Hood but, when Jason takes off his helmet, Bruce doesn't just see the son he failed, but he sees the marks left by that failure: clouded eyes, sunken face, yellow teeth, patchy hair, exposed bone, rot and decay. His legacy as Batman is not one that lingers, it festers.

[eyydragons]

Vaguely amused by an UTRH au where, everything stays the same right up till the end.

Jason is all ready for that confrontation, the clown is knocked out and restrained, bombs are prepared. His monologue has been fine tuned for when the Bat shows except-

He doesn't. Not in time. (Maybe he got held up, maybe it's a last minute mission with the League. Maybe he finally passed out from sleep deprivation.)

The bat is late. And the clown wakes up. And the Joker is just completely unbearable, has he worked out who's kidnapped him? Probably not. But his fucking gibbering has landed on talking about the last time involving a warehouse and a crowbar and Jason just-

Well, technically he did want him dead, but taking off the safety to threaten the clown wasnt the best idea, maybe. Since he now has 3 shiny new holes in his face.

Cue- little bit of a breakdown. The bat STILL hasn't shown up (evidently he really didn't give a shit about Jason or any of this, like he had poor expectations going in but this?)

Okay. What now?

First, clean up (explosives are good at that. Make sure the clown is close to really make sure he isn't coming back)

Second? Consider the answers this has given ( lock yourself in a safehouse with pride and prejudice, plenty of tea and enough baking equipment to fuel a small army)

Third?? ... Hey that baking turned out pretty good ... And Crime Alley has one hell of a malnutrition problem (see: pre-pit Jason) and ... Well he's got all that money from Crime Lording. He could literally just retire?

(Bruce wakes up from the worst sleep if his life, to find the Red Hood apparently blew himself and the clown up in a warehouse, cause he's completely disappeared and remnants of his helmet wear found in the wreckage. This, funnily enough. Does not go over well. But hey, at least the clown is dead)